Boogie's Ladder

For this course "Rhetoric" we were assigned to choose a celebrity and annotate a song or speech they have done or said. I chose "Boogie" because he's still in the process of being famous, I thought I might just shout him out in my Prezi. The most thing that I am proud of is learning about Boogie and his background and how he grew up to be a great rapper. The most challenging thing about this action project was trying to annotate the lyrics to his song further, it's a really sad and deep song I like it. I recommend you listen to the song! and look at my Prezi.

The C.O.O.L Lopper

For this course, Design & Engineering. My partner and I were to choose a tool at home depot that most stood out to us. We brainstormed ideas to redesign our tool in a less stressful, painful and simpler way for the elderly. We chose to research the Lopper, a cutting tool. The most challenging thing was thinking of a way to upgrade your chosen tool and making it better. What I learned from this action project was the different ways designers think and how they have to make prototypes to see if the consumer like what they created. What I am most proud of is our redesigned tool, I actually thought the lopper was already simpler. Making it simpler was the hardest but you learn so much and get very creative.

My partner and I decided to give The C.o.o.l Lopper wheels, there's actually three because we thought that having two wheels was just going to be unbalanced and not still. So it's actually easier to move around. The wheels also are water resistance so it can be in water and it won't slip and has lots of rubber. We added a height adjustable stick to change the height of the lopper any way you want it to be, it's also rotatable. The stepper attached to the bottom is to open the blade when is pushed down and when you let it go it will cut and will also close the blade. On the side of the lopper we have firm jelly handles for the elderly's hands. We made it that way so that it wouldn't put so much stress on the hands when trying to push down the stepper. Inside the legs and stepper we have a pulley system which is connected to the lopper whenever it's opening and closing.  On the bottom of the blade, when the stepper is pushed and release to cut there's a bumper that stops the blade from going too far.  We made it so that it's light and the elderly won't have to make so much effort and strength to drag the tool around the garden. The legs and handles are foldable for storage too. The other Loppers that have been upgraded were very different. Some had bent handles for better comfort and leverage. Some were smaller to carry around and easier to cut.

Everything has been redesigned is for the elderly, so they can feel comfortable and not left out, because they're older. Even though they have made plenty upgrades we thought this lopper will be more effect-able and more usable since it has more gear and it's not that heavy and it can be moved around easily. The existing examples of the original lopper is

• The handles are designed to give the person more leverage, a better grip.
• The lopper has a bumper that is used when doing force in, when cutting which prevents you from crushing your fingers together.
• The maximum cutting capacity is 1.5 & the blade is curved to make the cutting more efficient and smooth.

The C.o.o.l Lopper demonstrates empathy by making people feel an emotion of the experience and putting themselves in someone else's shoes. Knowing that the tool is made for the elderly, they get a better understanding of why the tool is designed the way it's designed. This quote “I love to cut branches, weeds and grass” is relevant to this tool because the lopper is used to cut branches and small things.

J.R, NVA (2015). The C.o.o.l Lopper

J.R, NVA (2015). The C.o.o.l Lopper

J.R, NVA (2015). The C.o.o.l Lopper

Summer Day Camp With ICI

On my summer break, I attended Inner City Impact known as ICI which provided me the place to do my community service hours for school. Inner City Impact is a Christian organization/program located in the Logan Square area, where I have been going since the third grade. Inner City Impact is a place of bringing hope to inner city kids and impacting lives to impact generations. I can say ICI is my second home, I go there probably 4-5 times a week. Every summer, ICI does a day camp event for kids in grades K-5th. What they do is group the kids by grade and they rotate after every 30 minutes. Each group is either in a bible lesson, having snacks, crafting or playing a game.

When day camp started, I was very nervous and scared. I was not prepared to handle with parents and so many kids. They had me in charge of signing up kids to attend day camp. The most challenging thing was signing kids up, I was not being prepared to deal with so many children and speak with parents all at the same time. Day camp lasted for a whole month. Every day 100-120 came to have fun and learn about the word of god. I learned to be very patient and understanding with these kids. They got very attached to me very quick and so did I. I got to talk to so many kids and know them pretty well. It made me sad that I had to go because it was done. If I ever have to do more hours I'll definitely do it with Inner City Impact.

D.W (2015). Inner City Impact

D.W (2015). Inner City Impact 

Flamin' Hot Cheetos En La Isla

In this course, Rhetoric, I was to choose a topic of what will be to write a speech about what I considered important. I chose to speak about my favorite chips, Flamin' Hot Cheetos being and the need for these tasty snacks to be sold in Puerto Rico. The purpose of this project is to know about your topic, apply rhetorical techniques to your speech, and convince the audience. The most challenging thing about this action project was conducting my research in order to boost my logos, but mainly finding the bad things Flamin' Hot Cheetos do to young kids. On the good side, my research makes me want to change the way I eat sometimes (they're so addictive!). What I am most proud of is producing an action project about my favorite chips and a place I love to be sold in Puerto Rico, which is where my blood comes from. I chose to speak about Flamin' Hot Cheetos because they’re one of the most purchased snacks in Chicago. These (not-so-healthy) chips are very addictive and have a unique taste- different. This is why I would like to have Flamin' Hot Cheetos sold in Puerto Rico, since all the stores sell currently are cheese Cheetos.

                       

Flamin' Hot Cheetos En La Isla by JR from GCE Lab School on Vimeo.

Flamin' Hot Cheetos were introduced to the U.S in 1992 being some of the most tastiest, most addictive and mouth-watering chips. Right now, they are the top selling chips in the U.S. These chips are everywhere in the states, which with virtually every teen consuming them multiple times a week. Flamin' Hot Cheetos are my favorite because they're spicy enough without burning up your whole mouth and throat, salty and enjoyable. I had just assumed these chips were sold everywhere in the world, until I went to Puerto Rico.

The first time I went to this beautiful island, Puerto Rico was in 2014 with the mindset of it being pretty similar to parts of Chicago. Puerto Rico is extremely different from the states however, it’s very hot, humid and overly GREEN--nothing like the city. Nobody had told me about hot chips not being sold in Puerto Rico before my first trip there. I naturally, brought a bag on with me to snack on during my flight there, which I ate immediately on that first day being there. I went to the store on the island to restock my chips. Little did I know at the time, but I was looking in vain for Flamin' Hot Cheetos, browsing the snack aisle confident that I was going to be eating some hot chips in Puerto Rico. As, I looked around the snack section all I saw were Lay's, Doritos and other typical Puerto Rican chips. The only flavors they had for Cheetos was cheese. I'm not a big fan. I even asked one of the workers, but she just looked highly confused by my request for the spicy chips. The one thing that I had in my mind all that day was those chips, and them not to exist in Puerto Rico literally broke my heart into tiny little pieces. I desired those chips so much, it made me want to go back home. I stayed in Puerto Rico for a whole month without them, making myself eat other, different chips to kick off the need from my body.

I feel like Flamin' Hot Cheetos should be sold in Puerto Rico because they're the most awesome snacks ever. They're sensationally good and spicy with a hint of salt and very crunchy. They're not so expensive either; they'll be bought quickly and could spread fast around Puerto Rico, depending on the types of taste that people favor. Some might not buy them at first because they’re already used to eating cheese-flavored chips. Flamin' Hot Cheetos might be very spicy but hey, once you eat and taste Hot Cheetos there's no going back. I'm confident, though, because of their delicious taste, these chips will win over the people of Puerto Rico over time. And for those who argue that this snack isn't healthy, my advice is to eat them in moderation. But at least have the chance to enjoy them sometimes!

Mama What Were You THINKING?

For this 3rd unit Matriarch we studied the roles of matriarchs. The play that we read together in class were the little foxes and the raisin in the sun. We learned the differences between lots of plays and why they were said the way they were. I learned to visualize more a play and think outside from what a book is just telling.

Chorus Draft:

Prologue: On the Southside of Chicago lived the Youngers, known as the poor African American family. In the 1950’s African Americans were fighting for their dreams and hopes. The man of the house lost his life leaving his wife “Mama” with all the inheritance money. She then, told the rest of her family about the money. Walter her oldest son wanted her money to build a liquor store because he thought it would make lots of profit for the family. Mama on the other side, didn’t like the idea of a liquor store because she was religious and she thought that was a sin.  Mama instead, wanted to buy a house for her family to live in. Everyone liked the idea of a house besides Walter. Mama bought a house in Clybourne Park where it was an all white neighborhood. Mama was worried about what the rest of the family will say. When Mama discussed the purchase to the rest of the family they were happy but, worried and scared. Their reaction to the purchase was shocking because Mama didn’t have no other choice but to get the house because it was the cheapest at the time.

Ruth: Get on in there--- So you went and did it!

Mama: Yes, I did.

Chorus:  Remember Mama?  Remember how she wanted to share the 10,000 inheritance check with her children? Mama always dreamed of a bigger house. She wanted everyone to get what they always wanted;  Travis his room and Ruth out of that infested house. Now, Walter wasn’t thinking the way Mama was thinking. He wanted the money for a liquor store that Mama didn’t approve of and still Mama was willing to give him money to start his business. And there’s Beneatha, too. She wanted to be a doctor, and even though, Mama didn’t quite understand why a woman would want to be a doctor, she supported Beneatha’s dream.

Ruth: PRAISE GOD! Please, honey ---let me be glad… you be glad, too. Oh Walter… A home…. A home. Well--- Where is it? How big is it? How much it going to cost?

Mama: Well---

Ruth: When we moving?

Mama: First of the month.

Ruth: Praise God!

Mama: It’s--- It’s a nice house, too … Three bedrooms---nice big one for you and Ruth… Me and Beneatha still have to share our room, but Travis have one of his own--- and I figure if the---new baby--is a boy, we could get one of them double-decker outfits… and there’s a yard with a little patch of dirt where I could maybe get to grow me a few flowers… and a nice big basement.

Ruth: Walter honey, be glad---

Mama: ‘Course I don’t want to make it sound fancier than it is...It’s just a plain little old house---but it’s made good and solid---and it will be ours. Walter Lee---It makes a difference in a man when he can walk on floor that belong to him.

Ruth: Where is it?

Mama: Four o six Clybourne Street, Clybourne Park.

Ruth: Clybourne Park? Mama, there ain’t no colored people living in Clybourne Park.

Chorus: In her stupidity, she bought a house where there were no Black people. Okay, why can’t we move to an all- black neighborhood where it’s redlined that way they know that there atleast safe, since Whites know to stay away. Anyways,  people have been tortured and killed trying to move into an all-white neighborhood and for passing the sundown time. Did she really think her children would agree moving with her? She’s risking the lives of her children, where they aren’t even welcomed.  Why would Mama risk putting her children in this kind of danger?

Mama: Well, I guess there’s going to be some now.

Walter: So that’s the peace and comfort you went and bought for us today!

Mama: Son--- I just tried to find the nicest place for the least amount of money for my family.

Ruth: Well---well-- ‘course I ain’t one never been ‘ fraid of no crackers, mind you---but--well, wasn’t there no other houses nowhere?

Mama: Them houses they put up for colored in them areas way out all seem to cost twice as much as others houses. I did the best I could.

Chorus: Well, it was the cheapest one around. This is why she bought the house in the first place. Not to judge but did you even know where you were buying this house at?

Ruth: Well---well--- All I can say is---if this is my time in life--- MY TIME--- to say goodbye---to these goddamned cracking walls!--- these marching roaches! --- and this cramped little closet which ain’t now or never was no kitchen! … then I say it out loud and good HALLELUJAH! AND GOODBYE MISERY...I DON’T NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN. Lena?

Mama: Yes, honey?

Ruth: Is there---is there a whole lot of sunlight?

Mama: Yes, child there’s a whole lot of sunlight.

Ruth: Well--- I guess I better see ’bout Travis. Lord, I sure don’t feel like whipping nobody today!

Mama: Son--- you---you understand what I done, don’t you? I --- I just seen my family falling apart today… just falling to pieces in front of my eyes … we couldn’t of gone on like we was today. We was going backwards ‘stead of forward--- talking ‘bout killing babies and wishing each other was dead… when it gets like that in life---you just got to do something different, push on out and do something bigger… I wish you say something son… I wish you’d say how deep inside you you think I done the right thing---

Walter: What you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was all right for? So you butchered up a dream of mine--- you---who always talking ’bout your children’s dreams…

Mama: Walter Lee---

Chorus: Don’t be like Mama. Yes, she made a quite difficult decision for her children but we got to  understand, that Mama was trying to give the best for her children.  Mama shouldn't have done this to her kids. She should have discussed it with them. Instead, of purchasing it right away. You see what anger you brought onto Walter?  What else is there to do?

Blount's disease power point

The first action project for cure was to choose a disease and make a power point to what it was and what does it affect to the human body such as, organs, systems and cells. I learned a lot about this disease because I can relate to it very much. My challenge was whether choosing this disease or another one because all diseases sound very interesting. The thing that I am most proud is that I learned much more about what causes this disease and why people tend to get blount's disease.

Blount's Disease Medication

My second action project in cure I was assigned to choose a disease and research a medication that reduces the pain or illness away. I chose to pick Blount's disease which is a growth disorder that causes the bones in the lower legs to bow inner or outer. The medication that I chose was Morphine because it is a prescript-ed pain reliever that I searched that can only be prescript-ed and not be bought over the counter. Other medications that are categorized as pain relievers, that can be bought over the counter are Tylenol, Advil and more. The most thing I am proud of is learning about what medications really do when their taken and what types of disease involve what medications. My challenge of this action project was the actual medicine box and knowing what goes on each side of the box.

As I created the medicine box I took pictures of all six side. Each side had specific information about the medication. Such as, the ingredients, the therapy process, the chemical compounds, the directions, etc.