Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Opinion Editorial (Link for Facebook)

Dear Reader,

The woes of one particularly new freshman are, I am sure, not considerably viable to the grand importance of your section. Alone, freshmen are just a portion of the accumulative body of students, and even then my concerns are a speck in the world of proportion. However, I also believe that the issue I am about to address does not only apply to freshman, but to all those who are constantly squatting on university floors. And so, going against the suitable shy nature of myself, I speak out to aisle-sitters. True, the matter is to be of little consequence to one busy student and is therefore a prompt to publicize the matter.

Personal circumstances allow me ten minutes from class to class. Rushing from one side of campus to the other and veering in and out of the sauntering crowd I still find myself subject to the unfortunate laws of physics. I find myself stressing to know if the seat in which I must preside will be in the middle. The middle of the row. The token empty chair which no bottom is employing, but instead the one sees the view of an empty seat, armrest extended and the books of one soul person now inhabiting two spaces. I hastily realize with red cheeks that I am the only person standing in the room full of on lookers. Excess blood flowing in the apples of the face, do not deprive me of knowing my best chance at escaping this embarrassment is to quickly find a seat on the trodden floor. The lovely floor where if shoes could talk they would inform of the spider remains from earlier this morning, the bathroom germs from their recent trip, or even their sticky encounter with bubblicious. The shoes can’t tell the story, but my hands could after the first few minutes of lecture. New at college, and the worry of finding a seat is the biggest priority, when it should be actual education.

The small infraction of the Brigham Young University students is indeed the fickle matter of sitting on the edges of rows. Viewing the temptation of aisle sitting, one can imagine; coming to class, having walked so far, backpack pulling on shoulders, cute mate of the appropriate sex just entered, one realizes they forgot to put the milk away, and the nearest seat is spotted. Plop! The small seemingly inconsequential decision is made. Understandable, I have had the moments of exhaustion and defeat. And honestly, I can say, in the grand spectrum of things, picking an aisle seat was of little consequence to you. But perhaps to the young man who is standing awkwardly scanning the room, looking for a seat, and wondering how many people will be staring at his five minute journey to the middle of the row, it will not seem so unimportant.

Or perhaps an aisle-sitter is shy. One would not want to sit too close to the boy which your emotions flitter beside. Or one would not want to sit next to the brainy student, who might see your notes and judge you ignorant. Whatever the case, I understand shyness, as I was the girl who rather endured spider-gut hands in opposition to climbing over people for a seat. I am in total sympathy that some situations are hard for us to face. My sympathy extends, until of course the class fills up, and you are surrounded by people that you were avoiding anyway. Only these people had to tip-toe climb over your books, scale the hurdles of backpacks, and shimmy across your blushing face as their heretical hind side is in your face. Embarrassing for both you and the acrobat.

Another explanation brought to mind is the fact that end seats on the left side are designed for left-handed writers. Again a plausible point, I cannot argue, seeing as I am not left-handed. This brings about the question of how many left-handers are there at Brigham Young University. If there are a large number, it is fact that not all of you are going to get an aisle seat. And some of you may be the competitive, “my comfort is better than your comfort” type. If so, a few suggestions; perhaps you would stake out your aisle seat in advance, claim it and then stand at the end of the row and allow everyone to filter in as the seat inventors imagined.

Whatever the explanation, this is not meant to condemn, only to address. The University we are all so privileged to attend is founded on principles of love and compassion Given this outstanding reputation all of who attend are bound to, could a small act of compassion be granted? Since we were children, or perhaps even adolescence, we have been taught the “Golden Rule”. Do unto others as you would have others do to you. The rule does not state that those with gold make the rules. It doesn’t suggest that finders are keepers and losers weepers. Nor does it suggest first come first serve. The rule is given to us to help our brothers and sisters in all times. The actual chore of finding a seat is not large; many could say that it is an everyday occurrence that we should get used to. Perhaps the same attitude will occur when someone drops their stack of papers, or can’t find their classroom, or has their hands full at a door. There will be instances in the future when I am sure you can perform a grand task lighten someone's load. But today you can perform a small task of service, by perhaps just by giving up a prized seat. And that is a lesson carried far beyond the classroom.

Cake Wreckers

After looking at a couple different sites to analyze, I decided to go with the "cake wreckers" one. Although the other ones were somewhat interesting, I was instantly laughing when I looked at the cake wreckers blog. The author obviously has a great sense of humor. In order for her humor to be effective, though, her readers need to either share her same sense of humor or have one that is similar in order to appreciate this text. The blog, I believe, is meant for women, from late teens on. This is evident from the pictures on the site, from the author's book signings. There are lots of women who participate in her cake wrecking competitions.
The author obviously shares a more intimate relationship with her readers, than say, J.K. Rowling does with her readers. I think the reason for this is simply that J.K. Rowling has millions of readers all over the world, while the author of the cakes site is based in basically just the US, more just in Maine. She has only done one book signing so far, while I'm sure Rowling has done hundreds, if not thousands by this time. From this text, you can tell that the author knows her audience well and is directing her writing to a more specific group. Rather than trying to conform to what she believes an audience wants, she freely shares her thoughts and has the readers come to her.

Audience Analysis

I decided to do my rhetorical analysis on the J.K. Rowling website. I first believe that this website is for almost anyone who likes to read books, and maybe even for those who don't. You are able to see this on the very first page when you go to www.jkrowling.com. The very first page is a welcome page that has options for you to view the page in many different languages, some of them being english, spanish, chinese and french. This shows that this is a site that is for anyone no matter the background.
The second page when you first enter also shows that the site is for people of all ages, but here it starts to take on a younger look appealing towards the younger generations. It does this by animating images when you roll over them, this catches the younger peoples attention, but everything is very nicely organized and it won't turn away the older generations. At first appearance this site is for anyone who enjoys reading books, but especially those who like Harry Potter books.

Friday, September 25, 2009

The Lighthouse's Tale

"The Lighthouse's Tale" by Nickel Creek is, as the title suggests, from the perspective of a lighthouse. The intent I gathered from the song is that even though many things change or go away, some things are constant and serve as guidance for others. The lighthouse begins and ends its tale by talking of warning sailors but by the end that becomes more significant because you discover there is no longer a keeper to help. The lighthouse stands alone.

Emotional appeal is very prevalent throughout the song. It begins happy, yet it is set up in such a way that you know it won't end happy. The lighthouse tells of its keeper with whom it grows closer "'til his joy meant everything to me," as it says. Then the keeper is to marry a beautiful girl but she has to go somewhere by ship first. The ship wrecks in a storm and the keeper finds the girl's body on the shore. There is a connotation of life after death when the keeper promises they'll be together soon as he buries her, then climbs the lighthouse's tower and throws himself off. Through all this and the waves crashing, the sand being carried out to sea, the lighthouse remains constant to "warn the sailors on their way."

You belong with me

You belong with my by Taylor swift is about a girl that is in love with her neighbor. They are total opposites. He is a star football player ;she plays in the school band. The problem is that he has a girlfriend who is a cheerleader and doesn't treat him very well.Throughout the lyrics, Taylor Swift's compares herself to his neighbor's girlfriend.


You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset
She's going off about something that you said
'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do

I'm in the room, it's a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like
And she'll never know your story like I do

But she wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts
She's Cheer Captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time

Although she doesn't have her status, she understands her neighbor.

By stating her reasons, she is making her point- they understand each other and are meant to be together.The music throughout the song has a very moderate beat, but her tone and the beat slow down when she shows her neighbor the paper- I love you. It is because she is unsure of what his response is going to be. This scene passes, and there is a return to surety and confidence in her tone and the beat as they feel the same way about each other.

Make A Man Out of Me! PLEASE!

In the Disney movie Mulan, Captain Li-Shang (singing voiced by the great Donny Osmond), addresses his troops and inspires them to prepare for battle against the Huns through his authoritative and beautiful voice. He wants the audience, in this case his troops, to man up and focus on their battle. He repeatedly berates his weak troops and puts them down with lines such as, "you're spineless pale, pathetic lot, and you haven't got a clue." Then he tries to instill hope in them by declaring that, "somehow I'll make a man out of you."

Li-Shang also uses the chorus to inspire his troops with what they ought to become through the use of nature in metaphors. He implores his troops to be, "swift as a coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the MOOOON!"

Oh and the song is Make a Man Out of You.
Oh and this isn't my real post, this assignment was too fun so I wanted to do another one.
And this is like my favorite disney song of all time, and not just because I'm Asian, and Mulan is you know... um.

John Mayer's Body is a Wonderland!... wait what?

John Mayer’s song, Stop This Train, is a great song about the fear of growing up. From the onset of the song, one can immediately feel the sadness and mellowness of the song.

After the second chorus it becomes just instrumental for a time. This pause from the vocals gives the listener time to reflect about how their own time has passed them by and how life just keep moving along at an undesirably fast paced. His falsetto is especially effective in this song because it resembles a crying voice.

Mayer also sings about a fear that everyone can relate to: that one day our parents will be gone. By singing about a commonly shared fear, John Mayer truly brings out a rush of emotions from us, and it’s hard not to choke up if one listens to this song intently.


(This is actually a great song to listen to right now for us college students. I could really see where John Mayer was coming from as I listened to this alone on my plane ride to and from Japan. I just felt like I was just being rushed into the next part of my life; I didn’t feel ready.)


Snails

In their song Snails, the Format playfully reprimands those who take love too lightly. Setting snails, who “see the benefits, the beauty in every inch”, as the standard for the pace of our relationships is a creative way to help people remember what love is really about. The song ends with the suggestion to smile “when you feel the sunlight”, which is a simple thing but that can be a pleasant reminder of the good things in life if you take a minute to appreciate it.

The song gets personal as you feel connected to all four characters,

-the narrator, who is telling his story and involvement with the other people and his views on love and relationship pace

-Nico, who needs to move back home and be around the people that love him

-She, this girl that the narrator is in love with

-the narrator’s mother and family

This song has a rhetorical question, “why are you quick to kiss?” and makes the listener stop to think about it. Love is about way more than just hooking up and this song causes the listener agree with it because of the reasons namely that we should see the “beauty in every inch”, just like snails. I think that the question is definitely an effective way of getting the listener to think. The song asks “why” fifteen times!

I think that the singer does not want to push this girl away, but wants to make the most of their relationship, and is utilizing his mature viewpoint to convince her to want to take things slowly.



Thursday, September 24, 2009

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You
If I should stay,
I would only be in your way.
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you ev'ry step of the way.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
You, my darling you. Hmm.

Bittersweet memories
that is all I'm taking with me.
So, goodbye. Please, don't cry.
We both know I'm not what you, you need.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.

(Instrumental solo)

I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of.
And I wish to you, joy and happiness.
But above all this, I wish you love.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I, I will always love you.

You, darling, I love you.
Ooh, I'll always, I'll always love you.

This song describes a woman in love, but sadly the relationship has gone under.
All of the lines in the chorus tell that although they aren't together she wishes him happiness and love.
It tells that although their paths will be different, she will think of him along their separate journeys.
It describes the ultimate selfless love, that she will step out of his way to make him happy
Despite all the of depressing thoughts of being alone, she is content with knowing he will be better off.
And still, she will always love him.

Song Analysis: You Can't Hurry Love

You Can’t Hurry Love
Phil Collins version


I need love, love

ooh, ease my mind
And I need to find time
someone to call mine;

My mama said
You can't hurry love
No, you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
But it's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love
No, you'll just have to wait
Just trust in a good time
No matter how long it takes

How many heartaches must I stand
Before I find the love to let me live again
Right now the only thing that keeps me hanging on
when I feel my strength, ooh, it's almost gone

I remember mama said
You can't hurry love
No you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take
How long must I wait
How much more must I take
Before loneliness
Will cause my heart, heart to break?

No, I can’t bear to live my life alone
I grow impatient for a love to call my own
But when I feel that I, I can't go on
Well these precious words keep me hanging on

I remember mama said
You can't hurry love
No, you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
Well, it's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love
No, you'll just have to wait
Just trust in a good time
No matter how long it takes, now break!

Now love, love don't come easy
But I keep on waiting
Anticipating for that soft voice
To talk to me at night
For some tender arms hold me tight
I keep waiting Ooh, till that day
But it ain't easy (Love don't come easy)
No, you know it ain't easy

My mama said
You can't hurry love
No, you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take...

The song that I choose was originally done by the Supremes. Although they did this song well, I think that Phil Collins does it even better. I first thing that catches you right from the start is the beat. It makes you want to jump up and start dancing. You can tell right from the start that it is going to be song that leaves a smile on your face. The music is just music that makes you happy. To me it sounds like music that I would listen to on a bright sunny day.

The words in this song really are a comfort. The words are used to reassure you that life is going to work and not to worry. I also think that they are showing you that it’s not only the opinion of one person. When the chorus starts lost of voices all come in harmonizing and it makes you remember that everyone goes through these things. I think that this song doesn’t only apply to love, it applies to life. You can’t hurry life, you just have to let it flow on it’s own. When you are trying to get things out of life, you can’t forget to put things into it.

If you have never heard this song I would recommend that you listen to it. :)

Welcome to the Future

Welcome to the Future by Brad Paisley is a song about how much things have changed. He uses pathos in different ways to help everyone realize just how amazing of a time it is that we are living in. He shares memories of being a kid and having to get a ride to the arcade, and then contrasts it with how today we can play games on our cell phone. He then hits another aspect of how our world has changed by painting a picture of a friend who was a victim of a cross burning. He then contrasts it with a reference to civil rights and how far we have come in that regard.

He uses these contrasting images to help us appreciate just how far we have come in so many ways. He actually wrote a reprise to the song with a more personal aspect on how his own life has changed in many ways: getting married, having a career, having kids. He actually wrote this song because of his kids. He realized how different the world is and will be for his kids than it was for him growing up. At the same time, he helps us realize and appreciate this as well.

All You Need is Love- The Beatles

Love, love, love.
Love, love, love.
Love, love, love.

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.
It's easy.

Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time.
It's easy

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be. It's easy

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

Love is all you need.
Love is all you need.
Love is all you need.
Love is all you need.
Love is all you need...


Okay...The fact that The Beatles are one of the greatest bands of all time, and there are very few generations/people that do not recognize their music, I figured choosing one of their songs would be not only appropriate, but enjoyable. Because they have so many songs that are great, with lots of messages and great lyrics I really just randomly picked a song and hoped for the best.

What I really enjoy about this song, and what some may find annoying, is the constant repetition of the lines in the chorus, "all you need is love..." I really "loved" this because there is no mistake about what the message of this song is! NO matter what age, race, color, or creed you know that this song is singing about how the only important thing in the world is to love. Whether it is to love those around you, your spouse, or complete strangers we need to show love. The Beatles were sending a message to the world that couldn't be missed.

This song also has great lines of encouragement telling us what we can do, that we have talents and things to offer, but they are also kind of reminding us to stop and smell the roses. That we may need to give up a little of what we are doing and remember to love everything and everyone around us. One of my favorite lines in this song is, "Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time. It's easy." It's amazing how their choice of words can impact so many nations! Think about how many people are trying to figure out who they are, and think they never will, but we are reminded that it will come in time, and be easy. All we can do is love and let that define who we become as individuals.

Their style, is simple, using very few stanza's that aren't the chorus; however, I think that they did that on purpose so it would be instilled in our thoughts to love. Ultimately, the repetitive and simplicity of this song is what makes it so impactful and enjoyable to listen to.

Haters
Hilary Duff
Dont spit on me and shame yourself
Because you wish you were someone else
You look so clean but you spread your dirt
As if think that words dont hurt
You build up walls no one can climb
The things you do should be a crime
You're queen of superficiality
Keep your lies out of my reality
And when you're nice it's just a pose
You're one of those

[Chorus]
Haters
Traitors to the human race
Haters
What a drag
What a waste
I'd like to see them disappear
They dont belong anywhere
Haters

Spinning a web thats hard to see
Of envy, greed and jealousy
Feeling angry but you don't know why
Why dont you look me in the eye?
You want my friends
You want my clothes
You're one of those

[Repeat Chorus]
Different life form
Different species
Broken promises and treaties
Talkin' bout exterminating
Not the haters
Just the hating
You say your boyfriend's sweet and kind
But you've still got your eyes on mine
Your best friend's got her eyes on yours
It all goes on behind closed doors
And when you're nice it's just a pose
You're one of those

[Repeat Chorus]

HatersLater for the alibis
Haters
Any shape
Any size
I'd like to see them disappear
They dont belong anywhere
Haters

This album came out as Hilary Duff was trying to slightly leave the "Disney Star" role. She was trying to find a balance that allowed her to maintain high moral standards. The album debuted in 2004. It was one of three songs on the album cowritten by Hilary Duff. It is meant to discourage people from harboring ill feelings toward others, with Duff saying hate is "negative energy and stuff that's just not necessary." It is rumored to be about her fued with Lindsay Lohan over Aaron Carter, but Duff denies it. She says that she felt the need to write about her personal life due to all of the negative energy she had been recieving from the press.

This song came out when I was in Jr High. It rang so true with what I was going through in school. One of the things that I liked about the lyrics of the song was that she seemed to feel sorry for the "haters". "You build up walls no one can climb", "you're feeling angry but you don't know why","because you wish you were someone else". Perhaps my favorite line of the song is "why don't you look me in the eye?" It demonstrates a request. She's not just whining. It aso demonstrates a truth very prevalent in our society.

The style of music is relavent in this song also. Most of Duff's songs are slower and sweeter. This is one of her first "pop rock songs". The tempo and beat reflect her irratation and anger with the people she is singing about.

The Finish Line - Snow Patrol

This song is about death, or rather, the peace that comes with it. The song begins,

The earth is warm next to my ear
Insect noise is all that I hear
A magic trick makes the world disappear
The skies are dark, they're dark but they're clear
The earth is warm, you are lying on the coffin, feeling the warmth of the Earth radiating to your cold body, then all you can hear is the insects that surround you. This magic trick was a bullet as explained later in the song. Even though you cannot see the light anymore, your mind is clear to see what you haven't seen when you were alive. Basically, the song explains how the person is feeling being dead.The peace that comes from going to the 'bluest seas' and rising again at the last second. And then ending with 'I think the finish line's a good place we can start.' This song, even though it is trying to explain the unknowns of death, give the listener a calm and peaceful feeling at people usually associate with happiness.
There is a constant beat in the background which sounds like a heart beat, transposed with a sad yet peaceful sound. This is a reminder to the listener that life continues always.

Mouthwash

The song I chose to post is "Mouthwash" by Kate Nash. The tempo to this song makes you want to get up and dance. The lyrics go right along side; emphasizing the importance to be who you are with no apologies for imperfections or quirks. The opening line, "this is my face, covered in freckles, with the occasional spot and some veins," describes me, which is probably why I kept listening the first time I heard it.

My favorite line of the song: "This is my brain, its torturous analytical thoughts make me go insane." Kate expresses what many of us feel with the thoughts we have about anything and everything. Ultimately the lyrics and music show how important it is to be you - regardless of anyone or anything else. Whether you're "singin' at home on a friday night," and whether you use floss or mouthwash.

song lyrics

Sorry, Blame It On Me
Akon

As life goes on I'm learning more and more about responsibility
And I realize everything I do is affecting the people around me
So I want to take this time out to apologize for the things that I've done
And the things that haven't occurred yet
And the things that they don't want to take resposibility for

I'm sorry for the times that I left you home
I was on the road and you were alone
I'm sorry for the times that I had to go
I'm sorry for the fact that I did not know
That you were sitting at home just wishing we
Could go back to when it was just you and me
I'm sorry for the times I would neglect
I'm sorry for the times I disrespect
I'm sprry for the wrong things that I've done
I'm sorry I'm not always there for my sons
I'm sorry for the fact that I am not aware
That you can't sleep night when I am not there
Because I'm in the streets like every day
I'm sorry for the things that I did not say
Like how you are the best thing in my world
And how I am so proud to call you my girl
I understand that there are some problems
And I'm not too blind to know
All the pain you kept inside you
Even though you might not show
If I can't apologize for being wrong
Then it's just a shame on me
I'll be the reason for your pain
And you can put the blame on me

You can put the blame on me
You can put the blame on me
You can put the blame on me
You can put the blame on me

Said you can put the blame on me
Said you can put the blame on me
Said you can put the blame on me
You can put the blame on me

I'm sorry for the things that he put you through
And all the times you didn't know what to do
I'm sprry that you had to go and sell those bags
Just trying to stay busy til you heard from dad
When you would rather be home with your kids
As one big family with love and bliss
And even though pops treated us like kings
He got a second wife and you didn't agree
He got up and left you all alone
I'm sorry that you had to do it on your own
I'm sorry that I went and added to your grief
I'm sorry that your son was once a thief
I'm sorry that I grew up way too fast
I wish I would've listened and not be so bad
I'm sorry that your life turned out this way
I'm sorry that the Feds came and took me away
I understand that there are some problems
And I'm not too blind to know
All the pain you kept inside you
Even though you might not show
If I can't apologize for being wrong
Then it's just a shame on me
I'll be the reason for your pain
And you can put the blame on me

You can put the blame on me
You can put the blame on me
You can put the blame on me
You can put the blame on me

Said you can put the blame on me
Said you can put the blame on me
Said you can put the blame on me
You can put the blame on me

I'm sorry that it took so long to see
They were dead wrong trying to put it on me
I'm sorry that it took so long to speak
But I was on tour qith Gwen Stefani
I'm sorry for the hand that she was dealt
For the embarassment that she felt
Just a young girl trying to have fun
Her daddy should have never let her out that young
I'm sorry for Club Zen getting shut down
I hope they manage better next time around
How was I to know she was underage?
In a 21 and older club they say
Why doesn't anybody wanna take blame?
Verizon backed out disgracing my name
I'm just a singer trying to entertain
Because I love my fans I'll take that blame

Even though the blame's on you
Even though the blame's on you
Even though the blame's on you
I'll take that blame from you

And you can put that blame on me
And you can put that blame on me
You can put that blame on me
And you can put that blame on me
And you can put that blame on me


In this song Akon is apologizing to his wife, his mother, and a fifteen year old girl that snuck into a 21 plus club. He apologizes for leaving his wife alone so much with their sons, and for not knowing the pain she went through. He apologizes for what he put his mother through, and what his father put her through. He apolgizes for the girl and her embarrassment.
Akon is not just apologizing for what he has done in the past. The song calls for its listeners to do the same. It calls the listener to own up to their own mistakes and take the blame that they should.

Exo-Politics

Open the skies over me
I am waiting patiently
I'll wait for a sign

As conspiracies unwind
will you slam shut or free your mind?
or stay hypnotized

When the Zetas fill the skies
will our leaders tell us why
fully loaded satellites
will conquer nothing but our minds

I am waiting patiently
I'll wait for the sign

Carried through the centuries
secrets locked up
and loaded on my back
and it weighs me down

When the Zetas fill the skies
it's just our leaders in disguise
fully loaded satellites
will conquer nothing but our minds

I am waiting patiently
I'll wait for the sign


The song I chose to analyze is called "Exo-Politics" by British alternative rock band Muse. This song comes from one of their albums called Black Holes and Revelations. Within the album are a few songs based on conspiracy theories and corrupt governments/govt leaders, due to lead singer Matt Bellamy's interest in such things. This song is one of those political songs, as implied by the very name. It talks about how "conspiracies unwind" and whether people will "slam shut or free [their] mind[s]" in response. This song targets political leaders as responsible for keeping "secrets locked up", also claiming that these leaders are "in disguise." The rhetorical intent of the lyrics is to influence how the listener percieves the truth behind their government and leaders. It causes the listener to question what is being kept under wraps and why.

This song poses the question "will you slam shut or free your mind? Or stay hypnotized?" as a rhetorical technique to appeal to the listener's stand on these supposed conspiracy theories. It has a relatively short amount of lyrics, so the actual music plays a role in grabbing and keeping the listener's attention-- another rhetorical device (it has a catchy guitar riff in my opinion). Finally, the line "secrets locked up and loaded on my back and it weighs me down" is an example of figurative language, which adds to the rhetorical aim of Exo-Politics.

Song Analysis

The song I chose to analyze was "We Live" by Superchick. This has always been one of my favorite songs and one that I try to pattern my life after. it starts off by telling a story of a mother who lost her son in a car accident. The mother didn't know that morning that it was the last time she would ever see her son in this life. Then it goes on to tell other stories of people who ran out of time. The basic theme of this song is to not take for granted the time we have left on this earth.

The rhetorical intent of this song is to convince people not to take for granted the every day things such as saying I love you and living life to its fullest extent. It does this by adding ethos, pathos, and logos. The story of the mother appeals to our emotions and makes us think of the poeple in our own lives who we love. Logos is used in the line that says "But what would it take for the clouds break, For us to realize each day is a gift somehow, someway, So get our heads up out of the darkness, And spark this new mindset and start to live life cuz it ain't gone yet". This tells us that our lives aren't over yet and we need to live up to our fullest patential. It also says that each day that we live is a gift from god and we should treat it as such.

Song Analysis

"Best Day" By Taylor Swift

In her song "Best Day", it's obvious what Taylor Swift is signing about and why she wrote it. The whole song is about the relationship she has with her dad. Taylor goes through different times of her life. The song starts when she if five, then 13, signing about how mean her friends were to her. In the middle of the song she sings about her little brother and how she grew up in such a happy atmosphere. The song ends with where she is today, and she basically thanks her father for all he's done for her, and her telling him she had "the best day" with him "today".

This song is so great because at many times during the song, I can remember specific instances with my own dad where he did the same exact same thing for me. The song invokes the same feelings I had when I was five years old, riding home in the car from soccer practice with my dad, having the "best day" simply because I was with him. And when she sings about being 13, I totally remember feeling unsure of myself but having my dad there to tell me junior high doesn't last forever.

I'm sure for many people this causes the same types of feelings that it did for me. It makes the song more meaningful to me because it is another girl signing it, and I know exactly what she is talking about. If I heard a song that a guy sings that is about his dad, I'm sure I would appreciate it, but this song brings that appreciation to a whole new level, since I can relate with it so well.

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly
By: Mika

The catchy song "Grace Kelly" is one of the most popular songs from the group Mika. The lead singer Paul Smith apparently wrote this song when he was mad over a record label dispute. He was denied the record label he wanted and was forced to conform to the wants of the industry, as evident by the line, "Should I bend over. Should I look older just to be put on the shelf".
This song is Paul expressing his anger through music and lyrics. He then goes on to say, "I can be brown, I can be blue, I can be violet sky, I can be hurtful, I can be purple, I can be anything you like". He is willing to change and is still confused as to why the music industry wont accept him, "Why dont cha like me, why dont cha like me?" Paul uses a very effective form of rhetoric to share his message. He shares his emotions and thoughts in music.
Grace Kelly is hard to understand if you dont know the meaning of his lyrics, or the point he is trying to make. In that sense his rhetoric is not effective because it would be confusing to the common listener. But overall Grace Kelly is a very fun to listen and sing along to.

Song Analysis

I know everyone isn't the biggest fan of Kanye West right now, because of what he did to poor Taylor Swift (love her). Well he does have a soft and sensitive side. The song that I'd like to share with you is "Hey Mama" by Kanye West.

Kanye West is a momma's boy, obviously, he made a song for her. This song makes me tear up, because I miss my mom. Anyways, the song describes his mom, and how she was always there for him no matter what. The struggles she went through being a single mom, but she always wanted the best for her son. She always made him her first priority.

You work late nights just to keep on the lights
Mommy got me training wheels so I could keep on my bike
And you would give anything in this world
Michael Jackson leather and a glove, but didn't give me a curl
And you never put no man over me
And I love you for that mommy cant you see?

His mom was his main support throughout his career. He always wanted to give his mom the best, because that is what she did for him.

I said mommy Imma love you till you don't hurt no more
And when I'm older, you aint gotta work no more
And Imma get you that mansion that we couldn't afford

Now that Kanye West is famous, he is able to get her that mansion, a car, anything his mom wants. The sad part is that his mom passed away after cosmetic surgery on November 11,2007. She was able to hear the song, and now this song will always be a remembrance to his mom. I think what we could get out of this song is that we should appreciate our mothers, for what they do for us, and the unconditional love that they will always give us.

The Piano Man by Billy Joel

The song I picked is "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. I think the main point of this song is to realize how powerful music can be. Songs can bring back memories. That certain feeling you had at Prom dancing with your date comes back when you hear it again. This song is about all the different kinds of people all with their different problems and different lives coming together to relive those good memories. The "Piano Man" coincides with people's lives. Even though everyone's lives are completely different, we all have problems and seek some way to relieve ourselves through music.
"Piano Man" relates to normal, everyday people, like the waitress, real estate, navy man, and old hobo who lives at the bar. It has the lyrics, "When I was..." and "If only..." "Probably will be for life." Each one of us has our dreams crushed at least once in our life. We all have regrets. "If only..." is applicable - it hits our emotions. The lyrics of the song help us imagine what our life would be, if we really had no life, without a decent job, poor family, and turning towards drinking for relief. We would turn to the "Piano Man" to bring back our happy days.

Daedalus vs. Icarus

The Melting Point of Wax (2003)
Thrice

I've waited for this moment

All my life and more
And now I see so clearly
What I could not see before.
The time is now or never
This chance won't come again
Throw caution and myself into the wind.

There's no promise of safety with these secondhand wings
But I'm willing to find out what impossible means.
A leap of faith.

Parody of an angel
Miles above the sea
I hear the voice of reason
Screaming after me
"You've flown far too high boy now you're too close to the sun,
Soon your makeshift wings will come undone
"But how will I know limits from lies if I never try?

There's no promise of safety with these secondhand wings
But I'm willing to find out what impossible means.
I'll climb through the heavens on feathers and dreams
'Cause the melting point of wax means nothing to me.
Nothing to me
Nothing to me

I will touch the sun or I will die trying.
Die Trying.

Fly on these secondhand wings
Willing to find out what impossible means
I'll climb through the heavens on feathers and dreams
'Cause the melting point of wax means nothing to me
Nothing to me
Means nothing to me
Miles above the sea.

Daedalus (2005)
Thrice

I stand on the cliffs with my son next to me

This island our prison, our home
And every day we look out at the sea
This place is all he's ever known.

"But I've got a plan," He sung
Wax and some string, some feathers I stole from a bird
We leap from the cliff and we hear the wind sing a song thats too perfect for words

But son, please keep a steady wing
And know you’re the only one that means anything to me
Steer clear of the sun, or you'll find yourself in the sea

Now safely away, I let out a cry
"We'll make the mainland by noon"
But Icarus climbs higher still in the sky
Maybe I've spoken too soon

But son, please keep a steady wing
And know you’re the only one that means anything to me
Steer clear of the sun, or you'll find yourself in the sea

Wont you look at your wings
They're coming undone
They're splitting at the seams
Steer clear of the sun, for once wont you listen to me?

Why is this happening to me?
All I wanted was new life for my son to grow up free
And now you took the only thing that meant anything to me
I'll never fly again, I'll hang up my wings

Why is this happening to me?
All I wanted was new life for my son to grow up free
And now you took the only thing that meant anything to me
I'll never fly again, I'll hang up my wings


Most of us are at least familiar with the mythological tale of the adventures of Daedalus and his son Icarus, but would one ever expect to see it in two mainstream rock songs? As the story goes, Daedalus, a master sculptor, devised a way to make wings of feathers, string, and wax in order to escape the island of Crete (where he was held captive) with his son. Before leaving, Daedalus made sure to warn Icarus not to fly too high (the sun would melt the wax) or too low (where the ocean waves would soak the “makeshift” wings). They set off, and all seemed well until suddenly the boy began to fly to great heights, quickly approaching the heat of the sun. The wings melted, and Icarus fell from the sky into the depths of the sea. Daedalus lamented the loss of his son, blaming his art for the misfortunate ordeal. When he finally arrives safely on land, he “hang[s] up [his] wings” as an offering to the god Apollo, vowing never to fly again.
The first of these two songs, written by Dustin Kensrue of Thrice, was created in the upswing of the band’s career. It portrays the youth, enthusiasm, and sometimes recklessness of the artits in their early twenties. Very fittingly, “The Melting Point of Wax” is written from the perspective of Icarus, the adventurous youth who failed to heed the warnings of his father. Clearly, this song expresses the artists’ inexperience and even immaturity in reference to the consequences of “throw[ing] caution… into the wind.” Even the fast-paced, somewhat sporadic, beat and instrumentals display the juvenility that still exists in their character.
Four albums later, providing a poignant contrast, “Daedalus” is written from the father’s perspective. The rigidity and depth of older age is exaggerated by plodding beats and an unchanging time signature. This song is, in a sense, the “foil” of “The Melting Point of Wax” in every way. It came out in 2008, as the band members reached their late twenties and perhaps took a look back on their lives with a better perspective on things. Also, a few of them already had kids of their own, which may have inspired the creation of an opposing point of view to the story of Daedalus and his son—they now understood the pleading concerns of a loving parent.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Song Analysis

The song that i picked to analyze is Fireflies by Owl City. This song I believe has a lot to do with the fact that the song writer and singer Adam Young has insomnia. He says a lot of his songs are written when he can not sleep at night. I think the line "I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly" means that he wish time would stop or go slower so that he could actually have time to sleep and dream like any regular kid. Maybe he feels like because of his insomnia he is not having the same kind of experiences during sleep (dreams) that other kids are able to have.
Throughout the whole song he refers to dreams and the chorus is trying to make himself believe that the earth turns slowly so that his childhood is not wasting away. The sentence "It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep 'Cause everything is never as it seems" emphasises the fact that he would rather be asleep then awake, maybe he believes that when he is asleep time will stop so his childhood will not waste away, and also the fact that his dreams are so fun he would rather live in that world than the real one.
I believe that the overall theme of the song would be telling everyone that you should enjoy your childhood now while you have it and do not waste any time that you have now. Also that we should follow the dreams we may have because they are what make life fun and worth living.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Very Funny

Sister Cowley,
Thank you for sharing that "sample formatting" packet with us. I read the article and your friend's rebuttal and was laughing out loud! Since you went over the formatting in class, I'm sure many of the students haven't looked through the packet yet but it's a must read!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Revision Plan

For my revision plan, the biggest thing I'm going to focus on is developing it a little further. I'm going to consider what other problems might be caused because we can't ride bikes between each class. (For example, being much more stressed because we don't have much time to get to some classes without our bikes.) Also, I'm going to focus on how this affects others, and not just myself. Right now it may seem like this is a problem just for me, but I'm going to present this problem as as affecting more than just myself. I'll also develop the counter argument a little bit more. And of course, I'll answer the question of "so what".

My Revision Plan

I plan to revise my paper by being more speific on my key points, viewing the opposing arguement and improving my transitions. I will aslo make sure I have included correct puncuation. I will also have it reviewed by two students after which I will make final revisions.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

My revision plan

Some of the changes i am planning on making in my paper are. To introduce a sub thesis concerning the issue of higher expectations at BYU and how common courtesy is one of the small things needed here. Another thing, is clarifying some of my anecdotes and description, so as not to confuse the reader. Finally, i think i am going to have to have people read it and see if the order of stories is climatic or if i should perhaps move things around

revision plan

So, after conferencing with Sister Cowley I realized that my draft made it seem like I was very ignorant of current events. This put a damper on my ethos, so I will definitely have to include some more information in my writing to make it seem like I know what I am talking about. I need to develop my counterarguments and make my position seem inarguable. I'm afraid of criticism and editing so I will definitely go to my sister (who I think works at the writing center) for help. I plan on having her write my entire paper... But in all seriouslness hopefully she won't be so mean to me as she revises my work. I will work on the bulk of my editing over the weekend. I'll send over my paper to my sister over the week so she can look at it too.

You know you love me
xoxo
Asian Boy

op-ed revision plan

So some things that I need to work on with my paper include...
1. develop my counter argument and then explain why my idea addresses its issues. Basically just develop the idea so that readers view my issue as actually being a problem that someone needs to do something about (bring the issue to maturity)
2. work on my wording and examples to include the three elements - ethos, pathos, and logos
3. create smooth transitions between my ideas/paragraphs
I will most likely make these changes over the weekend, but I hope to get started sooner than that.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Revisions...

1. rework my thesis statement. Make it clear and concise
2. use three-four specific examples supporting my thesis
3. take paper to the writing center on monday
4. address comments made by sister Cowley and the writing center
5. read aloud to mom and give to dad to read
6. make necessary changes

My Revision Plan

My revision plan for my opinion editorial is to make my claim a little more clear. My ideas need to come full circle and support my claim. I also want to condense my opening paragraph so that it will grab the readers attention. And last, I hope to correct all the grammer errors. I plan to have it all the revisions made by the end of the week so that I can watch the game this weekend without guilt. :)

Revision plan

I plan on working to make smoother transitions between paragraphs. I also want to make sure that my paragraphs are in an order that doesn't confuse my readers or seem repetitive. Additionally, I want to condense my intro to grab the readers attention and focus it more directly to my topic.

My Revision Plan

I plan on focusing my efforts of revision on providing more anticipation for counter-arguments. I also plan on lengthening the editorial. I might organize my 2 or 3 most important reasons behind my claim into separate paragraphs. I want to keep a humorous, reader-friendly tone as much as possible, while still using enough ethos in my argument.

Revision Plan

My plan for revising my opinion editorial is to simply write paragraphs about each specific point and then put them together and rearrange as needed. I will focus more on writing to the audience of BYU students. I will ask and try to answer the question, "So what?"

Revision Plan

I think that my first step will be to solidify who the audience is for my paper. As it stands now it shifts a little too much from a specific audience to a general population. I think I will do this by having some premed students read my drafts to see if they feel like it is addressing them sufficiently.
Secondly I want to specify a call to action and find a rhetorically powerful way to include it in the letter. I will probably go into the workshops and library assistants to do this. Ask for opinions and advice for the best way to do it.
Thirdly I need to be a little better at "citing" my sources. Just explaining where some of the info can be found so that it doesn't just sound like I'm making it up.
I'll probably do a lot of this in the mornings before classes (I think best in the morning), or during breaks between classes (in the case of going to the library and such).


Revision Plan

My plan to revise my editorial is to reread my paper and fix the obvious errors. Then I am going to research more so I can add more logos to my argument. Then I am going to rewrite my paper so that it is a stronger argument and can help bring about change on campus. I may also visit the writing center after I have rewritten it to get more comments and pointers on how to make it better.

Revision Plan

I plan to create a more specific title as well as fix some minor phrasing issues. Also, I plan to clarify some of the ideas and arguments I have presented. These corrections will help with the flow of my editorial and better the communication between the reader and I. Rather than site the information I've researched and implemented, I am going to connect more information to the quotes and statistics I have given so that my sources can be readily checked. Along with providing this information, I need to better correlate the quotes I've used to facilitate better flow in my paper. Lastly, there is an area in my last argument where I need to fix my transition from one perspective to another.

Revison..

My goal for revising my paper is to first, reread my paper and the suggestions made by Sister Cowley. Then I want to add additional personal experiences to make my arguments stronger. To develop my paper more, I want to include more statisitcs and information by credible sources.Lastly, I want to address counter arguments that were not addressed before.

revising

For my first revision of my draft I am going to add more to my argument that targets my audience. I am going to give more support for my reasons. I am going to more fully recognize the counterarguments to my claim.

Revision Plan

Here is my revision plan:
1. Meet with Sister Cowley - Check
2. Change what Sister Cowley suggested - Uncheck
3. Give it a day and reread paper. Make any other changes - Uncheck

Let's see what I can knock out...

Ok so here is what I figure I need to do...
1. solidify exactly what logos I want to use in my paper...make sure its good...and analyze it.
2. Focus on counter arguments. Be concerned with what the reader thinks so that I can make my paper that much better.
3. knock out what's unneccessary...that could be all of it:)
4. Be more concise...try using smaller words instead of long phrases. parallel writing, and sentence rearranging.
5. Make it an easy read!
6. Keep it short and sweet.
7. double check my support (logos, pathos, and ethos)

Revision Plan

My revision plan is to give more examples to prove my point on my paragraphs. Add more ethos into it, get the credibility from some authority. Put in more pathos by sharing a personal story and logos by simply telling the logical side to my opinion. I also plan to meet up with Sister Cowley sometime this week, so she can look over my paper. That way I'll know if I'm on track with the opinion editorial.

Revision Plan

First thing I am going to is to give my paper more order by shortening the introduction and move all that content/proof to the body paragraphs. Next, reading the paper out loud to catch grammatical errors and weird sounding phrases. the conclusion seems a little weak, I need to reinforce the position probably with another sentence of my ideas.

I'll try not to procrastinate the revision, because I know I am going to forget what Sister Cowley said today.

Revision Plan

During my revision plan, I am going to add more examples to support my arguments so that the reader can get more of a clear picture of what is going on, and also why they should pay a little more attention to my arguments.
At the end of the editorial I plan on giving an example as to why we should try and have better sportsmanship and explain why it will help both schools in the long run to root for instead of tear down the other team.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Common Courtesy

The bias towards Brigham Young University has been something cherished and upheld. There are the positive and negative accusations, naturally, as at any other university. A young girl from little ol' Emmett, Idaho comes to Utah and expects the primary songs to be hummed as students walked form class to class. Contrary to the bias this young girl had formed, depicting mutual-like class settings and CTR rings on every finger, she found a small disappointment amongst all the fame she grants her fellow class men. True, the matter is small, and as such it was expected to be one's slightest thought. Contrary,at each saunter down the stairs and speed-walk to class I find myself stressing to know if the seat in which I must preside will be in the middle. New at college, and the woes of aisles strewn with backpacks, laptops, big feet, and fragile feminine toes are the freshmen's worst worry.

The small infraction of the Brigham Young University students is indeed the fickle matter of sitting on the edges of rows. Viewing the temptation, one can imagine; coming to class, having walked so far, backpack pulling on shoulders, and the nearest seat is spotted. Plop! Understandable, I have had the moments of exhaustion and defeat. Or perhaps a row-sitter is shy. A viable point, until of course the class fills up, and you are surrounded by people anyway. Only this people had to tip-toe climb, scale, and shimmy across your blushing face as their heretical hind side is in your face. Another explanation brought to mind is the fact that end seats are for left-handed writers. Again a plausible point, I cannot argue, only question just how many left-handers attend Brigham Young University?

Whatever the explanation, this is not meant to condemn, only to address. The University we are all so privileged to attend is founded on principles of love and compassion. Given this outstanding reputation all of who attend are bound to, could a small act of compassion be granted? There will be instances in the future when you can lighten someone's load, even just by giving up a prized seat. And that is a lesson carried far beyond the classroom.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Op-Ed

With the growing number of obese people in America, it’s time BYU takes a stand and does something to keep us all in good health. It’s especially difficult to remain healthy when all of the simplest and cheapest food options are all unhealthy. Couple that with the general laziness we get with our bodies when we arrive on campus and the result is not pretty. For me, I know how hard it is to eat healthy and to remain in good shape. My current diet consists solely of cup noodle and pop-tarts! As for physical activity, the only that is remotely close to exercise is running from my apartment to catch the bus! It would be extremely helpful if BYU had some program in place that would make it necessary for me to lead a healthy life. Therefore, BYU should make it mandatory for all students to enroll in a personal fitness course every semester There are indeed several advantages for BYU to make a personal fitness course a required course.

If BYU is going to require the students to learn as many different, and arguably pointless subjects and skills as possible, why not require a course that has some use in everyday life? For the majority of the students, how will knowledge in biology or mathematics help us in our everyday life if it is completely irrelevant to what we plan on doing in the future? Getting into good dietary and exercise habits, as well as learning how to lead healthy lives, is much more valuable to an aspiring English teacher than knowing about cellular processes. If BYU requires everyone to take religion classes for basically every semester, which strengthens us spiritually, it only makes sense to require classes keeping everyone in physical shape.

Now some people may argue that it is a personal responsibility to stay in shape. However, some would also argue that it is a personal responsibility to keep one spiritually strong, so why should there be required religion courses? Staying in good shape and taking care of our bodies should be encouraged as well, so it doesn’t make sense to turn a blind eye in one area and not in others. People often burden themselves with too much work to have the time to spend on fitness, especially if they have to sacrifice some of their precious leisure time to exercise. It becomes increasingly difficult if you do not know where to start and what to do. By making a personal fitness course mandatory, what was initially an inconvenience becomes a very convenient activity.

Hey, let me keep my money!

Many college students are on a tight budget, and pride themselves in finding deals on whatever they buy and hitting up as many free food events as they possibly can.  Such habits allow students to avoid starvation for a cheaper cost per day than their meal plan daily allowance.  Thus, a balance of unused “dining dollars” is begins to grow.  Now, campus meal plans are great, but there is a catch.   When the balance of a exceeds a certain cap, the excess money is “forfeited.”  Why, when it could be transferred to the student’s signature card account? 

Students need to spend meal plan money on food, naturally, because that is what the money is designated for.  Everyone needs to eat, but there are many other small items that students need to worry about paying for, including laundry, printing things on campus, and small bookstore purchases.  The BYU Signature Card account is commonly used for these types of transactions.  If excess meal plan money was automatically transferred to the cardholder’s Signature Card account, the money would all circulate back to BYU, and no one loses.   Students would not be penalized for their frugal ways, nor would they starve themselves just to buy apparel or textbooks at the bookstore; the latter because it would be preposterous to refrain from eating for ten days for a balance of more than $100 to build up.

This service would be so convenient and students wouldn’t have to worry about stuffing their faces or treating all of their friends to lunch when they their balance approaches $100.00  Campus would just be a happier place.  

Co-ed camping?

Everyone is looking for something fun to do over the weekend. Here in Utah, the possibilities are endless! Utah provides some great experiences, especially outdoor activities. For many college students camping is a favorite outdoor activity because it is cheap, fun, and can make lasting memories. However, camping contains the possibility of physical and sometimes even spiritual risks. The most common spiritual risk of co-ed camping is increased temptation of committing adultery, and increased risk of violation. The BYU Honor Code has addressed the issue of co-ed camping. Co-ed camping is not encouraged nor authorized by BYU. (http://honorcode.byu.edu/content/mixed-gender) I think that if BYU students 1. receive permission to co-ed camp, 2. have a minimum of two females and two males, and 3. live by housing hours, they can have a wonderful and safe camping experience.

The BYU Honor Code is something we as students are very blessed to live by. The Honor Code allows this campus to be enjoyable, peaceful, and spiritually uplifting. I think the Honor Code should be respected and observed to make this campus the most wanted place to be for college. In that regard, I think co-ed camping trips should receive permission from the Honor Code Office (HCO) to encourage the spiritual safety of all who participate.

Another key to spiritual and physical safety, is to have more than two people camping in one occasion. As the saying goes, "There is safety in numbers." To decrease risk of physical violation, co-ed camping can allow a cushion of safety and security for the females attending. Camping with male figures will decrease the probability of potential predators around a campsite. A counter argument may say that the male figures attending may also be the potential predators. I think that this would only be a problem if people are naive enough to go camping with people they don't trust.

What am I going to do with my life?

On September 15th applications for the English Teaching major are due. Applications? Didn't I already write an essay, take the ACT, and maintain a decent GPA in high school to apply for Brigham Young University? I already went through the torture of waiting to know if I would be accepted and now I have to do it again, only this time I have to provide multiple essays and a video of me teaching a lesson. I thought I was going to learn how to do that once I was in the program. Isn't that what the program is for?

Universities all over the world require one application process, combining the undergraduate degree application with the application for the university itself. While this forces students to know what they want to major in when they begin college, it allows students to get out in the work force quicker or go on to graduate studies and it eliminates general education requirements. Most universities in America have closed majors and require students to come to the university for a couple years and then apply for a major. This makes it easier for high school students to not focus on what they want to do with their lives, because of the mindset that they can do it their first couple years of college. It also influences the phrase of being on the "five year program" making it longer to graduate and enter the work force.

Being a student in America we have the privilege of going to school for free for thirteen years. Each year there are subjects we are required to learn, including english, reading, math, science, and social studies or history. These exact subjects are found in the general education requirements. Perhaps it's just me, but after thirteen years of science I know for a fact I do not like biology or physical science, yet I had to take them for my GE requirements and this time I'm paying to take the class. Now many of my GE classes I enjoyed, but they were classes I was able to choose and most of them were in the field of study I will hopefully get into...if I get accepted.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Opinion Editorial: H1N1 virus

Do you have a fever, cough, sore throat, or nasal congestion? Are you experiencing any body aches, headaches, and tiredness or vomiting? Well have no fear you only have the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. I think this is ridiculous. This new virus that has come out is being blown way out of proportion. Everyone is freaking out thinking that they are going to get the swine flu because their best friend’s cousin twice-removed boyfriend’s aunt’s sister’s niece had symptoms of swine flu. It doesn’t make sense that everyone is so concerned over a virus that is not even as bad as the regular flu. In the Daily Universe on September 9, 2009 there is an article where a Dr. Willmore says, “Even though the swine flu is getting a lot more press, if you compare the two illnesses [swine flu and the regular flu], you get much sicker patients and a lot more deaths with the regular flu.” It is amazing how the media can affect how everyone behaves and what everyone believes.
I recently went on a trip to Mexico and when I got back the first thing people asked me was “Do you have swine flu?” Really? People are overreacting to everything that is coming out. There were schools in my area that got completely shut down and Proms canceled because there was a possible case of swine flu. And even more, my friend’s mom almost died last December when she came down with what doctors told her was just the regular flu. Where were all of the precautions and warnings about getting the regular flu? Why weren’t people going through extra steps to not give or pass-along the regular flu?