The Power Team

In class we were briefed that this essay was controversial, so I did not really know what to expect going into the reading. This essay was about a group of performers who incorporated religious views into their strong man performance. The main issues that are represented are drugs, sex, alcohol, gang violence and generalized despair. For one act the men break a pair of hand cuffs in half and this represents breaking away from bad influences, such as the devil and sinning. 

In my opinion I am not a fan of others pushing their religion onto others. For example, the preacher in the Oak Grove gives religion a bad reputation because he is so abrupt and out spoken about his views and opinions. I believe that if someone wants to explore a new religion they will do so on their own time instead of being bombarded with different beliefs. 

A Plague Of Tics

I honestly do not even know where to begin. This story is probably one of the weirdest things I have ever read, but I also did not want to stop reading. Throughout the whole story I kept trying to figure out what illness this man had. I first thought he had OCD because he kept having to touch the same thing every time he walked by or he counted his steps walking home from school but if he messed up he had to turn around and restart. Then as he became older I thought he developed turrets. I thought this because he would shake his head viciously every 30 to 45 seconds. He shook his head so much he could not even stand still for his school pictures. At the end of this story I still do not have any idea of what his issue was. I have never heard of such a traumatic issue being cured by something as simple as taking up smoking cigarettes. The one thing about this story that really bothered me was his families and teachers reactions. His teachers did seem concerned but they only took tiny steps to help him and when his parents acted like it was not that big of an issue his teachers seemed to just drop the subject all together. Also his mother gave me a very bad impression. She just acted like all of his tics were not a big deal and just yelled at him to stop. A good mother would be worried about her son and do anything in her power to help him.     

More About My Topic

1.) The specific question I plan on asking in my research paper is...Why should Family and Consumer Sciences not be removed from school systems? Family and Consumer Science Education is my major and I feel that it is a great basis for a paper.  Many schools are beginning to, or at least beginning the process, of removing these programs from schools.  As the topic becomes more apparent among schools, it is becoming a controversial topic. 2.) My thesis statement is Family and Consumer Sciences should not be removed from school systems because the information the students learn from these courses will prepare students to live independently in college or after high school, it will help improve critical thinking skills, and it provides an exciting atmosphere. Students learn better when they are enjoying what they are doing and Family and Consumer Sciences is a prime example of that. I enjoyed these classes so much in high school that I dedided to come to college to pursue this.  Without these classes in our systems, students would not only lose all of these opportunities, but the opportunity for students like myself to make this their career.  3.)  I am going to school to become a Family and Consumer Science teacher so this issue is something that is very important to me. The discussion of removing this subject due to budget cuts is a huge mistake. Most courses are losing some funding for supplies, but it is rare to see an entire subject removed from the system.  I know that without the minor knowledge of cooking, sewing, and nutrition I would not have been able to survive my first year of college. Learning how to do laundry in middle school really saved me a lot of stress. I was able to help my parents out around the house and I was able to help my roommate and others that did not know how to do laundry.  The proper techniques and knowledge of nutrition and proper eating habits helped me make better decisions about meals, especially my freshman year of college. I also know that the knowledge of hemming pants, or taking in a shirt is very helpful and cost effective.  4.) I need to obtain more information about improving critical thinking skills. 5.) Some arguments that might come up are students can learn this information from their mothers or fathers. Students do not need to learn proper nutrition for college because the dining halls have tons of healthy options.  6.) I have looked up information through EBSCOhost, the Stapleton Library and YouTube.  At first, I found it very challenging to find information.  I learned that the professional way of describing this subject was not as commonly found among the databases.  I had to use the phrase “home economics” instead, and was able to find many more sources.  Using the library as a resource was the best way for me to find information for my topic.

Laugh Tracks

Laugh tracks have been party of our everyday lives and I somehow seem to block them out. While I’m watching a show, like Friends or Two and a Half Men, I honestly do not realize that there are laugh tracks. I remember growing up and watching I Love Lucy and The Brady Bunch with my parents and all I could focus on was the obnoxious, fake laughter that was going on in the background. Throughout the years I have learned to block it out and not even realize it. I agree with Klosterman that throughout the year’s laugh tracks have been phased out but I also think that the intensity of the laughter has been toned down too.

I have to disagree with Klosterman about the whole Germany portion of the article. Every country thinks that different thinks are humorous, I’ve seen shows from England and Britain and I think their version of comedy isn’t funny. Also I think that Americans use laughter as a cover-up for their nervousness. While he was in line at the grocery store in Germany he chuckled to cover up his embarrassment for not having the exact amount of change for the cashier, not because he thought it was a funny situation. I know sometimes when I get nervous or embarrassed I laugh to cover up my true emotions. 

Topic Introduction

The topic I am going to focus on for the rest of the semester is Family and Consumer Science(FCS). My major is to become an FCS teacher and this is a subject that means a lot to me. I am going to write my research paper about why FCS should be a mandatory field of studies in all education systems. I believe that it is a crucial subject that deals with everyday life and survival. Everyone needs to know how to properly launder their clothes and how to properly make a well balanced meal to stay healthy. Without FCS in our lives I know I wouldn't have been able to adjust to college life and living on my own. If girls are required to take wood-shop then boys should be required to take FCS. I've heard that some school districts are cutting the FCS programs from their schools due to budges and I believe that that should change, it is a necessity to learn these skills.  

Annotated Bibliography

Stage, Sarah, and Virginia Bramble Vincenti, eds. Rethinking Home Economics: Women and the History of a Profession. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1997. Print.

The author of this book basically talks about the strides women have taken over the years to have others realize that Family and Consumer Science is a legitimate career. It’s important to know how we began and where we have been as a profession in order to shape where we wish to go. Throughout the text the documentation talks about issues from dietetics and parenting, teaching and cooperative extension work, to test kitchens and product development. This book also reveals the influences that gender, race and class have effected women’s options in colleges, hospitals, business and industries.     

Technology in Our Everyday Lives

I started reading this article online but halfway through it I had to switch to the printed out version. There were too many distractions. Throughout the article there were hyperlinks leading to examples and activities to test your focus. These features, which some might thing as creative or helpful, distracted me the most. I couldn't not take the quiz or watch the video of what Mr. Campbell saw. I also had to switch to the printed copy because too much reading off of the computer screen gave me a headache.

I think this article shows us a very accurate outcome of what our society is coming to. Mr. Campbell's life is a good warning sign of what we don't want to happen to our families. For example, he has burned hamburgers on the grill, forgotten to pick up the children and lingered into the bathroom playing video games on his iPhone. Also his children think that this is a proper way to grow up, they are technologically friendly and they don't have the same opportunity to be kids like past generations. I know my cousins would have mental breakdowns if they lost their phones, they act like they are extensions of their hands and if they lost them it would be the end of the world. The distractions in Mr. Campbell's life not only effect his family, but also his business. Not only once, but twice, did Mr. Campbell overlook an important email regarding investors for his software. Also Mr. Campbell has signed the company up for the wrong business account which cost him $300 a month for a six month period before he corrected the mistake. Not all businesses can afford mistakes like this, multitasking leads to distractions which leads to mistakes. Things need to be done correctly the first time so you don't have to waist time in the end going back to fix all the mistakes you made in the beginning.

-Emily