Final Exam

The power of words:
1. What did she write?
She wrote the words "I'm blind please help" but in different words
"It's a beautiful day and I can't see it"
2. What did this video make you feel inside?
This video made me feel sad because the man is blind and he needs money, but also curious because everything can change just by the way you word things.
3. Why would I show this video to you?
Because the way that we word our stories in newspaper can affect the way that people feel about the story and how they can be more interested in a story just by the way we write something.
4. How can you "Change your words" to impact the readers of your school newspaper?
I can make my words mean something to people and have an impact on what they think about our stories and the newspaper in general.
Three little pigs advert:
5. How many different ways did the Guardian cover the story of the three little pigs?
There were about 6 different articles about the three little pigs, all adding up to the "crime case" of the story.
6. Is the story the same as you remember it as a child?
No this story is not the same as the one I remember as a child because the pigs didn't get revenge on the wolf in the original version and the wolf was the bad guy.
7. Who did they interview?
They interviewed the pigs and recorded people's opinions
8. What aspects of the story did they cover?
The wolf that supposedly blew down the pig's houses and then the pigs were getting revenge on the wolf, then the pigs were found guilty
9. Were there any aspects of the three little pigs story that were not covered?
No but there were things added.
10. Did the Guardian ever offer their opinion of what happened, who was guilty, who was not guilty?
Throughout the film there were hints that most people thought that the pigs weren't guilty because they were just trying to get by, but there were also people that thought the wolf didn't blow down their houses in the first place.
11. Can we do this for events on our campus on a daily basis?
We can create interesting ways to cover stories on our campus that make people want to read about them.
12. How can you help make this a reality?
I can help create stories that people on our campus will be interested in and want to read and get involved in.
Reflection:
     The most important thing I have learned this semester in newspaper has been how to improve my writing and journalism skills by being able to create a story from just an idea and write about people's lives on campus. It is an important thing to me to be able to write about people who have big events and interesting stories to tell that usually wouldn't be told without the newspaper. Next semester I want to try and be more proactive about my stories and get things done ahead of time because I got really stressed out at times because of things that would get in my way completing something. In order to fix things I need to work on getting things done before they are due so that I don't get so stressed out about things.
      I think we could improve the way that editors work with the staff writers about what they want in their stories so that they don't get stressed out at the last minute and get disappointed with the results of the stories. I also think that people who write stories need to be more mature about getting stuff done and not procrastinating until right before the deadline to get things done. Many people, including myself at times, get distracted during class and waste their time so they don't get what the need to get done completed. Editors should explain what the story needs to be about and interact more with the staff writers so that we know what to write about and what we should be completing at what times. Overall I think people just need to put in the necessary effort and have a clear understanding about what they are writing about in order to be successful.

News Values, Captions and Headlines

Lakewood High School

May 2015

Volume 6, #3

Spartan News Network (SNN)

New program lets students get AP certificate- Timeliness- Should be in the paper

Curtain won't rise on play- Impact- Shouldn't be in paper

Lakewood says farewell to veteran- Impact- should be in paper

Library update slow but steady- Prominence- should be in the paper

Washington peaces out- Impact- shouldn't be in paper

New police program to start at Lakewood- Impact- should be in paper

Citizens' point of view- conflict- should be in paper
Police departments are too aggressive toward black boys- conflict - shouldn't be in paper
Where are the 'parents' in PTA?- prominence- shouldn't be in paper
'Once you dance it's a different world'- Human interest/ novelty- should be in paper
'No one ever noticed my inner struggle'- Human interest- should be in paper
Q&A: What's it really like?- Impact/conflict- should be in paper
A day on wheels- conflict- should be in paper
Lakewood gets classical- prominence/proximity- should be in paper
Colleges take steps to combat rape- human interest/conflict- should be in paper
Spartan Grind funds AVID- prominence- should be in paper, kind of a confusing story though
Students build replica of movie robot- Novelty- should be in paper
Kayaking is not as relaxing as you think- conflict- should be in paper
Something sweet in downtown St. Pete- Proximity- shouldn't be in paper, doesn't have anything to do with the school
Local flower shop keeps on blooming- proximity- Shouldn't be in paper, doesn't have anything to do with the school
Pottery in the making- Proximity- shouldn't be in paper, doesn't have to do with school

Artists of Lakewood- prominence- should be in the paper
Class of 2015 Spartan are on the move- Impact- should be in paper
Some highlights from the Class of 2015- prominence- should be in paper
Different priorities- Impact- should be in paper
When gaming apps take over your life- Impact- should be in paper
Can't put down that phone?- Impact- should be in paper
Marvel's Daredevil: Where justice is blind- Novelty- should be in paper
Free the music- Novelty- should be in paper
Look out for that Cherry Bomb- Novelty-should be in paper
The 'Scarlet Speedster' is one to watch- novelty- should be in the paper
AMSET be field trippin'- Proximity- should be in paper
Spartan pride only goes so far- Impact- shouldn't be in paper
Your voice/Letters to the Editor- Human Interest- should be in the paper
A debate over signing day- Human Interest/conflict- should be in the paper
Anything but a documentary...- Conflict- should be in paper
Don't undermine the movement- Human Interest/Conflict- should be in paper
Veggie options reach Lakewood- Human Interest- should be in paper

'Once you dance its a new world' caption- The Emoji dance crew dances the days away with their intricate moves and fast-pace beat. They have had multiple public performances in past and hope to have many more to come, and eventually get more popular in the dance world. The crew includes Steve Stephenson, Rob Roberts, Jessica Smith, Danny Daniels and Sally Johnson.

'No one ever noticed my inner struggle' caption- Anorexia and bulimia have become serious diseases that affect many teenagers and young adults. Even at our school, there are students and teachers that are and have been affected with these mental and physical struggles.

'A debate over signing day' caption- Some students have different perspectives over signing day, John Johnson who thinks that signing day shouldn't exist, and Sally Smith who thinks that signing day is very important to out school. Signing day is an important day for many students, especially the ones who got signed for a college sports team.


'Lakewood gets classical' caption- AP music theory takes a field trip to the local music hall to experience what its like to perform on a big stage. They set up glasses full of water in order to put on a concert and put their music skills to the test.


News- The Grind funds new adventures
Opinions- Kayaking gone wrong
Student Life-  2015 Spartans new chapters
Entertainment- Phone addictions taking over lives
Sports- Win for the Spartans
Photo Essay- Dancing for a passion

Biography for website

Grade: 10th
Year on staff: 1st

Newspaper role: Staff member
Why am I on staff? I am on the staff because I enjoy writing and going to school events. What do you do outside of school? I play clarinet in the marching band. What do you plan on doing after high school? I plan on going to college and becoming something that I'm not sure of at the moment. What do you do in your free time? I like to hang out with my friends and watch movies.

Newspaper Scavenger Hunt

1. While walking through the halls and classrooms, I noticed that a few things have changes since last year. There are a few new digital clocks in some of the hallways, new decorations in the cafeteria that has our school name and colors, and also signs at a few of the school entrances that tell students where to find their classes.
2.

3. The new school times have caused a lot of things to shift, even though its only 10 minutes. This year school starts later and ends later, classes are longer and now multiple organizations have lost practice time because of how long it takes to even get out of the school and make it to these practices. The classes have  changed times and the passing periods are shorter, making some students have to rush to their classes that are across campus. There are negatives, but also it gives students 10 extra minutes to spare before coming to school which can be very useful.
Something else new is that everyone has new classes and are learning new subjects this year. Even though there are new teachers and classes that haven't been available before to students, the academics are proving to be just as challenging as they were in the past, if not more challenging. These new and different classes are what happens every year, to every student and it can be hard to get adjusted to going to new classes but it makes us learn new things.
4. The marching band has already begun to practice, starting on August first, they were outside at Burger for summer band camp and three-a-day practices. Their new show this year called "Deep" is taking you in an experience underwater, going deeper into the ocean and then struggling to get back up to the surface. The marching band attends all of the varsity football games and their first competition is on Saturday, September 26 for BOA Austin. They have been working non-stop since August and they have practices most days after school. So far their season has been going well and hopefully will only be getting better.
5.
6. New times delay after school practices; new year, new classes; Band goes "deep"

Lone Star Dispatch Issue #6

1- Front Page: Shelby Johnson and Marcus Gallardo win election and take StuCo office
Write a three to five sentence summary of the story.Student council elections were cast and the new presidents for 2015-16 are Shelby Johnson and Marcus Gallardo. To be a student council president, it takes honesty, work ethic, communication skills, and being willing to give up a lot of personal time for the school. Eric Moe and Powell Henson leave the office to allow Shelby and Marcus to step up to help improve Bowie. 

On each page of the main section (NOT the senior tab) - so 8 pages, what were the graphic elements on that page? Be specific, describe what it is and what information it contained. 
Front Page- There were 2 pictures for the elections and an animation to describe the FIT schedule for next year. This lets you see the difference that we could experience for all of our school days next year. It is 2 calendars with red dots for A Days and blue dots for B days and there is the schedule for this year and next year.
Student Life- "Seniors on route to the big, tough world"

Write a three to five sentence summary of the story.

Graduation is coming up soon for all the Bowie seniors. Some seniors are really glad to be done with high school and move on to college and the adult world so they can leave the stress behind. Others will miss being a member of Bowie high school and the friendships they've made over the years.

2. On each page of the main section (NOT the senior tab) - so 8 pages, what were the graphic elements on that page? Be specific, describe what it is and what information it contained.

Student Life- There was a illustration of the continents and lines that lead to different places in the world that people are going to. There is a picture of the choir's award they received while in Disney World. There is a illustration of a diploma with the statistics of graduation rates as of 2012. 

 

Front Page- "Votes are in and the elections come to a close, drum roll please"

Write a three to five sentence summary of the story.
Student council elections were cast and the new presidents for 2015-16 is Shelby Johnson and Marcus Gallardo. To be a student council president, it takes honesty, work ethic, communication skills, and being willing to give up a good amount of time for the school. Eric Moe and Powell Henson leave the office to allow Shelby and Marcus to step up to help improve Bowie. 
On each page of the main section (NOT the senior tab) - so 8 pages, what were the graphic elements on that page? Be specific, describe what it is and what information it contained. 
Front Page- There was 2 pictures for the elections and there was an animation to describe the FIT schedule for next year. This lets you see the difference that we could experience for school days next year. It is 2 calendars with red dots for A Days and blue dots for B days and there is the schedule for this year and for next year.

Student Life- "Seniors on route to the big, tough world"

Write a three to five sentence summary of the story.
Graduation is coming up soon for all the Bowie seniors. Some seniors are so glad to be done with high school and move on to college in the adult world and be able to leave the stress behind. Others will miss being a Bowie Bulldog and the friendships they've made.
2. On each page of the main section (NOT the senior tab) - so 8 pages, what were the graphic elements on that page? Be specific, describe what it is and what information it contained.

Student Life- There was a illustration of the continents and lines that lead to different places in the world that people are going to. There is a picture of the choir's award they received while in Disney World. There is a illustration of a diploma with the statistics of graduation rates as of 2012. 

News- "NHS induction brings new faces"

Write a three to five sentence summary of the story.
To become apart of National Honor Society, there is a long application process you have to go through. The requirements is a 3.75 GPA, they turn in an application that also has record of at least 8 hours of community service. Then Vicki Hebert sends out evaluation forms to the teachers the student likes or is close with to learn of their character and leadership qualities. After that they are rates from 1-5 and a student needs at least a 4 to be reviewed by the faculty committee with Stephen Kane, the principal. 
2. On each page of the main section (NOT the senior tab) - so 8 pages, what were the graphic elements on that page? Be specific, describe what it is and what information it contained. 

There is a photo of the color guard to go with the news story about color guard. There is a quote from Ms. Widner on the new schedules.

Sports- "Spring ball winds down to an end"

Write a three to five sentence summary of the story.
The season for Bowie baseball is coming to a close. They won a total of 20 games, and they went to the quarter finals and are in the third round of the playoffs. Their determination and dedication has paid off. They had a devastating lss to Oak Ridge 4-0 taking them out of the playoffs. 
2. On each page of the main section (NOT the senior tab) - so 8 pages, what were the graphic elements on that page? Be specific, describe what it is and what information it contained.

There was a photo of Kyle Gray pitching for Varsity. There was also a lacrosse photo to go with the story on lacrosse.

Entertainment- "Silver Stars take NYC"

Write a three to five sentence summary of the story.
Silver Stars had their Spring Show with the theme of "Broadway". For many seniors this was not only their last show, but their last performance with the Silver Stars before they leave for college. During the dance about Central Park, a gas lamp fell, but they professionally fixed the problem and continued the show gracefully.

 On each page of the main section (NOT the senior tab) - so 8 pages, what were the graphic elements on that page? Be specific, describe what it is and what information it contained.

There were two pictures on the Silver Star spring show. There was a sunflower graphic to go with ACL lineup just as a little element to it. There also was a ticket with information on the movie they reviewed and the rating the staff gave it. 

Commentary- "Why can't teens have fun?"

Write a three to five sentence summary of the story.
This is a commentary piece on how much school affects kids and teens. Elementary school was such a bright place that kids actually want to go to school and now in high school, we are all just trying to get by. There is so much to do for school, there is not always time to just let go and have fun.
 2. On each page of the main section (NOT the senior tab) - so 8 pages, what were the graphic elements on that page? Be specific, describe what it is and what information it contained.

There was art with a kid struggling to hold up a bunch of books for school. This graphic is to show all the classes teens have and they have a lot of weight on us. There was a graphic for the other article with two buildings and different classes illustrated by items for their class with arrows to the other building to represent kids being able to go to Crockett for an auto class.

3. Which graphic in this paper was the strongest, in your opinion? WHY?

I think the FIT schedule graphic was the strongest because it was a great way to show the possible schedule for next year in a graphic and being able to show it in compare to our current schedule made it more realistic.
4. Which graphic was the weakest, in your opinion? WHY?
I thought that the political cartoon was a little difficult to understand what was happening and I thought they could have done a better job on the schools so it would have a better overall look.
5. Look at the political cartoon on page 7 next to the editorial. What is the artists message?

The artist's message is that the idea of letting kids go to other schools for classes is not a good idea and is messing with the system we already have and we don't need to have something like that at Bowie.

Free Write #2

A twinkling eye can mean many things. Start with a twinkle in someone’s eye and see where it takes you.


For me a twinkle in someone's eye means they have a story to tell, that they live an interesting life and think about the future often. When I see that twinkle I think of how a person has grown over time and what they've been through over the course of their lives. Everyone has different experiences and adventures and a twinkle of the eyes is a partial give away of those experiences.
 I have learned that in order to understand what a person has been through you have to have been through it yourself and step into their life first. I believe that life is a series of challenges, tests of faith, different loves, and heartbreaks. Depending on how you deal with these things influences your future on Earth and beyond. Personally I think that all of these things that we depend on currently will mean nothing in future when life takes you in different twists and turns along the road of life none of these details will standout in the end. There is an end. There is a time when we will all cease to exist, but I don't let it bother me. I know that there is a supreme being out there that has created a special path for each and everyone of us and whether or not we follow that path is the real trial.
 Everyone wanders from that path at some point in their lives but what really matters is if you get back in it and continue living for your purpose. Even though there is a definite beginning and end, we are all put on this planet for a purpose. I believe that some people just don't find it, got lost on their own winding path so deep that they just couldn't escape. I think that even through our troubles and mistakes may make us feel stuck and alone, without a purpose, that there is always another way. There is always another way out of the past, an escape route to a brighter future.
Even when things seem impossible there is another way up and out. There is that person with a twinkle in their eyes, creating that bright future of happiness, fearlessness, and relentless and sacrificing love. Just a twinkle alone can bring great adventures and a sense of hope in the future.

Movie Review

Captain Phillips has us at the edge of our seats

When I first heard that we were watching Captain Phillips I didn't know what to expect, Perhaps it was like The Pirates of the Caribbean or maybe the Little Mermaid? Nope, not close at all. Captain Phillips is the leader of the Maersk Alabama, a containership on its way across the Indian Ocean from the United States to Somalia and other countries in that area. Some of the crew includes Richard Phillips played by Tom Hanks, Shane Murphy played by Michael Chernus, and Mike Perry played by David Warshofsky. When the Somalian Pirates attack the ship, the leader Abduwali Muse (played by Barkhad Abdi) and his accomplices Bilal (played by Barkhad Abdirahman) and Najee (played by Faysal Ahmed) demand money or they will shoot them. These characters give us an inside into what the pirates are thinking and translations at the bottom of the screen show what they are saying in Somalian, showing us what they are saying to each other and their intentions.

When Captain Phillips and his crew first embark on their journey across the ocean, the Captain gets an email saying that there have been reports of pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean along the route that they are going along. He doesn't really think anything of it but warns his crew to be on the look out. When he sees speed boats quickly approaching them in the middle of the ocean, all crew members go into their safety hiding spots but the Captain and other important members of the crew are left in the open and unprotected control room of the ship. At first they speed up the ship in order to create a strong wake that would make the speed boats slow down and not be able to follow them. This works for a little while and the boats turn around, but that isn't the end of the pirates. Now only 4 of the pirates come back the next day and the rest of the movie is their dramatic experience on the ship.

Captain Phillips is played by Tom Hanks, who turned out to be an amazing actor for the role. He took the film to another level because he really brought the experience to life and made it even more realistic, and it was like you could see the fear in his eyes even though he was acting. Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali, and Barkhad Abdi all did a very good job of not only playing the intense role of the pirates but also being able to portray the relationships between each one of them flawlessly. The relationship between the four pirates is evident because they created an ensemble effort to pull the movie together. The movie was really intense and dramatic and the characters made the story really interesting and realistic.

This movie was very interesting the whole time, even though sometimes it seemed to drag on a little but it was never really boring. I would say that this movie might be a little too intense for children under 15 but over had a really developed story line. This movie is a good example of a high-concept film because I didn't know that much about the film prior to watching it and it still made sense because of the details in the story. I liked how the pirates would talk to each other in their native language, which was Somalian, and there were translations of what they were saying in English at the bottom of the screen even though when they did speak English it was sometimes hard to understand.

To me a main theme of this movie would be to always be prepared for the worst situations at hand because you never know what might happen. This message is shown throughout the film and is a main part of the whole concept of the movie. When the pirates first attacked the ship I don't think that the Captain was as prepared as he could have been because they were not really hidden from the pirates even though there were plenty of hiding spaces on the ship. This attack was a complete surprise to the whole crew even though they were warned prior to their departure.

This movie was rated PG-13 and I think that is a good rating because there was a lot of violence and some foul language throughout. The whole film was very intense so I wouldn't recommend it to people that don't enjoy thrillers, action or blood. I think an appropriate audience would be 15+ because even though its rated PG-13 it was a little too much at some parts. Overall I think t is a good movie that has a interesting storyline and contains a lot of drama and action. I personally would recommend it to people and think that it is a must see movie.
I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.

Sports Current Event

1. http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/AustinAmericanStatesmanNIE/
2. Locked out an Empty Feeling
3. Recently Baltimore erupted in riots because of the death of Freddie Gray. For the first time MLB fans were denied access to the game between the Orioles and White Sox because of these dangerous riots.
4. Foul- ball goes out of play
Out- When a player's ball is caught, he is tagged with the ball, or if the player gets three strikes.
Strike- When a player swings at a ball and doesn't hit it.
Ball- When a pitch is out of bounds.
5. N/A
6. This would be a news update because fans have never been denied access to a baseball game.
7. Orioles 8 : White Sox 2

Movie Exploration

Step 1: Read a movie review from the link provided below

Step 2: Post the headline of the movie review on your blog. Make the headline a sliceable link that takes the readers to the full review on the original Web site where it was published online.

The Age of Adaline

Step 3: Under the headline for the movie review, provide the following information:

1. Name of the publication

AV Club

2. Name of the writer

Jesse Hassenger

3. Grade or score the movie review on a 1-10 scale in your opinion- 7

 

4. High Points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)

The movie did better at parts where the couple was not the center of attention. At the anniversary party, the movie seems personal and old fashioned in an interestingly vivid way. 
5. Low points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)

The plot is a similar theme in romance movies: Adaline has to learn to trust someone again. Blake Lively's reserved and acting doesn't quite match what they are going for.

6. Quote a paragraph from the review that you think expresses the overall opinion of the reviewer about the movie.

"For a movie that emulates literature, The Age Of Adaline never fits comfortably into a particular form—literary or cinematic. It has the outline of a novel but not the scope; it has the plot of a short story but not the detail. And no amount of movie tricks—lofty narration, Danny Elfman-ish fairy-tale choral voices in the score, well-orchestrated overhead shots—can turn a dull little romance into a meditation on the nature of love and time."
-------

Step 1: Read a movie review from the link provided below

Step 2: Post the headline of the movie review on your blog. Make the headline a sliceable link that takes the readers to the full review on the original Web site where it was published online.

Far From the Madding Crowd

Step 3: Under the headline for the movie review, provide the following information:

1. Name of the publication

AV Club

2. Name of the writer

Isabella Biedenharn

3. Grade or score the movie review on a 1-10 scale in your opinion- 6

4. High Points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)

Carey Mulligan brought an enriching performance of her character, Bathsheba Everdene. The character Bathsheba was well adapted and shown throughout the movie, providing a better sense of understanding.
5. Low points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)

The way he casted the film almost ruins a big part of the movie. 
6. Quote a paragraph from the review that you think expresses the overall opinion of the reviewer about the movie

"The only problem with Vinterberg’s love-quadrangle setup is that his casting of the film makes it too obvious who Mr. Right is from the get-go: Schoenaerts’ Gabriel Oak. Hell, his protective sturdiness is right there in his name. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the Belgian actor, with his sandy stubble and wounded eyes, has the dreamily brooding charisma of a young Daniel Day-Lewis. Since it would be a very short movie if Bathsheba were as quick to zero in on Oak as we are, she must suffer first (Hardy was a product of his patriarchal times, after all). Thankfully, Mulligan refuses to play the helpless, hapless victim. She’s strong and smart and sensual. "

Illustrator

This is supposed to be a music note for the orchestra part but it didn't really turn out to look like a music note but I tried.

This picture is of a family at ACL.

                                                 This is for the dodgeball tournament.

Fears and Phobias Statistics: Infogram

Fears and Phobias Statisics | Create infographics

CE #6.2

1. How many people were killed in Waco this weekend in a rival biker gang shootout? How many were injured? How many were detained for questioning? What location did this happen? Page A1 "Biker shootout…"
There were nine people killed, 18 people were injured, somewhere between 20 and 70 people were detained for questioning. This happened in the parking lot of the Twin Peaks restaurant.2. What are the five topics the state legislature plans to take on in the final two weeks they are in session? Page A1 "Now or Never"
The five topics are tax cut talks, budget debate, abortion, gun bills, and border security.
3. Summarize the stats presented in the info graphic on page B1 "Rainy days by the numbers"
These past few weeks of constant rain have taken a toll on the city and there has been 7.5 inches of rain in the past week, 2.91 inches on Sunday alone, and a lot of delays and drought less counties.
4. What are some of the technological inventions that real estate agents are using to help sell homes in markets where homes do not stay on the market very long? Page B5 "New face of real estate"
FaceTime and a 3-D walkthrough program that enables people from further away to view a house that they might want to buy. This can promote buyers to see a house from anywhere in the world.
5. Why will funding to help pay for those who died and injured in the Amtrak train wreck be limited to $200 million? Page A6 "Amtrak could pay no more..."
Funding is limited to $200 million because in 1997 there was a law passed that could rescue Amtrak from financial ruin, theres a payout cap for every single person that died.
Short Answer: Read the story on page A2 "Will death make Tsarnaev a martyr".

What do you think about this topic? If they put Tsarnaev to death, will he become a martyr and inspire more attacks, or does it matter at this point since he has already carried out his attack?
Write at least three to four paragraphs and make sure you use textual citations from the story to support your opinion.
          I think that Tsarnaev should be put to death because he caused the death of a lot of innocent people and I don't really think that there is a possibility that he could become a martyr and inspire more attacks because whats done is done and he did already carry out his attack. It said in the article that he was more of a "lone wolf" with a low profile and doesn't have any known links to the Islamic State group or al-Qaida or any other terror organizations. 
         Tsarnaev was responsible for three deaths and more than 260 wounded people near the marathon finish line. I think that he should pay for what he did to all of those people because what he did was wrong. There are some groups of people that might make him a martyr because he could be someone that they might look up to or he might influence some people in a bad way.
        There are some things that his death might influence but a life in prison might actually be a worse punishment than death. There is also the possibility that he could influence people while he is still alive so I still think that him being put on the death sentence.

Movie Prep

1. Who are the main characters you would expect to see in the movie, based on the real life events?
The main characters would be Richard Phillips, Chief engineer Mike Perry, Muse ( the leader of the pirates) the other pirates and the other people in the ship.
2. Briefly, in 2-3 paragraphs, tell me what you expect the plot to be in the movie, based on the real life events?
I think the movie is going to be Captain Philips and his crew are going to be heading across the Indian ocean to deliver something. They are going to get attacked by pirates and there is going to be a lot of drama.
3. Why was this story important?
The story is important because their experience might help people who are being attacked by pirates in the middle of the ocean or give people a little more knowledge on the subject.
4. Why did the pirates try to take the ship?
The pirates tried to take the ship because they wanted money from them.

1. List the five most important actors in the film.
Tom Hanks as Richard Phillips, Barkhad Abdi as Abduwali Muse, Michael Chernus as Shane Murphy, Barkhad Abdirahman as Adan Bilal, and David Warshofsky as Mike Perry.
2. What is the movie rated?
PG-13
3. Who directed the movie?
Paul Greengrass
4. Who was the producer?
Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, and Michael De Luca
5. What awards did it win?
BAFTA awards for best actor in a supporting role, American Cinema Editors for Best edited feature film- dramatic, American Film Institute for Top Ten Films of the Year, Black Reel Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Breakthrough Preformance- Male, London Film Critics Circle Awards for Supporting Actor of the Year, Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards for Best Sound Editing: Dialogue & ADR in a Feature Film, San and Diego Film Critics Society for Best Editing.

6. How much did it cost to make?
$55 million
7. How was it received by audiences?
Good it grossed over $218 million.
8. What did other movie reviews think about the movie?

Other movie reviews gave it 4 or 5 stars and think that it is a god movie.

Sports Exploration Activities

Baseball-
My favorite baseball team is the Angels

The top 10 baseball teams of 2015 so far are the Nationals, the Dodgers, the Cardinals, the Tigers, and the Angels.

As of right now, the Los Angeles Angels have won 5 games and lost 5 games and have played a total of 10 games. Overall the team has won one world championship, 1 pennant, and 10 playoff games. The  San Francisco Giants won the World Series championship last year. The players on the field are the defensive team and prevent the base runners from scoring. There are 9 defensive positions on a field at one time and there are only two mandatory player positions, pitcher and catcher. There is a pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. An "Uncle Charlie" is a curve ball, a "backdoor slider" is a pitch that appears to be out of the strike zone, but then breaks back over the plate, and a "fungo" is a ball hit to a fielder during practice and is usually used by a coach using a "fungo bat," which is longer and thinner than a regular bat. A cliche associated with baseball is the saying "its going, going, gone!" but another way of saying it without a cliche is that the ball is going far or it was a good hit. Mike Trout is a very talked about baseball player that was born in Vineland, New Jersey, went to East Carolina University and plays for the Los Angeles Angels and is a center fielder.

C.E. #6.1

1. What is happening in Baltimore right now? What event sparked the problems? Page A1 "Baltimore explodes…"
There are riots in Baltimore about the mysterious death of Freddy Grey who in custody of police when he died of a crushed spinal cord and voice box. The racial prelude between white and black people is getting more common in the United States.
2. What are some Bastrop citizens worried about with operation Jade Hills 15? Page A1 "Meeting does little to...."
People think it will bring in foreign fighters from the Islamic State to Texas.
3. How many iPhone 6, 6+ and other models were sold in the first three months of the year? (read carefully.....) Page B5 "Big iPhone sales drive..."
There were 61 million models were sold in the first three months of the year.
4. What is Girlstart? Page D1 "Girlstart keeps growing"
Its s program the help young girls get more involved in STEM.
5. Kim Kardashian...whatever...blah blah blah...Why is this woman still in the news? Okay, seriously, what do you think about Bruce Jenner? Do you really care? Does it really matter? Page D2 "Kardashian..."
Kim Kardashian in still in the news becauseBruce Jenner is undergoing a gender change and is her step father (?) and the sisters say that they support Bruce 100% through what he is going through. I personally do not like Bruce Jenner and honestly don't care. I don't really think it should be treated as such a big deal right now because most people don't really care about it.

Short Answer: Nepal....what a tragedy. Read the story on page A3 "Nepalese.."
I think that what is happening in Nepal is devastating and sad because there was nothing they could really do about an earth quake. It was a 7.8 magnitude earth quake, which is huge, homes and buildings were reduced to rubble and destroyed without hope of rebuilding. Roads were blocked by landslides that caused traffic jams and prevented people from leaving the city and 223 people were confirmed dead because of the quake. 
        There were many shortages of food, clean water and electricity and leaving people in some villages trapped and their homes turned to rubble. Some concrete buildings were still left standing but most others were destroyed. Nearly the 100,000 army was sent to Nepal to help with search and rescue from the central government. At least 7,180 people were injured and thousands were left to be homeless and without a family. With a strong fear of after shocks, people set up tents outside in huge groups because most of their homes were destroyed in the earth quake.

Creative Writing Story

Prompt: Write about your early memories of faith, religion, or spirituality; yours or someone else's.

Growing up I was always involved in church, Sunday school, and bible studies but I never truly understood the power of God until the summer before 7th grade. My church's youth group was going to a 5 day summer camp at North Texas University called The Kingdom. It was focused on the the kingdom of God from a verse in Matthew about how we are living in his kingdom and that everything we do should be for the glory of God. I remember walking into the enormous stadium of the university and being in awe of how we would get to come in there everyday to worship and sing. That week was such a spiritual milestone for me that changed my life. It was so powerful to be with so many other spiritual people and sing the songs of praise and worship. I remember that throughout the camp I felt the presence and power of God come over me. When I first got to the camp I wasn't really sure how to react when I learned that we would be attending multiple services and bible studies throughout the day and the whole week. I had never really thought of church as something that I would look forward to or enjoy, instead I thought of it as more of a chore or duty. I realized that even though I had committed my life to Christ 2 years prior, that I could ever feel something so powerful as that camp gave me. It taught me that no matter what you are going through that God is just a prayer away and to always trust in him. We all knew that the week would be interesting but we never expected it to be the best week of the summer. When I left that camp I had a feeling of reassurance and faith of my spirituality. I meet some of  my best friends there that I am still friends with today and I have so many great memories. I know that if maybe I hadn't gone to the camp that I wouldn't be friends with some of the people I am today and my relationship with God wouldn't be as strong. The following year we went to another camp at Stephen F. Austin University and it was just as powerful, and I think that camps like these are essential in the life of a Christian or follower of God. There are times when I wonder how people can't believe in a superior being because the are so many things that can only be explained by the power of God. From an early age I knew there was something else out there that could give me peace, assurance, hope and faith in myself. He gives me the strength and ability to carry on with my life peacefully and live for his glory.

Second Magazine Cover

Magazine Peer Review

#1

1. What is the name of the magazine and who made it?

American Baseball by Avery Clark

2. List two things you liked about the magazine cover

I liked how the title is big and eye-catching and has a nice font, I also liked how the top 25 baseball players part has a different and larger side of words than the other ones.

3. Suggest something to the creator to improve the cover

I think that she could have added some more teasers on the cover.

4. Why did you pick this cover? Specifically what attracted your eyes.

I picked this cover because I like baseball and the title was eye catching and bright. 

5. Is there a bar code? 

Yes

6. Did that make it more "magazine-like"?

Yes

7. Can you tell if it was a portrait or self-portrait?

It was a portrait.

#2

1. What is the name of the magazine and who made it?

Freeing the Wind by Carissa Duran

2. List two things you liked about the magazine cover

I liked this magazine cover because it looked inspirational and had a cool picture on the front.

3. Suggest something to the creator to improve the cover

She could have added more teasers and filled up more space on the cover.

4. Why did you pick this cover? Specifically what attracted your eyes.

I picked this cover because it had an interesting picture on the cover and I liked the title.

5. Is there a bar code?

 Yes

6. Did that make it more "magazine-like"?

Yes

7. Can you tell if it was a portrait or self-portrait?

Portrait

#3

1. What is the name of the magazine and who made it?

Music For All by Avery W.

2. List two things you liked about the magazine cover

I liked the magazine cover because it

3. Suggest something to the creator to improve the cover

She could add a price and a bar code.

4. Why did you pick this cover? Specifically what attracted your eyes.

I picked this cover because it was unique and had all of the captions and teasers on the left side of the cover.

5. Is there a bar code? 

No

6. Did that make it more "magazine-like"?

No because there wasn't one

7. Can you tell if it was a portrait or self-portrait?

Portrait

Magazine Cover

CE #5.3

1. What % of the franchise tax could state business donate to a voucher bill program designed to help students attend private school if they are unhappy with their public school options? Page A1 "Texas Senate…"
They would be allowed to donate 50% of their yearly franchise tax liability to a voucher bill program.
2. What are the "two biggest civic challenges" facing Austin, according to mayor Steve Adler? Page A1 "Adler: Austin's success…"
The two biggest civic challenges facing Austin are traffic and housing costs, according to mayor Steve Adler.
3. What is the political cartoon on Page A9 by Dan Wasserman from the Washington Globe trying to tell is, in your opinion?
I think the political cartoon is trying to say that there have been a lot of shootings and that people will film the shootings, but not really do anything about it and let innocent people die.
4. Who won the Master's Golf Tournament over the weekend? Where did he go to college? How old is he? How much money has he made this year? Page C1
Jordan Spieth won the Master's Golf Tournament over the weekend and he went to college at the University of Texas and is 21 years old. He has made a little under $5 million this year.
5. What is the number 1 movie in the country this week? Have you seen it? Do you want to go see it? Page D2
The number 1 movie in the country this weekend is Furious 7 and I have not seen it yet, but I want to.
Short Answer: Read the story on B1 "Pilot program lets Texas soldiers vote by email"

If this pilot program continues to have the same success it has in the past, it could pave the way for everyone to vote via email. Do you think Americans in 2015 should be voting by email? Do you think there are problems that could arise if people were allowed to vote by email? Are there solutions to those problems? Do you think you might be able to vote via email or online in your lifetime?
I think that voting via email could cause a lot of problems because people could change their email addresses or cast multiple votes with different accounts. There aren't really any solutions to these problems other than the normal way of voting, something may arise in the future where it might be necessary to vote through email an it would be a lot simpler and you can do it from home. It might be able to vote by email in my future and it could help a lot of people who maybe aren't able to get up and go vote.