Aubrey:
You made some great points while talking about materialism which both supported it and showed how it is something that can be very harmful. I liked how you showed both pros and cons then made your own decision about materialism and how it is overall harmful to not only people but also the environment because of waste. I enjoyed reading about your German heritage and the impact that Germans have had on America. I didn't realize that they had such an influence on the Industrial Revolution, and using sources like the US Embassy really helps solidify your evidence and give you more credibility. Great job!
Mary:
Your post about materialism was very interesting to read. I think that it may have been more effective if you did not list the negative effects then describe why you think materialism is a good thing because it took away from the positive aspects of materialism and why you think it is a good thing for our country. You did list some good sources and have good points as to why materialism is both good and bad. I very much enjoyed learning about Native Americans and they impact they have had. Although they did not come here from a different country, they still greatly shaped the way that America was formed and still continues to run today. You pointed out a lot of ways that Native Americans have shaped America, and you did a great job making this blog!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Italian Influence on America
The Italians have had more of an impact on the American culture and economy than one would assume. First of all, the word "America" is based off of Italian explorer's name, Amerigo Vespucci, who helped prove Columbus' idea that the new islands he found were actually a new continent. Italians were also the first to cross through New York Harbor when immigrants began to travel to the New World. Italian culture immediately began to have an impact on America from the moment that Italians set foot in the new country. They brought their love for food and music along with them, and this still continues today with Italian Americans. Italian neighborhoods were formed where many immigrants lived in homes near each other, and this began to preserve the Italian culture because all of the people living near each other would only buy from each other and share traditions together. The Italian culture has also impacted the American economy in a few ways which have positively changed the pathway that the economy has taken and will continue to take.
During times of early immigration, unskilled Italian worked would immigrate to America to get a job and then send money home to their loved ones. This greatly helped the American economy because factories and other businesses needed the unskilled workers to continue their business and not have to pay someone a lot of money for work. In more recent years, Italian Americans have stepped up to larger positions which keep the American economy running in the past and hopefully will hopefully help strengthen it in the future. There are a few Italian businessmen who have founded or run major American companies, which have left a lasting positive impact on the American economy. Bank of America was founded by Amadeo Giannini and the Chrysler Corporation is managed by Lee Iocacca. Although many Italians who live in America today are 4th or 5th generations, they still have the customs that their ancestors had who were immigrants to America. This allows them to still influence American culture and economy in similar ways that their ancestors did, and therefore continue to leave an influence from their homeland on America.
During times of early immigration, unskilled Italian worked would immigrate to America to get a job and then send money home to their loved ones. This greatly helped the American economy because factories and other businesses needed the unskilled workers to continue their business and not have to pay someone a lot of money for work. In more recent years, Italian Americans have stepped up to larger positions which keep the American economy running in the past and hopefully will hopefully help strengthen it in the future. There are a few Italian businessmen who have founded or run major American companies, which have left a lasting positive impact on the American economy. Bank of America was founded by Amadeo Giannini and the Chrysler Corporation is managed by Lee Iocacca. Although many Italians who live in America today are 4th or 5th generations, they still have the customs that their ancestors had who were immigrants to America. This allows them to still influence American culture and economy in similar ways that their ancestors did, and therefore continue to leave an influence from their homeland on America.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
"Fired" Up for Improvements
I am a little biased being from Chicago because I think that Chicago is quite possibly the greatest city ever. I love the skyline and shopping on Michigan Avenue, and I can't even begin to explain how much I love riding the train into the city to spend some time in "sweet home Chicago." However, Chicago would not be what it is today if it wasn't for the Great Chicago Fire that occurred on October 8, 1871.
It was a regular Sunday evening in Chicago, IL, when, as the story goes, Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocked over a lantern, starting a small fire in the shed around 9 pm. The fire quickly started spreading, but the fire department was not alerted of the blaze until 9:40, when a pharmacy pulled the fire alarm. Since Chicago was going through a drought, all of the dry wood easily caught fire, and this fire started to become out of control. The fire eventually overtook the waterworks building, cutting off water supply to the city, so firefighters had to give up. Finally, on Tuesday morning, the fire extinguished itself because it became too small to continue, and it took down almost 4 miles of the city with it. The fire killed 300 people and left thousands homeless, being forced to rebuild from scratch.
Rebuilding began almost immediately, and many people rebuilt in almost the same place where their homes burned down because they loved Chicago so much. This allowed for the latest and greatest techniques to be used, and because of this, many people were attracted to the city from other places around the country and even around the world. Chicago was eventually built up to what it is today, being one of the most populous and economically important cities in the country. The economy became stronger than it ever was before, and new fire fighting techniques and safety tips also came out because of the fire that were shared throughout the country.
Although the Great Chicago Fire was a complete disaster when it was happening and immediately after, it is now seen as something that helped improve Chicago an immense amount and quite possibly helped other fires be stopped sooner because of the lessons learned from it. I think that part of the reason that I love Chicago so much is the history that it has, and the Great Chicago Fire is something that will never be forgotten.
It was a regular Sunday evening in Chicago, IL, when, as the story goes, Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocked over a lantern, starting a small fire in the shed around 9 pm. The fire quickly started spreading, but the fire department was not alerted of the blaze until 9:40, when a pharmacy pulled the fire alarm. Since Chicago was going through a drought, all of the dry wood easily caught fire, and this fire started to become out of control. The fire eventually overtook the waterworks building, cutting off water supply to the city, so firefighters had to give up. Finally, on Tuesday morning, the fire extinguished itself because it became too small to continue, and it took down almost 4 miles of the city with it. The fire killed 300 people and left thousands homeless, being forced to rebuild from scratch.
Rebuilding began almost immediately, and many people rebuilt in almost the same place where their homes burned down because they loved Chicago so much. This allowed for the latest and greatest techniques to be used, and because of this, many people were attracted to the city from other places around the country and even around the world. Chicago was eventually built up to what it is today, being one of the most populous and economically important cities in the country. The economy became stronger than it ever was before, and new fire fighting techniques and safety tips also came out because of the fire that were shared throughout the country.
Although the Great Chicago Fire was a complete disaster when it was happening and immediately after, it is now seen as something that helped improve Chicago an immense amount and quite possibly helped other fires be stopped sooner because of the lessons learned from it. I think that part of the reason that I love Chicago so much is the history that it has, and the Great Chicago Fire is something that will never be forgotten.
Week 10 Blog Reviews
Aubrie:
I'm glad we can be in a group together! It was nice meeting you in person. I really enjoyed your story about the golf course and you driving into the pole. It was so funny to read and I almost started laughing at the MU when I read it. You did a great job of presenting the story in an interesting and humorous way, and this is something that can be challenging while also including all of the important events. Great job!
When you pointed out that women should be looked at as individuals and not judged on boob size, I really started thinking about this issue. Lyrics are incredibly condemning toward women, and it is safe to assume that some men are beginning to think this way since they are emerged in this music every day. You did a great job of making points neither defending or supporting the claim, then putting in your own opinion, which gave it credibility because you had already had facts before expressing your opinion. I think this was a very well constructed blog post!
Mary:
Your short story about Abby and her shoes was hilarious! I have a friend who recently went through something similar (she didn't break her ankle or spend $1,200, but embarrassed herself in front of her ex), and reading this made me think of her immediately. It can be difficult sometimes to share a short story because it can be hard to condense it to just a few paragraphs, but you did a great job at this and I loved reading it!
When you mentioned that it is the professionals who promote scandalous behavior and fashion, it got me thinking about this issue more than I ever have. This was a great point to bring up because I think that we as a society do not see the professionals as the ones who come up with these ideas, but instead the popular culture and maybe those in Hollywood. When you ended your post saying that they could show some respect, I think this was a great way to tie it up and get the reader thinking about how this could possibly change. People deserve respect, and flauting our bodies is not a way to earn it, so how can this change?
I'm glad we can be in a group together! It was nice meeting you in person. I really enjoyed your story about the golf course and you driving into the pole. It was so funny to read and I almost started laughing at the MU when I read it. You did a great job of presenting the story in an interesting and humorous way, and this is something that can be challenging while also including all of the important events. Great job!
When you pointed out that women should be looked at as individuals and not judged on boob size, I really started thinking about this issue. Lyrics are incredibly condemning toward women, and it is safe to assume that some men are beginning to think this way since they are emerged in this music every day. You did a great job of making points neither defending or supporting the claim, then putting in your own opinion, which gave it credibility because you had already had facts before expressing your opinion. I think this was a very well constructed blog post!
Mary:
Your short story about Abby and her shoes was hilarious! I have a friend who recently went through something similar (she didn't break her ankle or spend $1,200, but embarrassed herself in front of her ex), and reading this made me think of her immediately. It can be difficult sometimes to share a short story because it can be hard to condense it to just a few paragraphs, but you did a great job at this and I loved reading it!
When you mentioned that it is the professionals who promote scandalous behavior and fashion, it got me thinking about this issue more than I ever have. This was a great point to bring up because I think that we as a society do not see the professionals as the ones who come up with these ideas, but instead the popular culture and maybe those in Hollywood. When you ended your post saying that they could show some respect, I think this was a great way to tie it up and get the reader thinking about how this could possibly change. People deserve respect, and flauting our bodies is not a way to earn it, so how can this change?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Allowing Smaller Companies to be the Big Dogs
In his essay, Miller states that the music industry is taken over by major corporations, and is therefore corrupted because new acts and ways of playing music that are not already established will not be recognized or implemented in today's music society. There is now always a motive behind making new music, like making a lot of money for instance, and this is something that changes how music is made. Instead of it being produced purely for enjoyment, it is being used as something for personal gain. Major companies also want to get their names out in public so they are more well-known and respected, so they compete for the best so they can in turn be the best.
There are a few ways to change how the music industry is run to improve music quality and the overall greed that is occurring today. First, the companies could actually work together to produce the best music possible by allowing each other to "switch"artists with each other and make the best music based on each company's strengths. These 6 powerhouse companies could also allow smaller companies to have a chance to produce music and find new artists because this would give a variety of people a new opportunity to not only produce music, but allow for new kinds of music to be created, and therefore expand today's musical options.
Based on the proposed solutions, I believe that allowing smaller companies to produce music from more popular artists would be the most effective way to solve this issue. Today's economy is forcing people out of jobs, so giving smaller companies and newer artists a chance to produce music and make money is very much needed in the economy. This also allows newer musical genres to be produced because it is not the same regular routine as the major companies, so variety in the actual music would therefore occur. It is important for smaller companies to get a chance, and allowing them to do so could greatly affect the music industry in a positive way.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Katie's Lessons
It was a cold January night, and I had just said goodbye to Katie as she walked out the doors of the gymnasium at Praire Ridge High School. We were cheerleaders together, and the basketball game just ended so we were all going our separate ways. She said "Bye Petro!" in the cheery tone she always had, and I just waved goodbye, expecting to see her on Monday at school again. However, the next time I would see her would be in quite a different scene.
I went to my friend's house that night and put my cell phone in my purse, not expecting to use it until morning. When I woke up the next morning, I checked my phone and had 7 missed calls, 4 voicemails, and a number of text messages. I immediately listened to all of the voicemails and could barely believe what I was hearing. Katie had been in a car accident the night before and was airlifted to a nearby hospital, but was in a coma and it was unsure if she would survive through the day. She was bleeding in her brain, had a broken pelvis, and her face was almost unrecognizable it was so swollen and beat up. She was in the intensive care unit at the hospital, and when my friends and I got there, Katie's mom was sitting in a chair in the waiting room grasping on to a pillow. I had never seen anyone so pale before. She didn't even realize we walked in the room, she just continued to stare at the floor. After talking with her dad, we learned that Katie had already been in surgery, but it was unknown if and when she would ever wake up. My friends and I were not allowed to go see Katie, but we made the 45 minute drive to the hospital that she got transfered to every week until she woke up 8 weeks later.
When Katie finally woke up, she did not understand what had happened to her or where she was. Her short term memory was gone, so she would ask the same question every 2 minutes, and she easily confused people's names. She had to live at a rehabilitation institute for almost 3 months after waking up from her coma, and her memory slowly began to come back to her. Katie had severe brain damage from the accident and had the mentality of a young child for many months, but eventually began to improve. Although she will never be the same Katie that she was before the accident, she is still a wonderful and caring person who only thinks about others. This part of Katie never changed, and she taught me what being a good friend is, through the thick and thin.
I went to my friend's house that night and put my cell phone in my purse, not expecting to use it until morning. When I woke up the next morning, I checked my phone and had 7 missed calls, 4 voicemails, and a number of text messages. I immediately listened to all of the voicemails and could barely believe what I was hearing. Katie had been in a car accident the night before and was airlifted to a nearby hospital, but was in a coma and it was unsure if she would survive through the day. She was bleeding in her brain, had a broken pelvis, and her face was almost unrecognizable it was so swollen and beat up. She was in the intensive care unit at the hospital, and when my friends and I got there, Katie's mom was sitting in a chair in the waiting room grasping on to a pillow. I had never seen anyone so pale before. She didn't even realize we walked in the room, she just continued to stare at the floor. After talking with her dad, we learned that Katie had already been in surgery, but it was unknown if and when she would ever wake up. My friends and I were not allowed to go see Katie, but we made the 45 minute drive to the hospital that she got transfered to every week until she woke up 8 weeks later.
When Katie finally woke up, she did not understand what had happened to her or where she was. Her short term memory was gone, so she would ask the same question every 2 minutes, and she easily confused people's names. She had to live at a rehabilitation institute for almost 3 months after waking up from her coma, and her memory slowly began to come back to her. Katie had severe brain damage from the accident and had the mentality of a young child for many months, but eventually began to improve. Although she will never be the same Katie that she was before the accident, she is still a wonderful and caring person who only thinks about others. This part of Katie never changed, and she taught me what being a good friend is, through the thick and thin.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Week 8 Blog Reviews
Brittany:
Your blog about biology and fate was very interesting to read. You did a great job in showing the claim that biology is a key component in relationships, then tied up your post with your own opinion, which was very effective. Your opening paragraph about Disney movies making girls think that their prince will someday come was a great way to begin discussing the topic and gave a good example of why some girls think the way they do. You could have had more quotes from the text, but overall this was a well tought out post!
It was very interesting to learn about hyenas. I have never heard anything about them before, and I enjoyed reading about them and how they are so different than humans in that there is not a very big difference between males and females, if there even is a difference. You presented the information and stated your opinion in a great way because it was informative but still opinionated, and left the reader thinking about their own opinion on hyenas. Again, you could have quoted the source more, but I very much enjoyed reading this post.
Megan:
Your blog on women being more attracted to taller men than shorter men was very interesting to read. I have never considered it, but now that I think about it, it is probably true. I enjoyed reading the sceintific proof that this claim is true, and you did a great job of explaining the article that you read while shortening it up to fit in a blog post. You wrote this very professionally, making your work very credible, and I very much enjoyed reading about this.
When you pointed out that we do not know the motive behind animals who demonstrate homosexuality, it got me thinking about the motives behind human homosexuality. You did a great job on this post because it left the reader thinking but was also full of information and direct quotes from your sources. I always enjoy reading your work, and I think this is one of your better posts.
Victoria:
Your post on love and finding our prince charming was written very well. I enjoyed the opening paragraph about all the things girls do at a young age to find our true love, including playing M.A.S.H. and already having the wedding planned. It is every girl's dream from a young age that we will live that fairy tale, and being told that it is not a fairy tale, but instead biology that has us pick our mate is almost a dream crusher. You described why a fairy tale ending is so important for girls, and effectively ended the post with explaining how just biology would not work. Yes biology may play a part in it, but how would we first be attracted to a potential mate if it was all biology? You did a great job explaining this and I very much enjoyed reading your post.
You brought up good questions to think about in your blog about homosexuality and animals. It effectively argued both sides of the issue about if animal's homosexuality tendencies should be compared to humans, and really got me thinking about the issue. I think that you could have put in more references to the source to solidify your argument and show that animals should not be compared to human homosexuality behaviors, but overall your post was effective in making me think about the issue and my stance on it.
Your blog about biology and fate was very interesting to read. You did a great job in showing the claim that biology is a key component in relationships, then tied up your post with your own opinion, which was very effective. Your opening paragraph about Disney movies making girls think that their prince will someday come was a great way to begin discussing the topic and gave a good example of why some girls think the way they do. You could have had more quotes from the text, but overall this was a well tought out post!
It was very interesting to learn about hyenas. I have never heard anything about them before, and I enjoyed reading about them and how they are so different than humans in that there is not a very big difference between males and females, if there even is a difference. You presented the information and stated your opinion in a great way because it was informative but still opinionated, and left the reader thinking about their own opinion on hyenas. Again, you could have quoted the source more, but I very much enjoyed reading this post.
Megan:
Your blog on women being more attracted to taller men than shorter men was very interesting to read. I have never considered it, but now that I think about it, it is probably true. I enjoyed reading the sceintific proof that this claim is true, and you did a great job of explaining the article that you read while shortening it up to fit in a blog post. You wrote this very professionally, making your work very credible, and I very much enjoyed reading about this.
When you pointed out that we do not know the motive behind animals who demonstrate homosexuality, it got me thinking about the motives behind human homosexuality. You did a great job on this post because it left the reader thinking but was also full of information and direct quotes from your sources. I always enjoy reading your work, and I think this is one of your better posts.
Victoria:
Your post on love and finding our prince charming was written very well. I enjoyed the opening paragraph about all the things girls do at a young age to find our true love, including playing M.A.S.H. and already having the wedding planned. It is every girl's dream from a young age that we will live that fairy tale, and being told that it is not a fairy tale, but instead biology that has us pick our mate is almost a dream crusher. You described why a fairy tale ending is so important for girls, and effectively ended the post with explaining how just biology would not work. Yes biology may play a part in it, but how would we first be attracted to a potential mate if it was all biology? You did a great job explaining this and I very much enjoyed reading your post.
You brought up good questions to think about in your blog about homosexuality and animals. It effectively argued both sides of the issue about if animal's homosexuality tendencies should be compared to humans, and really got me thinking about the issue. I think that you could have put in more references to the source to solidify your argument and show that animals should not be compared to human homosexuality behaviors, but overall your post was effective in making me think about the issue and my stance on it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
