Tennis Family

            As I officially began the final tennis season of my high school career on Saturday, it hit me as I was driving to Veterans Memorial Stadium how much I will miss all of my tennis ladies next year. They are the only people in this whole school, besides Mr. Benedict, that understand the game of tennis, why we keep playing, the passion we have for the sport, and all of the other #tennisprobs that come with playing this sport. It's more than hitting a yellow ball inbounds; it's moving your feet, placing the ball, strategic plays, communication when playing doubles, and most importantly it’s a mind and mental game.

Tennis is very under-appreciated at Kennedy High School, but the difference between women's/men's tennis compared to women's basketball is that we don't beg for people to come. We don't whine when none of our friends or classmates, even when administration and teachers don't come. I think the problem is that it's not a cheering/fan based sport. We play for ourselves, our doubles partner, our team, and also our coach. The cool thing about tennis is that you can lose a couple games but still win the match. Your individual victory or loss counts towards a running team score out of nine points (6 singles + 3 doubles= 9 points). You need 5 "points" or victories to win. That will be the end of my rant for now.... stay tuned for more information on tennis and how you can be a “superfan.” J

For now, here is some tennis lingo for you to enjoy:

-love: means 0 in the point system

-deuce: score of 40-40

-let: when the ball hits the net when going over

-alley: area that is allowed to be played when playing doubles

-forehand: right side stroke (or played on the side you are most natural with)

-backhand: left side stroke (opposite of natural side)

-volley: most likely shorter shots played at the net

-lob: the "rainbow" shot- often used offensively to avoid net players

-overhead: otherwise known as a smash or slam.... a ball that you have time to approach, point, and get a lot of power with. Some get the overhead confused with the volley  (369)

Heaven Forbid I Don't Have a Smartphone

Claim of Reality: People are obsessed over social media and it causes relationship problems and many missed opportunities.

           My parents give me many things in life- a warm home, plenty of food, gas money, a car, a cell phone(not a smartphone- I would just like to point that out right away), entertainment (cable, movies, shopping, etc.), medical and dental help, moral support, love, and many other countless things that I am very grateful for. As our society becomes more modern and technology changes (as it always will), new gadgets continue to be released. They instantly become the next “cool” thing to have. What it comes down to is this: if you don’t have this coveted item, you instantly have “less opportunity” and are ridiculed for not knowing something that only someone with an iPhone would have per say.

            I would like to explain what I mean when I say “people are obsessed with social media." Social media is available on a regular computer, yes, but I want to focus on social media that occurs with smartphones. The iPhone (or any other Smartphone) is the perfect example. During this school year (2012-2013), I have increasingly noticed how many people have some sort of smartphone, compared to others who just have your “Plain Jane” cell phone. My friend and I were joking about this reality the other day. We are the only two left in our group of friends that doesn’t have a smartphone. Wouldn’t it be nice to go back to the day when everyone had a flip-phone?

Remember this bad boy?                                                            That used to be cool five years ago.

....... I often find myself out of the loop or one step behind everyone else during the school day. Everyone is always scrolling Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook in the hallways, any free moment they have in class, and especially during lunch and school assemblies, events, and sporting events.  I know people don’t mean to do this, but sometimes it’s hurtful and simply rude to be on their smartphone while I’m trying to have a conversation with them. One last thing: smartphones now act as a social status just like social media does. It is believed that if someone doesn’t have a smartphone, they must not be able to afford one. People need to stop assuming so much.

           I personally do not understand why you need one. It’s terrible to become so dependent on something; it’s definitely not healthy. Why pay $200 a month for a phone contract, when you can wait a couple hours and check your social media sites on a computer with internet rates starting at $9.95 a year (Mediacom).

            As mentioned in the article titled Put the Smartphone Down. Now., a lady was too obsessed with her smartphone and updating her status, and because of this, missed an opportunity for romance or a relationship. Anyone will become antisocial in the slightest sense when all they do is update their online persona.

            What bothers me the most is when you are in public place and you watch people surf the web on their phones that are clearly glued to them. Imagine what it would be like if you didn’t have your phone with you. You would actually have to make eye contact, have social skills, and smile at someone. Say what?!?!?

            Plain and simple: people wouldn’t know what to do without their smartphone. I would like to see what would happen if someone didn’t have their phone for like two. whole. days. woah. Perhaps you do stay in contact with people, but I believe that it hinders relationships and opportunities more than help them. For this reason people should stray from smartphones and forms of social media if possible.  (626)

Sources/Online Articles Used:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/12/30/has-facebook-ruined-love/social-media-is-a-romance-contraceptive
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/12/30/has-facebook-ruined-love/facebook-is-a-gift-and-a-curse

Everything Will Be Ok

Here we go.... your typical "prom post." While I am very excited, there are a few things that have really been tripping my trigger and things I simply do not understand.

1) Underclassmen begging to go to prom

There is a big difference between getting asked by a senior unexpectedly than begging to go every day on Twitter, Facebook, and other forms of social media. I say tweets constantly that follow this model: "Heyyyy if anyone would want to do this, I mean I would say yes. ;) ;)" "Do this" meaning a cute way to ask someone to prom. I understand if you're a foreign exchange student, will be moving away your senior year, or if you have a senior boyfriend or girlfriend, or a fling going on. However, it's very selfish to beg when it is a senior prom. It also makes you sound really needy. There are several seniors who would be dying to go to prom with someone, but can't because an underclassmen took a potential date. Kennedy has always had a senior prom and it will stay a senior prom for a specific reason. We all waited our turn, and so can everyone else. It's like that one last shabang that you can remember your best high school friends by. WAIT YOUR TURN.

2) If you get asked to prom, GO WITH THAT PERSON.... please don't say no.

It took so much guts for that person to ask you, and it's simply rude to say no, regardless if it wasn't the person you have been dreaming will ask you. If you make the best of the situation, it will be fun... I promise you. Some people would kill for someone to even ask them, and some don't end up with dates. Yet you're still "too good and popular" and you know probably five people will ask you.... congratulations. Because (girls for the most part) reject boys, it automatically causes stress and worry for boys in future years because they know rejection could be a possibility, when in reality 9/10 times the girl will say yes. Hopefully things will change.

3) Don't over-think things. Just have fun!

I have come to the realization that it doesn't matter if you go with a boy, get asked in a cute way, or get a corsage. Although that would be lovely and nice to have someone do that for you, it doesn't matter and there is no "right" way to go to prom. Whatever you end up doing, it shouldn't matter as long as you have fun. It may even be more fun if you don't have someone always with you.  (447)

Conspiracy

            The JFK conspiracy has been a debated and controversial topic ever since the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The question is whether Lee Harvey Oswald was indeed the lone assassin as determined by the Warren Commission, or if there were other people involved that got away and were never prosecuted. By looking at the factual evidence that was revealed, discovered, and further investigated, I have concluded that there is not enough evidence to prove a conspiracy or to fully blame Lee Harvey Oswald. At the present time, I am leaning towards a conspiracy, and that Lee Harvey Oswald was not the lone killer; however no one can really know for sure because the victim, JFK, is dead and the “killer,” Lee Harvey Oswald was murdered by Jack Ruby, a Dallas Night Club owner with ties to organized crime.

I think that it would be extremely difficult to shoot 3 bullets out of an Italian Mannlicher Carcano in 7-9 seconds due to the kickback and muzzle-rise. In an experiment, the world’s best sharpshooter was able to do this and maintain accuracy. Although Oswald was an ex-Marine and was a marksman (step below a sharpshooter), it seems skeptical and false that he could shoot three bullets alone, without assistance. The first shot was fired and missed, but fragments hit James Teague’s cheek. The second shot hit both Kennedy in the throat and Connally in multiple, but not life-threatening places. Finally, the third and final shot hit Kennedy in the head.

The head wound is the most debated point of the assassination. Did the shot come from the front or the back? I personally believe that the shot came from the side. If you watch the Abraham Zapruder film in slow-motion, you are able to see the direction that Kennedy’s head moves, at an angle to the side. Because Oswald was supposedly shooting from the Texas Schoolbook Depository, behind the limousine Kennedy was traveling in, if you look at angles in relation to math, geometry, and physics, there is absolutely no way your head could move like that from a shot behind. I think there may have been someone shooting from the grassy knoll or Stockade fence in Dealey Plaza. You can faintly see an outline of something in the Moorman Polariod.

Finally, it is a fact the Lee Harvey Oswald was seen in the cafeteria of the Texas Schoolbook Depository by a police officer at 12:31pm, one minute after the shots were fired at 12:30pm. This was also his place of employment, and it was initially excused because someone said that he was an employee. He was calm, cool, and collected, and showed no signs of perspiration. How could someone travel down 6 flights of stairs in a minute, get his lunch, start eating it, and find a place to store the Italian Mannlicher Carcano?

In conclusion, I believe that there is not enough evidence to prove this issue either way. Both sides give very believable ideas, but they are not confirmed. The fact of the matter is that President Kennedy is dead, there is no going back. It truly was a tragedy and an unfortunate event.  (530)

"I Have a Dream"

            Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech was given on August 28, 1963 from the Lincoln Memorial. He was the last of many speakers who spoke after President Kennedy’s legislation promised to protect the civil rights of all people, including African Americans. This speech had a lot of power and significance behind it because he was one of the main leaders in the civil rights movement, and not only did he have a strong, powerful, and convincing voice that the large crowd would listen to, he got the nation’s attention about the need for equality of all races and ending of discrimination.

            Martin Luther King Jr. used many examples of paralanguage in his speech. On pg. 87, Dr. King says, “We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” His pitch really increases here because he wants to make a point to the crowd that they will not just stand around any longer waiting for something to happen. They are going to take action and stand up for what is right until they are satisfied. Speaking rate is shown on pg. 86-87 in the quote, “The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust white people…..” He is trying to say that the violent groups rising up such as the Black Panthers should not lead the black community to hate against all white people, because some have come to their senses. His volume also increases on pg. 86 with “all men.” He wants to emphasize that every single person should be given the rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (pg.86) This is also an example of wording that is concrete. Everyone knows that famous line from the Declaration of Independence, because those words are something everyone knows because it’s an important part to our history and individual freedom.

            Dr. King keeps his wording short and simple on pg. 88 saying, “where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.” This is easy for the average person to understand because he uses basic words and repeats them throughout the phrase so that it’s descriptive and to the point. This same idea can be applied to when he uses specific words on pg. 88, “black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants, and Catholics.” He wants the audience to know that everyone is included under the word “all.” He also uses repetition a lot in this speech. On pg. 88, “Free at last!” is repeated at least three times to emphasize his dream and goal during the civil rights movement. Many of his repeated words also can be used for restating main ideas. Although “I have a dream” is found randomly throughout this speech it mostly can be found on pg. 87. His main idea is that one day he will see every person in the United States free and that the hatred of others will cease to exist.  (567)

*reference to a typed copy of Martin Luther King Jr's I Have a Dream speech*

Movie Reviews & COMING SOON

            The 2012-2013 school year has brought a lot of great movies to the theatres nationwide. I know this for sure because I work at a movie theatre and always hear about what’s good, bad, incredible, terrible, and everything in-between. I have an internal list going in my head, and I’m going to give my reviews of what to rent, since most of these videos are out on DVD…. Otherwise go to your favorite local theatre…. Shoutout to Collins Road Theatres in Marion! Also a coming soon list will be included.

COMING SOON (list to be updated periodically):

All of your favorite Disney-Pixar movies along with the second movie in the Hunger Games trilogy:

Monsters University

Toy Story 4

Finding Nemo 2

Catching Fire

            The “best” movies of the year that I have seen are: Lincoln, Life of Pi (although PG it may be too intense for little children due to animal violence and survival), Skyfall, Argo, Flight, and the Hunger Games.

I have not seen the following movies but I have heard that they are either excellent or average (but still worth seeing/renting if you get the chance.)

·        Wreck-it Ralph (a wonderful animated movie- great for all ages!)

·        Django Unchained (bloody, funny, and a serious topic combine for a great movie)

·        Breaking Dawn Part 2 (are you a Twi-Hard?)

·        Silver Linings Playbook (go see!)

·        Identity Thief (can you say, HILARIOUS?!)

·        Les Mis (not my kind of movie but a lot of people loved it)

·        Zero Dark Thirty (greatest manhunt ever)

·        Snow White and the Huntsman (dark twist on a classic movie… not recommended for young children)  (267)

Poor Treatment Leads to Crappy Chicken

http://www.tyson.com/About-Tyson.aspx

           Most people know someone who is “technologically-challenged.” Whether it’s a family member or friend, sometimes it’s funny to hear and watch the situations and problems that arise from a tech-savvy perspective. For most I would assume the challenged would be grandparents and the elderly. However that does not mean youth do not have difficulties with technology. I can say for myself that I don’t understand video games (besides Super Mario Bros. Wii and MarioKart Wii), how to fax a paper, digital TV channels, and other miscellaneous tasks. In the past few days I have seen three specific examples in all dealing with cell phones. This evening while eating dinner, the following three examples came up in discussion, and I thought it would be interesting to share levels of comfort with technology and how technology makes an impact on lives.

We ate at a local Panera Bread for dinner tonight. There was a family behind us; a granddaughter, daughter, and grandfather. All three generations were present, and all had different thoughts. The grandfather didn’t understand the benefit of having a cell phone on and with you at all times. The daughter and granddaughter explained to him that if something were to happen, such as getting lost, falling, a car accident, or any other emergency situation, a cell phone would act as a tracker. They told him it’s almost like a dog chip. It was also explained that it doesn’t do you any good if it’s sitting in your car, while someone is trying to reach you, and if it’s always off, it defeats the purpose of having a mobile device. Another thing I wish I could have added to the conversation was that it helps to answer your phone when it rings! More than often I have called someone and they never call me back until I see them in person and let them know.

          My Grandma, (my mom’s mother), is not opposed to technology, but definitely isn’t comfortable with it. She does not have a computer, simply because she feels there is no need for one. The only thing she knows and likes to do on a computer is play Solitaire. We then bought her a hand-held Solitaire game for Mother’s Day, and she returned it because she wasn’t completely comfortable using it. She has a cell phone and knows how to call people, answer incoming calls, and just recently, my mom taught her how to check voicemail messages. She has no idea how to send and receive text messages however. I think she receives about one text message every year so it is not of great importance. I am glad that she leaves her phone on a lot so we can reach her on the go.

        My Grandma, (my dad’s mother), has a computer, checks email regularly, and is fairly comfortable with technology. The problem is that she has a hard time with her phone because the letters and numbers are so small, and she doesn’t have quick fingers for texting. The screen goes dark before she can get the next letter in, and then she gets frustrated with the lack of efficiency. My Grandpa was thinking about getting her a touch screen phone, but realized that an iPhone would be way too complicated for her with all of the extra features. I like talking to her when her phone is on, however her phone seems like it is always off. She turns it on when she wants to use it, but when finished she’ll turn it off. When people reply to her text messages or leave her a voicemail, it takes the phone a couple minutes for them to show up once she has turned it back on. This confuses her even more when she her phone starts beeping at her. I am not quite sure why she turns it off, but I think one reason is to save the battery.

       From these examples, you can see that there is a wide variety of comfort levels in technology. Maybe you never knew that not every single person in the world has a computer and access to internet. It seems like our world today relies on the internet and media so much, that “normal” is based on the majority. For example, businesses may advertise “for more information visit, www.____.com.” What if someone without a computer wanted more information, how would they find out? It’s unfortunate that some people have to suffer without knowledge of information simply because they haven’t progressed as fast as the majority. (757)

Trapped in a Zoo

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-19/exotic-animal-cover/50832756/1
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0307-lion-attack-20130307,0,4934638.story
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_of_Pi_(film)
Well folks, I think we’re experiencing what Arnold Schwarzenegger would like to call global warming in Iowa. As much as I hate the forbidden “S” word that starts with a S and ends with a W, it seems weird for it to be December 9, and we are just now experiencing our first snowfall. I wouldn’t even consider the precipitation we had today, snow. It was more like rain-slush. The ground was too warm and it pretty much melted when it hit the ground.

Last year we had a pretty mild winter, with a few major storms sporadically in the picture. I was thankful the weather was somewhat decent because it was my first winter driving by myself. Once the snow had melted and spring rolled around, I thought to myself, “Bring it on, winter 2012-2013!” That was assuming we would actually experience bad Iowa winter weather. Now I’m not saying I’m dying to drive in an ice storm, but it would be nice to know what to expect and how to handle a situation so that next year when I’m in college, I don’t end up stranded somewhere. If this spring-like weather continues for much longer, I think the world needs a wake-up call in order to start reducing their carbon footprints.

Believe what you want about the theory of global warming; which my father informed me that some believe natural warming occurs approximately every 2000-3000 years? …. (That seems a bit unlikely in my opinion). Some also think that it is environmentally caused. This is a fact though: the North Pole is melting- meaning glaciers and ice caps melt, polar bears and other arctic animals are losing their homes and lives, and sea levels are rising. You don’t think this affects you? Well you’re wrong. Rising sea levels mean more potential hurricanes, tsunamis, and tropical storms on the east and west coasts. Since these storms are threats to our limited oil supply, gas prices sky-rocket everywhere, causing you to pay more money at the pump to transport yourself via car.

On a lighter note, my Friday was fantastic! Everything just went perfect and nothing negative occurred. To top it off, the winter pep assembly was in the morning, and I won a $100.00 gift card!!! If you sold 10 or more Benchwarmers, which is a fundraiser for all the athletics at my school, your name got put into a bowl for a chance to win aKindle Fire, or one of two $100.00 gift cards. They drew the name for the Kindle Fire, and then another for a $100.00 gift card. One name was left to be drawn, and I was thinking, “What are the chances?” (The pieces of paper were tiny, too!) However I didn’t have much time to second guess before Mr. Stecker announced my name- I was very surprised, but happy. J

*Insert typical “I love the Christmas season!” blog post here.* Here you go: Christmas seems different this year. I almost struggled to come up with a Christmas wishlist this year, because I have everything I could possibly want. I did come up with some things, and whatever my parents/family members give to me this year I am already more than appreciative. Christmas seems relaxed and simple this year. Instead of spending time with friends this weekend, I spent it entirely with my mom and dad, except for a couple shifts I worked. Call me lame, pathetic, or a goody- it doesn’t matter to me. Isn’t simplicity and grace partly what Christmas is about? CHRISTmas has lost its meaning to the majority of society. The majority focus is no longer on the birth of Jesus Christ. Our society has made it all about gifts, deals, Black Friday, greed, jealousy, etc. Yes, it is nice to receive these presents and also show your appreciation to others by giving them presents in return, but there’s a point when people go too far. To tell you the truth, you don’t really need to make Christmas cookies. Use that time to volunteer, adopt a family to give hope and joy, or simply donate to the Salvation Army- food or money. Think about what you’re thankful for and appreciate what you have. Sometimes the simple things in life will bring the utmost happiness. (715)