Showing posts with label Old. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Old. Show all posts

Friday, August 5, 2016

The TV

Television... an overly abused pastime that has rapidly become America’s babysitter. As

far back as anyone can remember, the television has played an important role in the molding of

young minds. The progression of television shows grew as we did, and it started as far back as

preschool.

Television shows of yesterday and today have played an underlying role in the

development of the young mind. As a child, the most outstanding memory of a television show I

have is watching Sesame Street. Sesame street’s puppet fueled singalongs entertained me for

hours. Not only was the show entertaining it was educational too. The count taught you your

numbers, Bert and Ernie taught you how to count sheep to go to sleep, while Big Bird taught you

about the difference between right and wrong along with the help of Oskar the grouch. Big birds

imaginary friend Snuffalupagus taught kids it was OK to have a creative side. Sesame Street

imprinted early that learning can be fun. As we began to grow, so did the amount of television we

watched.

Our last few years in elementary school were filled with such now ­classics as Power

Rangers, and Pokemon. The Pokemon theme song “Gotta catch ’em all” is still imbued in the

brains of today’s ex­Pokemon­watching college students, who take the advice to heart when

dealing with a lot of issued throughout life. The “I must have everything!” mentality certainly

didn’t start with Pokemon but the show reinforced the idea and installed it in all of our minds. The

Crime fighting stars of Power Rangers have influenced our views on the justice system. Unlike

past generations who followed the “Forgive and forget” policy of the criminal justice system,

today the average college student follows “kick­ass” school of thought when it comes to

punishment. These shows influenced our psyche in immeasurable ways, the true effects will only

be seen in the future.

A popular T.V. Show that was watched by our generation back in the times of Middle

school was “Boy Meets World.” With an appropriate name for the experience of becoming a

teen/young adult this show was easy to relate to through the tough times of middle school. It was

also a show that set great examples for students. From Mr. Feeny’s teaching to the unusual

predicaments Eric got himself into, this show was a popular show at the time.

There is so many things now on TV. I remember now my high school years, particularly

near TV, some weird shows from yesterday. One of the most memorable shows from that period

was “Trippin’ the Rift.” I guess I’m a sci­fi geek. Dark Humor and comedy shows bring the best of

the generation in an easy way to understand. The Simpson’s was a relaxation at the end of a long

Every day, new shows are created. A through Z, I believe we’ve seen them all, and we all

have our own opinions and impressions of them. The main thing is that molded our generation

into what it is now. It reflects news and events, educates and makes fun of politics. As we grew, so

did the television shows we watched. From education shows like sesame street to teenage mellow

dramas like boy meets world.

Notes to a Freshman

Being a freshman in college seems very exciting- that is, until you actually are freshman in college. Once you get to that 'pivotal' year you realize that it isn't anything special. It isn't hard. It isn't exhilarating. It is; however, very stressful, time consuming, and rather boring. The freshman "experience" is nothing to look forward too.
            Filler classes, for example, take up a large majority of your time. They're boring, and designed for failure. These "core classes" are required for everything regardless of how much they relate to your major. Failing one of these classes, even though they have absolutely nothing to do with what you want to do in life, will prevent you from going any further. You need to pass your English 101, even if you plan on majoring in math.     
            Time management is a concept that most freshmen have yet to grasp, resulting in a mega-ton of wasted time and just as much stress. Unfortunately, time management is very crucial when attempting to pass your "core" classes. Surprisingly time management is not a prerequisite class; though, I digress- I wouldn't want to give them any more crazy ideas.

Three journal entries from prompts in ten minutes, writing exercise.

What effect – positive or negative – do you think television has had on your life? What would your life be like without it?

I am not a regular viewer of television. I do not loyally oblige hours upon hours of

my time to the dancing picture box. I do not sit on the couch with my eyes glued to the

screen, and perhaps most importantly: I never lets television run my life. I believe that by

following that most important rule, the only effects that television has had on my life

have been positive. When I do watch T.V, which is a rarity in itself, it is with my friends.

We have a lot of good times together in front of the mesmerizing screen, with lots of

good laughs. My life, without television, would be same – for the most part. My friends

and I would just have to find other things to laugh at when we’re bored as the television

has brought us together in a way that nothing else could: by giving us something that we

all could make fun of.

Write an essay in which you consider the effects (including any possiblefuture effects) on the American family of one of these inventions: the cell phone, email, the microwave, the VRC and DVD player, the iPod, or Xbox.

“Heat it up” has become the catch-phrase of one-time stay at home mothers all

across the country, and this has changed the face of the American family. The microwave

allows for much more than just faster cooking, it allows for more leftovers to be served

with little to no effort. It encourages the use of McDonalds and other take-out kings,

because anything that isn’t eaten on the first day can just be tossed in the microwave and

eaten the next day. The microwave changed American culture more than just in the

The ability to cook things with ease frees the mother from this one-time shackling

job, allowing her to get a job outside of her own kitchen. She doesn’t have to be home

when her kids get home to cook them a snack, because the kids can toss last nights dinner

in the microwave to heat it up, and that will certainly hold them over until that night’s

dinner, which will be cooked in half the time it used to take when the mother gets home

from work. The microwave also increases the number of “ready-to- serve” frozen foods.

Pizza rolls, Bagel bites, and many other frozen foods require the microwave to be work.

Lastly, the microwave destroyed the typical 6p.m. dinner. Families no longer need

to sit down at six o-clock to eat, because if someone isn’t home they can heat up what

hasn’t been eaten. The microwave has changed the mother’s roll, what we eat, and how


we eat it – and that’s just the beginning.

Write a cause-and- effect essay discussing the positive effects of television on American society.
American society has greatly benefited from the invention of Television.

Television has created a lot of jobs – actors, cameramen, directors, writers, advertisers,

and many more – just on the creative side alone. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry, and

has flooded our economy with lots of money, which is good for us all. On a smaller scale,

television has benefited every individual to ever watch it. It has made us funnier, even if

hearing T.V. punch-lines at every turn does eventually get old. More importantly, it

brings people together. Time that would have otherwise been spent alone, doing some

hobby, is instead spent with a group of friends, circled around the screen, laughing at the

jokes and situations presented to them. Television also gives us something to talk about

when there is nothing else – “Hey, did you see the new American Idol!?” – making our

water-cooler conversations a lot more interesting. In all, television has certainly been a

positive thing for American society. From more money being made from the invention, to

having more things to talk about when we’re bored – television rocks.

Beards

Manliness grows on the face of men. It takes the form of facial hair, or more specifically: beards. Beards truly are symbols of status, trophies of manhood, and the epitome of masculinity. There is but one truth that I hold to be self evident in this world and it is that all real men have hair growing from their chins. Ever since I was a child, I aspired to have a great beard. A beard to be remembered by, recognized by, known by.
In ancient times beards have been status symbols. The Egyptians grew their beards in special shapes, and wove gold into them. Egyptian Kings and Queens wore pastiche, or golden beards as symbols of their power. Like many nations of the east, both India and Israel held beards in high regard. The bear was allowed to grow long, as a symbol of dignity and wisdom. Beards were so sacred, people would pledge on their beards that they would repay a debt.
Well, if you’re anything like me, you’re probably already wondering how you could get yourself a beard of your own. Unfortunately it might be pretty tricky, or even impossible. Gender is the most important factor, as females are not allowed to have beards. It violates nature. If you’re not female, you might be able to grow a beard. The second most important factor is genetics. If you don’t have the beard gene, you don’t have the beard gene. You’re beyond help, and will never reach the epitome of masculinity. Tough luck.
So, you want a beard, and you fit into the large percentage of us that is actually able to grow one. This comprehensive list will guide you along your way to manhood. Step one; commit yourself to the beard. According to http://www.beards.org/ , growing a beard may require a bit courage, but real men have courage anyway, and if you’re already this far there shouldn’t be a problem. Once you get the courage to make the decision.. STICK WITH IT! This decision can easily be overturned on second though with just the flick of a razor, so be determined.
Step two; Shave your face clean, get every last hair. Leave no survivors. Just as an artist starts with a clean canvas, you will start with a shaven face. If it is your first beard, shave a couple more times over the next week, to even things out. If you don’t do this, you risk having longer hairs poking out of your beard at random places, which will make things more difficult later.

Stock Project

NOTE: I found an old school project- spend $1000 on stocks and track them for the school year and see who makes the most money. I did this project back in December 2008, almost 8 years ago now -- and I did not win. Here's the project in it's entirety-


Activision Blizzard (ATVI) is the first stock I chose to invest in. On Aug 28, 2008 one stock was trading for $16.77, and I purchased 9 shares for a total of $150.93. I purchased this stock because it is my favorite video game company, and a recent merger made it the largest video game company in the world. It has a few high-profile releases coming up in the near future, including Guitar Hero: World Tour and World of Warcraft: Wraith of the Lich King.

The second stock I chose to invest in is Electronic Arts, which trades at ERTS. On Aug 28, 2008 the closing cost was $46.82. At that price, I purchased 4 shares for a total of $187.28. ERTS is a major competitor to ATVI, and the entire video game industry is booming currently. ERTS, after acquiring multiple game studios, was the largest company until a recent merger between Activision and Blizzard, which put ATVI slightly ahead.

Diamond Offshore Drilling is the third company that I invested in. They trade as just DO. The closing price for this stock on Aug 28, 2008 was $108.42, and I only bought one stock—making the total spent on DO just $108.42. Diamond Offshore Drilling is a world leader in offshore drilling, with roots in companies founded as early as 1953. The eventual merger of ODECO, Zapata, and Diamond M lead to the creation of this oil giant. I opted to invest in this company because the price of oil has skyrocketed in recent months.

The next company is known as NOV, or National Oilwell Varco. On the 28th of Aug. 2008, one share cost $74.90 and I was only able to purchase one. The total amount I spent on this company was $74.90. I opted to invest in this company because Oil seems like a very solid investment, especially with gas being over $4/gallon. NOV leads the world in the design, manufacture and sale of all the things used to get fuel out of the ground. From Oilfield tubular inspection to internal tubular coatings, National Oilwell Varco is a prevalent company on the oil front.

The last company that I invested in is Exxon Mobile Corporation, traded as XOM. On Aug 28, 2008 one share in the company cost $78.71 and at that cost I purchased 6 shares. The total I spent on this stock was $472.26. XOM is my safest investment, being the most profitable company in the world; it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. This years outrages fuel prices are sure to make the profits be even higher this year.

In conclusion, I spent a total of $993.79 on all of my stocks.

A line graph is an excellent tool to show changes in data, especially changes in data over a timeframe. In this project, the line graph is used to show the values of stocks from Aug 28 through Dec 1, and then a line of regression is used to predict the cost of said stock on Jan 1.  
Activision Blizzard (ATVI) is the first stock I chose to invest in. On Aug 28, 2008 one stock was trading for $16.77, and I purchased 9 shares for a total of $150.93. On Dec 1, the closing cost fell to $10.53. I lost a total of $56.16.

The second stock I chose to invest in is Electronic Arts, which trades at ERTS. On Aug 28, 2008 the closing cost was $46.82. At that price, I purchased 4 shares for a total of $187.28. By Dec 1, the closing cost for this stock fell to $17.77. I lost a total of $116.20.

Diamond Offshore Drilling is the third company that I invested in. They trade as just DO. The closing price for this stock on Aug 28, 2008 was $108.42, and I only bought one stock—making the total spent on DO just $108.42. The closing cost on Dec 1 was $65.91, losing me $42.51.

The next company is known as NOV, or National Oilwell Varco. On the 28th of Aug. 2008, one share cost $74.90 and I was only able to purchase one. The total amount I spent on this company was $74.90. The closing cost by Dec 1, fell to a dismal $23.15. This lost me a total of $51.75.

The last company that I invested in is Exxon Mobile Corporation, traded as XOM. On Aug 28, 2008 one share in the company cost $78.71 and at that cost I purchased 6 shares. The total I spent on this stock was $472.26. XOM on Dec 1 was worth 74.31, and I lost a total of $26.40

In conclusion, I spent a total of $993.79 on all of my stocks, and lost a total of $293.02. Most importantly, I learned a lot about excel through trial and error. Excel is a powerful program, the inner-workings of which I can navigate through much better now than in the past. These are skills that will certainly come in handy in the future, be it for another class or for a job. I also learned not to invest in oil at the peak of it’s cost, from there is only has one place to go: down.
Name of Stock
Symbol
8-25 Closing
12-1 Closing
Number Purchased
Total Spend on Stock
Earn or (Loss)
Predicion Closing Jan 30, 2008
Activision Blizzard
ACTI
$     16.77
$    10.53
9
$  150.93
$    (56.16)
######
Electronic Arts
ERTS
$     46.82
$    17.77
4
$  187.28
$  (116.20)
######
Diamond Offshore Drilling
DO
$  108.42
$    65.91
1
$  108.42
$    (42.51)
######
National Oilwell Varco
NOV
$     74.90
$    23.15
1
$    74.90
$    (51.75)
######
Exxon Mobil Corporation
XOM
$     78.71
$    74.31
6
$  472.26
$    (26.40)
#######
Total Earned or (Lost)




$  993.79
$  (293.02)


STOCK MARKET PROJECT

This ends the old project. Now let's update the results!

Name of StockSymbol8-25-08 Closing8-4-16 ClosingCountTotal SpentCurrent ValueEarn or -Loss
Activision BlizzardACTI$16.77$40.789$150.93$367.02$216.09
Electronic ArtsERTS$46.82$78.234$187.28$312.92$125.64
Diamond Offshore DrillingDO$108.42$21.361$108.42$21.36-$87.06
National Oilwell VarcoNOV$74.90$32.561$74.90$32.56-$42.34
Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM$78.71$87.486$472.26$524.88$52.62
Totals$993.79$1,258.74$264.95
Freakin' BOOM! My $300 deficit has replaced itself with with a $250 profit!

Which sadly, still wouldn't have been enough to win.