Car Raid

On the outside, a simple blonde girl standing next to her white Chevy Equinox. But on the inside, there’s always more to tell. Lauren Aman is a senior at Bowie High School, has three siblings (myself included), plays five instruments, and is an avid lover of coffee, swing dancing, dogs, music, and driving new places.
Let’s begin with the trunk. Pop open the back with the “Kindness Matters” magnet on it and we find nothing but some jumper cables.

“The jumper cables are from when my friend Maya’s motorcycle wouldn't start after school one day, so I had to help her out,” Aman said, laughing. “And the magnet is very special to me. My mom is a big believer in karma, and she always tells us that whatever you put out in the universe will be returned to you. If you put out positivity and kindness, that is worth a whole lot more than putting out negativity. It’s just a nice reminder that being kind can go a long way.”

On to the back seat. Unlike a lot of other teenagers you know, Lauren keeps her car nice and tidy.

The first thing I see when I open the back door is a frisbee in the pocket of the driver seat.

“Something I enjoy is spontaneous outings to Zilker Park,” Aman said. “Because I never know when I am going to go, it’s handy to always have a frisbee to toss around.”

Another thing I spotted, just sitting on the seat in the back row, was an H.E.B. basket.

“It’s not what you think, I’m not a theft!” Aman said. “I was going on a late night run to the grocery store, forgot a bag, and just put it in the back seat because I was too tired to walk it all the way back up to the store. I’ll return it I promise.”

The last thing I found in the second row was Aman’s oboe.

“Shoot,” Aman said. “That’s where I left it. I was looking for that earlier. Well I normally don’t keep Oscar [the oboe] in my car, but he can stay in there until my lesson later tonight.”

Final stop, the front row. I open the passenger door and find… nothing. However, there are some goodies hidden in the center console.

Among my findings there is a pack of mint gum, an auxiliary cord, a pack of regular M&Ms, some tissues, our dog’s tags, 15 dollars, and an empty disposable water bottle.
“I don’t have much to say about these things. The bare necessities I guess!” Aman said. “Oh, except our dog’s tags. I was taking him for a ride one day and they randomly fell off when he was hanging his head out the window. I took me 30 minutes looking on the side of Escarpment to get them back.”

Last but not least, we head to the driver’s seat. The thing that catches my eye is the plethora of pins and buttons attached to the visor.

“This is by far my favorite part of my car.” Aman said. “I collect buttons from everywhere I travel to, events I attend, my friends running for offices, and Uncommon Objects. A couple of them used to fall on my when I was driving, talk about terrifying, but I fixed that. Anyway, they all mean something different to me, some funny, some serious, all nostalgic. And I love having my collection always with me.”

After shutting the passenger door we step back and admire dirty white paint job and dent in the rear.
“His name is Oliver.” Aman said. “I didn’t like him at first, but I’ve grown to love and appreciate him. Better to have four wheels than none!”

Captain Philips review

Captain Philips movie review

If I could give you one warning before you watch Captain Philips, it would be prepare to hold your breath.  This gripping film directed by Paul Greengrass tells the true story of when Somali pirates took control of an American commercial ship, the Maersk Alabama, in 2009.

The film began as Richard Philips, played by Tom Hanks, a simple man looking for work, and his crew boarded to complete a route from Oman to Kenya on their cargo ship. Soon into their journey, however, tensions rise quickly when a small band of pirates is spotted in the distance. 
We are introduced to the pirates, the key ones are Abduwali Muse played by Barkhed Abdi, Najee played by Faysal Ahmed, and Elmi played by Mahat Ali. by seeing them in their home community. They live in poverty, and are sent out by their elders to rob large ships. 

Tom Hanks remains calm through his first encounter with the pirates because the wake of their ship forces the pirates to turn back. But soon after the pirates return and are relentless until they successfully board the Alabama. 
You may be familiar with the line, "I am the captain now," because it spread quickly across the internet and was used as a joke when taken out of context. But those five words, spoken by Muse, gain an intense meaning when you watch the suspenseful hijacking scene. 
I am not going to give away much more of the plot because the film is truly something else and can be overwhelmingly and almost unbearably stressful at times, which I see as an accomplishment. This movie requires focus, and I suggest you think about the characters motivations for their actions because, for me at least, a lot of things came as a shock to me. 
The film is sprinkled with moments of silence, which add a layer of anxiety almost, as the viewer is impatient to see what will happen.
And in a way the film is claustrophobic, not only because a large portion of it is filmed in small boats, but because of how intimate it is and how tight the tensions between every single character are. 
Which leads me to the cinematography... beautiful. It's shot almost as a documentary I want to say, with somewhat shaky hands and constant shifting. Not to mention how captivating the helicopter scenes are with Max Martini as the head SEAL Captain.
I would rate this movie a 9 out of 10 stars, counting off for flaws in the historical accuracy. I am a large fan of this move, but after reading up on it a little I discovered that some people, including former crew of the actual boat, were a little bothered that the film omitted some facts and made Philips out to be a bigger hero than he is seen as in real life. I, personally, do not mind this because I understand that you can't capture all the details of such a large event in one movie when you are making it as admiringly as Greengrass. The movie did, though, capture a multitude of emotions and transferred them to the viewer, and it taught a lesson in leadership. One of the many things that sets this movie apart is how it never quite loses its grasp on the audience, up to the closing scene. This movie was all but mediocre, and I do recommend it to people as long as you allow yourself to get fully immersed in it and give yourself some time to recuperate once you finish that final heart wrenching scene.

Current Events #6.3

1. Why is the Mormon Church pulling youths from the Boy Scouts program?
The Mormon Church is pulling youths from the Boy Scouts program in an effort to begin their own sorting program.

2. Of the 1,378 people arrested by ICE in the recent weeks, what percentage were US citizens and how many were not born in this country?
Of the 1,378 people arrested by ICE in the recent weeks, more than two thirds were US citizens and only 2 were not born in this country.

3. Where will e-cigs be banned from use in a new decision by the Austin City Council?
E-cigs will be banned in Austin parks and bars.

4. What is special about the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass?
The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is special because it is a very small green surrounded by water. It's a very difficult hole, even for professionals.

5. Who are the FOUR major players in the self-driving cars design and creation?
The three* major players in the self-driving car design and creations are Google's Waymo, Tesla, and Uber.

6. Long Response
Coney, an FBI director, was fired by Trump last week. Comey was fired because of a "lack of confidence in his ability to lead the agency." This story has been getting so much coverage because Comey was investigating Trump at the time about his alleged ties with Russia about the election. Trump's decision could have a wide range of effects in regards to the entire Russia investigation. However, other members of the FBI are continuing their investigation. The media has all the right to ask questions about the presidents decisions. Especially with a president who blames all of his flaws on "the media," "the media" should definitely be able to ask the president questions about his intentions. Because he has done and is continuing to make many controversial decisions, he should be prepared to fully explain his decisions to anyone who is skeptical. I think that the Trump and Russia investigation should definitely have a team of analysts working on it. Bu, who am I to say if there is enough being done on this investigation, though. I have no clue how many resources they have or need, nor do I know any of the progress made. All I know is that if there was a connection with Russia interfering with the election, I hope there is an adequate punishment and hopefully a replacement for Trump.

HDR - extra credit

Merger Photo

HDR Photo

HDR Intro

1. What manipulations to the camera will you need to make to create an HDR image?

When shooting an HDR image, you must alter the shutter speed and aperture with each picture you take.

2. What equipment will we use to take this type of picture?

Too take this type of picture, we will use a camera, tripod, and an HDR photo-blending software.

3. What is the reason someone might take an HDR image?

Someone may take an HDR photo to get an extremely realistic and high definition photo of what our eyes see. The HDR photos blend together photos that capture all aspects of the spectrum, so the final product has nice contrast, popping colors, and is well lit.

4. What can we expect to happen with the images once we merge them together, what will we see that we might not have seen with just one photo?

Once we merge together the photos, we will be able to see details from all the different versions of the picture. With just one copy of the picture, we may be missing some cool details of the photo that were only caught with the other settings.

Merger Photo

1. Is there something you see in the photo above that you think could be a problem when you take your photos? Look carefully.
In the photo, the girl's shadow was cut off from the two poses on the right. Making sure elements of your photo, like shadows, do not get cu off could be a problem when we take our photos.

2. Where do you think would be a great place to take this type of picture here on the Bowie campus?
A good place to take this picture on Bowie campus could be a staircase or the theater.

3. Can you think of something creative to actually DO in the photo when you take yours?
If I take my photo in the theater I could do different poses of me pretending to act or dance or sing. I could also sit on the edge of the stage or pretend to move the curtain or do something in the tech booth.

4. Is there something you could wear that would help you when you do this photo?
Something that will contrast the background on the setting.

Current Events #6.2

1. What are the new income tax brackets proposed by the Trump administration (hint there are three)?
The new income tax brackets contain new rates of 10, 25, ad 35 percent based on income. (I don't know what that means though.)

2. What are the three biggest challenges facing the AISD school board according to outgoing Region 6 member Paul Saldana?
According to Paul Saldana, the three biggest challenges facing the AISD school board are budgetary, enrollment, and equity.

3. What are the five Austin-based apps to make your life easier?
The five Austin based apps to make life easier are LawnStarter, Favor, SnapSitter, TipCow, and Burro.

4. Which teams have the top-3 picks in the NFL draft tonight?
The teams that have the top 3 picks in the NFL draft are the Cleveland Browns, San Fran 49ers, and Chicago Bears

5. What is a ramada?
A ramada is a "rustic shelter [that offers] shade to Native Americans and to colonizing Spaniards and California grape growers."

6. Long Response
A sanctuary city is a town in which the law officials and people of the down don't really cooperate with the national laws regarding illegal immigration. The law officials protect their undocumented citizens rather than prosecute them. They are nicknamed sanctuary cities because they provide a safe place for people at risk of deportation. I think they can be good, but only up to a certain point. The idea behind them is good because it allows people to take refuge in a relatively safe place until they can get their legal documents. However, they are basically making it ok for law enforcers to break the law. If these cities become too common and large, that would definitely cause bigger negative effects and conflicts within our government. The passing of Senate Bill 4 will ban these sanctuary cities. It was passed by a 90-52 vote. One of the democrats from the meeting, Rep. Ana Hernandez, originally came into the U.S. illegally before she got citizenship. At the debate, she said she "knows firsthand the impact that Senate Bill 4 will have on many families... Mothers that will be afraid to go to the grocery store. I know how this bill will punish immigrants and push them into the shadows." I don't know of any sanctuary cities near here, I have never even heard of them, but I know the banning of them will ruin many families. 

Photo Illustrations

Movie Prep & Movie Review Preview

1. Who are the main characters you would expect to see in the movie, based on the real life events?
The main characters I would expect are Richard Philips and Abduwali Muse.

2. Briefly, in 2-3 paragraphs, tell me what you expect the plot to be in the movie, based on the real life events?
I expect the movie to begin with the crew preparing for sea. There will probably be something about explaining the 600 nmi rule. I think it will show a tease blip on the radar that turns put to be a false alarm before they se an actual threat on the radar. 
I think that the pirates will come close to the ship relatively close to the beginning. It will have the crew preparing their plan to get rid of the pirates and they will scatter and hide about the ship. I think once the pirates board the ship they won't immediately get a hostage.
I think somebody will get a hold of the people on shore before the hostage situation becomes a real threat. It will show the attempted negotiations with the hostages.
I think the movie will mostly focus on the situation on the main boat and not the days that Philip spent alone with the pirates on the small boat. It will end with people thinking of Philips as a hero.

3. Why was this story important?
This story is important because it showcases a real life event in a very realistic way. It's also important because people don't really think pirates are a real threat, and this brought attention to that through a gripping story.

4. Why did the pirates try to take the ship?
The pirates tried to take the ship in order to get money. They live in poverty in Somalia, so they hijack ships for ransoms.  

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1. List the five most important actors in the film.
The five most important actors are Tom Hanks, Barked Abdi, Catherine Keener, Max Martini, and Faysal Ahmed.

2. What is the movie rated?
The movie is rated PG-13.

3. Who directed the movie?
The movie was directed by Paul Greengrass.

4. Who was the producer?
The producers were Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, and Michael De Luca.

5. What awards did it win?
It won BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. 

6. How much did it cost to make?
It cost $55 million.

7. How was it received by audiences?
The movie was loved by audiences, however, some of the crew said that the movie had an inaccurate portrayal of Phillips.

8. What did other movie reviews think about the movie?
Other reviews thought the movie was extremely well done. Many said it was very nerve racking and emotionally tolling to sit through, but that Tom Hanks did a heck of a good job. (which i completely agree with)

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Smurfs: The Lost Village (Film Review)

1. The Hollywood Reporter

2. Frank Scheck

3. I would grade the review an 8.

4. High points of the movie: feminist theme, big name actors, perfect for the intended audience

5. Low points of the movie: strictly for adults, single setting, bland soundtrack

6. "Featuring a relentless barrage of the sort of bland pop songs designed to fill out a soundtrack CD, Smurfs: The Lost Village is a mediocre effort that nonetheless succeeds in its main goal of keeping its blue characters alive for future merchandising purposes." 

Current Events #6.1

1. What are the exact addresses of buildings that have been the focus of the Austin City Council for failure to provide acceptable housing standards for residents?
The addresses of buildings that have been the focus of the Austin City Council for failure to provide acceptable housing standards for residents are 1127 and 1205 E. 52nd St.

2. What is SB 6?
SB 6 is a bill that conservatives are trying to pass. The bill states that transgender people must use the restroom that matches with the gender on their birth certificate.

3. What is ArtStartArt?
ArtStartArt is a new business to curate and sell the artwork of university students to help them get a startup in the art industry.

4. Who were the winners in the NHP play-offs last night?
The winners of the NHP play-offs were the Rangers, Bruins, Penguins, Sharks, and Blues.

5. What would you like to do from the list of five this long weekend?
From this list, I would most like to go to 'What A Bloody Mess' at Grayduck Gallery.

6. Long Response
American ties with Russia are at an "all time low" as said by Trump. Due to recent investigations with Russian connections and the conflicts in Syria, our current ties are not looking very good. After meeting with Putin, our Secretary of State Rex Tillerson agrees with Trump on this. There has been a shift because of "divisions on Syria and other issues." The two countries are not getting along at all. Russia is trying to cut U.S. ties with Moscow. This will impact our country because we have many Russian immigrants in America and vice versa. Russia is also a very popular travel destination for americans. Overall, disagreements  between the U.S. and Russia have made our relationship with them worse than ever before. 

Sports Current Event

1. Spurs win despite changes, page C8
2. Spurs win despite changes
3. The Mavericks played the Spurs and lost. The spurs continue to maintain their postseason reputation.
4. never leaving the bench, postseason streak, underdog, drafting
5. lone star, meaningless, longest, active, important, unexpected, potential
6. Recap- the story basically stated the highlights of the Mavericks vs Spurs game. It talked about players from both teams and their stats. The article also explained what this specific game would mean for the team in the long run.
7. This article describes certain players as lone stars, underdogs, or superstars.

Sports Exploration Activity

Research
1. Basketball
2. Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant

3. Top 5 NBA teams:
Cavaliers, Celtics, Raptors, Wizards, Hawks 

Summary
1. 66, 14 with two games left in the season
2. yes
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. You may not travel with the ball (hold it as you run), The object of the game is to get the ball through your net as many times as possible, You may not double dribble
5. Buzzer beater- a shot that is made within the last seconds of the game.
Breaking ankles- when an offensive player makes a quick maneuver to get away from a defensive player, often causing the defensive payer to trip.
Nothing but net- when a player makes a shot in basketball that goes through the hoop without touching the backboard or rim.
6. They'll be dancing in March- That team will do well during the annual March Madness basketball tournament

Athlete
1. Michael Jordan
2. birth place - Brooklyn, New York City, NY
3. school attended - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
4. teams played for - Bulls, Wizards
5. records set - scoring average NBA finals, regular season scoring average, points per game in playoffs, NBA scoring titles, most finals MVP, free throws made, total points, slam dunk contest winner, greatest basketball player of all time

Current Events #5.3

1. Please describe Senate Bill 576.
Senate Bill 576 states that employees at UT as well as student officers must officially report all accounts of sexual assault that they witnessed or were told about. If they do not, they could face jail time.

2. What is the name of the man who carried out the attack in London a couple of days ago?
The man who carried out the track in London was a 52 year old UK resident named Khalid Masood.

3.What did former governor Rick Perry say about the new student body president at the Texas A&M University?
Rick Perry said that the election wasn't honest because he was only elected after the original winner was cheated of his victory because of some small failure to report a campaign expense. Perry said that the lengths to make the gay student win wouldn't have been made had the student not been an open homosexual.

4.What is a 'death of despair' according to the article on page B6 "Study" White working class on skids"
A death of despair is a death related to suicide, drug overdose, or alcohol abuse.

5.Read the review of Power Rangers on page 32 of Austin 360. Do you want to go see the movie?
I don't want to see the new Power Rangers movie lol.

6. Long Response
A few weeks ago, a Hays High School student died in a car accident. She was driving around a big curve when a truck cut her off. In an attempt to stay on track, she sharply turned, which resulted in her car losing control and another car colliding with hers. Her loss has affected so much of the Hays and South Austin communities. This accident goes to show how important it is to always be 100% alert of your car and all other cars around you. New Texas drivers already go through a lengthy process to get their license, which includes a very detailed video on defensive driving. There isn't much more that officials can do to ensure safety on the roads, it's up to drivers to take responsibility and realize the risk they are putting everyone in when they drive wile distracted or drive offensively.
I have already taken drivers training. My test was definitely not an easy one either like most people say. I think that all cars, not only those owned by students or new drivers, should come with safety features to prevent using electronics while driving. And many cars nowadays are including special features like that. I think 16 is a good age to start being allowed to drive. I do believe, though, that the laws of not being allowed to use an electronic device while driving and the law of only having one other passenger in the car as a new driver should be enforced. The laws may seem like buzzkills, but they are so so important, especially with our city growing so fast and with so many new drivers on the road every day. 

Lonestar Dispatch - News Evaluation #5

New leader takes first steps

Who: Mark Robinson

What: He will be Bowie's new principal

Where: Bowie HS

When: 2017-2018 school year

Why: He is replacing Mrs. Leos

How: He was appointed by the superintendent

Who was quoted: future principal Mark Robinson, LT superintendent Brad Lancaster, AP Amanda Toon, teacher Ruth Ann Widner, principal Susan Leos

Strongest Quote: last one

Did the lead make me want to keep reading: yes

Conclusion: quote

Class of 2017 prom transforming into New York City

Who: senior class

What: preparing for prom

Where: Renaissance Hotel

When: May 2017

Why: Prom is a tradition that most seniors are looking forward to

How: lots of planning and helpers and money

Who was quoted: senior Bridget Alvarez, senior Carlyn Crow, class sponsor Deanna Delana, senior Lauren Noe

Strongest Quote: last one

Did the lead make me want to keep reading: yes

Conclusion: quote

Sticking it to their competitors

Who: Girl's lacrosse team

What: the team bonded

Where: Bowie HS

When: this season

Why: a team member had health issues

How: they got through it together

Who was quoted: student Julia Krebs, student Luana Lopez, coach Jesse McCarthy, student Veronica Cruz, student Brianna Martinez, student Sam Lopez

Strongest Quote: last one 

Did the lead make me want to keep reading: yes

Conclusion: quote

Students tackle college auditions

Who: seniors at Bowie

What: auditioning for acting programs in college

Where: Bowie HS

When: spring semester

Why: they are following their passion

How: traveling around to different auditions

Who was quoted: senior Chloe Byars, senior Elizabeth Delgado-Savage, mother Veronica Delgado-Savage, senior Jackson Walker, mother Patti-Lynn Walker, senior Hunter Francisco

Strongest Quote: last one 

Did the lead make me want to keep reading: yes

Conclusion: quote

Betsy DeVos unfit to serve as U.S. secretary of Education

Who: Betsy DeVos

What: Bad pick for Trump's secretary of education

Where: The U.S.

When: February 2017

Why: She has no education background, dodges important issues, and her donations are her main backing for her supporters

How: Trump chose her rrrgggg

Who was quoted: none

Strongest Quote: none

Did the lead make me want to keep reading: yes

Conclusion: statement

Bowie Officers, SRO's, and hall monitors: What exactly is their job?

Who: Elaine 

What: her job

Where: Bowie HS

When: since Bowie opened

Why: students don't understand the depth of her job

How: she does more than dress code

Who was quoted: monitor Elaine McBrearty, teacher Kelly Tagle

Strongest Quote: last one

Did the lead make me want to keep reading: yes

Conclusion: quote

Helping care for homeless pets

Who: junior Luisa Quinchia

What: helps take care of shelter animals

Where: Austin Pets Alive

When: beginning in March

Why: she loves helping the animals 

How: volunteering at APA

Who was quoted: student Luisa Quinchia, mother Paola Quinchia, junior Seraya Vasquez

Strongest Quote: first one

Did the lead make me want to keep reading: yes

Conclusion: quote

1. My favorite photo is the paper is the photo of Chloe and Maddy in the story "Theatre springs into action"

1A. This is my favorite because it captures such a vulnerable and emotional moment between the two girls.

1B. fill the frame, simplicity, rule of thirds

2. My least favorite photo in this issue was the one of Officer Cheney on page A5.

2A. This is my least favorite because there is no purpose of the picture. It just looks like a low quality, awkwardly cropped picture of Officer Cheney to fill up empty space. 

3. If I was a photographer I would have wanted to shoot The Laramie Project.

4. I would rate the photography a 7 out of 10. Out of 13 stories with photos, I only found 7 of the sets of photos interesting. The photos I did like, however, were very well shot and interesting. The high points were the moments of action captured and the emotion. The low points were the photos of people just standing and not doing anything important. A photo should have a purpose, not just be a space filler.

Adobe Illustrations

A DJ

Trump

Movie Review

Infographics with Infogr.am

Amber Alert Stats

Kanye West Stats

Newspaper Design #2

Spring Break Extra Credit

Over Spring Break I stuffed in as many new experiences as I could. 
From things as simple as trying out a new restaurant to hanging out in the VIP area with producers and artists at South By South West, I did many things to expand my comfort zone. 
On the first night, Friday, I kicked off my week by going out for ice cream and to Zilker on a whim with my best friend, Alina. 
The next morning, my two close friends from Houston arrived at my house to spend Spring Break with me. We saw new movies at the theatre, went shopping, hot tubbing, and explored the nooks and crannies of downtown Austin. 
After two days, four of my closest friends and I headed out to Lake LBJ for a couple nights. We spent our days there catching up, tanning, and avoiding the (disappointing) cold water at all costs. 
We came back from the lake Wednesday afternoon and almost immediately headed back out the door that evening to see what was in store for us downtown at South By South West. This was my first year doing anything SXSW related, so I wanted to see as much as I could.
Because the music started Wednesday, it was crazy down town. We were surrounded by a frenzy of unique people.
To my right was a woman in a cowboy hat desperately trying to hand out flyers that nobody would give a second glance at. To my left was a young man on the street corner with nothing but a bucket, some drum sticks, and a small jar, creating a peculiar rhythm that people were dancing to as they walked past. Behind me, a group of just turned 21-year-olds giggling as they make their way from bar to bar. And in front of me, Red River Street seemed to stretch on forever. 
We walked up and down streets countless times before calling it a night. Just being a part of the excited energy was enough for me, even though I couldn't get into any shows that first night. 
The next morning my Houston friends left and early that afternoon I met my friend Zoe at the Urban Outfitters on the drag to spend the day watching free shows. I only knew one of the artists performing that day, Khalid, but I decided to check out the rest of the artists. All the shows were incredible and I headed home for an early night after a day of meeting new people in the crowd and listening to some new music. 
Friday was a laid back day. I stayed home and got my house ready for moving and ended the night with the largest sushi dinner I have ever imagined. 
Saturday was the day for the books. I woke up early and started my day by dying my hair a gross shade of neon green. Thinking about it now, it was a terrible idea to begin with, but my good ol' brain thought it would be cute because I was going to one of my favorite artist's shows that day. He has neon green hair. But trust me, a blonde teenage girl cannot pull it off like Mike Posner can. After about 2 minutes of my family making fun of me I washed it out and headed downtown with two of my friends for the day. 
We spent the morning aimlessly walking around downtown. By some stroke of luck we ended up running into multiple music producers and beginner artists. In the evening we saw the beautiful and poetic Mike Posner perform at Waterloo.
Afterwards we headed down towards 6th Street and Red River to see what shows we could watch down there. As we were walking past the Viceland Bus (ahhhh i know!!!) one of the producers that we met earlier in the day spotted us and invited us into the VIP section.
I was so excited and nervous and got to meet so many aspiring artists, DJs, fashion designers, and public figures. Our time of feeling famous came to a stop when we spent almost two hours waiting to get into Stubbs for a concert. 
We didn't let the bad news get us down though. The next day I topped off my unscheduled and unpredictable week with a couple hours of roller-skating at my favorite childhood roller rink. 
All in all, I would say that my Spring Break taught me to let loose and see where life takes you. There's no time or place for stress when you are with people you care about.

Current Events #5.2

1. Who was the suspect that was attending a hearing in court and was taken into ICE custody for being an undocumented immigrant, making him the first to be subject to deportation despite not being in jail for a specific crime?
The suspect that was attending a hearing in court who was taken into ICE custody for being an undocumented immigrant was Juan Coronilla-Guerrero.

2. Where was Tom Brady's Super Bowl jersey found?
Tome Brady's Super Bowl jersey was found in Mexico.

3. Who was the key-note speaker this weekend at a rally to support LGBTQ rights at the state capitol?
The key-note speaker this weekend at an LGBTQ rights rally at the state capitol was Sara Ramirez.

4. Who are the five Austin-area billionaires according to Forbes?
The five Austin-area billionaires are Michael Dell, John Paul DeJoria, Robert F. Smith, David Booth, and Bryan Sheffield, according to Forbes. 

5. What native American tribe is opening a new theme park in Alabama?
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the Native American tribe opening a theme park in Alabama.

6. Long Response
Based on the evidence in the article, I don't think Obama ordered surveillance on Donald Trump. I'm not sure what exact evidence was shown because the article was slightly confusing, but from what I understood it just sounds like a huge conspiracy that Trump is whining about on Twitter. I think that is it is proven that Obama wasn't involved, then Trump should owe him an apology. If Trump refuses, I think a lot of people will be upset. I think it's good that the FBI is investigating the surveillance scandal, and I hope they find some solid evidence that proves one side or another because right now they have barely any. I think investigating the suspected Russian connections is good as well. They are investigating it because it was a serious issue that had to be looked into.Messing with the presidential election is one of the biggest things you can do and has dramatic effects on so many people across the world. I am not sure if the Russians meddling with election is true, but I do think Trump has some sort of secret connection with Russia. I know that I should be able to trust our president, but I don't really. Right now we live in a world where people drive off of drama, scandals, and arguments. There are so many plausible theories about our government and so many secrets being withheld from citizens. It's so hard to have a voice in government in modern time. And with most of our authoritative figures being privileged white males, it's hard to agree with so many things they support. 

Current Events #5.1

1. How much hotter in degrees was this winter than the highest recorded averages?
This winter was an average of one degree hotter than the previous hottest winter at Camp Mabry.

2. What are the two airlines that will fly out of the new South Terminal at ABIA and what makes the terminal unique?
Two airlines that will fly out of the new South Terminal at ABIA are Allegiant and Texas Sky airlines. This terminal is unique because the gates "will use airstrips and ramps" for boarding passengers. They will also have an outdoor waiting ares that will include a bar, live music, and food/drink places.

3. How are some ways that McDonalds is hoping to lure customers back to their restaurants?
Some ways that McDonalds is hoping to lure customers back to their restaurants are by "offering more tempting value deals," and by offering the option to pay on your mobile device.

4. List four of the awards earned by the UT women's basketball team by the Big 12 Conference.
Four of the awards earned by the UT women's basketball team by the Big 12 Conference were player of the year, coach of the year, freshman of the year, and honorable mention.

5. Which of the 5 things to do this weekend would you like to go to?
The thing I would like to go to this weekend is the Zilker Kite Festival.

6. Long Response
School choice is a resident having the option to attend school somewhere that isn't the school they are zoned for based on their address. I think the best idea for school choice is allowing the students and parents to pick together. Douglas thinks the "government needs to play a significant role." He believes that vouchers are a good idea for public school kids, but private schools should be picky with their selected students. Brendan thinks that parents should have full control over where their child attends school. I have never attended private school or home school, but I'm happy about that. I feel like the public schools I've attended have been a good fit. I don't think my parents would consider sending me to private school simply because the dynamic of it doesn't work for our family. Private schools are so insanely set on achieving well academically that it would put me under too much stress, which would result in a lot more stress on the family. I would't be interested in private school because many children that attend private school have different views on things than I do and are very materialistic and very similar to one another. I know these sound like tough stereotypes, but I have a lot of private school friends and have seen these proven true. I do think private school has a lot of advantages when it comes to college because they have a lot of connections and influence. It would also be nice to go to a smaller school. I just can't see myself enjoying school as much at a private school.

Newspaper Design #1

Front Pages of the World

1. What is your favorite newspaper front page? Why?

My favorite newspaper from page is The Border Mail front page from Albury-Wodonga, Australia. It caught my attention with a large and bright photo taking up most of the page.

2. What is your favorite headline from that newspaper? Why are you interested in it?

My favorite headline is the only headline on the page. It is Bars 'Gone'.

It sparks my interest because it has a cute picture to go with it and it sounds mysterious and edgy, which makes me want to know what's going on.

3. How many stories are on the front page of your favorite? 

There is only one story, paired with a really huge picture.

4. What do you notice that all newspaper front pages have in common?

All newspaper front pages have a main picture placed by a main story. They also have two or three smaller, but still ver important stories printed on the cover. they have the most "breaking-news" stories on the front. 

5. What are things that vary (or are different) on the front pages of different newspapers? Look at design, size of photos, size of headlines, etc.

Some things that very from cover to cover are the size of their photos compared to stories. Some newspapers have a very large primary photo to grab the attention of readers. Other newspaper cover their front pages almost entirely with words. Some newspapers have ads and little modules on their covers. Some newspapers also use bold colors, words, and letting to showcase breaking news stories. 

Portrait & Self Portrait

Magazine Covers