The rolling Ball Magazine

Sorry but the movie thing would not work on my blog so i am just putting the u-tube link so you can watch the video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIs6OiocZA0

Opinion Retaliation!

America the Beautiful: What we're fighting for, by Dinesh D' Souza was a very intriguing read. First of all, when the author states that America and Americans are better than everyone else It brought up a couple issues for me. I guess going along the lines of the cultural relativity, we can not judge our country against other third world countries. The reason being is that we have stepped on enough toes to get to the place where we are. Where on the other side, the third world country as been the one who did not act to conquer and in turn, has not been able to achieve the same kind of spot light as America has. Secondly, when he talks about killing two hundred civilians in a hospital and it being not that bad  compared to other countries. In my book, that is still considered murdering the innocent. And say we hold ourselves at a high moral standard? What I am saying is no moral law has stated that you may justify our evil acts by comparing yourselves with other evils. 

Conversely, this does not put me against america, I just do not believe that such absolute statements should be made about a imperfect country. The part where I can agree, is that American is a place where a lot good is held. The mentality is to help more than we hurt, and that is a value strongly held. However, even with so much good intention, it can be corrupt by only a few who hold political power. And that is where I really believe that we are no better than any other country trying to protect its own. 

America the Beautiful: what are we fighting for by 

who vs. that

A grammatical problem that was hard to notice was when I would say "that" for "who" or "who" for "that." It is a sneaky little error and catches me a lot of the time. Anyways I looked it up and found a website that helped me remember the difference.

The rule is that when you are talking about a person you say "who" and when you are talking about a object you say "that". I know it seems pretty obvious, when you are flowing with a sentence you tend to overlook such a small error.
For example: "You know bob, he is the guy that sold me his car." See it is pretty are to spot because it sounds good in the sentence. However, instead of say "that" it should say "You know Bob, he is the guy who sold me his car.

Anyways, if you want more information or examples on this error go to http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/who-versus-that.aspx

20 Questions

My topic is on the economy so I am just going to to some specific questions on a variety of issues with the economy.
1. Is capitalism effective?
2. Is obama's stimulus plan really working to stimulate the economy?
3. How bad is housing?
4. What was the primary causes of a recession?
5. Will banks revive?
6.How has the U.S. economy affected the rest of the world?
7. what is the social reaction of a population during a economic recession?
8. How will renewable energy affect the future economy?
9.How does ones education level effect his economic situation?
10. Can we maintain a substantial development with in environmental means?
11. What are some of the misconceptions and unfairness in the current model for global trading?
12.How does military spending affect the economy?
13. Is this economic crisis signaling the decline of US's superpower status?
14.How free is free trade?
15. causes of poverty?
16. How is debt/poverty and the environment related?
17. How has past president dealt with the economy?
18.Does G8 have to much power?
19.Under what circumstances is government regulation in the interests of established companies?
20. what is the importance of free trade?

Subliminal Persuasion

"For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must balance the perspective we gain from the media with our own lived experiences and use a wider sociological lens to look at what is going on around us everyday life. "- Diana Kendall

In both "Framing Class, Vicarious Living, and Conspicuous Consumption" by Diana Kendall and "Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt: Advertising and Violence" by Jean Kilbourne send out the message that media is subconsciously shaping our realities. Whether it be violence towards women or the gap between classes, the media is manipulating our very views on life. For example, on the "reality" TV show Real World you are able to see this manipulation first hand. First observing the people that are placed on the show is primarily white good looking people with one or two ones of ethnicity. I believe this kind of simple placing reflects what the media has been teaching us all our lives, which is that Caucasian race is superior to any other race. Even though as history goes on we find out how wrong that belief is, the media continues to instill this message into our heads.

However, this is not the only thing being put in our heads by media either. The media has a way of appealing to our senses and getting their message to stick. For instance, when they put on a beer commerical with 3 very attractive women half naked at the will of a man, it puts that image in our head subconsciously the way women should be viewed as. Also, by appealing to men sex drive this acts as a huge reinforcement and incentive to believe this way.

Now you ask why does the media try so hard to force these advertisements in your minds and give us incentives to believe a certain way? The answer is profit, when their is a consistent belief held, the easier it is to persuade that person to act a certain way or buy certain things. So next time you are watching a commerical about a product or an idea, think to yourself is there a subliminal message behind this?

Run on sentences!

I will admit it, I am a run on sentence junkie. Starting with one thought and ending in a completely different thought, I go on and on. This is why I have looked up the rule so I can fix my little problem.

Run-on sentences are two sentences end to end, often with a comma in between. But commas don't join sentences! To join two sentences you must have a word such as "and", 'but", "or", 'yet "or "because".

RIGHT We have received your order. We will despatch the plants this afternoon.
RIGHT We have received your order, and we will despatch the plants this afternoon.
WRONG We have received your order, we will despatch the plants this afternoon.

To find where you need a period or a comma, read your own writing aloud, exaggerating the pauses. Ask a colleague for help, if necessary.

For more information go to http://www.webpagecontent.com/arc_archive/138/5/