LAQ: Moneyball by Michael Lewis

1. The story Moneyball is about general manager Billy Beane, a former MLB player who never lived up to the hype scouts had for him. He manages the Oakland A's and on one of the lowest budgets in the league, puts together a team based on statistics rather than the players ability. Beane's revolutionary methods of drafting changed the way players were looked at through out the league after the A's successful season.
2. Michael Lewis chose to write about this topic because this method of using statistics to recruit players was a major turning point on how the MLB looked at players, and it all started with Billy Beane and his assistant Paul Depodesta.
3. I find that the only books that keep me intrested anymore are the ones that have anything to do with sports. I remember watching the beginning of this movie and I found it very intresting. I went to find the movie but found out there was a novel so I picked that up instead.
4. Yes, I found the book realistic because it's not doing anything unrealistic like making games close tie breakers to build drama or anything. And the fact that you can find all these people by looking them up and finding stories about them.

                                                                             People

1. I see how the author can influence how a person thinks about how the character really is. I messed it up for myself because I watched the movie first and now see Billy as a grumpy man who has alot of regrets in his life and when I read the book, I think just a kid who is easily frustrated when he can't do something right. I do see however how an author can influence how the charcater is potraited because if you haven't seen or heard from a character before, your first impressions will always be that way if you see that character anywhere else.
2. Billy Beane- he as seen as a future star in the MLB. He is untouched by any of the other high school atheletes around and has the looks that put him up there. He however deals with anger isues on it comes out when he is not able to do something right.   

         Paul Depodesta- Billy's assisant, a Harvord graduate and statician who begins determining
         players worth by using statistics. Help Billy to recruit a underbudget team that becomes very
         successful.

      3. What makes these people interesting to write about is the fact that they were underdogs. They 
          had the lowest budget to work with to put a team together and somehow managed to put one
          together. With Billy's competativeness and Paul's ideas on how to view baseball, they
          modernized one of america's favorite sports.


                                                                

Hafta/wanna

After highschool, I feel like some things will change and some will stay the same. The will always be the things that you have to do and the things you want to do. For the most kids in highschool, we have to show up, have to listen to teachers, have to get good grades. Same with life after at some point, we have to get a job, have to pay the bills, have to listen to more people but now that person is your boss. Life also it's wants like in highschool we all want that nice car or more time to go out and when we have our own careers, we can get those nice things, we can plan vacations. In a sense, life doesn't change, only your priorities and responsibilities.

Vocab spring #3

Apostate- a person who renounces a religious or political belief

Effusive- expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure in unrestrained manner

Impasse- situation in which no progress is possible

Euphoria- a state of excitement and happiness

Lugubrious- looking or sounding sad or dismal

Bravado- bold manner

Consensus- majority of opinion

Dichotomy- division into two parts

Constrict- compress

Gothic- pertaining to the Middle Ages

Punctilio- fine pint

Metamorphosis- a form resulting from any such change 

Ra conteur- a skilled person who relates stories and anecdotes interestingly

Sine qua non- something essential

Quixotic- impulsive

Vendetta- any bitter feud

Non sequitur- statement containing an illogical conclusion

Mystique- mystery/mystical power surrounding an occupation

Quagmire- a bag or anything soft or flabby

Parlous- perilous

Senior Project/First Draft

So I'm very in to building things especially involving electronics and wires and those things. For my project, I was thinking that I would try to find something neat to build and demonstrate in class using things found around the house. I'm also into sports therapy but I'm not to sure how I would make a project to present that.

Life After High School

After high school, I see myself working and attending a smaller college and still playing a sport. I'm working hard to major in engineering. I don't want to be just the typical engineer, but actually make something that helps people and really matters. I see a few bumps along the way like adjusting to life on my own but it's something most people have to deal with. I just want to work hard at what i do and make a life from doing what I love.

Vocab Spring list #2

Accoutrements- additional items of dress or equipment.

Apogee- the highest point in the development of something.

Apropos- with reference to.

Bicker- argue about petty and trivial matters.

Coalesce- come together and form one mass or whole.

Contretemps- an unexpected and unfortunate occurence.

Convolution- a coil or twist.

Cull- select from a large quantity.

Disparate- essentially different in kind.

Dogmatic- inclined to lay down.

Licentious- promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.

Mete- dispense or allot justice.

Noxious- harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.

Polemic- a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.

Populous- having a large population.

Probity- the quality of having strong moral principles.

Repartee- conversation or speech characterized by quick, whitty comments or replies.

Supervene- occur later than a specified or implied event or action, typically in such a way as to change the situation.

Truncate- something shortened by cutting off the top or the end.

Unimpeachable- not able to be doubted.

Profile in Courage

The video we are watching, we see people that have had their lives changed drastically but injuries and illness. The people are in wheel chairs and most of us would think your life is over. These people however do not let his stop them a show that they are much more than handicap. They show the strength to live life and show that there limits aren't stuck to just a wheelchair.

Visual Storytelling

In the movies, the camera work that we see provides a more in-depth experience. The in class documentary we are watching uses these techniques to help develop the story. There are a lot of close up moments when it seems that the director is trying to give a better view on how that person sees the world or how people view them. It almost seems to bring you a little more up close and personal. Another shot we see in this movie is of shots of things that we see the person wishes that they can do but cant. For instance, we see Robert in the school your watch the kids play a game or the guy who was injured in a motorcycle accident and stares at the bike. This is a dramatic shot because its almost like you see a before and after of how his life changed so fast because one thing he was ale to do, is now gone forever.

The Choice

One of my first big choices was when I was coming into high school. I had two options, Righetti and St. Joseph. Being I had only moved into town two years earlier, I wasn't too familiar with the schools around or even the fact of the rivalry that existed between them. It wasn't until I went to an orientation at St. Joes that I bought into a school. But it was way to easy because I was influenced by the little baubles given out. During this time was when I really started to like football and that began to play a big part in my decision. Both schools had been very good during those years and my friends who played were split between the two. I went to the placement testing at St joes over summer and began getting enrolled but while I was there, there was something about it I didn't like. The vibe I was getting was off and threw me in a neutral zone. Going home from the test I saw all my friends who we're playing freshman football getting out of practice and for some reason the sight of that alone convinced me I want to go to Righetti. Now that I'm here I don't look back and regret that choice because not only have I had some great memories here, I've had the satisfaction of having a winning record against our rivals across the street.

Vocab #1 Performance Review

I am happy with how I did. I aced the test no problem as I should because this is the third time I've seen these words in the last 2 years.

Hacking My Education

This semester, I want to learn to build my ties with people that can help me gain experience in my field of interest. I'm not to sure how to go about this so This is why I look to Dr. Preston for help.

The Choice

1) The choice for Rebecca to take the poison or not on her own.
2) It's not a real choice because either way, Rebecca's parents are going to make sure she takes it.
3) Because it's exactly what they are doing, poisoning there daughters cancer, but also the rest of her healthy cells.
4) She wants to play with the toy because she says she's not going to live to be eight. I agree and disagree because if you agree to let her play with it, your pretty much telling Rebecca "Yeah your right, you're going to die." But if you disagree you are assuring Rebecca that she is going to be fine.
5) I'd want to make sure I spent a lot more time with my family, help others in need in their lives, and go out into the world and try  to experience as much as I can.
6) When you know that your discomfort is benefitting all those around you but not just family but everyone as a whole.
7) Yes because it makes you realizes what you have or had, or it can be a learning experience that you pass on to others.
8) I think it's because nobody can imagine something like this happening to someone close to them and they want to support that person through their suffering.