(n-1) blog Entry

Thesis

While Social Security started off as a brilliant program that would be able to sustain itself no matter what changes in populations occurred, changes made to the system have made it so that the program is failing and by the time many people who pay into it reach the age where they could benefit there will be nothing left.

While Social Security started off as a brilliant program that would be able to sustain itself no matter what fluctuations in populations occurred. Changes made to the system have made it so that the program is failing and by the time many people who pay into it reach the age where they could benefit from it, there will be nothing left.

Revision

In 1929 America’s stock market crashed and in the chaos that ensued that incident the nation slipped into an economic depression which has become to be known as the Great Depression. This depression prompted action to be taken by the government and was manifested in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. This deal helped America’s economy in many different ways such as giving the unemployed jobs, improving the standard of living by building new roads and bridges, and giving older workers incentives to retire. This deal provided benefits to retirees, people with disabilities, and the unemployed so that they might survive.

In 1929, America’s stock market crashed. In the chaos that ensued, the nation slipped into an economic depression which has hence become known as the Great Depression. This turmoil prompted the government to take action which was manifested in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. This deal helped America’s economy in many different ways such as giving the unemployed jobs, giving older workers incentives to retire and providing benefits to retirees, people with disabilities, and the unemployed so that they might have economic security in hard times.

Thesis Statement

While Social Security started off as a brilliant program that would be able to sustain itself no matter what changes in populations occurred, changes made to the system have made it so that the program is failing and by the time many people who pay into it reach the age where they could benefit there will be nothing left.

Improvement!

Talking to people face to face has become outdated. Nowadays the need to actually look a person in the face is unnecessary. A couple of years ago we were actually forced to see people in person but thanks to newfangled technology, i.e. social networks, cell phones, we don’t have to! We don’t have to enjoy the smile of another person or the warmth of their hug anymore! We’re free! We have emoticons to express emotions now instead of seeing them and feeling them in person. Plus it’s easier to tell if someone’s telling the truth online. I mean in person sure, you can look into the windows of their soul, hear the intonation of their voice and notice irregular/nervous habits as they talk to you. But in the internet we have text! Unfeeling, up for interpretation, utterly confusing at times text!

Talking to people face to face has simply become outdated in recent days. The need to actually look a person in the face is now unnecessary thanks to newfangled technology (i.e. social networks, cell phones). A couple of years ago we were actually forced to see people in person but we don’t have to anymore! We don’t have to enjoy the little things that come with having an actual conversation with people; the smile of that other person or the warmth of their hug. We’re free from such shackles! I mean in person sure, you can look into the windows of their soul, hear the intonation of their voice and notice irregular/nervous habits as they talk to you. But with the internet we have text! Unfeeling, up for interpretation, utterly confusing text! Using emotions to tell how a person’s feeling? Pfft. Emotions are overrated anyway. They make things complex and add unnecessary drama to life. Besides, we have emoticons to express emotions now.

Oh look! A Journal entry! How marvelous!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/international-forces-will-regret-coming-to-libya-gadhafi-vows/article1948431/

In most of the Middle East there have been uprisings against dictatorships and one of the continuing struggles is the battle in Libya. There has been much debate over whether or not foreign intervention is called for after two bomber pilots were ordered to carry out a raid on a civilian area to flush out the rebellion. Personally I think that we should help just not in a huge way where we try to redo their entire government. Get in, make sure all the civilians stay safe, don’t give away our guns and get out. Being the most powerful nation, we should do something but we don’t have to do everything.

http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/20/fun-fun-fun-fun-fun/

Recently a music video called “Friday” by Rebecca Black has gone viral online. What the controversy about this is that people are garnering internet fame and could push them into legitimate fame such is the case with Justin Bieber and Fred. I think this is a fantastic new way to scout out talent because it can sort through those who aren’t so good and find the good ones. However, the downside is that some videos, such as Black’s, gather views due to infamy.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/After-year-of-woe-Haiti-chooses-new-president/articleshow/7751824.cms

A year ago the country of Haiti was devastated by an earthquake. Already hanging on by the merest of threads, this country not only literally crumbled but also crumbled politically. There were no leaders to lead the people in recuperation efforts as in Japan where rescue and recovery efforts began almost immediately. This election is the beginning of the Haitians getting back on their feet. I think it’s fantastic that the people will finally have a leader to push them through this hard time I only wonder why it took so long. Hopefully with a leader to spearhead the movement, recovery and rebuilding will happen in a country where hopelessness permeates everything.

Comparing Things

Marshmallow Peeps: This critter’s bright colors and delicious flesh makes it the perfect holiday treat for a sticky five year old to get even stickier. Its yellow sugar coating gives a sense of uniform with its compatriots which is accompanied by its vacant stare. There is no individuality to be found in the soul of this being despite its life like appearance. Its many brothers and sisters look almost exactly identical in size, shape and stature, making it indistinguishable from the rest of its pack. Clearly these creatures are being bred for a hostile takeover of some sort, where the loss of one life is nothing and can be replaced by another.

A baby chicken: Like its counterpart, a live baby chick’s coat is highlighter yellow bright, making it an easy target for predators. It’s capability to grow when it is introduced to feed and water is truly a miracle to wonder at. Its flesh is craved but because it has so little of it at this point in its life time is allowed for growth before harvesting. Its tiny peeps and twitchy movement suggest some sort of individuality amongst the different beings. Their eyes are somewhat intelligent and each of its brothers and sisters seem to have minds that are completely their own, even if there isn’t much going on. These free spirits have no issue with the world and appear to be content to live out their short lives growing and being utterly adorable.

(2^3)-1

I am going to evaluate The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins for this journal assignment. With the movie rendition of the book being made and come to theaters relatively soon, the book series has become increasingly popular among younger readers. This book could be classified as a post-apocalyptic adventure book because it takes place sometime after a terrible tragedy hit the whole world and the book is primarily action based. It could be compared to other books or movies that have similar themes of gladiator based fighting and a post-apocalyptic setting. Some examples would be Gladiator, The Matrix and The City of Ember. The book doesn’t really offer anything else other than an entertaining story because it is a fictional story.

For evaluating this book, my first criterion will be whether or not the characters develop as the story progresses or whether they just remain static and the same. Another aspect I’m going to look at is the reality of the events happening in the book. Since it is a fiction novel, this may be hard to say if some of the technologies are realistic but the main part I would focus on with this aspect is the descriptions that don’t have to do with the futuristic technologies. Another criterion I would evaluate the piece on would be if the book was actually written well. If a book doesn’t flow or doesn’t make sense to the reader then it’s not a very good book. One criterion that may be subjective is how invested the reader is able to get with the writing. This is subjective because someone may be turned off from it while someone else may love it to death. Either way it is still a good way to evaluate the book. My final way that I would evaluate this book is the plotline. If a book has a good plotline then more often than not the book will be good. You can mess it up by having terrible characters or make it flow poorly, but if the core idea behind a book is original and compelling, odds are the rest of the book will be as well.

Six

Location, location, location

The autumn breeze flutters leaves on the trees as I step out of my dorm room. I breathe in a deep breath with a smile on my face as I walk down the steps from the West Quad to go to my class across the street at the IST building. A few short steps down the stairs and I reach the bottom landing, turning right to cut through the less traveled route I normally take. That’s when I see him.

A man with short cut hair and a light jacket is walking through the tunnel. I probably wouldn’t have even noticed him if it weren’t for his eyes suddenly widening behind his frames at the sight of me. He reached into his bag and pulled out a gun and cocked it with a click. I throw my backpack to the side and back up a few paces. He’s going to shoot me. I just know it. But I’m not going to go down that easily. He leaves the shadow of the tunnel and raises the gun, aiming at my chest. He pulled the trigger

I just barely dodge the first shot, jumping to the side in the nick of time. He’s cocked back the gun again though and is firing, again and again and again. It’s a miracle that I’m not shot yet. We circle each other for a bit as he waits for me to get closer so he can get a better shot. I notice movement behind him and I see a girl slinking in the shadows of the trees. She puts her finger to her lips and sneaks up behind the man with the gun. I’m not sure what it was but somehow he knew. He turned around and fired, right into her chest. I dived towards him but he turned around and I was shot as well. The man sighed a breath of relief and bent over to pick up what he shot.

No we’re not dead. Zombies can’t die silly.

Quotes:                                                                     

“People have tempers and not everyone can control theirs. Sometimes fights can break out and even plastic and foam can become dangerous.” –Rachel Bishop Freshman-English

“These guys are living out their video game fantasies in a safe way through this club.” –Anonymous Freshman-Business

“Impossible to stereotype because all sorts of people are in it. The Extremists who modify their guns like crazy and then the mild ones who just play to blow off some steam.” –Anonymous Freshman-Buisness

Facts and such:

“All of our games follow a common thread: we strive to bring people together for human interaction, physical challenges, and tactical game-play. Our events use traditional board and console gaming techniques in an exhilarating "real life" atmosphere.”

“The Penn State Urban Gaming Club is dedicated to fundraising money for charitable causes. For this purpose we have created the position of the Charity Chair”

<http://urbangaming.org/>

“HvZ is played at college campuses across the nation, said Castner. It was founded by students at Goucher College in Maryland, and other campuses have tailored the basic rules to fit their own schools.”

<http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2010/03/22/post_132.aspx>

"But as Zombies' popularity has grown, criticism of it has grown, too -- especially since last April, when a severely disturbed English major named Seung Hui Cho armed himself with two semiautomatic handguns and killed 33 people, including himself, at Virginia Tech University. In the immediate wake of that shooting, Humans vs. Zombies became controversial, raising a collegiate version of the prevailing question of our time: What is the balance between security and freedom? And it prompts another fascinating question: What can a group of young people learn about one another -- and themselves -- by running around campus with Nerf guns for days on end? "

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/08/AR2008040802044.html>

Found this too

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mza1V20P2wg>