Online Security

I learned that online security is a very serious thing that shouldn't be taken lightly. If you are clicking random pop ups and advertisments, you could be easily downloading a virus. Viruses can happen quickly and you should clean your desktop daily with anti-virus. You can either buy an anti-virus or download a free one online just to clean up your desktop a bit. Lastly, you should use firefox instead of the internet to control your pop ups and get what you need done quickly. Online security is a great thing that everyone should learn about.

Meanings, Signs & Symbols

Meanings are a reason for why people do things and what they are meant for. I learned that a sign needs to be able to be interpreted before it can become a sign. In the case of if you see smoke, that is a sign that a fire is probably occuring. Symbols stand for something and represent something in particular. Therefore, meanings, signs and symbols all have a second part to what they really mean.

Art

Today I found that the art on Dr. Prestons' blog was created by Ralph Steadman called Freedom and Loathing. A lot of his drawings are very interesting and sometimes not very pleasing to the eye.

Vocabulary Words

1. Approbation: The expression of favorable opinion.
a) When my parents saw how well I was doing in school, they showed approbation in their smiles.

2. Innuendo: A hint; indirect suggestion or reference.
a) My little sister wasn't allowed to watch the movie with us due to excessive use of sexual innuendos.

3. Coalition: A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose.
a) My church formed a coalition to stop abortions.

4. Elicit: To draw forth, bring out from some source.
a) I tried to elicit information to my grandma, but my phone died.

5. Hiatus: A gap, opening or break.
a) There was a huge hiatus between the trees and the canyon.

6. Assuage: To make easier or milder, relieve, satisfy.
a) Not even nice words could be used to assuage her feelings of her dogs death.

7. Decadence: Decline, decay, or deterioration.
a) There was a sense of decadence in her voice as she found a box of chocolate.

8. Expostulate: To attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning.
a) Trying to expostulate with my parents is a lost casue.

9. Jaded: Wearied, worn out, dulled.
a) My sisters shoes were quickly jaded after she wore them for a month straight.

10. Simulate: To make a pretense of, imitate, to show the outer signs of emotions they might never have felt in life.
a) My mom tries to simulate emotions from my sister to see what is really going on in her life.

11. Umbrage: Shade cast by trees; offense resentment.
a) She was afraid they would take umbrage from her critisicm.

12. Prerogative: A special right or privilege.
a) He had the prerogative to his parking spot for being employee of the month.

13. Lurid: Causing shock, horror or revulsion.
a) There was a lurid sound in her voice as she explained her story.

14. Transcend: To rise above or beyond, exceed.
a) The more he practiced, the more he began to transcend among his peers.

15. Provincial:Pertaining to an outlying area; local.
a) Some styles were provincial to the area, until other states caught on and wore the same things.

16. Petulant: Peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated.
a)  My teacher is a very petulant teacher when kids don't listen to him.

17. Unctuous: Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression.
a) The girl was so unctuous on how she walked into the room comlipmenting everyone.

18. Meritorious:Worthy, deserving recognition and praise.
a) Days of meritorious accusations kept him happy for the rest of his life.

19. Hackneyed: Used so often as to lack originality.
a) When you say someones name too many time in one day, it starts to sound hackneyed.

20. Intercede: To plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party.
a) I had to intercede that my friend Taylor was not crazy.

Young Goodman Brown Answers

1. I think Hawthorne's purpose for writing this story, was to show how our dreams can really affect how we actually live our lives. I feel as though he wanted to show us how our brains work even after sleeping.

2. After reading this story I agree that Brown's wife was aptly name Faith. Though in his dream he knew not of what side she chose to follow, she stayed faithful throughout the story. Brown does not have faith in her though, because he was not sure what path she chose and wasn't sure if he should trust her for it.

3. I think the pink ribbons signify innocents and happiness. I beleive that Faith was an innocent person and caring toward her husband even though he had fallen away from the world.

4. Everything Brown witnessed was a dream, due to the fact that it was it was a dream of an evil omen. "A stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man did he become from the night of that fearful dream."

5. I think the old man was really the devil, because it said his staff was like a snake and that is what the devil is. He also called him a serpent and all he did was put evil thoughts in Brown's head and told him not to turn back.

6.The staff represents a snake and how it is very deceiving to people. I wouldn't doubt that it was leading Brown along, but also his mind was in the wrong place, leading him to destruction.

7. If Brown had not ventured into the forest, none of this would have happened. He would not have doubted himself and his beloved wife Faith. They would be living happy lives and he would have a scripture put on his tombstone. I completely believe he would still have trust in Faith and the townspeople with all his heart.

Young Goodman Brown Story

I have just finished reading the story of Young Goodman Brown and I was a bit confused. Due to the text language, it was hard to concept what the writer was trying to say. I can't believe that whole story was about Goodman's dream and how he got so upset when he woke up. I'm not sure if his wife Faith looked up to heaven or wanted to follow the devil. I think it is crazy on how long Goodman Brown's dream went on for and how vivid it was for him to remember everything that had occured. Through the pain and stuggle, Goodman ended with no verse on his tombstone and his death was full of gloom. That just shows how much our dreams have an impact in our lives.

Tone and Mood

The story "Earth on Turtles Back," has a sense of  tone and mood. The tone, or the authors attitude toward the characters, the sublect and or the audience, is encouraging. The story gives off a feeling of happiness that even the smallest animal can do something great with determination. Also, the story gives you hope, that the chief's wife will live and the animals will create land for their people to stand on. The mood, or emotional state of the reader, is also happy. People feel comfort that the little muskrat saved the pregnant wife of the chief, so in the end they can all live happily ever after.

Socratic Seminar Notes

Mostly everyone in class agreed that we as people all have the right to our own opinions. We explained that people should be free to say whatever they want as long as they are open to what other people have to say on the matter. Also, as long as you state reasons to your opinions, you should be able to express anything you would like to say. In some situations, you shouldn't voice your opinion, such as when your parents are telling you to do something and you say that you dont think you should have to do it. There is always a time and place to sate your opinions, you just have to use them accordingly.

On the subject of technology, we all decided that our generation has poor communication. If we were to not have technology, we would all be more social and envolved in other peoples conversation. Since we do have technology, we feel more bold to say things online, than in person. We all feel invincible and that nothing can stop us, or put us down. With that, our socratic seminar came to a close with many opinions stated.

Reflections on Week 1

1. Factors that I think will affect my participation or experience in this class is access to a computer. If I am in a car traveling after a sports game or my family has taken up the computers with their work, it will be difficult to be plugged in with what's going on in the class online. Also, since I don't have a smart phone, it really limits me on internet access.

2. One of the best learning experiences I encountered was being yelled at from playing basketball. I learned how to take criticism without getting angry or fighting back. I always messed up and did something wrong and my coach yelled at me during the game in front of everyone. I learned that if I just pay attention the first time to what my coach has to say, I won't get yelled at later for doing it wrong. I knew that being yelled at was a learning experience, so that I will listen better and not mess up badly again.

3. I am most concerned that I will miss an assignment for this class, or I won't do a good job on one. I am looking forward to ending the year feeling accomplished and happy with what I have done. I think it will make a difference in my life to do everything with hard work and passion.

This Class

This week in class has been challenging and a lot of work. I did not feel strong at all until I took a lot of time to study for the poem and the vocabulary test. I will absolutely need to work hard constantly and work on how to manage my time accordingly. As long as my colleagues are feeling the same way I do, I won't feel as lost. When I see other people posting their comments, I understand how they think and by doing so, it gives me ideas that help me post my own comments. Therefore, when I have people with me, I feel strong about how I approach things.