"Bless Me, Ultima" December 25, 2011

Well, now it definitely seems like Anaya is saving the final fate of all her characters until the absolute last page of the book. Aside from Narciso's death, she is not giving us any hints as to how her novel will end. I was sad when Narciso died. I think that he was a very good man, despite his drunken habits. I think that he always meant well and that his death potentially symbolizes future harm to Ultima. Before his death, he seemed to be almost like a guardian angel to Ultima, he didn't look like the protective type but deep down he cared about Ultima and would to anything for her. Ultimately, he risked his life in an effort to protect her. The scene before Narciso's death was so jubilant and humorous I never predicted it to happen. I loved the play scene, especially when Horse had to be Mary. I could perfectly picture the whole play in my head and was able to connect with each character and their thoughts. It was such an uplifting and funny scene that Anaya kind of crashed into Narciso's death. I did not anticipate anything like that to happen on Antonio's walk home from school. I think the death of Narciso was a major loss to Antonio's family and will have a great impact on the outcome of the novel. As of right now, I am worried about Ultima's safety. Her "guardian angel" is gone and Antonio's three older brothers have left as well. There is still on-going tension between Antonio's parents so Ultima does not have a strong support group. I think Ultima is keeping a secret about Antonio and that all of his decisions have a impact on her life in a significant way.

I am interested to know how Antonio will end up. When Antonio was talking to Cico about Narciso's death, Cico advised that they wait until summer to talk to the Golden Carp. I think that Antonio's next visit with the Golden Carp will strongly influence his beliefs and religion and he will make the officially decision about faith. He is supposed to make his First Communion soon which will also have an affect on that decision. Anaya is keeping her readers on their toes especially with the dramatic changes and dragging out the ending. At this rate, it will not surprise me if she reveals Antonio's fate, as well as Ultima's, in the last line on the last page. I am anxious to see what is going to happen to the Marez family, but most importantly, I want to know more about Ultima and Antonio and how their relationship will end up.

Tis the Season!

With Christmas only 4 days away, Christian's all over America are frantically finishing their preparations for the big day. The holiday season is the busiest season of the year and I don't think anyone would challenge that. With all of the shopping, cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and planning to do, Christian's rarely have a time for rest. Needless to say, all other religions of the world are equally as busy preparing for their special day or days. Everyone is always running around and rushing everywhere but do we ever slow down to stop and look at our surroundings? A popular Christmas tradition is displaying lights in your yard. Whether you have Santa and his reindeer, a nativity scene, or lots of twinkling lights for all your neighbors to see, Christmas lights are one tradition that never grows old. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we should slow down every once and a while to stop and look at the lights. We shouldn't take them for granted or assume they will always be there. We should gaze in awe at the amazing decorations our fellow Christian's have provided us. All religions should display their holiday decorations proudly during their season. The article, Why Christmas Lights Warm the Soul, reminds us to slow down during the holiday season and look at our surroundings. After losing a parent, author Alcestis "Cooky" Oberg, reminds us to be thankful for the little things in life. 

Oberg used pathos when writing her article to persuade her audience to agree with her opinion. She began her article with talking about the death of her parent and how hard the holiday seasons are the first year after losing them. After being a strong support system for her children, Oberg had to be reminded by her friends to look at the little things and life and enjoy them. She encourages all of us, Christian or not, to appreciate the decorations provided for this season. Although she is Christian and favors the Christmas decorations, Oberg appeared to have a welcoming attitude and was open to all decorations of all religions. She ended her article by saying, "But Christmas lights do reach a place we don't always consciously control — the realm of wonder, magic and delight we instinctively feel in a beautifully illuminated place. On the Christmas-lit bridge of Chickasha, for instance, one can even find new hope, a fresh start, the renewed embrace of cheer and fellowship — all the best things implicit in the season, and in us all." Happy Holidays!

Why Christmas Lights Warm the Soul by Alcestis "Cooky" Oberg

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2011-12-21/christmas-holiday-lights-gifts/52144870/1?loc=interstitialskip

Gingerbread Delight

We all have our favorite holiday dessert that we get to enjoy once a year. For some, its a homemade treat but for others it could be a delicacy from your favorite bakery. Sugar cookies and peppermint bark are holiday classics, but gingerbread treats are definitely one of the most popular. Whether you have gingerbread cookies, cake, houses, or simply a loaf of bread, it is sure to be enjoyed by all. All though all recipes vary slightly, gingerbread treats are just as yummy as ever at Christmas time. Mollasses is the most prominent ingredient in gingerbread treats as it gives it the distinct flavor. Aside from filling your tummy, gingerbread fills the home a seasonal aroma. It fills the air with the sweet smells of the rising treats in the oven. It makes your mouth water just thinking about these delicious treats! 

The author of this article, Debra Samuels, is obviously a fan of gingerbread treats. She offers suggestions on how to improve your current gingerbread essay and gives options of how to serve your treats. Samuels was very descriptive when talking about gingerbread treats, "It contains flour, an array of spices, and molasses, and once they are prepared - often in a single bowl with a wooden spoon, baked in ordinary square pans and one-layer rounds - the taste is powerful enough to recall childhood memories." She is able to connect with her audience by tracing back their memories. While I enjoyed reading her article, she went on a bit of a tangent when talking about mollasses. She dedicated two full paragraphs to the history of mollasses and the significance it has in Boston. Personally, I did not enjoy reading those two paragraphs because I would have liked to learn more about gingerbread itself and not the ingredients that go in to it. I think she should have limited her mollasses speech to a few sentences. Her article could have been much more substantial if she spend more time talking about gingerbread itself and the different varieties that come with it. But for now, enjoy the gingerbread season!

The Enduring Appeal of Gingerbread by Debra Samuels

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2011/12/21/the_recipe_box_project_examines_the_enduring_appeal_of_gingerbread/?p1=Upbox_links

"Bless Me, Ultima" December 18, 2011

Well, chapters 8-12 have proved that this book continues to get better. These chapters definitely had more of a plot line than chapters 1-7. The first seven chapters gave a great introduction to the book and allowed you to figure out what each character was like. However, chapters 8-12 contain a good chunk of the story that the first few chapters did not. They start with Antonio's brothers struggling with what is most likely post-traumatic stress disorder. They were put into the war at a young age and forced to grow up to fast. All three of Antonio's brothers urge him to stay young while he can and not rush anything. However, after Antonio listens to his brothers advice, he goes off to school to learn that he is skipping second grade. After he graduates from first grade, he will move up to third grade and he knows his mother will be extremely proud. While fishing with Cico, Antonio also learns of the golden carp and starts to question his beliefs. It is obvious that Ultima is having an affect on Antonio's life as he tends to stay close to her and believe what she says. While all this is going on, Antonio's parents relationship is falling apart. His father is distressed because his brothers are away from home again and he resorts to drinking. His mother can not agree with his father on anything and their conflicting beliefs become a prominent problem in this section of the book. Antonio is not sure which parent is "right" and who he should believe and listen to.

One of the biggest events to happen in these chapters is the sickness of Maria's, Antonio's mother, youngest brother Lucas Luna. Her family has tried everything the church will allow them to do but no cure is working. Finally, Maria offers for Ultima to go to cure Lucas because she knows of her healing powers. Ultima agrees to go but required Antonio to go with her. In the three days that Ultima spent curing Lucas, Antonio was forced to grow up fast. Antonio sees how sick Lucas is, he looks like he's dead but Antonio has to be mature and responsible in the room with him. While he was assisting Ultima cure Lucas, Antonio was stuck in the same room with them for three straight days. During his time there, Antonio felt sick, almost as if he was catching what Lucas had. Antonio's feelings make the reader assume that he is connected with both Lucas and Ultima because when Lucas is healed, Antonio feels as if nothing ever happened.

In chapter 11, Antonio is introduced to the golden carp. Cico asks Antonio if he believes the golden carp is a god but Antonio sys that he can not answer because he is catholic and only believes in his god. Antonio tells Ultima about the golden carp but she already knew of his experience. She told him that when he grows up he will have to chose his own beliefs. This suggests that Antonio will no longer believe what his mother or father taught him but will become independent and make decisions on his own. In chapter 12, Ultima is accused of being a witch because one of Tenorio's daughters died. Tenorio blames Ultima for the cause of the death because he claims to have found a pouch of Ultima's herbs under his daughters bed the night she died. Narcisco, who is visiting Antonio's family, says that if they hang hold needles in the sign of the cross over the door and Ultima can not walk through than she is a witch. But, Ultima walks through the door with no problem.

As readers, we are left to wonder what Ultima's fate will be. She appears to be more of a healer and an eraser of evil rather than a witch. I think that she is going to have a strong influence on Antonio as he continues to grow and that he will eventually follow in her footsteps one day. It is hard to say what is going to happen with Antonio's family because one day his parents are enemies but the next they act like nothing has happened. I think that their conflicting beliefs and different opinions on where and how to raise a family will eventually overpower and separate them.

Merry Christmas From Globe Santa

Each year, many American families struggle to provide Christmas gifts for their families. Whether they are single parents or just going through tough times, they always feel that they need to provide more for their children. Each year around Christmas time, Globe Santa accepts requests from parents in the Massachusetts area for presents for their children. With the extremely generous donations they receive, last year their amount totaled to $1,413,668, Globe Santa is able to provide for those families during the holiday seasons. A majority of the letters come from single mothers who are struggling to make ends meet but this year, they received quite a few requests from single dads. While all of the requests are equally important, some stand out more than others. This year, a single dad wrote to Globe Santa explaining that his four young sons were living without their mother. Because of alcohol abuse and mental health issues, the mother was not allowed to be in contact with her sons and that has led to difficult times in the family. Their father, a construction worker, hurt his back on the job and has been out of work since August. With the donations from Globe Santa, he will be able to provide his children with a Christmas like no other!

Author Christopher Tangney used pathos to connect with his audience. By including the story of the four boys with no mom, he was definitely able to reach out to his audience in hopes of donations. With real life stories like that, he was able to relay the emotional message behind Globe Santa. I really liked how Tangney set up his article. He introduced the Globe Santa concept with the story about the four boys and then explained how Globe Santa works and how helpful it has been to families. The author appears to truly believe that Globe Santa is an amazing fund raiser that all who are able to should partake in. So if you're feeling the Christmas Spirit visit globesanta.org to help out those in need!


Four Motherless Boys Will Get a Big Surprise This Christmas by Christopher Tangney
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/12/18/four_motherless_boys_will_get_a_big_surprise_this_christmas/?p1=Upbox_links

Hello My Little One

Although it is by far one of the most joyous times of a parents life, the birth of a child can be stressful as well and nothing makes it worse than having a sick infant. Some infants, especially those born extremely prematurely or if they became ill immediately after being born, are sent to the neonatal intensive care unit, NICU, rather than a typical baby nursery. In the NICU, babies are given special care and medical attention based on their health. Only parents of infants in the NICU are allowed in because the babies are very susceptible to sicknesses. At the St. Jude Medical Center in California, the hospital has invested in cameras that can be attached to the baby's incubator so family members can constantly connect with them. By having the 24/7 view of their baby, parents are able to develop a connection instantly with their child. Although the camera is shut off during medical treatments or at the discretion of the doctor or nurse, parents are very grateful to know that they can connect with their infant even when they're physically not with them. 

Author Lisa O'Neill relied on pathos to show the benefits of the cameras in the NICU. She interviewed many families who had children in the NICU at one point in their life. The emotions brought out in the interviews truly brought out the stress parents go through and what a relief it was to know that they were able to connect with their little one through their laptops or phones. One mother, who delivered twin boys sadly lost one of her sons within a week but commented on the benefits of the camera system, "I think it would help encourage parents to take care of themselves because it's an emotionally and physically draining experience." The camera system helps connect parents in the initial stages of their baby's life. Speaking from personal experience, the NICU camera definitely seems to be a blessing. My youngest brother was in the NICU for two weeks after he was born and I, along with my other brothers, were not allowed to see him in person because we were not old enough. While we understood we were not allowed in because it was whats best for all of the infants in there, it was extremely hard not to see him. Having a camera to see the baby has been amazing for all parents with children in the NICU and hopefully the Nicview program will be able to spread out to more hospitals nation-wide. 


Parents Keep Watch on Newborns with Hospital Webcams by Lisa O'Neill
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/12/health/webcams-nicu-hospital-infants/index.html

"Bless Me, Ultima" 1-7 December 11, 2011

After reading 64 pages of "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya, I will admit that I am enjoying it. So far, it is not your typical school read. It was a little slow to get into as it started with Antonio as a grown man telling the story but once it switched back to Antonio as a child I fell into the story. Before Ultima arrived, I predicted that her and Antonio would have a close relationship because of the dream Antonio had about his birth. Ultima and Antonio definitely have some sort of connecting, most likely because of his birth and dream, that his sisters do not have. After reading the first seven chapters, I am still a little confused about Antonio's brothers. His sisters Deborah and Theresa are introduced and mentioned in a few chapters but his brothers are never referred to in name, except for in chapter 3 after Antonio meets Horse, who asked if he was Andrew's brother. I predict that we will slowly learn more about Antonio's brothers and that they have some type of history with Ultima as well. So far, my favorite characters are Antonio and Ultima. I also like the mother but am curious about the father. Antonio's parents both seem to come from very different backgrounds and beliefs and I am surprised at how they met and remain together. After learning that Antonio's father has a "cowboy" in his blood and his mother grew up on a farm, I was surprised to learn that they raised their children in a more farm like home rather than the freedom of a cowboys life. So far, Antonio's mother appears to have more of an influence on a children and holds their father on a very tight rope. She is very religious, unlike her husband, and hopes that one day Antonio will become a priest. Antonio appears to be a very innocent child but as Ultima says is a "man of learning." I think that Antonio will chose to follow his own path rather than following his mothers dreams. I think that Ultima will have a huge affect on Antonio's life and become almost a second mother or grandmother like figure.

Although many may not, I like how Rudolfo Anaya includes the spanish phrases throughout her novel. I think they bring a cultural aspect to it and help set the scene. She uses just enough to have a global influence on the novel without her readers being confused. In most instances, she used enough clue words in english that help non-spanish speakers understand what was going on. I think she made the right editorial choice to include spanish dialect. I am looking forward to reading the next set of chapters of "Bless Me, Ultima" to see if my predictions are true and also to see what else we will learn about the Marez family.

Reality Hits Hard for Seguin

After missing a mandatory team meeting this past week, Bruins forward Tyler Seguin was forced to sit out their game that night against the Winnipeg Jets. Watching the game from a press box is not exactly ideal for one of the Bruins star players but coach Claude Julien intended to teach him a lesson. This was not the first time Seguin had "accidentally" missed a meeting and Julien turned his accident into a learning experience. Tyler certainly learned his lesson as he was questioned by the press multiple times about his absence from the meeting. He claimed his alarm clock was still set on eastern standard time so it went off an hour late, but the time zone Winnipeg is in is actually an hour behind eastern standard time so if his alarm clock were set incorrectly, it would have gone off an hour earlier rather than later. However his roommate, Jordan Caron admitted that Seguin was still sleeping when he left for the meeting. He called Seguin a few times but made no extreme effort to wake him up. Caron then filled in for Seguin that night, making the press and fellow fans wonder if Caron let Seguin sleep through the meeting so he would be able to play. 

Kevin Paul DuPont, the author of Bruins want Tyler Seguin Issue Put to Bed, is definitely a Bruins fan. He wrote the article for the Boston Globe so his audience was overflowing with Bruins supporters. He used lots of logos when trying to get to the bottom of the issue. He included many quotes from Julien, Caron, and even Matt Chumra, who is the Bruins top public relations manager. Although Julien made the final decision to make Seguin a health scratch, he defended Seguin in press meetings, “He’s 19 years old and he’s fine with the organization. He’s a good professional. The page is turned and we move on.’’ Hopefully Seguin learned his lesson and will learn how to set an alarm clock properly!

Bruins Want Tyler Seguin Issue Put to Bed by Kevin Paul DuPont

http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2011/12/09/bruins_want_tyler_seguin_issue_put_to_bed/

Twinkies for Breakfast?

Would you believe if you heard that some breakfast cereals contain more sugar than a Hostess Twinkie or 3 Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies? I sure wouldn't think so when I read that children's cereals sometimes contain just as much sugar as their favorite dessert would. However, author Dina ElBoghdady admits that while she new cereals contain sugar, she never knew how high the levels were. For instance, Honey Nut Cheerios, Apple Jacks, and Cap'n Crunch all contain more sugar in their serving size than three Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies do. It's sad to see that the cereal industries have become so obsessed with making money that they add sugar to their cereals so their flavors will appeal more to children. With the rise of childhood obesity, sugar is frequently blamed for weight gain. 

ElBoghdady uses lots of logos when writing this article. She included many statistics regarding the research done about the amount of sugar in cereals. She appears to be writing from a mothers point of view as she is concerned for children. She is upset that the cereal companies are taking advantage of the children with their advertisement. Children are persuaded very easily and with the delicious, fun looking cereal ads seen on tv, obviously children are going to cave. Health conscious groups are working hard to change the amounts of sugar allowed in cereal and hopefully one day their efforts will pay off. So before you take another bite of your sugar coated morning treat, remember that it is just like eating dessert!

Some Children's Cereals Packed with Sugar, EWG Study Finds

Dina ElBoghdady

Putting Christ back in Christmas

At the annual Christmas tree lightning at the White House, President Obama took an untraditional spin on his speech. This year, the focus of his speech was his religion, Christianity. Rather than embracing all the different religions celebrated in America, Obama focused his speech on the birth of Jesus, the sole meaning for Christmas. Obama had been questioned about Christianity and ever since then he has made the extra effort to proclaim his faith. However, his speech at the tree lighting ceremony took Jesus's message and translated it for all faiths to follow, "...that we should love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves." I think that although church and state do not flow today as they have in the past, I think it was important for Obama to acknowledge his own faith and the fact that the faith he was speaking about is where the Christmas tree came from. 


Because I am Catholic, I might be supporting Obama's tree lighting speech but in no way am I (or Obama) trying to eliminate the other faiths of the world. I agree with the author, Dan Gilgoff, in that Obama was not trying to persuade anyone into becoming Christian nor was he trying to hurt other beliefs. He was simply trying to relate his specific beliefs to the meaning of this holiday season. Gilgoff used ethos through out his entire article to help show his audience Obama wasn't biased to Christianity. He included many quotes from his speech that included a Christian belief about God but he also reached out to the other faiths by relating them to society today; "So long as the gifts and the parties are happening, it's important for us to keep in mind the central message of this season, and keep Christ's words not only in our thoughts, but also in our deeds."Gilgoff appears to be a Christian and supports Obama for his speech decision. However, Gilgoff also realizes that there are other religions aside from Christianity. He also seems to think that, as usual, American's have blown something out of proportion and are over reacting to Obama's decision. 


Obama delivers very Christian Message at Christmas Tree Lighting by Dan Gilgoff
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/01/obama-delivers-very-christian-message-at-christmas-tree-lighting/

Welcome Back Sid!

Sidney Crosby, you have been missed. On November 21, 2011, Crosby returned back to his first NHL game since his serious concussion after missing 319 days of playing hockey. Needless to say, he was overjoyed to be back. At 3 p.m the day before Crosby was set to return to the ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins released on their website, "Crosby Returns to Lineup Monday." Within one minute, "the sports universe began to respond with the sort of urgency only a transcendent athlete could trigger." From the second the news was released to the second the puck dropped on that Monday night game, there was constant buzz about how Crosby would play. Fans worshipped Crosby that night as they had always done when he scored two goals and had two assists. Talk about a welcome back game! Not only were the fans on the edge of their seats with excitement about his return, the press went crazy as well. Typically there are two television trucks at the loading docks outside of the Penguins arena, but they day of Crosby's return...there were seven. Even ESPN made an appearance after they released their rights to NHL coverage. the three major Canadian sports stations showed up as well. Crosby was showered with praise for his return to the NHL after taking grief for not returning sooner. After he took a tough hit to the head, Crosby went back to the line up only 5 days after only to be hit again. After his second hit, he decided to play it safe and saw the best concussion doctors in the country. His return was definitely worth the wait. Author Joe Starkey summed it up best when he said, "They felt Sid-sational." 

Starkey definitely relied heavily on pathos when writing his article, Hockey's Biggest Star Returns With Dramatic Results, On and Off the Ice. When describing how quickly the press responded to Crosby's return, Starkey said, "And make no mistake, the National Hockey League has only one transcendent athlete, one man who could move mountains (or at least television trucks and vacationing sports writers) on a moment's notice." He also proved Crosby is "that big of a deal" and quoted Jeremy Roenick, a long time NHL player, who said the Crosby is "the best player in the world." Being from Pittsburch, Starkey is an obvious fan of the Penguins and an even bigger fan of Crosby. His article was a little biased because his audience was the PIttsburgh fan base. Even though his article was in favor of Crosby's return, who wouldn't want such an outstanding hockey player to return. Starkey appeared to be a bit over excited about his return, but again who wouldn't be? HIs article seemed a little rushed but that could have possibly been because I was excited to read all of it. Hockey's Biggest Star Returns With Dramatic Results, On and Off the Ice by Joe Starkey contained only praise for Crosby but in this case, the praise and applauds Crosby received were exceptional! Welcome back Sid the Kid!


Hockey's Biggest Star Returns With Dramatic Results, On and Off the Ice by Joe Starkey
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/02/us/sidney-crosby-returns/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Violence + Soccer = Argentina

When my dad told me that soccer rivals in Argentina always led to violence, I didn't believe him because it seemed ridiculous that fans could be so intense they would try to hurt the other team. He told me that when he was in Argentina for a business trip, he witnessed fights between rival teams fans and that him and his co-workers had to leave a restaurant one night because of it. I was also hesitant to believe that if you were at the same bar or restaurant as a fan of your rival team, one of you had to leave. But, after reading In Argentina, Violence is Part of the Soccer Culture, my doubts have been proven true. Argentina soccer fans take a rival such as the Red Sox and Yankees to a level no other country has reached before. After a tough loss, the soccer club San Lorenzo de Almargo immediately went to practice their skills. However, while practicing, three fans of the club slipped passed security guards and attacked some of the clubs team members...because they lost the game! A few star players were badly hurt by the attacks and were horrified to know that is how they're fans thought of them. Fans of both the home and visiting teams in Argentina have made the stadiums unsafe to attend. Families are no longer bringing their children to games because it is too much of a risk. There has been a decrease in ticket sales because fans are afraid they will be the target of a barra brava. A barra brava is a group of fans who strongly support their team, when they are winning. For a living, they are generally scalpers or drug dealers. They are not ashamed of themselves and they feel that violence is an important part of the soccer culture. However, they have scared other fans and even the players themselves. A parent of young children said, "“Every day it is harder to go to the stadiums with your kids to see the games... It seems like the quality of soccer is getting worse every day." A popular soccer player in Argentina Jonathan Bottinelli admitted that he was afraid of the barra bravas, “I am a little nervous, a little tense about what we had to go through...We have to live with this in soccer.”


Alexei Barrionuevo and Charles Newbery co-wrote the article In Argentina, Violence is Part of the Soccer Culture. They used logos to describe some of the attacks that the barra brava committed against opposing fans and players. They hi-lighted the one instance where Bottinelli was beat up by members of a barra brava and how when other players on Bottinelli's team tried to stop the barra brava, they were attacked as well. Barrionueveo and Newbery's use of logos were successful in proving that soccer has turned into a violent sport in Argentina. They also used pathos when describing Bottinelli's fear of the barra brava. I think it is important that they interviewed him for his true feelings because it gave their audience a true connected to the incidents. They also used pathos when interviewing parents whose children wanted to attend soccer games in Argentina but couldn't because of the violence. The tremendous use of pathos brought their audience in because it caused us to feel bad for the victims of the barra brava. Pathos also proved that violence was a true problem and that everyone was affected by it because it has become a way of life in Argentina.  Barrionuevo and Newbery were successful with both logos and pathos in connecting with their audience. Hopefully one day the violence in Argentina will cease and soccer will return as a family sport again. 


In Argentina, Violence is Part of the Soccer Culture by Alexei Barrionuevo and Charles Newbery
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/sports/soccer/in-argentina-violence-is-part-of-the-soccer-culture.html?pagewanted=1&ref=soccer

Serving up more than just waffles down south

In the south, Waffle House is like a Dunkin Donuts up north, they are everywhere and everyone goes to them...all the time. So it is no surprise that customers at Waffle House come from all different backgrounds, cultures, and religions but the recent string of criminals and terrorists that have stopped by for some waffles were definitely unexpected. There are over 1,600 Waffle Houses across the south and over the past summer for three straight weeks, many have been full of crime. At a few Georgia and Atlanta locations, two men repeatedly placed take-out orders, waited for the food to cook, and then arrived at the Waffle House and held up the cashier demanding all of the cash. The two suspects of that crime were arrested but the crimes still continued. At a Waffle House in Georgia, four elderly men were arrested for plotting terrorist attacks in Atlanta. The FBI surveillance tapes had caught the men in their frequent meetings at a specific Waffle House where they planned the attack. When a Florida state representative suggested that the death penalty be carried our by electrocuting or having a firing squad to kill the inmates, he said that he heard of the idea from a constituent...at a Waffle House. The remainder of the crimes committed at Waffle Houses were armed robberies. However, in one Waffle House, a fugitive and bank robber were caught. Because of the recent crimes, Waffle House opened up a museum dedicated to the chain restaurant to show customers they are not crime-ridden, just unlucky. Many people have began to doubt the safety of Waffle Houses but the customers interviewed in this article vowed to remain loyal customers.

Robbie Brown, the author of At Waffle Houses, a Side of Drama With Breakfast, used a tremendous amount of logos when presenting information about the crimes committed at or involving Waffle Houses. Brown used statistics referring to the amount of Waffle Houses affected by the crimes and included information released by the police who were involved in the cases. He also used pathos when he included statements from true customers of Waffle House, “Nah,” she said. “We’ll keep coming to Waffle House. We’re not that worried.” He defended Waffle House with support from their customers and their business representatives. All of the input Brown received was positive, the customers were not afraid of a few crimes. A spokeswomen from Waffle House said that she strongly believed that they did not have any more crimes than other 24 hour chains did. Brown also appeared to believe in Waffle House because he did not include any negative comments towards their recent struggles. As Bostonians "run on Dunkin", Southerners live on Waffles.


At Waffle Houses, a Side of Drama With Breakfast by Robbie Brown
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/us/at-waffle-houses-a-side-of-drama-with-breakfast.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB

"That's Elmo's World!"

When thinking of Elmo, typically the first thing that comes to mind is a small, red, and furry monster that is loved by children. However, rarely do we consider how Elmo talks or even moves. Kevin Clash joined the cast of Sesame Street in 1984. It had been a dream of his since he was younger to work with the Muppets. So, when Clash was invited to join the Sesame Street float in the Macy's Day parade, he knew being a puppeteer was his true calling. Originally, he aimed to work only with muppets but he was extremely happy to be offered a job as Elmo,“I knew that Elmo should represent love,’’ he says, “just kissing and hugging’’ - that transformed the character from sideman (sideMuppet?) to superstar". Clash enjoys playing such a lovable and fun character and likes to entertain his audience.


Mark Feeney, the author of this article, praised Clash for his successes in life. He applauds Clash for following his dreams of become a puppeteer in one of the biggest puppet businesses to exist. Feeney also promotes Elmo's new movie, Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey. His use of pathos helps to show the true happiness in Clash and includes his many triumphs. Feeney also includes how much Clash truly loves his job. Clash attends promotional tours that he is not required to be at and is always motivating his audience. Hopefully Clash will remain in the puppet business for the future years to come as there is no one who could make a better Elmo.




The Man Behind Elmo

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2011/11/16/meet_kevin_clash_the_man_behind_elmo_in_new_documentary/?p1=Upbox_links

Bye Bye Jerry Sandusky

I know that all of you have heard about the Jerry Sandusky scandal but you may not have known that Jerry himself organized a charity...for children! I was shocked to read that he has been involved with the Second Mile charity for over 34 years. Second Mile aims to help children of Pennsylvania, especially those in need, to help promote "self-confidence, as well as physical, academic, and personal success" according to thesecondmile.org. As you may have expected, members of the organization are now questioning the cause  and focus of the organization. After being the CEO for 28 years, Jack Raykovitz has resigned from his position. According to a grand jury report, Sandusky is reported to have molested young boys that he met through Second Mile. Aside from being involved with Second Mile, Sandusky and his wife also participated in the Fresh Air Fund. The Fresh Air Fund "sends inner-city children to volunteer families" (cnn.com). Because children of the Fresh Air Fund have not reported any problems with Sandusky, representatives are contacting families to search for details. Sandusky also lives right next to an elementary school and his backyard connects to the schools playground. The elementary school has been much more cautious of their children at recess time and are taking the proper steps to ensure the children's safety.

It appeared that the authors of this article, Mary Snow and Josh Levs were horrified at the Sandusky trial. I was also horrified to read that this has been going on since 1994...17 years have gone by and now they decide to investigate? Former Penn State students reported Sandusky to head coach Joe Paterno who proceeded to do nothing about it. Paterno was also fired due to the Sandusky trial. When interviewed, Sandusky's neighbors commented that they were upset about the scandal but could not decide if they were expressing more anger or sadness towards the situation. What I think is most upsetting is the fact that this has never been reported to the proper level of authorities. It upsets me that Sandusky remained involved in charity organization for under privileged children. I agree with the authors point of view in that it is ridiculous that a crime as serious as this has slipped under the radar for so long.

Head of Youth Charity Founded by Sandusky Resigns
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/14/us/pennsylvania-coach-abuse/index.html?hpt=us_c2

"The Memory Keeper's Daughter"

While looking for an outside reading book, I scrolled through Ms. Fay's blog to see if there would be anything I was interested. After contemplating a few titles, I settled on "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards. Set in the mid 1900's Edwards begins her novel with the birth of twins, a boy and a girl. The mother of the twins, Norah Henry decided last minute on names, Paul for a boy and Phoebe for a girl. Her husband, David Henry, delivered the unexpected twins. While he was no specialist, he realizes right away that their daughter, Phoebe had Down's syndrome. He makes the split-second decision to give up Phoebe, he handed her to his nurse, Caroline Gill and ordered her to take the baby to an institution. David simply told Norah that their daughter had died at birth. Norah's then fell into Post-Pardom Depression. The remainder of the novel followed the ups and downs of the Henry family. However, it also told the story of Caroline Gill. Caroline had gone to the institution to drop off Phoebe but when she saw how awful the conditions were, she could not bring herself to leave an innocent bay there. She left town with Phoebe and raised her to become a wonderful young women. However, Norah remained miserable and she fought with David often, they barely spoke to each other. Their son, Paul, had a difficult childhood because he strived to impress his parents with his musical talents but Norah was not always interested and David was too focused on reconnecting with Phoebe. David's secret tore the family into two and they were never able to recover. Norah had multiple affairs and eventually they ended their marriage with divorce. Shortly after the divorce, David died from a heart attack. Happily living in Paris at the time with her fiance, Norah was just as shocked as Caroline Gill to hear the news. Norah returned to the house she once shared with David to pack up his belongings and while she was cleaning, Caroline Gill knocked on the door. Caroline told Norah everything that David had been keeping from her all those years and most importantly, how Phoebe was doing. After taking some time to react to the news, Norah and Paul visited Phoebe in an effort to make up for all their lost time. The novel ended with Norah living in Paris but with plans for Phoebe to visit her and Paul moved to Cleveland in an effort to spend more time with Phoebe. While the ending was expected, there were many twists and turns throughout the whole novel that attempted to mislead you.


Before I read "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" I knew it was going to be a sad novel. Kim Edwards immense use of detail created a sad and depressing tone to the novel which set the true scene of Norah Henry's life. Edward's intense focus on the characters' emotions helped to depict each individual feeling of each character. The strong use of character description helped the characters tell the story even though it was told from a third person point of view. Edwards also used a lot of imagery which helped her audience feel like they were a part of the story. Her use of imagery not only created the scenery but it also showed how certain surroundings affected a characters feelings at that time. Throughout the whole novel, Edwards used pathos. It was easy to tell the emotions of all of her characters but it was especially easy to determine the feelings of Norah, David, and Caroline. Edwards continually described the conflicting feelings of Norah and David and the nervous feelings of Caroline. Her description of feelings and emotions always set the tone for the scene and added drama and intensity to the novel. Although there was a happy ending, this was a very dark novel to read. It was upsetting to me that babies born with disabilities were given no chance to prove themselves and it horrified me to know that places such as "institutions" existed less than 4o years ago. I was disgusted to read how people treated Phoebe and those like her but was overjoyed when Caroline began to make a difference. With each setback in the novel, Edwards always seemed to introduce a new opportunity to improve the situation. I think that Edwards is a talented writer and is able to adapt her styles to fit the intensity of the novel. I enjoyed reading "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" however for my next outside reading book I hope to chose one with a more upbeat theme.

Thank You For Your Service

With Veteran's Day just around the corner I felt it was appropriate to blog about soldier. Navy Lt. Florence Bcong Choe was only 35 years old when she was killed in Afghanistan. While on a run one morning with three other U.S service members, and Afgan soldier open-fired at the group killing Choe immediately. She was so young, so innocent. She did not deserve to be killed at such a young age or in such a horrific way. In fact, no one deserves that. Florence was simply following in her fathers footsteps and she dreamed of making a difference in the world but sadly her time was cut much too short. Her daughter, Kristin, who was three years old at the time of her death was too young to wrap her head around everything. But now, at age five, Kristin is accepting the fact that "mommy's in heaven" and she believes she will see her one day. Florence's husband and Kristin's father, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Chong "Jay" Choe is still recovering and thinks about his wife every single day. At the time of Florence's death, Jay was working at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. He was called into his admiral's office one day out of the blue and Jay's first words to his admiral were, "I'm sorry for whatever I did." Jay was unaware that his admiral had the sad news of his wife's death. Now, as a loving and single father to Kristin, he tries his best to give her the best life possible, without a mother. 


Author Wayne Drash thoughtfully approached this article and was very compassionate in areas such as describing her death and how her family is healing. His use of pathos helped him connect with his audience, and his audience with the subject. This article was definitely a "tear jerker." I think that his overwhelming use of emotions help to prove that he is anti-war. I have been fortunate enough to not have gone through that awful tragedy but the detail and emotion Drash included made me seem like I was a part of the story. He includes the feelings and thoughts of Jay, "To this day, I would give anything in this world to go back to that moment and to have gone to the ticket counter to get the special pass so that we could escort her all the way to the gate, to have those few last minutes together," Choe said. "I will never forgive myself for that." Jay reflects back to the last time he saw Florence. He was dropping her at the airport for her deployment and she insisted that he stayed back with Kristin. Kristin is his pride and joy of life and that overcomes his grief. So, this Veteran's Day, please keep in mind all of our soldiers, from the past and present, and those who have gone before us. 

Moving on when mom is killed at war
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/08/us/cnnheroes-war-widower/index.html?hpt=wo_bn3

Soon to be Twenty and Counting...

20. The amount of children in an average classroom. 20. The worth of one twenty dollar bill. 20. Should not be the amount of children born into one family! Just this morning, proud parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar announced that they were expecting their twentieth child. Their popular t.v show, 19 kids and counting stays true to its name. Soon to become 20 kids and counting, Jim Bob and Michelle could not be happier about their newest addition. However, there have been no comments on how their other 19 children feel, including a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Their children currently range from age 23 years to 23 months. In order of age, these are the Duggar children: "Joshua, 23 (who is married to Anna, 23 and has two children, Mackynzie, 2 and Michael, 4 months), twins Jana and John-David, 21; Jill, 20; Jessa, 19; Jinger, 17; Joseph, 16; Josiah, 15; Joy-Anna, 14; twins Jedidiah and Jeremiah, 12; Jason, 11; James, 10; Justin, 8; Jackson, 7; Johanna, 6; Jennifer, 4; and Jordyn, 3, and Josie, 1 1/2." (cnn.com) As you may have noticed, all of the names start with a "j" and Josh's children appear to be following a similar theme with the letter "m." While we are used to the abnormally large size of the Duggar family, this announcement came as a bit of a sock especially because of the trauma both Michelle and baby Josie went through with her last birth. I think that a sane person would know they had enough children when their previous baby was born prematurely weighing only 1 lb. 60z. 

Actually, I think an even saner person would have stopped having children before their family sized reached double-digits. I come from a family of seven, with four younger brothers, which in these days is a large family. Because of the numerous activities my brothers and I participate in, we spend our days running around trying to complete all the necessary tasks without taking a breather. My mom gave up her job as a nurse to be a stay-at-home mom because she felt that was the best thing to do for our family but very rarely does she have time for herself. Along with the rest of America, I have no idea how Michelle manages to homeschool ALL of her children, make meals, do laundry, go shopping, clean the house, help with music lessons, and dedicate an equal amount of time to each of her children. I think that the author of this article, Alicia Dennis, questions Michelle's pregnancy. While Dennis appears to be happy about the soon to be newest addition to the Duggar clan, she also appears worried about Michelle and the baby's health. Because of Michelle's previous pregnancy, Dennis feels that Jim Bob and Michelle should have none when enough was enough. In her article, she dedicates an entire section to "Questions about the pregnancy". Michelle and Jim-Bob appeared very confident about the upcoming birth and revealed that she will have a C-section in hopes of preventing any complications. So for now, I say good luck to the Duggars and hope that their newest baby is healthy and happy, as well as the rest of the family. 

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar: "We're Expecting Again!"

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/08/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/duggars-expecting-20th-child-ppl/

Facebook Faults

More and more these days we are seeing younger children on Facebook. It is shocking to see that children as young as ten years old are joining the popular social network. According to author Brandon Griggs, there are 7.5 million children and teens under age 13 on Facebook, even though there is a rule that prohibits children under age 13 on Facebook. The sad part is not that children under age are on Facebook, it's the fact that their parents are helping them join. 95% of parents who have children under age on Facebook were not only aware that they joined, they helped them sign up. They defend their decision of allowing such young children join was that they can connect to family members and it introduces them to the world on online communication.


Personally, I agree with Griggs in that children under 13 are too young to be on Facebook. I understand their wants of connecting with family members they rarely see but there are better ways to communicate than through online chats. There are ads and themes on Facebook that are not always appropriate for younger children. However, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said "that children younger than 13 should be allowed on his service because interacting online is an important part of today's educational process." Parents are then torn as to what they should do because of the strong arguments on both sides so in the end it comes down to a personal decision. I think that elementary school children have no business being on Facebook when they can be outside and socializing face to face with friends. Hopefully, the rest of the world will realize that as well. 


Parents Help Kids Lie to Get on Facebook, Study Finds
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/tech/social-media/underage-facebook-parents-study/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Bye-Bye "Food Desserts"

As I was scrolling through the business section of the New York Times, my mouse slid over an article titled, "A Start-Up Tries to Eliminate 'Food Deserts'". Originally, I thought the article was about desserts, so I immediately clicked to see why on earth a company would try to get rid of food desserts. Primarily desserts are made up of foods such a yummy baked goods that are loved by all so I was shocked to see that people would want to get rid of them. In concern for our delicious desserts, I read closely to the article, including the title again, only to find that it was talking about "food deserts". Whoops. I was then intrigued as to what a food desert was and according to the article, it is a place such as a town or community that has limited access to healthy and affordable groceries. According to the Department of Agriculture, there are more than 23 million U.S citizens who live in towns considered to be "food desserts". In response to that horrifying statistic, former classmates and friends Carrie Ferrence, 33, and Jacqueline Gjurgevich, 32 founded Stockbox, a very small grocery store based out of a shipping container. The majority of their items sold consist of juice, milk, meat, dairy, and produce. They carry items that are generally out of reach and out of budget for those living in food deserts. 

Founders Ferrence and Gjurgevich aim to provide healthier options at cheaper prices for residents in food deserts. They want those families to be able to provide their children with healthier options that a convenience store provides. While they do struggle to attract first time customers because of the store appearance, Stockbox has been very successful. Author, Jessica Bruder, compliments the founders on creating a store like Stockbox and agrees that all citizens, especially young children, need to be fed healthy foods. Stockbox allows families to get by without a mainstream grocery store located in their neighborhood and to fit their meals in a budget. 

A Start-Up Tries to Eliminate ‘Food Deserts’

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/a-start-up-tries-to-eliminate-food-deserts/?ref=business

Sleep Tight "Field of Dreams"

  

All good things must come to an end. This past week, the baseball field created for the 1980's hit, "Field of Dreams" was sold. It was built in the middle of a cornfield in a small, southern town and became the main scene in popular movie starring Kevin Costner. But, after years of glory and tourism, the owners of the land have decided to sell to a youth baseball and softball organization known as Go The Distance Baseball L.L.C. Although the owners of Go The Distance plan to leave field as is, they also plan to build more outdoor fields as well as an indoor center for baseball and softball. Before the land was sold off, owners Don and Becky Lansing opened up their land to 65,000 tourists per year. Their home, which was featured in the movie, is located fair enough away from the field on their property so they were able to obtain privacy. They offered free tours to all who visited and welcomed everyone to play baseball on the field. Frequently, visitors would bring a cherished baseball item and bury it in center field. Aside from free tours, they also sold t-shirts and coffee mugs. However, the Lansings were not looking to make a profit from their land, they wanted everyone to be able to enjoy and stand where the ghosts of the 1919 White Sox team once played in the movie.

The Lansings describe their parting with the field to be "bittersweet" as they will miss they entertainment factory but are looking forward to a smaller property to maintain. Author, Ken Belson appears to be a baseball fan as he knew proper baseball terms and was very familiar with former players. He also proved to be knowledgeable about "Field of Dreams". I think that Belson was disappointed with the Lansings decision to sell the land. I agree with him because I think that such a special piece of property should not be sold to be turned into an indoor sports center. I do think that youth sports are important but I disagree with the new owners decision to built an indoor sports center. The field was a unique tourist attraction because it was located nearby a small town of only 4,000 people and the Lansings did not to anything to promote it. Although there is a website and a few brochures, there are no tourist alerts or signs on the highway to attract visitors. There was no admission fee and souvenirs were cheap. Hopefully the outdoor fields built in the place of the former field in the Lansings yard will be cherished almost as much as the original.

New Dreams for Field
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/sports/baseball/field-of-dreams-setting-tourist-magnet-in-iowa-is-to-be-sold.html?pagewanted=2&hpw

Outside Reading Book...

For my outside reading book I chose to read the Memory Keeper's Daughter. I have heard very good reviews about it and am interested to learn about the two very different lives of the twins born.

The Healthier, The Better

On top of all the current economic and political issues in America, the eating style of Americans has also become a major problem. Although everybody individually makes their own choices about what to eat, younger children do not have as much of a variety because they eat what their parents chose for them and in some cases, it is not the best choice. In an effort to improve children's diets, many programs have sprouted across the United States to promote healthy eating in public schools. For instance, the non-profit group, FoodFight, aims to help high schoolers make healthier food choices and guide those in low-income homes to cheaper but just as healthy options. Founders of FoodFight, Carolyn Cohen and Deborah Lewison-Grant feel a majority of healthy food programs in the United States are aimed towards elementary and middle school children. Their goal is to help students learn how to correctly read food labels and to to prepare nutritious and affordable meals, and to identify the political and economic forces that shape their diet" (Wallace 1). Their unique approach of introducing high schoolers to healthier foods and more options rather than telling them exactly what to eat has been proven successful. Students who participate in the FoodFight classes during the school day are encouraged to keep a food journal and record everything they eat daily. Students who participate in the class praise their teachers and enjoy learning how to improve their diets. 

Although FoodFight is based out of New York, Cohen and Lewison-Grant aim to make it a world wide program. First Lady Michelle Obama is also an avid worker in healthy food programs. She created her own campaign, "Let's Move" which encourages public schools to serve healthier meals and to grow gardens on school property. I agree with both the author and the founders of FoodFight. I think that children should be taught at a young age to make healthier choices about eating and learn how to live a healthy and happy lifestyle. With programs such as FoodFight and Let's Move, public schools are able to offer education on such topics. Obesity rates are currently estimated at 35% of adolescents are overweight or obese, it is imperative that children are properly educated on it. Hopefully these programs will encourage healthy eating among youth across America and the obesity rates will drop. 

In High Schools, a Critical Lens on Food

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/nyregion/foodfight-a-nonprofit-group-works-with-new-york-city-schools.html?hpw

It's the most wonderful time of the year...not really

Back to school! A time when students drag their feet and parents jump for joy. While each year brings new changes and adjustments, college is one of the biggest yet. It is very similar to kindergarten, you don't know what to expect but you're parents assure you everything will be fine. However, unlike kindergarten, students have to chose a college to go to and their choices are almost unlimited. Without considering geographic location, finances, or courses offered, there are over 2,000 four year colleges in the United States alone. So, where do you start? It is hard to know exactly what you want to do with your life at only 18 years old but choosing to further your education is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It is hard to choose which college is best for you because there are so many options and you do not want to limit yourself. And with the economy situation of the United States right now, it is a struggle for many to make ends meet let alone pay for education only to come out with heavy student loans. For the first time ever, the Federal Reserved reported that outstanding student loans will add up to more than $1 trillion. So with that in mind, you want to choose a college that is right for you because you don't want to end up paying off your loans for a college that wasn't for you. Another important part of your decision is your major and the courses offered. Studies have proven "that 36 percent of the students are studying five or fewer hours a week and get a 3.16 grade average.” While that may pass you with a B average in college, it is not going to fly in the real world. Author Richard Arun, who co-wrote, Academically Adrift, said that students are doing the bare minimum to pass their classes and are pleased with their lack of effort. Arun also said that professors are not pushing students hard enough and giving them enough work to do which not only prepares them for the real world but gives them more opportunities to learn. 


Gail Collins, the author of Humming to a Higher Ed, encourages parents to remain involved in their child's work in college. She thinks that although students should gain independence in college and learn to do things on their own, she still believes that parent intervention in grades is necessary. Collins feels that it is a waste of a students education, and money if they are doing the bare minimum to pass their classes. The problem is that professors accept that because they are not their to hold your hand and guide you through success 24/7. The lack of work and study skills that students are practicing in college are only damaging them for the real world, where they are most important. I agree with Collins in that not everything is handed to you in life and you need to work hard for what you want and deserve what you earn. So while students skip off to their dorms, parents should be concerned about their aspiring students grades and loans are worth it at graduation.


Humming to Higher Ed by Gail Collins
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/opinion/humming-to-higher-ed.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

The ever changing life of a Barbie doll

Welcome to the 21st century Barbie. Once a childhood favorite, the makers of Barbie created a special edition, Tokidoki Barbie doll. The Tokidoki Barbie doll "went under the ink" to show off a "cutting edge" new look. Tokidoki Barbie, as a special edition, rocks a short pink bob, an off the shoulder t-shirt, leopard leggings, and multiple tattoos. While Barbie has gone through many transformations in her lifetime, none have ever gone this far. She has had all the jobs little girls dream of such as a teacher, veterinarian, or model, and she had the best boyfriend ever, Ken! The creators of the new, radical Barbie geared the model to adult doll collectors and were not planning for children to be interested. The newest Barbie has a very mature look to her and is probably not the best doll for your children. 


Tokidoki Barbie is just another phase Barbie is going through and hopefully she will grow out of it soon. The article, by Mary Elizabeth Williams presents both sides of the arguments, with quotes from parents both for and against the newest Barbie doll. One parent who feels that the Tokidoki Barbie is appropriate for young children said, “I think the pink hair and tattoos are fine. The objectionable things about Barbie are the tiny feet and gigantic fake boobs.” However, a parent opposed to Tokidoki responded with, "If I was a mother I wouldn’t buy one for my daughter. This seems to be sending out the wrong message.” Personally, I agree with the second comment and that if I were a mother, I would not want my daughter to be playing with a tattoo Barbie doll. I do not feel that passionately about tattoos but I think that young children should not be exposed to them in their toys. While I admit to not liking to play with dolls when I was younger, I do remember being "influenced" by my toys. If I did play with Barbie, I would idolize her perfect lifestyle and hope to be like her one day. However, lets keep in mind that our Barbie dolls were not trashy looking. I agree with the author in that tattoo Barbies should not offered to children at such a young age because of the level of maturity in the tattoos. However, I do praise Barbie and her creators for breaking away from the "perfect blonde" to embrace all types of beauty. Hopefully the current trend of Barbie will remain only as ephemeral and not drag on. 


Barbie gets a tattoo makeover
http://www.salon.com/2011/10/19/barbie_gets_a_tattoo_makeover/

Wedding of a Lifetime

Weddings. One of the most important days or your life that you will never forget. Especially if you are Kim Kardashian. One of today's most popular reality stars although no one is entirely sure what she is truly famous for. Nevertheless, fans across the nation counted down the days until the airing of Kim's wedding to NBA star Kris Humphries. However, those lucky enough to be a friend of the bride or the groom or fortunate enough to be a family member witnessed the extravaganza live. Kris's aunt, Dedria Humprhies attended the wedding with her husband and two children. Her first notice of the wedding came not from an invitation but in an e-mail from her brother, Kris's father, with a list of hotels reserved fro guest. Dedria assumed a formal invitation was soon to follow, but instead she received a call from her sister-in-law, Kris's mother saying that Kim asked guests to dress in black and white, to follow her old Hollywood style wedding. Finally, three weeks later, the formal invitation arrived wrapped in a small box that was wrapped in a larger one. However, Dedria's question of the location of the wedding was still not revealed. Guests were transported to the wedding by private valet, and were required to leave cell-phones behind. From the start, Dedria had hinted that this was not your typical wedding. She was blown away by the atmosphere of the wedding and the cost of everything. It was a top of the line wedding, one that will never be out done.

Dedria was very proud of her nephew and humbled by her invitation. She admitted to having no idea as to who Kim was before the wedding but admired the love between Kris and Kim. While she wasn't allowed to reveal any personal details or information from the wedding, she said it was very fun for all. She complimented Kris in the article saying he was a hard-worker and believe success came from yourself. She led the reader to believe that Kris works hard for the things he want and it was clear to all that his love and dedication to Kim is real. I will admit to being a Keeping Up with the Kardashian fan so I found the article to be interesting. For those who do not like the Kardashians, Dedria put her own spin on it, making it personal and a family connection to Kris rather than glorifying Kim. I enjoyed reading this article and seeing a different opinion about the wedding rather than a Kardashians or the press.

How I ended up at Kim Kardashian's wedding

http://entertainment.salon.com/2011/10/08/how_i_ended_up_at_kim_kardashians_wedding/

"Sun kissed skin" is not so hot anymore

The popularity of indoor tanning is rising as quickly as it is being prohibited in certain states like California. On October 9, 2011 California governor Jerry Brown signed a bill prohibiting minors from using tanning beds. While it may not seem like much of a problem because the term "minor" represents children ages 17 and under, many frequent tanners fall into that age category. It has become a lifestyle for some, others an addiction. The governor feels that by passing this bill, it will encourage non-tanners to never start and those currently tanning to stop. Although lying in a tanning bed does not directly give you cancer, it certainly can become a leading cause for it. It has been proven that the rays used in tanning beds are made to penetrate the skin deeper than typical rays of the sun which will cause more damage. Skin cancer does have many possible factors contributing to the cause such as genetics and blistering sun burns, but tanning beds are ones you can avoid. By putting yourself in a tanning bed, you are willingly increasing your risk of having skin cancer. California feels that by implementing this law, it will help make regular tanners more aware of the consequences. 

The author appears to agree with the law as she includes information about skin cancer and all the negative affects of tanning. She does admit though while the law does not allow indoor tanning, there is nothing preventing teens from tanning outside or using baby oil rather than sunblock. It also does not prevent tanning lotion, which is a much safer alternative. She also admits to the fact that tanning beds do not directly cause cancer, which is true, but she still warns current users of the harmful effects. Personally, I think that tanning beds are extremely dangerous and I would never use one. I would much rather tan naturally or use lotion than risking my life simply to look a little bit darker than others. To me, tanning is not that important but some people easily become addicted to it. Doctors have gone so far to call the addiction, "tanorexic." While tanning comes as enjoyment to some, others want nothing to do with it and would rather use sunblock than increase a chance of death. I do agree with the author and the state of California and hope that this law will start a trend across the nation to help prevent indoor tanning and promote a healthier lifestyle. 

Should Teens be Prohibited from Tanning?

http://life.salon.com/2011/10/10/should_teens_be_prohibited_from_tanning/

Only Daughter

Being the oldest of five children, people took to me as a leader. They expect me to have nurturing and care-giving skills, similar to a mothers. Being the oldest of five children with four younger brothers has presented many opportunities and joys in my life but it also comes with expectations. It has taught me to appreciate my time with them and to get to know their individual personalities. Although my brothers and I all look extremely similar...our personalities vary. While being the oldest creates expectations like no other being the only girl with four brothers is more of a challenge than you think.

When I am introduced to someone new and they ask if I have an siblings I proudly respond, yes I have four younger brothers. People are immediately taken aback and sometimes shocked at a family that big. Their next comments are usually something like oh they must adore you or you must be the princess in the house...which is the opposite from the truth. When people assumed I am a "princess" in my house and get what I want whenever I want, I am kind of offended. Never in my life have I heard someone say to a boy with all sisters that he must be the "prince" of the household. However, I do not receive special treatment. I am lucky enough to not have to share hand-me-downs with my brothers, one benefit of being a girl, and I have my own room but I still share all of my belongings with them. They feel that because they greatly outnumber me they can just waltz into my room whenever the feel like it to borrow something...not cool boys. But, growing up in a household of boys has taught me life lessons that other people will never learn. I'd say I'm pretty good at yard work and I enjoy sports. So, growing up in a family of five children and being the only girl is not as easy as all think. My special treatment is little to none as only my baby brother is spoiled now but I have no problem with that at all. I would never trade my family for any other and know that one day I will be able to look back and think about all the fun we had growing up.

Big Bad Bruins

With the start of the 2011-2012 season, just one day away, the Boston Bruins are soaking up the last bits of glory from their Stanley Cup Championship. On Tuesday night, October 4, the Bruins received their championship rings. Made up of more than 300 diamonds, championship rings tend to be a little larger than the ordinary. Fan favorite Milan Lucic when asked about the size of the rings said, “yelling at you, screaming off your fingers.’’ The ring features all of the teams the Bruins defeated in the playoffs last season surrounded by the NHL logo. Although the cost of each ring was not released, Bruins winger Shawn Thornton said, It’s probably worth more than my parents made growing up. I’m kind of speechless." All players and coaches agreed it was the perfect way to end a tremendous season. The players noted that it was one of the most memorable seasons that played in not just because of the Stanley Cup, but because of all the people involved in the journey. Although all good things must come to an end, the Bruin's success in 2011 will never be forgotten. On opening night, the  banner will be raised proudly to join the other championship banners at the Garden. That way, the Bruins (and Celtics) success will reign forever. 


The author, Jake Seiner, kept a very professional standpoint while writing the article however, at times he did cave to the excitement of the Bruins. He praised the team and coaches, and appreciated all of the fan support. He included extremely positive quotes from players such as Michael Ryder's comment, These guys, we’ll always remember each other for what we did...It’s good to get together and have this time.’’ Although it had been 39 years since the last Stanley Cup win in Boston, it was worth the wait. The author's use of logos convince the reader he was not only knowledgeable about the Bruins, but he was extremely interested as well. He congratulated the Bruins and wrote to the fans of Boston. The Bruins have high hopes for this season but they will soak up to glory for one more day. Let's go  Bruins!


Bruins Receive their Stanley Cup Rings
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2011/10/05/bands-brothers-bruins-get-rings-for-winning-stanley-cup/SGwjCiJ1lVvxtLMKMaOOjL/story.xml