Traffic

For this weeks blog i would like to talk about traffic. Today i was in my car stuck in traffic and saw the cause of the jam. Traffic jams are most of the time either caused by a few old and slow drivers or caused by truck drivers trying to overtake other trucks in an uphill road. Trucks carry lots of weight and therefore have very low accelerations, so for them trying to pass other trucks in an uphill road just causes headache for other drivers who are trying to get to where they are going. if a truck is going at about 70 mph and it hits a slight uphill, it will slow to 40 mph, which is well below the speed limit of highways and many other roads. So they should just stay in their own lane, which is clearly marked 'truck lane'. I think the truck drivers know well that their vehicle is unable to maintain the speedlimit of they hit an uphill but they do it anyway just to piss the cars off, and since they know that the pissed driver in a small car is unable to do anything about it, i guess it entertains them in some way. After all they probably been driving for many hours and they would do anything to keep out of complete boredom, so messing with other truck drivers is one way around it, and messing with cars is another way for entertainment.

Lack of Edumacation

          Schools all over the United States of America have been raising the bars on the numbers of students who are not meeting requirements to pass...Can anyone point fingers and accuse anybody or a group for being the cause of such failures? There is a big gray area in the topic for study and education. Research and works of teachers have shown that the right communication between the students and teachers matters enough to be able to give the students a drive to put effort in their work, and begin the path to excellence.
         The goal has been visible for teachers, and students are becoming aware that this goal is an important part of the future of our society. We all must put forth our best foot in order to drive each other to learn not only to be knowledgeable and be aware of matters outside of every day lives, but to also thrive.
As we saw today in the video, when a school is good at doing its job more families apply in order to take advantage of its ability to teach. More families...? Doesn't that mean more students? Does that mean more teachers are going to be working in order for the students to get a good education? As the numbers of families applying increases the chance of getting in to the school decreases. So much for No Child Left Behind..
          Kids are sometimes not privileged with better schools due to finances, location, requirements and even bad luck (lottery drawings).  This is unfair but so is life. Opportunity has a funny way of getting back  and poking fun at someone who picked up what it offered.. Students should be given the same standardized test to either enforce them to keep up with their study, or if they wish to slack off they can call quits and be as dumb as our previous president George Bush sounds.. click the link for a laugh :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK1ekhovFeU

Playing For the Away Team.

Who ever said that "your college years are the best years of your life" should be dragged out into the street and shot twice. Maybe it's just me, but I have yet to discover the utopia associated with "college years". If anything this has been the most demoralizing period of my life. The struggle that has accompanied college has been full of disappointment, rejection, and financial instability. I have learned to neglect sleep, my health, and anything that resembles a social life. As depressing as my own struggle has been, it is not what angers me most about the college experience. What disturbs me more than anything else is seeing people not take full advantage of an opportunity. Although I do despise of my struggle, I do realize that I am fortunate to have it. As much as I hate the situation that I am in, I do understand that there are plenty of people who would trade places with me, without any hesitation. Those individuals that see my situation as a blessing, are the ones that motivate me not to give up. I find it hard to sympathize with those who are just throwing this opportunity away. To all those who have decided to make a mockery of this opportunity by electing not to put forth their most honest effort, it is with great sincerity that I say, "FUCK YOU!" In some ways, I like to think that I represent the team that everyone else is against. Day by day I am learning to accept that it's not so bad to be on the away team.

In European society, the word ‘common sense’ meant ‘the internal comprehensive judgment’ until the 17th century. However, this word altered into the meaning of ‘the common knowledge of average people’ in the process of religious reformation, and it became a core word which stood against the authority of the Pope. Common sense showed its great power during European civil wars and the War of Independent of the US. Also, it is still the most fundamental criteria of the logical politic.

Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy, eventually resigned from the premiership because he could not bear the pressure of public according to the financial crisis. This decision has been the focus of the public attention because of his private life tainted by scandals, financial failure, and corruption.

There are various predictions about this 75-year-old man’s future. Someone says that he is returning back to the president of AC Milan that he owns while some others say he will hide out overseas due to his charge of juvenile prostitution, power abuse, tax evasion of his enterprise, subornation of perjury, bribery, and others; however, the prevailing prediction is that he who never live without the spotlight will rise like a phoenix and will seek surging back again with increased way.

It is such a mystery that he could be appointed the Prime Minister three times for 10 years of his 17-year political life. How in the world did Italian people vote for a figure like Berlusconi three times? It is not still understandable.

College Vs. Work Force After High School

Over the last decade tuition for secondary education institutions have skyrocketed, leading to many not being able to attend college and having to work after high school. In addition, if individuals are able obtain their degree in whatever they may be majoring in, it has been difficult to find a decent job that they qualify for. In society it has been preached since kindergarten that if you do well in school and go to college, that a “good job” is almost certain; however this is not the case. More often there are people who have spent 4 plus years in college only to be denied a job that they have the skills for, or be over qualified for a job that they could have gotten with a high school degree.

In my economics class we often talk about opportunity costs. Opportunity cost is basically the “something[s]” you give up when choosing an alternative selection. For example if I choose not to go to work today in favor of hanging with friends, my opportunity cost is the money I would have made from working today. Back to the topic, the dilemma that everyone faces proceeding High School is deciding whether to go into the work force/military straight out of High School or to go to college. The opportunity cost of deciding to not go to college is to gain more knowledge in both general fields and more knowledge in what that individual may be majoring in and to potentially make more money in the future with a better career after obtaining a degree. The opportunity cost of not working straight out of high school is the working experience, the income and the money they are spending on tuition. There exists a general consensus that states you have to go to college to earn more money or you will not be as successful. However the present conflict between those who have obtained a college degree and finding work with that degree refutes this socialized belief.

Personally I believe that secondary education should be less expensive, this is obviously a bias statement as I am a student however there are many benefits that would come with this notion. If tuition were cheaper, there would be more individuals going to college which would most likely lead to more aware citizens, which would then lead to more aware voters, more aware politicians and so on and so on. There are too many individuals that have done exactly what society expected them to do to be successful, however are not being able to achieve their potential because of the lack of job availability as a result of the nation’s current economic status.

Art and The Message

You’re walking in the city and all of a sudden you see massive amounts of graffiti on the buildings around you. What comes to your mind? Is this a crime or a thing of art? In my opinion, it is a piece of art. Some people consider this act as crime. They think the person that did this to the buildings is trying to act out and destroy property. But, this is not always the case. For some artists this is the only way to share what they want to say. They actually put a lot of effort into the artwork before it goes onto the building walls. They might start out by sketching it in their sketch books. It’s trying to display a message. Each piece of artwork has a message to it. Being an artist, I know this is a true statement. I was talking and sharing artwork with my friend Claudio the other day (a graffiti artist) and he was telling me all these stories that are behind his work. It was really expiring to hear. He really goes hard core when thinking about what he wants to explain in his work, rather its showing his personality or showing something he really wants to say. Most of the pieces on the building walls involve social change. The artist wants to show what’s going on in the world in order to make a change. A quote I came across states this. “A belief in cultural and creative expression as a means to affect deep and lasting social change.

Through art, we can challenge many of our society's deepest assumptions, built upon the power of artistic creation and expression to

spark new ideas

• catalyze critical thinking

• elicit new actions

• inspire individuals

• and create visions

Art becomes a political act, a conscious effort to facilitate and participate in social change. If we want respect, love and beauty among us and others, we must actively promote it through our art.” (http://www.artforsocialchange.net/home.html).

Art as meaning. Art has thought. Art can change the way people think. When seeing the graffiti on the walls, it is not destruction of property. It is a way of thinking; to get a message across.

An assassination?

There had been a shooting in Washington DC near White House. Gunfire had been reported about 9p.m Friday 11 November 2011. However, the damage was discovered on the following Tuesday. One bullet struck a window in the living quarters of the White House and another was found it the exterior of the building. According to eye witness, a man pulled his car within view of the White House on Friday night and fired shots from an assault rifle, cracking a window of first family’s living quarters while the president was away.

A 21-year-old man named Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, was charged on Wednesday with attempting to assassinate President Obama. He called President Obama “the anti-Christ” and told federal agents he wanted to hurt the president according to court documents. Some people from his home state Idaho also witnessed that Ortega had become agitated against the federal government and was convinced there was a government conspiracy against him. Another witness also said that Ortega owns an assault weapon with a scope.

Ortega the suspect blamed President Obama for problems with the federal government and believed Obama is devil. If convicted, Ortega could life in prison. The last White House shooting occurred in 1994, when Francisco Martin Duran began firing a semiautomatic rifle. He still is severing a 40-year prison sentence for that incident.

I am not sure if it was attempted assassination or just some idiot trying to express his displeasure towards president or the federal government. If Ortega’s plan was to kill president, it should have required more detail, thought, planning, or at least understanding that the president was thousands miles away on a trip to the Asia-Pacific region. The news article also mentioned that Ortega believed that he is on a mission from God to kill President Obama. People might think the charges are over-hyped because the president was not even there, but if convicted, it still is an attempted assassination. This case should be taken seriously I think.

Immigration

Last week we have seen a video about illegal immigrants in the USA and I was very upset. It was very hard to see how people are suffering when crossing the border. And I was really surprised that the such problem exist in America, because the United States is country of immigrants. On the other hand, the problem of immigration is one of the oldest and most painful in the US. Even two centuries ago Benjamin Franklin was concerned that the German immigrants may have a negative impact on the American culture. Each new wave of immigrants face some negative acceptance from old immigrants. In the middle of the XIX century Irish immigrants considered drunkards. In the early twentieth century it was said the Polish, Russians and Italians are very different from local people, their customs and traditions have little common with American culture, so they have very little chance to successfully integrate into American society. Now similar accusations addressed to immigrants from Asia and Latin America. Periodically negativity against immigrants increases. When economy goes bad people think that immigrant steal their jobs, or becoming potential criminals or potential terrorists.
I am also immigrant and I consider myself lucky. I did not need to cross the border illegally or did not get student visa hoping to get a green card somehow. I won a Green Card lottery and I became a resident immediately I came to the US. I know some people in Uzbek community and how they get their status. Most of them spend a lot of money to make first work visa and then green card. A lot of them make a fake marriage with American citizens and pay them twenty – thirty thousand dollars.
I do not know how to solve illegal immigration problem, but I believe that people who think that illegal immigrants are all criminals are wrong. Most foreigners immigrate to America because they want to work and help their families, not because they want to sell drugs or steal something.

Education...what's that??

The fact that our educational system is a problem is definitely not a secret. Documentaries, such as the one that we viewed in class further illustrates this point. I cannot understand why educators, law makers, parents and society have not demanded change. The children that are graduating from highschool are not prepared for their experience in society. As I look back I wonder why we were forced to take subjects such as calculus that the majority of students will never apply this to anything in our future lives. I have a younger sister who is 14 and can tell me about the Spanish-American War, but has not a clue what interest on a credit card means, or why you have to pay taxes out of your paycheck. I understand the importance of teaching history and fundamental concepts, but isn’t the point of our educational system to prepare put children to enter into society. After working with youth the past couple years, it amazes me the lack of accountability that some teachers require. Its evident that our educators are overworked and underpaid. If the youth are our future, why aren’t we making more of an effort to provide the education that they so desperately need. The lack of education becomes a problem for society. Uneducated children are not able to function among their peers. There becomes an increase in crime and deviance as these schools are unable to teach the basic rules to their students. Society needs to start back at step 1 with the basics. Educate our youth so that they can contribute to society and become productive citizens. Parent s must take responsibility for their children’s education. Many parents have left this responsibility solely up to the schools. It takes a village to raise a child. Parents, educators and politicians need to finds solutions immediately to this problem. This is a priority for the United States and should be treated as such. The job is not just for one superintendent, it’s a problem society must tackle together.

Acting out to get your way?

When we are children, we are taught early on which behaviors are acceptable and which behaviors are not. However, every child at some point throws a tantrum. Most parents will not tolerate this behavior and and respond in a manner that will not encourage this type of behavior.
I have observed such behaviors in adults and it is not pretty, but the thing is that rather than being called out on their behavior, people are rewarded for it.
I was in a department store and observed an exchange between a customer service associate and a shopper. The shopper was adamant about getting a discount on an item he was buying that was slightly damaged, the customer service associate politely refused. She explained to the customer that there were multiple of the same item still available without damage. The customer refused to swap his item, and was still adamant about the discount. He became obnoxious toward the associate and requested to speak to the supervisor. While waiting for the supervisor, he continued to belittle the associate. When the supervisor finally arrived, the associate explained the situation, and her reasoning as to why she would not give him the discount. Personally I thought the associate was being completely reasonable, and the guy completely ridiculous, so I was definitely surprised when the supervisor sided with customer and instructed the associate to give him the discount! Here was this guy who not only was extremely disrespectful to the employee, had caused a raucus in the store, delayed the rest of the shoppers waiting patiently in line, and he was getting rewarded for his behavior!
This type of behavior even extends to places where you wouldn't think it could happen. In healthcare for example, you have patients who think their emergency is more important than others, even if the other person is actually having a heart attack. Patients feel they have the right to be catered to, and will not hesistate to act out, make a scene in the middle of an ER full of sick patients, until they get a hospital administrator. The administrator listens to them, validates their grievances, and accomodates their requests. In other words, they are giving positive reinforcement that will only encourage this type of behavior.
Why are people so afraid of telling someone flat out they are being unreasonable?
In part I think the way the customer service industry is structured is to to blame. They have adopted mottos such as "The customer is always right." Certain organizations have strict customer satisfaction policies that practically allow customers to do anything they want. In healthcare, our justice system has awarded so many absurd lawsuits that, healthcare workers are weary when someone threatens a lawsuit.
It's unfortunate because I really do think we shouldn't have to put up with these behaviors, let alone reward them.

We the people want to end Marijuana prohibition

Today, the White House launched its new, long-awaited website “We the People.” This websites provides people with a new way to petition the government to take actions on the significant issues facing United States. “If a petition gets sufficient support, White House staff will review it, ensure it is sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.”

The most popular topic is regarding marijuana. Legalizing and regulating Marijuana has received more huge numbers of signatures from people. Marijuana legalization looks to be the hottest topic on the site, and it is the first petition to go to public was for the legalization of marijuana. Moreover, Marijuana-related topics dominate the list.

Some people think Marijuana as in a manner similar to alcohol. Those people argue that Marijuana prohibition has resulted in the arrest of over 20 million Americans since 1965 and countless lives has been ruined. Yet Marijuana prohibition policy has still failed to lower use rates, limit the drug access, and create safer communities. They do not believe that prohibiting such drugs will not achieve those results in the future that it has never achieved in the past.

I disagree with those people. If they really think like that, why do we even need laws? There always will be crimes and chaos in the presence of those laws. That is such an excuse! I am against using Marijuana illegally because it has a high potential for abuse which means it is perceived as addictive and begins to dominate people’s life. I sometimes hear that some advocates of marijuana legalization says the drug cures diseases, makes some people happy, does not seem to be any more dangerous than alcohol. That sounds really foolish to me. What do you think about this issue? Do you think Marijuana should be legalized?

Mandated Online Assignments

It was brought to my attention after last week's class, that there seemed to be a divide as to if online assignments were beneficial or not. There were clear points made from both sides. On one hand some students feel as though online assignment are very convenient as they are not required to hand anything in and are able to technically do the work without even being in class. On the other hand some students believe that online assignments handicaps them from being able to really justify their work before turning in the assignment (this directly relates more to science and math classes) and the fact that there is a possibility that the internet server may shut down for whatever reason and leave that student unable to complete their assignment[s] poses another handicap.

Personally I feel as though classes such as math should not have mandated online assignments. Many online assignments will not give partial credit (as showing your work is collateral damage in the process of completing online assignments) and therefore gives physically turning in homework somewhat of an advantage. However, I also believe that with some subjects, like English or Sociology, where writing is frequent and abundant, should have online assignments be mandatory. Online assignments are not only convenient for the student as far as turning in a paper, but are ecologically beneficial for the environment as well, as many sheets of paper and ink are being spared.

The innovative ideal of enabling a student to turn in assignments virtually has become reality and has sparked conflicts almost as complex as the ideal itself. Whether online assignments are a glass half full, half empty scenario one thing is certain, the world is becoming more innovative everyday and many significant, socialized establishments are attempting to keep up, so to speak, with the times.

11/11/11

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we take time to honor those who have made the necessary sacrifices to defend our nation. Time and time again military members are called upon to protect the interest of the United States. Military members have always answered that call with integrity and honor because they understand what it means to put "service before self." Veterans are some of the few that know the true cost of freedom. For many, the cost of freedom was life. A price that none of us should pay. Which makes us forever in debt to those who made that ultimate sacrifice. I know that I owe my life to the veterans that have served before me. I lack the words to describe the gratitude that I have for the men and women who served and made it possible for me to have the opportunities I have today. By volunteering my own service, I hope that I can continue this tradition of honor.

The courage of our military is only surpassed by the courage of their families, who truly understand the challenge of living with the absence of a love one. My heart goes out to all those who have lost a love one, a love one that has given their all for their country.

Airman's Creed

I am an American Airman.
I am a Warrior.
I have answered my Nation’s call.

I am an American Airman.
My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win.
I am faithful to a Proud Heritage,
A Tradition of Honor,
And a Legacy of Valor.

I am an American Airman.
Guardian of Freedom and Justice,
My Nation’s Sword and Shield,
Its Sentry and Avenger.
I defend my Country with my Life.

I am an American Airman.
Wingman, Leader, Warrior.
I will never leave an Airman behind,
I will never falter,
And I will not fail.

Hooah!

Animal's Are People Too

There was a documentary that I watched a few years back on the truth to the production company. How we kill the animals we eat and how we treated it. What I saw in the documentary was cruel and in humane. I couldn’t bare on watching the parts that showed the dead animals hanging in the butcher. Another documentary I watched recently was about the sport of hunting. People would hunt down elephants for their tusks and burn tigers to get tiger bones and fur. They do it for the money. Both cases really got to me. It is cruel to think people will kill something so innocent just for the mere cost of it. For another example, I recently went to the Howard County Fair with my friend this year. They had a place in the barn were you can look at the farm animals. My friend and I were talking to this one girl that raised the cow we were petting. We were asking questions. One of the questions my friend asked was, “Do you kill any of your animals?” The girl answered to us saying that she does kill the animals. She even stated that the cow that we were petting, that she loved, that she rose since it was a calf, she will kill for their dinner. I was shocked. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to do that if I raised an animal since it was little. I even get mad when my mom sometimes threatens to get rid of my cats that I had since I was seven. No way! I know it is to put food on the table and to put money in people’s pockets. But, why does it have to happen. The way the people kill the animals is said to be painless. But, it’s still in humane to me. Animals rose only to be slaughtered when they are adults is horrible. This is one reason I became a vegetarian. I don’t go for the thought of harming something that doesn’t need to be harmed. They have the same rights as humans in my opinion. If you watch the documentaries you might think the same way. Not saying you will change your eating habits. It’s just horrible.

College Expenses

College is something most people want to attend at some time in their life. How is anyone supposed to afford college with these crazy expensive prices? I was at work recently, and I work with people who are mostly older than me, and the topic of college debts came up. Everyone was talking about how they cannot afford their loans, and how they would be repaying their debts till they were forty. The scary part is that college tuition is only rising. The four year college I want to transfer to is 38,000 dollars a year, and it is sad to say that it’s the cheapest school in Manhattan. As people look for schools the price of a school is one of the biggest determining factors on whether they attend that school. Years ago other things like the campus, dorms, etc. had a much bigger impact on whether people choose a school. It really sucks that our generation might have to turn down a dream schools to go to ones that are more affordable. Just last year they raised the price of college tuition averages by 6.5 percent. So, since college is so expensive this means college students have to work twice as hard to get good grades, and work a part-time job. When students have a course load of 14-18 credits a semester it becomes hard to make the grades while working. This causes students to drop classes, and fail classes so they have to retake them; which means shelling out more money. College students always have had a heavy work load, and the rise in tuition is only making it worse. I have a friend, who attends school in New York, and you would think working all summer, and saving money would get someone through a semester. No, not at all since her parents are paying for her expensive tuition she has to purchase all of her food, bathroom items etc., and she has already spent 2,500 dollars. College is becoming so expensive, so students need to become aware and take all necessary precautions to be as successful as possible.

Long Reach/HoCo

In my opinion, the image of Howard County has been going down the tubes in recent months. There have been numerous murders in Columbia and other crimes like assaults, vehicle thefts and bank robberies. However, the Long Reach area of Columbia is posing the biggest concern.. The crime has gotten out of control. In July 2011, 17 year old Christian Hall was stabbed multiple times in his home on Airybrink Lane just passed the Long Reach Village Center. Xavier Bates, also of Columbia and a junior at Long Reach High School was charged in with his murder. Bail bondswoman, Nicole McNair was shot in September 2011 on Hayshed Lane (a neighboring street to Airybrink) while collecting payment from Dominique McDonald, who was ultimately charged in her death. It’s not just the murders. It’s also the drugs, which run rampant in that area. There are multiple people that live in the Hayshed area that sell drugs out of their homes. Some would assume that in an area with its own police office would be safer, but that isn’t the case. The image of Long Reach was addressed recently at a Town Hall meeting. Some chalk it up to the fact that it’s “Long Reach….We expect that,'” But, the fact of the matter is it is still Howard County. This county has always been held to a higher standard considering it is one of the richest counties in America. Long Reach has tried to improve safety by employing a 24 hour security detail. However, I don’t believe this is doing justice. People are still able to sell drugs and get away with things right under the security guard’s nose. I believe it is up to Howard County police officers to stop spending all of their time being concerned with insignificant things and start focusing on the bigger picture.

A Life Imprisonment for Child Porn Possession?

There is an ongoing controversy about a guy being imprisoned for life due to only downloading child pornographies. Last Nov. 3rd, Collier Circuit in FL gave Daniel Vilca for life imprisonment for possessing child pornographies. Vilca downloaded and saved pictures and videos of child sexual abuse on his PC, and he got caught on January last year.

There was no trace of him raping or abusing children sexually on the 454 pornographies he collected. Even though he does not have criminal records, the court demanded life imprisonment applying first-degree murder that is the same as crimes against humanity like serial murder and kidnapping children.

On 6th last month, prior to the judgment of the conviction, the prosecutors suggested to him the 25-year plea as admitting his suspicion, but he rejected. Lee Hollander, his lawyer, immediately showed his intention to file for an appeal that the judgment was much heavier than previous similar crimes that occurred in Collier County. NYT also pointed out that “Vilca might well have received a lighter sentence had he actually molested a child.”

Steve Maresca, the assistant state attorney, expressed displeasure against it, and said “too many people just look at this as a victimless crime, and that’s not true. These children are victimized, and when the images are shown over and over again, they’re victimized over and over again.”

Italian Americans

Because I like cooking very much one of my favorite shows is “Cake Boss”. It is a show about everyday life in the Carlo's bakery New Jersey. The cake boss Buddy Valastro bakes amazing cakes and many celebrities order cakes from his bakery. Although, it is interesting to see all those fancy cakes, this is not a reason why I watch the show. The most interesting is to watch Buddy's family - his four sisters and many other relatives. They are all Americans, but their ancestors came from Italy. So for them, like for many Italians, the family is first. They are very emotional, when they talk to each other, you can think they are yelling. They have many things happening in the kitchen, someone can forget to put something in recipe, or cake can be damaged in delivery, but they always support each other. I like how they celebrate every holiday in the family of 30-40 people.

Another example of American Italians is the show “Jersey Shore”. In this show eight young people, 4 girls and 4 boys, live in a big house. And cameras everywhere show their life in the house. Like Buddy's family they are emotional, but unlike Valastros when people from Jersey Shore talk the TV is always beeping, because 30% of their words cannot be on TV, even on MTV. I do not understand why Jersey Shore is so popular among young people. I do not like how they behave, and I do not understand why someone shows them on TV. I am afraid that when my daughter grows, she will watch shows like this and will think that this normal behavior, and will behave like Snooky. It is interesting it was one episode in Cake Boss, when Snooky came to order a cake from Buddy, and he did not know who she was, but younger boys in bakery knew her, and were very excited. But I found one common thing between older American Italians, like Cake Boss, and younger ones, like Snooky, they all loved their mothers. When Snooky came to order a cake, she was doing party for her mother.

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which stands for "Welcome To Facebook".

in today's world most of the people use online social networking sites, such as facebook and twitter, and most of the people using those sites use chat slangs such as LOL (Laugh Out Loud) instead of proper english language. i also do it because it speeds up everything. its easier to type, its faster to get a point across and its also kinda funny. take the following example of a proper line of chat:

Today I went to the dentist's office to pull out my wisdom tooth. He managed to numb the entire right side of my face but failed to completely numb my tooth, but it wasn't a disaster until he pulled the wrong tooth and i thought to myself 'what the fuck is this guy doing?' and 'where did he buy his dentists license from?'. Well, he finally pulled the right one out and it hurt like crap.

Now here is how I would deliver that information in a chat:

went 2 dentist, ouch!!

if I want to be really specific i would say:

went 2 dentist, pulled wrong tooth (i was like WTF asshole?? lol)

its much shorter and a lot easier even though it doesn't completely deliver all the information. here are some of the common slang's used:

ROFL - roll on floor laughing

FML - fuck my life

JK - just kidding

LMAO - laughing my ass off

ROFLMAO - ..

BTW - by the way

OMG - oh my gosh (or god)

BRB - be right back

c u l8r - see you later

btw sorry 4 using the F word and the A word, c u in class!

In your Hands

My old dance teacher is having this benefit concert on November 20^th. Her dance team and the Uganda Rural Fund are teaming up to raise money for the AIDS orphans and impoverished women and children. All proceeds go to the Uganda Rural Fund. I think it is amazing way to help out while having people enjoy the arts and music. Uganda is struggling. It is usually used as the main example when talking about HIV and AIDS. There are about 1.2 million people in Uganda living with HIV. The number of new infection s exceeds the number of AIDS related deaths. The families that are in poverty and have AIDS are without good medical care. No one should go through with this. The more I researched the topic the more I got upset with the information I was reading. It’s sad. It’s sad to think about 1.2 million people are going through this problem and that there is rarely anything they can really do about the situation. HIV and AIDS is a big dilemma across the world. We need to spend more and more time trying to find a cure for it. I honestly want to do whatever I can to help out. If people read up on the topic they could know and feel more for those people. I’m not saying that they don’t feel, but when someone one knows more about a topic the more they will understand. No one should struggle through an AIDS related illness. My teacher is doing what she can to help out and I personal y find that expiring. You rarely find people that are really devoted to something and stay with it through years and years. She’s been helping out with this situation for over five years. It’s amazing. I want to help out myself as well.

http://www.ugandaruralfund.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqAnfLugyOU-Video

Mexican's

A few weeks ago, in class someone mention something that got under my skin. To avoid an argument or a debate I kept quiet; but figured I write about it instead. We were talking about ethnic groups that day and therefore she made her comment in regards to my race. The term “Those Mexican’s”, doesn’t bother me most of the time because I am very proud of being Mexican. However, most people use it in a derogatory manner and therefore it pisses me off! Not to mention, how do you know they are “Mexican?” Stereo types are a thing of the past (for me at least.) Not to mention that they are not 100% accurate! Let me remind you that Latin America is composed by 20 countries. So, you can’t assume that someone who “looks" Latin is automatically “Mexican.” You can’t call someone Chinese just because they “look” like one, right? They could be Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, etc. So, next time if you aren’t sure what they are just call them Latino or Hispanic. To prove my point, the picture I provided has four people in it… Could you pick out which of the four is Mexican?

I recently found out about a new “legal” drug that is used every day by many people and it could possibly be worst than some illegal drugs. It’s called Herbal Incents and technically they are supposed to be used as incents but people smoke it. After I did a little bit of research about this I found out that it is called “spice” and apparently it makes you feel high for a short period of time. Throughout my research I found out that when you smoke spice the chemical JWH-073 and JWH-018 enter your body. You could compare this to marijuana by saying that there is THC in it. But JWH-073 and 018 could cause seizures, agitation, vomiting, and jitteriness if you consume a large amount at one time. THC does not cause any of these symptoms at any amount of consumption. Spice also has been shown to cause symptoms of addiction in many everyday users. Spice is a legal substance and it is sold in many different areas of the country. You could buy it from head shops and a lot of gas stations. There is a gas station near my house in Columbia that sells it. Although it is legal, smoking or consuming it in any other way is Illegal. I don’t understand how the law could get any stupider. How could u sell 1 gram of Herbal Incents for 30 dollars?? It is obvious that everyone knows that no one uses this to make their house smell good… so my question is how is marijuana illegal when drugs like spice are legal and it has a lot more harmful effects on a person’s body than marijuana would have.

Thank You Cards: Not Just for Salad Anymore!

When did it become acceptable not to say thank you for acts of kindness. A simple thank you can really go a long way. Saying thank you doesn't take a lot of effort and it typically makes people feel good about themselves. The problem with our society now is that we put too many limitations on thank you(s). The criteria for receiving a thank you should be reevaluated and expanded, so more people can receive the thank you(s) they deserve.

With this notion in mind, I think Hallmark should have a section dedicated to Thank You cards for sex. Just think how many trips to court could be saved if people could get a thank you card for their "services". One night stands no longer have to awkward, because a Thank You card could remove all of those weird feelings. What better way to show that you appreciate someone lowering their standards for the night, than a Thank You Card.

Sample contents from the new Thank You Card:

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

I never had anyone give it up,

Quite like you.

It wasn't my best performance,

But cut me some slack,

I thought you were trying to kill me,

The way you were throw'n it back.

The whole costume thing,

I thought it was wrong,

But since it was our 1st time,

I just played along.

Before it got too weird,

You made it all fine,

Because when I asked, Who's was it?

You said it was mine.

I used my go to moves,

And you tried some things new,

Either way our weird sex was amazing,

And I just wanted to say....

THANK YOU!

Capital punishment

Capital punishment and life without parole are the two most severe forms of punishment in today’s society. Capital punishment is the legally authorized killing of someone for punishment of a crime. Life without parole is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime that commits the convicted person to remain in jail for the remainder of their life with no chance of parole. Parole is when a person is released from prison to end the maximum sentence proposed. Capital punishment has been a one of the largest social issues in the United States, its practice and use causes large commotions due to human rights activists. Over times, the American public has favored the punishment in cases of murder, however there has always been a strong opposing force against the movement. . Those two restrictions consist of a person under the age of 18 can never be sentence to death, along with anyone who is mentally retarded, i.e. someone with an IQ below 70. The death penalty honors human dignity by treating the defendant as a free moral actor able to control his own destiny for good or for ill; it does not treat him as an animal with no moral sense.

Life without parole is the second harshest punishment our government can sentence a convicted person to. Life without parole is a sentence that denies the possibility of parole, condemning the convict to spend the remainder of his or her life imprisoned. Supreme court ruled that sentencing minors to life without parole for crimes other than murder violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on “cruel and unusual punishment”. Life without parole is generally a mandatory sentence for first degree murder in states without the death penalty.

Capital punishment versus life without parole, both two very extreme forms of punishment. One, being sentenced to death by the government for crimes committed. The other, a life with no hope; one where the convicted person is confined to a jail cell for the rest of his natural life. The governments have choices in which to choose. However, the matter should be a national decision instead of a state one. This might put slightly less doubt in anyones minds.

what the hell are we doing...

... to our own body by eating junkfood, for todays blog i would like to talk about junk food and what it does to us, i really dont see the point of eating junk food all the time. i have seen people eat nachos, potato chips, chocolate bars, popcorn, fruity twists and all similar junk food as their lunch or dinner. to eat a pack of chips while watching a movie or something like that is understandable but to let it replace our meal is a very horrible thing to do to our own body, and our stomachs lets us know that almost immediately. but considering todays world, i guess we cannot escape from the junkfood. i also consider all fast food to be very unhealthy. even though i eat quite alot of junkfood myself, i do feel guilty right after. another very popular junkfood is softdrinks. which i also drink. every time i drink a softdrink, i make sure i drink enough water to wash it away with the least amount of damage.

the following i consider junkfood:

all potato chips

all chocolate bars

licorice

twists

soft drinks

twinkies

anything you buy from mcdonalds/kfc/popeyes/burgerking/wendy's and all similar fast food chains

with all that being said, we only live once so i guess we should just eat what we want :)

Where do we go when we die?

This is a very hard question for some who does not even want to talk about it or think about it, but it is inevitable. Once everybody is born, it is the beginning of the journey. No difference from trips we take. From home to school, to work, to see friends. Means it has an end. Our life on earth also has an end.

If I back to my question "where do we go when we die?" some think or talk about it or may approach it from different angles. They may have to give explanations according to their traditions (I will back to this talking about my culture), they may explain it from religions, beliefs, what they think sounds better and make the comfortable ....

In my culture when someone die we say that "he/she has been called by God" but is it true? May be I should be the one to give the answer. I think it is a way to console or make the rest of the family feel better. Some says that even we will see our beloved one dead. Is there a life after this?

I will not give an answer to this question because i don't have one. But what I think is, that when we die it is over, and my suggestions to every one should be to do best when we still can, at least so that people could still remembers from our works. Still "Where do we do when we die?"

Diarrhea of the mouth?

My new favorite show has quickly become Modern Family. This show makes me belly laugh out loud. I love the fact that this show illustrates the diversities in the American culture. This show became a topic of conversation at work this week. I was very surprised that many of my co-workers were very offended by the stereotypes that are portrayed in this show. The show does exaggerate the family dynamics of very stereotypical relationships, but that’s what makes this show hilarious. A patient overheard our conversation and commented how disgusted she was with the “gay couple” raising a little girl. I didn’t understand how she could be so vocal about such a controversial issue. What if our family members or friends were gay men raising children?? And why would you bring this issue up in such a public setting? I don’t know if people are that crazy or just that unaware of their situation. The American population is so diverse, gay, lesbian, transgender etc.. There are always going to be those who disagree with those who challenge diversions from the norm of society, but what happened to respect for diversity. At the end of the day everyone is still a human being regardless of their race, color, gender, sexual orientations, religion etc. Some people will argue freedom of speech, which I agree that we should be able to voice our opinion. But please voice your opinion in a respectful manner. I cant imagine what it is like to be gay or lesbian and hear such derogatory comments . So please think before you speak.

Caring for our Elderly

Recently in one of my classes we were discussing the elderly and how different cultures care for them, or fail to in some cases. It is a topic that really gets to me because it amazes me to see the lack of respect and compassion, some people show toward our elderly. Elderly care, has been a hot topic in recent years, nursing home vs. home care.

I fail to understand how people today think it is okay to shove our elderly away, to be visited once a month, and forgotten the rest of the time. These are people who dedicated the best years of their life to provide for us, care for us, and make us into productive human beings. Yet when they reach old age instead of providing and supporting them, and showing appreciation for what they did for us, we are brushing them aside, as if they were disposable.

People today rationalize their behavior, by asserting that the fast paced society that we live in does not allow the time needed to care for the elderly. People are busy with their own families, their careers, that the elderly become an afterthought. It’s inconceivable to think that we are so self-involved as to not realize the value our parents and grandparents have in their old age.

Working in an ER, has opened my eyes to several things, one of them being the atrocities our elderly suffer at the hands of nursing homes. I’ve seen folks come in having sat in their filth for hours or even days, with bedsores and developing infections, alone and depressed, living their last days within the confines of four walls and among people they don’t know.

On the other hand, I have seen the elderly taken care of by family. They still live a productive life, surrounded by the people that love them. Their opinions matter, their advice is still received. When they pass, they will do so surrounded by people that love them, and not alone in an unknown place far removed from the warmth and comfort of family.

*Image borrowed from Senior Women's Health