TO ACT OR NOT TO ACT

Hamlet and Steve Jobs both have different views about the value of life. In Steve's speech it is basically saying that we should listen to our hearts and intuitions because they know what we want to do. It also says that we shouldn't waste time living someone else's life. We should live our own life and to the fullest. Hamlet on the other hand values life as a struggle with oneself. He says in the soliloquy "Thus Conscience does make Cowards of us all" its basically saying that the more of you think about a decision the less likely you will do it. The soliloquy relates the reader because Hamlet is facing problems that everybody faces like how he, only one person, can make a difference. It's those little things that make this something to remember.

DEAR STEVE

The way Jobs described the value of life was more obvious. He put it out there for the reader to pick up. Jobs said "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." which is something that we already know from an adult telling us, a movie, or etc. I agree with him 100% because it's your life not theirs. Jobs also says in his speech that we shouldn't let other peoples' thinking get to us. In the third to last paragraph it says "Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice." which I think is something wise to say. We live in a world where people care too much on what others say about us and it affects our thinking because all we want to do it fit in. That quote gives reassurance to the people who are in the border of going with what others say or staying with what they think is them. Overall Steve Jobs is saying that we should live in the moment and seize the day. We should follow our hearts and intuition because they already know what we what to do, somehow.

Netvibes

Okay so this website is a website where you can get more productive, social, informed, etc. It has different layouts on what you what the dashboard to look like. I choose the productivity one because I want to see if this can really get me to be more productive. I will make the dashboard my homepage to Google Chrome and will try it out for a week. If I don't see an improvement then I will just change the homepage back to what I had it before which is a bunch of websites that are put into tabs because they are the ones that I use the most.

vocabulary: fall #6

Adroit - adj. Clever or skillful in using your hands or mind
He was adroit at tax avoidance.
 Amicable - adj. Having a spirit of friendliness without serious disagreement or rancor
There will be an amicable statement of the dispute.
 Averse - adj. Having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
As a former CIA director, he is not adverse to secrecy.
 Belligerent - adj. Hostile and aggressive
A bull-necked, belligerent old man.
 Benevolent - adj. Well meaning and kindly
She had a benevolent smile that touched my heart.
 Cursory - adj. Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
A cursory glance at the figures.
 Duplicity - n. Deceitfulness; double-dealing
If intricate duplicity is what you like, read on.
 Extol - v. Praise enthusiastically
He extolled the virtues of the Russian people. 
 Feasible - adj. Possible to do easily or conveniently
 A road feasible for travel.
 Grimace - n. An ugly, twisted expression on a person's face, typically expression ing disgust, pain, or wry amusement
She gave a grimace of pain.
 Holocaust - n. Any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life
The Holocaust was the mass slaughter of European Jews in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
 Impervious - adj. Not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable
The coat is impervious to rain.
 Impetus - n. A moving force; impulse; stimulus
 The grant for building the opera house gave impetus to the city's cultural life.
 Jeopardy - n. Hazard or risk of or exposure to loss, harm, death, or injury
For a moment his life was in jeopardy.
 Meticulous - adj. Taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough
A meticulous craftsman; meticulous personal appearance.
 Nostalgia - n. A wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time
A nostalgia for his college days.
 Quintessence - n. The pure and concentrated essence of a substance
He's the quintessence of arrogant ruthlessness, yet he's awkwardly innocent.
 Retrogress - v. To go backward into an earlier and usually worse condition
To retrogress to infantilism.
 Scrutinize - v. To examine in detail with careful or critical attention.
As you point out, it depends on which part of history you choose to scrutinize.
 Tepid - adj. Moderately warm; lukewarm
He grabbed some tepid water.
Accede - v. Assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty
The authorities did not accede to the striker's demand.
Brandish - v. Wave or flourish (a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement
Brandishing his sword, he rode into battle.
Comprise - v. Consist of; be made up of
The country comprises twenty states.
Deft - adj. Neatly skillful and quick in one's movement
A deft piece of footwork.
Destitute - adj. Without the basic necessities of life
The charity care for destitute children.
Explicit - adj. Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt
The speaker's intentions were not made explicit.
Extirpate - v. To remove or destroy totally; do away with; exterminate
To extirpate an unwanted hair.
Inopportune - adj. Not opportune; inappropriate; inconvenient; untimely or unseasonable
For one, this one doesn't run out of bullets at inopportune times.
Ironic - adj. Using or characterized by irony
His mouth curved into an ironic smile.
Musty - adj. Obsolete; outdated; antiquated
Those are some musty laws. They date back to the 18th century and don't apply to modern life.
Officious - adj. objectionably aggressive in offering one's unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice
These officious, self-important twerps can do whatever they want, alas.
Ominous - adj. portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious
An ominous bank of dark clouds.
Pinnacle - n. the highest or culminating point, as of success, power, fame, etc.
The pinnacle of one's career.
Premeditated - adj. done deliberately; planned in advance
A premeditated murder.
Rampant - adj. violent in action or spirit; raging; furious
 A rampant leopard.
Solace - n. comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble; alleviation of distress or discomfort
The minister's visit was the dying man's only solace.
Stately - adj. majestic; imposing in magnificence, elegance, etc.
A stately home.
Supple - adj. bending readily without breaking or becoming deformed; pliant; flexible
A supple bough.
Suppress - v. to put an end to the activities of (a person, body of persons, etc.)
To suppress the Communist party.
Venal - adj. willing to sell one's influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary
A venal judge.

NO CHILD LEFT UNTABLETED

In this day and age the US educational system is changing. More and more schools are getting tablets or iPads. This is a new technique on how to use technology to teach a classroom. It seems like a good idea but the way they are using it seems like it can backfire. They want to use the tablets in class almost all the time. I feel the students will misuse the tablets and start playing games or surfing the web on unrelated things.

vocabulary: fall #5

Adroit - adj. Clever or skillful in using your hands or mind
He was adroit at tax avoidance.
 Amicable - adj. Having a spirit of friendliness without serious disagreement or rancor
There will be an amicable statement of the dispute.
 Averse - adj. Having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
As a former CIA director, he is not adverse to secrecy.
 Belligerent - adj. Hostile and aggressive
A bull-necked, belligerent old man.
 Benevolent - adj. Well meaning and kindly
She had a benevolent smile that touched my heart.
 Cursory - adj. Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
A cursory glance at the figures.
 Duplicity - n. Deceitfulness; double-dealing
If intricate duplicity is what you like, read on.
 Extol - v. Praise enthusiastically
He extolled the virtues of the Russian people. 
 Feasible - adj. Possible to do easily or conveniently
 A road feasible for travel.
 Grimace - n. An ugly, twisted expression on a person's face, typically expression ing disgust, pain, or wry amusement
She gave a grimace of pain.
 Holocaust - n. Any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life
The Holocaust was the mass slaughter of European Jews in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
 Impervious - adj. Not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable
The coat is impervious to rain.
 Impetus - n. A moving force; impulse; stimulus
 The grant for building the opera house gave impetus to the city's cultural life.
 Jeopardy - n. Hazard or risk of or exposure to loss, harm, death, or injury
For a moment his life was in jeopardy.
 Meticulous - adj. Taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough
A meticulous craftsman; meticulous personal appearance.
 Nostalgia - n. A wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time
A nostalgia for his college days.
 Quintessence - n. The pure and concentrated essence of a substance
He's the quintessence of arrogant ruthlessness, yet he's awkwardly innocent.
 Retrogress - v. To go backward into an earlier and usually worse condition
To retrogress to infantilism.
 Scrutinize - v. To examine in detail with careful or critical attention.
As you point out, it depends on which part of history you choose to scrutinize.
 Tepid - adj. Moderately warm; lukewarm
He grabbed some tepid water.

DECLARATION OF LEARNING INDEPENDENCE

I am planing on doing a smart go as my declaration of learning independence. I envision myself as a mathematics professor at some college where I can teach students who want to learn math. It would be high level math in which you will have to spend an hour or two to do that homework. I will know that I did it when I land a job as an assistant professor and apply for residency. I know I can do because if i apply myself I know there isn't anything I can't do. When I set my mind into something I see it through to the end. I am responsible for getting there because I choose which colleges I want to go learn at, which majors to pick and how to attain that job. My goal isn't going to happen soon. It will take time and hard work. In about 10 year I should be a professor teaching in my own classroom to my students.

vocabulary: fall #4

Accede - v. Assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty
The authorities did not accede to the striker's demand.
Brandish - v. Wave or flourish (a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement
Brandishing his sword, he rode into battle.
Comprise - v. Consist of; be made up of
The country comprises twenty states.
Deft - adj. Neatly skillful and quick in one's movement
A deft piece of footwork.
Destitute - adj. Without the basic necessities of life
The charity care for destitute children.
Explicit - adj. Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt
The speaker's intentions were not made explicit.
Extirpate - v. To remove or destroy totally; do away with; exterminate
To extirpate an unwanted hair.
Inopportune - adj. Not opportune; inappropriate; inconvenient; untimely or unseasonable
For one, this one doesn't run out of bullets at inopportune times.
Ironic - adj. Using or characterized by irony
His mouth curved into an ironic smile.
Musty - adj. Obsolete; outdated; antiquated
Those are some musty laws. They date back to the 18th century and don't apply to modern life.
Officious - adj. objectionably aggressive in offering one's unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice
These officious, self-important twerps can do whatever they want, alas.
Ominous - adj. portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious
An ominous bank of dark clouds.
Pinnacle - n. the highest or culminating point, as of success, power, fame, etc.
The pinnacle of one's career.
Premeditated - adj. done deliberately; planned in advance
A premeditated murder.
Rampant - adj. violent in action or spirit; raging; furious
 A rampant leopard.
Solace - n. comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble; alleviation of distress or discomfort
The minister's visit was the dying man's only solace.
Stately - adj. majestic; imposing in magnificence, elegance, etc.
A stately home.
Supple - adj. bending readily without breaking or becoming deformed; pliant; flexible
A supple bough.
Suppress - v. to put an end to the activities of (a person, body of persons, etc.)
To suppress the Communist party.
Venal - adj. willing to sell one's influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary
A venal judge.

Literature Analysis

TOPIC(S) and/or EVENT(S)
1. My book is about how the CIA pulled off an arduous escape plan for the hostages of the 1979 Iran US embassy crisis.

2. I think that the author choose to write this book because he felt that people should know how they pulled off a rescue mission this big.

3. I choose this book because a friend recommended it to me. I read the title and thought it should be a good book because a former CIA agent wrote it. I was right. I did end up liking it and reading it through to the end. The plot made me want to read it more and more.

4. I think this book is realistic only because it happened in history other than it it doesn't seem that realistic. The tone in which the author wrote it makes it seem casual and normal. It could pass as a fiction book.


PEOPLE
1. The author reports his own interpretations based on personal observations. Not only that but he has training in how to read people so his interpretations are basically spot on. If I met the people the author was trying to smuggle out I would probably see them in almost the same way. Frighten and alone. The author's choices make him seem like a person who will try no what what. He has determination and is persistent. He wrote this book in order to tell the story of how the CIA pulled off an arduous escape plan. The author's tone to me seems a bit casual. The tone doesn't suck you into the story that's the plot that does. The tone says a lot about the subjects. It helps create that ease when they're talking to each other.

2. Joseph Stafford is not a positive guy. He thinks negatively throughout the escape plan. He doesn't want to trust Tony and has no hope that the plan will work. I consider him a dynamic character because he changes in the story. When the author first meets him he's a frighten young man who thinks negative. I can't blame him because that whole hostage situation that happened in Iran can do that to someone. In the end he takes charge and tries to explain to the guards why they are there in Iran. It was surprising to read that. He completely changed in that moment. He was actually confident and kept his cool. If I could make him into a fictional character I would use indirect characterization on him because you can't find out how he if I just told the reader. It won't have as much depth. Henry Schats comes off as a cool guy in the story. He doesn't seem to loose his cool that much and is the calmest person out of the group. He is more of a static character because he doesn't change throughout the story. He stays the same calm cool guy. If i could make him into a fictional character I would use direct characterization because he doesn't need that much detail. He's a static character so a flat out description of him would do just fine.

3. I chose these two people because they're the ones that I found interesting. Joseph surprised me at the end when he took charge when there was trouble so I choose him. I choose Henry because he seemed the least affected by the whole Iran hostage crisis. I found that interesting because I would've thought that everybody would be scared but I guess not. Henry kept his cool the best.


STYLE
1. I don't know what the author's style was mainly because I don't know what style is the literature world is.

2. The author uses lengthy descriptions of places and people. It helps with the book because he is telling a moment of history that not that many people know unless if they were born in that time or lived in it.

3. The author uses first person to help make the boo more interesting especially with this plot.

4. The author's attitude towards the characters are normal. I believe his attitude was the same from when he first met the characters in real life.

5. The author uses his memory of the newspapers, tv and documents of when the story took place. He doesn't use hard proof because well he is a former CIA agent so I bet they wouldn't let him.


ENDURING MEMORY
The idea that even bad ideas are good is something that I will remember from the book. In the book they're lots of bad ideas on how to rescue the hostages but they have to choose one and they did. They chose to make a fake movie and have the hostages has the cast. That sounds like a bad idea already but hey it work.

WILL STUDY FOR FOOD

The HSF/ Coca-Cola® Hispanic Heritage Month 2013 Contest and Sweepstakes Scholarship Program is a scholarship worth applying for because it has a huge payout. The grand prize is a $20,000 scholarship from Coca-Cola to any hispanic student that plans to be a full time student in a 4 year degree program in college for the 2014-2015 school year. The money from this scholarship will help me pay for my tuition and fees, books and supplies, transportation costs and some of my room and board. The money will be of great help to me for it will cover over a 2/3 of my college costs. I am going to apply for it and hopefully I end up getting it because I can use that money for college.

vocabulary: fall #3

Accomplice - n. A person who helps another commit a crime
My accomplice and I robbed a bank the other day.
Annihilate - v. Destroy utterly, obliterate
A simple bomb of this type could annihilate them all.
Arbitrary - adj. Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system
His mealtimes were entirely arbitrary.
Brazen - adj. Shameless or impudent
She made brazen overtures to a man who never had a friend.
Catalyst - n. A person or thing that precipitates an event or change
His imprisonment by the government served as the catalyst that helped transform social unrest into revolution.
Exodus - n. A going out; a departure or emigration, usually of a large number of people
The summer exodus to the country and shore.
Facilitate - v. To make easier or less difficult; help forward
Careful planning facilitates any kind of work.
Incorrigible - adj. Not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform
He has an incorrigible behavior that gets on peoples nerves.
Latent - adj. Present but not visible, apparent, or actualized; existing as potential
He has hidden latent ability.
Militant - adj. Vigorously active and aggressive, especially in support of a cause
As soon as the military start using tear gas the peaceful protesters turned into militant reformers.
Morose - adj. Gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood
He has been so morose today, thinking of everything he failed at.
Opaque - adj. Not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through
The windows were opaque from the smoke of the house fire.
Paramount - adj. Chief in importance or impact; supreme; preeminent
A point of paramount significance.
Prattle - v. To talk in a foolish or simple-minded way; chatter; babble
Their prattle is the soothing small-talk that takes our minds off more serious matters.
Rebut - v. To refute by evidence or argument
They should not only study their own point of view, but be prepared to rebut the ideas of the opposing group.
Reprimand - n. A severe reproof or rebuke, especially a formal one by a person in authority
The escort grabbed them and sent them away with a reprimand.
Servitude - n. Slavery or bondage of any kind
Liberation from indentured servitude is an entirely worthy objective.
Slapdash - adv. In a hasty, haphazard manner
He assembled the motor slapdash.
Stagnant - adj. Not flowing or running, as water, air, etc.
Family incomes are stagnant, but tuition keeps going up.
Succumb - v. To give way to superior force; yield
To succumb to despair.

ESSAY IDEA

The idea that I liked the most was:
Despite their lives being at risk, why do people continue to eat unhealthy?
This is a good essay topic in my opinion because it helps you get inside of the eater's mind. You can find out why they continue to eat at McDonald's or wherever it is they go. It's a good psychological question. I can already think of couple things why they would continue from the top of head.