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Briana Stroman Public Feed

"Driver" Film Review

Posted by Briana Stroman in Digital Video -4 day a week - Herman on Friday, March 9, 2012 at 7:59 am
The film Drive, the first 10 minutes of the scene starts it. It tells what favors the main character does. The audience didn't know if that was a job or anything else, but it told part of his personality and shows an activity that he does. Main character with no name, played by actor Ryan Gosling, doesn't speak much in this scene. In the film in general he doesn't speak so much. But in this specific scene, the silence of the characters helped tell what type of chase that was. The beat and radio also helped tell the story. There was a baseball game playing, but it also related to the chase.

In this film it show's two completely different stores that meets up with each other. There's a story where Gosling's character is a stunt driver, and he drives for reasons on the side which are the deals. Then there's a story where he mets a girl and her son, and has a connection with them. She's married to a latino male name Standard, which brought the gang storyline to the film. 

The lighting in the film really helped in the story because especially with Gosling's character doesn't speak much so most of the movie the lighting was his dialogue. The music and sounds in the film went with everything. Especially with the radio in the first 10 minutes. The camera angles were as detailed on the characters as possible. No matter what type of camera angle it was. The one I enjoyed most was when Gosling's character drowned Nino in the ocean and it was a very wide shot of the city. But you could still see Gosling's character as small as he was because his jacket stood out.

I also remember talking with a classmate who talked about the symbol of his jacket. That classmate was Anwar. He states how he has a scorpion on the back of his jacket. It represent how a scorpion acts in it's smart and sneaky ways. He had the jacket on during most of the film. The jacket was also a motif because it's the main symbol that represents his character.

A few scenes I enjoyed was the elevator scene because the lighting told Gosling's feelings towards Irene while they were kissing and the music was building up when he did the thing with his jaw, letting Irene know he's about to show his true colors and kill the man in the elevator in order to save her. Another is when he meets Bernie. The angle I liked didn't show his face, but showed his shoulders down as he reached his hand to shake Gosling character's had. His line was "my hands are dirty" I believe. It seemed powerful in my opinion. The first 10 mins of the movie was one of my favorites because there were no camera shots from outside of the car during the chase. Another is when he went into the dressing room. It was when the guy was on the floor and Gosling's character was standing over him conversing with Nino. He had the weapon in his hand gripping it tight. That type of angle looking up at Gosling showed that he had authority at that moment. The very last was after Irene and Gosling's character was hanging out for the day. They were talking while they were near the window. The way they were looking and smiling at each other was amazing. There wasn't much dialogue but their face told it all. 

The only thing I didn't like in the movie was around the end when Bernie and Gosling's character was talking. They were talking about the movie and it had clips of what happens while they were discussing it. I wanted to predict what was going to happen while they were talking. I didn't want it to show me while they were talking. Other than that, the movie was great, detailed, and I loved how the different storylines depended on each other.




Tags: Driver, digvid, herman
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Video Blog - Sec. 1 of 14th Amendment

Posted by Briana Stroman in American Government - Laufenberg on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 7:33 am
For the video, I focused on gender and the workforce. Because of last minute changes, I presented this video as if I was doing something on a daily basis, which was a video blog that I usually do every week about anything. Thing is, it is pretty long so I knew I wouldn't put this in the competition, BUT I felt as though anything that would be cut out from what I have, would leave out major important details. 

Benchmark Reflection

I chose that topic because it revolves around me a lot. I am a hard-working female, and so are other females in my family. I felt that it was important to show everyone that females are also important. 

What frustrated me was that my plan A didn't work (plan A was the original benchmark plan on moodle), so my project is my plan B which was turning it into a video blog. I liked that better actually because I was able to be myself, and express my opinions and facts. If my timing was better, it would've looked better than what is shown now.

I really enjoyed interviewing my great-great aunt, who worked at Pennsylvania Hospital for 41 years. She gave a lot of interesting thoughts, facts & opinions. Also, one of my C-SPAN videos were interesting too (the 2nd one shown). I learned something that I felt should've been in my project, which about the Womens Act.

I complained about timing this whole project, and I know it's my fault. It took me forever to come up with a topic that I really wanted to stick with. Once I came up with that, I rushed into creating a script for myself, and a plan. Come to find out, plan doesn't work. So it also seemed as though I was rushing through this project, but also I was taking advantage of time. That could've been handled better. Also, I went OVER the time limit.

I really LOVED that I was myself. I didn't have to put on some type of character, & I used a method that I do on a daily basis. I was about to combine that into a project and it didn't seem difficult to me on how I wanted to show it. I just wished that if my timing was better, everything would have been way better that what I displayed.

During this project journey, I learned about how the women became involved with the 14th amendment, and how important it is. I also learned how the Equal Protection Clause would affect women if it didn't exist. I also learned from both my aunt and mother that we need equal share and we will get there. It's just a shame that we have to work 5 times as hard as Caucasian females, and males in general.

C-SPAN Video
Tags: Laufenberg, Q2 Benchmark, C-SPAN, American Government
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Lobbying Post #4 - Communicating with Blondell Reynolds Brown

Posted by Briana Stroman in American Government - Laufenberg on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 7:56 am
For communication, I chose to write a letter. Why? Because I honestly was scared to call. I had three ways I wanted to communicate: phone call, visit, or letter. I figured with a letter, I can just put everything down on one paper and I won't feel so scared anymore. This is my letter that I sent out:

Dear Ms. Brown,

            My name is Briana Stroman. I am a Senior that attends Science Leadership Academy high school on 22nd & Arch. I am writing you for my history project.

            In my American Government class, each student had to choose a topic to lobby about. We write blog post on our school website about the topic research, how we feel about it, and actively taking an approach to it. The topic I chose to write about is curfew. I read in a document about curfew that you’re one of the council members that are in charge of it (if I’m correct). Why am I lobbying about curfew? It’s probably a question you are wondering as you read this letter.

            It’s not that I disagree with minor curfew. I understand the reason why it was set in the first place. I also agree that teens need to understand the danger they put citizens into by causing “Flashmobs”. The problem I do have is that how are officers going to tell who’s a flashmobber and who isn’t?

            For example, I wouldn’t want to be accused of being a flashmobber type person, when really I’m just a teenager rushing to get home from work. In my situation, my mother doesn’t have a car right now so I would have to take Septa basically anywhere I have to go. Or if I’m doing a digital video project somewhere and it ends at a late time.

            What I’m wondering is, do they want a note? Would they like some type of proof? I just think that the city government were fast about setting the curfew law, without having thought of the outcomes of teens having fines because of accusation of being a flashmobber, the reactions of parents becoming super angry because they have to pay for something they know isn’t true. I’m only taking it in from how my mother would react because she knows I do positive activities.

            So, I was wondering if I can meet with you one day to discuss more of this, or if you have the time, you can write back. I would love to have a response from you. Thank you for taking the time out to at least read this letter.

Sincerely,

Briana Stroman


I won't sit and say that I knew what I was going to write, because I had to think. Because I usually write things down, it doesn't always come out in order. So I had to write how I wanted it to come out (in order), so it could be clear to Ms. Brown. I tried to set a certain tone for this letter also. I wanted to show that I'm a nice high school student, and at the same time I wanted to show how serious I am to figure out this information. 

I tried to provide examples on situations that could happen to me, or any other teenager. I already sent it out but I realized that I should have added more to this letter. While I was in poetry club we were talking about different topics, so I brought up what I was lobbying about. And one of my club mates asked me, "why are the police trying to be the teenager's parents?" It was such an interesting question. I felt that I could've added an extra paragraph on that topic, also go more in depth about why parents get angry when someone tells them they're not doing their job right.

I did not get a response yet, but I look forward to one very soon. If not, I can always contact someone else. I also want to ask the extra thoughts I was thinking about. I thank my clubvmates, because without them I wouldn't have thought to want to ask more questions about my topic.
Tags: Laufenberg, Lobbying, American Government, curfew
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Flowchart: Unemployment Benefits

Posted by Briana Stroman in American Government - Laufenberg on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 11:50 am
​UnemploymentFlowchart <------ Part 1 (Click here to view page)
UnemploymentFlowchartPartTwo<------ Part 2 (Click here to view page)

UnemploymentFlowchartPartThree<------ Part 3 (Click here to view page)


The task that both Johniera and I did was filling out out the unemployment benefits application, along with the flowchart. It took us a while to find the application because most times when we searched it, we couldn't find it. But luckily someone helped us on getting the application, and we got to work right away. It seemed like it was breeze because some of the pages were not mandatory to fill out, but there were some things that we didn't know & research for to understand. 

Other than that, the paperwork wasn't that bad. When it came to the flowchart, at first we didn't understand how detailed our flowchart had to be, so we researched examples. We then looked at the certain things people might not understand if they were to fill out the application, and we also looked at the frequently asked questions about the application to apply to the chart, which helped us made our chart as detailed as possible.

I really do not see that process being changed. I think it was straight forward the way it is. If it were to change, I think it would be complicated or unclear. When I say complicated, I mean if things were added, it would seem like too much. When I say unclear, I mean if something was taken out, a person would become confused on what is needed.

I believe that the only complicated part that a unemployed person would understand is when to fil for the claim, and the process after everything is completed. Johniera and I had to read carefully on what would happened after everything went through: how many benefits will a person get in a year, how much would it be, when to file for it, etc. Other than that, it's not a huge process.

What I did want to know was why did it have a section for those that had social security numbers that ended with "05". That would be something I'd have to research.








Tags: flowchart, reflection, American Government, Bureacracy
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Lobbying Post #3 - Curfew

Posted by Briana Stroman in American Government - Laufenberg on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 8:20 am

Again, my issue is curfew, speaking on how teens will get accused on doing something bad. None of the representatives agree with me, but other philadelphians do. To the government, it may seem like good publicity, but to everyone else it's horrible. Nothing has happened, yet. But if the law gets more out of hand it wouldn't even be an teen flashmob anymore. It probably would be a city flashmob. The government is my opponent. Apparently, I don't have any type of power or authority to change things, but I know someone does.

The people I would have to go to are philadelphians, mostly parents. In my research, parents have more problem with this issue than teens, and it was directed to both groups. Then there's two different parent groups. There's the group that know their kids doesn't do anything, but yet they still get accused. Then there's the parents responsible for their kid's actions, but still have an attitude. I am more on the side of the innocent parents because those are the one who are most involved. The other parents would probably want to start some type of riot. Who knows.

The council members that was a part of this was Reynolds Brown, Miller and Green. All three agree with it, even my own representative of my district agrees with it. But they don't understand ALL of the outcomes.

I can influence teens and parents. Basically, we have two options. We can agree that the government will have a better way to determine where teens are going, or we can all disagree with the way it's being approached. That is my problem with the law. I felt that it was rushed a little. And they don't have a way to determine who's disobeying and who isn't.

I would like to apologize on my other blog post for wrong assumptions. On September 22nd 2011, it was introduced as a bill, which was directed to teens hanging out at City Hall and University City. Recently it was made an official law. It was actually a bill since 2007. By comparing the 2007 bill and the 2011 bill which is now an official law, it became more strict.

2007 Bill

2011 Bill

There are no meetings coming up on this issue just yet, but what I would like to do is to go to city council and have them listen to why I'm lobbying about this issue.

Tags: curfew, American Government, Laufenberg, Lobbying
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Briana Stroman - Spaghetti w/ Ground Beef (w/ cheese)

Posted by Briana Stroman in Science and Society - Best on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 10:58 am
Recipe:

- Mantia's Italiano Spaghettii Noodles (2 boxes, 16oz each)

- Robusto! Ragú Sauce (2 bottles, 8oz each)

- Ground Chuck Beef 80/20 (32oz)

- (extra) Coburn Farms Italian Style 6 Cheese Blend (12oz)

- Sea Salt

- Ground Pepper

- Garlic Salt

Instructions:

- Cook ground beef until it turns brown.

- Drain ground beef juice.

- Take a big pot and put 3 quarts of water in it. Wait for water to boil.

- Take both packs on noodles, break noodles up, and put them into the boiled water. Leave in pot for 10-12 mins.

- Drain noodles.

- Put noodles back in pot, put ground beef in pot. Stir around so ground beef can get everywhere. Put two bottles of sauce in pot. Stir around so sauce can get everywhere. Put more salt, pepper, and garlic on spaghetti.

- Heat spaghetti, put cover on top of pot for about 2 mins.

- If you want, put cheese on top and let simmer, then there you go: spaghetti with ground beef and cheese.

Well, to my knowledge pasta came from traditional Italian cuisine. I really don't believe my dish was organically grown. I believe everything was processed. When I say that, I mean the brands that I used. By estimate, my ingredients didn't cost more than $20. Actually, the salt, pepper, and garlic salt I already head. The cheese is not mandatory, but I love pasta with cheese. Coburn Farms products are always dairy.  The ground beef is processed, and approved by the USDA. Ragú sauce has been used in italian meals since 1937. Honestly, there isn't much research on my products, probably because they are all processed foods.

Well, my family makes pasta a lot. So, it is something like our traditional meal. If I could compare the meal being cooked at home, and spaghetti out in restaurants, its about the same price. Honestly, if I were to make a different meal, I would pick a mean BUT I would research my ingredients first before cooking. I probably would have more information to provide for this project.


Personal Reflection

This whole food unit changed the point of view of food from what I’ve had once before. I can say that it’s a shame for me to change Senior year, but it’s never bad. Maybe it’s because before this unit, I was never so worried about details. But now, not only am I aware, but I’ve made my family aware too. Well, my mother has always been aware, but besides class she has talked me into changing my habits. I’ve learned how to grow healthier food, and I’ve learned more about diabetes than I’ve been told before. I was honestly happy to know the information because diabetes runs in my family. I will try my best to not forget what I have learned in this unit once this semester is over. I have a feeling that I might get back into the habit of eating so much junk.

Anyways, I need to learn how to try different things. By taste, I’ll decide of it’s nasty or not. The sad honest truth is, the only fruit I’ll eat is sour grapes, and the only greens I eat is string beans, the French kind. I use to eat corn, carrots, and some others. But as I got older, my eating habits have changed. So, one of my main goals is to get back to that habit of eating healthy.

Food Slide
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5945757744_e053aaefcf
Tags: Q1 Benchmark, Mr. Best, food unit, S&S, science and society
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Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction and Enforcement Act: Kevin's Law

Posted by Briana Stroman in American Government - Laufenberg on Friday, November 4, 2011 at 5:22 pm
Screen Shot 2011-11-04 at 5.19.23 PM
Screen Shot 2011-11-04 at 5.19.23 PM
My Prezi

My original format was a book. I had downloaded the app "Blurbs". It seemed well until I realized I couldn't move things around, and I couldn't deal with it really. So I had a last minute change in format, which I chose to use Prezi, which was quick for me to use. I guess that's what I aimed for. I had two main challenges during this project, which was the format and my information. See, I honestly don't think I presented this as a story, when I look at it now. It seemed as thought I wanted to get it done. And also, I don't think I grabbed enough information. Most of the facts I used, I already knew. So I didn't learn more facts, even with the resources I used. My project would be different if my process was better. Half of the time I was trying to figure out what bill/law I wanted to do. I was trying to find a bill/law I wouldn't be bored with, one that I could actually enjoy to work on and learn more about. But since I was wasting time looking for bills/laws, I just chose to do one I was previously going over in another class. I would've figured I would learn more about it, which I didn't really. This whole thing seemed difficult but easy at the same time. It was difficult to find a law I would stick to, but easy for me to jot down facts of a bill/law that I knew about. I thought I was proud of it, but now it seems okay. I could have done better, or found another book app. But it honestly was too late. So I chose to do something quick, but I felt that I forgot the mission to making it a story. The only thing I got out of the project was the process of the bill. I think I explained that well in this project..
Tags: bill, Q1 Benchmark, Laufenberg, American Government
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Blog Post #2: Curfew

Posted by Briana Stroman in American Government - Laufenberg on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 9:22 pm
frank-diccico

​The representative of the district I live in is Frank DiCicco. He is in charge or district 1. He is also a resident of South Philadelphia. He has dealt with many careers such as public serving as a Committeeman, a long stint at Philadelphia Traffic Court serving as a Director of Scofflaw and Enforcement Units, Courts, and Violations and Cashiers, Budget Analyst, and more. DiCicco always believed in community involvement, which makes a strong community. He has served at many places because he believes in helping everyone and getting involved.

Frank DiCicco voted for curfew. In 2010, he stated the reason he votes for curfew is because of Flashmobs from teenagers. He said that it has created fear for residents and something needed to be done. On September 22, 2011, Nutter announced the new curfew for minors. My legislator is arguing something different from me. I am against the curfew. Now that I think of it, I am not against it. But I would like for the government to realize that there are minors that work after school. Here is a link to the document that was made to make sure the curfew was definite:
Bill No. 11093301
frank-diccico
frank-diccico
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Blog Post #2: Curfew

Posted by Briana Stroman in American Government - Laufenberg on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 9:19 pm
frank-diccico

​The representative of the district I live in is Frank DiCicco. He is in charge or district 1. He is also a resident of South Philadelphia. He has dealt with many careers such as public serving as a Committeeman, a long stint at Philadelphia Traffic Court serving as a Director of Scofflaw and Enforcement Units, Courts, and Violations and Cashiers, Budget Analyst, and more. DiCicco always believed in community involvement, which makes a strong community. He has served at many places because he believes in helping everyone and getting involved.

Frank DiCicco voted for curfew. In 2010, he stated the reason he votes for curfew is because of Flashmobs from teenagers. He said that it has created fear for residents and something needed to be done. On September 22, 2011, Nutter announced the new curfew for minors. My legislator is arguing something different from me. I am against the curfew. Now that I think of it, I am not against it. But I would like for the government to realize that there are minors that work after school. Here is a link to the document that was made to make sure the curfew was definite:
Bill No. 11093301
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SCOTUS Case: Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC

Posted by Briana Stroman in American Government - Laufenberg on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 8:34 pm
The question of this case is, if ministerial exception applies not only to ministers, but teachers that teach at a religious school.

Cheryl Perich had filed a lawsuit against the church and the school for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. She was fired after she became sick in 2004. After a few months, she felt better and was able to work. But when the school urged her to resign, she refused to. So, they fired her.

The representatives believed that ministerial exception, which is under the first amendment in the Constitution, should apply in their case. Ministerial exception is basically gives religions certain rights to control employment matters without the courts interfering.

The funny thing about this case is that, Perich was not a minister. She was offered to be one, but she wasn’t. Also, she wasn’t teaching in a religious nature.

My original thoughts before the case was that, ministerial exception probably wouldn't matter, because as I have read that Perich was not a minister. So, I believed that it wouldn't count towards her. And I also thought that she wasn't hired by the church. And what it turns out to be, ministerial exception didn't apply at all.
Tags: B Band, scotus case, American Government, supct11
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Lobbying Against Curfew

Posted by Briana Stroman in American Government - Laufenberg on Monday, October 10, 2011 at 1:41 pm
I am lobbying about the new curfew. The only reason why I don't like it it because some teens work. And the curfew is a push because no one wants to be stopped, thinking that they're doing something wrong, or to get a fine just because you're on your way home from work. 

It's not really directed to be because I don't work, but I am in the process of looking for a job, and I'm thinking ahead on these type of issues when I start working. My motivation is always thinking of what if I was stopped, accused of being a flashmobber. It is basically why the curfew was made in the first place. But maybe that isn't the only reason. I need to research what(else) started the new curfew, who, why, and how would the government think it'll last. 

I am speaking for teens that work until their curfew time, and directing this towards the government. Well, the curfew law was set on September 22, 2011. But what I would like to see is the government come up with a way to check those teens that work, because no teen would want to be accused of doing something else. Its kind of like, they made the law but don't know what trouble is caused afterwards. It isn't really trouble, but it's just little conflicts that can start up. And little conflicts, can turn into huge ones.
Tags: curfew, Lobbying, Laufenberg, American Government
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School Days

Posted by Briana Stroman in Digital Video - Herman on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 3:09 pm

Starring:

Jareese

Briana

Kyla

Samantha

SchoolDaysFinal
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