Animal Testing?

Last three weeks, can you guys believe it? I scroll through moodle and ask myself, 

"I've gone through all of those classes?"

The whole semester was such a blur. Last semester was like that too, and I remember so little from my first classes. I don't know if anyone else here feels the same, but I would like to take the leisure time to say that it sucks. Well there's no point dwelling in the past, the end of the spring 2012 semester is here. It's time to make that home-stretch run and finish our first year at CSUN.

Horray! Inspirational paragraph and all that stuff! It was mostly for my self-ish self. So I decided to wrap up this semester by giving myself a challenge: Choosing a final essay topic.

I'm just kidding. Although I'm very undecisive, that wasn't the challenge. The challenge is to write a persuasive/proposal essay about something that people are so anchored with on their side. Gay marriage and abortion are both way too overused and boring. So I decided to write about animal testing.

And I'm in favor of it...

Such a bad idea. Cause people are such animal lovers. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, and I luvs animals 2. It's morally wrong, I get it. But the thing is, there isn't really any other good alternative for animal testing. And its a lot of careful work...

Technology is so advanced, that we can grow a heart or a lung inside of a petri dish. However, that lung or heart does not show the effects of developing medicine or surgeries on the entire body. What is beneficial for your heart could be harmful for the rest of your body.

Another point is that the results of animal testing prove to be useful. With humans sharing 99.4% of their genes with chimpanzees, 99% with mice, and even 90% with cows; we can use animal testing as a closer and safer step to cures and surgeries. Despite the possible outcome below:

We would still be a step closer to the "miracle drug." Animal testing on cosmetics however, that is a whole different story. Scientists could use the skin-in-petri-dish method first and minimize the number of animal test subjects. You only apply cosmetics to your skin, so the petri-dish method would work. It's not like someone is going to put blush on their liver... 

And I'd like to finish this up with one final fact:

No one would protest if scientists were using fishes or cockroaches for animal testing.

I'd like to thank Martha and her friend Jasmine Kim for introducing me to the wonders of tumblr, and it's effects in making everything entertaining and interesting. I use it more for powerpoints and this blog... thingy. 

Thank you for reading!

Power Point

View more PowerPoint from 'aJohn Lopez

A Solution Needed.

The last time I saw a homeless person was at a Food4Less recently. He was someone my age actually and he had (I'm guessing) his little brother with him. Maybe he wasn't homeless, but he was poor enough that I would believe him if he told me. Their blond hair was dirty and the brother didn't have any shoes on. I felt bad because it was pretty cold outside; but what really got me was their eyes. They reminded me of the empty holes of a skull, yet I could see their extraordinary green irises. After they paid with change, I offered him a 20 dollar bill. I noticed the light in his bother's eyes but the older one told me that he didn't need it. I insisted with a, "You sure?" 


He still said no, only this time with a bit of a snort, "I hate repeating ma'self."


I was a bit mad to be honest,  but I didn't show it. I just shrugged and told them to take care. I saw the little brother look at me from around him. He mouthed a thank you and I smiled. I can understand why someone wouldn't want to take money from others. It could be a sense of pride that the guy had. Or maybe it was because he truly didn't need it.


But that thank you from the little kid. It felt good. I don't know why. Like when a homeless person says thank you and bless you. Despite it being from someone who has nothing to give back in return, it somehow has greater value than the blessing of a priest.


It's obvious that our country needs to do something about homelessness and poverty. I hate seeing hoboes sleeping on park benches or holding up signs at the freeway. I always try to help them but that isn't going to change anything. Even if more people gave money, or if people gave more money, homeless people will remain homeless. The government needs to target homelessness and poverty right at the source, the homeless themselves. The article "Brother Don't Spare A Dime" from the Daily Beast, talks about the problems of the "chronically homeless." Some of the reasons are alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illnesses, poor education, and (sometimes) simple laziness. I agree with the author on this because if a homeless person wants really wants to get back up on their feet, then they would go and get government help, or find a program that will help finding a job and reorganize their lives. If every homeless person did this, then the problem would be more about the offices and shelters. However, most people homeless and/or in poverty, just give up.
I disagree with the end of this article when the author says, "Unless the homeless are willing to help themselves, there is nothing anyone else can do. Not you. Not me. Not the government. Not anyone."
If the homeless we're shown that they could get out of the poverty pit, then maybe they would have some hope. A main part of the problem are the reasons for homelessness, but it is also about letting them know that they can find a job, rent a home, and get over their addiction. I feel like more effort should be put into informing them about these programs.


The second article "Throw The Bums our: But do so With Compassion-- Coolidge-style Compassion."
It agrees with most of what the Daily Beast article said. However, it has an emphasis on making public places less accessable for the homeless. Specifically by charging the entrance for a museum or a library. I'm a bit uncertain about the idea of closing public places to the homeless. In some cases I agree because the library and museum have valuable things and most of the homeless would cause trouble. However, there are limits. For example, the park should be open to everyone and so should beaches and streets. They need somewhere to sleep don't they? It's not like some crazy city is going to outlaw sleeping in public...


Oh wait, the article "The Meanest Cities" describes how the top 20 meanest cities are making homelessness a crime. Many of the restrictions include not being aloud to sit on the sidewalk or sleep in public places. Even charities are being fined with $2,000 tickets for providing food to the homeless. I mean, What the hell? Do cities think that these laws will stop homelessness?  


Not allowing a homeless person to sleep in a public place is like not allowing a car to drive on the 
freeway. 


And charities kind of have to give food to the homeless. It's part of religion and how else are people going to help them? Homeless people (as described in the article) are not even allowed to ride the bus in some cities. It's a public transportation system that anyone can use if they can pay for it. This criminalization of homelessness is starting to remind me of another criminalization... way back in World War 2. It's like when Hitler made being Jewish a crime.


Killing Jews is way beyond crossing the line, but prosecuting and discriminating the homeless isn't?


And in response to this blog prompt: Yes, the last two articles used sound arguments and clear factual evidence. Even though the first one was mostly reliant on an anecdote, it was still a sound argument because the author  backed up his credibility with years of experience with the homeless.


Finally. to end this blog... A COMIC! From one of my best comic series, Cyanide and Happiness.

Hope everyone enjoyed that. Well, I posted this on time but edited it after. So I guess I found a loophole. Of course, if the time limit was extended to midnight, there wouldn't be any loopholes. I think... I don't know how that logic stuff works.

Good night anyways!

-Ares

Pass it on

The  whole idea of "pay it forward" is based on the goodness inside of others. You're basically helping three people and you're putting your faith in those three people to help three other people. I think this is a great idea not only because it can change the world, but because it promotes good morals. People who are helped and even saved feel a sort of debt, to whomever saved them. Whether the person is actually grateful or whether their pride is at stake, people will put this idea into action. And it is those good actions that will change people's morals.

A lighter example would be those "pass it on" commercials. If people see a teenager helping an old lady cross the street or giving her their seat on the bus, then it makes everyone around them feel good. They may not be saying it, but they're thinking, "Wow, that is a great person, I should be more like them." Ok, maybe not that exactly and maybe the person isn't even thinking about that; but I know that later on, the bystander is going to compliment or open the door for someone. It also puts them in a contagious better mood.

However, I don't think that the idea will catch on. It's true people are nicer and more open than they were a hundred years ago, but it's not enough. I say this with all the kindness from my heart: People are selfish, lazy followers. No one is going to start to "pay it forward" out of the blue. Everyone is too busy with their own problems, with their own lives. People only help those that they know, they wouldn't think for a second about the stranger. And if someone does start to "pay it forward", it won't catch on. There are too many people who just wouldn't do it. They don't want to spend their time and energy on someone else, despite others spending time and energy for them. And then there are the exceptions of nobody being around to help, or the stubborn hard-headed people who tell you that they don't need help.

Maybe if it was advertised... in a way. Like some famous person making a commercial about "paying it forward." The idea would become more aware. If people saw "pay it forward" on television and the news, and on the internet, then it might catch on. But like a new trend or the "occupy" movement, people will lose interest and the movement will dim down and possibly die.

I haven't really had any "pay it forward" experiences. Most of my life has been about helping myself. I haven't made any big impacts to a person/stranger's life either. I always open the door for people or give a senior citizen my seat but that's it. Little things like that also help make the world better, and like I said, a good mood is contagious.

-Ares

Assignment...

Yeah, an assignment post. I know my grand audience isn't going to like this, but it has to be done. Read on in case you're interested in my response a question about parenting. It involves examples from "The Glass Castle", a memoir by Jeanette Walls, and an article called "What Makes a Good Parent?" by Robert Epstein.


The question:

"This is to be posted on your blog no later than Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. Write at least 2-3 paragraphs, and no less than 250 words.

Blog Entry: Read Epstein’s list on page 49 in his article, “What Makes a Good Parent?”, and identify how each parent from The Glass Castle individually rates on this list. Pick at least two of their strongest points and at least two of their weakest points and explain why you assessed them the way you did. Be specific and defend your assessments and don’t forget to assess the parents individually because they were two different parents with their own methods of parenting. "

Ma re'ponse: (oooo french. I'm so fancy and suave.)

Every mother and father has thought of the question, “What Makes a Good Parent?” This article by Robert Epstein lists ten competencies that good parents have. Starting the list off is Love and Affection, followed by Stress management, Relationship Skills, Autonomy and independence, Education and learning, Life skills, Behavior management, Health, Religion, and Safety, all in the order of most important to least important. Many parents can agree with this list but the order of importance is very debatable. My parents would clump all of these skills together into numbers one and two. However, there are rare cases where about half the list would be thrown out the car window.

In “The Glass Castle”, the author’s mother and father have two very distinct parenting methods, both of which did not follow most of Epstein’s ten competencies. Jeanette Walls describes the negative and positive effects of being raised through extreme poverty, and harsh parenting throughout her memoir. Rex Walls, being the head of the “household”, would have listed his top parenting efficacies in an order that would look like this: Education and learning, Love and affection, Autonomy and independence, Behavior management, and lastly, Relationship skills. Everything else would be disregarded because Rex Walls believed that health and safety was the something that would inhibit a child from toughening up and learning. He was also did not care about religion at all. Jeanette’s father was the cause of stress in the family due to his addiction with alcohol, which leaves Stress management out of his list. Finally, Rex Walls did not have much life skills since it is defined as “[Providing] for your child, [having] a steady income and [planning] for the future.” But Jeanette’s dad really did have a large variety of practical charismatic skills, which he taught to most of the Walls children.

           

Jeanette’s mother had a more “do it yourself” parenting style. She mostly ignored many of her motherly duties that society expects of her. Rose Mary just didn’t have an aptitude for being a mother. She was not very behaviorally managed and she did not care much for safety and health, much like her husband. She did have lots of love and affection for her children however, even if she didn’t show it. Rose Mary did teach the Walls children Autonomy and independence skills because she neglected them and she showed them how to manage stress through optimism and putting many situations into a different perspective.

I wish everyone a good night,

-Ares

The Balance of Parenting.

Yup, that's right. I'm going to start posting assignments on the blog. They're just journal entries for this question of the day type of thing. I just forgot my notebook so here I am, writing any thoughts and answers to the journal question. For these few days/weeks, the journals will be about Jeanette Wall's memoir, The Glass Castle.

"On one hand, Jeanette Walls describes the squalor she and her family lived in: hunger, poverty, garbage, lack of basic necessities. On the other, she describes the rich intellectual world her parents imparted: discussions of geology, math, literature, art. In light of the fact that three out of the four Walls children became successful, productive members of society, what do you think is the more important to children's development: comfortable living conditions or an enriching intellectual environment?"

I believe that in many ways, parenting is about finding the balance of things for our children. I, of course don't have children, but as someone who is studying to become an English Teacher; many of my classes have shed a light or two on the topic of parenting. Raising a child takes a huge amount of responsibility and love and in a way, a parent is a teacher. I'm not telling parents to wield a ruler and give their child detention, dear god no. But as the people who have brought a new life into the world, it is their responsibility to teach and show the child about everything.

EVERYTHING.

My grandfather was a teacher and the principal of a large public school in Mexico. He had to raise my mother and eleven other children at the same time. Of course he chose intellectual enrichment over comfortable living conditions. But his "household" wasn't as deep in poverty as the Walls family. My mother's childhood was filled with strict rules and hard work, which was the complete opposite from The Glass Castle. So my grandfather did find a balance between comfortable living conditions, and intellectual enrichment. He also had an addiction like Rex Walls which was smoking. So that took money from the family. However, grandpa was focused and always working. I don't think he lived a happy life because of that... Rex Walls might have lived a happier life, despite his drinking problem.

So I think that there should be both, if possible.Give a child comfortable living conditions, but not too comfortable, otherwise a child will spoil rotten. Bad living conditions means setting up a child for a bad life. In Jeanette Wall's case, she was strong and she endured her life. Not many children can do what Jeanette did, and that is what makes her memoir such an impacting story. However, if a parent does not intellectually enrich a child, the child isn't encouraged to study and go on to college. If there is too much intellectual enrichment, the child might not have any fun or joy in their lives. I have many  friends who took education very seriously and they really wish they could have enjoyed their senior year more or just school in general.

Alright, I think I've written more than enough. I'm just really tired at the moment, to be honest... In conclusion, parenting as well as teaching is a balance of many different aspects. Good parents find a way to juggle each of these aspects.

-Ares

Good Night.

So... yeah. I turned in my assignment 40 minutes late. Amazing how much other things can steal time away from you. But I'm not here to beg for my assignment to be accepted. I get what I deserve and if there's a penalty, then I'm glad for it. If it's not accepted, fine. I'll learn my lesson once again.

Eh, I'll give it several days before I slip into my procrastination addiction. It was a little bit of that this time, but mostly it was staying busy. Back to the laziness, we've all been there. That feeling you get when you try to pick yourself out of bed. Yeah, it comes back during the middle of the day. Maybe I'm just a "Night Owl", as my ComS professor put it. I don't think so. I know dozens of college and high school students who stay up way after midnight. So in a sense, I'm the early sleeper.

It could be the nature of a college student to stay up late, finishing homework. Of course college students don't have to wake up at 6:30 am to get to high school on time any more. So it makes sense that we stay up late and sleep in late. That's the nice thing about college, waking up heck of a lot later than the high school days. Would be nicer if all college online courses had their assignment times moved to midnight. To bad there is one exception... Oh well, I'll just have to deal with it some how. Adapt to do my homework two hours earlier.

Anyways, addictions suck. Especially if one of them is procrastination or laziness. That's probably The sin of sloth. But I've seen worse. I remember a friend who hardly ever slept. He wasn't an insomniac but he was on the verge of being officially declared. I just saw the lack of sleep eat away at him the way cigarettes consume a smoker's mind, body, and soul... That was pretty good wasn't it? Man, writing is so much fun sometimes.
Back to my friend, he ended up sleeping for a 2 whole days to make up for his days of restlessness. He came back as if he had returned from a spa. His face looked a year younger and he was smiling so much more. He was so much more calmer too. I asked my friend if he was on anything but he just laughed.
"Nah man, I just knocked out for an hour or two."

More like a day or two...

Other addictions like alcohol or the feeling of excitement and adventure really can ruin someone's life, much like Jeanette's parent's from The Glass Castle. Rex and Rose Walls were hardcore addicts. Jeanette's father to alcohol, and her mother to enjoyment. Rex's addiction could have been helped and cured but I have a feeling that he didn't want to be helped. As strange as it sounds, he probably liked being drunk. It must have softened the tough times. Maybe Rex Walls was a shy as I am, maybe even worse. Maybe it was only when he was drunk that he stood up for himself and didn't care a rat's arse what   anyone thought of him. It makes sense. But I guess it'll only remain a hypothesis, an idea frozen in the vastness of the cyber universe.

Some can relate to Rex Walls, but many more can relate to Rose Walls. Jeanette's mother mostly wanted more time for herself. She wanted to enjoy her life while she still could. Live life to it's happiest and fullest. But she sits on one extreme end. The other extreme end is all work and no play. That is a lot more common, but still, it deteriorates a person's inner life. Still, the majority sits in between these two polar opposites. Still don't see it?

Think about all of the technology children have now. Middle school kids seem to be plugged up to some video game or 4G-PS-I-Z-Delta phone or whatever. Everyone is addicted to comfort and enjoyment. That's why many people pay for new games and new apps, new cars and movies, for drugs even. Man, I'll read this again if our planet experiences the biggest solar flare in history. That'll kill every electronic device on the planet. What's worse is that it would obviously happen in the future, probably everyone would be more electronic dependent by then. I can't imagine that. It sounds worse than a scary movie.

Well, that was fun. I think... I'm going to go sleep talk. Good night!
-Ares

Beneath the Desk Light...

Dear _______,

Before this, I did not even know what the hell a blog was. Apparently it's big a continent in the writer's world. I must have been as oblivious to it as much as many explorers before Columbus, but I am not an explorer. I can't sail out on stranger tides without losing any comfort. I can't take a risk without feeling threatened or uneasy. So it would make sense for me to write a boring introductory post.

But as far as boredom goes:

Hi, My name is Abel. I go to college at California State University Northridge and I am studying to become an English teacher. I am a 5"7, 120lb. dude who is currently looking for some singles...

in his wallet. I might need some change... 

Oh right, the introduction. Yadda yadda yadda, blah blah blah, and period. 

Anyways, this blog is for my English 114B class. We have something called "Project Web" 

(oooo, a project) and basically, I'm going to be blogging for a grade. Yeah, bet you blog veterans wish you could be graded for blogging. Be jealous.

*ahem* As I was saying, blogging doesn't seem like much of a problem for me. Believe it or not, I am one of the few who enjoys the art of writing. Who knows? Maybe I'll even make a personal blog, but I mean, what's the point? Nobody want's to read about some random college student's life over the internet. It's not like I gain anything from it either. My life is tame now.

Finishing this blog of mine, I am looking forward to earning a good grade and improving my writing skills by the end of this project. 

Sweet dreams and pleasant memories,

-Ares