Online Security

Since so much of our lives is spent online downloading information and friends, keeping your personal life locked down while surfing the web is a high priority.  What Ian was mentioning was, of course, common sense to all students, but the big thing that I saw that he centered around just not being stupid.  All the gimmicks that he showed were so simple yet so clever; the scroll bar that really isn't a scroll bar, and the Facebook security stuff.  The password stuff was really interesting, because I didn't think anybody could actually just leave 12345 as their password and think they're safe.  And to think that big companies like Sony can be just hacked like, "No biggie, dude, I do this all the time, hacking into huge companies with baller lawyers.  No sweat!"  But yeah, mainly Ian's talk was very helpful and I look forward to another presentation, if there is to be one.

Vocabulary Fall List #2

Intercede-  to plead on behalf on someone else.
 Hackneyed-  used so often as to lack freshness or origionality.
 Approbation-  the expression of approval or favorable opinoin, praise.
 Innuendo-  a hint, indirect suggestion or reference.
 Coalition-  a combination, union, or merger for some specific reason. 
 Elicit-  to draw forth, bring out form some source.
 Hiatus-  a gap, opening, break (in the sense that an element is missing)
 Assuage-  to make easier or milder, to relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, to satisfy, appease, quench.
 Decadence-  decline, decay, or deteriouration; excessive self-indugence.
 Expostulate-  to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning.
 Simulate-  to make a pretense of, to imitate.
 Jaded-  wearied, worn-out, dulled.
 Umbrage-  shade cast by trees; overshadowing influence or power.
 Prerogative-  a special right or privilage.
 Lurid-  causing shock, horror, or revulsion; pale, or sallow in color.
 Transcend-  to rise above or beyond; to exceed.
 Provincial-  pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook; countrified in the sense of being limited or backward
 Petulant-  peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated or upset.
 Unctuous-  excessivley smooth or smug; trying to hard to give an impression of eagerness, sincerity, or peity.
 Meritorious-  worthy, deserving of praise and recognition.

NaNoWriMo "Book"

Ok, I wrote this in 8th grade, so go easy on the grammar and writing.

"Young Goodman Brown" Q's.

The story "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is quite difficult to understand if you haven't already read Romeo and Juliet.  Words seemed flipped around, like Yoda-speech, and they also have unnecessary endings and "th's " all over the place.  Reading this piece, I had three problems:
1.)  I got lost towards the end of the story.  It was complicated and hard to discern what I needed to know and what was extra.
2.)  How did Faith get to the creepy-meeting-thingy?
and 3.)  How did the midnight meeting change Goodman Brown?

Socratic Seminar Notes.

Thread 1.) The Article Itself
Thread 2.) "Earth on Turtle's Back"
Thread 3.) Rhetoric
Thread 4.) Technology
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It seems that all Socratic Seminars that I have witnessed have fallen apart because everyone is to afraid that people won't agree or that their thoughts are stupid.  Those that are brave enough say whatever comes to mind first are seen as incoherent unless they throw some big words into their speech.  Along the way, there are minute flashes of brilliance that are soon engulfed by the wise-cracking brouhaha of their fellows.  Many kids will throw out their usual "Yeah, I agree with that..."  and never provide a true thought behind their agreement.  Still others change their minds much too quickly to have thought of any reason behind their sudden change of heart.  Sometimes, Socratic Seminars are great at bringing out the true brilliance of some people, if their peers wouldn't hold them back.

Reflections on Week #1: Looking Back, Moving Forward.

When I reviewed the past week, I tended to focus on all the hardships I endured;  Richard Cory reciting, vocab tests, and the drag of school.  But, there are things from this past week that I learned that, "Hey, I can't really do that," or "That worked well, I need to do that more often!"

Truthfully, a number of things could attract my focus in a bad way that takes away from my learning experience.  People in class being stupid, home troubles, time carved out to show my dogs some love (I'm a big dog person).  But I think I should be perfectly fine.  I adore the whole blogging concept!  Love it, love it, love it!!  To get back on topic, I do believe the best school-related event which changed my outlook on grades was reciting Richard Cory for Mrs. Byrne's English 2 Honors class and nailing it!  I felt so empowered, I was so stoked for the rest of the class period and the entire day, in fact.  That moment made me realize, "Why was I so worried about this?  I just mopped the floor with that poem!"  I feel so content with this english class.  I'm happy I'm going to get an AP like setting in which to find my true ability to excel in the school setting.

Blog Assignment #1

When I was choosing my classes (perk of being a teacher's kid) for the next year, I saw that Dr. Preston had  an AmLit class open.  I wasn't ready to give up the Honors/AP style of English, and a good friend and former student was just gushing about her blog and the class and the Doc.  So I was like, "Why not?  I've heard so much about his regular class being not much different from an AP class, and I want to prove to myself I can handle an AP class."

I believe that, under Dr. Preston's guidance, I can find in myself the confidence to speak and be heard.  I have always hated getting up and talking to my peers, even though talking to a room full of adults is no problem.  Being in Boy Scouts of America and inches from the rank of Eagle Scout has done that to me. But I don't expect the knowledge to just hit me.  I know I have to go into the work and find answers for my own quest of understanding and application.

I am so excited about establishing myself on the worldwide web.  I feel so... empowered!  It's exhilarating!  It might be a little too early, but I feel ready to take on Dr. Preston's AP Lit class Senior year.  It'll be fun and challenging.  I can't wait!

Welcome!

Blogging is a new skill that was daunting at first, but now I know it is so fun!  So sit back and enjoy the all-new Albright Blog!