12/3 BR

Mr. Limbaugh was participating in his right to freedom of speech, however I can see how it would be offensive to followers of the Catholic church as well as the Pope. He bashed both.

12/2 BR

I don't think prisoners should have the right to vote because due to a lapse in their judgement, they ended up in prison as proved by a judge and jury. Those who committed a felony also should not be allowed to vote because a felony is a person who committed serious crime.

11/19 BR

     The Patriot said that Lincoln's words were "silly remarks" and amended the statement due to the speech's histoerical significance.

11/18 BR

     I think that the government has favored Christianity over other religions, and this could be considered unconstitutional because the foundation of America, literally, is based on freedom of religion. The pilgrims left because of the persecution and not enjoying the mandated religion of their homeland.

11/6 BR

Thanksgiving is a made up holiday by people who would like to devour a feast once a year. You can give thanks on any day of the year. Is anyone devastated when gas stations and Wal-Marts are open on thanksgiving when someone forgets corn on the cob? No, so the critics can shut it.

BR 11/4

I really don't think having a valid ID is a bad thing to register for voting. Really, it only makes sense. It shouldn't effect voting because everyone I know should have a valid drivers license. I don't think these requirements violate anything, because a picture ID prevents fraud.

10/30 BR

The first political cartoon I chose was of a ghost and a mummy who had received packets for Obamacare because it was thought by the giver that they had pre-existing conditions. The first thing that catches your eye in the cartoon is the address, which is of course 1600 Pennsylvania (of course the address of the White House). The irony in the cartoon is the size of the Obamacare books and also that they're labeled Obamacare.

The second political cartoon is of two trick-or-treaters who are again visiting the White House and the caption is, "Forget it, they only have tricks." Tricks is highlighted, and the focal point of the cartoon is the White House title on block. The kids are average with average costumes and have disgusted looks on their faces.

The third cartoon is one of a man buying a big military looking weapon saying, "The voices in my head are telling me I should buy this" and the man behind the gun counter is saying, "And nothing in my computer is telling me I should stop you." I laughed out loud. The focal point of this cartoon is the GUN-O-RAMA banner behind the two men in black bold lettering. A point of irony in the cartoon is the USA shirt the counterman has on along with a pistol above the flag. This relates to the New Town, CT shooting around Christmas last year.

The fifth cartoon, finally, is a picture of Uncle Sam who has ginormous ears. This is obviously a throw to Obama, and it is insinuated that he is pretending to be Uncle Sam in his ideals. The entire picture is ironic because of the huge ears and the sallow face.

10/29 BR

The fat test is as legal as other fitness based tests.
Weight doesn't make a person fit.
It is probably time for this test to be revised as American body styles are changing.

10/28 BR

I'm surprised that the confederate flag is still available for sale as many believe we have no connection to it publically in this historic period.
Confederate flags should be displayed in history museums to show that those who believed in it defied America and tried to cut away from the nation.
It represents rebellion and values America doesn't support anymore, yet people still want to display it.  It's un-American and that's why people believe it's distasteful.

10/22 BR

I can't believe this man, who is obviously pretending to be disabled for benefits, would lie about knocking this rock over. I think the state park should file a suit against him for defacing property.

They should definitely be charged with destruction of property as it was a rock formation.

Are Sports Athletes Role Models? Essay 10/22

Are Sports Athletes Role Models?

Kaiti Dickenson

                Sports athletes are all kinds of people; generous, giving, caring, killing, raping, and even sometimes addicted to drugs.  In a way, the kind and giving people could be those that should be looked up to. Good acts and deeds should be admired. However, there are some subjects that were admired for their skill, which later were found guilty of many criminal variables.  Both sides of the topic, “Are Sports Athletes Role Models” are valid, but I believe that athletes should not be role models.

                There’s a long list of athletes who have been involved and suspected of criminal activity, and this list includes O.J Simpson, Dave Megett,  Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Allen Iverson, and even Floyd Mayweather. All these men served different sentences or were suspected for different crimes including kidnapping,  criminal sexual conduct,  obstruction of justice,  tax evasion, and drug trafficking. I’m sure through press, many of these stories were covered and the charges brought on each guy were obvious.

                After these discrepancies, the men above were blacklisted, and for good reason. Criminal activity is nothing to be admired, and it certainly isn’t something to be viewed by children. In America, sports professionals are admired because of their skillset and paycheck, and unfortunately the paycheck part rules overhead. Young athletes dream of having million dollar games and playing the sport they love for the rest of their lives. However, this is unrealistic due to the fact that 5.8% of high school football players ascend to college ball, and from college ball only 2.0% make it to the pros. That means of the 40 football players at Philip Barbour, only 8 will make it to the collegiate level.

                Dreams are big in the development of life and the way we live it, but some dreams are just too big to ever be fulfilled. Now I know there are success stories, but mostly those are fantasies in the eyes of many high school players due to their talent level. Anything is possible and there is always a chance, but feeding children dreams of 12 million dollar checks and all the riches they can handle just isn’t appropriate. You have to ask yourself what these people really have done to progress society, and there a FEW good examples of good Samaritans. Drew Brees has a foundation for those affected by Katrina, Peyton Manning has a program for underprivileged children in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Indiana, and Warrick Dunn has a program to provide housing and funding to single parents. Warrick Dunn’s mother was killed in a robbery while working her second job.

                I don’t believe sports athletes are good role models, but they are role models no matter what anyone says because young athletes will always be looked up to for their skills and money made in professional leagues of all kinds. There are good examples who give kids a real reason to look to them for guidance and how to act through life, but this is a rare occasion. However, good deeds can’t be ignored, but neither can criminal activity.

10/16 BR

      I believe they girls should be charged if there is proof that they sent hate mail that resulted in her suicide. A misdemeanor usually only has jail time of a year, while a felony can be from life to beyond. I think maybe to combat bullying parents could monitor social sites and hopefully  bullying will be reported ahead of time.

10/15 BR

     This article was a bit ridiculous. A janitor tried to pay elementary students to beat up a 9 year old, and was subsequently fired. All employees of schools should automatically have a background heck, and I believe they do, but they should also have psych evaluations to predetermine if things like this will happen.

10/14 BR

     Protesters are against the closing of the WWII memorial, because due to the government shut down, the memorial has closed its doors. Earlier protests were from people who had scheduled visits before hand and were personally veterans. Now, the epidemic has spread and even more have come to fight for the opening of the memorial.

10/11/13

National parks have always been funded by the US, and not by individual states and there is no reason to stop that now. It's not fair for states to be expected to do something that the US government has always been responsible for.

     I'd like to see the Grand Canyon because it took millions of years to form and is one of the seven wonders of the world.

10/10/13 BR

I think our legilative branch is in disrepair, and it's finally showing to US citizens.

I think as the Speaker I would demand a higher quality of people who do not disrespect American's as much as they do through decisions.

BR 10/8

     The Washington Redskins have been a football team since 1932, and before now there was no conflict over the name. I don't agree that the name should be changed since the United States has been an equal rights country since the 1970's, and the name should have been changed before that. You think that Native American's would have taken offense in the last eighty years, but the conflict is now coming up much later after the creation of the team.

BR 10/7

     It says that we as a nation are careless when it comes to the elderly and young as we believe subconsciously that they are not threatening.

     I'm not surprised that this happened, however our airlines are renowned for their security and if it had been anything more serious they would be under great scrutiny.
    

Eagle Eye Questions

1. The centralized system is beneficial because when everything is conducted through one big center, it relieves error and makes the system more correct.
2. They were infiltrated through their phones, and throughout the movie all technology gives them clues to continue on their path.
3.  No I don't because constant surveillance of technology would take a great amount of man power, and the efforts would be mostly wasted.
4. I use technology wisely because I veil the things that are most imortant to talk about and make sure I talk about those in person.
5. The movie wanted to convey that the wrong choices through technology can be used against you as well as for you. We should show great caution during the digital/technology age as it can be used against us.

9/30/13 BR

All 3 links have a component in common and that component is that they all occurred in the 1980's.

9/18 BR

I believe they think they are doing this to protect their students and staff members as well as in some way controlling what the students do through social networking. This is in some way an invasion of privacy however I don't really care. I would delete all my accounts and not care. They aren't gold and they don't make life any better.

9/17/13 BR

The reaction America had on an Indian descendant winning Miss America was disheartening because we're supposed to be welcoming to all cultures and races. All minorities are not considered equal unfortunately and this is a prime example.

BR 9/10

     The motivation McDonald's has behind this "Blitz Box" is to appeal to people who do not arrive alone as well as those who are bringing a meal to someone else. The calories provided on the website total 1335 calories per person without sauces. I really think this is a bad idea for the company, as it more than half of the daily calories one. I think it's possible that other companies will follow as McDonald's is the going standard for fast food.

BR 9/9

     I'd say the US doesn't have the rights to be patrolling other countries and what they do, but if what they do can become a threat to the US, action could be needed. The UN should enforce all laws set in motion by them including the ban on chemical warfare. Chemical weapons are a serious danger to all nations and since our country is known for being the most free, the best thing we can do is fight chemical warfare to be out of use.

BR 9/6

     There is a fine line between abuse and discipline, and I think this may have crossed into the abusive side over a bit of grammar. Sure, the things the father was trying to teach his child were note-worthy, however the steps he took to achieve this were certainly over the top. The father's actions show no remorse, and a severe love for grammar. Haha. The action probably would have been acceptable in the 1950's, but I still found it brass.

9/4 BR

     STEM jobs (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), are the ones that come most highly recommended. I would like to see data about something that I am personally good at. I don't really care about all this crap everyone else is awesome at. It doesn't impact my thoughts on college remotely.

9/5 BR

     If McDonalds did raise the price on their "Dollar Menu", they would have to raise their wages as a company. I don't particularly care either way. As for the second article, it depends on how we define a living wage. If the cost of minimum wage is raised, the cost of living will certainly go up. I think it should be raised slightly, but not more than a dollar.

BR 9/3

I don't think the sharing of our data by Facebook and other sites is unethical, because one of the first things you learn about the internet anywhere is that everyone can see it anyway. However, I don't think the sharing of it with other countries can be in the US's benefit. I have no idea if this complies with the terms of use because surprise, nobody reads them! It doesn't violate the constitution in my view because posts and messages are just words, and the internet is a wide place. I wish somebody cared enough to read all my crap everyday.

Bellringer 8/29

     I am a bit offended by the article as a human being. After being seated in a waiting room for upwards of two hours, a party of 25 African American people were told to leave because they had made a white customer feel threatened. That disgusted me, because after waiting patiently for two hours, then they were told to leave. Also, why does one man have complete authority to condemn a group of 25 because he felt threatened? What could they possibly have done to make him feel that way, laugh? Shameful.

Phrase from I Have A Dream

The quote I chose was 6. “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy." In every government and people made document, it states that all men were created equal. However, the very government and people who drafted these documents did not enforce equality. Though slavery was amended, they did not have even the most basic rights and treatment. When MLKJ said this, he wanted the government to keep their promise.

Reaction to I Have A Dream Speech 8/29

     One of the first thing MLKJ says is that the day will go down in history during his speech. He says that society has manacles on black people, which was very accurate for the time at which the speech was given. He states that one day he dreams that black and white children will be able to hold hands and consider themselves brothers and sisters. Through this speech, he attempts to convey that through all religion and walks of life all men and women should be considered equal.

     Most of his purposes stated in the speech have made unimaginable progress ,and I'm sure Martin Luther King Jr. himself would gape at the effect he made on our parents and grandparents. The most powerful line in the speech for me was one where he states his hopes for his four children and that they may not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character.