Thinking in a Pink Nature

Pink Think - the womanly ideal that strives to maintain femininity in a world of changing times. It is not simply a matter of history, although with the feminist movement, many will try to say such. Pink Think is still a very strong force in today’s society, with a slight change in focus compared to that of the past and the words of the essay.

First of all, Pink Think is shown in a more stylistic view today. Although most girls strive for the beauty of a supermodel, they do not need to be told how to put a swimsuit on step by step. Most of us have mastered the art of perfect cleavage and showing off our bodies, which is what today’s Pink Think entails. Pink Think in the past was concerned with women facing the basic model of calm, kept together housekeeper, mother, and general picture of innocence. Today however, Pink Think strives towards the no-nonsense kick butt kind of woman who does her job well without ever losing the perfectly sculpted physic.

Everything starts, of course, with the blanket. No one can deny that. As soon as a baby is born, he or she is wrapped in the color that will be the determining factor of their mindset for the rest of their lives; blue for boys, pink for girls. Most parents do not even think of it. Instead, they blindly accept the idea of color patterns for babies. And follow it perfectly. Clothes match the sex. Pastels for girls, bolder, sharper colors for boys. And it keeps going as the child grows.

For girls, Pink Think is enhanced by the toys they are given to play with at a young age; Barbie’s, teddy bears, house sets, and romantic stories that all show the beautiful princess getting swept of her feet by a handsome prince. They are given pretty dresses and encouraged to stay clean and neat, helping mom with the house and younger siblings. As a child gets older, those rules are subtly enhanced. Pretty, smart, successful girls get dates to homecoming dances and Prom. And even if not dating, only the smart ones go to college to pursue Barbie’s dream job into reality.

In today’s society, the Pink Think method is all about sexuality and the body image of women. Everyone knows sex sells, so at a young age, sexuality is pushed on girls, making them strive to become that ’beautiful’ model from storybook land. Every women they see is portrayed as a thin, beautiful, successful woman who knows what she wants and goes after it, but still maintains that sexy charm and wit. Not always does this model have a family, but she is always in the foremost of every man’s thoughts. Jobs model this. Lawyers, doctors, secretaries, home cooking gurus like Rachel Ray, everything deals with a successful woman. And whether they realize it or not, most every woman conforms to these ideals. They want to become that super successful lawyer and when they fall short, fall into depression.

The ideal of Pink Think wears thin on society. Most women realize it is there, subconsciously if not consciously. We know we are being pushed towards the sexy ideal, but have no way to counter it. Whatever society expects, we must conform to, or die trying. And it goes across gender too. Not only woman have these types of subcategories pushed upon them. Thus, my coined phrase Gamers’ Think and the subsequent explanation.

Gamers’ Think is the opposite as Pink Think, in a total sex related view. Gamers’ Think plays on the male perspective from birth to adulthood. Where as girls are given soft pink clothes and pushed towards the “cushion” jobs, boys are given solid colors and pushed into the labor jobs or technological jobs. This is where Gamers’ Think is solidified. It all started with the Nintendo and other game systems that came out when we were kids. Boys were given them for birthdays and Christmas and the trend started. Men held the key to beating the bosses and finishing the games, while girls sat calmly watching with their dolls.

As new technology started to hit the market, Gamers’ Think became more of a reality. New games were designed to capture the boy’s normally short attention span and give them a reason to sit and play. Computers enhanced this aspect with games like Final Fantasy and World Of Warcraft that actually require a notice on the beginning game screen due to the addictively of the games. Advertisements constantly grab the attention of the “geeky” boys, telling them to fit in they must play such games where appearance doesn’t matter, as long as they have the best gear in the game and can “own some noobs.”

These types of ideals pull and grab at boy’s attentions to get them to fit in to the crowd. Anything to fit in for any sex. It is sad really. For women, life is seen outside in the eyes of all. Perfect beauty enhanced by the kick ass attitude that will propel them anywhere. Men on the other hand its technology and games. Trying to fit into a world, any world, because they do not meet the ideal male qualities. Both qualities go hand in hand. Pink Think and the newly coined Gamers’ Think are alive and well in today’s society and will remain so for some time. It is all a mater of what our world plays us for, and how we as the individuals of society play into its hands.

Define this, Define that...

The definition of words…a topic I love, and am so glad we get a chance to explore it in our weekly posts in class. Words are my forte, my chance to express myself and to make others understand exactly what goes on inside my head, as scary as that may seem. The way they can twist and turn, meaning one thing in one moment and then something entirely different in the next depending on the listener makes my head spin! And it makes for great conversations.

First of all, every italicized item on the list from our textbook is controversial, as noted. “Literature,” “journalists,” “free speech,” all of these have very broad subject matters and can be interpreted in several ways. One would be hard pressed to go about listing all of the definitions and possible meanings of each word and the claims they hold. But try I will! This is my definition of fun!

To truly establish a criteria for any of these, research must first be done. One should look into each category, getting a basic understanding of general definitions and then applying them in context to the claim of definition. Then, a personal definition must be drawn up. What, personally, does “serious literature” mean to you? Or “journalists?” Or “marriage?” When you understand what you mean when using the word, you can better understand what others may see, and that is what must be done next. Where as one can view marriage to mean a union between a man and woman, another can see it between man and man, woman and woman, or even as a simple union, be it any type of factor(marriage between business partners).

After the above steps are completed, one must look at the picture as a whole, taking into account his/her own definitions, personal beliefs, the beliefs of others, and all possible meanings of one word. Then and only then can one start to consider the entire phrase and start to form a criteria of definition for that phrase.

All of the phrases in our text are examples of operational definitions. In other words, each phrase defines itself in criteria. For example, “graphic novels are serious literature.” The ‘serious literature’ part can be defined by graphic novels, and therefore would be operational because the speaker of the phrase is defining serious literature by graphic novels. Same can be said for the other phrases. “Marriage” is operationally defined by sex and “civil disobedience” is defined by an act, plagiarism.

In all reality, any word can be defined anyway by anybody. They are all relative. Who is to say the word ‘dog’ has to mean dog as we all know it? Claims of definition are made everyday and one just has to know what to look for when listening to people speak. Otherwise, you may be saying something you do not mean to another person, for the simple reason that they define words differently.

Reflections of a Serious Sort

Honestly, when it comes to the present war our great country is going through, I cannot say I have had much of an opinion. Sure, I remember 9/11. I remember the images on the television, the news reports, and all the tears that came afterward. I was in the seventh grade, music class. Everything is kind of a still frame for that time; I remember that for ever single class for almost a week, all we would do is watch the news. But despite all that, I never really formed an opinion about the situation our country was going into.

Everything feels really disconnected when I try to think about the war and my opinions on it. I do not like fighting; do not like the thought of people dieing, especially for me when I have no idea what the fighting is for. But at the same time, I know I should care and should hold an opinion. It is like a continuum. The war has never touched me personally, has never had a direct event in my life, so I do not feel connected to it. Several of my friends are military wives and have to deal with the horrors daily. I don’t.

For these reasons, I have never held much of an opinion of war. I am not connected, and when I try to understand all the political jargon, I get lost. So I tend to stick to my original statement of not having an opinion. I do not like war, but because I do not understand the purposes or everything involved, I do not place myself in one category or another.

Reading the Military blog has not changed that. These men and women who have taken the time to share their stories and opinions are stronger than I will ever be. But they did not force me to change my views of the war. Instead, they reinforced the idea that I have no clue what is going on, and can never possibly understand the lives of those who live war.

In fact, I feel more than ever that I will never understand. Although the Milblog has not changed my opinion of the war, it has made me more compassionate to those men and women who serve. Supporting war should not be about supporting an idea or belief. It should be about people, individuals and what they live. In my opinion, I do not have to support the war, or be against it even, to feel compassion and a desire to help those who fight in it. My opinion of a war has nothing to do with it. In the long run, I can hate the fighting for a cause I don’t understand till my dieing day, but it will not make a difference. I am one person, one in millions who either support or do not support the conflict our country is in. Instead, I choose to have a neutral ideal, neither hating or liking the war. But no matter what I will support those people fighting. The Milblog has shown me I can do no less for those people that fight for something I will never understand, but they believe in wholeheartedly.

PATRIOTISM

Such a hard word. I never thought about it before, but words really are hard to define and understand. What means one thing to one person may mean something entirely different to another. And even defining a word can become difficult with various meanings.

So here comes the loaded word: Patriotism. To me, it is the love beyond all other to a specific cause or ideal. It does not have to be a country or piece of land. One can easily hold patriotism to religion or even to a family. Patriotism can come at different times, can flare up in dangerous situations, and then can trickle off. When feeling patriotic, one can easily be willing to sacrifice life or other aspects of self to honor the feeling of devotion. To hold patriotism is to love something, that simple. To love something or someone beyond all thought and be willing to sacrifice for that something.

Britney Spears - Essay for the Confused

Ok, Ok, I’ll admit it! I was one of those teenagers who listened to Britney Spears when she first became popular! Though in my defense, my brother started to listen first and then after I got used to the songs, I listened. She was not that bad when she first started off. I think it was only after her first album that her image became super-sexualized in the music videos and concerts.

Anyway, the student essay about Britney Spears was very interesting. I was thinking as I flipped to the pages that both essays would be one of those horrible High School things on how NOT to do an essay. But instead I got a nice shock; both essays were well written and cleverly styled, with a balance of personal opinion and proof that gave credibility and originality. I chose this essay over the Coldplay one, because I can relate better to it. I agree with Ms. William’s ideas on Britney Spear’s image and the influences she has over the younger generations.

As for grading, I would say the Britney Spears essay deserves an “A.” Although it was very well written, had a multitude of facts and support, some of the essay could have done with better structure and thought. For example, the student starts out by writing about her own personal fears of becoming a mother and why that connects to Britney Spears. It is a very good opening that provides a personal insight and attention grabber to a very serious topic, but the student does not continue that thought through the essay. Once, toward the middle, the student comes in with a statement about having children again, but that is all. I believe, if she started out with the idea that Britney Spears made her not want to have children, she should finish with that thought. It does not have to be lengthy, just a simple statement about her fears, or the hope that when she has children there will be better role models than that of Britney Spears.

The length of the essay is good as well. It is not too long, but not too short. The author makes all the points she wants to and manages to keep her voice throughout it all. Merit it is a cynical and slightly hostile voice, but it is the author’s own. Her facts are introduced in the proper places, not out of context or just thrown in. Every fact has a suitable explanation that fits with the paragraph it is placed in. The only problem I saw with the author’s facts is that sometimes she starts off a paragraph with them. In the lecture we were to view about paragraph formatting, it was stated that one should not place a fact in the beginning sentence of a paragraph because it can detract from the author’s voice. This author only does it a few times, and it does not really detract a lot from the essay, but it is something that should be taken into account.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this essay on why this woman hates Britney Spears and the image she has created for young girls. The essay was well written, established a multitude of facts and personal opinions, and kept a true voice throughout. The only things that could make it better are to look through the organization a bit(sometimes the facts seemed a little messy and didn’t fit in), try to keep the beginning thought of having children to the end, and to make sure to put facts toward the middle of a paragraph, not the beginning. I can only hope my essay will be as good this week!

Criteria of Evaluations

The one topic on the list that I know anything about is the Navajo rugs. I am no where near an expert, but I do enjoy looking at them and have researched them before for a Native American class back in High School.

Being able to distinguish between excellence and mediocrity in the area of rug making is a very difficult task for one who has never made a rug before. The task is very time consuming, tedious, and troublesome. So, in my opinion, the time spent of making the rug could be a criteria for evaluation. In order to make an excellent rug, one must spend a large amount of time on the project, making sure it has a nice design and fine quality; quality defined as a smooth transition between color, even weave rows, and not many lumps of material in one area. If someone wove a rug in under a day, I do not believe it could be considered fine quality; more than likely the weave would be uneven and lumpy.

Another criteria for evaluation of excellence would be the knots tied and the pattern portrayed. An excellent rug must have intricate knots and patters with a wide variety of rich, bold colors. Navajo rugs are prided on their rich colors and patterns, using geometry to portray pictures and mythical legends. Intricate can be defined as a unique pattern with difficult figures. Rugs of poor quality usually host simple designs that are easy to make and fail to capture a viewer’s eye.

Finally, I believe the most important quality in defining excellence in a Navajo rug is its ability to stand time. A rug of excellent quality should withstand wear and tear, and retain its natural beauty. Often times I will see on the Antiques Road show (yes, I’m guilty of watching sometimes) a Navajo rug that is hundreds of years old, but still looks new. It still has the radiant color, intricate geometric patterns, and smooth weave discussed above that hold up for an excellent standard of a Navajo rug.

On another note, I know absolutely nothing about NFL quarterbacks. Chalk it up to my dislike of watching sports, but I honestly do not even know what a quarterback does in football. So, this topic would be great for a new research subject.

To start off I would probably just do a general search about the NFL to get some background on what it was and the different areas it encompasses. Then, I would go into positions, researching what a quarterback does and how he holds up the team. After that I believe the way to go would be to look at various quarterbacks throughout time and judge the reaction of other people thinking they were “good” or not.

With this topic, a person’s opinion would figure greatly and the facts would have to be there to back it up. I think to establish a criteria of excellence I would look at several different quarterbacks who have been well-noticed by media and fans, then compile what each of them has in common. If several different men show the same characteristics, and each of them was regarded as a “great quarterback,” then my criteria for excellence should hold.

Oh My God its BIGFOOT!!

The website I chose to critique is the Bigfoot one, Sasquatch. I looked through the one on crop circles, but the background made me dizzy, so I decided to go with Bigfoot! I find this topic a little more off the wall and interesting than that of crop circles. Right now, it is known that people “fake” them (circle art; people go into fields and are paid to make a crop circle design). But with Bigfoot, the field is newer; all the genetic research in the field can someday soon prove or disprove if he really exists.

Anyhow, time for the analyzing. Like I stated above, the previous site seemed a jumble in my eye, the graphics detracted too much and made everything really messy and chaotic(which might be what the designers were going for, but I did not like it), so this site seemed much calmer and better organized. The background is a pure black with the center row holding all of the information necessary for navigation. Everything is lined up in the center of the page, so the eye naturally flows downward in a list-type motion instead of looking all around for what comes next.

That is one of the things I liked best about this page layout. The graphics and texts flowed nicely together. Right off the bat you get an introduction on what the site is about and a cool video explaining the main issues. This makes it easier than having several long paragraphs or photos with captions. Then the site goes downward, following the natural line, listing the various sites and links it is centered around. For instance, recent Bigfoot sightings, where different conventions and sightings are being held, and frequently asked questions.

The photographs balance the text very well on this site. Each photo is balanced by a caption and or a link that takes viewers to a desired site that expresses the set opinion or idea. There is not too much clutter or an excessive amount of links on the page either. Each page worked together to get the message of Bigfoot across. The reader can click one link that brings him/her to a page very similar in layout to the first, main page. This limits confusion and helps a more uniform idea form. Also, the text was well formed. It was easy to see against the dark background and stood out, so that readers could clearly see what different links the site had to offer. The text was not hidden by the photos and did not seem to overly crowd the space. Though there were a lot of images, some of which could have probably made a new link page(like the calendar off to the left side), it was not bad.

Overall, the visual argument is well presented. The makers of the site offer clear statements to what they wish to show and accomplish. Each page is headed with a concise heading, the background information is all there, and the photos balance everything out for a visual experience that appears educated and professional.

Images of the Heart

I could not decide between these two images. In my mind, they go together and after I saw them, I could not separate them. They feel connected, or maybe it is just that they connected themselves in my heart, either way they are staying. I don’t know how many of you have seen this image personally, have stood beside or behind a soldier’s casket as his life was finishing in the final burial. I have. Not in the same manner, no. My soldier was my grandfather. He died after a full life and service to our country whereas this man died in the prime of his life, but it is similar. It is a soldier’s burial.

These photos present a very sad argument; the one of an ending of life and the tears of those who were left behind. Just looking at the images brings up sadness, even if the soldier in the casket is not known. And you can tell, right off the bat, that the body is a soldier. Just from the light they are in, the somber mood and the presentation of the Flag’s colors. Each photo provides a sharp contrast; the rose against the white of the gloves and the sand sprinkled over them and the casket with the man in dress blues against the white room. In this the photos contrast their messages. Even though the images are so sad, so tearful, they also present a subtle hope for the future. They are lit by a bright light, which I take to mean the hope.

These images, when presented, can do a lot. I believe they will be used to enforce political opinion, share grief, show tragedy, and present hope. The images can be used for anything, as long as the correct words are placed behind them. That is the magic with photos…any view can be expressed with any photo that holds the correct atmosphere as these two do.

* Pulitzer awarded to photographer Todd Heisler of the Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colo.

Exploring The Sandbox

This time, instead of just reading the normal blogs posted in the sandbox page listed in our classroom expectations, I decided to explore the page a little bit. I read the most recent blogs that the soldiers had posted, and then discovered something interesting...in the top left corner you can search for things! (bear in mind I'm not computer savvy, so this was new) My Uncle David is a soldier who was recently in Iraq. He was not one of the men on the front line; he is a career soldier and is as high up as he can go without formal military training, but he was the head of convoys for his last deployment. Anyway, I thought I would search for his name, see if he ever posted on this.

I couldn't find his name, but I found a lot of other cool stuff. I did not realize this site had so much other information. I just assumed it was for military use. But they have everything there; news, politics, art and movies, they have a science page and technology page that list recent articles and advancements, they even have a shopping page!...more than I imagined from the site I deemed as the "Milblog home." I guess its just a matter of taking a step outside what you expect. I only thought this page was for the military and an area for the soldiers to express themselves. Instead, its a community with many different users and audiences. It is worth more clicking around.

Anyway, since I did read the soldier's posts, I feel its only right to share them with you, or share my opinions. From what these people have gone through, I believe they are entitled to that.

HAMID AND THE GIANT PURPLE LIZARD
This post was funny. It brought in some new ideas of faith, and how people will blindly accept what is told to them. The author of the post is talking to a friend who believes in the Qur’an. He is trying to convince this friend that everything one is told may not always be true, that a lot of things are based on faith. But the friend does not understand the idea of faith. So Doug(the author), tells a story about a seeing a giant purple lizard, asking if the friend believes him. Overall, it is a really interesting post about one man trying to explain to another man the idea of faith and how it interacts with life. I have had this dilemma myself, wondering about what I truly believe, but reading it from another perspective was reinforcing.

THE TALE OF TWO MOUNTAINS
This one was a really sad post from a man who lost one of his best friends in the war. About how guilty he feels and how hopeless in a tiring world. The man and his buddy went on two separate raids, both with similar missions and targets. One made it out alive, the other didn’t. He survived and feels guilty for that, because his raid was a fluke…unplanned, under manned, and completely unfocused. Whereas his buddy’s raid was by the book, perfect in any way possible, except the fact he died. These men go through so much, things no one can possibly understand. He said his hometown pinned him up as a hero…and how all he wanted was to forget. It is so hard, and I wish there was more to do for the men and women who sacrifice themselves in such a way. It seems like they tear their hearts out, and we expect them to just go on like nothing ever happened. Its sad.

Hey...Its All Politics

As bad as it does sound, I hate politics. I was never one to get into all the debates or watch the Presidential Addresses. To me, they were all more of an annoyance than something I should make time to be aware of. I disliked the fact that all that political candidates do is make empty promises that no one can guarantee will come true and to bash each other with no remorse. I never realized it was all part of speech strategy until I read the chapter in “Everything’s an Argument” and then browsed some of the political blog sites.

The site I choose to explore is http://wonkette.com/. At first, I was thoroughly confused. I had no idea what the site was about, or how to see what was going on behind all the photos and captions. Truthfully, I was ready to write of the assignment because I had no idea what to do, or even what the site was trying to say. But then I started to click around a little bit more, trying to forget my initial confusion to figure things out. And I realized the site is kind of like a huge blog. A photograph is posted with a caption or news story, and then people can comment on what had been written or was is going on in the world.

The author of the site pretty much lets people go where they want to go. These people post the main idea or topic they want to discuss and then let people go. Its not really a site where the author points out a set point or critiques other sites. Instead, they just post their own opinions, then allow comments. I think this is why I found the site so confusing at first. It is a jumble of links, each going in a different direction or idea. And nothing is definite. It is kind of a place where people can go to just bash or state opinions about what is happening in the political world.

One thing I did notice is that the authors use some of the techniques discussed in the textbook. No, they do not point out when one of these techniques is used in the news or in debates. Nor do they really explain what is going on. Instead, the authors write the little jabs out and assume the reader will understand the message. For example, one of the links I clicked on was about Hillary Clinton and the speech she gave where she “lost her voice and cried about it.” The author of this post put a photograph of Hillary speaking with the caption describing what happened. Then the jab “make no mistake, these tears were real, because the only thing the Clintons will truly cry about is not being able to hear the sound of their own voice.” This is a perfect example of ad hominem, where the author takes a jab at Hillary’s character to prove a point. The author is trying to say that the Clintons only care about themselves and their own opinions, no matter what the case.

The wonkette site has several different listings and blogs where people share their thoughts on political happenings. Each is different and individual, though with the ones I clicked on, none really pointed to direct fallacies in arguments. They used them, to be sure, but did not try to point out when others used them. It is interesting to see how people will twist what is said in the media though, to fit what he or she wants to hear. There were several instances where I clicked on a recent happening to see someone going on about how horrible a comment another person said/wrote was. But when I saw that same news clip, I thought something entirely different. It is kind of like the Straw Man detailed in the book. Someone will take a weak spot in an argument and completely blow it up or twist it to support their own thoughts.

I still do not like politics. I hate when people use these kinds of tricks to get what they want and to made people feel bad. Twisting around words, bashing someone’s character…they are all low tricks that should not be resorted to. Especially by those who have a chance to lead our government. People need an honest leader, one who knows values and does not need to stoop to with. But, it all goes with a grain of salt. One has to know and use these tactics to fight against other people who use them. I still believe, be it naïve or not, that these tactics should not be used. Known about, yes. One has to know them to fight them. But not used.

Wiki Thoughts

The Wiki project is very interesting. At first, I was daunted. I do not like the thought of personal blogs and such. It took me almost two years just to get a myspace page and now I have three…Myspace, Wiki, and the Blogspot. But now I have to say I am changing my opinions. Of course, I am still not all that sure about putting myself out there. But I am having a lot of fun designing my own space. I am sure once I get the hang of it, my Wiki will be awesome and completely reflect me.

Its almost like having something all to yourself. I can create what I want, and then delete it if it doesn’t fit quite right. I am still trying to work out all the bugs, so far my computer likes to freeze up when I download photos or try to add too many links, but I like it. It has potential to be able to share who we really are with everyone else. There are not any limits or parameters like in Myspace. So, here is my Wiki site: <http://nicholen.pbwiki.com>. Feel more than free to tell me what you think

Tears From the Sandbox

Sorry guys, you are going to have to stick with me on this one. Right now, I am a little emotional and all the posts I have read have really set me back. That is why my post is listed “Tears from the Sandbox.” Every single blog post I read from the Sandbox this week made me cry, and not just because of my emotional standpoint. They were truly all sad, in some way, shape and form. A little insight on my predicament: My aunt was just diagnosed with acute leukemia and was given a time limit of only a few weeks to enjoy life. This is the sixth time in four years my “family” (blood and friend extended) has had to deal with cancer and the face of death.

HOPE IS NOT A METHOD
This post was about a father who had to send his eldest son into the military. The father, a veteran himself, had just come back from the war front and was reminiscing on how it affected him. This father knows what his son will face and despite all instincts otherwise cannot save the son from war. The man posting showed his true feelings, the tug-of-war he was experiencing between hurt, sadness, pride, and joy. It is touching to note that a military man is not ashamed to cry or to feel for a child who will be hardened by the same experiences. And that was exactly what made me cry. Too many people fly through life and do not give a thought to others. That a father knows what his son will face, but still must let him go through it and does says a lot. The man cannot fight the war for his son, but must accept what his son has chosen; and that is to follow a great man’s footsteps.

THE FACES
This post was the killer. Right know, I am all to familiar with the hospital scene. The tubes and cables coming out of a loved one, hooking them up to all that keeps them alive and all that makes them different - foreign, the family, sitting around and wishing to God that a miracle will happen, and the doctors that go by, hardly even caring to look up. The fact that the RN nurse was the complete opposite threw me for a loop. She cared enough to stop with the family, to ease the pain of a grieving wife and mother who was sitting by and watching her husband fight for his life. She cared enough to share her story. I am not used to that. I am used to impersonal women and men who look through you, not at you. Men and women who pass by and do not care, because there is little to do for the creature in the bed, hooked up to machines. Then the fact the wounded man woke up…it was more than I could ever ask for. I am glad someone got the satisfaction of life out of a hospital. That someone lived and can now lead a life with those who sat by the bed, waiting and watching.

SUSPECT'S CREED

The quote is what jumped out most. “I will do what makes me proud. I will own up to my mistakes and embrace them because they will make the best memories.” I believe this is the same man that posted the rock music on his blog that my other classmates liked so much. Now, I cannot say I loved the man’s music, but I do enjoy his writing. I like it that he has somewhere to rant and say what he means. Everyone needs that. And he is so brutally honest. This is a man who will do what he knows and loves, he will stay true to himself and his buddies no matter what. But, all in all, he will not take crap from the superiors who “know best.” He will never be one of those men who say “yes sir!” no matter what the request. Instead, he will serve his years that he pledged, then go on with his life. He will honor the commitments he has made and get through it alive. I love his spirit, the fact he will live to the fullest. I wish that for everyone: Live your life…it’s a gift that has been given and should never be taken for granted.