Sunday, August 26, 2012
A Single Fleck of Red and Green
All of the half-cut wine barrels on campus are filled with beautiful flowers that glisten with hues of pink and red. Their leaves are healthy and their roots are strong. One barrel stands out among the rest. Its tendrils are weak, its petals wilting and its hues showing ever so faintly. Tragedy has been experienced by this plant. It's soil looks just as rich and nourished as the others, yet its flower continues to weaken. The stem is covered in drapes of brown, with patterns of green trying to fight their way through. As the stem grows weaker, the spectrum of colors on the petals grows darker, some petals have lost their color completely, wasting away in a sea of taupe. The only color standing out on the once spectacular plant is a single green stem with a head of red flowers. The plant is clearly dead, but not malnourished. One branch of the plant has managed to survive, its colors shining brightly enough to illuminate the entire structure. The image of death is weakened by the one striving branch. The liveliness of the green and the brightness of the red produces hope that the plant has not given up the fight to live. Until the green shine dissapears completely, and the red vanishes, the plant will not be forgotten. In a sea of brown, with such beautiful neighbors, a single branch illuminates the quad.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Box Man Discussion Debrief
1.) New thing you learned?
I learned that many homeless people may not necessarily dislike being homeless, they may enjoy the various aspects of homelessness, the main one being the solitude. In the Box Man, he enjoys solutide and welcomes it readily, he disregards the help offered to him. I also learned why the author puts the thesis towards the end of the story, she does this because she wants us to come to our own conclusion about what the story means, and then verify it instead of telling us what the story is about and trying to convince us of such.
2.) Something I wish we would have talked about?
I wish we would have talked about why the Box Man makes his home in a doorway, where people can see him and acknowledge his condition. It seems like most homeless people like to live in conditions away from people where they can't be seen. The Box Man welcomes solitude so why would he make his "home" where people can see him readily.
3.) What I wish I would have said?
I wish I would have talked more about why the thesis was placed towards the end, the thesis itself is very unique and the placement really illustrates the author's point. I wish I could have shared my thoughts with the class further because I really like the author's choice of placement. By placing the thesis at the end it just verifys and supports the thesis' we came up with during our own reading of the story.
I learned that many homeless people may not necessarily dislike being homeless, they may enjoy the various aspects of homelessness, the main one being the solitude. In the Box Man, he enjoys solutide and welcomes it readily, he disregards the help offered to him. I also learned why the author puts the thesis towards the end of the story, she does this because she wants us to come to our own conclusion about what the story means, and then verify it instead of telling us what the story is about and trying to convince us of such.
2.) Something I wish we would have talked about?
I wish we would have talked about why the Box Man makes his home in a doorway, where people can see him and acknowledge his condition. It seems like most homeless people like to live in conditions away from people where they can't be seen. The Box Man welcomes solitude so why would he make his "home" where people can see him readily.
3.) What I wish I would have said?
I wish I would have talked more about why the thesis was placed towards the end, the thesis itself is very unique and the placement really illustrates the author's point. I wish I could have shared my thoughts with the class further because I really like the author's choice of placement. By placing the thesis at the end it just verifys and supports the thesis' we came up with during our own reading of the story.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Senior Project: Computer Programing
For my senior project, I decided to focus on computer programming, more specifically the language C++. I have been interested in computers and computer gaming since I was very young. I knew that for my senior project I needed to pick a topic that would allow me to invest a lot of hours, but also keep me entertained and excited. I have done some programming in the past but only small amounts sporadically. I want to pursue computer science as a major in college so it seemed like an intelligent decision to focus on programming for my project.
When considering possibilities for my project, I mulled over a few different ideas. At first I was inclined to do something horse-related. As mentioned before in my "About Me", I have been around horses my entire life, and my mom is a large animal veterinarian. It would have been very simple for me to focus my project around horse therapy or becoming a veterinary technician. However, accessible as those options were, I decided to try something that I knew would not only be a great challenge, but a goal far more technically complex than I had attempted before.
Perhaps the most difficult part about my project is finding a mentor that will be able to provide the wisdom and advice I need. My uncle majored in computer science and computer programming and works for a well-respected company, the unfortunate part is that he lives in Southern California. I could manage web-chats and online conversation but it would be far more convienent if I could find help from someone local. Another challenging part about this project was finding a computer capable of maintaining and running the software needed to program. I started programming on my household computer, logging more than 40 hours in a single week, only to find that my computer couldn't handle the strain programming placed on it. The computer crashed and I am still at this point, desperately attempting to re-build it. I am currently typing this blog on the computer located at my work in my free time, as I have no access to any other computer to be able to complete my work. At the rate things are going I forsee myself needing to purchase a high-end laptop with enough RAM and Hardrive to run Codeblocks and other utility programs neccessary for programming with C++.
The final result of my project should be a complex functioning program. I have not yet decided what the base for the program will be, whether it will be game-related or app-related. I do know however that my measly 40 hours logged will not be nearly enough to make a dent in the process. I predict I will log over 150 hours before my goal can be brought to reality. I had made a few programs before my computer crashed, just basic surveys and utilities, I hope to pursue more complex functions once I build or purchase a functioning computer.
My project thus far, although challenging and problematic, has brought me a great sense of accomplishment, and I look forward to seeing it reach its end result.
About Me
Hello! My name is Molly Northrup. Although I am not a stranger to the world of computers and technology, blogging is a new language for me. As I adventure into this new world of "blogging" I am sure that the mechanics of it will become decreasingly less foreign and more enjoyable. I am a student eager to learn, I have never been one to shy away from commitments (class courses) labeled as rigourous. I am greatly looking forward to this year's class due to the fact that school Literature and English subjects are not just classes to me, but chances to spend "mandatory" time at school participating in enjoyable discussion and beneficial learning that allows me to forget that I am, in reality, at school.
I believe in making education enjoyable. I have always been able to find some sort of humor or entertainment in any learning process, as a young girl who's mind works in a technical fashion, I enjoy mental stimulation. I think perhaps what I enjoy most in my english classes is the discussions that take place over controversial and heated subjects brought to light in our books or our learning. English is my passion, If I knew I was the type of person who could sit at a desk or a certain space for countless hours and stay focused, I would happily become a writer. I however believe that honesty is the best policy and would be lying to myself if I said that I knew I was capable of such a profession and hobby. For my senior year I have enrolled in multiple AP classes and I am very excited as I expect my year to be very rigorous but also very rewarding. I am the most excited about this class, and the least excited about my AP calculus class, I expect it will be very challenging, and many hours will be spent in tutoring and on studying, but I know at the end of the year I will be thankful that I pushed myself to take on such a class. Math as you may have noted is NOT my forte.
Outside of the time I spend in school and completeting school related activities, I have hobbies that I adore and spend most of my time on. My main passion is horseback riding, the specific type I compete and train in is English Show Jumping. I have been riding horses since the age of four. My mom introduced me to the world of horseback riding as early as possible because she had ridden horses her whole life. She was a team captain on the Tufts Equestrian Team and was a lead competitior at multiple national championships. She transfered to UC Davis in her mid twenties to pursue her goal of becoming a veterinarian and became the Team Captain of that equestrian team as well. Horseback riding is in my blood, and is the one element that my life completely revolves around. My first horse was bought by my mother when I was 6, she was a stunning paint quarter horse mare named Lena that had been winning in the west coast show circuit for numerous years. I still have the mare and she is sitting out fat and happy in the back pasture of our current property. Over the years I have acquired numerous show horses, none of which, fortunately, I have had to sell. I love each and every one of my horses, they are my bestfriends, some of which I even call my guardian angels, they are truly magnificent creatures that have changed my life in ways I can't describe. I am currently at a standstill with my horseback riding. I had been riding with a very well-renowned trainer in Calistoga at the barn Diamond Mountain Stables. Her sole purpose in my riding career was to help me get to young riders, which is the equestrian world equivalent of Junior Olympics. Unfortunately my trainer had a severe miscommunication with my mother and myself which lead us to no longer ride at Diamond Mountain Stables. My mother and I decided that the relationship between my trainer and I was no longer healthy or mutually beneficial and that it was time for a change. I am currently searching for a barn in which my trainer will share my love for riding, and want me to succeed as much as I want to succeed. I have never been a person to be selfish or walk away from a challenge, horseback riding is my passion and my life, and although I am aware there will always be bumps in the road, I look forward to the day when I find a trainer who not only adores horses, and the sport, but her riders as well. Even though I have endured many dissapointments in my riding, I will never lose my passion for it. When you jump over an obstacle on a horse, it's like you're flying. The fact that a 1500 pound animal can soar over a jump with such grace and stability, without wings, is truly fascinating to me. Horses are the closest things that humans can find to perfection. My ultimate dream would be to make it into Stanford, pursue computer science and engineering, and join the Stanford Equestrian Team.
One of my other passions is engineering and learning the mechanics of things. I share a strong love for cars and computers because both are such complex objects, that once you find the mechanics of them, are truly impressive. Since I was a very young girl I have enjoyed playing computer games and video games and actually helped my dad build my first computer at the age of 9. Even though math isn't my strong suit, dealing with formulas and basic mechanics is something I enjoy doing. I crave constant mental stimulation, and when one works with a computer or car, you learn that everything is connected in some way or another. The connection may be as small as two components that are connected by a single bolt, or so complex as that of an engine, or hard drive, where no one piece can function without the support of another. My family holds a long line of mechanics and engineers. I find pleasure in two main things when it comes to engineering, fixing a problem, and creating something completely original. Within the last year I have started computer programming. Programming is not only interesting to me, but rewarding. When I complete a program, or fix an error in a program that keeps it from running, I feel ecstatic.
This blog posting was designed to be a simple "about me" but as you can tell by the long paragraphs, and frequent ranting, I am still learning the "blogging" language. I greatly look forward to spending time in this year's AP Language and Composition class, and know it will be a wonderful experience!
I believe in making education enjoyable. I have always been able to find some sort of humor or entertainment in any learning process, as a young girl who's mind works in a technical fashion, I enjoy mental stimulation. I think perhaps what I enjoy most in my english classes is the discussions that take place over controversial and heated subjects brought to light in our books or our learning. English is my passion, If I knew I was the type of person who could sit at a desk or a certain space for countless hours and stay focused, I would happily become a writer. I however believe that honesty is the best policy and would be lying to myself if I said that I knew I was capable of such a profession and hobby. For my senior year I have enrolled in multiple AP classes and I am very excited as I expect my year to be very rigorous but also very rewarding. I am the most excited about this class, and the least excited about my AP calculus class, I expect it will be very challenging, and many hours will be spent in tutoring and on studying, but I know at the end of the year I will be thankful that I pushed myself to take on such a class. Math as you may have noted is NOT my forte.
Outside of the time I spend in school and completeting school related activities, I have hobbies that I adore and spend most of my time on. My main passion is horseback riding, the specific type I compete and train in is English Show Jumping. I have been riding horses since the age of four. My mom introduced me to the world of horseback riding as early as possible because she had ridden horses her whole life. She was a team captain on the Tufts Equestrian Team and was a lead competitior at multiple national championships. She transfered to UC Davis in her mid twenties to pursue her goal of becoming a veterinarian and became the Team Captain of that equestrian team as well. Horseback riding is in my blood, and is the one element that my life completely revolves around. My first horse was bought by my mother when I was 6, she was a stunning paint quarter horse mare named Lena that had been winning in the west coast show circuit for numerous years. I still have the mare and she is sitting out fat and happy in the back pasture of our current property. Over the years I have acquired numerous show horses, none of which, fortunately, I have had to sell. I love each and every one of my horses, they are my bestfriends, some of which I even call my guardian angels, they are truly magnificent creatures that have changed my life in ways I can't describe. I am currently at a standstill with my horseback riding. I had been riding with a very well-renowned trainer in Calistoga at the barn Diamond Mountain Stables. Her sole purpose in my riding career was to help me get to young riders, which is the equestrian world equivalent of Junior Olympics. Unfortunately my trainer had a severe miscommunication with my mother and myself which lead us to no longer ride at Diamond Mountain Stables. My mother and I decided that the relationship between my trainer and I was no longer healthy or mutually beneficial and that it was time for a change. I am currently searching for a barn in which my trainer will share my love for riding, and want me to succeed as much as I want to succeed. I have never been a person to be selfish or walk away from a challenge, horseback riding is my passion and my life, and although I am aware there will always be bumps in the road, I look forward to the day when I find a trainer who not only adores horses, and the sport, but her riders as well. Even though I have endured many dissapointments in my riding, I will never lose my passion for it. When you jump over an obstacle on a horse, it's like you're flying. The fact that a 1500 pound animal can soar over a jump with such grace and stability, without wings, is truly fascinating to me. Horses are the closest things that humans can find to perfection. My ultimate dream would be to make it into Stanford, pursue computer science and engineering, and join the Stanford Equestrian Team.
One of my other passions is engineering and learning the mechanics of things. I share a strong love for cars and computers because both are such complex objects, that once you find the mechanics of them, are truly impressive. Since I was a very young girl I have enjoyed playing computer games and video games and actually helped my dad build my first computer at the age of 9. Even though math isn't my strong suit, dealing with formulas and basic mechanics is something I enjoy doing. I crave constant mental stimulation, and when one works with a computer or car, you learn that everything is connected in some way or another. The connection may be as small as two components that are connected by a single bolt, or so complex as that of an engine, or hard drive, where no one piece can function without the support of another. My family holds a long line of mechanics and engineers. I find pleasure in two main things when it comes to engineering, fixing a problem, and creating something completely original. Within the last year I have started computer programming. Programming is not only interesting to me, but rewarding. When I complete a program, or fix an error in a program that keeps it from running, I feel ecstatic.
This blog posting was designed to be a simple "about me" but as you can tell by the long paragraphs, and frequent ranting, I am still learning the "blogging" language. I greatly look forward to spending time in this year's AP Language and Composition class, and know it will be a wonderful experience!
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