Division and Analysis- Swing Dancing Linked

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Swing Dancing- Division and Analysis

           On Friday, September 28^th, 2012, I received my first swing dance lesson. While I would never have voluntarily done something such as this (mainly because I am convinced that despite appearing to be normal, I actually have two left feet), it was during English class so I had little choice in the matter.  Friday morning before school, as I was putting on my shoes with the least tread, as instructed by Ms. Guerrard, my mom asked me why were swing dancing in class, and that was when I realized that I actually did not know the answer.

            As I walked into the cafeteria, only slightly tardy, I saw Ms. Guerrard instructing all of us how to do the basic step. We were split into two groups, the leaders and the followers. The first thing we did, was a little bit of a warm up by bending out knees. After that we were taught a simple rock back. As a follower, we stepped back with our right foot and transferred our weight from the front foot to the back foot. We repeated this motion a few times before adding the next step. Ms. Guerrard showed us a triple step that we would do. We then practiced this move. Each time we learned a new step, we would repeat it without the music, and then with the music several times to assure that we correctly completed the step. After we completed it, she would add on a small piece.

            Once we had gotten the first few basic steps down, we proceeded by repeating the process with a partner. Because we are young and awkward with people of the opposite sex and dancing, it took us a while to warm up and be able to laugh at ourselves as we looked like complete fools, or at least I did while I was dancing, if you could even call what I was doing dancing (it was more like tripping over my partner’s feet, or my own, then apologizing profusely and laughing uncomfortably). Once we finally had conquered the step with a partner and were confident in it, a new step was added. And once again the process repeated.

            Finally having learned what we thought was all of it (including a spin), we paired up once again and repeated the steps with music and a partner. As my partner and I began to get the hang of it, we would rotate and get a new partner. Then another step was added, where the female would get pulled in close to their partner and stay close for several steps before being pushed out. This is when we learned the true purpose of swing dancing. Apparently, swing dancing had once been used as a way for men to court women, and by pulling them in close, they were given a chance to, ahem, get to know one another better. Swing dancing was a perfect example of division an analysis because the dance was divided into small steps which we then learned individually before slowly growing upon each other.

Good Blog: The Style Rookie

While it is true that I stole this blog from Ms. G's list, I did spend probably a good hour going through post after post of "They Style Rookie". I LOVED it! Now what made this blog so wonderful? To start, the writer used humor. This made the blog interesting to read and not as dense as many blogs can be. Plus, the humor perfectly fit the style and audience of the blog. The blog was definitely geared towards those interested in fashion with a slightly alternative taste. One of the main reasons I thought the blog was fantastic was the use of lots and lots of pictures. However, the pictures, while numerous, were still strategically used. There were no photos that were left caption-less or without some sort of blog post accompanying it. Plus, there was a diversity in the pictures. Not picture after picture of the same style of blouse, but more of some random pictures mixed in with those of clothes amongst other things. Lastly, the blog was lighthearted and personal. She used the names of the people in the pictures as if I, the reader, personally knew who she was talking about. This made the blog almost seem as if it was a journal, which immediately makes it more interesting. Overall, I am definitely a fan of this blog.

Response to "Politics and the English Language"

      I think Orwell did an interesting job of presenting the irony between the decay of the english language and how it relates to politics. Words, which are generally used to clarify a subject, are currently in politics used to obscure the true meaning. Orwell lists many examples where he presents a part of a speech or prose and uses it to reveal the lack of substance in it.
      While the examples he presents demonstrate poor writing, Orwell writes beautifully, creating a stark contrast between his own manner of writing and the decaying style of the examples.  I thought the essay was relevant and possessed a style of writing that captured the audience, but still managed to have solid information and a balanced proportion of examples to analysis.

Research Paper Topic

1) I intend to write about the welfare system and how it should be reformed.
2) My topic is controversial because it affects the lives of not only those supported by the welfare system, but all those who support it, or in other word, everyone who pays taxes.
3) I will be using online database, books and articles written by worthy sources. Furthermore, I may try to contact our congressman, Mike Thompson, however that source will most likely be unavailable.
4) I wrote a bill on the subject for Girls' State and was extremely interested in it and developed strong opinions on how it should be reformed.
5) I am not sure whether this is a popular topic or not, however it has probably been done before because it can be a touch-y subject.
6) As of yet, I have no questions for you.

Senior Project Update

My senior project began a tad late because I decided last minute that my original project was a little more than I could actually handle. My original project was to raise thousands of dollars to renovate a bathroom at the Samaritan House (the family homeless shelter in Napa) so that there were more than two showers for the seven families that inhabit the house.

Partially into the year however, I realized I may have signed up for more than I could do.  After talking to Mr. Gilbert I decided to instead raise as much money as I could and then donate the profits to the Samaritan House.

I recently finished my new letter of intent and have gotten my mentor. What I need to rapidly complete is the mentor interview as well as complete/turn-in the mentor contract.

The hours themselves should not be hard to complete as the fundraisers themselves will take time as well as all of the planning. The project should be fairly simple because I have already founded a club at Napa High, P.A.T.H. (Providing Assistance To Homeless). Through my club, we will be doing many fundraisers, such as bake sales, to raise money to donate.

Japanese Food

I am continuing my food journey by now analyzing traditional (and americanized) Japanese food. I am quite a fan of japanese food, and pracitcally live off of sushi, tempora, and other dishes. Sushi is amazing because 1) I can use chopsticks, 2) they are generally bite sized, and 3) the variety is simply astounding. Now who wouldn't want to use chopsticks? It just makes eating that much more fun, and if you aren't the best, like me, then actually being able to eat the sushi is a challenge in and of itself, and I love a good challenge.  Sushi can be made several different ways. While we use the word "sushi" to refer to the rolls, maki sushi is the technical name (but who actually wants to be technical, so from now on, when I say sushi I mean the rolls). Sushi is delicious, in my opinion because of the different types. For example, some rolls have tempura inside, thus combining probably the two best types of japanese food (tempura and sushi). Tempura is vegetables or fish that is deep-fried in a batter and then can be dipped in a sweet sauce. Sushi can be rather neutral,  or extremely spicy. Plus, the extravagence of the roll can vary as well. For instance there are simple rolls that only include cucumber and carrotts, or california rolls (which usually have crab, avocado, and cucumber)
However, sushi can also be more embelished and contain caviar or in my opinion even look like a piece of art. Below is a picture of sushi with caviar: Below is a picture of a more decorated sushi roll:


Perhaps because sushi is such a diverse  food type, and the varieties are endless that it is so appealing to many people.

ICE

My essay is here!

Essay based on the style of "Girl"

The essay is here

Oh how I want a Husband

         I wish I had a husband. A husband to sit on the couch  on the weekend and yell at me for a beer because the husband can not get up in the middle of the 3rd quarter of the present football game while I run around the kitchen trying to prepare the dinner. While making sure that the food is warm, table is set, and the kids are seated, I want a husband who can ask me over and over "How long until we eat?".
          On top of this I wish I had a husband who let me take care of the kids... all the time. A husband that leaves in the morning to go to work, letting me wake up the children, dress them, and feed them, all while getting myself ready for my own job. The husband would let me find a way to get off work early in order to pick up the kids from school and then take them to after school sports and appointments. He would allow me to schedule and keep track of all of his appointments because in a perfect world, he would never be able to do that himself.
        I want a husband who can work late and come home expecting dinner to be made.  Not only that, but I want a husband who wants me to look like I have all day to just work out, even though I am constantly busy. And the perfect husband would be on who  demands that I look perfect, at all times. I would love to be a trophy wife, making sure that my hair and nails and make-up and tan are always perfect. I want a husband whose extent of "helping out around the house" is to hammer a loose nail, or change a light-bulb. My husband will then get to complain about his job while I listen and take care of him because he won't care about my feelings or my day.
        My husband will be so wonderful that he will let me do his laundry and make sure the house is perfectly clean. He will be sure to throw huge party's and dinner's at the house so that everyone can tell him how beautiful his home is, and how wonderful the party is. I want a husband who, after wishing all of the guests goodbye, will go to bed, so graciously allowing me the honor of cleaning up. Oh how I truly want a husband!