:: 2003 3 October :: 8.55 pm
:: Mood: content
:: Music: "In The Light" DC Talk

12 Meanings | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 15 September :: 8.11 pm

Yeah, sure I knw it looks stupid. But hey, I need to be able to see it when I'm at school.

CPR tonight, I hope it will put me back wher I belong.

I had a First Draft of History paper due today. I think I did pretty good. One of the twins read my paper, but some things were not as in depth as I would like them to be. I'm sure Dr. Smither will totally obliterate my paper. There is no clear thesis, I did not do a good job of abstracting the works, and my conclusion sucked. Oh well. I think I did better than the paper I had to critque. YOu couldn't even get an idea of what she was trying to prove, she hadn't sited anything, and the paper was filled with spelling and grammatical errors, the like I've never seen since spell check was invented. I know I'm harsh, but it's a 300 level class, c'mon.

What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 14 August :: 6.12 pm
:: Mood: calm
:: Music: "Mrs. Robinson"- Paul Simon

2 Meanings | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 10 August :: 8.50 pm

"The argument stated about being "against nature" is quite frankly absurd. ALL studies on the topic have shown that nearly every species on earth has about a 10% homosexual population. " –PaulR295

Is this a random phenomena? I would have to be for this large a percentage to show up in all species on earth. A brief evolutionary and genetics lesson if you please: Homosexuality in the general animal population, if genetic, would quickly be extinguished. Homosexuality is a trait that runs contrary to natural reproduction. If animals were homosexual it would seem to indicate that they would only have sex with others of the same sex in their species. Therefore these "homosexual" animals would never reproduce. If they never reproduce, how can they pass on their homosexual genes? Now I do have to grant to you the idea of bisexuality inherent in animals. I’ve seen squirrels try to have sexual relations with a power transformer before, it does not mean that the squirrel is irreversibly attracted to a power transformer, it’s just that it feels good (or felt, considering the electrical shock quickly extinguished the squirrel’s life). However lending credence to bisexuality in this argument can have no other conclusion that homosexuality is not genetic.

"b/c people are finally being able to realize that gay people are a very real part of our society and it is our duty as Americans to accept it." –Tony

Marijuana smokers and drug addicts are also "very real" parts of our society. Is it our duty to accept their "lifestyle" too? I know that goes to a certain extreme, however, the American people don’t have a duty to do anything that they disagree with.

"Perhaps the best evidence to support the fact that being gay is genetic comes from BYU.BYU had a scandal were they took gay students and they forced them to buy homosexual things that aroused them like gay porn.And then they gave them electro-shock therapy,making them watch the porn and shocking them everytime they were aroused.the results...all of the students still came out gay." –future world dictator

Behavior modification therapy is not always 100% effective. Psychologists have repeatedly tried to influence peoples’ behavior in this manner, and they have found that the mind can endure excruciating punishment inflicted on the body without changing. For example, the POW’s from WWII, the Korean Conflict, and Vietnam, they were subjected to beatings and starvation, and while some of them caved into the pressure to renounce their actions, others did not, because they had set their minds to it. Gay teenagers are very persistent. I do however agree with you on your point about Republicans and their hypocrisy on states’ rights.

"This is how we are treating homosexuals. We are denying their rights and even forgetting they are human…..But to deny the average middle class human being their rights and respect is just wrong"

–Armedatwar

Please, somebody give me one instance where the law is denying homosexuals their rights to be homosexuals? I do agree that there is discrimination out there against homosexuals, however, as long as the law remains blind to this, there is nothing we can do legally to stop people’s discriminatory feelings. Plus homosexuals are not the average middle class human being. Homosexuals, on average, have higher incomes that most middle class people. They tend to live in large cities. If we want to talk average middle class citizens are predominantly white, married, with a minivan, children, and live in suburbia.

"It's great that you think that gays should have the same rights as straights in all cases because they are EQUAL under the Constitution; that is very true. But, why then are you against seeing homosexuality on TV? If the treatment for gays and straights should be the same , as you rightfully say, shouldn't both be allowed to be shown on TV? There are TONS of acts of heterosexual affection shown on TV every day. But homosexual affection shouldn't be allowed? Can you explain yourself here, cuz that doesn't make sense." –PaulR295

Now this is just straight our homosexual propaganda you are asking for. Why, if 10% of the population is homosexual, should 50% of the affection, or sex, on television be of homosexual nature? At this point you are revealing the true nature of the homosexual movement. That is, we have been oppressed, accept us, and because we think we have been oppressed we want 50% of everything. Why, only 10% of the population is homosexual? The Gay Rights movement is no longer about attaining equality it is about obtaining special rights. If I could give it a historical context it would be the Korean Conflict. MacArthur was told to just fight back until South Korea was reestablished, but he pushed, and was eventually defeated.

I know that some of you may be misinformed on the facts. Of course I also know that some of you downright, out and out, disagree with me. That’s fine. This is America and we both have that right. I have a right to object to homosexuality. And while it may seem that when conservatives talk about this issue in broad contexts, they seem like heartless bigots. To be honest, I have worked and went to school with quite a few homosexuals. I find them to be remarkable individuals to endure everything that they do. I feel it is my duty to my God, to love that person. My love for that person has nothing to do with their behavior, which I happen to object to. Thank You for taking the time to consider my statements.

1 Meaning | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 28 July :: 6.25 pm
:: Mood: confused
:: Music: "Torn" Natalie Imbruglia

1 Meaning | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 10 July :: 10.46 pm
:: Mood: inquisitive
:: Music: "Mary Jane's Last Dance" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

1 Meaning | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 8 July :: 6.34 pm
:: Mood: blah
:: Music: "Lose Yourself" Eminem

What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 18 June :: 7.21 pm
:: Mood: content
:: Music: "Pour Me" Trick Pony

3 Meanings | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 31 May :: 11.12 pm

There are just some birthdays that mean absolutely nothing. Like 17. It's not 16, you've already got your license. It's not like 18, you can't get smokes or porn, so 17 sucks. Well, I get the feeling that 19 is the same way. 59 minutes till that day and that's the way I feel. I can buy smokes and porn, though I choose not to, but I can't drink, and it doesn't mean anything. I still can call myself a teenager, although I'm not really. But I'm only 19, and that's no better than an eighteen year old, except I've been around a year longer. Yeah, Happy Birthday to me.

5 Meanings | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 31 May :: 5.46 pm

So I called her. Screw you all of those that said I wouldn't.

What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 6 May :: 9.11 pm

Well, hello there.

I could have posted much more before this. I just prefer to sit back in the shadows and let the rest of you talk.

The history paper below = 87%
I ended up with a B+ in the class.

I've been trying to control myself lately. So many wants, so many things I need. Or, so many things I think I need. So much future out there. I mean, two more years and I could be done with school. Two. That's it. AP credits are so nice. Well, not really two. Two after next year. It just seems so short.

The job is a dead end. I guess I could possibly spend the rest of my life working there, but why would I want to put myself through that? I wouldn't.

I feel alone, I need some fellowship.
I feel alone, I need a hug.
I feel alone, but I feel good.
I feel alone and I feel confident.

2 Meanings | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 9 April :: 8.38 am

Charlie Campbell
Professor Travis
History 206 C
9 April 2003
Baseball, More Than a Game Every spring, from New York to San Francisco, from Seattle to Miami, a new season begins. The ball clubs are coming north, and America’s Pastime will return the boys of summer to cities across the nation. Baseball, America’s sport, is entertainment, but it is also so much more. Baseball is America, and the two are forever linked. The demonstration of the feeling between baseball and it’s fans can be told by the storied voice of Hall of Fame announcer, Ernie Harwell (click sound on left). From grassroots foundations behind the lines of the Union Army, to a rallying point of America during World War II, to the evils of segregation, and more recently a sign of American prosperity, baseball has reflected American society.
Baseball is an American game. Modern day baseball’s invention is attributed to Abner Doubleday. Although versions of the game had been played in various locations around the world, Doubleday is accredited as being the first person to write down the rules of the game. In addition to being dubbed the creator of baseball, Doubleday also served as a lieutenant in the Union Army, before and during the Civil War. Doubleday was part of the garrison that manned Fort Sumter, the place where hostilities first began. After his reassignment from Sumter, baseball quickly became a past time of many Union soldiers. The game was simple to set up and could be played almost anywhere when a significant amount of players could be found. Baseball was popularized by its play during the Civil War. In a way, baseball spread throughout the nation as a result of a horrific war that led to deep division within the nation. Later, that spread and division would be a unifying force in American society.
During World War II, America’s men left the country to fight the enemies of the country. In many communities women went into the workplace to replace those men. Many companies promoted women in the workplace by popularizing the figure of “Rosie the Riveter.” Rosie, a name given to all women who choose to enter the workforce during the war, was something of a national hero, helping to power the American war machine while at the same time tending to a household. This played a key role in the nation’s pastime, baseball. Baseball was also plagued by a shortage of “workers” at the time. Many Major League players enlisted in the armed services. Ted Williams, the star left fielder of the Boston Red Sox is a prime example. Williams spent one tour of duty during World War II flying in the Pacific theater fighting the imperial forces of Japan. With a shortage of quality male talent, profit minded club owners started a woman’s baseball league. Very large profits were to be found in the entertainment industry. The nation was geared for wartime production. Wages were high, however the consumer goods that were available in the 1920's were not being produced. In addition, rationing of other goods led to a surplus of consumer dollars. With this money, people were led to quality entertainment, leading the owners to start such a league of women. These women faced many of the same challenges of balancing household work and a job. The situation that these women found themselves in is portrayed in the movie, “A League of Their Own.” The trend toward entertainment, and the flight of men to the war, caused baseball to reflect the economic and patriotic realities of society.
Although Jackie Robinson broke into baseball in 1947, baseball was still a highly segregated institution. Baseball resembled most other societal functions, African Americans in one place, whites in another. Some of the Negro Leagues best players never saw a Major League pitch. Great players such as Josh Gibson, who is said to be the true home run king, spent their entire lives playing professional ball, but never made it to the Major Leagues. Satchel Paige had to pitch well past normal retirement age to spend years in the big leagues. Paige spent six years in Major League Baseball, he retired at the age of forty-eight. Although it took mainstream American society almost until the 1970's to fully integrate, baseball broke with tradition and had achieved almost total integration by 1950. The legacy of Robinson, Paige, and Gibson, mark a point in time where baseball broke from it’s long held reflection of society in terms of segregation.
Recently, baseball has become a reflection of the economic wealth. The 1990's saw tremendous economic growth. The Dow Jones’ Industrial Average skyrocketed to unprecedented heights. In 1990 the Dow Jones Industrials Average was at 2633.66 as compared to 1999 when the average closed out at 11,497.10. In the 90's baseball also prospered, becoming a multibillion dollar industry and generating tremendous economic opportunity for almost all involved. The leading figure in this was the average salary of a Major League Baseball Player. The average salary went from $578,930 in 1990 to $1,720,050 in 1999. More recently, the American economy has gone into recession. The results of a slow down in capital investment combined with the September 11th attacks have caused a downturn in the American economy. This downturn can also be seen in the economics of baseball. The free agent market in the winter of 2002-03 saw many players taking significant pay cuts. Kenny Rogers, a successful left handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers was offered five million dollars a year to resign with the Rangers. Rogers, holding out for more money declined the offer. Just before the start of the season, having not received any other offers, Rogers signed for two million dollars with the Minnesota Twins. In other instances, some players continue to benefit from contracts that were signed during peak times, when talent was expensive. Most player signed to such contracts continue to produce, such as the Rangers’ Alex Rodriguez, who is making twenty-five million dollars a year, however, other players do not. The most recent examples are Greg Vaughn of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Damion Easley of the Detroit Tigers. Both player were owed multi-million dollars over the next year. However, these teams choose to release them from their contracts. This is similar of the downsizing of American business. Many businesses release their higher paid employees to create payroll flexibility. This leads to increased unemployment rates. Currently the American economy is saddled with such burdens.
Baseball at its very best is a pure American game. A game that, by some, is considered comparable to a religion. In a way, peoples lives flow up and down with the game, just as the game flows up and down as a reflection of American society.

What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 6 April :: 9.07 pm
:: Mood: creative
:: Music: "Almost Home" Craig Morgan

1 Meaning | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 27 March :: 10.37 am
:: Mood: crazy
:: Music: "Better Is One Day" - Third Day

5 Meanings | What is your life meant to be?

:: 2003 26 March :: 9.18 am

8th Grade Lesson Plan on The United States Constitution
Anticipatory Set: Students have been taught about the Constitution previously. This is an in depth look at our system of government and will clarify some myths.
Objectives: Students will: - possess an understanding of how our government works at the national level
- be able to name the major compromises that made ratification possible
- be able to identify the three branches of government
Instructinal Input: I will lecture while I write important facts on the board/overhead for the students to take notes.
Modeling: Explanation of various compromises and terms.
Check for Understanding: Ask questions of random students to determine if the knowledge has been retained.
Guided Practice: Students will be aked to get into groups of four. They will then formulate a paragraph, each composing a sentence of that paragraph. The topic of the paragraph will be one of the three branches of government.
Independent Practice: I will ask students to choose two or three terms (the third being extra credit). They will then formulate their own definitions of those terms based upon their own understanding. For homework.
Evaluation: A matching quiz will be handed out the next day. It will cover major terms, the three branches, and major compromises. The students will be given 10-15 minutes to complete the activity.
Materials: -students
-classroom
-textbooks
-pencils
-paper
-poster of paragraph structure

What is your life meant to be?