Most recent edit on 2005-12-08 14:31:07 by MikeJones
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12.08.05
Well..it's been a while....So one day of classes to go!! Hoorayy!That must be the best news ever...I absolutely cannot wait until Christmas break! Maybe I'm being greedy but I do, however think we should have more time off for Christmas. I just feel like as soon as we get home, Christmas is here. Not to mention all the Christmas shopping which still has yet to be started! And I mean it's kind of difficult to truely engage yourself in the Christmas season when you have finals to prepare for and 12 page papers to write! It's all quite stressful. Anywho-I'm off to do some work on my paper! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Edited on 2005-12-01 19:57:05 by MikeJones
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12.1.05
Sadly enough I'm no longer employed in McElwain dining hall. Actually, it's not really that sad. Really it's kind of nice. I mean, now I can actually come to English class on time since I won't be working the morning shift. Thank goodness!...Not only was it poor paying, but the shifts I worked were rediculous! I never complained before, but now, in retrospect, I realize it was quite a joke. I mean honestly, I used to come home from my 9 45 class thursdays and work for an hour and a half before going to class again at 1. But I think the best part is, I can now watch the OC when it's really on instead of watching the taped version. Awesome.
Edited on 2005-11-30 12:28:58 by EschaTon
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You just need (Steiny) as your parenthetical citation. - EschaTon
Edited on 2005-11-30 11:09:29 by MikeJones
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11.30.05
'"At a state school, a public school, only academics matter...Public schools hardly know how to personalize. That's partly because of the curriculum, which is the big gorilla of standardized testing."'(Steiny, Julia.)
Steiny, Julia. "Standard Kills Creativity." The Providence Journal. 2 Oct. 2005. <web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=f411230454782cd7ec53fc984e62e771&_docnum=9&wchp=dGLzVlz-zSkVb&_md5=524c4fae642528b4cc5ac4592c0a82db>
Edited on 2005-11-29 21:27:59 by MikeJones
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www.nfrw.org/images/NCLB_logo.jpg
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www.nfrw.org/images/NCLB_logo.jpg
Edited on 2005-11-29 21:27:35 by MikeJones
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Here we go.....I believe I could use this picture in context with the progress our country is making toward education reformation.
www.nfrw.org/images/NCLB_logo.jpg
Edited on 2005-11-29 17:34:31 by MikeJones
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11.29.05
Wow, it's been a while. I guess I really need to start cracking down on the homework thing and start my final project for real. Well, at least I'm making an effort. Right now I'm sitting at the library, and yes it's Tuesday and yes I'm soaked because I swear the flood is coming-we should probably start building the ark if anyone wants to help me out. I probably also should have brought a change of clothes seeing as I'm now creating a puddle with a fifteen foot radius.
Anywho, I'd like to address an issue. I was just in the womens bathroom and well, as soon as I opened the door I was welcomed with a scent which probably should have been fatal(yes sorry guys, it's true, women do poop). Nonetheless, I held my breath and bared the stench. Well, while I was rushing to get out of there A.S.A.P., I realized that the woman who had just created this God-awful smell, had no intentions of washing her hands! She just steps out of her chamber of wretched smelliness, checks her hair(as if she is still maintaining her Goddess-status despite the large dump she just took!), and bounces out of the bathroom. Wow! I don't get it. Washing your hands takes a minute of your time! One minute! That's probably 10Xs the amount of time it took her to express that smell. And now she is probably headed to dinner with those grotesque hands of hers. I don't know what her boyfriend would think if I told him he's really holding hands with The Poop-Meister herself. I'm not going to lie, when I was 8 years old once, I didn't wash my hands. I know, I know, it's embarassing, and disgusting, and revolting, but please, don't tell anyone, I promise, I'll never do it again. But honestly, aren't we in college people? We're learning about things like nuclear reactants and the future of third world countries, but somehow, hand-washing is simple too complex.
All I know is: I'm incredibly disturbed, way behind on homework, and soaked to the bone.
Edited on 2005-11-16 18:29:07 by MikeJones
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You know how everyone tells you it's okay to not know what you want to study in college? Well I never knew and now I realize they are wrong. They are so wrong. It's not that it's okay to be unsure when your in college, it's just that it's okay to be unsure of your post-college plans(if that makes sense). I'm quickly realizing that you should have a general plan for what you want to study. There's a kid in Montana who's been going to school for 12 years. 12 years?!?! I guess he's now like some kind of celebrity because of it, so I guess somehow he kind of has made something of himself, which is oddly ironic...
Anyywayyysss.... I had a meeting today with the College of Education and am now focusing on a major in Elementary Education with double minors in Journalism and Spanish. Education is a very structured major-you must take major specific classes starting your freshman year-no electives whatsoever. Well, the thing is that it's going to take 123 credits for eled, and 18 for each minor. If I'm taking exactly 15 credits each semester with one semester at 18, I'll graduate in exactly 4 years-not to mention my double minors. Anyways, I'm now taking 2 classes-Poli sci and HDFS which count for exactly squat. My advisor is actually going to take one of them and count it as my art gened, the other is just pointless. I'm not quite sure how I'll fit my minors in, maybe I'll take some classes over the summer-we'll see. I just wish I hadn't wasted those three credits this semester, but I guess I can't really get them back either. Anyhow, I'm so excited to finally have a goal in life and a general knowledge of where I'm headed. It's very reassuring to know I'm actually going to make something of myself-other than becoming a 12th year senior.
Edited on 2005-11-16 00:50:24 by MikeJones
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11.16.05
So almost one and I'm still trying to get into Elion to schedule. Well I have a little more than squat written for my proposal because I changed my topic and all day I've been trying to figure out what classes I need to take. I went to the advising office and they just told me to take classes that seem like they might be good for a major I'm interested in. Sounds simple, but if I did that I would probably never graduate and end up with one million credits and no degree just like Van Wilder. So all day I spent time trying to figure that out and then I would finish up finding sources and write my paper. Unfortunately, I've been sitting here along with every girl in my hall trying to schedule while everyone else is done(well hooray for them!). So I'm pretty sure it's just a South halls problem. Whateverrrrrrr. Okay I'm done bitching.
Edited on 2005-11-15 22:01:34 by PatSmith
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I don't think it is so much of an addiction, as much as it is a convenience. Why take the time to call everybody, when you can sign on and see your couple hundred closest friends? Plus you can see if they are busy or not. PatSmith
Edited on 2005-11-15 12:44:25 by MikeJones
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11.15.05
Okay so yesterday I read the Collegian Opinion columns, and one specific one caught my eye. It was about technology of our generation and how addicted we are to IM, facebook and our lack of abilities to socilaize normally. It was really a very well written article. Well, I just deleted AIM off of my computer. It's an experiment to see how long I can go without it, because maybe it is an addiction. I'm going to try to quit the instant messaging, the compulsive away message checking, and the perfecting of my AIM profile. I'll never gain back the time I lost on Instant Messenger, but maybe I can stop it in it's tracks. I don't know how long this is going to last, but at least for the next couple of days, I might, just might, be more productive. I'll keep updating on my progress. So far, 4 minutes and going strong....
11.14.05
Take your pick: walking, driving, biking, blading, or scootering. Every time a person sets out on a journey, he picks a specific means of transportation. Some means are more dangerous, nonetheless, we each hope to arrive at our destination in one piece. Generally, we ignore the chance that we could at any minute collide with the car-or scooter or bike or pedestrian-50 yards away from us. Now, if you're thinking it's going there, just to keep you from the disappointment of suspense-I was not hit. But, I did see a kid on a bike get hit by a truck the other day. And my roomate saw a pedestrian get hit by a biker. It is dangerous around here. I call it Extreme Transportation. Seriously though, I would hate to drive around here-everyone just walks out in front of cars. I admit, I do it, too, but sometimes I think it's partly the pedestrian's responsibility to not walk out in front of moving cars.
Edited on 2005-11-10 10:41:37 by MikeJones
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http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=921447321&SrchMode=5&Fmt=4&retrieveGroup=0&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1131637219&clientId=1360∞
Edited on 2005-11-10 01:17:57 by MikeJones
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11.8.05
My aunt is a nut-job. Seriously. So she called me today and we talked-well she talked-for about a half hour. A half hour is really not that long. That is-if you're having a normal conversation. She was talking about my Aunt Bonnie who passed away about 3 years ago. "Oh this is not what Bonnie wanted me to do, I need to call Mel," she was saying. "Stevie and Amy don't have a mother." Well, no they don't. But Amy is 22 years old, she can probably fend for herself. Plus, I'm just a kid myself, why is she talking to me about this??? My aunt is addicted to prescription drugs and it's the craziest thing in the world. She takes oxycotin on a regular basis-she even gives it to her kids as a pain killer. Once, at my grandfather's funeral, my mom turned to her and asked if she had an ibprofen for her headache. My aunt said, "No, but I have oxycotin." As if it's like cough syrup. Oxycotin is some bad shit. They really don't prescribe it to just anyone.
Well, she's going to some drug testing thing in Texas in a few weeks and they're giving her all free prescriptions. I'm sure she's pretty excited for that.
Edited on 2005-11-10 00:31:36 by Squad514
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Some say suicide is the action of a frightened, weak person. . . I disagree. One of the strongest men I ever new did it . . I was the last to see him alive and when I heard, you could have pushed me over with a feather, no… I had already fallen over. Unfortunately, suicide isn’t all that uncommon in a university town. - Squad514
Edited on 2005-11-08 11:26:07 by MikeJones
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11.7.05
Apparently you have to leave the dorms on Nov. 23 regardless if you actually have a place to stay. What is the deal? I mean I'm going home, and I imagine most others are. But what about foreign students? Students from across the globe who know maybe a handful of people. Now, hopefully some kind person will invite them to their home for Thanksgiving break. But, what if they don't have a place to go? They have to pay 64 dollars(I think) to stay in some place on campus for the weekend. 64 dollars! Heck, I only have 7 bucks in my bank account! What if, like me, you are a poor piece of shit and can't afford that 64 dollars, and worse, you don't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving? Well, I guess you're left sleeping on the street.
11.06.05
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11.06.0
Edited on 2005-11-06 15:26:39 by MikeJones
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11.06.0
The Death Penalty is one of the most controversial topics in America. It is a government funded killing spree of criminals that needs to stop. It contradicts our Constitution and provides murderers an easy way out. I propose a change to these laws and end to capital punishment in America. We should retire the policy and move towards a policy of life imprisonment. Murderers will instead be placed in maximum security prison without the common pleasantries many jails provide.
Many believe that imprisonment is no kind of punishment for the heinous crimes these people have committed. By providing ample examples, I explain the advantages of life imprisonment and the downfalls of execution. Firstly, I show that execution is indeed contradictory to our Constitution which outlaws cruel and unusual punishment. I give specific examples which show proof of the barbaric way in which people are executed. I continue to show that life imprisonment is beneficial in deterring murder. I explain that execution is an easy way out and expose the fact that many murderers would prefer death. I give examples of counties and states which have outlawed capital punishment and the effects it has had on deterring such crimes. I continue on to show that life imprisonment is indeed less costly that execution, contrary to popular belief. I also counter the belief that capital punishment does not waste innocent lives. I provide statistics and specific examples of instances in which innocent people have been executed and have later been proven innocent.
In reading my argument, your opinion on the death penalty should be questioned. You should reexamine the laws of the government which contradicts itself. Capital punishment is a very real problem in American and must be changed.
I plan to present my topic in essay form as I feel I will be able to explain each facet of my argument well. I hope to include as well, links to video clips from debates, and possibly provide videos which underline the cruelty of executions. I would like to as well include clips from movies such as The Green Mile and The Life of David Gale which elude to the issue of wrong convictions.
Edited on 2005-11-06 13:18:55 by MikeJones
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Nov. 6. 2005
Two years ago today, I lay sleeping on the couch, tired from the full week of school, when conversation in the kitchen suddenly woke me up. "Philip's dead." Initially I thought I was dreaming, and I hadn't heard them right. "That was the Conways...Man, I wish we could have done something. His poor parents. He seemed fine last night." My heart sank. As my mom started crying, I soon realized that Philip had commited suicide. It was so unexpected-a family friend, we had been out with Philip to a ice hockey game just the night before-he seemed fine. As his best friend, my brother was heart broken. He'd walk around and not speak, let alone cry-he was a boy, big boys don't cry, right? But sometimes at night you could hear him cry while he was lying in bed.
His 12 year old sister had found him, and after getting the neighbors, their mother had been called home. Philip lay in his mothers arms as she tried to give him mouth to mouth. After tiring, she soon sat on the floor, sobbing and holding onto her only son. How his family ever recovered, I'll never know.
Suicide is a very real thing. Philip's death shocked the whole community and affected everyone he knew in ways he will never know. His family was devastated, and I know my brother will never be the same. If you or someone you know, needs help, get it. Suicide is something that can be prevented.
http://www.philipcardin.com/∞
Edited on 2005-11-04 14:59:01 by MikeJones
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Nov. 4, 2005
Yesterday, at Alcohol Highway Safety class, we had a speaker. Not just any speaker. A Mother Against Drunk Driving. And she was amazing. Yes she made me feel a little bit like i wanted to kill myself, but at the same time, her story was an inspiration. She told us about losing her daughter to a drunk driver and a few other stories that were really heart breaking. It really moved me to be a better person. Now, when I told my roommate about it, she told me she "hated those people." While I understand that she thinks they are doing this out of hate, I don't share her point of view. I mean, yes I'm sure they have some level of hate for people who drink and drive. But at the same time, how can you ridicule someone for that after losing someone they love? That's something I don't think anyone could understand until your in the situation. And even if they are doing it out of anger, that's a good enough reason for me. Because honestly, what are they doing other than trying to prevent another family out there from going through the same thing they did?
Edited on 2005-11-02 22:53:05 by MikeJones
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Nov. 2, 2005
Yesterday the NBA opened it's season. The sixers lost a close game in OT-a game they should have won. I like watching basketball, I just wish we could have Larry Brown back-he's such a great coach-a great player, too, way back when. Iverson's a bit much-he's talented, don't get me wrong-but he's quite the character. Anyhow, so the NBA insitituted a new dress code. Apparently players are required to wear suit and tie-I think it's for in press conferences and before and after the game(?). If they don't dress up, the NBA can fine them and after a few reoccurances, a player can actually get suspended. So, I think I like this policy, kind of. I mean, look at all the kids who look up to athletes-why not give them more respectably dressed role models? Yea, I'm all for self-expression, but these guys are definitely at work-it's actually their job. Why not dress nice on the job? (I hate to stereotype-but...) A lot of basketball players tend to dress like hoodlums at press conferences, and I'm glad the league is encouraging a more formal dress code.
While I'm talking about basketball...I just remembered a funny story...
When my grandmother was in middle school, she joined the basketball team. She was quite the little miss priss: tall, skinniest girl in the world, and never played a sport. Well, the whole season she sat the bench. The first time she got to play was the end of a game. She got the ball at half court-and who knows why-she forgot to dribble! haha...Well, she got made fun of and all of that junk...Needless to say she never persued a professional career.
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2005-10-31 01:31:38 by MikeJones []
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Oct. 30, 2005
The Simpson's spin off of the classic horror The Shining is movie brilliance. Any movie that can effectively create a satire on such a horrific film is incredible. It's really amazing the way they incorporate the major themes-Homer's obsession with tv, food, and beer-into a horror movie like that. Throughout the movie, the light-heartedness of the Simpson blends with the scary-movie quality of the Shining creating quite a satire. I think the way it incorporates humor makes the viewer re-evaluate scary movies. I watched the Sixth Sense, and though I love it, I could pick it apart and realize the silliness of some of it. All-in-all I really enjoy the Simpson's Halloween Special and regard it as a highly talented parody.
Oct. 30, 2005
I hate the fact that Halloween is just an excuse for girls to be slutty. I'm sure you all saw it: the swimsuit model, the french maid, the victoria secret angel(some of you may have been one of these, and sorry, I'm not trying to offend anyone). Basically anything crazy turned whorish. I knew Halloween would be like that, so I was prepared, and wasn't too shocked. Still, it was shameful(not to mention it's way to cold out for some of those costumes). I mean, a girl with self-respect shouldn't have to dress that way just to get a few looks and maybe a honk or two. Whatever happened to the time when we dressed like fully clothed princesses? Trust me, slutty does not equal pretty. I'm sure the boys out there enjoyed it, but does it really have to be like that?
I suggest a movement to support girl's costumes with more material than a wash rag.
On a side note, I was a rollerblader for Halloween(which, let me recommend it for next year's consideration). It was soooo fun!!!!! I was all decked out: blades, spandex pants, helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. At first, it was difficult, but really the only problem I encountered was going downhill(stopping isn't my biggest strength). Dancing wasn't too easy either, but I got used to it. Surprisingly enough, I didn't even fall(though I was close a couple times). And it was so fun, way better than walking-not to mention I wasn't wearing the same costume as 10 other girls in the room. Plus, I bet I was much warmer than everyone wearing underwear and mini skirts. And it just goes to show you: you can have fun and pick up (hot)guys while wearing real clothes.
Oct. 26, 2005
Laughing, my friends and I entered our classroom: 112 Kern. As we stood in the back, we carefully perused the available seats and searched for four that would ensure for security from our professor's difficult questions. We needed a strategic location: one close enough to hear well, yet far back enough to blend in. After finding a few that looked good, we took our seats. Quickly, we all examined our outfits to verify that we weren't wearing anything that yearns to be called upon. After realizing I was wearing a scarf-a dead giveaway-I gasped and took it off. Soon enough, class had begun and Doctor Henderson was asking questions of the class, us usual. The entire session, the four of us pained to avoid eye contact. After the longest 50 minutes of my life, it was over. Another successful Poli Sci class and none of us have been called on......yet.
It's not that I don't love my Poli Sci class-it's actually my favorite(right behind English 15, that is). It's just that, I would die if he picked me to answer a question. I'm not easily embarrased-trust me. It's like I'm back in 2nd grade and getting called on would be like all my friends finding out I have a crush on the boy next to me. I'm not really sure what it is about the class-maybe the intimidation of the teacher, maybe the 300 other kids ranging from freshman to senior year, but I could never raise my hand in there. The professor is quite nice, and I know the material, I just do not want to answer the questions.
Maybe I just need to get some guts.
Oct. 25, 2005
On The Red Wheelbarrow...
Okay, well I did some research and found out that William Carlos Williams was, in fact, a doctor, and wrote the poem after one of his patients-a young boy-had died in his care. Interesting. From this, I gather that it had a major impact on the meaning of the poem. In saying, "so much depends upon the red wheel barrow" Williams suggests that he is the wheelbarrow-a doctor, whose patients are heavily dependent upon. I propose that the glazing of rain upon the wheelbarrow is symbolic of the glazing of the sweat and blood-not necessarily physical sweat and blood(more metaphoically speaking)-he has put into his work. The chickens then, are represented as white, a color which is largely symbolic of purity, youth, and beauty. Here, he addresses the boy who had died in his care, for which he is largely responsible for(just as the chickens rely on the wheelbarrow to bring them food?-not sure). The poem envelopes this major emotional experience the author has undergone, and he is expressing his grief as the boy's doctor.
Maybe this is totally off-base, in which case, I assert it is mainly about the simplicity and beauty of hard work and the purity of nature.
Oct. 24, 2005
Well, its been awhile since i've wiki-ed....sheesh!...
This weekend I've registered with www.myspace.com It's basically just like facebook, except that you can write entries and stuff...Yes, I've finally given in to all the on-line life stuff. It seems our entire society has fallen victim to an internet-focused lifestyle. I mean, think of all the things the internet now lets us do: on-line banking, dating, companies and much much more. Our lives largely revolve around the computer. Personally, I admit spend more time on the computer each day than I probably should. Between facebooking, homework, IM, Wiki, and many other oddities, I can be found typing away on my computer most of the day. I'm not sure it's a good thing. Sometimes, I'd like to go back to the olden days when I did all my research in the huge books and the only time people hadn't met their dates yet was when their parents set them up. I never did mind the Library and writing instead of typing. Maybe it'd be nice to not be so technology-wise.
Then again, without facebook, how else would I waste my time?
Oct. 18, 2005
I like cold weather. Not freezing cold, but nice crisp cold. I like walking outside and seeing the white, puffy, ominous snow clouds. I like sitting by the fire. I like snowmen and sledding. I like snow boots and scarves, and good pair of gloves isn't bad either. I like drinking hot tea and snuggling in my warm puffy jacket(even though some may say I look homeless in it).
Don't get me wrong, summer is nice too. But winter is hands down my favorite. Other than the outer-wear and warm beverages, the season is wonderful. It starts off a nice cool, colorful fall day and moves on to turkeys and mashed potatoes. Soon enough, we're on break. The Christmas spirit kicks in and it's on to misletoe, candy canes, and Santa Claus. By then, it's snowing and snowing and more snowing. We're all getting ready for the New Year and new classes and the Super Bowl. And then, shortly after, my birthday is here before you know it and we're halfway through the second semester.
Maybe it's the fact that im sitting in my room freezing my butt off, drinking tea, staring at my snowy background on my computer and wearing my winter coat, but I am excited for winter time. Maybe it's just the cute scarves and winter gloves. Maybe it's the cheerfulness that comes with Christmas time. Or maybe I'm jumping the gun.
Oh well, if I can't be excited about our loss to Michigan, at least I can be excited about something.
Oct. 18, 2005
I think I'd like to do my final paper on OJ Simpson. I've read a few books on the case and I really feel there's a variety of angles I could take on the events surrounding the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. Last year I read The American Tradegy(I forget who its buy, but its not important), which was quite an intriguing read. It outlined the events leading up to the murders as well as excerpts from witness accounts and OJ's suicide note. It was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone who's interested. Right now I'm reading Outrage which is a book written by an acclaimed true crime author and prosecutor, Vincent Bugliosi. He also wrote an amazing book about the Charles Manson murder which he also prosecuted. It's really a great book so far. It examines the 5 reasons why OJ got away with murder. Basically it focuses on the incredible faulty prosecution who could not convict despite an array of concrete evidence. I'd also recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the trial, it's a great read-very interesting.
Oct. 17, 1005
Yesterday, my Grandmother told me a story I'd like to share....
Saturday afternoon, my Grandmother was sitting on the couch, just woke up from her nap, and was considering making dinner and turning on the Penn State game. She was sitting there, still waking up from her nap, and looked to the door to get up and all of the sudden, my Aunt walked in with her daughter. My Aunt has been dead 3 years on Sunday. She died of cancer at a young age, leaving behind a husband and 2 kids, and it was very hard for my Grandmother to go through. She walked over to my aunt, who was much younger than she was when she died, and told my grandmother that she was at peace. My grandmother started crying and told her she had been worrying about her. My aunt told her not to worry, that she was doing well and she was happy. After hugging her and kissing her on the lips twice-something she never does-my aunt left. Now, my grandmother has had dreams about her and she said it was nothing like that-like some kind of out of body experience. My whole family has been praying to my aunt for a sign, something that would help my grandmother come to terms with her death. I guess this was it. I believe in angels. Do you?
Oct. 11, 2005
Okay-spelling lesson. C-A-T=CAT; D-O-G= DOG. But does spelling really matter in writing? Does it really matter whether you were
suprised or
surprised or
surprized? Or whether is
congratulations or
congradualations? Or how about
kindergarten or
kindergarden? Don't you still comprehend it? Now, some words actually make different meanings:
hate minus the -e becomes
hat. But really, how necessary is spelling? I mean if I wrote that I'm
werking on the computer don't you still know what I'm doing? In writing, can't you still make sense of a sentence with
werds spelled incorectly? Is spelling always necessarily vital to the meaning of a
sentense? I don't know. Just something I was thinking about.
I know that you were "werking" on your computer and that either 1) you are six years old or 2) uneducated. Spelling helps create the illusion of being intelligent, but you are correct: it doesn't really help with comprehension. - EschaTon
Oct. 10, 2005
http://www.unc.edu/courses/pre2000fall/hist018b/videoarchive/polpot2.rm?cloakport=8554%2C554%2C7070∞
On this website, I watched a video describing the effects of the Cambodian Genocide. In the video, there is an interview with a Cambodian native, who at ten years old watched her entire family mudered at the hands of the Pol Pot regime. The only survivor in her family, this girl actually held her father as he lay dying in her hands.
The way in which the Cambodian government attempted this racial cleansing is synonimous with Hitler. How we can allow the spread of communism and the destruction of a people is incredible. Hundreds of thousands of innocent lives were taken while countless others died from starvation and disease. Recounting an event like this really makes you value your freedom. As the most prominent super power, I feel it is our duty as a free state to fight for human rights and freedom across the globe.
Oct. 9, 2005
So the eagles lost. Sad story. Especially that we lost to Bill Parcells. I could make excuses; Donavan is playing with a hernia; our defensive line-up has been fluctuating too much. But the fact is, the birds played bad-really bad. I mean, yes the cowboys are looking slightly better this year compared to last. Bledsoe is quite experienced, and WR Glenn averages around 25 yards a pass(or something crazy like that). But we also flat-out sucked. I think we had something like 6 first downs. Six first downs? How do you explain that one? And we should have ran all over them. Look at our reception-we've got a slew of more than capable offense in
McNabb, Westbrook, TO, LJ Smith. And take a look at our defense lead by Brain Dawkins(my personal favorite)-Lito Sheppard, Jeremiah Trotter, Dhani Jones-just to name a few. Potentially, the Eagles should be going to, if not, winning the Super Bowl. We obviously have the talent. It looks good on paper. But this was one of those games that I guess you just shake out of your system and learn from your mistakes-like the game against the Steelers last year. I think we lost something like 27-3? And on one play Donovan didn't even line up behind the center. How embarassing. But, we bounced back from that one, and I'm sure we'll recover from this one too. At the very least, it's out of our system and we can learn from our mistakes. It's only one game, and with our week off coming, Donovan can get some rest and we'll recoup and come back better than ever.
Oct. 9, 2006
Penn State won and how sweet is that? Pretty freakin sweet. But, unfortunately I wasn't at the game. Well, I was for a little bit, and then was kindly escorted out right before kick off. Why? Because I had been drinking and apparently I was the only one of the 110,000 people that was. And since you aren't allowed to be there if you've been drinking, one of the event staff showed me over to a couple of police officers.
Now, let me clarify that I wasn't doing anything drunken. She merely told me that she could smell me and I appeared drunk. What is the deal? Am I so naive to think that most of the students at the game yesterday had been drinking? Well, apparently. I didn't get cited, luckily, but they did make me leave the game. I kind of thought Penn State embraced drinking. Now, I'm not really sure what to think. Had I known drinking before the game would upset them so, I wouldn't have done it. But either way, how is it fair to kick out one drunken fan? And maybe I'm just so unlucky that I would be picked out of a crowd of 110,000 fans as the only one intoxicated. I don't know, but the event staff needs to stop giving me mixed signals.
My friends were drinking beers in front of the cops and nothing was said. I think you just got unlucky. Probably someone wanted to project their authority by kicking you out. Tough luck! -
TrinFuff
Oct. 6, 2006
Penn State rocks my socks. Really, where else can you find a party on a Tuesday night? But what about Thursday. Today marks the second consecutive Thursday night that I have been unable to find a party. And that, is bullllshit. Someone vouch for me. Thursday is my favorite night, but this one is sucking so far. Let me tell you why: 1) No OC and 2) No party to be found. What is the deal? Why does God not want me to have fun on Thursday nights? I really don't know. Oh well, I guess me and Justin are gonna hang out and have a good time. Whateva.
(that was such a sucky blog, sorry I have nothing else to talk about.)
Oct. 5, 2005
I swear over the past 72 hours, my life has consisted of eating, sleeping, class and studying. Honestly. Other than a few bathroom breaks here and there, I've been at the library. You see, I had my first test in Political Science today. Now, in the past, tests were always a very nominal issue and typically I'd review my notes on the way to class and somehow come out with an A. Well, I guess those days are over. I honestly never cared about school or grades, it always just came easy to me. I mean, I'd throw together my essays at 3 in the morning the day it was due; I'd sleep during class and still get A's; I'd skip class and still come out on top. As I look back now, I'm really not sure how I made it through high school, let alone graduated with such honorable achievement.
But now, everything has changed. Right now, one of my biggest goals in life is to get good grades. College isn't worth the money or the time if you don't actually benefit from the education. (Wow, I must sound like The World's Biggest Nerd. I promise, I'm not.) I mean, doing well on that test actually meant something to me. For the first time in my life, I studied. I want good grades. I'm turing over a new leaf: I'm actually going to earn the grades I get. I think maybe, just maybe, I'm growing up.
Oct. 2, 2005
I don't understand the public school system. Public schools claim to educate and encourage the positive development of the youth of the nation. But when students have minimal issues, why expel them? Expulsion is an understandable solution when a child threatens the well being of the student body, or when a students actions affect the education of others. But my younger brother was expelled from public high school for having a joint in his locker. While I concede that harsh punishment is necessary, how does expulsion solve the issues at hand? By being high, how was he harming the other students? In addition, doesn't expulsion merely allow him time to engage in similar "extracurricular activities(i.e. smoking, drinking, etc.)?" Let me explain where I'm coming from. In my high school we had a basketball player who was convicted of criminal consiracy and armed robbery(a felony) in the summer. Two weeks later, he was found starting on our varsity football team, and months later, starting on the basketball team. This makes me mad. My brother was high, how does that endanger the students? This kid, a known felon, starts on multiple sports teams. How much sense does this make? Isn't the latter student a bigger threat? I personally would feel safer with every kid in school high and all the felons behind bars.
Since then, my brother has started his Junior year at a Catholic school where my parents dish out the equivalent of a college tution so he can be educated. Aren't private schools suppose to be the ones to filter their acceptance? And maybe they just want the tuition money, but this seems backwards. I always thought private schools had stricter acceptance policies in matters like this, not vice versa. As Americans, isn't our goal to educate the masses by providing them with acceptable education? My parents are now pulling at strings to make monthly payments to the school, but what if they hadn't been able to afford it? My brother would be stuck working a low-paying job, asking if you'd like fries with that.
Yes, it is his fault. Actions have consequences. Yes he is a dumbass and he needs to learn. But since when is it unacceptable to be a stupid adolescent? And since when are felons starting varsity sports while the stoners are kicked out of school? Is this just my school or are all public high schools like this?
Someone, restore my faith in the public school system.
- I think you may have just touched upon the fundamental problem of postmodern American life: if you play sports, you can get away with murder. I'm sorry to hear about what happened to your brother, but I think you've made the point yourself: the public school system does not exist to educate students. Instead, it exists to instantiate a very specific set of relationships to authority within the body of the populace. A docile population who is taught to always stay within the limited confines of behavior (including never getting high) is useful in the production of manufactured goods. Where public schools are failing our students is in the fact that this country no longer has any need of a docile population suited to life in the factory. We need strong willed, smart, self-reliant entrepreneurs. Not only is the public school system failing the futures of individual students, it's failing the future of America. - EschaTon
PS: Good entry, but watch the fact that you aren't using apostrophes when you should be.
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