Although it died...

I think we'll keep this blog going on. Administrators will be busy, but I'm still here to help future members of the Open Source Learning group make up something that is solely based on interactive, collaborative, and academic development. This is still a hit with roughly 3,100 views by the time I'm writing this post, which is something I gotta say...I'm impressed.

Bracket #2 Period 5 Mistake!!

Hey guys, just wanted to say that I accidentally wrote Sean's name instead of Jisu. Please take my mistake into account and vote accordingly. I don't want to re-do the entire bracket because of those who have already voted. Sean = Jisu. Sorry about that.

- Bracket #2 for Period 4 is not up because of multiple ties that occurred. Jayce said ties would be handled in class, blogs will be looked at more carefully.

Battle of the Blogs

The first Bracket is posted. I decided to put each period as one poll instead of multiple polls, only vote within your period's bracket.

Instructions: Choose between the first two people, then go on and choose between the next pair, etc. etc.
Don't forget to leave constructive criticism on each others' blogs.

*Someone who has access to the course blog: please link this so people can actually see it.

AP workshop vault

Whether you're taking the AP exam or not, writing is going to be something that is going to be present for at least the next four years. I think that we, as a class, can all benefit from getting outrageously good at writing. We all know about the after class seminars that preston's going to start, to help prepare us for the exam, but a lot of us have jobs, sports, or other extra curricular things going on and can't make every one of these gatherings. So what I'm proposing is that each seminar be recorded and posted on Sphinx. This will make it extremely helpful not only us, but anyone else trying to polish up on their writing skills. The only thing I need to make this possible is someone who owns a camera and some sort of sound recording device, that won't mind attending or loaning them out for the duration of each meeting with the ability to post to sphinx.

Lets give him some points!

Friday, March 13, 2015

nesper saved my life

So, this morning I made my daughter breakfast, got her dressed, got her to school on time, returned texts/emails/Skypes (until my phone quit on Skype), went back home to get my wallet-- and #%^!!-- halfway down the 101 I realized I forgot my lunch.

I've never been so hungry in the middle of class.

Mr. Nesper to the rescue.  Thanks Aaron!

Glimpses of Brave New World Potential Overarching Themes

Social Conformity, Human Conditioning, Perfectionism/Imperfectionism, Technological Advancement, Humanity, Progressive-ism,Consciousness, Individualism

AP Test Prep

Dr. Preston is going to be hosting AP English Literature and Composition Exam preparations and practices during lunch at his room in March-ish - and is available to anyone. Just a reminder for y'all and if you have to time to spare, count in people and organize study groups.

The Theory of Cards and Literature, By Chase Hugh and Lukas Sheckherd

Card Games in Literature

In the vast selection of games that have accompanied humans in literature, it certainly does not take long before card games come to mind. One only has to consider the symbolic Beggar-My-Neighbor from Great Expectations or the famous game of bridge from The Golden Bowl to realize the relevance, if not significance, of card games in literature.

To further understand this essay, the reader must have a grasp on the necessary historical context. What are card games? How are they significant? One could argue that card games are merely a form of recreation or relaxation and, certainly, were used as so. But as to the answer of the question of the relevance of card games in literature for this must be able to be argued as well. Although centuries of evidence of card games has been referenced in literature (Annals of Egypt and Syria), that does not necessarily indicate their significance to the literary world.

Although it does not take a historian to understand the societal and rhetorical implications found in pair with card games, likewise a certain understanding and familiarity of the past to comprehend the broad and narrow ideas. It must be pointed out that the appearance of card games throughout the great collections of literature, historical documents and expository the same, has been substantial. From the emergence of the first recorded card games during the Tang Dynasty, from which only inferences of importance can be made, to references from European literature in the late 1700’s, to modern times, there has been a significant tie between literature and card games.

Looking at basic deck of cards similarities in appearance arise between the aforementioned deck and the standard bound literary object. Consider how even the basic materials used to make both cards and literature are essentially the same, a simple comparison with the same resonance as the comparisons of the corresponding chemical compounds of humans and the stars. The basic association of the similar physical commonalities between the deck and said literary object directly creates cognitive resonance between them and in the keeping and transference of knowledge and ideas, especially so in the forms of card games (which were coincidentally to be recorded and referenced in such literary objects).  

As one compares card games to literature, the reflections of society through literature and card games is hard to ignore. The reader should consider the variety of card games present and how each of these games came to being and the subsequent political, ideological, moral themes, commentaries, and perspectives that must be associated with their respective games. A society’s culture represented through the infinitely diverse literary world,  which connections to can be interpreted from all literary works, would ultimately diffuse into the not-entirely separate world of card games.  One could argue such literary works influenced the artwork and even the rules and game-play of card games. Consider how certain events in history may have shaped Card games and literature the same (such as the game Bullshit, a game centered around distrusting what has been stated, which has become popular since the Cold War).

The entirety of this essay gives only one shred of hope us, personally, unfortunately. That the reader will undertake their obligation - no duty - to realize the relevance of card games in literature and to understand the inclination and necessity of being able to play such influential and reflective card games during English not only to enjoy ourselves, but in an attempt to understand the nature of the past and its influences on literature. As for last words, we've laid our hands on the table, do you call our bullshit?

How One Person Makes A Difference in Everyone's Lives

Hear out our stories about Breanna Rodriguez:

Edgar Rodriguez: http://edgarrodriguezlopez.blogspot.com/2015/01/rest-in-peace-bree-rodriguez.html
Guadalupe Pliego: http://guadalupepliego.blogspot.com/2015/01/rest-in-peace-bree.html
Erica Paculan: http://ericapaculan.blogspot.com/2015/02/unforgotten-face.html
Victoria Tonascia: http://victonasc.blogspot.com/2015/01/ripbreetheg.html
Jayce Alegre: http://jaycedopefresh.blogspot.com/2015/02/always-g-forbree.html
Ashyln Bishop: http://ashlynbishop.blogspot.com/2015/01/sweet-angel.html
Ephraim Rodriguez: http://ephraim199.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-lost-smile.html
Jhaicelle Laron: http://jhaicellelaron.blogspot.com/2015/01/forbree_31.html
Henry Freebourn: http://www.htfree96.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-brief-conversation-on-shitty-thursday.html
Naiomi Desai: http://naiomidesai3.blogspot.com/2015/02/breanna-rodriguez-alive-in-all-our.html

How should we help you?

What would say to this video taken 2 years ago? Help is here. We'll get started somewhere and teach each other. Make posts/suggestions about your Masterpieces and/or Big Questions. There are more ways of learning and 5PH1NX is the place to do so.

Equality Among Humanity - A Masterpiece

Danielle & Erica need exposure from us, our stories and our connections (and networks).

Little explanation of their project and what they need from us, contact info is down below. PLEASE CONTACT THEM. LETS GET THIS AMAZING PROJECT GOING! Even if you just have further questions, feel free to contact them at the email provided.


 "Our masterpiece stems off of the idea that ignorance be reduced through knowledge and awareness. Seeing as this is a diversity/cultural identity and diversity project through social media, we need all the exposure that we can get. We need stories, your stories. There's so requirements whatsoever, no rubric, just you and your creation. Okay, I lied. We do have one requirement, and it is a very simple one. Your creation has to hold a piece of you, a piece of your story! Any creation is welcome (poetry, arts and crafts, photography, music, video, actual stories)."

SPREAD THE WORD THROUGH:
twitter hashtag: #equalityamonghumanity
twitter account: http://twitter.com/EAHumanity

CHECK OUT THEIR TUMBLR:
 equalityamonghumanity.tumblr.com 

CONTACT THEM:
 email: equalityamonghumanity@gmail.com 

 ALSO, check out their personal blogs for other tid bits, such as poster designs (one is located below), info., and essentially watch their project grow!

"spread the word!

we want YOUR stories

we want AWARENESS

we want diversity

we want culture

we want acceptance"

Sister Blogs - Be a part of THIS too!

We Are Righetti: http://wearerighetti.blogspot.com/

Kudos To You: http://kudosblogrighetti.blogspot.com/?m=0

We Are Righetti

As some of you may know, Lukas, Alec, and I have started a blog called We Are Righetti to let he world know (after recent events) how great the students at our school actually are! You can email your story to wearerighetti@gmail.com or contact any of us! Below is where you can learn what we're looking for! 

"As Righetti students we are generalized into a general populous and when a small group of students makes poor decisions we all get made out as those students. The We Are Righetti blog is for the rest of the students to share their stories, accomplishments, challenges, and thoughts to show the rest of the community that we are amazing individuals with our own brilliant stories.  Share your story and show that YOU are Righetti."

As an incentive to produce a masterpiece, 30 (yes, thirty!) Sphinx points for sending in a great, quality story! If everyone sends in a good story, everyone gets points!

Don't be afraid to let your families know and spread the word. 

Happy Holidays
-Victoria

Website info: http://wearerighetti.blogspot.com/

Free points???

Today's the end of the semester, so in the spirit of that comment with plans for over break to get 20 points. First 10 people get points. By the way, I plan to continue doing this, so it helps to check the blog frequently!!!

Emilio has taken my study group's test and put them away everyday when we used them in AP Microeconomics. He deserves points!!

Experiment!!

I wanted to know how many people actively check this blog. So the first 10 to comment to this post with any random fact get 20 points!!!! Game on!

Music people in England- reeeeeaaaaaching out to youuuuuuu in the US of A

I teach music at a university in the UK, and one of my classes joined Nathan playing ukulele in one of Dr. Preston's classes via skype. My students are keen to connect with you guys. They have ideas, but don't really know how to make the direct connections... and I am no good at being a middle man(girl/lady/not-really-grown-up-person) and so I asked Jayce and Omar if I could post and put up a few of their blogs so maybe there could be a more direct link.

From January, my students will be planning and teaching lessons (1-to-1 private music lessons) and it might be fun if some of you were interested in doing a skype with them, or a video exchange, or something - I throw that out to you! It is certainly not required for their course, but has a lot do do with how they might use music in life, would be great for their learning, and hopefully would be fun! All of my students have had police checks before starting their course (because that's what you have to do in the UK to work with any minors)... so they have all been checked out to be decent people...

As for connecting - a couple of the people have blogs -
Pete the guitar player: petemaherguitar.wordpress.com
Rosie who plays organ: chichesterorganist.wordpress.com
Victoria (violinist) victoriaj94.wordpress.com
Others are on twitter:
Victoria (sax): @ToriHands
Jess (singer) @Jess_Bhatty (and here: https://soundcloud.com/jessandlaura-1/stay-with-me-cover )
Andrew (guitar) @woodeywood
Rebecca (clarinet) @beckieboo_94
Harriet (singer) @harrietcarter
Sarah (singer) @SarahHooplah

In the class we have violin, cello, guitar (acoustic and electric), piano, voice, organ, clarinet, sax, flute, and maybe a few more instruments... it is a jolly bunch and we would love to connect. Please feel free to introduce yourself or invite them to join in! I'm happy to connect too if you guys think up any projects. As someone who spent childhood summers in California, and now lives in the UK, I do believe the world is huge, but it is also a small place!

Have a great Saturday!

Review

25 points for Matt and Noah for volunteering to be scorekeeper and MC

10 points to period 4 class for realizing prisoner's dilemma and beating the system by creating one large group.

10 points to Alyssa for remembering to give people points

Everyone Deserves Points for Something...

Everyone basically gains 30 points for Remixing Poetry because as you know, that takes creativity.

Moving rocks with Eric Jackson

Hi I am Michael, yesterday I really needed help and Eric Jackson answered that call.  My family had around 5 tons of small rocks delivered for us to renovate our backyard. He came and helped me moves all of these rocks and he was such a great help. For his hard work I believe that he deserves quite a bit of points for his hours of work. About 50 I believe.