Digital Media in School

I think that when schools use and support modern media, it's GREAT! I mean, the school sends us a lot of e-mails and they ban facebook because it can be distracting. To me that doesn't make a lot of sense: similar thing it helps two or more sources communicate! Also, if facebook "distracts" us so much then they could easily find a way to fight it. IDEA!: Get a school facebook account. I don't check my e-mail nearly as much as I check facebook.

All my classmates love and use facebook daily,

if possible to them. Another problem is cheating. Our english class prohibits us to cheat; we can't use any computers. There are also solutions to that like the infamous website "Turn it in". Well, I have something to say to all teachers: the Internet, more than helping us cheat, it will help us learn and I believe that there IS a way for computers to exist and be accepted in school during all clases, with excellent results.

After all, what isn't on the internet?

Parenting, Privacy and Control

First of all: OUR PARENTS CAN'T CONTROL US! We are not babies who depend on anyone, and we have all the right to create an account and use it in whichever way we want. It's free and it's personal and it's our buisness. I don't think that our parents should know our password, that is a boundary between friends and family life. I think, however, that they have all the right to be conserned. In this FRONTLINE movie we are watching there is proof that anyone who gets abused of with social media contributed with the abuser. For example, kids go and meet an unknown person and it usually turns out to be a predator. THEY search for danger. So I believe that we can be on facebook, myspace and msn without our parent's aid and concern.

Identity Play

With the computer, comes a big responsibility. There is a big fear, especially from parents, that predators are stalking and going to get us.

All of my classmates have facebook,

but we all use it to socialize with each other and other friends, posting pictures of gatherings and chatting. We have total control on who we accept in facebook, and who sees anything we post. We can untag ourselves from other's pictures and choose who knows what information. We can even hide everything, and just show our on-line name. I think that the network is safe, if you know how to use it. I just have one last thing to say: my generation definetely knows how to use the Internet safely.

Growing up online: The computer at home

As we saw in this video, the computer IS now very common, especially now that teens are using it a lot. In my house, and I bet that in a lot of households there is one main desktop computer which all the family can use. I think it'd usually be on the TV room, but my parents moved ours to their room so that they could check what my sister and I were doing. Still, my sister and I have our own laptops since we use them SO much. I honestly use mine a lot for school and I know that she does as well. We also use them for facebook and msn, but my sister and I don´t spend that much time in the computer. I think that we spend, on average 20-30 minutes daily on our computers unless we have a lot of computer homework. My mom barely uses the computer, or so I think. She uses facebook to chat and connect with her high school friends. I think that in our household, the computer is not exactly a necessity and that i they took it away for two months we could totally survive. I am glad that we are not addicted because we can also spend free time riding our bikes and living life the way God meant it. BTW I am doing this for computers class.

My Winter Vacation

I spent my winter vacation her in Puerto Vallarta. The day after we came out school my cousins and my aunt came over. They are called Pau (8), Jero (3), and Victoria (1). My aunt is also called Paulina, and her husband died last year (that's why he didn't come). All of them stayed at my house and my grandma also stayed in my house. A friend of my dad came for a couple of days (five or six days before Christmas) and he also stayed with us. As you can imagine, we had a really full house. Every day my aunt, sister and I went jogging. Afterwards we came back and ate breakfast with the whole family, It was chaos. Eggs rolling on the floor, orange juice being squirted and fruit flying around... well not literally but it was pretty intense. After breakfast we usually hung around in the morning and did something in the afternoon, like going out on walks playing boardgames and going on a boat.
By the time my dad's friend had left, on the 21st, all of my cousins came over from Guadalajara. They rented an apartment in the marina so that they could all fit. There were two grandparents, my aunt and uncle with three teens and my other aunt and my other aunt and uncle with two small kids. Almost every day we saw each other in my house, eating there in the BBQ and using our bicycles and having a lot of fun. They showed me really cool youtube videos and we played soccer in the neighbor's huge soccer field. Finally, the 42th came and it was time to REALLY start the holidays. Every 24th we celebrate "Nochebuena" and it is a big dinner with turkey and all. Everyone dresses up very nicely.
We had my mom's turkey that evening. The kids and teens made a creative gift exchange. Since a lot of us were having financial problems the parents agreed not to have any gifts, which is why we did a creative exchange. That means we have to MAKE the gifts. I had to make something for my cousin Juan Pablo. He is five and he LOVES Star Wars, so I had an AMAZING IDEA! I made him a customized Star Wars t-shirt because I made an image in photoshop where his face is in the movie star's body, so it looks as if he were on the movie. Then I got a special paper, printed the image on it, and ironed it on. He LOVED it. I got a headband from another cousin that she made. I kinda like it. I also got a present from my sister and my parents. I only got 5 presents for other people because I was kinda broke, too. I got my mom a pajama, my grandma a red sweater, my sister a dress, my aunt a t-shirt and my dad a packet of golf balls and a jacket. I think everyone liked what I gave them and I also liked what I got. Anyway that night we also had a small speech time about the meaning of x-mas and it was kinda nice. I like my family a lot.
But, the best was christmas morning because I got... (Drumroll) A computer! It was what I had wanted ever since I could remember. Yeah, and I also got a surprise which I didn't expect at all; a camera. I is small and red and beautiful. I honestly would've NEVER baught a red amera but when I got it it was PERFECT. Of course I use it practically every day taking cute pictures of all my baby cousins that are still here. That day we also had "recalentado" when we do all the leftovers from the day befor like the pineapple cake and the chocolate cake. They are delicious and my uncle brought them from Guadalajara the day before Christmas. Christmas day we all took pictures and went out walking and swam in my house. The only bad thing was that my cousin left with his girlfried and I didn't even get to see him that much. In all, It was a great Christmas! And today the three wise men will come!

MINI ROLLER COASTERS!

Okay, well as you all know our lovely twelve graders made a truly ah-mazing project. It was (drumroll...)

Making Roller Coasters For Marbles!

I tought about each:
1.JUNGLE! This one was flawless and FAST but it had too much part on the bottom and not that many curves... It wasn't very tall either. It was cool how they had "grass" though.
2.SOCCER FIELD! I loved the idea that a marble lands onto the net and it definetely worked. It is a very good idea and I loved the enthusiasm the presenters showed.
3.CITY BRODWAY!I did't like this one that much because I thought it didn't work very well and It was too simple.
4.CHINA!This one was very very attractive and TALL (OH MY GOD!) and I would TOTALLY go in it, especially if I was looking for an adrenaline rush.
5.CANDYLAND! This one was my personal favorite, since it was very detailed and attractive and great.

Quite-a-Patriot

Is this really why that American man with a deadly weapon is in Iraq?

Today, a respective little retired soldier from the former U.S. Army came by to our English Lit. class. He came in to talk about his experience in Iraq. WOW. His talk was "intense", and all that. He came in with SUCH an atittude, but I'm not sure I liked it. One thing was for sure: he was NOT the smiley-warm type of guy... then again, he's not to blame. Shot a 15 (or so) year old in Iraq. AN INOCENT DUDE! Sadness, sadness, and to think he was proud. I, for one, would NEVER decide to go to a military academy, much less war. His talk was firm. He believed that the Army had done right to invade an irrevelant country. A country who's buisness is their own. Little Mr.Bush made so many mistakes. Okay, Iraq was a little messed up. Yet, the question lingering is what does the USA think it is? Was, should I say? Viva Obama! Viva Iraq! LL Peace! So next time you think of America, don't only think of McDonald's and The Statue Of Liberty. Think of how proud you are that Obama is cleaning up Bush's blood-red mess.

About a girl

Hey! I am going to dedicate this blog post to someone very important: myself! Mr. Mark, my computer teacher has asked our class to make a blog post that has three whole paragraphs about themselves. Right now, I'm not sure what I can say. Well, first of all my name is Fernanda (but people call me Feris). I was born in Mexico City in September. Right now, I live in a small town called Puerto Vallarta. My family and I moved here because my dad works in an offshore marine as the director. Puerto Vallarta is on the Pacific Coast, and it is very different from Mexico City. Here it is humid, hot and surfing, windsurfing, kiting and fishing are common sports. The town is small and there are hardly any buildings, meaning people mostly live in houses. There are plenty of trees and palm trees. In Mexico City, it is cold there are a LOT of buildings, pollution and there are almost no trees. Here (in Vallarta) people usually wake up at 6 or 7 a.m. Kids like me go to private schools from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We have subjects like English, history, Spanish, computers, art, physical education, science, algebra, health and music. After school we go home and eat at around 3:00 p.m. Common foods include vegetables, salads, meat, fish, chicken, tacos and soups. My favorite food is Japanese, and there are many Japanese restaurants here. During weekdays I do my homework, take tennis and French and I am also on the school play, so I go to rehearsals.

During weekends, I go to the beach, the movies and parties. The last movie that I saw was called "2012" and I tough it was really good. I also saw "New Moon" last Friday. I am a Twilight fan, and of course I was delighted when it came out. I prefer Jacob over Edward because he would never leave Bella alone like Edward did. This weekend we had a break since it was Thanksgiving. During Thursday, we only had school until 12 but for me it didn't count as school since it was only the Talent Show. I was in the Show with two friends called Ximena and Courtney. We sang "Love Me" by Justin Beiber. I had a real fun time doing it, but I was so nervous because the whole school was looking at me. The hardest thing was finding the karaoke version of the song. The best act in the whole show was four male teachers dancing in tight suits to Beyonce's "Single Ladies". I know it sounds crazy, but I guess that's the way we are in Mexico (loud, fun and wild). Well after the talent show, I went to a small restaurant called "Ensaladas y Baguettes (Salads & Baguettes)" and then I went to the grocery store with my sister. On Saturday I made Christmas decorations with my sister and I had SO much fun! I love Christmas, It is one of my favorite holidays. This year, family from all over Mexico is flying in to celebrate it here with us. It doesn't snow, and in fact it is how so Christmas is not what you probably picture. Still, we put on our Christmas tree, we bake turkey and we exchange presents. This year, I asked for a laptop and I'm very excited.

I have a lot of other "favorites". My favorite food is Japanese, my favorite color is pink, the best meal (according to me) is a special rice, my favorite TV Show is Gossip Girl, my most liked book is The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. My prefered songs are Black Keys, Fly With Me (Jonas) and Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield). I know it might seem so ordinary, but I LOVE the Jonas Brothers. I just went to their concert in Halloween and got to meet them personally. Seriously, it was a great experience and they have great voices. I can't wait 'till Christmas and I also want it badly to be the 11Th because I am going on a trip to Yelapa, a small island. I am going with a group of girls from this school (Called American School) and a teacher (Miss Teri Jo) who is the coolest person ever! Well, it is almost time for me to go so I have to wrap things up OK? Well bye!

Sound Effects & Projects!!

EFFECTS ♥
The sound effects I used... were mostly made by me. I used many different objects to create them. While I was recording my song, I was in my desk so I used many things that you'll find in most desks. I used a pencil, a pen, a duster, a ruler and a keyboard.
The sound effects I heard... were impressive. Dogs barking, telephones ringing, babies laughing, children crying, people screaming, tapping and many more. I was amazed at the different sound effects.

The PROJECTS
In general, were really good. I liked them a lot and I must admit that some of them really impressed me. There were a couple that didn't really have rythm and disappointed me. The rest had SO much rhythm and were catchy. I liked the ones that I heard at last best. They are still stuck in my head... especially that sound effect that goes PACOOOOO!!

Making a song in Garage Band

Well, for our computers class we were supposed to make a song made up with sound effects in either Garage Band or Audacity. First of all, I had the worst time doing my song... because I started making it in Audacity. The program is old, and the problem was that we only had limited access to sound effects. We could've recorded but the school has a very low budget, or I don't know but we only have five microphones for recording.

Then it snapped, I couldn't use audacity.

So, I'm lucky because I have an imac and so I started using garage band. I recorded most of the sounds using a pen, a duster, the keyboard, my hands and voice. The other ones were loops included in Garage Band. I had an easy time working with it and it was fun. I look forward to working with that project again. Since I had to do it last minute, I'm not so sure it beats everybody else's but it is sure OK. The only thing I would change about my song is that I would speng more time at it to get cooler effects. I'm not sure who will win our own American Idol because I haven't even heard what everyone else is doing.

MUSIC REVIEW

My Group:
Raul: It had a good beat and sounded professional, I liked it!
Sofia: I liked it because it has very good songs and a lot of beat. You can totally dance with it.
Arianne: She didn't make a song.
Paco: Well, this one was very strange and it had wird noises. Yet, it was creative.

My song:
(Look at the post bellow)

MUSIC!

We had to do a music mix-mash up! For me it was fun and frustrating because I didn't have a lot of the music that I wanted but it was fun because I could practically do anything I wanted which was really cool. I look forward to working with different music again!