Coffee Clock

The last unit in Light, Sound, and Time was called “Time.” In this unit we learned about sundials, trigonometry, and how pendulums can tell time. We also learned about geographic coordinates and how they structure time around the globe. The last Action Project for LST asked us to design our own prototype of a time-telling device. We had to show our model, prove the principles and explain how it works. What I struggled with was coming up with a time-telling device. What I enjoyed about this project was making the video. The Coffee clock does already exist I just tweaked it a little to make it better. 

                 


My time telling device dates back to 1787. The ancestor to my clock was found in Germany in the 15th century. But the first alarm clock that kicked it off was invented by Levi Hutchins, who live in New Hampshire. He made his alarm clock that only went off at 4 am to wake him up to go to work. That one alarm clock turned into millions around the world helping people with daily tasks. I was inspired to create an device that will help people get up in the morning, since I am one who struggles to get up each morning. The people who will use my device the most is works, students and coffee drinkers, because my unique time telling device not only wakes you up but brews your coffee too!

My device is a coffee clock, it uses sound when the alarm clock is going off. My device has a set time that makes coffee and also makes a beeping noise. My time telling device goes by every hour. I choose these units because I think it will be helpful to know what hour it is. It beeps every hour to let you know what time it is. You can also set it up to where it makes coffee at any hour you want, and gives the the option to add your favorite cream and sugar while it’s brewing.

My coffee clock is medium sized, it has a glass pot that carries the coffee, and it has multiple settings so that way you can add the time you want the alarm to go off. The Coffee Clock has  buttons to add cream, and sugar. The shape is rectangle, the length of the Coffee Clock is 14 inches, and the height is 9 inches. To find the hypotenuse I used pythagorean theorem, which is 14^2+ 9^2=277,  than I square rooted that number and got 16.6inches. 16.6inches is my hypotenuse. 

From my research I found out that "many interesting alarm clocks have been made over the years."  My device falls in that category because one side carries the the coffee and the other side is a manual clock that shows you the time. The coffee will instantly start brewing once the alarm goes off. When the alarm goes off it starting beeping, and won't shut off until you manually shut it off. The coffee will continue to brew. The purpose of my clock is to wake people up on time and give them a fresh cup of coffee. 

My device is meaningful way to tell time because it wakes you up in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee, and an annoying beeping noise which you have to physically get up and turn off. Both of these factors can help you get out of bed and ready to start your day. It solves common problems like people waking up late, and running late for school, or work.


Citations: 
“Alarm Clock History.”clockhistory.com. Jeffery Wood, 2014. Web. 17 March, 2017.

BARE IT ALL

The last unit in my Argument class is called 1964. In this unit we learned about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and how this law changed our nation. We learned how America was trying to change for the better and along with that we learned the arguments America had with racism. The last Action Project asked us to take a position on a controversial topic and write a thesis, than identify and try to understand someone’s position on the topic and write antithesis. From that, we were challenged to create a resolution, in other words, map out the synthesis. What I struggled with was coming up with a topic to argue. What I enjoyed about this project was writing my synthesis. I love the topic I picked because it relates to me in a personal way. Overall, the Argument class was one of my favorite classes that I’ve taken at GCE. I learned so much, and teacher my Jamie did an amazing job at teaching it! Hope you guys enjoy!

     

Body shaming is an important issue to me, and in this era it's really relevant to talk about. I say this era because the world is changing, yet some people are still conservative. The 21st century is such an important time in history, and I feel like people need to began to open up their minds more in order to make the world a better place. Models can show their skinny bodies and be praised and called beautiful. They aren’t called sluts, whores, or attention-seekers. When it comes to the topic of perceptions of women and our bodies, my position is that we should not be body shamed for showing off our bodies which we love.

The overall opposing argument against body shaming is that people think it’s a bad look for women, specifically, to show their bodies on social media or in real life. Opponents believe that when a girl is showing off her body she is sending a certain message, she is called an “attention seeker," even an “attention whore” (because we all know- the worst thing a woman can do in the world is seek attention). No one likes a woman who wants to be seen. Kim Kardashian-West recently posted a nude selfie on her social media accounts. Mrs. Kardashian-West gave birth just a few months ago; she was just trying to make herself feel better, because society tends to make women feel like crap if they don’t look a certain way, and this “rule” is only harsher if you are a celebrity. The picture was a throwback that Kardashian-West posted to be a motivating picture of herself, which, in my opinion that is pretty impressive. Along with the image, she included the caption: “I wanna get back to Me a year ago!” It didn’t take long at all for other celebrities and many people all over the world to start adding their two cents about her photo, including posting negative comments on her photo. Even veteran actress and entertainer, Bette Midler had a few words for Kardashian’s nude selfie. The older actress tweeted: “Kim Kardashian tweeted a nude selfie today. If Kim wants us to see a part of her we've never seen, she's gonna have to swallow the camera.” I wholeheartedly disagree! Bette, the point of the picture is Kardashian-West is showing us exactly what she wants us to see; she has the control over her own body and representations of it online. She blocked out certain parts, when she could’ve showed it all. And yes, Kim has taken nude pictures before, and has a sex tape but look at where that got her today, she is a successful fashion designer, model, entrepreneur.

So why did Midler feel the need to jab at this one? And why did Midler feel the need to add “she's gonna have to swallow the camera?” Midler’s offensive response is a prime example of body shaming. Celebrity actress, Chloe Grace Moretz, also added to the fire, stating “@KimKardashian I truly hope you realize how important setting goals are for young women, teaching them we have so much more to offer than-just our bodies.” But that’s the thing, Kim Kardashian is setting her own goals for young women. She wants to set an example that shows women they can be comfortable in their own bodies. After so much unwanted, negative feedback Kim Kardashian-West ended up writing a letter, slamming all her body shamers. She stated that: 

"As individual women, we may or may not choose to use our bodies or our sexuality as a mode of empowerment. As individual women, we may not even understand how another woman could ever even see it that way, and so it’s easier to look at a naked woman and write her off as ‘feeding into the male gaze.’ But if feminism is about every woman having the choice to move freely through the world and designing her own life free from gender-based bias, then we have to respect other women’s choices, even if we don’t agree with them, as long as those choices don’t interfere with another’s right to choose."

I do agree with Mrs. Kim Kardashian-West that as individual women, we all have the right to choose what we want to do with our bodies, and yes people have the right to their opinions, but verbal abuse is plain wrong. I’m not saying that Kim Kardashian-West is the only one who’s getting body shamed, millions of girls around the world do, including myself. I love my body; it’s a piece of art to me and it's so valuable. People get so upset when I post certain pictures or the way I dress, and they feel the need to call me names. Body shaming needs to stop!

Where can my opposition and I agree on? Is that people have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. Men and women have the right to show off their bodies as they please; they can do whatever they want because they own their own body. Both sides have to respect that.

Questions I Have for the Opposition: 

    1. Why are you upset that I don’t hate my body? 

    2. Why does my body upset you?

    3. What gives you the right to call me names?

    4. Why are you trying to bring my self esteem down?

Questions the Oppositions Might Have for Me:

     
     1.Why do girls have to show their bodies off?

     2.What kind of message are you sending young girls?

     3. Are you trying to get attention?

The synthesis that would allow both sides to come together means both have to respect each other’s opinions. We were all born naked, and human bodies are natural. Clothes are “man made,” we all know what a human body looks like, and what parts each gender has. If someone chooses to show their body without clothes, it shouldn’t matter. We have a body, too; it’s normal. If people have something to say, just keep it in. We all learned this technique as we were growing up. People should apply it to their real lives. When people start to judge others, they start hate, and later spread war. If the world wants to change, we all have to respect each other, not judge, and not call names.

Works Cited:

“Kim Kardashian’s Open Letter on International Women’s Day Shuts Down The Body Shamers.” www.romper.com. Jen McGuire. 9 March, 2016. Web 15 March, 2016. 

“Send Nudes: Kim Kardashian, Feminism, and The Right To Bare All.” Themarysue.com. Teresa Jusino. 9 March, 2016. Web. 15 March, 2016.

Pictures: 

"Bare it all.” JV. 2016.

"Body Shaming 101." Hercampus.com. 8 May, 2015. (2 pictures)

18+

In the second unit in my Argument class, I learned about logical flaws, fallacies, and the strength of an argument. I learned about the Scott vs Sandford Supreme Court case of 1857. The case centered on Dred Scott, who was a former slave who sued his master for keeping him a slave in a free state. We analyzed this case and learned that the 14th amendment was crafted partly because of it. The purpose of my second Action Project was to form my own amendment based on my school’s Code of Conduct. I had to pick a part of my school’s Code of Conduct and defend a change I’d make to it. I enjoyed creating my own amendment, but what I struggled with was choosing a topic from the Code of Conduct because there was so many that I wanted to revise. The image below represents my amendment and you will soon find out why.

     Gograph.com 2012.

                                                      

Attendance Procedures:

GCE’s Code of Conduct states that “a parent or guardian is expected to communicate an absence with GCE Lab School as soon as possible when a student is going to be absent. Students are expected to contact their teachers as soon as they are able to address next steps for makeup work.”

I think the absence policy in the Code of Conduct is currently unjust. An 18 year old should have the right to call their school and inform the school of why they will not be attending I don’t think my parents should have to do that, especially since at 18 you are legally considered an adult in the US. Eightteen year olds can sign contracts on their own, sign up for the military, and vote. The Code of Conduct states that parents should contact the school as soon as possible when a student is going to be absent. In my experiences attending GCE, my parents will call the school and let them know why I will be absent, or send an email. A flaw my school has when it comes to the attendance procedures is that staff will keep contacting my parents even after my parents informed them that I won’t be attending school that day. I think this is a flaw because my parents shouldn’t be getting multiple calls from my school in a day about the same information that was already given. I think this is really unprofessional because multiple calls is unnecessary. I understand that education is really important at my school and they want to know where I am when I’m supposed to be in class, but if my parents are contacting them and letting them know I won’t be coming, then there shouldn’t be a problem and should not turn into five missed calls in my parents’ phones.

Students aren’t just students; they have lives besides going to school. I am very independent and like doing things on my own. It’s not my parents responsibility anymore that I go to school, it’s mine. Since I am eighteen, I should be able to determine whether I want to go to school or not, and to notify staff myself in the case of my absence. I think my school’s Code of Conduct for absences should be changed to state that students who are eighteen years or older can call the school themselves to inform them why they won’t be attending school. GCE is a school where students learn about the real world, how to grow as an individual, and learn how to be responsible and just as we practice these skills in our classes, we should also apply them when it comes to procedures like the attendance policy. My proposed amendment to the Code of Conduct is written as a formal argument below:

P1: Students should be responsible.
P2: Students 18 years or older can make their own decisions and are legally no longer minors.
C: Students 18 years or older can call the school themselves and state why they aren’t attending school.

This amendment will help students who are 18 years old have more responsibility for themselves, and it will teach them to not skip school because they will have to call themselves and state why they’re not going to school. GCE is a school where we learn about the real world and ways to grow as an individual and practice a true citizenship, it’s a place where students learn how to be responsible and thrive in the real world. GCE should let students who are 18 years or older make their own decisions and respect student’s decisions without a parent's consent. Student MS agrees with my proposal and states: “I believe that students 18 and older should have the ability and right to contact the school and explain the reason for their absence. The student must show responsibility at school and not abuse the right. If it becomes excessive parents will be contacted and informed of their students actions.” MS

The amendment I propose is related to the U.S Constitution. According to Amendment 26
Section. 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

This amendment argues that a US citizen who is eighteen years of age or older has the right to vote. That person has the right to elect a president for our country, which is important this year in America. This amendment connects to the change that I want to make in GCE’s Code of Conduct about absences; if eighteen year olds have the right to vote in America, then they should have the right to make their own decisions about their education. Voting is a right, but an 18 year old cannot call her school to inform staff of her absence? This flawed rule relates to Anna who is 18 years. Anna rents out an apartment in Wicker Park with her best friend Millie. When Anna isn't feeling well her Mother has to call Anna's school to inform them Anna won't be coming. Anna dislikes this rule because she is responsible enough to call her school herself. Anna owns an apartment but can't call her school for her own absences. This flaw needs to be fixed. 

Diddley Bowie

The second Action Project in Light, Sound, and Time asked us to build a guitar that we could play. My guitar is made out of wood, a tin can, one guitar string, an allen wrench as the nut and nails to hold the guitar together. We learned about sound, how it travels, how fast it is, and where it comes from. We learned about frequency, the pitch of sound, wavelength, and the Doppler effect. I am proud of how my guitar came out. It was really easy to build. If I could do it over again, I would get a thicker piece of wood so that way the screws wouldn’t go through the wood. I would make my string a little tighter, so the pitch would be higher. Overall I enjoyed creating my Diddley bow and below is a sketch of my Bowie, and a real picture of it.

Created by JV Bowie, 2016.

Created by Diddley Bow, 2016.

The wood is the neck of the guitar, the tin can is the sound hole. My tin can is medium sized so it produces a good amount of sound. I have a guitar string, and an allen wrench that acts like the nut. When I pluck the guitar string the vibration goes through the tin can, making sound waves. When I use a slide on my string, the vibrations shorten changing the pitch. The wavelength is the distance from one peak to the next peak. It can also be thought of as of one complete wave cycle. My Diddley bow creates waves every time I play it. My harmonics and wavelength calculations are down below, it also shows the frequency.

                                                                Created by JV Harmonics, 2016.

My guitar string is 13 inches long, and the thickness of the string is 0.042inches. My open note is E. The formula used for the volume of a cylinder was πRxR x H. The approximate frequency of 82.28 Hz, a wavelength of 418.65 cm, and the volume of my can is 47.12cm^3.