This week, we learned about the Quasi War. I found it fascinating to learn about Federalists and Republicans. Federalists believed in a strong central government, more laws, harsher taxes, etc. Republicans believed in "power to the people," free speech, free press etc. In modern day, (generally) a Republican believes in limited central government, strong national defense, and is a fiscal conservative.
It is interesting how this political term evolved and changed over time. And to very different beliefs I might add! When thinking deeper about the idea of meanings changing over time, I came across the words pejoration and amelioration. I wondered about other words either degrading or enhancing in meaning over time...can you think of any?
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Define: Smart
What does "smart" mean? Are you smart if you get A's on tests or are you smart if you stay away from drugs? I believe the both answers fit perfect examples of "smart".
There are two types of smart. One being street-smart, the other being book-smart. When I thesaurused (is that a word? Hah) street smart, words like "common sense," "wisdom," "know-how," and "acumen" came up. Thus, street smart means a person who has an all around knack or intellect of knowledge. Not necessarily textbook knowledge, more like random daily life information. As Urban Dictionary says, a street smart person is one who knows "what every type of person has to deal with daily and understands all groups of people and how to act around them and different situations."
On the other side of the spectrum is book-smart, which as Urban Dictionary defines it as, "someone who is intelligent and very well educated academically." Pretty self explanatory. An example of a book smart person is an A student, in all AP classes, who is very good at memorization, test taking, note taking etc.
Its interesting to compare and contrast both aspects of smart, and maybe which category you, yourself, fit in. Do you agree with these definitions? Is there a third definition of smart?
There are two types of smart. One being street-smart, the other being book-smart. When I thesaurused (is that a word? Hah) street smart, words like "common sense," "wisdom," "know-how," and "acumen" came up. Thus, street smart means a person who has an all around knack or intellect of knowledge. Not necessarily textbook knowledge, more like random daily life information. As Urban Dictionary says, a street smart person is one who knows "what every type of person has to deal with daily and understands all groups of people and how to act around them and different situations."
On the other side of the spectrum is book-smart, which as Urban Dictionary defines it as, "someone who is intelligent and very well educated academically." Pretty self explanatory. An example of a book smart person is an A student, in all AP classes, who is very good at memorization, test taking, note taking etc.
Its interesting to compare and contrast both aspects of smart, and maybe which category you, yourself, fit in. Do you agree with these definitions? Is there a third definition of smart?
Bored? I think not...
Random but entertaining. Just browsing through some websites, found some interesting stories. Have fun!
- http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/business/media/16apple.html?_r=1&ref=global-home
- http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/science/16conversation.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB
- http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/11/15/smartphone.viral.video.mashable/index.html?hpt=C2
- http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20442139,00.html
Sunday, November 7, 2010
FOUND: Right or Wrong?
This week was Litfest, and I was lucky enough to go see 4 wonderful writers preform Thursday Night, at the Northfield Campus. The last speaker, Davy Rothbart, is the head of an organization called "Found Magazine." Basically they tell people to send in letters they find in unique places. One story he shared with us was about a letter found in a cemetery, hanging from a balloon that got caught in at tree. A lady climbed the tree, retrieved the letter, and sent it to Found. The letter was written by a recently suicidal boy to his dead mother. He wrote about this girl he thought he loved, and how he missed his mom so much. It was truly a touching and heartwarming story.
Yet, after I hearing this story, I was a little irritated. That letter wasn't for my eyes to read. Nor to be posted online for millions of viewers to see. Although it is extremely touching, and it did have a huge affect on me, I still believe that some things should remain confidential. Especially something as personal as that.
Although one may get a few laughs or tears from the letters sent it, I still am against the organization. Not in a strongly-rooted anti-Found way. Rather, I believe that they should censor the letters they receive. I felt weird and wrong hearing this letter....because it wasn't written to me. Maybe that balloon was meant for heaven...? Not for "Found."
Yet, after I hearing this story, I was a little irritated. That letter wasn't for my eyes to read. Nor to be posted online for millions of viewers to see. Although it is extremely touching, and it did have a huge affect on me, I still believe that some things should remain confidential. Especially something as personal as that.
Although one may get a few laughs or tears from the letters sent it, I still am against the organization. Not in a strongly-rooted anti-Found way. Rather, I believe that they should censor the letters they receive. I felt weird and wrong hearing this letter....because it wasn't written to me. Maybe that balloon was meant for heaven...? Not for "Found."
Sunday, October 31, 2010
How Ridiculous
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| "How Ridiculous" Members |
The four call themselves "How Ridiculous" and have been shooting incredible, and almost UNBELIEVABLE basketball shots in their backyards. They would do things like bounce the ball off the ground, then off the garage wall and into the basket. Or stand on a roof top and throw a basketball into the hoop - with a baseball style throw. Check out their first video by clicking HERE.
As their fan base increased, via there youtube channel called "whoisjimmy," they then progressed into taking on greater challenges, such as shooting blindfolded shots and standing many rows up in a football stadium and shooting balls into a basket placed on the field below.
It is truly unreal, how these four can make these seemingly impossible shots at such a high percentage, but what is truly unreal is how they urge people to donate to charity. To me, that only makes "How Ridiculous" even more worthwhile. They suggest giving to charities that benefit children in third world countries. Now that is one thing, that is NOT ridiculous!
This got me thinking about charity in general. What are its benefits? Pros and Cons? Is charity technically a sacrifice? Just a little fun story for the day. Happy Halloween!
Monday, October 25, 2010
A Blog Blog Blog Shouldn't be Blah Blah Blah
As the title says, A Blog Blog Blog Shouldn't be Blah Blah Blah! When first entering this frenzied online world, I have to admit, I thought of blogging as more of a personal journal. I thought I would blog whenever I wanted, when I was happy, sad, angry, appalled. Yet I have learned that blogging is much more than personal feelings. A successful blogger will gather accurate information, back up his/her arguments, hyperlink to helpful websites, and most importantly, tell a story. The overall goal is to provide a complete satisfying experience for the reader, as well as give them the opportunity to learn! Good blogging is easier said than done. Trust me, I know from experience.
As I look back over the nine blog posts I have made in the past ten weeks, I notice major improvement. In my first few posts, I seemed to "scratch the surface" rather than delve deep into controversial issues. For example, my first blog post called "Love The Way You Lie" is very creative and fun to read, yet it isn't a deep thinking topic nor does it go into specific detail. Comparing that to my most recent post called "The Mysterious 'Jim Crow'", I see that I included plentiful facts and detail. It is clearly written and displays interesting information. Over these nine weeks I have grown as a writer, now knowing the balance of information and creativity is key. My one struggle, I believe, is writing too creatively. Sometimes, I just get so entranced within my writing, that the post will end up lacking intellectual quality. For example, my post called "Break Me; A Song By HotPause" was quite a disappointment. I had loads of fun writing it but as I re-read it now I cringe. What was I thinking?!
Bolos and OC- I would like you to grade "On, In or Near?" It discusses the possible Mosque to be built by ground zero. We talked a lot about this topic in class, and I feel I wrote a fairly interesting post. Enjoy!
By the way, just wanted to say how much I LOVE BLOGGING. (If the caps wasn't enough I put it in bold and underlined it too!) It is so fun. I feel like I always learn something, whether its about my personal writing or current events or history...anything! Its a great idea, and it truly has benefitted me so much, as a writer and a person.
As I look back over the nine blog posts I have made in the past ten weeks, I notice major improvement. In my first few posts, I seemed to "scratch the surface" rather than delve deep into controversial issues. For example, my first blog post called "Love The Way You Lie" is very creative and fun to read, yet it isn't a deep thinking topic nor does it go into specific detail. Comparing that to my most recent post called "The Mysterious 'Jim Crow'", I see that I included plentiful facts and detail. It is clearly written and displays interesting information. Over these nine weeks I have grown as a writer, now knowing the balance of information and creativity is key. My one struggle, I believe, is writing too creatively. Sometimes, I just get so entranced within my writing, that the post will end up lacking intellectual quality. For example, my post called "Break Me; A Song By HotPause" was quite a disappointment. I had loads of fun writing it but as I re-read it now I cringe. What was I thinking?!
Bolos and OC- I would like you to grade "On, In or Near?" It discusses the possible Mosque to be built by ground zero. We talked a lot about this topic in class, and I feel I wrote a fairly interesting post. Enjoy!
By the way, just wanted to say how much I LOVE BLOGGING. (If the caps wasn't enough I put it in bold and underlined it too!) It is so fun. I feel like I always learn something, whether its about my personal writing or current events or history...anything! Its a great idea, and it truly has benefitted me so much, as a writer and a person.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Mysterious 'Jim Crow'
Today, we briefly talked about the Jim Crow Laws. I had heard the phrase before, and automatically knew that they had something to do with segregating blacks and whites in America. Yet I couldn't help but think...Who was Jim Crow?
After some research, I found that Jim Crow isn't really a person! The term "Jim Crow" refers to a black character in an old song. The song went like this: "Come listen all you galls and boys, I'm going to sing a little song, My name is Jim Crow. Weel about and turn about and do jis so, Eb'ry time I weel about I jump Jim Crow." It was written by a man named Thomas Dartmouth Rice. Rice would act out his song along with some singing and dancing. He played the part of Jim Crow, a black slave or stable boy. Rice was a white man, and was one of the first performers to use blackface makeup. His routine became very popular as he traveled through multiple states in the U.S. With such great success, he even traveled to London and Dublin and put on a few shows! A false connotation of black people to be foolish and carefree suddenly arose throughout America and Europe. "Jim Crow" had then become an offensive name and eventually a racial slur.
The Jim Crow Laws were oppressive laws in the U.S. They stressed inferiority of black people, and segregated them from white people. This resulted in economic, educational and social disadvantages for the blacks. How do these laws relate to Fredrick Douglass?
After some research, I found that Jim Crow isn't really a person! The term "Jim Crow" refers to a black character in an old song. The song went like this: "Come listen all you galls and boys, I'm going to sing a little song, My name is Jim Crow. Weel about and turn about and do jis so, Eb'ry time I weel about I jump Jim Crow." It was written by a man named Thomas Dartmouth Rice. Rice would act out his song along with some singing and dancing. He played the part of Jim Crow, a black slave or stable boy. Rice was a white man, and was one of the first performers to use blackface makeup. His routine became very popular as he traveled through multiple states in the U.S. With such great success, he even traveled to London and Dublin and put on a few shows! A false connotation of black people to be foolish and carefree suddenly arose throughout America and Europe. "Jim Crow" had then become an offensive name and eventually a racial slur.
The Jim Crow Laws were oppressive laws in the U.S. They stressed inferiority of black people, and segregated them from white people. This resulted in economic, educational and social disadvantages for the blacks. How do these laws relate to Fredrick Douglass?
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