What are you discovering so far?
I have discovered that I'm very interested in photography. With a recent blog post regarding to photography, I have learned tips and techniques when it comes in taking a picture. I'm enjoying this project, it lets me discover more about photography and use techniques as "the rule of thirds".

What surprises you about this project?
I am surprised of how the beautiful beaches get contaminated by tubes that come out of the ground, or through. This tubes are contaminating these beaches and, at the same time, us humans. We fish from these beaches and bays, we swim and have fun in there.

What are your next steps to have a cool product and a great piece of writing?
I'm planning to write a brief article at the back cover, describing a picture focusing on the tubes that contaminate our beaches. At the same time, answers of how can we prevent this.

Useful Examples for my H2O Project

Example #1

A good example that has been useful for our project was the "San Diego Bay: 2008 Tide Calendar" focusing on the Endangered and Threatened Species; it was created by the students of High Tech High and supported by the Unified Port of San Diego.

Their calendar is organized; it includes pictures of the certain species who are endangered and it also includes brief descriptive articles regarding to the species from the picture. One article takes the specie into a more general view and, the other one, concentrates more in the specie itself.

This organization is something similar that what we want for our final product. It has been very useful and it motivated us more to create such a professional project.

Plans for H2O Project

For the H2O project, our final project will consist of a calendar of 2009. My group consist of Sydney Lampe, Jade Tyler, Jake Neighbors, Jeremy Sheahan and myself. For the next 2 weeks, we have organized what to do.

This following schedule was organized today during class by the group.

Schedule of Events
November 7- research important dates/ areas of photography *
November 8/9/10/11: Take pictures at assigned locations
November 12: Review Picture and Retake pictures if necessary
November 13: Pick finalized pictures.
November 14/15/16: Begin working on paragraphs. Have rough drafts for all paragraphs by beginning of class on the 17th.
November 17: Begin basic layout/in design spread sheet.
November 18: Insert Pictures into layout/in design sheet
November 19: Insert Calendar with tide information
November 20: Insert paragraphs into layout/in design sheet
November 21: Insert facts/dates/did you know facts. Complete draft of calendar ready for critique.
November 22-30= Thanksgiving Break
December 1-2: Critiques for content
December 3-4: Critiques for Aesthetic Appeal
December 5: Send to Printer

Months:
1 Jade: Mission Bay/ Fiesta Island
2 Jade: De'anza Cove
3 Jade: Mission Bay/Aquatic Center
4 Jeremy: Del Mar
5 Jeremy: Chula Vista Marina
6 Jeremy: Coronado
7 Sydney: San Diego Bay
8 Sydney: I.B./Chula Vista
9 Sydney: Seaport Village
10 Rodrigo: OB Pier
11 Rodrigo: H&M Landing/Shelter Island
12 Rodrigo: San Diego River mouth

For each month, we will include a HD definition picture regarding to the research questions and a paragraph(s) talking about the topic itself and then another paragraph(s) that takes the topic more into a general view.

Resources or things we need:
- A good website of information about my research question is: Pier Fishing in California
- A high quality camera
- Printing Company
- Sponsors
- Donations

Election Reflection and Level of Civil Knowledge

I can't really describe of what I feel of the election. I have learned a lot of US politics since we started school. If I had vote, I would have voted for Obama. So I guess I could say I am satisfied that he won, but not as much as other people. After studying and learning in school more about politics, I have become more interested in the elections. I would have voted for him, because he believes in the human rights. My hopes are that he fights and tries for what he has been promising along his campaign. I do have concerns, but they do not regard to America. El Salvador, where I'm originally from, is going to have presidential elections in March of next year. El Salvador's government is being controlled by a Republican Party, which was allied or connected with the US government. In my opinion, El Salvador's Government depended from the US. Now that the US is going to have a Democratic Government, El Salvador has a huge chance on becoming a communist country, which is something that I really don't want for my country. The Republican Government of the US has been preventing of such tragic to occur.

Note: What I have stated in this election reflection, is my opinion and my belief only.


In my opinion, we have done an excellent job in making the class and myself understand more about current events. We use our resources very well. One example that has made me understand more about current events, would be blogs! I can scroll around other students' blog and read their opinion about similar topics as mine. In the beginning of school, I was lost in every conversation we had in class. But now, with time, I put more attention and understand more what we talk. I participate more in class now, I give my opinion during conversations, which was something I didn't do it before. I feel very interested about the topics we discuss in class, it makes me want to know more about the country where I live now.

Questions for H2O Project

Picture from here.

Ocean Beach Pier
Who discovered it? When was it settled? Why is fishing popular there?

The town of Ocean Beach was settled in 1888. Billy Carlson and Frank Higgins established streets in 1887. The area where they created streets was name "Ocean Beach". On July 2nd, 1966 the Ocean Beach Pier was officially opened. More than 7,000 people were present to such event, including California's governor, Edmund G. Brown who made the first cast from the pier.

The pier promised to be one of the best piers in the state of California. This pier is connected to Point Loma kelp beds, which is one of the finest fishing areas in southern California according to Pier Fishing In California.

Facts from the Pier (stated in Pier Fishing in California):
- 1,971 feet long
- T-Shape at the end that extends from 360 feet to the south end and 193 feet to the north end
- It attracts some resident species, for example kelp bass, sand bass, mackerel, scorpionfish, halibut and California lobster


Information from : Pier Fishing in California and Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association