It's another stressful day

5 things i'm thankful for
1. Getting stressed out to come home!
2. Oh ya know, countin down the days!
3. Letting you [family] know i'm going black friday shoppin with some ladies:)
4. The fact that I'm trippin balls like mad to come home!
5. Talking to Bola today:)

Quote of the Day:
A taste for irony has kept more hearts from breaking than a sense of humor, for it takes irony to appreciate the joke which is on oneself.

Jessamyn West

I need a stress reliever tonight.I am going to conquer the baja challenge at taco bell. I am excited. You chug an xl baja blast all it once. I am so stoked. It's going to be epic. I'm going to puke. But I'll get some taco bell. That's always worth it. I love taco bell. Oh yeah. I'm so stoked. woot woot. I am really stressing out to come home. I don't think American Airlines allows you to take instruments on planes. I can't check my guitars. That's scary. I found out that the 3rd bag costs A LOT. I don't even have my third bag with me yet. this is BAD. oh boy.
I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

I watched New Moon tonight.

5 things i'm grateful for:
1. being first in line for midnight showings
2. playing cards before midnight showings
3. watching girls go crazy and get mad over poor seats
4. watching people go psycho because of midnight showings
5. watching movies at midnight showings

Quote of the day:
Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.
B. F. Skinner

sooooo, I just got back from new moon. It was a good movie. I laughed...a lot. I made lots of insightful comments much to the dismay of those around me. it was a dandy old time. I'm tired. It's very late. Peace out y'all!
I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

I wrote a paper today... I really like the Kanye theme...haha

5 things I'm thankful for:
1. Kanye being funny to Taylor at the VMA's
2. Making fun of Kanye because of what he did to Taylor.
3. Remakes of Taylor Swift songs.
4. Using Kanye's remarks as my paper titles.
5. Having my teacher be proud of me for bringing up the 14th amendment to defeat arguments in class.

Quote of the Day:
It is better for civilization to be going down the drain than to be coming up it.
Henry Allen


I wrote a paper today, I'm tired and don't have the capacity to write much. I hope you enjoy it.


Yo’ Oppressors, I’m Really Happy For You and All [NOT] and I’mma Let You Finish…But Other People Have Rights Too!

The foremost goal that came from the struggles of blacks and women for equal rights was an overall transformation of the American societal structure; it was not equal participation within the existing society. Both the blacks and the women wanted transformation. The transformation, that the two communities wanted, consisted of changing the societal structure whereas as equal participation did not consist of changing the societal structure but rather just a differentiating of the roles played by the blacks and women during the civil rights era. The black panthers—defenders of the black community—wanted nationalism that came from revolution. The black community wanted reparations in the form of land from the white community and for the white community to take responsibility for years of segregation and degradation. Women wanted transformation so that women could be more individualistic and ultimately attain self-fulfillment.
The black community wanted a revolution. The ideology of the black panthers was that revolution went hand in hand with the ideology of nationalism. We see this belief in Malcolm X’s speech when he states, “If you love revolution, you love black nationalism.” Part of the platform for the black panthers states that, “we want the power to determine the destiny of our Black Community.” The black panthers no longer were looking for equal representation or equality of jobs and things of that sort but rather the black panthers wanted complete power over the black community; they were looking for self-sufficiency and self-government. They wanted the protection of the United States Constitution but wanted trials and things of that sort done by a jury of their peer group or members of their black community (Document 6).
The black community had the ideology—that came and grew from the black panthers—that they deserved reparations in the form of land, and also what needed to happen was that the oppressors—the white community—must to take responsibility for what they had done. President Johnson said it best when he said, “White America must accept responsibility.” This was a view not seen prior to the civil rights movement and prior to the black panthers. Malcolm X said, “Revolution is based on land. Land is the basis for all independence. Land is the basis of for freedom, justice, and equality.” For the black community to demand land is to demand power. Land is power. Giving the Negroes the land—that they deserved— was promoting a transformation rather than just equality.
Women craved transformation. The Redstockings Manifesto stated the beliefs of the women at the time of the feminist movement, “Women are an oppressed class. Our oppression is total, affecting every facet of our lives…Our humanity is denied” The women of the civil rights era wanted mans reign of oppression to come to an end. They fought oppression valiantly on many fronts. The main front was the attack on the cornerstone of the Amerikkan society. They wanted to break apart the family. The feminist movement of the civil rights era wanted to pursue individualism and believed that self-fulfillment was possible through individuality (Mashner). Women were no longer looking for equality, they were now concerned with looking for a complete transformation that idolized individualism not family ties.
The primary goal that came from the troubles of blacks and women for equal rights was the transformation of the American societal structure not equal participation within the existing structure. This goal—in the case of the blacks—came from: the black panthers ideology that revolution led to nationalism and also the belief that reparations in the form of land, a.k.a. power, were due and that the white community needed to take responsibility. The goal—in the case of women—came from the belief that their humanity was denied (Mashner).


Sorry, but I'm not looking for opinions on this paper. I was given a paper with choices on what to write about this is what i picked. love it. hate it. don't care.

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

S oh freaking s

5 things i'm thankful
1. coming home in 6 days!!!
2. writing papers for history and going crazy
3. having genuinely crappy days
4. having people to help me out on said crappy days
5. cinnamon roles that come in vending machines

Quote of the day:

A man's silence is wonderful to listen to.
Thomas Hardy

I wrote a new song. It's title s oh freaking s. tell me how you like it. or dislike it. I'm okay with brutal honesty. I'm starting to write A LOT of songs. I have like 6 in the making right now and about another 8 done. Woot Woot! time to start TCO!

here it is

This makes no sense to me. Why is it that I always come up short? Why is it that you only see my failure and never see my success? I’m trying so hard to make you happy and I’m trying so hard to surpass your expectations but it’s never enough.

This is an s oh freaking s. I’m sick of stupidity. I need someone to save my soul! I’m falling in too deep, falling into your game, somebody please, save my soul!

I go aboce and beyone. Tryin so hard to help you. I’m doing everything for you with nothing in return. The lack of balance I feel is screwing me up. Can you see it? Can you feel it? I don’t think you can. In fact, I know you can’t. You’re too self absorbed to care for anyone but yourself.

This is an s oh freaking s. I’m sick of stupidity. I need someone to save my soul! I’m falling in too deep, falling into your game, somebody please, save my soul!

I’ve tried too much. I have given too much and ultimately I have failed miserable way too many times with you. I’m giving up on you. This time it’s for real. You’ve left me with no other choice. You gave me this ultimatum and I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do. I’ve got nothing left from you but an empty wallet and a broken heart.

This is an s oh freaking s. I’m sick of stupidity. I need someone to save my soul! I’m falling in too deep, falling into your game, somebody please, save my soul!

This goodbye is my final goodbye, this goodbye is the permanent goodbye. This time I mean it, this time I believe it. I’d say it was good while it lasted but I don’t believe in lying. This is it, this is real, I am done. Goodbye.

[I am thinking about doing another chorus at the end and then adding a few more verses. I still need a bridge. But I don’t know. How do you like it as of now?]

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

Mmm Free Sushi:)

5 Things I'm thankful for
1. Free Sushi
2. Free Sushi In Simpson Hall
3. Three Free Flavors of Sushi
4. Getting ready for Utah State.
5. Oh ya know...COMING TO UTAH IN 1 WEEK. 7 DAYS. WORD FOOLS!

I really enjoy sushi. I am going to take people back home out to get sushi. It's just so good. It's part of the daily diet for a lot of people here. There are a lot of sushi joints that I have yet to hit up. I will most definitely change that. I talked to USU and so far so good. I am doing a lot more shmoozing and such with USU the I ever did with Loyola. I know how it's like. I know what to do. I hope that I can work everything out in time. I am very anxious. I GET HOME IN SEVEN DAYS PEOPLE!!! this is a party and a freaking half. I am so stoked. I really can't wait. Anyways, it's time for me to sleep. Goooooodnight:)

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

third blog of the day

5 things i'm thankful for
1. going to church on no sleep
2. being exhausted while at church
3. being sore beyond belief because of flag football
4. being sore at church
5. the fact that the word bed looks like a bed.

Quote of the day:
A gentleman is a man who can play the accordion but doesn't.

Unknown

I am so tired. I am going to go to sleep now. It is just what I need. Good night. I love you all.
I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

second blog of the day

5 more things i'm thankful for:
1. multiple blogs in one day
2. taco bells on saturday nights
3. getting to sleep after taco bell
4. dr. pepper after taco bell
5. writing this blog about taco bell

Today was an amazing night. It was most definitely a pick me up. I went to taco bell with friends this morning. It was absolutely fantastic. I love taco bell. I was able to enjoy two burritos and a chalupa. I LOVE chalupas. They taste so good. I am really grateful for delicious food. I enjoy the fact that taco bell has a fourth meal whereas other places do not stay open that late. I was excited for McDonald’s either tonight or last night but I was unfortunately informed that they stay open to a measly 11pm. It was quite silly of them. I disagree with their lack of proper hours. Dr. Pepper is a really fantastic drink that I enjoy. I do not drink soda, or pop, or soda-pop, or whatever you choose to call it, very often because I believe it is bad for you. I do not like it. Tonight I bought some Dr. Pepper from the vending machine. It satisfied me. It put a smile on my face. I am rather tired at the moment. My eyes are shutting. But that’s okay I’ll write a little bit more. I love drinking fantastic liquids. I like water. I like lamp. Brick Tamland is a funny character. I love writing more than one blogs in one day. I love the fact that I am going to be coming home in 9 days. That makes me so excited! I am finally under double digits. Woot woot. I can’t wait to see and hang out with everyone. Okay, I think that I have written enough for the day. Sleepy time for James!

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

random writing.

5 things i'm thankful for
1. Flag football
2. scraped knees
3. exhaustion
4. sleep after flag football
5. home in 9 days!

Quote of the day:
It is not advisable, James, to venture unsolicited opinions. You should spare yourself the embarrassing discovery of their exact value to your listener.
Ayn Rand [Atlas Shrugged]

Today I decided to do a free write. It is on my bucket list to write a book or a novel. Can't remember which. Anyways, the more I write the better I get. Unfortunately this writing is atrocious. But hey, at least it's a start. Gotta start somewhere. Optimism is everything. OPTIMUS PRIME! TRAAAAANSFORRRRMERS! I started writing optimism and thought of optimus. I love Transformers.

It was another awful night spent in Yokohama Japan for Piotr Sobczak As the rain came billowing down Piotr thought to himself, “Again? I said I would never do this again, but here I am. No time to complain, time to get down to business.” All his clients knew Piotr as the polish pipe. To be on his bad side was a terrifying ordeal. That’s precisely why he was in such high demand. He was six foot even. Although he did not look it, Piotr was built of iron. His muscles honed from years of business. In lemans terms, Piotr was a beast.

You have ten seconds to comply or I detonate the c4 strapped around your stomach and all that will be left of you will be the miniscule pieces of you that are not consumed by the fire once we torch this place. Nobody will remember Piotr Sobczak. Not looking so tough anymore are we Mr. Polish Pipe, huh? You screwed with the wrong people, you crossed a line and now, I get the pleasure of making things right. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, Sobczak, do you think I’m kidding? Do you think this is a joke? I’M NOT PLAYING AROUND, TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO KNOW OR I WILL KILL YOU, two, one, Piotr, you’re dead. Click, boom.



I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

I've got a big day ahead of me.

5 things I am thankful for
1. My ward activity tomorrow!
2. Playing basketball and being absolutely terrible:)
3. Being home in 10 days!!!! that's fast!
4. Getting my ticket for New Moon!
5. Darlin' by Between the trees:)

Quote of the Day:
I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.
E. V. Lucas

I am rather tired today and have to wake up in 6 hours for my ward activity. I'm going to be playing football and then having a Thanksgiving Dinner, I'm excited. I'm really hungry right now....so I can't wait! Anyways, I am listening to Between the Trees right now and I absolutely love their music. It's fantastic. Peace out y'all. love ya.

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

I Almost Forgot...Shameful!

5 Things I'm Thankful For:
1. GETTING ACCEPTED INTO UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY!!!!!
2. Promises of hugs!
3. Realizing I'll be home in 11 days! woot woot!
4. Super fun video games!
5. Mom worrying when my phone dies:)

Quote of the Day:
Sometimes people are layered like that. There's something totally different underneath than what's on the surface. But sometimes, there's a third, even deeper level, and that one is the same as the top surface one. Like with pie.
Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jed Whedon

Mmm, I like me some pie. THANKSGIVING!!!

I went to College Republicans today. I'm pretty excited to get involved even more so...when I go to USU! Yup, I'm an aggie now. I went to half of As You Like It. The production did not leave me impressed...at all. A handful of students performed marvelously but the rest of it was complete blah. The take the used on it was a disaster and made it rather confusing to follow. I wrote a paper for my PLSC class. I'm going to post it so that you can have something to read. Enjoy!!

Yo’ Congress, I’ma Let You Finish…. But the President Has the Most Power All Time…Just Sayin’

*****Yes, that's really the title of my paper. I used it because the teacher asked me if he should call me James or Kanye the other day(because I was wearing my sunglasses...I know, makes no sense) so i figured that Kanye was fair game in my class. My teacher also told us to pick a title that would go straight to the heart of your paper. My title does so. P.s. this was not part of the paper...just fyi:)********

The struggle for power between the President and Congress has been around since the foundation of our country. Throughout history the tables have turned from side to side, power tossed from branch to branch but ultimately the greater power resides with the President.
The first case presented is the War Powers Resolution. The power struggle here entailed the ability to put the troops into action. At the time it looked like this was a clear win for Congress but in hindsight we see that this was not the case. If Congress had actually focused on the legislation at hand rather than the politics they might have been able to come off with a victory. Congress tried to make it look as if they were limiting the Presidents’ power. In reality, Congress did nothing. This ruling has a plethora of loopholes that allows the President to do whatever they please. Probably the biggest loophole comes from Sec. 3 where it states, “The President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities” (235). Could they have been any more vague? For a piece of legislation to be so unclear shows that Congress knows that the President needs the power over the armed forces so that he or she can be quick and immediate with a decision.
The second case presented is the Iran-Contra Affair. The power struggle here is the POTUS directly going against legislation that the Congress had passed—the Boland Amendments. These amendments basically stated that the Presidential administration could not sell weapons to Iran and furthermore that the Presidential administration cannot use their own funding to wage war overseas. The Reagan administration broke these laws when they, “had sold arms to Iran” (237.) The majority argues that a flawed process leads to flawed results and that flawed results bring about a weakened government (238). The majority insists that the separation of powers between branches is vital and that taking “shortcuts in the constitutional process” is disrespectful to our founders (241). Congress feels that as elected officials they have the right to know. They felt that the Reagan administration wronged them. They fail to point out that while they are indeed elected, the President and the vice President are the only two people that are elected by the entire country (242). One can see that what happened was a result of the belief that the end justifies the means. The administration needed to go against the law in order to bring about what needed to be done. “The executive’s branch functions are the ones most closely related to the need for secrecy, efficiency, dispatch and acceptance by the one person, the President, of political responsibility for the result” (243). The fact that the President broke the Boland amendments and was not impeached shows the power of the President; he broke the amendments—laid out because of him—and was not tried. That is power.
The third case presented is the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer. The power struggle here was if the President has the ability to take control of private property. Truman claimed that it was for the good of the economy but the judiciary claimed that Congress must grant the power. This was a loss for Truman. The majority says that the Presidents power to seize property must come from Congress and that there have been no acts passed by Congress that allow the President to seize property (292). The majority decision came with five concurring opinions. This makes it hard to understand the concept of seizure in times of emergencies, this makes it vague and leaves loopholes for the President. Although this was a win for Congress, the President is not left powerless when it comes to seizing properties. He has power left because of the loopholes left by the concurring opinions.
The final case presented is the United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corporation. The power struggle was predicated on the power of foreign affairs. The argument was the Congress was to be in charge of foreign affairs and that the President was doing too much. This was a win for the President because the President has plenary powers when it comes to foreign affairs that are not dependent upon Congressional delegation. Furthermore it is up to the President, “to determine whether or not enforcement of the statute will have a beneficial effect upon the reestablishment of peace in the affected countries”(296). The power lies within the President to uphold the statute.
The case, which gave the most power to the President, was the War Powers Resolution. It did not take away any power away from the POTUS and if anything it gave the President greater ability to work in secrecy when it came to mobilizing the troops. The U.S. Congress focused too much on the political game and wanted the people to think that they were doing something when in reality they did nothing.
The case, which was the biggest win for the U.S. Congress, was the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer. This was the only case that made the President go against what he had done. Truman was forced to remove the Truamnites from the steel mills. Truman wanted the power to seize property but it needed to be granted through Congress. This decision reaffirmed what the constitution said concerning that. Truman needed to go through Congress in order to seize property—even if it was for the good of the economy.
Although some of these cases can be seen as a loss for the President, the fact that they are hard to comprehend and make it difficult to understand where the President is limited shows the power of the presidency. If Congress wanted to limit the President they would do so. They would make legislation that was directly to the point with no loopholes. According to these cases they have failed to do so thus granting the President greater power than Congress.


I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

getting better!!!!!

5 things I'm thankful for:
1. Finding out that I'll have a deciscion from USU in days:)
2. Talking to people from USU
3. Starting to get over my sickness
4. powerade...the blue kind
5. PLSC papers

Quote of the Day:
Reality is nothing but a collective hunch.
Jane Wagner

I need sleep more than anything right now so that I can fully recover and wake at a proper time in the morning. I love you all. I'll make up for my blog soon.

Oh, I'll tell you this. Today a body washed up from Lake Michigan onto school property. He was "elderly" naked and dead. Weird. I know.

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

unrequited

5 things I'm thankful for:
1. Sleeping all day.
2. Maroon VHS jacket
3. Canada Dry
4. Getting to sleep REALLY early.
5. Getting to sleep early 2 nights in a row.

Quote of the day:
I like an escalator because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an escalator temporarily out of order sign, only an escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience.
Mitch Hedberg

Today I have a fascination with the word unrequited. Something about it is absolutely brightening my day. I will most likely write a song about it in the near future. Anyways, I need my my sleep. Peace out y'all.

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

ugh.

5 things i'm thankful for:
1. 15 days:)
2. My alarm clock.
3. Being able to sleep in this morning because class was canceled.
4. Nice people helping me with notes.
5. Writing papers for poli sci.

Quote of the Day:
If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair. Because five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'you know, we're alright. We are dang near royalty.'
Jeff Foxworthy

I am sick. I have one of the worst headaches I have ever gone through. I am going to take medicine and wake up next week. No. Not next week, tomorrow morning. It's almost nine and I'm deadly tired. It's unhealthy. I need sleep. I need to feel better. I must bid you farewell. Peace.

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

I need a title for tonight.

5 things I'm thankful for:
1. Talking to Momma for hours on end:)
2. My phone turning back on after dying.
3. Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeah's covered by The Rocket Summer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VenFKj8oTn4
4. Elliott Smith songs covered by TRS
5. Getting better from being sick.

Quote of the Day:
I am certain there is too much certainty in the world.
Michael Crichton

Today I wrote a song, it's not finished yet. I don't know how to finish. My brain is stuck in a rut. Maybe the ending has yet to play out. Maybe it has played out and I failed to realize it. Who knows? I would love to hear what you guys think about it. I value criticism. It will take A LOT of work for it to go into song format, write now it's only a song because the chorus. Anyways, enjoy.

A Million Sorrys


You slowly started slipping away and I saw it. I didn’t think anything of it. I didn’t think it would change anything. I thought it would be just another one of your moods…but I was wrong. I backed off when I needed to be there most. I pulled away when I could’ve made the biggest change. I made the mistake and turned my back on you when you were pleading for help.

A million sorrys could never be enough on my part. A million sorrys won’t make a difference; I believe that actions speak louder than words so let my actions speak louder. I’m turning up the volume. I’m trying to be difference. I’m trying to bring you back. Me saying my million sorrys won’t make the difference because, yeah, I let you down. But now, let me try.

You say, “All I ask is for the truth.” The truth is—you can’t handle the truth. You can’t handle the unpretentious honesty of what I have to share. My words are simple but the impact I hope they will make is beyond surreal. I want them to turn your world upside down. I want them to change the way you see things. I want them to change you. Don’t get me wrong, I love you just the way you are. I love you for you. But this, who you’ve become? This isn’t you. You know that. I know that.

A million sorrys could never be enough on my part. A million sorrys won’t make a difference; I believe that actions speak louder than words so let my actions speak louder. I’m turning up the volume. I’m trying to be difference. I’m trying to bring you back. Me saying my million sorrys won’t make the difference because, yeah, I let you down. But now, let me try.

You ask me how I can judge you and say you need to change when I’m the one who abandoned you. Who am I to impose this need for a difference in you? Who am I to say I miss you, I love you, I need you and….I can’t lose you? I say this because I know you’d say the same. I know if things were the other way around you be there for me 11 times out of 10. You’d make things right. You’d take care of me and help me. So let me do what you’d do for me. Trust me.

A million sorrys could never be enough on my part. A million sorrys won’t make a difference; I believe that actions speak louder than words so let my actions speak louder. I’m turning up the volume. I’m trying to be difference. I’m trying to bring you back. Me saying my million sorrys won’t make the difference because, yeah, I let you down. But now, let me try.


There it is. Peace.

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

My eyes and head hurt, I feel dizzy.

5 things I'm thankful for:
1. Pain Medicine.
2. Relief that comes from Pain Medicine.
3. Headaches.
4. The pain in my eyes from my head ache.
5. Drinking lots of water to avoid getting dehydrated.

Quote of the Day:
The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
-Paul Fix

I know I said I would write a long blog today but I will unfortunately be keeping it rather short tonight. I have had a headache for about an hour now. I was playing basketball tonight and I was extremely dizzy and lightheaded. I don't know what's wrong but I feel it's best that I drink lots of liquid, take it easy, and get some sleep. I think it's maybe that I am somewhat dehydrated, I have been having nosebleeds. And the past two mornings I've woken up and when I hawk a loogie (pardon the nasty image)it's been blood. This I believe is a result from dehydration. I am now upping my intake of water (although I thought I have been drinking enough, so who knows) and hope for the best. Let's hope I get better:)

Sweet dreams everyone. Spread love, spread happiness, spread hope.

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

basketball is a sport!

5 things im thankful for
1. Playing basketball for hours on end
2. My abysmal free throw percentage
3. My belief that practice makes perfect
4. Finally learning to enjoy basketball
5. Playing...and winning

Quote of the day:
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
=Unknown

I played basketball. It was a good release. I needed it. I need sleep. Peace out y'all. I'll write up a good one tomorrow.

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

awe shucks Cami, you bomb!

5 things I'm thankful for:
1. Feeling I will sleep soon and be ready for my test in the morning.
2. Getting ready for bed before midnight.
3. Going to work out and just...sitting on a bike:)
4. Cami's epic response to what I wrote.
5. My Professor's reply.

Quote of the day:
A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.
Segal's Law

Here is my Professors response to Cami's reply to my paper. I'll copy and paste it all. P.s. Cami, I edited what you said just a little bit. I took out the information irrelevant to my Professor. Just an fyi.
ALSO THEY ARE OUT OF ORDER. JUST SO YOU KNOW. DON'T BE CONFUSED. YES I AM SHOUTING. AHHHH. AHHHHH. AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. RAWR. LIKE A DINOSAUR. RAAAWR!
James,

Your sister is correct on some items and incorrect on many others. In fact, she completely dismisses how structural racism plays a part in the life chances of minorities and, like many mainstream folks--and conservatives, points the finger at individuals (i.e., self-worth, hard work, etc.). Doing this allows her to make all kinds of assumptions about SAT exams, student loans, or even assume that minorities can easily get into the same university/colleges as their white counterparts.

Also, redlining is only one tool in the white supremacy tool box that is used to keep minorities in place. Thus, one needs to look at the bigger picture in terms of wealth (and the legacy of racism), segregation/isolation, etc. These are all discussed in Lewis' book which we covered in class.

We can talk more about this tomorrow after the exam or next week if you want. I'm also cc'ing this to my colleagues (Sharon, Rise, and Rabia) since they are more well versed with issues surrounding education/race than I. They are your resources so you should feel comfortable talking to them about these issues, as well.

DGE

>>> James Porter 11/04/09 3:43 PM >>>
Hey Professor,

I was looking into the concept of redlining and things of that sort and how the property tax goes down and that means less money for the school and in turn that means a lower quality of education. I wrote a paper about it and then after writing it I posted it to my blog (it's my way of getting a dialogue started about racial inequalities and things of that sort). I was given some responses that make me question what I've learned in class or did I completely screw up the concept of redlining?

My sister said,

James, You wrote "[s]ince the property tax goes down, the quality of education available to the children of the area goes down. The lower quality of education you have at the most basic levels, the harder it becomes to gain entrance into higher education." Meanwhile, the school you went to, Viewmont High School, has an average expenditure per student of $5,580 with a racial make up of 95% white (middle-to-upper-class students), 2% Hispanic, 2% Asian and less than 1% Black and American Indian. The school ranks a 7 on a scale of 1-10. Eighty percent of students meet or exceed the science proficiency set forth by the state, 94% meet or exceed the language arts standards, and 56% meet or exceed the math standards.

An inner-city Chicago school, Chicago Academy High School, spends $9,666 per student with a racial make up of 46% Hispanic, 23% Black, 22% White, 7% Multiracial and 3% Asian. This school (spending $4,086 more PER PUPIL per year than Viewmont) has a ranking of 2 (TWO) on a scale of 1-10. In the Chicago Academy High School, 32% of students meet or exceed the reading standards, 26% meet or exceed science standards and 34% meet or exceed math standards.

Let's look at another inner-city school with even more shocking results:
Total expenditure for students at Prospect Heights High School was $17,676 (seventeen THOUSAND) for the 2008-09 school year. This school also scored a 2 on a scale of 1-10. This school has a racial make up of 85% Black, 13% Hispanic, and less than 3% White, Asian, and American Indian. It's not that schools in minority neighborhoods have less money, it's just that the money is NOT going to the students and education. You're telling me that 7.6 million dollars is not enough for a student body of 434 students? (As a side note: this is only one of the 5 schools that meet in this high school, they are broken down into different "specialized" schools with different principals. This school actually has well over 2000 students).

I agree that something needs to be done, but when you say that minority students are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to school funding, you are incorrect. One more thing you need to realize is the ever increasing percentage of minority students attending college year over year. There are more minority students taking the SAT's per capita than non-minority students. Forty percent of the students who took the SAT's last year were minority students and only 26% of the population of the United States not white. Thirteen and a half percent of all who took the SAT were Hispanic, which is up 5.7% in just 10 years.

Lastly, you stated that "there is simply not enough money for these minority students to pay for the education. There is no justice in this. Justice extends a hand of opportunity in education to all equally. Raising the cost of college education does not take minorities into consideration and is therefore unjust." There is enough money for minority students to pay for education--it's called STUDENT LOANS. Many students have to take out student loans, and if the student does well, they will be rewarded with a good job with good pay and will therefore be able to repay their student loans. A college education is not a basic human right. Students who want a college education and who cannot afford one can take out student loans and repay later. What it boils down to is a matter of sacrifice and sense of worth. Do you think that your education is worth going into debt for? If not, then go to a community college and work while you are going to school to pay tuition. If you do, you will suck it up, take the student loans and repay when you're through. That might mean that you don't get to buy a house as soon as you're done with school because you have your student loan financial obligations, but you will have something that no body can take from you, and that is your education.

So, what we need to look at now is (1) where is all the money going in inner city public schools? (2) What can we do to help motivate the students to achieve in these schools? (3) What needs to be reformed in our country's educational policies that will enable students to fully meet their innate potential? And (4) What can you or I do about this?

End of her speaking.

Okay, I am left with the same questions she has. My school had a lot less then some of the schools and my school was fine. What's the issue here?

Thanks!

-James P. Porter

Cami, nicely done:)

New subject. What the heck is wrong with our government?!
Lil' Wayne is going to jail for being caught smoking marijuana and having a loaded weapon whereas Chris Brown goes all UFC on Rihanna and gets community service? Honestly that's bull crap. If you disagree and think what Weezy (nickname for Lil' Wayne) was way worse here is another example. Kanye West (yes, that's the guy who interrupted Taylor Swift [Yes, I'm in love with her] at the VMA's and said, yo' taylor I'ma let you finish....etc etc etc.) is possibly going to jail for assaulting some paparazzo who wouldn't leave him alone. How on earth is that okay? Chris Brown goes crazy and beats a Woman...and gets community service? That's freaking ridiculous. Those lawyers must suck. If it was me he'd be locked up for good and hopefully while in jail get taught a lesson about respecting women. That's ridiculous.

Ok, the whole getting taught a lesson thing is mean. But I absolutely LOATHE "men" who disrespect women. I do not like it. I will fight against it. Always.

I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

Product of Enviornment.

5 things I'm thankful for:
1. Blisters on my toes from basketball.
2. Knowing that eventually my blisters will turn into callouses.
3. Having Cami give me some epic insight that disagrees with redlining:)
4. Waiting for the response from an email to my Professor concerning some new information I learned today:)
5. Playing basketball with friends!

Quote of the day:
Whatever you are, be a good one.
Abraham Lincoln

I played basketball with some friends today. I really enjoyed it. I love playing basketball. It's fun! I am getting blisters on my toes because of my shoes. Still breaking in...ugh. But oh well, I really like um!

Today I received comments from Cami concerning my I conquered you English paper blog. It was some amazing insight and I highly recommend that you all read what she had to say. I shared that information with my Professor and now cannot wait to hear what he has to say. I am thoroughly stoked.

Anyways, it's getting late. I am getting tired.

OH YEAH! TRS will be playing at USU on February 12, 2010. It's almost as if the world is smiling at me for wanting to go there:)

I'm going to bed now. Night:)
I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

Institute today.

5 things I'm thankful for.
1. Finding out the Bryce will be playing at USU
2. The thought of going to USU
3. The thought of being a student at USU while Bryce plays there
4. Having a canceled class result in lots sleep.
5. Sickness, yes, sickness.

Quote of the Day:
Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.
-Eddie Rickenbacker

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN OHIO, 1831-1834

“But this Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world.” Wow. This prophecy is being fulfilled at this time. In hindsight it has always been easy for me to marvel at the amazing amount of missionary going on during the beginning of the church. When I step back and look at missionary work right now I am completely awestruck. Right now I have more then ten friends out on missions and it seems like it’s every other day that I hear of someone I know receiving their calls and leaving.
The Book of Mormon says that we aren’t blessed until after the trial of our faith. I have always been taught that the devil can only tempt you and do so much to you, but no matter what he cannot go above what you can resist. This makes me feel sorry for the people who left the church at Ohio. I understand that why there were going through was extremely difficult and in no way shape or form am I trying to belittle what they endured, but still, they had seen that God ALAWYS comes through. Our Heavenly Father always blesses us and He always knows what he is doing. There is a purpose for everything in life.
It has almost been two years since I lost one of my best friends. Shortly after her passing I had an interview with my bishop who wanted to see how I was doing. As we were talking he asked me how my faith was doing in these circumstances. I replied, “when things get rough for me why would I turn away from where I receive comfort and solace? The church is the only place I can find comfort for her death. Because of the church I know I will see her again and that death is not the end.” He told me that when people experience death they tend to fall away from the church. This does not make sense to me. Why would you turn your back on your Heavenly Father? Why would you turn your back on the truth? Our Heavenly Father will always be there to comfort us. We need to put our faith in him and we will receive blessings. It’s not in our time. It’s in his time. The Book of Mormon says something along the lines of even as the heavens are greater than the earth so are my thoughts greater than your thoughts. We don’t need to know everything. I personally feel it’s better to not know everything. Everything will happen in due time.



I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

Saccharine!

5 things I'm thankful for:
1. Hard work paying off in the search for a word.
2. Proving myself right.
3. Knowing I know what I am talking about even when everyone disagrees with me.
4. Knowing that their was indeed a word that meant overly sentimental.
5. Realizing that the word I was thinking of was saccharine!

Quote of the Day:
What this country needs is more free speech worth listening to.
Hansell B. Duckett

In my UCWR a few days ago I was talking about a poem that was overly sentimental and asked what the word for that was. I asked and nobody knew. My teacher kinda mocked me and said, "the word you're looking for is sentimentality." I knew she was wrong so today I spent some time looking for that word. It took 2.5 hours of hard work and I found the word. SACCHARINE. What now teach?

Today I wrote a lot. I've wrote a song and half of another. I will post them which I finish editing them into making sense and such;)

I wrote about some poems in class. Here is what I wrote.

Which Poet Does It For Me?
Why did I choose the poem I chose? That is the question. I used the process of elimination. I did not like the majority of these poems. I do not like ee cummings poetry and therefore did not choose “in just-.”
To ee cummings, first of its E.e. Cummings, don’t think that you’re the next Shakespeare and can do whatever you want with the English language and have it be kosher. Your poetry should follow grammatical rules and please, stop making up so many words, you’re not Snoop.
I am indeed a massive fan of William Shakespeare but I believe that the poem “Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day?” is absolutely overrated and to “cute.” It is almost as if Shakespeare was trying to write a sonnet for pubescent-drama-plagued-Edward-Cullen-loving-teenage girl. This poem is too sappy and the only reason people give it a look is because Shakespeare wrote it. I believe that we shouldn’t give any literary piece a free ride just because a certain person wrote it. That’s absolutely ridiculous. Sorry Shakespeare, you’ve done better and that’s why I do not pick you.
“I Hear America Singing” this poem is overly sentimental. Another word for overly sentimental is saccharine (you didn’t believe me when I said there was a word for overly sentimental that started with an s, I spent 3 hours and found it). This poem is too patriotic. I love America but I don’t need a poem to tell me why.
“Portrait in Georgia” I did not pick this poem because I do not understand this poem. As I read it, it seemed awful. It used the word lyncher’s, fagots, and talks about different colors. I may be completely misreading this poem but it seems to me like it is about racism and prejudice. I don’t want to write about how anything that has to do with that is good writing. It may be good writing, but I will not defend it.
Rather than pondering over the two huge poems I decided to play it safe and stick with a poem I know to be good writing. “Dulce Et Decorum Est” is a good piece of poetry. I remember going over this poem in AP English and coming to the conclusion as to why it was good.
Why is “Dulce Et Decorum Est” a good poem? This is a good writing because it has really nice syntax. The flow of this piece is nice. It appeals to the audience and is able to captivate us and help us catch a glimpse of war.

Sorry i'm not writing more...but I'm wakin up at 645 to work out. woot woot!
I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>

about time internet.

5 things I'm thankful for:
1. Fast Sundays.
2. CES firesides.
3. Realizing how far away marriage is.
4. Getting an extra hour of sleep.
5. When Bryce sang, “you tell me to live” and sang about Jesus everyone started to cheerJ

Quote of the Day:
When I'm lost and it seems the end,
like there's only certain death.
You tell me to live.

When dark clouds cover the sky,
like there's no hope; you are the light.
You tell me to live.

When I'm all by myself,
and I'm scared about my health.
You tell me to live.

And when you heal my broken wings,
yes you heal my everything.
You tell me to live.

You tell me to live.

-BRYCE
in his live version he changed it up and sang about Jesus. It was amazingly beautiful and heartfelt.

Today was a good day. I got to sleep. A lot. That’s a good thing. I enjoy sleep. I went to church. It was epic.

My Internet is being idiotic and decided to flake out on me. I do not know when I when I will be able to post this. I am sorry.

I just wanted to you to know that even though I am unable to post I will still be blogging




I love you all, goodbye.
Mi amor a todos, adios.
אני אוהב אותך כל, סלאמאת.”/>