Vocab #8

1. Abase: to reduce or lower in rank, office etc.

2. Abdicate: to give up or renounce.

3. Abomination: anything greatly disliked or detested.

4. Brusque: rude, blunt, rough.

5. Saboteur: a person that practices sabotage.

6. Debauchery: excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

7. Proliferate: to grow or produce.

8. Anachronism: someone or something that belongs in an earlier time period.

9. Nomenclature: names or terms used in a particular set or system.

10. Expurgate: to make appropriate by removing words/passages that are. offensive; to censor.

11. Bellicose: aggressive, hostile, ready to fight.

12. Gauche: lacking social grace;  awkward.

13. Rapacious: satisfaction of greed.

14. Paradox: a proposition that seems contradictory, but may be true.

15. Conundrum: a riddle, puzzle.

16. Anomaly: someone or something abnormal. 

17. Ephemeral: short-lived, lasting a brief moment.

18. Rancorous: someone who is full of resentment/ hate.

19. Churlish: rude, vulgar behavior.

20. Precipitous: very steep, dangerously high.

IF I JUST HAD MORE TIME

     If I had more time I would have definitely would have studied a lot more because I pretty much crammed this midterm. Even though I felt like I did well in defining as many words as I did in the time I crammed. I was kind of bummed that I was spending all the time defining the words that I didn't get to start on the essay using the vocab. That was one of my only disappointments in the midterm.

Tale Of A Canterbury Tale

   So me and my group decided to choose The Monk's Tale. In his tale he listed a series of tragedies as a warning to the other characters. In his first tragedy story he brings up Lucifer and how he fell from heaven all the way down to hell. Then he brings up Adam who apparently was the one man not born of original sin. He list many other characters and their tragedies such as Sampson, Hercules, Nabugodonosor (I have no idea how to pronounce that), Balthasar, and many other ones that I don't want to write down since there is still quite a handful of them, but you get the point. 
   What I noticed as he was telling all of these biblical characters tragedies he wasn't really using any of them to make them stand out from the rest or be a main character to his story(stories). 

    A lot of this information I got was in this website. 
Also my fellow classmates Mia Levy and Javiar Solis have some nice information about The Monk's Tale so go check it out! 

CHARACTER STUDY

  My character, named X'O , is a real charmer. He isn't the best looking man in the world but he can sing like a angel and he uses that to put people into a sort of trance and he can pretty much can control them which a couple beautiful lyrics. Because of his amazing gift he has gotten pretty much what he has ever wanted. He has money, women, a big mansion, over a dozen cars, a jet, and more than you can imagine, but even though he has all these things it doesn't really satisfy him. He thinks he can use his amazing gift for something else now the question is, for what? 

  He was watching t.v. one day flipping through the channels and he end up watching the news because there was nothing good to watch. On the news they showed a lot of disasters that were going around the world and it was making him really sad. Then he had an idea which was that he can use his voice to stop and help disasters that were going around. He thought about for some time, then, he realized he was really hungry for some italian food so he went on his jet and flew Italy to eat at a fancy restaurant and the story leaves off there.   

Declaration of Learning Independence

I, Ricky Luna, will try to use this class as one of my majors tools to become a better student. I will try to absorb as much information as much as I can, especially when it comes to any information about college because I need all the help I can get. I have goals and ideas that I wish to achieve in this and if I do so, correction, when I do so, I will be one happy camper.

Vocab #5

1.obsequious  - Characterized by or showing servile complaisance or difference; fawning.
 
2. beatitude - Supreme blessedness; exalted happiness
 
3. bete noire - A person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads. 
 
4. bode - To be an omen of; portend

5. dank - Unpleasantly moist or humid; damp and, often, chilly.
 
6. ecumenical - General; universal.
 
7. fervid - Heated or vehement spirit;  enthusiasm.
 
8. fetid - Having an offensive odor, stinking.
 
9. gargantuan - Gigantic; enormous; colossal.
 
10. heyday - A stage or period of great vigor, strength, success, etc.
 
11.incubus - A nightmare; something that weighs upon or oppresses one like a nightmare.
 
12. infrastructure - A basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization.
 
13. inveigle - To entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements. 
 
14. kudos - Honor; glory; acclaim.
 
15. lagniappe - A small gift given with a purchase to a customer, by way of compliment or for good measures; bonus. A gratuity or tip. 
 
16. prolix - Extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long and wordy.
 
17.protege - A person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.
 
18. prototype - The original or model on which something is based or formed.
 
19. sycophant - A self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.
 
20. tautology - Needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness. 
 
21. truckle - To submit or yield obsequiously or tamely. 

Vocab #4

1. accolade - Any award, honor, or laudatory notice.
 
2. acerbity - Sourness, with roughness or astringency taste.
 
3. attrition - A wearing down of weakening of resistance; a reduction or decrease in numbers.
 
4. bromide - A person who is platitudinous or boring.  
 
5. chauvinist - A person who is aggressively blindly patriotic, especially one devoted to military glory. 
 
6. chronic - Constant; continuing a long time or recurring frequently.
 
7. expound - To set forth or state on detail.
 
8. factionalism - Of a faction or factions; self-interested, partisan.
 
9. immaculate - Free from moral blemish or impurity; undefiled.
 
10. imprecation - The act of impacting, cursing.
 
11. ineluctable - Impalpable of being evaded; inescapable.
 
12. mercurial - Changeable' volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic.    
 
13. palliate - To relieve or lesson without curing ; mitigate; alleviate.
 
14. protocol - The customs of regulations dealing with diplomatic, formality, precedence, and etiquette.  
 
15. resplendent - To shine brightly.
 
16. stigmatize - To set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon. 
 
17. sub rosa - Confidentially; secretly; privately.  
 
19. vainglory - Excessive elation or pride over one's own achievements; specialties; etc
 
20. vestige - To mark, trace, visible evidence or remainder or some condition, practice; etc.
 
21.volition - The act of willing, choosing, or resolving; exercise of willing.

WILL STUDY FOR FOOD

   Well most likely I will be going to Allan Hancock College here in Santa Maria after I graduate so when I apply for scholarships it would really be used to pay for books, supplies, and etc., but once I transfer for a university I would like to use some of the scholarship money I earn to pay for financial aid, dorms, supplies, and so forth. 

Vocab #3

1. apostate - A person who forsakes their religion, cause, party, etc.
 
2. effusive - Unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve.
 
3. impasse - A position or situation from which there is no escape.
 
4. euphoria - A state of intense happiness and self-confidence.
 
5. lugubrious - Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an effected, 
exaggerated, or unrelieved manner.
 
6. bravado - A pretentious, swaggering display of courage. 
 
7. consensus - Majority of opinion
 
8. dichotomy - Division into two parts, kinds, etc. Subdivision into halves of a 
pairs.
 
9. constrict - To draw or to press in; cause to contract or shrink; compress
 
10. gothic - a historical style of art and architecture, beginning in 12^th century 
France and lasting through 16th century Europe; pertaining to the Middle Ages.
11. punctilio - A fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or 
procedure.
 
12. metamorphosis - A complete change in form, structure of substance, as 
transformation by magical witch craft.
 
13. raconteur - A  person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes 
interestingly.  
 
14. sine qua non - An indispensable condition, element, factor; something 
essential.
 
15. quixotic - Extravagantly, chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or 
impracticable. 
 
16. vendetta - A prolonged or bitter feud, rivalry, contention, etc.  
 
17. non sequitur -  Latin for "does not follow". A statement with an illogical conclusion

18. mystique - An aura of mystery or mystical power surrounding a particular 
occupation or pursuit.
 
19. quagmire- An area of miry or boggy ground who surface yields under the 
tread; a bog .
 
20. parlous - Perilous, dangerous. 

Hello!

Hello people! I see you're checking my blog ;)

Vocab #2

1. accoutrements - Personal clothing, accessories, etc.
 
2. apogee - The highest most distance point; climax.
 
3. apropos - Fitting; at the right time; to the purpose; opportunely.
 
4. bicker - To engage in petulant or peevish argument; wrangle.  
 
5. coalesce - To grow together or into one body.
 
6. contretemps - An awkward or difficult situation or mishap.
 
7. convolution - A rolled up or coiled condition. 
 
8. cull - To choose; select; pick.
 
9. disparate - Distinct in kind; essentially different; dissimilar.
 
10. dogmatic - Asserting opinions in a doctrinaire or arrogant manner. 

11. licentious - Unrestrained by law or general; morality; lawless; immoral. 
 
12. mete - To distribute or apportion by measure. 
 
13. noxious - Harmful or injurious to health or physical well -being
 
14. polemic - A controversial argument; as one against some opinion, 
doctrine, etc.
 
15. populous - Full of residents or inhabitants, as a religious, heavily populated.  
 
16. probity - Integrity and uprightness; honesty.
 
17. repartee - A quick, witty reply. 
 
18. supervene - To take or occur as something additional or extraneous.
 
19. truncate - A shorten by cutting of a part; cut short.
 
20. unimpeachable -Above suspicion,impossible to discredit; impeccable.

Beowolf Notes

•  Beowulf connects ancient classic poems.
• Old English has a different grammar as to Modern English.
• Old English is like many other languages whose grammar is expressed by inflection.
• Syntax is more fluid in Old English than it is Modern.
• Old English spelling will seem off or random, in our terms. The alphabet has some unfamiliar letters.
• Beowulf cannot be described as fiction or fact.

Reflections On The First Week

   As the first week just pasted by us I can definitely say I was a little over whelmed. It felt like that we had a bunch of work ahead of us. I kinda new what I was expecting since I had tooken Dr. Preston's college prep class last year and I already knew on his approach when it comes to teaching a class, but I was not expecting on doing so much work on the first week. Even though I said I was a little over whelmed that's not going to stop me from trying to succeed in this class. This is my first AP class EVER in high school and I want to make sure I pass this class and learn some new things from some new people.

1987 AP Exam Essay #1

   Leisure has certainly changed compared to Eliot's time, especially when we start trying to compare his version to ours. In our time we think of leisure as free time, a break, or vacation. Basically having time to pleasure ourselves but back then it just meant waking up on a peaceful Sunday morning, eating a nice breakfast, read the newspaper, and etc. and over the years Eliot's definition of leisure compared to ours, they aren't exactly in the same ball park.

   As Eliot's definition of leisure compared to ours, I guess you can say that the leisure back then is now just described as a typical persons weekend or day. As to ours we see leisure as going to a theme park or leaving the country for a few days or weeks and having an amazing time and living life. Now even though these two version of leisure are very different I think that they have one similarity which is that we please ourselves. Sure the comparisons are still off by a lot but if someone can say that they enjoyed there I guess you can say "leisure time" by just sitting at home relaxing and reading the paper as to a someone going to Hawaii for a week then in a way they still managed to please themselves but in different ways.  
 

1987 AP Exam

Answers:

1. C
2. B
3. C
4. E
5. D
6. D
7. E
8. B
9. E
10. C
11. B
12. D
13. B
14. E
15. B

  16. B
  17. C
  18. E
  19. B
  20. B
  21. C
  22. E
  23. A
  24. A 
  25. C 
  27. D
  28. C
  29. A
  30. C
  31. D
  32. D

  47. E
  48. A
  49. C
  50. D
  51. B
  52. C
  53. B
  54. D
  55. A
  56. B
  57. B
  58. D
  59. E
  60. E
  61. A

Vocab #1

1. adumbrate - To outline; give a faint indication of. To foreshadow.
 
2. apotheosis - The elevation or exaltation of a person to rank; to divine status.

3. ascetic - Practices self-denial or self-mortification.

4. bauble - A trinket.

5. beguile - To charm or divert.

6. burgeon - To grow or develop quickly.
 
7. complement - Something that completes or makes perfect.

8. contumacious - stubbornly perverse or rebellion.

9. curmudgeon - A bad tempered difficult person.

10. didactic - Teaching; intended to teach. Intended for instruction; instructive.

11. disingenuous - Falsely or hypercritical.
 
12. exculpate - to clear from a charge of guilt or fault.

13. faux pas - An embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.

14. fulminate - To issue denunciation or the like.
 
15. fustian - Inflated language in writing or speaking.

16. hauteur - Haughty manner or spirit; arrogance.
 
17. inhibit - To restrain, prohibit, or forbid.

18. jeremiad - A prolonged lamentation or complaint. 

19. opportunist - One who practices opportunism or likes to take many opportunities.

20. unconscionable - Not guided by conscience; unscrupulous.

Senior Resume

Ricardo Luna Solis

Address

City/ State/ Zip

Phone Number

E-mail: lunaricky73@gmail.com

(I don't feel like giving out all my personal information)

Education:                                  GPA:             Class Rank:

Ernest Righetti High School

Student Activities: 

• Righetti Marching Band
• Righetti Concert Band
• Righetti Drumline
• Righetti Marimba Band
• Righetti Jazz Band      

Community Activities and Service:

Performed with the Righetti Marching Band, Drumline, and Marimba band at parades, festivals, fundraisers, and big community event shows. Also volunteer at Arellanes Jr. High Band as a percussion instructor.

Special Awards: 

• Golden Warrior Award for Spanish 1
• Rookie of the Year Award for Marimba Band
• The Patrick Muldoon Award for Marching/ Concert Band

Employment: 

 

Co-coach for the Arellanes Jr. High Track Team  

Big Question and My Opinion

My big question is why do people make such a big deal on what music genre is better? And why do they have to disrespect other genres to make the genre they like more superior?

For me I like I many genres of music whether It'd be pop, rock, indie, rap, hip hop, funk, metal, jazz/ fusion, latin, swing, techno, dubstep, R&B, soul, blues, reggae...well you get my point. The list goes on and on but I'm not going to name every genre known to man. But why do people have to have to choose which is superior? Now don't get me wrong I respect others peoples opinions, especially when it comes to music and if someone only likes and listens to one genre of music that's fine by me, but the one thing that infuriates me the most is when people start trash talkikng on another genre, now that pushes my buttons a little bit. As a musician (for those who don't know I play drums/ percussion and yes even though I play a instrument that is based on playing rhythmic patterns and beats, drummers/ percussion players are still considered musicians. Don't believe me? Look it up!) anyways, back on the topic. I feel like musicians have a better grasp of loving and respecting different styles of music as to one person who has no musical experience whatsoever and dissing on a bunch of genres that they never bothered to listen to or know nothing about the genre at all.
                      
                       

Poem #1"The Laughing Heart"

Questions:

1. From what poem/author does this commercial borrow (without credit)?
2. Why might the use of this poem by a corporation be considered ironic?
3. Does the poem reflect the reputation of the author? Why/why not?
4. How did you find the answers to #1 & #3? Describe your research process and your sources in detail.


Answers: 

1. The poem that was used in the Levis commercial was "The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski. 
2. The ironic these to things is that Levis is trying to use deep message to sell their product while Bukowski's poem is telling you that your life is your life. Don't let anyone tell you what to do, think, or say. To truly be yourself and if you are feeling constricted that there is always a way out and showing everyone who you really are.
3. I find that the poem does reflect Bukowski very well. He didn't have the greatest life but with in his writing he always seems to find way to surpass a difficult situation or make the best out of something that me not be so great.
4. I found answer #1 in my memory since I actually know this poem. I found answer number three by searching the name of the poem on Google and then it showed me on the side of the screen that it was written by Charles Bukowski. Once I found out the author I searched him and I clicked on this website that had a quick description of his life and his work which gave me a good sense on how he was. 

Intoduction to AP :)

 1. Who are you? 
    I am Ricky Luna.

2. Why are you taking this course?
    I took Dr. Preston's english class just this past school year. Totally different and way better. I am not going back to a regular english class ever again!

3. What do you hope to get out of the experience?
    I hope I get to become more of leader and show people how education is important and how online open source learning can help in a affective way.

4. What (if anything) gets you excited or nervous when you think about next year in general or this course in specific?
 I am excited that I am actually taking a AP class next year. I've never tooken a honors or AP class before so this will be my first and I ready to show people what I am going to bring to the table.
 
5. In your life, what do you care enough about to give it your all?* (*this doesn't have to be academic or school-related)
I really care about drums, drumming, music, music education, open source learning, and how using social media can help people i many different ways.
 
6. How can this course help you achieve your goals and set the stage for a senior year that blows the doors off expectations and requirements?
Well just taking Dr. Preston's class has helped me achieve goals that I would have never thought to reach before, educationally and personally. I also think taking the course will help me even more using what I or what other people like to do and incorporating to any form of literature that no one would have ever thought to be relatable at all.

Am I On???

Testing...testing...one, two, three. Cool! I think I'm on!!! :D Lets get started!