H.W Due Next Monday April 1st

Hi Everyone..


Here are all the assignments due next Monday April 1st, 2013



1: Complete the last draft of the descriptive essay and return it on Monday.

2: Read the story 294- 296, and be ready to discuss in class.

3: Get prepared to discuss the first chapter of your novel with classmates in class.

4: Read the Handout carefully.



Peace Be Upon You..

Saud Otaibi

Vocab Words

Spate:  a large number of similar things that happen in a short period of time, especially bad things


Harvester:  someone who gathers crops.

Gruesome: very unpleasant or shocking, and involving someone being killed or badly injured:


BY: Saud Otaibi

Urban Legend 





There is an old deserted hospital called Er'qa located in my city Riyadh.  The hospital is completely destroyed and not working any more because there are rumors that old hospital have become a place for the ghosts. Also, the hospital is out of all kind of public services like water, electricity and maintenance.   This hospital was one of the first hospitals in my city. However, The hospital now is out of service because of this issue.  A lot of people say that they have seen fires and loudly screams come out from that hospital.  I've never been near to the hospital and I advise you to not go that place unless if you love to get an adventure.





Saud Otaibi

From my point of view, only superstitious people believe in these kind of stories.
Humans tends to spread rumors and believe them , so next time im going to check this place when i go back home.
Very Interesting Urban legend overall.

Ghassan Khalid-

The Quilt

I met this woman at the convention I attended last weekend. She had quilts like the ones in the story we read in class, so I was intrigued to find out about them from her. 

urban legend Shirley

                                               Shanghai Vampire Urban Legend  

                In the 1990s, an urban legend about vampire was familiar to the public in Shanghai. A doctor who returned after studying abroad in German became depending on human blood to keep existing after a failure in the biochemistry engineering study. It was said that he was a researcher employed by a research institution established together by a Shanghai overseas-funded enterprise and Beijing Yanyuan Medicine enterprise. He committed crimes many times, and two policemen who were sucked dry were sacrificed for arresting him. The last time he appeared in the public was in Hongkou Park. Students took garlic and wore cross necklaces to the schools in that year. Also, the policemen went to the schools to refute the rumor and strengthened patrol in the public. Shanghai TV station apologized to the public after they broadcast the news, and a programa called "Orient 110" gave a formal explanation at the same time. It was said that his colleagues saw him writing something in ancient Hebrew language and staying in the lab to studying something alone after others off duty. So, people don't know whether it was true event or not to this day, but this urban legend is spreading on the Internet and among people talk so far in China.

Urban Legend In Saudi Arabia byGhassan

Forsan Island

There is an urban legend that i kept hearing so much about it back home, Alot of sailors along side with elder folks confirmed to me that whenever boats or yachts passes by,This island named Forsan, wich is 40 miles north of the shores, everything suddenly disappear as if the ocean swallowed boats including humans!

My grand father also confirmed the stories and descrcribed,as its a whirlpool that eats what ever that comes to its way, he adviced not to go anywhere near there,its a very local urban legend that is popular in our hometown.

Thats why i never go close to that place,so be careful everyone!

By/:Ghassan Khalid






((I think this place is called "Bermuda Triangle" and I heard that whirlpool is a place where all the  devils live.  However, I accepted your advice to not go there because it seems a real dangerous place.))

Saud Otaibi..

Response: Its is similar place to The  Famous tringle but its located in the Red Sea , so im pretty sure its different.

Ghassan Khalid

Urban Legend in China _ Kai

Niu Lang & Zhi Nu (the cowherd and the weaver)
This is a long and touching story in China.It represents that a hard way to be a long distance relationship.A female fairy who named Zhi Nu (weaver),was the youngest of seven daugthers of the Queen of Haven, who married Niu Lang (the cowherd), However they can only meet each other once a year on 7th July.


(I like the story, it seems so interesting but I wish you provide us more about the queen and her family.)

Saud Otaibi..

The introduction is decent, but we need more details because we cant assume the surrounding details or the moral

Ghassan Khalid-

Urban Legend In China --------Chen Qiu

There was an urban legend which was spread widely several years ago in China. The legend was spread through internet by chatting tools. It is said that one of famous snacks in China called barbecue lamb kebabs which were sell by national minority people from xinjiang in northwest of China, were polluted by HIV. The people from xinjiang had stalls on the side of road in cities, they were HIV sufferers and they were not satisfied with social status. So they used bamboo sticks dig in their blood and then used these sticks to bunch lamb and sell barbecue lamb kebabs to other people and lead people to have HIV. The legend created a public sensation and from that time I did not eat these on street stall anymore, it impressed me because my parents and even teachers talked about this. But eventually, it was proved not true because that when the lamb kebabs were barbecued, HIV will be killed by high temperature so it does not cause illness. Since then, the legend is used to alerts children not to eat on street stalls because it would not make sure about the food safety. 

Its a well written Urban legend overall, and what rally matters from what i understood is the aftermath, people still believe that food is contaminated although its proven to be wrong! this idea sticked inside the back of peoples minds.  
Ghassan Khalid

Urban Legend in China－－Gui Da Qiang

Once I chat with my grandmother, she told me there really some ghost in the real world. And her mother had met once. There is the story she told me.

"It's a story that real happened on my mom. When I was 25 years old, I married with your grandfather and we lived in Hebei. My mom came here to visit us from Beijing. After she got off the travel bus, there was a cemetery, to arrive the village, she must walk through the cemetery. Then she went into the cemetery. About 2 hours later, she still in the cemetery. She could see the village just 200 meters far from there, but she couldn't go out the cemetery. She felt just like several walls around her, she couldn't go. Suddenly, a man walked there and asked her,' Do you need help? I saw you walk around and around and around.' Then she told him what happened, he told her, many people had encounter it as same as she met, people named Gui Da Qiang, means it's ghost stopped you and made you can't go out."

I believe in this, because it was a real story happened on my great-mother.

[by Jessy]

Urban Legend in China ---   Yongqing Zhu ( Cathy)

 

Several years ago, I heard a terrifying story from my friend. 

A boy wanted to go to his university in suburb in advance, so he took the last bus at night. One day. He waited in the dark and cold night for a long time. When he got on the bus, he felt uncomfortable about the environment in the bus though there are only a few people. Later stops, three people wore Qing dynasty cloth walked in the bus and sated in the end. The boy thought they were taking some movies at night. At that time, an old woman shouted to the boy: " You steal my purse." The boy felt confused and said he did not do that. The woman stubbornly forced him to go off the bus with her to the police. The boy had no idea and had to go off the bus. After they saw the bus leaving, the boy felt angry and told the woman he did not steal her purse. The old woman said: I know you did not do that; I just want to save you. Whether you notice that the tree men got on the bus without feet. The man recalled the situation and felt scared. He took a taxi to home. The next day, a new on the newspaper: An accident happens in the suburb.  He checked the bus number and found the bus was the last bus that he took.

HW due Wednesday March 20th

1. Work on your 2nd Draft--based on feedback, and read Rough Draft out loud, then make corrections.   Don't forget to bring your 2nd Draft to class. [ Just bring the paper you work on, it could be the rough draft with different color correction.]

2. Read handout and finish tasks.

3. Read How Urban Legends Work  start on page166 of book.

4. Make an appointment at Writing Center. [ The appointment should after next Monday]

5. Send your 2nd Draft to professor before Sunday 8pm.


[ By Jessy ]

HW due on Friday

1. Read page 130 to page 133, then start brain storming, and bring it for Friday.
[ Brain Storming is about your Describing or Defining Essay]

2. Read The New Immigrants on P366 of We Are America


By Jessy

shirley

                                                     Chinese Style Blind Date

                  In China, parents and their sons or daughters attending a blind date together is a traditional activity when their children's ages are over the traditional marriage age. Though arranged marriage have been prohibited in 1950, Chinese style blind dates are general and traditional views on marriages do not change greatly.  To a women, they must marry before 27 years old, or they will be defined as "leftover ladies"--- a hot word in today Chinese society. The final point is still that a women is a failure as long as she do not marry yet no matter how succeed she is in career. To a man, becoming an ideal mate means that having a car, a house and a well-paid job, a nice height is better. Traditional Confucianism emphasizes that the importance that marriages fulfill the social obligations must be higher than personal desires. The birth control policy strengthens this expects further. People think that the younger should support the old, that is to say, marrying with whom is related to the whole family. But, there is also a gap generation between 80s or 90s and the older generation. They do not urge to marry compared with their parents. As we see, Chinese style blind daters look for not only charming smiles or passional fire but also future money and social relationships.

Nasser Alajaji - Oil

Oil 

Probably, One of the most things you have mostly heard about Saudi Arabia is Oil.  The Oil in Saudi Arabia was founded in 1925. The economy before the foundation period was unorganized and independent, where individuals efforts were taken place just to generate daily life demands as minimal goal to live. In result of the oil foundation now a days Saudi Arabia has became one of the most rich governments. Therefore, Saudi Arabia started to playing a major rule in international relations in this world in both ways above and under!

"We must confront the privileged elite who have destroyed a large part of the world'

-R.I.P Hugo Chávez.


Nas,

Hutong Culture has changed in Beijing_Kai_3/5/13

Hutong culture has changed a lot in Beijing, maybe in so many parts of China. As the capital of China, Beijing have to develop everything. For instance, Economy, transportation... Instead of being a powerful city, Beijing ignore something essential to people-- Traditional culture. High building represents the wealth of a city, so the government decided to remove the Hutong and build some modern construction. Hutong is known all over the world, if you had been there,did nothing but walk throug Hutong, you will feel somgething special. Perhaps as people say you have to lose something when you get some. 

Yongqing Zhu (Cathy)

Qin Dynasty

Southern and Northern Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

Song Dynasty

 Ming Dynasty

 Qing Dynasty

 Republic of China 

Each dynasty in China had its own memorable culture. The many facets of color and design that emerged during a dynasty's reign made every aspect of Chinese culture, including our wearing apparel- highly acclaimed works of art. During the Qin and Han dynasties, changes in the style of dress were dramatic. In addition, the Tang dynasty was the most thriving, prosperous, splendid, and glorious period of ancient Chinese culture and art. The style of women’s clothing during the Tang dynasty is the most outstanding in China’s history.Tang dynasty attire had many different styles, and was ever changing, which enabled the look of the Tang dynasty style to remain elegant, noble and poised, and forever unique and amazing. Moreover, Manchurian-style clothing with short narrow sleeves was the popular mode of dress in the Qing dynasty. The style was slender and rectangular in form. The saddle-shaped collar was large enough to cover a person’s cheeks and protect the face. Nowadays, the clothes are becoming more simple and colorful. While pondering these beautiful, fascinating wardrobes of the ancients, one feels a part of their past, and it is easy to realise the broad and profound inner nature of Chinese people.

Students wear uniform everyday---Jessy

In my country, students must wear uniform during school time. School leaders think wearing uniforms can not only make students more academic, but can also avoid students comparing their social status. We wear the same clothes, so that poor students won't be jealous of rich students. Although wearing uniform has benefits, we don't like it. I think wearing uniform makes us looks without active. Students wear  the large ugly uniform everyday, they even don't know what can they wear without uniform, students lost their creativity. I think this must be change in the future day.

Setting off firecrackers in China------ Chen Qiu

   There is a very important custom in China which is setting off firecrackers during the spring 

festival. The legend is told that there was a monster called ‘nian’ which liked to eat people at the time of spring festival in ancient China. In order to let the monster get away from people, they use firecrackers to shock monster. So the custom was hand down and now the purpose of setting off firecrackers is to celebrate the New Year. I am glad to celebrate Chinese New Year but I was not happy to have this custom because there are many disadvantages. It is polluting the air when we do it, most of families prefer to do it at 12 o’clock at night of the end of the year in lunar calendar, so it is very smelly and the sky seem dark after that. At the same time, there are left garbage everywhere on the way, nobody would like to clean up the garbage, it is a big burden for cleaner and it seem really dirty that I did want to go out every spring festival. In fact, there are plenty of people were hurt by firecrackers during the festival. So I really want to change this traditional custom to another way which is more safety and environmental. And there is an electronic firecracker I see online like picture 3, I hope this will be spread.

(Saudi Arabia and Banning Females From Driving) by Ghassan

I come from lovely city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and till the day females cannot actually drive there own cars back home but actually have to get male drivers to take them around as its still illegal and against the law till the day for females to drive. Its the only country in the world that has such a rule due to religion related topics . In islam religion we do not have anything in particular against women driving as its a more of a Saudi tradition as all females are allowed to drive in all gulf countries with no gender discrimination involved . The problem is that 9 million saudi females have to depend on 9 million drivers so we have to depend on foreign manpower and the number is not decreasing by any chance .With a lot of support and opposition it remains one of the most controversial topics as some females can drive only inside closed compounds but not in the normal streets ! .From my point of view i think that the government needs to make changes sooner than later and study the situation and make researches carefully as we are in 2013 and things are moving much faster than back in the days ! .

by Ghassan Khalid

Homework due Wed ;)

The homework is
1- complete the handout P40-P45

2- Think about something important, something tradititional, write about something that has to change in your country.. nothing personal..




By Mohammed Bakhsh

Summary of Parking Wars At USF

In the evening of Feb. 21, a meeting took place at McLaren Hall. It had the present of city supervisor Eric Mar and university terrace association of residents who live between LM and main campus. The meeting was about discussing the parking changes and installing meters and posting time limits from two hours parking limits to just one hour. Most people of USF neighbors protested about SFMTA plans for revenue rising and changing parking limits. When Eric Mar came to the subject of parking and his support for a proposal to remove 150 parking space along Masonic ave, a member of UTA hissed. " This not Manhattan or Paris, we don't have subway that was built a 100 years ago. We just don't have the density" said by a member of UTA who hissed at Eric Mar during the meeting. As for the UTA member, he was on a wheelchair, he felt of the direction that SFMTA is taking, and increase parking regulation was extreme and discriminating against disabled and old people. Other part of the meeting took the chance to discuss the student population at USF. The problem was, students take parking spaces almost all day, while that parking space could be use by a resident or their visitor. Another meeting will take place regarding the parking changes in the near future.


By Mohammed Bakhsh

Summary by Ghassan

The Article in the Foghorn newspaper talks about the non stopping parking wars that takes place around the USF campus . The SFMTA or the Municipal Transportation agency already made parkings a harded task for students because of the new regulations that city is applying to make it harder than ever in an obveious scheme from the agency to raise money city wide which is extremely discrimnating to the elderly and the disabled . Another city supervisor is suggesting to remove over 150 parking spots along Masonic Ave which was an obserd idea to many residents who lives around USF .
in the meeting a resident of the mission bay neighborhood testified that despite the wide local opposition of installing parking meters went ahead with little or no notice as a sign of undemocracity.
others argued that students should sign a "pledge" not to drive thier cars to university which many students did not like the idea .

Yongqing Zhu (Cathy)

The Dream of Bride- Vera Wang

My favorite store is Vera Wang. I like this store because i am dreaming to be a charming bride when i get married. This brand was created by Vera Ellen Wang who is an American fashion designer based in New York city. From the store window, you can see the beautiful wedding dresses clearly that are the dream of all the girls when they are young. Though it is the dim light inside, the wedding dresses are looking gorgeous. The delicacy is quietly revealed in every detail. When i first saw the store, the white bridal gown significantly caught my eye and impressed me a lot. At that time, i knew the wedding dresses will belong to me one day.  This is the reason why i love Vera Wang so much.

Summary Shirley

                                                                    Summary
            The article "Home is Where The Heart is: A Guide To Moving Off Campus'' was published on the Vol.110 San Francisco Foghorn on Thursday, February 28, 2013, which was written by the USF staff writers. It says that USF assistant director for off campus housing and community relations suggested sophomores live off campus because that the dorms on campus will offer to freshman first. And the article gives students who have to live off campus a housing guide. It has 5 parts. The staff writers provide 3 websites to research off-campus houses and 4 apparently steps to preparing an apartment showing. The third part is recommending popular neighborhoods for USFers. Then, it adds things that renters should pay and that should be included in the cost. Last, It gives readers three juniors' advices for off-campus housing.

Friday Given Homework - Due on Monday, March 4, 2013

1- Go to you`re last blog post and make sure that you "correct and update" your (errors, grammar, structure, organization, and add a title if you haven't). Also make sure to use a different color than the one you've used.

2- a. Chose 1 of 3 stories from the front page of the news paper handed to you in class read it (not the blue one).  

      b. Write a summary about the article you've chosen and read.

3-  In the text book "We Are America".  Read the article "In the Kitchen" from Page 287 to 292. Be prepared to discuss on Monday`s class. 

Good luck & Best wishes,

Nas.

The Kiehl's Window

                                                                The Kiehl's Window              

               
              My Favorite window is Kiehl's. One Kiehl's store window in the Westfiled in downtown is very interesting. It grasps people's sights when they pass by it. There is a lovely and funny human skeleton which wears a big red bow tie, a black frame and white gown after the window. It makes people laugh and creates a good impression. Except this, some old pictures posted on the window and the store wall. They are sometimes old cars pictures or photoes about what people look like 100 years ago. With these pictures related to history and the big shop sign--" Kiehl's 1851'', people can easily know that this brand has a long history and a good reputation. And it can be believable and dependable. The white gown and the store's decorations indicate consumers that Kiehl's sells all natural bath and body products. The Kiehl's is a good example in appealing store windows which attract the public to learn further about the brand.

SHIRLEY

My favorite store ----- Jessy

My favorite store--Juicy Couture

Today I want to introduce my favorite store- Juicy Couture. At the first time, I've never heard girls’ clothes stores that were called Juicy. One day, when I was shopping with my mother, there was a store that window’s background was painted the pink color distracted me at the first time. Without any hesitation, my mother and I walked into that store. Even now, I can remember that I realized that it was the best store for girls when I walking into the store. Juicy is very smart that they know what their customers like. All girls love pink. Everything they add to decorate the store has one same aim is that letting more girls come into the store and purchase their products. After my first time buying in Juicy, I can’t stop myself to purchase in Juicy and I am a loyal fan in Juicy right now. Here are some pictures.

(My favorite store) by Ghassan

DIOR

Christian Dior is one of my favorite brands in the fashion industry . Christian Dior is often like fans referred to as Dior or CD. " Dior" Lady Dior s the French word for" God" and" gold " so the golden color is represented a lot in the Dior brand . The brand has been a successful one since its lunch in Paris back in 1947.Leather goods, fashion accessories, footwear, jewelry, timepieces, fragrance, make-up, and skincare products are on of the many goods that attracts shoppers from all over the world to take a look inside , Personally i really like the men shoe section the brand has due to its creativity and originality. The San Francisco store is located next to union square on 216 Stockton street and it contains 2 levels for more varieties and options for customers .The display window is very attractive and you can see it changing every week or so pay it a visit whenever your around the shop !

By Ghassan Khalid

President's Day (Ghassan)

On President's day  .... Me and a couple of friends were on a road trip with a rental car heading back to San Francisco after enjoying the long weekend in San Diego . The weather was sunny and nice so we went to the beach first day due to the fact that it's freezing most of the time in San Francisco and we never had the chance to swim while it's warm . The funny fact was that the rental zip car having a speed limiter so it would not allow us to go over 80 miles an hour so it took us around 9 hours to go all the way back to San Francisco !


by Ghassan Khalid

Favorite store -------Chen Qiu

My Favorite Store  

    

    There is a store in my hometown which I would like to go to and I think the window of this store give me the feeling of relaxation. It was a little store which sells some daily supplies like MUJI. The window is decorated as a small garden, some natural plant postcards are nipped on a cotton hemp rope and the rope is hung up at the top of window. There also are some mini metal buckets hang out with small plant which seem fresh. At the bottom of the window, it had some glass bottles on a small table which was placed by cotton hemp table cloth. There are several delicate items on table, such as wooden storage boxes, wooden dolls and paper decoration. I like this store very much and I think the window of it is very attractive.

Lomar Thobe

                                                                            LOMAR THOBES

Lomar Thobes is one of my favorite stores. First of all, I would like to explain what the thobe is; the thobe is the traditional wear of the male gender in Saudi Arabia.  In my opinion, I love this store's window; it's easy and obvious.  The background of the window is only a picture of a gentleman wearing a traditional thobe but made by Lomar.  The thobes are usually plain white fabrics without additional decorations.  However, Lomar is a recent brand that make tailor made thobes with vivid colors and designs.  Lomar thobes are not ready to buy!   If you would like to have a Lomar thobe, you should go to a Lomar branch to take your measure in order to make thobe fit on your body.   Lomar was created in 2007, and the slogan of this brand is "Re-difine the thobe" that means the thobe is regular but in a different sewing.  Saudi children love Lomar because they have many more options to put decorations and colors in their thobes.  I love Lomar because it adds more elegance in Saudi men's wears. 

BY:  Saud Otaibi..

Nasser Alajaji - "Mont Blanc" (Updated)

Nasser Alajaji

Sunday, March, 3, 2013

R&W III

H.W: Favorite store 

Mont Blanc

                 One of my favorite stores before I decided to return to the educational felid is Mont Blanc. It`s a company in the luxury goods industry.  It is one of my favorite and the reason behind it is related to our classmate Saud and what he have mentioned in his blog about Laumar Thoubs Company . People in Arabia usually wear the Thoub in any official, educational or occasional events, Otherwise its optional. From that point, the Thoub is simple and nice custom that you have seen in Saud`s blog. It is only can be decorated so simply either with some lines or colors on sides or adding some accessories like Leather, Watches, Pens, Jewelry, Sunglasses, etc... Therefore, thats what I was doing as in our country employees are required to wear either a Suite or Thoub in the business private sectors due to the laws and regulations of the Ministry of Labor. For both Arabians and Foreigners while the employee has the option to choose. At that time I have chosen Thoub to wear as its our custom and Mont Blanc to add a few accessories to give a proper an employee appearance unlike the photo attached, it was my last day on duty. However, Mont Blanc is a German private company was established in Hamburg in 1905*. What I like in Mont Blanc windows that they present their items clearly in an elegant way without adding any unnecessary additions around the item.  To focus on defining the quality of the item presented and get and that leads to attract window shopping pedestrians. In details,  Mont Blanc retails windows are simple, they just set spotlights on the product and thats enough from their point of of view and I do agree. Mont Blanc retails stores were counted as 449 boutiques around the world by (2012). 

In San Francisco, CA you can find Mont Blanc store at 20 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108.  

                In General and from my perspective related to the article ads are everywhere and anywhere. Therefore, in my opinion there are a lot of things have been changed between now a days and the past century generally in life as whole or specifically from the retails point of view of the window advertising level of creativity. The development in technology minimized window shopping pedestrians. Through years from the last century until today a variety of advertisement methods have been created a year after year and still ongoing. For instance, from an ad on a bus to an ad on a plain. Also, from the T.V media to the social media. In conclusion, I've read once, that people in America exposure from 300-400 advertisement a day without even noticing that**. Can you believe it?

"There are no foreign lands, It is the traveler only who is foreign" 
-C.J. Sansom 

Sources:
*dates and numbers - Wikipedia
**Source can't be found due to the shortage in searching from my side.

Colors:
-Dark: Original. 
-Blue: Adding My my favorite store.
-Red: adding missing prepositions, enhanced a couple of vocabulary.