Blog #2 Success question

Question: What is success?

I define success as a display of character, integrity, and humility. Success is born from leading a purposeful life. Victory over temptation, diligence in difficult times, patience in frustrating moments are all examples of what I consider successes. The success of life does not come from money or fame, but from the experience of working hard and staying devoted to a purpose. Wealth, power, and fame are not successes, but could be the results of success. True accomplishments are ones that took the strength of the heart and conviction of the mind to achieve.

Blog #1 Catastrophe of Success

I think that this essay was written extremely well. The ideas and analogies all focus around the downfall called success and explained just what aspect of success is so terrible. Speaking from a literary standpoint, the chronological order of the events explained and the individual meaning of those events are shown and illustrated very vividly. The "Catastrophe of Success" showed how repulsive the luxury that comes from success is and how the author realized how the comfort and service he received were actually taking the vivacity and purpose from his life. He finishes his piece off with giving the idea that life is only worth living when truly lived.

Poem

Solve

Come on now,

The question gives you three variables

And you have three equations to use

Don’t tell me you can’t figure it out

If you cannot solve this mere question,

How will you ever correct a problem?

Unable to correct a problem

what will you do for a tragedy?

You are fool because you think yourself a fool,

Neither intelligence nor aptitude inherits wisdom,

But a clear and prudent mind gains that imperishable gift,

So do not shackle yourself to the image you have of yourself,

Be free to grow and prosper in your heart and mind,

Learn to manage what you have and what you need,

I can teach you how to solve for three variables with three equations,

But you must allow yourself to learn to apply that in life evermore.

Blog #10: Are you an organized person?

Sometimes. I am organized enough. Being organized helps keep my leisure time. With more leisure time, I can relax more. If I relax more, I can live longer. If I live longer, I can do more good in the world. If I do more good in the world..... Well, I just want to do good in the world. Through organization, I can do more good. Furthermore, organization can allow me to do good more efficiently, diligently, and successfully. Still, it's hard to be organized. Probably because good things don't come easy.

Blog #9 News Log

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/alabama-fan-face-sign-instant-internet-hit-172350668.html

     To distract free throw shooters in basketball games, people have brought in enlarged pictures of different celebrities or known people before. Now, Jack Blackenship brought in an enlarged picture of his face to distract the players' shots and it has gained a lot of internet attention. He has actually gained recognition and a little fame. He says he intends on getting new images to hold up in the games to keep things new and original. One of the possibilities he mentioned was his dog's face.

     I see why people would do something as strange as that, but honestly, I would prefer that people do not. While the side effect of such gags is humor, its main purpose is to distract the players. That just takes the fun and the glory of winning a game. Have no doubt, a victory will still feel sweet, but would it not taste so much sweeter if you knew that all of the players, both of home and away teams, played to their fullest capabilities with determination and focus? C.S. Lewis once wrote, "'...Has not one of the poets said that a noble friend is the best gift and a noble enemy the next best?'" This is the mentality that people should have. No jeering or mocking after games, but just commendations of how well each team performed and the amount of effort they put in.

Blog #8: Happy Valentine's Day

Before testosterone hit me, when I was in elementary school, I had a crush. There was this korean girl and I only liked her because my best friend liked her. It was pretty funny. I think she was pretty. I can't really remember. My other friend told me that, this one time, I was chasing her around the playground and she got her finger stuck in the chains of the swing set and an accident occurred. I am not sure what happened, but my friend told me that she broke her finger and the bone was sticking out. Personally, I don't remember this so I do not know if it is true, but he seemed pretty certain.

Blog #5: News Log

http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2012/02/hey_bergen_county_clean_the_snow_off_your_cars.html

The article is about how Bergen county has the highest number of tickets given out due to snow being left on top of cars. The number of tickets given out in Bergen county is astronomically different from all of the other counties'. The reason is unclear as to why this is. Perhaps every other county just does not care as much about this traffic infraction as Bergen county does or perhaps every other county just does a better job of dusting their cars before they drive.

I think that this is not as important as the war on terror, but I think abiding by the laws of the road is worth doing. Even though dusting a car's roof for snow may be inconvenient, it is safe practice and may save from a ticket in Bergen county. It may be cumbersome, but it is better to be safe than sorry.


Star-Ledger graphic, emphasis added.