Growth

Looking back on this semester the first thing that comes to mind is waking up at 6 45 am and rolling out of bed into the shower. Though some days it was hard and others nearly impossible, I managed to attend every class. When thinking about how I have changed as a writer, I think that my ability to research different topics has greatly improved.

With resources such as the school library, I can now find more credible sources for my papers. Before, I would always rely solely on the internet for all my assignments. Now, with the library's online search tool, I can find credible sources with the same ease as using Google.

After going through this course I can now recognize academic and scholarly sources from everything editorials and opinion writing. Also, now I know how to properly implement these sources into my writing and how to cite them correctly.

Though my research skills have greatly improved, actually writing the papers is still tough for me. Creative and opinion writing are extremely easy and natural for me to do ,whereas research papers have always seemed dull and forced to me. Since I'm planning on majoring in history I might as well get used to writing them because that's all I'll be doing for the next three years.

Overall, I think through this course I have been able to better my skills as a researcher. My research papers now use good sources and present the information in a clearer way. Maybe some day I'll enjoy writing research papers, but for now I'd like to stick to creative writing as much as possible.

Life Without a Computer

When thinking about a piece of technology that I could live without, many things came to mind. First I thought about tv, but then realized that I depend on it for news and most entertainment. Then, my cell phone came to mind but I quickly nixed that idea because I rely on it for communication. Finally I came to my computer, and thought maybe I could live without it.

I mainly use a computer for school work and surfing the web, but without one I could always find alternative ways of accomplishing those tasks. I could always use my phone if I ever needed anything to do with the web and I could always hand write papers if there were no computers around. Computers, to me, have always been more of a luxury than a necessity.

I understand that some Americans would not be able to last one day without a computer. A lot of businesses and professionals could not do their job without one. I guess since I'm still young I could live my life freely without the aid of my laptop. I still have my books and notebooks, which is all I really need to function as an everyday student.

Without a cell phone, I would have a hard time functioning because it is such an integral part of today's society. It always allows me to be in contact with my family and friends. It could even save my life one day if I am put in a bad situation. On the other hand, the home computer to me is just a luxury and if I really had to, I could live my life without it.

A Life of WOW

When most talk about the topic of video game addiction, it usually gets laughed off as a joke or a "hobby" that most teenage guys have. I've been playing video games since I was about five years old and I've always played them for simple entertainment. Never in my dreams could I imagine a video game destroying the life of an individual or even worse, a friend.

The online video game "World of Warcraft" is one of the best selling video games ever, but it is also the most addicting video game ever. Blizzard, the creator of the game, hired psychiatrists during the creation of the game to determine how to make a game as addicting as possible. Now, many former "wow" players will complain that the game stole their lives, i mean it stole over two years of my life. In spite of this, a large majority of current and former "wow" players have one thing in common, they and myself all knew when to stop playing the game and live an active life.

This was not true for one of my good high school friends. Going into Junior year of high school, Bob (using an alias to save him from embarrassment) was an extremely athletic 17 year old kid. He had everything in front of him, a new truck, a collegiate future in baseball, and the opportunity to go to just about any college he wanted. Then sometime during Junior year, myself as well as other "wow" players tallked Bob into playing the game. At first he would go no where near the game as he knew he would get addicted just like everyone else. After pushing him, Bob gave in and purchased world of warcraft.

Lets jump ahead as Bob continued to play wow all of Senior year and first year of college. Over the course of the last two years Bob has spend at over $10,000 on World of Warcraft. He has spend this exorbitant amount of money on buying anything from WOW "gold" (the game's virtual currency") to other players accounts. During Senior year he quit baseball to focus more time on wow, and with that threw away his scholarships to schools such as Vanderbuilt. Over the last two years he has went from one having a physique similar to Vin Diesel, to now having one similar to Chris Farley. Just this past year during his first semester of college, Bob sat in his off campus apartment (his dad saw it fit that a freshman have an off campus apartment) and played wow over 15 hours a day and nearly flunked out of school.

This all leads me to just yesterday when I stumbled upon a recent picture of Bob on Facebook (as I haven't seen him since Senior year of high school). When I saw the picture I just thought it was some guy I had never seen before, but as I saw it was him that was "tagged" in the picture, I could not believe my eyes. Words cannot describe what my good high school friend now looks like. His hair is down to his shoulders (this is a guy whos hair never ran past his ears in high school) and he looks as if his clothes are five sizes too small (the same clothes that were lose on him in high school). Looking at Bob made me sit back in my chair and evaluate what was truly important in my life, what has made and molded me into the person I am today.

Reflecting back I ask myself, can a video game destroy ones life? Was World of Warcraft responsible for Bob's deterioration or was it his lack of self control? Am I wrong for thinking that his lifestyle is extremely unhealthy? Why was I so shocked when I saw that picture of him on Facebook? What can I do, if anything, to help Bob change his life?

Headlines

Wall Street Journal

1. The NBA's Most Misleading Number- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123855027541776617.html "Assists in basketball are decent indicators of performance, but they're also splashed with a healthy dose of subjectivity."

-This is arguing that even though assists are a highly regarded stat in basketball, the fact that different teams record them different ways make it a questionable stat. Because of the different methods of measuring the assist, it is difficult to tell who actually has the most or who actually made an assist.

2.Hard Times Draw Some Toward the Stars - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123854678961876303.html "Much of the world is focused on the economy. But some are looking beyond, hoping to encourage a focus on daring space exploration."

-This is arguing that even though we have fallen on hard economic times, we need to still pursue space exploration. It argues that space exploration is an important part of our future and we need to pursue our goals of going to Mars and discovering new galaxies as much as possible.

3. Cool Trays Take the Heat Off Your Lap- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123854103453875645.html- "Laptops save space, can be ported anywhere, and aren't nearly as expensive as they used to be. But many tend to run hot, making them uncomfortable and sometimes painful to use on your lap, even after a short time."

- This is arguing that though laptops are next alternatives to desktops, the heat they emit can be annoying to say the least. This article says that these new trays will prevent your lap from being burnt or worse.

The Onion

1. Army's Fat Recruit Problem - http://www.theonion.com/content/amvo/armys_fat_recruit_problem - "The U.S. Army has rejected 48,000 would-be recruits since 2005 for being over the weight limit. What do you think?"

-This is arguing, in a satirical way, that it is ridiculous how the US military has turned so many people away because of their weight.

2. Obama Depressed, Distant Since 'Battlestar Galactica' Series Finale - http://www.theonion.com/content/news/obama_depressed_distant_since?utm_source=a-section - "According to sources in the White House, President Barack Obama has been uncharacteristically distant and withdrawn ever since last month's two-hour series finale of Battlestar Galactica."

-This is arguing that Obama is more concerned with whats on TV than what is going on in the economy or the country. Though a joke, it is saying that a TV show bothers him more than other real life crisis.

3. Policeman Breaks Up Area Party Out Of Pity - http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/policeman_breaks_up_area?utm_source=b-section - "While patrolling the University of Notre Dame campus Friday night, officer Robert Mueller disrupted a party taking place at."

- This is arguing that cops will break up parties, not because they think something illegal is going on, but because they want to pick on kids and disrupt their activities.


AJC

1. Braves season preview: The rotation - http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/03/31/braves_pitching_rotation.html?cxntlid=sldr_hm - "The new faces, like Javier Vazquez, add a little mystery to the Braves' upcoming season."

- This is arguing that unlike past years, the Braves pitching staff is in question coming into the season. In the past, the staff had many veterans and familiar names, now it has new players and rookies coming into the season.

2. Parents sue day care over abuse allegations - http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2009/04/01/cobb_day_care.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab - "The parents of a 4-year-old girl have sued a Kennesaw day care center and its workers for allegedly locking their daughter in a bathroom as punishment for a toilet accident and sitting on the child to force her to take a nap."

- This is arguing that even a place such as day care can be unsafe for children. It is saying that even those who parents entrust with their child's care, can take advantage of them and abuse them.

3. Don’t fall for prize letter scam - http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/04/01/fake_prize_scam.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab - "Fake letters claim to be from Publishers Clearing House"

- This is arguing that Georgians need to be aware of this scam going around. It is a warning that the people behind this have already stolen thousands from victims.

USA Today

1. After 72 years, 'Guiding Light' ends - http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2009-04-01-guiding-light_N.htm - "The soap opera 'Guiding Light' is switching off after a 72-year run that predates television."

- This is arguing that the end of the "Guiding Light" is a big deal in television. Some people, such as my grandmother, have watched this show for over 30 years and are devastated to see it ending. It also argues that it has been a long time coming because of its steady decline in ratings.

2. Obama pushes 'reset' button on U.S.-Russian relations - http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-04-01-obama-g20_N.htm

- This is arguing that U.S.-Russian relations have gone down over the past 10 years and that we need to build a stronger friendship. Also, it is arguing that because of the immense nuclear power of both nations that we need to remain on friendly terms.

3. Ford sales plunge 41% in March; GMAC tries to boost sales - http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2009-04-01-auto-sales_N.htm - "Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. sales fell nearly 41% in March, as low consumer confidence and job uncertainty continued to keep buyers away from..."

- This is arguing that Ford has been hit harder this year than previously thought. Most people, including myself, thought that only Chrysler/GM was hit bad, but now Ford is in bog trouble. This argues that because Americans face such uncertainty financially, they are not willing to go out and purchase expensive American cars.

The Great Gatsby

In the film The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is portrayed as a very "two faced" endeavor. On one hand it portrays Gatsby as a man with all the material wealth in the world. He has an amazing house, view of the ocean, and everyone seems to love his parties. One the other hand he seems to be very unhappy. He seems to be missing something, as the material wealth has not filed a void in his life. This is a great characterization of the American Dream of the 20th and 21st centuries. It is all about getting as much "stuff" as we possibly can, not worrying about anything else. Many such as Gatsby learn that material wealth is like a "black hole" in that no matter how much one gets, we just keep wanting more. The parties that Nick goes to throughout the film are more about showing off clothes, jewelry and houses, rather than actually socially engaging with other people. The Great Gatsby portrays the American Dream as a "me first" mentality. Tom cheats on his wife and seems to have no regrets about it. He evens seems to smirk as he takes Mr. Wilson's wife from him. Under this idea, the American Dream is all about taking care of oneself and ignoring the wants and desires of others. It consists of a selfish and materialistic mentality. Jay Gatsby is a man who would, on the outside, seem to be the happiest man in the world, but inside he seems to be a wreck. Gatsby is portrayed as a living representation of the Dream; he has it all, but is empty on the inside.

The Derby

After thinking for awhile I have to say that my favorite Atlanta restaurant is the Derby in Alpharetta. Well, the Derby is more of a bar than a restaurant, but the food and the atmosphere make it my personal choice. My dad, our friend Kevin, and I go to the Derby every Tuesday and Thursday night for trivia. Though we go to play the game, the people we meet are awesome. Some of the people have be there everyday for years. Just a few weeks ago when a guy who had been going to the Derby for years died, they held a wake inside the bar for him and engraved a plaque for him at the bar. There is a sort of bond or kinship between the people that regularly frequent the Derby, a sort of unspoken truce. Getting to the food, the wings are awesome and just about everything else is pretty good too. Every time we go there our friend Kevin gets 12 wings, while my dad gets 12 boneless wings. I'm the type of person that likes variety in my food, therefore I try to get something different every time. Environment in a restaurant is key to me, it provides a certain level of comfortability and relaxation. The Derby is a place where anyone and everyone can come in, sit down, and have a good time. No one is there to make a fashion statement or look cool, relaxing and having a good meal is everyones top priority. I understand that many Atlanta restaurants probably have better food than the Derby, but the atmosphere and people you find there are absolutely unbeatable.

A-Fraud

I remember a time when baseball players were Gods to me, a time when every home run hit was incredible. Now, when I think of Major League Baseball all I can picture is a syringe full of steroids. Baseball used to be "America's Game" and a sport that me and millions of little kids dreamed of playing. The recent report of one of the games biggest players, Alex Rodriguez, using steroids does not even surprise me anymore; in fact at this point it is just laughable. Its laughable that a game that was the king of professional sports 10 short years ago is now the butt of all jokes. The reason steroids have brought the game down so fast is the fact that baseball, unlike football, is a statistics and records oriented sport. In baseball everyone knows what the numbers 755 or 714 mean, but as an avid NFL fan I cannot even tell you what the all-time rushing or passing records are. Steroids made a game, motivated by records, seem phony and not real. No one knows what the all-time home run record is now because it was set by Barry Bonds, an alleged steroid user. I do not think that Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, or Roger Clemens will even know how badly they have hurt the game they played, they will be living in their mansions and country clubs for the rest of their adult lives. It is the kids and young adults, like me, who grew up idolizing these men who are the most hurt. Their records once stood as God-like figures above us all, now it seems they are just as phony as professional wrestling. Maybe one day baseball will be "America's Game" again, but first it has to completely rid the sport from all the "cheaters" who caused it's destruction. 

Everyones a Reporter

Since the invention of digital cameras and the internet, everyone seems to know what is going on in the world at all times. Everyone knows exactly what celebrities in Hollywood are doing because everyday people have the ability to film then and upload it on the internet. No matter who you are, you can know be a reporter or journalist. With the concept of blogs, anyone can now start rumors or gossip about anyone they want. Though it is good to see technology evolving, the question of personal privacy is now in the for front.

Now that anyone can be a reporter, rules about respect and professionalism have gone out the window. Some people will do whatever it takes to stalk a celebrity for pictures or start gossip about a politician. Even though the Constitution clearly talks about freedoms of the press, I do not think our Founding Fathers ever imagined a time where everyone could be a reporter. 

Another negative about the digital era in reporting is the fact that credibility and believable have taken a back seat to sensationalism. Sites such as TMZ let anyone and everyone submit stories, no matter how false or unbelievable they are. Anyones reputation is at risk with the ability for anyone to alter photos and create stories about anyone and everyone. This new era has lead millions to receive false or altered information on a daily basis. Though it is truly amazing to see where technology and entertainment are now, it is troubling to see truthful reporting fall to the wayside to flashing entertainment. 

The Secret

1. At first glance, I had no idea what was going on with all the pictures. After reading a few I began to figure out what exactly the site was about and why there were a ton of random postcards all over it. At first I thought this may be another picture sharing site like fliker.

2. The pictures provided a bit of humor and in some cases, reality to the pictures. I saw the picture, then read the writing, which gave me a different view of what the author was trying to get across.

3. The  pictures are cool to look at by themselves, but it is the writing the brings the emotion to the postcard. Without the line about alcoholism, the postcard of an Arizona sunset would not be anything special to look at. The writing gives the pictures new depth and meaning, far greater than a simple picture can provide.

4. While the pictures were nice  to look at, the words were interesting and rewarding to read. While the pictures of the half-naked maid and Tom Hanks were funny, it was the postcards about alcoholism and anorexia that showed true emotion; you could really see the author pouring their heart onto the card in those.

5.

This postcard is saying two different things in my opinion. On one hand, it is stressing the value of loyalty and never ending love. One the other hand, it shows the double or secret lives that so many of us live, hiding things from even the closest friends and relatives.

The Super Bowl

With Super Bowl XLIII coming up this Sunday, I thought I'd spend some time reflecting on how a simple football game has turned into a world event. When the first Super Bowl was playing in 1968, no one thought it was going to turn into anything more than another professional sports championship game. In fact, the first one was such a lopsided game, that no one even thought it was a good idea to continue playing these "championship" games. Over the years because of marketing and the rise in popularity of the NFL, the Super Bowl has become the summit of all American sporting events. No matter who is playing in the game, on "Super Sunday" everyone crowds around the tv to watch the game. It truly has become an American tradition of the past 43 years, with the great names playing in the games and the always entertaining halftime shows. The Super Bowl is just as much about the pageantry as it is about the actual game. A few weeks after the game hardly anyone knows who played in it, but everyone can tell you about the commercials and multi-million dollar ads. A big aspect for me is a ton of summer movie previews are always unveiled during the "Big Game", which allows me to start getting exciting for the coming months of movies. Overall, the Super Bowl is the final game and last glimpse of football until the next Fall, so many salivate every moment of it. It is truly incredible how a simple game played in January has become not only a world event, but an American tradition.

Facebook

When I first started reading the article I thought it was going to be the typical anti-Facebook and online networking site rant. After some reading I realized that the author had very good points as to the benefits and innovations of Facebook. He talked about how Facebook allows friends to be constantly in touch and through status updates, wall posts, etc; get to know their friends on a deeper level. The author compared Facebook to cellphones, in that when you have one you begin to notice all the little things in life it makes easier. A key to his argument was using real people as examples, such as the women who complained about Facebook to a magazine, but now has over 250 friends on the site. Overall, the author provides a new viewpoint on the Facebook/Myspace phenomena and tries to show why it can strengthen relationships and broaden ones views of friends and family. 

After reading over the article again, I begin to see huge gaps in the author’s logic. One of the main points of his argument is based off the fact that you can better connect with and meet new people on Facebook. My argument against this would be that you have no idea if your really talking with the person intended or if its a 500 pound man sitting in his mom's basement in Canada impersonating someone. Facebook and other social networking sites completely take the personality and intimateness out of relationships, by allowing people to communicate "virtually" instead of in person. On the site everyone knows what is going on in your life and the lives of others, one has no control to stop people from writing vulgar or offensive things on each other’s "walls". Overall, I would have to disagree with the author’s idea that Facebook allows you to get to know people better, by allowing you to constantly see what is going on in the lives of others. I, instead, would argue that it creates a “fantasy world” where you can be whoever you want and this completely takes the personal and intimate aspects out of relationships.

What is my Dream?

What is my definition or version of the American Dream? It's simple; when I think of America or the idea of an "American Dream", I think of opportunity. I truly believe that this is one of the few countries where background, race, or sex has no bearing on what one can do in their life. Only in America can someone from a poor or lower class background work and fight to become successful and proud. As our Founding Fathers once said,  "All people are created equal" and this is the motto behind the "American Dream".

My father grew up in a the typical middle class suburban neighborhood. Though he grew up in a good environment he always struggled in school and was constantly a behavioral problem. After barely graduating high school and college, my dad had no idea what he was going to do with his life. Years went by and he worked many different jobs, none giving him a sense of self fulfillment or satisfaction. Finally, after struggling for many years and with two kids at home, he opened his own business and has since seen amazing success, both financially and personally. Only in America could a C and D student slowly work and strive and eventually become immensely successful. I believe my dad has shown that America truly is the land of opportunity and that the "Dream" is still alive and well. 

Though my father is the most personal example of the "American Dream" i have, there have been millions of others effected by this ideal. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, millions of immigrants came to this land in pursuit of this "Dream". They saw this as a land of opportunity and a place where even the lowest person on the social spectrum could make something of themselves. America has constantly shown that if you are willing to put in the work and make sacrifices, that you can become successful; both financially and personally. 

Over the past few years we as Americans have seen this "Dream" come under much scrutiny. Some skeptics say that the "American Dream" is dead and that it now is a figment of our own imaginations. I would counter these arguments by saying that if the American Dream is dead, then why do millions of people continue to come to this country; both legally and illegally. Those living in other countries still see this vision and this idea of opportunity and success. Immigrants see America as a fresh start and a place to find a sense of happiness and well being. 

Overall, I believe that ever since the founding of this great nation there has always been what literary minds refer to as the "American Dream". The "Dream" is opportunity, it is success, it is happiness, and it is pride. To some the "Dream" is material wealth, to others it is personal well being, and to some it is just a dream. Though the United States has constantly changed throughout the past 250 years, it has always been a land of an opportunity and a place of fresh starts. Whenever I think of doubting the existence of an American Dream, I look at people like my dad and others who have seized the opportunity of this land and taken the "Dream" and turned it into reality.