Works Cited

" How Satellites Work. ." ThinkQuest : Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00181/satellite-t.html>.

This source will be used to give insight throughout my research paper. A paragraph will be written explaining how gravity is used to keep our satellites in orbit for the purpose of communication, navigation etc. Without satellites, our modern society would look extremely different and without the assistance of gravity keeping these satellites in our orbit for service, the satellites couldn’t function.

"Gravitational Potential Energy." Phyper Physic. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/gpot.html>.

This source gives insight into exactly what gravitation potential energy is. In my research paper, I plan on discussing it briefly to give background knowledge on how a trebuchet is able to use this to launch objects. In the paper, I will briefly touch on how this concept works but will not go into detail as far as explaining the math and applications of the equation used to calculate gravitation potential energy. .

"Gravity." Hyper Physics. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/grav.html>.

This source will be used to find other applications of gravity throughout our society. Gravity works in numerous ways and works on all objects equally. However, some objects are affected differently due to mass or air resistance or other variables that determine how much of it is being affected by the natural force.

"History | Punkin Chunkin." Punkin Chunkin. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <http://www.punkinchunkin.com/history>.

I needed to know when a trebuchet broke records during this competition because this is one of the few modern day applications of a trebuchet while still keeping in mind its original purpose. Punkin Chunkin is a nationwide event that pits machines against each other to compete for the longest throw of a pumpkin. One specific category is using the trebuchet. Although it isn’t the most powerful machine throughout the competition, it is still fascinating to bring in fans every year. Specifically, Yankee Siege, the record breaking trebuchet has brought in a large fan base to the event.

"Interesting Gravity Facts - Acceleration, G-Force, Mass, Formula, Law, Orbit." Science for Kids - Fun Experiments, Cool Facts, Online Games, Activities, Projects, Ideas, Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/gravity.html>.

This source was especially helpful when considering the body paragraphs for my research paper. There are not many applications in modern society for gravitational potential energy. However, gravity is still utilized throughout society and this source gives me some specific examples of what those are. It provided me with four different applications of gravity including the early use of the trebuchets, which will be explained in another part of the capstone, not the paper.

"Kingda Ka - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 March 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingda_Ka>.

I used this source for my final body paragraph of my research paper. Roller caosters in general take advantage of gravity throughout the course of the ride, especially when they are taken to the peak of its track. At the point where the coaster train drops, it is converting gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy. This source gives me specs on the fastest, tallest roller coaster in the world. I used this coaster specifically to give an example of how gravity creates mass amounts of energy and is then used to do work.

"Perpetual Futility." Ihup. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/museum/people/people.htm>.

I used this source to analyze how perpetual motion is a theory that often uses gravity to create constant action within a device but to no fault. Usually, these ideas are “futile” and often don’t work. In my paper I talk about how we may indeed use gravity to tackle the problem of creating a machine that can actually produce enough energy to sustain its own operation and supply energy to a load. This would result in unlimited energy and I believe, just as people believed flight to be impossible, we only think this cannot happen because our technology has not yet advanced to that point yet.

"Perpetual Motion." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion>.

I used this source to simply explain exactly what perpetual motion was. I used another source to describe how it is applied and related to gravity, but this source specifically gave me an understanding of how exactly to describe it in the paper before diving into deeper analysis of how we may use it in the future because at this point it is a theory that we belive to be impossible.

"Pumpkin chunking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpkin_chunking>.

Pumpkin Chunkin is the last popular application of trebuchets in society. Every year, groups of engineers being their machines to compete for who has the machine that can launch a pumpkin the farthest. In this competition, the machines are categorized and separated based on what type of machine they are. There is one group that is specifically trebuchets and I found an interest into how many of these trebuchets performed. Not to mention, their specs of their machines were astronomical compared to the machine Vinny and I built.

Russell, Vincent. "Treb 3.0 1 - YouTube." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?client=mv-google&hl=en&gl=US&v=sKHKU_Nx5vY&nomobile=1>.

This source is actually a replacement for having the trebuchet in front of the audience because it is always more effective to show people what you’re talking about instead of simply talking about it. This is a clip of the trebuchet working at its finest without actually launching a projectile in the room. This displays the machines potential while still keeping it consistent with the overall message of informing.

"The History of the Trebuchet." StormTheCastle.com . N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <http://www.stormthecastle.com/trebuchet/history-of-trebuchets.htm>.

This source will be useful for my history part of my capstone which gives a timeline of the uses of the trebuchet on the website. The trebuchet lasted for a great deal until the invention of gunpowder and was then deemed obsolete. Currently, trebuchets are used more for recreational purposes, but still used throughout society. The concept that drives the performance of a trebuchet is gravitational potential energy which will be explained in other parts of the capstone.

"Tidal power - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 March 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power>.

This is more evidence I will use in my research that gives light to modern day applications of gravity. Tidal power is used throughout oceans to generate electricity using the tides, which are a result of the earth’s moon and the sun. The gravitational effects these two entities have play a great role in the invention of a new way to create renewable energy. This is both beneficial to society and the environment because, with a struggling ecosystem, there is never a wrong time to sacrifice a little if it means better the earth’s health.

"Trebuchet." Wikipedia. Wikipedi, n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebuchet>.

I used this source as a reference to important dates on my timeline for the trebuchet. I also knew I could obtain information about what different cultures and countries utilized the trebuchet in ways that Alexander used them throughout the sieges. The trebuchet was the primary heavy artillery alternative in the 12^th century and remained that way until the invention of gunpowder. It was still used as a last resort, as demonstrated in 1779 by the British. Now, the trebuchet is little more than a little entertainment

.

"Warwick Trebuchet: The Warwick Trebuchet." Warwick Trebuchet - the world's largest trebuchet at Warwick Castle. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <http://www.warwicksiege.co.uk/warwick_trebuchet.asp>.

The Warwick Trebuchet is the world’s largest trebuchet. I used this source to give perspective in my project for exactly how large these machines were. The trebuchet Vinny and I made was around 11 feet tall, and the Warwick trebuchet stands a towering 59 feet. This also goes deeper into exactly what I wanted to do with this source. Vinny and I had a job cut out for us, which is little in comparison to the jobs architects and engineers have to face every day in their career.

"Yankee Siege Trebuchet in Greenfield, New Hampshire." Yankee Siege Trebuchet in Greenfield, New Hampshire. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013. <http://www.yankeesiege.com/>.

This source was used mainly to demonstrate the modern day application of trebuchets today. Yankee Siege is the trebuchet that currently holds the record for longest pumpkin throw held at Punkin’ Chunkin’ by any other trebuchet. This is the last practical application trebuchets have in today’s society, but it still serves a purpose. Trebuchets that can be made today upstage those used in the 12^th century.

MLA formatting by BibMe.org.

Hola soy Richard Nixon. Estoy de Yorba Linda, California. De un niño mi familia estuve de pocos recursos pero no supimos porque estuvimos feliz. Fui a una universidad muy prestigioso. Fui a “Duke University School of Law.” Yo era el presidente de los Estados Unidos de 1969 a 1974. Del presidente in las setentas terminé la agitación en la nación y terminé la guerra de Vietnam. Estoy totalmente en contra del comunismo. Creo que está fuerza en números. La gente piensa que soy una mala persona, pero al igual que pinturas hay más que ver que en la superficie. Necesito mirar más lejos que el ojo puede ver para entender una pintura.

En esta pintura, lo primero que veo es una nueva amistad. Pero luego veo humo en el fondo y la gente alrededor de los hombres en el medio tienen armas y están en lados opuestos de una guerra. En el lado derecho, hay una bandera azul y blanca pero no hay una bandera en el lado izquierdo. Creo que este es el final de una guerra y es algo bueno aquí, pero no creo que todo es bueno, porque hay fuego en el fondo. Los colores de la pintura son muy tenues y hacer esta pintura un mirar muy triste. La gente de la izquierda y derecha no se ven contentos con la tregua. No puedo ver el objeto en la mano del hombre en el media , pero creo que es una ofrenda de paz. De mi experiencia las ofrendas de paz no siempre significan el final.

En 1973, yo inauguró por segunda vez. Me preparé para mi segunda presidencia. Mi primer año fue bueno, pero yo quería mi próximo año ser mejor. Desafortunadamente, no terminé mi segundo mandato como presidente porque renuncié. La pintura me recuerda el final de la guerra de Vietnam. Llevamos las tropas de Vietnam a sus casas porque la guerra en la imagen aparece terminado por la tregua. Creo que esta imagen es literal, pero algunos objetos tienen más significado. Por ejemplo, los hombres en el medio están haciendo una tregua pero parece sarcástico. Sus caras se ven muy felices. Cuando termina una guerra, es demasiado bueno para ser verdad. Creo que los soldados representan la gente que luchan en la guerra y también representan la gente de los dos lados. Este es el final de la guerra y el comienzo de la redención.

Sin embargo, después de la investigación, aprendí que la obra no es una tregua, pero es para representar las victorias de Rey Felipe. El objeto en el medio representa las claves para Rey Felipe por sus victorias. Las claves también representan reparar cosas rotas por la guerra. La clave también está en el medio de todo el cuadro. Esto me recuerda a mi trabajo como presidente de los Estados Unidos porque mi responsabilidad era fijar las personas rotos de la nación y que era mi responsabilidad más importante. En todas las guerras, hay muchas personas lastimados y necesitan alguien tiene por ayudar. Ayudé a América en 1973 y el rey Felipe ayudó en 1625.

Estoy de acuerdo con el pintor pero no me gusta como pintó el fundo porque la gente en la obra se ven muy feliz pero es fuego en el fundo. No tiene sentido. Aunque me gusta las colores y mensajes en la obra porque como yo tiene mas significado de tu puedes ver. Quise escogiste este obra porque es diferente de las pinturas en otros partes da la unidad. No sé mucho sobre de Diego Velazquez pero me gusta “La Rendición de Breda.”

El caballo es mi mascota Mystery. Pero, no es verde. Es blanco. ¿Por que no tiene color? Picasso tiene mucho imaginación porque estas personas son muy extraño. Por ejemplo la persona de la derecha no tiene piernas.

Es un fiesta en allí porque tiene personas y animales y un fantasma en uno cuarto. El bebe de izquierda es durmiendo. ¿Por qué?

Una persona es en el piso pero no es durmiendo. ¿Qué pasa?

Me llamo Terrance. He vivido en Filadelfia por diez años.  Por los otros años fui en Phoenix. No sé mucha sobre de Arizona, pero yo sé lo que Filadelfia es muy diferente comparar con Arizona. Vivo en East Oak Lane o el norte de Filadelfia. Mi calle Camac St. está muy tranquilo pero dos calles lejano la comunidad está mas peligroso. Hay muchas delitos están en mi comunidad pero no en mi calle. . Mi comunidad tiene muchos medios  de transportación como SPETA y Amtrak. Pero, el tren está el máximo popular porque personas de muchas partes de Filadelfia van a la estación por el tren. Por ejemplo, vivo una milla y una media de Fern Rock, pero por todos dias, voy al estación para escuela. Quiero mi mural estar en un pared en el centro de transportación Fern Rock porque esta un parte mejor para la clase obrera sin otros maneras de transportación como un coche.

            Para mi, todos cosas son arte porque en una forma de expresión. Sin embargo creo que algunas formas del arte son mejor de las demás. Por ejemplo. No me gusta Piss Christ, pero aún es una forma del arte. Las pinturas de los grand muralistas son más interesantes y tienen un mensaje más importante. Diego Rivera hizo un mural ubicado en España, que tenía más de un centenar de personas. Creo que es el arte.Creo que mi mural es arte porque expresa mis ideas. Si mi mural era arte público que simbolizaría la unidad en una comunidad, y creo que ese es el propósito de todo el arte público.

Primero, quise hacer un mural que estuvo relacionado con el locación que el mural ubicado en. Así que hice una mural sobre un tren con muchas vehículos como unos coches y otro parte de un tren. Este parte simboliza que las personas en el mundo, y en el centro de transportación Fern Rock, tienen muchas maneras  de viajar. Tambien las personas, y monstruos y otras personajes, son diferente. Por ejemplo, en el mural hay un parte con “The Hulk” y está otro parte con “Mickey Mouse.” Quise mi mural tener muchas personajes diferente porque quise estuve diverso representar  todos personas en el mundo que usan el tren. Quise al fonda representar el mundo para todos personajes en el mural así que quise estar azul. Sin embargo yo sé que la mayoría del mundo está hecho de agua.

Creo que mi mural cumpliría los requisititos del arte público. Primero usualmente el arte público no tiene muchas palabras representar un mensaje pero usar imágenes y colores. El definición del arte público es una forma de arte que representa un tema o un mensaje que muchas personas que ven el mural pueden entender. Mi mural tiene tres palabras pero no está importante para el propósito del mural porque tiene imágenes que decir los mensajes y temas de mi mural como diversidad en unidad. Por ejemplo en Fern Rock, personas de muchos lugares van a Fern Rock para razones diferentes.

Ingredients:

·         ½ Ayco Mini Me watermelon

·         1 Ayco cantaloupe

·         1 Peruvian Mango

·         1 cup of rivoira frutta blueberries

·         1 cup of rivoira frutta raspberries

·         1 freshquest honeydew

·         1 pack of “USA Florida’s Best Berries” Gulf Sweet strawberries

·         3 organic Trader Joe’s kiwis

·         1 container of Marzetti cream cheese fruit dip

1.       Skin mangoes, remove pits and dice into manageable portions

2.       Remove the husks from the strawberries pits and dice into manageable portions

3.       Skin the honeydew pits and dice into manageable portions

4.       Skin cantaloupe pits and dice into manageable portions

5.       Skin kiwis and slice horizontally into multiple pieces

6.       Distribute blueberries throughout serving container

7.       Mash raspberries (blend for serving sauce)

8.       Cut watermelon in half and remove melon from the hard outer layer then dice into manageable portions

9.       Pour all fruits into a serving container and toss until thoroughly mixed

10.   VOILA!

 Analysis

As soon as this project was introduced, I knew a lot of people would bring in pasta or chicken- typical things. So, I brought something that I, and my family, eat a lot- fruit salad. Fruit is a natural sugar that your body can convert into energy easily. I eat these fruits practically every day, but if it were the only thing I ate, I’d probably weigh around 100 pounds. We didn’t use any artificial sweeteners or products, just fruit. Prior to introducing the concept of utilizing organic foods compared to regular, imported foods, I stocked up on lots of fruit in order to make my fruit salad. Then, we learned how environmentally friendly, more natural and healthier organic foods were. After the activity, I took a look at where my fruit came from. My cantaloupe and honeydew came from Guatemala. My mangoes came from Peru. My berries came from Italy. I thought about the environmental impact all that transportation must have by importing fruit halfway across the globe. So, I sought to buy more friendly fruits, which are usually organic. The strawberries and kiwis that I bought were organic, and cost a lot more than the traditional strawberries and kiwis would have cost. I didn’t mind much though, mainly because I wasn’t the one buying the fruit but also because I know the benefit of buying fruit from local business rather than from larger fruit distributors. My strawberries come from Florida and are grown by the workers of “Gulf Sweet Inc.” They acknowledge that growing fruit isn’t just a way to make money; it’s a way to provide people with a food that is essential to how they eat healthily. Their motto, and a great one to live by, is “Friends and partners, not buyers and sellers.”

Reflection

     The one thing I’ve realized, more than learned, is that I am a mere dust particle in the galaxy of the food system. I hate to say it but my role in the entire food system is so insignificant, I could buy all organic food for the rest of my life and not a single perspective of the economy or environment would change. That doesn’t mean I choose to buy McDonalds everyday, but my role as it relates to others and those who produce what I buy isn’t really noticeable. This sole reason led me to realize that the biggest problem with our food system is that not enough people care. There are too many people that feel exactly like I do. My mindset is that I’m just one person, and if 1 million people say I’m just one person, not a single thing changes for our food system for the better. Those corporations who believe it’s ok to maintain unhealthy food conditions will continue to do so, and those who flood artificial growth hormones will also continue to do so. The problem is us, not just one of us, all of us. One thing I could change though is care more about where my food comes from. Again, this won’t make that large of a change, but it has to start somewhere. For example, I love beef jerky, and one kind of jerky that I like is coming from Asia. I could probably choose to eat a different brand and/or flavor of jerky because I realize there’s quite a bit of pollution and money spent to get that much beef jerky from Asia to America. Being that jerky isn’t that large of a part of my diet; I can probably make the change to stop buying foods being imported from so far away.

La película se trata de un hombre llamado Ramón Sampedro. Él era un mecánico marinero. El hombre quiso nadar, y viajaba el mundo cuando era joven. Un día, Ramón rompió su cuello en un accidente de nadar y convertirse en tetraplegico. Ramón lucha por su derecho a una muerte digna, pero tiene muchos problemas en camino con su familia, la ley y él mismo. Ramón conoce a un abogado de nombre Julia, y ella también tiene problemas físicos. Manuela ayuda a Ramón al hablar con él todos los días y respete sus decisiones. En tiempo, ellos son amigos mejores, pero Manuela quise quitarse la vida. Luego, una amiga de Ramón llamada Rosa ayudó a escapar y él se suicidó. Sin embargo, Manuela está viva, pero ella no recuerda Ramón.

Los temas de la película describen los problemas de la película y por qué es polémico. ¿Por ejemplo la pregunta es la muerte un derecho o un privilegio? “¿Que es una muerte digna?” Para mi una muerte digna no es un suicidio porque es el salida fácil y es egoísta. Otro tema que es polémico es las responsabilidades de una familia. La pregunta es “¿Si su familia tiene la responsabilidad de cuidar de tu, ellos son responsables de ayudar a morir?” Entiendo que su familia necesita estar allí para usted pero qué es mas importante, el cuidado de sus seres queridos o respetando sus decisiones? Una familia necesita respetar todos deseos de sus seres queridos, pero en unas países eutanasia no es legal. ¿Pero si una persona es un vegetal, son los seres queridos asesinos si ayudan?  Yo tengo un posición para todos temas en la película.

Las cosas en la película son polémicos y tengo muchas opiniones. Para mi la muerte de Ramón no fue digna porque eutanasia es la salida fácil y puede trabaja sin la ayuda de su familia a veces. No me gusta que Ramón puede hacer algunas cosas, pero no quiere. Sin embargo la vida de Ramón fue digna antes de la accidente porque él viajó por el mundo. Por otro lado la muerte fue su derecho, no un privilegio porque es su vida y respeto la decisión de Ramón. No creo que su familia respetaban su decisión pero yo sé Manuela respete solamente  No es la vida de su familia, o Rosa, o Manuela. También las acciones de los amigos y los seres queridos de Ramón de ayudarlo a quitarse la vide fueron my legales porque, si Ramón pudiera moverse, él quitaría su vida por su propia voluntad. Aunque la cura fue un tetraplegico no entiende Ramón porque él habla como Ramón no es lúcido. Además creo que eutanasia no es un crimen aunque estaría una tragedia. Si una persona no se puede mover, y él quieren quitarse la vida, su familia debe apoyar su decisión sin que está un asesinato.

En la película Mar Adentro hay muy temas profunda y importante a sociedad. Para mi, un  tetraplégico como Ramón Sampedro o gente en general quien quitarse la vida tienen el derecho a vida o muerte. Entiendo que porque unos gentes pensaría esta mal para Ramón queriendo suicidarse, pero la vida es de Ramón, y solo Ramón. Estoy de acuerdo con la decisión de Ramón. La película esta muy magnifica. Me gusta que la película presenta los dos lados de una vida de un tetraplegico con la cura y Ramón porque yo sé eutanasia es un decisión y un opinión. Sin embargo si Javier Bardem no estaba en el reparto, la película no sería bueno. Además me gustó la película y el reparto, pero no estoy de acuerdo con muchas cosas que la película presenta.

Quiero ir a la pasado

Yo haría ganar la lotería

Tendría mucho dinero

Iría a todos países en el mundo

Querería llegar en las Bahamas

Comería comida mejor

Tendría personas trabajar para mi

Todos mañanas, nadaría en océano

Tendría el tiempo do mi vido

Pero con todos de este,

Sería un buena persona

I really do want to say that Romney won, but I honestly can’t give credit to someone who keeps indirectly answering questions. Romney was giving some pretty strong statistics about Obama and sticking to them, but after Obama explained and answered his questions, he fired back with some questions of his own and Mitt was really general with his answers or he just didn’t name some of the things he should have. It’s not hard to throw mud and point fingers, especially when a large percentage of the population thinks that everything is in your control, but it takes some pretty valid and hard evidence that what someone plans to do won’t work. It takes some pretty deep analysis of past experiences and proof. I would give the W to Obama simply because he had an approach that varied and he pointed out why Romney wouldn’t succeed. Romney actually revolved most of his responses around the fact that Obama didn’t keep his word about halfing the debt we are in, but Obama did make it clear that we are in enough trouble that would make it hard for one term to fix things and would probably need two terms. Not to mention, Romney wasn’t really following the rules and was speaking when he should not have.

If there is one misunderstood concept present in our society, it’s definitely the Patriot Act. Even taking it a bit further, by saying surveillance. If we look at authoritative monitoring less negative way, maybe we’d trust the government more. So, in the following, you’ll see how having so eyes in the sky is far more beneficial that deprecating, because honestly, it’s always nice to have a “Big Brother.”

By embracing, and accepting, the Patriot Act we open up the door for national protection. We’re giving the government, or whatever entity has our interest at heart, the ability to ensure secretive threats never see the light of day; we just need to let them help. Some people might ask what gives them the right to poke their noses in anything they want, and the answer is the same thing that gives us the privilege to communicate privately and without surveillance- and that “thing” is called trust. We’ve gone this long trusting that the government won’t monitor us 24/7 and allow us the privacy that could both benefit and hinder us, it’s high time we trust them a little.

If it helps any, let’s think of those with the ability to actually utilize the Patriot Act as an actually big brother in the following situation: Kid (citizens of America) finally comes of an age where Mom (Government and Law) gives them enough permission and freedom to start making some of their own more important decisions and being a little more independent. Then, Mom starts seeing that Kid starts staying out later, starts shirking some of their responsibilities and even begin to disrespect Mom. So, Mom asks Brother (Patriot Act) to go see what’s influencing Kid to act so unusually irresponsibility. At this point, it really isn’t up to Kid to decide whether there should be an intervention of a sort; it’s actually in the Kid’s best interest to have someone looking out for them. So, Brother does a little investigating, and finds out that Kid has actually been hanging out with some new friends that appear to be ok, but Brother realizes that they don’t have Kid’s best interest at heart, and can actually be a danger to Kid. So, Brother has a chat with Kid and enlightens him, per say, and teaches him that had Brother not done a little lurking, Kid could be in some big trouble. If there was any bit of haziness in the story, the moral is that sometimes people can use someone looking over their shoulder even if they don’t see it at the time.

The Patriot Act isn’t supposed to be this thing we’re afraid of. It’s supposed to give us a peace of mind that we have someone looking out for us, we just have to trust that they will follow through, but that’s honestly all we can do is trust them, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to trust your Big Brother.

1. How to give signs or phrases that can indicate that we should wrap up the conversation?

2. What is a polite way to say be quiet?

3. If you think the conversation is dull, or you want to add your input, how to politely speak without it sounding like a complete cut-off.

3. I don't want this to be a screenshot, but an audio file so I will be able to actually practice.

Video games are a topic known very well around the world. It is something that connects people of different ages, races, religions, and social status. It is something that brings people closer together, allows to meet new people, and even learn new skills. I guess you can say that my partner and I chose this topic because it is something that we experience first hand. What better ways to do a project then to do one that you are nearly an expert on and enjoy doing. Our first hand knowledge made it very easy to conduct research. Also the fact that we had friends on a video game consoles that we could use a sources if we needed to made it even better. Although we knew a lot of the information, timeline, etc. there are still things that you can learn from doing a good job with researching, which made this project even more fun because with every source that we got from a teacher, a friend, and found ourselves we would unlock a piece of information that we were not familiar with before. Even though we were having fun there were difficult parts. The most difficult had to be selecting our presentation category because originally we wanted to make the presentation feel like a video game, but there were no categories that would support the type of project we wanted to make. Eventually we decided that choosing a documentary would be the best way to do this. Doing this documentary was pretty awesome. From the very first time that my teacher announced the NHD project I immediately thought video games. The reason for this is because video game technology is a revolution that no one can ignore. It changed society because of the amazing technological advancement that we were seeing, and that we are still seeing. In just forty years we went from a box that only played simple games to a motion sensor that detects every movement of your body and can also be used for voice commands. The revolution of video games is an amazing one that someone needed to point out and represent well which is exactly what we are intending to do in this project.

Somos dos uno cinco en el ciudad

Nosotros venimos de Filadelfia

Somos dos uno cinco porque nosotros jugamos

Americano Futbol porque somos hermanos

Jugamos fuera deportes, como basketball

Porque vivimos en el ciudad de amor y fraternal

Yo vengo de Phoenix Arizona

Después tres años yo fue a Nevada

Tuve cuatros años

Me mudé de Nevada

Y me mudé a Filadelfia

Ahora tengo dieciséis años

Y yo vivía con mis abuelos

Ahora vengo escuela

de SLA

Y vengo de libertad

Porque vengo de Filadelfia

Y somos… (CHORUS)

Somos dos uno cinco en el ciudad

Nosotros venimos de Filadelfia

Somos dos uno cinco porque nosotros jugamos

Americano Futbol porque somos hermanos

Jugamos fuera deportes, como basketball

Porque vivimos en el ciudad de amor y fraternal

Mi nombre es Mateo

Estoy de Filadelfia

Puedo obtener dinero

Yo vivo con mus tres hermanas y mi madre

Yo vengo mi familia

Yo vengo fútbol de Americano

Yo vengo mi la vida de niño

Porque yo es un niño en mi familia

yo vengo de videojuegos

y me encanta lo yo vengo de

Somos dos uno cinco en el ciudad

Nosotros venimos de Filadelfia

Somos dos uno cinco porque nosotros jugamos

Americano Futbol porque somos hermanos

Jugamos fuera deportes, como basketball

Porque vivimos en el ciudad de amor y fraternal

Y mucho dinero

que vivimos, la respiración, y comer philly

porque esta es nuestra ciudad

       Identity can be defined as who you are, and many times we can elucidate a person based on their qualities, characteristics and personalities, but more commonly, their language. Having numerous languages that you use, depending on the appropriate situation, can closely be related to a complete change of personality- almost bipolar. But if you do not have one true identity or you are constantly changing your identity depending on the circumstances, then you are not being true to yourself. This is commonly know as “code switching”, but code switching is changing specific parts or areas of your language, but when a large portion, the majority of the language you speak, is changed you can take on different characteristics and traits. That is when it becomes more than just code switching.

       The first time I encountered a small taste of “code switching,” I was no more than 7 years old. It was when I first began elementary school, and as I will repeat continuously, Philadelphia, and my neighborhood are two very different things. Its like as soon as you take one step on my block, it’s a totally different world. You see everybody collaborating with each other, cleaning the sidewalks and the curbs- everything all works together- even our language. Now I’m not saying this doesn’t happen in Philadelphia, but it doesn’t happen as often. On Camac Street, it happens all the time. Everyone on the block even spoke the same language. Everybody on Camac Street could understand everything everybody says, because there was no slang terms involved, no abbreviations of words or shorter pronunciation of phrases. Everybody spoke the same formal way. My neighborhood and Philadelphia were polar opposites, and this is exactly what showed when I went to the first grade.

       Everyday, I went to school, in hopes of learning and beginning my very long process of preparing for the rest of my life, but what happened in my school changed me into an entirely different person. I was continuously immersed with the sound of stinging curse words, to various new phrases that describe anything from, having sex to using drugs. At the time, I was thought all kids my age knew what I was just learning, but as I look back- I realize that no children should be hearing what I heard- and I’m including the kids that taught me this new language, because I know they had to learn it from somewhere also. And this is why I think code switching had been a huge part of my life through my elementary school. It was like I was talking to adults, rather than children, but when I arrived home I knew I couldn’t talk the way I talked at school because the words that I were using were not appropriate to say in front of anyone, and I knew that if I wasn’t comfortable with saying something in front of my grandparents, I knew I was doing something wrong.

       The typical language we spoke at home was formal but easy- I was comfortable with speaking it. But the restrictions and rules kept me in my 7-year old place. I knew I wasn’t allowed to say the words they were saying at school because I knew what my restrictions were at home. At home, I knew I would be put on time-out or punished if I said a word like darn, or crap or even heck. So, when I was introduced to that new language at school I knew what would happen if those words were mentioned at home.

       The language in which I learned to talk at school was nowhere close to appropriate for me to use at home, so I had to code switch, but little did I know, that this was the beginning of a process that will lead me to change the act, speak and even think differently, as if I had to change who I was altogether for any given situation. The vulgar new language that I was introduced to from 1^st to 2^nd grade follows me to this very day. I’m not proud of what I learned, but amazingly, it has enabled me to take pieces of what I learned to fit in with those who stay around me. I know that when I was began elementary school, I thought everybody else was the weird people, and I was the only one who spoke regularly, and appropriately. But now that I look at may life, leading up to now, I realize that I was the only weird one not speaking the appropriate language. This was first displayed when I moved schools from my Ellwood Elementary School to the school that I will spend the next 8 years of my life.

       Although elementary school to middle school was already a big enough transition, I was moving to a boarding school. Years ago, about 7, I moved to a new school- a very new school. I transitioned from a normal elementary public school, to a military boarding school that was located in Scotland, PA. When I arrived at the school my cottage family welcomed me warmly. I wasn’t quite familiar with any of them but we were going to be the only family I had for the neat few months- until we get our first break. After I began to get a little more acquainted with the people, I began to pick up some new vocabulary. The funny thing was that 87% of the entire school was from Philadelphia, including myself. But originally, I understood what the suburban kids, the more white kids, were saying. But I couldn’t quite understand what the other people were saying. 

       One afternoon, after I was finished my daily chores, one of my closest friend asked me a question that I never heard before, but I don’t stop hearing it, let alone using it, today. He asked "Yo, young bull, u trine ball up?" after about the first week of school I figured out what young bull was, but that was the first time I ever heard the phrase "ball up". The only ball I knew of was like a sports ball, or like your "balls". So at that point I jus asked what's that. 
He replied "u trine go ball?" 
Little did he know? I was still just as confused as before, if not more? Suddenly a young white female came and kindly explained what he was saying.
"He just wants to know if you want to go play basketball." 
I could not have been more grateful, nor could her timing have been any more perfect, for if she hadn’t come I probably would have just stood there like a lost idiot, because I had no clue about what he just said.

       Now, that I reflect on that day, I realize just how common it is for people to code-switch and how often it occurs. But, what I still don’t understand is how she was able to present a phrase such as that, and translate it into terms, and a tone, that I could understand. Because she was able to understand both what he was saying, and what I    needed to understand. This evidence of multiple code switching scenarios portray the topic of personality switching.

       After that minor altercation, I knew that my cousins had seen and heard both a side and a language of me that they had never experienced before. After we were done arguing, my cousins had replied with confusion and dumbfoundedness. This indicated that they didn’t know what I was saying but later that very night more evidence of me having an "alter ego" was displayed.

       While my cousins’ mother was in the kitchen with my nana, her sister, she asked her "was that TJ? I never seen him that angry before. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him angry at all.

       Surprised, my nana replied with wide eyes "what? TJ is a hothead."
The new and enlightened Aunt Terri replied with a smile... "Wow." She had been baffled. "I never knew that."

        And she never would have if I had not been arguing with my aunt in the first place, because that was my aunt and it wasn't relevant that I ever had to display that side of me. So, I changed my entire personality to ensure hat I was not goofy or angry or even senseless at times. But this is where the problems come in, and its not a problem in public or to society, its within yourself. If you are constantly changing yourself to fit certain peoples, places scenarios or whatever, you will never stay true to yourself. Because you will never know what is the true you, its like you've lost your identity to yourself. My friend Cecelia could not have said it better "… I was born with a disease. This is called never finding you identityitus. It’s pretty common and mostly found within those who tend to not know their true identity… This disease has only onecure… Listen to your voice."

       It didn’t seem like anything special… until he took flight. But just like that, it became somewhat as an athletic miracle. My 5-year-old cousin did a flip in mid air while riding his little roller skates. Sure, this wouldn’t have been such a big deal if he did this all the time but this was a person who could walk 3 steps with bailing. No matter how fast or instantaneous his skating fun turned into an acrobatic stunt, I remembered each and every second like it had happened in slow motion.

       Back in the summer of ’08, my seven-year-old cousin, Isaiah was lapping the back of the living room, as he always did when he felt that urge to play with his skates. I wasn’t doing anything special in particular either, but little did I know, I was in exactly the right place at right time. My little sister had just happened to leave her pink mini wagon lying upside down in the doorway of the living room, which lead into the nearby dining room. This wagon was meant to be rode in, but it was just another obstacle in is clumsy path of skating. Right as he turned around and faced me, he shouted, “TJ, look how fast I can go!” he pushed off of our front door, giving him that extra velocity, that extra speed he needed to take that inevitable bail he had in store.

       He was so bent on me watching him, he paid no attention to what was in front of him, all he cared about was if I was watching, and I was. He had that certain faith in me, that faith that lets you know you have someone that will make you feel god, about good yourself and support you through thick and thin, and that’s what I did. I didn’t always approve of the things that he did, but if it made him happy than it made me happy, even if the things were a little silly or childish. I just want him to know that I will always be in his corner. I knew that Isaiah wasn’t allowed to jump over a wagon, too many things could go wrong. For example, he could trip over then wagon and fall on his arm, breaking it in 7 different places, because still keep in mind, he skating faster than a 5 year old should be. Then, I would be asked what happened, and it wouldn’t matter if I answered them with an answer of truth or I don’t know. If I told them what had actually happened, they’d ask me why I let him do it, but if I said I don’t know, they’d ask me why I let him do it in the first place. I know that my role as his cousin isn’t to be his guardian angel, but it is my role to be there for him- this includes not letting him kill himself. So, I do understand where my grandparents would be coming from if I were blamed for what he had done to himself. Since I knew that it was partially my responsibility to keep him safe I should have taken the initiative to be responsible older cousin and let him now what he was doing wasn’t appropriate or even safe to be doing on our hardwood living room floor. But, I wanted him to know I was enjoying his performance so that he could have his fun, so, I just sat there and let him jump over the inclined wagon.

       I watched in complete horror, I didn’t know if he was going to go flying up into the side of the doorway, or just straight up crash. I waited to find out which poison he had picked. He rolled his first wheel onto the pink, plastic handle of the wheel, with 2 more wheels following, and behind those were an entire other foot. As he elevated to the edge of that ramp of a wagon, I had seen that his entire body was balanced, from his black, flame vinyl helmet, to the foot of his kneepad-covered legs. I wasn’t certain about what was going to happen next, but I was sure that he was not going to wipe out. Soon enough, Isaiah had realized he had been rising, to the point where his feet weren’t touching the ground, I don’t know how exactly but he turned himself in a complete 180-degree turn. I don’t know if he was trying to see in front of him, or if that was his plan from the very beginning, but whatever it was, it looked rehearsed. He rotated slightly to his left, then bent himself backward in an arching position, but he didn’t stay like that, he did a complete back flip, and despite any law of time that has every been acquired, I swear on everything he look like he was falling in slow motion. The tip of the of his skate skimmed the floor, only to lead the wheel of his skate rolling him into a smooth landing to the other end of the living room. He turned around, his mouth was wide opened, enough for me to see that speed bag hanging in the back of the roof of his mouth. I could tell he was amazed, because I knew I was.

       Sometimes, I look back on this day and wonder whether or not I should have reacted differently about the entire situation. I think that I could have shown a little more responsibility by not letting him fulfill this desperate exploit. I understand that I wanted my cousin to think that “I was fun’, but sometimes the fun thing might not be the right thing, but you have to use your better judgment to decide on what right or wrong- without letting the thought of “Will I still be fun?” thwart your decision message. On the other hand, he didn’t get hurt, so it let me see how important my attention was to him. I think whether or not he would have executed that trick the way he did if I had not been watching hi. When you know somebody has faith in you, you have faith in yourself, and that’s what my little cousin Isaiah showed me when he leapt over the little pink wagon. Self-confidence is that energy you need to know that whatever you want to do is possible. My good friend Henry Ford couldn’t have said it better, “Whether you think you can or you think you cant, you’re right.” Sometimes a little confidence is all you need to perform miracles.