New Ideas

Isaac Asimov in this interview says that every person likes something in particular more than other thing. For example although he studied chemistry he is passionate to astronomy. He says we going to have a revolution of learning and the only way to archive it, is if we have minds that appreciate their own creativity, then almost all of us will be creativity. The point here is that we have to let people to be free will and give them the opportunity to set their own point of view in order to make change. Although one fact has several theories we have to assimilate what it teaches and set new ideas without resistance to change. One example is the Extinction of the Dinosaurs by Stephen Jay Gould. In this case there are three theories which caused to dinosaurs become extinct. These theories are testicular malfunction, psychoactive overdosing, and asteroid zapping. There are detractors and supporters of these theories, but the point is that both sides focus in the sense of each point of view and then learn from each other in order to develop new thesis or improve the one they support.

Affirmative action: The Price of Preference

Shelby Steele begins this essay worrying about the dilemma that he will face with affirmative action once his children apply to college. Steele in his essay clearly demonstrates his position against affirmative action. He gives several examples of way affirmative action far from eliminate racial discrimination, what does is reverse discrimination. He believes that racial preferential treatment for blacks is a kind of demoralization and self doubt that undermines their ability to perform. Also, he thinks that affirmative action in some way gives power and privilege to black people because of their own past victimization. Placing them as a social victim is not the way he believes blacks can achieve what they want by themselves. For me, it is a very interesting essay because although he is black, he gives important facts which demonstrate that victimizing blacks does not repair their past. So, what they really need are equal opportunities for their effort not for being victimized.

Cinematypes

Susan Allen Toth in this essay describes how have been three movies dates with different guys. She compares these dates according to how these guys behave and the kind of movies they like. For example, Aaron takes her to strange movies that she never understands and classifies as art firms. He meets her by the box office, sits tentatively in her seat, and gleams with intensity watching the screen. Although he stays away from her in the movie, he tries to stay overnight with her. Peter like movies that have redeeming social values. They drive together to the theater and avoid paying for a parking space. In the movie, he sits companionably close to her. He is conservative and do not take advantage over her invitation to stay at home with her after the movie. Sam likes entertaining movies without sappy love history that not force him to think. He pays for everything and sits comfortable during the movie. When he takes her at home, he kisses her long and hard, but he does not stay with her because he feels regretfully with his girlfriend. Finally, in the movies she goes to by herself, she feels more comfortable, eating freely and feeling completely at home.

Sexism in English: A 1990s Update

Allen Pace Nielsen has written several studies about sexist language and about the images of women in literature. She bases her essay in her study about sexism in language. In this study, she arrived to three important points which are the mindset of American society. First woman are sex, men are successful. She explains this idea comparing how topographical features are named in sexual way after women or to honor accomplishment after men. The second point is that women are passive and men are active. To support this idea she is focused in how a bride is something to be handed over from one man to another. Also, she compared how the royalty acts when a male and female holds the royalty title. The final point is that women are connected with negative and men with positive connotations. She compares the differences between boys and girls freedom to experiment with sex roles. Moreover, she gives examples of words that differ in connotations between positive male and negative female, word that differ only in the matter of sex.

The Lie Detector

In this essay, Lewis Thomas insists in that we are biologically designed to be truthful to each other. Also, he questions the capacity of lie detector to inform us that untruthful behavior can gradually undermine our vascular system. I agree with Lewis Thomas because it is not necessary to use machines in order to detect if someone is lying. We are genetically designed to show up if we are lying. That is why once we lie, in one way or another, our body discloses that we are hiding something. I complete agree when he says that “Truths is a fundamental requirement for our kind of existence.” Due to the fact that we live in society, we need each others, so if we do not truths each other the society does not function. In addition, although we lie, our behavior contradicts our words. Consequently, it is not necessary a machine to see if you are lying, yourself always discloses you.

Why We Crave Horror Movies

Stephen King is credited with reviving the genre of horror fiction. In his essay, he explains the reasons for people like to see horror movies. I totally agree when he says that we all are mentally hill. Scary and gruesome scenes are unusual for us. For that reason, when we see something like that, we avoid looking at it, but then we pay attention to the scene. It happens if we see car accident or injured athletes. When he says that we are all insane and compare our reaction to Jack the Ripper or to someone that pick the noise in the buss, he implies that our society had set what is rational and irrational behavior. In conclusion, because our mind is deep and mysterious, what is gruesome for someone is enjoyable for others.

"A Chase" and "Salvation"

“A chase” is an essay written by Annie Dillard in which two boys enjoy playing in their neighborhood. “Salvation”, is an essay written by Langston Hughes in which he tells his own experience about god. After reading both histories “A Chase “and “salvation”, we realize how the authors remain in their lives those moments in which they were under pressure especially in their childhood. Unfortunately, both histories dislike in how happy or sad their finales are. In “A Chase” the history is funny because the kids enjoy throwing ice balls to the cars. The problem is that they never imagined themselves needing to run so far ahead of the driver, but it is also humorous. At the end of the race the man said “You stupid kids” and enjoyed catching them. In “Salvation” the author grew up dreaming about the day when he would meet God. Once in the church he was excited waiting for his moment with God, but it never happened. His moral support was Westley until he decided to run to the platform. Then, the author under pressure lied to the crowd and said Jesus had come. It was painful for him because he lied to his aunt and changed his paradigm about God. Both histories had an important effect in the author’s life. In conclusion, maybe the most important thing that Annie Dillard learned was to face problems instead of running away from them, and Langston Hughes learned to be true his belief although he paid the price of being isolated.

Culture and The Way to Rainy Mountain

Momaday in this essay embodies the legends and songs of his Kiowa heritage. He leads us to the Rainy Mountain describing its hardest weather and the isolate aspect of the landscape. The story is interesting because the author use similes to pictures every moment and place. He goes through the story, traditions, myths and legend of his people. Also, he describes the Kiowas’ transformation from mountain people with unclassified language to fighters, hunters and priest of the sun when they decided to move to the plains. The bad side of the history is the grandmother’s death. Unfortunately, the author could not be at the grave but he has his best grandmother’s memories. He remembers her peculiar postures and praying in Kiowa. At the end, he felt the deep silence of the house without the grandmother and left her among ancestral names and the Kiowa Culture.

In defense of Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist and nature writer called the mother of the modern environmental movement. In her book “Silent Spring”, she blamed the relation between the pesticides use and the health of all living things including humans. She was not complete against the chemical insecticides use, but she insisted on use the insecticides in rational and correct manner. She disclosed how ignorant people manipulate potent chemicals and questioned why these chemicals were allowed to be used while ignoring their effect. Consequently, she was attacked by the Chemical Industry which categorized her thesis as absurd. In addition, she was blamed for the deaths of millions of malaria victims. On the other hand, her thesis was supported by other scientist. Then, her book encouraged presidents to investigate the safety of pesticides, and new laws were dictated in order to restrict chemicals use. I think her work was very important because due to the controversy, the scientist community, politics and the chemical industries give more importance to the way chemicals are used today.

Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts

In this essay, Bruce Cotton compares two great generals that brought the civil war its virtual finish. They were two strong different men which represented the strengths of two conflicting currents that, through them, had come into final collision. The author describes how similar and different Grant and Lee were in background, personality and aspirations. Lee was tidewater Virginian, who embodied the element and traditions of aristocratic ideas. On the other side, Grant was the son of the western frontier who embodied the shape of the man that grew up beyond the mountain. What is more, Lee stood for proper order of human society and social structure. Grant on the contrary, was a man who stood for democracy and not for forms and social patterns. In spite of their differences, they were similar strong men, and strong warrior whit the ability to think faster and run away faster from the enemy. I think that both were extraordinary men and they differences are due to the way they grew up. I recognize in both two important characteristics. They were important leaders and were so intelligent to signing the peace.

Message of "A Hanging" by George Orwell

“A Hanging” was inspired by Orwell’s experiences in Burma, a part of the British Empire in Asia. The story is about one Hindu prisoner who was condemned to be hanging. The history is ironic because we can see how common it became for people to kill others under determined situations. I freak out reading how tranquil the superintendent says to Francis “The man ought to have been dead by this time”. Aren’t you ready yet?” as if the man were an animal. The author describes how naturally the warders lead the prisoners to the gallows without resentment. Also, once the prisoner was executed, they laughed about him, drank together and put him a hundred years away. The epiphany occurs when the author realizes that the man about to die avoided his destination aside to the puddle, was as healthy and conscious as he was. In addition, we can feel it as a reader when the dog ran towards the prisoner expecting that something wrong was about to happen. In conclusion, as human beings we take irrevocable decisions that put us below animal levels, and ironically, although we realize that we are committing a mistake, we cannot do anything about this decision.

I Have a Dream

Dr Martin Luther king Jr. in his speech “I have a dream”, use Pathos in order to reinforce emotional power to his supportive audience. He compares what was written in the Declaration of Independence five score years ago whit the reality that the Negro lives one hundred years later. He repeated several times “one hundred years later “in order to let the audience know that nothing had change in the life of the Negro since the declaration of independence. Then, he insists in the urgency of change the reality repeating “Now is the time “before saying what must be change. Wisely, he insists in archive this changes meeting physical force with soul force without physical violence, and he claim for this change repeating several time “we can never be satisfied as long as” and mention the problems that black men face. Moreover, he insists in the need for these changes repeating “I have a dream”, and says what he wants for life of black men and society in general. Finally, he again mentions the urgency of these changes with reference to freedom. I think it is a very emotional speech in which Dr Martin Luther king Jr. stresses the need for change through emotional an patriotic words.

Why study computing

Today, computer applications have widely spread throughout the world. We can see computer applications in many Industries; medicine, biology, weather forecast, communication, transportation, etcetera. It is a reality; computers have become vital in these times. For that reason, every professional or student needs to have basic skills of computer applications. Therefore, there are important reasons for studying computer applications.
One reason is that there are not successful professionals without computing skills. First of all, “A computer can be defined as a device that automatically manipulates input data according to a preset sequence of code. This applies to all computers, whether they are used for high-level mathematics, word processing or drawing, once the information (words, colors, pictures or even sounds) has been converted to numerical form.” (Dodd and Mike). Today, every company is looking for a professional that is skillful on computing applications. The information is moving very fast, so we have to be ready to use these applications in effective and in a reliable manner, in order to be productivity. In addition, all employment application asks for computer skills, and sometimes the candidate is tested on skills necessary, using; Microsoft Excel, Word, Access, Photoshop, etcetera.
The second important reason for studying computing is related to job opportunities. Since computer applications are present in almost all areas, the necessity of professionals with computer skills is growing more than ever. According to Duncal Buell, Professor and Chair in the University of South Carolina, jobs until 2016 foresee these statistics.
• Six of the ten fastest growing jobs areas are in computing.
• 25000 BS degrees per years, 1.5 million jobs between 2006 and 2016.
• Four time more new jobs in computing (2006-2016) than in all of engineers. (Duncal.)
In addition, professionals in computers are among the highest paying jobs. It is in the third highest position in the list of all occupational groups, only preceded by management and legal occupations, as shown in the table created by the University of South Carolina.
Percentile wages by mayor occupational groups.
Major occupational group Employment Hourly Earnings
10Th Percentile 25Th Percentile 50Th Percentile 75Th Percentile 90Th Percentile Mean Wage
Management $6,200.940 $17.19 $24.47 $35.77 $51.87 1 $41.12
Legal $958.520 $14.12 $19.01 $29.24 $51.29 1 $38.42
Computer $2,915.300 $16.24 $22.03 $30.11 $39.68 $49.49 $31.50

In conclusion, as you can see in the table shown above, computer is a tentative field in which you should think if you want to be among the highest remunerate occupations. Computer also, gives to you the possibility to find job quickly once you have done your computer degree. So, I highly recommend computers systems as a choice for everyone who wants an enjoyable and well remunerate job.

South Florida Community College Market

According to Scott Travis, in his article “South Florida community college faces overload”, the Community College market in south Florida has experimented significant changes. Whereas the interest for school is increasing, the number of classes available is limited. The situation that affects the USA economic has changed the scenario in south Florida colleges market. In fact, there are important determinants influencing the demand and supply for classes in south Florida Community College market.
Before analyze the colleges market, I would like to introduce three important concepts. Quantity demanded is the amount of a good or service that a consumer is willing and able to purchase at a given price (R. Glenn Hubbard, Anthony Patrick O'Brien, 2009, p. 68). Quantity supplied is the amount of a good or service that a firm is willing and able to supply at a given price (p. 75). Market equilibrium is the situation in which quantity demanded equals quantity supplied (p. 80). To begin with the demand, the number of people interested in going to college has increased for two reasons. First, the high unemployment rate has sent back a significant number of workers to school. At the same time, universities have limit capacity for new student; therefore, community college is the other option for those who cannot go to university. Consequently, as the number of people interested in study at community colleges increase, the demand for more classes increased. That is why the number of student enrolled has incremented 8% from 2007-09 to 2008-09 (Travis, 2009, p. 1). So far, the consumer number (students) is the factor that makes the demand curve shift to the right (R. Glenn Hubbard, Anthony Patrick O'Brien, 2009, p. 74). On the other hand, the government does not have funds to support the community colleges budge. Consequently, there is not money to pay instructors or to buy the inputs needed in the education system. As we can see, the supply (budge) for school has declined and the market supply curve for school has shifted to the left (p. 78). At this point, the quantity supplied does not meet the quantity demanded, so there is a shortage in the Community College market (p. 81). Moreover, the credits prices has increased allowing colleges to increase the quantity supplied and forcing the students to reduce the quantity demanded, but the market is not in equilibrium. These market changes have affected the Miami Dade College students because the price we have to pay for school is higher. In addition, there are students that do not get into any classes, we face crowded classrooms, and it is more difficult for us to make our schedule.
Finally, since the USA economic has declined, the government has reduced the schools budge, and the unemployment rate has increased affecting the community colleges market in south Florida. Consequently, the consumer number has increased, increasing the school demand. On the other hand, colleges have reduced the supply because there is not budge. The credits price is higher which affect the students. And finally, since the class quantity demand is greater than the quantity supplied, there is a shortage in the south Florida community college market, and it is not in equilibrium.


Works Cited
R. Glenn Hubbard, Anthony Patrick O'Brien. (2009). Macroeconomics (Second Edition, Update ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 07458.: Pearson Education, Inc.
Travis, S. (2009, June 23). South Florida community colleges face overload. Retrieved from South Florida Sun-Sentinel: http://www.sun-sentinel.com

All Night for Haiti

It is important for students to get involved in Service learning Programs because this is the way we have to improve our education and meet community needs at the same time. Today, students not only need a good GPI to demonstrate they are compromised with school; also they need to do more of what they are asked for. Participating in service learning education, internship, volunteer programs and others programs outside the classroom, is the best way student have to make obvious they are really compromised with school and community. Last October 16, 2009, I participated in a service learning program at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus named All Night for Haiti. The activity was organized between Miami Dade College and the Food for The Poor Organization. The Food For the Poor is a charity nonprofit agency which mission is implement programs and projects in order to supply assistance and help the poor people in the Caribbean and Latin America. This organization has been helping children and the poorest of the poor by providing food, housing, health care, education, water projects, emergency relief and micro-enterprise assistance in the Caribbean and Latin America. For instance, this organization usually ship food, clothing, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and emergency relief, and other medical supplies to these countries where children and families are often forgotten. Moreover, in its endeavor to reduce poverty this agency has taken the initiative to develop numerous aquaculture projects such as tilapia farms, which provide nutrients, vital protein and a self-sustaining food resource. Whenever a hurricane hit these countries, Food For The Poor takes action rescuing residents and brings food and water to storm victims.
Participating in this activity has caused a great impact in my point of view of the struggle life that poor people face every day in the Caribbean and Latin America. In the course of the activity, members of Food for The Poor Organization explained to the student how life is for children and poor families in these countries. For example, because of the lowest income that poor families have in poorest communities, these families have to go to the dump every day to simply stay alive. Parents and children spend time in this precarious and detrimental environment looking for tin, aluminum cans and materials that can be recycled for only one or two dollar per day. In addition, we learned that an education is a luxury for poor children since their parents do not have money to pay their school. Consequently, children are forced to work or prostitute in order to bring money at home; in other case, they live in the street for they do not have where to live. Through the night, there were several expositions about the positive result that the organization has achieved during these years. In Haiti, news schools have been opened with funds collected in donations organized by this agency in cooperation with community groups, individual businesses and churches. In addition, Haiti citizens presented videos and testimonials explaining how important the presence of Food for The Poor Organization in Haiti has been. Moreover, they spoke about Haiti’s national flag, coat of arms, anthem, history, capitol and other important places and issues.
In order to take action in this cause, this night I did several things. I got to the activity at 8 pm whit the intention of spending all the night doing whatever the organizers asked me to do. At the beginning, I attended to the theater in order to see all the presentations. This section was very interesting because we learned very important facts about Haiti and the Food for The Poor Organization as I have mentioned above. The second part of the activity was focused in the cultural traditions of Haiti people. It was very enjoyable for us because the artist performed different dances and songs which are typical of their culture and heritage. In addition, there were not only student, but also there were Haiti citizens who came to the activity and cheer with the students their experiences in different fields such as education, medicine, sports, agriculture, tourism and so on. What is more, they explained to us how important it has been for Haiti the work done by this agency through these years. The most directly way we helped the organization was buying food, water, souvenirs and donating money to raise funds. It was what I did in order to help and made real the dream of those poor families. At the end of the activity, all the students organized the area and interchanged our experiences and impressions of the activity with the organizers.
In my personal opinion, the Food for The Poor Organization is playing an important role for the essentials human rights in this moment. Today, there is a big difference between rich and poor countries, and a lot of people are insensible to the crude reality that thousands and millions of families face every day. It is absurd for me that people sleep without having dinner whereas thousandths of tons are wasting every day. It is impossible that children in poor countries die for illness that are cured in riches ones. Since this organization is focused in reducing the despair between rich and poor, families are benefiting and the rest of the world is realizing that there is something that we can do for poor, starving and marginalized people. I encourage this organization to work hard as they has done in order to rise more founds in industries, government and other organizations. Finally, it is important to organize more activities like this in colleges and universities in order to involve the students in this problem because we will be the futures leaders of the world and have to be concerned about the poor.

"Borges and I"

“Borges and I” illustrates how deep and complicate is the human personality and behavior. What I see in this character is that as human beings we are full of thought and believes which we have to express in a physical formality. The point is that as fast as life goes on we have to accomplish those thought and believes before they perish. We own our life and destines, so we have to do whatever we want today no tomorrow. We have to set goals and share these goals with our family and friends. Finally, we ought to believe in the person who lives inside of us, and let him leads our lives spontaneously.