Paintball: Promoter of Violence or Healthy fun?

For class I read: Paintball: Promoter of Violence or Healthy fun? by Ross Taylor. Page 404

Let me start off by saying I thought this paper was written really well. Also I agree completely with what he's saying. Paintball is a very good sport to increase team building and decrease stress. And it's just down right fun to play. If I had enough money to build my own paintball gun I would, then I would be playing as often as I could. Unfortunately the simple fact of the matter is that no matter what activity you talk about there is always going to be people out there that disagree with it and think it's bad.   

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO ORGANIC?

For class I read: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO ORGANIC? by Kerri Ann Matsumoto. Page 231

WOW! I had no idea eating organic foods would be so much more expensive than eating regular foods. According to Matsumoto's research it would be a little under 2 times the price! I wish we lived in a world where organic foods didn't have to be so expensive. It would benefit everyone to eat healthier then we do now. For example when you thing of America you don't thing a leader in growing organic foods, you think fast food and obesity. We would all be better off if everyone ate more organic things.   

How Do Online Social Networks Affect Communication?

For class I read: How Do Online Social Networks Affect Communication? by: James Gardiner

 I have always been a big fan of Facebook. So when I read the negative things the author was talking about in this article it caught me slightly off guard. I was very surprised to hear he had never used Facebook, and yet he was writing a research paper on how it could possibly have negative affects on communication between teenagers and college students. Maybe he should have researched better by creating a profile and seeing what he thinks of it. However I agree with some of the statistics he found, I know a great number of people that log on frequently to Facebook. Also I have experienced this "Facebook trance" to the point that I stay on for a great deal of time. But I still think Facebook is an invaluable tool to keep in contact with close friends. Without online social networks it would be a lot harder to stay in touch with people. I also agree with the Article he found by Graham Bowley. That "online social networks have become a vital space for young people to express themselves and build their personal identities". I look at it as just another part of growing up in this world.  

Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream

For class I read Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream  Page 228-229

 I found this interesting because this was not the type of reading we usually do. Instead of a story to entertain or get a point across, this was just about the facts, like a report. However according to the facts I was surprised to learn that we have so many Muslims living in the United States. They seem to being doing fine living in the United States. Adopting our way of life, outlooks, values and attitudes. I can also see where they would be having problems getting Americans to accept them since the attack on the world trade center on 911. Nevertheless they seem to still be thriving just fine amongst us. 

Living Like Weasels

For class I read Living Like Weasels by Annie Dillard

This reading was full of rich words and excellent description, The way the author words everything painted a mental picture for me, and although at times I didn't fully understand what they were saying it was a great piece of descriptive reading. The main point the author had was to pick that one necessity in life and to grasp and hold on to it as tightly as possible like the way a weasel does when its getting a meal.

Phantom limb pain

For class I read Phantom Limb Pain by Kris Saknussemm page 165-166

I didn't play much sports while I was growing up so I'm not sure I know what it feels like to be that determined to be the best athlete. This kid knew what he wanted more than anything else and he was determined enough to work towards it every day. However when Miller got in the crash he somehow felt like it was his fault, He seems to look up to Miller in a way. And then in the last paragraph when Miller complimented him on how he plays that was like the ultimate moment to him. Finally a conclusion to his nightmares and the fact that he felt it was his fault. 

No Cats in America?

For class I read No Cats in America by Patrick Jose page 167-168

This is an interesting story comparing how an immigrant might feel about moving to America and how hard it actually is. Like the author I saw that movie as a boy, but to me it was just entertaining and didn't mean anything seeing as how I already lived in America. I now understand it represented the American dream at the time, to move to America and start a new life and a better future. However it isn't all that easy over here either, years ago there wasn't as much ethnic diversity as there is now making it hard for people that immigrated here to fit in with a culture that doesn't understand their own. But ultimately in the end a life here in America would mean a way better future then whatever country they came from.    

Masks

For class I read Masks, Page 169-171

I think this story shows two important sides of growing up in public school. Two different social classes, people that are popular and don't let their true self show and people that try to work as hard as they can to make it through school and get a good job. I liked the Authors use of a very descriptive portrayal of how the popular girl looked and acted. Everybody wants to be popular in some way, the girl in the story took it to the next level though by fabricating a lie about her entire personality throughout her years in school. However like the author wrote in the story she was nothing more than someone with a mask on, take it away and there wouldn't be anybody left. Where as the unpopular girl was the one with real power because she is independent.   

30 Little turtles

For class I read 30 Little Turtles by Thomas L. Friedman

I feel that what they are doing is a good thing. Giving young Indians jobs in a world where there's not enough jobs for everyone. When I have a problem and need to call technical support at home I often find myself talking to someone on the other end that's not American. Sometimes they can be difficult to understand but that's why they are teaching the Indians in this passage to speak proper English. All-in-all I think its a very good thing what their doing, bringing jobs to poorer poverty stricken nations of the world.     

Clash on the Congo: two eyewitness accounts

for class I read clash on the Congo two eyewitness accounts. page 105

I found it interesting to hear the story on two different sides of the totem pole so to speak. The first side accounted by Henry Morton Stanley, the second by Mojimba. The "white people"were traveling up the river when they see a "flotilla" of giant canoes, this frightens them so the fire upon the native peoples ending in a blood bath. Told on the other side of the story the native people wanted to welcome the "white people" as they had never seen them before. However when the "white people" fire upon them they think they are hostile and fight back till the end. Both sides were peaceful until they misunderstood  their intentions, all of this could have been prevented with a little communication. I found this to be an interesting story because it shows how important proper communication is today.

Can The World Sustain An American Standard Of Living?

For class I read: Can The World Sustain An American Standard Of Living? by Brittany Tinker. Page 14-15

The author's opinion was that our standard of living in America is not Eco-friendly. She felt that if every third world country out there was using the same amount of oil and fossil fuels as us, it would one day spell out the planets inevitable destruction. She had some good points I took interest in. America does use a significant amount of oil and fossil fuels and I agree that if every third world country used the same amount as us, the world as a whole could be in some trouble if the oil supplies were dwindling.

Also it would significantly increase the amount the world as a whole contributes to emissions. In my opinion I can't see third world countries economy's getting strong enough to support our living standards any time soon though. She also thinks we should reduce the burning of resources and start a new standard of living for other countries to model after. I agree we should do this for the time being but hopefully one day we will come up with better ways to get energy and won't have to rely on oil and fossil fuels.