Month: November 2011

Frustrated.

yrreskrap2 Comments

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodness, is it too much to give up one lunch of your day so that someone, somewhere could have a meal? So that maybe some animal could be saved. So that cancer research can be funded?

I am frustrated. Frustrated with the current predicament that student council is facing. We have proposed the idea of replacing one lunch meal at school for soup, salad, and bread so that the proceeds would go towards a charity of the student body’s choice. The underclassmen agreed to the idea. But the upperclassmen…that’s a different story.

A few people are concerned about not having a good lunch. They complain that lunch is bad enough already that they would not want to downgrade to a simple meal of soup.

But what astounds me is their view of community service. Community service is about giving, not about luxury. So why then, is giving up a single meal, one out of the 21 meals that they have a day, so difficult? All of the money goes straight to the charity. So why? Only good can come out of this experience.

To be continued. Hopefully, progress will come.

Steve Jobs-REBORN

frog3Leave a comment

Our generation often labeled generation X, is known for our technological superiority over older people. This “ superiority “ has led rise to many young entrepreneurs, kids who take advantage of the changing world. From apps, to social networks the possibilities are endless.

An upstart business “man” who has cashed in on his affinity for technology is 6th grader Thomas Suarez. Getting into computers and programming in kindergarten, he has gone on to create Earth Fortune and Justin Bieber. Earth Fortune is an app that predicts the future, while Justin Bieber is a whack- a- mole style game, were you whack Justin Biebers head.

Releasing his 1st app in 2010, he has said that he has drawn much inspiration from the late Steve Jobs. He taught himself the basics of Python, C, and Java in order to program apps. Thomas has also started an app club at his school for students and parents alike because he feels people do not know how to create apps.

Another young entrepreneur is Lim Deng Wen, a 9 year old who hails from Singapore. He has been programming on computers since he was two and has taught himself six programming languages. His best selling app is “Doodle Kids”, which allows you to use your ios devices as drawing pads.

Doodle_Kids_iPhone_app.jpg

These young men embody the American Dream, a dream that gives you a chance to succeed in life, no matter your gender, race, economic standing or age.


Worst Person 6-HERE IT IS PEOPLE-JERRY SANDUSKY

backinphillyLeave a comment

I have been reached by a number of people that have read my blog and have been asked “Hey dude, what about Sandusky (or as some call him, that Penn State pedophile) for your Worst Person in Sports?

Well quiet down. I got ya covered. Jerry Sandusky was the defensive coordinator of the Penn State Nittany Lions and he, my friends, is being convicted for having sexual relations with young boys, around the ages of 10-12, in the showers in the Penn State football locker room.

WHAT?!?!?!?! Now I don’t wanna totally bias my post because I’m a huge fan of free thought. But don’t even think about thinking that this is appropriate. The craziest thing is that these “relations” occurred in 2002. That was the most recent occurrence.

Then how has it not surfaced in 9 years? The answer lies with the other Penn State coaches, including coaching legend Joe Paterno.

JoePa was fired recently after he was questioned by the Penn State Board of Trustees about the scandal. Apparently, Paterno did not come forward with information that he had in order to retain his coach.

What do you guys think of the scandal? Whose guilty? Is Sandusky a pedophile or just wrongly accused? Watch this Bob Costas interview if you need some help with your decision.

Son of Citation Machine

kirbyfullyloaded1 Comment

WARNING: BLOOD AHEAD.  VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. 

I’ve recently had to cite over 100 sources for two research papers and one oral presentation.

Research papers are the bane of my first semester.  They’re stressful because they simultaneously seem super easy and incredibly complicated.  On the bright side, you can research all the information you need.  On the not-so-bright side, you have to outline, organize and cite every single bit of information.

I think I would have spontaneously combusted without Son of Citation Machine.  Violent implosion is another definite possibility.

For all you high schoolers and college kids, we know citing is a major pain.

I feel bad for the dinosaurs (like my journalism teacher) who had to actually use encyclopedias and card catalogues to create their citations.

MLA:

APA:

MLA and APA are the two academic citation formats.  MLA is used to cite English and humanities related research while APA cites scientific and behavioral investigations.

There is NO WAY I would be able to cite every bit of information by myself.  I’d be dead.  As my best friend Louis says, “not -girl-gets-pimple-before-prom-dead, serious –Manny-Pacquiao-just-punched-me-in-the-face-dead.”

Pacquiao punching Magorito
Pacquiao knocks out Ricky Hatton

See that?  Those guys look the way I feel about citations.

So I used Son of Citation Machine.  SoCM is a citation-generating website.  I like it better than easybib or bibme because it gives you in-text citations and I just find the layout more professional and clean-cut.  It even indents the lines for you.

It’s free and fast and unlike bibme, you don’t need an account.  You can go back and make corrections to your citations and it gives you many options for citing your source such as a book, a web document, an encyclopedia, a newspaper article, an online journal article, a magazine article, a radio program, a television program, a lecture, a government publication and many more.

I am eternally grateful for this website and it makes citing sources 1,000,000,000 times easier.

So next time you have to write a research paper or make a Powerpoint with a works cited slide and in-text citations, skip those other websites and go straight to Son of Citation Machine.


Occupy America

therightliberalLeave a comment

If this video makes you sick, good.

The video was taken at the University of California, Berkeley. And where on campus was this brutal beating in? Free Speech Square.

Now as the title says, this was one of many of the “Occupy Wall Street” protests going on around the country. It was made up of students from the university who were not being violent or trespassing. The college did not ask for the protest to be broken up.

So here is a video taken from the same spot, but from 1964. This was from a protest regarding the lack of free speech for the students.

The irony is clear that students were being attacked by police for speaking their mind in the FREE SPEECH SQUARE.

What is wrong with our country, people?

We have people who have been peacefully protesting, upset with the current state of our economy and our society. And yet, police feel the need to go through and violently break up many peaceful protests.

Now with that last video, look at the people running. Look at the woman running and the people taking pictures. Now do those people look like violent and dangerous people to you?

Before, I was very questioning of the 99% protests and the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. I thought it didn’t have a real object and that it seemed unorganized.

But that has changed. If I didn’t live in a small town, I would be right out there with them. These people are fighting for what the majority of our people want. They are fighting for a change that this country needs. To be honest, and I hesitate to say this, this could be one of the first steps to a full revolution.

But I don’t want to make it seem that they are working towards anarchy. They are working to find more equality in this country. It may seem that everyone here is equal but look at the separation between the uber-wealthy and the rest of America.

And now there is a movement towards change. So if you can do anything to help this movement, go do it. Bring a positive change to our country and support these brave people who are out in the cold fighting for a better country.

Controversy over… Soup?

rangerthecat1 Comment

Today in our senior class meeting, something unexpected and very surprising happened. And to be honest, even though it does not have a direct effect on me, it still bothers me. A lot.

Student council has proposed the idea of a soup lunch. Once a week we would serve only soup, salad, and bread, and the money saved would be donated to a charity of our choice to help people in need.

The unbelievable part is that this simple, easy, and helpful plan has basically been denied. Why? Because a small number of students feel like it is not a good idea for some strange reason.

I would like to say that I am sympathetic and that I also see it from their point of view, but unfortunately I don’t. The students who objected brought concerns about where the money is going, how much we will raise, and how they don’t want to skip a meal. But really, soup, bread, and salad is a very substantial meal that many less fortunate people out there would be ecstatic to have each day.

There are 20 meals served each week. And out of all of those, we can’t find the selflessness to give up one single meal to help others.

What’s happened to all the generosity in this world?

Butterflies, Again

yrreskrap1 Comment


Fingertips feel numb. Palms feel cold. Stomach feels light. Head feels warm.

I welcome this unease.

Two become one from 2,000 to none in perhaps less than seven.

Which makes me worry. I don’t get hungry anymore.

I welcome this unease.

I won’t be unfaithful, but I might stray. I might stray. No, only for a minute. But it is always you. Something always brings me back to you…unwillingly, powerfully, endearingly, courageously, always.

I welcome this unease.

Let the butterflies consume my heart when I see you again. Let them take over. Let them feast. Feast until they have had their fill, and more. So it will last me until our next unspoken encounter.

Honesty

rangerthecat1 Comment

Honestly, (ha), I don’t understand some people’s logic/morals anymore.

It’s as if honesty is not even a common thing anymore.

There are lies as simple as “that was my last piece of gum”, and then there are much, much more complicated lies.

I know that sometimes, a little white lie is necessary and harmless. But, where is that line between little lies and big lies?

I believe that people have forgotten that honesty is EASY. I mean, it really is.

And, being honest more often seems to lead to less mishaps in the first place that may seem to require lies later on.

I know everyone who has ever walked this earth has most likely been hurt by a lie that didn’t need to be told.

Honesty is the most important quality in a person, in my opinion. So, as of today, I am making a promise with myself to be honest about anything to anyone.

People need to realize this, and do the same… They really do.

Worst Person #5-Andy Reid

backinphillyLeave a comment

Yup, gunna take a quick shot at my own team in this blog. So, get ready for a barrage of negativity.

I love the Philadelphia Eagles. I will never stop loving this team. But right now, there is nothing in the world that I hate more than their head coach, Andy Reid. Ya, he’s not the only one to blame for the team’s continued woes of poor play. But seriously, you are given players like Jason Babin, Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie…AND YOU GO 3-6?!?!?!?! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FLIPPIN’ KIDDING ME!!!! HOW CAN SOMEONE WITH SUCH A GREAT TRACK RECORD OF LEADING TEAMS TO THE PLAYOFFS COACH A TEAM WITH THE BEST PLAYERS MONEY CAN BUY AND LOSE CONSTANTLY?!?!?!

I’m not alone on this. Even Philly wants Reid gone after this atrocious start. I have developed a supreme HATRED of this entire coaching staff this season with the exception of offensive line coach Howard Mudd and defensive line coach Jim Washburn. Mudd simply because he is a living NFL legend and Washburn because his unit is actually WORKING rather than completely failing like the rest of the roster.

The Eagles travel to New York next weekend to face the Giants on the big stage of Sunday Night Football. I will watch it with my parents, brother, sister and Giants fan girlfriend (Should be interesting) who is flying out for the weekend. Without a victory against the Giants, the already minuscule chance of the Eagles making the playoffs will completely evaporate and the season will be over after 10 games. There’s supposed to be 16 games, not 10.

There’s always next year right? Of course there is, but not with Andy Reid. Leave Philadelphia because none of the brothers here have any more love for you.

Shaken

yrreskrap2 Comments


Silence.

Only the buzz of a the car rolling on the freeway.

Above her head, black expanse broken by the single, flickering light of a plane.

That was the first time she ever truly wished she could run, escape. Get out of this stuffy car. Away from all of the stress and pressure. To find Some reprieve, Some momentary peace, Somewhere far away.

If only she could be on that plane that was slowly crossing the night sky. If only she could switch lives with the driver that drove parallel to the car she was in. If she could leave…if. If.

Oh, and how she wanted to SCREAM. It seemed sometimes that was the only way to keep her sanity. To scream. But she could not.

She couldn’t bear telling her father, who was sitting behind the wheel. No, that would break his heart. He didn’t need to know. Nobody needs to know.

So, muffled, in her thoughts, she was screaming. Her eyes silently staring ahead.

Miles to go until she got to her destination.

And miles to go until she could start living her life like she wants to.