1102s & Papers

Looking back at the past semester, I feel like I have greatly developed as a writer. English 1102 was much more challenging to me than English 1101. I made better grades on my papers in English 1101. I feel like this is because the papers that were required to be written in English 1102 involved more research and integrating that research with my thoughts. These types of papers were different to me and beginning with the Nickel and Dimed paper, I struggled integrating my opinions with facts from the text. The papers we had to write this semester required us to try and provide credible evidence and persuade the audience. It took me some times to learn how to effectively do this but I did. I also feel like my research skills have improved. I have also learned how to recognize reliable and credible sources which is important to in order to make sure you do not obtain false information. Also, I learned how “do research on research”. I discovered this in paper 3. There was a lot of research that I found that led to me to ask more questions on my subject, leading me to do more and more specific research. I feel like this helped me cover all things that people might question in my argument. I really learned the importance of revision. I know feel like that in order to produce the best possible paper, I must revise, revise, and revise. Finally, I learned how to make a sound argument. It is so important to use ethos, pathos, and ethos to make a strong argument that the audience can change their belief upon. Looking back at it, English 1102 was a great class despite the long nights that I spent writing papers.

If I had to live without one it would be.........

The electronic gadgets that are out today vary by size, shape, speed, type, etc. There are so many different types of technological “toys” that people own. Recently, I lost two of my “favorite toys”, my laptop and my iPod. These two items were my most prized possessions. After living without these items for some time now, I have come to realize that my iPod is an item that I can live without. Music is such a big part of my life and my iPod has kept going all through the school year. When I lost my iPod, I though I was going to literally die. I would feel weird walking to class without it, I didn’t have any music to listen to as I go to bed, and I didn’t have music to listen to when I wanted to work out. But when I really think about it, living without my iPod really is not that bad after all. There are so many substitutes for listening to music. Hanging out in the campus courtyard between classes provides me with the daily dose of music that I need. Also, there are other ways to listen to music that don’t require an iPod. I have been using my desktop a lot to listen to music. Sure it isn’t convenient as I can’t take my music with me as I leave my dorm, but it isn’t something that is imperative for me to live with. Living without a phone, laptop, or television with is much worse than living without an iPod. Although it was one of my favorite gadgets, I feel that I can live without it.

Question????

Currently, I work at CVS Pharmacy in Newnan, GA. Nearly every night that I work, several customers come in to buy Sudafed or CVS brand cold relief products. It is always the same question, “Can I get a box of CVS 12 hour? And make it the biggest one you got.” This cold relief product must be purchased from behind the counter because it contains pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant but is probably more known to some customers of CVS as an ingredient to produce methamphetamine. I’m not saying that all people that by CVS or Sudafed Nasal Decongestant products are taking it home to make meth but there are some customers that make me wonder. Usually, as I work the late night shift, customers would make what a call “drug run”. About two to four customers would come in the store consecutively to purchase this product and not to make assumptions but they all have the look of meth users. They are only allowed to buy one box but some even ask me to allow them to purchase two and they will slip extra money. As I wonder if these customers are buying these products for the wrong intention, all I can do is ask for their license and long their personal information into the computer. I have no right to not sell it to them unless the computer rejects their license. Newnan is notorious for meth labs. The other day, the local newspaper reported a lab being discovered and I recognized the suspects in the mug shots as customers of CVS. This experience poses several questions. What can the government do to restrict the sale of these pseudoephedrine products? Should more power be given to managers of pharmacies so they can restrict customers from purchasing these products? Should this product be completely taken off the shelf? Why does CVS continue to supply this product when there is a reasonable doubt that these products are being used for the wrong reasons? Would CVS rather not take a popular product that produces earning off the shelf even though it is being used harmfully? How can we better track whether these products are being misused?

Ohhh the Media....Always making an argument!!!!

Wall Street Journal

The Cheers and Jeers for a Costly New Ballpark
Ailing Fort Myers Approves a New Spring-Training Stadium for the Boston Red Sox; Some See Boon, Others a Bane

The headline argues that even though a new stadium may bring an economic boom to a town, it may also be a wasteful and costly project.

Lawmakers Have Long Rewarded Their Aides With Bonuses
WASHINGTON -- While Congress has been flaying companies for giving out bonuses while on the government dole, lawmakers have a longstanding tradition of rewarding their own employees with extra cash -- also courtesy of taxpayers.
The headline argues that lawmakers also use tax payer money to give bonuses to their aides. This headline comes in light of all the commotion in Congress over AIG bonuses.
Stocks Open Second Quarter Strong Stocks rose Wednesday after better-than-expected data on manufacturing, housing and auto sales.
The headline argues that stocks opening stocks opening strong in the second quarter of the fiscal year is a positive sign for the economy. A strong stock market is always encouraging sign for the economy.
The NBA's Most Misleading Number How the Assist Became a Matter of Interpretation -- and Why NBA Alumni Say the Kids Get Too Many
The headline argues that assists are a misleading statistic in evaluating an NBA player’s performance.
The Onion
Team USA Happy To Be Back Playing For Money
The headline argues that Team USA baseball players only enjoy playing baseball for their personal teams and not for a meaningless world tournament.
Troy Aikman Becomes First Robot Inducted Into Pro Football Hall Of Fame
The headline argues that Hall of Famer Troy Aikman had the qualities of a robot when he played quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
New Report Calls For Radical Food Changes
The headline argues that America’s production and consumption of food is one that needs to change.
TV Producers Running Out Of Types Of People To Have Dance With Each Other
The headline argues that television producers are running out of ideas for good television shows. The producers lack originality in creating new television shows.
AJC
Bill to allow clear-cutting near billboards defeated, for now
The headline argues that billboard opponents have gained a victory in trying to remove billboards.
Brooking’s reputation the draw for Cowboys
The headline argues that ex-Atlanta Falcon linebacker Keith Brooking’s experience and reputation in the NFL is the reason why the Dallas Cowboys signed him form free agency.
Playoff problem: Hawks lack quality road wins
The headline argues that in order for the Atlanta Hawks to have a successful playoff fun, they must begin to win games on the road.
'American Idol' puts the cork on another crooner
The headline argues that American Idol has many soft pop singers on the show and it is good that they got rid of those types of singers.
USA Today
Colleges are the ones fearing rejection letters
The headline argues that many students will deny colleges offer of acceptance this Spring because of economic hardship and other reasons.
Most teens aren't getting preventive health care
The headline argues that teens need better preventive health care. They are not receiving a sufficient amount of health care.
NCAA, colleges pushing the envelope with sports marketing
The headline argues that college sports programs are doing to much to market their collegiate athletics.
It's about time 'ER' is taken off life support
The headline argues that NBC’s ER is being overplayed and needs to be discontinued from television.

The Great Gatsby and The American Dream

The Great Gatsby takes place in the upper class area of Long Island. The main character, Nick Carraway, moves to Long Island and sees the rich lifestyle of the people he meets. This movie portrays the American Dream as a certain status or class. The characters in the film all live lavish life styles. The movie shows this by their homes, boats, and clothing. Also, there are multiple scenes of lavish looking parties. Nick Carraway sits back throughout the movie and just watches it all. He sees how the people of Long Island live their life. This movie portrays the American Dream as something you can only experience through living the lavish and rich life of the characters in the film. If you do not live a lifestyle such as this one, essentially this movie is saying that you are not living the American Dream. A prime example of this is the scene where Tom stops at a gas station to meet an old friend. The setting in the movie shows that the owner of the gas station is not living a lavish lifestyle. Tom tells the gas station’s owner to go away with him. I believe this symbolizes what this movie portrays as the American Dream. Tom wanted to take the girl away from the plain, old gas station and take her to Long Island so she can live the lavish and fun lifestyle or “American Dream”. This portrayal shows how the American Dream is sometimes caught up in the idea of greed. Yes, we all want to pursue our won happiness and make a good life for ourselves but as this film show, we can sometimes get caught up in having all the materials in the world and live a rich, greedy lifestyle which truly does not lead to happiness.

I can actually taste this while I write

What do I look for in a restaurant? Well of course taste, variety, cleanliness, quality, short wait for food, and most importantly, the most bang for the buck. Usually when you go to a restaurant, you get what you pay for. How full you get depends on how much money you are willing to spend. I get the most bang for my buck at Zaxbys. Their food is so satisfying and they provide their customers with a variety of items in order for you to get a filling, healthy, and delicious meal for a reasonable price. When I order a wings and things, I am pretty much done eating for the day. Zaxbys main adversary, Chick-fil-a, is no comparison to Zaxbys. Yes, Chick-fil-a is good but it does not fill and satisfy as much as Zaxbys does. Also, Zaxbys provides celery sticks and carrots and other healthy foods to go along with their wide selection of chicken. If a plate full of chicken and is not good enough for you, then Zaxbys also has a wide variety of different salads and dressings. They also provide grilled chicken for those who want to stay away from the deep fried and fatty foods. Also, all Zaxbys that I have been to are extremely clean and they are very well decorated. Their restaurants have an old throwback look as they have many pictures and signs from America’s old days. These objects make you feel like your eating in an old time diner back in the 1960s. In conclusion, if you want to get high quality food for a quality price, Zaxbys is the way to go.

Please Let us Learn

Recently a good friend of mine was telling me that Georgia State University was considering cutting classes about sexuality. These classes include subjects on queer theory, intersex etc. Georgia State University is a state school and is funded through tax payer money. Many tax payers are complaining and asking the school why their money is going towards classes of these subjects. Isn’t Georgia State a school and at a school don’t you learn about various subjects varying from chemistry to math to sex? What is the big deal here? How are people supposed to be educated about controversial subjects? People shouldn’t be taught that these subjects are wrong and you should not learn about it because it is controversial. We should all have the opportunity to learn about these subjects if we want and then make up our mind on what we want to believe. These courses should not be stopped being taught because they are controversial or many people don’t believe that they should be talked about in school. We are not forced to take these courses so the school is not violating any of our rights. I’m pretty sure that these people don’t even know what exactly is being taught in these courses. They just know that it is about a subject that they don’t agree with and they believe it should be banned from school. Not everyone has the same beliefs and morals and we should not withhold others from learning something because we do not believe that it should be taught. It is ridiculous how far people go to try and keep certain controversial beliefs from being taught. The bottom line is, no one is forced and if it is something you would like to learn, then you should have the opportunity to learn it.