The Road- The Road is seen as an image because of how much it's described along with how well. It's known to be full of danger every time someone steps foot onto the road. It brings loners and blood cults, along with carnivores. They try to stay off the road as much as possible but end up being on it most of the time. They choose where and when to stop depending on where they are on the road, and then they take camp farther in the woods. Usually a good distance to keep an eye on the road when they are about to go to sleep. Sometimes will end up in houses, trailers, mansions, barns. But most of their time is spent walking the dangerous path of the gray, empty road. There's many dangers that are found along the path that is taken and it puts them in a lot of stress. But with the irony in this, it's that in the end, the road ends up being one of the things that saved the little boy. It ended up being a rescue. The book talked a lot about how the dad was sick and how he said he would stay with the boy and never leave him. In the end, he died in his sleep and the boy woke to death. He before had learned to never let anyone have the gun except for him. He learned that he will always be able to talk to his father he just has to listen and be patient. He finds out that he carries the fire, which is the light inside of him. And when the man showed up to save the little boy, the boy had asked if he carried the fire too, the man said yes and showed the boy he could trust him. The Road showed a lot of irony and symbolism even though it wasn't always so noticeable.

Fake friends and family- It talks about how there are professional actors that are ready to jump in and act as anything you need. A best friend, a husband, a father, literally anything. It helps with appearance which is a big thing in Japan. People base what they think of you off of appearance. I personally don't think I could work and be a fake friend or family member to someone. It'd be too hard to know that they're pouring out actual emotions and feelings about what's going on in their life because they need it and then after the time period of what was asked is up, say goodbye and act like nothing even happened. Being paid to be someone's fake friend or family member would be nice, mainly for the money, but it'd be so wrong to do that to someone that's lonely or in need of an actual friend and has to pay to get that attention. I couldn't do it, thinking of what you'd be putting that person through after you leave is hard. Knowing that you're there for them for a set time and then maybe never be back for them again, it'd hurt. They'd deserve an actual friend to lean on and go to everyday of their lives. I think another con to this whole arrangement is that it seems like it messes up the idea in peoples heads to actually go out and talk someone and become REAL friends with them. I feel like it blocks people from going out on their own and keeping them in their shy little boxes. That's not really what a lot of people need. I don't really like the idea. It just messes with peoples heads too much and I don't like the thought of that.

Summer school reflection- The things that I've liked throughout this summer school year is probably the sleeping. I still get most of my work done and that's what made me so happy about being able to wake up early, it was that when I got here, I got to come and sleep in and then wake up and be ready to actually work. I've also really enjoyed watching the movies throughout the week. My favorite was probably Free Solo. Some things I could have changed was staying ahead and actually coming to class. Missing a day and a half and hitting the 5th week was what really brought me back and behind. I think some of the main things I've done well with were most of the electronic work. Mainly the news readings more than the essays because what I'd write for the news readings interested me a lot more than what I had to write for the essays most of the time. Some areas I haven't really done well in were the double entries and notebook work. I've read a lot of what we went over and that kind of bored me. I've definitely learned a bit from being here, one big thing I've learned is to actually try harder in actual school and not skip school days to bring me behind. It can help me skip the stress of school in the summer. I can have a stress free summer. I just have to work harder and show up. It's not exactly a classroom thing I've learned, more of a life lesson that I should keep up with and actually work on. Not just in school, but throughout my life. I would definitely show up and not miss any days next time, along with staying ahead. If that's what I had to choose to do differently, that's definitely what I would choose to do.

News reading 23- Ebola has had a nearly year long outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There was an emergency meeting in Geneva on Wednesday about their being a public health emergency of international concern. There have been now 4 meetings regarding Ebola's spread. This one was the only one out of the 4 that actually called for an emergency meeting. A Dr. Tedros called on countries to avoid "'imposing 'punitive and counterproductive' travel and trade restrictions.'" The risk of Ebola is staying high in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, he has also said that the risk outside of the region is low. Right now, it is the second largest Ebola outbreak in history. There have been more than 2,500 cases and more than 1,600 deaths. The West Africa Epidemic was the largest Ebola outbreak in history. It had affected 28,000 people. PHEIC, which is what decides if an extraordinary event is determined to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease. I personally feel as though if there had to be a meeting to even talk about how badly the virus is spreading and how bad it's gotten, then maybe PHEIC should put travel and trade constrictions on with other countries. To protect every other country that hasn't had such a bad break out or a break out at all. I feel as though the areas being contaminated should be under quarantine and should start trying to keep anyone who has every been around someone with even remotely the smallest symptoms of what could be Ebola checked out and away from other people. The world needs open their eyes and start paying more attention to what's happening. The outbreak in West Africa may have been contaminated there but clearly it ended up spreading anyways in the end. It's made it's way to DRC, Butembo, Goma, and others. I really do feel like there should now be restrictions on travel until this is taken care of, for good. The world doesn't need to lose anymore people to death caused by viruses anymore than we already have.

News reading 22- This week is going to hit the 50th anniversary of the moon landing for Apollo 11. The last time someone was on the moon was the Apollo 17 landing in 1972. According to President Trump, the United States is going to make a comeback. Hopefully by the year 2024. This idea/decision is yet to be funded but there are plans in place. President Trump has said he wants to return to the moon in a "BIG WAY!" Hopefully this happens by the year it's trying to be achieved. It probably won't, mainly because the rockets and spacecrafts needed to achieve this are "over-deadline, over budget, unfinished, or non-existent at the moment." If it doesn't happen by the year 2024, maybe it will happen in a couple years to come, close to 2024. The funding could cost close to $20-$30 billion in the next five years and Congress would need to approve an extra $4-$6 billion to the budget per year to reach the amount needed. I honestly really like the idea of trying to have us return back to the moon. Especially in a way that would make history yet again. I just don't think it'll happen anytime close to 2024 because of the budget and materials needed to still start the plans being made. It's nice to know there's a goal that's trying to be hit. It shows initiative. In my opinion, it shows that things are trying to be put into place. It looks clean and ready. In all honesty, we can make this happen, we just have to put our minds to it. It may not happen on the goal that's set, but it can happen. 

Dumpster Diving- I found this article very interesting. I never thought about what it would be like to dumpster dive for a living. Personally I don't know if I would be able to do it, but i definitely have respect for those who do it for a living. It's an interesting concept that people are able to survive off of things people throw away. We can be so wistful and literally throw away things that are perfectly good. We can donate the food we don't want, we can bring the clothes we don't want to second hand stores, and we can certainly be more aware of the homeless in our community. One of the topics that I thought was interesting and that I want to talk about was when Lars said, "trash tells so many secrets and gives you details about peoples lives." What people throw away says a lot about them. Bills, medicine, confidential documents, etc. They're all thrown in the trash. You can find out more than you want to just by spending 10 minutes putting together the story about how the neighbor in thousands of dollars in debt and on so many stress relievers you wonder how his heart is still beating by the things you throw in the trash. I suppose if I absolutely needed to then I would be able to live out of a dumpster, but it would be my last resort and I would have to be very desperate. But going through somebody's garbage to try and find out why someone is acting the way they are, it's not really that cool to go snooping into people's personal lives even if it does cross with what you do for a living. I've never thought of dumpster diving as that much of a way to survive, but after reading what was said, I could see it. Just not for me. It'd take more for me to dumpster dive now then in the future. Mainly because now, I'm set. I have a job, I have my family, they have jobs, we have each other. I don't need to depend on a dumpster right now in my life. In the future, I don't know where I'm going to be weeks, months, or even years from now. I just know that now, I won't be needing to dumpster dive anytime soon.

Giving money away- Our world is in crazy need of generous people. We have so many people in need in this world and we can be doing so much more about it. Giving money away isn't only something that helps those in need, it's something that helps us and makes us feel good about ourselves. Giving money away shouldn't be something that we make people do, people should just do it because its the right thing to do. People today get the line between wants and needs mixed up. We feel like we need everything we want and deserve everything we want as well. Making sacrifices is something we see less and less everyday. It really seems like the more people are in need the less people will give. If everyone started giving up something they wanted every once in a while and started giving that money away to those who literally can't afford to buy some of the basic things needed for human survival, then we would be so much closer to ending world hunger. No, we cant make people give their money away and if we try then the less generous those people will be. If we just educate people on how much of an impact they can have after helping others and bringing more light into the world, then slowly, the world might not have so many hungry people in it. Maybe if those with money were educated on how bad hunger and starvation actually was and if they saw what impact their money could have then maybe, just maybe they would find it in there hearts to give some of what they have to the poor people that need it. It would definitely change lives everywhere. The phrase, "Give a little, get a little." That can happen. You give to someone in need and receive a little something in return for being such a kindhearted person. When you give, it's the best feeling in the world. You feel better about yourself and everything around you. It makes you want to continue giving and make a difference in others lives.

Me Talk Pretty One Day- This article made me dislike French teachers and honestly made me feel as though I didn't really want to take French because of the way they teach. Walking into a class when you don't know anyone and don't know what to expect is pretty uncomfortable, along with walking into that class when you're older than everyone else. Being uncomfortable with the language you are learning when everyone else in that class can speak and translate better than you just isn't the right way to go in my opinion. I'd feel too awkward and I'd honestly probably drop the class if it turned to it. David walked into an incredibly awkward situation with a teacher who was very rude and disrespectful. Despite all this he managed to stick with it. David put his fears behind him and went after something he wanted, even though there were so many obstacles in his way. The teacher had an interesting way of teaching that would make the most elite of French students want to quit. She noticed every mistake you made, she would humiliate you in front of the whole class, and she would make you feel like you were nothing and that you would never learn the language. David knew that after weeks of this going on he was beginning to understand the language in a way he never had. He put more work into his class then ever before and he really began to see his improvement. Although teachers like this shouldn't exist, it did push him to become a better student, even if his driving motivation was not wanting to be embarrassed in front of his class. I love this a lot about how what he went through with his teacher pushed him so much, but I at that point, would definitely not want to be in that class again. I'm the type of person that hates being embarrassed beyond anything. I turn red and I get really hot, it starts to feel like I have a headache and at that point I just want to explode. Being humiliated in front of an entire class by the one person that's there to help you learn and grow, would push me over the edge. I wouldn't be able to go through with it. I'm proud that David could really push himself, I wish I had that motivation and self encouragement. Maybe someday I will.

News reading 21- Miscarriages from my thought should mainly be mourned from the mother and father/partner of the woman that miscarried. Yes, I understand others close to the family should be able to mourn too, but in that point in time the ones that actually personally lost the baby(mother and father/partner) would be in the most grief at that point and would probably want to be around those they loved and be able to count on them to help them through what they lost. Losing a baby is hard on everyone that was close to the parents and had love for the child lost, I understand grief from all of those people but the mother that was holding the child and then one second loses it would be in so much pain. It would feel like a part of her had just been torn off of her and never to be seen again. The mother would feel like it was her fault, like she did something wrong and didn't know how to handle that. It's harder on the parents of the child because they feel responsible and no longer get to even see what life they were about to bring into the world. Others around them are able to grieve, but not around the parents. They'd need to be the ones that are counted on to help them through everything, not break down with them. I know from experience, that if your not the parents of the baby lost, then you need to keep it together and help through what you can until they are capable to feel okay again. In my opinion, I always just felt as though someone was overstepping if they started to take what happened more to heart then the mother did. It's hard to explain but overall I personally feel like the parents should mourn more of the miscarriage more than anything.

News reading 20- Ice cream is now being made through chemistry. It's not dairy, so no cows are being involved through the making of the ice cream. It's a vegan ice cream. It's made from whey and casein protein produced through genetically modified yeast. From some of the people that have tried this ice cream, they say it tastes exactly like the real thing. The casein and whey protein are what give milk it's flavor and texture, so it's just like regular ice cream. It's just a genetically engineered way to produce the proteins that is put into this ice cream. I personally think this is pretty cool because now people that are lactose intolerant can go out and enjoy ice cream like everyone else, especially on a hot day. I also feel as though it's a little gross. I'm the type of person that likes to know that there's natural ingredients that go into what I eat before I eat it. I don't really like the fact of thinking about lab made ice cream in my mouth. Along with genetically engineered proteins involved in the making of the ice cream. It just sort of grosses me out and is probably what would stop me from taking a bite. Overall, I definitely do think this invention/idea is pretty awesome.

Song lyrics- "I see the blood in your eyes, I see the love in disguise. I see the pain hidden in your pride, I see you're not satisfied. And I don't see nobody else, I see myself, I'm lookin' at the Mirror on the wall, here we are again. Through my rise and fall, you've been my only friend. You told me that they can understand the man I am. So why are we here, talkin' to each other again?" These lyrics are from the song Mirror by Lil Wayne(feat. Bruno Mars). These lyrics really speak to me because it talks about how much pain he's in pain and wanted to be recognized and understood by others and thought that he would be accepted by those who knew him but he was wrong. He told himself that people would understand him and be able to be around him, but then finding out that he was wrong. So he turns to himself and asks why this keeps happening and why don't others accept him. I find deeper meaning behind what I interpret here also. I also see it as life and society today. People have to tell themselves they'll be okay, they'll be liked, they'll be wanted if they act a certain way and then hopefully be able to be themselves for once and explain everything that's happened to them but then end up getting turned down and judged for opening up. People in this society have turned self entitled, judgmental, and cocky. That's our society and probably always will be because everyone's too scared to be their actual selves thanks to all the judgment and hate from others about being your own person.

Sports/interest writing- Juuling isn't an interest of mine but it's definitely a topic that I like to talk about. It's one of the most recent choices for vaping. I've never really been a fan of it. I have quit a few friends that have one and when I'm around them all they do is hit the Juul. It's like a nonstop crave for nicotine. And saddest of all, it ruins your lungs. A Juul pod, a singular Juul pod, is equal to a complete pack of cigarettes. That's disgusting. And it's disappointing to know that it's got a lot of my friends under the addiction of nicotine. I've hit a Juul once and the only time I liked the feeling of it was when I got a nicotine buzz. It goes away after about 5 seconds though. So it's really pointless. Especially after I learned how bad they are for you. I keep my distance from Juul's because I don't want to ruin my lungs. I just wish kids of my age and around my age would stop. At first, there was a reason everyone started to get one. They told me it was because of "the buzz," but now all I hear now is how kids can't get "buzzed" anymore because they "hit the Juul all the time" or they've "had it for so long." Hearing that would make you think, 'oh, so you can quit now? There's no point to it." Right? No. The nicotine in the device has reached the point where everyone is under that addiction. No one wants to quit because they have the hope of getting a "nicotine buzz" again. Clearly it's not going to happen. Why waste your time, money, AND health on it? Juuling is something I'll never completely understand but people are allowed to do what they want to do with their bodies. It's not anyone else's choice. If someone wants to sit and hit a Juul for 24 hours a day/7 days a week, let them. They'll learn on their own why they should stop and better themselves. When I say "better themselves," I mean their well being. Their health. Someone may argue that 'Juuling isn't that bad' and 'doesn't harm you as much as cigarettes do,' but there are so many facts that prove those statements wrong, it's ridiculous. I wrote this article about Juuling because I don't really play any sports. I used to, but not anymore. I don't really have a big passion for them and most of the questions asked, I couldn't answer. Juuling I don't have a passion for personally. I have a passion to try and help people make the right decision in life. And Juuling, is not that decision.

News reading 19- In Louisiana there were winds that hit 75 mph and that has turned the storm that hit them into a tropical storm. It was a category 1 hurricane and is still under watch as Louisiana is in torment. It's said to last a good 2-3 days before it will be off of Louisiana radar. They're expecting a two foot storm surge and are told to be staying in doors no matter what. I've never been in a storm that included a hurricane or a tornado but I have had family that have been involved in horrifying storms before. Reading about what Louisiana is going through just drops my stomach. I know how loved ones that don't live there or close to there must be feeling right now about their families or friends being in between this right now. It's terrifying and you don't know how to feel. I feel for the families that are in the storm right now and for the loved ones of those hoping they all make it out. It may just be a category 1 hurricane with a two feet surge but that's never something ANYONE wants to deal with throughout their lives.

News reading 18- Throughout Facebook, close to one million people are talking about breaking into Area 51 somewhere in Nevada to find out about the rumors of the military working on alien technology. They have apparently already set up a date, it would be in the upcoming September. What others are failing to mention, is that this all started with a Facebook meme that was only meant as a joke and nothing more. The man that started these memes has sent out a post saying that he was joking and isn't responsible for any actual attacks on Area 51. I personally think this whole thing is very funny. People who are on Facebook and don't understand the memes and other things that are put out there, probably shouldn't be on Facebook or any other social media. They're out there for laughs and nothing else. Not harm to anything or anyone. I've seen so many memes of celebrities and old and recent presidents along with reaction videos of them reading the memes put out there of them and they've all been of them laughing. I think everyone needs to chill on going after Area 51 for a meme that was just meant as a joke. There are so many more memes coming out as people make fun of the people stating they are going to raid Area 51. It's all way too funny and too stupid. If there are actually people trying to raid Area 51 over a meme and about information that may or may not be true, you could be putting yourself and so many others in danger for such a dumb reason.

News reading 17- Mike Pence went to an overcrowded and under cared for immigrant detention center. It's a Texas facility that holds about 400 men. When inside, the reporters stated a foul odor and extreme heat. The men were in cages and  had been trying to get attention from the reporters to talk about being underfed and not having access to showers and toothbrushes. Some had claimed to be at the center for more than 40 days. VP had seen 384 men sleeping inside fences, on the concrete, without pillows or mats. The center had claimed it's too overpopulated so there's not enough beds for everyone to sleep on, so it only leaves the floor. They had also claimed that the men had regular, daily access to showers and toothbrushes and are fed regularly. I don't exactly know how to feel about which side is right in this case, mainly because I wasn't there, but I also don't understand why Mike Pence would make up such a story if not true. If it is false, that'd draw bad attention and a bad reputation to him for lying about this sort of thing. If what was found out and said is true, then there is something terribly wrong with the people holding the immigrants. Having them sleep on concrete floors without pillows or mats? Not letting them shower or brush there teeth on the daily? And not being fed regularly? The type of people working there and the type of people allowing this to happen and not doing anything about it are disgusting. I don't get how another person can be so cruel and horrible to another. The stuff described in the article I read is ugly. Prisons, detention centers, any place that holds people for certain reasons, should not be a place of disgust. Yes, the people there might have done something wrong, but that's no reason to treat them inhumanely. People are people and deserve to be treated as they still are, no matter what they've done or where they are.

News reading 16- ICE raids towns all over on Saturday and Sunday for immigrants. They chose major cities to go to and went to known immigrant communities. There were a few cases where ICE was turned away in homes because they didn't have warrants. I don't agree at all with what ICE does, unless there's a legit a cause for their doing. IF an immigrant is out and about not paying their dues, breaking the laws, not following what citizens should be doing, then I understand ICE going in after them. There could definitely be calmer and more appropriate ways to handle things. But, if an immigrant is living here, doing everything right, not doing anything wrong at all, there is no reason for ICE to come after them. Even if it is over the dumbest things, such as a parking ticket. Citizens all over get parking tickets, don't stop completely at stop signs, etc all the time. ICE can't go around arresting immigrants for things as small as that. I feel as though there should be an actual cause and reason for why ICE comes after immigrants. They should be able to live in the United States freely, without fear of ICE. Especially if they're doing everything right. The rules and systems with ICE need to be changed and reevaluated, it isn't cool what happens behind the cameras and news articles. Not everything is always told when reading from an article.

Downtown walk- Ernie November's is kind of downtown. It's one of the first few buildings as you enter downtown coming from the west side. When I was in there, I found a hoodie that right when I walked in, it caught my eye. I know hoodie's aren't really the coolest things to find. Especially for $20, but I LOVE hoodies. Especially over-sized, warm, fuzzy ones. This one matched the criteria. It was a light and dark green hoodie, with a lighter brown and off-white sort of tone. It was tie-dye and so warm. The inside felt so soft and fuzzy, it would definitely be one of my favorites if I bought it. Which I did, just the day after we went. It was only $16.99, and that was a steal considering half of their sweatshirts and hoodies are close to $30-$35. A $20 bill won't just get me a hoodie though. There are plenty of things I could have gotten downtown just going with a $20. When I say, "plenty of things" I'm leaning more towards a variety of food. I also LOVE food. But who doesn't? Food's a great thing. The point is, I found more than enough things to buy with a $20 bill and even got to purchase one of the items I had my eyes on.

Money is the root to all evil- I definitely agree that money really has an impact on people and how the act sometimes. Money to a lot of people is like a prize. The ways people react when in need of money are scary and horrifying at times. When people are corrupt and all they think about are drugs and how they're going to have enough to pay for them, it's not okay to be in there path. They'll do practically anything and everything to get the money they need to satisfy their "needed" high. I've personally seen a couple people at their worst when it comes to drugs and money. They'll hurt the ones they love and continue going about their days as long as they have what they "need" in hand. They see it as though they aren't hurting their loved ones or scaring randoms on the streets when they walk by tweaking because they couldn't get the money. When it comes to money and drugs, they will steal from their loved ones and from randoms on the street, they'll be apart in acts of violence if it means there will be a price for them afterwards. I'm not saying that it's all the drugs fault. I'm saying it's both money and drugs. You need money to buy the drugs. The more money you have, the more you can get, and the harder and higher drugs are more available as you bring more and more to the table. Drugs are a problem, but money is where people really turn into "psycho's." No money, no drugs. That's when things turn bad. There are plenty of reasons why money turns people into greedy, selfish loners. Money is literally the key to everything. No money, no anything. That's how the world works. I don't completely understand why money has to have such a great impact on how people act towards others, but it does. The richer you are, the higher class you're in. The less money you have, the lower class you're in. It may have something to do with the class you stand in based on money, which to me, is so beyond ridiculous. I don't like have classes that decide where you are in the world based on me. It divides a lot of people and it's so irrelevant. Having a lot of money is a good thing, yes. But, I personally feel that I'd rather have less money than anything. It gives you more of a perspective of how much you really have in the world and what you do and don't need. It helps start you off less greedy and less selfish. You learn to see things in different ways, along with people. What makes people so greedy and selfish in "higher" classes, is money. That honestly needs to change.

Alexis Bloomer- She talks about how this generation lost respect for our elders and our country. How we think that things are just given, not worked for. How we're entitled and should have more respect for those around us. The music we listen to degrades women and glorifies drugs and crime. How are language towards each other isn't proven that we care about something unless we cuss and the language we use towards the ones we love or like isn't the right way to be showing it. How we're lazy and aren't willing to work to change anything. I understand and agree with some of this but at the same time I disagree with a lot of it. Well, I have a different point of view on some things but in some way still understand and agree with what's being said here. I think a lot of our generation has lost respect for the way we're supposed to be talking to our elders and other people. Instead of being respectful and commutative about things, we lash out and start to cuss to make a point or think that our elder is wrong and lash out on them for it. Which in some cases, they may be wrong but that's no need to start being disrespectful about how you talk to someone. You can still calmly and respectively talk to someone you disagree with, without it turning into a yelling war full of cussing and disrespect. That's the point of communication. The music that's listened to, yes, I agree some of it is degrading, but not all of it. There is some pretty good "trap" music that's out and isn't degrading or glorifying to drugs. There's good messages and good points to life lessons. At least, that's how I feel. But, even before this generation, there was degrading music against woman and nothing was said until now. A lot of people in the world, yes, they do want money and are too lazy to get up and go after it. They think it'll just come if they wait long enough, or they say they'll get a job and keep going out, asking their parents for money until finally their parents cut them off and let them know it won't be happening as often as it has been. If someone would really want to make a difference, they easily could. They just need to get the motivation they wanted and get off their butt and go. I just also think that if they think it's going to fail and not be worth their time, they won't try because their mindset has already put up with the fact that they aren't going to make a difference and it won't help anything. It'll just be a waste of time and money. But, they should also realize that it's not going to happen the first time and maybe not even the second. It takes time to make a difference. You just have to have the motivation and patience to do it. This generation has lost a lot of respect for a lot but I don't blame them. What's happening in the world right now is nothing I really care for either. The earth is being destroyed day by day and there are people doing things to try and fix that but I feel like a lot of people have already made peace with the fact that it's happening and there's not a lot we can do in the estimated time the world is supposed to die. We have Donald Trump as our President and that doesn't help. All that's been happening is the fear of another stupid war and the fact that he doesn't respect women either. There's a lot of older, powerful influences on our generation and the upcoming generations about how a lot of things should be handled. That's not just our generation acting out for the fun of it. A lot has to do with the things we see and read around us on the daily. 

True Grit and 3:10 to Yuma- True Grit's fight scenes were the marshals against the outlaws. The characters were two marshals and a daughter of a man recently murdered. They were looking for a murderer so their motivation was based on finding him and bringing him to justice. The situations involved dealt with the daughter riding along side the marshals to avenge her father and make sure he came in and got what he deserved. Along with running into a fellow gang that were only working with the murderer to get a package delivered for payment. In the end, the daughter killed the murderer and lost her arm because of a snake bite. 3:10 to Yuma's fight scenes included the marshals against the outlaws also and running into Native American grounds. The characters were marshals and an outsider looking for money to keep his land and family on their feet. The situations involved dealt with running into the man they had captive's gang. He was a big outlaw and had been caught by the outsider. In the end, the outsider died and the gang's leader killed his group and turned himself in.
They both dealt with marshals and outlaws but True Grit ended with the murderer dead and 3:10 to Yuma ended with the man turning himself in and turning on his gang to protect and respect the wishes of the outsider that had caught him.

News reading 14- The Central Park 5 Jogger case is about five young boys ages 14 to 16 that were wrongly accused of attempted murder and rape of Trisha Meili. The five boys faced between 7 and 13 years in prison. The DNA on Trisha when examined didn't match any of the five boys DNA but they were still charged and arrested. The case was brought up again in 2002 when the actual rapist confessed to the rape and attempted murder of Trisha. Matias Reyes is facing a lifetime in prison and had actually raped a few other victims that summer. His DNA matched a similar case that had happened a few days before Trisha Meili was raped and almost killed. Four of the five boys were paid by the state a sum of $7.1 million and the other boy was paid $12.2 million for the wrongful conviction. Farstien was the woman that put the boys in jail wrongfully. She still doesn't admit to doing anything wrong and was no longer part of the chief of DA's sex crimes after 2002. I personally don't understand how someone can put five boys in prison and know that none of their DNA matched the DNA on the woman that was raped and still go to jail. The system is broken and pretty much always has been. There was no actual evidence to convict these boys but they were. I don't understand how they possibly could have even been seen as the rapists considering there wasn't even more than one person's DNA on Trisha Meili. Meili wasn't able to step up and defend the five boys because when found she was brutally beaten and doctors were even surprised if she'd ever wake from the coma again. When freed from prison, 3 of the 5 boys sued because of racial discrimination and emotional distress. I'm beyond confused on how there was no material evidence to convict them but they still ended up in prison anyways. It was so far past wrong and it enrages me to think about how broken the system is to let that slide by. It's scary to know that you won't have any material evidence against you in a case and still can end up in prison for something you don't do. I really feel as though something should be done about that.

Tiny houses- Tiny houses are about 6 times smaller than regular houses in square feet. They're mainly for financial and environmental concerns. They come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. They can come on wheels or be placed on land around other houses or in it's own lot. It's like a movable living space with everything required but not as large as a normal house, and not quite like a camper either. It's "simpler living in a smaller, more efficient space." It gives large financial advantages so you're able to live more freely then you would if you owned an actual sized house. Meaning, it's much more easily payed for than an actual house that takes years of work to continue to pay off and then end up living paycheck by paycheck. In someone's personal experience they said they started out with an apartment paying about $1000 a month and then switched to a tiny house, which he built himself and it only took about 2 years to pay off and is now paying about $15 a month. He was able to save so much switching to a tiny house instead of "staying in the cycle of debt." The statistic also states that "70% of Americans are still stuck," in the cycle of debt. Reading what I have about the tiny houses, I honestly really like the idea of it. It seems really cheap and really nice. You save a lot while staying in one and it's only about $15 a month. I like the idea of being able to live more stress free and roam about when you'd like. I feel if when I get older and I want to be part of the tiny house decision, I'll still just keep to one job and be able to go out and do what I please without having so much stress on paying off the house, I could work and then save up enough to work on my car and put most of my attention towards that and then still be able to go out and hang out with my friends and family on the daily. I still feel as though I'd have to check out an example in person of the house first so I know if I'd be able to stick to it and actually like the space I'd be living in.

News reading 13- In the article, it talks about the parades for the LGBTQ community and the celebration they get. Along with the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month, National American Indian Heritage Month, and Black History Month. How these get celebrated every year and how white people aren't really in any of the things that are celebrated above. It says that there should be something that celebrates whites and straights. The article states that, "Last year, a report from Public Policy Polling found that 35 to 37 percent of Trump supporters feel the United States should have a dedicated month to celebrate the history and contributions of Caucasians." For the celebration of all people that are straight, Boston has approved the permit application saying that there would be a Straight Pride Parade. It's going to be held on August 31, 2019. It's said that they've come to this conclusion of a Straight Pride Parade because, "...with the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots happening this year, it was inevitable that straight people would want in on the action." I understand why this became a thing. A lot of heritage's and choice of sexuality are being celebrated and there are also some people that are always left out of getting to feel as though they have a part or a reason to be in any parade. I think it's cool that there's a Straight Pride Parade, it's showing that everyone should be celebrated for how the feel about themselves and the history's and cultures people were born into. But for the Caucasian Heritage Month, I don't really know how I feel about it in all honesty. The history that's been made by Caucasians is good and bad, but I see more bad done than anything. Yes, a lot of good has been done, but bad definitely tops the good. And with the way that we're going towards a lot of the problems with Iraq and us, it's like all we do is start wars and slavery. There have been so many good things to come out of that history as well, but I feel like we need to do more and better what's happening in our lives to keep that same routine from happening before we get honored with a parade. I like the idea of having a Straight Pride Parade, because if some or a lot of Caucasians are feeling left out of not being celebrated, if you're straight you can be a part of it, any race can. If you're white and lesbian or gay, you have the Pride Parade and Pride Month. To me, there's enough parades now to include everyone with out having a backlash on the history of Caucasians.

News reading 12- The Taliban had launched an attack in Afghanistan and has lead a good 40 people dead, children included. With around 100 people injured. There were many buildings brought down by the car bomb and gun fight. Two of the buildings ended up being schools and wounded about 51 students. The gun fight after the ministry of defense was bombed was between the Taliban militants and Afghan security forces, it lasted about eight hours. The death and injury toll is said to continue on in the next few hours or even days. I don't understand why everything always ends up being lead to war and violence. Why so many innocent men, women, and children are caught in the crossfire of things that could easily be avoided if people just learned to communicate and work through problems more. Learn to solve problems of those that clearly have a big impact or wouldn't be brought up in the first place. Things like this need to change.

Truman show- The Truman show, in my eyes, is true to life because the movie gave off a protective/secretive vibe. Meaning, the whole time that movie was filmed, he had no idea. Therefore, the protective/secretive vibe. I get both these vibes because in a way I couldn't always tell which one it matched more throughout the movie. I say it gave off a protective vibe because they could have been keeping the fact that they were filming him to protect him from the real world, to not let him become corrupt and heartbroken with what the real world actually is. So, they created an island that was used to keep him inside and seem as though he was living a normal life and everyone was so pure and happy and never down or rude. I get the secretive vibe from the movie, because they could have also made it as though they just never wanted him to leave. It was how his world was meant to be until he died. So his friends and family all stayed quiet and never said a word because he was the star and they were making money off of him and the show. Everyone was. So, to keep that going, they continued to lie and continued to corrupt him and keep him there. Secrets equal lies and manipulation. That's what could have happened. I still see a little of both in the vibe of the movie but more for the manipulative vibe. In the end, they still tried to keep him there but he left. He went and explored and decided to find out what life was really like. It's true to life because there is manipulation and lies. Everywhere you turn. Most of the world has to do more with corruption and manipulation than anything. That's where they mainly match ways. They as in the Truman Show and life. People are corrupted wherever they go just to benefit others and what others are trying to do. They are lied to because they could get hurt emotionally and/or physically. People see manipulation and lying as a good thing sometimes. Mainly when they are trying to "protect" somebody, they think they're saying the right thing and doing the right thing. In reality, they could be hurting the person they're lying to more than anything they know. People don't realize that because they lie for their own benefit and expect nothing to happen. But I feel as though people always forget, the truth always comes out. And sooner or later, it's going to come back and bite that person in the butt. As people usually say, karma bites.

skit-

setting: IHop restaurant at 11:00 P.M. on Saturday night, May 1st, 2018. There are two booths filled throughout the restaurant. There are a few tables with a couple people in them as well. One booth with an older man and a woman a few years younger than him. Second booth with Justice and her mom, Charley. The two booths that are filled are sitting back to back from each other. Complete strangers to each other. 

CHARLEY

Did you hear them?

JUSTICE

No, what'd they say?

CHARLEY

The man behind us, he's talking about going after his daughters husband? I think he said it was because he stole from him. 

JUSTICE

Interesting. That's kind of weird to talk about in an open place, don't you think?

CHARLEY

Well, yes. That's why I asked if you heard them. I'm not liking where this conversation keeps going. Now he's saying he's going to be at his house in the morning with his shotgun. I think his daughter is the woman he's sitting with. 

JUSTICE

What makes you think that?

CHARLEY

The woman just said, "No. This is ridiculous. You need to calm down and go home. Don't even think about showing up at that house or I will be calling the police, Shawn."

JUSTICE

Okay, well, I'm getting really uncomfortable. So let's just finish our food and leave. I keep making eye contact with the dude and I'm not feelin' it mom. Plus, this isn't our business and I'm not tryin' to have us even more included in this than we already are. 

CHARLEY

You're right. I'm done, let's get the check and go.

JUSTICE

Okay, good. 

(Justice and Charley walked to their car after they payed and got in. They buckled up and started the car. Justice was setting up the music in the car, as this is happening the man and woman sitting behind them walk out of the restaurant and stand outside arguing. All of a sudden, they watch the man slap the woman and walk to his car. Charley gets out and walks over to her asking if she's okay and let's the man know she's calling the cops. Justice continues to sit in the car and watch what's happening. The man stops and turns around to walk back to the woman and Charley. Justice turns to the backseats looking for something that could be used as a weapon if necessary and all she finds is a volleyball. She gets out and walks over to her mom and the woman and stands in front of them and the man.)

CHARLEY

Justice, get back in the car. 

JUSTICE

I'm good. 

(Justice looks at the man walking towards them and watches as he goes for his pocket.)

JUSTICE

What do you think you're doing?

(Justice continues to get yelled at by her mother about getting back in the car. The woman stands up and tells the man to leave and not come back. She'll be getting a restraining order on her and her family from him in the morning. Along with police protection for a few days. He stops what he's doing and walks back to his car and speeds off.)

JUSTICE

Alright, let's go. I'm already sketched and I don't want to be in this anymore. 

CHARLEY

Yep. Let's go.

JUSTICE

Mom. Next time something like this happens, please just mind your own business. It's better and safer for everyone. I don't know what could have happened, but I wasn't going to let you sit out there by yourself not knowing what either of those two were capable of. 

CHARLEY

You're right. I'm sorry.

JUSTICE

It's okay. Let's just go home now. 

News reading 10- The article I read talks about a nuclear attack on North Korea, how over 1/3 of Americans would be okay with dropping a nuclear weapon over North Korea, no matter if it meant killing about one million innocent people in the process. There was a poll that was taken with different scenarios, one with a casualty number of 5,000 and one with 1 million. There was no difference to the people that took this poll, they didn't care and still went with a nuclear attack. In the article, it stated, "If politicians don't expect voters to care about the difference between 5,000 and 1 million civilian casualties overseas, we probably can't expect that they'll care either." Which is a good point. People usually say something like this is a horrible decision and the casualties aren't worth it, but if the 1/3 of Americans that took the poll don't care about the difference of casualties, we really can't expect politicians too either. If the nuclear attack does happen, and there are several casualties, I feel as though that's when people will start to care and act like this shouldn't have happened. You can't act after something is done, the best time to act is before. So if needed, something can be done. I also think it's funny that the people okay with a nuclear attack happening are so okay with the amount of casualties that may occur, I can bet they'd be thinking differently if it were them on the line. How would they feel if it were us being targeted instead? They care then, but as long as it's not them, they couldn't care less. And that's not something I want to be apart of. I don't think there should be any nuclear attack of any kind. There can be a better way to fix things, better things to help other than war. War just seems to be the easiest path to take nowadays and that's really not okay. War doesn't solve anything but add more casualties and put more and more people at risk. I want to be done with any idea of war and move on to things that can be taken care of through talk or trade. Nuclear attacks aren't the move and neither is war.

News reading 9- The article that was just read is about suicides and first responders. It talks about how they are told at the beginning of the job to get a debriefing on what to expect. They have to end up seeing more dreadful and horrifying things that happen to people everyday than people who aren't in the police force. The statistics found in this article have said, "In a 10-day period this month, three NYPD officers, an LGBTQ liaison, and four other responders in Michigan, Minnesota, California, and Nevada have died by suicide." That's eight too many. I believe a lot of this also has to do with the type of things they see everyday and have to continue seeing throughout their job because this world is so messed up. The article also stated, "...there have been 97 law enforcement suicides verified by Blue HELP for 2019. An additional 46 fire/EMS suicides have been verified by the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance." Those are the "reflected confirmed suicides." Apparently, the "fire/EMS suicides are being under counted by as much as 60 percent." Something needs to be done. Suicides are something I don't want to keep expecting to happen. From experience, I agree that things should turn around. Everyone needs to do something to change these statistics and stop the suicides. The fact that people even think that it's their only way out and only thing to do to retrieve peace is horrifying. There's a lot to live for and there's a lot to deal with in life, but it all ends up being worth it. The things someone is put through shapes a person for the future. It all just comes down to how one handles those things.

Free Solo- The movie was a documentary about Alex, a man that free solo's. Which is climbing without ropes. A very dangerous sport. It talks about how much he loves climbing and how much he loves the feel of what he does. This documentary has observed that people like to know what's happening in one's life when they do something as risky as this. They like to know what motivates them so much to go and do what they love everyday and push their limits. Which is exactly what Alex does. Alex is the type of person that doesn't really react to a lot of emotions. He doesn't exactly have a good emotional relationship with anyone. So I understand that he doesn't understand that he may or may not be giving those around him a lot of stress and anxiety about what he does on the daily. I feel as though he should start to work on that but at the same time shouldn't. It's good to know that someone around you cares so deeply for you and wants the best for you, but when he's grown up like that all his life and has always just stuck to what he loves without thinking about how others would feel about it, it's hard to just change that instantly. I feel he should change that so he has more of a care about what would happen to him if he slips or falls and ends it all right there. Especially with the huge risks of free soloing. Things such as, death, making the wrong move, breaking bones, etc. It's a dangerous thing but it's hard to stop someone with such a great passion for it. I think that's a good point into why he doesn't have such an open mind on how people around him are feeling about what he does. He had stated in the beginning of the documentary that, "I would choose climbing over a girl any day." I don't know if this also goes for his mother or sister, but it's a good chance it does. I think knowing how people feel about something you love to do is a good things. Not always, but overall good. Throughout the movie, his peers have showed nothing but support and love for him, I'm pretty sure he realizes that, but at the same time, they also express the fear they have of him falling and bringing it all to an end. I think he understands what stress he's putting on them but also doesn't really care. He has a passion and love for something dear. Something that has been there for him since he was a little kid, when he didn't have anything else. He free soloed. And that shows a lot about how a lot about what happens around him doesn't really matter because of the huge amount of time he's spent climbing.

Thoughts on pooping- One implication of Zak Jason's treatment of pooping in the dark, without a phone or anything in hand is that it releases endorphins and can help with a proper rate of exit. Zak observes that it was like an immediate release when pooping in the dark. His point is that pooping with your phone in hand is threatening. He states, "Smartphones only make things harder, threatening bowel, rectal, and mental health, along with hygiene." I agree that pooping with your phone in hand doesn't exactly help you get it out and over with as fast, I haven't pooped in the total darkness and without my phone before, but my experience with pooping while on the phone only prolongs things and you end up sitting there far longer than you need to, so that confirms it. I personally don't think we should be using our phones while on the toilet but it's so much of a habit for me to have my phone in the bathroom, that I will turn around and go and grab it. It's like I can't poop without it. Of course, many will probably disagree on the grounds that pooping without your phone is dumb, so it may just take more evidence to convince everyone to really stop and not use their phones while on the toilet.

My walk- I was walking down the sidewalk, passing several areas of the large park I was walking in. Kids running around and jumping on the swirling seats and jungle gyms. Moms sitting on the benches with their heads tilted up towards the warm, bright sun, enjoying their little tanning time. A soft sound of the overfilled stream rushing through the trees and under the bridge. Everything in sight was just peaceful and calm. I kept walking toward the stoplights to go through the crosswalk and keep coming upon this little girl spinning in a swirling seat. Her arms and legs both sprawled out from the seat, her feet pushing her every few moments, and her head dangling down. I couldn't exactly tell what she was doing at first, I thought she was just being a silly child and spinning until she got sick. Trying to see how long she could go before she had to stop and take a quick breather before everything came out of her small stomach. But she just kept spinning, I decided to see if what she was doing was just so fun or just so calm. I walked to one of the several swirling chairs and sat down, I attempted to do the same thing she was and sprawl out, but those seats were just so small and I'm just so much taller then that small child. I walked up to her and asked, "are you having fun?" She didn't stop. So I figured she was scared and didn't want to talk to a stranger about how long she's been spinning or what she was even doing. So I understood, smiled and walked away. As I was walking I turn around and she still keeps spinning. She looked so stress free and happy, I wished I could try it myself. Too bad you have to grow up sometime, right? I got to Hardees and couldn't stop thinking about the small child. I took more of a thought into it and started to realize she was just trying to find a peaceful thing to do. Spinning and letting your face and body warm up in the sun with the sounds of the outdoors around you? One of the best things in life. She was probably imagining herself on a beach, laying next to the water and tanning like there's no tomorrow. Opening her eyes to dogs splashing through the water just to catch a Frisbee their owners throw for them. Seeing so many items of food along the pierre and a huge amusement park as well. Life at it's finest. She has a good imagination, and that says a lot.

News reading 8- The article was about abortion and women's rights. There are 24 democratic presidential candidates and they all had something to say about abortion and what they would do to enforce those things. In places that have anti-abortion laws, there are a few people that have come up with clever plans for "safeguarding abortion access." The Hyde Amendment is about banning federal funding on for most abortions, so some of the democratic candidates have "converged around a series of policies that would have seemed remarkably progressive just five years ago." The democratic candidates also move toward increasing and multilayered support for abortion rights, while republican candidates have "backed increasingly restrictive laws." In my opinion, abortion isn't the best thing to go with. There are other ways if someone decides they can't go through with having a child. I understand people that have abortions also probably know that as well, but if they know, why not go with another choice? I don't exactly support abortions, but I don't diss on them either. I agree that if someone feels as though they can't have a baby, they are too unstable, or too unprepared then yes, make a better life for that child and don't have it or give it to someone else. I personally think that if someone is pregnant, it is their choice to do what they please with their body. It's their body, not the doctors, not the "baby daddy," not the mother or father of the woman who is pregnant. It is and always will be, that woman's choice.

News reading 7- President Trump had put a tweet that had said, "Iran made a very big mistake!" I don't think this was the best thing to do in all honesty. The tweet in my eyes makes it seem as though he was threatening Iran over the internet for everyone to see. As though he was planning something and going to pursue it soon. There's a phrase, "the fog of war," and it talks about how when opposing sides are in the heat of conflict, they don't always know what's going on or how to take things. I think that's how the tweet that President Trump had uploaded could have gone so badly wrong. When stating things in person or over the internet, I feel as though people should be very more clear about what they are actually meaning.

Jordan Peele- Jordan Peele apparently assumes that people are a scary thing. How we all have a darkness and are capable of anything, especially around our peers. What Peele has said, I definitely agree with. It's completely valid. According to Peele, "It's what we're capable of when people are around us. We're capable of the worst monstrosities." In other words, he states that when around one of our biggest influencers (peers) we tend to do whatever we think would please them. How we would literally do anything to feel like we fit in or to fit in for that matter. While Peele is right that we are capable of anything around our peers, he seems on more dubious ground when he claims that, "Our fear can drive us to destroy somebody for the fear of being on the wrong side of the mob." I don't completely agree this statement. I understand "fear of being on the wrong side of the mob," but I've never witnessed someone go after another just to be welcomed into a group of people. I'm not saying I don't believe this though. I believe that some have done this, but there are also several people in this world that wouldn't hurt someone else to their benefit. We are capable of practically anything and everything. I don't disagree with that. A lot of people that have been on this earth have done some horrifying things. A lot for the fun of it and some for the point of protection or acceptance. What I mean when I say "for protection or acceptance," I'm talking about gangs mostly. Gangs or cults as examples have a lot to do with an initiation quest. Cults usually go for the killing of people and so do some gangs when it comes to initiation. They also go for jumping someone in. People go for gangs because in a lot of places there isn't anyway to have protection for their family alone. So becoming part of something bigger, would mean a better life for their family. Even if it does set them up with "bad" people. I put bad in quotations because not every gang that you hear of or see is horrible. Yes, bad things have happened or are being done throughout their whole movement, but a lot of it is trying to make enough to support their crew, families, and even neighborhoods sometimes. That's not really the point though. The point is, yes, people are influenced everyday by the people they are around, but not everyone has to do what their peers are going for. A lot of people push that away because they don't want to go after someone else for their own benefit. People are good. Not always, but that can change. Yes it is necessarily true that humanity is a scary thing and people are capable of anything but does that mean they're going to pursue that? Is it always the case, as I have been suggesting that people are all good? No. because honestly, who is all pure? Who do you know that's never once in their life done anything illegal or wrong? In my case, I've never once met someone that hasn't done a single "sin" sort of thing in their life. Yes, they are still good people. I'm not saying they aren't. You can do something bad and still be good.

The future- I believe that there won't really be a future for anyone on this planet in a few years. I honestly don't even think we'll make it close to 15 years in the future. With the way we're treating our planet, there's too much waste and pollution in the air and the water. Lead pollution in Flint, Michigan, plastics and other trash surrounding and in the ocean, oil leaks, and littering. I wish I could say what I'd really like to imagine the future being but with everything that's been said and happening, I doubt anything close to "flying cars" or even a world to live in will be here. I can only see there being a future if we start to pick up our acts. Stop littering, put fundraisers and donations out to clean the planet. When a famous building (I forgot the name of) burnt down there was so much money raised over night to rebuild and fix it. With about half of that we would have enough to clean the trash in the oceans. At least that'd be a start to picking up the planet and helping us and wildlife survive. If that were to happen, I could see us continuing to take care of the planet so we have a good 50 years or so left on the planet. In that time, I could see us making so many changes to our planets well being and then making everything better and upgrading everything. Maybe actually having flying cars in a few years. I mean, Tokyo seems to know what's it doing when it comes to upgrading. So I don't doubt that we wouldn't be able to as well. I love the planet and I love living on the planet. I want to be able to grow up and have kids of my own so they can write an essay about what they see in the future as well. Knowing we might not make in a few more years scares me, but it also pushes me to live my life to the fullest. Everyday is a new day and a new adventure.

News reading 6- In this article, it had talked about how a couple kids had gotten kicked out of their ROTC scholarships and the military for coming out as gay/lesbian/bi. There were only 3 kids in this article and probably more, just not said or talked about in this article. It's over one person in particular. He had gotten a scholarship to the University of Portland using ROTC and came out as being gay. He had stated that after this happened he was immediately kicked out of the military and told to resign from the scholarship. He claimed he didn't even know the ramifications of resigning from the scholarship when it was happening. About a week later he had realized he was going to be kicked out of school as well unless he got student loans. He's now 45 and still paying off student debt. Being kicked out of the military and having a full ride scholarship taken away from you because you open up about your sexuality and are finally comfortable with who you are is a terrifying thing for some LGBTQ members. Not knowing how people are going to react when you come out and then finding out that some people aren't as okay with it as you thought? I would be personally embarrassed and alone. Things like this shouldn't be an issue. I don't know why it is, but it is. It shouldn't be. It's an ugly thing and all anyone is trying to do when they come out to their families or peers is try and feel accepted and not alone.

Overrated- I personally think Netflix and Fortnite are becoming pretty overrated. A number of people have recently suggested the same, along with a few other things. A few people have observed that for Netflix and Fortnite when playing/watching you end up doing the same thing because it ends up being very few choices to continue with either things. In other words, these anonymous people believes they're both becoming just too plain and boring. I agree that Netflix and Fortnite have become too boring, because my experience with both of these confirms it. Netflix has very few good movie choices, the ones that are good I've already watched. I continue to just end up watching the same series over and over again in separate times because there's nothing to watch anymore. It doesn't even have "Rick and Morty." That's the most disappointing thing for me at the moment. With Fortnite, I've never really understood the point of the game. You just repeat the same things until you can unlock a new level and do the same things again. I've never really been into it. Although I grant that I still love watching Netflix, I still maintain that it's overrated. I'll probably start thinking differently when they add more shows and movies. For Fortnite, I may be more interested if they did something similar to what I was suggesting for Netflix. Maybe just add more obstacles and different avatars, make it less predictable.

News reading 5- The news post I read, talks about how shark attacks have gotten worse in the upcoming years. It explains how the attacks have to do with how, in the water we look more like their prey than anything. Surfers especially. Since their usual prey splashes as much as surfers do, they think they're prey. In 2019 total, there have been 36 shark attacks around the world. But the main thing that's been noticed is that most of the sharks attacks that have happened throughout the past years have been provoked. There's also a variety of sharks that have made the attacks. Not just great whites. Tiger and bull sharks, mako, nurse, lemon, and spinner sharks have also been the causes of attacks through the years. Something people can start to do to better the "already low chances" of getting in a shark attack is staying out of a known shark nursery ground. Avoid swimming during or after storms, it makes the water more cloudy and churn up the bait fish which lead to "shark feeding frenzies." Don't swim during dawn or dusk. There's a very low chance that people get into shark attacks, but there are also many reasons for why people are attacked. Splashing too much, provoking sharks, swimming in areas that you probably shouldn't and at certain times of the day. If you know it's a time of day that chances are higher for sharks to be around then you probably shouldn't be swimming.

Frederick Douglass Essay- One area in the book had me thinking a little bit. In Chapter 10, there's a part where he starts talking about religious slaveholders and how he never wants to be brought upon one again. He states, "...religious slaveholders are the worst," and continues to express how they're so much more mean and horrifying than non-religious slaveholders. This confuses me a little. In my opinion, I would have thought that there wouldn't be "religious slaveholders." That, that goes so far against their ways and what they believe in. Meaning, if someone is religious, I wouldn't see expect that person to go and harm another under God's name and still go and praise him and act like what he/she is doing is what he would want or is saying to do? I would have expected to see "religious slaveholders" as totally against what was happening and what other slaveholders are doing to human beings as completely horrifying and disgusting. I was expecting to see them as people that act as though they are there to torture and hurt their slaves but in reality be trying to save them from the others. Keep them protected and keep them from being beaten half to death everyday from walking a different way. After reading how he saw religious slaveholders, I see them as horrific people. I see anyone that was a slaveholder as a disgusting, ugly human.
I've never understood slavery. I never understood the point of beating ANOTHER human being half to death because of the color of their skin. I've heard a lot about why it turned out to be like this. Things such as, people were scared of the skin tone, they didn't find it normal. Or, they weren't human because they had a different skin tone. That because they had a different skin tone, it showed or in this case, proved, they were property and not human. Slavery will never make sense to me. The fact that the color of someone's skin can create that much hatred and distrust into people not of color is head turning to me. I don't know why or will ever know why people went to such great lengths to prove that they OWNED someone else because they were black. Reading things like, "...gave me a very severe whipping, cutting my back, causing the blood to run, and raising ridges on my flesh as large as my little finger" over and over again because they couldn't carry enough wood or continue working for 12 plus hours a day? NO. That's beyond disgusting and horrifying. That's something that doesn't even have a word to describe it because of how vicious and ugly it is. If someone is a different color then you, they are STILL a human being. They still bleed red, they still walk with two feet, they still have emotions, they can still be broken down. They aren't just nothing to be kicked around. I wish there could have been something done way before anything like this ever happened. I wish people would have just seen people with a different skin tone as people as well. Not as property.

News reading 4- This reading is about how Iran has decided to break the 2015 nuclear deal. They've announced that by June 27 (10 days away) they'll have enough low-enriched uranium for nuclear reactors. The deal was made between the US, Russia, European Powers, Iran, and China. It was made to stop Iran's path to a nuclear weapon and in-trade, get sanctions relief. Iran has apparently broken from the deal to compel either the US or European Powers to "loosen financial pressure." In my opinion, this mainly started when President Donald Trump had decided to take us out of the deal last year. When that happened, that meant that sanctions were reimposed and we had tried to block the European Powers from dealing with the country. That's now become a different story. Europe has been creating a "barter-trade system," which is where they would do business with Iran disregarding America's sanctions. I personally believe that would be a good idea. If Europe decides to do trade with them, Iran has agreed to follow the 2015 nuclear deal. This also means that Europe would have to give Iran, "access to the global financial system and grow business ties."

Alive- On the one hand review 1 argues that the movie was more of a compassionate film. When they eat the human flesh they were on more compassionate terms. It also talks about how the movie "draws considerable power from staying more human than heroic." On the other hand, review 2 contends that the movie wasn't that good. It was more of a "corny" film. That a lot of the events throughout the movie didn't exactly quit make sense. Things such as; the human flesh that looked more like chicken, and Nando recovering from a bad concussion. My own view is that I honestly agree with the first review of the movie. I personally thought it showed a lot of motivation and faith to keep moving and get through the crash. I did have some negative aspects to the movie as well. This is when I'd also agree to the second review. When they had to turn to cannibalism to survive, the pieces did very much look more like chicken then anything. Now, I understand it's a movie and they wouldn't actually eat real human flesh, but they could however make it more gruesome like and more similar then a piece of chicken. Overall, I definitely agreed more with review 1. I acknowledged the fact that most of them stayed more sane considering how long they were there and how hard it was to get through a 70 plus day stranding in the cold Andes Mountains. They all did their bidding and helped out with what they could. They all took care of each other and tried their best to keep everyone alive. Especially with the couple horrific events that happened. Those being said, the plane crash for one and then the avalanche that caught them all by surprise when they were sleeping. Killing more of the people in the plane. Review 1 agrees when he writes about them helping each other out and "staying more human than heroic." While I agree with review 1 up to a point, I cannot accept that they didn't act heroic at a few points throughout the movie. One example being, when Nando and Robert continued to walk towards the "green valley," they sent their third companion home and went on to get help. Whether they knew or not if they were actually going to hit the "green valley." I feel as though that was a pretty heroic moment. Yet some readers may challenge my view by insisting that's just what people do for each other. I understand that but I also don't agree with that. I would want to be rescued as badly as they do but to know what I'd be walking into leaving the plane and going into the many mountains. Along with how cold it was? No, I believe it to be very heroic, and there's nothing wrong with that. They saved everyone in the end because they had the willpower and faith to keep going and hit the "green valley" one of their team members had told them about.

News reading 3- The article states that people with mental illnesses and personality disorders are helped when in greener areas. It talks about how nature is a good boost for their mental and emotional states. They had found that rates of depression and/or anxiety would be lower in children raised in greener neighborhoods. It would show that they wouldn't be diagnosed with any mental illness. So with children being surrounded with higher levels of green space and then comparing to children that aren't around a good amount of green space, they hit a 55% chance of being diagnosed with a mental illness. They had done a study where they chose over 500 lots and either cleaned or greened them. They also did a poll on the residents before and after the transition to see how it helped them mentally. It was stated that, "residents of neighborhoods where lots had been greened were much healthier psychologically." The data also showed that, "Around greened lots the levels of feeling "depressed" dropped by 42 percent, feeling "worthless" by 51 percent, and having generally "poor mental health" by 63 percent." I like the thought of this study and the findings that came with it. I in a way do see where being around greener, more full of nature areas would help with someone's mental health. My dad lives out by the pactola reservoir, so when I drive out there, there's such a beautiful calming setting around me. It makes me feel more at peace with everything around me. there are hardly ever any cars driving past our house and that's relieving to me to not here the sounds of loud cars flying past our house. The sound of hearing birds chirp and the fresh smell of the morning breeze is just amazing. I personally agree to this study and what it's found out.

News reading 2- In an article about lead clean up and the cost of money it will take, it talks about how many benefits can come from it. Yes, it will cost a good billion dollars, but it could help us and the earth  so much more. I for one, would rather be alive for another 40 years then die in 5 years when I could have had the rest of my life in front of me. It also states that, "children exposed to more lead get worse grades in school, are more likely to become teen mothers, and are more likely to drink recklessly." When I read that quote I laughed. Lead? Causing us(teenagers) to drink more recklessly and become teen mothers? I don't in the slightest bit believe that. But I do somehow see where that's coming from. With how many things are messing with the earth and causing so much damage to it, we only have about 5 years left, I can see where more and more kids would want to go out and do more and live a little before that 5 years is up. Especially considering they/we "have" our whole lives ahead of us. It could be gone instantly and some wouldn't have even got the experience of graduating, going to college, committing to their dream job. I understand where that reasoning came from but I also see it as a lie. How can a substance turn us into wanting to become teen mothers, drink more, and have worse grades. If we didn't have close to about 5 years left unless this planet is picked up now, I don't think I would be able to see where the article was coming from when it said that.

While they rarely admit as much, we do just watch as a professional singer will sing the national anthem and that often takes for granted that we don't get to experience that joy or bravery anymore. We get to stand and wait to go back to the game and not do any work.  Peter Seeger observes that we as a group at certain events would sing the national anthem together. We would all go through the fear of being put on "blast" and trying to match the notes. But in all doing so, we'd be standing there with each other matching pitches or not, it'd show bravery for a lot of people. Nowadays, we sit and watch while someone else does the singing. Usually a single person. In the second quote, this person agrees with Peter Seeger when he writes, "The rest of simply do what we are going to do for the rest of the game: watch, listen, and enjoy as someone else demonstrates skill and courage." I agree that Peter Seeger has a point, because in my experiences at baseball games, basketball games, football games, etc, we all just stand and watch as someone takes the lead. My experience as a citizen arriving at the games confirms it.

News reading- In the news reading I read, it talked about how there must be something in the ultra-processed foods that causes us to overeat. An ultra-processed diet causes us to eat over 500 calories more than a minimally processed whole food. The article was going with something in the food affecting the gut microbiome. Meaning, with the many types of bacteria lining our stomach and colon, it can cause us to overeat and become more at risk of containing a chronic disease. This personally disgusts me. The fact that ultra-processed foods can hurt our bodies that badly is horrifying. There should be more rules and better actions taken to prevent what's being put in the food that we consume so much to continue to be put in our food. Things such as: not adding so many colors and additives, not pumping them so full of chemicals.

who am i? I'm a 17 year old girl that loves being outside during the summer and inside watching Netflix and being snuggled up under a blanket during the winter. I love being with my friends and going out. Camping and going to the lake are some examples. Sitting around the fire, talking and laughing, listening to music and just overall having a great time. Laying in the hammocks by the lake and having a small breeze glide across my face after a long day. Just being in the company of those I love makes my days the best they can be. I'm a happy, fun and caring person. I like being around positive vibes and good energy. I surround myself with people I know will always match my energy. People that bring negative vibes around me, I don't appreciate. I don't hesitate to kick negative energy out of my life the minute it starts causing problems for me or those around me. I understand the balance of negative and positive/good and bad, but I also know when I should allow myself to accept the negative coming into my life for a reason. I'm sort of a spiritual and peaceful person. I believe a lot about the zodiac signs, sun and moon symbols and Deja Vu. I love everything about what makes me, me. It overall changes me to make peace and find peace in everything that has and will happen. I don't fight unless pushed. I don't let things tear me down unless there's a good enough meaning to why I should be feeling the way that I'm being pointed to. I also love tattoos and piercings. All of my tattoos have meaning behind them. The small planet on my wrist resembles the love I have for the Solar System, the semi-colon on the back of my ankle represents suicide prevention and a reminder of those I've lost to suicide, the sun and moon along my thigh represents dark and light/good and bad/negative and positive. To me, I interpret those as meaning with every bad thing that happens there will be a good outcome/ with every dark night comes a bright day/ with every negative encounter there's a positive outlook. The mushroom on the inside of my ankle is a mother/daughter tattoo. The mushroom is supposed to symbolize good fortune. I have a small arrow on my lower stomach, close to my side. It resembles my zodiac sign, which would be a Sagittarius. I'm also adding the moon phases above my collar bone and a small wave on the inside of my left middle finger. The wave, to me, represents relaxation/calm. A reminder of surfing in Hawaii, Florida, and California. The moon phases resemble feminine energy. Some things it symbolizes are wisdom, reincarnation and spiritual connections. For the piercings, I plan on getting my belly button and septum pierced. I've always enjoyed the thought of getting them pierced, so I said, "Why not?" and plan on going on my birthday.