What makes items tip?

 

Have you ever wondered what makes some items more appealing than others? Why you turn out to be the person you are? Why teens start to smoke? Why yawns are contagious? Well, this book, "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell, talks all about that. It is very interesting. I never really understood what made things "tip" so to speak, and why some products spread better than others. I feel like this book would have been even better if I wanted to go into business because I could apply it to my job. Yet, I have nothing to apply it to. The book is just another way to help me understand why the world works the way it does. It pretty much just makes me mind blown and my brain hurt to see this is really how the world works.

On the bright side, this book is a really fast read. Gladwell uses informal diction throughout the book. He never tries to prove how educated he is through big words that nobody knows the meaning of. Instead, he gains credibility by using numerous facts, experiments and real life examples to prove his knowledge on the subject. All he uses are examples, examples, and more examples to get the reader to understand what he is talking about. He really wants to keep teach the reader. Throughout the book, you can tell that he is really passionate about the subject, which makes the book all the more enjoyable to read.

All in all, this book was really fantastic. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that wants to understand why things happen the way they do. He paints the picture in the reader's head as clearly as possible and really helps you to understand. If you are not satisfied just knowing that something happened, I would definitely recommend this book because it couldn't be any better written than it was. specially with a subject like this. So get your read on! READ READ READ!

"Out of sight, out of mind"

Everyone knows the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," but is it really true? In some ways I would like to say YES, of course it is true. I mean, you never really realize what you have been given until it is gone. Yet, sometimes the statement "Out of sight, out of mind" comes into play. So, which is more valid? I believe that the both are true depending on the circumstances. If you are missing something for just a very short period of time, I believe that the latter can be achieved. Yet, if something so dear to you, and it is gone for even a short period of time, you realize how much you miss it. In this case, the first quote applies. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" is a more acceptable quote for many experiences.

Think about it: how many times have you been punished by your parents and they take away TV, the computer, your phone, or your ability to hang out with friends. Once it is gone, you realize how much you actually depend on these items to get through the day (well, at least I do.) I didn't realize how much I depended on my phone until I had it taken away from me for an extended period of time. I freel naked with out it. After it is gone I realize how much I need it and I want it back.

Ok so enough of this depending on electronics idea, what about if someone you love dearly is gone for months on end. Like if your loved one is deployed to Iraq or Iran to fight in the war. You realize how much you love them when they are gone and your heart aches for them. When they get home, all you want to do is hold them and never let go. This doesn't mean in any way that you didn't love your significant other before, you just realize how you never want to live without them during their deployment. This is just like how your love for your husband/wife should grow throughout your years with them, if it doesn't there is something wrong.

In the book "The Last Song" I bawled my eyes out throughout the end. But that is besides the point. Basically the daughter is a b**** to her dad until she realizes that he is dying. She hates that she has to stay with him for a summer and she ignores her dad or yells at him the entire time because she blames him for the leaving them (when in reality her mom was the one that cheated on him). She didn't realize how much she needed him until he was on his deathbed. Once he was about to die and actual passed away she figured out how much she needed him. But it was too late, she couldn't take back all the nasty things she said to him. This just proves that you have to treat others like you will never be able to say you are sorry. Don't say things you will regret later.

If you ever find yourself thinking "Out of sight, out of mind" you may need to take into account the fact that whoever or whatever is out of sight, out of mind, is not important enough to you to either stay with them. You obviously don't love them enough or care for them enough for them to be the right one, because when you love someone you will want to hold onto them forever. You never realize what you have until it is gone. At that point, you will not get to say all of the things that you wish you could say. Therefore, you should never go a day without saying "I love you" to your loved ones and forgiving everyone for their mishaps. Never sleep a night with words unsaid because you will never know when you won't be able to say another word to them. Live life in the moment. Adios!

Works Cited

 http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/2300/2300,1243988566,5/stock-photo-young-happy-worker-portrait-with-arms-crossed-31358020.jpg

http://youthservicesslc.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/the-rising-child-poverty-rate-and-what-you-can-do-to-fight-it/

http://www.theoohmediagroup.com/upload/images/happy%20office%202.jpg

http://watergatesummer.blogspot.com/2011/12/99-report-for-awopradio-sunday-december.html

http://www.storiesofwisdom.com/you-are-a-dog/

http://tomandjudyonablog.blogspot.com/2010/09/war-steals-from-poor-and-unemployed.html

http://conservativedailynews.com/2011/12/msm-reports-u3-unemployment-rate-of-8-6-ignores-u6-unemployment-rate-of-15-6/

http://heartofweb.com/category/jobs/

http://www.teapartytribune.com/tag/national-unemployment-rates-rise/

http://us.resiliencesystem.org/poorest-poor-us-hits-new-record-1-15-people

http://www.bizindia.net/uploads/tphome/images/2011/8.%20Cummulative%20Job%20Losses%20-%20Bush%20vs%20Obama.jpg

http://visitnepal2011year.blogspot.com/2010/06/economic-condition-of-nepal.html

http://www.legaltruths.com/unemployment/bankruptcy/a-loss-of-income-doesn%E2%80%99t-have-to-hurt-your-finances/

http://www.wallstreetgreek.blogspot.com/2010/11/should-unemployment-insurance-extension.html

http://theleftinme.blogspot.com/2010/11/no-unemployment-for-you.html

http://obama.net/governments-99-week-unemployment-benefits-extensions-running-out-crisis-looming/

http://www.depression2.tv/nwo/archives/000023.html

http://www.legaltruths.com/unemployment/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/picture-man-on-steps-frustrated1.jpg

http://www.idealflickr.com/2011/09/16/census-us-poverty-rate-swells-to-nearly-1-in-6/

http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2011/05/02/all-time-high-expected-for-teen-summer-unemployment-rate-rise-in-street-violence-expected/

http://www.fortliberty.org/barack-obama-does-not-care-about-black-people.html

http://www.thedigeratilife.com/blog/how-to-survive-a-job-loss/

http://blog.clickso.com/?p=426

http://5magazine.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/record-levels-of-extreme-poverty-in-usa/

http://chrisbanescu.com/blog/2010/03/some-americans-getting-99-weeks-of-unemployment-payments/

http://www.dipity.com/slurveboy8/Poverty_1/

 http://giftideas.ws/change-the-world-pillow

Process Analysis

1) I chose these pictures in particular to show that unemployment is a major problem in the United States. I wanted to reveal the issues that occur as a result of the loss of jobs and continued unemployment. Throughout this visual argument, I claim that the loss of jobs has increased and is making a drastic impact on not only the people that are laid off, but their families too. I do this by showing images of people in distress that have just lost their jobs and families that need help. I want the audience to understand that this is still a major issue in the United States. The warrants that I used while producing my video were that losing your job would cause someone distress. This is sensible because without a job  it is tough to make money; thus one would easily be stressed because they do not know what is going to happen to them. I also made a warrant that losing your job causes one to eventually become poor and needy; they may end up losing their houses and going hungry. This is reasonable because after a certain amount of time unemployment benefits run out, and even with unemployment benefits most could not cover the cost associated with supporting an entire family. Therefore, without a steady income, many families are forced to live on the streets. Another important warrant that I based my claim on was that living on the streets is a bad situation and should be avoided at all costs. This is understandable because living on the streets is generally looked down upon. Homelessness is unsanitary, unhealthy, and unjust. Another warrant that I use is that being stressed is a bad situation.

This is why I wanted to reveal to the audience that unemployment is omnipresent and affecting many Americans lives in a negative way every day.  My intended audience is the people of America, mostly the people that have a steady job. I want to show them that unemployment is still present and looming over many less fortunate people in the United States. I want them to become more grateful for what they have been given and feel like others need their help. I chose pictures that would make the biggest impact and evoke the most emotion and sympathy from the viewers of my visual argument.

                                                         
2) Each of the pictures I chose makes an argument in it of itself. I chose images that would make the viewers feel for the people pictured in each situation. In particular, I chose pictures of sad children because children usually make people feel bad and want to do something to make a difference, just as sad puppies and kittens do. I chose graphs because they reveal the reality of unemployment and job losses; they show that it is still ever present in the battles of the United States economy. I picked pictures of sad business men that lost their job to reveal to the audience how tragic being laid off is to many that have to endure it.
    I picked the order of my images in a very particular fashion. I began my argument with images of happy workers, and then I show unemployment on the rise. Afterward, I show the impact unemployment has had on individuals by showing distressed people, signs looking for work, and homeless families. I chose this order for my argument because I wanted to produce a storyline that shows what unemployment has done to our country. My purpose was to inform the audience that everyday people could have their lives drastically changed by unemployment. It could happen to any worker, and the results are life altering and unjust. I chose to put the most impactful pictures at the end of my video to leave the audience with those pictures looming in their minds. They will feel as if unemployment is a problem that needs to be fixed. I decided to have the pictures that show unemployment is rising every few images to make it clear that that is my argument. I repeated pictures of distressed people and children to bring home the point that unemployment makes people feel this way; therefore, evoking a sense of sympathy from my audience.
    I chose the background as images of clocks over the color gray. I did this to show that time is ticking away while unemployment is still a big problem. Gray has the connotation of stress, sadness, gloominess, and an overall negative feeling. This reveals that unemployment is all of these emotions and more. I put more of a focus on images that I believed would have the most impact on the audience. I thought these images revealed my purpose for making the video. They clearly showed my reasons for arguing. My reasons include that unemployment makes people distressed and that it will eventually make people poor and unable to provide for their family. This is shown through the constant images of needy families and individuals. It is revealed through the sad and distressed businessmen sitting on the streets without a job. These clearly show that unemployment is still present and making a negative impact on the everyday lives of thousands of Americans.

3) The music I chose is a piece by Chopin called Nocturne No. 2 in E Flat Major. This is a classical piece that has no lyrics throughout the piece. I selected this musical piece because I thought that the audience would believe it was intense and connect with the artistry of the notes. Many would not know this piece, yet it is clearly a classic. It gets faster at the correct portions of the video. I expect that the audience will enjoy the piece and believe it fits my video perfectly.  I chose there to be no words because I thought it would take away from the images that I created and placed into my video. Lyrics would take away from the sadness of my video. I am in no way an expert on music and the only instrument I hear is the piano. The music is trying to be calming, yet intense. It keeps the listener waiting for more, just like the images do. It perfectly intertwines with the images because they are both sad and intense. If I chose another musical piece, it would not have the same effect on the listeners. If I chose a hip hop song for instance, it would totally deplete the sadness and impact of my images. It would not add to my argument in the slightest.
   

Visual Argument: Unemployment

Christmas on the Sea

I just got home from the best vacation of my life! For Christmas, I had the opportunity to go on a cruise in the Caribbean with my family and my dad's best friend from college and his wife. Not only was it warm outside, but the sites that I saw were absolutely gorgeous. I have never seen water so clear in my life and trees so green and lush. We started the cruise in Puerto Rico then preceded to St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and then back to Puerto Rico again. The islands were spectacular.

Eventhough the islands were amazing one of the best parts was the food. Everywhere I turned there was food, not just any food but delicious food. I don't think I have had that much steak in a row ever. There was no limit to what type of food was offered and how much offered. You name it they had it. Food from all over the world, food I had never even heard of. They didn't just have all these weird foreign foods but they also had American favorites like burgers and pizza and icecream. Yet, I never ate any of that because I knew I could have that as soon as I reached the states.

Not only was their food and incredible views but there were countless things to do while on the boat. There was ping pong, mini golf, basketball courts, pools, arcades, clubs, a movie theater, a theatre for live performances, a casino, pool tables, jumbo checker boards and more. Yes more. I could live there forever and never get bored. There were nemerous events you could sign up for too, like the belly flop contest. The first day we were on the boat, Christmas day, there was a contest to see who could make the biggest splash. My dad signed up. Boy, was that embarrassing! Five big men jumping in a pool with their bellies out. Before they jumped each was introduced and did a little something. Personally, I think that my dad had the best and most creative dance, but I won't go into much detail. He was introduced last as the one wthat would make a tsunami, and he was pretty close to doing just that. Sadly, he lost to the guy with a santa beard, but he really had the best jump. The only reason he lost was it was Christmas, but he is still bitter that he lost.

Lastly, there were incredible people on the ship. I met so many new people that I would now consider friends. Every person that worked on the ship greeted you with a smile and asked how your day has been. Personally, I said hi to everyone that I made eyecontact with, and most of the time that went over really well. I met people from all over the globe. I met friends from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Canada, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Chile, and so on. Everyone was so happy to be living and enjoyed the experience. If anyone ever gets the chance, I definitely recommend going on a cruise for a week. It will be an experience you will never forget.

Dear people who...

Dear people who claim that they passed the second grade,

    Eventhough you claim you passed it, you clearly do not show it in writing. Honestly, it is not that hard to spell simple words like "to." I would think that after years of schooling we should be able to make our second grade teachers proud by knowing the difference between homophones. I would also gladly appreciate that people never use "texting" language outside of texting. It should even be used at a minimum when texting.
    Just in case people still do not know how to use everyday homophones I will give you a quick rundown.
Their: shows possession
There: refers to a place
They're: contracts 'they are'

Two: a number
To: Can be used as a preposition of movement
      Can be used as a preposition of direction
      Can be used in conjunction with times
      Can be used to mean 'receive'
      Can be used as the first part of an infinitive
Too: Used to mean 'more than sufficient' or 'very'
        Used to mean 'in addition to' or 'also'

Your: means belonging to you
You're: contracts "you are"

Now that you know all of this I hope that some of you could integrate this into your own lives. Also, please save the texting chat for texting, even then don't use it. It saves no time by say plz instead of please, ok two letters, big whoop. Itz hard 2 take some1 seriously wen dey tlk like dis 2 sve 1 ltr. It makes me think that you are stupid and have not been educated at all. Honestly, it is not any cooler; it makes me look down on people that talk like that because they cannot use proper spelling or grammar.

It also shows me that anyone who uses this language is lazy. If you cannot take the extra .005 of a second to type in an extra letter or figure out the difference between the most common homophones, what will you do when a tough, time excrutiatng task is at had? Will you take the time to finish it the right way? Or just blow it off  and do an awful job? When people talk like this I lean toward the latter. So please think 2x b4 u start 2 tlk like dis homie g sizzle.

Cordially,

Heather Hynick