Lovacores

This idea seems a little too idealistic to me. This health kick makes sense, and the locally grown food idea would be beneficial to the environment, but I do not think it will last. Many Americans are far too busy to uphold this sort of lifestyle. They do not have the time it takes to prepare entire meals from scratch every single day. In this article, it also talks about the inconvenience of seasonal foods. It takes a lot of planning to figure out which fruits and vegetables are in season and which ones are not, and it can make cooking far more difficult that just buying from the grocery store that carries them all year round. Rachel said, “A perfect example would be salsa fresca, which we normally use limes and cilantro in—both of which aren’t in season here when tomatoes, onions, and peppers are.” While this idea makes sense and could result in a very positive outcome, it is simply too much work for the average American. After a year of testing this lifestyle, Rachel and Tom decided to continue in this pattern of living, but it took them a long time to get to that position. They decided to make a few necessary adjustments to their plan, such as one restaurant visit a month, to fit their schedule, but they believe that his lifestyle is very beneficial to one’s health, wallet, community, and the rest of America.

Consumed

Wow. I don’t think there could have been better timing with this blog assignment. The past week and a half have been very stressful for me. As if school, homework, and other activities didn’t already consume the few hours I have in a day, my mom decided that she would leave town for TEN WHOLE DAYS. Granted, her reasons were legitimate, (my aunt had a baby) but I was not happy. Whenever my mom leaves for more than a day or two, all heck breaks loose. She is the one who tells us to pick up our things. She is the one who makes us dinner. She is the one who puts an end to any bickering between my siblings. She is the one who drives all of my siblings around to their various activities. You can see how she is a vital piece to our family puzzle. Since my dad works during the day, I was left to running the kids all over the place to and from piano practice, to culinary classes, and after school tutoring. Bring put in this position really makes me appreciate everything that my mother does for my family. I do not know how she does it. There simply are not enough hours in a day to accomplish everything on the list of things that needed to be done. At times I find myself drowning in school and homework, but I just need to step back and breathe. I do not take enough time out of my day to really enjoy myself. At the end of the day, I often regret the lack of variety in my day. When everyday is the same, one after the other, life becomes boring. Finding joy in everything tasks can change an entire day. I need to stop rushing from one thing to the next and truly enjoy where I am.

An Ambassador for His Species

One issue that has reoccurred over the past few years is whether or not great white sharks should be held in captivity. I believe that as long as the shark is not being harmed while in captivity, it is okay for them to be held in facilities such as the Monetary Bay Aquarium. Keeping an animal, like this shark, in a safe environment like this can be beneficial to both the shark and people. In an aquarium, this great white is not being exposed to the dangers of the open sea, and it is in an excellent setting for research. Great whites are misunderstood creatures, and in order to address this issue, they need to be researched and I believe that this is an ethical way to achieve this. The definition of an ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.” While a shark is not necessarily a “diplomat” or from a “foreign country,” it is acting as a representative of it’s kind from a place that is different from where we live. Through the study of this shark, we can better understand others of this species and it’s natural environment. While I am not against the idea of this great white being held in this aquarium, I do believe it has its limits. According to past experiences, the other sharks that have been brought to the aquarium have not lasted over six and a half months, and have stayed for as short as eleven days. As long as the circumstances are right and safe, I believe that the captivity of this animal is fine.

UNITED States of America

I believe that Americans from the West Coast should step in to assist the citizens of the East Coast. No matter if the damage is great of minor, there will be damage and assistance will be necessary to try to prevent it. How can we call this country the United States of America if we are not truly united in times of great need? We have all seen the news reports of the devastating destruction caused by natural disasters such as hurricanes, and I’m sure that if we could have done something to lessen the pain and suffering created by the damage, we would have. Americans from the West Coast have that choice not. We have the opportunity to do something to help our fellow citizens of the United States. Any type of assistance, whether is be large or small, is appreciated by those affected by this hurricane on its way. Creating a hurricane-proof structure to cover all of the possible targets of Irene is impossible, but small step can be taken. sandbags to prevent flooding could be sent to the East. Things such as supplies to survive in the state of an emergency could be useful in this situation along with providing evacuees with a place to stay. I’m sure that if a serious condition such as this were to come our way, we would want all the help we can get. If we don’t step up now, how can we expect help when we need it most? We can’t. We need to live up to the name of our country: the United Sates of America.

Breathe.

In Growing Up Scripted, the author, Christopher L. Doyle, explores the freedom of teenagers in this time period. He argues that teens today are “overworked, overregulated, and overstressed.” (Doyle) The author states that the youth are not familiar with the freedom to pursue a passion or aspire to be something. Doyle compares the present circumstances for growing up to his personal experiences in the 60’s and 70’s, and demonstrates the dramatic differences between the two. While he was not weighed down by massive amounts of homework, today many teenagers are being burdened with school. The author suggests that the adolescents of today should be given more relaxation time. They need to be able to breathe.

While there are a few points that Doyle makes that I do not completely agree with, I do believe that in many cases, the youth are not given enough freedom. For example, the suggestion to “slash homework requirements” is a bit extreme in my opinion (Doyle). Homework, like most things is good in moderation. Excessive homework is an issue, but I do not think it should be completely slashed. Continuing work outside of school gives teens much needed responsibility, but when there is too much, it becomes overbearing and, as Doyle writes, “they [teens] are far more likely to be diagnosed with a psychological malady of stress, depression, and attention-deficit variety and to be medicated.” The extreme stress that is placed on the youth of today could be eliminated by a little more freedom for teens all across America. They need to be able to breathe.

Introduction

First off, my name is Romney Allen. I am 16 years old, the oldest of four kids, and I love Star Wars… and when I say love, I mean LOVE (it’s kind of a family obsession that my little brother and mom got me involved in). I believe that music is an excellent means of expression. I also enjoy taking pictures, and hope to make a career out of it.

My goal that I hope to achieve by the end of my senior year is to be accepted to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. This is the college that both of my parents attended, and many other family members as well. Attending this college has always been a dream of mine. I would love to study photography at BYU and become a professional photographer. While it is a difficult school to get accepted into, I hope to be able to attend due to my willingness to challenge myself with difficult classes and involvement in extracurricular activities. This AP class is going to be my biggest challenge, but I’m up for the challenge for this particular reason. I am also taking four years of Spanish and AP Chemistry, showing my commitment to learning. I think that this goal can be achieved if I work hard and do my best.

So that’s pretty much me. I love music, photography, and Star Wars. I will attend BYU, and I will fight for it. I’m sure that some day in the future you will be able to see my name on a plaque underneath a beautiful photograph in a prestigious museum that reads,

“Romney Allen. BYU Graduate. Professional Photographer.”

(or something to that extent)