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The reason why...
Tags: finally, the, reason
Campaign: none
Added: 8/21/2009 2:00 PM PT
Last Modified: 8/21/2009 2:00 PM PT
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For all my fellow brickfishers and friends,
I am so so so so sorry that I haven't been on recently. There's just so much going on, I got sick, my computer was having problems which I finally fixed and am now able to get onto brickfish without getting signed off (not the bf's server's fault it was my computer's), and then I have the most mind blowing news in the world which means it also bad because I won't be able to be on as affluently as I want but it's just amazing to me. I just have this huge feeling of relief and I will explain why, but before I do, please send me all your links to your new campaigns and I will support them, you can either post a comment here so it's easier for me to access or send me a message. Thanks so much for all your constant support I swear I will catch up on supporting you all..
Ok so despite me being sick and having to wait forever and a day for my sister to come and fix my computer I have the most mind blowing news. I have been searching with my mom for a doctor that would help her and OMG...WE FOUND ONE! I am just so relieved because he understands that my mom isn't sick because of something she did (since she follows the doctor's directions to a "T"), the pain's not in her head (although the doctors want her to believe that to not take responsibilty for their part), and that it IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT the doctor who performed her original surgery 6 YEARS AGO, it's HIS fault! FINALLY someone who is listening and understanding that my mom isn't crazy, she is on the verge of death for having to deal with this pain and malnutrition from the surgery...and OMG...I am just so relieved that as you can tell, I can't really make full sentences and I have tears of joy running down my face..I am THAT relieved. After 6 years of listening to doctors tell my mom there is nothing wrong with her and just prescribing her painkiller after painkiller then putting in her charts that she is just drug seeking when they are the ones who are giving her so much narcotics to numb pain they don't believe is there and then they cannot expect someone to become addicted to heavy narcotics with how much they were prescibing. ok back on track, I won't be on for a while even though my computer is fixed because I will be the one incharge of taking her to and from the hospital for her tests and stuff. She can't have surgery to fix the problem YET, but they are working on getting her nutrition back up before surgery because she is SEVERLY malnurished and dehydrated. Please keep us in your prayers and hope that everything will turn out right because it's about time things worked out for my mom. I am so excited..I am getting my mom back. I seriously can't stop crying I am so happy.
So I will try to be on for a bit everyday if I can but I need to support my mom in this and help her because she is so ready to not be sick anymore and try to get things back to normal.
and on another note which is really odd but I like sharing it. I found a fairly old cat wondering the streets of my neighborhood about 1 month ago and he was very emaciated. And I am allergic to cats but I don't care I took the cat in and he's now getting up to a normal weight. I am surprised because you can tell this WAS someone's pet and they left it out to die. I know it didn't run away because it's an outdoor cat and everytime I call it, it comes back...plus I know it was someone's pet because he's neutered. But that's some more good news that I wanted to tell you. I will keep you all updated about what's all going on and if you have any questions please feel free to ask me, I am not afraid to be honest with anyone and I don't feel I have to hide anything from anyone either. So enjoy your day, week, month, or YEAR!! Just enjoy life!
God bless you all!
love and support always,
Erica
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Welcome to my Day!!
Tags:
Campaign: Windows® Brand Ambassador — Week #1 Challenge
Added: 7/14/2009 2:06 PM PT
Last Modified: 7/14/2009 2:06 PM PT
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I am a Windows Brand Ambassador and this is how I spend my day. One of the first things I do when I wake up is either head straight outside to take pictures or head straight to the computer to do my multiple tasks. Every day is different so I never really start out the same when I am on the computer but hey that's not important. This windows brand ambassador has accounts on: newsvine, AT&T, myspace, youtube, blogger, yahoo, veoh, fastweb, brickfish (of course =^.^=), snafu-comics, cappex, scholarships.com, and neopets.
If I spend my day taking pictures and shooting video, I quickly upload them to my computer to begin editing them and sending them to people I know all across my social network; both from the sites listed above and my personal email address list from friends and family. Once I am done with that I will research topics so I can write articles. One of my most highly noted research and news article (which has not been published but is posted throughout my various sites for people to view) is about the most ferocious topics of animal cruelty: ranging from production of fur coats, to factory farms, to scientific testing, to moral values of an animals' existence. If I don't find a research topic that I find interesting or I am not inspired to write about at that moment, I get to work righting a variety of books. One that I have been working on since I was 16 (I keep changing my mind on the format I want it), is about the Genealogy of Hemophilia. Some of my more recent works are a fiction/sci-fi/fantasy novel with a world I made up and illustrations (which I am drawing all by hand) has been started, 2 children’s books, and either an autobiography or a memoir. Sometimes I have a hard time keeping my mind on subjects for too long because I usually work off of what I call "inspiration power," but I do prioritize and write schedules and deadlines to keep on task.
When I am in a rut or a thinking block I step back, take a breather, and check out some of my favorite sites that help me to relax and refocus my energy. Neopets provides awesome games and great interactive features, plus their random contest gives me a chance to use my creative side; snafu-comics and onemanga have a great selection of comics (I am a comic freak so it definitely helps me to relax); youtube and veoh have some great videos made by people and it allows me to show the world my movies and animations. I have 2 blogs on blogger, one is about my life and experiences and the other is an advice column which I guess is based off of my experiences as well. I write articles for my advice column so people can see if they relate and ask questions. Newsvine gives me the latest news and allows me to join in on discussion boards to talk about the events. Fastweb, cappex, and scholarships, are all for searching for scholarships.
I don't really have a job right now but I view writing my books and research articles as one. I do other projects such as scrapbooking, painting, and stuff like that which the internet allows me to solicit (usually through my blog). This is just the computer part of my day which I think is all you probably wanted to hear so I will leave it at that. I more than likely forgot a few things but no worries. =^.^=
Hoped you enjoyed how it's like in a day as me...ummm...here are some of my recent photo and scholarship projects for your enjoyment.
Flower Hair Pin, Photo for friend who makes them
Skip-Bo Picture (just because it's my favorite card game and I want to share it with everyone
Neopets, create a Magazine cover (Random Submission Contest):
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Life of hardships
Tags:
Campaign: Your Life. Our Stage.
Added: 6/13/2009 7:23 PM PT
Last Modified: 6/13/2009 7:24 PM PT
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I've been hesitant about entering because I don't know quite what to say, not to mention I'm a bit embarrassed. I've always been harassed & out casted as a little kid and still now because I have a very unusual shade of red as a hair color plus act & see things differently than others do. The people who stuck near me who said they were my friends weren't really my friends but I was fine with that because for some reason it seemed to me like they were the lonely ones. I literally had things thrown at me such as rocks and sports equipment and people pulled pranks on me, some of it I think to see how I would react. I got used to people calling me names & people turning their back towards me. I got in trouble sometimes because people started fights with me, even though I walked away from them I still got in trouble. People twisted my words and made me seem like I was worse than I was since I was outgoing but still pretty quiet and shy, more of a loner than anything. It was hard, sometimes I cried when it got too much but I had a cousin who would make it all better. My cousin David was more like a brother to me than anything. He always told me that they were just jealous that I was given beauty, brains, & a personality. He told me to lift my head up & be proud of what I have & to always treat everyone with kindness no matter how mean they are because there might be something more to how they act. He always seemed to be right.
As it turned out I had more things thrown at me than a person could handle. My mom & dad divorced when I was young & for a long time they wouldn't let me or my siblings see my dad; the court was convinced that he sexually abused us & they tried to make it look that way. I don’t think I was much help talking to the counselor because I get nervous when talking to them; plus they made it seem like the truth wasn't the right truth they wanted to hear. My dad never did anything like that but all they could care about was making it look like that. We had supervised visits at a counselor’s office then unsupervised after a year or so. Our parents fought hard to make each of us like them better than the other. My step-mom tried her best to make us like her but she also had a way of overstepping her bounds & made it seem like she was our mom. I don't know if she meant it intentionally or not but it came off that way.
Just as soon as it got normal again, the person I looked up to the most and who was there for me the most, as was I there for him when he needed it, my cousin David killed himself just two days after Christmas. Sometimes I feel like it's my fault because we were so close & around the time he died was when I had been so angry at my dad for something stupid that I refused to visit him even though I knew David was there every weekend to see me. What hurts more though is that he never told me anything was wrong so I could help him & for us having that close of a bond, I couldn't tell he was that depressed but he always seemed happy when he was around me.
As if that wasn't enough my mom's health deteriorated from a mis-performed gastric bypass that doctors refused to fix or believe her about it. They just prescribed her heavy narcotics and said it's all in her head. She was off of work for a long time so I got a job to help her out & I was lucky that I was at least earning a dollar more than minimum wage. I voluntarily worked fulltime while going to school and then coming home and doing chores like cooking dinner and laundry. I still had a hard time at school with drama & rumors that people thought I didn't hear about. I was determined not to let anything get me down. On top of me working full-time, my sister ended up pregnant-- I love my nephew to death-- the timing couldn't have been worse. My brother made things worse with his sexist & kingly attitude towards everyone. We had him change from a public school to a charter school in 6th grade hoping it would help but it didn't. He still acted like he was always right & repeatedly went against teachers; usually ending up cussing them out. Luckily we found a partial cause to why he acts like he does. Doctors & counselors did a 9 hour test and found that he has Aspersers Syndrome which is a light form of Autism but enough to cause problems. Doctors found that he got it from misuse of anesthetics when he went in for surgery at the age or 2 or 3. He has Hemophilia A so he had a port put in to give treatments since his veins were too sensitive at the time for his treatments. He's always constantly gotten bleed & it surely doesn't help that he does things to himself purposely to 'teach' people a lesson. He's used to getting his way. He seems to have simmered down & matured.
I managed to graduate high school being in the top 25% of the school despite all the chaos around me. My mom is still sick & I sometimes get mad how things turned out but there’s nothing I can do about it. So instead of putting myself in a rut saying woes-me, I am going to push forward & prove to everyone I can handle it.
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My hero(es)
Tags:
Campaign: Who is Your Hero?
Added: 2/12/2009 12:37 AM PT
Last Modified: 2/12/2009 12:37 AM PT
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Let me note that this blog is written how I normally would write things granted the time allotted and other circumstances involved. If you have read any of my earlier blogs, you will indeed notice the difference in my writing styles. Just wanted to make that known before my blog was read, since I know some people are continuous readers of my blog.
There are many people who can be called heroes in this world, but for one to call another that on a personal level is due to their views. Most people choose their parents are their heroes simply because they are their parents and without them, they wouldn't have life. That is fine and dandy, but to me, that does not make a hero. People who I encounter in my life can be heroes in their own sense. Each has come into my life at the right time, the right moment, to give me guidance, support, and to point me in the right direction without making me be something I am not. Whether I choose to listen or follow it is a different story. To me, a hero does not have to be strong in the traditional sense. There are various forms of strength: spiritual, emotional, physical. To judge if someone is a hero based on strength alone is foolish. Some of my heroes may not be strong, but what they lack in strength, they make up in other areas such as wisdom and talent.
If I were to choose who my biggest hero is, I honestly cannot do it. Rather, the people I look up to the most because they are one of my heroes and they are there for me more often would have to be my three most precious people in the world who have made me the person I am today. I am following suit with others here in choosing my parents but not solely because they gave life to me. Countless times they have shown me strength, wisdom, and talent; although not in the normal way a parent would. My Dad, through his faults, taught me endurance, acceptance, change, and deceitfulness. My Mom, in her strength, showed me loyalty, creativeness, being open minded, and kindness. Both of them showed me love but of course as with any parent or in fact, with any individual, they did it in their own unique ways. My third most important person is someone I spent numerous hours with; in fact, when we were younger we were practically inseparable. My Cousin David would have to be my most precious person above even my parents. I am embarrassed to admit but my childhood was quite rocky compared to other children my age. It is thanks to my experiences from that and how my parents handled it and such that I learned from them and grew. How this pertains to my cousin is because he was the person there for me the most. When I was sad he could make me smile and when I was hurt he would know just what to say to make my day better. We were best friends and our bond was deeper than most others. It's like we could sense each other's happiness or sadness and what not. Unfortunately, he is no longer here by my side or anyone elses for that matter. In his life, he protected me, showed me safety, friendship, understanding, and that family is the MOST important thing anyone can have no matter what. With his death, he showed me that not all is what it seems, that life itself is fickle and to not take anything for granted, and that even when one is gone physically, they are not truly gone. Your memories of them, experiences with them, a bond; those can never be taken away from you.
My heroes may not be superheroes or always make the best choices. They have their faults, their bad times and their good times. That is more real and more important to me than strength showed by physical appearance or whatever else tradition dictates as strength. That is why my heroes are so close to my heart. They are pretty much just normal people who surround me in my everyday life. Whether it is a once in a lifetime meeting or a bond that lasts eternity, they are my heroes. The best part about them is that they each have taught me something and have let me learn both from my own experience and theirs. They have let me grow and expand in my own way and not a mold that needs to be filled perfectly. My heroes are my heroes because they made me, me. I am glad to have met the people I have in any situation I have encountered. If given the chance to change something in my life or to live again in a different way, I would say no because my heroes have shown me that there will always be good times and there will always be bad times. Sometimes it is balanced and other times it is not, but as each day passes you grow from your experiences and encounters that occur. I am grateful to have heroes in everyone I meet and most importantly in the people I cherish the most.
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In today's world it is hard to tell who is really a homeless person in need and who is just looking to make fast money the lazy way. What is this world coming to where people imitate homeless people because they are too lazy to get a real job and work an honest day's work? It's terrible to think that someone would stoop so low because then it negatively affects TRUE homeless people.
Since it's hard to tell, what is one to do? I personally do not give money to people. If someone asks me if I have money so they can buy food, I say I will not give you money; instead I will buy them some food. Depending on how much I am able to spend, I buy things that will go far like a loaf or two of bread, peanut butter, baby formula(if needed), and water because it's good to keep hydrated. In the off chance it's an adult asking so he/she can feed their children, I usually throw in a little treat like candy or something sweet that they can share because to a child living on a street, it makes them feel special. I have a couple of instances where either my mom or I have done (they are TRUE stories).
Instance 1:
When I was little, it would be my mom watching my sister, my brother, and me. In our front yard we had a palm tree and one day and homeless man came to the door asking if he can trim and cut our palm for some food. Now normally my mom might have taken him up on the offer except for the fact that we were around and she didn't know what the man was capable of, well that and it would be a liability if he got injured since it was kind of a tall palm tree. My mom declined nicely and said she would call a local shelter to come and pick him up (because some places do that) to take him back there where he can clean up and look for a job because if he is asking to trim our palm he is obviously more than able to work and can more than likely find a job, Not only that but a shelter will give him food to. So that's what my mom did. That man later on came back to our house and thanked my mom for giving him the kick in the butt he needed. Sometimes that's all it takes. People think it's heartless what my mom did but it really wasn't, it would be a different story though if it was a single mom with little children, then my mom would've hurried them inside but the man was more than capable of working and although a single mom is, if she has small children it's kind of hard...well it honestly doesn't sound that bad if it was being TOLD instead or being WRITTEN.
Instance 2:
This instance took place not too long ago. My mom and I were at a Circle K, filling up on gas and getting something to drink and for my mom, cigarettes. Well apparently a lady had 2 children with her and I think it was also her younger sister and a man there. What happened was, the man who was with them ran off with everything she had, her wallet and what not and she was heading to her mom's house because she was trying to escape that man but I guess his punishment to her was leaving her stranded. We overheard them and me being miss chitty chat-chat asked why the older lady was crying. Then that's when she told us the story. Even though my mom and I didn't have that much money, my mom and me put together some of our cash, filled up their truck which that man had taken their gas from and gave her $40 dollars for food and drinks on the way and my mom bought water for the two little girls since they were thirsty and the $40 would have to last because they were travelling a far distance. I know where they were going but for protection and paranoia reasons I will not state. Well they were truly grateful and asked for our address so she can repay us, because my mom's part of the money came from her cigarette money, and my mom said no. She told the woman that "it's what God would've done so there is no need to repay her." They left and the clerk at the register said you should've gotten an address to where they were going so you can get repaid and my mom said firmly to her, "no, that's not what God would've done. The biggest reward is knowing that you helped someone who is in need, that's the best type of payment there is."
I just love my mom and how she has taught me to be so kind. I also know from her, how to tell if someone is trying to scam you by pretending to be homeless. If they refuse food and say they want money, either makes them a pretender or a chronic alcoholic and/or gambler. People who are homeless are truly grateful for anything you can spare or give. You can see it in the way they act, and talk and the look in their eyes. I feel bad for people who become homeless due to the economy and bad luck and people who have lost everything, but I do NOT feel bad for people who are homeless because of something they have done, like alcoholics, druggies, gamblers, etc... That's not to say that I won't help them depending on the situation and how much of a danger it may be for me to help them. However, I do believe that if you are able bodied enough to work then you should. Don't be lazy!
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Everyday someone's identity is stolen and you would be surprised on how many of them are not Americans but illegal immigrants. It's as equally surprising to find out that any job such as burger king or retail place and what not will do a thorough background check on someone--and depending on the company--they give leniencies to ex-convicts and such. But that’s not the most surprising thing of all; you will be totally blown away at the lack of security in that we have in our government offices. I was outraged to find out that most people who work in social security offices are actually ex-convicts and such...even though they have others in there too who are professionals and trained in that field, it's just a shock to the system to know that. I honestly wouldn't trust an ex-convict to work in a government office or someplace where they can issue and duplicate social security cards and numbers. I am not saying that all ex-convicts are bad I am just stating that obviously you were in jail for some reason or another and being in that much control of another's personal information can be a deadly combination...that's not to say that the professionals can't be corrupt as well but statistically speaking, who is more likely to be corrupt?
What's even more shocking than that is the lack of security and that some people in the social security offices are actually selling duplicate social security cards to illegal immigrants to earn a quick buck. By the time it is caught there is going to be a really hard road ahead to fix it all and to prove you are who you say you are. And it's not just the social security office frauds that make me mad, it's parent's who have put themselves into so much debt or are here illegally but their child is a natural born citizen, that use THEIR CHILD’S social security card numbers for things and it ruins their credit and what not. It is truly despicable.
I say that there should be system that registers the numbers on the cards and locks it using a password that is given to the individual along with the card...if they lose the card they call in or however it works and they have to say the password for a duplicate card to be made. It's not only that, but the people who are making the cards should be under constant surveillance-- like they do in banks--to see if any theft is going on. And that they should raise the penalties for anyone caught doing such heinous acts (I am not sure what the cureent penalty is but it should be toughened up, that way people would be too scared to even try).
I think people should work honestly and although life may be rough, you shouldn't take someone else's life, just roll with the punches so to speak and get past the rough parts to work towards tomorrow because it doesn't matter if you are you, or you are using someone else’s identity, life is tough and you will more than likely fall on hard times.
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Opinions and Thoughts
Tags: opinions, thoughts, rights, freedom, speech
Campaign: Rants & Raves
Added: 1/23/2009 12:53 AM PT
Last Modified: 1/23/2009 11:29 PM PT
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Everyone takes things too personal now that it makes it difficult to actually use your first amendment rights and speak freely without fear or being shot or something of that nature. It makes me mad because as an American, that is my right but of course you don't want to offend anyone...
oh no...God forbid you say what's on your mind and someone takes it the wrong way and flies off the handle. It's ridiculous. I mean I was talking about my religion one time because someone asked me and I told them straight out that I belonged to no religion that I learn from all religions and take what I think is right and that I don't believe in going to church because it is a man-made place and worshiping is something spiritual. This person flew so high with anger and started yelling at me saying I will go to h-e-double hockey sticks for not going to church and I will be punished severely and la-di-la-di-dah...I walked off after saying OH WELL it's how I think and you aren't going to change it. That’s just ridiculous. And no one really says their views on the important stuff like illegal immigration, and abortion and stuff like that because of their fear of what people will do.
Cartoon/Comic Title: Who is to Blame for Illegal Immigration?
Cartoon/comic courtesy of Small World Cartoons at http://www.briscoe.org/cartoon/immigration/index.cfm?comic=20060403
All ©Copyright and credit for this cartoon/comic belongs to Small World Cartoons. [Note: this cartoon/comic is meant for observatory purposes to prove a point, it is not in any way meant to stir up emotions or purposely offend someone. If it does I am sorry but that was not my intention]
Picture title: Life or Death? To kill or not to kill?
 Picture courtesy of http://www.holylamb.com/abortion3k.htm
All ©Copyright and credit for this picture belongs to holylamb.com [Note: It was difficult to pick a picture that was not too graphic but yet gave the same meaning. Do be warned that they pictures on the sites are more graphic so viewer discretion is advised. This picture is up for viewing purposes to prove a point, it is in no way meant to stir up emotions or offend someone. If it does do that, then I am sorry but that was not my intention.]
I do think that there is a time and a place for everything but if you ask my honest opinion and thoughts on something, don't expect me to lie to you and say something subtle and befitting to their conceptions. I think people should chill and instead of getting butt hurt when someone says something, especially after being asked a question, they should instead ask them why that person thinks that way or just let it slide and be done with it. If you are that concerned about it then express your views in a calm manner but don't be cussing people out saying what they think is wrong because people earn the right to say, feel, and think whatever they want. How they go about it is their choice. Now I would understand if someone got in my face because I said an opinion or something maliciously or in an attacking manner then yeah...what do you expect but if I am simply stating, then there is no reason for people to jump all over someone else.
SOURCES:
Are listed above undeneath the photos, but are provided by the following:
-photobucket.com-
-briscoe.org-
-------------------------------------------------------------->-holylamb.com-<--------------------------------------------------------------
^---**Due to the Explicit and Graphic nature of the pictures shown on this site, viewer discretion is advised**---^
NOTE: The pictures and cartoons used in this blog are for observatory purposes only to prove a point. They are not meant in any way to stir up emotions or offend anyone. If it does, I am sorry but that was not my intetion to do so. Be aware that viewer discrestion is advised. Thank you!
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I just love the Christmas spirit! Mainly because it's a time where my family comes together, as with any other. We don't dwell on who gets the most presents or who gets the best present. We all just gather around each other, watch old movies, cook tons of family sweets, we talk, tell stories, and play games.
This year I am especially excited about the cooking of sweets because as part of our tradition, the oldest relative passes down one of their favorite recipes from our secret family recipes to someone of the younger generation; and this year it was me! Even though you don't know who they are, I got my Great Grandma Cook's Carmel Nut Log recipe from my Grandma Kuntz. Everyone thought that it was a duplicate of the recipe but no, it's the original recipe that my great grandma came up with herself. Because of this tradition and the passing of the oldest recipe, I get to come up with a family recipe to add to the rest of them that will be unveiled for the first time on Christmas Day!! Not only do I have to create a new recipe but I have to successfully make the recipe that was handed to me. I can hardly wait. I have always been told of the tradition and waited every year to be old enough to be part of it, although cooking with the family is part of the tradition, the recipe passing down tradition I was always expecting since I am really the only one of my generation out of my siblings and cousins that is excited about cooking and baking. Since I was little, and first heard this tradition, I would think up and perfect many different recipes that I would like to add but it's finally time to choose and it's kind of nerve racking because I don't know which recipe of mine to choose or if I should make up a new one all together. I know though that it either has to be a main dish or a dessert. SO EXCITED!!
I just love our family tradition and I just had to share it. People always say that Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends, but how many people actually follow through with that?? I know I do and I will continue to look forward to it. Yeah our family is as dysfunctional as the rest and we have our fights, but we have a really close bond that other people would just wish they had. I hope others can be like my family one day, just with their own little touches; because a family just isn't a family if they don't have their own traditions and believes and most of all, each other. This year, I wish everyone the best and that they are thankful(because of the "economic depression") for just being with their family and friends and to whom ever they are close with. That's all that really matters because when the gifts are gone, family will still be there.
HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
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There are tons of things I can rant and rave about but this one is on my top 5 list. Our family has a curse that is explained well by the following saying, "When it rains, it pours." For me family is everything! It's above everything and I wish more people would see it like I do but there are times that I get really ticked off because I hate the position I am in with my family at the current. All I am about to say is relevant; so to sum it up without revealing too much because I am embarrassed since I don't like talking about things that go on in my life but here goes.
About 4 years ago, my mom had Gastric Bypass surgery--for those who don't know what it is, it's where they make the stomach smaller so that one can eat a smaller amount and ultimately lose weight--well my aunt (who is heavier than my mom by like 200 lbs) had the surgery too at the same doctor's office. This is important because there are different gastric surgeries based on weight. The doctor messed up on my mom's surgery because he mistook my aunt's weight for my mom's weight and did the WRONG gastric surgery and some other mistakes too. My mom lost too much weight, became malnourished for several reasons. One main one was that she couldn't eat without getting sick about 7-15 minutes after eating (and I mean SICK-SICK).That's not normal. She saw numerous doctors and they all said nothing was wrong it's just the side-effect and they gave her very addictive narcotics to deal with the "phantom pains", as they so referred to them. For three years my mom suffered through that until she finally had enough and went in and said "These are the tests you are going to run and you are going to find out what's wrong with me because this is not normal." They did and they found that--from her gastric surgery--the doctor didn't attach my mom's small intestine right so it was so herniated that the opening was about dime-sized. She had another surgery to correct that but it didn't get rid of the problem so they kept prescribing higher dosages of the Narcotics. Narcotics are deadly for one and for two, the withdrawals are so severe that they can cause death because of the pain one goes through getting off of them. She still goes to different doctors trying to get them to fix it but they kept saying nothing's wrong BUT, they are not doing the right gastric and intestinal tests for the type of stomach my mom has. I know this because I took medical classes and I research the stuff I don't know and despite common misconception, DOCTORS DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING! Honestly I don't care if you have a degree or not, if you don't listen and try to understand the patient then you aren't a good doctor.
Anyways, there's still stuff going on with that but here's the reason why I explained the above. Since my mom is in that condition and has been in and out of hospitals for four years, I have been working fulltime while going to school fulltime, doing internships for career purposes, then coming home to take care of everyone (my parents are divorced) while my sister and brother didn't really help and did basically whatever they wanted; leaving all the responsibility to me. It's not fair because my sister gets knocked up (since we don't believe in abortion or adopting out unless to family) and lives with us even though we really don't have the money and she lays around and plays World of Warcraft and lets me and my mom watch over her son (that changed though trust me it changed) But the problem with that is my mom didn't confront her about getting a job to help and our neighbor who runs a daycare can watch her son if she or I couldn't. Yet my mom has no problem confronting me on all my faults. And it's not just that my mom dumps all responsibility on me, it's that I am the only one she can depend on and talks to about stuff I don't need to know about and she can't keep her promises most the time because the medicine wipes out half her gosh darn memory most the time. I mean she has my step-dad here but he's a no good nothing. He says he loves her but I know he's cheating on her and he is supposed to be helping with the house rent and bills but he doesn't. I give practically all of my checks to my mom to pay for those things around here and yet when I try to talk to my mom about it, it's always "I don't have to hear this from you, I am the adult and you are my child!" Yeah that's right, I am the kid, not the adult! Parents should take care of their children! And I know others are in similar positions where they have to take care of their parents but I was raised. But since I help out so much I should have a say so sometimes. Heck I am the only adult there since I am the one who takes care of everything and don't get me wrong my mom is really good hearted (although it doesn't sound like it) she helps a lot of people out. And that's one of her problems; she doesn't know when to say no to people.
Things seem to be turning for the better for now but we were in the hospital again recently because my brother got a strain of Antibiotic RESISTANT staff known as MERSA, not once but twice. Add that to his hemophilia and his autism and together with my mom’s illnesses, my life is going wonderful. <---sarcastic.
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Now that Barack Obama is president of the free world, I can honestly say that there will definitely be change. I don't agree with some of his ideas and yet I agree with others that he has made. Most times our presidents our just full of empty promises, I have yet to see TRUE CHANGE that was meant from in the beginning. I have seen change though. I cannot predict the future, so I am not sure what the future under Barack Obama as a leader will be. And it's hard to say that I think that there will be economic growth because like the war with President Bush, things seem to be going well then a huge storm hit. Things can turn very quickly so instead of THINK that the future under his leadership will be for the better, I will instead HOPE that we will receive the best outcome from our choosing in leaders and I will do what I can to help the economic growth in my community and possibly nationally. That's what we were founded on. Coming together as a nation, as a whole and striving to work for one common goal. I don't believe in setting all the hardships and struggles to one person to deal with. That is what most people believe the president is there to do. But this is not true. A leader is in place to keep us motivated, to give us guidance, and hope when everything seems to be going wrong. A leader is to set the goals and we are here to help achieve them as a whole. So I do believe that there will be positive changes in the future, but only if we as a whole strive to achieve it and continue it's up keep. Maybe now that we have shown change with our choosing of the first African-American President, then maybe we can continue to grow and prosper towards our other goals. But what the future holds for us is still uncertain for one can never exact the future. All we can do is take our goals and accomplish them day by day and not get ahead of ourselves; as we sometimes do.
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Thanksgiving 2008, Quality time
Tags: quality, time, thanksgiving, 2008, fun
Campaign: Holiday Memories
Added: 11/27/2008 10:15 PM PT
Last Modified: 11/27/2008 10:22 PM PT
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I wanted to talk about how great a time I had preparing for this Thanksgiving that just passed. I was helping my mom with the preparations. Our family is a very traditional one. We make everything home-made and from scratch. The night before around like 7 or 8 o’clock pm and well into this morning of Thanksgiving day; we baked 1 cherry pie, 2 pumpkin pies, from the extra crust from both we made a secret family treat called doohickeys, and preparing the turkey to be cooked old fashioned and it being cooked slowly after preparation. We don't like the cooking bags that most people put turkeys in and for those you have to cook the turkey separately and you lose a lot of the tenderness and flavor of the turkey once done. It was set on low temperature and every so often, either my mom or I would get up to baste the turkey.
I had a splendid time and after all that stuff was done at like 2 in the morning (except the turkey that didn’t get done until like 3 pm), my mom and me just sat and talked. Even though we can talk all the time, this was one-on-one time that couldn't be interrupted by anyone because it was just the two of us in the house. I really value that time even though most people would be like, "but you had to cook and stick your hands in a turkey and it took you guys forever and a day to do just that stuff and blah-di-blah-blah..." I don't mind. My family is a baking and cooking family and it's worth the time, especially more since I got to spend the time with my mom and that's something that just her and I shared; that I can look back on and say "hey I remember when we were trying to cook the pumpkin pie and you said I can pour it and you were mad for like a second or two because I overfilled the one pie and we had to pour it into the other one and stuff like that."
Preparing for the holiday wasn’t finished there. That day, after I woke up, I helped my mom prepare and cook the rest of the food. I helped cube the russet potatoes after she cut them to make mash potatoes and after those were boiled I got to mash them. I didn’t get to help with the sweet potatoes or the gravy or the hot dinner rolls, but we cooked those up while my step-dad did the honors of carving the turkey and placing it onto the Thanksgiving Platter. We set everything up on the table so all the food we had that night was Turkey, stuffing(we cooked that in with the turkey, it helps make the turkey juicy and more flavorful), olives, mashed potatoes, gravy, hot dinner rolls, and sweet potatoes. Oops I almost forgot to mention that green bean casserole that my step-dad had made.
It was a really good dinner that we finished at 5:00 pm or so. After we let our food settle, we put together some extras since we made way more than just the three of us could eat alone, and put it aside to take to this girl who works at a nearby circle K that my mom goes to all the time. She’s a student who’s far away from home and has to work on the holiday so we brought her a really nice homemade meal around 6:30 pm. She had told my mom when she was going to be in there. It was really gratifying to see her face. She was almost in tears at how generous we were. There was one of everything in very large helpings.
Most people are probably thinking; well why didn’t you give the food to someone who is homeless? We live in the Number one state for the most scams by people PRETENDING to be homeless. It’s very hard to tell who is or who isn’t. We are the kind of people who if we ran into someone who honest to god you knew and could tell they were homeless, or if it was a mom with children and they were hungry, we would give them that food and blankets and jackets, then go back home and prepare another plate of that food and go back to give the student her meal that we promised. Even though she would probably understand if we gave her meal to someone needier, we never back out on our promises to people. That’s just the kind of people we are.
Going back to my main subject of spending quality time with family members for the holidays, even if it’s just helping out preparing the food, I always say to everyone, spend those times with your moms, dad, and depending on the family setting sometimes your grandma. It's quality time. Like for boys, my dad for every thanksgiving has to make sure all the TV's have adequate seating in front of them, that all the speakers are working, then he makes sure he has decks of cards and different games whether they are board games or card games, he sets up kids tables and other things too. When I am at his house I spend that time with him preparing because we talk while we are setting things up. I value that time together with my family and I learn how to set things up more family oriented for when we have gatherings for the holidays. So I can pass down that tradition.
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Mounds Bars
Tags:
Campaign: Recipe Round Up
Entry Categories: Best Dessert
Added: 11/21/2008 10:53 AM PT
Last Modified: 11/25/2008 1:28 PM PT
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Hey everyone! I would like to share with you, our family recipe to make homemade mounds bars. If you follow the recipe instructions right then there should be no problem with them turning out the way you want them to. Mounds Bars make great appetizers for parties and/or sleepovers, and also serves as a tastey dessert. It is fast and easy to make.
I am going to write it as shown on my recipe card since I can't remember all the recipes we have. So Grab a Pen and Paper and let's get started!!
CAUTION: This dish does contain peanut butter for those allergic I reccomend you do not try this recipe no matter how good it sounds. If you have any allergies to the ingredients listed then I recommend you do not try this recipe either.
TIP BEFORE BAKING and PREPARING MOUNDS BARS: Do not substitute any of the materials such as the sweetened condensed milk. I personally have tested trying different kinds and this is the one that turned out the best. And some of the ingredients don't have a specific amount, that's just because it depends on the day and what you feel is the right amount.
Mounds Bars
2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/2 to 3/4 cups Melted Butter
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups Shredded Coconut
1 large bag Nestle Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 Tbsp. Peanut Butter
Preheat the Oven to 375º.
Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and granulated sugar together. Press into a 13x9 cake pan (doesn't matter if it is metal or glass). Bake 10 minutes at 375º. Pour condensed milk over top the slightly baked pressed graham cracker crumbs and sprinkle with coconut. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
While that is cooling-melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter over low heat. Spread over coconut.
Cool and cut into squares. (You can either place in the fridge to cool or just leave it out to cool. either one works)
Hope you enjoy baking this delicacy as much as I do. This is sure to tingle your taste buds with delight. If you would like any more baking recipes or if you have any questions while making this dish yourself, feel free to ask. THANKS!! -^.^-
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We got gipped!!
Tags:
Campaign: Funniest Kid Competition
Added: 11/22/2008 12:54 AM PT
Last Modified: 11/22/2008 9:56 AM PT
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I wish I caught this on video because it happened not just once but twice.
When they first came out with those new keep fresh, re-sealable cookie packages we of course bought some. The ones with the fresh re-sealer or whatever it is called on the top of the packages. Anyways. I was the first person to get to the cookies so I was eating through, of course the part where it re-seals, well when my sister finally decided she wanted some cookies like a day or two later. She opened the package the normal way and slide the cookies out and OH I kid you not her face was priceless and the next thing we hear is "MOM! WE GOT GIPPED ON COOKIES!! THE STORE BETTER GIVE US A REFUND!!" I had to explain to her that it was a new type of package and what not, and then she just did a boring long "OOOOOOOOOOH!" and ate cookies.
it was so funny but not as funny as when she totally forget, since she is Quite the air head although she is not blonde...no offense to any natural blondes or just blondes in general, just using the old expression. Any who, she basically did the same thing but what she yelled changed. She yelled this instead, "WHERE THE HECK DID THE COOKIES GO!!" For this being the second time, I thought I would be sarcastic and say, "Yeah, they just magically grew legs and walked off." She honestly took it to heart and started asking if they would come back so she could eat them.
If only we were at Emerald City then the Wizard of Oz could give her a brain....just kidding I love my sister, even if she is clueless and her head is full of hot air.
It would be more dramatic and stuff if you actually saw it or you heard someone saying it because that was better than her picking up the rabbit poop in the pet store and saying "hey look mom!! Cocoa Puffs!!" then eating it. Sometimes My sister...
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I only know this story because my parents never let me let it down. There is always that one or 5 million things that someone or everyone in your family never forgets and they always bring it up on holidays or a family get together to “relive” your mishaps and embarrassments...THIS IS MINE.
First, let me start off by saying, my family is a big fishing and hunting kind of family. They’ve been taking us kids out on the lake every since we were born. The hunting though we had to wait until we were older. Ok now to the funny story…definitely true but funny. ((I have people to vouch for me and there was a tape but grandpa never labels them and I am not going to Montana to go through who knows how many unlabelled tapes to find it and possibly find that he has taped over it with the price is right. I don’t have the time nor the money.))
OK what happened was, when I was three my dad took us all out fishing. It was my Dad, my Mom, my Grandpa, my sister, my brother, and me. We were out on the boat somewhere on the lake--never close to shore--at Fort Peck, Montana. My Dad had just gotten a brand spanking new fishing rod that HE (notice that word is emphasized) foolishly gave me to use. He was teaching us how to cast a line--keep in mind, I am three at the time—HE told me to “go ahead and throw it in.” HIS mistake because that’s what I did. Although he meant throw the line in…HE didn’t explain it to me so when he turned around I threw the rod in the water and he turned around once he heard the plunk. According to him, my mom, and my grandpa, there was no time to go in after it because that sucker sunk fast.
Oh boy was I in trouble…but only for a bit because I was three and cute…although kind of chubby with my baby fat but who isn’t at that age. -^.^- But you know it was HIS fault, he’s the one that handed me the new rod and not one of the kid rods that we had…and it’s also HIS fault for assuming that I would be as knowledgeable as him at my age and knew what he meant by throw it in, then being stupid and turning his back. WHO DOES THAT?! My dad that’s who….Family what can you do.
Yeah from that day forward, EVERY time we go fishing, the only rod I am allowed to use, it the Tweety Bird or Tazmanian Devil, kid fishing rods. Wonderful right (ßrhetorical). And he didn’t even praise me for doing what I was told for being how old I was. I was a good kid….I guess…
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Animal Cruelty
Tags: animal, cruelty, senior, paper, reference,
Campaign: none
Added: 11/13/2008 12:58 PM PT
Last Modified: 11/20/2008 10:37 PM PT
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Yes this is my senior paper from when I graduated high school so I would appreciate it that if for any reason you would like to use any quotes or anything from it, send me a message and I will let you know. please do not just take without permission. this paper took me 5 days to write. and I am usually good at writing. Thanks for understanding and tell me what you think. It was among the highest scores in the class for the senior papers, but then again I did turn it in on time unlike everyone else **had to boast there**. It also is in the correct Modern Language Format [MLA] with the bibliography attatched after the word count. If you want you can use my paper as a reference but also referring to above notes, please ASK my permission before using any quotes and stuff from my paper. THANKS!! -^.^-
Animal Cruelty
How would you feel if your innocent puppy was abducted and abused then later slaughtered because someone believed that he would make a good accessory to a child’s toy? The oppression and abuse of animals is justified as seen fit. When animals are used in medical research, it is justified as “helping the greater good,” and when animals are slaughtered to make clothes, food, and pieces for toys, it is justified since “animals do not have forethought as we humans do, therefore it is ok.” It is not until just recently that the government really started to do anything about it, and that was after many years of hard work and dedication from the ever pressing animal-rights activists. They did many protests and undercover investigations to protect and save our loyal companions, our pets, our family! Unfortunately, because most people were raised with the mentality that mistreating an animal and oppressing them is alright to do, it is hard to show those people that animals are living things, and as we have our natural-born rights as living, breathing apparatuses, why should they not have them too? If people live in honor, gratitude, and love, then there would be more respect towards all living things and ethics would not be compromised, ultimately leading to animals being treated better.
For one to live in honor, they must respect all living things and understand that they are there for a purpose, and it is not for us to give them any new purpose that we see fit for them to have: “[…] animals should not be killed or mistreated so that humans can benefit” (“Animal Testing”). Since many people are raised to believe that an animal’s only purpose here is to serve humans as they wish it, they do not see that what truly is happening is that they are using animals as an excuse for their greed and selfishness. They are taking any animals livelihood and self; and for what?! To gain all they can because they have the power over something, which must be greater than any form of life. It has to be so if someone is to disregard life entirely for personal gain: “[…] human beings have an ethical responsibility to treat animals with respect” (“Update: Animal Testing”). As human beings, we not only have an ethical responsibility to treat animals with respect, but also our fellow humans.
All animals’ oppression and mistreatment is no doubt to take the place of slavery of humans that has long been abolished. Although we do still see humans mistreating other humans wickedly, this is just because we are shielded from the horrors and torturous ways for which animals endure. The justification is that humans are the ultimate species and that anything else that lands within our plane is just there for us to take and use to our benefit. As is true when trends and fads continue even though people know what each thing is made from. A fad that has been this way for almost a century or two now, is the use of fur coats. Fur coats were originally made as a survival mechanism instead of a “fashion statement.” If people took into consideration what all has taken place for them to have the satisfaction of wearing that genuine fur coat, then it is the belief that more people would be opposed to wearing such an atrocity: “People who buy furs have a right to know how animals may have been inhumanely slaughtered to manufacture the garments […]” (“The Battle”). It is the obligation of the manufacturer to tell the consumers of a particular product, in this instance fur, how the animals may have been killed to guarantee their satisfaction in the fashion world. People don’t take into account what has been taken away from something to give them what they have, want or declare as a necessity. Not only is it a ‘necessity’ in the fashion world to slaughter animals, but in our own school systems, our children are taught that it’s ok to study and dissect animals for scientific gain.
Since recent rises in the amount of children opting out of class dissection, states have had to pass laws to re-designate the assignment virtually: “Fourteen States […allow] students to opt out of in-class dissection” (“Animal Dissection”). Students should have the freedom to choose if they would rather dissect a kitten, frog, or any animal, or if they would rather do virtual dissections: “[…] each […] year, […] numbers of schools are experimenting with virtual dissection tools” (“Animal Dissection”). Virtual dissections are better than actual dissections because you can still learn all you need to from a virtual dissection without the moral and ethical attachments that come with actual dissections.
It does not matter whether or not the animal is alive or not in virtual reality due to the fact that animal testing is not a very accurate form of research for human disease; according to the database, Issues and Controversies, “[…] research on animals has little or no effect on efforts to develop new treatments for AIDS” (“AIDS Research”). There is an enormous genetic gap between humans and animals, even though they share similar structures. People only base their research and testing on animals because it is considered “unethical and wrong” to do such on humans. Plus there is always that mentality lingering around in people’s minds, again that “animals do not have forethought therefore it is ok.” By no means is in not important to find cures and new medicines for diseases, cancers, and all that stuff, but what good does it really do to test it on an entirely different species. If we want the most accurate results for these cures and medicines, then we should use humans. Why do we not just use those who are on death row? Maybe that might seem to ease up the tension a bit about using humans for testing. Since people, if that term can even be applied, who have been sentenced to death are no longer considered as part of the human species because of the crime or the offences they have committed, then why is it not appropriate to use them for testing?
Living in gratitude for what one has been given and all the things wonderful in their life, including the animals that are being kept as pets, then they will not have to worry if any ethics have been compromised. Such is the case of zoos. Zoos were setup by humans to preserve the life and population of animals in the wild, especially those of which are endangered: “[…] zoos offer the only means to ensure the survival of thousands of animal species into the 21st century” (“Zoos”). There are no other places for animals to go once their homes have been destroyed and most of their kind is taken by the human’s greed for the purpose of making money or for sport. Unlike humans, they have no other home to turn to; they cannot simply take a plane to another country to find a new home. They instead must search for a home within their region, which may or may not have been reaped and wrecked for what it offers.
Too many times are these animals searching for a place to go and they are snatched up to be used in experiments that most times will justify their wrongdoings during the testing and after the animals are of no more use: “[…] the animals' deaths were for the greater good” (“Huntingdon Life”). How many times has that particular phrase been uttered? Countless times has that phrase been used to aid the numerous companies supporting the animal testing for which they do. The truth to animal testing is that: “[…] animals react differently to different substances, not only from human beings, but […] from each other” (“Animal Experimentation”). With this being said, how can animal testing be justified as ethical? Is this being grateful for their existence? Not once was there a thank you for the cruel way these animals had to die for the benefit of the testing to find or prove something! It’s plain and simple: “[…] animals do not get human infectious diseases and we do not get theirs” (“Animal Experimentation”). There are no documented cases of any diseases being transmitted between human and animals. That is because diseases cannot be transferred from one to the other, but that does not mean that viruses cannot. There are cases where viruses such as the West Nile Virus is transmitted from an animal to a human by a mosquito, these incidents are far and few between.
Animals suffer through a numerous amount of things including: being used as entertainment in circuses, and being raised in factory farms. In circuses, the animals have to be trained to perform the various tricks one sees. How the animals are taught the tricks are not by the ways one would think. One might think that the animals in circuses are taught by rewarding with treats and repetitiveness, but in fact they are trained using violence to be disciplined to perform the stunts and tricks: “We do not tolerate the abuse or mistreatment of any animals,’ says Andrew Ireland […] whose company owns Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus […]” (“Circuses: Are”). It is just what they want you to believe and follow so that they do not either lose customers and profit, but also so they do not get shut down for their treatment of animals. They will say just about anything to keep negative images and words from their business. That is all that animals seem to be in today’s world.
Factory Farms on the other hand are very similar to puppy mills. They house large amounts of animals, keeping them in small cages with many others so that they can barely move around: “[…] factory farms represent all that is wrong with the way humans interact with animals” (“Factory Farms”). Where is the gratitude in the way these animals have to suffer because people want their various types of food and don’t even eat it all? These animals are sacrificed and suffering for the purpose of someone wanting to make more money without paying out loads of money for the well beings of the animals that will sooner or later be slaughtered.
If people live in love and treat animals with love then it will ultimately lead to animals being treated better: “Pets have […] held a special place in American life [;] people view their pets as family” (“Pet-Owner”). Pets are very rarely now a days, seen as just a pet, they are highly regarded as a member of the family and in most cases being treated as such: “Dogs and cats are the most popular animals in the U.S. and are often the beneficiaries of lavish pampering and adoration from their owners” (“Coats Made”).
People who love and treat their pets with dignity know for fact that: “[…] it is immoral for humans to exploit animals for any reason, including scientific testing” (“Milestones”). Why would they not want to protect their family from the harm of others? Pets are seen as children in the eyes of many who have them.
Animal-rights activists have dedicated their lives to securing the idea that pets are in a sense family and showing others that this is the case: “[…] the use of animals in scientific and medical experiments has decreased by 22% since 1987” (“The Animal”). It is gratifying to see that efforts from the public and especially animal-rights activists have shown to be fruitful in their initiative to diminish and ultimately stop animal cruelty and testing.
Animal cruelty is to animals as slavery and oppression is to humans. Animal cruelty suggests that an animal is under some form of suffering, oppression, and torture by human hands because animals, not having the same thought process that humans’ have, cannot act with malice and forethought. They act on instinct so when seen in their natural environment, their treatment of other animals looks cruel but it’s just a way of survival. But we as humans, treat animals lower than us because of that fact. They do not have the same thought process as us and they work off of instinct so they are not worth the effort to protect and love. It is sad how cruel we treat animals, even though they are living things, but it is even sadder that we have transferred our rage and power from owning and mistreating other humans, to owning and mistreating animals. For many years, to have power over another human being meant that you had power and strength, that other men only wished they had. Today, since laws have been passed to stop slavery and oppression of races, humans have turned to using animals as their way of retaining that power and strength, that nobility that came with ownership. Most humans are a cruel and pitiful race of beings that have no compassion for other life forms, whether they are of the same species or not. All that matters and has ever mattered is power and control.
Word Count: 2,195
Bibliography
“Animal Dissection.” Issues and Controversies. 12 Jan. 2007. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, AZ. 6 Feb. 2008.
"Animal Experimentation Is Unscientific." At Issue: Animal Experimentation. Ed. David M. Haugen. San Diego: Green haven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Glendale Community College. 31 Jan. 2008.
“AIDS Research and Animal Testing.” Issues and Controversies. 13 Sept. 1996. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, AZ. 8 Feb. 2008.
"Animal Testing." Issues and Controversies. 1 Sept. 2000. Issues and Controversies on
File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center.
Glendale, AZ. 9 Jan. 2008
“The Animal-Testing Debate in Britain.” Issues and Controversies. 31 Mar. 2006. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, AZ. 31 Jan. 2008.
“The Battle over Fur in Beverly Hills” Issues and Controversies. 23 Apr. 1999. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, Az. 14 Apr. 2008.
“Circuses: Are they Abusive to Animals?” Issues and Controversies. 20 Nov. 1998. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, Az. 18. Apr. 2008
“Coats Made from Dog and Cat Pelts Raise a Furor.” 23 Apr. 1999. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, AZ. 27 Apr. 2008.
“Factory Farms.” Issues and Controversies. 31 Jan. 2003. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, AZ. 27 Feb. 2008.
“Huntingdon Life Sciences and the 'SHAC 7'.” Issues and Controversies. 31 Mar. 2006. Issues and Controversies on File. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, Az. 25 Apr. 2008.
“Milestones in Animal Testing.” Issues and Controversies. 13 Sept. 1996. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, AZ. 7 Feb. 2008.
“Personhood for Primates.” Issues and Controversies.19 Jan. 2001. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, AZ. 13 Feb. 2008.
“Pet-Owner Liability.” Issues and Controversies. 22 June. 2001. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, Az. 18 Apr. 2008.
"Update: Animal Testing." Issues and Controversies. 31 March 2006. Issues and
Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media
Center. Glendale, AZ. 10 Jan. 2008
“Zoos.” Issues and Controversies. 20 Nov. 1998. Issues and Controversies on File. FACTS.com. Glendale Community College Library Media Center. Glendale, Az. 24 Apr. 2008.
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Strength of Belief
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Added: 11/20/2008 10:21 PM PT
Last Modified: 11/20/2008 10:21 PM PT
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This is an Essay I wrote pertaining to the story Beowulf for my Senior English Class. I want to share it with you because it has a lot of views and opinions that I believe in and maybe you might find it true for you too. If for any reason you would like to borrow or use quotes from my work, all I ask is that you get permission from me first because this is my work and it is in correct MLA format. For more information about the story Beowulf please message me or leave me a comment. It's a great story and I highly recommend it. Thanks!! -^.^-
Strength of Belief
What would you do for your beliefs? Would your faith enable you to erect monuments or battle the worlds’ evils? How far would you go for your beliefs? The Dane’s strong belief in God lead them to build Herot, resist Grendel’s evil, and allow Beowulf to triumph in battling monsters.
It takes a strong mind and body to build something, but it takes faith and determination of that belief to make something glorious. As was the faith of the Danes when they built Herot in honor of God: “To build a hall that would hold his mighty band and reach higher toward Heaven than anything that had ever been known to the sons of men” (25: 68-70). Not only was there a strong amount of faith the Danes’ possessed, but they also had tremendously strong minds and bodies. The Dane’s truly honored and respected God; they wished to be as close to him as humanely possible. Their strength of belief lead them to build Herot, a Hall so tall, so vast and glorious, that it was allowed to breech the clouds and stay ever-close to the Heavens: “That towering place, gabled and huge […]” (25: 82). Herot was not a place built to prove it could be built; it was built with effort and love. If not, then why would one go to great lengths to decorate it beautifully, both inside and out? The sight alone of this place would make anyone reassure their faith: “[…] the poet’s clear songs, sung of the ancient beginnings of us all, recalling the Almighty making the earth’ (26:89-91). The Danes created a glorious Hall in which God was to be honored. They wished to honor him more, more than any other man alive had ever done. So the Dane’s rejoiced and celebrated God, honoring him more with songs about Him. This is not just true belief in God, but it is love in their hearts’ for God that they would do anything in his name.
Even when there is not a soul in Herot, but that fiend by the name of Grendel, the Dane’s faith is still strong enough to protect Hrothgar’s throne. The most precious of items in Herot for it is blessed by God himself:
The monster’s thoughts were as quick as his greed or claws: He slipped through the door there in silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds and ran out with their bodies, their blood dripping behind them […] (27:119-124).
This is proof of how foul a creature, no, a monster, that Grendel is. Some would even go as far as to call him soulless. Maybe so, but then if that is true; why his constant persistence with coming to Herot night after night? He continued to do that for twelve years. It could not be to only fill his blood lust for he wishes to be close to God, a love, the faith he has never known:
So Grendel ruled, fought with the righteous one against many, and won; So Herot stood empty, and stayed deserted for years, twelve winters of grief for Hrothgar, King of the Danes, sorrow heaped at his door by Hell-forged hands (27:144-149).
By no means is Grendel a victim simply because he was bore under Cain and not the love of God. The Danes’ are the victims here! For one, they have been forced out of the place they built with their own hands, minds, love, and faith for God. And two, they have yet to receive reparations for the deaths of their comrades by Grendel’s monstrous hands. Any being who would take another’s faith, then deal more of a blow by not giving reparations of deaths caused by their hands, would be better off dead than walking on soil made by God: “Though he lived in Herot, when the night hid him, he never dared to touch King Hrothgar’s glorious throne, protected by God—God whose love Grendel could not know” (28: 166-170). Grendel only chose to leave his home in the marsh under the sanctity of the night to cloak him in his travels to Herot. Although he had no faith in God, he must have had a belief that by him coming there every night--and for twelve years no less—that he would be as fortunate as to be graced with God’s love. To feel something that none of Cain’s ‘children’ had ever felt before; to feel God’s love as Cain once did.
The strong faith in God from the Danes leads God to send a warrior, a warrior of great strength and belief by the name of Beowulf. He protects the Danes from the evils of the world with God strong in his heart and his mind: “‘Our Holy Father has sent him as a sign of His grace, a mark of His favor, to help us defeat Grendel and end that terror’” (35: 381-384). This proves God’s love for the Danes. They went to great lengths to honor Him and to secure their faith; when amidst their great joy, the fiend Grendel seized the opportunity to strike. Grendel’s victory (although lasting for 12 years) was to be short-lived. For God had sent Beowulf to the Danes, to help and protect them from anymore evils the world may send. This is God’s gift to the Danes, a reward for their strong belief in Him. That although they wear sorrowful expressions from companions lost to Grendel’s greed, their belief in Him stays forever strong. And Beowulf, a hero who has triumphed in defeating many monsters, has been sent by God—disguised as his own arrogance and cockiness—has come to fight a creature that no mane before him had ever defeated; a battle no one had ever won:
Now he discovered—once the afflictor of men, tormentor of their days—what it meant to feud with Almighty God: Grendel saw that his strength was deserting him, his claws bound fast, Higlac’s brave follower tearing at his hands. The monster’s hatred rose higher, but his power had gone. He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke. The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory (48-49: 809-819).
God gives men the strength to defeat any evil that they may face; He sends it in many forms. As long as He is kept within their hearts, they have nothing to fear, for He will always love and protect His children. Beowulf, a natural born warrior, indeed has his own strength to defeat that horrible monster Grendel. The moment before Beowulf had won the battle, he had taken God back into his heart. Where as at that beginning and during the famous battle, his arrogance grew stronger than his belief in God, leading him to believe that he was stronger than anything, even without God’s strength to aid him. This would have lead to his defeat if he had not realized that God was the one who sent him there, not just to obtain glory, but to protect his other children. To protect the Danes who have selflessly gave up anything and everything in the name of the Almighty Lord. To honor and love Him as He love them—as well as all of His children. Beowulf remembered this and his faith in the Almighty was restored. Although it was always there, his arrogance hid it, shrouded it in a cloud of lust. Lust and thrill of battle, of killing one’s prey and the glory received after doing such:
‘My sorrow, my grief, was as great and lasting as it was helpless. Then thanks be given to God, Eternal Lord of us all: you came and that endless misery was over and I lived, now, to behold this bloody head!’ (78: 1777-1781).
Although Beowulf was the one who defeated the monsters that plagues the Danes, they still thanked the Almighty Lord for sending Beowulf and allowing him victory in battle. Their strong belief in the Holy Father granted them more than a hero, but reassurance in their faith that whatever His children suffer through, He suffers the same. God gave them reassurance in Him after travesties had befallen the great and glorious Danes. Their love and faith in Him only strengthened, not once did it falter or fail.
The Danes is to strength of belief as Beowulf is to glory. The Danes strong belief allows them to overcome many tasks and hardships. They build a glorious hall by the name of Herot to honor the Almighty Lord. Then, not one, but two monsters attack. One takes hold of the hall during the night and reaps there for twelve years, while the other seeks to avenge her fallen, her son. Beowulf comes seeking only glory that is what he believes in. The bigger the glory, the better the man and a warrior he becomes. He searches out the Dane’s monsters and destroys them, one-by-one. His faith is secured with God during and after the battles. He finds that he still receives glory, but it is not as grand as the love he is given from God when his faith remains strong. Strength of belief leads people to do many things, whether it is big or small. That is the drive, the will power that makes everyday life. Thought the question still remains, what would you do for your beliefs?
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I am ME!!
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Added: 11/20/2008 10:16 PM PT
Last Modified: 11/20/2008 10:16 PM PT
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If I am me,
then who are you?
You look like me,
and talk like me,
but you aren’t me.
Even though our features are exact,
almost twin like.
You and I act so differently.
You are so quiet and meager.
Shy and scared all the time.
While I am spontaneous and outgoing.
Friendly and unafraid of life and everything it has to offer.
Let me show you how grand life can be.
My paintings show the beauty of childlike qualities,
yet at the same time they are seductive like an adult.
They bring you closer to see the majestic colors used
and the strokes the brush took.
Also all those books upon the shelf of the library,
are ones that helped many discover new things.
New things that bring new meaning to life.
I am me, but you too say that you are me.
How can that be, if only I can be me?
You continue to be silent,
yet your mouth follows the exact movements as mine.
I see that you are the me that I keep suppressed in this mirror I look into.
I keep you there because you are the me I will never become again.
The me I used to be.
But now, this day has brought out the new me.
The old me that I kept suppressed in that mirror before you arrived there.
~Erica Mueller
[NOTE:: If many of you have noticed, it's a poem that takes the shape of a lantern. I will leave the guessing up to you. if you want leave me a comment telling me of why you think it's in the shape of a lantern and not a mirror and I will tell you if you are right. I want to hear your views. If you waould like to know more about what this poem truely means feel free to ask. I have no problem answering any questions you may have. Thanks!!]
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