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Likhita V. 6/6/21 Hi! This is my first blog post and what inspired me to create this piece was the guiding inquiry for my AP Art Portfolio which was, "How can I express the fleeting nature of life and convey the importance of enjoying every moment". I drew it on different scraps of newspaper and magazine clippings to represent how the news is never the same and changes everyday just like our lives. This piece mainly relates to the first half of my guiding inquiry which is talking about the fleeting nature of life, I wanted the person in this picture to be reading an old newspaper article about himself and how "times have changed" So I just want the viewers to remember to enjoy themselves and not stress about life especially with COVID and all!

The Greener Grass A Blog by Jessica Nino Tip Of The Day: “Let your unique awesomeness and positive energy inspire confidence in others.” -Anonymous. Whatever energy you have, your surroundings will soon follow it. Make it positive.<3 15 Abstract Pieces To Dive Into & Interpret Reminder: Art is abstract, and subjective. The commentary for these pieces is based on my personal feelings, beliefs, experiences, and perspective. You may or may not interpret these pieces as I did, and you are in the right to disagree with any comments because of how subjective art is. Included pieces are: Music, Paintings, Writing, and Theories. I try to choose the most diverse, deep, pieces open for interpretive discussion. Unfortunately, some of these pieces may be graphic or trigger you as the reader, so please be aware before looking into the topic. I will add disclaimers to topics I believe may have triggering effects. 1. The Butterfly Effect Related to the Chaos Theory, The Butterfly Effect began as a concept related to mathematics and weather predictions. The main concept of The Butterfly Effect is “Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” In simpler terms, the thought that the small flap of a butterfly wing could trigger a set of movements into motion that would later have a much greater effect, this theory was then turned into a more philosophical question. The question has now become, what are some of the small things I did that could have set in motion something much greater in my life? 2. Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso My interpretation of this is “Passion to and through death”. I believe if we are passionate enough about anything we are willing to do it until we die and it will continue to live on as part of us after we die. It may be something that brings us peace or drains our spirit until death, but overall it will continue to be something about us that will live on. 3. Rosie No. 1 by Tim Okamura This piece takes a twist on the Rosie the Riveter art used to empower women, and makes her a woman of color. This piece is beyond powerful reminding all women of their strength and power. It’s an uplifting piece for not only black women, but for all women of color, as it serves as a reminder of true hard work, prosperity, and determination. It still uplifts all women,and just gives a view on who many tend to forget. 4. Boulevard Montmartre by Camille Pissarro This beautiful piece by Camille Pissarro reminds me of how fast life and the world is. I believe that as humans we tend to like a fast track of things and are constantly looking for something new. It also reminds me of the beauty around us in the city and to sometimes slow down and take it all in. 5. Bezold Effect The Bezold effect is an optical illusion. The main concept is to look at the objects shown and picture them without the vertical lines. If you focus enough, The one on the left will look purple and the one on the right will look orange. In reality, the one on the left is red and blue and the one on the right is yellow and light red. Our eyes tend to mesh both of the colors together to make the object seem solid colored and that results in us seeing purple and orange. 6. Invisible String The invisible string also known as the red thread of fate is one of my favorite “theories”. In Asia, it is believed that when two soulmates are born, they are tied together by an invisible string. China believes it is around their ankle and Japan and Korea believe it is around their pinkies. Although the invisible string may knot, pull, and get tangled, it will never tear meaning everyone will eventually meet their soulmate at one point or another. 7. This Is America Music Video by Childish Gambino This video contains graphic scenes, disturbing images and may trigger sensitive viewers. Although I am sure many have seen this video already, I would suggest you give it another look. As a freshman, I was told to analyze this video to its full depth. Although many have already spotted hidden messages and hints related to oppression and issues among America, take another look. Questions I would suggest to keep in mind that are similar to the ones I was also asked: What significance does the first scene carry? (notice how both objects are taken and dragged away) What is the purpose of all the dancing? What is happening with all the cars and the children throwing money on them? What is the purpose of the chickens/roosters by the cars? Why are people running in opposite directions or against each other? What does the intermediate silence signify? Why does the guitar man return but is covered? Why is there silence in the final car scene, where did the chaos go? How does the running in the final scene with the high pitched ending noise of the song differ from the chaos? 8. Self Portraits by William Utermohlen These self portraits are from an artist who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This disease slowly erases parts of your brain and the functions in them. It is a slow process taking years to complete its form. As we see from his paintings, the process slowly erases you and can distort self perception. 9. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe This captivating story is about a man who hides someone under his wood floor. After being investigated and searched throughout his home, what he deems to be a heartbeat slowly drives him crazy and guilt trips him to insanity. 10. The Louvre by Lorde A (personal) favorite, this song has as many turns and is as breathtaking as The Louvre itself. It tends to allow an almost mesmerizing story to flow into your imagination about summer and its adventure related to possible love and teen spirit. 11. Poppy Flowers by Vincent Van Gogh This painting does well in engulfing you with its beauty. A simple yet amazing vase of flowers demanding your attention and relieving you of your worries. What do these flowers mean to you (if anything at all)? 12. The Flowers by Alice Walker This writing mentions disturbing images and will potentially trigger readers. The flowers is another piece I analyzed as a freshman. Although it contains unimaginable horrors, it is a very descriptive piece that will without a doubt snap you into the reality of times before us and possibly our own realities. 13. A Lot Music Video by 21 Savage This video is overall very reflective of the oppression society tends to hand out to people whether they are minorities, women, or face poverty. 14. The Black Cat By Edgar Allen Poe This writing contains graphic scenes, and may trigger sensitive viewers. This writing is about how in the end, your actions catch up to you. In the story a black cat constantly nags at the main character until revealing the horrendous truth he hides. But, was it really a black cat? Or is it meant to highlight something or someone's prevalent issues in the time period it was written? 15. These Semi Feelings, They are Everywhere by dne After any of the pieces before this one, I'm sure your brain would need a break. This album is as unique as it seems. Unlike many songs, you can fully drown into the music this album has without hesitation. Contact me Hi! I would love to hear your ideas, suggestions, and feedback on the content I am regularly publishing! I believe it is important I stay connected with yall and am able to positively connect and learn from yalls criticism and suggestions to help me improve as a writer. I encourage you to send me ideas and suggestions based on what you’d like to read about so that I can regularly connect with you all as well as better understand your interests, and help y’all destress, learn, and enjoy my content. -Love, J You can contact me through the following links and medias: Gmail: jessicanino2004@gmail.com Twitter: 1andxnlynino And Instagram: jjessicaninoo (also found at the top of the page next to the title, you can reach my profile by clicking the IG icon or looking it up through the username) The best way to reach me would be through either Email or instagram, I am constantly checking both. Don't be shy! Even if you don’t have suggestions, if you need a safe space, feel emotionally/mentally stressed, are feeling anxious, depressed, or just need a friend, I am always available! FAQs Who Am I? My Name is Jessica & I am a blogger for the CPSB (college prep student bubble) I was given the wonderful ability to create content for you all as a way to relax or entertain/learn while you prepare for AP/college. What Are My Interests? My interests include painting, volleyball, discovering music, reading (mostly sci-fi or romance), writing about absolutely anything and interacting with new people! I believe having hobbies and consistently participating in them helps you mentally and physically destress, so if you haven't done something you enjoy today, take the time to do it :). What Do I Intend For This Blog? This blog was created for you as a student to get some daily reading in on something that interests you. This became a resource because AP and college can very often be stressful and a handful, my purpose is to entertain you and help you stay motivated. My writing can be seen as a brain break or relaxer to those who are interested in it. I intend to make this a very chill spot for you all and to bring weekly content on any topic imaginable you suggest/want. What Grade Am I In & What Courses Am I Taking? I am an incoming Junior for the 2020-21 year, and will be graduating with the class of ‘22. I am an Early College High School student, so half of my classes are highschool and the other half are college. My classes this year will include: English 4 dual credit, Geometry PAP, Environmental Systems PAP, US History, (high school). For my first semester in college I am taking College English, Texas Government, and Philosophy. More About My Writing: How did I come up with ‘The Greener Grass’? Very often I heard the saying “the grass isn't always greener on the other side” I decided to name my blog after this to give it a positive connotation: it doesn’t matter what side of the “grass’’ were on, sure it may not be the greenest, but I think that by being positive & interacting we can make our grass greener. To me this means we can help each other out, we can teach and learn from each other; we will all eventually feel stress, pressure, & frustration, but together we can make the most out of it and encourage each other & grow. Cites used, referenced and helpful related to this content: https://www.berries.com/blog/positive-quotes https://theculturetrip.com/europe/articles/the-10-most-wanted-missing-paintings-in-the-world/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Art/comments/7v8q0u/the_red_thread_of_fate_digital_collage_10x8in/ https://painting-planet.com/old-guitarist-by-pablo-picasso/ https://slate.com/culture/2017/11/lordes-melodrama-takes-its-rightful-place-in-the-louvre.html https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/camille-pissarro-the-boulevard-montmartre-at-night http://healthzap.co/50-missing-antiques-that-would-be-worth-millions-if-found/6/ https://beautyofoldage.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/art-alzheimers-an-interview-with-patricia-utermohlen/ https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2019/12/tim-okamura-portraits-women/ https://artsology.com/munker-white-illusion-munch-scream.php https://www.d.umn.edu/~cstroupe/handouts/5270/walker_flowers.pdf https://poestories.com/read/blackcat https://www.discogs.com/dné-These-Semi-Feelings-They-Are-Everywhere/release/10620810 https://youtu.be/VYOjWnS4cMY https://www.poemuseum.org/the-tell-tale-heart

The Greener Grass A Blog by Jessica Nino Tip Of The Day: find one thing to be thankful for today. You are alive and i’m thankful for that. <3 Medical Racism & Discrimination: What is it? All used sources and sites are linked on the last slide The term ‘Medical Racism’ has recently been brought to many people's attention during the past years, but this action is anything but new. Medical racism is the act of racism and discrimination in the medical system towards people of color patients and wokers. This includes instances where patients and workers of color are not prioritized, given proper medical attention, and even ignored despite their needs. Medical racism is not an idea or theory, it is a very real problem America is constantly facing which affects many daily. The following are instances both show and prove medical racism taking place in today’s society. In many instances, women (especially if not mostly of color) are treated like they are overreacting, a bother, confused, and blowing their situations out of proportion when many times that is not the case at all. This is not the only type of instance; in a study linked below, it is proven that ambulances are slower to arrive at lower income neighborhoods. Although one may argue this may not be done on purpose or be an act of racism by the individuals, why are the proper health insurance not equally available to those who are not as wealthy? “Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related deaths have persisted over time. Pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births (the pregnancy-related mortality ratio or PRMR) for black women older than 30 was four to five times as high as it was for white women. Even in states with the lowest PRMRs and among women with higher levels of education, significant differences persist. These findings suggest that the disparity observed in pregnancy-related death for black and AI/AN women is a complex national problem.” “As a white physician who does a lot of Worker’s Comp in California , I notice that Hispanic patients have many more services, disability, and medications denied by Insurance companies. It is absolutely shocking. I wasn’t looking for this, but it’s staring me in the face. Also, I agree that a black patient is much more likely to be viewed as drug seeking in an ER type situation. Stereotypes are rampant in medicine, unfortunately. And the culture of ER’s can be appalling.” “Gasping out her words, she said that she feared another blood clot and needed a CT scan and an IV of heparin, a blood thinner. The nurse suggested that Williams’ pain medication must be making her confused. Williams insisted that something was wrong, and a test was ordered;an ultrasound on her legs was taken to address swelling. When that turned up nothing, she was finally sent for the lung CT. It found several blood clots. And, just as Williams had suggested, heparin did the trick,” (experienced by Serena Williams) Contact me Hi! I would love to hear your ideas, suggestions, and feedback on the content I am regularly publishing! I believe it is important I stay connected with yall and am able to positively connect and learn from yalls criticism and suggestions to help me improve as a writer. I encourage you to send me ideas and suggestions based on what you’d like to read about so that I can regularly connect with you all as well as better understand your interests, and help y’all destress, learn, and enjoy my content. -Love, J You can contact me through the following links and medias: Gmail: jessicanino2004@gmail.com Twitter: 1andxnlynino And Instagram: jjessicaninoo (also found at the top of the page next to the title, you can reach my profile by clicking the IG icon or looking it up through the username) The best way to reach me would be through either Email or instagram, I am constantly checking both. Don't be shy! Even if you don’t have suggestions, if you need a safe space, feel emotionally/mentally stressed, are feeling anxious, depressed, or just need a friend, I am always available! FAQs Who Am I? My Name is Jessica & I am a blogger for the CPSB (college prep student bubble) I was given the wonderful ability to create content for you all as a way to relax or entertain/learn while you prepare for AP/college. What Are My Interests? My interests include painting, volleyball, discovering music, reading (mostly sci-fi or romance), writing about absolutely anything and interacting with new people! I believe having hobbies and consistently participating in them helps you mentally and physically destress, so if you haven't done something you enjoy today, take the time to do it :). What Do I Intend For This Blog? This blog was created for you as a student to get some daily reading in on something that interests you. This became a resource because AP and college can very often be stressful and a handful, my purpose is to entertain you and help you stay motivated. My writing can be seen as a brain break or relaxer to those who are interested in it. I intend to make this a very chill spot for you all and to bring weekly content on any topic imaginable you suggest/want. What Grade Am I In & What Courses Am I Taking? I am an incoming Junior for the 2020-21 year, and will be graduating with the class of ‘22. I am an Early College High School student, so half of my classes are highschool and the other half are college. My classes this year will include: English 4 dual credit, Geometry PAP, Environmental Systems PAP, US History, (high school). For my first semester in college I am taking College English, Texas Government, and Philosophy. More About My Writing: How did I come up with ‘The Greener Grass’? Very often I heard the saying “the grass isn't always greener on the other side” I decided to name my blog after this to give it a positive connotation: it doesn’t matter what side of the “grass’’ were on, sure it may not be the greenest, but I think that by being positive & interacting we can make our grass greener. To me this means we can help each other out, we can teach and learn from each other; we will all eventually feel stress, pressure, & frustration, but together we can make the most out of it and encourage each other & grow. Cites used, referenced and helpful related to this content: https://www.ywcaworks.org/blogs/firesteel/tue-07212020-0947/what-medical-racism https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/07/beyonce-serena-williams-open-up-about-potentially-fatal-childbirths-a-problem-especially-for-black-mothers/ https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/america-is-failing-its-black-mothers/ https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/new-study-finds-ambulances-are-slower-to-get-to-patients-in-low-income-areas https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0905-racial-ethnic-disparities-pregnancy-deaths.html

My grandmother’s kitchen has always been small-with a stove, a miniature oven, and a diminutive shelf for hanging kitchen tools. But out of it came dishes redolent in aromas: steaming noodles, a nest hosting a pool of peppery meat sauce; garlicky stir fry tomatoes, the scrambled eggs hidden like treasure gold-warm baked cranberry bread, all which gave a visiting grandchild a reason to rise early in the morning, sit beside the warm hearth, a slice of freshly baked breakfast in each hand, a ceramic bowl of congee balanced in the lap. I remembered one occasion where she had let me help with a pasta sauce-she's always open to new types of cooking, regardless of East or West. In this case, she decided to cook Italian for her "dear grandbabies".(quoting her.) Taking a knife in her hand, she finely chops the garlic until the pieces are small. Shallots came next, less pungent than its feisty cousin, the onion, but equally flavorful. Sausage, carefully diced into quarter-slices. Whole tomatoes, blended in a food processor, smelling of goodness. Heating up oil in the cast iron pan, she motions for me to come watch. Butter came first, melting. Then garlic, the aroma filling the whole kitchen. Shallots. a whisper of flavor accompanying the butter and garlic. At this point, she pauses and looks at me. "Meat sauce needs red wine. But if you put it too early, it taste sour. So now, we add milk." Gently, the milk slips into the sauce, the meat absorbing it, becoming an ashy gray. Tomato sauce came next, harmonious with the sausage. Lastly, my grandmother puts in a dash of red wine. Lifting the pan from the stove, she beams triumphantly. "Finished!" Now that the pandemic has separated us by so many weary miles, the most I can do is to think of her while cooking her recipes. Grandma, I miss you.

The Greener Grass A Blog by Jessica Nino Tip of the Day: watch your favorite vine or video<3 Fast Fashion, What Is It? Fast fashion is the mass production of clothes and accessories in an attempt to keep up with styles that are trending and in high demand. Fast fashion brands are mostly considered cheap and many are online retailers. Fast fashion companies have recently become extremely popular due to how they are able to meet the high demand and produce clothes at such a low price. What Makes Fast Fashion Bad? The downside of fast fashion is that it disregards the processes to produce environmentally safe products, and it uses toxic and polluted materials because they are cheaper. Often enough, customers will agree they noticed the fabric feels cheaper, and the dyes fade away or affect the item, as well as how some purchased items smell of chemicals. Fast Fashion also hires workers under undesirable conditions, such as overworking them, underpaying them, and dismissing their basic needs. Workers are often denied services other jobs don’t tend to think twice about, thus making their environment harsher than the average work space and is the exact reason it is frowned upon. Controversy Around fast Fashion Fast fashion becomes controversial when its prices come in. People have commented that although they do not support the process, it is ultimately what they can afford next to thrift stores. Many believe to quit fast fashion they have to buy sustainably made items which often result in a higher price some cannot afford. People are often quick to mention they recycle or give their clothes away once through with them, but overall, it doesn’t change the fact they add to the high demand of products these retailers receive. When clothes are donated, they have a certain amount of time to be sold. If they do not get sold in that time they end up thrown in landfills or donated to developing countries. Many companies already own factories in developing countries, further harming them by dumping their chemicals and dyes into their water. Greenwashing And its Connection to Fast Fashion Companies like H&M have made “sustainable” lines of clothing that claim to be eco friendly. Greenwashing is the act of making themselves seem more eco friendly than they really are. As Hasan Minhaj explains in his episode of fast fashion on “The Patriot Act” (linked below), fast fashion brands will claim they used recycled material on their item, and the only piece of recycled material found on it is the actual price tag. Another example of Greenwashing is claiming they replaced a certain material during a process like water during the dying process, and the water used in the process only being 1% of the whole manufacturing process. Alternatives to Fast Fashion Below are 2 links to help begin to slow the demand of fast fashion and find good alternatives of shops to use within your budget. Besides highly recommending you read those, I recommend you look into local thrift stores, and small local businesses that have recently opened or are open and fit your price point. So at this point you might be wondering, How can I tell what is and isn't fast fashion? Some good examples are retailers that often work months to release their product. Well known brands include: Burberry, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, and even Nike and Adidas have claimed to be stepping towards a greener approach. More affordable brands include: Pact, Levis, Alternative Apparel, Athleta and Columbia. There are many more under the first and third link under the “Stores that Are NOT Fast Fashion” section. If I Can't/Don’t Quit Fast Fashion, How Can I Still Help? Many believe to quit fast fashion they have to buy sustainably made items which often result in a higher price some cannot afford. If you cannot or don’t want to completely abandon retailers of fast fashion, Hasan Minhaj also mentioned if you can wear the clothes for an extra 9 months, you’d already be making a difference. Other tips would be to thrift instead of constantly buying from fast fashion stores, and to slowly cut back on the amount you purchase, as well as considering if you really need it. Doing this would slow the demand and labor towards fast fashion clothes as well as begin to help the environment by not tossing every piece you buy into a landfill every week. Fast Fashion Retailers You May Be Familiar With: Zara Zaful Shein Romwe FashionNova Forever 21 H&M Urban Outfitters Aeropostale Missguided Dollskill Topshop Victoria’s Secret American Eagle Etc. Contact me Hi! I would love to hear your ideas, suggestions, and feedback on the content I am regularly publishing! I believe it is important I stay connected with yall and am able to positively connect and learn from yalls criticism and suggestions to help me improve as a writer. I encourage you to send me ideas and suggestions based on what you’d like to read about so that I can regularly connect with you all as well as better understand your interests, and help y’all destress, learn, and enjoy my content. -Love, J You can contact me through the following links and medias: Gmail: jessicanino2004@gmail.com Twitter: 1andxnlynino And Instagram: jjessicaninoo (also found at the top of the page next to the title, you can reach my profile by clicking the IG icon or looking it up through the username) The best way to reach me would be through either Email or instagram, I am constantly checking both. Don't be shy! Even if you don’t have suggestions, if you need a safe space, feel emotionally/mentally stressed, are feeling anxious, depressed, or just need a friend, I am always available! FAQs Who Am I? My Name is Jessica & I am a blogger for the CPSB (college prep student bubble) I was given the wonderful ability to create content for you all as a way to relax or entertain/learn while you prepare for AP/college. What Are My Interests? My interests include painting, volleyball, discovering music, reading (mostly sci-fi or romance), writing about absolutely anything and interacting with new people! I believe having hobbies and consistently participating in them helps you mentally and physically destress, so if you haven't done something you enjoy today, take the time to do it :). What Do I Intend For This Blog? This blog was created for you as a student to get some daily reading in on something that interests you. This became a resource because AP and college can very often be stressful and a handful, my purpose is to entertain you and help you stay motivated. My writing can be seen as a brain break or relaxer to those who are interested in it. I intend to make this a very chill spot for you all and to bring weekly content on any topic imaginable you suggest/want. What Grade Am I In & What Courses Am I Taking? I am an incoming Junior for the 2020-21 year, and will be graduating with the class of ‘22. I am an Early College High School student, so half of my classes are highschool and the other half are college. My classes this year will include: English 4 dual credit, Geometry PAP, Environmental Systems PAP, US History, (high school). For my first semester in college I am taking College English, Texas Government, and Philosophy. More About My Writing: How did I come up with ‘The Greener Grass’? Very often I heard the saying “the grass isn't always greener on the other side” I decided to name my blog after this to give it a positive connotation: it doesn’t matter what side of the “grass’’ were on, sure it may not be the greenest, but I think that by being positive & interacting we can make our grass greener. To me this means we can help each other out, we can teach and learn from each other; we will all eventually feel stress, pressure, & frustration, but together we can make the most out of it and encourage each other & grow. Cites used, referenced and helpful related to this content: https://youtu.be/K5xeVmjj4cs https://youtu.be/LqU9CdPs6ek https://youtu.be/fR7bXsoNwwE https://youtu.be/b_I6W9PNd_E https://youtu.be/xGF3ObOBbac https://thegreenhubonline.com/2019/09/18/how-ethical-and-sustainable-are-your-favourite-sportswear-brands/ Stores that are NOT fast fashion & which ones to avoid https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/-fast-fashion-brands https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/affordable-ethical-fashion-brands

by Reanna -April 11, 2021 I recently have just finished the novel Jane Eyre and I was inspired to write a poem about her childhood. As a child she was pitied, No mother, no father, Bullied and mistreated by everyone around her, She had always heard: “Poor Miss Jane for not being pretty enough” “Poor Miss Jane for not having enough love” It had only gotten worse as time went on, Being locked in a room for the wrong accusation Tied onto a chair with darkness surrounding her, The moonlight shining bright as a star on her face Thoughts invading on what she did wrong She had only defended herself Yet everything was always wrong in their eyes As the night went on, the thoughts continued like a running train It had slowly took over her heart and mind Thoughts of suffering and violence had occurred A battle between darkness and light Who will prevail? I was inspired by the way Jane was raised and treated during her childhood. I didn't really understand why her family hated her so much. I want the viewers to just enjoy the poem and hopefully get inspired.

When asked about Russian composers, the name that often comes to an individual's mind is usually "Tchaikovsky". But there is much more to Russian composers than Tchaikovsky-the influence of their work extends even to this day. It would be reasonable to think that Dmitri Shostakovich deserves to be commended on this matter. Considered a very inventive Soviet composer, Shostakovich was(and is) one of the most widely discussed-with a lot of very hot debates. His works came in different flavors-the slow, sorrowful movements of Piano Concerto No.2--the biting, sharp cynicism of Symphony No.5, or the bleak, desolate despair of his various string quartets. Naturally, the great maestro encompassed, and even transcended all these things-but how can an individual derive any sense from it, at all? A controversial figure, Shostakovich's personality could very well be described as chameleon-like-prone to frequent change, fluctuations, and transformations. Take his Piano Concerto No.1, which pieces every style of music together like a giant quilt – things like vaudeville, jazz, music hall, honky-tonk, and many subtle references to the deceased great composers of the past, like Beethoven or Haydn. Although one can never be sure what to expect next in the music, there is one set-in-stone fact about his music – it could only be by Shostakovich. Under the oppressive Stalinist regime, Shostakovich was required to compose uplifting music, to hail the patriotisms of Mother Russia. With the watchful, authoritarian eye of the Soviet government on him, Shostakovich was forced to compose something that could be a topical crowd-pleaser at that time-the resulting work turned out to be his 5th Symphony, which was exactly what he needed to have Stalin swung back in favor with him. Eventually, though, the authoritarianism would prove too much for the great maestro, for he died a broken man, lungs essentially capsized after years of cigarettes to ease the stress that the Stalinist regime had caused so badly. Perhaps with a hint of irony, he was highly praised by the issued official eulogy, hailing him as "finding his inspiration in the reality of Soviet life". A list of selected compositions can be found below: -Symphony No. 5 in D Minor -Symphony No. 7 in C Major -Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major -Suite from The Gadfly(1955) -Cello Sonata in D Minor

What does NFT mean? An NFT is a non-fungible token existing on a blockchain The new creator economy! The most exciting part of the NFT revolution is that artists specialized in digital arts will finally be compensated for their work. Until now, it was very hard for artists to monetize their creations because of the very nature of digital art and its infinite reproducibility. Now, true fans of the artists will be able to directly support them with any middle-men or platform. The uprise on NFT. The Weeknd is getting into the NFT game this weekend, with his first foray into the red-hot Non-fungible token crypto game. "Excited to announce that my first NFT drop is taking place on Saturday (March 3) at 2:00 pm EST on @niftygateway," the singer tweeted on Wednesday. "The collection will feature new music and limited edition art. I developed the artwork with Strange Loop Studios." Big creators and small. Many digital art creators can make an impact no matter how big or small. For example @B1THEAD on instagram has a small following but shows a prime example of an NFT creator. Art Work; So WHY should you be in the know? With high scaling numbers investments with crypto currency & NFT you have a nice chance of making real $$$. Remember you always start somewhere! Sources; https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.entrepreneur.com/amphtml/366648 https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/pop/9549617/the-weeknd-nft-drop-new-music-artwork/

The Greener Grass A Blog by Jessica Nino Tip Of The Day: Be nice to yourself, and remember that you are loved. <3 On June 11th, 2020 the Federal Reserve announced that due to the CoronaVirus Pandemic, there seemed to be a disruption in the circulation of coins. Due to this, coins would be distributed at a smaller fraction to local businesses. The Coin Shortage Dilemma and What It Means for Us: What Is A Coin Shortage? A coin shortage is exactly what it sounds like, not enough coins. This means less coins are going to banks near you. Coin shortages are due to these things: slowed production, exchange, and an actual loss of coins. In our particular situation however, it is not the production of coins we’re struggling with, it's the distribution of them. Because of the pandemic, many coin centered services shut down. These included: laundromats, arcades, vending machines, and secured parking lots. Are We Really In A Coin Shortage? If you’ve been out to any store in the last couple of weeks, you may have recently noticed a very strange requirement: exact change. News and Radio stations have been blaming it over and over again on one thing: the pandemic that has taken over our lives. But with this news many people (myself included) have asked the same question over and over: Are we really having a coin shortage? How is that even possible? The answer to that question is yes and no. As I mentioned in the previous section, the U.S. is not having trouble making coins; in fact, we are making more coins than we were before. How Am I Affected? Our problem comes in when the distribution steps into the process of the money cycle. Because of the pandemic, people began to fear the risk of spreading coronavirus through coins and exchanging money. The truth is, this coin shortage will most likely make you pay more for whatever you’re buying unless you pay with a card. Multi-million dollar companies are making donations your only resort to make your amount even instead of giving any change out. How Can I Help? Certain banks are allowing you to come in and exchange your coins to receive the amount in bills or added to your card even if you aren't a member of their services. In addition, some are meeting a “goal” or expectation to reach and will give you more money if you meet it with the amount of change you bring in. To make this concept simpler and easier to understand, banks will pay you if you bring a large amount of money in coins. How Are Companies Affected By This? Small and local companies are being affected because since they aren't connected to donation centers, they cannot offer the option of donation. Many have had to round their products down, losing cents that add up in a day's worth and harming their total revenue. Small and local companies, as well as gas stations are facing the most damage from this as they are receiving the smallest fractions of coins compared to what they used to receive from banks. What Does This Mean For The Economy? Although the coin shortage is an issue right now, many are suggesting this will find a balance and be normal when businesses that slowly open up. As arcades, laundromats, carwashes, parking spaces for large events, and vending machines, coins will begin to circle into our daily cycle of spending once again. How Can I Support Small Shops Struggling With This? Although it might be easier to do it at banks, some shops are taking your change and paying you for it as well. Giving them change would help the business more because only a fraction of what you would have given to the bank would go to them. Instead of doing that you will be given them a bigger amount and helping their revenue which they most likely are already struggling with due to the pandemic. If you do not have change to trade in, you can simply do the following: Shout them out on your social media Recommend them to a friend Try to shop there frequently Give them a good review Give them feedback and engage with their posts Contact me Hi! I would love to hear your ideas, suggestions, and feedback on the content I am regularly publishing! I believe it is important I stay connected with yall and am able to positively connect and learn from yalls criticism and suggestions to help me improve as a writer. I encourage you to send me ideas and suggestions based on what you’d like to read about so that I can regularly connect with you all as well as better understand your interests, and help y’all destress, learn, and enjoy my content. -Love, J You can contact me through the following links and medias: Gmail: jessicanino2004@gmail.com Twitter: 1andxnlynino And Instagram: jjessicaninoo (also found at the top of the page next to the title, you can reach my profile by clicking the IG icon or looking it up through the username) The best way to reach me would be through either Email or instagram, I am constantly checking both. Don't be shy! Even if you don’t have suggestions, if you need a safe space, feel emotionally/mentally stressed, are feeling anxious, depressed, or just need a friend, I am always available! FAQs Who Am I? My Name is Jessica & I am a blogger for the CPSB (college prep student bubble) I was given the wonderful ability to create content for you all as a way to relax or entertain/learn while you prepare for AP/college. What Are My Interests? My interests include painting, volleyball, discovering music, reading (mostly sci-fi or romance), writing about absolutely anything and interacting with new people! I believe having hobbies and consistently participating in them helps you mentally and physically destress, so if you haven't done something you enjoy today, take the time to do it :). What Do I Intend For This Blog? This blog was created for you as a student to get some daily reading in on something that interests you. This became a resource because AP and college can very often be stressful and a handful, my purpose is to entertain you and help you stay motivated. My writing can be seen as a brain break or relaxer to those who are interested in it. I intend to make this a very chill spot for you all and to bring weekly content on any topic imaginable you suggest/want. What Grade Am I In & What Courses Am I Taking? I am an incoming Junior for the 2020-21 year, and will be graduating with the class of ‘22. I am an Early College High School student, so half of my classes are highschool and the other half are college. My classes this year will include: English 4 dual credit, Geometry PAP, Environmental Systems PAP, US History, (high school). For my first semester in college I am taking College English, Texas Government, and Philosophy. More About My Writing: How did I come up with ‘The Greener Grass’? Very often I heard the saying “the grass isn't always greener on the other side” I decided to name my blog after this to give it a positive connotation: it doesn’t matter what side of the “grass’’ were on, sure it may not be the greenest, but I think that by being positive & interacting we can make our grass greener. To me this means we can help each other out, we can teach and learn from each other; we will all eventually feel stress, pressure, & frustration, but together we can make the most out of it and encourage each other & grow. Cites used, referenced and helpful related to this content: https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/19/us/coin-shortage-banks-paying-trnd/index.html https://youtu.be/8YXW_cpo8sA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGFzFEIFEeI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO5YsgnegdI https://www.frbservices.org/news/communications/061120-strategic-allocation-of-coin-inventories.html#:~:text=To%20ensure%20a%20fair%20and,institutions%20as%20a%20temporary%20measure https://www.instagram.com/p/CC9hBFeDm-N/

PLEASE READ THIS: this is completely an opinionated review and in no way or form is it meant to intentionally harm anyone. Hey y'all! It's Avii, and I'm starting a new series of blog posts. As someone who reads a crap ton, I thought it might be fun to start sharing some reviews on books I've read. I hope all of you try and check these novels out :) The Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is young adult fantasy novel that gives the spotlight to: systematic racism, being lgbtq and trying to find your way around, and just getting through life as a latino, trans teenager. Meet Yadriel Velez Flores. Yadriel is a transgender boy living in a Latinx community. His dad is the leader of the Brujx community, a society of people that have the gift of seeing and helping spirits find their way to the afterlife. This society is put into 2 groups: bruja and brujo. The females are the healers, otherwise known as the "bruja", and the males are the ones that hunt down spirits that have gone dark, the "brujo". As a transgender boy, Yadriel is not given the same opportunities as everyone else. When Yadriel's cousin, Miguel, goes unexpectedly missing, Yadriel is determined to hunt him down to prove that he is a real brujo. In the process of trying to use magic to find Miguel's body, Yadriel raises another spirit. Meet Julian Diaz. Julian is your local high school bad boy. Julian has no clue how he ended up dead and accidentally raised by Yadriel. When both boys meet, they strike a deal. If Yadriel helps Julian find his friends and make sure they're ok, he will let Yadriel release him to the afterlife to prove his masculinity and show himself as a true brujo. But when they spend more and more time together, they may just realize, letting go might be harder than they thought. Love. Discrimination. And a whole lot of ghoulishness.

By Mista-3/5/2021 It\’s the month of March.  Usually, it\’s supposed to get warmer…right? Ah well, not this year.  It\’s been unbelievably cold these past several weeks.  Since it\’s too cold outside for a walk(read: I prefer being sedentary and sitting whilst munching on snacks), it\’s always a great idea to listen to some music. Now, the modern fellows and ladies certainly have their own intriguing playlists with their loud shredding guitars and the heavy banging of drums and the seemingly constant….crashing, but I assure you….classical music is definitely worth a listen. \”Classical\” is an umbrella term-the music itself is divided into time periods, each with their respective representative composers: Baroque(1600-1750) Ex. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi Classical(1750-1830) Ex. Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert Romantic(1830-1900)Ex. Chopin, Tchaikovsky Modern(1900 and onward)Ex, Prokofiev, Shostakovich In respect of the current month of March, the names of Vivaldi and Chopin stand out in particular, for both were born in the month. Besides their general lives, there are also a few of their signature pieces(which I have put down due to personal preference) Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, impresario, and Roman Catholic priest. Born in Venice, the capital of the Venetian Republic, Vivaldi is regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe, being paramount in the development of Johann Sebastian Bach\’s instrumental music. He composed many instrumental concertos, for the violin and a variety of other musical instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than forty operas. Recommended works: Four Seasons Violin Concerto in E Minor, RV278 Cantate \”Cessate, omai cessate\” La Stravaganza Violin Concerto in E Minor, RV281 Frédéric Chopin Frédéric François Chopin (1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown as a leading musician of his era, one whose \”poetic genius was based on a professional technique that was without equal in his generation.\” Recommended works: Op 23. Ballade No.1 in G Minor Fantaise-Impromptu Op.66 Op. 35. Piano Sonata No.2 in Bb Minor(Funeral March) Waltz in Ab major Étude Op. 25, No. 11 in A minor(Winter Wind)

This is a rather personal poem. I created it specifically to impart a sense of wonder and, perhaps, even love. I made it long ago for a friend that isn’t mine anymore. Please, while you’re reading... think about the people that make you feel similar. Let the value of those around you, including yourself, be the bright light in your darkest dreams. Dreams A crack of lightning Sparking aflame a world embraced by the dark. My world. Though it was a flash to light up the night— Being So Incredibly Bright And Sparks scattered like rain splattering On the pavement Perhaps like my mixed emotions... And Truth be told, If I may be So Bold, You made everything bright. Made everything lose its quality of fright. The night was my life And you, my friend, my temptations, my desires, my... deepest shame... You were always my lightning