Thanksgiving

This year i would have say I'm thankful for my grades because i didn't think i could do so well compared to last year, and i have managed to keep them up throughout this year.

Three things I plan on working on over thanksgiving break is taking more pictures in OB, finding out more information about illnesses (take notes), and start at least four or five paragraphs of writing for my pictures.

H2O Project

So far in my project i have discovered some of the different illnesses that our ocean water can cause. I have not really gone into depth in my project yet but i have a good understanding of exactly what i want it to look like.
I'm not really surprised about much, but i do find it to be a lot of work in this amount of time. I do however think i can most defiantly get it done on time if not before.
Although something i was i was a little surprised on was how many rough drafts we have to have before our final product.
My next steps for my project would have to be going down to OB and taking lots of pictures. I would most likely like to go down at sunset because i think that would make the pictures better looking.

H2O Project Examples

For my H2O project i plan on creating a Photo essay of numerous s

urfers, people, and beaches such as OB. 

These are an example of some photo essays that i would like mine t

o look like. 

The topics are just different.

Historic Day

Birmingham and Selma, Alabama witnessed critical moments of the civil rights movement. In the early 1960s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led massive protests in these cities that eventually led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed the widespread discriminatory practices that had for decades prevented African Americans from voting.

 The Specter of History

Congolese government forces man the front lines in eastern Congo, Sunday November 9. The fighting between rebels and the government has left tens of thousands of refugees desperate for international aid. The fighting in eastern Congo is fueled by ethnic hatred left over from the 1994 slaughter of at least 500,000 Tutsis in neighboring Rwanda.

These relate to my project because the picture is so detailed the reader can already tell what the article is going to be about. 

Also i chose these because the writing is short and simple, but still gets the story across.

An Eternal Revolution

"BARACK OBAMA’S victory marks the end of another magnificent chapter in America’s experience of democracy."

For many years in the past blacks as well as women could not vote. That is why Borack Obama's success in this years 2008 election will remain a huge part of America's life. I found that this years election was a huge improvement compared to the earlier days which is mainly what this article talks about.

I think that Americans should really be so proud of themselves becuase this year has brought so many different races together to become one and in the end we ended up with great success and an amazing new president.

Having a black President will make such a huge difference not only in America, but in the world. I find America to be very insperational to other countrys as different as we may be.

Election Reflection and H2O Project

Election Reflection
Throughout this election i have stood by Obama and supported his every; word which is why I was very happy when he had won. Watching his speech and the hearing the crowd brought goosebumps and chills. Something that i found to be very special was not only the fact we have a new black president, but the fact that i am old enough to cherish that night and be apart of this new America.
Some of my hopes for this Country would have to be based on ending the war and bringing home our troops. I think/know that would make so many Americans happy to just have their loved ones come back safe. Another hope of mine would be bringing more money into education and schools. As well as giving teachers a better pay.
As much as i like Obama a concern of mine is that he has a fear of going to war if needed. I don't however wish to ever go to war ever again, but if we were to be attacked I wouldn't want Obama to be afraid of protecting us as much as possible.


Civic Knowledge
I think that I have an okay understanding about the world and where things stand as far as politics, but i can defiantly improve on civic knowledge in general. Something we have done well in this class involving current events would have to be the Blogs that we do every Tuesday and Thursday. The blogs force us to look up different sites and summarize different articles to improve our understanding of the world. Compared to conversations i have had in school and outside of school, outside of school i feel really intelligent with the people i talk to. Not that i don't feel intelligent in school, i just seem to know more than those outside of school, and it feels amazing.

H2O Project
How does the sea water affect the surfers in Ocean Beach?

-Different illnesses that can occur

Interview with doctor (have not yet chosen doctor)

-Interview different surfers around OB and ask their opinion on the water pollution, and if they have had any type of illness.

Photo Essay

November:

Saturday 8th --> Tuesday 11th

*Find a doctor to interview

*Set up appointment for interview

*Plan out questions for doctor and OB surfers

*Take some OB pictures if extra time

Wednesday 12th --> Friday 14th

*Try and interview doctor in that week

*Work on writting for the pictures that have been already taken

Saturday 15th

*Go to OB and interview surfers

*Take (more) Picutures

Monday 17th --> Friday 21st

*Put all Pictures, my writting, quotes etc. together.

H2O Questions

How does the water pollution affect marine life?

The balance of pollution between sea water and land is almost the same. With all the chemicals flowing into the waters, it becomes much like the polluted land itself. Having polluted water effects sea creatures in the same way humans are affected by polluted food and air. Factories around the world are pouring there waste into our oceans and directly harming the animals.


How are the surfers effected by the water?

In San Diego many people go out to surf expecting to have a great time in the "refreshing" "clean" water. But in 2005 a father and his son went surfing off the coast of San Diego and it soon after came out to their knowledge they had been swimming in sewage. After walking back to their car they had seen warning signs along the beach about the contaminated water. Many people later come out of the water becoming sick, and with the chances of small diseases.

2008 Presidential/Vice President Debates

2008 Presidential/Vice President Debates

Throughout watching the 2008 Presidential/Vice President Debates I found it to be very helpful to America as to whom they want to vote for. Even though at the age of 16 not being able to vote, I was with Barack Obama throughout this whole election and there was nothing John McCain had said that made me even think twice. As far as the Vice President debate went, I thought that Sarah Palin had made a fool of herself and was constantly avoiding the questions. I knew I wasn’t the only one noticing the same things because since that debate there have been many negative discussions coming from the media as well as replica videos as a joke towards Palin and the little things she does.

            I think that a lot of people had taken John McCain and Sarah Palin’s speeches more towards a joke considering There is a lot more comedy towards Palin and her debates. This defiantly affects John McCain and his chance of winning because if people cannot take Palin seriously, they wont believe John is right for President.