Book progress #1

   "The Tipping Point is that magical moment when an idea, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire." The nonfiction book I chose is The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell. I wanted a book based on research while also discussing human behavior. Gladwell does just this and shows the readers how the smallest things can trigger an epidemic of change. The Tipping Point illustrates three rules for making an object or idea well known to the world; the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. Gladwell starts the first chapter by informing readers how the epidemic of syphilis arose in Baltimore in the mid-1990's. Many would argue "people came into contact with others and infected them with syphilis"; yes, this is true but Gladwell goes into detail as to what caused Baltimore's syphilis problem to tip. Almost immediately he changes the subject and talks about crack. What? He was talking about syphilis and now I'm being informed about crack? Little did I know crack influenced syphilis in the 1990's. Gladwell states, "epidemics tip because of the extraordinary efforts of a few select carriers" (22). He goes on to introduce different situations where the "little things" had a dramatic impact in the next decade; such as AIDS, Hush Puppies, the stabbing of Kitty Genovese, and the commencement of the American Revolution.
   Within the Law of the Few, Gladwell groups people in different categories; Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen. For example, Galdwell characterizes Paul Revere as a "Connector" since he knew just about everyone in the town, specifically the revolutionary leaders and a "Maven" because he gathered information about the British. Revere knew the problem that was arising and who to tell. "The phenomenon continues to this day--think of how often you've received information in an e-mail message that had been forwarded at least half a dozen times before reaching you" (33).
   The Stickiness Factor is supported by children shows such as Sesame Street and Blue's Clues. Gladwell goes into gathering empirical data about ideals and interviews researchers about what it takes for an idea to stick. He gives examples of how these assumptions have been supported by data, "Kids don't watch when they are stimulated and look away when they are bored. They watch when they understand and look away when they are confused" (102).
   The Power of Context. Well I haven't read that far so I can't say much. Hopefully by my next blog post I will explain how the Power of Context comes into play with the other two rules. I have learned many events such as the stabbing of Kitty Genovese and how it relates to the rest of the world and the rules. I am looking forward to finishing my book which is rare since I don't enjoy reading in general; but anyways I now have a different outlook on society and how we interact with others based on the "little things" which eventually turn into "big" ones.

Senior Project #2

Alright so Senior Project. Wow what to say. I haven't changed my project whatsoever so I'm still planning on running a half-marathon in late spring. I haven't done anything for my project except run on a daily basis. Problem, I screwed up my knee. Here's the story; I was running about 2 weeks ago and my knee began to hurt on my way home. I thought to myself well you probably overdid it so I went on with my day. A few days later as I was going up the stairs I felt my knee popping. I stretched it out before and after my workout but it still felt the same. Oh and at the time I still didn't have a mentor. Fast forward to a week later, I made an appointment to get my knee checked out and found a mentor. I went to my appointment and found out I had fluid in my kneecap but I was alright to run. I am currently wearing a knee brace and should wear it until it heals hopefully soon. Just yesterday I tried to go for a run with it on but my knee decided to not cooperate with me so I ended up walking/limping home. I am going to take it easy and run about a half mile everyday as soon as my mentor has a training plan for me.
     My mentor is Greg Stueland. Greg is one of the founders of Vine Runners, a local running group that runs Thursday evenings as well as Saturday mornings. I met with Greg last week and told him about my knee situation. Having participated in over 40 marathons, he suggested I take it easy seeing as how I will not be competing until mid spring. Hearing this and my doctor tell me I have fluid in my kneecap really upset me because I feel like I'm lagging on my project but I know it's for the best in order to prevent a more serious injury keeping me from running in the future. Hopefully I will be back up and running by the end of this week in order to train for the half-marathon.

"A Change of Heart About Animals" response

Dear Jeremy Rifkin,
                
               Your stance in your article, "A Change of Heart About Animals" has a profound effect on the general public reading the Los Angeles Times. I greatly believe that animals should have the same rights as humans do. Your statement, "They feel pain, suffer and experience stress, affection, excitement, and even love-and these findings are changing how we view animals", changed my view on animals completely. I am completely aware we are manufacturing meat the wrong way as well as infecting animals with unnecessary pesticides; so yes we need to change the way we treat animals around us. The condition in which factory workers are handling meat products is unappealing to many, resulting in people adapting to the vegetarian lifestyle. This being said, I strongly agree with Rifkin's point that animals "are more like us than we had ever imagined" whether it's from treatment or knowledge.
                As normal humans, when we look at something/someone we make an assumption. Face it, it can be good or bad but we do it. How about animals? Many simply look at them and wonder what they are beneficial for. Elephants? Their ivory. Do we really need that much ivory? No. Why the hell would you even need so much of it? People are unaware of the feelings animals posses towards their dead kin. We shoot elephants for their ivory, an elephant comes along and notices the carcass. Unaware how it happened, the elephant touches the carcass with its trunk. The elephant experiences grief and often stands next to the dead body for days. Humans are oblivious to the fact that animals have emotions too and they deserve respect. In reality, are you constantly buying elephant products? I didn't think so. Although not mentioned in "A Change of Heart about Animals", the same goes for cows; many are consuming meat without having the knowledge of what it contains. It can pose a health risk to humans by such unheard-of antibiotics.
                 After reading Lois Frazier's letter to the editor, I agreed with her and Rifkin in more ways than possible. "When will more people begin to realize that we share this world with many creatures deserving of our care and respect?" This is the question we need to ask  on a daily basis and remind ourselves if killing a large amount of animals to produce something we benefit from although not healthy and fresh. We are unfamiliar of animals' emotions and how it affects them; we as humans need to respect their presence on this planet and become aware of why we do or do not 'need' them.
               
                

Senior Project

   For my Senior project I have chosen to run a half-marathon (13.1 miles). Anyone who knows me can tell you I'm a really indecisive person so picking a topic was the hardest part...so far. I am choosing to run a half-marathon because, well in quite honesty I enjoy running. Back in early May I was stressed out (not as much as right now), because I learned I had to pick a topic...soon. Well there went my plan of coming up with one over summer. I felt like I needed to get away from everything so I went on a run, a difficult one. 6.4 miles, and it felt awesome. Yes I was extremely sore the next day but I didn't mind at all. That's when it hit me, I should run for my project! I feel like running is immensely relaxing even if you're sweating like a pig.
   I chose healthy living but more specifically fitness because we as humans engage in some form of exercise in our daily lives whether it's walking to our cars or running on the treadmill. As for my research paper I will talk about the many benefits of exercising and how obesity has increased over the past years. My end product will not only be running the half-marathon but also devising a training plan for others to follow in order to live a healthy lifestyle. I haven't done much for my project. No mentor, ergo no mentor interview. But in order for me to not sound incredibly lazy, over the summer I got up everyday at 6:30 a.m. and ran 3 miles. So in a way I kinda started my project but without mentor "assistance". I should probably get on that soon. For those of you reading this, don't be surprised if I change my research paper topic...it's still in the "works".
  

Into the Wild-final discussion

                Do you feel that McCandless was either mentally ill or suicidal? What a biased question I must say. After reading Jon Krakauer's  Into the Wild, I for one, didn't (still don't) believe there is any factual evidence in his narrative let alone McCandless's journal entries for one to label him as mentally ill or simply a suicidal human being. Chris came from a family with secrets and double lives; as one becomes older they’re very much influenced by their family and the habits/mistakes they go through. Having said this, Chris could have been exposed to much worse than his father’s infidelity but why is it he decided to go into the wild? McCandless enjoyed a life full of adventure and love, but in no way was he mentally unstable or suicidal.

                Chris embarked on his Alaskan journey so he could live in solitude from the rest of society and more importantly leave his family and all the problems that came along with them. If McCandless was feeling suicidal why did he not talk with Carine, his beloved sister who he had the closest relationship with in his entire family? This raises a very important question of who he truly cared about before going on his journey. As stated before if Chris was truly suicidal I believe he would have talked with Carine before heading into the woods and not run off and starve to death over the course of two months. Coming from a family with high expectations and great wealth, when he graduated from Emory University Chris became aware that it was all about the money. His parents wanted to buy him a new car but McCandless refused replying with "the Datsun works just fine”. Being in college can be very stressful, I for one shouldn’t be speaking, but even in high school it is crucial to get good enough grades to please your parents. Grades weren’t a problem for McCandless but if he had felt so overwhelmed with everything wouldn’t it have crossed his mind to kill himself, if he was suicidal, in college? Think about it; one is so caught up with everything and learning about say your father’s infidelity for two years at this point in one’s life can really push someone to take risks. This being said I highly doubt Chris was suicidal because he would have done it sooner than wait around for two months while starving to death facing harsh conditions.

                In The San Francisco Examiner, Patricia Ryan explains how different programs have helped to catch mental illnesses earlier than ever. In a research study Ryan states how “children with unaddressed mental health problems are much more likely to drop out of school, go to jail as adults and suffer other negative outcomes”. As many would argue Chris McCandless was indeed mentally unstable, I disagree. If Chris had a condition it would have most likely have been brought up in Krakauer’s narrative. After all, he did talk to Carine and Billie McCandless regarding Chris’ life; so why wouldn’t a mother give away this information to set the facts straight? Much to Ryan’s statement, if Chris was mentally ill he would have dropped out of school before even attending Emory. One might conclude that many of his decisions were caused by a mental instability, but Chris was above all a man living by his beliefs and morals in order to experience the nomadic lifestyle without parental intrusion. McCandless’s death was tragic and ultimately much unexpected, but in my opinion was due to a lack of knowledge and preparation rather than a mental illness or suicidal thoughts.

 

           

Scottish wedding

Scotland, United Kingdom. Superstitions, rituals and even the eminent feet washing are all important aspects of a Scottish wedding. Lets start with pre-wedding traditions such as The Open House, or more commonly known as the "Show of Presents." Before the bride is married, her mother holds an open house, similar to a bridal shower, where invitations are sent to women who give wedding gifts to the couple. Why does this happen? In order for the bride to show respect for her guests, she must know who will be attending the wedding. After the "Show of the Presents", she is given a baby doll, and a plastic potty with salt at the bottom. Accompanied with her guests and friends, she walks through the town as the others bang pots and pans announcing the bride's upcoming nuptials. This tradition is said to bring luck, prosperity and fertility to the bride on her wedding day as she exchanges kisses for money, which is then dropped into the potty. Not only does the soon-to-be bride receive money but also has the opportunity for her feet to be washed. She sits on a stool while an older, married woman washes and dries her feet. This ritual is said to bring good fortune for the marriage. So what about the soon to be groom? Similar to the bride's Open House, the groom is taken out by his friends for a Stag Night. Having a few drinks leads to the groom becoming partially or fully stripped from his clothes by his friends covered in soot, flour and feathers and left overnight tied to a tree; this ritual is called blackening.
The morning of the ceremony is extremely important as one must take caution. Why you must ask? If the bridal party encounters a funeral or a pig on the way to the church, they must return home and set out again as it is considered bad luck. Who knew a harmless pig could do such damage. As a token of good luck, the bride is given a Silver Sixpence to place in her shoe that morning. When leaving her house for the last time, the bride must step out the door with her right foot as it symbolizes good luck in her marriage. For a traditional Scottish wedding the bride will wear a white or cream colored dress along with "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe". Something old is a gift given from the mother to the bride to start off her married life symbolizing her mother's wisdom. Something new is a gift that represents the new start of a married life. Something borrowed will be from a married couple in hope that a little of their "marital bliss will rub off on the newlyweds"; and something blue is usually a blue garter, a sign of love and modesty. For the groom, his outfit consists of the following: a Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat, kilt, tartan flashes to match the kilt, white hose, gillie brogues, kilt pin, sgian dubh, black belt with buckle, formal sporran with chain strap, wing collar shirt, black or colored bow tie, and a piece of lucky heather on the lapel...and he ends up looking like this! As the bride enters the church, pipers start to play the bagpipes; many play outside as to protect the guests' ears. As part of their Celtic heritage a couple engages in hand fasting during the ceremony; the couples hands are bound together in a tartan cloth or with a cord during their vows. This shows everyone that from that point on, they are no longer two but one. Many celebrations also include the "Presentation of the Sword", where the groom presents a family sword to his bride which will then be given to their first born son or the bride's family presents the groom with their sword as acceptance into their family and the obligation he now has in protecting his new wife. A famous tradition in Scotland is for a toddler to hand the bride a horseshoe as she walks out the church with her husband. A horseshoe carried by the bride is a symbol for fertility and luck towards their marriage. Another gesture for luck and fortune involves the bride and groom scattering coins for the children to collect at the end of the ceremony.
Now it isn't a wedding without a cake right? A traditional Scottish cake consists of two tiers of brandy-flavored fruit cake. As much as this sounds appetizing, only one tier is eaten at the wedding celebration as the other is saved to celebrate the birth of the couple's first born. As superstitious a Scottish wedding might sound, all the elements lead up to a beautiful wedding filled with laughter and dancing and most importantly lucky newlyweds.

Essay: Fast Food

Here is a link to my essay on fast food.