Life After School
A Different Look At Life based on
My Ishmael-Daniel Quinn read online:
This book was very eye opening to me to hear thoughts that are so close in mind. Mr. Quinn talks about not being able to open up in school. To always be on strict and regulated rules instead of pursueing the true reason for learning. This book kept my attention all the way throught it was ironic and funny. It had a good meaning that was very easy to relate with.
This is a quote by Quinn, "What one sees first is how far short real schooling falls from the ideal of 'young minds being awakened.' Teachers for the most part would be delighted to awaken young minds, but the system within which they must work fundamentally frustrates that desire by insisting that all minds must be opened in the same order, using the same tools, and at the same pace, on a certain schedule. The teacher is charged with getting the class as a whole to a certain predetermined point in the curriculum by a certain predetermined time, and the individuals that make up the class soon learn how to help the teacher with this task. This is, in a sense, the first thing they must learn. Some learn it quickly and easily and others learn it slowly and painfully, but all eventually learn it. "
My first reaction was that it was interesting to read because it's true, I have heard many instructors discuss this issue during classes. When the teacher would start finding interesting ways to get us to actually learn about something, it's those topics that I remember. I don't remember learning anything of use from the test's and worksheets we were forced to fill out. I sat in class and wondered why we all had to learn the same things and weren't even given much room to pursue our own interests or explore the things we would soon be faced with in real life. It hardly sounds like an Einstein, Ghandi, or Edison would come from a institution so concerned with uniformity.
This makes another point though, about how little we retain from school, and how useful what we remember is. In other cultures, children learn useful skills, learn to create and how to live productively. When you graduate from high school it's a whole different world- we learn how to listen and do what we are told, and to not think out of the box-cause you don't get good grades when you work outside of the guidelines-it makes a lasting impression, we do things the same way we've always done them and rarely try to do anything different.
"In societies you consider primitive, youngsters 'graduate' from childhood at age thirteen or fourteen, and by this age have basically learned all they need in order to function as adults in their community. They've learned so much, in fact, that if the rest of the community were simply to vanish overnight, they'd be able to survive without the least difficulty. They'd know how to make the tools needed for hunting and fishing. They'd know how to shelter and clothe themselves. At age thirteen or fourteen, their survival value is one hundred percent."
"In your vastly more advanced system, youngsters graduate from your school system at age eighteen, and their survival value is virtually zero. If the rest of the community were to vanish overnight and they were left entirely to their own resources, they'd have to be very lucky to survive at all."
In conclusion, this is probably the reason there are now classes that offer skill's such as cooking, help you learn how to dress and act for a job interview, and give you advice on creating a budet. These classes are viewed as the easy A's, and yet students fail them every year- and have no clue what to do when they get out of school and try to make it on their own. I related to this story because I didn't learn very many valuable things from school that has to do with most day to day living.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Brook Astor
I found this article at in the New York Times, it seemed very interesting. A mother and a son love wasn’t what it was thought to be. Brook Astor, the legendary New York society matriarch, her son was convicted of stealing from her as she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Anthony D. Marshall, Brooks’s son, an 85-year-old war veteran who fought at Iwo Jima, can be sentenced to 1 to 25 years in jail. Marshall was guilty of 14 counts against him. Jurors convicted him of giving himself an unauthorized raise of about 1 million for managing his mother’s finances. Brooks disease was gone over in court, calling witnesses to testify to the signs of her deterioration; forgetting the names of close friends, not knowing simple words like “faucet,” and harboring paranoid fears of men in suits coming to kill her at night. Mrs. Astor passed away two years ago at the age of 105.
When I first read this article, I was a little shocked that someone would do this to their own flesh and blood; it’s scary to think of how greedy humans have become. Apparently for some very greedy and selfish, who would steal from your sick mother? I don’t see how people can hurt
others without any compassion of love and trust.
Obviously Brook didn’t have any money problems, but if her son were to be in a state to need to borrow some money that wouldn’t of been a problem for Brook. But this was not the case, Marshall didn’t just steal money from his own mother he took herself dignity and respect. He went behind her back, when these poor women was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and tried to take everything that she had. As a son you do not do this to your mother or anyone for that matter. Marshall was guilty of 14 counts against him all were to do with his mother. All the crimes were not listed, but Marshall defiantly went too far in his scheme to take all of his mother’s belongings. He not only dragged himself into this mess, he also had accomplices, of which are serving jail time as well. I thought this article was a tragedy, this man set an example of “the worst son you could have”….”EVER!” Although he is spending the rest of his life in jail, what did his mother do for the end of her life? She spent many hours in a court room; she didn’t even know what was going on most of the time. She died lonely and confused, and heartbroken over what her son had done to her.
In conclusion, I thought this article was somewhat sad and completely terrible; He should win the worst son award of the year. This article made me think of what certain thing do to certain people. For instance, a family that does a lot of sports wants everyone to be involved and to enjoy it. Well what if one of their kids likes to draw instead, what kind of outcast will that create? In this case, Brooks was a very well educated and wealthy women, her son must of looked up to her and wanted to be the same thing, accept her went the wrong rout to find it, instead of earning it he just took it.
When I first read this article, I was a little shocked that someone would do this to their own flesh and blood; it’s scary to think of how greedy humans have become. Apparently for some very greedy and selfish, who would steal from your sick mother? I don’t see how people can hurt
others without any compassion of love and trust.
Obviously Brook didn’t have any money problems, but if her son were to be in a state to need to borrow some money that wouldn’t of been a problem for Brook. But this was not the case, Marshall didn’t just steal money from his own mother he took herself dignity and respect. He went behind her back, when these poor women was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and tried to take everything that she had. As a son you do not do this to your mother or anyone for that matter. Marshall was guilty of 14 counts against him all were to do with his mother. All the crimes were not listed, but Marshall defiantly went too far in his scheme to take all of his mother’s belongings. He not only dragged himself into this mess, he also had accomplices, of which are serving jail time as well. I thought this article was a tragedy, this man set an example of “the worst son you could have”….”EVER!” Although he is spending the rest of his life in jail, what did his mother do for the end of her life? She spent many hours in a court room; she didn’t even know what was going on most of the time. She died lonely and confused, and heartbroken over what her son had done to her.
In conclusion, I thought this article was somewhat sad and completely terrible; He should win the worst son award of the year. This article made me think of what certain thing do to certain people. For instance, a family that does a lot of sports wants everyone to be involved and to enjoy it. Well what if one of their kids likes to draw instead, what kind of outcast will that create? In this case, Brooks was a very well educated and wealthy women, her son must of looked up to her and wanted to be the same thing, accept her went the wrong rout to find it, instead of earning it he just took it.
Mathew Wayne Shepard
I actually was watching Ellen when I first heard of this boy. Mathew Wayne Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming he was only 21 years old when he was murdered. In Laramie, Wyoming, he was invited to hang out with a few friends of his till in the car things started going bad. He was robbed, pistol whipped, tortured, he was then tied to a fence, and left to die in the cold. The crime was sought to be a hate crime. Shepard was discoved 18 hours later, he was still alive, but in a coma state. He suffered a fracture from the back of his head to the front of his right ear. He was pronounced dead on October 12, 1998 at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Police arrested the men who did this to Matt, they found the gun and the victims shoes and wallet in their truck. The men who did this to Matt admitted that “they were planning to rob a gay man that night.” They were not intending to kill him either, but to have the mindset “O were going to go rob from a gay person?” I don’t understand how people think of themselves, I mean seriously, how are you so much better than a gay person? What aspects do you have that they don’t?
When I saw the episode of Ellen and Mathews mother was talking on the show it made me want to write an article about this young man. It made me upset to hear these things about this poor young boy. I was also encouraged that Mathews mom would make a big difference. She actually wrote a book about her son, in loving memory of his brave heart and courageous mind.
I think it is completely wrong and ignorant to think of homosexuals as weak and gross. They are a normal people just like everyone else, there are bad people in this world, and there are killers, rapist and other things that are not human. People don’t realize you should be worried about those types of people and not so strung up on gay people because they choose to be themselves and not care one lick what you think. They just want to be treated and heard just like everyone in this world does. I feel sympathy for Mathew’s mother, she not only had to deal with losing her son but going through the trouble of putting the ones who did it away. Which might be one of the best ways to help get over the loss of her son, is to bandage it with the punishment done to others. Which the men who did this hate crime are sentenced life in prison.
In conclusion, this story hopefully will open people eyes, to see that God does the judging and accepting not I nor you. He is the most wise and knowing of all, who are we to try and place others in a placement of not acceptance for what reasoning?
When I saw the episode of Ellen and Mathews mother was talking on the show it made me want to write an article about this young man. It made me upset to hear these things about this poor young boy. I was also encouraged that Mathews mom would make a big difference. She actually wrote a book about her son, in loving memory of his brave heart and courageous mind.
I think it is completely wrong and ignorant to think of homosexuals as weak and gross. They are a normal people just like everyone else, there are bad people in this world, and there are killers, rapist and other things that are not human. People don’t realize you should be worried about those types of people and not so strung up on gay people because they choose to be themselves and not care one lick what you think. They just want to be treated and heard just like everyone in this world does. I feel sympathy for Mathew’s mother, she not only had to deal with losing her son but going through the trouble of putting the ones who did it away. Which might be one of the best ways to help get over the loss of her son, is to bandage it with the punishment done to others. Which the men who did this hate crime are sentenced life in prison.
In conclusion, this story hopefully will open people eyes, to see that God does the judging and accepting not I nor you. He is the most wise and knowing of all, who are we to try and place others in a placement of not acceptance for what reasoning?
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Are Walruses Endangered?
I found this article at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/science/earth/03walrus.html?_r=1&ref=science.
The Pacific walruses are facing a threat from global warming, walruses have been crowding beaches and rocks along the Russian and American sides of the Bering Strait because of the coastal sea ice that normally serves the walruses as a home. Biologists issued a report that 131 walruses were found dead near Icy Cape, Alaska, on September 14th they died from being crushed or stampeded. This was mainly because the Chukchi Sea the heart of the walrus subspecies’ range, was nearly just open water. In 2007, there were several thousand deaths reported around this same area. At this time the population still remains abundant at 200,000 by some account, double the number in the 1950’s. As long as hunting and the crowding of beaches don’t keep accuring experts do not foresee the species’ becoming extinct. An environmental group called Center for Biological Diversity, concluded that there was sufficient scientific evidence of the rising stress on the animals from climate change to consider granting the Pacific walrus protection under the Endangered Species Act.
I believe that walruses should be considered an endangered species, their homes are being melted away, there are too many of them to live substantially well. They are over populated in too small of areas to not get hurt by one another or by people. I believe that this article opened my eyes to understand oceanic life is a very crucial habitat. People think that we are being affected so drastically, we don’t even see that it could be so much worse and we could all be prancing around on a beach and get ran over by a speed boat.
This article made me react in a concerning point of view toward the lives of these innocent creatures. They do their best to find a good home and we go and take them all out as if they were vultures taking themselves onto our prideful land. Why can’t we be more humane about the outcome of others lives and not just ours. I adore the scientist that are doing their best for the walruses, even though we can’t make a lot of ice and just put it somewhere for them to live. They are trying to do their best at, at least concerning others of their potential life threat. “The Center for Biological Diversity, concluded that there was sufficient scientific evidence of the rising stress on the animals from climate change to consider granting the Pacific walrus protection under the Endangered Species Act.” This quote made me feel horrible, the stress for animals seems to be none at all right? You wouldn’t think that animals could be so emotionally affected just by the weather and different climate changes. You figure that they would just adapt to what they are given.
In conclusion, it is a difficult time for Pacific walruses, but not to worry scientist are configuring a way to help them out. I look up to these scientist who care so much about the creatures and natural habitats on this planet. I find it to be admiring that the scientist who are researching these beloved animals are at no risk of themselves but to only help a innocent creature continue its life to its most normal extent.
The Pacific walruses are facing a threat from global warming, walruses have been crowding beaches and rocks along the Russian and American sides of the Bering Strait because of the coastal sea ice that normally serves the walruses as a home. Biologists issued a report that 131 walruses were found dead near Icy Cape, Alaska, on September 14th they died from being crushed or stampeded. This was mainly because the Chukchi Sea the heart of the walrus subspecies’ range, was nearly just open water. In 2007, there were several thousand deaths reported around this same area. At this time the population still remains abundant at 200,000 by some account, double the number in the 1950’s. As long as hunting and the crowding of beaches don’t keep accuring experts do not foresee the species’ becoming extinct. An environmental group called Center for Biological Diversity, concluded that there was sufficient scientific evidence of the rising stress on the animals from climate change to consider granting the Pacific walrus protection under the Endangered Species Act.
I believe that walruses should be considered an endangered species, their homes are being melted away, there are too many of them to live substantially well. They are over populated in too small of areas to not get hurt by one another or by people. I believe that this article opened my eyes to understand oceanic life is a very crucial habitat. People think that we are being affected so drastically, we don’t even see that it could be so much worse and we could all be prancing around on a beach and get ran over by a speed boat.
This article made me react in a concerning point of view toward the lives of these innocent creatures. They do their best to find a good home and we go and take them all out as if they were vultures taking themselves onto our prideful land. Why can’t we be more humane about the outcome of others lives and not just ours. I adore the scientist that are doing their best for the walruses, even though we can’t make a lot of ice and just put it somewhere for them to live. They are trying to do their best at, at least concerning others of their potential life threat. “The Center for Biological Diversity, concluded that there was sufficient scientific evidence of the rising stress on the animals from climate change to consider granting the Pacific walrus protection under the Endangered Species Act.” This quote made me feel horrible, the stress for animals seems to be none at all right? You wouldn’t think that animals could be so emotionally affected just by the weather and different climate changes. You figure that they would just adapt to what they are given.
In conclusion, it is a difficult time for Pacific walruses, but not to worry scientist are configuring a way to help them out. I look up to these scientist who care so much about the creatures and natural habitats on this planet. I find it to be admiring that the scientist who are researching these beloved animals are at no risk of themselves but to only help a innocent creature continue its life to its most normal extent.
"Audio Drugs"
I found this article at wap.apa.az http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=108182. It is called “Audio drugs mushroom in Azerbaijan”; It is about the use of binaural beats to inflict a state similar to that caused by drugs or alcohol. Binaural beats are frequency's sent through the ears via stereo headphones, that are suspected of causing a mind altering change in the person listening. It works through two different frequencies being put into the right and left ears. Though the frequencies are really two different sounds, when each is put in the different ears the brain will make up it's own frequency and effeciently turn the two into one pulsing sound which is what the conscious mind registers. It is also known as another form of subliminal messaging. The effects on the human mind can range from relaxation, to increased energy and focus. There are many forms available for sale, both on the internet and in stores. Unfortunately , it has become popular for websites to advertise them as digital drugs, saying that they cause similar responses as such substances as marijuana, crack, cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, and much more. Therefore many countries have banned them and hold those who sell them accountable for criminal charges, and many other to advocate for school's to also ban these "illegal substances" and raise awareness.
In the beginning I was a little skeptical, not only about the fact that just hearing something could influence you so severely so as to be outlawed. However, upon further reading I started to understand how it could slip into your subconscious so easily, especially when these 'beats' or pulses are disguised by a pleasing noise such as water flowing, birds in the forest, or crickets chirping their melodies through the night. People’s conscious is affected daily by either watching television or listening to the radio. If you do something daily, like smoking cigarettes for example you get addicted and your brain tells you that you like it. I believe this is around the same concept. Television provides entertainment for your brain there for it approves and likes it, the same for water flowing and animal noises.
My reaction towards this article is that people just went overboard on this. I don’t think that sounds could make you feel like you have taken drugs. The different frequencies are known as “another form of subliminal messaging, they can range from relaxation, to increased energy and focus.” Which it almost sounds like a form of meditation, which that I can believe, not so much as a “digital drug” though. I think that websites got carried away to ease people into a new kind of “drug” which I see as a completely insane selfish excuse for money.
In conclusion, I thought this article was interesting to find out what the internet tries to get away with. And, I believe that the original idea of this product of “Audio Drugs” to help stimulate a person’s mood with sounds is a plausible outcome to a certain extent.
In the beginning I was a little skeptical, not only about the fact that just hearing something could influence you so severely so as to be outlawed. However, upon further reading I started to understand how it could slip into your subconscious so easily, especially when these 'beats' or pulses are disguised by a pleasing noise such as water flowing, birds in the forest, or crickets chirping their melodies through the night. People’s conscious is affected daily by either watching television or listening to the radio. If you do something daily, like smoking cigarettes for example you get addicted and your brain tells you that you like it. I believe this is around the same concept. Television provides entertainment for your brain there for it approves and likes it, the same for water flowing and animal noises.
My reaction towards this article is that people just went overboard on this. I don’t think that sounds could make you feel like you have taken drugs. The different frequencies are known as “another form of subliminal messaging, they can range from relaxation, to increased energy and focus.” Which it almost sounds like a form of meditation, which that I can believe, not so much as a “digital drug” though. I think that websites got carried away to ease people into a new kind of “drug” which I see as a completely insane selfish excuse for money.
In conclusion, I thought this article was interesting to find out what the internet tries to get away with. And, I believe that the original idea of this product of “Audio Drugs” to help stimulate a person’s mood with sounds is a plausible outcome to a certain extent.
The Los Angeles National Forest;
I found this article at http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/index.html. This fire burned for nearly over a month and burned away nearly a quarter of the mountains, which was a beautiful backdrop of the skyline in Los Angeles. Scientist are curious now, wanting to know how animals can have a fighting chance to live not only during but mainly after mass fires. Other scientist are “intensifying study of the environmental aftermath of the changing burn pattern.” They are wanting a better understanding of it, especially in areas where development meets wilderness and threatened and endangered species are present. Mr. Hoefen, a scientist also said “Hopefully, our science will start to show people that it is not just a fire, but there could be problems for the frogs, fish and the runoff.”, “Wind and rain blowing the ash into streams and ponds could have an effect after the fire.” 7 of Los Angeles largest wildfires have occurred in the last six years, and unfortunately most were caused by people.
“We have to figure out a way to give animals a way to persist in a way they did before in a landscape that is burning too fast too much.”, Said Robert N. Fisher, a biologist with the United States Geological Survey, which has coordinated a team to take a closer look at this fire and other recent ones as well. The fire was named The Station fire, it started on August 26th near a ranger station, has destroyed several dozen homes and caused the deaths of two Los Angeles County firefighters. It is the largest fire in the modern history of Los Angeles County. It has burned more than 160,000 acres.
After reading this article it made me think of not only all of the homes that burned and the firefighters that helped save lives. It’s a tragedy that is a difficulty to handle for people, animals and for mothernature. It’s sad to have to see this kind of disaster, the rebuilding of this destruction is impossible. This article made me act concerned towards those who actually try and help.
I think I reacted the way I did because there are scientist who not only care about the forest life but also the animal life that was once there. I find it interesting to find that they want to know why the water was affected, when they went into effect, and how they affected the animals. Not only does this disaster cause concern in the lives of people but also the lives of innocent animals and some are endangered. Mr. Hoefen said that ash can have a long outcome towards wild life. “Wind and rain blowing the ash into streams and ponds could have an effect after the fire.” Which I find to be devastating to hear.
In conclusion I am thankful that wild fires are not around here very often. It is a scary and very uncontrollable disaster that is very harmful in a lot of different stand points. I look up to the scientist trying to figure out ways to help the environment and the animals as well.
I found this article at http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/index.html. This fire burned for nearly over a month and burned away nearly a quarter of the mountains, which was a beautiful backdrop of the skyline in Los Angeles. Scientist are curious now, wanting to know how animals can have a fighting chance to live not only during but mainly after mass fires. Other scientist are “intensifying study of the environmental aftermath of the changing burn pattern.” They are wanting a better understanding of it, especially in areas where development meets wilderness and threatened and endangered species are present. Mr. Hoefen, a scientist also said “Hopefully, our science will start to show people that it is not just a fire, but there could be problems for the frogs, fish and the runoff.”, “Wind and rain blowing the ash into streams and ponds could have an effect after the fire.” 7 of Los Angeles largest wildfires have occurred in the last six years, and unfortunately most were caused by people.
“We have to figure out a way to give animals a way to persist in a way they did before in a landscape that is burning too fast too much.”, Said Robert N. Fisher, a biologist with the United States Geological Survey, which has coordinated a team to take a closer look at this fire and other recent ones as well. The fire was named The Station fire, it started on August 26th near a ranger station, has destroyed several dozen homes and caused the deaths of two Los Angeles County firefighters. It is the largest fire in the modern history of Los Angeles County. It has burned more than 160,000 acres.
After reading this article it made me think of not only all of the homes that burned and the firefighters that helped save lives. It’s a tragedy that is a difficulty to handle for people, animals and for mothernature. It’s sad to have to see this kind of disaster, the rebuilding of this destruction is impossible. This article made me act concerned towards those who actually try and help.
I think I reacted the way I did because there are scientist who not only care about the forest life but also the animal life that was once there. I find it interesting to find that they want to know why the water was affected, when they went into effect, and how they affected the animals. Not only does this disaster cause concern in the lives of people but also the lives of innocent animals and some are endangered. Mr. Hoefen said that ash can have a long outcome towards wild life. “Wind and rain blowing the ash into streams and ponds could have an effect after the fire.” Which I find to be devastating to hear.
In conclusion I am thankful that wild fires are not around here very often. It is a scary and very uncontrollable disaster that is very harmful in a lot of different stand points. I look up to the scientist trying to figure out ways to help the environment and the animals as well.
Friday, September 25, 2009
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
From 1975-1985, the female race of monarch butterflies dropped 53 percent. But unfortunately from the last decade 43 percent of the female population has dropped. Which is an outstanding amount that fears all the butterfly lovers. Monarchs are the most iconic butterflies, they migrate from the eastern United States to the mountaintops of Mexico, where sometimes almost millions gather, and Monarch west of the Rockies spend the winter along the California coast. The sex ratio was the first study, which quickly turned into something else. A decline in females were also found southward of the monarchs migration as well. “That means the females aren’t entering the migratory pool, whatever it is, it’s happening before or during the migration period.”
When I first read this article and got the statistics on how many Monarchs were slowly disappearing I was sad. I admit my love for animals is a little too much. But, butterflies are the most enduring creatures, they are so docile and beautiful it’s difficult not to enjoy their presence. Knowing that the female population is dropping rapidly it seems it is quit devastating to the butterfly race. My thoughts from reading further into the story did not change what so ever.
When I first read this article and got the statistics on how many Monarchs were slowly disappearing I was sad. I admit my love for animals is a little too much. But, butterflies are the most enduring creatures, they are so docile and beautiful it’s difficult not to enjoy their presence. Knowing that the female population is dropping rapidly it seems it is quit devastating to the butterfly race. My thoughts from reading further into the story did not change what so ever.
I believe I reacted this way because I wish to help the population of the monarch butterflies. Just from the last decade “43 percent of the female population has dropped.” That’s almost half of the population! Where did all of these female butterflies go? Why did they go? And How did they go, is exactly what I would like to find out. Life is always a mystery, whether it is about the human race or the animal race, there is always something that happens that is unexplainable. I mean if the population of female butterflies decreases what’s to say any other female race wont decrease. The world is full of unremarkable changes that we and everyone on this earth has to endure whether it affects our daily lives or not it drastically effects and changes the world with every movement.
In conclusion, this article sets an observation on the kindness and disasters this world has out for us. There’s no better way to explain the worlds habits other than what you’ve read above. This article to this day is still a mystery. Scientist discovered the population decrease years ago and is a still an on-going topic that amazes us still to this day.
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