Reflection

Creativity & Originality

During the process of the magazine (book), Creativity and Originality was an important factor. This factor makes the magazine unique. In my opinion, each article of the magazine has to be unique. They are many related topics, but they always differ. For example, Amanda's and Evan's article are related to mine. The three of us talk about economic advice, but the advice itself differs from the others.

What did you learn? How did you learn? Why is it important?
I learned America's current economic status and plans on how to save it. With the research I did, I learned about current laws that aid the economy. I learned more about energy efficient matters and opinions from owners of independent businesses. I learned a plan on how to save the hardships times that America faces.
America is faces a new Recession. We need to act now to improve our economy. People keeps losing their jobs every week, day. Also, the environment gets affected more everyday. With energy efficient things, we'll save our economy and environment.

Magazine Reflection, Second Part

1. Overall, when you think about the big picture of your writing, what improved? How did it get better? Why?
Throughout this project, my writing improved due to the many drafts I had before my final product. I was able to make paragraphs and sentences shorter and still have the same message. Also, my group helped me. They gave me good critique and pointed out what could be fixed and how to fix it.

2. Overall, when you think about the big picture of your writing, what still needs work? What do you think will help you improve? Why?
My vocabulary can be improved. Its all up to me though. I have to start reading more books in English so I can learn new words and also how to use them. Having a bigger vocabulary will improve my writing because I would have more words to choose from.

3. Specifically, show us something that improved and describe the path it took to get better. You can quote your article, your drafts, link to evidence, etc.

4. Describe something specific (or a few things!) that you learned about writing.

Magazine Reflection: The Beginning

1. What went well for you during the process of creating this magazine?
During the process of this magazine, I improved my writing skills. My group gave me great critiques. They mentioned what wasn't appropriate for a a magazine and they even told me how to fix these flaws. I also learned how to make the article shorter and still have the same message.

2. What challenges did you face as you moved from an early draft or idea to a final product?

Time was a conflict during this magazine, as well as pressure. If we compare my first draft with my final product, we would notice a significantly difference. My first draft was my blog entry, but I fixed the spelling and the word usage. With drafts, I improved my article and I managed make it shorter and still have the same message.

3. What other examples of work—student and professional—stood out as exemplary and served as a good model for your own work?
Amanda's article served me as a model because we both wrote about Economic Advice. We shared advices and opinions about our work.
Josh was a great help for my layout design. He gave Elmo, my editor, a great idea for my layout.

Obama and Socialism

Google the phrase "Obama Socialism". What do you get? Try google news... what did you find?

When I first Googled "Obama Socialism" I found many articles regarding to regarding to writer's 0pinion of Obama being a Socialist, or that he was a socialist. Many articles include comments from other readers, telling about what they think. You can see many argue on comments, disagreeing with the author or agreeing with others.

Photo Essay - Maritime Museum of San Diego

During my internship immersion, I did most of my work aboard the Berkeley, a steam ferryboat which is the main part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Working on a ship made my immersion more interesting because I wasn’t working in a regular internship, bringing coffee to my mentor or just doing small errands, I actually helped with work that benefits the Museum. For example, I helped on setting up exhibits, updating the Museum’s website and cataloging the Library’s picture collection.
Being part of the staff has its benefits. I’m allowed to go to any room where only staff members are allowed to go, including the galley “the kitchen”, storage rooms and exhibitions rooms. I realized that my parents would love to see all of these things and, luckily my mentor Kevin, asked me one day if I wanted my parents to come and check out the museum. I took the offer and decided to give them a tour around the Museum.


Before I started the tour, my parents stayed outside the Museum for a few minutes. Since they have heard of the young Gray Whale trapped in San Diego Bay, they sat at this wooden bench (shown above) and tried to see the whale, which of course they weren’t able because the whale was miles of distance away.
I noticed how crowded it was outside the Museum. I could hear all these different types of languages and accents. “Looks like it comes out every six minutes for air” said a British tourist. So I came to the conclusion that not only locals, but tourists had come to Harbor Drive to try to spot the whale in San Diego Bay. The young Gray Whale had made it to the news. Reporters had been on this sidewalk and explained the facts about what the risks are for the whale. I realized that being a reporter, or working for a news channel, is not a bad option as a career.



Since I had to do finish a small project later that afternoon, I asked my parents which vessels they wanted to see. “Berkeley and the Russian Submarine” said my dad. So I started the tour with the Berkeley.
The Museum’s office, workshop, library and store were aboard the vessel, which makes it the main part of the Museum. The Berkeley, with an architectural significance that is reminiscent of the Victorian Age, is used for special events with room for 800 guests and includes valuable exhibitions from the Museum, as the Photograph Collection of Vessels shown above.
This Photograph Collection is my favorite exhibition of the Museum. With the elegant architecture of the silence room, the outstanding photos of vessels grab the attention from the public. It immediately grabbed mine the first time I put foot in that room. Now, it shows me another field of photography, with a different subject that I can use in projects at school.

After showing my parents the Berkeley, I took them to the B-39 Soviet Submarine. Outside the submarine, there is a type of tunnel. Public and members can practice how to go from room to room inside the submarine by going through the tunnel outside the submarine. My parents stayed there for a few minutes; they wanted to learn how to go through before going inside the submarine.

“The B-39 Soviet Submarine tracked down U.S. battleships during the Cold War” said a man from the public. When I heard that, I started thinking how all the crew from the submarine would rush in through those tunnels to start operating the submarine whenever they would found an enemy. “Man, that would be an exciting job” I said to myself, but then I realized that’s something I who have liked 5 years ago when I was a teenager with an army or marine dream. Now, each time I go to the submarine, I focus more on its architecture, since it has been grabbing my attention lately, due to the different type of architectures I see at my internship site.

When we were heading to the exit of the submarine, my mother told me "I hoped you have learned many things here" She knew I had, but she wanted me to know how internship helps me. Internship has allowed me to discard some career options for college, such as history, and it also has given more interest in other fields, such as architecture and engineering. I discard history and journalism because I haven't found something interesting there-it doesn't grab my attention. On the other hand, I have lain more into engineering because "it's the ability to create using science", as my father had told me once. Observing how these different types of vessels are composed, allows me to combine careers to have a new career option, perhaps an engineering on vessels, ships or aquatic-crafts. Having different career options for college is allowing me to discover which field is the one I enjoy the most throughout high school.

What I could bring to the Magazine

What article(s) would you like to write for the magazine? What photography could you contribute? Art? List three different ideas for your major contribution.
Articles, Photos, or Art:
1. Article: Since I'm from El Salvador, I could write an article about El Salvador and its culture, history, tradition and even food! Also, I could relate this article to what we've seen at class, by connecting how the presidential election from november affected this third world country, its positive or negative changes.
2. Photo: With the experience that I obtained through making the Tide Calendar, I could take a photo for a outstanding background on a page of the magazine. The photo's subject could be a specie from San Diego Bay, or a landscape picture from San Diego Bay.
3. Photo: I could take a picture based on what we have learned this semester. For example, a photo that shows the economical circumstances that the US is suffering at the moment, how it impacts and affects people's career, life circumstances or it affects the goverment, which at the end it affects us.

Suggest at least one (or more) possible title for the magazine. This could be a title with or without a subtitle.
To the World of Work: Experiences and Stories from Internships

Suggest a topic for an article that you were personally like to read in a magazine inspired by the internship semester.
I would like to read from experinces that interns obtained through their internships and how could they use them out in their daily life.

My First Client...

This two past weeks I have learned many things from my internship site. I learned how to work with strangers for a long period of time per day. Also, I learned how to interact with public. I had my first client on the first week of immersion. His name was Steve Lende and his request was to burn a CD for him with 10 pictures he had chosen from the MacMullen Collection, who was a reporter from San Diego. It was unexpected. My mentor, Kevin, approached to me with Steve next to him. I thought I had done something wrong, but I hadn't. I was nervous. Kevin asked me to help Steve with his request. I stopped working with the computer, but I really didn't had an idea of what to do. Steve kept talking to me and I didn't understand a word he was saying. I wasn't concentrating. I actually wanted him to be quiet, but then I remembered I had to interact with him. I started asking him what was his request, and he told me that he couldn't find the pictures in the system.

Immersion!!

As you prepare for your internship immersion, please answer the following questions:

1. What are you most excited about in regards to your immersion experience? Why do you feel this way?
During my immersion, I'll be able to experience a "full-time job." I'll be working with staff members, other interns and volunteers. Also, at the same time, I'll be interacting with the public, such as members from the museum and visitors. I'm really looking forward to this experience because, not only I'll develop a resistant to be working a "full-time job", but I'll also be attending staff meetings, which make me feel more part of this museum.

2. What are you most concerned about (what causes the most stress) regarding immersion? Why do you feel this way?
I do have my worries regarding to immersion. Being on a boat for 2 weeks from 9 am to 4pm, doesn't get my attention that much. I hope I don't get dizzy on the boat, since there has been a bit of rain in the last couple of weeks, which affect the water where the boat rests. I even have my worries of catching the bus on time, so I can be on time for my internship. I do also hope I don't get stressed during immersion because it won't allow me to work on my project.

Please answer each in as much depth as you can--I am so very interested in learning about how you'll be doing out in the "real world"!

In my opinion, the Progressive Era had positives and negatives things, they are connected. The positive things depended of the negative things, and vice versa.

Positive Things:

The great wave of immigration from Europe provided “cheap labor to support the rapid growth of major industrial centers and settled in densely-populated urban enclaves.”

Negative Things:

Extensive exploitation of child labor

Overall, it’s a neutral status. It is good to have people come to America help the growth of industries, but they should work on good conditions.

http://www.eagleton.rutgers.edu/e-gov/e-politicalarchive-Progressive.htm

Outstanding Blogz

1. Economic Advice to Barack Obama
Jacob Harris' blog is a great example. It is direct and descriptive. He uses popular current events that most people are familiar with, which allows the reader to comprehend his writing. He mentions an issue, shows his advice and explains it. I like this quote this because he explains that by lowering the price of education, the economy will be better because more people is going to be more educated. For example:

"Lower the price of College and Universities, but make the requirements higher, so to support higher education on a lower budget. This will help the economy because it will make the workforce and the high ups more educated, which leads to better financial choices and hopefully some good innovation..."

Part Two - Mentor Interview

Day: Thursday, February 12th, 2009
Time: From 2:00pm to 2:30pm
Technology: Microphone, recording on PC.

Proposing an Idea

Mr. President,

Thank you very much for receiving me and granting me thirty minutes.

As we both know, America is facing extreme economic hardships at this time. In an article from Washington Post, you mentioned a plan to "save billions by making 2 millions homes and 75 percent of federal buildings more energy-efficient, and to double our capacity to generate alternative sources of energy within three years."

I have some ideas regarding the issue for you to consider.

According to Internal Revenue Service, in 2006 a new law was created, which consists of providing tax credits for making your principal residence, which must be in the United States, more energy efficient and for buying certain energy efficient items. It also provides a "10 percent credit for buying qualified energy efficiency improvements", "a credit for costs relating to residential energy property expenses" and it also "makes a credit available to those who add qualified solar panels, solar water heating equipment, or a fuel cell power plant to their homes...".

In my opinion, this is a helpful law for the economy, but we can still take it further. We have already made an improvement on it by providing tax credits to citizens that have purchased hybrid motors vehicles. But what about independent businesses or even national franchises? There are businesses that would like to become more energy efficient, but they can't afford it. Giving them grants would allow them to become more energy efficient. I know that it is quite a cost to perform that, but in the long run it will save more money because there won't be much waste of resources.

For example, a compact fluorescent lamp is a tool that "makes dramatic efficiency improvements...", according to Nathan Glasgow (senior consultant - Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Institute). This lamp only "uses from 70 to 80 percent less electricity and lasts 10 to 13 times longer than an incandescent bulb..." It cost from 2 to 5 dollars.

Providing tools, such as this compact fluorescent, to businesses that seek to become more energy efficient, would make an improvement to our current economic situation.


Quotes and Resources:
- "Barack Obama - The Action Americans Need - washingtonpost.com." washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines. Link
- "DEVELOPMENT: Answer to Energy Crisis? Waste Not, Want Not." IPS Inter Press Service. Link
-"Highlights of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for Individuals." Internal Revenue Service. Link

Design Principles

My humani-homie, Elmo, and I came up with three options for our Design Principles.

1. "The Script"

• A strict have set of questions (script) to obtain specific answers or similar answers from multiple different interviews.
• Example: Michael J. Fox Inside the Actor's Studio, James Lipton

2. "With a bit of Bio"

• This method gives a biographical introduction, on your final product, about the interviewee to the reader. (Includes quotes from lyrics, facts, historical events, etc.)
• Example: Rollin' and Tumblin, "Saunders King", pag. 25 by Jas Obrechet

3. "Connecting"

• The interviewers ask questions making connection to current events. The topics are related to recent facts and events.
• Example: Katie Couric interviews Palin, youtube.com

Questions for Mentor

1. How long have you been working at the Maritime Museum?

2. How did you obtain your job?

3. How did you find out about your job?

4. How does being the Library Manager works for you? Do you enjoy it?

5. Does working on a ship bother you? Do you get any nauseas?

6. How many interns had you have before?

7. Did you ever intern at a place? If so, where?

8. Where are you originally from?

9. Which High School did you go to?

10. Did you have a degree? If so what type of degree? How many?

11. Which college/university did you go to?

12. Any specializations on a specific field?

13. How long have you been living in San Diego?

14. Did you join any clubs during college?

My first Day of Internship...

Today, January 27th, 2009, I experienced my first day of Internship. Once I left school, I went to Vons and "grab a bite". I had a corndog combo with 2 pizza sticks, it was awesome! When the clock hit 12:10pm I headed to the 28 bus stop on Rosecrans with Elmo. We waited for the bus until 12:25-12:30pm. We split ways when we arrived to Nimitz/ Rosecrans. I grabbed the 923 bus and headed to my Internship Site, Maritime Musuem of San Diego. I met with my intership-partners at a 923 stop. We arrived to the site together and introduced ourselves to Kevin Sheehan, my mentor. He gave us a tour around the place, long tour, which consited in showing us the areas we are allowed to go and where are we going to do our work. I liked my Site, it was very interesting to learn more about ferries and boats. At 4:30pm, I left the Musuem and grabbed the 923 bus to go home.

Historic Addresses

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Speech: Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Current Event: Iraq War - Obama's Opinion

Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address refers to the Civil War and connects to the Iraq War, in the way that Lincoln's hope is "...that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.", just as Barrack Obama's first objective is "...to give the military a new mission: ending the war in Iraq." They both have a mutual way of thinking, to stop the war.

After winning the re-election in 1964, Lincoln started to seek for peace, "encouraging Southerners to lay down their weapons..." He was trying to put an end to the war. He stated that "With malice towards none, with charity for all..." would be a better future for America. "...To finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds..." Notice the word "work", which means the Civil War; stopping the war would start healing the wounded.

In my opinion, Obama has a similar, if not mutual, way of thinking as Lincoln. They both are, or were (for Lincoln), trying to look for peace, "to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." Obama's best way "to protect our security... is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops." This shows how he intends to finish the war, since "There is no solution in Iraq. There never was."




Resources and Quotes:

Online Journal - Obama: New Mission In Iraq...

The New York Times - My plan for Iraq

American Civil War - Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln Second Inaugural Address

Obama's inaguration

Section that resonates with me:

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

1. Why did you choose this section?

After reading this section, I realized that Obama mentioned the natural rights in his own words, "...that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." which mean the as "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"

Revised Outline

Quote: "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
by Walt Disney

I intend to connect it to the historical achievement, done by Neil Armstrong, of walking on the moon and learning more about it.

Thesis:
Walt Disney's quote shows how things that were once impossible can be achieved. As for that, Neil Armstrong's achievement, of being the first man walking on the moon, is a good example of an historical event that was once impossible to achieved.

Body Paragraphs
1. Walt Disney's achievements and inspiration for others.
Evidence: The Internet Movie Database (Link)
How has he been an inspiration/icon for others? (My opinion included)
Start to connect Disney with Armstrong.

2. Neil Armstrong's success on doing something never done before. Describe the Apollo 11 objective.
Evidence: NASA (Link)
How is this an historical event?

3. Describe the connection made by me of Neil and Walt.
Explain my perspective of this relation.
Why did I relate them?

4. Conclusion
"....humanity is not forever chained to this planet and our visions go rather further than that and our opportunities are unlimited. "

Outline for Artist's Statement

Thesis Statement:
I intend to relate Walt Disney's quote with Neil Armstrong's achievement. I'll connect them because, in my opinion, they both performed, or created, something that was impossible in a certain time.

Written Part (at the moment):

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible" comes from Walt Disney. I included it on my sketch to relate it to the historic event of the first man to put foot on the moon, Neil Armstrong. In my opinion, both, Armstrong and Disney, achieved and created something that was impossible during that time. I say impossible because Walt created something huge and long-lasting from a mouse, as same as giving great animation to drawings, which still gives entertainment to most children on the planet in an educated and polite way. In the other hand, Neil Armstrong, being the first man to walk on the moon, made a huge impact to the history of the US.

My Internship

1. What do you hope to learn or discover about the "adult" world of work while you are at your internship?

During my internship, I hope I learn a bit of the world of work, just to have a taste of it. I want to discover how does it feel to be on an experience and professional field. I want to see how professionals behave or perform at work, in their daily life. Allowing me to work with professionals and learning from the "adult" world of work.


2. What do you hope to learn or discover about yourself and your identity while you are at your internship this semester?

I hope I discover if I'll enjoy, or not enjoy, the field I'm going to internship at; to learn if this is what I want to do after college. It is a great opportunity to experience one of my options for what I want to do. I hope I discover a big interest of my part on the field I'm going to work at. If not, it is better to find out at this age.

3. What goals do you have for yourself for your internship experience?

My currently goals are to be responsible and always be on time for this experience. I want to try my best on it, so that I can make a good opinion about it when I'm done. Other goal would be to show my mentor what I'm capable of or what I am good at. So being on time, responsible and polite would help me on achieving this goal. I also want to experience what is like having a job, having a boss, or mentor in this case, following orders from a completely stranger.