Senior Project Entry

All of these topics are very good, but there are only a few topics that I am quite interested in. One of them is water. As we all know only 1 percent of water is commercially available for consumption. We not only need to be mindful of how we use our water, but how we can get more of it.

I have an idea for a senior project that has two parts. Part one is just a whole section on how we can reduce our water use and how to be mindful. Now part two includes how we can get more drinkable water. What I consider to do (even though this might not be physically possible) is to collect all of the fresh water that's melting from ice caps and things like that and just harvest it. Just think, if we are able to do that, then not only will we have more available water to drink, but we also won"t have to worry about the world flooding from global warming. So that idea works on both ends.

I think another very important topic is energy because like we were discussing in class on Friday, there is only so much energy left in the world that's available to us. The big question is where will we turn for energy once fossil fuels run out(of course we don't have to worry about that in our current generation, but to take inconsideration future generations.)? One of the only ways I know to fix this is to start turning to other types of fuel now.

This leads into another idea for my senior project where somehow I can get a petition signed to lower the cost of alternative fuels and energy.

These are just some ideas I am working on.

Plant Research

Plants for the garden:

Squash, Broccoli, Cabbage

Top 2:

Squash, Broccoli

Squash

So I really want to plant a squash in our class’s community garden. Squash is a vegetable best eaten at the mature fruit stage. The best time to grow squash is during warm frost-free seasons; preferably around spring to mid-summer. Since San Diego is so warm, I figured we could grow them during winter anyways since our weather is our warm now as it is. Squash takes about ten to fourteen days to germinate. The only preparation is to stick the seed in some warm soil and water. Like I mentioned earlier, squash is extremely hard to grow in cold weather. It takes squash about forty or fifty days until it reaches full maturity. I think this will work out for our garden because if we plant my squash seeds at around early October, that should leave quite some time for the squash to grow. We can then harvest them well after the 40-50 day period just in time to enjoy them at our exhibition. Squash needs about two too two and a half feet spacing between seeds. Squash needs very rich soil because they are food hogs. The soil needs to be well drained and the squash also need to be fertilized. They need to be watered regularly. It is important to just keep the soil moist not wet. Squash prefers soil that is slightly acidic, with a Ph level of about 6. About N-P-K ratios: the preferred ratios are 10-20-10 or 5-20-20. Squash should be water regularly. It is good to water them about three times per week. It is also good to water them at the roots. Drip irrigation is most likely the best way to water them. dress with the granular type. An interesting fact about Squash: The English word "squash" derives from askutasquash which literally means “green thing eaten raw”

Broccoli

Broccoli is the second plant that I would like grow in our garden. Broccoli is a member of the cabbage family Brassicaceae. Broccoli is best grown in the spring and fall seasons. Broccoli just like squash is grown by seed. Broccoli usually takes about ten days to germinate. Depending on the variation of squash, it generally takes about 50-60 days for the broccoli to go from seed to harvest I think this time frame might be able to work for the semester. Like I mentioned for the squash, if I am able to plant the broccoli seeds in early October ( Within the first week hopefully) then they should ready to harvest by early December since 60 days is about 2 months approximately. About spacing; broccoli seeds should be planted about a quarter inch In the soil and about a foot and a half to two feet apart from each other. Broccoli needs cool soil which a preferable Ph level of six. Good NPK levels for broccoli are 50, 75, and 100%. Broccoli should be watered at the roots. The best way is to use a drip irrigation system to water them. Broccoli shouldn’t be watered all the time, but it should maintain good moisture. An interesting fact about broccoli: Broccoli comes from the Latin word brachium which means branch or arm.

Links

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/ssquash1.html

http://www.gardenersnet.com/vegetable/squash.htm

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/M1258.html

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Growing-Vegetables-740/Butternut-Squash-13.htm

http://www.texasgardener.com/pastissues/janfeb04/squash.html

http://www.bellybytes.com/foodfacts/squash_facts.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broccoli

http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/tipsgrowingbro_spcy.htm

http://www.biocontrols.com/aero95.htm

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/broccoli1.html

http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/info/Vegetables/broccoli.asp

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a903691522~db=all~jumptype=rss

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/HG_Garden_2005-01.pdf

THE MAGAZINE REFLECTION

In this reflection, you can cover (but are not required to do all of):

* Writing
While workin on my magazine article I learned a lot about writing.

* Editing

* Drafting & Revision

* Layout & Design

* Photography

* Creativity & Originality

* The printing & publishing process & industry

* Your own thoughts about your path beyond 11th grade (and beyond HTHMA... that's what internship is about, right?)

* American society

* The American economy

* History & social studies

* And much much more!!!!

What did you learn?

How did you learn in?

Why is this important?

This should be posted as a blog entry by the end of the school day on Monday 6/1

Magazine Reflection Pt. 2

1. Overall, when you think about the big picture of your writing, what improved? How did it get better? Why?

I think there were actually a few things about my writing that improved. What improved was my headline, and actual changes in my writing such as being aggressive and changing my "ing" words when necessary. Well all my work would have never been corrected if Randy had not taught the class and me all types of different writing techniques.

2. Overall, when you think about the big picture of your writing, what still needs work? What do you think will help you improve? Why?

I think what still needs work my actual writing. I say this because i know somewhere in my piece there is at least one or two pancake sentences. I think what will help me improve is to incorporate what Randy said about making my sentences concerts not pancakes. I have to make sure my sentences have strong beginnings and a strong ending so that the reader will want to keep reading because the sentence is so good.

3. Specifically, show us something that improved and describe the path it took to get better. You can quote your article, your drafts, link to evidence, etc.

4. Describe something specific (or a few things!) that you learned about writing.

Like I mentioned in question one, I learned so much about writing that I never knew before. I never knew someone could have to much of something in their writing. Apparently you can. Too many "ing" words can turn your writing into an irrelevant piece. It is only good to use "ing" words only when necessary.
Another thing I learned about was the use of sledgehammer words such as "extremely, completely, very, totally, definitely, and really". These words only have power if used rarely in your writing. But an overdose of these words will result in bad writing.

1. What went well for you during the process of creating this magazine?

I think what went well during the magazine process was drafting and revision. I got a lot of drafts of my writing critiqed and that was what i really wanted to focus on anyway. I also think having a very good editor played a big role in what went well for me with this magazine. My editor jacob completely turned my article into a great piece.

2. What challenges did you face as you moved from an early draft or idea to a final product?

Well in the beginning of this magazine project when we were first deciding what to put in the magazine, I had decided to put in internship reflections. About midway through the drafting and revision process i completely changed my idea from internship reflections to my Obama economic advice blog. Although I didn't get as many drafts as if i had that piece from the beginning, I still got an sufficient amount of feedback. Luckily with all that feedback and editing my paper, it will now be in the magazine so I feel that I accomplished something.

3. What other examples of work—student and professional—stood out as exemplary and served as a good model for your own work?

I think a piece of writing that stood out to me was Stephanie Luna's article on the Tijuana River Valley pollution situation. I think her article was very well written and straight forward. There were some parts where she could use editing, but that problem could be easily fixed. I jus thought that with her paper, she had very good flow. Her writing would just go from one subject, and then transition to the next subject flawlessly.

3. What other examples of work—student and professional—stood out as exemplary and served as a good model for your own work?

Obama Socialism

Google the phrase "Obama Socialism". What do you get? Try google news... what did you find?Do you feel that the label "socialism" is applied appropriately or correctly to Obama, his proposals or his policies?Do Obama's proposals or policies have historic precedents in America? If so, what happened in the past?

I found and article called Blame Bush, Not Obama the article discusses how Obama is not trying to make us a socialist country, but socialism has actually been around since Franklin D Roosevelt. Although that comment was made, in another article I read called Steele urged to label Obama a socialist the author Ralph Z hallow discusses how a man name Mr. Bopp, who is part of the RNC( Republican National Convention) said: "Just as President Reagan's identification of the Soviet Union as the 'evil empire' galvanized opposition to communism, we hope that the accurate depiction of the Democrats as a Socialist Party will galvanize opposition to their march to socialism,". He then proceeded to say "The threat to our country from the Obama administration cannot be underestimated," Indiana RNC member James Bopp Jr. wrote Wednesday in an e-mail to the full RNC membership. "They are proceeding pell-mell to nationalize major industries, to exponentially increase the size, power and intrusiveness of the federal government, to undermine free enterprise and free markets, to raise taxes to a confiscatory level." Republicans feel that Obama is trying to create a socialist nation just like the WWII era.

i feel that these remarks made about Obama and socialism arent applied appropriately. What Obama is trying to do is not create a socialist country, but to reconstruct our economy based on socialist ideas.

LIT Groups

What worked?

Well I was able to finish my book, so I am proud of that fact.

What would u like to change?

I would have changed the reading due dates because I am such a slow reader.

What was your book about?

My book was about a little white boy and a nigger and they go on adventures.