Vegetarian Sushi - Home Economics

Team aspect

To start off, we had one person missing from our group which meant we only had to make 3 sushi rolls. We're getting better at working together and everyone is getting involved. Everyone played a part and we were able to get everything done in time. We did accidentally make a few too many veggies but it's better to make a little too much then a little too much. Plus one of the members in my group just ate the leftover veggies. We had to rush a little for the last two sushi rolls but they still came out looking good. One member of  our group had rolled sushi before and his came out really well.

Outcome

Team Feedback

Most of the people in our team enjoyed the sushi but one of us did accidentally over stuff the roll. Still, most of us enjoyed it or at least liked it. I don't think there is anything that we could think of that would make them much better. They weren't amazing but they weren't terrible either. 

Personal Feedback 

I really enjoyed the sushi and thought it was really good. Again there isn't much that I can think of that would improve the sushi and I thought the selection of veggies were good together. I'm also pretty proud of my sushi rolling skills as the last time I rolled sushi it didn't go as well. The paper was a little inconvenient as I almost bit the paper multiple times. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the sushi.

This sushi isn't mine by the way, it's my friend's Meagan. I was supposed to take a picture after I left the classroom but I forgot and ate my sushi before I could. On the sushi I made the rice wasn't as close to the edge of the seaweed as we were in a rush to finish. You also couldn't see the veggies either. 

Notes

There isn't much to note about this lesson as everything ran smoothly and I don't know what we could add to it. I think it would make a good meal for lunch but you do have to eat sushi the day you make it. 

Home Economics - Fish and Chips

Last Friday we made fish and chips using Nadia Lim's food bag recipe. This meant that instead of frying or deep frying them, we baked them in the oven.

Team work

One member of our team wasn't at school that Friday meaning it was only three of us. This meant that there was slightly more work that we each had to do but we did get a little more fish each. We had a few problems that were similar to last weeks, i.e: some people not taking initiative, some people starting things to early, not actually doing much to contribute. Once they were asked to do something or shown that they had to do something, then they did it and got on with it. Similar to last week though, once we got into it then things started to get going. Everyone seemed to enjoy the fish but the chips weren't as great as we were hoping but that's ok. 

Outcome

Team feedback

As stated above everyone in our team enjoyed the fish but the chips weren't as nice as we though they would be. It might be because we didn't add enough herbs and spices, we didn't cook them for long enough, we cut them too thin, etc. I don't know but if we ever make them again we will probably figure out a way to fix the problem of not liking the chips. 

Personal feedback

I personally don't really like fish cause it just tastes mushy and not very nice. However, recently I've been able to tolerate it and be able to eat it without wanting to throw up. I liked the small amount of mayonnaise and believed it added some flavor. In general, I really liked it and would make at home for me mum and dad. I believe that the cones we made out of baking paper was a nice little addition (even if it wasn't the most practical way to serve it). 

Chips that look like apples

These are uncooked by the way. 

Notes

Some notes I have are that next time we should add more herbs and flavoring to the chips as they dry up fairly easily. Along with that I might cut the chips a bit bigger because the shriveled up and I think that played a small part in why they didn't taste as good as we were hoping.

 Miss Hindson also informed us that cooking the fish in the oven is actually more healthy, as well as cooking the chips in the oven which is pretty cool.

An added bonus was we were using panko crumbs which are my favorite type of bread crumbs. They're mostly used in Japanese cooking such as tempura (which is really good).

Are students addicted to their cellphones?

We've finished the careers topic which means we have moved on to our next unit. Changing technology. We're starting with looking at modern technology and how we use our phones. We were tasked with writing about whether students are addicted to their phones or not..

I believe for some students they are addicted to their phones as it varies from student to student. Phones provide instant gratification and keep bringing us back whether it's through snapchat streaks, notifications, emails, etc. Although it's nice to constantly know what's going on in the world and have instant contact, phones can also have a negative side. Phones addiction in teens can cause teens to become less grounded, forget about real world consequences, and forget about what their priorities in life should be. I think whether students are addicted to their phones really depends on whether they know how to manage their phone usage and staying grounded. I believe some students get caught up in the idea of being an online star and become addicted.

Maybe if the Earth streamed Red Velvet it wouldn't have a rapidly weakening magnetic shield

If you don't know already, the Earth has a shield that protects us from various things including incoming space debris and solar flares. This shield is known as the magnetic field. The magnetic field radiates from Earth which acts as a massive magnet with the north pole residing in the Arctic while the south pole is in Antarctica. One thing to note about the poles is that we actually have two sets; the geological pole and the magnetic pole. The geological pole never moves while the magnetic one is constantly moving. Scientists suppose that the magnetic pole has moved 685 miles across northern Canada but at the moment has begun to move 25 miles a year northwest and is on it's way for a holiday in Russia's Siberia. This means that we may be in the middle in a polar flip.

Evidence of a flip

At the moment there is a region known as the South Atlantic Anomaly, or SAA for short. The SAA covers up to 1/5 of the Earth's land by stretching from the heart of South Africa, over the South Atlantic, and over into Africa. More specifically, from Chile to Zimbabwe. The SAA has a weakened magnetic field that scientists believe has happened because the magnetic field has already flipped over there. At the moment the size of the SAA doesn't seem to be getting smaller anytime soon.

Along with the SAA is the fact that the strength of the magnetic field has been weakening by five per cent each decade and, although this is fairly normal, it can still raise concern by how long this has been going on and, if you throw in the fact that the Earth is overdue for a polar flip means that we could be approaching a polar flip.

This might sound a bit scary but the chances of an actual flip happening soon is pretty 50/50. At the moment these signs are a bit concerning but none of them completely confirm whether a polar flip will actually happen. But the Earth is overdue for a reversal as it's been roughly 780,000 years since the last one, double the usual time between flips.

What will happen if a polar flip occurs?

Although a polar flip is said to not cause any threats to the world, there are some important parts to consider. The first most important part is the fact that the magnetic field will be weakened which can cause more solar flares and space debris entering the Earth's atmosphere. Solar flares interrupt electric communications which implies situations such as weakened radio communications and, most likely, weakened phone service. It would also mess up our electrical grid if it didn't cause it to go down completely. Solar flares also could cause various genetic mutations meaning I may see you all in Xavier's school for gifted youngsters. This could also affect some animal life on Earth as animals such as sea turtles, bees, various birds, and more, use the magnetic field to navigate.

A polar flip doesn't only affect life on Earth, but also life in space. It's been proven that satellites and space stations that pass over the SAA have to temporarily turn off any electronics such as computers and communicators. If the Earth's magnetic field were to go extremely weak, such as during a polar reversal, it will stop any communication from astronauts to Earth and cause most of our satellites to go down. Because there would be an increase in solar flares it means that not only astronauts but also people on Earth are at a higher chance of cancer.

Why does this happen and should I be worried?

No idea. No, seriously. Scientists don't have a solid theory or reason behind these sudden flips of the north and south pole. However, scientist do think it may be due to changes in the fluid portion of Earth's iron core. It has been proven with evidence such as fossils, that a polar reversal happens roughly every 300,000 years or so. Even though it's been a while since the last flip, the magnetic poles have slowly been increasing in speed and getting faster. Not bad? The symptoms of a polar flip happen even before the actual flip. Still not worried? Last time Earth had a flip, we had 6,000 years of magnetic instability. Doesn't sound like we're all going to die yet? A polar reversal, on average, takes a 100 years to complete. With all of that adding up we're looking at roughly 6,100 years of magnetic instability, excluding time before the flip. 

However, there is a little bit of hope. Recent studies from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science have found that the Earth's magnetic poles have been close to flipping, but then proceeded to get back on track. 

So, Molly,  are we going to all die or not?

Mate, to tell it straight to you. I've got no clue. I'm just a 14 year old writing a blog for my science class so I don't fail the electricity and magnetism unit. There is only so much I can understand and tell you. I've got sources telling me that we ain't gonna die and sources saying "ehh. We might I guess." So I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and I hope that you don't die from solar flares in the future. 

Sources

Phys.org - https://phys.org/news/2018-04-earth-magnetic-field-reverse.html

Tech Insider - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Ggs7nUjxA

NASA - https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-poleReversal.html

News.com.au - https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/south-atlantic-anomaly-study-reveals-magnetic-pole-wobble-has-been-growing-for-1000-years/news-story/ccdee56533343df98b6d6400b69fab94

BBC - http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180208-what-its-like-in-the-bermuda-triangle-of-space

Express - https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1082797/North-pole-magnetic-north-pole-shift-poles-flip-magnetic-field-reverse

Curiosity - https://curiosity.com/topics/the-south-atlantic-anomaly-is-the-bermuda-triangle-of-space-curiosity/

Seeker/Discovery News - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou1BiorYRNU

Any way because you decided to keep reading here's Peek-a-Boo by Red Velvet

Changing Technology

Technology is most commonly defined as things such as phones, computers, and tablets, among other things. But technology is usually anything that improves the human way of life. This includes things such as lighters, light bulbs, farm tools, etc. Below is a list of 12 ways technology has changed.

Red and Black Co-Working Space Pitch Deck Presentation by Molly Noven

The slide is meant to demonstrate ways the technology has changed throughout history. Changes such as going from practical affects to CGI, vinyl to apps, etc.

THIS IS IT. THE FINAL STRETCH - Chapter 21 - 22

What is it that primarily attracts Fi to Homer?
The main thing that Fi finds attractive in Homer is how he acts around her. With the group he's usually confidence and can take lead. If we compare this with the way he acts with Fi, you can see that he'll usually let his guard down and be himself around her.

What are Fi’s intentions regarding Homer?
Well, she wants to marry him and help him on what will eventually be their farm. That's sort of all we're told.

Why does this surprise Ellie?
Ellie finds this surprising because Fi and Homer are two completely different people. Fi is desribed throughout the book as being timid, delicate, and sort of proper while Homer is much more rough, bit of dumbass, and he's much more outdoors. Ellie states in a very long paragraph how it's the way she perceived both Fi and Homer is why she didn't think they would get together.
 
How do Ellie and Fi feel as they are leaving the scene on their motorbikes? Are these realistic feelings?
Fi is described as feeling elated and they what they do on the way back can imply that so was Ellie. I think these feelings are pretty realistic because if you just managed to blow up a bridge which could potentially contribute to saving the world, just escaped death, and then go to ride motorcycles, you'd probably be extremely elated.

Why do you think the group decided to blow up the bridge?
The bridge seems to be the main entry way for the army to import and export things such as convoys. By blowing it up it will put the invaders at a huge disadvantage as they won't be able to transport those things anymore. Or at least, not as easily.

What do Ellie and the others see in Ellie’s shed when they ride up her driveway?
The scene that Ellie see's in her shed is described as "The tableau in our shed was lit by a dim torch, its batteries starting to weaken." Along with this the rest of the group are couched around Corrie who was lying in Keven's lap.

What does Ellie compare this scene with? Why do you think she does this?

Ellie compares this to a popular Christian and Catholic scene known as the nativity scene. This scene depicts the birth of Jesus Christ.

What does Homer suggest the group does?

Homer suggests that they take Corrie to hospital. Unfortunately this means they have to drive her into town, pull a ding-dong-ditch, and leave Corrie in the car for the hospital staff to find. 

What does Kevin decide to do? What does this reveal about him?

Kevin decides to be the one to drive Corrie to hospital and take her in himself. Essentially he is sacrificing himself so that Corrie can get the medical attention she needs. This shows that his character loves Corrie and is willing to do anything so that she can live, even if it means putting himself in danger.

That's it. I've finished the book. Am I planning on reading the second one? Yee. I placed a hold on it at the public library so hopefully I'll get it soon. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a good read.

Making Jam Drops

 Last Friday my group had our first practical together. The week before I wasn't here so they had already done their first practical. We were making jam drops as part of our Changing culture unit. 

Teamwork aspect

I believe that for our first practical as a group, I think we did a good job. There were some things that we need to improve on such as efficiency, initiative, and getting involved. We were a bit slow at the start but eventually as the lesson continued, we got into the rhythm of things. We did have one member who was hesitant and said they just wanted to do the dishes. We did force her into making the wells in the cookies for the jam to be dropped into. When there were things to do and get for the table, some people in our group would chose to just sit and wait to be told what to do. I think as a first practical we didn't do terribly and we got along well.

Outcome

Staff Feedback:

Because no group had an even amount of cookies to slip, two got donated to give to the staff. Mrs Hindson went around with a tray and gave the out to staff who then sent in reviews. Only two teachers actually sent in reviews but they were mostly positive. They said that they were very good and it was even better that they were fresh out of the oven and still warm. 

Team Feedback:

Pretty much everyone in our team were proud of the outcome and enjoyed the cookies. Some do need to remember their containers but other then that everyone enjoyed them.

Personal Feedback:

I've never had jam drops and the closest thing to them is hamantaschen. For my first time having them I enjoyed them immensely and will probably make them again at home. I throught they were really good and wish there was more jam in them. 

I'M SO CLOSE TO FINISHING - Chapter 19 - 20

What makes Ellie think the soldiers walking past them are professionals?

Because they were descried as acting very efficient in the way they were moving and spreading out.

What do the soldiers fire at in the bushes?

The out here killing a rabbit and being dramatic about it.

What are some clues that the group is starting to think ‘more like soldiers’?

Ellie starts to think about how to take out the armed trucks or how they were starting to think about timing and what other people around them would do. This is described when Ellie goes 'If we were up a tree with rifles,' I thought, ' and one person shot out the spotlight and the others went for the machine gunner [...]'. This showcases how they are starting to plan and use their surroundings.

Do you think Homer’s plan will work? What problems do you think they might encounter?

I think it'll probably work but there are some parts that concern me. Those parts are how they're going to move the vehicle without getting caught, or getting away safely and not getting caught.

What does Homer suggest they do when the group goes up to the Heron?

Homer suggests that they create a bigger version of the lawnmower incident and use that to blow up the bridge and probably some soldiers.

What are his strategies to put his plan into action?
One of his strategies is to get the cattle in the paddock next to where the soldier who guards the bridge is positioned and, somehow, get  the cattle to charge at the soldier who will hopefully run onto the bridge that they plan in blowing up. He also believes that if they light the petrol and escape fast enough then they'll be able to escape on motorbikes.

Why is Ellie nervous about being paired with Fi?

She's nervous because it seems Ellie has a notion that Fi is still a delicate thing that is still not really prepared. Ellie is of course scared but so is Ellie and, as Ellie says, "Fi has improved heaps in that respect [...]".

What is true courage according to Ellie?

Ellie states that true courage is "When you're really scared but you still do it." This means that courage is shown in times when, even though you'd rather not do something, you push through and do it anyway.

Were her concerns about Fi realized? Explain.

I actually have no idea what this question means If it means did Fi show courage? If so, then yes, yes she did. She went around each corner, risking her life and freedom, so they could move this tanker through the streets. She showed courage by being the one on the ground, signalling Ellie when to go even though she was terrified.

What is a clue that Fi’s relationship with Homer is becoming serious?

I mean they said that they love each other over the talkies in front of their friends so I think it's pretty serious. Then again that's just my personal opinion.

Chapter 17 - 18 - I'm almost done. yay.

Chapter 17

Why does Ellie feel uncomfortable with Chris bringing cigarettes and alcohol into Hell?
Ellie doesn't like the idea of Chris bringing things such as cigarettes and alcohol because she believes they aren't as important as other things. She believes they're taking up space for more important things such as food, water, etc. Along with thinking they're not important, Ellie also believes that Chris may start taking too far by starting to bring stronger stuff or, possibly, growing his own.

What is meant by a “clean war”? Why are the invaders so intent on having a ‘clean war’?
It's believed that the invaders want a clean war to ward off any suspicion from the rest of Australia and any international concern. It also means that they can act as nothing happened and begin a bigger invasion without interference from anyone.

What happened to the soldiers involved in the lawnmower incident, according to Robyn? How does this make Ellie feel?

According to Robyn that "[...], two of them died, they think." and we aren't really told directly how Ellie feels other that the "[...] the shock was still terrible." and that she started to sweat. This can imply that she is shocked and startled by the results of the incident.

Why do you think prisoners are sent to clean up the houses around town?
Well Robyn states that the man she was talking to and that "He said they're going to colonize the whole country with their own people, and all the farms will be split between them, and we'll just be allowed to do menial jobs, like cleaning lavatories I suppose." This means that the invaders are going to invade the rest of the country.

What does Kevin want to bring into Hell by way of livestock? Do you think his idea is a good one? Why/why not
He wants to bring in ferrets to breed and hunt for them to eat. I think this is a fairly good idea but I feel like the soldiers might notice that some ferrets are missing. But then again if they do it discreetly they soldier's shouldn't notice. Other then that I think it might work as Hell is a pretty secluded place and wild ferrets shouldn't cause any suspicion.

Chapter 18

What does Ellie find primarily attractive about Lee? 
Ellie states that she was attracted to "Lee was his mind, his intelligent, sensitive face" and that the security she felt with him wasn't the same as what she felt with Homer. She also found the underneath Lee's cool exterior was someone deeply passionate.

Who is she attracted to physically?
Ellie finds Homer physically attractive.

What are the group’s options according to Homer?

1. They can sit and do nothing. This isn't bad as they're not trained for a situation like this and that it's best they play it safe.
2. Try and get they're families back. This one's a bad idea as they don't have anything that can compete against the invader's weapons.
3. Do smaller things to help the war effort(?) and they could possibly surrender or move.

What do they decide to do and why?

They decide to send Homer, Fi, Lee, and Ellie out for a few days and they'll investigate the situation down at Cobbler's Bay. The group believe the most important action is happening.

DO you know what a good, nice chill, relaxing song is? Six60's song River. It's so calming and SOO nice to listen to

Like, wow.

Face: Cleared

Crops: Watered AND Harvested

Soul: Cleansed

Hotel: Trivago

Also I'm listening to Newsies soundtrack and jesus christ. It's beautiful, the taste, the variety, the flavor. Wow. I'm absolutely speechless. My favorite song is Santa Fe both the prologue and reprise.

We still don't know if this is a war but I'm pretty sure it is - Chapter 15 + 16

Chapter 15

What do Ellie and Lee find in the Hermit’s hut that the others don’t know about?

They find a metal box that contains old letters, documents, photos, and a old medal that belonged to the hermit. This box was under a windowsill that was designed to easily be removed.

According to the coroner’s report what are the two possible ways the Hermit’s family died...

1. Both deceased died due to a bush fire consuming their residence that caused them to be terribly burnt. The Hermit (Bertram) believed that their wounds were fatal and not wanting to see them suffer, he shot them with a rifle.
2. That both deceased were shot in a murderous way by Bertram, who then tried to burn the bodies to rid of any evidence.

 Which do you believe? Why?

Well if we review the facts, there was no trouble in their relationship, and the only proposed caused of death that has a testimonial is the first one. But that testimonial is by Bertram himself, the murderer. It also doesn't seem that Bertram had a motive to kill his family and that there were bush fires burning near their property at the time. Personally I want to believe the first one but either one is possible.

Chapter 16

What is the Hermit’s mother in law’s attitude toward him as seen in her letter?

She seems to be extremely welcoming and, even though it was her daughter and grandson that died, she seems to believe that Bertram is innocent and wrongly accused. The line that especially sticks out is at the end when she writes "you will always be welcome under the roof of, Imogen Emma Eakin".

What does this suggest about the way in which the Hermit’s family actually died?

That it's believed they died by being caught in a bush fire and having to be shot by Bertram.

What makes Ellie change her mind about Lee on the way back from the Hermit’s hut?

She states that she's never "known emotion dealt with so coldly[...]" and that she doesn't "want to end up like a coroner's report." This means that she wants to feel emotion and not seem just cold and reasonable.

I am honestly ready to become a bog women who lives in the forest - Chapter 14 + 13 continued

HA you thought I was finished with spamming you. THINK AGAIN. Anyway I enjoyed my weekend, I saw Star Wars in concert and it was very enjoyable.

Chapter 13 (yeah there's more)

“Paradise of Hell” is an oxymoron. What does it mean.

I wish there was a dictionary where they simplify the meaning of words cause I had to look up 'oxymoron for kids'. Oxymoron is for phrases, such as "Paradise of Hell" where you put two words that mean the opposite. Paradise usually means something wonderful, such as bed, while Hell is something terrible, such as my Mum's house (jokes). Saying something is "Paradise of Hell" means that you can't explain it put you still understand what the person means.   

  
Kevin’s hatred of the invaders is quite extreme. Why do you think he is so angry?

I mean if someone invaded my country I too would be pissed off. He's probably angry because a lot of crappy stuff has happened over the past couple of days. Along with this he's been spending the past couple of days with the same people 24/7 and, even though I love them, I would also get annoyed spending that much time with my friends. Assuming that it's been little over a week he's been spending that vast majority of his waking hours with these people. 

The group take turns discussing the extent to which they’d go to make a difference. Order the characters by their commitment to overthrowing the enemy?:

Well Kevin and Robyn, even though they aren't on good times at the moment, are definitely ready to fight the government  with Kevin wanting to do it a little more (in my opinion at least). I'd say Corrie is 3rd/2nd and I don't really know about the others. I'd say maybe Homer, Ellie, Fi, Lee (I think that's everyone) in that order. Maybe. 

Despite the fact that the teenagers are in the midst of a war zone, evading enemy soldiers and planning guerrilla operations, they still find time to harbor romances. Do you think this is realistic?
I mean you can't help it when you develop feelings for someone. Especially when you're in a situation where you're constantly around someone, sometimes you might develop feelings further then friendship (if that makes sense). She [Ellie] might feel like she needs someone to cling to as a romantic partner or she's confusing friendship and the need for some sort of love, whether platonic or not, could be confusing her.

Chapter 14

What reasons does Ellie give Lee for not wanting a relationship with him?

Ellie states that she's "All confused," and that the conversation they were having was something that she wasn't prepared for. Along with this she states that at the moment Lee is driving her crazy and that he's is "So annoying today!". She just seems to not be prepared and just a bit confused at the moment.
What do you think are the real reasons?

Just the above. She just doesn't know right now. Along with this Lee is being a dick. Like I've seen one of my friends go through something similar to this, where the boy is pressuring her for an answer and she had a break down and now she has trust issues. I think guys just don't realize how much of a dick they are when they do dumb shite like that. Like it really fires me up talking about stuff like this (as you can see) because they just don't realize that they don't have to have an answer. Like, damn just sit your dumb butt down and stop bothering her cause you pressuring her isn't going to make her want to say yes and you're going to almost be forcing someone into a relationship with you which is the worst type of relationship.

Note: I'm probably going to post some stuff that doesn't have to do with school just to break up these chapter blog posts so look forward to those lol.

I wrote an essay and surprisingly it didn't suck

Last term our topic in English was visual text and learning how to write an essay about it. We watched
The Power of One, directed by John Avildsen. We had to write about the scene where two characters
(Gideon and Peekay) run through a township.

Essay

The 1992 film, The Power of One, directed by John Avildsen, showcases the horror and
impact created by apartheid laws in South Africa which lasted between 1934 - 1994.
The particular scene in question shows Gideon and Peekay running through Alexandria, a
township, with children trailing behind them. The scene utilizes important techniques such as
dialogue, facial expressions, diegetic sound, and tracking shots to showcase the impact
created by laws such as apartheid. 

The first technique is dialogue. Dialogue is used when Gideon and Peekay run through
Alexandria and we see the countless ways in which the local South Africans are treated
unequally, such as an endless toilet line, someone being pushed off a truck, and a domestic
workers bus while Gideon explains what we are being shown. John Avildsen, the director,
used dialogue in this way to further display the impact caused by apartheid while, at the same
time, showing the view of someone directly affected throughout the film, we are shown
everything through Peekay’s perspective. By having the dialogue here and spoken by Gideon
we learn what apartheid is actually like to live with. This taps into the part of the audience's
brain that makes them feel sympathetic towards Gideon, the kids that trail behind him as well
as the people who live in the township. This can even be compared to ads created by
charities such as Unicef, Kidscan, Starship. They show the reality of the environment that
these people live in and forces the audience to feel sympathy and asks them “what if this was
you?”. The use of dialogue in this scene leaves a powerful and impactful effect on the
audience. 

The minimal use of sound also creates an impact. Throughout the scene of Gideon and
Peekay running through Alexandria, the only sounds we hear are diegetic and dialogue. The
director used this technique to his advantage as it creates a sense of realism in the scene
and allows us to fully taken in what is being said by Gideon and the environment they are
running through. This also creates a sense of sadness in the viewer due to the fact that there
is no music to sugar coat the moment to make it seem as if this was ever only a terrible
situation in a movie universe far from our own. The minimal sound creates an impact on the
audience that subtly brings the film into our own world.

One other technique used is what’s known as a tracking shot. This is used throughout the
scene as we follow Gideon and Peekay running through the township and, eventually, into
a part of Johannesburg. This was purposely done to showcase the difference of structure and
treatment of the two races. On one hand, we have the clean and spacious town of
Johannesburg while, on the other hand, we have the cramp, crowded slums of Alexandria
and most other townships. The use of a tracking shot also allows the audience to visually see
the clear difference in treatment for black South Africans and the white South Africans during
apartheid and causes the audience to be shocked by the clear divide in treatment of the
South Africans. This visual aid is similar to the early industrial era and child labor abolishment
movement. Although many were being told of the frightening conditions many children were
forced to work in, it still didn’t have the impact that could cause change. That is until they met
photographer, Lewis Hine. Lewis Hine traveled around North America to photograph hundreds
of children slaving away in factories, mines, and fields, to put faces to the stories. This
allowed the public to visually see that this wasn’t just something happening in a far off world,
rather something happening right around the corner. This use of visualizing aided the
National Child Labor Committee in its fight against child labor. This is similar to what the
film, The Power of One, did. Putting a visual to a story.

Acting is another impactful technique. Acting is most powerfully used when Peekay and
Gideon finish their run. They stop to get water from two separate fountains, one marked for
whites and another for blacks, while in the background we see the reactions of white people
to Gideon, a black South African. Their faces show disgust towards him. The director did this
to display the feelings of most white people at the time as most would be disgusted by the
fact that Gideon would even consider coming near them. This further shows what white
people of the time thought of black people and demonstrates to the audience the thoughts
and feelings of society at the time. We’re filled with disgust at the fact that someone else
would think so lowly of another human being based solely on the fact they were black. But
what we fail to notice is that this kind of reaction and attitude towards not only black people
but any person of color was seen not only in South Africa but also Australia, New Zealand,
and, most famously, North America. The use of acting to display this attitude was cleverly
done and cements the feelings of others throughout the film.

The Power of One, directed by John Avildsen, is an impactful movie even with a scene that simply shows two characters who go for a run. John Avildsen’s use of important techniques such as dialogue, diegetic sound, tracking shots, and acting, to showcase the horror apartheid had on the South Africans and created an everlasting impact on the audience.

Self Reflection

What am I proud of?

I'm proud of the fact that I was able to complete an essay in the little time we had. I also came up and was able to write a few links to the outer world successfully. I was worried that the links would seem like I was rambling on a bit (and I still think I was) but it seems it came out well.

What can I improve for next time?

Next time I can actually put examples from the visual text (in this case, The Power of One) in paragraphs where I talk about techniques. For example I didn't quote any dialogue when I was talking about dialogue. Or when I was talking about music I could describe the music and what it sounded like.

What is one thing I enjoyed about learning about film?

I enjoyed learning how to dissect a film and interpret different techniques. Mostly how to give examples about what it means and not seem like I'm making it up, such as my Truman Show essay. Yeah I really like making up theories and figuring out what something means and symbolism and stuff like that.

What is one thing I found challenging while learning about film?

I don't know, probably the part where I had to come up with legit meanings behind techniques and having it not sound like bullcrap that I made up. That part definitely took up most of my planning time and I remember talking to myself about the ideas and absolutely looking crazy. 

What is one thing I found useful/I will use next time I write an essay?

I will take in to account putting examples from the film to demonstrate the technique and mixing words and sentences around. Mostly because if I don't like it I can always just rewrite it or undo it.

What is one thing I am wondering about to do with visual texts?
I don't know really. I'm really into investigating visual texts (i.e the Loonaverse or Twenty One Pilots Bandito thing) and how I could take this skill or interest further I guess. Yeah I can't really think of anything that I might ask. 

I went to a writing workshop and the worst thing happened....

I saw someone from my old school. It wasn't actually that bad but it was really awkward cause Chloe said her name and then pointed at her, she probably thought we were talking trash about her. WE WEREN'T. Lemme just clarify that.

Anyway today (Friday) me and a group of other students went to Turanga library where we got to talk to two authors, Eileen Merriman (Pieces of You, Catch Me When You Fall, Invisibly Breathing, and Moonlight Sonata) and Mandy Hager (Singing Home the Whale, The Nature of Ash, Dear Vincent, Ash Rising, The Crossing, Into the Wilderness, and a bunch more). They talked about their experience in writing as an author, how they started, why they write, and the process.

Session 1 - Eileen Merriman

Our first session was with Eileen Merriman. She told us about how she had started writing her first book around the final year of high school and, after her friend showing enthusiasm in her book, sent the manuscript to Penguin Publishing. They rejected her, unfortunately. She said that after this she decided to focus on medical school which didn't allow leisure free time. After a establishing herself as a doctor she started being drawn back to writing. After finding success in entering many short story competitions she decided to sit down and try writing a book again. Luckily, this book was accepted and was published with the Pieces of You. 5 months later she published her second book known as Catch Me When You Fall. After telling us how she came to writing her latest book, Invisibly Breathing, she talked about what the book was about.

Invisibly Breathing tells the story of a socially inept boy named Felix. He gets bullied at school and overall finds life hard. Felix eventually meets Bailey who also finds life hard. Bailey's farther is an alcoholic, and Bailey himself has a stutter. Merriman proceed to read two chapters, one from each character's point of view, and although they were bother good I don't think I'll read the book. I'd seen the book around some stores and I don't really think it's my type of book if that makes sense. Talking to Merriman though was very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

  

Session 2 - Mandy Hager

After wandering around the library we headed back for the second speaker - Mandy Hanger. Mandy Hager was probably my favorite of the two speakers, why? I don't exactly know. Anyway, Hager talked to us mostly about why she started writing and why she writes what she writes. She mainly writes about politics and her book The Nature of Ash focuses on a corrupt and power-hungry government. Hager showed as videos of Aleppo and a Ted Talk from a women born and raised in war torn Syria. Her talk was politically thought provoking in how she asked what we would do. Hager claims her inspiration for being so political is her parents and family. Her Father was a victim of the Holocaust and her Mother came from a small island off of South Africa. Growing up in New Zealand she found school hard due to the rumors and comments made about her family because they were foreigners.She talked about how even if her story only connects with one person, she hopes it evokes change in that person and pushes them to stand up for what they believe in.

Her book, The Nature of Ash, and Ash Rising, tell the story of Ash and the rebellion he creates to fight back the corrupt government that rules over New Zealand. He exposes them and, by doing so, makes himself public enemy number one. In the second book his brother, Mikey who has down syndrome, and their grandmother, who is deathly ill, are taken by authorities and Ash has to get them back. Hager read us a chapter from her book and it was very enjoyable. I may or may not read the two books as I have gone of teen dystopia for a while but we'll see. 

Overall

I really enjoyed this trip and enjoyed talking to the two authors. I think choosing two authors who write about very different things was a good choice as I was able to learn more about what motivates people to write and share their stories. Both talks were deeply inspiring and gave everyone something to think about on the ride home. I hope that more opportunities similar to this one are available to attend in the future.

The war didn't begin tomorrow it happening now - chapter 13

I was just thinking about my favorite OST for a TV show ever is probably We All Lie by Ha Jin for the show Sky Castle. It's very good and I like it a lot.

 

Anyway

All the teenagers have a specific role to play in their group. Describe the roles each teenager plays?

Well Homer is obviously the main leader.  Corrie might be communications, like honestly, I don't know other then Homer seems to be the main leader, Lee the comic relief, Robyn the brave one and sacrificial one, Ellie is the idea lady, you know she got all those ideas and plans that she's come up with with her fast thinking. I don't know about the others yet though

According to what the teenagers hear on Corries radio, why would America be best not to get involved in Australia’s struggle?

Cause America makes everything worse. Jokes It's because one of their generals says that it's gonna be a bloody and gruesome war in history if they were to intervene. They also mention that America doesn't like to get involved in things.

 
Why is Australia being invaded?

Because the invaders want to reduce "imbalances withing the region" which means that they want to even out the playing field about where people live and other imbalances.

A reader can infer many things from the snippet of news heard over Corrie’s radio. Which country or countries are likely to have invaded Australia?

God I don't know. Like I honestly don't know who. I don't think it's New Zealand cause New Zealand almost never gets involved in that type of stuff, not America (refer to 2nd question above), can't be UK because Australia is part of the commonwealth.

How are the prisoners being treated?

At the moment it seems as if the prisoners are just that. Prisoners. They don't seem to be being killed or mistreated in any major way.

What do Kevin and Robyn argue about? Do you think Robyn’s points are fair?

They argue about Robyn seeming to understand the reason for invading but Kevin misinterprets this as Robyn saying that the invasion is ok. I personally agree with Robyn in the way the it's understandable that the invaders probably invaded because of housing imbalance and they haven't done anything to fix it.

I got bored while writing this and watched Eugene's coming out video again and....god damn.....that's the good kush.

Yo the war still going on - chapter 12

The titles are going to get more and more creative so that you think I'm writing about something else but nope, we're still doing this, I'm still spamming ya'll.

“They say teenagers can sleep all day”. Is this true? Do you agree? Does Ellie still see herself as a typical teenagers?

Well teenage sleep cycle shifts and teens usually go to sleep pretty late at night. This means that they'll sleep till 10am or something so their body is able to rest for long enough. Also I don't think she does but she still thinks in that mindset, if that makes sense.

Ellie’s dream at the beginning of the chapter is rather nonsensical, as dreams are wont to be. Is there any meaning to it? Try and explain what Ellie’s subconscious could be thinking about:

why is her dad cooking for the whole town? Why did Father Cronin ignore Ellie’s greeting? Why was Corrie 8 years old again? Why were they sailing off on a  boat? Why was Lee undressing?

Well her Dad cooking could be her mind looking for something comforting and good so a cookout could be a happy memory for her. I have no idea why Father Cronin is ignoring Ellie's greeting, maybe he didn't see it. Corrie talked about missing being old and often times we find things such as nostalgia comforting. This accompanied by the cook out can comfort her. I don't know why they sailing off on a boat, maybe it's because she wants to sail away from the supposed war. Assuming she's not 8 anymore we all know why Lee was undressing aye, aye.

Why is it so terrible that Chris falls asleep while on sentry duty? How does Ellie react? Why do you think she reacts this way? How does she feel about her reaction later?

Because him falling asleep is the difference between soldiers finding them and them escaping. The way she reacts is completely reasonable because here's a kid that hasn't had to sacrifice himself and has had plenty of sleep. He's being asked to stay awake for just a couple of hours so the others can sleep and he decided to fall asleep. I would also be pissed off if I was Ellie. 

Back in Hell, Ellie’s dreams are far more ominous. Explain why Ellie is dreaming of her fears.

Because she's been through a lot and she's caring a lot of guilt, no doubt will she have some sort of PTSD after this. Also she's in HELL so she's dreaming about her WORST FEARS. See what I did there see that connection I made.

I also might but what I was listening to on spotify just to make this more interesting and like bonus stuff cause there's 22 chapters so... we'll see.

Also I was listening to the Hadestown cast album and.....wow.....so good.

The war started the day after today - Chapter 11

How does Ellie feel as she is waiting in the truck at the Council Depot? Where do her emotions come from?

Ellie is fearful, excited, and cold. She believes that this is because of her love to protect her friends, family, and the rest of the citizens of Wirrawee. She quotes a line from the bible that she believes describes her situation, 'And the greatest of these was love.'

Why are the girls smiling when in danger? Is this a logical response?

Although most people don't think it's common but I think for a situation like this, it definitely is logical. I mean even though it's a high-risk situation it would still be a little fun.

What does wearing a helmet and buckling up mean to the girls?

That it might be the thing that makes the difference between brain damage and death. This is later proven true when they end up lurching forward from force and banged their heads against the metal roof.
What does Chris’s story say about the town?

That literally everyone goes to the show every single year. That's like going to the A&P show every single year. It also shows that there are looters in the town and that at the start most soldiers were nervous and that this is probably their first invasion.
What impact does the BMW have on the story? Does Chris seem lonely? Explain your answer?

I know nothing about cars so I have no idea. There also isn't anything in the chapter that sticks out to me as what the impact the BMW has. And, yeah, Chris seems lonely. Humans are meant to have social interaction with people, we're a social species whether we like it or not. If you hadn't talk to people for almost 2 weeks you would probably feel lonely too.
What is Homer’s explanation for the need to swap cars at Chris Lang’s place? What does this show about the way he is thinking?

Homer is thinking logically by explaining that they need to throw off the soldiers about where they are. If the car is at Chris's then the invaders will blow up the house thinking that they're in there and be done with it. Homer is starting to think more and more ahead which is what they need.
What are your thoughts on the story so far...

It's pretty good and I'm enjoying it. Getting a bit sick of posting these but oh well.

Timeline of NZ food (something to break up the chapter posts)

Tomorrow, When the War Began (I'm actually already sick of writing these lol) - Chapter 10

Why does Homer insist on going on with the plan after Corrie’s house blows up? How does he convince Corrie that this is a good idea?

He insists because they're not going to get anywhere unless they continue with the plan. He also states that they "Can't just crawl under the bed and stay there till this is over," which is a good point. He's stating that they can't continue to run away if they want Robyn and Lee back, and if they want to live.

Describe the strategy Home and Ellie use to ensure their safety when riding their bikes into town. What does this show about how they are starting to think?
They're strategy was to have someone go up roughly a hundred meters, walking, and then if it was safe, waved to the other person that it was all clear. This shows that they are starting to think of each other and are naturally falling into a plan for survival without thinking too much about it.

Why do you think Mr Clement is reluctant to help Lee and Robyn? How would you react in his position.
He doesn't want to endanger himself and wants to survive and, as Robyn mentions, he might have family with them and doesn't want to endanger them either. I would try help them as much as I could without endangering myself. If they didn't go away I would probably budge and help them but I honestly don't know.

How has Homer changed in Ellie’s eyes since the invasion?
Homer has become much more of a leader instead of an instigator who is also a dickhead. He's matured and is starting to take lead among the group. Ellie also describes him as becoming more interesting to her even though she's known him for years.

What are the 2 different types of soldiers and how do they each treat the inhabitants of Wirrawee?
The first type of soldier is the professionals who are actually trained and skilled in being a soldier. They also are describe as being the more kinder and better at actually taking their job seriously, compared to the conscripts at least. Conscripts are described as being the soldiers that are there to fill the spaces. They aren't as good at their job as the professionals and are poorly equipped .

Why do you think Robyn had the strength to carry Lee?

When you get a rush of adrenaline can cause you to become stronger for a moment but, afterwards, they won't have that same strength. This is what Ellie says that because they don't have the same urgency as before.

How have the group decided to rescue Lee, whose idea was this and why do they think it will work.
They're going to use a bulldozer and they're going to scoop him up in the shovel bit at the front of the machine. Then they're going to use a get-away car. This is Ellie's idea and they think it'll work because if they get shot at, they won't take much damage. Like that's the dumbest idea that I've ever heard, oh my life that's hilarious

What do you think happened to people who ‘tried to be heroes?’
They probably died. Not much too it honestly.