Technology lessons human interaction

My parents have told me many times that I don’t know how lucky I am to have a cell phone. They say that when they were my age, if they had a fight with a friend on a Friday, they had to wait for Monday to see if they were still friends with that person anymore.

 But for me and many other people around the world today, that is hardly a problem. The ways of communication have vastly multiplied since 35 years ago, which is approximately how many years it has been since my parents were my age. Today there is texting, emailing, instant messageing, or even leaving wall posts on facebook. All forms of communication, but all lacking one thing, human interaction.

Has our generation reached maximum communication with minimum interaction? Don’t get me wrong, I do all of the things listed above, but has our wold become so infatuated with technology that we forget the value of a face-to-face conversation?

The scary thing is, people who base friendships and relationships off of communicating through technology find interacting with people in person intimidating and uncomfortable. That’s why things such as break ups and beginnings of relationships are in growing size beginning and ending with a text message or an email.

It is my belief that with the current direction society is going, younger generations won’t have half of the people skills as the generations before them. I am not suggesting eliminating technological interaction but I do caution against forgetting the value and importance of human interaction and social skills.

FaceBook fever

For years now, MySpace has been one of the best ways and favorite ways to communicate with your friends and even family. But in this past summer, I started to notice that my friends didn’t get on much and I wondered why. I ended up starting a Facebook just to give it a shot and I thought I wouldn’t like it as much.

Once I joined, it pulled up people from North and I was shocked to see all the friends I had on there but because I never thought so many kids would be on there. To a lot of non users, they think of Facebook for adults and college kids but that’s not the case. I am a user of both Facebook and MySpace and I like different things about the two but if you kinda think about it, MySpace is losing its popularity. I’ve seen a lot of people say bad things about MySpace on their MySpace statuses and that they’re going to Facebook.

One thing I think is hilarious is that do you know who also has a Facebook? Tom Anderson aka Tom the creator of MySpace and I just laughed so hard when I saw that. I guess Tom couldn’t stay away from the greatness of Facebook.

If you have graduated or are out of high school, you can even find your classmates and keep in touch with them and that’s what a lot of adults like the best about Facebook. 

In my opinion, I think the communication and friend updates of Facebook are better than Myspace but I like MySpace’s music and layouts better than Facebook. I personally always get on both sites at the same time but I usually spend more time on the site that has my attention at the moment.

MySpace and FaceBook safety

Is there really any difference between Myspace and Facebook when it comes to safety? Many claim that Facebook is much safer from creepy internet stalkers. Myspace has a bad reputation because there have been many cases where sexual predators have gotten to their victims thanks to information on Myspace. But the thing is, anybody can sign up for either one. The computer can’t tell if you’re a creep or not. And the victim is to blame too, because sometimes people add others as friends when they don’t even know them. The only thing “safer” about Facebook is  they censor a lot more than Myspace does. For instance, Facebook has a flag you can click if you think something is inappropriate. Other than that, I really don’t see a significant difference in the two as far as safety goes. If a parent is going to let their child have a Facebook, they should be allowed to have a Myspace, too.

Old ladies unite

It has come to my attention that I do a lot of old lady-ish stuff. I sew. I knit. I watch westerns. But I don’t smell bad, so that’s good. I don’t nod off randomly, and I don’t have facial hair, either. That’s always nice too.

I do have back pain and I do sometimes think music is too loud. I tell the same story, like, fifteen times, according to Jon and Steven.

I think kids these days are spoiled with their cell phones at age seven and MySpace pages coming soon after. People let their kids do whatever whenever. That’s not how I was raised. Not even close.

I’m not a cranky old woman, though. I’m one of those really weird ones. Like the ones with 17 cats. But I don’t like cats, that might not be me. 

Newspaper improves skills and friendships

This is the last time I will be writing a blog entry, because I am taking Chamber Choir this semester instead. I am really going to miss writing stories and interviewing people and taking pictures for a grade, because those are some of the things I do best. I think my writing has improved thanks to being in this class, and so have my photography skills. I would recommend this class to almost anybody, because there’s so much we do in here, I’m sure you could find something you liked about it, I am going to miss my teacher, Mrs. Kritchman, and all her jokes and surprise treats. I’m going to miss my senior buddy, Maddi, and the way she makes me laugh and how I can tell her anything. I am going to miss my sophomore friends, Cassidy, Sarah, and Ryan. Cassidy, you always know when there is something wrong, and you always do your best to make it better, even if it means personal sacrifices. Sarah, your randomness cracks me up, even when I’ve had the worst day. Ryan, I will sincerely miss playing with your hair everyday when I walk in. Danielle, Glen, Demesha, Kiara, Jesstena, and Angelique, it was so nice to meet you all, I loved working with you guys. I will miss Newspaper a lot. Good luck to everybody in the future!

Good mugshot pictures

A life of crime gives you an expert mugshot. Senior Madison shows that she’s so tough she bites.

Some days when I’m just bored and have nothing else to do, I find myself going online to check out the mugshots on the Polk County jail website at http://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/inmatesontheweb/Main.aspx because nothing livens up your day like a good mugshot. Here are the tips to having a good mugshot. Make a unique face to your own personal mugshot ex., the uh huh, i did it face, pretend you are an angry dog, or give the camera a flirty little wink. It doesn’t matter the charge just as long as your mugshot is unique and individual. Being arrested is a very serious thing but if god forbid you do get arrested, make it fun for those at home. The ones just like myself, and make fun of yourself.

Show the camera a little love like junior Ibrahim. If you give the camera a flirty smile maybe they will forget why you’re here.

 

 

 

The camera never lies. Freshman Andrea’s mugshot shows if she committed a crime, it wouldn’t be an accident.

The Precious life

I read the book Precious, then I watched the movie. I really liked it because the movie is pretty much word for word from the book. The way Precious talks in the book is exactly how she talks in the movie. It’s about a girl who gets raped by her father and she has a baby by him at the age 12. Her mother treats her bad, and calls her names because she said she took her husband from her. She has to do a lot for her mom. Her mom makes her cook for her everyday and if it’s not exactly how she wants it then her mom will make her cook the food all over. Then she ends up getting pregnant by her father again at age 16. Her first kid has downsyndrum. She has a son and a daughter. She doesn’t have custody of her daughter, her grandmother has her. When her son just got out of the hospital from being born, her mom hit her and pushed her down the stairs while the baby was in her hands. She couldn’t go to regular schools because she was pregnant. So she had to go get her GED. Her teacher Ms. Rain tried her hardest to help her get through everything, and helped her with anything she needed help with. This is one of the best books I’ve read and one of the best movies I’ve watched.

Boys and girls join together

There are a lot of places to go hang out with your friends such as the movies, the mall, skating, the park,out to eat and etc. But there is a positive place for kids which is the Boys and Girls Club.

The Boys and Girls Club is a fun place to hang out after school. There is great programmings, fun kids, and snacks. There is a lot to do at the Boys and Girls Club after school. There’s basketball, painting, parties, ice skating, rollerskating, movies, board games, video games, track, torch club, keystone, Hy-Vee academy, youth of the year, leadership in training, power hour, and much more.

The amount to be in the club is ten dollars a year. That’s a pretty good amount for some parents. If you do some of the programs, you can get scholarships and places to work at. These activities are Hy-Vee academy and youth of the year. To be able to go to the Boys and Girls Club you have to be in school, in kindergarten to 12th grade. After you turn 19, you’re too old to be there.

The Boys and Girls Club is a reminder of school but in a good way. You’re separated into age groups. K-5th grade are in a room by themselves and 6th-12th grade are all together. When being at the Boys and Girls Club you have to stay in a room with your peers unless there is open gym or if staff tells you otherwise. Most of the activities that the students do can be done in the homeroom so kids don’t have to leave the room unless there is gym time or a field trip.

There are four Boys and Girls Clubs in the Des Moines area. They are Levitt and Logan located on the east side of Des Monies. First Christian located on the west side of Des Monies and McCombs which is located on the south side of Des Monies. A lot of kids enjoy the Boys and Girls Club and if you’re not already enrolled, you should because it’s a great place to be.

Puppy Alert

When I went to Vietnam for the whole month of December, we left my puppy Lucky, at my cousin’s house, where Lucky’s parents and older brother lived at. At first we didn’t think we had anything to worry about because they were our cousins. But then my sister saw how mean they treated their dogs so she threatened them. The day that we went to the airport to leave, they came to say good bye, and my sister told them that if anything happens to Lucky, or if she finds out that they abused them, she’s gunna come back and shave their heads, and some other things that were kind of inappropriate.

So we were gone for a month, and as soon as we came back, we went to their house to go get Lucky. He was so glad to see us. But ever since the day we’ve had him back, he’s been acting kind of strange. Like he’s been on something. Before we left, everytime we called his name, he would come running. He knew when we were mad at him. He knew when to stop doing something when we yelled. He knew not to go to the bathroom in the house. He knew alot of things. He was pretty smart. But now, whenever we call his name, he just walks away like he didn’t even hear us. Whenever we told him to stop doing something, he ignores us like we’re speaking alien. And he goes to the bathroom all the time in the house now.

Our cousins turned my puppy challenged! My mom doesn’t like Lucky anymore because he’s a bad boy. My sister said she was going to come back to my cousins house and see if their dogs were retarded, and they were! They run around like they’re drunk. All the time. It’s going to take so long to train Lucky. I think my cousins are cursed and every animal they have ends up having issues.

Top 10 Nintendo DS games of 2009

How many of you have a Nintendo DS? DS Lite? The new DSi? Well, I have the new DSi, and that is awesome! These following videogames for the Nintendo DS were the top ten best games of the year 2009. These games range from RPG to Action. So, if you have these games, congratulate yourself for having those games in your possession.

Here are the ten games:

10. Pokémon Platinum version

Rating: E

Genre: RPG

9. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

Rating: T

Genre: RPG

8. Retro Game Challenge

Rating: E

Genre: Action

7. Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure

Rating: E

Genre: Games & Puzzles

6. Knights in the Nightmare

Rating: T

Genre: RPG

5. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

Rating: E10+

Genre: RPG

4. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Rating: E10+

Genre: Games & Puzzles

3. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Rating: E10+

Genre: Action

2. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

Rating: E

Genre: RPG

1. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Rating: M

Genre: Action

This was from the website http://games.toptenreviews.com/list_ranking_ds_2009.htm