The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome

In a seven page New York Times article, "The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome," it tells of a story, for example purposes, where a two year old pit bull was doused in gasoline and set alight. It later goes on to say that animal abusers are led to this because they were abused or have psychological issues and will later become much more dangerous consisting of homicide, drug trafficking, rape, spousal and child abuse, and other illegal matters. This article also tells us that policemen don't see animal abuse as a top priority because "they have enough stuff on their plate already," but their mentality is slowly starting to change.

The two year old pit bulls' case whose name was Phoenix was never solved and never fully looked into. Policemen working the case never engaged in a full-out investigation so therefore the abusers walked free.
The article told us that abusive parents had used animal cruelty as a way of controlling the behavior of others in the home. Animal abuse is basically a power-and-control crime. Also, if someone within the home sees a pet as a part of the family, the abuser will see this as intimidating and keep the subjects of his perceived realm in his thrall.

Children whom witness animal abuse may be a corrosive effect on their development and further toward the end of the article the author of this article tells us that animal-therapy programs draw on the same issues of power and control that can give rise to animal cruelty, but elegantly reverse them to more enlightened ends.

So What?! Who Cares?!

Ultimately what is at stake here is your life and the lives of other citizens. If an innocent bystander were killed because of your ignorance of what you choose to do behind the wheel of your car and you survive the accident, well your life will still be taken and spent behind bars. It is so simple to put your phone down and ignore it, rather than face any sort of consequence. An alarming statistic given by a man by the last me of Snyder is, "texting while driving is about six times more likely to result in an accident than driving while intoxicated." So what? And why would anyone care? It is a world wide catastrophe that has developed recognition nationally and that is why a new law states that texting while driving is now not allowed behind the wheel of a car. Statistics prove why and personal stories, which can easily be found anywhere, share the devastation of this illegality.

Analyzing: Driven to Distraction

I defiantly included "So What? Who Cares?" within my article Driven to Distraction. I included death and living with regret for the rest of the guilty texters' life if they were to cause an accidental murder. Who would not care about those difficult situations and feelings? I didn't really consider or include the positives to texting while driving mainly because there are none, that is why texting while driving is now against the law. I included words like 'alarmingly dangerous,' 'hazardous,' and 'wrongful death' which is surely able to grab a readers attention and persuasively adds why you should care about this partiular topic. It is dangerous and can easily be avoided.

Bank Overhaul

An article I have recently came across consisted of a man by the last name of Bernanke believing that bank overhaul will help smaller banks. The point I have just shared is basically that in a nut shell.

I can't say that I agree with this article. I say, leave the banks alone. If they fail, they fail, if they strive, then good for them. I cannot say enough that people need to let things BE! Example, the Libya situation, why in the world would Americans help other countries when we have so many struggling Americans within the United States. Help them, let other countries BE! I think the article was well written, I mean it gave me enough information to get on my soap box and say why I disagree with this article. I don't know whether we should disagree with how the article is written, but I do disagree with the content within the article, but the way it was written was fair and understandable.

Student-Parent-Teacher

I have chosen an article that discusses teachers receiving pink slips, getting laid off. One teacher says that for the last three years he has been hired and fired every year and it's very discouraging. About 120 parents, kids, and teachers have held signs after school to protest these pink slips that have been issued last week. It has become evident that the first lay offs are the music and art program and a parent shares that her child is gifted in music and they do not want to see the music program go under because it is enjoyed by many. In places it has been known to pink slip 24 out of 25 teachers which is unbelievable. The article also explains that because other classes are closing down and laying off teachers that other classes are filling up. Students, Parents, and Teachers also plan on protesting all of this week and through April.

I disagree and also agree with this article in some way. I agree with feeling as if the first classes to go are art and music, because who could get rid of something like English and History.. they are absolutely necessary for college and everyday life. I can see why people would be upset of course, because it would be good to have to class and not want it, then not have it and want to be in it and learn what it has to offer.
I disagree with the article by saying it is not fair to any teacher to get the scare of a lay off. I especially don't see it as right to punish just music and art teachers because of their chosen profession. I understand that music and art are key elements to some people and to a teacher I imagine they feel the same, so why fire them just because of what they teach. I don't see randomly handing out pink slips as a good thing, it could stress out any human being and for what? Just lessen everyone's pay.. it would make more sense.
It was a good article, it just had disagreeable and agreeable aspects that I felt necessary to harp on. It wasn't wishy washy, just a bit scattered with information, such as a school teacher saying one thing and then jumping to a whole different school and someone else saying a whole different thing, but it was a good article.

Only Child? Peachy!!

“But, but… it wasn’t me!!” I exclaimed, loudly to my “granddaughter-can-do-no-wrong,” grandma. “It was grandpa!!” I smoothly lied, adding a slight, smooth grin. “If I would have eaten the last brownie, I would have cleaned the dish it was in,” I tacked on quickly. I realized I was blabbing on and on, without allowing her to say one word, to my three claims. I didn’t care, I didn’t want to get caught and in all reality I wanted more brownies, minus the wonderful, under paid, dish washing job.

Growing Up, Minus Heighth

“What do you mean I’m not tall enough?!” questioning, as I threw an accused look at the, oh-so-jolly Ferris

Wheel worker. Have times changed since then? Negative, no way, and did I add nope?! I am a five foot nothing, fourteen year old looking girl, in high hopes of becoming a teacher, wandering the halls of a high school I have chosen to gain as much knowledge and practice, observing. “Are you a new student?!” the high school students inquire, who are quite taller and fairly more mature looking than I. “No,” I smile, as kindly as I could muster up. “Oh, are you the foreign exchange we heard about last week?” the eagerly ask.

"Forgotten"

“Who would’ve thought things would turn out this way?!” asked my former, very best friend, Sandra. I remember Sandra and I growing up, once upon a time ago, when boys, hair, make-up, size zero, money, nor drama was even a factor in our wonderful, free, and natural lives. Our biggest worry was, what time would dinner be ready and who can eat the most this time?! Now, after years of sharing secrets, wiping tears, and laughing until the wee hours of the night, I find my life to have changed tremendously and sadly, my former, very best friend Sandra, to be no where in sight.

"What's Your Point?!"

“Yes, I’m listening!!” I annoyingly confessed, after repeatedly getting hammered down on, by the lovely Mrs. Blackwell. I suppose it’s not polite to talk while the teacher is talking but, I honestly don’t see how atoms, molecules, and neutrons are relevant to my everyday life. “Well then, I guess you’ll be ready for tomorrow’s test, won’t you Miss Social-Butterfly?” sarcastically, stated Mrs. Blackwell. “Hm…” I pause, thinking, “if

it’s over tonight’s high school basketball game, then I’ll be sure to ace that sucker,” I regrettably spatted out, but only after it was far too late.

Unsolved Wishes..

I had begun to think that I knew exactly where my life was headed. Needless to say, I have been wrong many times. I guess my wishful thinking all started back when I was around the age of six years old, when Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty led me to believe that fairy tales really do come true, and there really are such things as talking critters and teacups. I remember bedtime as a young child, Thumper, my favorite orange and white, fluffy, stuffed animal rabbit lay by my side. Thumper, my trusted companion, every night I lay motionless, expecting Thumper to say something and every morning I woke up disappointed.

Ant Like.

       When I was nothing but a measly little sixth grader I was moved away from the only home and only school, with the only friends I had ever known. I was devastated, heart broken, and all of them other words that have the same meaning. I literally thought my life was coming to an end, and back then I prayed it would have. 
       I remember starting a new sixth grade, with new people, a new teacher, and totally new surroundings. I was nothing but a fly on the wall to them or an ant in the grass, I was nothing. I came in the middle of the year, January, when everything was happening.. basketball, softball, track, and many other curricular activities, and here I was a new student coming in to change things up for them. Granted, I made a friend here and there, but that's because I was good at the class 'speed games' and I was always wanted to be a partner for one of the students. I didn't mind, I was noticed. I only stayed at that school until May, and thank goodness. It was a nightmare.
       I then attended another new school, which I ended up staying only two years. I made some great friends, however, it didn't feel quite like home. I still felt ant-like. I felt like because I wasn't with these people from Kindergarten until now, then seventh grade, I wasn't cool enough. I was an outsider, and I truly was. I was never the type of girl to accept change. I always wanted a routine, and if I had plans I had to know them days in advance. So, when I started a whole new life, it was the toughest thing I had to go through, especially at a young age.
      I remember my ninth grade year. It was magical, wonderful, and downright fun, however it was scary, nerve racking, and just so much pressure. I was back to my home town with all my previous friends and all the same teachers... kinda. I was in high school so I knew none of the teachers, a handful of friends, and well, different surroundings. I was scared, again, I was a tiny any on a huge tree. I was noticed, but I was also looked at as a new student. People Change, looks, voice, personality, everything. I came back to my new, great school and had to learn everyone all over again. I don't regret coming back home and being small/ant-like made me who I am today, but taking all the unnecessary steps could have saved me alllllllllll the heart ache.

TOO MUCH SPOON!

Hi, I am an everyday house hold item, the wonderful and sturdy, spoon. I am always needed and when filled too much to the brim I spill over. I don't hold a bunch, but the stuff I do hold will never leak. I am sturdy, and rarely break able, unless I am in my plastic mood.
Basically, I would be a spoon because they are an everyday utensil and in reality I go and am summoned by everyone everyday. I take in a lot of junk and I hold an awful lot, but once I am already to the brim on my tolerance level and then once another huge thing happens, everything blows up and then my tolerance level is low and I can start all over again. I am sturdy like a spoon meaning I can do whatever and be okay and never complain. I can be pushed and won't budge or break, unless I'm in a "no bull crap" day such as a breakable plastic spoon.

Fortune Cookie :)

I love Chinese food!! If I were skilled in Chinese food making then I would probably have very little time to attend my college classes. I would also be about two hundred pounds heavier.
Not only is the food amazing, but after the wonderful meal we then get to partake in a very intense game, "choosing just the right fortune cookie." I take this game very seriously and live by my cookies' fortune closely. I literally take the "fortune" as my future destiny. So, dinner and a game makes for a great time. :)

Hate? No Thanks..

I hate, hate. Hating will get you no where.. and most people today really don't care who hates them or what people think about them so what's the point in making yourself miserable by the wonderful feeling of hatred. I despice the feeling of hatred and I also dislike seeing it on someones face. Why spend life unhappy? We aren't promised every single day.. why not find the happiness out of all the negative. If you find yourself trying extra hard to be happier then it will actually make life more bearable.
I will add, however, like the story "On the Pleasure Of Hating" said about spiders, I would absolutely kill a bug if I saw it crawling across the floor in front of me, despite what the author said. I may cause some spider or ant ill-will, but it was for good reason. I can honestly say I do not care for such insects as those. Also, I take great pleasure in knowing that a snake has been killed and if I were to be the one to do it, then kudos for me.

V. The Problem of Egotism.

     Hi. I'm Laramie, for those of you who might know me know that I am a very blunt human being. I am not shy in the least bit. If you do not know me, you will soon find out that I speak what is on my mind. I may get in trouble for it more often than not, but at least I'm living for me. 

     Do I have a response to those who might accuse me of vanity (for writing about myself my experiences and opinions)? Yes, I would have many responses. I would start with it's my life, my choices, and my experiences. If you wouldn't like to read it, then look away. On a sweeter note, I would also say what shame is it upon you to judge the life I live. If I have a vain moment would you not want to read about the juicy happenings, would you not find it interesting, not even a little, and maybe by some chance you could learn a lesson from my lesson before you even had to learn the lesson the hard way? Confusing, right. I am not the only person in the world who has had something to write about. I am not the only person in the world who has had a bad experience where someone probably thought of me as ignorant. I am however one of the few people in this world who is extremely content in my misfortunes, bad experiences, and lessons learned to understand that the world is not all cheerful and merry twenty-four seven. If I was too ashamed of my past to let people understand me for me and how I got to be "me" then how can I ever live a happy and fulfilling life. I believe the people who you hold close to your heart deserve to know every piece of anything that makes you, you. I would have a very huge response to being accused, and or being judged for writing anything about my life because no one is perfect and the one judging me would need to look in the mirror and ask if he/she was that big of a saint to judge another human being on their imperfections.

One of my Flaws..

    I am sad to say, but I have many many flaws.. I would say the one flaw that is literally killing me from the inside out, would have to be that I worry so gosh dang much about the tiniest things known to man. I have a huge OCD/worrying problem. I literally make myself sick over the smallest things, when normally a human would step right over the issue with not a backward glance, I look into it and overanalize it.

    Example: Hypothetically Speaking, a teacher makes a rude comment or something like that, depending on the day and how I feel I may only look into the comment ohhh, say five minutes, but if it's one of those "ugh" days I'll look into it for maybe a week. I may even have a dream about it, I may ask everyone I know what that comment could possibly mean and so on. I also am very OCD oriented. I am an organize and germ freak. I stress over clutter and certain things not in the right place. I'll grab the very last product on the back of the walmart shelf as for fear of too many people touching the product that I just so happen to need. I wish I could change this fun fact about me, but I just wouldn't even know where to begin or even think of where to start. It is literally eating me alive!!!

*MY PASSION*

     I am country bred, country raised, and will die country.. literally. I live on a big ranch, with all kinds of farm animals and it is clear to people that my passion is, the farm life. I love walking out of my house and knowing I have free reign of life on the farm. I have fresh air, room to run, and I am an animal freak... ironic eh? I say I was taught this way. I can only remember living in town a short while and let me tell you, that short while was just entirely too long. I always wanted a profession helping animals, however my brain is not smart enough to acquire those type of chemistry skills... don't believe me? Just ask it a chemistry question, I guarantee you you will get an off the wall, not even close, not making sense kind of answer.
     I live with my grandparents who are responsible for my country-fied upbringing. I wouldn't have it any other way of course. I love feeding and taking care of the animals, I love summer long farm vacations, which are actually not vacations at all. In the ranch living it is a 365 dawn until dusk kind of job, which is okay with me. I thank God for being stuck out in the middle of no where where there is rarely a neighbor to be seen, rarely anyone to hear me conversate (with myself occasionally), and rarely any crime and too close spaces with people I have never even seen or met before. I am a proud country bred, country raised, country die kind of chick. It made me who I am today and I wouldn't change that for anything in the world, ever.

Jewel :)

This is Jewel.

Jewel, also happens to be the love of my life. I had gotten her in Jenks, Oklahoma when she was just five weeks old and have fallen in love with her every day since then. Yes, I realize she is just a dog, but she is my baby. She just recently turned four on January the sixth. Jewel is all black, except for a strip of white, which is located on her chest area. She is a Long-Haired Chihuahua and she only weighs six pounds. I named her Jewel because she is in fact my own perfect Jewel. :)