Reflection

I think I have changed a lot since coming to Parkway west high school.  I don’t mean my academic grades because I am still a straight A student; I mean my confidence, my friendships, and my optimism.  Since coming to parkway I have made new friends, lost old ones, I’m looking at the brighter side to things.

  I met my friend Andrea, she can calm me down when I’m angry, and brighten my day when I’m sad. Andrea is that kind of friend that knows the right time to have fun and the right time to be serious about things.  My friend Ellisha is the best I knew her for about four years now and she has done nothing but be a great friend to me. 

My friends are whom I look to when I’m sad.  Believe it or I come to my friends before I come to my family members.  I am a more optimistic person because I look at the brighter side to life and I’m less depressed. My grades have improve a little, my attitude has changed a lot I have become more mature, and I learned to manager, control my responsibilities.   

Parkway high school has brought out my greatest moments and worst, I regret yelling at some teachers because even though they deserved it, it is very classless and tasteless.  Hopefully parkway west will change me more in the upcoming years and hopefully I wont get anymore B’s.  Parkway is tough and can help you improve yourself.

 High school its self can change a person a lot because you need to be mature, responsible, and optimistic.  You need optimism to participate in classes and you need responsibility to handle your work.  Being mature should just come because you shouldn’t be acting like a kindergartener in high school.

Toddler trapped in washing machine

Earlier this week news surfaced that a baby was placed in a washing machine at a local Laundromat.  No charges were placed on the man who put the baby in the washing machine the mother of the baby said, “she did not think anyone should be charged over the incident.”  Some people like myself think this is absolutely absurd if some puts your baby in a washing machine and starts it, it isn’t a prank is attempted murder.  The article said, “Moments later, as the machine fills and starts spinning, the man and a woman frantically try to open the locked door, before a quick-thinking laundromat employee opens a panel at the rear of the machine and cuts the power.”  Before this is when people started coming over to help the baby out, but they don’t know how.  Let me remind you that the washing machine is on and is filling up with the baby in it so they have limited time before the baby drowns.  The question that is on my mind is who was suppose to be watching the baby at this time?    Also, why didn’t the mother sue or press charges? 

The moment that shocked me most was when the man just dumped the baby in there, and you can see the lady at the nearest table’s face.  She waited until he wasn’t that close to the washing machine to go check on what she was suspicious about.  I wanted to honestly beat him up because how can anyone do that to a baby as a quote on quote prank.

://www.news.com.au/world/man-locks-boy-in-washing-machine/story-fn6sb9br-1226366301583#ixzz1vu8y2RR2

Getting Angry Can Be a Good Thing

The article "Getting Angry Can Be a Good Thing" is about a immagrant rights worker who is  insulted in a racist manor by a friend when she was about 17 and desides she wants to act apon that.  The article starts out like, "I believe a little outrage can take you a long way."  The article then went on to say, "He looked me in the eye and told me that if it happen  (another war), he believes my parents in an internment camp just like the Japanese-Americans during World War II."  In this article she expressed that this gave her the drive to be were she is today, an immagration rights worker.

In my eyes she seems pretty decent because she said she can help 50 people in one day but if anyone doesnt matter how many cant be helped or is turned down it hunts her in her sleep. This women has dedicated her life to helping these people and she has been sent the day her friend insulted her.

I just have one prooblem with this article does she actually believe its alright to be mad and forceful all the time, because she was called furocious?  

Ellishareed said, “I think that when people get angry it can be a negative or positive out come, such as when some people are angry they cant help but be very violent. And sometimes when people are angry a positive out come is when they take action about something that bothers them and maybe upset them so they just want to change it. 

Broadcasting a World of WHiteness

The article " broadcasting a world of whiteness" has to do with television shows producing shows with specific groups of people, mostly white or mostly black.  this article expresses that there should be more shows with a diverse cast.  The article gives an example of a show without a diverse cast, HBO series girls has an all white female cast.  This artle is just another article by someone being overly sensitive.  Not all shows have to be to your likeing apparently if its still on air somebody watches it.  I watch jersey shore and that show has a all white cast.  So as you can see its not about race its about shows that are to your likeing.  I also doubt producers think about racism during casting, its about whos good enough to be apart of the show.
I also should point out that the article says, "Whiteness is too ofter invisible on television, so much the so that this fact is hardly ever pointed out, and for whatever advances "girls" make in expanding the range of women on television, and the sorts of conversation they're permitted to have, it certainly lacks for other forms of diversity."  This is true but also so unintelligently wrong.  people know what they are watching but their is lack of diversity but it is okay as i have pionted out why above.

New Fashion Wrinkle: Stylish Hiding the Gun

The article, “New Fashion Wrinkle: Stylish Hiding the Gun” is about, the new fashion of clothing that can hide your gun.  Since the new law was passed that people who have registered guns with no criminal record can carry a hidden gun.  There are said to be pro’s and con’s of this law.  Pro:  keeps you safe, if someone sees your gun they are sure to not even attempt to mess with you.  Pro:  if you are attacked the hidden gun can come in very handy.  Con: people with no record can also be a pervert.  Con:  hidden guns can go off anywhere if they are misused.  The article said,  “Woolrich, a 182-year-old clothing company, describes its new chino pants as an elegant and sturdy fashion statement, with a clean profile and fabric that provides comfort and flexibility.”  To me it seems as though they take this having a hidden gun trend as a joke it seems as though they don’t care about the safety. 

Student Ellisha Reed says, “I think it’s okay to carry guns as long as you’re the appropriate age.”  She went on to say, “if I was of age I would wear a gun and it keeps you safe.” 

As you can see there a very different thoughts about this new carry gun trend and most are positive which is idiotic to me.  

The article also said, “Not everyone who carries a concealed gun is a fan of the new fashion. Howard Walter, 61, a salesman at Wade’s Eastside Guns in Bellevue, Wash., said he preferred to carry his Colt — and a couple of knives and two extra magazines — in a durable pair of work pants.” All I can say is wow these people are actually talking fashion instead of safety. 

Health fair at Parkway West

April 12, 2012 was the date of the Parkway West health fair were presenters came and gave the students brochures about safe sex and healthy eating.  They gave out condoms, lubrication, oranges, papers about disease prevention and brochures on program that can help students with any of their troubles. 

        

This health fair was hosted by, the Parkway West seniors for their senior project.

         I asked students what they thought about the health fair student Ellisha Reed said, “I think that the health fair was a very good idea. I am also glad that they care about us and that they are informing us about things such as safe sex, and healthy eating”.

         Ellisha went on to say “At the age that people are at now in high school, they should know right from wrong and also, if they do not they should find out.”

        

         One of the people who introduced the awareness of disease was Briana McGhee she is an intern, that she goes to Temple University said, “you should let us know, you should always be aware don’t be ashamed.”

         Another introducer was Dr. Gundy who works at mercy hospital as a gynecologist she said, “girl’s come in for counseling, birth control, and check ups.” 

The last introducer I interviewed was Joel Austin he said, “I teach fathers how to be less overprotective and teach them to let their flowers grow especially their daughters.” 

      He went on to say, “we have parenting classes at the YMCA all parents are welcome.”

MTV's Punk'D

http://www.mtv.com/shows/punkd/series.jhtmlMTV hit Television series Punk'D returned March 29; the show is no longer hosted by Ashton Kutcher but by celebrities who stop by.  The first episode was hosted by celebrity Justin Bieber; he pranked Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Rob Dyrdek, and Sean Kingston.  The prank on Rob Dyrdek went wrong so instead Rob helped Justin prank long time friend Sean Kingston.  The prank on Miley went extremely well; Miley was told she would be pranking Justin but the tables were turned when her “prank” headed south.  The prank with Taylor was to make her think she blew up a ship with a wedding couple aboard it.  Episode two was hosted but jacka** star Bam Margera.  He pranked Jersey Shore cast member Ronnie ortiz-magro, rapper Tyler the Creator, and Teen Wolf star Tyler Garcia Posey. The show seems again like it’s going to be a big hit some don’t like student Andrea Taylor, she said, “ I feel like when they punk’d Tyler the Creator it was pretty funny and really had him fooled.  But when they punk’d Ron from Jersey Shore it was funny at all. I think Punk’d isn’t going to be restored to its former glory but it will be almost as funny.”  Student Zenikee Watford said, “I think that when Tyler the Creator got punked it was very funny and his reaction was funny in a weird kind of way.”   

There you have it excitement about the Television series Punk’d others say they have a lot more work to do.

For women under 30, Most births occur outside marriage

The article, For Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside Marriage is about how for the last few decades most women under the age of thirty are having kids without being married first.  Then it goes on to say it was looked down upon, how nowadays marriage is a luxury, and how this affects the kids involved.  This article expresses the change over time and how this change (women having kids without being married) happened after women started feeling independent.  The first paragraph says, “It used to be called illegitimacy. Now it is the new normal. After steadily rising for five decades, the share of children born to unmarried women has crossed a threshold: more than half of births to American women under 30 occur outside marriage.”  This is also weird because I would expect most out of marriage women having children to be African American women.  I say that because it is just a stereotype I always hear.

I also want to say I don’t see anything wrong with this because not everyone wants to get married.  Some people have a problem that makes them more eligible to have kids.  No one ever writes these things in articles they just always look at the negative side to the story.   I find this article stupid on so many levels because of this comment, “The shift is affecting children’s lives. Researchers have consistently found that children born outside marriage face elevated risks of falling into poverty, failing in school or suffering emotional and behavioral problems.”  When I was born my parents weren’t married and im just fine my grades can prove it.

boy still alive after being trapped under sand

An eleven year old boy buried alive for thirty minutes before being found.  The boys name is Nicolas Nelson, and he was digging a sand pit with his brother then suddenly the sand collapsed and he was under.  His 16 year old brother called the police in a frantic telling them to hurry.  The article went on to say, “Me and my brother were digging in a sandpit and it collapsed and my brother is stuck under there now,’ Kyle said to the dispatcher.  ‘I tried to get him out, but I couldn't dig fast enough.’  Kyle was soon aided by the brothers' mother, Aimee Nelson, and her boyfriend in feverishly trying to dig Nicholas out from beneath the sand.”  Going through this must have been hard.   The article said he sat under there and began to say goodbye to his family in his head.  It said, “Under the sand, Nicholas settled into a seated position and began "saying goodbye in his head," he recalled, to his family members above.   The 11-year-old was able to get a small air pocket around his mouth and it was those few inches of air, rescuers say, that kept Nicholas from suffocating.” 

I’m not one one hundred percent on this story because how can you stay under a sand pit for almost a half hour and not sufficate when it takes on average three minutes of holding your breathe to die.  This story is a little confusing in some parts because one: how did the sand not crush him, two: how was he in sitting position.  I don’t know this story just doesn’t add up in my opinion.

Second baby on the way for a kardashian

Thirty two year old Kourtney Kardashian is pregnant with her second child.   Kourtney kardashian is one of the stars on the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.  Some people say, “These two parents (father Scott Disick) shouldn’t have another baby.  They said they are not married and the father has had a lot of problems if you watched the show its shows he is an alcoholic.”  The passage said, “We feel so blessed to be having a little girl and to be able to share this new experience with Mason," Kardashian told E! Kardashian and Disick, 28, first broke news of their pregnancy with us Weekly last November.”  The reality star said she a proud parent and cant wait for her second baby.  

I think that this couple is adorable and I’m glad there having another baby.  This couple is a little messy but what couple isn’t.  Some people say they shouldn’t have another baby because they aren’t married yet and that the first time with mason should have been they got married.  Magazines say that, “Kourtney Kardashian has more than just her second pregnancy to worry about, the reality star is dealing with her crumbling relationship with Scott Disick! The Kourtney & Kim Take New York star also has her hands full with her two-year-old son Mason, but Scott is running around partying like a single bachelor, according to Life & Style!”  Although, all this is being said there is no doubt in my mind that magazines will be begging for interviews and pictures.

Rihanna and Chris Brown Have Been Secretly Hooking Up

After rumored infidelity, after the abuse, and after the heartache are rihanna and Chris Brown back together?  Well US magazine seems to think so and says they have been seeing each other for nearly a year.  US magazine also said, “And it turns out that the exes -- forcibly separated after the beating by court order -- could very well be spending that "anniversary" together. As multiple sources confirm in the new Us Weekly, Rihanna, 23, and Brown, 22, have secretly been hooking up for nearly a year.”  Rihanna fans are outraged hey said, “rihanna is an idiot for going back cause once an abuser always an abuser.”  Others say, “I’m happy for rihanna she deserves so be happy because we can tell she not over him.”  Some chris brown fans said, “I hope he doesn’t do the same thing because he has been doing good.”  Some people feel deceived but me, i couldn't be happier.

i love Rihanna and Chris brown I'm happy that they might be back together.  i think every relationship has problems and theirs was just a tad more serious.  i don't see why people care because it's not there relationship i can understand they don't want a celeb they love to get hurt but still i believe they should stop fiend blogging and being psycho.

Facebook is using you

Facebook is using you is an article that Lori Andrews wrote talking about how Facebook is basically taking advantage of users by using the personal information they write to track you with cookies.  She said, "Facebook makes money by selling ad space to companies that want to reach us." She express that Facebook uses as puppets for endorsement.  She then goes on to say all the things companies do with are personal information.  She she’s that companies sometimes use it to make it so we can’t get that job.  The article also says, “Facebook made $3.2 billion in advertising revenue last year, 85 percent of its total revenue. Yet Facebook’s inventory of data and its revenue from advertising are small potatoes compared to some others. Google took in more than 10 times as much, with an estimated $36.5 billion in advertising revenue in 2011, by analyzing what people sent over Gmail and what they searched on the Web, and then using that data to sell ads.”  This leaves me to say this has to be true because if not how do they make so much. 

I think that this article really does teach me to watch what I write on the Internet.  I don’t want the things I write to define me or the job I get in the future.  It’s preposterous; no wonder so many people live on the street or are in dept.  Companies have their hopes stuck so far up their butts that they make it hard for people to do anything.

I'm a criminal and so are you

The article “I’m a criminal and do are you” is about a woman named Michelle Alexander expressing the idea that criminals are looked down upon by people even though those people are also criminals.  Allow me to explain in the article she expresses that everyone has committed a crime at least once.  Even though they have they look down on people who have been caught.  She believes that they think they have the right for the simple fact that they haven’t been caught.  I the article she says, “ I am a criminal.  Coming to terms with this aspect of my identity has helped me see more clearly – with blinders of – the ways in which I have been encouraged not to feel any connection to “them,” those labeled criminals.  I see now that “they” are me and I am them.  This sentence expresses the whole article, this sentence even though it doesn’t say it is expressing that it is unfair for them, they did the time so why can’t they get the benefits of the outside world.  Like, being able to get a job, being able to vote, etc because if being a criminal was the case no one should have the rights that they do. 

I absolutely agree with this article because everyone at least once have committed a crime that they may or may not have gotten away with but we shouldn’t let that define us even after we get out of prison.  I strongly believe that everyone should take a look at this article and take a second look on things. 

Photoshopped or Not? A Tool to Tell

There is an article from the New York Times called, “Photoshopped or Not? A Tool to Tell” the article was about weather young girls would be influenced to be bulimic because magazine pictures were enhanced.  The article said, “Dr. Farid and Eric Kee, a Ph.D. student in computer science at Dartmouth, are proposing a software tool for measuring how much fashion and beauty photos have been altered, a 1-to-5 scale that distinguishes the infinitesimal from the fantastic.”  Also, the article talks about how super-skinny overly perfect images of women encourage eating disorders and low self-esteem because the strive to be just as perfect as those pictures.  This was also said I the article, “Readers aren’t fooled if you really sculpt the images,” Ms. Seymour said. “If you’re a good editor, you don’t go too far these days. If you give someone a face-lift,” she said, adding, “you’re a fool” I agree with this I don’t thing if it was that serious of a problem people would go above and beyond.  I think that to label the pictures is a horrible thing and it’s embarrassing to the person in the picture.  I think that all girls/boys should understand the difference between real and fake and there is no way to explain how a twenty-something year old woman is skinnier than a thirteen-year-old girl.  Don’t be discouraged by these pictures and don’t be stupid when it comes to understanding how perfect you are.  Those pictures don’t define who you are and you should already know they were enhanced.

In china, human costs are built into an ipad

In class we read an article from the New York Times called "In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an Ipad.”  The article is about worker conditions in the overseas areas (china) from the article you can tell the conditions are harsh.  The article also talks about an explosion at the company and the factory not really doing anything about it.  The title is very confusing to some but if you actually read the article you will see human costs are peoples lives.  The article also talks about safety problems; the problems are the aluminum dust and the ventilations not working.  The people stand all day, and work for so many hours, and hardly get paid anything.  They are told to spray the devices screens with poison then they whip the poison off.  They protection they wear is hardly protecting them.  Most people were injured from the explosion others were killed.  The company told the media so many times they will do something about this but they never do.  The same thing happened only weeks later. 

In my opinion this is sad but this won’t stop people from buying apple.  They are bribing the injured with paying for high medical care and agreement with laws.  People like Ms. White of Harvard says there won’t be an actual change unless the costumers do something about it.  I totally 1hundred percent agree the people have to do something about it to make the company change there ways.  What if it was your family. 

Cracking Teenagers' Online Codes

“Cracking Teenagers’ Online Codes” is an article by Pamela Paul of the New York Times.  This article is about a woman who does research on teenagers’ but in a way acts like one.   The first paragraph goes like this “WITH her coordinated zebra-striped scarf, tights and arm warmers (arm warmers?), spiky out-to-there hat and pierced tongue, 34-year-old Danah Boyd provides an electric Gen Y contrast to the staid gray lobby of Microsoft Research in Cambridge, Mass., which she enters in a flurry of animated conversation, Elmo-decorated iPhone in hand. In a juxtaposition that causes her no end of mischievous delight, her laptop bears a sticker of Snow White, whose outstretched arm gently cradled the Apple logo.”  This whole paragraph just talk’s about how crazy this woman is. Also, in my eyes this is saying since she dresses and acts like teens some how she understands them. If any they will run away from her.  This is a thirty-two year old women acting as if she’s a teen.  This article also talks about how parents shouldn’t be so overprotective.  She say’s nowadays parents won’t even let their children outside because they are scared of what will happen. Based on the first paragraph alone I can say this women doesn’t deserve a PHD she’s crazy.  Then, the passage goes on to say, “A teenage girl who has been sexually molested by an uncle and who has nobody she can talk to in her hometown might benefit greatly from communicating with a counselor online.”  At this point I’m just like ok and how would this girl know if this is a real counselor and not another Waco.  Pretending to be something there not; these days’ people will do anything crazy for attention and to get their stories heard.  Personally I think this woman (Dr. Boyd) is going the wrong way about this.  She needs to have more talks with teens.  Ms. Boyd take this from me no girl wants to tell a stranger all her business some girls don't even want to tell their family, or their parents if that makes any sense.

Catfish, the movie

Catfish was a documentary about a guy who befriended a family on Facebook or so he thought.  It turned out to be a lady with a hard life.  Although this is sad there is no excuse for all the trouble she has caused.  She has witted this guy into thinking he was talking to this amazing girl which turned out to be her.  I for one was so freaked out by her actions.  I was also freaked out by his actions traveling cross-country to see if he was lied to.  He found evidence piece, by piece, which led him on this journey.  I rate the documentary 3 stars because it disturbed me in an interesting way but still it was so weird the ratings dropped.  I’m just one person I really have no say in the rating this documentary was actually rated 3 ½ stars. 

I’m going to subscribe this though it’s an ok movie and it teaches a life lesson; don’t go out with anyone from facebook unless you already met them.  This isn’t a very hard motto to follow I mean this world is full of perverts, rapists, etc.  People need home training and to let there parents tell them how dangerous this world is.  This is for that lady that thought it was ok.  Even though she apologized I bet she still does it.  I think she needs help because she didn’t just fake a family like that she faked a bunch more people to have more friends.

Should the use of marijuana be legalized

Should the use of marijuana be legalized?  Well umm is the sky falling, No!  Some debate over whether marijuana should be legalized.  Some say yes with enthusiasm, some say no it’s just going to bite us in the butt later.  Articles say that there are reason it should and reasons it shouldn’t.  For example articles say it shouldn’t because “Marijuana is often used as a stepping-stone drug, leading to heroin, cocaine, or other harder drugs. Studies show that marijuana use often progresses to the use of harder drugs. In other words, people experiment with what is often thought of as a "harmless" drug. Then, after using it for a while, a bigger "high" is sought; thus, users then turn to the harder stuff like heroin, LSD, cocaine, etc. This is particularly a problem since most people will not directly start abusing the harder drugs that are generally understood to be harmful. Marijuana use may simply embolden them to experiment.”  Most say that it should be legalized because it helps with glaucoma, cancer, and other diseases. 

I for one don’t believe in legalizing marijuana should be legalized unless you have a prescription.  The prescription shouldn’t be for a scratch it should be for glaucoma, cancer, etc.  Marijuana is just leading to crazier drugs like cocaine.  On so many movies and shows you see people smoking weed and this is were children pick things up.  Were do you think their future lays in; in the hands of a crackhead or drug dealer its so sad.

should gay marriage be allowed?

Should gay marriage be allowed that’s the question?  Most say no because only a man and women should be together others believe if that’s whom you love go on ahead.  People say that the bible says that only a man and women should be together.  Some say god says that you are perfect the way you are so be yourself.  I 100% agree that you should be yourself no matter gay straight of bisexual.  On the Internet a lot of cyber bullying occurs because some kids are transgender, or gay or bisexual.  I don’t really like to get into controversy like this but if someone ha a problem maybe they should fix themselves before trying to fix others.

Statistics show that 41% favor or strongly favor gay marriage, 47% oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage and 10% unsure.  Fun fact

“States Where Gay Marriage Is Legal

Massachusetts (2004)

Connecticut (2008)

Iowa (2009)

Vermont (2009)

New Hampshire (2010)

Washington, D.C. (2010) (not a state)

                       AND

Total Number of Gay Couples: 594,391

Number of People in a Couple: 1.2 Million

State With the Most Couples: California (92,138)

State With the Least Couples: North Dakota (703)

Highest Concentration of Gay Couple (% of all couples): Washington, D.C. (1.29%)

Lowest Concentration of Gay Couples (% of all couples): North and South Dakota (.22%)”

So if there still someone who opposes or agree with gay marriage these are a bunch of facts they can resort to and if they need more info look up blogs for info on how hard life had been for gays, transgender, bisexuals, etc.

biggest story of 2011!!!!!!

There were just two that I thought to be capable of being the biggest stories of 2011.  The two stories are totally different one was in world news the other was in entertainment news.  The stories were the Charlie sheen craziness story and the Osama Bin Laden dead story.  Osama Bin Laden died may 2, 2011 and it was announced the next day almost immediately.  People are actually so relieved Osama Bin Laden is now dead because now they don’t have to worry about anymore surprise terrorist attacks.  I also said Charlie sheen’s craziness story because after he was fired from the show 2 and a half men he in a since went “nuts.”  Charlie sheen brought women into his life that were porn stars and called them his goddesses; he also did pounds of cocaine.  These two stories in my opinion are the biggest stories of 2011 they grabbed my attention also. 

In my opinion Charlie sheen is nuts but he had himself a good time.  He was a pig at times but if you look at behind the scene video of him he’s a loving father that had a breakdown a 3 month long breakdown.  He just needs a second chance like most people.  Now the Osama Bin Laden story was different I’m actually glad he’s gone; he brings stereotypes to Muslims.  People thought I was a child terrorist because he had pictures of Muslim kids holding guns.  He was in my opinion a very horrible man and didn’t deserve a second chance.