Shay Mitchell + Charles Nelson

Per. 3 Civics

 

Lack of Volunteerism Address

Eleven Score and seventeen years ago, our forefathers experienced a severe lacking. This lacking was the lacking of volunteerism. People in this day and age will do near nothing without monetary compensation for their actions. The actions done out of the goodness of people’s hearts has shrunken to an all-time low. What are we to do in this downfall of volunteerism? Well, let me tell you now not to give up hope. The solution is simple my friends, we must encourage others to get out and volunteer. Yes, with the way people think, it may be hard at some times to convince others. This does not mean we should give up though. The give up attitude is what got us into this situation in the first place!

The volunteerism drop isn’t exactly a surprise at this point in time, but it isn’t the end of the world. It’s not difficult to convince others to volunteer, or maybe you could even do some volunteer work yourself. Turning around a problem like this isn’t that difficult, but it is a problem that needs to be addressed and focused on. People need help, and others need o help them once in a while.

Bellringer 11/6/2013

1.  http://money.cnn.com/2013/11/05/pf/kmart-black-friday-customer-outrage/

read the article and write a paragraph stating whether you agree or disagree with Kmart's decision.  Make sure you include specific examples to support your cause.

I disagree with the decision, but I understand where the issue stands. The company wanted to reach out to their customers and give them the "Seasonal In-Store Shopping," but it neglected to think of their employees for the most part. I understand that the hours are delayed and they will also include volunteers, but in the end they should just let them be with their family. In the end, does K-mart even get all that business? I mean seriously, does anyone get that excited over K-mart being open?

2. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2013/11/05/sochi-organizing-committee-president-welcomes-the-world/3448741/

Contrast this with US laws and how they handle gay rights.

Gay rights are becoming one of the most annoying issues in the nation. The laws on them differ in that they don't want the gay community supported in the games, whereas they are more supported in the U.S. We have the laws against gay marriage, but from what I can tell, Russia doesn't even want them to be seen in public in the Olympics.

Bellringer 11/4/13 

1. What effect will tough requirements such as this have on voters?

It will make voting more difficult, which in turn, will cause less people to actually apply to vote.

2. Can these requirements violate the rights of voters?

In most ways, no. That doesn't change the fact that most of the requirements are unnecessary and laborious.  

Trick-Or-Treat:  Labeling, Irony, Analogy
Message: The world today has changed for the worse than years before.

White House Halloween: Labeling, Analogy, Symbolism
Message: The people feel the white house "tricks" them instead of helping them.

Halloween: Symbolism, Analogy, Exaggeration, Labeling
Message: Ted Cruz as president freightens people.

I'm a Pirate: Exaggeration, Symbolism
Message: People are reacting negatively to the Tea Partiers.

Web Site: Symbolism, Analogy, Labeling, Irony
Message: The health care site is dark and untrustworthy.

1. Go to the following link: http://www.cagle.com/2013/10/tea-party-boulder-pushers/

Write five questions you have about the cartoon, and then categorize your questions into one of the following categories:

• Cartoon's Message- The boulder pushing scandel has caused a large stir with voters.
• Subject of the Cartoon- The Boulder Pushing Boy Scout Leaders
• Use of Images or Artistic Techniques- Boulder Pushers, Government Building, and the Elephant as the friend along with the Police with the word "voters" on his arm.

2. Review the following guide to analyzing political cartoons: http://w

ww.wikihow.com/Analyze-Political-Cartoons

Post a summary of the steps from this site to your blog.

1. Focus
2. Interaction
3. Audience
4. Context
5. Symbols
6. Details 

3. Go to the following link: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/activities/political-cartoon/model.html

Complete the Practice and Test Yourself. Provide an explanation on your blog post about each of the five techniques that political cartoonists use to make their point.

 

The analogy is another way of saying the meaning of the picture. Irony shows how there is an effect in the situation. Symbolism shows the important symbols. Exaggeration, shows exactly what the name implies, the exaggerated parts of the photo. Labeling is used to make the activity in the photo more clear.

Bellringer 10/29/13


1. Do you feel the "fat test" is legal?
I believe are soldiers should be in the best shape as possible, so yes it is legal.

2. Does your weight make you "fit"?
I believe so, yes.

3. How would you handle this issue if you were the government?
I wouldn't handle it at all. It's their choice to make modifications to their body, and we need fit, muscular soldiers.

Bellringer 10/28/13

1. Read the article and write your initial response.

I think the author has a valid point, but he's going to need some more hard details and followers to make any real difference to what he's saying.

2. Do you feel that the writer is correct in his opinion?

In a way, yes.

3. Why do you feel their is still an issue with the confederate flag still nearly 150 years later?

It is shown as a symbol of racism that still worries people today, but mostly it's just used to show good ol' country folks.

http://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/?src=typology-report

Based on your responses, YOU are a… Post-Modern

Along with 13% of the public

http://www.people-press.org/political-party-quiz/

Overall, your political values are closest to those of a…Moderate Republican
http://www.politicalcompass.org/test
http://theadvocates.org/quiz/quiz.php

Your PERSONAL issues Score is 70%

Your ECONOMICS issues Score is 100%

This quiz has been taken 20,036,031 times

Bellringer 10/22/13

1. Do you believe this is a frivolous law suit? Why or why not?
I believe it's a ridiculous law suit. Why on earth would a car crash 4 years ago have anything to do with someone being stupid enough to topple a formation in a state park. The man deserves any punishment he gets.
2, On another note, do you believe the men who toppled the rock should be charged with destruction of property? Why or Why not? 

Yes, because he defaced a national park. Those are park of the park and a monument that took millions of years to make. If he really wants something from a court, maybe it should be a mental disorder, because that's the way he acted and continues to act.

Does Video Violence Effect The Teen Brain?

 

            The discussion of whether or not video violence is affecting young people has been around for quite a while now. It has been accused of being the main cause of many accidents involving teens, yet it has also been shown to be positive in some areas of the brain. Has the video age had a positive or negative influence on the teenage world today, or are we worried about something with a deeper underlying cause?

            Video violence has amassed itself into society today in a big way. Everywhere you look you can see a commercial or advertisement for a violent videogame or movie. The problem is, most parents or older citizens believe that this wave of technology is disastrously harming our younger generation. Is this true or false? Well, to answer that question, we’ll have to take a deeper look into the teenage mind itself.

            The first issue we should discuss is violence in videogames. This is the classic issue that has had parents frazzled and debating whether or not children should be exposed to these things. Ultimately, the answer will come down to what the parent decides for that child, but how does this affect the rest of our society? Well, for starters, when the first Grand Theft Auto game emerged, crime rates dropped a little more than fifty percent. That’s correct, after this violent videogame released, crime rates were cut in half. This crime rate was dropped not only by adults, but mischievous teens as well. The reason for this is actually quite simple. The violent videogame became an outlet. It was an outlet for anger, aggression, and other thoughts not beneficial to the outside world. The cause of most violence in teenagers comes from pent up rage or depression that they have no way to express out of fear, social anxiety, or possibly even a lack of trust in the world. Teenage years are the years of puberty, changes, and generally feeling strange or different. That means that it may be harder for some to adapt to these changes and feel unaccepted. This was the key for the videogames to take over. It gave them an escape from a reality and an entrance to a new life in a way. Speaking now on the accidents that occur with the blame of violent media, why is that always the first thing that people would jump to for blame? In most cases where a teen has committed a crime, violent videogames were blamed. Underneath though, most of the teens had some form of mental illness or instability that was also known! Now, could that be the actual cause of these violent and sporadic outbursts in our younger generation? Perhaps, like most cases, the child was abused or neglected resulting in another form of instability? Instead though, we turn our faces from that point and look towards blaming a visual media outlet. There has never been a proven case in which violent outbreaks immediately stemmed from a violent videogame. Always, there has been the underlying cause of mental issues. Does that not sound like a more reasonable explanation to this issue of teen violence instead of blaming an insentient object that has no actual control over teen thoughts?

            Risk factors are not only worried about from violent media, but from other causes too. These are also worried about from internet usage. Now, this is stemmed from parents spending more time with their children as well. If parents spend more time with their kids, it is proven that they will feel more accepted and participate more in school and other activities instead of risk behaviors. This is where the internet issue takes over. If parents are worried about what their children see online, then the closer the bond they have with their kids will allow them to monitor and control what they do or see on the internet. In most cases though, the internet is a helpful life tool, not a monster found on computers or smartphones. Finally, we need to speak about intelligence, which is also another stem from the parent issue. When parents spend more time with their children, they can help them in school or get them the proper tutoring they need. Yes, intelligence does  come from genetics in most cases, but a healthy parental relationship and school system can do just as much for the kids as any genetics could.

Bellringer 10/16/13

1. Should the two girls be charged? yes or no and explain your answer

Yes, the girls should be charged. Obviously, they tormented the girl enough to kill herself, so they should feel the same torment in a juvenile detention facility.

2. What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?

The gravity of the crime and it's effect is the major difference. Also, the charge and punishment are a deciding factor on the difference issue.

3. What one thing do you think should be done to combat bullying?

I think we should either lessen the punishment to the kids that fight back to bullying, or increase the punishment to the ones who are doing the bullying. Make an example out of the bullies and see if that changes anything. Plus, if we lessen the punishment of those who fight back, that may fix something. Truth hurts, but there's a big difference between lying down and taking it or a swift punch in the face.

Bellringer 10/15/13

simply read the article and respond

how do we keep events like this from happening? 

Honestly, there isn't much you can do in a situation like this. We could place the janitor in jail to set an example of her actions. Other than that, there are always crazy people in this world that will do crazy things. One of those things being hiring 4th grade hitmen.

Bellringer 10/14/13

Summarize the article, and explain how this protest differed from earlier protests at the WWII Memorial.

The article is about a protest going on about how the closing of national monuments because of the government shutdown is unjust. People cut the links off the fence and entered. This is what made this protest different from the others. These people showed more force and enthusiasm towards their cause.

Bellringer 10/11/13

1. Is it fair to force the states to pay something that is the responsibility of the national government?
No it's not! It isn't the states fault that our government can't get themselves together and work out an issue. That's on their heads and they need to be the ones to pay for it.

2. go to http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/most-visited-parks-photos/ and look at the most visited national parks in the United States. Then select which of the parks you would most like to visit and tell why.

I myself would like to visit Yosemite. It's a beautiful area with plenty of places to explore. It is the park that easily peaks my interest with just a few pictures.

Bellringer 10/10/13

1. What does this say about the state of our legislative branch?

It says they aren't thought much more fondly than dirt, and rightfully they shouldn't be at this point.

2. If you were the Speaker of the House, how would you rectify this situation?

I would try to rectify this situation and get the government back on track, instead of being a bunch a whiny chunks of decomposing baby fat!

Bellringer 10/8/13

1. Do you agree or disagree with changing the name? Defend your position in one paragraph.

      The name change is really an irrelevant issue. With all the problems this country is facing right now, an NFL team name change should be on the bottom of the things to worry about. Nevertheless, I disagree that we should actually change the name, but for the sake of sparing the feelings of others, they could easily just change it. It wouldn't take much effort, and it would save a lot of time and problems just to change the name to something the people wouldn't find offensive. In my opionion though, the name is classic and traditional, and I believe that it should stay. Nobody focuses on what the racial term means, except for the people who feel the need to complain over an issue nobody has cared about for decades.

Bellringer 10/7/13

1.. What does this say about our national security?

It says that even though we have greatly advanced in our technology and security, there are still holes and flaws that will allow mishaps to happen.

2. Are you surprised that something like this could happen in 2013?

Yes, but not so much. I am bit surprised that a 9-year old could accomplish this task, but it is understood that accidents happen. The only thing to do now is move on and work harder.

Bellringer   9/30/13 Provide a brief summary of the following links:

1. Their was a plot to bomb the world trade center before 9/11 by blowing up a parking garage and toppling one tower into another. Their were seven bombers,one of which is still at large.

2. An ex-soldier bombed a town with homemade explosives in a truck. He was apprehended 90 minutes afterwards by a state trooper. He and his co-conspirators have been tried and jailed.

3. There was a shutdown of the government in the 90's. The shutdown lasted until Gingrich and his party had accepted their victory, upon which things returned to normal.

What Do They All Have In Common:
All three of these events took place in America during the 90's.

9/11 Primary Source:

On Sept. 11, 2001, Sujo John was working in World Trade Center Tower 1 when American Airlines Flight 11 tore through his building.

 After several hours, he managed to escape with his life. But for John, the terror of that day was not over yet. His wife's office was in the second World Trade Center tower.

 John had barely begun his workday on the 81st floor when he heard a loud explosion.

 As flames burst through the office, John and his co-workers quickly headed for the stairwell.

 "I thought I would die," John said. "The building was swaying and we could feel the building tilting to the left, fighting our way through the fire making our way to the stairwell."

 

 Fearing the worst for his pregnant wife Mary, John made frantic cell phone calls to her without success.

 During his nearly one-hour descent from the 81st floor, another explosion rocked the building. John had no idea a second plane had just flown into Tower 2.

 Unknown to him, Mary arrived at Tower 2 just moments after the second jet crashed into it. She was never allowed to enter the building. 

 

Going Back in Time

 

When CBN News spoke with the couple at their new home in Dallas, it was one of the few times that Mary has shared what she went through that day.

 

"We were standing right beneath the buildings and I was trying to call him on my cell phone," she recalled.  "I kept hitting the redial button, the cell phones weren't working."

 

"The call wouldn't go through," Mary continued.  "And while I was still standing there the second plane came and struck the second building."

 

"I saw it.  I was standing right under the buildings. I felt the heat and the debris falling all around me," she added.

 

Hysterical, Mary spent all of that morning calling out to God to protect her husband -- promising him something in return.

 

"One of my prayers was, 'Lord if you help him out of that building, by some chance he's able to make it out, then I'm ready to give up everything we have right now, our jobs, whatever else we have,'" she said. "'We'll go to a third world country, we'll serve you for the rest of our lives.'"

 

Mary didn't know the impact her prayer would have later on.

 

God Intervenes

 

When John and thousands of others finally made it to the the lowest level of Tower 1 across the mall that connected the two towers and through an exit in Tower 2 -- the nightmare was far from over.

 

In moments, Tower 2 began to collapse, forcing John to stand against the wall and huddle with about 20 other people.

 

In that moment John said he was prompted to do something that he'd never done before.

 

"I felt the Lord was saying, 'Where are these people that are huddled with you going?'  And I started crying out 'Jesus!'" John recalled.  "I wasn't sure what I was to expect... Almost immediately these people started [to call] upon the name of the Lord."

 

"Imagine this building going down, tremendous roar of the building going down," he continued.  "But for me what is etched in my mind is not really the roar of the building going down, but the cry of these people reaching out to the eternal God."

 

That experience caused John to realize something in a way he never had before.

 

"That experience showed me that people are ready for God," he said.

 

Miraculous Survival

 

Meanwhile, surrounded in darkness, John thought he had been buried alive as he pulled himself up. However, those he had just stood with had perished.

 

Choking on ash and blinded by debris, a flashlight drew John to an FBI agent who was lying face down. 

 

Miraculously, a flashing red light from a crushed ambulance directed the two men to safety.  Covered with white soot, they walked out of the debris together saying the name of Jesus.

 

But John held out little hope or faith that Mary was still alive.

 

"I'm thinking for sure my wife is dead.  How am I going to find her? What's happened?  And it was just so overwhelming thinking about her, thinking that she's dead, the child she's carrying is dead," John told CBN News. 

 

Then his cell phone rang.

 

"The first call that would come through that day," John added.

 

"I pick up the phone seeing my wife's caller id and I'm thinking it's not her, someone else has gotten a hold of her phone to reach me with the news, 'Hey your wife is dead,'" he continued. "I pick up the call.  It's my wife... it was an incredible moment that my wife is alive."

 

Living a New Life

 

Today, still etched in John's mind is the memory of the people who died while he survived, and the call on his life to tell others about the name that will take them to Heaven.

 

"I see lost people around me.  Watching people die on 9/11 has totally changed my life," he said.

 

Since those frightening hours in 2001, the couple have been traveling the world sharing their incredible story of survival.  The effort has turned into a full-time  ministry, with more than 30,000 disciples for Christ.

 

"God has taken us to more than 400 cities around the world where I've travelled with the greatest story ever told for God who offers his un-conditional, irrational love upon His people," John said.

 

During a visit to Ground Zero, John said he thought about the people who died, especially those who cried out to Jesus with their last breaths.

 

"Ground Zero for me is not just New York City where the tragedy happened," he said. "Ground Zero for me is now my community, my city, the city where I was born."

Bellringer  9/10/13

1. Identify the motivations that McDonald's has for offering this large multi-person meal.

It's sales are either down or flat in the last 3 months, so McDonald's is looking for a way to redefine a family value meal to turn profit around.

2. Approximate the number of calories in this meal and divide by two. Could this have an affect on the obesity rate.

I'd say the whole thing would be around 2000-2500 calories, and if you don't think this will have a large effect on obesity, you are a moron.

3. Do you predict that other fast food businesses will follow this trend? Justify your answer.

Yes, but only if it works and is profitable. The fast food industry focuses on money, so that will be the deciding factor in the follow the leader trend.

Bellringer    9/9/13

1. Does the US have a responsibility to be a world police force?
In a way, yes we do. We have a responsibility as "The Greatest Country On Earth" to keep ourselves and others safe.

2. What roll should the UN play in enforcement?
They should be a median, and try to help come to an agreement that would benefit both parties.

3. Why are chemical weapons of such concern to the world?
Chemical weapons are more dangerous in thier after effects. Not only is the blast radius an issue, but also the illness, desiese, and fallout that would follow.

Bellringer 9/6/13

1.  Write a reaction to the article.

This father's reactions are way to harsh for what he was trying to accomplish with a three year old. The child should be taken and placed somewhere safe. 

2.  What do the father's action show? 
His actions show he has a sever problem with anger control and patience. 

3.  Would this have been acceptable in the 1950s?

Yes, but this is not the 1950's. This is the new age and we have other methods of teaching besides striking a child's face. I'm all for a simple punishment or spanking, but leaving marks on his face is too much. 

Bellringer  9/5/13

1. Should McDonalds raise the prices on its "Dollar Menu?" Justify your answer.

No, the buisness itself is a multi-billion dollar industry. If they really want to raise their sales they could bring back one of their limited time sandwiches. (McRib, Flamethrower Chicken, Ect.)

2. Should entry level fast food workers be paid a "living wage?"

Depending on their position and age, it seems as though they are paid enough for what they need. Possibly a pay raise would further damage their buisness income.

Bellringer   9/4/13

1. What fields and or degrees should a person pursue?

An Associate's Degree

2. What additional data would you like to see?

I would like to see a scale on job outlook data and how the buisnesses will look in a few years.

3. How will this impact your decisions about college?

It will help me focus my determination on one certain path that seems profitable.

Bellringer   9/3/13

1. Do you think this is invasion of your privacy? Justify your answer.

Yes, because people somewhere that we don't know are capable of looking up anything we say or post. That's not only an invasion of privacy, but a line crossing of their power.

2. Does this comply with the terms and conditions for use of Facebook? Have you read them?

I have not read the terms and conditions, so I cannot give a proper answer.

3. Does this violate your 4th Amendment rights?

If it is not in the terms and agreements of the Facebook conditions, then yes it definetely is a violation of the 4th amendment. Even if it isn't it still seems like its crossing a few lines of privacy.

Bellringer 8/29/13     Martin Luther King Jr.  "I Have A Dream" Speech

“We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”

I think this line of the speech is very important to his cause. He intends to show people that to make his speech a reality, we must all work as one to solve the problem at hand. During the time of racism and segregation it was very important for the blacks to stick together and support each other. Also, this line includes whites needing to accept the blacks and support them as well. "We cannot turn back" means that once their movement begins, they cannot stop until their major goal of ending racism has been accomplished. This line was very powerful, and it's meaning was a major influence of the cause.

Bellringer 8/27/13

1. Should the two boys be tried as adults? why or why not?

Yes they should. If the teenagers want to commit crimes such as robbery and murder, they should be tried as robbers and murderers. Their age should mean nothing with such a serious case.

2. Should their identity remain undisclosed or since the crime is heinous? justify your answer?

No, they should be revealed. Obviously these teens are dangerous and people should have the abbility to be on watch for them. It's a safety risk not to expose them.

3. What can we as a society do to keep crimes like this from happening?

We could try and steer teens in the right direction, and also show them the consequences of their actions no matter what age they are. They need to know that these are serious issues.