Amanda's English Blog

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/doreen-remen/post_1487_b_801434.html

3 Facts:
- The Cosmopolitan is the latest hotel in the Las Vegas strip and just opened on December 15th 2010.
- The hotel will contain graffiti murals, light art, and video art around the building.
- A graffiti artist named Fab is set to head up the hotels residency program.

2 Questions:
- Who made the decision to use graffiti in the building?
- Will new artwork be continully added to the hotel?

1 Supported Opinion:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/dec/12/art-dining-cosmopolitain-aims-be/

The article talks the hotel's art as well as it's entertainment and how it's set to appeal to the people.

Vocab:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/arts/music/30taylor.html

3 Facts:
- Billy Taylor a prominent Jazz Musician died of heart failure at the age of 89.
- He started an orgainization in 1965 called Jazzmobile to bring free
outdoor concerts to street corners.
-He had formed his own Jazz trio in 1951 and had began to play at many
popular clubs.

2 Questions:
- What made him want to start Jazz?
- How was Billy Taylor able to make the switch from playing in clubs
to radio and television?

1 Supported Opinion:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/8232369/Billy-Taylor.html

The article talks more about the life of Billy Taylor and his musical career.

Vocab:

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/29/pete-padilla-of-calexico-my-first-mentor/

3 Facts:
- Pete Padilla started a portrait studio in 1934 and ran it for over 50 years.
-He had photographed many celebrities of the time including, John Wayne, and Earl Warren.
-He served for three years as a counterintelligence officer during World War 2.

2 Questions:
- What sparked Pete Padilla's interest in Photography?
- What did he have to accomplish to start his photography business?

1 Supported Opinion:
-http://articles.ivpressonline.com/2001-03-30/photographs_24201889

The article talks about Pete Padilla's life and his death of a heart attack in 2001.

Vocab:

-Calvacade: A procession or parade on horseback.

-Counterintelligence: The branch of an intelligence service charged with keeping sensitive information from an enemy, deceiving that enemy, preventing subversion and sabotage, and collecting political and military information.

-Exhorted: Strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.