Final Blog (assignment)
Hey everyone reading this! I am going to talk about my blogging experiences… Blogging has definitely been an experience, being that it’s just so different than any other type of assignment I have received all together. I think it’s so unique- unlike any other type of communication. It’s personal, without as many risks as say an IM or a phone call. It allows people to say what they want, but still keep a comfortable distance from the readers. It links, connects, many people together- whether it’s over what happened last night at a party, or something more serious like an article from a news site. You are able to look back at comments, and the comments that led to those comments and so on…
I have enjoyed being able to write about what I think, and keep it all in one place, for everyone to see. I also liked having feedback and other people leave me comments about what they thought about the topic, and being able to read everyone else in the class’ blogs. It was very interesting to see what people were blogging about, in terms of topics, then go and pick one for myself. I also found some other blogs out there that I found myself reading more regularly than others, ones so funny they made me laugh hysterically. And others, very sad, making me wish I knew the person better.
In all of my blog posts this semester, there were a few I definitely feel have been more effective than others. Whether it’s because the topic was just better to talk about (more interesting) and put more into it, or because it just got more feedback/comments, there were some that I put much more into- and it certainly does show.
My first “favorite” blog was “Can’t We All Be Mediterranean?” In which the article talks about how Mediterraneans have the type of life that people “desire.” What makes this one of my better blogs, is first the fact that many people know what I’m talking about when I say that Mediterraneans “talk with their hands.” I personally related to this one… The second thing that made this a good article because A) It was fun to read and B) It had personality, flow, and just a lot of things to talk about. This therefore made my blog more interesting and I was very easily able to put an opinion into it. I thought my blog was effective because I discussed the article, gave my favorite parts of it (and why they related to me) and made the blog humorous.
My second “favorite” blog was my “Poetry Reading” blog. This was the blog where I talked about my experience in going to see the poetry reading here at Saint Rose. I think this blog is pretty effective mostly because since I was there, I was able to remember and write a lot about it. I was able to talk about what I saw and heard- what people were reading, the many variations of poetry, what people were like reading it, and the environment I was in. Also, how other members of the audience reacted. In this blog I also wrote about how there weren’t too many other people attending it, and how that made me even happier to go and support it. This blog was definitely effective because it brought something I actually was able to experience to discussion, and maybe allowed other people to learn about what’s out there to do- hopefully I convinced other people to check out these AWESOME poetry readings as well…
Lastly, my other “favorite” blog was my “Few Tassels Turned at Albany High,” blog, in which I addressed the issue of the very low graduation rate of 38%. This blog was, in my opinion, effective from the beginning because it is an issue that is going on in the community and definitely stirs up conversation. From the first few sentences people are able to see the importance of this issue, that has been ongoing and always this bad (or worse at one point). Another reason this blog is probably THE most effective of all of them is because it’s an eye opener for people who perhaps don’t know the problem, or maybe the extent of it. I was certainly shocked when I read it, and I know that other people were (especially since there was more feedback than normal, more commenting on this post.)
Alright everyone, I have a confession to make. Im not perfect ! (oh wow..) Therefore, I have a blog that probably isn’t as effective as the other ones. I feel that this blog is the one entitled, “Who Does This?” I don’t think this blog is as effective as the other ones mostly because it’s pretty vague and “obvious writing,” as I like to call it. I stated what the article said (what happened), then I just said how it was so wrong for someone to do such a thing, and that I could never do that. I didn’t really bring any new information to the board, nor did I talk about how it connects to anything else- like to make it more effective maybe I could have also said that this act impacts the world in some way. Maybe it creates more hatred, maybe it’ll make new laws etc… The fact that I didn’t go “far enough” with the blog just didn’t make it as good, or as “full” as the others.
To end this blog, I want to say that blogging has definitely been an experience in which I have gotten to test out a new way of communication and learn about topics I might not otherwise have discovered. Although I did enjoy blogging, mostly, I did have some “issues” with it. First, is a technical problem I encountered. Like just now when the page got “timed out” and I had to type the whole thing over… (yea I should have saved in word, DON”T YELL AT ME! I KNOW!) The other is that I am just OLD SCHOOL I guess and just really enjoy writing things (handwriting) things on paper. It allows me to feel things better and write a lot more. I just connect with the topics better I guess… I will not be continuing in this blog for the simple fact that I am on my laptop way too much and need to have a life outside of it… so goodbye all!
Few Tassels Turned At Albany High
In the article, Fewer Tassels Turned at Albany High, I read that only about 38% of students there are getting diplomas every year. That this percent is pretty much representing the worst rate in all of New York State.
This is truly ridiculous. How can it be that only 38 percent of students are graduating with diplomas… when Albany High is just such a big school. How many are not having diplomas? And what are these kids doing with their lives? The article also pointed out that the students are taking longer to graduate, having to stay extra years to get the diploma, if they do.
I can’t say that I have the answer that would work out one hundred percent, but I do believe that something obviously needs to change in this school district. In my Hispanic Culture class, we all do volunteer work around the community and some of us are stationed at Albany High. I’ve heard things about the teachers there- and how there are some kids who are so smart and get shut down simply because their English isn’t perfect. Maybe this needs to be looked at? I hear about people there who yell at the kids for not understanding something, or send kids home without them receiving any help with home work. What kind of school system does this? Maybe we need to look at the fact that there isn’t enough support for the students there- especially since most of the population is in need of teachers who understand diversity and the importance of respecting where someone comes from, and still being able to teach them.
Who Does This?
I decided to blog on this article “Man Admits Hit and Run” because I find it so strange and just totally unbelievable that people could have the nerve to hit someone, then just leave them. Don’t these people know that they will probably get caught, and setting aside just that fact, how could you be that cold of a person??
I find this so hard to believe because seriously, even if I do something much smaller like step on someone’s toes, I feel so badly about it. That’s why it’s hard to imagine someone being able to run someone over, or even just hit them and run away from it. Is this because they get so scared and are so shocked that they just can’t turn back (which is what I’d hope) or is it just the cold truth that they really don’t care about other human beings? (this is really scary to think about)
In thinking of a fair punishment, I really don’t know what to say. I think that putting people in jail for long periods of time, even life, is not at all the best answer to any problem. People who do things like this need to serve the community, live and realize what they’ve done and the harm it has to people.
Stolen Fetus
In an article entitled, “Stolen Fetus Defendant Pleads Not Guilty,” it talks about Lisa Montgomery, a woman who is accused of cutting out a fetus from another woman’s body in hopes of stealing it.
First off, this is one of the most sickening things I have ever read/heard of. How could someone, especially another woman, cut out someone else’s baby and take it from them? How could anyone ever live with themselves ? Even if this woman is not guilty, there have been other cases that this has happened in, and also the fact that this DID happen because of someone doing it. I know that if I were the person it happened to, I would find it extremely hard to ever trust the world again. To find any good out of people, besides just some small things.
I would never think anybody could have it in them to take it upon themselves to steal someone else’s child. Especially to go out of their way to cut the baby out of the mother before she even gets to see it!
Girl Kicked off Plane for Coughing!
This article I read, Girl, 16, Kicked Off Plane For Coughing, told the story that a girl on her way to New York for a school trip was kicked off the plane for coughing a lot. She was flying on Continental Airline, of whom her mother is currently arguing with for a full refund of her daughter’s ticket.
First off, when I read this article, I saw that it was as ridiculous as the title first made me believe. How could someone possibly get kicked off a plane for doing nothing wrong?! Coughing? To me, you have the same contol over coughing as you do breathing, sneezing, anything all of us do as human beings. How could you ask someone not to have a coughing fit? It’s not like it was their fault, or even that they chose to be stuck with it in the first place.
I could understand the concerns as distracting to other people and the pilot, however, the plane is a public place which everyone knows there is a possibility of loud noises or annoying sounds. As for the pilot, they are trained to deal with very complicated things and should therefore know how to concentrate with everyday noises coming from in back of them. This is like telling people they can’t talk, breathe, listen to music etc… How could this have been allowed to happen?
Disturbing Pasts?
In an article entitled, “Child Porn Brings Seven Year Sentence,” I read about a guy who had been charged, and admitted to having a sexual obsession with a 12-year-old girl. The article pointed out the evidence- he had been sending pornographic pictures of children (trading) these pictures with a “friend” in Utah, who was actually an undercover cop. Therefore, he was given a seven year sentence, gathering that all the evidence was relevant and true.
When I read/hear about stories like this, I feel disgusted and I think what everyone else thinks ‘He should not be allowed to live a normal life anymore.’ That the person is so horrible he shouldn’t have another good day in his life. What I sometimes forget to think about- is the fact that he IS a human being and does need to be treated with respect (even though what he did was so terrible). The fact is, nobody will ever look at him the same, including his family members. The same goes for any person in this situation. I will admitt that I would be one of these people, who just can’t go near the person and feel comfortable again.
There is one thing I completely disagree with in the justice system. It’s the fact that these people, who commit these crimes, are being put into a jail cell, in which they will most likely be mistreated and abused (by other prisoners). This situation definitely does not help the fact that the person has a mental illness and needs to be helped, not tortured and further damaged. I feel the solution (or maybe a step towards the solution) to these problems is to further investigate the reasons/causes for this type of crime (why they do what they do- feel that looking at children in that way is right). I also start to question ‘Did these people have disturbing pasts that need a closer look?’ I would say yes… but we won’t get to the bottom of the problem if we keep allowing others to beat them up. It’s the same thing as fighting terrorism with violence.
“Can’t we All Be Mediterranean”
In reading the article, “Can’t We ALL Be Mediterranean,” (author unknown), I found myself laughing uncontrollably. This article talks about the fact that Mediterraneans have a way of life that many people desire. The first sentence caught me because it hit close to home, “Mediterranean means having a way with eggplant, being hospitable, having a grandmother who makes incredible pastries…” As many know, my grandmother makes the MOST amazing dinners, pastries, anything really. I am always so grateful to have that in my background, besides my Hispanic blood. And yes, eggplant parm is her main, BEST dish EVER!
What also made me laugh about this article were the ways you can get your “Mediterranean on too!” The first one is my favorite, “Talk with your hands.” I especially liked this one because it’s something I, as well as many others, get made fun of about all the time. We are very expressive people and if we can’t use our hands, we might as well be dead. Another important point in the article was never to show up empty handed to a dinner. For my family this is a big thing, if you are going to taste this wonderful cooking, you had better bring something tastey to it! Another thing that is so true about this culture is the fact that you DON’T show up early to dinner, ever. For example, my grandmother always has something cooking- therefore it takes the whole day to plan and prepare dinner. If a guest unexpectadly shows up early, she is just so ashamed of not being done and now has to stress over it.
This article is just a great writing about Mediterranean culture and just how different things are…
Violence in an Ad?
Upon browsing myspace, I came across an ad while logging out. The add was for a certain brand of tshirts and involved a girl and the arm and hand of a guy. The girl was around seventeen or eighteen, I’d say, and was wearing a green tshirt with cartoon nails on it. Supposedly, this add was to stress the design on her shirt and how cute it was… (the nails had smile faces). But when I looked at this ad, I didn’t think it was cute or funny. The guy in the picture (who didn’t have a face) was striking a hammer at what looked like the girl’s head (from the angle of the picture ), but was probably supposed to be swinging at the nails on the shirt. The girl’s expression was happy and smiling, but think about it… what girl would have that expression and not be scared if someone randomly came at even her shirt with a hammer?! It would freak me out for sure…
It’s not just this ad that makes me think.. We don’t even really notice it but there are sooo many ads out there, holding violence towards women. I think of this stuff a lot when I see ads where the girl is supposed to be in a “hot pose,” which usually consists of some weird expression on her face and either a finger or her hand on her mouth or face… Often I see the “shh” pose for a girl. Does this just serve to be appealing because of the expression? Or is it somewhere embedded in us that- this is the way a girl is supposed to be- quieted, without a voiced opinion?
Poetry Reading
Last week, Samantha and I went to a poetry reading here at Saint Rose. We sat down in the commuter longue and waited for the space to fill. Unfortunately it did not, and akwardly enough we were sitting there with about six other people, for like an hour. Two people read, and the rest of us just sat there, hoping somebody would suddenly walk in and want to read a whole book of poetry. Mainly we felt bad for the people running the whole event.
Shortly after, a few classes walked in and we saw about ten more people volunteer to read. This put a more positive look on the whole situation, being that there were sooo many different kinds of poems being read. Some of them were so hilarious, some of them very sad and cleverly put, and some (most of them) funny ramblings about each person. Some of them simply started with, “My name is_____” and continued from there. I noticed that as more people came and read, everyone got more into it.
This was a positive experience for me and though I can’t speak for Samantha, I’d say she enjoyed the poetry as well. It’s cool to do something that I haven’t been able to do for a while, being that there isn’t much like that around. (or at least easy to find).
And another thing, I would have read- if I was more prepared 🙂
Appreciating the Differences Between Men and Women
This blog is comical in that it points out the obvious differences between men and women and how they act towards each other. One of my favorite lines in the blog is,
“I am not a considerate person. I rarely take time to think through things taking other’s time, thoughts, responsibilties, needs, or feelings into consideration before I speak or act. This was made very clear to me a few days ago in the area of women cooking for men.” Women always come across this problem, the fact that we are just naturally more thoughtful and sensitive to the words someone says or the actions of someone else. Men even admitt that they do not often think about things before they say/do them… (although I can only speak from my own experiences with them).
This blog points out many examples, from the blogger, that demonstrate how men are just a totally different species when it comes to mannerisms (in a comical light). We always take things to heart more, and I KNOW I can speak for most of the women out there.
Steph's Sillyness 