Telling About the US Today ~September 30, 2009

I believe in God. People in America, when looking for a reason to believe in God just want to see how that relationship will help them benefit personally. Since all they see is Christians having the same kind of life, or sometimes worse life, then they decide that they do not want that relationship with someone who will help them in the future. I think this has a lot to do with today’s society in the United States. In every potential relationship people start, they always determine if the relationship they build with this person would be worth it in the long run or not. For instance, a girl meets a guy in a bar and they start to talk and really get along. They decide to go out to dinner the next night. When it comes time to pay the check, the guy tells the girl that he is currently unemployed and therefore he can not pay for both his and her meal. After an amazing evening of getting along and genuinely enjoying each other’s company, the woman decides she no longer wants to see him. Why would Americans base, what could possibly be the greatest relationship they have had, on how much money a person can put into the relationship? Americans are constantly looking out for the big number one, themselves. If they think that having a relationship with someone would possibly contribute to their life in some way, they are more than open in pursuing the relationship. However if you cannot produce a benefit in their not so distant future, why would they waste their time on you?

That's all for now!

~Ali

Whatever~ September 28, 2009

I read an article about a month ago that suggested that a mixture of honey and cinnamon powder can cure the flu, arthritis, the common cold, heart problems, and stomach ulcers. Each ailment has its own remedy but they all have been proven to improve the symptoms of all these sicknesses. I was interested in this myth because I have stomach and colon ulcers, so in digesting these interesting home remedy, I could be cured. After going on Snopes.com (a very reputable source of information), it told me that they have not performed enough research to create a concrete answer. After finding this out I decided to do my own research.
I have been doing my own experiment for the past month. Mixing a tablespoon of cinnamon powder and a tablespoon of honey in my mint tea every night before I go to bed, I have continued to search for anything that points to any disappointment in this method. However, after extensive (one month) research, I have come to a conclusion that it did not work for my colon ulcers. At first it seemed to have a slight effect, in that I didn’t have quite as much pain that I had been having previously. As a week turned into a month later, I have just now had my first flair up , thus proving that this claim to cure is just another empty ended myth. When it comes time for the flu and the cold though, I will be the first one to shove more cinnamon powder and honey down my throat if that means holding the flu or a cold at bay.

That's all for now!
~Ali

News Sources ~September 25,2009

CNN is a great news station. From breaking news to updates in world events, CNN has always seemed to either be first or have some piece of the puzzle that no other station has or has reported on yet. Not only does it report on news, but also it reports on the latest ups and downs of the stock market. Also it has CNN student news in the morning for all students between sixth and twelfth grade. This broadcast has important breaking stories that the students need to be aware of, fun stories to keep them interested, and fun facts that make the kids think. Both in my high school and middle school, all of my government and history teachers recommended we watch this program in order to stay on top of worldly events.
I think that CNN would be considered better than other news sources, than let’s say AJC or Weekly World News, because not only does it constantly update its viewers on important issues, but it also appeals to many generations of people. Through its vivid news reports across the ocean to the continuous news about what is happening in the life of our president and country, these sort of reports appeal to the older generation who care about more than themselves at this stage in life. Then it also connects to the younger generation when it reports on entertainment and some form of conflicting politics. Finally CNN tends to reports both sides of most major stories.

That's all for now!

~Ali

Torrential down pour ~September 23,2009

While sitting at work on Monday evening, I did not hear the rain that had started after I had already entered work. Since there are no windows in the main room I work in, I had no idea of the down pour it had turned into. My boss entered shortly after I got into work and asked if I could run an errend for him and go over to the Humanity building just a few blocks away. I work in the School of Music building next to the Rialto Theater and the building is on Park place Ave. So I though.... no big deal its right down the street... Upon getting on the elevator to leave, my boss asked if I wanted an umbrella. I asked if it was raining yet and he answered that I can have his big umbrella. I declined and went and got my small umbrella.
When I stepped out of the door and on to the street to start walking there, it felt like a water fall was hitting my umbrella! So I swiftly made my way across the streets. The puddles looked like they were only a couple inches, however when I started to make my way across them, I soon found out that they were up to my knees.After I got back my boss took one look at me and flat out laughed. He told me I looked like I had drowned. I had water dripping from everwhere except my head. I quickly changed into some cheerleading shorts I luckily had from rock climbing earlier and went right back to work.
"Trying to swim back to my apartment was gonna be fun"
Thats all for now
~Ali

Articles ~ September 21

This first article I chose is about a new plan to "Go Green".
Thesis: New way to offset emissions.
How : They gave the money it would take to get to a meeting to a power project in Andhra Pradesh, India. These plans use agricultural leftovers, like rice husks and sunflower stalks, to generate electricity for the local grid.
Evidence: using this money would cut down on the use of carbon dioxide emissions instead of driving or flying to the meeting.
Also because India's economy runs off of fossil fuels, coal, it would be beneficial that they start the use of agriculture left overs.
Interest: This article interested me because I cannot wait until we find the answer to stop polluting our earth.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/science/earth/23offsets.html?hpw

The second article I chose was based off of crazy people and the deeds they do.

Thesis: Allan Jefferey Levine started the fires at either end of the apartment complex. How:He put trash in the stairs of either side of the apartmen complex, then lit the trash piles on fire in order to burn the whole complex down. Evidence:All neighbors gave testimonies
Atlanta Police interviews

Interest: This article interested mem not only because it shows people how crazy people are now a days but because my family fosters children and this is the story of why they are staying with us!

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/buckhead-condo-resident-arrested-129213.html

Thats all for now
~Ali

Review~ September 16,2009

I am reviewing Whitney Phillips' blog on her softball game entitled "Game Time"The content was not exactly descriptive and didn't really draw me, as a reader, in. I could tell she rushed to write this blog and she ran out of things to say. This was apparent in the ways that she really did not describe certain things as well as she could have and also how she rambled about their team and their next game. I didn't like how she commented that she didn't know if they were a good team or the opposite team was just bad. She should know that her team is good and defend why they are and have more confidence in all their hard work they have put in to getting the team to where it is competitively. Also I don't think that using smiley faces in an English assignment were appropriate because it makes the reader not take you seriously. Finally I did not like how she used so many oooooo’s in some words. I think that makes the reader feel like they are reading a note between two little school girls who have some juice gossip.
However I do like the way she told the scores for both the matches her team played in that day. This information makes the reader have team spirit for her and her team mates. Also I liked how the girls, fans, and coaches cheered each player on as they battled against the college Young Harris. When she described the weather, I thought she did a great job at throwing in the softness of the wind and that it was just right except for the humidity. Over all I think she did a good job!

Thats all for now!
~Ali

Momma Panda~ September 18,2009

I chose to commentate on the Mother and baby Panda picture. In this picture, I can infer that the mother panda just gave birth to a new baby. Through the way that the mother is looking at her baby with such awe, I can tell that this experience is new to her, in that she just gave birth to it. Also she seems to be kind of reaching her arm to the baby, to be able to help it stand if it so desires. Through this action I can tell that the momma panda really cares about the baby. This is interesting to me because most animals do not really show that they care about their children. Most animals often use the parenting style of “tough love”. The parenting style “tough love” lets their baby experience life as it would if the parent is not there to care for it, then whenever trouble is there and it really needs help, the parent then steps in to keep it from harm. This style I believe is the most beneficial because if every thing is spoon fed to it then it will not learn by mistake and when it comes time for the baby to leave the parents, it will not know what to do. I chose this picture because of the way that the mother shows her love to the baby not by words but by action. This is the most important way to show love to someone.

That's all for now!
~Ali

Whatever ~September 14,2009

So last week there was this great up roar about these 2 teachers who went on Craig's list and bought 2 prostitutes. Those 2 teachers were my teachers from high school.... One was my chorus director who I was with all four years of my high school career and the other teacher was the band director, in which I was with for the first 2 years of high school through color guard. I was in shock. Both directors were recently divorced with children involved. These people were some of the most professional people I had grown to know. In fact one of the rules while in both departments were that we could not touch eachother, including hugs, for more than 3 seconds.
While the details are still being unfolded, Whitewater High school is now looking for new choral and band directors. My father has been the unofficial assistant choral director for the past 6 years, so he is applying for the job. I know that my dad is the hardest working man alive and he has proved that time and time again to not only the chorus department but also the principal of my high school ,so I am pretty sure he has the job in the bag. However if the board needs more proof that he is perfect for the job, several old students are writting letters to tell how he has improved their voices and also their lifes. You see my dad is the kind of person who helps people not only professionally but also in everyday situations. No matter what the problem, he always has a solution for you, and he is ALWAYS right no matter how many times I did not want to admit it.
If you want to read more about the teacher situation go here: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/20838904/detail.html
Thats all for now!
~Ali

Regionalism ~ September 11,2009

Those two articles affected my perception on the Magnolia state by showing me how racist people there, and every where could be. In the first article, the people of Mississippi showed that not all people are ignorant to the ways of society now- a- days. Welcoming all sorts of people into the restaurant with open arms really showed that some people want to move on and make everyone comfortable with the skin they are in. I think that it was a great booster for those who are wanting to move on a light at the end of a tunnel. However in the second article, racism really showed through, proving that it was still alive and thriving. People should not take the law into their own hands no matter if you think they deserve it or not. That is for the people that each city ordains to take care of those thing's job, not the people who got wrong done to them. If you take the law into your own hands, your mind is blurred from the truth and what you thought happened might not have actually happened.I really didn't know much about Mississippi before I read these two articles. I have never been there and honestly I don't really feel the need to go there. I see that racism still has a place in their hearts, not that it doesn't any where else, but I strongly dislike the thought of people having such bad attitudes towards people just because of the way they were born.

That's all for now!
~Ali

The President's Address ~ September 9,2009

Ok so the presidential address to the kids in school had great potential and great intentions behind it, however, I do not think that it should have been aired in every school. I think that kids should stay in school and I believe that they will prosper from it, however I don't think it makes much of a difference if their parents tell them to do it or president Obama tells them to do it. Thought I believe that it was not really beneficial, I think it is stupid that it has been going under this much scrutiny. Obama just wanted to reinforce the stay in school success message and not take over as a dictator. Presidents in the past have done this very thing and they did not get half as much scrutiny as Obama has gotten these past few days. I just believe that basically his message was redundant to what the students hear from their parents and if they hear it enough they would just disregard the message and not want to hear the underlined message again, The underlined message being, stay in school or you will not achieve what you dream of achieving. For example, it is like your mom telling you not to drink, then your dad telling you not to drink, then the president telling you not to drink. They are all saying the same thing but in the end, you are going to do what you want to do no matter who tells you not to do it.

Thats All for now!
~Ali

The Colorful Beach ~September 4,2009

I had the opportunity to visit West Palm Beach with my best friend for my 3 day weekend.As I surveyed the beach, I saw the glistening of the brilliantly blue water as it ran up to the shore and like a shy child, ran back to join the rest of the family of water. Also during my people watching time, I observed a woman about three times the size of me squeeze into a bikini and lye in the beach and turn redder and more purple by the second as the sun rays seeped deep into her blabby skin. The sun, brilliant and bright, showed us the splendor if all the power it is capable as we gazed into the sky to catch a glimpse of a small air plane trailing a long banner behind its powerful engine. Of all these things, my most favorite sight on the beach was the constant game of male beach volley ball just a few yard in front of the spot we chose. Observing as the young men constantly dove in such a selfless way, no matter the sand burn they got, to save their team from utter defeat was just amazing to me. Sweat dripped down from their head to the bottoms of their ankles, and with every dive they made, more sand got stuck to their bodies for the rest of the game. However when they won, they had the sweet victory to claim for all the sand gliding into every inch of their bodies.


Thats all for now!

~Ali

My Favorite Song ~September 2,2009

I listen to alot of music and all sorts if it; however, my favorite song of all time is Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Cailat.This song is my favorite song because the lyrics describe the ideal way a couple should feel about each other. The song is about a couple who are away from each other at the moment and they are reminiscing about when they will get to see each other again. Talking to each other through dreams, each of the people in the relationship tells about hearing the whispers of their lover across the sea. Then in the chorus it describes how their relationship is. Being in love with their best friend and staying true to each other even though they are miles apart. As the song progresses, they continue to tell about all the things they are luck for and waiting for that moment when they get to hold each other again. Also my favorite line in the song is “They don't know how long it takes, waiting for a love like this”. This is my favorite line because people don’t realize how long it takes to find true love and people now-a – days just jump into relationships and tell each other they love them when they don’t even know what love is themselves.
Also the music behind the lyrics makes you really relax and creates a chill environment. They use a simple guitar rhythm, a simple drum pattern, and a few notes from the piano as instrumentation for this song. Using such simplicity for the background music lets the listener hear more of what the artists are saying rather than being distracted by something that is made to be in the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BPPl9TA0vk

Thats all for now!
~Ali