Sat, 21 Feb 2015

Summary: In "Small Change: Why the Revolution will not be tweeted", the author Malcolm Gladwell shares with us about 4 college students from North Carolina A. & T. and their courageous act. After being denied service from a waitress all because of their race , the four young men begin a sit-in. the sit-in took place outside the joint where they were denied service. This protest eventually caught the attention of many students. for example, the following week, the protest spread to Winston, Salem twenty-five miles away and even Texas. Gladwell claimed that this was all accomplished without the help of any social network we have today. Although social network wasn't used, it wasn't said that it would never be useful for receiving any kind of information. In Iran, they were dealing with a protest against the government that Twitter, was later informed about. In order to receive a statement such as the one in Iran, you'll need the same connection with whom you're connecting to.

Response: I really enjoyed reading this. I understand what Malcolm was saying and loved how he said that the movement the four college boys made did not need the help of social networks. It is very true and it can still happen today but society is too hooked on the latest technology and social media it would be tricky.

Summary: Yesterday I successfully managed to finish a book I have in my room titled "Better than running at night". It begins with a young girl who is fresh out of high school who is moving to live in the suburbs of her new Arts academy college where she wants to pursue her dream in the arts. Along the way she meets a dreamy devil at a Halloween party during a random make-out session. The two trolley along to the devils house where an almost one night stand turns into a serious yet not so serious confusing relationship. Juggling a new school, a new boy toy, friends and her parents seems to be the least of her worries. She, herself is her biggest worry. Finals are coming up and her boy toy flees the scene leaving her drowned in her thoughts. Her thoughts drown her so deep she is side tracked about what to do for her big final. So, she uses herself as her own model and tries to see herself the way she is meant to from deep within and doing so, she finds herself.
Response: This story leaves you thinking where the young artist ends up and I think it's very interesting how life can give a person surprises. The dreamy devil plays a somewhat bigger part in this story but I believe the girl is the main point since it is narrated by her. I wish she would have ended up with someone to make her happy like how any other girl loves a good love story but I think she had to love herself first in order to let someone in her life in that way. Yeah she flirts around with this guy but out of lust. I think everyone who is interested in art or dramatic stories should look into reading this book. You might grow fond of it.

Summary: In the packet we received in our class, we read a sample essay by Douglas  Ross. He began discussing how there are many unwanted children and the cause is because of irresponsibility. By not making the right choices, we can't control the consequences. In his public school, he read about young ladies who were teen moms and letting the baby be raised in a questionable environment. Even the girls in his class refused to take birth control simply because they believed that pregnancy cannot happen to them. Another reason why couples wouldn't take birth control is because they were "Irresponsible" since they were raised in a consequence free environment where practically the world is theirs. He says that poor advertising is also a cause. That "living for the moment" should be done but you should be practicing right from wrong basically. He says that "such advertising is hurting society and only adds to the issue of couples refusing to use birth control when they are clearly not willing to deal with the consequences that awaits such practice". He wishes to create a more efficient and responsible environment to prevent things like this.
Response: I think he has the right mindset and so should everyone else. There are many reasons why couples do not use birth control. For example, there are people who's religion are completely against it. In some families, children are raised with the mentality that birth control is "bad". Another reason could be that people just don't have the time to come around to it. Not everyone is irresponsible just because they don't use it.

Summary: In a This I Believe essay, I read one about believing in God. It was called "Pennies From Heaven". A man lost his wife Linda of forty-three years to a battle with cancer awhile back. He says that ever since he's then he's been finding pennies almost everywhere every day. The first penny he encountered was the day he went to the post office to mail a stack of bills that his wife usually did. She was the one who was in charge of doing that because she was a member of the accounting department for an insurance company. Whenever Linda found a penny, she would put it in her shoe for good luck. He didn't think pennies were worth picking up but he did that day and put it in a jar until it got to full to store anymore and he thought something was up. He's found so many pennies everywhere and some in the same particular places. For example, he always found one underneath a chair at an airport. He claims every penny found has a story and that if he wants to find one, he asks and it will appear. Their son and Linda's sister claim to find them too when they feel troubled. It's like a reminder of Londa and how she was so generous and known for her tasty tuna salad.  She was a caring mother and a loving wife. So each penny found, He believes that they are from Linda sending them from heaven. That god is working his miracles and bestowing them on her family. He's always doubted God but now he believes more than anything.
Response: This TIB essay is very interesting because I personally believe in God too. I can relate to it in a way because each time a family member dies, It rains heavily either the following day, that same day, or two days later and once the clouds clear and the sun comes up, the biggest rainbow shines through from our backyard. I don't think I would change anything about what was being said in print because it was the truth. I like how he stated that "There is a story for every found penny" in his essay because he's reflecting on times together with his wife and being remembered about it instead of horribly mourning is what really matters.

Meet Luna.