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.