Drink to Nothing

The rampant drinking of energy drinks may possibly be doing nothing to help the energy of the people who drink them. The studies and information in "Do Energy Drinks Improve Athletic Performance?" by Gretchen Reynolds show a connection between improvement of ability and the drinking of energy drinks may not exist. The amount of sugar in the drinks that I can feel while drinking an energy drink and the feeling after drinking the drinks seem to support this idea that energy drinks do not aid the person ingesting the fluid.

While reading the article and some comments, I started to wonder if the energy drinks act as a placebo for an energy starved and energy craving society. The studies in the article used varying amount of sugar in the drinks that showed different results that do not clearly show a different way to improve the reactions of the subjects. Reactions in one test came quicker with use of energy drinks but less accurate than the subjects who did not drink the beverages. The energy drink helped the people in the test but not in the correct areas. The drinking of energy drinks for the replacement of sleep do not help those injesting the caffiene.

The enhancement from energy drinks do not work to improve the performance of the drinkers. Drinking the highly caffinated drink act possibly act as a placebo for the cultures created that require the energy supposedly gained from drinking the energy drinks.

12 Sentence Story About Han Solo the Bearded Dragon

Han Solo wanders a galaxy far far away; my bearded dragon, Han Solo, basks and eats in his personal world. Han waits quietly through the day, his legs outstretched, his eyes open, and his body flat on the ground. Bearded dragons, defenders of their own weird little galaxy, battle insect and green menace, rarely miss a chance to devour crickets. Does my personal galactic fighter pet tire of the same foods? Of Course. The tiresome schedule of the crickets and daily greens and the wonder of the new and exciting tastes in the world, both drove Han Solo to try something new. Han Solo waited until he would be handled which would certainly come and which would give him the perfect opprotunity to try the new tastes outside. I took Han Solo out of his tank and he scurried across my arm, across my chest, and onto the couch. On the couch, my pants Han could see. Han has a normal diet but none of his normal foods were so great. Tasting the pants, Han snapped and chomped and thrashed as his tasted the pants. The attack on the pants resulted in Han's return to his tank.

Cost of Space Exploration? Priceless.

Achieving the goal of flying a human past the moon would only be another stepping stone to exploring even deeper into the solar system, nebula, and galaxy. However, the path to the closer landing of the moon proved to be a challenge that some were not prepared for. For every new test to solve the problem found, money must be spent in order to allow the technology to be engineered and research to be discovered that solves the problem. Some view space as a waste of resources while those resources should be spent elsewhere in our own planet's problems.

I disagree about the idea that the research and exploration do not help the world we currently live on. Preparing for the missions of just orbiting the planet involved many tests of many variables and circumstances. While reading the book, Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach, questions of the challenges that would be faced after the current challenges mentioned have been met. Those challenges mean even more money that needs to be spent in the name of discovery. The conquered trials bring more tests for scientists also give technology and a new understanding of the world.

Our planet is only one slight glimmer in the sky and very minuscule area has been glanced at. The lack of information should promote the desire for a better understanding of the larger world that we live in. The research discussed in the book must be completed and analyzed to bring the human race closer to the shortening and growing journey into the cosmos. Should the price tag matter if the reward represents the greatest achievement of mankind?

3 Books I Want to Read This 9 Weeks

1. "The Box" by Richard Matheson

I chose "The Box" as something to read since the main theme of trading something for wealth though I did not see the movie version of the book.

2. "Packing for Mars - The Curious Science of Life in the Void" by Mary Roach

"Packing for Mars" seemed interesting because the book contains information about the different environment of being alone in space and simulating the environment on Earth.

3. "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose

"Undaunted Courage" is a biography about Meriwether Lewis and I chose the book for a very different change of reading.

2nd Quater Annotated Reading List

Drew Karpyshyn exposes his talent of expanding the universes of well-known video games and movies in the final part of the Darth Bane story, Dynasty of Evil. Darth Bane struggles with the effects of age and loss of his orbalisk armor. His apprentice, Zannah, still has not challenged him for the title of Sith Lord and appears to lack the ambition needed to lead and continue the Sith way of life. In an attempt to make sure the order stays alive, Darth Bane begins to research Darth Andeddu, a Sith lord who unlocked the secret of immortality. Bane finds the location of Anddedu's holocron, which contains the secrets and memories of Anddedu. To distract his apprentice, Bane sends Zannah to Doan where a Jedi was murdered while searching for Sith artifacts. Zannah, however, knows of Bane's falling power and uses the opportunity to find her own apprentice so she can challenge her master. The novel contains two types of evil characters. One desires absolute power and sees no use in art or money. The other works towards personal gains of money and art in order to live a comfortable life. Both use the world around them with little care for the pain they cause towards others. Could one type of person described be more evil or do both seem the most evil in different ways? (319)

Karpyshyn, Drew. Star Wars: Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil. Del Rey, 2010. Print.

Including the story that inspired the movie of The Box, The Box: Uncanny Stories contains twelve short stories with varying characters and plots. The author, Richard Matheson, places his characters in different situations to test the true character and morals of any average human being. An example of the situations would be the use of the female character's powers in "Girl of My Dreams" for monetary gain through the use of blackmail. The most important factor in the short stories in the book of average people in very abnormal settings make the characters feel more like the reader and not some extraordinary hero who can not fall and always make the correct decision or be able to deal with the consequences of the wrong decisions. By use of these average characters, Matheson creates opportunities that make the reader wonder what would they do in situations like the characters in the stories. (272)

Matheson, Richard. The Box: Uncanny Stories. New York: Tor, 2009. Print.

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void shows the annoying and frustrating part of space travel not commonly thought of as people gaze at the sky, thinking of floating with the stars. Mary Roach explains the frustrations of scientist teaching astronauts how to function in a completely new environment to the world. The author uses humor and facts gathered from her personal research into sending humans into space with interviews and even some experiences that she saw personally. Roach explains the difficulty of learning to simply move across the room or eating food without floating in the chunks for the rest of the mission. The amount of delays and research needed to fix these problems amazes. Astronauts sign up for their positions and become babies again as the simple act of moving becomes a different set of movements. The lack of gravity causes complications that bring all those that wonder about life in space to think if their journey really can be as simple as shooting a rocket into the sky. (334)

Roach, Mary. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print.

Reflection of Reading

During the summer, I only read a few articles on different topics, mainly about video games and space. The school year started and I read for about an hour for two or three days a week. My reading after the seventh week of the quarter slowed down with only thirty minutes for a day or two.

The writing that I read was mostly fiction extending the story of a video game. "Brave New World" and the related articles seem to be the deepest level of writing and thinking that I read. Next quarter, I hope to read books about different topics than what I read and read more consistently than the first quarter. Right now, I am reading a book about the exploration towards the Pacific Ocean.

Socratic Seminar Reflection

New ideas were introduced in the Socratic Seminar. My ideas were generally agreeing to the rest of my groups. The discussions caused the thinking and reasoning to look into a deeper level of thinking. The reasearch of finding the relation between real people of the world and characters in the book led to interesting distractions when looking at scientists and thinkers that helped inspire part of a character in "Brave New World."

I could not find a way to approach question with others around me thinking about the question and bringing more ideas. The main themes of the book came out in greater detail. In order to improve my part in the dialogues, I would prepared more in order to find even more different ideas to put into the discussion. Getting into the conversation seemed to be difficult with the idea quickly being taken by someone else in the group. The format for the Socratic Seminar can work with all of the members of the dialogue being able to enter into the conversation of the group.

Annotated Reading List

"Mass Effect: Ascension" focuses on the story of scientist of the Ascension program for biotics, Kahlee Sanders, and pro-human terrorist group member, Paul Grayson. The ruthless pro-human group, Cerberus, wishes to put humanity in a position over the other alien races of the Milky Way. Paul worked as an assassin for the group before raising a girl with astonishing biotic potential, Gillian. Raising Gillian as his own, Paul follows the instructions of Cerberus' leader, the Illusive Man, to act as the young biotic's family while she studies at Grissom Academy in the Ascension program. The power of a biotic who surpasses all other humans would give Cerberus a major advantage when asserting humanity at the top of the galactic community. Space travel represents one of the greatest achievement of humans and the chance of other life forms in space becomes more likely each day. The way humanity handles the interaction between species could result in the demise or total rule of humans in the galaxy. Will humans be able to handle politics of space if the politics of just own home planet can be devastating to the race. (342)

Karpyshyn, Drew. Mass Effect: Ascension. New York: Del Rey/Ballantine, 2008. Print.

Continuing the story of Paul Grayson and Kahlee Sanders, "Mass Effect: Retribution" features another attempt by Cerberus to exploit a chance to advance the human race up the political ladder of galactic politics. The events in this book happen after the video game, Mass Effect. The pro-human group, Cerberus, acquire the technology left in the wreckage after the battle at the political center, the Citadel. The alien machinery contains technology greatly more advanced then the entire galaxy's technology. Cerberus views the machines as a chance to prepare for an alien invasion. Paul Grayson, after freeing his daughter from Cerberus' grasp, becomes a human experiment of melded organic and synthetic life. Kahlee Sanders receives a desperate message before Grayson is captured and rushes to liberate Paul from the monstrous atrocity he may become. The way to overwhelming power can come in various places and times. Limits of the person or group searching for the power restrict the lengths that can be taken to reach the power. Cerberus desires galactic control by any means. In the same way, tyrants of our past attempted to control the planet through brutal conquest. The same goals could be achieved by peace. (368)

Karpyshyn, Drew. Mass Effect: Retribution. Del Rey, 2010. Print.

Abundance Leads to Searching

Pink's sarcastic humor begins to show that without the need to scavenge for items needed or wanted, Americans long to find purpose and meaning.

While looking through our technology in a store, Pink notices the competition of companies as they try to produce the greatest quality of goods. Technology that was created today will soon be replaced again by a bigger and better idea. Even with an already overwhelming catalog of items, people still look for something more. This search could possibly create the wanting to search for purpose.

The majority of people during the last century desired a home and car. As we enter this new century, people have much more than just a home and car. Americans now must throw away and find a place to store many items to be able to live without a mess around them. Many of the items thrown away were given little to no thought as they were tossed aside. Since people can get rid of many of their possessions, the people in our world look for a deeper meaning that will not be thrown away and forgotten.

All Power to the Slacks

Having almost no meaningful examples of ethos, pathos, or logos in today's world, the ad of "Slack Power" attempted to drag in members of the Black Panther party in the 70's. The ad was no successful even though there are attempts to seem closer to the audience.

Acting as a use of ethos, "Slack Power" makes use of the saying, Black Power, which was used the members of the Black Panthers. The person viewing the ad can think that the Black Panthers wear the slacks in the ad to truly be a revolutionary force.

Inside the text containing information about the slacks, the creator of the ad uses pathos to make an emotional appeal to the viewer. "Our Post-Grad Slacks have soul" could make the targeted audience feel connected. An object, person, or idea with soul had feeling inside that was for the actions of the Black Panthers. A Black Panther would feel close knowing the pants could create a look of support for the organization.

The ad did not require use of logos. The thoughts of support for the cause of the Panthers could cause a supporter of the party to purchase and wear the pants. Using logos could have possibly pushed the audience away by seeming to be for people not truly for the revolutionary party.

The ad of "Slack Power" makes use of ethos and pathos to connect with the viewers and potential buyers of the product. The ad leaves out logos in order to look like a required item for Black Panthers and not a product for people thinking being a Panther is fashionable.

Annotated Photo

My annotated photo for the summer assignment.

Wiser Gifts

The short story, "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, can bring a point that material possessions are temporary. Some possessions may come back as they were while others become lost. When Della sells her hair and purchases a chain for Jim's watch, she gave a temporary possession for a Christmas gift. Jim's gift of the combs Della desired cost Jim his watch handed down to him from his father and grandfather. The gifts that Della and Jim gave to each other would have been perfect for the other if they both had not given up their prized possessions for a gift for the other person's possession.

"The Gift of the Magi" shows that material items are less important then the company of others. Jim worked for low pay with little money to save up for gifts and extra items that the two characters wanted. Della stayed at home with thoughts of how much money the couple had to spare. Both knew the money gained from Jim's job would not be enough for extras. Giving up a prized object for the other showed that no matter what the cost the characters wanted to give the other a gift to remember and give them happiness. Della and Jim were happy just seeing the other happy even with their loss.

Quick Doom

H.P. Lovecraft's short story, "The Doom That Came to Sarnath", made the thought of a entire civilization being destroyed in a single night could unexpectedly happen at any moment. The accomplishments of Sarnath became useless against the return of an ancient conquered enemy, Ib. The falling of the city could happen to any city or civilization. The effects of the attack of the people of Ib rippled through the lands around Sarnath. The disaster inside a country today causes other nations to send aid for the victims. The loss of the resources and trade from the towns hurts places around the world. The effects may be worse and cause destruction inside bordering countries and continue to spread.

"The Doom That Came to Sarnath" made a thought that no civilization can avoid or predict the downfall of itself. Sarnath was home to worry free citizens and nobles who never thought the actions of the past would affect their success in the world. The real world has seen many empires and civilizations fall to the ground. Some dwindled slowly while others vanished in months. Sarnath contained riches and wonders with achievements the rest of the world could never accomplish. The city seemed to be eternal yet fell quickly and without warning. The world now many be very different in the next 500 years.

The Mind And The Dark

The short story , "The Beast in the Cave" by H.P. Lovecraft, causes ideas of the unknown and the human mind under stress from life-threatening situations. Humans and the character in the story face uncertainty inside the darkness and survive with fearsome knowledge that doom can appear anywhere. Minds of different people react differently to instances where a overwhelming challenge demands all the power of the person.

The character's dismay of becoming lost can be compared to the idea that humans as a whole wander aimlessly through the universe with destruction around the wrong turn. Humanity like the character are defenseless against the monster attacking. Monsters against humans may be pushed back with the help of companions who can bring light to fight back the darkness. The unknown creates fear whether in school or a cave. The thoughts associated with fear must be pushed aside to conquer and make the fear disappear.

The thoughts of death from starvation or the beast of the cave made the character of the story flow through emotions. The thoughts weakened and strengthened his mind. The character wonders if he can ever see the light of day again or survive at all inside the cave. The beast causes a more gruesome idea of the cave as the sounds reach his ears after acceptance of potentially being lost forever. Fending off the beast and finding the guide gives the man hope of reaching the outside world away from the horrors of the cave. The unknown does not win the battle of the character's mind while showing that he was moments from dying.

Effective Animals

George Orwell used animals to help portray the satire of Animal Farm. Animal Farm critisizes the Russian Revolution with comparsions of characters and events.

The characters in Animal Farm are mainly animal with a few main humans. Each animal uses their natural characteristics to become a comparison of the character of the book.

The character Boxer, a horse, represents the working class of Russia. Boxer works hard for the good of the farm until the leader, Napoleon, discards of the horse when Boxer becomes broken and useless in his work.

The use of a prize horse named Mollie as the upper class as Russia worked just as well as Boxer worked for the working class of Russia. Mollie does not care for the arguments of the farm and would rather live in her comfortable lifestyle rather than work with the rest of the animals.

George Orwell used animals to compare his novel with the Russian Revolution.

Of Mice and Men

Analysis of Detail

The Salinas River "runs deep and green" shows that the river appears to be full of life. The "strong and rocky Galiban Mountains" proves the mountains have lasted the elements and time. "Under the tree the leaves lie" can give the trees a protecting feeling over the leaves on the ground. "A path beaten" shows the path has been used by many people over the years who needed the path to go to the river. "The limb is worn smooth" gives detail that the limb has been a resting place for others walking along the path of the river.

Analysis of Point of View

The third person objective point of view solidifies the solitary these men lead. Crooks "on raising his eyes...a scowl came across his face." when Lennie came into the door. Crooks seems to be a loner from his scowl. Crooks actuallly merely values his privacy on the ranch. As Lennie caught the attention of Crooks, Lennie "smiled helplessly" wanting to be friends. The contradiction of a helpless smile gives evidence that Lennie yearns for relationships. The first look of Crooks's room shows a room "swept and fairly neat." Crooks appears protecting of his few possessions on the ranch with his clean and tidy room. Lennie appears in Crooks's room only to find the man not desiring his company. Lennie attempts to get close but, as "he advanced a step into the room, he remembered and backed" up. With the entrance and exit of Lennie in Crooks's room causes Lennie to be respecting of Crooks's space. The third person objective point of view solidifies the solitary the men in Of Mice and Men live in.

Analysis of Tone



The frank and optimistic tones in Of Mice and Men reflect the thoughts of the ranch workers that Steinbeck wrote the novel on. The word frank can be used for the tone of the novel. Every problem with a character never hides within the words as the characters interacted with others. The tone of the novel can possibly called optimistic. The author placed hope for change of their lives in the characters placed in the world where every man wanted a piece of land for himself to call his own.

Migrant Mother Photos

The Great Depresssion happened duirng the 1930s. Masses of people struggled to eat and find work. Dorothea Lange took pictures of these hard times with the most famous being The Migrant Mother pictures.

Dorothea Lange captured the early aging of the mother and the dirt of the family. The mother looks worried and older than her real age with her children around her in unwashed clothes.

The photos show the desperateness of the families and individuals in the depression. The family uses tattered cloth to create a shelter from the sun and rain.

The Migrant Mother gives a glimpse of the depression of the thirties in the United States. Dorothea Lange's photos worked to keep the depression's memory inside everyone.

Boxes

The rooms
will change.

With the old
clear of items,

the new will
be filled soon.

The new and
old bring joy.

Mask I Do Not Wear

The mask lies away, hidden from view,
lying away in a deep hue of blue.
The idea of putting it on
will never cross my mind
as there lays the mask I will not don.

To wear the mask would defile
my face with its wretched vile.
The wearing of the mask would raze
myself like a tsunami does a village

So then the mask lies there.
The two of us never a pair.

What A Stand

Many people take stands during their life if they truly believe in what they say. An example of when I took a stand would be when protected a little kid from a group of kids ready to pounce him.

The little boy was scared of the tallest of the kids while the others were only an inch taller than the scared boy. I intervened before the kid was harmed and drove off the bullies. The little boy thanked me giving myself a sense of guardianship against tyrants.

This time I took a stand was not the only time but proves an idea that I would be ready to stand for in a moments notice.

The Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild is a classic novel detailing a dog's journey back into the wilderness and his primal instincts. Jack London wrote The Call of the Wild almost 100 years ago, but the novel still causes the reader to feel as Buck makes his journey with his ancient thoughts.

The Call of the Wild is set during the Alaskan Gold Rush. The Alaskan wild proves deadly to many sled dogs with Buck, the main character, being a top survivor of the harsh weather.

Buck starts with a owner who owns Buck as a pet and hunting dog. Buck finds himself sold without his owner knowing. Buck becomes a sled dog for a courier. His new owner later sells Buck who learns that his masters change over time.

The novel uses the survival of the fittest as a central theme. Buck must prove himself the stronger of his opponents. The sled dog must show his strength with the cold weather beating him down all along his journey in the North.

With the test of time beaten for now, The Call of the Wild stands as a great book of survival and ancient instincts. I recommend The Call of the Wild for most people that have not enjoyed the novel.

Commitment of My Choice

The Olympics showed the determination of many athletes as they represented their country with pride. If I were to make a commitment of the level the Olympic athletes make, I would make the commitment to music or movies.

Just like the athletes in the Olympics enjoy their sports or competition, I enjoy music and movies. Both of my choices drag me in for some reason and seem like a perfect option for me to pour my energy into making great music or movies.

The start would most likely be difficult but with time I would work to the point of quality that demanded attention. The rewards would definitely be better than the work. Of course, I would not need to win an award.

Even though I say music and movies, I probably have other areas I enjoy and would work at to the relative level of the Olympic athletes.

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring started the epic journey that found a way onto the move screen and video games. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring grapples a reader the beginning of a quest on a long road full of dangers.

The Fellowship of the Ring begins in the Shire, home to the hobbits, with Frodo living peacefully with his uncle, Bilbo. Frodo inherits Bilbo's land after Bilbo vanishes from the Shire. Frodo also recieves the Ring. Frodo is thrown into a quest outside the Shire with his friends.

Frodo stands against dark forces that threaten life in his home and the homes of the other races during the journey. Even with fear, Frodo stands for his world against these evil creatures. Frodo uses the help of his friends to make it through the darkness.

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book of Frodo's journey. I recommend this book for fans of the movies or fantasy.


523 pages

Winner in the Mental and Physical World

Winning can mean many things. Winning happens the most noticeably when the reward appears in the winner's hand.

Winning can also be an idea. The changing of other's people's minds into a view that the person persuading them believes in could be winning to the person persuading.

A person can win while everyone says they lose. The physical part of winning is not always what the winner wants to achieve. The mental part of winning is more important in some cases.

Stand Against Cheap Work

Through the course of history, people made stands against ideas that were unfair. Cesar Chavez took a major stand during his lifetime. He stand up against the unjust treatment of the grape in California and progressed to all farmers.

Chavez worked to gain higher wages for his fellow workers. The stand he made followed a peaceful path. Chavez achieved his goal with the conditions and wages of farmers increasing.

Cesar Chavez believed his cause and achieved his goal of correct payment for the grape farmers who worked to support their families.

Persausing Everywhere

Persausion happens all around us espcially with the invention of the TV and internet. I use persuasion whenever the use will cause myself to benefit. What I try to persaude people into depends on the person.

TV uses many methods of persausion to convince the audience. Commercials can use the emotions of the audience to donate to their cause or to stop an activity that they do regularly. TV shows use persausion in the way books can by embedding a lesson.

I can persuade others more with one technique of persuasion and other people more with another type of persausion.

Why Did I Just Hear Danzig Around Here?

On Saturday, I went to Jonesboro to see what was at the mall there and get more bedding for my snake. The only store to contain more than one item I would buy was Gamestop. The rest of the stores contained nothing. One store in paticular, one that started as an underground music store, drove me insane with the now sadly out of place music.

The store, Hot Topic, used to be against the mainstream with people who actually listen to a band's entire albums. To draw in money and follow the trends, the store turned into a monstorsity that speaks of rebellion.

The true face of the story happens to be like the mainstream. Hot Topic tries to be different but with all the fake followers shopping causually, the store now would be attacked and beaten by the old version of the store.

Even with this, I will probably end up buying a shirt from the website to avoid the dread of seeing the people that shop there. There's always the band's personal website though.