My Reflection

The past year I feel like I have made a change and became a different person. The biggest change that I have made this year was my view on school and my education. I believe that this change was a good effect on my life. I now realize and see things that I never thought of before. Like the fact that school is really important and it predicts my future. I always knew that school was important but I never really wanted to do better and take it serious until I got into high school.

 Before I got to high school I really didn't like school and never thought I would. I completed my work and passed my classes, but deep down I didn’t care and never knew what an affect it had on my life. It seems as though now I deeply care about school and my education because I know how important it is. I used to believe that school just wasn’t for me. My plan was to graduate high school as an average student and be done with school after that. I didn’t really have goals in life. However, now I believe that I can graduate with good grades and I would like to go to college. 

During this school year I have become more optimistic about the future. I am excited to know how my life will be.  I am more determined to make smart choices in life so that my future will be as good as it can be.

Coming to parkway really changed my view and opinion in life. Hearing everyone talk about college and even seeing some of the  seniors go to college really had a positive affect on me. It makes me what to be successful and so the same. I now feel like it’s my job to achieve big goals in life and I am glad that I changed for the better. 

khloe kardashian

Many people are gossiping about wheater Khloe Kardashian has the same father as kim, Kourtney, and Rob. in a recent article called Khloe Kardashian denies DNA test, Khloe refuses to get a DNA test. Kris, who is the mother, insists that Khloe is her late husband Robert Kardashian's child,  but Khloe looks nothing like the other siblings. All the gossip started when Kris Kardashian published a book. She revealed that in the past she walked out on her past husband Robert Kardasian and cheated on him. This was around the time Khloe was conceived, which is the reason why many people are spreading rumors that Khloe ha a different father. 

In the up coming television show "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" Kris wants to get a DNA test. She wants to prove everybody wrong who thinks that Khloe has a different father.She thinks that getting a DNA test will stop all the gossip for good. However Khloe doesnt want to take one. According to the article, Khloe says that "Mom, I don't care what they're saying. Because everyone is calling me fat, do you want me to go get lipo? Seriously, my dad is Robert Kardashian. My step dad is Bruce Jenner.I am an Odom anyway. I'm not a Kardashian anymore, so let's move on," Khloe said in closing." 

I believe that the reason why Khloe doesnt want to get a DNA test is because she is scared and doesn’t want to be hurt. She knows that there is a possibility that Robert might not be her biological father. If the test comes back and proves that he is not her father she will be hurt for life. If I was in her sitiuation, I don’t think that I would take a DNA test either. My reason is because, I believe that if she believed that he was her dad all that time than whats the point of knowing the truth now. 

In a recent “This I Believe” essay Tony Hawk believes that people should take pride in what they do, even if it is scorned or misunderstood by the public at large.

He talks about being a professional skateboarder for 24 years. Which paid his rent and gave him his greatest joy. When he was about 17, his teachers scolded him about getting more into his work. They told him that he would never make a living as a skateboarder. Tony states that skateboarding still faces a lot of stereotype. He says that some of the most pro skaters he knows are responsible members of society. Many of them are fathers, homeowners, world travelers and successful entrepreneurs.

After reading this essay I can say that I agree with Tony Hawk. I believe that if you like doing something you should take pride in it like Tony did, because it can get you far. Don’t let people put you down. Be proud at what you do even if no one else is.

According to the article Tony Hawk says, “ Skateboarding doesn’t seem like real work, but I’m proud f what I do.”

In my opinion, I think that this is really a good statement. Some people listen to what others say and they let other people bring them down. Be proud and stay true to yourself. 

Broadcasting a World of Whiteness

In a recent article they talk about the different race that we see on TV. The debate weather television should be more diverse or not? According to the article Whiteness is too often invisible on television, so much that the fact is hardly ever pointed out. A show called "Girls" has a group of girls wondering New York for bits of love and all of them are white. This isn’t the only show where there are all whites. For example it seems as though there are more whites on TV then blacks. They show "Two and half men" and "that’s 70 show." It seems as though in every commercial there are more white people than any other race. The question is should TV be more diverse? In my opinion I believe that this shouldn’t even be a question. Of course there should be different race on TV instead of just whites.

On Disney Channel there are more white shows than blacks and it shouldn’t be that way. For example, Disney channel use to have a black show, called “that’s so Raven” and “Corey in the House” but unfortunately they took it off air and added more white TV shows.

I really don’t think that there should be one dominant race on TV. I don’t think that there should just be more blacks on TV; I think it should be more of all different races.

When I look on TV and don’t see my race as much as I see another, I feel some type of way. I would like to see more people like me on TV. Its just not fair. 

Gun Packing Clothing

Companies are now making concealed carrying clothing, making it easier for people to carry weapons. Woolrich, an 182-year-old clothing company describes their new Chino pants with a fabric that provides comfort and flexibility and they are great for hiding a hand gun. The company added a second pocket behind the original pocket for the weapon. Or for the people who carry a holster, it can be tucked inside the stretchable waste band that the company also made.

The new gun packing pants cost 65$, and Woolrich isn’t the only company who is adopting the new look. This is because of the rise in people with permits to carry concealed weapons. According to the article Shawn Thompson bought two shirts last month from the Woolrich Concealed Carry line. He says that “The shirt has a barely discernible side slit with Velcro through which, he said he can yank his colt 1911 from his waistband holster. Depending on circumstances and mood, He might also carry a folding knife and at night, a flashlight in a pair of Woolrich Chinos his girlfriend brought for him.”

In my opinion, I think that the thought of making clothes to help hide a weapon is crazy. My reason is because it is just unsafe. I believe that since people know there are clothing to hide their guns it will encourage them to carry them. I don’t think this is a good idea at all. Yes I think that these new gun packing clothes will increase the crimes. This because if more people start carry guns they will probably shoot people for no reason, and pull their guns out to scare people.  I don’t approve of the clothes. I think that these clothes should only be made for the police and people that need it. Why are they making a way for people to do more crimes. I think that it will just make more problems and make the world worst.

The article "Afghan Girls, Scarred by Acid, Defy Terror, Embracing School"is about a Shamsia Husseini. One day she was walking through the streets to a local girls school when a man pulled beside here in her sister on a motorcycle and asked them are you going to school? Then he pulled her burga from her head and sprayed her face with acid. This attack against Shamsia and 4 others including students and teachers was ment to terrorize the girls to stay home. Most men in Afghanistan believe that all women shouldn't go to school and be stay at home moms. But this plan failed when nearly all of the wounded girls went back to school. Even though Shamsia's face was burt so badly that she had to go abroad for treatment. Her parents told her to keep going to school even if she gets killed, because shamsia's mother cannot read or write like nearly all of the women in that area. Then they made another attack. Three pairs of motorcycle circled the school. The used spray bottles, squirt bottles, and a jar. They had hit 11 girls and 4 teachers and 6 people went to the hospital. In my opionion I think that this is wrong! Women should be able to learn the same way that men can. People aleays think women are weak and are only made to be house wifes but that’s not the case. Women can do everything men can do and even beter in some cases and that’s what men need to realize. Acorrding to the article Banning girls from school was one of the most notorious symbols of the Talibans rule. 

Zimmerman Arrested!

In a recent article George Zimmerman was arrested and charged with 2d-degree murder in the shooting of Trayvon Martin is talking about The neighborhood watch volunteer who shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. He is now arrested and is charged with 2nd degree murder. According to the article, Second-degree murder is typically brought in cases when there is a fight or confrontation that results in death but involves no premeditation to kill. It carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years behind bars when a gun is used. It took over a month to arrest Zimmerman.I believe that he should have been arrested because he killed somene.

 Acoording to the article, Treyvon Martins parents showed relief that Zimmermen was arrested now they can sleep better at night knowing that the man who killed there son is being punished. Trayvon's dad says that "The question I would really like to ask him is, if he could look into Trayvon's eyes and see how innocent he was, would he have then pulled the trigger? Or would he have just let him go on home?" 

In my opinion, I think that Zimmerman ment to hurt Treyvon! It wasn’t self defence because he was bigger that him and Treyvon didn’t do nothing to get shot. In my opinion I believe that Zimmerman should get 1^st degree murder instead of 2^nd degree murder. He should get life in prison! If the tables were turned a black man would have been in jail the next day and would have life. However I am very glad that Zimmerman is locked up and we have justice for treyvon Martin. 

Justice for Trayvon Martin!

    In recent article called Trayvon Martin: Leaked info sheds light on Zimmerman's account of shooting is about the young man who was shot by a neighborhood watch! This story has been talked about all over. According to a Sanford Police employee, Zimmerman who is the man who killed Treyvon told officers Trayvon beat him and he was forced to shoot him in self-defense. Zimmerman has not been arrested and has not been charged with any crime in relation to the Trayvon Martin shooting. I think the only reason he is not in jail is because he is white. If it was the other way around and Treyvon killed a white man im sure he would be in jail within no time. I feel like this is racist and its a shame how racisms still exists today.

         In the article Zimmerman said he was walking back to his SUV after losing sight of Martin after he got out of his vehicle and went to approach the boy. The employee said Zimmerman told detectives Martin approached him from behind, they spoke for a moment and Martin punched him in the face. Zimmerman said Martin began to beat him, suffering a bloody nose and lacerations to the back of his head. Zimmerman told officers he then shot the 17-year-old in his self-defense, as he was being beaten.

In my opinion I still don’t think that he had the right to shoot him even if they were fighting! They say its self-defense, so if I am fighting and the person is beating me up that gives me the right to shoot that person? NO! I would be in jail. I feel very bad for Treyvons family; because they have to sit back knowing that the person who killed their son is still out on the streets. It’s sad because people judge black people all the time just because of our skin color or the clothes we wear. I was really hurt by Treyvons death and I didn’t even know him! It affects me because im black and next it could be me. 

Births Outside of Marriage!

In the article, "For Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside Marriage” they are talking about young others having children without being married. According to the article "Among mothers of all ages, a majority 59% in 2009 are married when they have children. But the surge of births outside marriage among younger women nearly two-thirds of children in the United States are born to mothers under 30.

The article also says that Researchers have found that children born outside marriage face elevated risks of falling into poverty, Failing in school o suffering emotional and behavioral problems.

I believe that this I not true! Just because a child was born with parents that were not married means that they will face poverty, Behavior problems and failing in school. It doesn’t matter if their parents are married or not! How does that determine how they will be in the future! They determine there future by there on actions! No I do not believe that it should even matter if kids have married parents or not! A ring on someone’s finger doesn’t make a family any different. Even if they are married, people still get divorced! No I don’t think it’s a good thing that more people are having their children outside of marriage but I really don’t matter to me. My mom and dad have been together for 12 years before they got married. It didn’t change my family or me at all at all.

According to the article, 73 percent of black children are born outside marriage, compared with 53 percent of Latinos and 29 percent of whites. In my opinion, I don’t believe that this is true. I think that most people always are putting the blame on black people making it seem like we do everything wrong! What is the difference between a couple and a married couple. On The TV show teen mom, there are a lot of moms that have children without being married. And they were all white!

I believe that the reason why most people don’t get married before having a child is because they are too young and afraid of commitment. 

No texting while driving !

In a recent article called Siri-ously: talk, don’t text, while driving in Pennsylvania there is a new law. A law where you can’t drive and text! You can’t still talk on the phone while driving, however it is against the law to text while driving. 

According to the article, the statewide law gives police the authority to pull over those texting and give them $50 fine. It prohibits motorists from sending texts or emails while driving, but still allows them to talk on a mobile device.

           However, now that new smart phones can send a text buy a voice activated system some people are confused to if that is against the la still. Because if you are speaking the text that is considered talking while driving, and talking while driving is NOT against the law. 

Though, according to the article "using voice recognition would appear to violate the ban since a text is still being sent. The bill states that a driver can't use a wireless device to send, read or write a text while the vehicle is in motion."

In my opinion, this new law is a good idea. I believe that there will probably be less car accidents due to this new law. My reason is because texting while driving is one of the main ways people have car accidents. I think that texting and driving is very dangerous! According to the article authorities blame 14,000 crashes in Pennsylvania in 2010 on distracted driving in which 68 people died.

Maybe this new law can help prevent so many people from dyeing and being in accidents. This is why I think this is a good law!

"Facebook Is Using You"

Before, I read this article I didn’t care about the things that I posted on the internet. However reading this article has informed me on how the things I do on the Internet could be used against me.

According to this article, Facebook makes money by selling ad space to companies that want to reach u. Then they chose certain key words or details that we say. Such as statuses, relationship statuses, location activities, favorite book or employment. Then Facebook advertises the ads. For example, if you post a status saying you love sports, a sports ad is most likely to pop up on the side on the screen.

The information can be easily used against you. 

According to the article, material found online has been used against people battling for child custody or defending themselves in criminal cases. Internal Revenue Service searches Facebook and MySpace for evidence of tax envaders income. Employers even sometime decide whether to hire people based on their online profiles. 70 percent of the recruiters and human resource professionals in the United States have rejected people based on data found online.

I feel like this is crazy, scary, and weird. People are using online information against you. I believe that there should be a type of law to prevent this.

When I get on Facebook, I shouldn’t have to worry about what my information will do to me. I get on facebook to socialize and to have fun. Hearing about all this makes me upset. Like everything that I write online can be used against me in the long run and I shouldn’t feel this way.

"Chris Brown & Rihanna"

   A recent article called "Chris Brown, Rihanna collaborate on 2 song remixes" is being talked about a lot. In this article tells how Rihanna and Chris Brown are back together, "musically speaking." Two songs on the internet features Chris Brown singing making a remix to the song "Birthday Cake." And Rihanna is featured on Chris Browns song "Turn up the Music." Back in 2009, Chris Brown attacked Rihanna at a pre-Grammy awards party. He received five years of probation to a felony charge. I have a lot of opinions about this article. I think that the thought of Rihanna and Chris Brown getting back together is a bad idea! My reason is because he is abusive to her! And that is disrespect. I believe that you should never let a man hit on you and be disrespectful to you. I also think that maybe if they are really in love then its okay. Some people are in love so much that they can forgive that person for anything they have done. However I think that if they were going to get back together then Rihanna never should have gotten a restraining order. According to the article, the order had required Chris Brown to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, but the restriction was reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music industry event.

After 3 years of avoiding Chris brown, he returns back in her life when the two collaborated musically. I believe that there is good and bad in   the situation of them being back together.

I'm a criminal and so are you

The article "I'm a criminal and so are you" is really interesting to me. Its brings up a good point that people don’t realize. Michelle Alexander talks about how everyone is a criminal, but they just don’t know it. How people think that criminal only exist in ghettos mainly or in jail. That is not the case, because there are criminals all around us. If you have ever broken a law like smoking, or drinking under age you are criminals according to Michelle Alexander.” You are a criminal that just has not be caught, You’re still a criminal, no better than many of those who've been branded felons for life” says Michelle Alexander.

I agree with Michelle, because yes this is true. We tend to think that we are better than people in jail, but we are not because we might be doing the same thing that they were put in jail for. However I also disagree with Michelle. My reason is because she is saying that people should not treat criminals any different. I believe that it depends on what type of criminal it is. For example, I do believe that rapist and murderers should be treated different, because f what they did. I know I’m a criminal because I break laws, but I have never went as far a murdering someone. I think that’s wrong! They should be looked t differently.

Michelle Alexander says that “ Criminals can be denied the right to vote, automatically excluded fro juries and legally discriminated against in employment.” I think this should only be toward certain types of criminals.

Photoshopped or Not? A Tool to Tell

The article Photoshopped or Not? A Tool to Tell, is about how alot of people are now photoshopping their pictures to make them look better. Dr.Farid who became interested in the photoshopping problem after reading about the Photo labeling proposals in Europe. He is proposing software tool for measuring how much fashion and beauty photos have been alteres. Seth Matlins who is a former talent agent and marketing executive said that “this could be hugely important tool for measuring the degree to which photos have been altered.

Researchers believe that the images contribute to eating disorders and anxiety about body types. In my opinion, I think that it is okay to edit your pictures. However I don’t think its okay to edit a picture so much it looks like a whole different person. I believe that that’s being fake because its not the real you. People should keep there real beauty in there pictures. In the article Mr.Matlins said, “we’re not trying to demonize Photoshop or prevent creative people from using it. But if a person’s image is drastically altered, there should be a reminder that what you’re seeing is about as true as what you saw in ‘Avatar’. I agree with him.
I think that people should cut back on photoshopping their pictures, and let people see who you really are. People need to realize that their pictures don't have to be perfect. People would rather see a real picture then an edited picture. 

"In China Human Costs are Built Into an Ipad"

     This article is about how companies go to china to make apple products, instead of staying in the United States. They know that the United States has more laws, and they can’t work people as much as they can in china. They work more than 60 hours a week at a company called Foxconn. Employees who were late had to write confession letters. The problem is that the workers are working in an unsafe environment, sometimes deadly. 

     One man named Lia Xiaodong wanted to work for manufacturing companies. So he went to Chengdu, a city in China of 12 million. The city was rapidly becoming one of the worlds most important manufacturing hubs.

     Lia wanted to work at Foxconn Technology, which was Chinas largest exporter with 1.2 million workers. When Lia landed a job repairing machines he noticed that many things were wrong, like the almost blinding lights, the shifts that ran 24 hours a day, workers sitting in backless chairs. The employees were being miss treated and were being worked to hard in bad conditions.

            Foxconn was in charge of a team that maintained machines that polished iPad cases, which made the area loud and hazy with aluminum dust. This dust created an explosion killing 4 people and 18 injured. Lia was killed. However just 2 weeks before the aluminum dust explosion a group in Hong Kong made a report warning of unsafe conditions at the Chengdu plant, including problems with aluminum dust. Workers also reported the problem of poor ventilation and inadequate personal protective equipment.

            I really think that the owners of the Foxconn Factory should be fired! They work people to hard and the are not even making sure that the environment is safe for them. I believe that the owners care to much about money that their workers safety. However I would NEVER stop buying Apple products because of this. My reason is because too many workers our out their working hard making these things so I will always support them. I just think that they should get treated better and paid more. 

Cracking Teenagers' Online Codes

  

    The article "Cracking Teenagers Online Codes" is about a 34 year old lady named Danah Boyd. She is a senior researcher at Microsoft, and an assistant professor at New York University. She is also a fellow at the Berkman Center for the Internet and Society at Harvard.   One important thing about Danah is that she is the first anthropologist who has come from the tribe that she studies. This means that she knows a lot about what she is studying because she has lived that life.
      Danah is studying the online world and how the internet effect teenagers. In this article Danah discuss how parents, teachers, and schools worry about teenagers posting their lives away. Danah say that adults are worrying about the wrong things. She states that "we need to give kids the freedom to explore and experience things online that might actually help them."
     I agree with Danah and I disagree with her as well. My Reason is because, yes, a lot of parents do worry about their teenagers being online and I believe that they should be worried. There are a lot of things that teens are doing online that their parent’s don’t know about. For example they could be online chatting with a child molester. Or they can be video chatting with grown men, or doing something that they are not supposed to be doing. Which a lot of teenagers are doing today. I also agree, because there are also a lot of benefits of being on the internet. You can learn a lot of things from the internet, and it can be helpful in many ways.

Danah says that “Letting your child out to bike around the neighborhood is seen as terrifying now, even though by all measures, life is safer for kids today.

            Yes, I agree. I believe that the crimes have gone down and that’s another reason why I think kids should go out more, instead of spending all their time on the internet.
However I do believe that parents think that all the things teenagers do on the internet is bad. And they believe that we are doing something wrong. Danah says that “Teenagers are not some alien population, when we see new technologies; we think they make everything different for young people. But they really don’t. Teenagers are the same as they always were.
And I agree!
A question that I still have for Danah is why do you think the internet is such a great source for teenagers? Do you know the things that are going on in the world today sue to the internet?
 

"Facebook Breakups"

The article "Teaching kids How to Break up Nicely" is telling about facebook breakups. They wonder should you delete the pictures of your ex after breaking up? Is it okay to un-friend your last girlfriend if you  cant stop looking at her profile? This article states many ways that can make young teenagers break up. Alot of the teenagers in this article let facebook mess up there relationship. Roberto said that "racing to update your relationship status after a breakup is a healthy behavior. In my opinion, I dont agree with Roberto. My reason is because if you are rushing home to change your realtionship status after a breakup that can affect how the other person feels. Maybe they wanted to get back together. Changing the status so fast is just not healthy in some situtions.
I believe that their is a nice way to break up with someone but putting it on facebook is just not a good way. That is just hurtful and some what embarrassing for the person who's heart is being broke. Facebook is one of the main reasons why kids break up in the first place. Mainly because everyone can be in your business and people can post anything on your wall, which can make your girlfriend or boyfriend want to break up.
In the article they say that when kanye West and Amber Rose broke up, West wrote a means song about her. Yung teenagers do the same thing on facebook. If they break up, they write mean statuses about them. Thats why i think people should leave their relationships off facebook!
In conclusion, I say that the nicest way to break up with someone is by being honest and doing it in person, never do it over facebook. It makes everything worst.

Love & Hip Hop : )

Love & Hip Hop is one of the most popular TV shows. According to AllHipHopNews.com "The controversial second season of “Love & Hip Hop” scored high ratings for VH1, which attracted over 4 million viewers." The show Love & Hip Hop follows women who are dating rappers or are in the hip hop music business. The show features Chrissy Lampkin, who is dating Jim Jones. Olivia Longott, a singer. Emily Bustamante who dated the rapper Fabulous. Somaya Reece,  Kimbella Vanderhee ,who’s dating rapper Juelz Santana and Yandy Smith Jim Jones  manager.Love and Hip Hop is one of my favorite shows. Its showing how hard it really is to be in love with someone in the music business and it’s even harder to be IN the business. The girls on love in Hip Hop are often judged and disrespected in their personal and professional relationships.  I think that this show is very interesting, through all the fights and drama its shows how life can be in the real world. Another reason why I love this show is because they show couples real lives and how they stay together through all the drama in the hip hop industry. Some of the girls have to deal with their men leaving them all the time because they are doing business, or they even deal with their men cheating on them. One of the women on this show even dealt with her own mother in law, making a disrespectful song talking about how she dislikes her. And then she made a mean video to go with the song. I believe that this show brings out the good and bad of being in the music business, and that’s why I like it!

2011 judgement day

One of the biggest stories of 2011 was the day the world was going to end. Harold Camping predicted that the judgment day would take place on May 21, 2011 and the end of the world would take place 5 months later on October 21, 2011. Harold’s prediction drew national attention. He was all over the news and radio stations. According to Camping’s website FamilyRadio.com he stated, “What really happened is that God accomplished exactly what he wanted to happen. That was to warn the whole world that on May 21 Gods salvation program would be finished on that day."

I truly believe that this was the biggest story of 2011 for many reasons. Everyone was talking about this day. However many people didn’t pay it no mind. Including a lot of Christians. They believe that no man will know the day or hour the world will come to an end. Only God would know.

This was an extremely important day for me. It affected me in many ways. When I heard Harold’s prediction about the world ending I was horrified. I was one of the people who actually believed that the world might really come to an end, and I was very upset. The first thing I did when I herd about the world coming to an end was went on Google to got more information about. Then I asked my parents what was going on. Everybody would tell me that the world was not going to end and that they always make predictions like this. However, I didn't listening to anybody and I had a feeling that it was over. I kept crying and worrying about Harold’s prediction and it really affected my life. When the day came I sat outside for a long time waiting for the world to end and it never did. I was so happy and it made me dislike Harold for getting people upset and his prediction was wrong. I would never ever forget this day. That’s why I believe that this was one of the biggest days in 2011.