Honors History Blog #4

A personal honors history:

1. What did you gain from your experiences as an honors student in the first semester (please consider novels, leadership opportunities, writing, history, projects, etc.)?

As an honors student I found myself looking for deeper meaning in books read in class and for honors assignments. I gained a deeper understanding of the books read and how to write reviews. I read more book reviews this past semester than I have in my whole life.

Being in honors drove me to try harder on project and try to make something better than would be expected of me. I wanted to be one of the best and I also felt more able to help others improve their own work. In Life: The Book I took the role of a content editor because I felt capable of reading through an article and correcting content and giving feedback. This is partially because I am an honors student. I felt that with the experience I had and my ability to succeed that I was qualified to edit a paper. I found out that I really enjoyed being an editor. This is a role I would be happy to take again as an honors student.

2. Discuss what you might have done differently if you could do this past semester of honors over again.

I would have stayed slightly more on top of my work. I found myself doing a lot of work last minute and it ended up rushed and of less quality than it could be. I missed assignments here and there that brought my grade down and it was disappointing.

3. Discuss your goals for honors in the second semester.

My goals for the second semester would be to stay on top of things. I want to do things on time and get them done early if at all possible. Like the book reviews, to write them all before the week of the due date would be a big improvement from the way I ran things this semester.

4. If you could choose any specific parts of literature and.or history for our honors work next semester, what would you pick and why?

I would want to do a literary anylisis of a fictional book fantasy or like wise. Something that focused less on the real world ideals and more of what went through the author’s mind and the symbolism involved in the read book.

Honors History Blog #3

Civilian Conservation Corps

In the New Deal, instated during the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps sent 3 million young men, ages 18-25, to work on reforestation and other eco conservation jobs. They worked on public lands in every state. These jobs required no previous experience: they were unskilled manual labor jobs. This brought more jobs to the market, got the surplus of workers out of cities and gave the young men a healthy, money providing condition. The CCC brought out a new appreciation for the outdoors to much of America as well.

In our current situation there are millions of unemployed young men. They are crowding up the cities and in my opinion being useless. They are becoming less and less healthy everyday and more and more attached to their computer screens. Jobs are becoming scarce and without a degree almost impossible to find. This would provide a job opportunity for millions of those who couldn’t find a job elsewhere. This would not only get these men jobs but it would get them outside being healthy participating in exercise and constant face to face social interaction with each other.

Also our parks have gone into complete disarray. They need care and grooming. It’s been too long since someone gave them a good once over and fixed what needed fixing. The men that were part of the CCC planted almost 3 billion trees and we need more trees. A lot of those trees have died, been burnt down, or cut down. They need to be replanted to keep our environment healthy and in the best state it can be.

Nothing much would need to be changed about the way it worked in th 1930’s to now. Men would go stay in camps and work on parks as their job until the government saw fit to stop funding the CCC again.

Honors History Blog #2

Dear Mr. Obama,

I am writing to you today to suggest a plan. A plan on how to change the current America and save from the ever advancing “Great Recession.” I would like to start and bring up FDR’s plan to help in the “Great Depression.” One of his requirements is that his plan be “Simple. So simple that everybody will understand it.” And this is where social security came into play. Social Security was put into place to help avoid future events like the “Great Depression,” and it hasn’t. Since FDR’s death there has been 12 official recessions.

My first problem is that you haven’t followed through with what you said was your plan. This recession has been going on for 20 months now and the unemployment rate is .5% higher than is was before your “plan” was instigated. We have lost 3.6 million jobs and you stated you would save millions.

First thing is first, no more federal spending more debt is not going to help us. What we do need is people spending their money. That is the key to digging out of a recession. I suggest cutting sales tax, even if only for a short amount of time. Sales would hit the roof, and that is what you need. This time of year would be ideal for this because people are spending a concentrated amount of money at one time. The holidays are ideal. If the spending began the money flow would pick up its pace and our broken economy would be on the mend. If a companies profits rise people would stop losing their jobs and other people might be offered better paying more available jobs. Once the sales tax is reinstated the American economy would be back in the place it belongs.

Sincerely,

Erica Snider

"How to Fix the Recession: Cut Sales Tax, Page 2 of 2." Associated Content from Yahoo! - Associatedcontent.com. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. .

Hoven, By Randall. "How to Fix a Recession." American Thinker. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. .

"The Test : The New Yorker." National and World News, Profiles, Culture, Reviews, Fiction, Poetry : The New Yorker. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. .

Honors History Blog #1

Social Security

Security has always been a desired thing. All throughout history people have been striving for security so that when in a time of need they are taken care of. Social Security is what assures you that when you are old and retired that you will be taken care of. Social Security and health care go hand in hand. They are both there as a way to help you take3 care of yourself when you can’t do it with your income alone. Social security is “the comprehensive federal program of benefits providing workers and their dependents with retirement income, disability income, and other payments. The Social security tax is used to pay for the program.”

America’s first Social Security program was called the “Civil War Pensions.” “Following the Civil War, there were hundreds of thousands of widows and orphans, and hundreds of thousands of disabled veterans.” (www.socialsecurity.gov) This huge amount of people that couldn’t take care of themselves led to the Pensions. Money was given to these people so they could pay bills and take care of themselves after serving their country or having a family member that did so, "incurred as a direct consequence of . . .military duty." Over time the military pension evolved as the veterans grew older the qualification became more broad. In 1890 any disable civil war veteran qualified for benefits and in 1906 old age became a qualification. “By 1910, over 90% of the remaining Civil War veterans were receiving benefits under this program.” But this only made up an extremely small portion of the entire US. In 1934 after the Great Depression more than half of the elderly American population could support themselves so by 1935 30 states had old age pension. The need for these pensions is all to do with health problem and the lack of the ability to do work and get paid; disabilities, old age and being an orphan are all things that would prevent you from having a solid income in that time period and now as well.

Social security is the biggest event that led up to our current health care system because it fist showed that a lot of American’s can’t take care of themselves and need some sort of supplement money to cover medical bills. Health care is there to provide a way for people to have coverage on their medical expenses in the same way a pension would often be used.

"Social Security." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 09 Dec. 2010.

The United States Social Security Administration. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. ._security>.

"Social Security Definition." InvestorWords.com - Investing Glossary. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. .

Blog #20: Fed vs AntiFed Interview!

The Compromise of 1850, passed in September 1850, a was neither Federalist or Anti Federalist, it is both. The Compromise of 1850 was a set of bills created to end the confrontation over slavery. This set of five bills was meant to deal with the slavery that was spreading throughout America and keep it confined to the states that the people choose to have slaves.

The Compromise of 1850 is Federalist in the fact that it was created by the American Central government and made all the states follow it. The Compromise is Anti Federalist because it allows Utah and New Mexico sovereignty on the issue of slavery. This is letting the states make the decision, state government not the central government. It also made California a free state, this is another situation where a small government has control. The Compromise split the country into states who wanted slavery and those who didn’t and each of their small state governments had control over the issue.

Interview with Bill Snider

Do you think the Compromise of 1850 is federalist of anti federalist?

I think that compromise had some federalist aspects but not all of it. The part where the whole compromise may have delayed the civil war the conflict and held things together for a while. Held the Union together for maybe four years. California became a non slave state. I guess what it was about was what to do with the New Mexico territory. Texas wanted it but they did get 10 million and the pan handle is that federalist of anti federalist I don’t know. I’m guessing that what was happen that by 1850 there a lot of major issues that were causing conflicts between the slave states and non slaves states who would own who would control all those issues were causing conflict and controversy so I guess in that way it supported the way of the US indefinitely it didn’t last for long that’s for sure.

The thing that is interesting is that there is a lot of polarization in the issues the two sides I guessing the wigs and the democrats and they became two separates groups and that’s a lot like it is today. The fact that they were able to hammer out some kind of a compromise the north was generally against slavery is very federalist though.

What parts of the Compromise of 1850 are anti federalist?

That would be anything that it’s like you have two different us you have the slavery and the not the question is can they coexist under the same federal system they 1850 compromise perpetuates these two systems. It reinforces the existence of the slaves states and the non slave states.

1860, By. "Compromise of 1850." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 09 Dec. 2010.

Kelly, By Martin. "Compromise of 1850." American History From About. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. .

Blog #19 Semester/LIFE: Reveiw

1. What are you most proud of in your Life: The Book writing? Try to describe this is detail!

I am most proud of the poetic and artistic value in the first two paragraphs of my article. The first paragraphs are from the viewpoint of a potential designer baby and I was so proud of coming up with that concept and working it into my article. I think I convey the child’s emotions very well through it. I wanted to draw out the reader’s emotions through this child’s life experience and I would like to believe I managed that well.

2. What are some changes or new ideas that you have developed in your writing through the course of this semester?

The main focus was the actual style of writing that belongs in an article. Reading the New Yorker helped in that manner. Something I found the hardest was combining my flowing poetic style of writing with the science and economic aspect of an article.

3. If you had a little more time to work on your writing for LIFE: The Book, what would you do differently? What would you change about your writing?

There is not much I would do differently. If I could I would’ve done an interview and used the transcript in the article. I think that would have added a lot to my article in correspondence with the financial standing and the ethical standing on designer babies.

4. How has the additional element of publication in a book affected the way you approach writing?

If anything it put the pressure on. I had everything turned in early, which is rare for me. I wanted the book ot be done and published on time so I rushed to finish. I don’t know if this made my work better or worse. Also knowing that hundreds of people would be reading this book as a representation of High Tech High I knew it had to be good. I focused on making my writing good, educational, and efficient.

Blog#18: Senate Health Care Hearings

What are your character's main goals for the Senate Health Care Hearings?

• Improve drug rehabilitation centers more funding to that
• Overhaul the health-care system to provide coverage for the more than 45 million Americans who lack it and to bring soaring costs under control.
• Renegotiate Prescription Drug Benefit
• Investing in stem cell and other medical research.
• Give single American’s access to affordable, effective health care coverage
• Investing in life saving stem cell and other medical research that offers real hope for cures and treatment for millions of Americans.
• Preventing Insurance Company Discrimination
• Helping Seniors With Prescription Drugs
  
• Low costs for health care
• Improvements made to medicaid

What do you want to accomplish?

I would like bills voted for and passed that support each and everyone of these issues.

How do you plan to accomplish it?

I will write bills that support each of theses issues and submit them to the senate then show why they should be votes for though the duration of the trial.

Who are you working with to get this done?

I am working mainly with the witnesses making sure they way what needs to be said.

Blog #16: Opposing viewpoints & your topic for Life: The Book

In relation to health care designer babies are a step in the right direction. One of the major costs and conflicts in health care is the problem of mental diseases or birth defects. With designer babies that would more or less eliminate that problem.

The main issue with health care is the ability to afford it. Universal health care is basically Communism. "A right to health care thus requires the government to infringe on people’s liberty rights by commandeering their talents, labor, and earnings." My real beliefs are that if you are treated without consent you are not obligated to pay for any treatment. If you consent to be treated and are fully aware of the costs and how they will affect you and your ability to live a normal life i.e.: bankruptcy you should have to be responsible for the expenses. When people say that it is their natural right to have health care my response is "if its your right to have clothing are you going to walk around naked if I don't provide the clothes for you?"

Blog #15: Life: The Book & American History

4. Describe the types of health care problems Americans face, and the government's role in seeking solutions.

Our health care costs twice as much, as all the other countries in the world. The insane amount of 1.4 trillion dollars on health care, that is 15 % of the american household income. Health care costs are always going up and thats prevents companies from having as many employees and then their workers have to be more capable. Companies know they more or less have to cover their workers, but they are now depending on their workers to pay for their own health care. This creates poverty. One of the fears of designer babies is that the people with money will

1. Using a specific example, describe what makes a compelling character in narrative nonfiction or literary journalism.

In the article "The Covenant" Francis Collins is given a strong personality that is based in his only recently discovered Christian beliefs. They show how invested he is in science and how he combines it with his Christianity. Many of the scientists are not pleased with him as the director of the NIH because they believe his Christianity would interfere with the projects he funds. They give him a conflict and a belief that many people can relate to.

2. Using a specific example, describe what makes an interesting plot in narrative nonfiction or literary journalism.

In "Darwin's Surprise" they provide conflict - people afraid of the diseases coming back and causing another widespread infection and they give something surprising and interesting - the fact that all of the diseases from the past left footprints on our DNA and can be recreated.

3. What specific steps do authors take to write non-jargon-based scientific writing?

In all the articles they had the original names and then provided examples. They gave proof of what was happening and why and how. They gave us the chance to form opinions of our own.

4. What specific steps do authors take to encourage their readers to connect with their stories?

They gave you their opinions on what they were writing about. This gives the reader a chance to form an opinion and decide weather they agree of disagree with the writer. They give characters (specific characters) that the reader can relate to.

Blog #14: Life: The Book & Humanities

1. I will be writing about adulthood/the fetal stage in relation to designer babies.

In vitro fertilisation (Also known a test tube babies) This is the process in which the egg is fertilized outside of the mother's body. It is often used as a treatment for infertility and is used in the creation of designer babies. In this process egg cells are removed from the woman and fertilized by sperm in a fluid medium. The fertilized egg is then transfered back into the womb of the parent. In the creation of a designer baby In vitro fertilisation is used to have a chance to change the childs genetic makeup so it is artifically selected outside of the mother to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics. This also reduces the chance the child will be born with a genetic disorder. The fear is that people will use this thechnology for more trivial things more cosmetic things this is currently illegal although this is currently possible in animals.

They have also created an artifical chromosome that can hold hundreds of genes and this entire chromosome coul be put into an embryo and this would change the way is grew.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN9ep4B9Hw0

2. The Federal government is the one that funds research like this to happen. They have stopped funding on projects like embryo-tic stem cell research and they could stop the funding on this too due to the fear that this would lead to the creation of another superior race.

3. One of the fears of the concept of designer babies is that the wealthier class would end up creating a superior race. Because they could afford the genetic engineering, basically they could afford a more intelligent child. I mean if a parent is willing to pay $60,000 for their child to attend Harvard and have a better chance at success what do you think a parent would be willing to pay to assure their child's academic success.

Blog #13: Life—The Book!

Article Possibility One: Designer Babies

1. The chance to decide what your baby will look like hair color, eye color ect...

The Science: One way to make a designer baby begins with an embryo created by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Genetic engineers modify the embryo’s DNA and then introduce it into a womb. These children would be genetically modified.

The Humanities: Discuss the ethics of it. Is it right to be able to control what a child would look like. why should a parent be able to make this decision when the child might not want to look the way they were made to.

Relevant Stage of Life: Fetal or Adulthood

2.

3. A baby's genetic makeup would be artificially selected by genetic engineering and then combined with in vitro fertilisation to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics.

4. This is a fairly recent possibility people are questioning the ethics of it though. It turns to the problem with embryo termination and the chance that we would breed a race of super humans which in turn relates to Hitler's

concepts and Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments.

Article Possibility Two: Diabetes

1.Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producingbeta cells of the pancreas.

The science: Type 1 diabetes is a polygenic disease meaning multiple genes cause it. Although they are not sure of the cause one of the possibilities is the when the immune system attacks infectious cells or viruses is also attacks the beta cells in the pancreas.

The Humanities: How long has diabetes been affecting humans? Has is come around since a particular food was introduced to our diet? How would this affect someones life.

Relevant Stage of life: All apply

2.

3. Type 1 diabetes is a polygenic disease meaning multiple genes cause it or contribute to the cause. Depending on locus or combination of loci, it can be dominant, recessive, or somewhere in between. Although they are not sure of the cause one of the possibilities is the when the immune system attacks infectious cells or viruses is also attacks the beta cells in the pancreas.

4. Type 2 diabetes is now affecting out nation harshly. Due to our horrible diet and lack of information. At lease 8% of our nation is affected by type 2 diabetes that is 23.6 million people.

Article Possibility Three: Parkinson's disease

1. Parkinson's is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer's motor skills, speech, and other functions.

The science: Although most people with PD do not know the cause 15% are do to genetic mutations and have family member also affected by PD.

The Humanities: First documented in 1817 and was known as shaking palsy. This disease has affected many people through out history but a cure has never been found.

Relevant Stage of Life: Child - Elderly

2.

3. PD is caused by multiple specific genetic mutations. A few of the genes that are affected by these mutations are Alpha-synuclein (SNCA), ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), and parkin (PRKN).

4. Why or how had this disease never been cured? Who is history has been affected by Parkinson's? What is it like to live with PD?

Blog #12: Beginning the Internship Brainstorm

#1 I would like to work in a small environment with one or two other people. I would like to work with clothing or children. An outdoors internship would also be fantastic. Any thing that involves work with my hands like crafts, sewing, or gardening would be preferable.

#2 I definitely want to make the most of my creative skills but also my intelligence too. I want to learn about marketing and running a small business and being self employed. I also would like to hone my writing ability and I would like to see how it

could be used out in the work world.

#3 Baking would also be an ideal internship I would love to learn how to make the perfect souflee or how to make a checkered cake. I would also like to improve my sewing ability and learn how to turn it in to a career. I would like to know how to run a small business and how to get started when you have nothing.

Blog #11: Twitter!

Facebook Politicians Are Not Your Friends

This article was very interesting it was first interesting to here about how different political veiws had been changed through the use of the internet like senatorial candidate, George Allen of Virginia, was caught on camera delivering a racial slur and this more or less took him out of the running. Or how people use twitter more how politicians use twitter. They use it to access the public but some cheat and have other people tweet for them which I think is like lying. A twitter should be your own personal thing not something used for advertising. And I think its disrespectful to the public that Sarah Palin paid some one to write her "internet messages." The part of this article that appealed to me was the politically related bits in which I wrote about here. There is more in this article as well.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/how-obamas-internet-campaign-changed-politics/

This article gives an over view of how Obama used the internet to his advantage though out his campaign. It became a campaign tool and one in which Obama used well. Pay attention to where the author talks about how the internet was used in his campaign.

Blog #10 Lawyer Version

My thoughts as I go into this trial... Well there is a lot of uncertainty. I know we are at a strong disadvantage in this case. Thanks so the media the majority of America is already against us. So I'm nervous more than anything. I feel like I'm on edge a lot not sleeping as well. This case is almost always the thing thats on my mind. Always thinking of new things to add or questions I could ask or speculating about what the prosecution is planning.

Am I ready? I don't think so. Not yet. I won't be ready until Thursday lunch. We still have work to do and only my then do I think I will be mentally prepared for what is coming.

For last minute prep... Well I think we are still doing a little more than last minute prep. But we are editing our opening a closing statements finalizing scripts and analyzing the prosecution's evidence.

Blog #9 The Civil War... today?

The Rwandan Genocide is a massively lasting effect from the civil war. We ended slavery and so most people believe that racism doesn't exist but this genocide is happening because of this racism and is continuing today. These people are still afraid of this racism and are intimidated by it.

The "Real" Blog #8: The Constitution, The News & You

http://www.migrationinformation.org/usfocus/display.cfm?ID=208

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States

1. Summarize the article, and include relevant quotes.

"About 5.3 million undocumented immigrants from Mexico are living in the United States, "

Immigrants have been coming over into America and now 57% of America's undocumented inhabitants are from Mexico. The flow of legal immigrants is about 1 in 7. The immigration flow has increased massively from 1990 to now around a 50% increase.

"According to National Public Radio in 2005, about 3 percent work in agriculture; 33 percent have jobs in service industries; and substantial numbers can be found in construction and related occupations (16 percent), and in production, installation, and repair (17 percent).^[5] According to USA Today in 2006, about 4 percent work in farming; 21 percent have jobs in service industries; and substantial numbers can be found in construction and related occupations (19 percent), and in production, installation, and repair (15 percent), with 12% in sales, 10% in management, and 8% in transportation"

The united states is a highly desirable place to live we are one of the most well of countries in the current world.

2. Explain what Constitutional concepts are relevant. Some may be obvious, but others maybe more subtly related. Explain the Constitutional connection in your own words, but also reference the specific Article & Section or Amendment(s).

This article is closely related to Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights. These undocumented immigrants will not count towards representation in the House of Representation so we essentially end up with a lot more on our plate than we can handle. As stated in the 14th amendment " Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State"

3. Explain what interests you about this article and/or the Constitutional connections you found.

Well first thing first as a lawyer I have to be interested in this. It has always been a topic I have been interested and passionate about if only in private. I think that the 14th amendment is important to look at because it shows the reasons the founders had for making sure everyone was accounted for and had citizenship.

Blog # 7 What stands out so far?

What stands out to you in your learning?

(Your beard)

All the writing tips seem to have been the most helpful. I go home and this about them. Yeah I kknow thats a little weird but it's exciting. I write a lot on my own time but I don't spend the time to improve my actual style so these writing tips are helping me not only in class but on my personal time to.

What is working well in this class?

A lot of it might actually be your general exctiement about teaching to us. It makes everything more interesting and makes it seem like if you can be excited about it then we can be to.

What can you do to build upon your successes?

Just keep pushing the way I have been for the first part of this semester. Pushing and makeing sure everything is done right, asking for help and helping others.

What very specific, concrete & manageable steps can you take to make the most of your opportunities to learn in this class?
-Be time efficient

-Listen and pay attention at all times

-Ask questions and make sure I always know whats going on in class

What are your goals for the next few weeks in class?

To stay focused and do the best I can on the upcoming project.

Blog # 6 Comic Con Artist Statement

Comic Con

Erica Snider

I walk out of the summer heat to the frigid gush of the overly air conditioned convention center air. I close my eyes as to absorb the atmosphereand steel myself and I am attacked, mind you, with love, but attacked nonetheless. My eyes open to see a swarm loving faces hovering over me covered in painted masks and makeup but I know who’s underneath. I know they are people who are happy to see me.

This Convention is a place where nobody is pushed away or shunned. Everyone there has a place or a niche where they belong and connect with people who like doing the same things such as memorizing all the lines to the fourth episode in Star Trek season 2 or making a costume from an anime. Comic Con’s fan base is made up of; artists, gamers, writers, actors, fans and people watchers. At Conventions I have met people who have become close friends, and that I stay in contact with throughout the year. So this is really what Comic Con is: a place where no one feels out of place.

I am both an attendee and a volunteer. As an attendee I go to panels and support the starving artists in “Artist Ally”. Outside of Ballroom 20 is where my kind of people spend most of their Comic Con time. We run around, network, take pictures and have pictures taken of us. The majority of us are in costumes, so we are quite a spectacle. Conventions survive off of volunteer labor, so I do the most I can to keep it alive.

On the day of Preveiw Night my mother and I go in from 9am to 7pm to help set up the Art Show. It’s is a place where amateur artists and put their work out for display and sale. I take an artists, mark down each piece of art they have and help them hang it.

My mother and my friends dragged me into the convetion scene. Through Comic Con, I’ve gotten to meet some of my favorite artists, I’ve made friends, changed the way I express myself, my style, the way I judge people and learned how to make friends. My mom receives free passes through being staff and I pass them on to people who have never attended but I know will enjoy it. The people I invited have returned the year after because I brought them in. This is another way I can continue the Comic Con saga.

I asked my mom about some of her Comic Con experiences from before I was born she told me that she met Shel Dorf. She explained that Shel Dorf represents the spirit of a fan boy, the heart and soul of all that is Comic Con because he is the founded it. Dorf took charge of the “Detroit Triple Fan Fair” and when he moved to San Diego he founded a one day convention that eventually evolved into the event that we all know and love. Shel Dorf makes me want to take the things I do to the next level and show the world what there is to love about this community that I have found.

I want to find ways to improve Comic Con. I attend other Conventions and take notes to about what things are better than Comic Con and worse. I want to play a bigger part and I want to improve Comic Con for the people who have watched it grow and flourish into the wonderful gathering it is today.

If a San Diego native asks you "have you ever been to Comic Con?" and you reply with "what's that?" You will receive a horrified stare. This beloved convention is known nationwide. It’s a place to meet new people and experience a different culture than anywhere else. No other place is more accepting or overflowing with creative energy.

Blog # 5 Questions About Our Writing....

1) Being able to just write about my icon to just put on the page what I think about Comic Con write about my experiences and why I love it so much.

2) The loop it helped me make my piece feel more complete it helped me bring my artists statement full circle and leave the reader thinking.

3) The most challenging was probably writing about my place in the future of my icon. How I can continue the saga of comic con and bring it more out into the light and show others its virtues.

4) The most challenging writing tip was also probably the loop. It was hard to bring the begining of the paper back to the end without being repetitive. But I think I managed. I sort of just continued the story for the first paragraph.

5) "Attending conventions has become a big part of my life. Without them I would be such a different person. I have met people that have become close friends or people that I can go to for advice on my life at conventions. I am an attendee and a volunteer. As an attendee I go to panels, support the starving artists in “Artist Ally” and spend time out in front of Ballroom 20. Outside of Ballroom 20 is where my kind of people spend a lot of their Comic Con time running around, networking, taking pictures and have pictures taken of us. The majority of us are in costumes so we are quite a spectacle. Conventions survive off of volunteer labor so in that respect I feel that I am contributing to keeping Comic Con alive. On the day before the real convention starts my mother and I go in from 9am to 7pm to help set up the Art Show, the Art Show is a place where amateur artists and put their art out for display and for sale. I get to take the artists to their panels, mark down each piece of art they have and help them hang it. The artists begin to know your face over time and remember your name. They like to have someone they can trust helping them out. My mother and my friends brought me into the Comic con scene and I have taken it upon myself to bring other people in. My mom receives free Comic Con passes through being staff and I pass them on to people who have never attended Comic con but I know will enjoy it. The people I invited have ended up returning the year after because I brought them in. This is another way I can continue the Comic Con saga. Through Comic Con, I’ve gotten to meet some of my favorite artists, I’ve made friends, changed the way I express myself and my style, it’s changed the way I judge people the first time I meet them and how to make friends."

Does this information seem Irrelevant?

Does this seem like one paragraph or two?

Is there any other information you would rather hear than what is written about here?

Blog #4 Icon Loop

I walked in out of the summer heat to the cool gush of the overly air conditioned convention center air. I closed my eyes as to absorb the atmosphere and to prepare myself for what was coming and I was attacked, mind you, with love, but attacked none the less. My eyes open to see my being surrounded by loving faces and covered in paint or masks but I knew who’s underneath. This is the kind of atmosphere created at Comic Con.
I wait for the next staff meeting where I will be greeted by my friends that are like the family I only see a few times a year. There will be a plethora of hugs and love for all. It will be a time for new ideas and decisions to be made.

1) It is like this is what happens at a convention and this is how it never ends and continues and how I miss it and handle missing it.

2) It first shows the love and adoration that is formed at a convention and it ends with showing my continuum.

3) I would like to hope that they are thinking about going to Comic con themselves and how they could help with comic con and questions they could ask me myself about comic con

Blog # 3 America Icons and Resources

Part 1:

Comic Con and Shel Dorf

Shel Dorf is the founder of Comic con

and ran it until very recently when he passed away. Shel Dorf first ran a Convention in Detroit and when he move to San Diego he had to leave The "Detroit Triple Fan Fair" behind. Dorf started Comic Con as a one day convention and as it evolved Dorf made the decision to move it to the San Diego Convention Center.

Shelf Dorf represents the accepting spirt of Comic con. He shows what the community surrounding Comic Con is capable of. Comic Con and Shel Dorf bring out some of the best things in people. Creativity, boldness and an accepting

attitude towards the people around them. Shel Dorf represents the more human a

spect of Comic Con he gives a face to the loud masses that crowd around the front of the Convention center for 4 days a year. He is in no way a perfect person or someone anyone would look at and think "I want to be like that" That is why he is the perfect face for Comic Con. Because he is weird and is flawed, because he doesn't stand out in a crowd and because he is a fan boy of course.

Part 2:

Shel Dorf Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shel_Dorf

This gave me all the Information I needed to know about my secondary Icon. It provided a legthy description of his life and his involvement with Comic Con. It gave me a good amout of material for my artist statement.

Chandler Hood's American Icon Project

http://dp.hightechhigh.org/~rscherer/alumni/chood/11th%20grade%20humanities.html

This resource provided a well written example of the artist statement as I was working on it. It was easy to refer back to and use as a template.

Blog # 2 American Icons

Comic Con

1) What does this icon represent to you? Why?

Comic con represents a place where nerds can be free and appreciated for the things that they do. No matter if its memorizing all the lines to the fourth episode in the second season of Star Trek or making a costume from your favorite anime. I have attended comic con for the past two years. I know the people behind the curtain I have been staff and I am asked to the yearly meetings. So this is really what Comic Con is; a place where everyone is excepted.

2) Who and what was important to this Icon? Why?

People all over the world attend this event. Without the dedicated fans comic con would happen. People who are willing to pay $200 for a ticket people who are will to help and volunteer. Comic appeals to a huge fan base as well they can draw from almost anything from Science Fiction to modeling.

3) How did this Icon become important in American culture?

If a San Diego native asks you "have you ever been to Comic Con?" and you reply with "what's that?" You will receive a horrified stare. Comic con is know world wide. Its important because it’s a place to meet new people and experience a different culture than any other place in the world. No other place is more excepting or overflowing with creative energy.

4) How did this Icon become important to you?

My first year there I made great friends with all the art show staff. They welcomed me into the one quiet place in the con. They showed me the ropes and took care of me. There's a place called Ballroom 20 and that’s where all the people I know spend time. I have made so many friends there and many of them I only see once a year but that once a year are the best four days of my summer.

5) Who and what did this Icon inspire?

Comic con has inspired a multitude of other conventions all over America. Providing a place and time for people to come out of their nerd caves.

6) Who does this Icon effect?

It inspires people to be creative to meet people with their same interests. It brings a lot of revenue into San Diego too.

Shel Dorf

1. What does this Icon represent to you? Why?

He represents the spirit of comic the heart and soul of all that is comic con because he is the founder of comic con.

2. Who and what was important to this Icon? Why?

Conventions have always been a big part of Dorf’s life when he lived in Detroit he took over the “Detroit Triple Fan Fair” from its founder. When he moved to San Diego he founded a one day convention that eventually evolved into the Comic Con we all know and love.

3. How did this Icon become important in American culture?

Founding Comic con and running for so many years. He was the one that in 1991 moved it to its current location the San Diego Convention Center.

4. How did this Icon become important to you?

My mother has always been a part of comic con in fact she met Shel Dorf! He is important to me because he actually was the one who started the whole thing.

5. Who and what did this Icon inspire?

The people who run comic con now have to live up to him and he’s inspired people to create conventions of their own. Like the many that now take place in San Diego alone.

6. What would you say to your Icon if you could?

All I could say is Thank you. There are no words to express my gratitude towards the man who brought conventions to my world.

The Vlog Brothers

1. What does this Icon represent to you? Why?

They represent global awareness and a national community created through the internet that is there to better the planet.

2. Who and what was important to this Icon? Why?

They make daily vlogs and work to change the world through the community they’ve created. They care about the environment current issues and global health. They have found a way to connect with millions of people and they are humbled by that fact. They know they can use their power to do something good.

3. How did this Icon become important in American culture?

Well one day they just posted a video on youtube and some people noticed them. Then some more people noticed them. Then youtube noticed them and asked them to become partners. So being youtube partners allowed for vloging to become their job so they spent more time made plans got a huge fan base and started helping the world.

4. How did this Icon become important to you?

One day I was browsing youtube and I came across one of their videos. They were asking people to go and vote for a charity I liked to get $5 million donated towards it. I immediately did that (of course) and then I got wrapped up in them. I spent a few hours going through their videos and now even though I’ve never met them before I feel kind of like I know them as friends.

5. Who and what did this Icon inspire?

They inspire people to go out and change the world. Hank Green (one of the brothers) his resent birthday present were pictures of over half their viewers outside planting trees.

6. What are ways you can contribute towards your Icon?

Well first off you can subscribe to them and watch their videos then you can help when they ask for it and provide suggestions for the next thing they do.