School (?)

3.) Is what you learn at school really connected with your life?

In many ways no, school does not have much to do with the real world as a whole. No one is going to need every class that they take in high school. Not even half really. Looking at my own schedule, I know for a fact I will never need great books, geometry, ancient Greece, and chemistry in my real world experiences. All to often the question comes up in class “when are we ever going to use this in the real world?” and often the answer is not to reassuring, “well if your going to be an architect then this will be very helpful”. Very often the things we learn will never impact us. Many high school students have an idea of what they want to be in their lives, and the skills they need to achieve said career. Even if a student knows what they want to be, and the kind of classes to take to achieve that goal, students still have to motivate themselves to study the curriculum, and remember the ultimate goal they are working for. As far as how school helps us in life at this moment, it again really doesn’t. School now does not do anything for us, we don’t really need the classes outside of school, school really develops the social skills we need. School does nothing for us until it comes to getting a good job. School is something that really just helps us later in life, for school in our life today doesn’t do much for us in this current day, but keeps our minds open and to teach the social skills we need.

U.S. // Indiana

1. Even Bayh, Richard Lugar.
2. Jerry R. Torr
3. David Ford
4. Dan Burton
5. David Ford
6. Republican
7. Mitch Daniels, Jim Schellinger, Jill Long Thompson, Andy Horning

I'm Lovin' it.

The idea of personal responsibility, to cooperate responsibility, to government responsibility, is a hard barrier to decipher between, especially when it comes to fast food. The video Super Size Me, very clearly shows this controversy. Super Size Me shows the personal responsibility side of things, showing how the diet of McDonalds, which some Americans follow all to regularly, can be brutal to the heath of an average person. Cooperate responsibility is talked about in the movie, but not in a good way, saying how the McDonalds cooperation, just like any other cooperation’s, goal is to make money in whatever way possible, even if it is unhealthy for the consumer. In my opinion, government should come in to the picture to make companies advertise the things there product can do to the consumer, because as of now, as we see in the movie, it is hard to even get the nutrition facts of a McDonalds restaurant. Government responsibility, however, should end there, it is then up to the individual to know the facts and make the choice. More people then just McDonalds were not to thrilled about the movie Super Size Me, however. “Nobody I know and believe lives can eat and afford to eat only McDonalds food, and if they can and do, they are ignorant and I don't believe responsible so their views shouldn’t be believed as accurate. My brother and me eat McDonalds, and we are definitely not fat, neither is my Dad or Mom. Again I am ashamed that people have such narrow-minded views concerning the fast food industry. It should be left up to the consumer to exercise and stay healthy, no one makes them eat at McDonalds.” On those points, there is the debate of different life styles, people that are on the go all the time, and have no time for anything other then fast food, lower income families that can go to fast food places for a cheaper meal. There is also the point that much of the point of the movie is not just fast food, it is the debate over government, cooperation, and personal responsibility, the movie could have been based around smoking, everyone knows its bad, and yet people continue to smoke. The facts are out there for smoking, and awareness is raised, but people enjoy it and can’t seem to quit. The movie Super Size Me, in my opinion, has a good message at the end that the responsibility of the individual can’t always be trusted, regulations need to be there, and many times, they are not.

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3.) Is having a lot of material goods a help or hindrance to happiness? Why are some people able to be happy with little, while others with more are miserable?
No. Material goods would be, or is, the opposite of happiness for many people, weather they realize it or not. Material objects leads to wanting more material objects, wanting to show off more, wanting everything bigger, better. People become obsessed with wanting to impress, and maybe wanting to compensate for something they could never have, maybe as a child there family couldn’t afford a nice car, and so getting one now makes them feel better about how there childhood may have ended up. Material objects could very often lead to being fake, hiding behind what you have instead of finding out who you are and then showing that to the world. People could just see you as a lot of money, spoiled, rich, and nothing beyond that, however, some people could want to use their money as a mask. For many people though, money is not the key to happiness. The old saying “money can’t buy happiness” is a statement that still holds true today. For many people, money gets in the way of what is really important, their friends and family. Having enough money for a decent house, decent car, and decent education for their kids is all many people want, and for them, that allows them to do what they need to do, and get along on just that. People with a lot of money can be miserable with the circumstances for several reasons. Being stereo typed for one, called rich is something many people wouldn’t want. Feeling guilty, many people with more money then they need spend it in ways that they don’t need to, a bigger better house, a nicer faster car, lavish furnishings, and many things, then they hear of the poverty in the rest of the world and feel guilty, bringing on the misery. People with very little, but enough to get by are typically very happy people because they have learned to accept themselves, not having money or expensive, lavish things to hide behind. People with a smaller amount of material objects are quite often closer to their families and friends. They don’t have as much of a barrier, helping them to relate when someone is going through financial troubles, and in the end getting closer to that person. The contrast of someone with a lot of money, compared to someone who doesn’t have much, is very obvious by just being around them for a short period of time, in my own life I have noticed people with more money tell about things they have done, places they have gone, typically very costly things, while people without that lifestyle talk about people they know, fun memories that happened in their own living room. Having money or not having money doesn’t determened how happy a person is, the real question is how they spend that money, or how they view themselves that makes them who they are.

Me myself and I

I believe that who we are is determined by whom we hang out with. Who you are around influences how you feel, what music you listen too, how you feel on certain subjects, so on and so forth. The people you around, are influenced by the people they are around (and on and on and on) and what they say or do makes you think in your own way. For example, who you hang out with could influence what you do, say you where watching television with your friends, and your friend got to pick the show, I myself have a friend who is very political, and we would end up watching Keith Olbermann, or just “Keith” as my friend calls him. Which did infact, end up turning me into a political person, and very interested in politics. Who you hang out with can end up making you think differently, which can lead to influencing other people. Since no one hangs out with the exact same people, this is what makes everyone unique. However, there is some level of control, because we can decide who we hang out with, keeping the power somewhat with us. And many times, who we are influenced by we cant get out of our lives, family, close family friends you may have to be around all the time, like it or not. I believe we know who we are by looking at everyone you are constantly with, friends, teachers, family, and finding the qualities in them that you can also see in yourself, therefore finding out who you are. What you believe in however, can differ from those around you, for instance, I myself watch the news every morning while I get ready for school, keeping me informed, and also changing and shaping my opinions. People we are around change out thoughts, opinions and ideas every day. Music is something I myself learn more about ever day on the way to school. Not being “the driver” I get no say in the music, so I get new music I wouldn’t have originally listened to. People we are around have a lot of influence on what we do in our every day lives, making us try new things, foods, music, and politics. Everything that people around us do makes an impact on our lives, even in very small ways, and by doing this; we impact other people in the same or a slightly different, or even a very different way. I believe that who we are is made of whom we know, and how they impact us, everyone is unique, but because of the people they know, personalities are acquired, not given out at birth. Who we are as people changes each and every day, simply because of what we do, see, and know.

Freedome or Survival ?

5.) Why is it sometimes hard to remain neutral in an argument or fight? Do you respect people who try not to take sides in a dispute?

When there is a fight going on, even if it is one that you yourself have no involvement in, it is human nature to choose a side of the argument that you agree with. Whether it is a war in a far off country that doesn’t directly affect you, or a fight between friends in the school or work place, everyone has some sort of an opinion. It is an incredibly difficult task to remain neutral when there is some sort of fight and/or argument going on, either you can understand one point of view better and there for sympathize more so with them, or you have been in nearly the same situation as one side, and feel empathy toward them. On the other hand, maybe you just like one side better, if it was a fight between people at the school or work place, then you could just end up siding with whom you like more, or are around more often. People, who don’t choose sides, typically have an opinion, or are too unaware of the disagreement to make a decision. When someone doesn’t make a decision, it typically shows that they do not have enough deciding factors to force them to lean one way or the other. These people do have my respect, because if they know enough about the situation, and enough about all people involved and can still remain neutral, then they can typically be the go to person for both sides, and may end up settling the dispute. When someone says they don’t have an opinion, as to who is right or wrong in an argument, most cases just keeps it hidden. The ability to do so however, is one that I myself admire; being an opinionated person (who often voices said opinion), the ability to keep it quiet and not be pressured into telling what they think is an amazing talent. Even when it comes to world events, such as the current war in Georgia, most everyone has an opinion on what is right and what is wrong. Like Sweden during the Holocaust, when the rest of the world had something to say about what is right what is wrong, and trying to do something about it, Sweden did nothing, and to this day are very admired for doing so. It is things like that, not doing what the rest of the world wants you too, that brings respect to the small group of people that are able to remain neutral throughout arguments, on all kinds of scales. Keeping a neutral opinion about things is something that will let it be a little less to worry about. I highly respect the people that are able to keep there own opinions quiet, and still respect the people who have them, being able to be a neutral asset to any disagreement or argument. It is a hard thing to do, and the people who can are those who will be respected for many years to come

Vincent

After listening to the story of Vincent, I felt a deep personal connection to the story, a family friend of ours is autistic and it amazed me how I was able to relate him to Vincent. They both have there lives planed out for them every day, but are truly amazing people, Vincent’s ability to remember anything having to do with movies co-insides with our family friends ability to name all of the presidents forward and backward. This story made me think, why do we treat people like Vincent so differently? No one seems to know if they know they are different or not, they just assume that they are don’t and act like they are, leaving them no control, not even on how to look at themselves. Vincent’s story made me a little upset, the idea of not being able to run your own life is one that I myself have experienced, and is hard to go through, let alone watch anyone else go through. The beginning of the story, when one of the speakers finds out he is so very different from the rest of his peers, was a very emotional part of the story, being different isn’t easy, especially when you are told from teachers and authoritative figures that you are forced to respect that your different, it is a harsh and cold reality that is difficult for anyone to face. The part of the story, when, Vincent’s parents and siblings helping him to get through his days, was a part of the story that actually made me think of University, the way Vincent’s parents and siblings were able to the there for him, and support him, reminded me so much of the environment so embedded in our brains here at university. Vincent’s mom reminded me of our mentors, the way she is there for him every day and helps to guide him through life. The way Vincent’s mom helps him daily is a show of true compassion and is a very inspiring aspect of a somewhat sad story Vincent’s mother is someone who could very easily be looked up too, the way she devotes so much time to her son is a show of true love and caring. Vincent quitting his job and everything else in his life, if not explained through a chemical imbalance, could very understandably be that he wanted SOMETHING to control in his life. Not being able to live your life the way you want it something that no one should have to go through, the power to make a decision about your own life is something America stands on, and yet many people take it for granted, it takes someone like Vincent, who only wants a little control, to remind us how lucky we really are.

The Magic Pencil !!!

Whilst going over the reviews of the magic pencil, there was a pretty even divide of yes's and no's. Among the no's there were reasons such as, too pricey, cheating, and not actually learning. The only answer that took me back was 'too pricey' for a MAGIC PENCIL, the price seemed fair. The closest thing in existence now is a pen that knows what you write and has applications such as translator, where you can write the word in English and it will tell you the Spanish translation, and other useful tools. That product sells for well over 100 dollars, and the cards that do things such as math, translating and other things are around 20 dollars each. Since the Magic Pencil could do all of this, the price answer surprised me.
As far as the yes's, more free time, the way the product was shown, and visual of people having fun were among the answers. The way the product was shown surprised me, seeing as there wasn't a great deal of spice behind the 'commercial', it was fairly straight forward...