Amy Farrell Public Feed

Q4 Art Amy Farrell

Posted by Amy Farrell in Art - Senior Art - Hull - E on
Art Q4
This quarter, I realized that I am not good with creating art with my hands. No matter how much I practice, I'm just not able to. I know I can take great pictures, but painting and drawing are just not my thing. I tried hard to make good paintings, but it didn't work out. I think my snowflake is the best thing I created this quarter because the painting is messy and colorful, which I like. I think I might be able to make good pottery one day, but for now I'm going to stick to photography. Photography is a medium that I can express myself through the best, and I can show my viewers exactly what I'm seeing. Nobody can define what art is, and nobody can tell me if my art is good or bad. I know what I like and dislike that I created, and my photos are what I'm most proud of. 

Amy Farrell Capstone

Posted by Amy Farrell in Capstone - Echols - Wed on
For my senior year at Science Leadership Academy, I decided to center my capstone around the last of our core values - reflection. This project has allowed me to reflect on my 4 years of high school and see how I’ve changed and grown. I’ve thought about who I used to be, who I wanted to be, and how the circumstances in my life during those 4 years lead me to be the person that I am today. I’ve thought about what I would tell myself during the hard times that I’ve faced, and about the things that I should of done differently. This has allowed me to come to peace with myself in many ways. I’ve put this together in one website to show how I’ve grown as a photographer and how I realized what I needed to do for myself in order to be happy, which will allow me to help others.


​

Bibliography


**This bibliography was created in the beginning of the year when I was planning on doing a different idea, but the photographer's inspiration still applies**



1.)

Vilder, Muir. "Folio | Muir Vidler." Muir Vidler. Web. 28 Jan. 2015. <http://muirvidler.com/folio-personal/>.


Muir Vildler is a photographer from California that has shot for publications such as i.D magazine and New York Times magazine. The specific link I chose for this source is a collection of his portfolio shots. The majority of his photography is alternative and shows a different perspective of people that others wouldn’t normally pay attention to. This is a beneficial source for me to use because it inspires me to take photos of everything all the time, even if I’m scared. He does little editing to his photos, which makes me consider doing the same to my photos.




2.)

Hamada, Hideaki. "Hideaki Hamada Photography - People." Hideaki Hamada Photography. Web. 28 Jan. 2015. <http://hideakihamada.com/people>.



This source is a link to all of Hideaki Hamada’s work. Hideaki is a Japan based photographer who has a light, airy feel to her photos. She shoots all different types of photographs, such as portraits, travel, and editorials. Her travel photos make me think of how powerful and important location is for photos. Her most recent portrait photos feature a young woman whose face is almost hidden in each photo. This gives me an idea to hide the identity of students who wish to remain anonymous by photographing a specific part of them, such as their hands or an article of clothing that’s important to them.





3.)

Reid, Ian. "Ian Reid's Photos Are Just as Crazy as His Skateboarding Videos | VICE | United States." VICE. Web. 28 Jan. 2015. <http://www.vice.com/read/ian-reids-photos-are-just-as-crazy-as-his-skateboarding-antics-323>.


This is an interview with Ian Reed for Vice magazine. Ian Reed started off as a skateboarder and skate filmer, which inspired him to become a photographer. He shoots risque photos and videos, such as a naked man being barbequed alive. This interview is beneficial to me because it helps me gain motivation to stretch the limits of photography and shoot things that  I believe will make a good photo, even if people feel uncomfortable. He established his career by doing what he loves everyday, which is my goal for the future. He taught me that if I work hard everyday, then it’s possible for me to do the same.



4.)

Collins, Petra. "Petra Collins." Petra Collins. Web. 28 Jan. 2015. <http://www.petracollins.com/>.



Petra Collins is a New York based photographer who has worked with publications such as Vogue and Paper Mag. I chose to use her as a resource because not many female photographers get the credit they deserve, and I feel like Petra’s work in underrated. It’s not the traditional theme of photography that most people expect, and that’s why I like it. She plays with lighting and locations, and lighting is something that I’m interested in. Most of her work is published in magazines, which is something that I aspire to do. It would be amazing if this project could be compiled into a zine, but that would have to be something to work on in the future.


5.)

Elterman, Brad. "Brad Elterman." Brad Elterman. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://www.bradelterman.com/>.


Brad Elterman is known for his photographs of celebrities, particularly in the 80s. Brad made his career successful by being outgoing and bold, especially when he was a teenager. This link is directed to his photography portfolio. This source is useful to me because Brad motivates me to not be afraid of taking photos of people all the time. He captures people in their natural habitat, and makes every shoot look impromtu.




6.)

Ang, Ying. "Ying Ang - Photography." Ying Ang. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://www.yingangphoto.com/page.cfm?id=36&subid=109>.


This source is Ying Ang’s portfolio. Ying lives in Australia and edits her photos to appear soft and nostalgic. Part of me wants to edit my photos to look like they were shot with film, and the other part of me wants to make it look as digital as possible. This is a great source for me because Ying incorporates both into her photos, which I hope to do in order to create a happy medium in my photos. Her work motivated me to choose to edit my photos to appear crisp and digital while still being soft to make them more emotional.


7.)

Fu, Vivian. "Me and Tim." Vivian Fu. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://vivianfu.com/>.


Vivian Fu is a San Francisco based photographer with a BA in fine arts, specifically photography. This source is a link to her online portfolio where all of her work is organized and displayed. Her photos are very intimate and are often of herself using self timer. She inspires me as a female photographer to be more creative and to take more pictures of myself that are honest and open. I can incorporate this into my capstone by taking pictures of people from different perspectives and choosing which one represents their hidden side the best.


8.)

Sophia, Cheyenne. "CHEYENNE SOPHIA." CHEYENNE SOPHIA. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://cheyennesophia.com/>.



In her photography, Cheyenne Sophia has a similar style to Petra Collins. She also focuses on colorful lights and female models, but Cheyenne’s work has more shadows and darkness to it. I resonate with Cheyenne more because the low lighting and bright colors is what attracts me the most. Although I probably won’t be taking my photos like this for my project, I was able to use this source to make this decision.


9.)

Nieratko, Chris. "Ed Templeton On His New Book and Life After Skateboarding | VICE | United States." VICE. Web. 30 Jan. 2015. <http://www.vice.com/read/ed-templeton-on-his-new-book-and-life-after-skateboarding-333>.



This source is an interview with Ed Templton for Vice magazine. Ed Templeton is known for being a pro skater, but also for his amazing photography. He often takes street portraits, but still has planned photoshoots also.  This interview discusses his new photography book that’s being released. After viewing this interview, I started to explore more of Ed’s work and thinking about how my photos are similar yet different to his. My capstone is going to be a planned photoshoot, but I can incorporate Ed’s style into it by making the photos seem as though they were taken candidly.


10.)

Marks, Matthew. "Nan Goldin - Selected Works - Matthew Marks Gallery." Nan Goldin - Selected Works - Matthew Marks Gallery. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://www.matthewmarks.com/new-york/artists/nan-goldin/selected-works/>.



This source is a link to a bio about Nan Goldin featuring some of her photos written by Matthew Marks. Nan Goldin is a New York & Paris based photographer. She’s known for changing the underground  scene of photography in the 80s due to her presentation of her overly-saturated, risque photos. Her photos are typically unglamorous shots of beautiful people that show how real they still are. This made me think of an idea for my capstone - I could tell all the girls that I will be photographing to appear as natural as possible for their photo by not doing their hair or makeup.


Amy Farrell Q3 Senior Art

Posted by Amy Farrell in Art - Senior Art - Hull - E on
The thing I enjoyed most about this quarter was using water colors. I also worked on my patience while creating the mosaic. I'm more comfortable with taking photos than drawing / painting, but I'm still practicing in order to be comfortable with both. I'm looking forward to creating new things next quarter. 

Amy Farrell Q2 Art Portfolio

Posted by Amy Farrell in Art - Senior Art - Hull - E on
In this quarter, I created numerous drawings, a collage using the golden ratio, and made my own print. My favorite part of this quarter was making the collage because it was interesting see how the ratio worked and how I could create my own. I enjoy this class because I get to express myself through art and push myself to create better art everyday. I look forward to learning and creating more in the next two quarters. 

Q2 Food Benchmark

Posted by Amy Farrell in Science and Society - Best - Y on
Screen Shot 2015-01-17 at 12.16.55 PM
Screen Shot 2015-01-17 at 12.16.55 PM
​

Caprese Salad


Ingredients:


*Quantity of ingredients varies upon how much you’re making


Mozzarella Cheese (Whole, not shredded)

Tomatoes

Basil leaves

Balsamic Vinegar

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt, Pepper


Preparation:


  1. Slice mozzarella cheese into ¼ inch thick slices

  2. Do step 1 to tomatoes

  3. Place 1 slice of cheese on each tomato slice  

  4. Add 1 basil leaf to each tomato / cheese combo

  5. Drizzle olive oil & balsamic vinegar on top of each combo

  6. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and / or pepper on each combo


Analysis:


When made with all fresh, organic ingredients, this dish contains little processed food items. The ingredients that are processed are still healthy, For example, cheese is the main processed ingredient, but it has to be processed in order to kill bad bacteria. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is technically processed because it’s been pressed in a factory, but there’s no additives or chemicals in it. Most salt has iodine added to it which causes it to be labeled as processed, but iodine is an essential dietary mineral that we would get very sick without.


Although this is a healthy dish, if you were to eat nothing it each day you would get very sick. Firstly, you would be lacking many essential food groups such as fruits, meats, and bread. Also, the intake of salt each day could add up and possibly lead to diabetes, but the monounsaturated fats in olive oil are known to prevent the risk of type 2 diabetes.



For this particular dish, I used Cento balsamic vinegar, Sunset tomatoes, Belgioioso mozzarella cheese, Carbonell olive oil and Olive Creek basil. I purchased all of these ingredients at my local Shoprite. The vinegar came from Italy, the tomatoes came from Mexico, the cheese came from Wisconsin, the olive oil came from spain, and the basil came from New Jersey. These ingredients are healthy, but since they have traveled so far, it means that they’re aren’t environmentally friendly. The vinegar, olive oil, and tomatoes all come from different countries, which means they’ve traveled the farthest. My dad was the one that went food shopping, but if I had gone then I would have chosen organic, local ingredients. From what I’ve learned this year, organic food isn’t necessarily better than conventionally grown food. They both contain nearly the same amount of nutrients, but organically grown food is better for the environment.


Overall, this dish made approximately 12 servings (2 cheese / mozzarella combos) and came to around $12. This is affordable, healthy, and filling as a side dish or snack. Fast food is cheap but will cause health problems and leave you feeling sluggish. If you were to eat this dish as a snack, it would be satisfying and refreshing.


My family grows herbs and tomatoes in our backyard in the summer, so my dad and I would use them when making this dish almost everyday. Basil pretty much grows on it’s own once it’s planted, needing only to be watered and trimmed, and the same goes with tomatoes. When these items are purchased, they have to be grown (where you don’t know the exact growing process that took place) shipped to the grocery store, and then brought home.


Reflection



I’ve learned a lot during this quarter about how I’m part of the food system and how the system itself works. I had an idea of the subjects that we reviewed such as diabetes, organic food, and how school lunches have little to no nutritional value to begin with,  but I’m glad that I have a deeper understanding of them now. I was highly worried that I was harming myself by not eating only organic food, but I now know that organic food and conventionally grown food contain nearly the same nutrients. I am still concerned about the preservatives and additives that go into most foods, but I consider myself a wise shopper when it comes to what I purchase and eat so I’m confident that I’ll be okay. The obesity rate in America truly makes me sad. Junk food is cheap and fast so many people resort to eating that, but it is killing people. Junk food isn’t satisfying so you’re more likely to eat more. Sitting down and eating a healthy meal will fill you for much longer than a hamburger from a fast food restaurant. The TED talk we watched made me realize how important it is to learn how to cook, so I’ve been cooking dinners with my dad in order to learn how to make meals for myself. I’ve been focusing on eating healthy and watching my portions when eating, along with eating more fruits and drinking more water. If I choose to have a family in the future, I’m going to be very strict with my children on what they can and can’t eat. I’m going to cook them proper meals, teach them how to be smart shoppers, and teach them to cook also. I’m thankful that I had this class and I feel as though every student should have a class on food and how the system works.

Q1 Benchmark - Review of Grow Up

Posted by Amy Farrell in English 3 - Rami - D on
photo (4)
photo (4)
​ Above is a drawing I did of an alternative cover to Grow Up by Ben Brooks. In the bottom left corner, there's a cigarette giving off the smoke that spirals in the center. In the right bottom corner, there's a black book with lines of Ketamine, which is their choice of drug, forming the title. Inside of the spiral there is different important elements from the book, including Wu Tang, Crystal Castles, a dead cat, marijuana, cigarettes, beer, etc. 





     Grow Up


Who better to write about the youth than the youth themselves? Ben Brooks captured modern youth flawlessly in his 2011 novel Grow Up. This brutally honest novel stars Jasper Wolf - the 17 year old version of the author himself. While writing the novel, Brooks’ publisher tried to sway him from adding his own characteristics to his character. Brooks disagreed, and adding his own traits to a fictional character proved to be successful. In the end, it enabled the storyline to be more relatable than the majority of young adult literature out today.

Trying to convince everyone that his stepfather murdered his ex wife, passing school exams, and exempting himself from fatherhood are only some of the challenges Jasper faces in Grow Up. He and his friends just barely get by each day with the help of cheap alcohol and drugs, along with numerous tobacco breaks in between. Although you may not impregnate someone after a one night stand on ketamine, you will definitely find a way to relate to Jasper. Grow Up is written as if it were an insiders view into Jasper’s (Ben’s) mind, and you can’t help but fall in love with him as the book goes on. Jasper sees himself a perfectly fine and normal teenager, until he realizes that he isn’t who he thought he was. Dealing with his classmates suicide, his best friend’s relationship ending, and his unborn baby cause him to reconsider who he really is. Although some people may only see this book as nothing but sex and drugs, it does have a deeper meaning to it. It is about growing up, and the ups and downs that come with it. It’s written in a way that makes you rediscover yourself over and over again.

Brooks grew up in Gloucestershire, England and began writing at a very young age. Grow Up was his first mainstream novel, which was written when he was only 18 years old. His inspiration came from well known American writer Tao Lin, and Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. He mentions Murakami in his writing, saying “Murakami makes me feel safe and positive. I wish Murakami was my stepdad. Murakami would never murder my mum.” He incorporates both of their styles into his writing, which forms the unique inner monologue feel of Grow Up. Brooks is also the author of books such as Fences and the newly published Lolito, which is a spin off of the famous novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.

One common comparison is between Grow Up and the British TV show Skins. Skins features a group of teenagers that are portrayed to be partying misfits, but are actually all fairly attractive and well off.  That same stereotype is often applied to Grow Up. People often feel as though he’s following in the same footsteps as many young authors - trying to be unique while still being a cliche. The rebel group of partying teens is long played out by now, but Grow Up has a certain touch to it that makes it feel as though it were the only (and most important) book of that matter.

Brook’s taste and style is somewhat concerning when first reading this novel. His use, or lack thereof, of consonants emphasizes every emotion individually along with the short, simple sentences that are used. Although his writing seems simple and amature, it contains a depth that unfolds throughout the reading. His comparisons are often questionable, such as when he describes his best friend Tenaya’s house. “It is huge and victorian, with ivy curling up the front  like a pedophile’s fingers.” These uncomfortable comparisons keep the story interesting, as if you never know what he’s going to say next.  His use of detail is often, keeping the story alive. It’s as if this were a true documented story rather than a work of fiction.

After reading this novel, I’m left with the feeling of wanting more. Although it would of been great to continue this story, it was perfect timing to end where it did. Grow Up should be a staple in every young person’s reading list. It was written about teenagers by a teenager, so it’s realisticness is unbeatable. It opens up new doors to what life could be like, and provides a sense of hope for even the worst situations. I would highly recommend this book for people who enjoy young adult literature, realistic fiction, or just gritty coming of age work. Brooks is still young, and I predict his work will be getting better with age.


Grow Up / Ben Brooks / Penguin Group / 2011 / 260 Pgs / Fiction

National Day on Writing

Posted by Amy Farrell in English 3 - Rami - D on
I connect best to others through writing. As Ernest Hemingway said, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." I agree with this quote completely because I believe that writing is expressing who you really are, whether you meant for it to come out that way or not. Everyone interprets things differently, so maybe that's why I connect so well with certain authors. 

Language Autobiography 2013: To judge, Or Not To Judge

Posted by Amy Farrell in English 2 - Block on
​In this unit, we learned about language and the effect it has on us in everyday life. I was assigned to write an essay about what I learned from this unit, and how it if relative to my life. Immediately, I thought of the way I see grammar. This paper was a challenge to write, but I pushed through because I knew I wanted people to hear what I had to say. While writing this, I learned that I need to stop thinking so much over the little things. Also, I learned to not be as judgmental. 

To Judge, Or Not To Judge 

Before entering 7th grade, my perspective on grammar and the way people communicated was very indifferent. I often spoke lazily and didn’t notice much difference between what’s considered standard english and what’s considered slang. One very strict teacher implanted the idea in my head that the level of grammar that you use determines your intelligence level. One day, a classmate of mine asked her why she was so aggressive over grammar and writing. She replied with, “Well, how do you want people to view you? Educated or illiterate?” Ever since then, I couldn’t get that idea out of my head.


One of my close friends Jackie always talks in slang. To her, it’s her first language. This worried me because she has to maintain a scholarship at her high school, and if she’s talking in this manner then her grades must be suffering from it. I would always try to correct her grammar, even if we were texting! She would say to me, “Oh Amy, stop worrying!” but I couldn’t help it. One day, she asked me to proofread one of her english essays. “Oh God” I thought, “This will take a while”. But as I was reading, I was shocked. I had been terribly wrong this entire time. Her grammar and spelling was nearly perfect, along with the fluidity of her paper. This took me back a bit, and made me reevaluate my thinking. I felt so narrow minded for having judged her on just her street language. People have many different personalities, and ways of showing who they are. In school they always teach you that there’s a right way to do something, and there’s a wrong way. The way children translate that is ‘if you do it the wrong way, then you’re considered stupid, if you do it the right way, everyone will love you.’ This is enforced majorly in grammar / english classes. So if you use grammar wrong, you’re stupid. If you misspell something, you’re stupid. Many people live their entire lives along these lines, while for some it goes in one ear and out the other.

This mindset that I’m in is starting to affect my relationships with people. When I start talking to a boy, I always analyze how they talk while texting or by things they post on the internet. I think to myself, “Okay, well if they have good grammar then they’re educated and smart. If not, then they aren’t worth my time.” That right there is horrible to think. Who am I to judge who a person is by the way they talk? I’m always fighting an inner battle to remind myself that it’s more about what they have to say, rather than how they say it. My friend Joe recognized this, and since then he’s been using close-to-perfect grammar to impress me. When people use good grammar, I automatically feel much more comfortable talking to them. Needless to say, Joe’s been one of the top people I talk to on a daily basis for a while now.


To this day I catch myself noticing other people’s grammar mistakes and thinking “Wow, do they even know what they’re saying?” without taking into mind that everyone makes mistakes. One of the biggest places that this happens is the internet. When people post things for everyone to see and it’s illiterate, it makes me wonder how they’re doing in school. All these thoughts are extremely judgemental of me to even think of. You could be extremely intelligent in some subjects, but not so smart in others. The realization moment for me was reading the essay, ‘If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?’. That essay opened up my mind to a whole new perspective. One quote that stood out to me was “It goes without saying, then, that language is also a political instrument, means, and proof of power. It is the most vivid and crucial key to identify: It reveals the private identity, and connects one with, or divorces one from, the larger, public, or communal identity.” The way people speak comes from their culture, and who they are as a person. They grow up in houses and have history, they aren’t perfect grammatical robots. You don’t need to use standard english to be intelligent. Standard english is what’s commonly seen as ‘correct english’, but in today’s language, I don’t think there’s a right or wrong language. For me or anybody else to say that the way somebody speaks is wrong,  would be wrong of us.


Baldwin, James. "If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me What Is." New York Times. (July 29, 1979): <http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/03/29/specials/baldwin-english.html>.

(Vimeo still hasn't allowed me to make an account, I'm sorry for the inconvenience)  


My Video

Keystone Monologue Project

Posted by Amy Farrell in World History - Block on
​In my World History class, we were asked to create 3 monologues focused on the Keystone Pipeline and how it affected different people / environments. This pipeline will transfer crude oil across the united states from Alaska. What this will do is pollute our air, ruin our land, and soil much, much water. My first monologue is about a curious chimpmunk in a tree above the building of the pipeline. My second is about a police officer who decides that he needs to stand up for what he believes in, and my third one is about a small town farmer who's land is going to be destroyed because of the pipeline. I feel the most important one is the chimpunk, because it shows how this pipeline will affect other animals, causing many of them to loose their homes. I hope you enjoy! 



Monologue 1: Jacob The Baby Chipmunk
(Jacob is a baby chipmunk living in the trees above the construction site. He is unaware of what is happening and why.)

*Perched on chair, hands on cheeks*


When will this construction stop? All day long I hear these loud noises and they’re scaring mommy and daddy. Sister says not to worry, the colorful people with drums will save us. So far, they just sit around and refuse to move. I wonder why they’re doing that. Big scary cops try to pry them away, but they just scream and won't get up. I wonder if they’re glued to the ground...

Mr. Turtle told me they’re building a big giant scary pipe to carry gross oil for the humans to use. Why would they do that? They’re destroying my forest and draining the water hole. Are they thirsty? I would be willing to share with the men dressed in orange, but they’re too busy with the colorful people. All they do is fight and scream, I wonder if they’re hungry and grumpy. Mr. Owl told me that after it’s all done, we won't be able to grow any more food. The land will be something they called ‘infertile’. How do they know all of this? I’m just a little chipmunk in a big big world. Momma said the air will get all gross and we won’t be able to breathe it. Why would they do that?

*Peeks over chair as if looking down from a tree*

Right now I can see one colorful woman running around and screaming. She seems really upset. I should probably go try to calm her down.*Gets up and gasps*  Oh! Now a man in a blue suit is chasing her! I think she stole his berries. All of the colorful people are getting up now and going into a van but they’re being dragged and forced to. Why don’t they wanna go in? It looks nice and cool on this hot day. Ah, again with the loud noises! *Looks around frantically* Oh no, they’re tearing up my tree! Where’s momma?! I need to get out of here but I’m too afraid! Please Please go away! Go away!! Oh, I see a colorful woman escaped! She’s pointing at me and yelling something in human. Whatever she said made the men in orange stop. They look really mad. They threw her back into the van, and now they’re all looking at me. What did I do?! Why are they all leaving? She saved me! I can stay!






Monologue 2: Police officer John
(Standing with arms crossed at construction site, watching protesters as they refuse to move)


Some people ask me why I became a cop. My usual answer is  “to protect our public, of course”. But that’s not true. The real reason I became a cop is because my father made me. He was a cop, and wanted my whole family to follow in his footsteps. If I could go back in time, I would.
*Walks over to protesters, worries expression*
Hey! Hey you!
Get off there !
You’re going to get hurt !
*Walks away shaking head*
Damn kids. I agree with what they’re doing though. Stickin up for themselves and others. That’s good. Wish I could do that.
*Runs over and helps a man down from bulldozer*
Sir! Sir!
Stop that! If you fall, you’re going to get hurt and in trouble!
Gosh. Maybe if I acted more aggressive, they would stop. But I don’t have it in me. I have to think about my family. If I gave in and just agreed with them I’d lose my job. But then again..
*sighs*
This pipeline that they’re building could be even worse for my family than me loosing my job. I could always find a new one. But in this economy...
I’ve gone over the pros and cons numerous times. If this is something I feel passionate about, shouldn’t I stand up for it? Shouldn’t I make a difference too?
*Walks over to Chief*
Hey Chief can we talk?
Yeah, uh, I’m not standing guard anymore.
It means that I’m not stopping these hippies, er, activists. I agree with what they’re doing and I’m unable to stop them. If this means I lose my job, then  so be it.
I understand sir, I understand. This is something I feel strongly about.
Oh, wow, really?
You agree?! I mean, of course you agree sir.
Thank you sir. I’ll see you in the station tomorrow.
*Gets in police car and drives away into the sunset*
I can breathe easy now. I may only be one person, but I can still make a difference. I hope the other officers follow suit, if they’re not scared.



Monologue 3: Farmer Sean
(Ignorant small town farmer whose being affected by pipeline)
(Slouching on couch with beer in hand)

What am I supposed to do about this damn shit? Damn politicians thinkin’ they run this country. Well, they do, but I still don’t like ‘em! Talkin all their big talk, runinin’ our land. I hear em outside right now. They say I can’t be in my own house during construction.
*Screams out window to workers*
Bullshit ! I can be wherever I want! This is my land!
NO! I will not leave my house! I will not!
You think I care about that? Ha, fuck em!
*Goes and sits on couch, turns on tv*
Once they build this contraption, all our fresh air gonna be gone! The lil critters ain’t gonna have no water no more! All this land gonna be cut up and used, we can all say goodbye to fresh crops!
*Hears banging on door, gets up and grunts*
What does yall want now?!
Once again, NO!
*Sits down and ignores the continued banging, thinks to self*
If we all respected this earth we live on here, we wouldn’t have to be doin all this. I live here by myself and I’m perfectly fine! Raise all my own animals, grow all my own crops. Don’t gotta worry bout nothin. Simple livin. That’s what ‘mericas all about. Don’t need none of this big time construction.
*Cops break down door, grab him*
HEY! You can’t do that! Let me go!
*Gets put in cop car, looks at his animals sadly*
I’m gonna miss all of yall.

Here's my video! 

Appendix:

-Pipeline Promised Jobs, but turns out those jobs would only last a few months per person

-Project wastes tons and tons of clean water

-In a few years, this will make our air practically un-breathable 

-Many people are loosing their homelands due to construction

-Farmlands will become infertile

-All the pollutants will cause tumors in animals that live near the pipeline


Bibliography:

"Red State Ranchers Vs. the Pipeline." YES! Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/nebraskans-speak-out-against-the-pipeline>.


"Occupy & 350.org Crash Boehner's Office over Backroom Attempt to Revive Keystone XL." Tar Sands Action. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.tarsandsaction.org/>.

"Friends of the Earth." Friends of the Earth. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.foe.org/projects/climate-and-energy/tar-sands>.



Descriptive Essay: My sister Michelle

Posted by Amy Farrell in English 2 - Block on

“Don’t worry” my sister  said, “ I’ll be home before you know it”. Those few words meant the world to me, but I knew I wouldn’t see her for another month. How could someone that looks this fine be so messed up?

It was a cold snowy day and I didn’t want to leave the warmth of the car. Also, I was terrified to enter yet another rehab. I used to think they were all the same, long hallways and lights that shine a little too bright, but this one was different. It was a large cabin in the woods. I was going there to visit my older sister. After I finally got the courage to go inside, I noticed the fresh smell of apple pie. The lighting was dim and soft, like a cozy house.

The second I saw my sister my heart dropped. She tackled me to the carpeted floor in front of everyone. We rolled around and cried our eyes out, so happy to be together again. When we realized an audience had gathered around us, we started laughing but we didn’t stop hugging. This was weird because we never really hugged before. After seeing her at that moment, I knew everything was going to be okay.

Little did I know she would relapse and overdose 2 weeks later.

I was always expecting that call. The call saying that something horrible had happened to her. I knew it would happen, but didn’t know when. Maybe I was just being overprotective. She meant the world to me, and if anything happened to her I don’t know what I would do. After she left rehab I assumed this would never happen. I was always afraid of her giving in and going back to drugs. I thought maybe this time was different. Maybe she would stay clean for me. I knew she wanted to, but I wasn’t sure if she was strong enough.

The day I finally got the call was one of the worst days of my life. I remember getting off the bus and entering my house.It was dead silent, and I knew something was wrong. Nobody was home. I looked at my phone and my mom called me. I answered immediately and heard the beeping of the hospital machines in the background. Before I knew it tears were streaming down my face, and my mom asked me to meet her at the hospital. I called my best friend and got on the bus crying my eyes out. I’m sure there were many eyes staring at me, but I didn’t care. When I got to the hospital, I saw her boyfriend in the waiting room, who got her addicted to heroin. He was asking if he could go see her, and that set me off. I started screaming at the top of my lungs at him and the security guards who were trying to hold me back. I saw Michelle and slowly walked over to her. The look on her face will haunt me forever.

How could she do this to me? She promised she wouldn’t do this again. I trusted her. She’s so young and innocent. She has so much more living to do. It all started when she was 13. She got mixed in with the wrong crowd, and it took off from there. My mom used to be an alcoholic, so I think my sisters way of dealing with that was to also drink. And once my mom noticed how messed up Michelle was, it caused her to drink more. It was a never ending cycle. I don’t remember when my mom stopped drinking, but Michelle never stopped. She made it a point to try every drug possible. By the age of 19 she was already in rehab twice. By 20 she was in there at least 5 times. I don’t know why she doesn’t want to get better. She’s always been very depressed, and I think this is an escape for her.
Today, she’s 21 and addicted to heroin. She could be doing so much better than this. I had so much faith in her to get help and recover, but all that faith is almost gone. She means the world to me, and I would do anything for her. I want her to see that she is loved, but she has trampled all over my love from time to time.   I just don’t know how much longer I can do this.

Testing on animals, Post #3

Posted by Amy Farrell in English 1 - Dunn on

Hello readers! My name is Amy Farrell and this is my third post on the topic of testing on animals. If you wish to read  my first 2 posts, click here for post 1 and here for post 2. In post 1, I gave an overview of what animal testing is all about, and included an informative video on the topic. In post 2, it was more about my opinion and other research I have found. In this post, this is my plan for change. This is the last part of the project, so this will be my last blog post.  


The final question we all have is:

What can we do to help?


There are many things you as a reader can do to help. First, view this list of companies that do test on animals (Below) , and make sure you do NOT buy their products. Here is an easy way to find brands that do and do not test on animals.  If enough people boycott companies that use animals for testing, they will run out of business OR decide to change their testing methods. 


Here is a petition that you can sign that says you will not buy products from companies that test on animals. After signing this, a letter is sent to one of the companies saying you are boycotting their products. 


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168678_181582895210556_180464141989098_365257_3394343_n
story_wide
story_wide

My Plan / Original Content 

I sent an email with this link to the freshman class at Science Leadership Academy. So far, I’ve gotten over 40+ people to sign it. By sending this link to people, it will spread awareness. Also, after you sign the form, it asks you to send it to a friend. By sending it to a friend, more and more people will be aware of this happening. Even after this project is done, I still plan on using products that do not test on animals, and I will continue spreading awareness. 


Acknowledgments:

I’d like to thank Mrs Dunn, Emma Hersh, Max Amar-Olkus, and RubyJane Anderson for helping me complete these 3 posts. 



If you want to do more, you could contact the companies by yourself and tell them why you aren’t going to buy their products. If many people do this, they will realize they need to change. Here is a list of companies that still test on animals. It may be shocking to see some of your favorite brands listed, but it is the truth. As I stated earlier, you can contact these companies yourself and tell them what you think about this. Change always starts with one person, and that person could be you.



Also, if you wish to join PETA’S Action Team to help animals, click here for more information. 

If you wish to see my bibliography, click here.

Who wouldn't want to see more animals being healthy and happy? 
How-to-maintain-a-healthy-cat
How-to-maintain-a-healthy-cat

Testing on animals, Post #2

Posted by Amy Farrell in English 1 - Dunn on

Hello readers! My name is Amy Farrell and this is my second blog post about an issue I care very deeply about, testing on animals. If you wish to read my first post, click here

Since my last post, I have found several new websites with useful information on them. Also, I have found things you could replace animal testing with. Before, when a woman had a pregnancy test done, the laboratory procedure involved killing a rabbit. Now, you can buy a home pregnancy test over the counter with no harm to animals. Instead of dissecting real frogs or animals for a science classroom, there are many online  alternatives such as this. For some skin tests, scientists have developed a synthetic skin that can be used in place of animal skin. If the test is not that dangerous, they will do it on human volunteers under serious supervision. Some people argue that these methods cost more, but in reality they cost less. The scientists do not have to keep buying and breeding and cleaning up after animals anymore. The question is, why don’t they just stick to alternative methods? 

LabRatChina-580x388
LabRatChina-580x388
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I believe they don’t use the alternates  because they are afraid. If the test goes wrong they could get into a lot of trouble. What many people don’t realize, is that a little less than half of the tests that are conducted are inaccurate. For example, some companies test mascara on rabbits. One brand caused the rabbit to go blind, but they still sold it to customers anyway. 


freedom_animals_1
freedom_animals_1

By doing this project, I have discovered the many sides of animal testing. Some feel it is the worst possible thing that could happen, while others feel that it’s the only option they have. I hope that by reading my blog posts, it will help everyone become more educated and learn more about this topic.



PETA is an organization for the protection of all animals. They try to spread awareness of what's really happening to animals that the public do not know about. Through their work, thousands of animals are saved every year. To learn more about PETA, click here


Click here for my bibliography. 

Negative space

Posted by Amy Farrell in Art - 9 - Hull on
​A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)

Negative space is the area in the absences of an object, such as gaps and holes. 



B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your stool drawing?

1. I found out by noticing the areas I had to keep to make it a picture, and the areas that are the rest. 

2. I got everything that made the stool and the background. 

C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

It helps to see what you need to focus on.

D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not

Yes it does enhance drawings because you see both parts. 




Photo on 4-20-12 at 9.11 AM
Photo on 4-20-12 at 9.11 AM

Pen Pal Letter

Posted by Amy Farrell in Spanish 1 - Bey on
​Querido Michael Sanchez,

¡Hola! Saludos desde Filadelfia. Filadelfia es una ciudad entre la ciudad de Nueva York y la capital.

¿Cómo estas? Me llamo Amy Farrell. Soy de Filadelfia. Se conoce como “La Ciudad de Amor Fraternal.” Yo tengo quince años.  Mi cumpleaños es el cinco de octubre.

Me gusta el voleibol y la comida italiano. También me gusta la música rap y la música rock.  Sin embargo no me gusta ni la música clásico ni el futbol americano. Yo tengo el pelo rizado. Yo tengo los ojos cafés. Yo soy baja, delgada, y guapa. Yo soy morena, tímida, y habladora. Me gusta pasar un rato con amigos, escuchar música, y bailar. No me gusta ni estudiar ni correr. ¿Qué te gusta hacer? ¿Qué música te gusta escuchar? ¿Cómo eres?

Bueno, me voy porque tengo que estudiar. ¡Responde cuando puedas!

                                                               Con cariño,

                                                                Amy Farrell

Photo on 12-10-11 at 4.20 PM
Photo on 12-10-11 at 4.20 PM

Amy Farrell Q2 Media Fluency

Posted by Amy Farrell in Technology - Hull on
​For my slide, I chose a large font that stood out against the background. I chose a purple color and black as the background because they look classy. The lighting on the pictures also fits in with the color scheme. My slide has pictures of animals that I took, and a quote that I like about animals. I tried to keep it simple so the focus is on the pictures. Animals are my favorite things to photograph because they are all different. The different colors of their coats, feathers, or skins adds contrasts to any picture. 
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How old are you? Isabella & Zoraya

Posted by Amy Farrell in Spanish 1 - Bey on
​¿Cuántos años tienes?


How to ask someone how old they are!




                      
                    
  Step 1: ¿Cuántos anos tienes?
          - Translates to: “How old are you?”
          - Can be used with anyone

Step 2: Yo tengo _____ anos.
          -Translates to “I am ____ years old.”

Happy Birthday! Isabella & Zoraya

Posted by Amy Farrell in Spanish 1 - Bey on
​¡feliz cumpleaños!:

Happy Birthday!


*How to ask ‘When is your birthday?’

Step 1: ¿ Cuando tu Cumpleanos?
          - Translates to: “When is your birthday?”
          - Can be used with anyone

Step 2: Mi cumpleanos es el ____ de _____.
          -Translates to “My birthday is the ____ of_____.”


Such as:
Isabella: ¿ Cuando tu Cumpleanos?
Zoraya: Mi cumpleanos es el cinco de octubre.

Translated:
Isabella: When is your birthday?
Zoraya: My birthday is October 5th.

Where do you live? Isabella & Zoraya

Posted by Amy Farrell in Spanish 1 - Bey on
​¿De Donde Eres?:

Where do you live?



     *How to ask where somebody lives

Step 1: ¿De donde eres?
            - Translates into : “Where do you live?”
            - Neither formal nor informal (Can be used with anyone)


Step 2: Soy de _______ pero vivo en ________.
         - Translates into “ I am from _______, but I live in _______.”
         - If you did not move or change locations, you would just say :
            “ Soy de_____”

Example: Amy’s new boss doesn’t know anything about her, and would like to get to know her before giving her the big job.




***Tip ! Some cities, countries, and places have different Spanish spellings and      pronunciations than the normal English ones, so be sure to look up the correct way to use it before you speak ! ***

Greetings - Isabella & Zoraya

Posted by Amy Farrell in Spanish 1 - Bey on
​¿Hola, Como estas?: Learn how to greet someone

( The right way)

          

*Greetings : Hello, how are you? ( Formal & Informal)*


Informal


Step 1. ¡ Hola!
        - The classic way to greet someone, the Spanish version of the English word “hello”

Step 2. ¿Como estas? OR ¿ Que tal?
        -The informal ways of saying “How are you doing”
        - Use with people you are on a first name basis with ( Friends, people your age)

Such as:
Zoraya would say it to Isabella because she uses here first name when talking to her.

Example:  ¡Hola!  ¿Como estas?
   
English Translation : Hello ! How are you?

**In this video, Isabella and Zoraya see each other in school for the first time in what seems like forever.
Some additional dialogue used was:
-“Mucho gusto” - Nice to meet you (In this video, we used it because we have not see each other in a while)
-“Adios” - Goodbye
-“Chao” - Informal goodbye

______________________________________________________________________________

Formal & Plural


Step 1: ¿ Como esta usted?
      -  The formal way of saying “ How are you doing”
      -   Used with people you are on a last name basis with ( Adults, Employers, meeting      someone new)

Step 2:  ¿ Como estan ustedes?
      - The formal, plural way of saying “ How are you doing”
      - Used with large audiences, and last name basis

Such as:
When talking to your teacher, you should use formal language.
When speaking to a large crowd, you would use plural AND formal.

Example: ¡Hola! ¿ Como esta usted?   OR   ¡Hola! ¿ Como estan ustedes?


How to answer !



Some basic responses:

Feliz - Happy
Mas o menos - So so
Bien - Good
Mal - Bad
Excelente - Great

Step 1: Answer question ( Any form of ¿Como estas?) with a response below

Step 2: ¿Y tu?    
       - The informal way of saying “ and you”
       - Same rules apply for any informal speaking
       - Use after response to any informal “how are you” question

Step 3: ¿ Y usted?
       - The formal way of saying “ and you”
       - Same rules apply for any formal speaking
       - Use after response to any formal “ how are you” question
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