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.