R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Kati Haycock's opinion on this controversial issue hits home. Creating tests for currently tenured teachers will definitely increase respect. In Arkansas, a series of three tests is required to receive a teacher certification. One in general knowledge, another in subject specific knowledge, and yet another in knowledge of educational techniques. However, the third test (educational techniques) was not introduced until recently. Therefore, a majority of the current educators in American schools have not passed tests on educational techniques. A series of mid-career tests should be instituted to fill in the gaps. Requiring these tests every two or three years would provide a net to weed out teachers that do not meet the standards. By creating a better teaching population, the bad teachers will not lower the universal respect for teachers.

Certain individuals might argue that testing does not measure the quality of education of teachers; and that testing will not weed out the bad teachers but just cut down on the population. However the tests would be structured much differently than the standardized tests of today. Performance review would even be a better term to describe the process. The whole process would involve written exams on subject knowledge and a committee of state employees observing your teaching process. This combination allows for the possibility of a bad test or bad observation day to become unimportant. The truly effective teachers will remain and the ineffective teachers will have to find work elsewhere. With a better teacher population, the American public will begin to see teachers as professionals and the respect will accompany this new view.

Great Gatsby Analysis

Fitzgerald's deep, thoughtful words tear off the shroud surrounding the human brain during the the revolutionary 1920's. Conservatives and liberals clashed throughout this time period over morals. These clashes inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald to take up his pen and express his thoughts on the issues.

Fitzgerald's thoughtful use of sexual references throughout the passage continually reference the time period. The "green breast" of the New World and the "orgastic future" allude to the current moral dilemmas of the flapper. The traditional woman of the new century was becoming increasingly nontraditional. Low-cut dresses, shorter skirts, and alcohol became associated with the new woman of the 20th century. Fitzgerald's use of sexually loaded words throws the reader back into the time period.

The conservatives, bred by the 2nd Great Awakening of the 19th century, were "boats" fighting "against the current" in Fitzgerald's eyes. The future was coming. Fitzgerald's metaphor expresses the desire of the more conservative groups to drag society back into the Old World. The world that "flowered" in the "Dutch sailor's eyes." Fitzgerald becomes aware of the "old island" as the New World additions begin to melt away. The future that "eluded [them]" only made them reach farther for the future. The desire to reach the future will always best the desire to stay the same. Desire is the current and stubbornness is the boat.


"The wild women, the wild women," these famous lines may have never come existed in our society today. Fitzgerald expresses his opinions on the fight for the existence of these words in this passage. His sexually loaded words and metaphors force the readers to truly think about the time period as it was: a series of brutal clashes over moral opinions.

Consumerism Quote

Contentment is natural wealth; luxury, artificial poverty.

-Socrates (B.C. 469-399)

Socrates' quote from the ancient world, truly expresses the consumeristic world today. Studies published by The New York Times have shown that people living simple lives are happier, while those living in luxury are often more depressed people. The people in luxury believe themselves to be "poor" with respect to someone with more material possessions. Socrates' insight puts the problem of over-consumerism in a greater perspective. After all, if the ancient Greek philosopher could summarize a 21st Century problem in Ancient times, the disease may not be so confined to the American way of life.

Advertising Techniques

The Home Depot website has many links leading to their "Home Improver Club." This Club offers deals of products as well as home improvement classes. These classes give people basic knowledge in home improvement tasks and provide just enough confidence to warrant a large purchase of goods from the store. This "extra-mile" advertising technique works to the advantage of the post-recession business. People are more likely to purchase something if they can learn how and when to use it afterwards.

"Home Depot Pro Savings Newsletter & Improver Club = BIG Savings For You!"MySweetSavings -

MySweetSavings - Fast and Frugal Savings Advice for the Mother That Knows Best! 1 June 2010. Web.

27 Feb. 2011.

improver-club-big-savings.html

Whining Millionaires

With the end of the 2010 NFL season nearing completion, thoughts of next-year are already brewing. The National Football League Players Association, NFLPA, and the NFL have an agreement that is set to expire in March of 2011. Currently the "players get 59.6 of designated NFL revenues." However the owners opted out of this agreement, "arguing that they have huge debts from building stadiums and starting up the NFL Network have made a profit impossible." Both parties appear to be complaining about one simple thing, money and I, for one, am tired of professional athletes constantly whining for more and more money.

The minimum salary in the NFL is $285,000, but this amount increases as the player completes more seasons. The median salary of a person living in the United States is $48,201. Discussing a lockout of the 2011 season is ridiculous. All the NFL athletes are already overpaid, but the NFLPA still pushes for higher salaries. The leading figures of the union are acting no better than a spoiled child. If they don't get what they want, they pitch a huge fit and stage some sort of ridiculous, unrealistic protest. I am tired of these protests and want to see sports return to the good old days. These being where professional athletes wanted to entertain not receive ridiculous amounts of money for what eventually boils down to a simple game.

12 Sentence Short Story

Our future house was a vast wasteland full of mystery, full of excitement, full of nature in the middle of the city, and full of adventure. The woods in the backyard provided a new sense in my life: a sense of adventure filled my mind on one July day. Corbett, my childhood friend, and I decided to explore the woods in the back part of my future house. We descended into the woods, crossed a trash-strewn field, and went down a creek on that summer day. We hoped our parents would not notice our extended absence. Not quite. The thought that we were lost, and that we would crawl out of the woods late at night, and that our lives would be scared with the memory of our ordeal forever raced through the minds of our parents.. The growing worry could not be measured in anger, but the growing anger could be measured in worry. In our future, anger we did not see. Why would we be? However, after resurfacing hours later, we were bombarded with yelling and screaming and red faces and questions of our intentions. Even with the huge amount of ruckus we caused, our bravado about the adventure grew with time, thoughts about a repeat adventure surfaced and surfaced again, and the anger of our parents finally subsided--these are the memories of a great summer day.

An Explanation

For those in my English class, for those not in my English class, for those who do not ever talk to me, you have probably heard me make a negative comment at the Fox News. These smears probably give an aura of hatred for the "news" network. However, I only dislike the misnomer in the name and the widespread belief that Fox News is the most unbiased news network.

The misnomer in the name is ridiculous. Fox News is just as much of a news network as MTV or VH1. They both provide news with a plethora of other tidbits thrown in. Do not get me wrong, there is news on the channel, but that is not the end. All the hosts and guests provide numerous commentaries about the political scene. Watching the O'Reilly Factor, I have noticed that O'Reilly dismisses every guest with "thank you for your analysis." This shows that Fox News does not provide news but political commentary about the real news.

Fox News the most unbiased news network? That must be a joke for the very reason stated above. A commentary network cannot be unbiased, it is impossible. Sure the hosts can bring on guests of both parties, but that does not mean their opinions are equally listened too or shown. The fact is that Fox News provides almost strictly Republican commentary about various triumphs of the Republicans in office and the great failures of the virtually all Democrats in political office.

I hope this explanation will maybe help some people see the light, or maybe not. Just remember, this article is not a stab at anyone who watches Fox News. This is merely commentary on my personal beliefs and opinions on the network and why I do not watch.