ENG 001:Section 09

Project 3: The Soundtrack of My Life

2007-12-09T14:14:00.000-06:00

Randy Newman: "You've Got a Friend in Me":It might have been a toy that brought us together that summer. It’s a friendship that’s lasted for over fifteen years. All though we hardly see each other, the early memories from childhood will never fade. It’s funny how a toy like Woody or a Barbie doll can bring two people together, but it’s how I met my childhood best friend. She lived four houses away, and I can’t even count how many times I would sprint across the street to go see her.

It’s funny to think that a Barbie could draw two people together. We spent years playing with Barbies, fixing their hair and making them look pretty. We would have real tea parties with real food and drink. We would sit with our Barbies at a small bright orange Fisher-Price picnic table she had in her basement. We would talk for hours like we were grown-ups at a real tea party.

After the excitement of Barbies faded, and now that we are in college, I still consider her a best friend. We don’t talk as much as we used to, but there will always be a special bond that we share. Barbies and bikes are what drew us together; and now we are drawn together by more grown-up things. I feel lucky that the few times a year when we get together to catch up on new experiences and spend hours laughing about the old ones, it seems like no time has past at all. I know she knows that she’ll always have “a friend in me.”

Rocco Deluca: "Colorful": Colorful is a way to describe every little thing that makes you the person that you are. “You’re the most colorful thing that I’ve seen”: a lyric from the song Colorful by Rocco Deluca, is a way that I describe myself. Colorful is not another way to describe myself as crazy or unique, but being colorful is a way of life. Being colorful is sharing your talents and gifts with the world. Being colorful means you have the ability to make someone smile even if it's not your day. “Live like your last day, drink like it’s water there’s no tomorrow” describes how I live my life. I try to enjoy every moment and share with others my colorful view of life.

I would consider my whole life up until this point as colorful. My life is like the box of Crayola crayons that I used to own. There were sixty-four crayons in the box and I remember the waxy texture each crayon had every time I took it out of the box. I remembered how excited I would feel each time that I would pull a new un-used crayon out of the box. I can vividly remember the distinct smell of a box of crayons. I used those crayons until they were no longer usable. I would spend countless hours coloring pictures that I would ask my mom to hang on the refrigerator. I've never really considered myself creative, but with my box of crayons my creativity was endless. As a child it was just a box a crayons, but now I see that box of crayons as my life. Those sixty-four crayons that were originally in the box represent all of my past experiences. Every new experience that I have had is a color that is added to my box. I believe that a box of crayons can never just have sixty-four colors; there is too much to experience in life.

Mariah Carey: "All I want for Christmas": I love asking my parents about Christmas’ past. This year, my mom wrote me a letter telling me all of the things that she remembers most about our family Christmas’. I’m so glad that my mom wrote down some of our old memories because I was so young that I hardly remember anything from my early years. In the music video there are kids sledding, playing in the snow, and visiting Santa. I remember that I was the typical child who was afraid of sitting on Santa’s lap until I found out that he was the one who brought our toys. After my sister revealed that Santa no longer existed, I was content with receiving more gifts instead of a stocking stuffed with silly toys. Like the girl in the music video, I would dance around the Christmas tree waiting for my turn to open presents. One memory my mom has is that she remembers seeing the delight in my face when I discovered my first bicycle hidden in the kitchen on Christmas morning. I remember that my sister and I would always sleep in the same room the night before Christmas and wake up early the next day to see what presents we would receive. On Christmas days when there was snow, I remember spending hours outside with my sister playing in the snow until our cheeks were rosy red. We would go inside and our mom would fix her famous hot chocolate and make us cinnamon rolls.

As I have grown up, each Christmas has been a little different. When I was younger I would expect presents to be waiting under the tree and a stocking filled with toys. Now that I am older, “All I want for Christmas” is to relax and spend a day with the family. Fewer family members are able to make it to a big family dinner and my older sister is now married and has her own family; so new traditions are emerging for our family. Although each Christmas is different, and new traditions are starting to emerge, it is fun to remember the past traditions and someday share those with my own family. This Christmas we will miss the grandparents who are no longer with us, but now we have Nora, the newest addition to our family, to help us celebrate and create new traditions. “I won’t ask for much this Christmas, I won’t even wish for snow; All I want for Christmas” this year is a day full of love and laughter with the people who I treasure most.

Angels and Airwaves: "True Love": This song by Angels and Airwaves, and this music video, help me remember one particular summer when I was eight. When I was little, we used to take family trips every year. It was that one time of year that we could get away just the four of us. We took trips to St. Louis, Colorado to go skiing, the Grand Canyon, numerous camping trips, California, Lake Tahoe, and many other magnificent places. The most magnificent trip that I can remember was our trip to London, England. I was eight years old and for an eight year old to fly half way across the world is a huge deal! I hardly remember vivid details from my other trips, but I can clearly remember what it was like to stand in front of Buckingham Palace. The changing of the guards at the palace stole my attention only for a moment from the vastness of the palace. I remember Piccadilly Circus exactly as how it is shown in the movie. All of the vibrant colors on the advertising screens and the large crowds of people at Piccadilly Circus remind me of Times Square in New York City. I remember seeing the glow of the London Bridge and the brilliance of Big Ben standing next to the water from the top of a red double-decker bus. One of my favorite parts of London was seeing the Tower of London and the Crown of Jewels and imagining what it would have been like to be a English princess back in the day. My trip to England that summer is one I will never forget. I cannot wait to go back their someday and relive all of the sights and sounds that London has to offer.

Yann Tiersen"Comptine d'Un Autre Ete: L` apres Midi":As a child my way to escape from the busy world was through a piano. It was an old, red wood piano that sat in our dining room. On this piano I would play for hours, escaping into another world. I loved the way my short, little fingers would glide across the white and black keys.

I started playing at age five and I didn’t stop for ten years. I would play what I was told to play, as well as make up a few songs of my own. My teachers over the years always told me I played too fast, but I’d never listen. I would go on playing as fast as I wanted. I made each song that I played my own. I enjoyed playing music like in this music video. I would play songs by Beethoven and Bach because they were so peaceful and soothing for the soul. My mom and grandma would sit on the couch, close their eyes and listen to me play for hours on end.

As the years went on, the music just started to flow out of my fingers. After so many years, I would just learn to play. I learned to play by ear, and not by sight-reading the music. Learning to play songs and memorize them became so easy. It’s been years since I’ve played that old, red wood piano. Now it is out of tune, but each time I sit down, the music flows out of my fingers just as it did fourteen years ago.

Rob Thomas: "Little Wonders": This song, by Rob Thomas, is one of my favorite songs because it talks about how everything in life is a gift. I have discovered that there is a rainbow after every storm. The biggest storm of my life has been the death of my granpda. He died when I was fourteen. The hardest part about accepting his death was that I wouldn't be able to say goodbye. At the time, he lived over in England, and I wasn't able to fly over to England for the funeral. Our worries, disappointments and fears are like our “raindrops” of life. Some days may seem like the rain never ends, but every experience in life is a little wonder. Friends are like umbrellas; they are there to “help our troubles fall behind us” and protect us from the storms of life. Although many “raindrops” fall in our lifetime, it is important to keep a light heart through it all. Five years later, I am now at peace with his death, and I know that he is in a better place. I believe that each of us has a conscious decision to decide whether or not bad things will steal our joy. Keeping a sense of humor about smaller mishaps will make heavier loads easier to carry.

Life is a little wonder. We don’t know how much time we will have here on earth, but we need to treasure “these small hours” as if each moment were our last. “The twists and turns of fate” that life throws at us are a blessing in disguise. Fate leads us to unexpected places, but you must learn to have faith that you are in the exact place that you are meant to be.

Bebo Norman: "Walk Down This Mountain": I “walk down [the] mountain of life with my heart held high because I have been blessed with wonderful family and friends who have been there to support me. The mountain of life is like a person’s spiritual life. This song means a lot to me because when I heard it for the first time I discovered the mountain that life brings to us is a challenge we must overcome. I went to Chicago with a group of from my school for a service trip. This service trip was an empowering experience where I realized that extreme poverty and homelessness affect all types of people. Looking poverty in the eye is an experience I will never forget. Hearing the stories firsthand from a man who slept in a box the night before was what began my journey up the mountain. There are ups and downs, there are steep points on that mountain that you must walk and there are places to rest when we get tired. It was something I struggled with a lot, why are some people poor, and why do others like me have everything? To answer this question I relied heavily on my faith to help me climb the mountain. Having faith is the greatest feeling in the world. Faith takes your doubts by the hand and makes you into a stronger person. Having a firm faith gives you the courage to stand up for what you believe in. I believe that my faith shows me that there is a higher being who watches over me each day and all that I do. I believe that if we offer all of our hardships, we “will taste the meaning of life.” The true meaning of life is that you know that you were put on this earth to make it a better place. I was put on this earth to help make a difference in the lives of those people that I met in Chicago that spring. I am sad that I had to drive 800 miles to Chicago to realize that I could make a difference. I now have a strong desire to make the world a better place. I believe every positive thing that we do, even if it goes unnoticed today, will come back to bless us in the future.

Israel Kamakawiwo Ole: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow": I feel that for the first time in my life I have reached the top of the rainbow. Not one day has passed that I haven’t been given encouragement to follow the “the dreams that you dreamed of [because] dreams really do come true.” Somewhere over that rainbow in the distance, you’ll find that all your wildest dreams come true. After most rainstorms, I look out into the distance and see a rainbow. As I stand in awe, captivated by the beauty of the rainbow I feel so lucky that I am able to enjoy this beautiful moment. As I stand there in awe, I am absorbed into the first color of the rainbow, red. The color red is all of the positive aspects of my life. Every experience I’ve had in life is a powerful experience that I have learned from. Red is my color of power. The next color, orange, is the color of my emotions. Knowing how to find joy in the little things in life is the only way that you can enjoy the larger things that will bring you joy later. Orange is the frustration and excitement that I have had during my first semester here at Nebraska Wesleyan. As I move into yellow, I clear my mind of all the distractions that life brings. At times I’ve gotten so busy with golf practice, friends, and homework that I’ve forget why I’m really here at NWU. I am here to discover who am I and who I want to become. As I feel myself move into the green, I feel free. I am recalling how much I have changed I have encountered during my first semester of college. I have made a beautiful transition and I’m now a more independent person. As I drift to the blue stripe in the rainbow, feelings of love and kindness surround me. Blue is the color of friendship. I have met so many great people here, including my sorority sisters. I know these people will be a huge part of the rest of my life. Purple is about finding your moment of truth. I believe that if I put my whole heart and soul into something, I can achieve anything. If I put my heart and soul into everything, I will eventually discover where I am meant to be. Violet is the last color of the rainbow. It is the color of energy because you can look back at the other colors and realize how much you have accomplished and grown as a person. I am proud of my hard work this semester and I am thankful for the opportunity to grow as an individual here at Nebraska Weselyan.

Post 15: A video from the past

2007-11-18T17:18:00.001-06:00

It’s funny to think that music videos did not really become popular until a few years ago. When I was a pre-teen I remember renting music videos from Blockbuster. “Back then”, they made VHS tapes with music videos on them. One music video by Backstreet Boys I remember particularly well was the video Everybody. This particular VHS tape had all the music videos of songs from one of their albums. I remember this video particularly well because the music videos took place in the old, haunted house that Casper the Friendly Ghost was filmed in. I really liked this music video because I was in love with the Backstreet Boys and one of my favorite movies as a child was Casper the Friendly Ghost.

I remember thinking this music video was one of the coolest things ever. As a boy- crazy pre-teen I was in love with Nick Carter and thought that one-day we would get married. I remember sitting in front of the TV for hours with my older sister, trying to learn all of the dance moves. I wanted to dress up and be in costume and dance just like all the people in the movie.

Looking back on my boy-band crazed days, I remember how happy and cool I felt listening to the Backstreet Boys CD. I think that at one point every little girl goes through the boy-band obsessed phase. I also think that we never really grow out of this phase. From time to time, I bring out those old CDS, and revisit many fond memories from my childhood of singing in my room or in the school talent show with friends.

It’s been years since I’ve watched the Everybody music video. Now that I’m older, and the boy-band singers are well into their 30’s, the music videos don’t impress me as much. However, I’ll never forget the feeling of giddiness that I would feel after watching that old VHS tape.

Post 14: Most ANNOYING music video ever

2007-11-13T20:49:00.000-06:00

This is my least favorite music video because it is so ANNOYING!!! I have to say that I hate country music and therefore I strongly dislike any country music video, but this video has earned itself a spot on the top of my list of things that annoy me most. The song that they sing in this video is that annoying song they make you learn at summer camp. They teach you all the actions, and every time they make you sing it you just dread the thought of hearing it again. The counselors teach you to flap your arms like you are a chicken from KFC. They make you make an "M" over your head for McDonalds; it's almost like you're doing the YMCA, except your cheering for McDonalds!

This is the worst music video I have ever seen because it is so bizarre. It reminds me of a crazy version of the Wiggles except for adults. It so random that the dancers are driving a bus called the “Happy Wheels” bus (I’m assuming they got that from “Happy Meals”) and then all of the sudden a random blue dog appears as the driver. In the next few scenes the blue dog starts dancing with them. Too much randomness confuses the viewer.

This song is the type that you never want to hear a friend singing for fun. It’s the type of song that gets stuck in your head for a week after watching this video music. All of the bright colors make me think that I’ve been placed on the set of Barney taping a sing-along session. The obnoxious costumes in the video make you want to dress up and win the most ugly costume award at a Halloween party. This is definitely one of those movies you have to watch ten times because you are wondering WHAT WERE THEY THINKING WHEN THEY MADE THIS!

Post 13: OK Go- Here it Goes Again

2007-11-11T16:44:00.000-06:00

I like to call this the treadmill song. When I talk about this video it seems that everyone has seen it and knows that I’m talking about when I say the “treadmill” song. This music video by OK Go is my favorite music video because it is so catchy! The song, Here It Goes Again, is a great song and it is matched by an equally entertaining video. This video is so unique because it uses treadmills as the main attention grabber. The way the singers move around the treadmills is so coordinated and unique. In some parts it almost looks like they are gracefully ice-skating from treadmill to treadmill. The part where the singers are dancing around in circles on the treadmills makes me want to get up and dance! This movie is appealing to the audience because the viewers have fun watching because singers in the video are having fun.

This music video is a great example of what viewers want to see. It grabs your attention from the beginning moment because you are wondering why four guys are standing on a whole bunch of treadmills. Viewers want to see music videos that make them feel upbeat and good. This video makes me happy because the beat of the song is so lively. I don’t really like the message of the song, but the lyrics flow so smoothly and the rhythm of the music is so likeable. The refrain of the song, “Here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again” is so catchy!

This music video is so unique compared to others that I have seen because most music videos contain the singer in different settings with back up dancers. This video however features the four singers of OK Go with no back up dancers. The setting for the video is very orginal and plain. This video is creative and needs minimal special effects to spice it up. I like how sometimes all four of them do the same motions and other times they split up into pairs and two different actions are going on at the same time. The fact that four guys are dancing on treadmills is a very original and imaginative idea. I wonder how many people after seeing this movie tried to dance on treadmills while working out at the gym?

Post 12: Project 2 Human Right #26 The Right to an Education

2007-11-08T10:08:00.000-06:00

Every human being on this earth has human rights that cannot be taken away from him or her. These rights allow us to live freely in a just and peaceful society. The Universal Declaration for Human Rights is a document that was created in 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. This document specifically lists thirty human rights developed “as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations…that every individual…shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms” (http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html). Every human is protected with these rights because every person deserves to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Everyday activities such as freedom of religion or the right to a fair trial are rights that many human beings have never experienced. For example, a person in the United States is able to freely speak out about their religious beliefs, however in another country someone else might be persecuted for their religious beliefs and for standing up for what they believe in. By showing each human being the dignity they deserve, we can make the world a more tolerable place.

Youth for Human Rights International is an organization that has created thirty public service announcements to raise awareness about an individual’s human rights. These commercials are made to teach people how to create a more tolerable world and a more inclusive society. All thirty of the commercials focus on specific injustices in the world; and how prevalent they are in today’s society. One commercial in particular focuses on the human right to an education. The right to an education is a human right that cannot be taken away because each human being deserves to be shown dignity and respect.

Human right number twenty-six is the right to an education; one freedom that many Americans abuse. There are so many human beings on this earth that are denied their right to attend school. This commercial uses narration to argue that denial of a proper education is a reality. The following short conversation that occurs at the end of the commercial is the most powerful part of the movie. It shows how big of an impact education can have on someone’s life.
“How many schools are there in your village?”
“None,” she replied.
This example of narration shows that this problem really exists in the world. This conversation is so powerful because the viewer can see the excitement in the little girl’s eyes because this school is her chance to prove herself to the world.

The mother and daughter in this commercial contribute to the narration portion of the commercial. The beginning of the commercial starts off with the mom saying, “Make sure you stay with her the whole time. She’s new to the country, it’s a whole different culture.” There are several different aspects that suggest this is a whole new culture for the girl. As the exchange student is walking up to the school, she is taking in all of the new sights and sounds. The biggest change in this girl’s life is that she is going to school for the first time.

The Youth for Human Rights International organization does a great job of relating human right number twenty-six, the right to an education, to the audience. This commercial uses example by using a typical situation to show how this human right can impact someone’s life. Most viewers can easily relate to this situation because at one point they have sat through boring classes wishing they did not have to be at school. Illustration is another type of argument used in this commercial. Illustration is used to show how an education can make a difference in someone’s life. When the two girls walk into the school, it appears that there is a golden light that illuminates the building. The creator manipulates an ordinary school building into a building that looks like a dream castle. The creator enhanced the glory of the building to emphasize the rhetorical effect of illustration. To an ordinary person, it is just a building, but to this one little girl, her eyes light up because it is a dream come true.

There is also a compare and contrast aspect of this commercial. It is easy to compare the exchange student’s life to the American girl’s life. The exchange student is entering a completely new environment because she has never attended a school before. In contrast, the American girl is ignorant to the fact that not everyone has the chance to attend a “boring” school. Just like this little girl did not know about the background of her visitor, many American’s do not know that it is a human right for all to receive an education. These elements add to the persuasion effect because they are forcing viewers to go outside of their comfort zones to see reality for what it really is.

This public service announcement uses the rhetorical appeal of pathos to connect with the audience’s emotions. Emotions such as guilt may occur for some viewers because they may feel guilty that they take their educational opportunities for granted. Others might feel a sense of happiness that a child has been given the opportunity for a successful future. This public service announcement has a powerful message that will ignite feelings in everyone who watches it.

This commercial also uses the logos effect to persuade the audience through fact. Specific statistics aren’t given during the commercial; however, the fact that there are no schools in the little girl’s village is hard evidence that this human right is being violated. The rhetorical appeal of logos supports the fact that this is a local and worldly problem that needs to be fixed.

The right to an education is an opportunity that opens doors to a brighter future. Human rights give us security and a fair chance to make ourselves known in the world. Denying someone his or her right to an education is a social injustice that violates the moral order of society. Seeing the reality of a social injustice such as this, is the first thing we can do to make a difference.

Works Cited
"Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 30 Oct. 2007.

Post 11: A new baseball stadium, Is it a waste of money?

2007-10-21T20:05:00.000-05:00

A heated controversy that has surrounded the Omaha area for months now, is the proposal of building a new baseball stadium. This new stadium would replace Rosenblatt Stadium which has been the home of the NCAA Men's College World Series for fifty-seven years. Omaha is thinking about building this new stadium because there has been talk that the NCAA will move the location of future College World Series. The College World Series draws thousands of visitors to Omaha each year and millions of dollars is made during this two-week event for the city of Omaha. The removal of this event would cause a great decrease in revenue for the city of Omaha.

The controversy with this issue stands in the fact that the city of Omaha wants to spend over $50 million dollars to pay for the new stadium. $50 million dollars is a lot of money to spend considering the fact that Omaha has put about $35 million dollars into repairs and updates of Rosenblatt over the last decade. I think it is ridiculous that City Officials think it is ok to lay off policemen and fire fighters because there is not enough money in the city budget to pay their salaries, yet they think its ok to build a new baseball stadium that is used primarily for a two week event held each summer. Although city officials are recommending other ways the stadium could be used, I think city officials need to reevaluate where they spend their money.

The money that would be used for the new stadium could be used for more public issues that affect the city as a whole. Poverty and numbers of homeless people are on the rise. I think the city should focus on getting these people back on their feet so generation after generation doesn't have to keep living in poverty. Starting more after school and educational programs would be beneficial for the members of Omaha's poor community. More money could be pumped into Omaha's education system to give all students equal learning opportunities. Data shows that students in the Omaha Public School system have on average lower test scores than students in the Millard Public School system. If more money were used to help these students, more students would be able to attend college and having a better life. I think if we paid more attention to issues like homelessness and education our city would be a more attractive place to live. City officials need to stop wasting our tax dollars and they need to decide if building a new baseball stadium is the most beneficial thing for our city.

Post 10: Willard Sorority

2007-10-17T19:03:00.000-05:00

College is a time spent finding yourself and discovering what you want out of life. It is about building new relationships and being willing to walk the extra mile to discover new things about life. College is about finding something that will challenge you like you never thought possible and finding a place where you feel comfortable. I have found that new place where I learn something new everyday. Willard Sorority is my new family and home away from home.

When I first came to Nebraska Wesleyan, I was anti-Greek. I told everyone who’d listen that Greek life wasn’t for me, and that they could stop trying to get me to go through recruitment. After several close friends encouraged me to go through recruitment, I never looked back. Joining Willard has opened me up to so many new opportunities in just a short time. I feel like I have changed for the better since joining Willard sorority.

Willard is named after Francis E. Willard. In 1889 when the sorority first opened, a group of women picked her as their role model because for them she was the model of perfect womanhood. So as Willard’s, we strive for perfect womanhood just as Francis E. Willard did. A Willard strives to do her best at everything she does. A Willard is capable of excepting failed attempts, but willing to give something another try. A Willard is a girl who has a genuine care in her heart. She wishes her other sisters well and is excited to hear about their successes.

The thing I like most about the girls at Willard is that no two are alike. Each girl is different in her own way and no girl is defined by the others. Each girl contributes something different to the sorority and without her it wouldn’t be the same. Being in a sorority is like living with all of your best friends. They are there to share your joys and worries and they are always there to lend a few encouraging words when things get tough.

Being a Willard has allowed me to find some girls that I will hold close to my heart for years to come. Knowing that there is always someone around that will be there for you is the best feeling in the world. In just a short time, the girls at Willard have taught me that not everything is perfect and not everything goes the way we want it to, but in the end things always turn out ok. I have learned not to judge others based on first impressions and that people can change for the better. I have learned that friends are very important and taking the time to get to know them makes me love them even more. I smile and feel proud when I tell others that I am a Willard.

(The picture above is the Willard Sorority Symbol. Willard is the oldest and largest local sorority in the United States)

Post 9 : Omaha's Hunger Problem

2007-10-14T16:31:00.000-05:00

A growing problem in Omaha, Ne is the number of homeless and hungry people. During the winter, many homeless shelters become full to capacity and have to turn people away. I think it is our responsibility as privileged citizens to do something about these extreme conditions. The Open Door Mission is one particular organization in Omaha that is trying to break the cycle of poverty.

Poverty is a continuous cycle that causes people to be homeless and go hungry. In my opinion, one of the main causes of homelessness is no education. If people are not educated, they won’t get a good job. And if they don’t have a good job, they won’t be able to provide sufficient food for their families. It is a continuous cycle of problems that can only be broken through education. If we can educate the less fortunate about their living conditions, we could show them that they could have a better life.

Hunger and homelessness are nation-wide problems that need to be addressed. One particular group in Omaha that is working to end hunger on a worldly level is the Christ Community Church. This group packaged about 220,000 meals that will be sent to Mali. So many of the children in Mali are malnourished and many die of hunger within their first year. There is enough food in the world to feed everyone; we just have problems getting it distributed to the areas that need it most. I think our government could keep a better eye on problems like this and spend more money on attacking the hunger problem in our country instead of spending so much money on the war.

During my freshman year in high school, I had the opportunity to go to Chicago on a service trip with my school. One of the service projects that we participated in was a trip to the La Casa soup kitchen. Normally, most volunteers would have gone inside and served the less-fortunate their food, but on this day we waited outside in line with the less-fortunate. It was a different experience, because it really made me think about how everyday they wait out in the sub-degree weather just to receive a hot meal. Waiting in line with them showed solidarity with the poor. After we received our meals, we were able to sit and talk with some of the men and women. They had amazing stories of how they came to be where they are at. Many of them didn’t seem to mind that this was their lifestyle. Others were attempting to turn their lives around. One woman I remember told me that she had just gotten a job and she was trying to make a better life for her kids.

This trip to Chicago really opened my eyes to the fact that poverty, homelessness, and hunger live not only in Chicago but in my own city as well. After I got back from the trip I realized that I had ignored these problems for so long and had no idea that they existed! After this, I started doing more service projects that allowed me to confront these issues head on. I volunteered with habitat for humanity, I became a mentor for less-fortunate child through Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Midlands, and I helped fix up a community center in one of the Hispanic neighborhoods. Small projects like these are the start of make a change. The change may not be immediate, but overtime the little things will add up to a big change. Maybe someday our society will no longer have to recognize poverty, hunger, or homelessness as major problems.

Post 8: Omaha, Ne: The Greatest City Ever

2007-10-10T16:10:00.000-05:00

Omaha, Ne is famously known as the host of the NCAA Men’s College World Series. Fans come from all over the United States to see their favorite teams play. But, do you thinks these fans would come to Omaha for a vacation if baseball wasn’t their main reason for coming? Many Omahans feel that the city they live in is boring and that there never anything to do. Although unknown to some, Omaha, Ne has many exciting events and venues to offer its citizens and visitors.

The Henry Doorly Zoo is becoming one of the largest zoo’s in the country. It may not be as big and great as as the San Diego zoo, but if offers a comfortable atmosphere for families and school aged children. The zoo offers many educational opportunities for kids as well as a array of exotic animals. The IMAX theater is another great attraction that the zoo offers.

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is located just outside of Omaha. This state park has beautiful scenery and offers many attractions to visitors during all seasons. In the summer, the campground is filled with tents, motor homes and families crowded around a fire roasting hot dogs and making s’mores. The recently remolded water park has two tall water slides and a newly built wave pool. If you’re not into swimming, an early morning horseback ride or game of mini-golf may appeal to you. In the winter, when the weather turns cold enough, an outdoor ice-skating rink opens. If its too cold to be outdoors, an arts and crafts facility offers visitors the opportunity to paint ceramic statues.

As in Lincoln, sporting events draw big crowds to Omaha. Creighton Bluejay basketball is a popular event in Omaha. The Creighton basketball team has made it to the NCAA basketball tournament for the past few years. Almost every game is sold out and when the team hits the road, dedicated Omaha fans follow the team when they travel. UNO Maverick hockey is another popular sporting event. The atmosphere at one of these games is so fun; it is also a cheap weekly outing.

The Holland Performing Arts Center was recently built a few years ago. It is Omaha’s newest concert hall. The Omaha Symphony, Omaha Area Youth Orchestra, and many famous acts have performed on this stage. Omaha’s theater company puts on a large variety of great shows. The Orpheum Theater has had Broadway shows such as Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King performed on it’s historical stage.

These are just a few of the great things that Omaha has to offer. Every time someone tells me they’re bored, I can think of a million things do to! I feel that by knowing the city that I live in helps me to convince others that Omaha is the greatest city in Nebraska.

(The O! at the top of this article is the symbol used to promote Omaha events to the residents of Omaha. O! structures have popped up all over the city. It is a symbol that encourages the people of Omaha to get out and get involved!!)

Post 7 : Project 1

2007-10-07T22:31:00.000-05:00

Imagine for a moment that you are able to smell, feel, and hear everything you love about fall. Your annual trip to the pumpkin patch for a hayrack ride and a chance to get that perfect pumpkin are a few of the things you love. You are outside on a crisp fall day, jumping into piles of warm colored leaves. You can feel the cool breeze blowing through your hair and you can smell the fresh apple cider that your mom is making inside. Like your imagination, your senses come alive when you attend the weekly Farmer’s Market located in the historic Haymarket area.

Pieces of metal have been shaped into pumpkins, leaves, and scarecrows. Fresh produce and home baked pies lined the cobble stone streets of the Haymarket. Homegrown pumpkins patiently sit waiting upon a barrel of hay for a new owner. These are just a few examples of the variety the Farmer’s Market offers.

A typical Saturday morning in Lincoln’s downtown includes Husker fans tailgating and a Farmer’s Market that gives visitors a tasty treat. The historic Haymarket offers visitors a place where their senses come alive. People are able to see smell, hear, and feel all of the great things associated with fall. The old buildings and cobblestones streets remind us of a different time. They tell an unwritten story of how things used to be. A Saturday morning spent in the Haymarket, offers visitors a taste of Lincoln’s uniqueness.

An ordinary Farmer’s market might include a few vendors selling fresh produce or the occasional bouquet of flowers. The Lincoln Farmer’s Market offers more than food and decoration. Gypsy music and a group of twelve belly dancers is not something you expect to hear or see at a local market. Twelve women danced with style in front of the old train depot. I was captivated by their unique style. What made it unique was that I realized that belly dancing is a form of art. It is an art that is all about movement and rhythm. It was so beautiful and smooth, it was like watching a ballet.

One of the most interesting things to observe was the costumes that the women were wearing. Each costume was full of vibrant blues, reds, and greens. Clinky jewels covered their skirts. Their skirts fanned out when they did a twirl. Each woman wore a headpiece made of beads and colorful fabric.

Each dancer put so much emotion into the dance. The emotion was shown through her facial features. The way each dancer let her arms and hips flow to the music reminded me of the way hula dancers move so delicately. The music had no words, it was all about the rhythm. I was able to tell that the women were having fun; they kept a smile on their faces the whole dance. Since the performers were having a good time, I could tell that the audience was pleased with what they were watching.

As the audience eagerly looked on, other visitors roamed through a sea of red to discover the other hotspots of the Farmer’s Market. It was a Husker game day; fans of all ages roamed through the rows of vendors as they killed time before the start of the big game. I might have been one of the only people there not wearing red, but I was happy to see that people of Nebraska take pride in their state and that they go out to support the home team.

In the background, you could hear the Husker fight song. All around the perimeter of the Haymarket, fans had set up their grills and started a BBQ. Other fans were listening to the pre-game shows on the radio which helped get them pumped up for the big game. In a few short hours, the majority of these fans flocked over to the stadium, leaving the market as quiet as it was before it opened.

Husker football seems to be the main thing that attracts attention around here. I was surprised at the number of people that were there. I think it shows that people are not afraid to get out and see the city that they live in. I feel that if more people attended things like the Farmer’s Market, they would become more culturally aware. To me, culture is seeing and interacting with things and people that you do not normally associate with.

The face of culture could be seen as I walked through the market. I saw people of all shapes and sizes. There were all types of people: Black, White, Asian, and Hispanic, young, old, small and big. The different types of people are an intricate part of the atmosphere. Without different types of people, there would be no need to have so many different vendors. The variety of people shows that not all social groups or races have the same tastes.

I think it is interesting that young people today do not know the reality of the city that they live in. Most teens from Lincoln probably have no idea that there are events such as the Farmer’s Market that go on every day right in their hometown. Most teenagers never move out of their comfort zone to see what is really out there. My perspective on this experience is that there are many so many little things that we miss. We often times do not allow ourselves to enjoy new experiences or get involved in activities that we would not normally try.

This experience taught me that I should not assume things. I assumed that it would just be produce and food vendors. I was wrong. The Farmer’s Market offered so much more than food. It offered entertainment and a unique experience for all of its visitors. I feel that our culture has tangled itself up in a mess. We are so obsessed about knowing everything that if we do not know we just assume something. Assuming puts doubts in our minds and gives us little confidence about what we actually do know.

It was interesting to observe the Farmer’s Market because I assumed that it would be similar to the one in Omaha. However, the market in Omaha is different from Lincoln’s market because it has no live entertainment. Omaha’s market has grown over the past few years, and now has about three times as many vendors as Lincoln’s market. The Omaha Farmer’s Market is also located in the downtown area. The atmosphere of both markets is similar; the old buildings that surround the festivities and the cobble stone roads give character to both markets. From personal experience, both markets are culturally diverse and provide a fun time for all.

When I was a junior in high school, I had the opportunity to work at the Omaha Farmer’s Market. I sat at the information table and helped all of the vendors get organized before the crowds came. From behind the scences, I never knew how much work it took to run one of these events. I arrived every Saturday morning at 530 a.m. It was still black outside and sometimes it was so cold, you wished you had a warm blanket to wrap up in. The vendors arrive early to provide the best for their customers.

After observing this event, I am shocked at how much more I notice. I started to notice different people around school and I started to see more signs about activities trying to get students involved. I feel good about saying that after this experience I will try to attend more events in Lincoln. Living life to the fullest is about getting out and seeing your surroundings. Attending an event such as the Farmer’s Market is a great opportunity to see a whole new side to the city of Lincoln. You are able to see the Haymarket, not as the Friday night hotspot, but as a place where the community gathers.

Post 6 Husker Game Day

2007-09-22T23:27:00.000-05:00

On game day, Memorial Stadium becomes the third largest city in Nebraska. Game day is one the greatest traditions of Nebraska. There is no greater feeling than the minute you step into Memorial Stadium. The atmosphere of the game is so intense, yet wonderful. The minute you step foot into the stadium, you can sense the excitement and intensity of the upcoming game. You can look around at a stadium full of 80,000 dedicated Husker fans and you can hear and feel the spirit that these fans bring with them. You know a die-hard Husker fan will always be there rain or shine.

I attended my first Husker game last Saturday night. I’ve heard for so many years that the feeling you get when you walk into the stadium is amazing! I’ve lived in Nebraska my whole life and have never been to a game! There are so many traditions such as Husker football games that go on in Nebraska and I had never taken part in one of the biggest of them all!

The most important part of this tradition is the tunnel walk. The tunnel walk sets the mood for the whole game. Before the players run onto the field they get so pumped up! Seeing all of the their energy makes the fans more excited. When the players run onto the field, the fans can see their enthusiasm. The music that they play as the players run onto the field is so exhilarating it gets the fans even more pumped!

Just watching this movie makes me feel excited to be a Nebraskan! Now that I’ve been to a game I’m hooked! I would go every weekend if I could. There is so much attitude and competitiveness in college football. You haven’t seen a real game until you’ve been to Memorial Stadium.

Post 5 A person who has made a difference

2007-09-19T16:24:00.000-05:00

Each one of us can think of at least one person who has made a difference in our lives. As we enter each new chapter of our lives, new role models appear to help shape the new chapter that we are beginning. The people that I admire most are those who go out of their way to make a difference. These teachers are a huge part of our lives because they have lead us to become the individuals that we are today.

A person that has already made a difference in my life is my golf coach Stacy Graham. Stacy is an amazing young woman that caught my attention from the moment that I met her. Her passion for her job can be seen by anyone around her. I admire her most for her ability to balance a career, coaching, and her family.

Coaching golf is a second job for Stacy. By day she is an accountant, by evening she is the Nebraska Wesleyan Woman’s Golf Coach. In only a short time, Stacy has become a huge part of my life. I am eager to go to practice everyday because I know I will see her. She always brings a happy and enthusiastic attitude with her to practice.

Stacy is a very calm person. I have observed that Stacy has the ability to sit back and observe a situation, and then jump in where help is needed. She is more than willing to take extra time to help a certain individual who might be struggling with their game. She has a way of calming a girl down when she becomes frustrated or discouraged during a tournament. Her positive and encouraging thoughts have helped me numerous times.

Stacy has taught me so many things in such a short amount of time. She has taught me to be more flexible with everything that goes on in my hectic schedule. She is more than willing to work with you if you aren’t able to make it to a practice. She understands the importance of our schoolwork and other activities that we are involved in. Stacy has taught me the gift of patience. I have learned to slow things down and take my time. I have definitely noticed an improvement in my swing after learning to take my time. The most important thing that Stacy teaches all the girls on the team is to relax and have fun. There is no reason at all to become upset over one bad round. Stacy is an all around positive person who inspires me to do my best each and every day.

Post 4 "Fragment X-O"

2007-09-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

The sculpture's name is Fragment X-O. It was created by Juan Hamilton and it is located in the sculpture garden behind the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery located on UNL's campus. This oval or whatever you want to call it, is one of the most simple pieces of art I have ever seen. It is so simple, yet you know there is a story behind this wonderful piece of art. From far away you can't tell that the sculpture is tipped on it's side. It almost looks like an Easter egg on it's side being rolled around.

My mind is wandering in so many directions as I stare at this piece of artwork. I'm thinking that this is an endless shape. There is no start or end. There has to be a start to it because we all start someplace. We did something or accomplished something great to get to where we are at now. Our lives are an endless circle. There is always something new happening. We are constantly meeting new people and trying new things. There is so much that we try to do. We always feel as if we will run out of time. Our society today is constantly on the go. We never take time to sit down and relax, to go for a walk on a beautiful day or just enjoy the peacefulness of a light rain.

I think everyone should make quiet time during the day for themselves. People need to calm down, sit back and enjoy the ride. People need to simplify their lives. Our lives need to be simple like this structure. Being simple may be hard to do because there is so much that we must give up in order to create a stress-free lifestyle.

Post 3: "Poverty Amid Prosperity"

2007-09-10T15:27:00.001-05:00

"Poverty Amid Prosperity"- Omaha World Herald April 15, 2007

“Poverty amid prosperity” is a story that was in the Omaha World Herald back in April 2007. This article highlights the sad situation that exists in Omaha, Ne. Omaha is the home to one of the poorest black communities in America.

This is an issue that I feel very close to because I feel that there is something that we can do about it. I focused my final senior research project on this topic because I felt like many teens in Omaha did not know the reality of the city that they lived in. I found out that I was right. Many people had no idea Omaha was so divided. Seeing the reality of what is going on around you is there first step in making a difference.

I found two common things that create barriers in Omaha, poverty and race. Taking a look at a map of the city shows that Omaha is racially divided. The majority of people living in the northern part of town are black and the majority of Hispanics live in South Omaha. I feel that the main reason these people are still living in poor areas is because when children grow up around poverty, all they see is poverty and violence. They don’t see the positive things that can happen to them. It is our duty as well educated and privileged people to show the people who live in poverty and violence that they can do something positive with their life.

Since Omaha is racially and economically divided I feel that this affects the relationships between the people in my city. One of my favorite quotes is from a book called “Savage Inequalities” by Jonathan Kozol. This book highlights the inequalities in our public school systems in the United States. In this book he recalls a conversation he had with a man. The man asked Kozol, Is it safe for you to go into these neighborhoods to visit these people? Kozol’s reply was something to the effect that if it isn’t safe for me to visit here it isn’t safe for parents to raise their children or for the children to play in the streets.

I feel that it will take decades maybe even a few more generations to reverse problems such as a racially divided city. I am optimistic to think that the young people of my generation will see this as a wake up call to reality. This is a problem that can’t be fixed over night, but eventually it will destroy our society if nothing is done about it today. Simple things like getting involved with younger kids or volunteering at the Boy and Girls Club are simple things that we can do to start making a change.

Post 2: Telephone Museum

2007-09-09T14:35:00.001-05:00

My trip the to the telephone museum was so interesting! My favorite room in the museum was the switchboard operator’s room. The switchboard operators were an essential part of how the telephone system worked! Without them people wouldn’t have been able to stay connected. I was amazed at the size of the machines and how “complex” they were. I can only imagine how hard their job must have been.

Another cool part of the museum was the dialing demonstration that showed a step-by-step process of how local calls were made. I was amazing to see this machine dial a number. You had to type in the number you wanted to call, and then a phone that was sitting right next to the machine would ring once the call had been connected! It was amazing!

It was weird to see the type of wall phones that they had back in the day. It was like the ones you see in old movies where you have to use the crank to dial a number. It was interesting to see how the telephone changed over the years. The phones that they had in the 60’s and 70’s were bright colored and looked similar to some phone that we still have today. The wooden phone booths were also very similar to what we have today. The old pay phones also looked similar to those of today. They just had a different ear/mouth piece but the overall design has stayed the same.

This museum was a great opportunity to explore the technology of the past. The museum was full of so much history! It was really neat to spend time thinking about technology of the past. All of the telephones and switchboards were so complex. After seeing all of the work people went through to deliver messages and connect phone calls, I definitely feel like we take today’s modern technology for granted.

Post 1: Discourse Surrounding the Essay

2007-09-03T21:16:00.000-05:00

The “Who Cares” factor?
“My teacher wrote who cares?... to filter all the data through the mesh of personal relevance…”- Geoffrey Wolff

I like this quote because it talks about essays that are boring and confusing to the reader. An influential essayist knows what the reader wants and needs to read. A writer does not focus on unimportant details. Rather a good essayist focuses on what is important to the reader. The problem lies within the fact that the writer may see something as important while the reader may see it as unnecessary.

I agree with this quote because often time we read something that we feel is absolutely boring or irrelevant to our lives. It is hard to concentrate on an essay that is of no interest to the reader. If a reader is bored, they may start skimming through the essay and they might even miss a very important detail. A good writer must filter out all unnecessary data.

An important thing to take away from this quote is that not every detail is important to the reader. The reader wants to know the most important information and not be bothered with anything else. As a writer, a particular detail may seem important to you, but when writing you must always consider the reader’s point of view. Will they see this same detail as important even necessary to understanding the essay? For some essays, I appreciated that the writer included minute details because I didn’t know very much about the particular topic.

Another important aspect of an influential essayist is a person who shows both sides of a story without giving a biased viewpoint. No one wants to read an essay that only shows one side of the story. The reader may have a different opinion than the author, so I think it is important to show both sides so the reader can form their own opinion after reading the essay. If the essay is biased, the reader may have a “who cares” attitude towards the writer’s opinion.

Post 1: Test Post

2007-08-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

First post.