Thursday, April 17, 2014
Compound complex sentence
Working does not have to be a curse from the very depths of Hades; we do not have to hate our job as if our lives depend on it.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Book Review: March 3
Imagine a time when men were actually gentlemen, and balls were an average event where women dressed in beautiful gowns, trying their best to snatch a suitor. Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility pulled me into a lost era of romance and sisterhood.
Characters are one of the main aspects of Austen's books. One character named Marianne really stole my attention. Her passion for life and her innocence make up a huge part of this book. She is always trying to nudge her way into Elinor, her sister's, life. For instance, when a man named Edward Ferris came to visit their house, Marianne did her best to get Elinor to confess her true feelings for Edward, but all Elinor said was that she "thought very highly of him....that I greatly esteem him....that I like him." This of course horrified Marianne who had so much more passion in her heart than Elinor. Marianne has her own romance(s) throughout the book and had her heart broken in the process. She was changed after that, but she somewhat remained the beautiful flower that she was.
One detail that I love about Austen's writing is her use of setting. I was born in the wrong era and country, because I would give anything to have my own Barton Cottage, the main characters' home, in England. London is also described in this book when Elinor, Marianne, and Lucy Steele accompany Mrs. Jennings' to her home there. A ball is thrown and Marianne discovers that her suitor has been engaged to another who has more wealth than she. The ball sounds wonderful with lots of dancing and handsome English men. The houses there are so different and bigger than what we are accustomed to. Why, oh why, was I born here and now?
Gender roles play a huge part in Sense and Sensibility. The women do what women were supposed to do back then such as sewing, playing the piano, and drawing. They dressed in fine gowns for the balls and had their hair extravagantly done. As for the men, in this book they are what me should be: gentlemanly (for the most part), polite, courteous, and some devilishly handsome.(; However, at the same time, I would not have wanted to have lived back then because women had no freedom. Hypothetically, if I were a daughter of a gentleman, and he died, I would have no part of the inheritance. My brother or closest male relative would decide how much money he would give me or (even worse) how much he would give my husband for a dowry!
I highly recommend this book for any girl who dreams of another time. If you like romance, heartbreak, and loss in a book, then this book is all for you! I would not, however, suggest that guys read this book, unless they are really REALLY into romance and such. Austen never fails to give me an escape from reality.
Characters are one of the main aspects of Austen's books. One character named Marianne really stole my attention. Her passion for life and her innocence make up a huge part of this book. She is always trying to nudge her way into Elinor, her sister's, life. For instance, when a man named Edward Ferris came to visit their house, Marianne did her best to get Elinor to confess her true feelings for Edward, but all Elinor said was that she "thought very highly of him....that I greatly esteem him....that I like him." This of course horrified Marianne who had so much more passion in her heart than Elinor. Marianne has her own romance(s) throughout the book and had her heart broken in the process. She was changed after that, but she somewhat remained the beautiful flower that she was.
One detail that I love about Austen's writing is her use of setting. I was born in the wrong era and country, because I would give anything to have my own Barton Cottage, the main characters' home, in England. London is also described in this book when Elinor, Marianne, and Lucy Steele accompany Mrs. Jennings' to her home there. A ball is thrown and Marianne discovers that her suitor has been engaged to another who has more wealth than she. The ball sounds wonderful with lots of dancing and handsome English men. The houses there are so different and bigger than what we are accustomed to. Why, oh why, was I born here and now?
Gender roles play a huge part in Sense and Sensibility. The women do what women were supposed to do back then such as sewing, playing the piano, and drawing. They dressed in fine gowns for the balls and had their hair extravagantly done. As for the men, in this book they are what me should be: gentlemanly (for the most part), polite, courteous, and some devilishly handsome.(; However, at the same time, I would not have wanted to have lived back then because women had no freedom. Hypothetically, if I were a daughter of a gentleman, and he died, I would have no part of the inheritance. My brother or closest male relative would decide how much money he would give me or (even worse) how much he would give my husband for a dowry!
I highly recommend this book for any girl who dreams of another time. If you like romance, heartbreak, and loss in a book, then this book is all for you! I would not, however, suggest that guys read this book, unless they are really REALLY into romance and such. Austen never fails to give me an escape from reality.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
C.C. 3.2
All good things come to those who wait. Well, in China, women have been waiting to climb the ladder for a very long time, and are slowly making their way in society. In the article, "The Sky is the Limit," the Economist describes the ups and downs about being a woman in China.
When people in America have children, they do not really think about how many they want. They just kind of go with the flow. Numbers of births range from 1 to 20. That is not exactly the case in the Chinese society. In the article, the economist states that women still have to abide by the "one-child policy." For me that would be horrendous. I cannot imagine just having one child and stopping. They say the policy is "quite leaky," but I still would want to decide how many children I could have without the government telling me what to do.
Although the number of women who work in China have slowly grown, there is still discrimination in the workplace. Towards the middle of the article, the economist describes a woman who works for a large oil company, and says that she "complains that women suffer from discrimination both in her company and her industry." I am sure there is still discrimination in the American workforce, but we have laws that prohibit that kind of judgement; China does not. I do no think that I could ever work in a place where people put me down all the time because of my gender. Chinese women must be dedicated.
We all have traditions and values that are passed down through our families, but some people will just not let old values go. For instance, in the article the economist describes, "...most Chinese men still expect them to look after a home and family more or less single-handed, whether or not they are holding down a job...These are deep-rooted, hard-to-shift attitudes that long pre-date the Mao era." I understand where the men are coming from, but can't they help their wives out too? I mean, if they are both working, then I think they should both pick up the slack at home. I guess some habits die hard.
This reminds me of a time long ago when women in America had no rights, were expected to stay at home, and be the little doting mother. Hopefullly, women in China will soon have the freedom that we are all blessed with today.
Improvements are being made, and it will take some time. Chinese women are so dedicated that I am sure in the near future they will have reached the top of the ladder.
When people in America have children, they do not really think about how many they want. They just kind of go with the flow. Numbers of births range from 1 to 20. That is not exactly the case in the Chinese society. In the article, the economist states that women still have to abide by the "one-child policy." For me that would be horrendous. I cannot imagine just having one child and stopping. They say the policy is "quite leaky," but I still would want to decide how many children I could have without the government telling me what to do.
Although the number of women who work in China have slowly grown, there is still discrimination in the workplace. Towards the middle of the article, the economist describes a woman who works for a large oil company, and says that she "complains that women suffer from discrimination both in her company and her industry." I am sure there is still discrimination in the American workforce, but we have laws that prohibit that kind of judgement; China does not. I do no think that I could ever work in a place where people put me down all the time because of my gender. Chinese women must be dedicated.
We all have traditions and values that are passed down through our families, but some people will just not let old values go. For instance, in the article the economist describes, "...most Chinese men still expect them to look after a home and family more or less single-handed, whether or not they are holding down a job...These are deep-rooted, hard-to-shift attitudes that long pre-date the Mao era." I understand where the men are coming from, but can't they help their wives out too? I mean, if they are both working, then I think they should both pick up the slack at home. I guess some habits die hard.
This reminds me of a time long ago when women in America had no rights, were expected to stay at home, and be the little doting mother. Hopefullly, women in China will soon have the freedom that we are all blessed with today.
Improvements are being made, and it will take some time. Chinese women are so dedicated that I am sure in the near future they will have reached the top of the ladder.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
C.C. 3.1
In the article titled "Chinese Women Rights," the website informs readers of discrimination still going on in China.
Women in America are so much more privileged than women in China. In a paragraph titled Discrimination in Education and Employment, the author states, "It is hard for most women to get jobs even if they have degrees. Most good jobs are only open to men." I do not think we have any idea how good we, as women, have it. Our rights are so much more advanced than the rights in China.
When we think of men abusing their wives, we are automatically disgusted. Not so in China. This website reveals, "It is found acceptable in some parts of China for men to abuse their wives. There are not any laws to protect women from domestic abuse. Many authorities don't report abuse because they think wife abuse is a family matter." If a woman is abused in America, it simultaneously gets reported and is often heard on the news or found in the newspaper. I just don't understand why the police do not do something about the abuse. Is there no morality?
In the U.S., selling of slaves and brides ended long ago, but in some parts of China, women are being sold like pieces of meat. In the article, the author says, "There are women being sold as brides in the black market. Men who have purchased women don't get arrested meaning that the trade of women is still active. Usually when victims try to escape, they get brutally beaten, imprisoned, and possibly murdered." This sounds like the lake of fire to me. These women have hardly any rights, and although China's economy is improving every day, darker things lurk beneath the surface.
This reminds me of how the women in the Middle East are treated. Many are abused, have no say in their education, and are thrown away like trash.
We believe that are world is thriving, rights are being made, and fairness is taken into account. Unfortunately, we believe a lie.
Women in America are so much more privileged than women in China. In a paragraph titled Discrimination in Education and Employment, the author states, "It is hard for most women to get jobs even if they have degrees. Most good jobs are only open to men." I do not think we have any idea how good we, as women, have it. Our rights are so much more advanced than the rights in China.
When we think of men abusing their wives, we are automatically disgusted. Not so in China. This website reveals, "It is found acceptable in some parts of China for men to abuse their wives. There are not any laws to protect women from domestic abuse. Many authorities don't report abuse because they think wife abuse is a family matter." If a woman is abused in America, it simultaneously gets reported and is often heard on the news or found in the newspaper. I just don't understand why the police do not do something about the abuse. Is there no morality?
In the U.S., selling of slaves and brides ended long ago, but in some parts of China, women are being sold like pieces of meat. In the article, the author says, "There are women being sold as brides in the black market. Men who have purchased women don't get arrested meaning that the trade of women is still active. Usually when victims try to escape, they get brutally beaten, imprisoned, and possibly murdered." This sounds like the lake of fire to me. These women have hardly any rights, and although China's economy is improving every day, darker things lurk beneath the surface.
This reminds me of how the women in the Middle East are treated. Many are abused, have no say in their education, and are thrown away like trash.
We believe that are world is thriving, rights are being made, and fairness is taken into account. Unfortunately, we believe a lie.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Current Connection: 2.1
In the recent article, "Krokodil: Flesh-eating zombie
drug kills you from the inside out", Jen Christensen, a
journalist for CNN.com, informs her readers of the hideous consequences of this drug and how it is spreading throughout the globe.
In the article, Dr. Abhin Singla, an addiction specialist at Joliet, Illinois' Presence St. Joseph Medical Center, has treated people, he suspects, that have used this drug and says, "It's a zombie drug--it literally kills you from the inside out. If you want to die, this is a way to die." Causing your skin to become black or green and scaly, Krokodil extremely damages your skin. In most cases, patients lost significant amounts of their bodies because of this heroine-like drug.
Also, Dr. Robert Geller, the medical director at Georgia Poison Center, explains the medical effects of Krokodil and states, "The soft tissue damage happens around the injection site. The drug also seems to clump in the veins as it fails to dissolve completely in the blood. The clumps make their way to distant places in the body and start to damage tissue." The drug has not appeared in Georgia yet, but doctors fear that Krokodil will spread quickly. I just do not understand how some people can do this to their bodies and be okay with the consequences? Do they have no common sense?
The fire of Krokodil was started in Russia, and continues to burn throughout the world. Christensen explains in the article, "An estimated 100,000 in Russia and around 20,000 people in Ukraine are estimated to have injected the drug in 2011, according to a study that ran in the International Journal of Drug Policy this year. Experts theorize the drug first spread across Russia and Ukraine when heroin became less available." Made easily and much easier to obtain, Krokodil is a danger that most addicts are to tempted to try. The outlook is not good for these people. Those who cannot get there hands on heroine will turn to the fire.
The effects of this drug remind me of leprosy, in a way. Leprosy, a disease that is not so common today, a very nasty thing to have, made the diseased persons body parts fall off. It was very contagious, and most people were shunned if they had leprosy. Talked about in the Bible, leprosy was probably more common in those days then the sickness is now.
Though there have been no confirmed cases of Krokodil abuse, we all suspect that this is something that does not need to be played with. After all, who wants to be a zombie?
Works Cited
Christensen, Jen. "Krokodil: Flesh eating 'zombie drug' kills you from the inside out." CNN.com.
18 Oct. 2013. Web. 9 Nov. 2013.
Monday, October 14, 2013
CC: 1.2
We all know that religion in schools is all very "hush-hush," and Jesus is not really talked about by the teachers. Well, one teacher decided to incorporate the Christian God in a very unusual way. In Todd Starnes' article, on Foxnews.com, entitled "Professor Makes Students 'Stomp on Jesus,'" he exposes this educational scandal by voicing the opinions of the Professor's students.
In his article, Starnes explains that the students of the Professor's Intercultural Communications class "told the students to write the name 'Jesus' on a sheet of paper. Then, they were told to put the paper on the floor." Later in the article, Starnes reveals that they were told to "stomp on it." Of course there would be obvious dissension with this lesson. Jesus is the symbol of Christianity, and being told to stomp on that name would outrage many people, including myself.
Ryan Rotela, a devout Mormon and student of Florida Atlantic University, obviously had the same views. In the text, Rotela "picked up the paper from the floor and put it right back on the table." Rotela later stated to Deandre Poole, the instructor of that class, that "the assignment was insulting and offensive." I am sure that Professor Poole expected this kind of debate but did not expect that it would be taken to heart. The overall theme of the lesson was to "discuss the importance of symbols in culture;" however, I do not think that the Professor was ever allowed to explain that important detail. Poole was suspended.
Rotela explained his views in the article and stated to the television station, "Any time you stomp on something it shows you believe that it has no value. If you stomp on the word Jesus -- it says the word has no value." If someone stomps on a bug, no one really gives a second thought to it. The bug is not significant. Apparently, Jesus was not significant to whoever stomped on that piece of paper.
Everyday Jesus is getting smaller and smaller in schools. Our pledge that we say every morning at school states that we are "one nation under God," but we're not really under God anymore, are we? This article just proves that religion is becoming a topic of insignificance.
What will they think of next? Burning the American flag? Perhaps, they will stomp on the name Mohammed next. I would not be surprised.
In his article, Starnes explains that the students of the Professor's Intercultural Communications class "told the students to write the name 'Jesus' on a sheet of paper. Then, they were told to put the paper on the floor." Later in the article, Starnes reveals that they were told to "stomp on it." Of course there would be obvious dissension with this lesson. Jesus is the symbol of Christianity, and being told to stomp on that name would outrage many people, including myself.
Ryan Rotela, a devout Mormon and student of Florida Atlantic University, obviously had the same views. In the text, Rotela "picked up the paper from the floor and put it right back on the table." Rotela later stated to Deandre Poole, the instructor of that class, that "the assignment was insulting and offensive." I am sure that Professor Poole expected this kind of debate but did not expect that it would be taken to heart. The overall theme of the lesson was to "discuss the importance of symbols in culture;" however, I do not think that the Professor was ever allowed to explain that important detail. Poole was suspended.
Rotela explained his views in the article and stated to the television station, "Any time you stomp on something it shows you believe that it has no value. If you stomp on the word Jesus -- it says the word has no value." If someone stomps on a bug, no one really gives a second thought to it. The bug is not significant. Apparently, Jesus was not significant to whoever stomped on that piece of paper.
Everyday Jesus is getting smaller and smaller in schools. Our pledge that we say every morning at school states that we are "one nation under God," but we're not really under God anymore, are we? This article just proves that religion is becoming a topic of insignificance.
What will they think of next? Burning the American flag? Perhaps, they will stomp on the name Mohammed next. I would not be surprised.
Monday, September 16, 2013
CC: 1.1
For the past couple of years, we have all heard that video games rot our brains. Not so! In the recent article Disruptions: Minecraft, an Obsession and and Educational Tool, Nick Bilton's assuring facts explain the positive and negative sides for this hit video game.
Video games in school? How is this possible??? Nick Bilton shows this abomination to be true in his article and states, "Earlier this year, for example, a school in Stockholm made Minecraft compulsory for 13-year-old students. 'They learn about city planning, environmental issues, getting things done, and even how to plan for the future,' said Monica Ekman, a teacher at the Viktor Rydberg school." Creativity is becoming crucial in this world, seeing how left brain thinking is being overtaken by right brain thinking. Minecraft is just one more thing that is helping this concept along.
This is not the only perk to playing Minecraft. In the article, Bilton interviews Joel Levin, co-founder of TeacherGaming that runs MinecraftEdu, which helps teachers play along with their students. Levin describes, "Kids are getting into middle school and high school and having some ugly experiences on Facebook and other social networks without an understanding of how to interact with people online. With Minecraft, they are developing that understanding at a very early age." In today's world, computers are a huge part of our society. Why not learn more about communicating on the internet while you can? It's not such a bad thing!
However, with every up, there is a down. Too much good stuff is bad stuff! Professor Klopfer is also mentioned in the article and he warns, "...as with anything...there is such a thing as too much Minecraft." Even though this game is used as an education tool, it has the power to (as we say) rot our brains, if the zombies in Minecraft do not get to them first!(: Mwahahahahahah.
This article really stuck out because my little brother is ADDICTED to Minecraft. He has the Minecraft app on his i-pod ( the full version) and the X-box game. To me, all he is doing is building a bunch of stuff, but hey! If this game enhances his brain power then I say, "GAME ON!" He needs all he can get. Ha!
This world is rapidly changing into something that is ruled by computers. Almost everything we do involves them. Video games in school bring us one step closer to them overtaking the world! *Cue music of doom*
Video games in school? How is this possible??? Nick Bilton shows this abomination to be true in his article and states, "Earlier this year, for example, a school in Stockholm made Minecraft compulsory for 13-year-old students. 'They learn about city planning, environmental issues, getting things done, and even how to plan for the future,' said Monica Ekman, a teacher at the Viktor Rydberg school." Creativity is becoming crucial in this world, seeing how left brain thinking is being overtaken by right brain thinking. Minecraft is just one more thing that is helping this concept along.
This is not the only perk to playing Minecraft. In the article, Bilton interviews Joel Levin, co-founder of TeacherGaming that runs MinecraftEdu, which helps teachers play along with their students. Levin describes, "Kids are getting into middle school and high school and having some ugly experiences on Facebook and other social networks without an understanding of how to interact with people online. With Minecraft, they are developing that understanding at a very early age." In today's world, computers are a huge part of our society. Why not learn more about communicating on the internet while you can? It's not such a bad thing!
However, with every up, there is a down. Too much good stuff is bad stuff! Professor Klopfer is also mentioned in the article and he warns, "...as with anything...there is such a thing as too much Minecraft." Even though this game is used as an education tool, it has the power to (as we say) rot our brains, if the zombies in Minecraft do not get to them first!(: Mwahahahahahah.
This article really stuck out because my little brother is ADDICTED to Minecraft. He has the Minecraft app on his i-pod ( the full version) and the X-box game. To me, all he is doing is building a bunch of stuff, but hey! If this game enhances his brain power then I say, "GAME ON!" He needs all he can get. Ha!
This world is rapidly changing into something that is ruled by computers. Almost everything we do involves them. Video games in school bring us one step closer to them overtaking the world! *Cue music of doom*
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