[RP] The unchanging curriculum in schools

I've got to say, I agree almost 100% with Terrace's post.
.  Our school curriculum is based a lot on text, and books, which is ironic because humans process and remember information a lot more accurately from what they see visually and or from media.  Without the actors, commentators, or feelings the feelings and settings of of say an informational tv show or news program, our minds have less trigger points or highlights to help us remember what we learned in the past.  A lot of the time we remember things not because we remember the exact thing that happened, but because we can link other triggers such as the reporter or the circumstance that the information was given in order to get to the subject that you are forgetful of.  The fact that visual media is so much more effective and proportionately favored in schools, I feel that it is unnecessary to continue to teach from textbooks and old curriculum.  Textbooks are expensive, cannot accurately relate to the student in most cases, and are a burden to obtain.  Media via the web or videos are much easier to access, are practically free, and are much more appealing to students.

Many conservative people want to keep the textbooks as a cultural preservative, but I feel like when it comes down to the effectiveness of teaching and learning, we must adopt whatever gets the job done best. 

A lot of curriculum taught in school is considered "unnecessary" and unhelpful in ones future.  There is a lot of truth in this, and the fact that our futures depend on our ability to accurately repeat and apply old theories is a little sketchy.  A lot of things we learn, we will never refer to again in life, and I feel the time spent memorizing a formula in math on how to find the derivative of something can be better spent in other ways.  School's focus on health and well being has taken a downturn as standards have risen and workloads doubled, as well as the pressure to succeed. 

The fact that another student worked his/her ass off studying for the SAT and lost out on sleep and fun, and you spent your time hanging with friends, playing sports, getting a good nights rest, exersizing, etc. and the other student is rewarded, diverges from the common perception that a "balanced" individual is what everyone should strive to be.  But instead we spend 8 or more hours at school, only to do more schoolwork at home, and be given assignments over the weekend, during holidays, and even when we don't even have school (summer).  I mean I know this is "supposed" to be a competitive world, but holy shit!  Some people cannot successfully prioritize their lives to fit in family, friend, and enrichment time, and that's a shame that these people have to go through so much crap.  I don't mean to sound too cynical, but what the hell kind of system do we live in?  But whatever you happy.  haha I really just want to be a rich hippie and spend my life enriching myself and others, and not having to abide by a rigid educational system to gain the money to make it possible. 

[FP] A new way to deal with our waste problems

I've been doing my bill for mock congress this weekend and have tapped into a relatively new technology called Plasma Incineration. 

In plasma incineration, municipal wastes of all kinds are heated to an access of 27,000 degrees Fahrenheit (hotter than the surface of the sun) and broken down into very simple bi products (each of the byproducts have lucrative economic value- syngas used in construction, and the liquid and gases are used in for fuel and energy-can be used in gas engines and hydrogen fuel cells).  They're are zero emissions into the atmosphere, and the economical cost of this process is now less than dumping waste in a landfill!  The actual cost of using this plasma incineration is 0$ per kw of energy compared to traditional incineration's 150$ per kw.  It's priceless because of the by products and their commercial value.


As much as critics want to complain that incineration is not the solution to our waste problem, and how recycling should be the new fad (which it is increasingly now a days), it is unethical to think this way.  Big business, as well as normal Americans, along with the  poorer population will not have the resources or the time to manage their waste ideally (or have been educated on how to do so).  Businesses waste because its economical, and so do regular people.  With exponential rises in waste, we can no longer store it in our earth or pollute the environment by burning it traditionally.  It's time we finally put our new technologies to use and ditch old traditions with municipal waste. 

Plasma incineration has been adopted in numerous foreign countries with much success, but has yet to be adopted considerably in the U.S.  Like with other emerging technologies, funding is a problem and at this point in our time, the focus of our government on jobs, healthcare, and foreign relations, the environment and waste management has been put in the background.  Which is more important at this point?  I'm not sure, but If I were an investor, I'd get busy on the whole Plasma Incineration thing cause the pros heavily outweigh the cons (if any).

[CE] Occupy (Oakland)

Okay I know this isn't Al Jazeera, but I hope its cool cause this movement is very relevant and could have a strong personal affect on local, hopefully national policies and progress.  I took this video off of Mr. Sutherland's most recent post.

Seeing this Occupy ____ movement is quite liberating.  A variety of people from various backgrounds, with different hopes for the movement and specific focuses, both give the activism a sense of communal quality, wholeness, and down to earth sentiments.  However, these widespread visions may also prove detrimental to compromise with the government and policy makers.  Ideally, most successful protests are set on a common objective and gain supporters through this common interest.  However, with the O.O. and other Occupy____ campaigns, there is the possibility that all of the messages (anti-corporate greed, pro green energy, etc.) are becoming inhibitors of concrete progress.  Although the various campaigns attract a wider variety of supporters, there may be some people who support one goal of the movement but not another which had been brought on as a part of the Occupy ___ movement.  Also, our government, being a bi-partisan, slow moving and nit-picking system, will not be able to meet all of these demands at once, and may be overwhelmed and maybe even doubtful of a movement of such a mix of opinions. 

I constantly refer to Michael Moore and other cynics but whatever it's cool as long as you don't take what their saying for granted...but Moore said in a film about health care (in this particular part, regarding France's success in universal health care and overall happiness) that the "Government is afraid of the people" and not the "people afraid of the governement".  He goes on to say how this promotes the success of protests and supports the frequency of protest.  This I believe to be one of the many problems of American government.  Like Sutherland's spot on joke about "how the drug dealer doesn't care about what the drug addict wants", this can partly be related to our government and how we are many times ignored unless it is of course campaign season. 

I am very aware that joining such a movement can prove costly to the attendee as well.  Corporate doesn't take to kindly the senses of union or uprising, as clearly proven by Jan and Michael from the show The Office.  Many people are taking a risk by becoming dedicated members to such a campaign, and many others are scared or hindered by their jobs or sacrifices they may need to make to join such a movement.  I say, in order to get such a large message across, as the movement does have a monumental message, its an all or nothing kinda deal.  If corporations and our government begin to see their economy hinder on the participation and uprising of these campaigns, then maybe we will have some hope in progress (liberal progress that is).  Hoping for the best though.

[FP] My dream

Beginning in middle school with Mr. Dodge's (RIP) insightful and eye-opening approach to teaching science and about how it affects the world around us, I became interested in environmental sciences and also medical/biological sciences.  With a realization of the great amount of suffering around the world, both in third world countries and developing countries where people had no way of recieving adequate care or resources, I formulated somewhat of an aspiration from both personal goals and from the heart to keep me motivated in my study of the sciences.

In the past few years, I have been inspired by doctors from different backgrounds, moving to foreign countries and helping those in need there, becoming sometimes the only doctor in the area, and making such a profound impact.  This is very similar to my dream.  I would love to become either a pediatrician or some type of medical doctor, live in the city and develop my practice, then move to a foreign country in which I help those in need and set up a free clinic.  I would sponsor and hire students from all over the world- high school, college, etc. to work as somewhat of a internship, or perhaps to just experience something new while following their passions.  From this, I could open people's eyes to the world outside of theirs and give them an unforgettable experience from which they may build off of, help people that need my help, perhaps create a foundation for these clinics, and learn a lot from the people myself.  This dream sounds sooo ideal to me, as it reflects who I am as a person and what I would like to do with the time I have on this Earth.

This dream however will require a lot of hard work and sacrifice.  I would like to believe that I am capable of such a task, and that I will have the spiritual and physical endurance to take on my dreams and aspirations, as I am not only doing it for myself, but for many others as well.

[RP] For suure

This is a response to Brenda's Post regarding her, and undoubtedly every seniors wishes and anticipatory feelings about senior year.

Seriously though, I feel the same way Brenda does.  4 years in high school, academically, seems like a butt load of material and work.  The fact that this work intrudes on all aspects of your personal life is depressing, but a seemingly important part of higher education.  Whatever I'm doing, there's always or most of the time, the thought of upcoming tests or assignments, or even college apps in my head.  Schoolwork really has become a part of my life, and on those rare occasions when I literally have nothing possibly to do for school, I sometimes blank out and waste a day either because I'm so worn out or don't react fast enough to bang out some activities with the bros.  However, socially, high school is a frikn bullet train.  Though a lot has changed, it seems that the things in your life that you are most passionate about and have a fun time being around, slip through your hands like sand as you progress through education.  I mean, I can't imagine not seeing my friends again after high school, I mean some of them are about to be across the country and only coming home for holidays and maybe an occasional summer week or something.  It's crazy how close I've become with my closest group of friends, and I know I'm gonna have to make an effort to keep in touch in person, not just over facebook.

But hell yea I know what Brenda is talking about when she says "the summer-a summer free ofsummer assignments and studying for upcoming tests, such as SATs or ridiculousand unnecessary tests on the first day of school".  I mean I haven't had an assignment-free summer since...7th grade or something im guessing?  Maybe 8th grade?  And coincidentally those have been some of my best summers in my life.  I mean these past few summers were decent but it seems like the events happened in huge bursts, followed by a few days of inactivity or limited days of fun with friends either due to sports, or other commitments including summer homework.  The feeling of having days where when you wake up, you think of what your about to do with friends or family, instead of how your going to schedual and plan out your day around your homework n stuff is the best feeling. 


This summer is going to be so sweet, and I'm trying, like a lot of other seniors, to bang out some good grades so I look good to colleges so I can stop stressin and start enjoying my hard work from highschool

[BW] Going for the Look

     Everywhere we look, there are people wearing name brand, trendy clothing.  The various styles are usually worn by people with similarities to the brand, or the company's workers.  For example, skaters usually wear brands like Billabong and DC; both companies hire people who skate or maybe just look like skaters to run the floors of their stores.  Though this they have created an affective advertising business.  Cohen explains the increasing competitiveness in the retail world today, and of companies' need for effective advertising and representation.  Coming up with a well liked, distinguishable model for their company is key to attracting new customers, and keeping their brand genuine in what they are advertising.  Nearly every retail store uses this method of advertisement, and it has proved quite successful in captivating the attention of people of all ages and tastes.

     Cohen is spot on by saying that "hiring by image" is "necessary and smart" in the eyes of retailers.  The influence of media, fashion models, and advertising as a whole these days remains very high, especially with the the younger crowd.  I am not sure whether I agree with Cohen's claim that "methods have changed for capturing the consumers awareness of your brand", but I rather believe that the practice of hiring people that represent your company's look well has always been a very important aspect of advertising.  For example, models and celebrities such as Marylin Monroe were constantly being pain by retail advertisers to wear, drive, and eat a variety of things from the latest boots to the new cigarette.  When people saw this, they also began following these trends as people looked up to these stars.  The consumers often grouped themselves with a certain style or lifestyle that they admired, and therefore bought clothes and other goods from the companies that represented this.  This is why it is so important, as Cohen describes, "to find a brand enhancer...a walking billboard".  This, as it has been in the past, IS advertising.  Sometimes people don't know what they like until you show it to them.

     For as long as retail businesses have been around, stores have always decorated according to the styles they represented.  Accordingly stores hire people that fit into this type of environment, and represent the style well.  Good looks, no matter what the style or target of the business, are almost always a factor in selecting who is hired by the stores.  The same way Tommy Bahama hires middle aged, clean cut, relaxed looking people at their stores, Hollister hires young attractive and energetic people in their stores.  Giving the people hired by both stores equal opportunity to work for either store would seem irrational as the two brands/stores are not too similar.  This is why retailers usually hire a certain type of person to work and represent their products.  In addition, sex appeal plays a big role in how retail stores hire.  People are more likely to be influenced to buy a product due to the attractive people working there or a compliment by an attractive salesperson.  Many times, my friends and I have gone int a store only on the basis that there were attractive girls either shopping in or working at the store.  I would like to add onto Cohen by saying that advertisement is the majority of the battle, and the real product is less important.

     Examples of hiring for look, or buying for the look are everywhere in our society.  We choose our lawyers and financial advisers not only on the basis that they have a good track record, but also on their looks.  Most people don't want someone too old because old age usually means less energy and less passion.  If they are too young, they may be easily distracted and might not have enough experience.  What people do want, is a happy medium; someone who dresses nice, but not too nice, someone who is down to earth yet is not trying to be your friend, and someone who give you the feeling that they know what they are doing and can help you.  Though many people deny it, especially in the business world, people have natural inclinations to hire or even do things/favor people that are physically attractive.  Consumers as well have this inclination, so if a business were to hire people who are attractive, the consumers would be inclined to buy or do things that the attractive model or salesperson says or asks for. 

     On a personal note, I have recently bought a pair of clippers.  At first I was daunted by the sheer number of brands and models, but after a while through word of mouth and reviews and advertisements on YouTube, I decided to get a pair of Andis Masters.  Now there are equally good brands out there, but the Andis, along with the Wahls seemed to have the most hype and best advertisement strategies and advertisers.  Not to mention the people who reviewed them seemed to be all barbers, and not so much just a mom who cuts her son's hair or some amateur.  Andis in particular hired a man by the name of Ivan Zoot, a world record holding hair cutter, as their advertisement director.  He does dozens of commercials and demonstrations, and attracts a lot of attention and also trust from the consumer society because they trust someone who holds world records and seems like he would be being honest about the quality of the product.  This advertisement strategy convinced me, as well as millions of other Andis customers to buy clippers from that company, all on the basis of who was in the videos, and what the hype was pertaining to the company.  People want to buy from people who look like they know what their doing.  In the same way that women buy beauty produts from attractive ladies at Sephora, I bought clippers from a man who seemed to know what he was talking about, and who looked like he knew how to cut hair.

     All in all, the importance of image in a store is undeniable.  It prompts people to make decisions based not on the product but by the appearance of the people and of the store, and also gets people to be long-term customers by having them affiliate/define their style with the one advertised.  Just like with anything else, humans are driven by impulse, and big companies take advantage of this to maximize their number of customers.  Hiring people who "look the part" is a part of business, and business is not always fair. 

[CE] Hope for Korea(s)

Many can recall or at least knows about the unification of Eastern and Western Berlin, Germany via the taking down of the Berlin wall.  A Unified Germany now stands in its place.  A somewhat similar occurrence may be underway in the upcoming/distant years as North Korea and South Korea conjecture about their plausible unification.  South Korea wants to be careful to avoid any civil unrest and social problems as there was a consierable amount following the fall of the Berlin wall.  Also, North Korea continues to be suspicious of South Korea and of he idea of unification, as it holds is *communist government and ideals very close to heart (at least the dictator does).  North Korea's extremist leader, Kim Jong Il and his son have been a large barrier between peaceful negotiations.  The nuclear arms race, cultural differences, leadership, and safety are the main problems at this point and need to be dealt with in order to have a successful unification of Korea (N+S).

I remember a story my grandmother told me about how she went on a trip to the boarder of North and South Korea as part of a tour-type of deal, and how a Japanese lady disobeyed the rules and went on an early morning walk the wall's elevated pathway (where tours were taking place the day before).  A North/Southern Korean soldier shouted to her to halt in Korean, but given that she did not understand or seem to notice him, the lady was shot and killed on her walk.  It goes to show how serious the problems are between North and South Korea, not to mention the disparities in wealth, food, etc.  I'm curious to know what the "real" opinions are of the Northern Koreans without having such heavy censorship.

Like numerous other countries, political ideologies, religion, and cultural values will continue to rip communities apart and will continue to do so as long as there are differences in opinion and the unwillingness to compromise.

[FP] A different movie...

During my...I think sophomore year i saw this movie..





This is by far one the best movies, along with another one like it where 4 tribesmen from I think it was another part in Africa were hosted in a number of American family homes and immersed into the American culture with a variety of host families from ranchers, to NY upper class, and a California home.  Both the movie in the video and the one I forgot the name of have been real eye openers to me and to some of the members of my family I introduced it to. 

The sheer differences between cultures are so interesting and the histories of how people came to be who they are today is just fascinating.  The Sudanese "lost boys" have endured so much, yet do not hold grudges or hate anyone for what has happened to their families.  Their view on life is quite inspiring, and their interpretations of American materialism and attitudes are very humbling and heartwarming. 

I enjoy watching the big movies out in the theatres a lot no doubt, but mixing in documentaries, short films, and artsy like movies that arent advertised on tv have proven to be really beneficial to me. 

[RP] "just" college?

College related posts have obviously been quite popular this year.  Adam's post about his plans for college and some of his concerns are very down to earth and easy to relate to as I'm sure only a small percentage of students are verbally committed or have been accepted to a college so far.

Here's something to lighten the mood, it's part of a show by Pen and Teller called bullshit; this one pertains to college



Though Pen and Teller shouldn't really be taken 100% seriously, they make really interesting points (often cynical) about how society influences the choices we make greatly.  College, while being study oriented, is 50% give or take social.  College is the buffer between real life in the business world as a young adult, and school.  Americans these days have seen college as a necessity for success and practically everything we do from day one of kindergarten to the last day of our senior years in high school, build up to who we are in the eyes of our employers, or those who admit us into certain institutions, in this case, college.

Though UC's and other Universities have been the subject of awe and necessity for most students, what really seems to be left out in terms of benefits and equality of education and social campus life are the other colleges like community, state, private, charter, etc.  There are people who know about this, but these are the people who look into it.  UC's however are put right into our line of sight as a personal goal, and often people feel distressed or just down that they might not have a good chance to get into one of these schools.  No matter what your circumstance, there is most often a college or higher education opportunity for you somewhere.  Chances are that most are better off going to a smaller school, paying less tuition, enjoying a more close-knit community, and coming out of college less in debt, than other people who feel its completely necessary to get into the best school/University possible.  Sometimes big colleges don't have your area of interest, and joining a college just because of the name or prestige that comes with it is not necessarily a key to success.



On a personal note, we at AHS are (I believe to be) very well educated as a whole.  The schools in our area have proportionately high standards, and the things we have been exposed to, living here in the bay may be considered by some to be quite different than other students throughout the state/country.  I have heard Adam talk in class and have gotten to get a feel for what hes thinking somewhat in class discussions and I know hes a smart dude, so I am hoping the best for him in his college application process...of which I myself am yet to start unfortunately.

[FP] Fat America...what would happen if food was free?

This post is in no way expressing any liberal or communist viewpoint, but instead I am curious about the tendencies and morality of the Average American when it comes to food and ultimately their health.

Here is the question...."If food in America were to be free, as in communal (restaurants would be free despite level of quality, price, etc.) would America's obesity problem/weight go down or rise?"

 You always hear about these books and movies on how bad fast food is, and how the price of fast food (it seems that the prices aren't as cheap as they used to be) prompts the poor to buy it to save money, and sometimes because its simply the easiest way (not to mention people hooked on its taste).  BUT what would happen if healthier foods were available to these overweight, possibly lower class Americans?  Would they make the "right" choice and begin to eat a healthier, more nutritious diet?...or would they pig out?  Would America benefit from free communal food (I realize that free food is an impossibility for a whole nation of our consumptive tendencies)? 

I feel like our society marginalizes those who are obese or eat unhealthy foods regularly due to their circumstances.  Obesity really is a growing problem in America, and will only rise.  I feel that Americans are unwilling to sacrifice their own health for others, and often label each other due to their social class, occupation, and among many other things, their diets.  Im just curious about whether those who depend on low cost, fast food, or what have you, have the drive to eat better, but cannot because of the price of healthier foods, or the time and preparation needed to go to the grocery store and cook yourself. 

[Bi-Weekly: prompt 1] Family inspiration

Ever since I was born, I have always looked up to the members of my family.  Being so close-nit, I knew each and every member of my family and most of my extended family by name, and conversed with them on a personal level.  My father's siblings are comprised of a mix of very athletic, and well balanced individuals.  All of them held diverse, yet important jobs, ranging from pharmacists and optometrists to a SWAT police sniper.  On my mom's side, her brother is an architect, and sister in law, a Human resource manager at UC Berkley.  As I grew up and became extremely close to all of my relatives, I realized that most of them, if not all, helped people and kept people safe in their line of work.  They all seemed like superheros, helping people on a daily basis; in some cases saving lives.  I could not fathom the possibility of loosing a family member that inspired me so much.  I looked up to my uncles and aunties as young boy, wanting to help people like they did.  This was the stepping stone of what I would aspire to work towards, a career that kept people safe.

My uncles and aunties always shared stories to me as a very young child, being that I was able to converse on a adult level at a relatively young age.  They gave me special attention because they realized that I was not just going through the motions of talking to a relative, but actually was showing interest in their professions.  Since I was a child, I had wanted to be a policeman or a fireman, and my uncle Robert, being a SWAT sniper told numerous stories of times when he saved lives in hostage situations, while risking his own in the process.  The doctors in my family shared their experiences with helping patients and how one of them gained so many networks in the field of optometry.  My uncle Geno, the architect, inspired my sense of creativity and design.  I constantly fantasied about helping build infrastructure in underdeveloped countries or helping to bring water and food to famished communities.  The society of man is build upon infrastructures, and is comprised of individuals with needs, and I felt the need to fill the void of those who could not receive proper care. 

My Grandma, as well as her eldest son, my Uncle Ed, embodied the gift of giving and charitable work.  The whole family, including my father grew up in the projects of Chinatown in a time of both crime and innovation.  Up to this day, each and every member of the family still contributes to the church organization that provided community and support for immigrant families. 

The vivid and inspiring stories of my relatives motivated me to pursue a career in healthcare in which my goal is to become a doctor in the city where I work to improve my study, and then later be stationed in a foreign country that is in need of doctors and support.  For people in other countries that lack the heroes and well being that I have, my ultimate dream is to fill their void as a friend and provider of health and hope. 

[RE] Deportes

"The biggest influence of my life would have to be sports and now that I am done playing competitive sports, I am starting to think about all the great times I've had."

 This was taken from Jon M's post "Looking back".  I can relate very closely to Jon as we both were involved in Alameda sports in our earlier years.  I however was involved with Alameda baseball.  Alameda baseball has had such a profound effect on myself as an individual ever since I joined single A ball.  I hadn't played tee-ball or coach pitch league, and this was my first year, but already I had began to assimilate into the Alameda baseball culture.  People who are involved in Alameda Baseball all know each other and keep tabs on who's doing what, and often times become friends in the process.  It's all a big network of parents, coaches, kids, managers, and supporters who socialize both on and off the field.

There are so many good memories that I have thanks to baseball, it is hard to fathom.  I was introduced to a large number of kids my age who also liked to play competitive sports.  The Alameda sports organizations created ideal groups from which kids would group up with friends with similar interests and athletic lifestyles.  In middle school, I had become especially close with players from the Alameda Buena Vista Basketball team, some of which I didn't look to favorably upon in Elementary school.  However, they have become my closest friends through middle and high school, and I am thankful that I have them in my life. 

Baseball has also taken me places.  I've been all over California and Illinois thanks to baseball, and would have been to Japan and Mexico as well if it weren't for crime rates or natural disasters.  Baseball has opened my eyes to a world of teamwork, a sense of community, and of course charity.  I had been sponsored by Alameda Baseball to go to play in Illinois, and I always had numerous supporters behind me (coaches, players' parents, Alameda baseball managers, etc.) that have always encouraged me and remembered me by name.  

Pertaining to memorable games, it seems like the highlights of my baseball career have been quite eventful in all respects.  Some of my most memorable games included getting nailed in the face by pitchers, hitting 2 grandslams (one was an inside the parker) in one game, hitting my first homerun, game winning hits, game winning plays, and also seeing other people get better and achieving goals in games as well.  See, that's the thing about baseball, you thrive on other people's success...and that's what makes the game so great.  

All in all, baseball truly has made me into the person I am today, and I am grateful that I grew up in a baseball-oriented city with so many great people.

[FP] Tests: stupid mistakes...on tests

I hate that feeling you get when you get back a test and you look over what you got wrong and you realize that a) you cirlced the wrong answer by accident even though you worked it out to the right answer.....b) you just forgot to fill in/circle the bubble......c) you got the concept right, but typed some equation into your calculator wrong (ex. 5x instead of 5+x).

I say this because I recently got back a math test and while i knew i did really well on it, it turns out on the last question, i typed the equation into my calculator wrong, leaving out like a + or something.  In effect, i was docked 16 points on that question alone due to the multiple parts of the question.  This left me with a C instead of an A.  Shit like this gets on my nerves, and I'm sure everyone else's.  I constantly hear people waying "i just skipped a problem and it messed the scantron up!" or "i circled the wrong bubble", or "i haaaad the right answer, but then changed it".  It's really a horrible feeling to know that had one little thing changed, you wouldn't feel so crappy.

Stupid mistakes on tests have always been a re-occurring factor in my test-taking over the years, and it sucks that even though a lot of people get the concept, their grade is drastically changed because of a few little errors that contributed to a loss of a ton of points.  But whatever, i guess our teacher's unwillingness to give us partial credit or any remorse what so ever is an attempt to teach us a lesson on how to "check our work", and "re-do" stuff, as well as the consequences of not taking their advice.

I guess this can be applied to life as well, as if we go through life thinking we know everything and not giving attention to what we are doing, we can end up in trouble as well.  To say the truth, this post is really dull to me, and i wrote it because if was pissed about my math test.  Shit happens tho, and I hope i learn from my mistakes

[Current Event] Mosque at Ground zero?

As many people may remember, there has been talks about opening a mosque near ground zero in New York.  Well, after much controversy and diversity of opinion on the matter, the mosque has finally opened.  Many may see this as offensive, disrespectful, and a menace to American society, while other see this as a chance for reconciliation between Muslim Americans and the anti-mosque protectors.  The only things that stand in the way of such a mosque being built is the moral sentiments that come with having a representation of the faith that the 9/11 terrorists upheld, religious based conflict, and ignorance.  I feel that some Americans these days have labeled Muslims, and their religion negatively due to 9/11.  It isn't fair that such a large group of people be affected by what was done by a few extremists.  I mean it's kind of ironic how America is bossing around other countries and getting involved with change in their governments, and then is upset when it is met by retaliation.  Putting America in some of the middle eastern countries' shoes, would we have retaliated similarly if we were being oppressed?  Not to say that the attack on our nation was justifiable, but for every action there is a reaction, and the fact that many people in America are putting the blame on those people who we oppress is not right. 

Are we supposed to alienate Muslims forever? Or is the protest against the mosque near ground zero just a phase?  Does justice exist when it comes to the 9/11 attacks?  What is justifiable and what is not?

It seems from the article that the "Project51" has nothing but good intentions and is incorporating community building services in addition to prayer, as well as opening its doors to people of all backgrounds.  The mosque would definitely be a progressive move forward and grudges against people only cause further trouble.  The Christian pastor mentioned at the end of the article really is pathetic.  It seems as if a little kid is telling his mom he won't breath until his mom says he can have a cookie or something.  I mean you would think that a church would be able to relate to the Muslim people.  I mean, if a group of extremist Christians went and bombed a major city in Japan, I'm sure that the pastor mentioned wouldn't like it if his whole religion was marginalized, discriminated against, and denied the ability to have a church in a metropolitan area where the attack took place.  I just feel like many people are seeing this issue in only one perspective.

[RP] Memoires of a college aplicant

"Without memories, you essentially lose who you are and what you stand for.  I'd like to convince everyone to make as many memories as you can throughout your life because at the end of the day they're all you got."

This excerpt is from Steven Tang's blog, under "The Faintest Memory".  As we all begin applying to our colleges, we will have to dig deep into our past for evidence of experiences that might wow applicant admission readers or what not.  We will all have to just sit down and think for a while, about what we have done, how far we have come, and where we want to go.  The hard thing about college aps is that we need to know how to connect the three.  However, I like how Steven focuses on the beauty of memory rather than its applications and usage for college admissions.

Steven and I relate to each other well when it comes to childhood memories, as we both think very fondly of them, and consider them to be special  because of the type of mindset we had during that time in our lives.  Steven and I most likely share some of the same memories as well, as we attended Bayfarm Elementary School together.  These were definitely the golden days of my life, but then again, it seems as when you progress through life, you always see your earlier days as the best times of your life....but i guess that's how life is, you live to re-live.

Steven concludes his article by saying that when all else fails, our memories remain.  Memories are a piece of you, the same way your personality is.  They give value to your life, and bring out some of the best and worse of human emotions, however they are easily forgotten as new ones are added each and every day.  It can be a curse, or a blessing to remember, but one thing is for sure, we are blessed with the things and people around us that make our lives so interesting and worth while.

[FP] Is life short?

Is life short?  Or is it the way we spend our lives that makes it seem short?

Throughout the later years in human existence, institutions and rules were established to maintain order, and guidelines for how to live a "respectable" conformist-if you will, life.  Kids in particular would obtain educations at multiple levels, maintain household chores, study hard, and follow the rules.  They then seek out jobs in the real world and ultimately work until retirement when mostly old people enjoy their later years in life with their kids and grand kids, trips to Europe or wherever, and reminisce about their lives.  Those who didn't follow the system correctly or successfully in a different avenue were forced into a type of living different than the average "American".

It has always made me wonder whether or not we are spending our time here on Earth, the way we should.  I mean, everyone's opinion differs, but if you think about it, there is so much to discover in this world of ours, and we spend....what?  maybe a little less than half of our lives in school?  If you think about that proportionately to 10 amazing experiences you would have in your life say, if you had a much longer time out of school and work, then your missing out on 4-5 experiences during your time in school/work.  I mean of course we definitely have a degree of freedom and fun in school and work, but who knows what we're missing out on during our countless hours on the computer doing reports, or studying some math concept that some 18th century Greek mathematician made up in his head the past.  I'm also tired of hearing about suicide rates in Korea or some other educationally/socially strict country, going up because kids didn't do well on tests (the big ones that would decide their future- similar to ones in US but more brutal and consequential). 

[warning, off topic:  We spend a considerable amounts of our time sitting, whether it be in class, at home, in a waiting room, studying in your room, etc.  I've come to realize that sitting, though practiced in the past with our past evolutionary "homos", has become a very overused "action".  It puts stress on your back, promotes bad posture, is bad for circulation and muscle function, and degrades your health in some circumstances.  It would be cool if I could invent a type of chair that is somewhat antigravity: it would incorporate the comfort and health benefits of laying down, while providing the support of sitting.  Oops, this actually might be bad considering the possiblity that given this healthy way of "sitting" people might be motivated to do it more often so....idk just an idea so far.]


Anyways, it makes me wonder about the possibilities we are missing out on as a human race, given the strict systems we have placed upon our societies.  What could 2 hours on the computer doing homework, amount to in 2 hours of actually enjoying the world around us, and not just the ideas people put into educational curriculum in the past.  I mean, of course its good to have knowledge of subjects like biology, basic math, literature, and various sciences, but when do we draw the line between learning and memorizing.  When do we learn for ourselves in the real world, rather than taking a seemingly more "intelligent" person's theory for granted.

Who knows?...maybe 80 years of what we percieve as "normal life" could seem more like 100 years if we loosened up our standards and strict living guidelines as a human race.  Maybe this is a better step forward...maybe. 

[RE] Dead bodies in Mexico, nothing new

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/09/201192122817661227.html

Every week there are news articles of double digit dead body findings in Mexico.  Many of the dead bodies have been mutalated or tortured, and left on the street or in plastic bags in garbage cans around town.  This rapid, and constant homicide rate in cities like Veracruz and Acapulco, Mexico have plagued not only Mexico, but the U.S. as well.  The demand from illegal drugs across America is enormous, and Mexico's drug trade facilitates our needs as drugs are smuggled into the U.S. on a daily basis.  Mexican kingpins and crime organisations include human smuggling, fraud, and extortion as well and they all have developed into large crime groups which constantly compete with eachother and run into law enforcement of both their own country and U.S. DEA. 

On a personal note, this increase in homicide and crime in Mexico's cities had greatly angered and frustrated me.  In the summer of 2009, I was supposed to travel to Mazatlan with the 2009 Alameda World Team to play in the World Tournament.  Teams from Japan, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Italy, Australia, etc. would be there and it would be my first time experiencing such a culture rich competition.  Players were originally to be home-stayed in a Mexico player's house and live with the family for a few weeks.  I was looking foward to speaking spanish and emersing myself in the Mexican culture.  However after so many homicides, drug trafficing, and crime, home-staying was out of the question.  As if that was not enough, the trip was ultimately cancelled to to the Board's concern for our safety and instead our team joined a smaller international tournament in Crystal Lake Illinois.  I look back on this missed oppurtunity the same way I look back on the baseball trip the Alameda Varsity Team was to go on last year, but was cancelled due to the tragic Tsunami.  These two opputunities would have been my first times out of the country, really (except for being in Tiajuana for half a day).  All of the experiences I could have had, and memories, and cultural enrichment that was not possible after the cancellation of the Mexico trip depressed me.

Drugs and crime in Mexico is a real problem ultimately fed by the U.S....big surprise.  The DEA is fighting an inconclusive battle against drugs and I believe it is a complete waste of time and money.  The U.S. is spending so much of its own budget, not to mention costs of illegal immigration and damage due to drug runners in America.  It is however, a necessity of anti-drug forces to protect our citizens from the effects of all this illegal activity.  As long as there is a demand, the U.S. will continue to be plagued by illegal drugs, and Mexico will continue to fall as a country.

[CE] Chile's 9/11...protests...difference from US

It's amazing to see how different we are from other countries around the world.  The title of the video mention's "Chile's 9/11" but the circumstances and reasons behind theirs was far different. 

Our country was attacked/targeted at our political centers: The Twin Towers, Pentagon, and the White House (?) by Saudi terrorists.  The overarching reason behind this I believe to be rooted in our country's act for forcefully getting ourselves involved in other countries' business.  However, in "Chile's 9/11", the country's own military and many people within it attacked their own "white house", ending the life and reign of their socialist leader.  This act was carried out within the country and did not involve other nations.  Why the news article above is called "Chile remembers its 9/11" is confusing to me....9/11 and Chile's overthrow of their government is completely unrelated...except for the amount of damage done....maybe not though, since now our country is subsequently involved in a seemingly perpetual war and Chile actually progressed after their political takeover. 

Anyways, its Crazy to see how country's protests compare to those of other countries as well.  The basis of our protests here seem to be civil rights, justice, and a bundle of other discrepancies.  These protests are usually peaceful and futile, and often involve people who are protesting for the wrong reasons (ex- thugs in Oscar Grant protests in Oakland?).  In countries like Chile, Russia, Iran, etc.  there seems to be a great number of violent protests.  Maybe its all that is covered by our media, but anyways their protests seem to have deeper routes and meanings, and also seem to get a lot of things done despite the consequences (especially pertaining to takeover of governments or power groups). 

This was a very odd, but enlightening video for me; maybe if the title wasn't there, I would have appreciated it a lot more...idk.  The fact that the Publisher of the video compared our 9/11 to another country's old crisis is confusing; its like we are saying "hey don't blame us for everything, look at countries like Chile, they had similar tragedies to 9/11".  Chile worries about themselves though, the US worries about everyone- which is both a good thing and a bad thing considering the goods and bads we have done in the past.  It sucks that the question of "Should America maintain its Impreialist/getting in everyone's business and claiming to have all the right answers to people's problems attitude?" will never really have a "right answer". 

[Response] Crooked Priests

Nancy has been pretty up to date on her scandals it seems, but this one about Priests molesting young children is just disturbing.  Nancy says, in her blog (http://nblame.blogspot.com/2011/09/ce-how-holy-is-this.html)

"I’m pretty disgusted of how all these abuses were covered up as much as fifty years and how these priests can continue to live on and practice what they pretty much soiled. Is there really anyone we know we can trust?"

 Throughout my life I have seen mockeries of Priests molesting young boys belonging to the church, whether it be from Southpark, some comedian, etc.  I have also learned about similar past incidences in history class; for example Horatio Alger, an ex-priest, molested boys at one church, was sent to a retreat for drummer boys, and then wrote books about the triumph of the poor to make it big in society and the economy.  For some reason this whole molestation situation with Alger seemed to be set aside while he set the tone with his books on American Progression.  I think a similar concept can be applied to the sexual abuse coverups and scandals of more recent times. 

It's insulting to see how many of these crimes go unchecked and many are a mystery due to the kids' unwillingness to speak out.  It's also very weird that these molesters are priests....I mean there is a certain amount of holiness and purity that comes with that type of job, and for some of them to be molesting vulnerable kids? I mean....I suppose occupations in our society are comprised of a fair number of freaks, but for the notion of "Priests molesting young boys" to become somewhat of a well known (possibly lesser believed) icon, and cynical tag of Southpark, critics of Christianity, and numerous comedians, there has to be considerable doubt pertaining to the religious  practices/community. 

I have an overwhelming feeling that these cases of abuse are being blanketed or moderated by the holiness of the church and far reaching routes into modern politics and possibly into state judicial systems.  However, the credibility of the Roman Christian faith is not to be questioned; I only hope that the perpetrators of such sick and abusive acts towards children be brought to justice, and for the kids to speak out against their abusers. 

[Free] Pittsburgh all-in-one sandwich

I'm basically writing this because I'm starving, but its good to get your feelings out, even if it is just hunger.

What you see here is a perfect combination of fresh Italian bread, drizzled with some olive oil, holding together a batch of freshly cut fries, some killer coleslaw, pastrami, tomatoes, cheddar cheese (i think), and a fried egg.  Add a little wine vinegar hot-sauce on that and you have yourself the best sandwich in San Fracisco, CA. 

The proud creators of this sandwich is Giordano Bros , 303 Colombus Ave on Telegraph hill in SF.  The owners are from Pittsburgh, and the restraint/bar carries with it, all of its Steeler routes, along with the obvious SF Giants feel as well.  Ive been going to this place since my cousin, who lives in North Beach, took me there, and ever since, its been my favorite sandwich.  My cousin's friend works there at the bar, and when I went there, he figured out it it was just my 17th birthday and offered me a beer.  He was kidding of course, bit it gives you a sense of the down to earth quality of the employees and customers there.  While a little messy, the sandwich has a surprising "artisan" quality, and every flavor seems to go together as if they were meant to be.  Their hotsauce is actually really good too, and every time I go there, I always forget to check what brand it is.

Anyways, the atmosphere is really great; people all over SF know of the place and you can always hear people talking about it or referring their friends to Giordano Bros.  There are always sports games on TV there, and its nice to just watch the Giants game while you eat your all-in-one.  The place has some nice outdoor seating and a bar table facing the street so people can just watch people walking by and observe the oblivious tourists from France or wherever walking by, unaware of what a great sandwich they just passed up.


Anyways that's about it....check it out tho, Giordano Bros in SF.  I even bought a tshirt from there

[COLLEGE DRAFT] 500 word: Rough draft college essay

In the ___ of 20__, I walked into my mother's bedroom to find her crying.  The hero of my life and protector of the family was showing an emotion that I seldom saw.  She had just got off the phone with her doctor, she had breast cancer.  Once that word reached my ears, I rushed over to her to comfort her, all the while staring into open space, trying to comprehend the ordeal.  The possibility of living a life without my mother was unthinkable and unspeakable among my family.  Our lives and happiness entire, revolved around this wonderful person who now in an instant, had been stricken with a life thre3atening condition.  As my sister rushed in and joined our huddle, I came to the sudden realization that I now would need to be the man of the house.  Within an instant I had begun to develop a new sense of life's importance, what my goals were, and responsibility, as now the roles of the household would change.

            Throughout my life I had been interested in biology, but this specific moment in time, being confronted with my mother's vulnerable and helpless condition, would make a medical related career my passion and ultimate goal.  Never in my wildest dreams would I anticipate such a heavy blow on our family.  The news was a shock to everyone, and suddenly I was confronted with a rather enlightening situation.  My mother became the center of what seemed to be like an endless support group.  Distant friends were delivering food and gifts for us because during my mother's chemotherapy, she was too weak to cook, and my father was busy at work to support our family, especially in our vulnerable position.  Medical treatments, surgeries, insurance, and private cancer aide organizations provided an appreciated cushion for my mother's ailing condition.  Not long after chemotherapy, I observed my mother's complete hair loss, weight loss, and weakening of physical strength.  However, despite these limitations, I knew my mom was still there deep inside.  The fire insider her eyes remained and I knew she would not give up.

            What my mother lost in family power, influence, and fire, I made sure not to let to go to waste.  I assumed the power of oversee'er in my family and ensured everyone's safety and the wellbeing of the household.  All the while, I was captured by the realization that millions around the world were experiencing what I was, some with more aide, and most with less.  The fact that others in developed countries were faced with the same circumstance, with less that "American-grade" healthcare was unimaginable.  From this moment, my past aspirations to become an architect or a chef had shifted to an occupation whose job description entitled, "I help people who need help and who are unable to change their circumstances to help themselves otherwise".  My spectrum of wanted occupations varied from firefighter, to a doctor working in a clinic in some foreign country.  I had the overbearing sense to give, not to receive, to be the caretaker of those in need.
    Through this experience, I was faced with the realization that despite my somewhat sheltered life, growing up in a friendly suburb, cancer and other various diseases can affect anyone, no matter what their circumstance.  I committed myself to science and found a passion that would not only be rewarding to me, but to my mother.  Studying medicine and helping those with illnesses that couldn't receive care as easily as we did would honor my mother, who muscled through her cancer, and speak lengths to human charity and resilience.  I learned a lot about responsibility in hard times, and began to appreciate life for what it was, an irreplaceable privilege to be appreciated and protected by all.

Fear

"It’s how we deal with our fear that sets us apart. Many people go through life allowing their feelings of insecurity to overcome their dreams and desires. We can go through life living in fear,but in doing so we allow our insecurities to block us from achieving our goals"

This is from Jazmine Bravo's blog (http://the0pendoor.blogspot.com/2011/09/road.html)  .  This particular quote reminded me of an important scene in the movie Coach Carter.....

This famous scene sums up the progression of people through life and their effect on others in overcoming their fears and weaknesses.  After years in Middle and Elementary school, the normal fears of fitting in and of getting good grades and what not begins to somewhat fade, not completely however.  As students begin coming into high school and the realization that the remaining years of sheltered life among their family and friends and in their hometowns are limited.  Soon real life will set in and students will have to face the big questions such as, who do I want to be, and how do I want to be viewed by others.

Jazmine's exerpt and the scene from the movie can be directly compared as they both refer to shrinking in the presence of others, fearing the unknown, and overcoming obstacles with ourselves.  The line "it is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us" is so true.  It isn't the fact that we HAVE fears or that the fears make us scared or insecure, its notion that fears will inhibit our ability to achieve our goals.  The resilience and attainability of our goals is the thing that most frightens us; fear is just something to overcome or channel somewhere else, away from our hopes and dreams.  

It is essential that we do not let others, or even ourselves shrink in the presence of uncomfortable situations.  Life is a game of hurdles, and if one doesn't jump, they go nowhere.  Overcoming small hurdles/problems motivates us and trains us to take on bigger problems which in the end may lead to the fulfillment of our goals.

9/11 - Dirty Politics

This video is nothing new to me.  After seeing Michael Moore's movie Fahrenheit 9/11, the betrayal and obviously dirty politics of the Bush Administration was all too real.  Despite Moore's extreme progressive and liberal opinions, I believed nearly everything he said, not because he was funny or it was appealing, but because it made sense.  This video is like a mini version of Moore's movie in that it gives insight into the life of the soldier, and also into the playing fields of politics and how 9/11 really served as an ideal excuse to go to war with Iraq.  Weapons of mass destruction were never found, and President Bush's jank "Coalition of the Willing" were all just lies and fabrications to collect support for the war.


The soldier makes reference to America's somewhat gut reaction to 9/11 and how it wasn't wrong, but under the control of the Bush Administration and various other government agencies, this strong national sentiment was put to use in declaring war.  It is really a shame how the soldiers' lives have served as mere pawns to the personal interests of higher government.  Like Moore pointed out in his film, "it is always the people who are forced to live in the worst conditions and the ones which have been neglected by Government support, that are the first to sign up to serve their country....all they ask is that we (Government) do not put them in harms way."  It seems like the conceited soldier on the war in Iraq is an all too common sight. 

It is also a shame to see that with such great authoritative power, the Bush administration was able to threaten all would-be conspirators and opponents of Bush's actions and prevent them from spilling vital flaws and underlying reasons for going to war.  I am just glad that Bush is out of office, as he only spelled disaster for our country.

In conclusion, its an all too common occurrence to see this type of video posted about the farces of the war and our Government.  Although I'm not set on what we should have done in the wake of 9/11, I am positive that we shouldn't have used soldiers' well being as pawns in a game of politics and greed, and also we should not have hidden so many things from the American people.

Savant

I've always wondered what it would be like to be not just talented, but super humanly talented in one subject or another.  However, when I think of this, I never take into account the price (if any) I would have to pay, or sacrifices I would need to make to accommodate such a great ability.  In the video above, there is a man who is living out my dream, however, with the addition of a more realistic circumstance.

The man in the video has severe savant-ism.  In short terms, this means that he is mentally handicapped, and has an imbalance in the brain which often times allows for accelerated performance in certain subjects.  In this man's case, his special talent involves his visual photographic memory and his ability to draw vast cities from a bird's eye view, from what he remembers in his head.  Unfortunately with savants, talent like his comes at a price.  Many savants are "idiots", meaning they are socially challenged, and some have severe trouble with other subjects other than the one(s) they are gifted in.

I enjoy learning about the superhuman side of life, and how people transcend reality, amazing people on the way.  I also feel that there is often a price to be payed for every talent, which is unfortunate, but a part of life nonetheless.  I think it would be very interesting to meet a savant.  I would enjoy picking there brain on astrology, math, looking at their extraordinary art, or just listening to their music.  

This brings up a question that I think might shed light on who people really are, what they are like, and what they see as important in life, "If you were a savant, what would be special talent?"