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.

My Two Shots

Portrait

Self Portrait

Magazines Part 2

There are four different cover types; Early Magazine Covers, The Poster Cover, Pictures Married to Type, and In the Forrest of Words.
Early magazine covers did not always have the covers we are used to today, they usually modeled them after books and had only a title and publication information. Some have small illustrations that are printed onto the page below the title for more of a decorative purpose, that existed through the 1700's and 1800's. The Poster Cover became the most popular cover of the 20th century and is covered by a picture, like a portrait or design that takes up most of the spread with the theme and title of the magazine. Pictures Married to Type, a more modern style, consisted of a model and have less cover lines and have the illustrators information instead of themes in the cover lines. In the Forrest of Words, a brief summary of the magazine is provided in the sidebar and the image and cover lines overlap.

My Favorite Cover

This is my favorite cover because Kate Moss on the cover has her hand on her face and her makeup is simple with a bold lipstick, making the contrast between her skin a lip more dramatic. The clothes she is wearing are dark make her skin stand out more and makes the tattoo on her wrist even more visible. The lighting is bright and the background is black and dark, which is the opposite of her skin which is bright and white. Her hand on her face makes it a little less awkward then it would be if it was just her face and gives the reader something else to look at.

Best covers

1. Bloomberg Buisnessweek, April 30- May 6, 2012 "My Life in Private Equity"- Informal
2. The New Yorker, October 15-21 2012: "Election Issue" "One on One"- Environmental
3. The New York Times Magazine, December 23 2012 "Jerry Seinfeld is 58, Rich Beyond Imagination and Still Working"- Informal
4. The FADER, April/May 2012: "Phillip Glass"- Formal
5. Vanity Fair, January 2012: "Lady Gaga"- Formal
6. Harper's Bazaar, March 2012: Gwyneth Revealed"- Formal
7. New York, February, 20-29, 2012: "Nicky Manaj"- Informal
8. W Magazine, March 2012: "Kate Moss"- Formal
9. The New York Times Magazine, August 26 2012: "Deuce"- Informal
10. Sports Illustrated, October 8, 2012: "Oh Now You Love Us"- Environmental
11. New York, August 6-13: "Sex"- Informal
12. Texas Monthly, September 2012: "How to Raise a Texan"- Informal
13. MIT Technology Review, November/December 2012: "You Promised Me Mars Colonies. Instead, I Got Facebook"- Formal
14. Bloomberg Businessweek, November 12-18, 2012: "The Next Four Years"- Formal
15. TIME, December 31, 2012- January 7, 2013; "Person of the Year"- Formal