There are thousands of great videos on YouTube, but one of my favorite YouTubers is Dan Brown. Dan is a 22 year-old who launched a YouTube show called "Dan 3.0" in August of 2010. The idea behind Dan 3.0 was that his audience would run his life. He ran a blog and his viewers could go post "tasks" for him to complete. Once the tasks were posted, people could vote on their favorite tasks. The show led him to travel to San Fransisco with his girlfriend, become a vegetarian for a week, but most of all, the show broke him down. He couldn't handle the work and his expectations were defferent than the result. He discontinued Dan 3.0 in April 2011. He started a new show called "Delicious Steak" in which he talks about current events and issues. His commentary really gets my mind running about issues. He is a firm believer that the internet is one of man's greatest inventions and that is one view of his I have adopted. Delicious Steak has stopped and Dan vlogs for his own pleasure. Nonetheless, his videos are stimulating and foster discussion.
Check him out!
Dan's YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/pogobat
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
The Pledge of Allegiance
Do you agree or disagree with the laws as they've been applied to the Pledge? How does the law support or go against your views on the Pledge? Is there anything you would change about the law or the Pledge itself? Be sure to use specifics from the article to support your ideas.
The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is a multifaceted issue in public schools. The first, and the more legitimate issue in my mind, is whether kids are required to recite the Pledge every day. According to the 1943 decision West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, students are allowed to opt out of the pledge. I entirely agree with this decision. It doesn't infringe on our First Amendment rights. The Pledge should be recited every day as long as it is not forced upon the students. When I was younger, I would always say the pledge because it was just something that happened. The words meant nothing to me. It was a mantra to begin my day at Wilmot Elementary School. I had no objections then. I have no objections now. As long as saying the pledge is voluntary, I think it is legitimate to have a daily recitation in schools.
Because the Pledge is voluntary, I see the phrase "under God" as benign. Yes, country is separated from state. Yes, the phrase "under God" is talking about God. Yes, the phrase "under God" is in a patriotic slogan of our country. But no, we are not forced to recite the phrase "under God". So what's the big deal? If one is so vehemently against the phrase "under God", why don't they find a new Pledge? I just don't think the phrase "under God" is that big of a dilemma.
I wouldn't change anything about the Pledge of Allegiance. It is a patriotic slogan in our country. I find nothing wrong with the Pledge as long as we can speak it at our own will.
The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is a multifaceted issue in public schools. The first, and the more legitimate issue in my mind, is whether kids are required to recite the Pledge every day. According to the 1943 decision West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, students are allowed to opt out of the pledge. I entirely agree with this decision. It doesn't infringe on our First Amendment rights. The Pledge should be recited every day as long as it is not forced upon the students. When I was younger, I would always say the pledge because it was just something that happened. The words meant nothing to me. It was a mantra to begin my day at Wilmot Elementary School. I had no objections then. I have no objections now. As long as saying the pledge is voluntary, I think it is legitimate to have a daily recitation in schools.
Because the Pledge is voluntary, I see the phrase "under God" as benign. Yes, country is separated from state. Yes, the phrase "under God" is talking about God. Yes, the phrase "under God" is in a patriotic slogan of our country. But no, we are not forced to recite the phrase "under God". So what's the big deal? If one is so vehemently against the phrase "under God", why don't they find a new Pledge? I just don't think the phrase "under God" is that big of a dilemma.
I wouldn't change anything about the Pledge of Allegiance. It is a patriotic slogan in our country. I find nothing wrong with the Pledge as long as we can speak it at our own will.
Global Warming
As drum major of the marching band, I am required to go to a six-day drum major camp called Smith Walbridge. While at Smith-Walbridge, I perfected my marching skills from 7:45 am until around 7:30 pm. It was usually around 100 degrees every day. It was blisteringly hot while marching. I have never felt such extreme heat in my entire life! It seems to me that global warming is now more "real" than ever.
I think back on the weather we've experienced this year. The winter was dull. Barely cold enough to snow. And when it did snow, the very next day it would melt! Winter was extraordinarily bland. In March, we had a week of summer. I think back only a few years and there was still snow on the ground during March. This summer has been ridiculous. In early July, we experienced three days of record breaking heat.
While I have never been skeptical of global warming, it was never truly apparent how realistic it was. This summer has really heightened my awareness of global warming. What this means for me? I'm not really sure. I would like to make some more "green" decisions about my lifestyle, but for right now, I'll just remember to keep turning off the lights when I leave the room.
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