Thursday, January 13, 2011

Assignment #9: Due January 14th, 2011

Goodness it's been a long time since I last posted!

For this assignment, we were told to do a little research on some organizations that take donations or provide ethical gifts for developing third world countries. The organizations that were provided by Ms. Crosbie were...

Oxfam

Salvation Army

World Vision

Plan Canada
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As asked I did a little research on each.

Oxfam: Oxfam Canada has offices across the country as well as 14 agencies that work together over 99 countries, and works with over 100 partner organizations determined to do all they can for developing countries everywhere. Oxfam provides 36 ethical gift options on their website, their cheapest being $12.00 for 3 bags of seeds and their most expensive being $1300.00 for Disaster Preparedness (supplies).

The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is an international Christian Church Organization dedicated to meeting the needs of humanity under the motivation of god. As you probably already know The Salvation Army raises money or collects in many different ways. All together an amazing organization. They do only have a limited amount of ethical gifts (10) their cheapest being $10.00 for a gift of Miscellaneous things, and their most expensive being $200.00 for Adult Literacy.

World Vision: World Vision is dead set on helping the well being of people across the globe. No matter what gender, race, religion, or ethnicity, they're willing to help. They plan on fixing poverty in three ways, Transformational Development, Disaster Management and Response, and Advocacy and Public Engagement. They provide 99 ethical gift options, their cheapest being $25.00 for School supplies for a child, and $25.00 for a Canadian Assistance Fund. Their highest priced item is $16 250.00 for Nutrition and Health Care for 2500 young children in Zambia, and $16 250.00 for Nutrition and Health Care for 2500 children in Ghana. All together great items for great causes.

Plan Canada: Plan Canada wishes to help children realize their full potential in life, and to live in society's that respect peoples rights and dignity's. Every year they effect the lives of 3.5 million people with programs through 66 different countries! Plan Canada displays a total of 42 ethical gift options, their cheapest item being $10.00 for Wrap a Newborn Baby (blanket), and their most expensive item being $25 000.00 for Complete Community Water Solution.

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If I Had $100.00

As part of the assignment we were to pretend like we had $100.00 to spend on Ethical Gifts for third world countries. In total, I bought five different things. I decided to buy three things from Plan Canada and one thing from Salvation Army and Oxfam. I chose these organizations because their meanings are true and their prices are reasonable. I chose to purchase a Baby Blanket for $10.00, a Birth Certificate for $25.00, and 3 Baby Chicks for $15.00 from Plan Canada. From Salvation Army I bought Water for a Family for the price of $30.00, and 3 Bags of Seeds from Oxfam for only $12.00. I chose to buy the Baby Blanket because many babies do get cold and warmth is necessary for survival, I chose the Birth Certificate because it gives a child the gift of human rights as well as an open future. I bought the 3 Baby Chicks to send over, because it gives a family income as well as a source of food in hard times. It was important to me that I buy Water for a Family because water it the most important necessity to all living things, and sadly some people are have to work so, so hard for it. Lastly I chose to buy 3 Bags of Seeds because, those seeds will some day grow into a huge plant/tree that a whole village might have to depend on. And to me that`s important. In total I spent $92.00 of my original $100.00. If I actually had $100.00, I believe that this contribution would mean a lot even though it seems so little.

-Cheers

Monday, December 6, 2010

HEY!

Hey, I know I haven't posted in a while, so I'm just here to say cheers.

-Cheers

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Assignment 6: Poem Response

"Opinion is a flitting thing,
But truth outlasts the Sun--
If we cannot own them both--
Posess the oldest one."

                     - Emily Dickenson

As an assignment, I am to respond to Ms.Crosbie about what this poem means to me.

I broke it down to find my meaning.

Opinion is a flitting thing, : Opinions change rapidly,

But truth outlasts the Sun-- : The truth shines brighter than anything,

If we cannot own them both-- : Sometimes your opinion dosen't match the truth,

Posess the oldest one. : Never second guess your opinion.

What this poem means to me is your opinion my change over but just because it may not be the truth, you shouldn't abandon it.

Like Martin Luther King, other people had different opinions but he never abandoned what he thought was right. So it should be applied to society because more poeple would voice there opinion. Alot of people are scared to voice their opinion and stand up because they are afraid of rejection and the fact that others would dissagree and cause commotion.

                                                             -Cheers

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Assignment 4: Instrument Study

The name of my instrument is the Clarinet. The Clarinet is a part of the woodwinds family. and is made out of a hard plastic like material.

There are 16 main things to it, they are...

1. Mouthpiece
2. Read
3. Ligature
4. Cork
5. Barrel
6. Upper Section
7. Register Key
8. Thumb Key
9. Tone Holes
10. Cork
11. Bridge Keys
12. Tone Holes
13. Lower Section
14. Cork
15. Bell
16. Thumb Rest

--->Diagram Link<---

The clarinet plays in the Treble Cleft and was invented by a German instrument maker by the name of Jhoann Denner in 1690. He transformed the two reed "chalumeau" into a one reed instrument and he also added the register key to let it play higher notes as well as lower. In the 1840's two french instrument makers by the names of Klose and Buffet made the Clarinet fingering system designed after the flutes.The Clarinet is made in several varietys such as the B flat Clarinet, A Clarinet, B flat Bass Clarinet, E Soprano and B flat Contrabass Clarinet, Alto Clarinets and E flat Contrabass Clarinet.

How to make sound...

Since this instrument is played with a reed so you must put your mouth about 2/4 down the mouthpiece, take a deep breath through your nose and whisper "too" .

How to assemble the Clarinet...

1. Put the thin end of your reed in your mouth and moisten it completely.

2. Starting with the bottom you must take the lower section (be careful not to put pressure on the rod) and push the corked end into the smaller holed end of the bell until they are right together.

3. Take the Upper section and push the corked end into the the lower sections opening (again be careful of the rods) and make sure the holes are aligned.

4. Next you must take the Barrel and slowly push the bigger opening onto the opening cork on the upper section. Be careful of the keys.

5. Now you must attach the mouthpiece to the barrel by pushing the corked end into the open hole on the barrel, be sure to align the flat piece of the mouth piece with the register key and thumb rest.

6. Lastly you must line up your thoroughly soaked read and the flat side of your mouthpiece so that when you turn it around you can see 1mm of the read over the black mouthpiece. Once that is done you tighten your ligature around the mouthpiece and reed so that it is not too tight but still not to loose.

Enjoy!

How to sterilize your mouthpiece!

1. To sterilize your mouthpiece you either get sterilizing fluid from a professional store or you could just use dish soap.

2. Mix either the dish soap or the sterilizing fluid with warm water in a bowl.

3. Take your mouthpiece and swish it around in the cleaner a few good times.

4. Rinse it out  under the tap with warm water and dry it with paper towel.

How to maintain the instrument...

Before Playing

1. Make sure none of the parts are loose, if they are too tight use cork grease to loosen them.

2. Make sure you have cleaned your mouthpiece, because dirty mouthpieces are unhealthy.

After Playing

1. Take your instrument apart backwards starting with the top (mouthpiece).

2. Put it away in the case properly, just how you found it.

3. If the case does not close do not force it! Check to see whats stopping it.

4. Put away your reed.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Assignment 5: The Golden Rule!

What is the message of the Golden rule?

I believe the message of the golden rule is to treat others the way you want to be treated. For example I'm not going to be rude and ignorant to someone for no reason because that is not how I would like to be treated.

Which expression of the Golden Rule do you like the best? Why?

My favorite expression is the one from the Baha'i Faith.

"Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself." -Baha'ullah, Gleanings.

I like this one the best because I can relate to it the most, in more ways than others. It really makes me think back on past decisions that I have made.

What could things be like if everyone behaved according to the Golden Rule?

The world would be a wonderful place with no conflict on anyone's race or religion, sex or sexual orientation, ect. Some people would have more friends and there would be a lot more diversity among society. Overall the world would be a much better place.

I think what we as people seem to neglect, is the number of death discrimination has caused, and how many people are hurting right now today. I believe that alot of people would still be alive if we all abided by the golden rule. Hey, I bet you most wars would never have happened. But that's just my opinion.

Why is it that sometimes we don't behave according to the Golden Rule?

It really differs from person to person. It could be because of a bad experience with someone of a different race or growing up hearing family members discriminate people who differ from themselves. Even if a person has a grudge against someone of a different race or religion, it could cause them to judge their whole race or background!

Thanks for reading!

-Cheers

 

Monday, October 25, 2010