Billions Spent To Teach C.E.O.'s to WRITE?

R. Craig Hogan received e-mail from prospective student. Student needed help. Boss wanted him to help improve workers writing skills. Employees write more on the job than previously. Study by NCW concluded a third of employees in blue-chip companies wrote poorly. Businesses spending as much as $3.1 billion on remedial training. Problem shows in e-mail and reports. Businesses need people who write clearly, many fall short. Millions of e-mails clog corporate computers and many are chaotically written, results in confusion. Even C.E.O.’s need writing help. Many write in inflated language.

What Do you think? Everyone believes that the internet has been nothing but good news for this generation, but is it detrimental to our writing skills as educated people?

Minimum Wage: Can We Help?

In my sociology class, I have an assignment in which we must discuss minimum wage. Minimum wage is an issue in this country, especially for those living with a family. A show called 30 days, is a show in which a man lives in conditions that most would seem hard to live, but does it for a cause. He does it to show the average american the issues that are barely discussed, and he wants to expose the average person to the issues, because in the end, we can help. Minimum wage was set up in 1938 for one reason. So people could live at the bare minimum living styles. It was setup so that one could just barely get by, and not have to worry about being dirt poor. Unfortunately, minimum wage was set up for a single person themselves, and did not take into consideration the fact that one working for minimum wage may start a family. Since 1977 minimum wage has only increased $2.10.

The man in the show tried living a month off of a $7.25/hr income, and found himself living in inhumane conditions, and a huge factor that seemed to affect him and his wife was healthcare. He found himself wasting a day in the free-clinic when he could have been working, and didn't even get to see a dr. because the line was so long. He was then forced to go to the emergency room. He got the bill at the end of the month, and it was over $500, which was more than his entire month's income. My point is, can we help those in any way living under minimum wage? As time passes, it seems that the people in this country act oblivious to issues unless they are the ones affected. What can we do to help the minimum wage affects?

Dreams Foreshadow?

I left a commented response to sunshyne's blog about her recent dreams. Visit her blog and express your thoughts about dreams at , http://sunshyne8701.blogspot.com/

Tattoos: Acceptable in Society?

What do you think about tattoos? Being a person with a couple of tattoos, I am usually scorned for having them. I don't understand why. Tattoos are a way to express yourself and even show that you are artistic and maybe at the same time a little bit different. People use blogs, people use clothing, and some use tattoos. Nearly all adults that I have some affiliation with that see my tattoos seem to hate on me. They ask why I would ruin my body with stupidity. I tell them that the tattoos I have are worth sentimental value to me, and I have them because I never want to forget the meaning behind them.

Honestly, yes I can do without my tattoos, but let me explain further. On my left shoulder, I have my initials: MCU III. I am proud to have the family name, and I consider it an honor. I wanted to make that public. On the other shoulder, I have a bulldog and the initials JYD under it. It stands for Junk Yard Dog. My family owns a scrap metal business, which is basically a junkyard.

My father got the tattoo when he was 35 years old, and my brother and I both thought that since one day we will be running the business, that we both get the tattoo my father had. When my brother and I showed my father, he seemed touched. My brother and I both wanted to express to our father that no matter what happens in the future, we will still be junk yard dogs at heart because the yard is what made our family what it is.

At first I used to think tattoos were for Harley riding bikers, perhaps this is why a vast amount of people have harsh opinions about them. But as I grew I realized the true reason. People get "tatted" up to express themselves and express the things they care about. I know a girl in my English and Psychology class that has some pretty serious tattoos. The colors alone on one of them is enough to surely catch one's eye, and just the design overall. While we were walking to our english class that followed our psychology class, she told me about how excited she was to be going to the tattoo parlor later that night to get a new tattoo she has been dying to get. When I listened to her explain exactly what she wanted to get, I could see a twinkle and sparkle in her eye. People who feel that tattoos are unacceptable, you need to realize why people do it and have respect for their reasons why. Don't be so quick to judge.

SHOUT OUT TO MY PSYCH AND ENGLISH BUDDY.....YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE

Argument: Friends/Family are necessary for productive leisure time

What do you think about the issue of leisure time spent in solitude vs leisure time spent with family or friends? I want you to kick back and think about it. Leisure time is a time where you put down all necessary work and do something that you want to do instead of the rigorous schedule you may have at work. It is best for one to achieve the goal of positive and effective leisure time by spending the time with family and/or friends. I believe that one achieves ultimate happiness when one is accompanied by a loved one or great friend. Why shouldn't this apply to leisure time? I also believe that spending time alone, only relates to the tedious work one may do throughout the day; all alone behind one's own cubicle doing solo work. I don't believe that it isn't possible to have leisure time by yourself, but I think that leisure time with an accomplice positively affects someone more than one who were to spend leisure time by themselves. Great evidence to support my argument is provided by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his book Finding Flow. Csikszentmihalyi is a professor of psychology and education at the University of Chicago, and has much experience in the field of psychology. Another source that supports my argument is a journal titled Sociology of Leisure on the JSTOR database by John Wilson. Wilson is a member of the sociology department at Duke University and talks about nearly every aspect of leisure. What do you think?

Affirmative Action: Promoter of Racism?

What do you think about Affirmative Action? I think its ridiculous. If I were living during the segregation era, I would be totally appalled, and stand up and fight for equal rights. I don't believe in any race being more superior than any other. We as a nation must understand that all men are created equally. I feel that all Affirmative Action is doing, is openly admitting to blacks that white people messed up, and for messing up, the blacks will be given preferential treatment. All Affirmative action is doing, is further promoting segregation and inequality. You take the poor white families living in the Carolinas or Mississippi or Alabama. Why should any race have preferential treatment? When senior high schoolers go to apply for colleges, there should be no race section. No person should be given any advantage in life because of the color of their skin. Affirmative Action should be abolished. I know what happened to blacks was horrible, and the fact that I'm white, I can't really express the pain.

To let you all know, I do have black family in Hickory, North Carolina. I have heard their stories, and trust me I felt their pain. I'm proud to have such a diverse family, and I wish I were there in the past to stand up for the blacks. In all reality, I wasn't. I'll tell you this though, all affirmative action is doing is further promoting racism and favoritism. Think about it though.....do these universities that follow affirmative action truly believe in it, or are they doing it for the wrong reasons? You make the decision

Wet feet, Dry feet Policy

Being born and raised in the County of Dade is something I value. I have never moved houses that were more than 5 miles away from each other. Living in an area of Miami that is extremely overpopulated with Cubans is an issue I have to live with. It is annoying because Cubans have no respect for the American way of life, no respect for our laws, and what pisses me off most, is that nearly all of them are illegal immigrants. They are living in my city, and living off of the taxes that my family and friends pay. But the fact that they are illegal immigrants, and there are no records of their existence, they get to benefit from the money we pay as American Citizens. The wet feet, dry feet policy came into accordance in 1995 when Bill Clinton said that we would stop admitting people into this country that were caught at sea. Those caught at sea represented the wet feet part, and would be sent back to Cuba or a third country. Those that made it to dry land, and had "dry feet," were allowed into this country, and would later be qualified for legal U.S. citizenship. But even when they are given the chance to become citizens, many of them don't even try.

This is where it gets tricky. A couple of years ago, there was the issue of Elian Gonzalez. The young boy who fled Cuba with his mother to escape his father, who was said to be an abusive father and husband. The boy along with multiple other Cuban refugees, were caught at sea before making it to dry land. Unfortunately, Elian's mother had died on the trip over. The fact that Elian's only family besides his father was located in Miami. The problem is that he didn't make it to dry land. The boy was put into the house of his grandmother, and a huge protest occurred. Fidel Castro argued with the American government that Elian must be shipped back to Cuba. The American government had no problem with sending him back, but the Cuban community was not allowing it. This is where I became infuriated. These illegal immigrants, who were living in Miami at the time went to the Freedom Tower in Miami and began to protest and rant; Causing traffic jams and riots. The only way to take care of this issue was to sneak into the house, and take the boy. (top picture) Easter night, a group of government soldiers ransacked the house Elian was in and took him away from his family. In the end, he was sent back to Cuba. Protests continued saying that the boy should be in Miami. What do you think? I don't think any government policies should be bent for anyone because before you know it, others will be bent.

Another issue of this, is that if it applies for Cubans, why shouldn't it apply to Haitians. When I was in 7th grade, i boat full of Haitians made it into biscayne bay. They were being jumped by the U.S. Coast Guard, (bottom picture) they knew that the only way to be allowed to stay here was by making it to dry land. I was watching the news around 5:00 p.m., and I see the live news feed of hundreds of Haitians running crazily on the biscayne bridge. All of the Haitians were apprehended, and deported back to Haiti because of the reason they were trying to flee. They weren't trying to avoid "persecution" like the Cubans claimed they were. The Haitians were fleeing because of their horrible living conditions and low wages in their own country. They were unable to make an income that was enough to live off of. Do you honestly think Cubans came here because they feared their lives? No way, they wanted to live in the greatest country in the world and experience the American Dream; just like the Haitians. Is it fair that the hundreds of Haitians were deported? Or should the wet feet, dry feet policy apply to Haitians as well?

comment to change in Drinking Age

I made a comment to the issue of the drinking age:
When reading your blog, I was waiting for the line, that if you can die for your country, you should be able to drink. I agree with you 100%. The U.S. is the only country in the world where the drinking age is 21, and I don't understand it. Maybe its because the death rate of college students is rediculous due to alcohol poisoning caused by binge drinking. But who knows? Cause i don't. I've read somewhere I forgot where that the reason the drinking age is 21 is because research was done to prove that human kidneys don't stop growing until we are 21 years old. I don't believe that for a second. But now its time for my opinion. A part of me wishes the drinking age were 18, but the realistic part of me understands why it just can't be. You tell us that younger people drink because they can't do it till they are 21, and its a way for them to feel older, and badass. Lets be honest, thats not the reason. Younger people drink because they see the affects of alcohol on people. Nobody loves to get nuttier more than I do, I'll be honest. But then again, I look to back at all the high school parties I went to and all the kids who thought they were "tanks," with the never ending tolerance. Yeah that was funny, because they were the ones past out in their own vomit. The age group of 16-20 in the U.S. are too irresponsible to drink. End of story. To look at the original post go to Powerade's blog at http://myblogbybrad.blogspot.com/

2008 Presidency

Who do you think should be the 44th President of the United States? With elections coming up in November, it is one of the tightest races that we have witnessed thus far. Many like Hillary Clinton. Yeah I know that's funny. Some like Obama. Some like Huckabee. Some like McCain. But in the end, who would run this country the best? Who knows what to do in this situation. Who has the best qualifications?

It's easy to say that John McCain is the best candidate to become this nations 44th president. Why should Hillary even be running? I think she is running just to prove that women can do this. I would laugh in her face if she were in my presence. She is a complete JOKE. Not to be mean, but she reminds me of Martha Stewart, and there is no way I want Martha Stewart-like people running my country. What qualifications does she have? You can't just assume because her husband was the 42nd president that she is qualified to be the 44th. We can't just make First Ladies presidents! If she wasn't Bill Clinton's wife, i doubt she would have even been elected senator of NY. Maybe Laura Bush should run for the elections. I mean her husband served two terms just like Hillary's. I'm probably the exact opposite of a sexist, because I'd be the first to say that a woman has more capabilities to succeed than a man, but we need to take the world's reactions into consideration.

How would other countries react, if the greatest and most powerful nation in the world, were to be run by a woman? They would laugh at us and underestimate us. Considering the fact that in many countries women don't even have the right to vote or speak against their own government yet alone their own husbands. I believe if she were to be elected, our country could be a victim if pitiless attacks in every which way. We need to have a strong president, that would take care of our country if anything were to happen.

We need to realize that our country is vulnerable when a new president is elected into the White House. The leadership is not as strong during the first month of newly-elected officials.

Obama is a strong competitor, but I feel he is too young, and that his qualifications are minimal. He has little experience, and needs at least 10 more years before he is eligible, to run this country down to the T.

Now lets talk about John McCain. A solid candidate with political experience for 25+ years. A veteran of the Vietnam completing 20+ bombing missions. Unfortunately, he was shot down on his 23rd, and was taken prisoner. He endured severe torture, and survived it for 5 and a half years. WHAT A SOLDIER! A lot can be said about one who has gone through the pain and agony this man has. Some would consider McCain crazy, but he is just tough. A man who had to fight for his life for 5 and a half years. He is a true American. When asked if he had any grudges on the decision to be a part of the Vietnam War, he laughed and said, "Why would I?" He is one who stands by his countries decisions, and does not question them. This tells us that he would be a candidate, that was confident with each and every decision that he would make. He was part of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. What type of person do we want running this country? A person with excellent experience, and one who is confident in their decisions. Who should be the 44th president? John McCain!

Comment to Always Engaged

Money can buy happiness? What?

Comment:

http://Interestingpoint.blogspot.com/

I totally agree with you, that the students at SMU are 100% materialistic, and think that having better or higher quality possessions makes them a better and happier person. Its the wrong way to go about things. You see too many people walking the boulevard with that swagger. The Im so cool swagger. WHY? They feel that they are btter than anyone else. In all reality, buying things does make you happy. You cant live your entire life just watching the stars and smelling the flowers. It would get old and boring. We need to experience new feelings multiple times throughout our lives to make things interesting. I'm not going to lie, if I were to buy myself an aston martin, I can bet you a million bucks, that I would be completely happy. But I just have to be buying it for the right reason; to make myself happy. Not to look better than others. In the end, it comes down to you making decisions to buy things that will make YOU happy. NOT others happy. Happiness can be bought, but in my opinion for only a certain amount of time. Love is the key to happiness? YA DIG?! IT IS WHAT IT IS

Hard Times

I'm in my second semester of my freshman year at college, and I received word that my grandfather wasn't doing very well, and was in intensive care. It was the first time away from home, that I was unable to rush to the hospital, and be with my grandfather. We seem to take advantage of things, and when it comes down to situations like this, we regret the decisions we make. I freaked out when I found out about this. Besides the intense work load that I have, I am told that my grandfather, who has been by my side through everything, is in intensive care. What do i do? I want to visit him, and be by his side, but my parents don't want me to come, afraid that it will totally crush me, leading to the destruction of my first year of college. I was in my dorm room the other day, and I called my grandfather. He is probably the toughest person that I know. He has been in the hospital countless times, and was always the first one to argue with the doctors, telling professionals that they had no idea what they are talking about. That he would be fine, and nothing would stop him from seeing his grandchildren grow up to have their own kids.

My grandpa has always been so confident. I look up to him. For the first time in my life, I heard my grandpa sound defeated, something I have never seemed to hear. My moral and overall mood seemed to be stepped and beaten down. I immediately broke down. I was scared. I kept thinking what was i going to do if my grandfather passed away, and I wasn't there. So i began to write the speech that I was going to give at my grandfather's funeral. It goes something like this,

"Where do I start? My grandfather was the most inspirational and respectful man I’ve ever known. Through every endeavor, he has always been there either by my side or watching me. No matter the circumstance, he always made it to Aj, Alexis’, or my own extracurricular activities, ranging from musical recitals to football to baseball to basketball. He always told me to keep my head up. No matter the issue, you’re never defeated until you admit it. No one can tell you that you’re done for. We are in control of our own destiny and fate, nobody else. This is something I’ve held on to tightly for as long as I can remember. I’m in my dorm room right now listening a song by Bone thugs in Harmony called “These are the days of our lives.” The times I spent with my grandfather always seemed to be the best days of my life. Since pre-school, every first day of school, grandpa would come by just as we were about to leave. He would hop out of his car, and give Alexis, AJ, and I each $5. I will never forget the first time he did it when I was in pre-school. It was the first time I had ever been given any money. I thought I was on top of the world. I wish I could go back to the first day I got my drivers license and drove to go see my grandfather and not my friend although it was my grandfather who taught me how to drive, in his Mitsubishi gallant with a missing hubcap. At the age of 11, I remember sitting in the passenger seat, and asking grandpa if I could steer. He looked at me as if I was crazy, but for all of you who know my grandpa, that didn’t necessarily mean No. He wanted to know why, but put two and two together and realized that I wanted to do something driving related because my brother and sister had just recently received their permits. For as long as I could remember, grandpa always took Alexis, AJ, and I even to Dadeland mall for our annual Christmas time ritual. Kurt, he always made sure that you were invited, and especially loved when you were able to come; he loved as if you were truly his grandson. Anyways, we’d go to Ruby Tuesdays, and get the big chocolate shortcake desert. I’d take a scoop of the whip cream and although I always pulled the “hey grandpa this smells funny, can you smell it,” joke, he would always fall it, setting himself to be a victim of the spoonful of whipped cream to his nose. That would make my day. As I grew older, and began to drive, I began to do what many teenagers begin to do when they get their licenses; not come home till their curfew. Not until times like this do we wish we had stopped by instead of just driving by doing the infamous Grandpa honk. I know my grandpa knows that I loved him, but I only wish I showed him more. He would show me so much, but I always seemed to cool for a hug, or a kiss on the head. What I would do for a hug or a kiss from my grandpa right now. God bless his soul, I know he will. My grandpa lived his life with no regrets, doing what he loved when he wanted to do it, up until the very day that he died. He will always live within me."

To write that speech, was probably one of the toughest writing assignments I have ever had to complete. I wanted to make sure that every sentence had some significance behind it. What do I do? By writing this, was i wrong?

Long Distance Relationships

No one really knows how a long distance relationship will truly turn out. There are many aspects that could either contradict the situation or perhaps strengthen the relationship with the one you feel so close to. People believe that going to college with a girlfriend or boyfriend is nothing but good for the relationship because it tests the boundaries. In all reality, it depends on the certain couple. In a way yes, it can be positive, but there are plenty of reasons why it could be bad for a relationship. Why is it that a long distance relationship could be good for a couple? It helps your means of communication. The only way to keep in touch with your loved one is by calling him/her each and every day and find out what he/she has done throughout their day. You have to stay in touch to keep your relationship strong. Without computers, or cell phones, I don't believe that long distance relationships could work. I am currently going through a long distance relationship, and I think it is the toughest thing I have been through in my life. My limits have been reached, and my nerves have been tested.

I can't count the number of arguments or disagreements that I have had the past year with my girlfriend on two hands. The key to a long distance relationship is trust and TRUE love. Without these two key components, there is no way that your relationship will survive. I love my girlfriend, and what keeps our relationship going, through thick and thin, is the true love that I have for her, and the high amount of trust that I have in her. She is the light of my life, the thing that seems to make all problems disappear. Without her in my life, who knows what I would be.

A relationship takes two, not just one doing all of the work. Especially a long distance relationship. Know this, a long distance relationship will always be tested. You need to sit down and think to yourself, if my girlfriend or boyfriend was here right now, would this be happening. If i was with him/her, what would happen. If you think you would be furious, and would look at each other with blank faces, I feel bad to say that I don't believe that a long distance relationship is meant for you. But if you're in the situation I'm in, the one that you sit down and know for a fact that if I was with my girlfriend right now, all I would want to do is hug her, and not let go. Through thick and thin, I will always love my girlfriend, which makes it possible for me to be in a long distance relationship. It is what it is.

The Best Rapper Alive

No one really knows who the best rapper alive is. There are many opinions, but none seem to have any reasoning behind them. Just because a rap artist puts out one hit, it doesn't make them the best rapper alive. Rapping is an art form. I sit in my dorm room, put my headphones on, and seem to go into a zone, where the world is oblivious to me, and it is just me and the music. A lot of people don't consider rap, music, especially the older generations of today, but in all reality it is indeed music, and a very popular genre for the younger generation today. I believe that rapping is one of the toughest things to do in music. You need to flow with the beat, which is probably the most difficult things to do. Not to mention, you have to have amazing rhyming skills, which is a skill that may be easier to be born with than to learn. So why is it that I believe that Lil Wayne is the Best Rapper Alive? Compared to other rappers, Lil Wayne never stops. Most rappers are satisfied with one hit a year, although the rest of the cd they are releasing to the public is garbage. Lil Wayne isn't easily satisfied, he simply does not stop working. One hit a year is a laughing stock to Lil Wayne. Unbelievably, Lil Wayne puts out at least 3 hits a month. Rappers have a persona, that they like to have lots of women, lots of money, and especially lots of cars. People who aren't fans of rap, like to say that they are not very smart, because the second they get their money off their "one hit wonder," they blow it all away. Lil Wayne can basically do whatever he wants. Because of his constant work methods, Lil Wayne constantly banks, more than nearly every rapper alive. You take a look at Lil Wayne's songs: I'm a beast, I'm Me, Time to Give Me Mine, you truly realize and recognize Lil Wayne's unbelievable rap and whyming skills. Another reason I believe Lil Wayne is the best rapper is alive, is because everybody wants Lil Wayne to be featured in their hits. This is the recognition that Lil Wayne IS the best rapper alive.

Web Logging is quite Legit

Web logging is an interesting thing. For those who seem so shy and space themselves from others, web logging can be a way for them to communicate with others. Even for those with excellent people skills, web logging is a great way for people from all over to communicate with those with similar interests. It is a source to find advice and guidence from others from others just like you and others facing situations like you. This is just my first post, but definately not my last. It is what it is