Last Article

I read "In scenic Simsbury, Conn., the past prevails" By Andrea Sachs. It was about a small Conneticut town that has managed to preserve its history and plans to continue to do so through this age of urbanizing. It was a picturesque article with lots of imagery, such as feeling like peter pan when eating strawberries. This image didn't really connect with me, because I don't like strawberries. But this little country town had more than strawberries. It has a lot of touristy things like tours of a tower and period taverns and shops. There were a few restaurants mentioned. Simsbury sounds like a wonderful place to vacation.

Last Senior Reflection

I am trying to get a job. I am formulating a resume and plan to apply to relatively easy jobs at book stores and retail places. My dad is kind of hinting at trying to get a more professional job at an engineering place, but I just want a quick, easy way to make money this summer. Everyone else is applying to a bunch of jobs, and I really hope I am able to get one. I will probably get rejected from a lot of places first. But maybe I'll get lucky.

Senior Reflection #3

I have noticed that the majority of senior finals are projects. I suppose teachers do this to make the end of the year more fun, but it is misguided. A few projects are OK, as long as you choose your group and have options on what to do. However, some projects are torture. For instance, random group selection, subjects that don't relate to what you have been learning, and having multiple projects due on the same day take away from the "fun" of group projects. Plus, some teachers make you take a test as well as do a project. The good part about projects is that it boosts your grade. If a project is worth half of your final, it is 10% of your year's grade. But if you aren't guaranteed an A, the project is pretty much worthless.

Article #3

Iread the article "Backyard eggs vs. store-bought: They taste the same", by Haspel. It said exactly what the title suggests, that when it comes to eggs, home-grown are not any better than factory eggs. Happy chickens do not make tastier eggs than abused chickens who never see the light of day. The only factors that contribute to the taste of an egg is the chicken feed, and that only makes a difference if you feed the chicken something really strong tasting. Since most people feed chickens corn or soy, there is no discernible difference. The only difference between store-bought eggs and home-grown eggs is that you feel better about the home-grown ones. I think this article is really interesting, considering that it refutes the wide-spread fad of organic, home-grown health foods. I always eat store-bought eggs, and have no complaint, although I make a habit of not htinking about the condition of the chicken the eggs come from.

Reflection #2

I saw Iron Man 2 this past weekend. It was exciting, but I liked the first one better. The first Iron Man movie stood out to me because it had to do with current events and it had a non-cheesy moral. It is different from most superhero movies. The new movie was very exciting and fast-paced. It had a lot of elements from the comic books, I guess, because I had no idea where this weird guy called Dr. Fury came from. It was a great action movie, and the acting was good. There was an amazing car chase. I didn't quite see the things that set the first movie apart, though.

Article #2

"Hirshhorn survey gathers Yves Klein's innovative blue" by Blake Gopnik is an article that raves about the wonderfulness of abstract art. Apparently, a canvass painted completely in blue represents an endless void of humanity. I disagree. There is beauty that changes people, inspires them, even saves them, but a single monochromatic picture is not art. This french guy made a pretty blue paint, which I think is nice, but then he made a blank blue canvass. I don't understand how that can be meaningful. I suppose I am being narrow-minded, and not considering that what is meaningful to me would not be meaningful to others.

"Untitled Blue Monochrome (IKB 46)," 1955. Private Collection. (Courtesy of Yves Klein Archives)

Yves Klein's, "Obsession de la levitation (Le Saut dans le vide)" (Shunk-Kender - Courtesy Of Yves Klein Archives)

Yves Klein's "Untitled Blue Sponge Sculpture (SE 89)," c. 1960. Private Collection. (Courtesy Of Yves Klein Archives - Courtesy Of Yves Klein Archives)

Yves Klein's "Globe terrestre bleu (RP 5)" [Blue Globe], 1961. Private Collection. (Courtesy of Yves Klein Archives - Courtesy of Yves Klein Archives)

Yves Klein's "Untitled Anthropometry (ANT 100)," 1960. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Holenia Purchase Fund, in memory of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1998 (98.23). (Lee Stalsworth - Courtesy of Hirshhorn Museum And Sculpture Garden)

Senior Reflection #1

I really enjoyed my last two years in high school. I took the most difficult course load this year, and I wish I hadn't taken so many AP's. However, now that all the AP's are over(except Physics...) I am pretty happy. The hardest class I had this year was Calculus. I wasn't sure that I would do well in that class, and last year my precalc teacher did not reccomend that I take BC Calc. I had to do lots of work and study a lot, but I did well mostly because our teacher is great. I don't know what I got on the AP test, but I think I passed. Now we are taking it easy in Calc class.