Monthly Archives: November 2017

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Activity 2 – SBC Week 8

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For activity 2 of this week’s SBC, I chose to go on three different websites to leave comments on from the Flipboard magazine. Then, I was asked to write a blog post about it. So, you guessed it, that’s what I’m doing now.

Kristina B, “Blog”. Flickr. Barnett, September 7 2008, link.

I was drawn to all of these blogs because of the title and/or image in the flipboard magazine. Julien’s blog had an interesting title (“School Rant”), Nook’s had an intriguing subject (“Why Are French Fries Called French Fries”), and Jori’s thumbnail and subject were also interesting (bullying).

I found out that I was deceived by Julien’s blog, that wasn’t as much of a rant as it was a praise for his school. Still, I pointed out there that his writing style was impeccable, and still asked what his actual opinion on school was (since it was confusing).

I really appreciated Nook’s to-the-point and brief informative blog, which communicated that French fries weren’t French like its name would indicate but actually originally from Belgium.

Finally, Jori’s blog was heartwarming; he talked about a very controversial subject, especially in school (bullying), but still wasn’t afraid to express his opinion and experience although it conflicted with that of school’s. It’s great to see the boldness and ability to think in people.

I invite you to complete this week’s challenge, which was very fun to do and join the SBC if you haven’t already!

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Response to Mai Thao’s Post on School – SBC Week 6

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So this student named Mai Thao made this very interesting post on technology in school. I recommend you check it out.

Anyways, she asked a question at the end that I am briefly going to answer; “What different computer devices do you use in your school? Have you done any school projects using these devices?”

We use technology a LOT in our classes; in fact, I can only name one class in which we don’t regularly use our computers or another type of technology to do school work. I think that this is something that changed a lot from middle school; in middle school, we pretty much only used our computers for document editing or special projects. Now, we use it for research and online activities (including the Technology class I’m writing this for), as well as document editing. We write a lot in high school.

We use Chromebooks, a type of computer that has a very low storage capacity. But in Movie Making, one of my classes, we use iMacs (desktops), iPads for storyboarding, and various cameras for filming. In this said class, we regularly make movies — which, to answer the question asked by Mai Thao, could be considered a project.

Link to image

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DON’T STAY IN SCHOOL – SBC WEEK 5

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Just kidding, you should really stay in school if you want to live decently.

But the reason you were so shamelessly clickbaited into this article is because I want to  start to address the multiple issues that most of today’s American school systems have (because, if you’re reading this, it’s probably the one you are somewhat accustomed to). I think it’s important to question everything, especially systems that we live under in our daily lives.

DISCLAIMER: I do not not support education. I just doubt the school system.

Before I start ranting, I wanted to share with you an essay that I wrote that is about exactly that — but in a lot more detail, and discussing different things. You can access it via this link. Also, I would really really appreciate it if you filled the anonymous poll at the end of the post so that I and others can see what your respectable opinion is.

 

You might assume from the fact that I write about this subject that I am against grades — and I totally am. Not that I’m doing bad; not to brag, but I’m practically a straight A student. The point of them is just terrible, though; how we do on tests determines how we’ll do in the future, and that’s irrevocable. I think that’s wrong because they don’t, and can’t, quantify our potential; as you can guess, childhood (and especially adolescence) is a time in our lives when we’re not particularly bright nor fully aware of what life has to throw our way. Our bodies are a construction site, we can’t think totally straight, yet you find a way to make this period in our lives coincide with the one that will most likely determine our future personal success? That’s pretty dumb.

One of the ideas I have on how we can change our current school system is by not making unessential subjects mandatory. I am fully aware that the point of school is to make us ready for whatever we’ll maybe need in the future, but I just don’t think that’s how humanity works. I don’t believe that we were born to acquire the same set of skills as everyone else, and try to express it in a way that’s convenient. We were all born and raised different, so why can’t we live that way as well? Why does one have to take PE when one is interested in science, or vice-versa? You might say something in the lines of: “Well, you need to have a large perspective to figure out what you really like”, and I think that’s a fair counter argument. But do you really need 18 years of your life to figure out what you like?

I have a bunch of other things to say about our education system; but that’s not why I’m writing. I want to spark the fire of a heated (pun intended) discussion in the comments down below. What do you think? Do you think I’m right? Somewhat right? Do you think my idiot self should stop blogging because my ideas are complete trash? Tell me down below!

 

Link of Featured Image

Link of image

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Is the Form of Government We Have Right for our Well-Being? – SBC Week 4

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Hello guys, a serious and quite specific subject is on my mind today.

I have recently been musing about the fact that more and more, world leaders today are less preoccupied about the well-being of their country than of humans in general. I find it ironic that the most influential men and women of this world are also some of the most small-minded, and wanted to share this with you.

I think that health is one of the most important things, and it should always be a priority. I want to talk about our current problems with the environment, and with our nutrition.

 

I think we can all agree that, despite the efforts that some countries are doing, our planet’s environment is in a deep mess to be polite. Not to single him out, but Trump leaving the Paris climate agreement is going to contribute to this greatly. The environment directly impacts our health in the short term like in the long term, and investing in its protection is the right choice in my opinion.

 

 

Secondly –and I think of this one in a more personal regard– our nutrition. If you weren’t aware, the government pretty much controls what’s in our plates (especially if you live in a poorer country). And if you weren’t aware once more, they are indifferent, if not dispassionate, about our nutritional health. The junk, unhealthy foods in your aisles is proof of that. “But, it’s our choice! We’re intelligent people and we’re able to pick what to eat by ourselves,” you might rightly say. Yes, but that’s the thing: you don’t really know what you’re eating. If what I’ve been researching for quite some time is true, government agencies are extremely loose on what goes on our plates.

 

As you can probably see, what I wrote lacks evidence (thus credibility) and conviction; because that’s not the goal. The goal is to start an intelligent conversation with you on these topics: 1) Should the government invest more in environmental protection, 2) Should the government control our diets more, or (a more vague question) 3) should the government worry more about our individual health. My personal conclusion is that (and not to sound like a communist partisan (I’m not)), it’s in part due to the capitalist regime in which we all most likely live under. It’s a system based more on personal financial gain than the well-being of humanity, and I think it’s unfortunate that it has become the general way to think.

I’m dying* to see what you have to say, so leave a comment down below!

 

 

*a massive stretch. I’m interested, but not to the point of death. You should really not joke about death that’s not cool

 

Links to images: 1st link here, 2nd image here.

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The Fruit of Ra-Gu-Baba – SBC Week 3

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Hello, young traveler. You have finally arrived at your destination.

Your long journey to find the fruit of Ra-Gu-Baba, which will give you extraordinary strength, intelligence, wisdom and get you verified on iFunny, has finally come to an end.

 

Or so you think.

 

As you see the sacred tree in the distance and its shiny, hanging fruit, which you have been attempting to find for months, you also see Rick and Morty fans closing in dangerously. As you draw your sword, you realize that there are too many for a simple mortal like you to destroy. The show has been drawing a lot of attention lately. You decide to run for the fruit and hope that none of the members of the annoying fanbase is actually able to move faster than your experienced, amazing self.

But it is starting to look like they have the high ground. Their lust for the fruit drives their otherwise incapable bodies to strive forward, faster and faster. You can distinctly hear the “I’M PICKLE RIIIICK” and “WABALABADUBDUB” cries in the distance. It is over. You probably won’t be able to reach and eat the fruit before any of the naive fans.

 

Or will you?

 

Finish the story! Tell me what you thought, and if you’re perplexed, it’s alright.

 

Credits: Photo