reflection

This past semester has taught me tons about taking my writing to the next level. Through various example essays and movies, I learned about effectively expressing myself through writing. The blogs were also an effective way of doing this. By being forced to write about anything, I was able to broaden my horizons and write about anything and everything. I was also able to read other’s blogs and not only read about interesting news but analyze the way they wrote and apply some of those things to my own writing. This introduced new ways of writing and gave me new things to write about. I think that the ability to write from different perspectives about various subjects was one of the most valuable things I learned this semester. We wrote about a variety of topics, forcing me to find new and interesting ways to write. Student examples and various papers that we read also helped me discover new ways to write. When we analyzed each part of ever paper as a class, I learned how to structure my paper in a way that was both informative and interesting. From the first paper, I learned the importance of hooking the reader through effective use of the first paragraph. Even the movies helped as I was able to analyze the way that the director formatted and arranged the movie. With all of this information and tools, I was able to become a much more proficient writer over the course of a semester.

Privacy?

This article discusses how government wiretapping can spread to all sorts of internet communication, even all instant messenger conversations and emails. ISPs are now forced to report virtually all information. This is part of the CALEA (Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act), which congress passed way back in 1994. This doesn’t mean that you are being watched, but that you are susceptible to being watched. It is currently in the House right now. I personally feel that this is a complete breach of privacy, which is a basic human right. Although it can be instituted with good intentions, I feel that no one has the right to monitor what anyone does. People are supposed to have the inherent right to privacy, and I feel that the government is trying to take this away. I don’t make bombs over the internet or things like that, but I feel this is wrong. Like the article says “Write to your Congressman”.

American disgrace

Did anyone watch American Idol this past night? I did. I watched the show a few seasons back, but really hadn’t followed the show much this season. It just didn’t seem to have the same appeal as it did before. And I think this is one of the major problems with reality shows – the problem of too much similarity. Although not entirely the same, people go through the same steps and trials in order to become an American Idol. However, this is not what fascinated me about the show last night.
I sat at home watching the finale with my father over dinner last night. He did not follow the show much either, but we were interested in seeing who the big winner would be. During the two hour episode, they would have small awards that would be given out to previous contestants. These awards were given to people who were deemed to be the worst of all the auditions. Some of the auditions such as the lady who won the first award seemed completely staged. I honestly have a hard time believing that someone could be so jaded and oblivious that she would do what she did. It seemed as if she wanted to be the next William Hung. Now, I am not saying that she purposely portrayed herself as a fool, but she sure seemed like it. She wore a bright yellow outfit that made her look as if she were big bird. The entire award ceremony seemed as if it were an attempt at bringing back viewers to a show that had lost its luster over the past season. The show had its lowest ratings ever, and this seemed as if it were a low class attempt to draw back viewers by trashing others. Television is at its worst when it trashes innocent people, which is what it seems American Idol has come to. It went as far as awarding two friends the award for best duo. These friends were not exactly the best looking or greatest of singers, but genuine and good hearted people.

Wii

Nintendo plans on selling 35 million Wii consoles by 2012. That’s astounding considering most people had cast it off for the better graphics of the XBOX 360 and Playstation3. This has caused production for the Wii to go up. The Wii has currently sold much more consoles than the XBOX 360 and Playstation3 combined for a total of 360,000 units. I feel that this is a powerful statement that gameplay and content is much more important than graphics and visuals. Just look at how hard it is to buy a Wii compared to the PS3 and 460. If game play is what one is looking for, then the Wii wins by a longshot with classic Nintendo titles such as Mario, Zelda, and Samus. “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” is a testament to the Wii’s success. Its perfect ratings in nearly all gaming magazines shows how careful depth and organization of game play beats graphics every time. It is very rare for any game to achieve a perfect rating. Plus, the Wii is designed to reach out to gamers of all ages. It has even become a staple in retirement homes, adding excitement and fun with each swing of the bat or bowl down the lane. I personally own a Wii and love it. Even the simplistic “Wii Sports” that comes with the game extremely addicting and a joy to play at all times. With its innovative style, it is easy to see why Nintendo is still number one.

Jesus camp

Although I tried to stay impartial during the movie “Jesus Camp”, I think that I ended up holding some bias. Although I did not agree with much of what these people argued, I felt that I understood their background and where they were coming from. One of the things that I did not agree with at all was the statement made by Becky Fisher, who compared her Evangelical students to that of radical muslims – that they should be willing to die for Christ. Although such firm belief may be admirable, one should not willingly put oneself at risk, which radical muslims often do. They often kill others and themselves with the hopes of being a martyr. When has killing others ever been accepted in any religion? It seems that this is what Fisher and her staff were promoting at this camp. Young children are like blank slates that take in what they hear. If they are fed with such radical ideals, then what Fisher is creating is a new era of martyrs no different than that of radical muslims who kill others.
The film did demonize Evangelicals as radicals. However, I believe (or I sure hope so) that this represented a small number of the evangelical community, and that most other Evangelicals are more moderate than the faculty and students at this camp.
Another issue with this certain group of Evangelicals was that they felt a need to join together the church and state. Through history, we see that secular governments are what work best, not influenced by the powers of god. Rational judgment should be used to make important political choices, not the divine power of God.

txt msg

Have you seen the new AT&T cell phone commercial? Where a mother and daughter fight over the cell phone bill using cell phone acronyms? I think it’s horrible. The commercial is extremely pointless and furthermore is quite annoying. Having someone talk using text lingo confused me and made me think. I don’t particularly like having to work to understand commercials. But worse than the commercial are the implications that cell phone lingo has on the English language. Through messaging tools such as cell phone texting, instant messaging, and email, people have begun to adopt shortcuts to the way they write. Although initially harmless, I feel that these shortcuts are needless and have escalated to the point that they make no sense. An example is the commercial. You could turn virtually anything you desired into an acronym, making it impossible to understand what you were trying to say. I text my friends and use instant messaging, and it really isn’t that much of a hassle to type out a few more letters. What’s the point in shortening words such as “Bye”, when they are already so short? Worse, texting is leading to a new age of broken English that stresses getting one’s message out rather than saying it properly and fully. For example, “Hey, go mall”, screams improper English that can only hurt kids when they have to write a thesis paper. Not that I don’t occasionally use such language, but I try to make a conscious effort to limit myself. I don’t see this new fad going away anytime soon, so perhaps I should try to look into what some of the more complex lingo means.

Bear or Human?

The movie “Grizzly Man” raised some very thought-provoking questions about the life of Timothy Treadwell. The director, Werner Herzog does a great job of staying neutral in a movie that I felt would be hard to stay neutral in. Instead of taking the obvious “Timothy was a nutcase and menace to society” route, he spent much time focusing on the positives, and had people seriously consider the validity of Timothy’s mission. In an attempt to fully understand the motives of an individual such as Timothy, it is important to take into account both sides of the argument. He even goes as far as praising Treadwell as a good filmmaker. Some of the questions that I felt were brought up were: Is there a line between man and nature? Did Treadwell relate better with bears than with humans?
I feel that we are essentially a part of nature, at least to a certain extent. We ultimately are the product of nature and therefore I believe that although humans aren’t exactly able to adapt to nature now, we are a part of it. Through the efforts of becoming modern and such, we have broken away from nature. And I think for the most part, Treadwell felt a deeper connection with nature than humans. From his childhood, it was obvious that he didn’t exactly fit in. As a result, he probably turned to bears and wildlife as an alternative. In this way, I feel that Treadwell did relate better with bears and felt as if he understood them. Through his interactions with the bears, it was apparent that he felt a certain closeness to them that he really didn’t possess with humans. Herzog did a good job of portraying this in a way that did not alienate the audience against him, but often sympathized with his cause.

So Wrong

I recently watched a video on Yahoo News that discussed sexuality. The piece was focused on very young twin boys who were extremely different. One played with GI Joe figurines, while the other painted his nails and spent his time with Neopets. I found this article very interesting, especially after watching the documentary “Jesus Camp”, where Christians preached that homosexuality was a grave sin. I believe that such an example proves that sexual orientation is largely based on nature and not nurture. Previously, people had believed that sexual orientation was gained through nurture,; for example, a mother teaching her son feminine mannerisms. However, such a case proves that this is impossible. The twins are complete opposites. Also, a few years ago I took AP Psychology, where I learned that there was a large correlation between the size of a certain area in the brain and sexuality. Although correlation does not equal causation, I firmly believe that this evidence proves that sexuality is not learned but based mainly on what’s inside rather than what’s outside. Because of this, I believe that Christianity’s stance on homosexuality is fundamentally wrong. If god “loves us all”, then why create people who are automatically sinners without giving them a chance? An episode of South Park beautifully drives home this point. One of the characters is at the wrong place at the wrong time, and is innocent, but sent to a “Gay Camp”, where Christians try to teach children that sexuality is a choice. The camp is horrible. People commit suicide because they cant get homosexual thoughts out of their heads. Why call someone evil when they ultimately had no choice? It is questions like this that make me wonder about Christianity and its beliefs.

Cleaning up

Recently in the news, Joe Paterno, the ageless coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions made his team responsible for their actions. A little while ago, fifteen members of the Penn State football team were involved in a fight off campus. It started with one member, Anthony Scrirroto, who was offended by others and called his friends for assistance, which ultimately led to a brawl outside a house. However, Paterno decided to make his mind up even before the judicial system sorted out the entire mess. He was quoted saying "I don’t condone the fight. I think the kids were wrong." As a direct result of the incident, Paterno decided to make his entire football team responsible for the cleanup of the Penn State stadium, containing 107,282 seats, after every game. This punishment is one of the harshest ever. After every game, the football team is required to clean the stadium and will even volunteer for various programs such as Habitat for Humanity, building homes and helping others who aren’t as fortunate. I think that such punishment is great. Athletes especially, are often under the impression that they can do no wrong, when in fact, they are no higher than the rest of the people of the nation. Such a punishment puts the students at fault, and embarrasses them on a national scale. Joe Paterno is unafraid to do what is necessary to teach kids life lessons. I believe that this is what college is ultimately about. Learning lessons that will apply to students throughout their entire life. Joe Paterno isn’t worried about future recruits or hurt feelings, he is worried about the students he has now and their mannerisms and behavior. If he doesn’t teach them now, only the law will, and that will be much worse. I am glad that decided to instate such a punishment to send a message out to the entire community: take responsibility for your actions.

GoogleDating

Googling Your Date

Google has become a household name. Not only do people use it for research, but also for dating. Talking is no longer the only means of finding out things about your date. Searching through google.com is the new phenomenon that many are taking advantage of. Even before meeting the person, people are now able to make use of google by finding other’s myspace or facebook. These pages can function as a social calling card, with added features. People can view other’s opinions and how they live their lives. This can function as good and bad, as some people find similarities, while others find shocking or bizarre traits about another.

“MaryBeth Moore discovered that after she got a call from a guy her mother's hairdresser suggested as a good match. At first, Moore was game. But then she checked out his MySpace page and found photos showing him naked in a bath tub.”

Despite all these new ways of getting to know people, I still feel that physical interaction is the best way to get to know someone’s true personality. Although new technology may help, it must also be taken with a grain of salt because it is not hard to give false information or pictures on such websites(Also, its common to share the same name as someone). Through physical interaction, people understand each other and their tendencies better, and find more information that people would generally not reveal online. They also can tell whether or not they agree or disagree and whether or not they can “click” together.

Going Away

I recently received a band DVD that contained many pictures and videos from our band trip. Although it was filled with many great moments and memories, I was saddened by the fact that I would be leaving this great place in less than half a year. Although the reality is that I probably will make friends in college, it is going to be hard leaving friends who I have known for over half my life. I do realize that the reality is that most friends made in high school are lost, as mom my only stays in contact with one of her high school friends. I suppose that this just adds to the whole “college experience” as each person is generally set in a new environment away from all previous comforts such as friends, family, and a familiar area. Although I know it will be hard, it hopefully will allow me to become more independent, as I move away from most of those that I have grown to love. Each day my friends and I discuss where we should attend college and how close we could possibly get in order to stay in contact with each other. Although I know the probability of staying together with most of my friends is unlikely, I would at least like to maintain a solid friendship with some of my friends. The vastness of the United States really doesn’t add to this, as some of my friends already know where they will be attending college – a place far away from any of the colleges that I was accepted to. Hopefully, I can change the common perception of breaking away with friends and stay close with many. Although I do want to stay friends, I would not want to hinder their opportunities with a brighter and better career.

Bad TV

This past weekend I just happened to notice what my sister was watching on television. MTV. I usually don’t watch mtv, as I am typically not into the whole rap and R&B scene, but seeing as how I had nothing better to do on a Saturday morning, I sat down and joined my sister. It was an episode of “Yo Momma”. The show was quite pointless with two guys trying to top each other’s “Yo Momma’s” joke. To make it even worse was the audience: a group of people who responded to each joke with a predictable “Ohhh” or “Ahhh”. The majority of the jokes were quite bland, and not even my sister, who finds most things hilarious, laughed. Sadly, I felt that the show represented the twisted world we live in today. Although I do tell such jokes every once in a while, why turn it into a nationally broadcasted television show? I realize that I am part of MTV’s target demographic, but I found very little of the show entertaining, which led me to believe that our society is in a general decline. People gain fame through trashing other people’s mothers? No wonder other countries view Americans as ignorant. To top it off, a commercial for the show “My Sweet 16” appeared, depicting spoiled sixteen year olds driving away in a new Mercedes or crying about how their parents would only let them invite 250 people. Although I only watched a part of what MTV offers, I feel that they are conveying the wrong image to the demographic that they intend on appealing to. I guess I will go back to watching ESPN and Comedy Central, two stations that I consider to be amazingly great.

playstation sadness

This past weekend I had a terrible reality check. Three day weekends are a great relaxation, but can also bring boredom. This boredom caused me to turn myself over to my playstation 2, which consumes a great deal of my life. However, the game refused to start and I soon became horrified. After an hour of nervous work as I tried to manipulate the little workings in the playstation2, I realized that the disk did not spin correctly. Although I was extremely sad, I did chuckle to myself as I realized how much I had become attached to such an object. This past semester in On Lily Pond, we studied various religions such as Buddhism, which taught that people should not become too attached to anything. I realized my error as I found myself deeply missing the console that had provided me with hours upon hours of fun and excitement. Becoming too attached created unncessary sorrow. Although it was fun, too much of anything is not good. The ability to avoid temptation and have control over one's feelings and emotions is a very powerful tool in furthering oneself in life. Examples of this are all around us. Eating candy is good, but too much can cause stomach aches and even diabetes. The proper balance is what is key to living a good life. Perhaps later i will realize this, as I have found old video games on my computer to entertain me.

Domination

If anyone even remotely follows golf, then you've heard of the upset at the Masters this past weekend. With Tiger one off the lead after the third round, who expected him to lose? I certainly didn't. And for that reason I didn't bother watching the Masters on Easter Day. I know that most find golf utterly boring, but I feel it is interesting and captivating and truly the hardest sport in the world. However, surely even the faintest of golf fans would suspect Tiger to come out strong and win yet another major championship. Yet, a man who no one has ever heard of comes and surprises the nation as the world's new champion and bearer of the green jacket. I personally feel that such an event is great for the sport, bringing in fresh new faces and excitement to a sport dominated by one man. I think Woods is a great person and I admire what he has accomplished, but with new challenges bring an added element of excitement into the mix, which can truly only help the sport. If an inexperienced Zach Johnson who yahoo quotes as the "normal guy" could win such a prestigious event, it opens up the possiblity for anyone to win. Although one could argue that Tiger made the game interesting by generating thousands of first time spectators and fans of the sport, it can become tedious and repetitive at times to watch him win major after major. This also evens out the playing field, giving others hope as it is the first time that Tiger has lost while being in the final pairing on the last day.



Although, anyone who did watch the Masters this weekend could techincally argue that he did not have confidence in his swing, but why not give others some hope?

rock on

One of the great resources to new and upcoming bands purevolume.com. If you were ever a fan of any genre of rock, this is site is one that is definitely worth your time. Anyone can create a page and begin creating a fan base at any time. This site not only contains fairly known artists, but also obscure and otherwise unknown indie bands. It’s a great way for exposure. A few years ago, my cousin had started a band in California. He and a few friends created a page on this site, which publicized their music. This page allowed them to do many more shows than they could have imagined in their city. Although they recently disbanded, he regards the experience as one of the most fulfilling and lively times of his life. I have found numerous bands and watched as they grew into popularity over the course of time. They even have listings of shows by each band. However, people rarely take the time to come all the way to Hawaii to perform. If you have ever been a fan of rock or like supporting indie bands, then this site is definitely for you.

Where would our minds be if they weren’t left to wander? Would we be mindless robots or animals without a heart? Thankfully, we aren’t. Mind wandering is a surprisingly common that hasn’t been studied until recently. Studies have shown that 30-40 percent of our daily lives are spent day-dreaming about an off-topic event or idea. Even as I began to write this post, my mind wandered off countless times. Perhaps it was because of my resistance to homework, but I did involuntarily shift my focus to a video I had just seen on YouTube.

However, what really caught my attention was a small paragraph near the end of the article that discussed how mind wandering promoted creative thinking. As I began to think about the topic, I realized how vital mind wandering is to the success of fiction. It would simply cease to exist without the ability to create an entirely different reality. The ability for our mind to wander gives us the opportunity to do this as our minds can create virtually any situation. An example of this is a book I am currently reading called “The Life of Pi” by Yann Martel. Based on a story from a man he meets, the author creates and embellishes a story of a boy who survives in a life raft with a 450lbs Bengal tiger. Yeah right. It is fairly entertaining however. anyway, check out the article as it is interesting and relevant to all.

Go Buckeyes

The NCAA Basketball Tournament is the epitome of college sports as it represents all that it is. Pure passion, a love for the game that is often lost at the professional level, and above all, big-time upsets. Who doesn’t love a an underdog such as George Mason rising to the Final Four. It this unpredictability that makes people cringe as they look at their failed predictions of how the brackets would work out. It is teams like this that add to the craziness that is known as the NCAA Basketball Tournament. No other sports hosts as many teams, allowing more upsets and excitement with each passing game. However, what has made this year so special is the upcoming draft class of 2007. Praised as being the most potentially deep draft class ever, they add to the excitement of the tournament. One of these player, Greg Oden, is considered to be the first pick of the upcoming draft. With his fierce rebounding and a beard that makes him look older than Shaq, he is set to go into the tournament with the team that I think will win it all. Go Buckeyes. I personally hope that they accomplish what they could not in football, and win it all, stealing it from the favored Gators. The entire situation actually becomes quite ironic, with the exact opposite happening in football with Ohio State being heavy favorites. Even if they don’t win, the tournament never ceases to entertain, and I certainly feel this year will be no different.

Relax

Is there anything more relaxing than golf? I doubt it. Every weekend, my father and I either head to the practice range or play a round of golf. When stakes are low and nothing is on the line, golf at its purest is one of the most relaxing and contemplative activities one could do. Golf has been my secret hobby since I could first walk and one of the few ways in which I am able to connect with my father. As I drive in the golf cart with my father (who in their right mind would walk all eighteen holes??!), I am able to take in the view (even if the course is unspectacular like the course at Ala Wai) and it mysteriously soothes me. This past weekend we were only able to go to the practice range in Hawaii Kai. The quiet and natural setting of a golf course allowed me to clear my mind as I focused on hitting the large dirt mound in the middle of the range with my pitching wedge. Tension and anxiety that had built up over college and school dissipated as quickly as the swing of a club. It was me and the ball, and 150 yards to my goal.

The Beautiful Society

Is anyone else sick of Anna Nicole Smith and Britney Spears? I am. Our society is becoming overrun by stars who survive on looks despite dubious values. I don’t believe that I am a role model for a true man of character, but I feel that our perspective has become skewed by an overemphasis on fashion and television channels devoted to the rich and famous such as E! A prime example is Anna Nicole Smith. The media has been in a frenzy over sudden death and her child. I may not know all the details because I have not paid attention to all the news and hype, but I personally view the entire build-up by the media as extremely excessive. The countless news articles have piled up for weeks, sadly taking precedence over news that concerns the general population. I personally have become sick of hearing about her. And often wondered what made her so special other than the fact she was power hungry when she married for money. There are numerous examples of when brawn and beauty rule. Take a look at the my yahoo page. Fashion and Pop culture news are listed above both business and health. I believe it is this over-emphasis that has caused our society to focus on people that are more aesthetically pleasing than those who are pleasing to talk to. I admit that I enjoy “eye-candy”, but I make an effort to still see a person’s personality, whether it be good or bad.

This rant led me to some questions, such as are people considered to be beautiful more successful? Some researchers advocate that there is a direct correlation between beauty and brains. I admit that I was a bit surprised by the results. I already knew that beautiful people were more likely to succeed in society, but I had thought that this was solely due to appearance rather than intelligence.

“Their claim, which amounts to a Grand Unification Theory of Beauty and Brains, flows from four assumptions that guided them as they examined data collected in dozens of scientific studies conducted over the past three decades around the world, which means their findings apply more or less universally. (Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but researchers say that there is remarkable agreement in many cultures about what beholders find appealing.)

The first two assumptions posit that intelligence and beauty are inheritable. Those are genetic "gimmes" -- there's lots of data showing that the kids of smart people are likely to be smart, just as the offspring of attractive people tend to be lookers, too.

Then Kanazawa and Kovar tackle the key assumption -- that beautiful women are more likely to marry men with higher status. Again, that seems obvious, but it's also empirically true. One longitudinal study of people in Oakland, Calif. , found that attractiveness among women was the "strongest determinant of their husband's occupational status." A more recent national study in the United States also found that women's physical attractiveness "has a significantly positive effect on their household income, although it has no effect on their own income." Another U.S. study found that prettier women marry men who have significantly more education, another marker for higher status, Kanazawa and Kovar reported.”

Despite these findings, I still firmly believe that our society is dominated by looks rather than personality in most cases, and hope that people see a person’s true self.

Ignorance is certainly not bliss

Zippys is so cheap. WARNING: Watch what you order. If you want to know how to successfully cheat your consumer out of a few extra bucks, pay attention the Zippys menu board. Now, I can speak firsthand, because I spend at least eight hours every Sunday behind the counter there. Ever since summer, I witnessed the scam known as Zippys. So it isn’t actually a scam, but who in their right mind would pay three dollars for two thinly grilled slices of spam? Apparently, ignorant consumers who are only concerned about receiving their food in less than five minutes, then endlessly complain about how they wanted chopsticks instead of forks, and break out in a full sweat while demanding your manager. If I learned one thing from Zippys, it is to be assertive. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, no matter how ticked off the customer may get. A correctly placed order is always better a wrong one, no matter how impatient or frustrated the customer may become. You see, when an incorrect order is placed, the manager must physically come to register and remove the order with a manager card, which is run through the credit card slot – known as the dreaded “over-ring”. A printout of the order is then made, and is then taped to the register, shaming you for the remainder of the day – which is why it is so imperative that orders are correct.

Sundays are typically slow, as people generally stay home or church. This usually brightens my day, because a slow day means less work. However, on one particularly sunny afternoon, an elderly woman with thick-rimmed glasses approached the counter and effectively ruined my day:

Me: Hi, how can I help you?

Lady: Can I get the Zipmeal Spaghetti? (a two pound container containing only spaghetti noodles).

Me: The Zipmeal spaghetti contains only noodles, is that okay?

Lady: No I want Spaghetti?

Me: There is also a spaghetti meal that comes with noodles and the meatsauce…is that what you want?

Lady: Nonono, I want spaghetti.

Me: So, the zipmeal spaghetti?

Lady: (nods)

As you probably guessed, she wanted spaghetti with the meatsauce. She quickly became irate and demanded her money back as she threateningly glared at me. I got the manager, who was forced to do the dreaded “over-ring”, and I shamefully stood behind my register the rest of the day. Point: cashiers have feelings too.

Uncle Morty's Dub Shack

Who says foreign film is inaccessible? It surely isn’t anymore, or at least not when it’s dubbed by men who are looking for a few laughs. Now, I wouldn’t classify this show quality television, but it sure is worth watching if you want to break away from sub-par reality shows and men who always fall short of winning one million dollars. The show is focused around a mini storyline following a few quirky characters, with breaks where
Asian films are dubbed into a comedy. It stays away from making predictable and cheesy stereotyping of Asians and focuses on creating a silly storyline that is surprisingly engaging. The title “Uncle Morty’s Dub Shack” characterizes what type of show it is. The title sounds off the wall, which is exactly the type of show it is. If you have digital cable, it is on IAtv, which is one station above Comedy Central. Here is a short clip, showing the sheer stupid yet comical genius of “Uncle Morty’s Dub Shack”.

Do you succumb to temptation?

I wanted to write a quick review of a book that I recently read. It is titled “The Devil and Miss Prym” by Paulo Coelho. I typically enjoy thrillers, but this book was extremely different as it is about a mysterious man who goes to a remote village to test out his theory. Troubled by past experiences, the man believes that people are inherently bad. He uses this as a justification for all that has happened in his life. Anyway, he reaches the city and buries eleven large gold bars. He then finds a young lady that lives in the village and tells her of his plan as he shows her a few of the gold bars He tells her that if the town commits a murder within the next week, the gold is theirs. They could murder anyone, old or sick. Either way it would prove his theory true. However, if she decides to keep quiet, then he will turn the tables on her and tell the village himself of his plan and that the girl kept it a secret, endangering her life. This would also prove true, that she was the one who would be filled with deceit. “Given the right circumstances, every human being on this earth would be willing to commit evil.” This village is resisting the technological advances of the world around them, and these gold bars would ultimately save the village. The girl eventually tells the town of the man’s sinister proposition and they go to work, deciding what would be best. I’ll stop the summary in case someone actually wants to read this book. The book brought up many questions in my head, such as whether I believe this theory to be true. I personally believe that people are inherently good, but through society and a series of experiences we learn bad behaviors and actions - we are born as blank slates, armed with only basic human instincts. These instincts arent bad and allow us to accept. However, over time we may develop certain biases or tendencies that can be categorized as bad.
The book is well written and effectively captures the dilemma of the girl, as she debates over whether she should tell the village or not. The author does a great job of building tension as the story develops, although I felt that he really lost me because the story was quite anticlimactic. After a great plot and build-up to the final scene, it seemed as if the author simply did not know how to effectively end the book. Overall, it is a very different book with a plot that is extremely unique. The topic of temptation really made me stop and think as I read each page and made me wonder what I would do in each situation. If we disregard the ending, I would recommend this book for the philosophical and spirtual questions it brought up and made me wonder how others would handle the situation or how they felt about the statement that one of the main character make when he says that people are natually bad.

The Odd Post

Although this may initially sound strange, one of my hobbies is to read the “Odd News” on Yahoo. My homepage is set to my.yahoo.com, and one of the main sections of the page contains the “Most Commonly Viewed Oddly Enough” articles. Whenever I open up firefox, the odd news section always pops up, and I find myself uncontrollably reading it. Each article either leaves me with deep questions, or a sense of relief that I am not that stupid. Whatever the story may be, they are typically fairly interesting. For example, I read an article the other day that quoted a book that told its readers to clean the toilet for good luck. This Japanese book, which was inspired by Buddhist teachings and Feng Shui teaches readers how to attract good fortune using cleaning products. It gets even better as the cover of the book has short testimonials saying “I won the lottery!” and “I got pregnant!”. The book went farther by saying that a beautiful toilet can even make one more beautiful. Perhaps that good overall hygiene and maintenance of the bathroom can lead to taking care of one’s self? I didn’t exactly gain any sudden revelations from the article, but it did lift my spirits.

An example of a thought provoking article was one that dealt with sex offenders. The state legislature of Ohio pushed for a law which would force sex offenders to fluorescent green license plates so that they would be easily identifiable in the state. Although I agree that people have the right to know and in fact should know who these people are, I think this is being a little extreme. A lifetime of humiliation for one crime is hardly fair. Plus, it is not only humiliating to the offender but also his/her family. If they ride in the car, people may get the wrong impression of them. Anyone who rides in the car becomes susceptible to criticism and false perceptions, which I believe is unfair.

There are also the strangely sexual or just plain odd news that occasionally appears, such as when a man tried to revive his deceased father who had been dead for over two years. Such articles humble me, as I realize how lucky I am to function normally. With each article comes the opportunity to not only understand the strange world around me, but also my views on such topics, creating a deeper understanding of myself.

The links to the two articles mentioned above:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070301/od_nm/japan_luck_dc;_ylt=AvV00NiU7eK_B.pLo.TpuQcSH9EA
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070301/od_nm/usa_crime_sex_plates_dc;_ylt=AhpsH4sxYonY.bJmIrIMoY4SH9EA

Baller

I actually did play the essay game, and happened to come across a topic that I thought would make for an interesting essay. Fantasy Basketball. Not only is it an engaging hobby for millions of bored and lonesome men around the world, but it is also a profession. Official fantasy basketball analysts are constantly providing its users with notes and official news that gives them the edge to win in a tight head-to-head league match-up with their longtime rival from across the street. What I found interesting in the hobby was how people disregard personal values for numbers that allow them to boast to their friend about how Stephen Jackson from the Golden State Warriors “dropped 18 points, 7 assists, 3 steals, and four rebounds” all after entering the game at halftime because of a court appearance where he recklessly fired a gun several times outside a bar. People become engrossed in not the players themselves, but the numbers that each player produces. I admit that I am guilty of such bragging as I have become completely involved in the game too. For the past few months, it has been one of the most discussed subjects among friends as we discuss players and brag about who is “hot” and mourn over our injured players. I once read a great quote on a forum that said fantasy basketball was the sport of nerds. A person responded by comically agreeing with him. Although I don’t agree completely with his claim, I do agree that many people who do become involved with fantasy basketball are nerds. In fact, the sport, if you can even call it one, does require traits that are most commonly found in nerds. A successful fantasy team takes lots of hours of research and planning. The fantasy game is filled with many different possibilities, so it is important to take many things into consideration when creating a team. Each statistic is taken into category (percentages, rebounds, points, and even more obscure stats such as technical fouls), creating a complex and multidimensional game. What is also taken into consideration is a player’s salary, with fantasy owners having to deal with the problem of salary caps. I think that this would make for a very unique and interesting essay topic because fantasy basketball effectively simulates the problems and methods of real managers and coaches. The game isn’t perfect, but still provides an abundance of fun and has helped me to avoid boredom numerous times.

It's Definately Senioritis

I’m not going to lie. This past quarter, I have experienced heavy doses of senioritis. Endless procrastination and a lack of concern basically sum up the third quarter of my senior year. It is not that I am completely unmotivated, but that I finally have a semester that does not affect my chances of getting into college as much as the previous ones. Its not that school has lost its importance, but that other things carry importance as well. This view on life is the reason I am now hurriedly trying to write four posts for my blog at 10:45pm. I also have a big test for math tomorrow, which I currently know nothing about. Up until this year, I have surprisingly liked math. I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment as I solved a difficult equation that required me to think outside the box. However, I have felt differently this year. Not just because its my senior year, but because calculus is just so tedious. I find that it has absolutely no practical applications, unless I want to become a physicist, which I really don’t.

I have also found much more practical ways of spending my time. Whether I am perfecting my basketball shot or experiencing a different universe on my playstation while playing Final Fantasy XII (a game I strongly recommend), I have effectively removed school from my mind. I guess that moderation is important, like the Guiness commercial, and I think I will spend a little more time focusing on school.