Progress Journal

Sunday, December 6

One hour Alone

One hour in Group/ Two hours total

I spent one hour working on putting together the quiz from the information placed on the website. Mostly taken from the "Did you know?" section of the website. I then worked to cite my sources.

As a group, we finalized the website design. We took pictures and discussed how we would present the different sections. The finishing touches were placed together on the website.

Learning Styles

Learning Styles.....

Ken Armour
White
Male

Auditory: 25%

Visual: 35%

Tactile: 40%

ACT X REF

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

<-- -->

SEN X INT

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

<-- -->

VIS X VRB

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

<-- -->

SEQ X GLO

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

Wednesday

December 2

1 hour of work with group.

More recipes were added to the recipe sections. Thanks to Rachael Ray, so you know its good.

I posted a blog about how eating less meats can affect you in multiple ways.

T-shirts, videos, and poll proposal all discussed and delegated.

Monday/Tuesday

November 30

We worked for an hour together, and I logged another half hour

We chose to redirect the audience to a more focused audience, the audience consisting of fifteen to twenty year olds.

We added a blogging section that can be updated by one of us on a daily basis. Meat free monday being the first blog.

Youtube videos and t-shirt designs were discussed. Keep the gassy cow video and find funny/informative ones.

December 1

1.5 hours of work in and out of group.

Ashley did the blog post for today.

More videos considered.

Recipe section added to help ease the meat lovers.

I worked on the compiling a quiz based on information found on the website.

Second Meeting

Our second meeting started at four o'clock. We worked for about an hour and a half on our ideas.

Most of the time was spent on figuring out how to apply ethos, logos, and pathos to the audience we plan on targeting. Along those lines, we discussed how to present our graphics on the t-shirt. We also broke up the tasks to work on during thanksgiving break while we are not able to meet together.

We have another meeting planned for when we get back from Thanksgiving Break to go over the things we worked on separately.

Meeting #1!

We had our first meeting together at 4:00 PM today. Together we spent an hour going over different ideas for a layout of things we will be putting together.

While putting ideas together we made a choice between two different names. The first was M.C.A. which stands for Meat Consumption Awareness, and the second was E.L.M. which stands for Eat Less Meat. We chose to go with E.L.M.

The layout we worked on for was what would be placed on our T-shirts was another topic of discussion and collaboration. We decided to put a design on the front involving a cow, tree, and the planet earth. The back will have a website link was well as the question and comment "Want to go green?" "Eat Less Meat."

The last thing we worked together on was putting together a website layout that we will build upon in the future. We have another meeting scheduled on the 18th to build on the project.

We worked together for an hour to set these ideas.

Group Presentations....

Group Members in my group are.... Ashley Mooney, Shaira Shelton. We plan on presenting about cutting down on meat consumption due to its effects on our planet.

We are still in conference about the name we are going to call out organization but good things are in research and development right now.

We are planning on creating a multimedia website that will be informative for people. We will use a combination of video, textual support, survey/quiz, and some other exciting ideas we cannot unveil just yet. We plan on focusing on younger adults and teenagers who have the power to control their purchasing of food.

Sleeping/Procrastination

As I find my time harder and harder to manage with the many things i can find to do to procrastinate, I am also losing out on sleep. The other day I spent a few hours outside of one of my classes just sleeping on the ground because I became so exhausted over the previous weeks. The sad part about this situation is that it is not really a busy week for me. I think it may be due to the fact I have so much free time that I have no idea what to do with, so I do nothing. Then when I really need to get something done I decide to spend most of that time sleeping in strange places or just for the entire day. On that note, I have to share that the strangest place I have slept would be sitting outside the shower (while fully clothed for some reason) due to my exhaustion.

Craziness.

Some of these pictures will leave you questioning either modern physics or how some of these could manage to get their license. Great song too.

Position Paper Articles

Here is one article that I have been pondering for a while. I think it could contribute to my position on the legalization of marijuana....

Senate pot report leaves police fuming

Last Updated: Thursday, September 5, 2002 | 12:59 PM ET

CBC News

A Senate report that endorses the legalization of marijuana has sparked mixed reactions – the police are huffing, while pot smokers are hoping to see more people legally puffing.

"It is nothing more than a back to school gift for drug pushers," is how David Griffin, executive officer of the Canadian Police Association, reacted to the report released Wednesday.

Griffin said the CPA would fight any efforts to legalize or decriminalize pot or any other drug.

David Griffin

The report also drew criticism Thursday from Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper.

The father of two small children said he doesn't buy arguments that alcohol is more harmful than smoking marijuana.

"As a parent, I would be more concerned about pot use than alcohol use by my children, even in moderation," said Harper, who suffers from asthma.

Pierre Claude Nolin

The report from the Senate's Special Committee on Illegal Drugs recommends that Canada regulate the sale of marijuana and wipe clean the slate of those convicted of pot possession. Traffickers and producers would still be prosecuted.

Decriminalization still an option

Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who has admitted to smoking pot, said Thursday that decriminalizing the drug might be a "first step" in reforming drug laws which seem out of date.

"The legislation in place is sort of disconnected with Canadian reality," he said The minister stopped short, however, of endorsing the Senate report.

Cauchon said before considering any changes to the law, he wants to see the results from a House of Commons committee report on illicit drugs, due for release on Nov. 30. He said he expects to have a new policy ready early next year.

Toronto lawyer Paul Burstein told CBC News the new rules would push pushers out of business.

The report said marijuana is less harmful than legal drugs like alcohol and should be governed accordingly.

"Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a social and public health issue," said Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chair of the committee.

He said drug policy should focus on harm reduction, prevention and treatment.

Since the committee began working on the issue in March 2001, they have held 39 meetings across Canada and heard from 100 witnesses.

The report took into account Canada's international obligations and the approaches other countries take to drug policy.

Deja Vu

How often do you have those moments where you feel like you have lived through this before? All the time right? I feel like i should have just had one of those moments but it did not occur. Once I got over my shock of not having that moment I started to think of things that could trigger it because I really wanted that moment.

I just returned to my home and walked into my room to deposit my things and see what's up. (This is where the moment should kick in. It didn't.) Nothing was moved so it would feel like I never left home. I think my mom did this because she wants to pretend I am still there. She doesn't want to be alone in the house it would seem. This is where I wanted my deja vu but instead i only felt happy. First time I have ever been pissed while feeling happy. I don't understand it but I just thought I would share this rather interesting experience with whoever is concerned enough to read this whole post.

As I head home for the weekend...

As I headed home i reflected on the only glorious thing to happen in my town. Valparaiso Indiana has only one claim to fame it seems. Every time March Madness rolls around CBS takes the time to show the top ten buzzer beaters in NCAA tournament history. Fast forward to #4 to see why Valpo is always on there.

The other side of the coin.....

On a separate note, while in my pathetic state I thought my friend was being nice by sitting with me while i was sick. She was nice to me and kept asking me if I needed anything. Much to my dismay, she was bringing people in and possibly making a profit off of my other friends who lined up to see the body of the decrepit sick boy lying in his bed. That hurt my pride a little bit. Being the girlfriend to my best friend I should have seen this coming as it was probably his idea. I have time to plan to get them back before break. Any good ideas if you took the time to read this?

Illness At The Collegiate Level

So I spent a large portion of this week in bed with the terrible winter plague of influenza. I have had the flu before but it has never been too bad. However these type of illnesses usually do not affect me. Most of the school i missed in the past four years was due to the fact that I was unable to wake up to my alarm, the only exception being strep throat which no one enjoys. Being of the old school mindset I decided not to go see a doctor and tough it out. That was a mistake. Taking this to the point. If you feel yourself getting sick go to the health center.

Mommy isnt here to bring you soup anymore.

Walking

Where I came from we did not really have too much walking to do. I am not opposed to the amount of walking I have had to undertake while in Muncie. I do however, feel that I should have better prepared myself for this. There are days where I come back to my dorm and just lay there with aches from the amount of walking I had to do that day. Painful yes. I tried going barefoot but then it rained.... Cold toes are not a good alternative to warm shoes.

Analysis Paper

The question that I believe helped me the most was the question discussing how the author could push the interpretation of the song deeper. It helped me to look further into the song and possibly pull more from the ideas already presented. It also helped to gain from others' songs as you read their paper and help them maybe develop an idea they already used more and make the paper stronger from that.

Just reading other papers it hit me like a ton of bricks on a few occasions once I reached this question. I realized that there was more to a quote or two that I used in my paper. It will help me further in my editing as I go into rewriting certain portions of my paper.

This surprises me because I have always hated deeper meaning questions. College will expand your horizons in the strangest ways sometimes.

The Atrium

Sitting in the Atrium can teach you a lot about the people you see walking past. You will see all types pass by even if you sit there for five minutes. It amazes me that even on a campus that is not considerably large like Ball State's you can have such a great diversity and assortment of people. This also comforts me to know that with the large variety present, they are able to at least coexist in a humane manner. I sat there for nearly an hour and saw barely a glimpse of animosity in the room. The place seemed like a huge orb of happiness contained in a small space. Among the usual din of clattering trays and food being cooked, there was almost a constant stream of laughter being tossed into the air from all corners of the room.

Tips For Survival: Naps

Lack of sleep causes a lot of problems for many during their college experience I was told. I now understand why this is. Late nights of studying and just sitting around doing nothing take their toll on a person. There is hope however. Naps give the well needed hours of sleep that you may miss out on during the evening. Multiple naps a day with short intervals of time spent awake prove to be the greatest defense against sleep deprivation. So I say to all of you, get out there and nap! It can save you life. (As a student at least)

The Library

So, lately I have been spending time in the library thinking it would be a wiser choice than studying in my room. Many people say they arent as distracted while in the library. This is not the case for me. I find that most of the time I spend in there is wasted because there are so many fascinating things happening while I am sitting there. I can just sit there and watch with excitement as the elevator opens and closes revealing a splendid surprise every time. I can just listen to the rhythmic stroking of the keyboard of the people next to me. Also, there is the distraction known to many as counting ceiling tiles. This one becomes tricky with a lack of ceiling tiles in the library. So, to alleviate this issue I simply discovered that this building has an infestation of ceiling lighting. It also pours out of the walls. My room seems so much more serene than that place of constant distraction. It is like going from a day spa to stepping into Six Flags Great America. Going from peaceful and relaxed, to a state of giddy joy and constant entertainment without purpose.

Music for English

So as I sit here listening to music for english class and doing homework I realize some of the strangeness in my playlists. How often do you hear music switch from intense hard rock to Bob Marley. Not too often I know. But here is a few of the artists I am listening to and possibly thinking of mentioning in class.

1. Rise Against

2. Incubus

3. Atmosphere

4. Arctic Monkeys

5. Augustana

6. Bob Dylan

7. Dispatch

Stopping after seven seems like a good idea. Lucky numbers.

Ishmael Beah's Speech

Listening Ishmael speak was quite interesting. From the beginning I almost felt like I could connect to him. Two things stood out to me about his speaking though. He could take almost anything and make people laugh about it, and he used soccer as a connection to people. He told us about winning soccer games and how this kept them happy. The sport of soccer was used to rehabilitate and in essence subdue the soldier children. When they were happy they did not want to fight, but when they lost they would attack the opponents. This reminded me of another fable that is told throughout the soccer community about how soccer is used to bring people together.

Pele is a soccer god and was going to travel to Nigeria to play a game. The country was involved in a civil war at the time. Both sides called a cease fire for three days while Pele was in the country to play the game and the fighting continued afterward. However, for those three days a single person and an international favorite game brought together the two opposing sides of a conflict.

While stumbling through the various websites that inhabit the always expanding internet universe, i came across this image from the Hubble telescope. From this simple image, I think it is safe to say that the Hubble telescope has officially become tired of its job. It is now creating images to serve its own purposes of entertaining the many viewers at NASA. Here is what I believe is the depiction of Old Man Time as seen by Hubble's Telescope. Possibly Gandalf if this telescope has read the Lord Of The Rings saga.

In reality it is a pillar of dust and gas in space. I hope I entertained you though. Random websites are good fun if you need to kill time.

In Bruges

This is by far one of the greatest movies I have seen. It is my favorite movie hands down. This movie is entertaining on many levels due to its deeply layered dialogue and scripting. The viewer is taken on a visual tour through one of the most well preserved cities of Medieval Europe while the characters move in and out of the various locations. The city itself is incorporated as a character in the plot through masterful workmanship. Here is the trailer and if you enjoy the short two minutes, then you will enjoy the entire movie:

i don't know what to write here.

something funny?

something serious?

something deep?

a joke?

a story?

none of these ideas are getting me anywhere.

train of thought?

that would probably scare most people.

NFL games start tonight. that should be fun.

still nothing to write about.

fifteen more minutes.

maybe i will think of something worth while then.

probably not.

gonna have to steal my friends' computer again late tonight just to get my points for this.

he is going to be so pissed again.

really didn't appreciate it last time.

Beginning of a personal Memoir.... (Burn After Reading?)

Growing up in Northwest Indiana a person learns to cope with many strange occurrences in their lifetime. These may include, but are not limited to; unpredictable weather phenomena, strange festivals celebrating mundane harvests of the ordinary crop yields, or sub-freezing, monstrous bodies of water giving way to beaches of blistering hot sands. While these things are often dealt with and considered strange to the large majority of Americans, a hurricane ripping through Indiana and dumping its contents onto the mainlands of sprawling corn. It was one of the oddest occasions that none of us saw coming......

Feedback? It would be appreciated.

Week 2, Strange Yet Fun

So as the second week began I became very excited to be in the full swing of college. This excitement was averted as my roommate decided it would be best to part ways. Having known him for a good number of years i thought it was a joke. Later that day I find out he was not kidding as his parents show up to move his stuff out of the room. Weak Sauce I know.

The story gets better though. As I am sifting through the rubble of my destroyed hope in humanity and looking after what is left behind I made a few discoveries.... While this great friend of mine decided to barricade himself into our room he was eating. I never saw him eat, but he was constantly eating. Not just eating, eating everything. This wasnt everything that he had purchased either. It was all the everything I had purchased in order to destroy the cravings i get for a few specific foods. Now I am lacking all of my cravings and cannot take care of this.

What am I to do? A part of my soul left with the food he decided to consume without my permission.

After having the technology discussion I went out and tried to utilize the large amounts of human advancement that I have been immersed in. Sadly this turned out to be a colossal failure as I passed from one gadget to the next. They all proved to be too spirited for me to overcome. Apparently I am one of the few who is not connected with my seemingly globally connected generation. From all of this disappointment I did discover one thing that I have found to be very true for a long time in my own personal experience. I prefer people, and from the looks of things as technology keeps advancing I will continue to enjoy people more and more.

On a side note, i am still having trouble navigating the troubling waters of this website and blogging craze sweeping every facet of the nation. If you have any advice to give me that can help me out feel free to share. I could use a lot of help. Thanks.

First Week At BSU

So, I moved in a few days early and have found that to be very beneficial. The campus is not very confusing, but there can be very many confusing things about the buildings here. The only bad thing I have to say about BSU so far is that my friend thought it would be clever to get me sick. That means I am currently suffering from some kind of rare South African Rhino-virus that i have never been exposed to up to this point. Never having been sick with more than a headache, I find this to be very painful and causing many problems. This illness was a consequence of how i missed one of my classes on my first day.Now I'm getting kicked out so I should stop for now.