Vocabulary #2

Vocabulary #2

accoutrements- additional objects to put on your person for a specific task, like equipment used as clothes. The accoutrements of a police officer are his billy club, badge and taser.

apogee- the highest point of development of something. The apogee of the British empire was when it controlled one third of the globe.

apropos- concerning something, pertaining to something.  Some topics in Math Analysis seemed apropos to nothing.

bicker- to argue about trivial maters.  Siblings often bicker.

coalesce- to come together into something.  In the virtual choir, many singers from around the globe coalesced into one group.

contretemps- a minor unexpected or unfortunate occurrence.  Many british sitcoms deal with humorous contretemps, often under a large misfortune that is overshadowed by these trivial maters, such as Fawlty Towers and Blackadder.

convolution- twists, and coils, or a function derived from two functions through integration. The brain is made up of many sinuous convolutions.

cull- to pick from a large number of options or to amass from much data.  The current text of Beowulf was culled from many different fragments of texts about the epic hero.

disparate- immensely different.  In economics, they use disparate objects to explain production possibility curves, such as robots and pizzas.

dogmatic- laying down principles which are not proven true.  The dogmatic theologist lectured about many unproven principles like they were true.

licentious- promiscuous, or unprincipled sexually.  In the times of Jane Austen, Lydia from pride and Prejudice would have been viewed as licentious.

mete- to allot punishment.  Many countries say that they care for their citizens, yet they radially mete out to their people.

noxious- harmful or poisonous.  Many noxious fumes come out of industrial buildings.

polemic- strongly speaking out against something.  The polemic worker spoke out against his low wages.

populous- having a large population.  In ecosystems, producers are the most populous part of the food web.

probity- having moral principles, decency.  Pretentious people often put up a facade of probity.

repartee- conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty remarks.  When I got to boys state, I impressed one of the counselors by starting a repartee with him.

supervene- occur later than a specified event or action, often changing plans.  The collapse of the twin towers supervened much of what happened on September 11th, 2009.

truncate- to shorten something by cutting of the top or end.  In elementary school, kids liked to make shorts by truncating old jeans. 

unimpeachable- not to be doubted or questioned. The views of many experts are often viewed as unimpeachable.

Reflections Week 1

1. I don't think I will have any problems with the course what so ever. I plan to HACK the course and use to my advantage for my college career. 
2. I think the best learning experience I have had lately was joining Dr. Prestons class and jumping into open source learning for the very first time. It was much more organized and allowed you to learn in your own way almost. Its really original and original things are hard to come by these days, thats how I can tell I have much more to learn in AP.
3.  I think the thing I'm most looking forward to are the end of the semester projects and what they are gonna be like. I wanna see how everyones mind saw the course through that project how they want to incorporate it. I witnessed senior projects last year and I know we can have just as much creativity as they did.

Vocabulary #1

1. adumbrate- Report or represent in outline; indicate faintly
2. apotheosis- The highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.
3. ascetic- Characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
4. bauble-A small, showy trinket or decoration.
5. beguile- Charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way
6. burgeon-Begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish
7. complement- A thing that completes or brings to perfection.
8. contumacious-Stubbornly or willfully disobedient to authority.
9. curmudgeon-A bad-tempered or surly person.
10. didactic-Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
11. disingenuous- Not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
12. exculpate-Show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing.
13. faux pas-An embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.
14. fulminate-Express vehement protest;Develop suddenly and severely
15. fustian-Thick, durable twilled cloth with a short nap, usually dyed in dark colors
16. hauteur-aughtiness of manner; disdainful pride.
17. inhibit-Hinder, restrain, or prevent (an action or process).
18. jeremiad-A long, mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes.
19. opportunist-A person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by principles or plans.
20. unconscionable-Not right or reasonable.

Essay Assignment #1

   When you travel to foreign place that you have never been to you never no whats going to happen or what you can learn. It could be an experience of a lifetime or it could be the scariest thing thats ever happened to you. Overall though if you travel to a different country it can be a life lesson for someone! If someone had the chance to go live in the Congo like the Price family did it would definitely change their aspect on life. Your in a place unlike where you are born with people who speak a different language, just imagine how difficult it would be.

     Nathan Price the father in the novel is heading to the Congo well prepared with the intent to try and save unenlightened souls of Africa. When he served in the military he was the only surviving member of his battalion during the Battaan Death March he viewed himself as a coward and that he needed to impress God. In feeling this way he is ready for the move at first to try to help people but as the trip goes on he realizes how cowardly he really is. You can also see that he was just doing it for his own well-being, not to help "unenlightened souls". The trip for Nathan really could be enriching but he doesn't focus enough on his new home and he doesn't realize the rich culture he is living in.

   Leah on the other hand had her fathers mindset but was a much more compassionate and caring person. The trip to the Congo was most definitely enriching for her because she understood how hard it was for people and how much easier she had it when she lived in America. Although Leah's faith i her religion was very strong like her fathers she loses her beliefs with all of the racism and mass injustice there is going on. She wants to help fight for African independence for people like her husband so everyone can be more equal. She is fighting for social justice because of her love for her sons and husband.

   Adah her twin at first seemed to be just an observer of the whole trip not doing a whole lot of anything and hardly even talking. She hated the Congo but after a near death experience she realized how much more she valued her life. She was no longer a detached observer because a neurologist helped her overcome the handicap problems that she faced. She found something she could actually believe in when she got into the field of science. Her near death experience pushed her and allowed her to get into the real world which she never did before. The trip benefited her physically and mentally but she still has a conservative attitude as if a portion of her old self still remained.

   The trip to the Congo was a life changing opportunity for each member of the family whether it be good or bad. Its not always about the the place your going to it also is about how you let that trip enrich you. Seeing different cultures and races allows people to understand how hard things can be and that you should be grateful for the things you have in life. Thats why you should always appreciate all the beauty and disasters of the world because someone on the other side of the planet could be wishing they were where your at and not in the country the live in.

My Big Question

I think the big question I have for this course is how am I planning on using it to benefit who I am and what I would like to do with my life. Ever since I first heard what an entrepreneur was I always thought it sounded super interesting to me. I feel like I would really love to do this in the future once I have a chance to actually do it. I want to know how I can achieve this goal through our course and I'm sure it's very possible. I want to have a chance to meet an actual entrepreneur to see what it's like and what I need to look forward too.

Poetry Assignment #1

1.) The poem is called The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski.

2.) The irony that I see in using this strong poem is that companies like Levi don't really understand the meaning of such a deep poem, they just want you to buy their product. This poem speaks to the part of put minds that wrestles with the meaning of life, or even struggles with sadness, depression or anger. It also challenges you though and helps you keep fighting "There is light somewhere. It may not be much light but it beats out the darkness".
3.) By looking at his website I think the poem reflects the author in that he did face a lot of depression and sadness through being an alcoholic and he also had quite the life and when had the chance to finally start writing all the time he took it.
4. I mostly used this website to get my answers  http://bukowski.net/ it was a great source of information on his life.