The Powerful Decision

I read "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell and watched the documentary "How to Make Better Decisions" for the BLA assignment.  Both "Blink" and "How to Make Better Decisions" are about training your mind so that you can make better decisions.  "Blink" focused more on the first few seconds of the thought process and "How to Make Better Decisions" more on the thought process in general.  Both use examples to display the point they are trying to make.

In "Blink", Gladwell describes how people can prime their minds to make the right decision in the first two seconds in certain situations.  One aspect of his argument that was very successful was his level of detail in his examples.  When he shows examples that describe his key points, he shows every aspect of what is happening and why it is happening.  This way, the audience can see a clearer picture of what is happening and be able to understand why these examples really matter.  Another technique Gladwell tries to employ throughout the book is talking to the writer.  In many cases, he uses the word "you" to talk directly to his audience.  Therefore, the book is more personal to the audience, and they will feel like it is more individualized around them.  

In "How to Make Better Decisions," a narrator shows five situations that describe how decision making can be an obscure topic, but it can be conquered.  The arguments in this documentary are strengthened by the credibility it acquires.  In the examples it uses, trained mathematicians and scientists that study decision making conduct experiments.  The audience is more likely to believe the information if it is from someone that is experienced in the field that the argument is about.  Also, the documentary's argument was set up in a way that the audience feels like they are overcoming the obscure topic of decision making.  At the beginning of the documentary, it pictures decision making as almost impossible, but by the end, it shows that it is manageable.  This shows the audience that decision making really is not that hard of a topic to overcome.

Overall, both the book and the argument made convincing arguments.  They both showed an example, and then talked about how that example strengthens one of their points.  "Blink" made a little bit of a stronger argument though because of how in depth each of it's examples are.  Also, "Blink" did had more of a centralized point than "How to Make Better Decisions."

After reading the book and watching the documentary, I now know what to think about when making decisions.  Although some the advice given by them is tough to think about every time I am making a decision, the advice overall works together to change my frame of mind when making decisions.  I now feel more comfortable to make the right decision, and when deciding between two things, I know the techniques I must use to make the better decision.

   

Mission Statement

For my revision essay, I revised an essay that I wrote about the average person's misconceptions of camp.  I used some of the ideas I had in this essay, but I shifted the essay's argument.  I will admit, when I wrote this essay for power writing, it was complete crap, so I had to revise it millions (okay possibly not millions) of times to make it at least half-way decent for an AP comp paper.

My main goal for writing this essay was to show people that camp is not about the stereotypical camp activities like rock climbing, canoeing, and camping out, but actually about the strong feelings that are felt while there.  I know that people that don't go to camp rarely think about camp, but as I have talked to people, everyone thinks camp is "stupid" or childish" because it is surrounded around these activities.  With my essay, I really wanted to show them why people at camp are as obsessed with camp as they are and what camp really means to frequent campers.


I made this point by describing several anecdotes about the feelings I have had while at camp.  I tried as hard as possible to make my audience picture what is happening and in some way feel the feelings that I had during these situations.  I used concrete imagery to make them feel like they are in the same situations as I was.

My motive for writing this paper was to finally express what has been building up inside of me ever since the last day of camp.  Every time I here someone make a negative comment about camp, all I can say to them is "you would have to be there to understand" because my feelings about camp are too complex to explain.  This essay is the closest that I feel I can possibly come to to fully explain to non-campers why camp is so important to me and why I have such strong feelings about it.

The Un-needed Changes on Smartphones

Obesity Really Is not the Problem

 There has been a lot of talk in the media lately about obesity and how as Americans, we need to do something to stop it right now.  We need to raise the price of quote on quote "unhealthy" foods at school, we need to get rid of snacks that have a high amount of calories, we need to eliminate fast food.  Yes, obesity should be looked into, but what about un-obesity?  I will admit that I am skinnier than I should be, and I would be a lot healthier if I was less skinny.  But, what I do not understand is why does no one try to help those who are skinny unless they have a food disorder?

Let me get one thing straight right now.  I am not anorexic, I am not bulimic, and I do not look like the stereotypical skinny person, but that does not mean that I should get the help I need to get back to normal weight.  I eat a ton, like more than probably most obese people eat, but somehow, I still do not gain weight.  Now, this cannot be directly related to the "slimming" movement in foods throughout the United States, but it definitely is a factor.

Really, all I'm saying is that food companies should give people like me some food choices that are not always "100 calorie snacks" or "reduced fat."  I am sure it takes companies less work to do this, and it can really help those who are not up to an average weight.  I am sick of eating those healthier snacks, knowing that even if I eat a thousand of them in one day, I still will not gain weight.

Studies have shown that being skinny causes just as many health problems as being obese, and yet people still do not care.  I do not mean to have skinniness turn into a nationally known epidemic; I just want people to pay a little attention to it.  This way, all spectrums of the weight scale can finally be accounted for.  I am ready to be done with the days of being colder, weaker, and less healthy than everyone else, but the only way I can achieve this goal is if there are at least some food options that are not made to have less calories and to slim people down.

Playoffs? Don't Talk About Playoffs!

During the regular football season in the National Football League, I never like to think about what is going to happen in the playoffs.  I like to sit back, relax, and watch the good, the bad, and the ugly all  battle against each other until, often, the predicted winner crushes the other team.  These are some of the best seventeen weeks of the year.  But when it is finally time for the playoffs, everything gets real, and I start watching intensely to see who wins and loses.

For me, the playoffs could be some of the best and the worst weeks.  If the teams I want are winning, my spirits are high, and I have a positive attitude through everything I am doing.  But, if I'm losing, you better watch out, because I am going to explode in fury.  Some years it has gotten so bad that my parents have to remove all sharp objects away from me in case I go on a rampage (not that I am that crazy or anything).

But overall, the playoffs are a time for me to enjoy every second of the best teams playing against each other.  Since I am more focused during the playoffs, I am able to analyze every players moves and realize just how high the skill level is in each game.  I analyze the players' speed, agility, toughness, accuracy, and overall talent.  The skilled players in the playoffs give me the opportunity to have a very high level of analysis.  

I know what you are thinking right now, "This guy is completely obsessed with football!"  The truth of the matter is, though, I am obsessed with football, and I am not afraid to admit it.  Football is an art to me, and I have such an analytical mind that I find so much joy in watching the different playing styles in the NFL.  The playoffs are the main time I am able to fully take in everything that is happening on the football field.  So, while it may not be the best thing that I am obsessed with football, I know it is something I am passionate about, and for the next four weeks, I will enjoy every tackle, every interception, every touchdown, every field goal, every long pass, every short pass, every run, every broken tackle, and every moment of the NFL playoffs.

Oh Sundays......

Sundays, Sundays, Sundays.  Yes, technically Sundays are considered the weekend, but to me, they feel like a school day times 1000000000000000.  I hate Sundays.  They are a horribly lame excuse for a weekend day.

Yes, I am one of those people who procrastinates all of my homework for Sunday.  Therefore, Sundays are filled with work and stress, accompanied by a little bit of football.  So, although I am not actually physically in school, I still have to do schoolwork all day.  And, I am ashamed to admit, I usually save my homework until Sunday nights.  You could say this adds a ton of stress to my Sundays.

Also, on Sundays, I know that I have a full week of school ahead of me.  I have nothing to look forward to, just the stresses of schoolwork.  Unlike any school day, when I go to bed on Sunday nights,  I cannot look forward to the school week getting closer to an end, because it hasn't even started.  This is an absolutely terrible feeling.

One example of my stresses is, well, what I am writing right now.  I had totally forgotten until this moment that I had to write this blog post, so I did not really make time in my schedule for it.  This should make room for a late, possibly one o'clock bed time for me tonight.  Yay, I am so excited!

Well, considering that it is Sunday right now, I am not the happiest person in the world.  Actually, I am extremely frustrated right now.  I guess I could start looking forward to winter break, but it is a whole school week away.  Sundays are very aggravating overall,  and I am sure they will not get any better as I go further into school.

The Many Forms of Peace

Narration:

We were at a verbal war.  Back and forth, we were exchanging insults, trying to make each other feel inferior.  Our voices escalated to a point where not one word that came out of either of our mouths was less than a scream.  Then, suddenly, both of us went silent.  It was as if both of us at once ran out of words to say.  In an instant, we walked towards each other and hugged.  We forgot everything we said to each other, and it was as if we had never fought at all.  Our feud had finally ended.

Description:

Their blood stopped flowing and cooled down.  Steam stopped exploding from their heads, and their mouths shut simultaneously.  In the hand of a weakened soldier held a tiny flag covered in white paint.  Suddenly, there was no more screams or cries filling the air.  The only sound was of a few crickets buzzing in the distance.  The two sides at once walked away from each other, leaving behind the wounded men.  As they crunched through the grass, the winning side started cheering in a squealing voice.

Example:

My sister always thinks that the only way we can make peace after a fight is if I apologize or admit that I am wrong.  I have never heard her say the words "I am sorry" or "I was wrong" in my life.  It is always "You are wrong" or "I did not do anything wrong".  She does not understand what peace really is.  I would be happy to tell her that I am sorry if she did once in a while, but it has to work both ways.  Therefore, often our fights do not end in peace, but in one of us storming off.

Comparison/Contrast:

Peace and freedom are two entirely different concepts.  When someone is at peace, they are content with their current state, but that does not necessarily mean they are free.  Someone could be at peace and still be under the oppression of someone else.  Also, if someone is free, that does not necessarily mean they are at peace.  While someone may have no rules or the ability to make their own choices, they may still not be content in their current state.  Some people need to have less freedom in order to be at peace with their lives.

Process analysis:

To be at peace with someone else always has to take an agreement between the two sides.  If one side makes an effort for peace but the other does not, they can never achieve total peace.  Also, when trying to be peaceful, two sides often have to make compromises.  No two sides will ever think alike on all issues, so they must give in once in a while to the other.  Finally, if two sides want to achieve lasting peace, they have to stick with the compromises they make.  Any two sides can make temporary peace, but to have lasting peace, they both have to keep working at it.

Division of analysis:

Peace is full of commitments and compromises.  Commitments and compromises from two sides work together to achieve a lasting effect of respect between them.  If held and worked on long after the agreement of peace, these commitments and compromises can cause an acquaintance or even friendship between two sides.   If the commitments and compromises are not held, though, then the two sides will go back to where they started, with little respect for one another.

Classification:

Peace comes in a few different forms; peace with yourself, peace with friends, peace with enemies, and peace with the world.  To be peaceful with oneself, one must find grounds of acceptance of who they are.  To be peaceful with friends, one must do good deeds for them and treat them like they are special. To be peaceful with enemies, one must maintain a mutual respect for them and not outwardly disgrace them.  To be peaceful with the world, one must accept that the world is not perfect, but embrace everything that it has to offer.

Cause and Effect:

Peace is the result of two sides working together to achieve a mutual feeling of respect in which both sides agree to have the same amount of respect for each other.  The need for peace is caused by two sides feeling uneasy towards each other wanting to end the fighting and respect one another.  The effect of peace is that the two sides will forever stop the fighting that has caused them so much stress and loss and continue to live their normal lives.

Definition:

Peace is the agreement between two sides to become respectful of one another and to stop fighting between each other.  During the stage of being in peace, the two sides have to carry out their promises they have made to each other and they have to keep co-existing with one another in the same world.  While many feel that peace can be broken easily, if two sides really work on maintaining the peace, it has an opportunity to last until the end of time.

Argumentative/Persuasive

People talk about peace like it is so easy to achieve.  They ask questions like why can't these two countries just be at peace? and can we just make peace already?  When looked at closer, obtaining true peace is almost impossible.  While two sides may say that they are at peace, one small action could make them suddenly at all out world.  Even the closest of acquaintances can be turned against each other in an instance.  So really, peace in itself does not make a whole lot of sense as a word.  If two sides were really to achieve peace, their relationship would have to stay strong through literally any circumstance, which is not true about any relationships in present day.