There's a light sound of chattering as you pass each classroom door. The molding sea foam green halls are filled with a sort of calm, peaceful silence. All of a sudden, a loud bell rings throughout the school and within seconds, a large crowd of students fill each open space. Locker doors are being slammed ready to fall apart, and laughter is echoing throughout, as students rush to their next class. Half of the school is undergoing renovation which causes the smell of tar and rubber to linger in the hallways. The school has only one story and is particularly small compared to other high schools in the district. It was built in 1949 and named after the third president of the Republic of Texas, Mirabeau B. Lamar. The outside surroundings are just as appealing as the interior of the school. The grass seems like it hasn’t been tend to for awhile and the outside walls are filled with mold in the cracks. The roads that lead to this school are small and need reconstructing as well. To outsiders, it may seem like the roads are leading them to their final moments of their life. This isn’t the type of school that every kid would dream about attending.
But it was somewhere I had no choice to be. This was my high school and obviously I was not happy with it. It didn’t really matter though; school just seemed like a place where I just go for my education. I wasn't exactly the popular girl but I managed to find myself a few close friends that I enjoyed spending my time with. One was my best friend Michael. Being around him was so comforting for me because I felt I could truly just be myself. Around everyone else I would be typically shy and reserved. I constantly struggled with confidence issues, but around him I could just really let loose and he would accept me either way. Michael was a hard worker when it came to school. He was the top 5% of our class. He just has that natural smart thing that some of us unlucky ones lack. Although, his only flaw was that he always seemed a little reserved when it came to girls. Most of his friends that I knew of him hanging out with were typically guys. I’ve never actually seen him with a girlfriend and the only girl I’ve known him to even really get close with was me.
In a way, I think me and Michael got along because we were somehow alike and that’s why we became such good friends. We both had a hard time when it came to meeting new people. I remember I would always be too scared to approach someone. As I would walk towards them, there would be a thousand questions running through my head like, “Is there anything on my face,” or “Okay, what should I say that would really get them to like me?” I had major confidence and inferiority issues that I just couldn’t get rid of, but who didn’t during high school, right?
Well, I graduated in May and summer had finally ended. I was finished with saying my goodbyes to my friends that were moving out of town and to the ones that were staying in Houston. On the way driving to Austin, I felt a little fear and sadness. I wished so much I could just stay with my friends and go back to my normal routine, but I guess everyone needs a little change once in awhile. Everything was unpacked into my cramped, box-like dorm room. As my family was waving goodbye while they drove off, I felt a little tear roll down my cheek. I was definitely not ready to begin this journey called, "college" at University of Texas.
The alarm went off at the same time as my next door neighbor's. The walls were so thin that I could hear every little step that was being taken next door. I took a deep breath and started to get ready for my first class, pre-calculus. As I walked through campus searching which building I was supposed to be in, I saw all these upperclassman walking steadily past me trying to get to their next class. I felt so lost and little, like a freshman would. I finally arrived at my class to find out that I wasn't even on the roster. Turns out that they never received my transcripts that showed I took extra classes in the summer. Then, I realized that because I'm not on the roster for pre-calculus, then I probably wasn't on the roster for chemistry as well. At that point, I started to panic like no other. It was my first day of school and I was about to lose 6 hours when I didn't even have a backup plan! I ran back to my dorm and quickly got onto the computer to search for classes that were still available to sign up for. Of course, there were none that sparked my interest, but at that point all I had in mind was to get my full 12 hours. What a way to start off the first day of school.
A few days later I got things situated, they did end up receiving my transcripts and I was able to take the classes that I wanted to. Things weren't all happy go lucky for me just yet. I was still alone and had a bad case of home sickness. Being the shy girl that I was, I felt it was impossible to adjust to a new city and meet tons of people. Organization fair came along a few days after school started and I decided that it was time for me to just put myself out there. So, I signed up for Filipino Student Association. To a few, it was a little confusing on why I chose this organization among all the other ones. First, I am not Filipino, I am actually Chinese. Second, I chose this organization over Chinese Student Association. Well, let me explain. I remember in high school I saw videos online of hip hop dance competitions taken place at Goodphil. I later learned that the competitions are just among college students that were part of FSA from different parts of Texas. I wanted to dance and at the same time if I were to meet a Filipino boy along the way, it wouldn't hurt.
As months went by, I started meeting more people and joining more organizations. I became part of the promotional committee in ABSA (Asian Business Students Association) and an active member in FSA. I started feeling comfortable approaching people and introducing myself. I noticed a change from that little Chinese girl at Lamar high school. Since I started college, I never felt apprehension before I approached someone and introduced myself. It felt as if I reached nirvana and I was just in such a comforting state. I noticed a change in Michael too. He was getting girls left and right and just seemed totally different from the Michael I once knew in high school. The way he dressed, and just the way the presented himself was new to me. I guess college made an impact on him as well.
I don't know what it is about college. Somehow it has that effect on people not to become a better person, but someone with a little more confidence. I am able to just speak my mind now and meet tons of people without feeling like their judging me. Looking back on how I was in high school, I feel a sort of regret not being able to really get to know more people. However, I am glad on what I’ve become today as a college student.
UT Goodphil '07
I ended up becoming one of the dancers; I'm the girl in the white skirt.
12.02.2007
11.19.2007
It's A Whole New World
Summer had finally ended. I was finished with saying my goodbyes to my friends that were moving out of town and to the ones that were staying in Houston. On the way driving to Austin, I feel a little fear and sadness. I wished so much I could just stay with my friends and go back to my normal routine, but I guess everyone needs a little change once in awhile. Everything was unpacked into my cramped, box-like dorm room. As my family was waving goodbye while they drove off, I feel a little tear roll down my cheek. I was definitely not ready to begin this journey called, "college" at University of Texas.
The alarm goes off at the same time as my next door neighbor's. The walls are so thin that I could hear every little step that’s being taken next door. I take a deep breath and start to get ready for my first class, pre-calculus. As I walk through campus searching which building I'm supposed to be in, I see all these upperclassman walking steadily past me trying to get to their next class. I felt so lost and little, like a freshman would. I finally arrived at my class to find out that I wasn't even on the roster. Turns out that they never received my transcripts that showed I took extra classes in the summer. Then, I realized that because I'm not on the roster for pre-calculus, then I'm probably not on the roster for chemistry as well. At this point, I'm starting to panic like no other. It's my first day of school and I'm about to lose 6 hours when I didn't even have a backup plan! I ran back to my dorm and quickly got onto the computer to search for classes that were still available to sign up for. Of course, there were none that sparked my interest, but at this point all I had in mind was to get my full 12 hours. What a day to start the first day of school.
A few days later I got things situated, they did end up receiving my transcripts and I was able to take the classes that I wanted to. Things weren't all happy go lucky for me just yet. I was still alone and had a bad case of home sickness. Being the shy girl that I am, I felt it was impossible to adjust to a new city and meet tons of people. Organization fair came along a few days after school started and I decided that it’s time for me to just put myself out there. So, I signed up for Filipino Student Association. To a few, it was a little confusing on why I chose this organization among all the other ones. First, I am not Filipino, I am actually Chinese. Second, I chose this organization over Chinese Student Association. Well, let me explain. I remember in high school I saw videos online of hip hop dance competitions taken place at Goodphil. I later learned that the competitions are just among college students that were part of FSA from different parts of Texas. I forgot to mention that I absolutely love to dance, so that was the main motivation of joining this group. I wanted to dance and at the same time if I were to meet a Filipino boy along the way, it wouldn't hurt.
As months went by, I started meeting more people and joining more organizations. I became part of the promotional committee in ABSA (Asian Business Students Association) and an active member in FSA. I started feeling comfortable approaching people and introducing myself. I noticed a change from the little Chinese girl in high school.
The alarm goes off at the same time as my next door neighbor's. The walls are so thin that I could hear every little step that’s being taken next door. I take a deep breath and start to get ready for my first class, pre-calculus. As I walk through campus searching which building I'm supposed to be in, I see all these upperclassman walking steadily past me trying to get to their next class. I felt so lost and little, like a freshman would. I finally arrived at my class to find out that I wasn't even on the roster. Turns out that they never received my transcripts that showed I took extra classes in the summer. Then, I realized that because I'm not on the roster for pre-calculus, then I'm probably not on the roster for chemistry as well. At this point, I'm starting to panic like no other. It's my first day of school and I'm about to lose 6 hours when I didn't even have a backup plan! I ran back to my dorm and quickly got onto the computer to search for classes that were still available to sign up for. Of course, there were none that sparked my interest, but at this point all I had in mind was to get my full 12 hours. What a day to start the first day of school.
A few days later I got things situated, they did end up receiving my transcripts and I was able to take the classes that I wanted to. Things weren't all happy go lucky for me just yet. I was still alone and had a bad case of home sickness. Being the shy girl that I am, I felt it was impossible to adjust to a new city and meet tons of people. Organization fair came along a few days after school started and I decided that it’s time for me to just put myself out there. So, I signed up for Filipino Student Association. To a few, it was a little confusing on why I chose this organization among all the other ones. First, I am not Filipino, I am actually Chinese. Second, I chose this organization over Chinese Student Association. Well, let me explain. I remember in high school I saw videos online of hip hop dance competitions taken place at Goodphil. I later learned that the competitions are just among college students that were part of FSA from different parts of Texas. I forgot to mention that I absolutely love to dance, so that was the main motivation of joining this group. I wanted to dance and at the same time if I were to meet a Filipino boy along the way, it wouldn't hurt.
As months went by, I started meeting more people and joining more organizations. I became part of the promotional committee in ABSA (Asian Business Students Association) and an active member in FSA. I started feeling comfortable approaching people and introducing myself. I noticed a change from the little Chinese girl in high school.
11.11.2007
Michael
I’m not exactly the popular girl but I managed to find myself a few close friends that I enjoy spending my time with. One is my best friend Michael. Being around him was so comforting for me because I felt I could truly just be myself. Around everyone else I would be typically shy and reserved. I constantly struggled with inferiority and confidence issues, but around him I could just really let loose and he would accept me either way. He’s a 5”7 Vietnamese boy who has a rather built body and frequently wears tight shirts to show it off, which I like to poke fun at. Because of his built body, he was always really healthy. You would almost never find him with junk food in his hand. We had almost all our classes together and he would always be the one helping me study while I was the one entertaining him during our study breaks. He wasn’t exactly the class clown, but at the same time he did things in class that showed he really didn’t care what the teacher thought of him. For example, when we were in history class, he likes to randomly yell out things that make the teacher really annoyed and he would just laugh it off with the rest of the class. Looking at his actions, you get the impression that he’s not exactly the smartest person you’d meet, but ironically he probably is. Michael is a hard worker when it comes to school. He was the top 5% of our class and one day inspired to be a dentist. He just has that natural smart thing that some of us unlucky ones lack.
Although it seemed like he was pretty outgoing with his classmates and generally well rounded as a person, he always seemed a little reserved when it came to girls or meeting my friends. I remember I asked him to come over to my friend’s house one night and when he arrived he just secluded himself to one side of the room. It wasn’t the same Michael I seemed to know in school. It was like once he stepped out of those walls, he suddenly became this shy boy whom I’ve never met. Most of his friends that I knew of him hanging out with were typically guys. There were a few girls here and there but he met them all through his older sister. I’ve never actually seen him with a girlfriend and the only girl I’ve known him to even really get close with was me.
Although it seemed like he was pretty outgoing with his classmates and generally well rounded as a person, he always seemed a little reserved when it came to girls or meeting my friends. I remember I asked him to come over to my friend’s house one night and when he arrived he just secluded himself to one side of the room. It wasn’t the same Michael I seemed to know in school. It was like once he stepped out of those walls, he suddenly became this shy boy whom I’ve never met. Most of his friends that I knew of him hanging out with were typically guys. There were a few girls here and there but he met them all through his older sister. I’ve never actually seen him with a girlfriend and the only girl I’ve known him to even really get close with was me.
11.05.2007
ready, SET, go!
There's a light sound of chattering as you pass each classroom door. The sea foam green halls are filled with a sort of calm, peaceful silence. All of a sudden, a loud bell rings throughout the school and within seconds, a large crowd of diverse students fill each open space. Locker doors are being slammed, and laughter is echoing throughout, as students rush to their next class. The lockers are slowly rusting at the edges after years of being used numerous times. Half of the school is undergoing renovation which causes the smell of tar and rubber to linger in the hallways. The desks in each classroom seems like they were from the stone ages, slowly breaking apart bit by bit. Chalkboards are hardly they’re original color, covered with chalk dust or writings from a lecture. It’s difficult to pay attention in class when you look up and just see dead insects lying within the light fixtures.
The school has only one story and is particularly small compared to other high schools in the district. It was built in 1949 and named after the third president of the Republic of Texas, Mirabeau B. Lamar. The outside surroundings are just as appealing as the interior of the school. The grass seems like it hasn’t been tend to for awhile and the outside walls are filled with mold in the cracks. The roads that lead to this school are small and need reconstructing as well. To outsiders, it may seem like the roads are leading them to their final moments of their life. This isn’t the type of school that every kid would dream about attending.
The school has only one story and is particularly small compared to other high schools in the district. It was built in 1949 and named after the third president of the Republic of Texas, Mirabeau B. Lamar. The outside surroundings are just as appealing as the interior of the school. The grass seems like it hasn’t been tend to for awhile and the outside walls are filled with mold in the cracks. The roads that lead to this school are small and need reconstructing as well. To outsiders, it may seem like the roads are leading them to their final moments of their life. This isn’t the type of school that every kid would dream about attending.
10.23.2007
An Inconvenient Truth: A Summarization and A Response
We are constantly struggling with problems we face every day. Some of us are dealing with deaths, and others are dealing with studying for a mid-term. We focus on things that effects us today or tomorrow, but what we don't realize is that every day we struggle with the same problem that seems like it’s never going away. We are blinded by it because its effect is so slow that we feel like it will never become a major disaster we have to face. But in fact, it is a major disaster. Global warming is slowing tearing bits and pieces of our home away. We, the people, are the contributors to global warming and we, the people, are the only ones who can stop it.
Everyone has a general idea of what global warming can do, but I believe that no one really has a firm understanding of it. Al Gore's documentary entitled, An Inconvenient Truth, really opens our eyes and shows us how much global warming can harm our planet. He starts off his documentary by giving a general explanation of what global warming actually is. He then emphasizes the great impact it has by comparing past and present pictures of various landforms. If you notice in the pictures, the present-day landforms seem like its slowly withering away. The ice that once covered the beautiful Kilimanjaro has now disappeared leaving it to look decaying. This effect is worldwide; the mountainous regions of Italy, Peru, and Argentina are getting the same results. Gore pointed out that forty percent of the world's population gets its water source from the glaciers of Nepal. Could you imagine what would happen to that forty percent once global warming causes those glaciers to disappear forever?
Gore continues his documentary with various graphs and charts showing the different effects of global warming over the years. Almost all of the graphs he uses show dramatic changes. One graph I particularly remember is the growth of carbon dioxide concentration, which is related to the high temperatures in the atmosphere. He stressed the rapid increase by showing it literally going off the chart. Within less of fifty years of unrestricted fossil fuel burning, the concentration of carbon dioxide will be so high that Earth would be unlivable.
In parts of his documentary, Gore shares with us a little more of his personal life, starting with his 6-year-old son’s accident. He describes the hardship he faced during the accident but also what he learned from it: “what we take for granted might not be here for our children”. He also tells us of his child life and his life on the farm with his dad. I think he adds these small reminiscing parts to somehow connect with his main points of global warming. In a way, it makes us more emotional and realizes all the things we have to lose and the things that our future children will never get to experience if we let global warming take it all away.
For the remainder of his documentary, Gore shows not only the effects it has on us, but also the effects it has on the animals and their habitats. For example, the glaciers act like mirrors. The sun rays hit the glaciers and then bounce off and aim for the Earth’s atmosphere. As the sun rays hit the glaciers, it slowly melts them away each time. Scientists have found proof that polar bears are drowning from swimming more than 60 miles just looking for ice. Global warming also causes a shift in seasons. A study was done from the Netherlands. Twenty-five years ago, the normal arrival of migratory birds was April 25th and their eggs were to be hatched on June 3rd, just in time for the caterpillars to come out. However, after twenty years of warming, the caterpillars peaked two weeks earlier than the birds. It left the baby birds born with nothing to eat. Global warming doesn’t stop at leaving its effect on animals; it also affects plants and the growth of infectious diseases. For example, the pine beetle that lived in the pine trees was normally killed during the winter. Since there are fewer days of frost, more and more pine beetles are surviving and eating away at the trees. Thirty new infectious diseases have emerged just in the last quarter century and the vectors of these infectious diseases have increased as well.
As the documentary comes to an end, Gore shows the effects it has on different countries if we don’t act now. He presents a map and a percentage of contribution each continent has on global warming showing us that U.S contributes 30.3%, which makes us the largest contributor in the world. He finishes the documentary by listing different ways we can fix this growing problem by making small changes in our lives, like recycling.
I believe for anyone who wants to make a change in the world and leave their footprints, this is a great documentary to start off with. It really opens your eyes on something that’s so hard to see because of its slow effects. With this documentary, Al Gore tries to reach out to everyone from young adults to senior citizens. With a short cartoon clip that resembles the same type of drawings from the Simpsons, he connects with a younger audience to spark their interest and actually listen to what he has to say. As for the older viewers, throughout the whole documentary, he emphasizes how important it is to be able to save something for our future children. By using the graphs, pictures, and clips, he shows the dramatic effects this one problem can cause, and by doing so, it catches the audience’s attention and motivates them to do something about it.
The only weakness that I can point out in this documentary is the lack of current information on global warming. All the data that Gore provides goes a few years back. Has any participation on the aid of reducing global warming somewhat lessen the likeliness of its continuing harm of our planet? There are other questions along with that one, which I wish he could’ve answered. For example, is there any other way other than this documentary that we can communicate globally on this issue? Although there is a lack of answers he provides to frequent questions that may be asked by the viewer, this documentary is successful on stressing the importance of its topic. Usually, one would probably fall asleep in the first 10 minutes of a documentary of a topic they weren’t familiar with; however Gore added his personal life and humor to make it more engaging. All in all, I enjoyed this documentary because it did succeed in moving me and inspiring me to change my daily habits that could harm the Earth.
In sum, Al Gore’s documentary is important because it involves our existence. It helps people all over the world understand that this is a problem we face together, and together we need to fix it. We need not do it just for ourselves, but also for our future children so that they can be born into a world that is actually livable.
Everyone has a general idea of what global warming can do, but I believe that no one really has a firm understanding of it. Al Gore's documentary entitled, An Inconvenient Truth, really opens our eyes and shows us how much global warming can harm our planet. He starts off his documentary by giving a general explanation of what global warming actually is. He then emphasizes the great impact it has by comparing past and present pictures of various landforms. If you notice in the pictures, the present-day landforms seem like its slowly withering away. The ice that once covered the beautiful Kilimanjaro has now disappeared leaving it to look decaying. This effect is worldwide; the mountainous regions of Italy, Peru, and Argentina are getting the same results. Gore pointed out that forty percent of the world's population gets its water source from the glaciers of Nepal. Could you imagine what would happen to that forty percent once global warming causes those glaciers to disappear forever?
Gore continues his documentary with various graphs and charts showing the different effects of global warming over the years. Almost all of the graphs he uses show dramatic changes. One graph I particularly remember is the growth of carbon dioxide concentration, which is related to the high temperatures in the atmosphere. He stressed the rapid increase by showing it literally going off the chart. Within less of fifty years of unrestricted fossil fuel burning, the concentration of carbon dioxide will be so high that Earth would be unlivable.
In parts of his documentary, Gore shares with us a little more of his personal life, starting with his 6-year-old son’s accident. He describes the hardship he faced during the accident but also what he learned from it: “what we take for granted might not be here for our children”. He also tells us of his child life and his life on the farm with his dad. I think he adds these small reminiscing parts to somehow connect with his main points of global warming. In a way, it makes us more emotional and realizes all the things we have to lose and the things that our future children will never get to experience if we let global warming take it all away.
For the remainder of his documentary, Gore shows not only the effects it has on us, but also the effects it has on the animals and their habitats. For example, the glaciers act like mirrors. The sun rays hit the glaciers and then bounce off and aim for the Earth’s atmosphere. As the sun rays hit the glaciers, it slowly melts them away each time. Scientists have found proof that polar bears are drowning from swimming more than 60 miles just looking for ice. Global warming also causes a shift in seasons. A study was done from the Netherlands. Twenty-five years ago, the normal arrival of migratory birds was April 25th and their eggs were to be hatched on June 3rd, just in time for the caterpillars to come out. However, after twenty years of warming, the caterpillars peaked two weeks earlier than the birds. It left the baby birds born with nothing to eat. Global warming doesn’t stop at leaving its effect on animals; it also affects plants and the growth of infectious diseases. For example, the pine beetle that lived in the pine trees was normally killed during the winter. Since there are fewer days of frost, more and more pine beetles are surviving and eating away at the trees. Thirty new infectious diseases have emerged just in the last quarter century and the vectors of these infectious diseases have increased as well.
As the documentary comes to an end, Gore shows the effects it has on different countries if we don’t act now. He presents a map and a percentage of contribution each continent has on global warming showing us that U.S contributes 30.3%, which makes us the largest contributor in the world. He finishes the documentary by listing different ways we can fix this growing problem by making small changes in our lives, like recycling.
I believe for anyone who wants to make a change in the world and leave their footprints, this is a great documentary to start off with. It really opens your eyes on something that’s so hard to see because of its slow effects. With this documentary, Al Gore tries to reach out to everyone from young adults to senior citizens. With a short cartoon clip that resembles the same type of drawings from the Simpsons, he connects with a younger audience to spark their interest and actually listen to what he has to say. As for the older viewers, throughout the whole documentary, he emphasizes how important it is to be able to save something for our future children. By using the graphs, pictures, and clips, he shows the dramatic effects this one problem can cause, and by doing so, it catches the audience’s attention and motivates them to do something about it.
The only weakness that I can point out in this documentary is the lack of current information on global warming. All the data that Gore provides goes a few years back. Has any participation on the aid of reducing global warming somewhat lessen the likeliness of its continuing harm of our planet? There are other questions along with that one, which I wish he could’ve answered. For example, is there any other way other than this documentary that we can communicate globally on this issue? Although there is a lack of answers he provides to frequent questions that may be asked by the viewer, this documentary is successful on stressing the importance of its topic. Usually, one would probably fall asleep in the first 10 minutes of a documentary of a topic they weren’t familiar with; however Gore added his personal life and humor to make it more engaging. All in all, I enjoyed this documentary because it did succeed in moving me and inspiring me to change my daily habits that could harm the Earth.
In sum, Al Gore’s documentary is important because it involves our existence. It helps people all over the world understand that this is a problem we face together, and together we need to fix it. We need not do it just for ourselves, but also for our future children so that they can be born into a world that is actually livable.
10.14.2007
The Heartbreak Kid
The Heartbreak Kid is a comedy filled with dirty humor, love, and Mexican food shooting out of a nose. How can you really determine if you like a film if it starts off so well but ends so badly? If those are the kind of films that you like, then this movie is definitely for you.
It starts off with a guy named Eddie (Ben Stiller), a 40-year-old bachelor who refuses to get married. He has a horny father (Jerry Stiller) and a "happily married" friend (Rob Corddry) who blames him to be too picky about women and urges him to just "tie the knot". Later on into the movie, he meets a beautiful blonde named Lila (Malin Akerman). Things were going well for the both of them until 6 weeks later she tells him her researching company is shipping her off to Germany. To stop the move, they get hitched. Not only until during their trip to their honeymoon site, did Eddie realize he might have made a huge mistake. Lila became this ditzy, vulgar woman who has a deviated septum, so is constantly shooting objects of food out of her nose. This is one of the comedic highlights that saved this movie from being a total disaster.
Shortly after arriving to their Mexican resort, Eddie instantly finds a cute brunette (Michelle Monaghan) he's interested in. However, he doesn't pursue anything with her until after Lila gets a horrific sunburn by not applying sun tan lotion. She stays in and rests while Eddie is out mingling with the other woman. At this point of the movie, it seems like the general message is, "there is such thing as love at first sight". However, this "love" doesn't last very long because, of course, Eddie gets caught. Months later he tries to rekindle the love with the cute brunette. When they meet again, he lies about another marriage he is in. The ending of this movie totally diminished the general message and it leaves audiences with the thought, "this movie was pointless".
Like I said, if you want to see a movie that starts off well but ends on a sour note, then this movie fits the criteria perfectly. The comedic performance that each actor added to the film did make the movie worth watching. However, the plot and the conclusion didn't. This movie didn't make me want to get my money back, but it's not a movie I would watch again. It wouldn't be a total waste of your time, but prepare for an ending that might not meet you satisfactory level.
It starts off with a guy named Eddie (Ben Stiller), a 40-year-old bachelor who refuses to get married. He has a horny father (Jerry Stiller) and a "happily married" friend (Rob Corddry) who blames him to be too picky about women and urges him to just "tie the knot". Later on into the movie, he meets a beautiful blonde named Lila (Malin Akerman). Things were going well for the both of them until 6 weeks later she tells him her researching company is shipping her off to Germany. To stop the move, they get hitched. Not only until during their trip to their honeymoon site, did Eddie realize he might have made a huge mistake. Lila became this ditzy, vulgar woman who has a deviated septum, so is constantly shooting objects of food out of her nose. This is one of the comedic highlights that saved this movie from being a total disaster.
Shortly after arriving to their Mexican resort, Eddie instantly finds a cute brunette (Michelle Monaghan) he's interested in. However, he doesn't pursue anything with her until after Lila gets a horrific sunburn by not applying sun tan lotion. She stays in and rests while Eddie is out mingling with the other woman. At this point of the movie, it seems like the general message is, "there is such thing as love at first sight". However, this "love" doesn't last very long because, of course, Eddie gets caught. Months later he tries to rekindle the love with the cute brunette. When they meet again, he lies about another marriage he is in. The ending of this movie totally diminished the general message and it leaves audiences with the thought, "this movie was pointless".
Like I said, if you want to see a movie that starts off well but ends on a sour note, then this movie fits the criteria perfectly. The comedic performance that each actor added to the film did make the movie worth watching. However, the plot and the conclusion didn't. This movie didn't make me want to get my money back, but it's not a movie I would watch again. It wouldn't be a total waste of your time, but prepare for an ending that might not meet you satisfactory level.
10.07.2007
Professors asking students not to bring laptops to class: A Response to Amy Rolph
It's something I always looked forward to when entering college. I was so relieved when I no longer had to deal with hand cramps and nasty blisters on my fingers. My laptop saved my life. I can still remember how excited I was when I heard that I could finally put my quick typing skill to use. The thought of me not having to deal with taking my time to actually write out notes was the best feeling. So, what I want to know is, why are professors even discussing of banning them from class?
Amy Rolph, a Seattle Post-Intelligencer, wrote an article for the Houston Chronicle discussing why professors of Seattle Pacific University are considering banning all electronic devices from class, especially laptops. She states that the professors believe that these devices "interferes with learning on several levels". She first introduces the many reasons that SPU professors are providing to support their ideas. They believe that in general, it's just a matter of courtesy. Professor Kenman Wong states that students should "be courteous by paying attention during his lectures", rather than typing away at their laptop. Another reason for the ban is that laptops may ironically effect their note taking skills. SPU professors are concerned that laptops resort to students actually "tak[ing] down every word" instead of actually attentively listening and writing down the important facts. However, not all professors are standing behind this new idea. Some on the other hand, believe that banning them is too drastic, especially with all the classrooms now being equipped with wireless Internet access. Others believe that some of the data that students come across online actually improves their level of thinking and aids in the improvement of class discussions. Although some of the professors provides good reasons on banning laptops in classrooms, I believe that by taking away these devices, they are equivalently taking away our pens and pencils.
The points that the SPU professors provide is very true. It is very rude when someone is trying to talk to you and you type away on Myspace or Gmail. I understand that because students do this often, professors get the idea that they are simply talking to themselves and wasting their time. As for laptops effecting a student's note taking ability, I believe it could cause a problem. Because students have the ability to type very quickly today, it does become a habit to just type every word they hear because they can. I, a student, am guilty of all these things. There are times I get so bored in class that every now and then I'll open Gmail and check my e-mail or send one out.
The professors are overlooking the positive and focusing more on the negative qualities these devices have. Yes, it causes distractions and the learning process through note-taking, but what about it providing more information on the things we're learning. Technology is growing faster and faster that you could find anything on the Internet these days. Enabling wireless Internet access in classrooms today proves how the Internet is growing stronger and providing more and more information that could help us not only in classrooms, but outside as well.
What professors are not thinking about, is that electronic devices are not the only cause of disruptions in the classroom. If you take away the students laptop and they get bored in class, will they not use their pen and paper to doodle or write notes? Will they not talk during the professor's lecture, or even sleep? I believe that if the student does not want to learn and resorts to chatting online or sleeping, then that's their business. Yes, I know one of the teacher's main goal is to motivate kids today to be more studious and achieve their goals, but there is only one teacher and so many students. Maybe once the student sees that bad grade on a test, they can learn from their mistakes and pay more attention. Professors must remember that college students range from 18 years old and up. These students are old enough to know what they need to get done. They are also capable of standing on their own feet and learning from their own mistakes.
In conclusion, professors at SMU needs to reconsider the thought of banning these devices that may cause disruptions, but at the same time, expand our knowledge. They need to remember that laptops are not the only distractions that take place in classrooms and remember the positive things that it can achieve.
Amy Rolph, a Seattle Post-Intelligencer, wrote an article for the Houston Chronicle discussing why professors of Seattle Pacific University are considering banning all electronic devices from class, especially laptops. She states that the professors believe that these devices "interferes with learning on several levels". She first introduces the many reasons that SPU professors are providing to support their ideas. They believe that in general, it's just a matter of courtesy. Professor Kenman Wong states that students should "be courteous by paying attention during his lectures", rather than typing away at their laptop. Another reason for the ban is that laptops may ironically effect their note taking skills. SPU professors are concerned that laptops resort to students actually "tak[ing] down every word" instead of actually attentively listening and writing down the important facts. However, not all professors are standing behind this new idea. Some on the other hand, believe that banning them is too drastic, especially with all the classrooms now being equipped with wireless Internet access. Others believe that some of the data that students come across online actually improves their level of thinking and aids in the improvement of class discussions. Although some of the professors provides good reasons on banning laptops in classrooms, I believe that by taking away these devices, they are equivalently taking away our pens and pencils.
The points that the SPU professors provide is very true. It is very rude when someone is trying to talk to you and you type away on Myspace or Gmail. I understand that because students do this often, professors get the idea that they are simply talking to themselves and wasting their time. As for laptops effecting a student's note taking ability, I believe it could cause a problem. Because students have the ability to type very quickly today, it does become a habit to just type every word they hear because they can. I, a student, am guilty of all these things. There are times I get so bored in class that every now and then I'll open Gmail and check my e-mail or send one out.
The professors are overlooking the positive and focusing more on the negative qualities these devices have. Yes, it causes distractions and the learning process through note-taking, but what about it providing more information on the things we're learning. Technology is growing faster and faster that you could find anything on the Internet these days. Enabling wireless Internet access in classrooms today proves how the Internet is growing stronger and providing more and more information that could help us not only in classrooms, but outside as well.
What professors are not thinking about, is that electronic devices are not the only cause of disruptions in the classroom. If you take away the students laptop and they get bored in class, will they not use their pen and paper to doodle or write notes? Will they not talk during the professor's lecture, or even sleep? I believe that if the student does not want to learn and resorts to chatting online or sleeping, then that's their business. Yes, I know one of the teacher's main goal is to motivate kids today to be more studious and achieve their goals, but there is only one teacher and so many students. Maybe once the student sees that bad grade on a test, they can learn from their mistakes and pay more attention. Professors must remember that college students range from 18 years old and up. These students are old enough to know what they need to get done. They are also capable of standing on their own feet and learning from their own mistakes.
In conclusion, professors at SMU needs to reconsider the thought of banning these devices that may cause disruptions, but at the same time, expand our knowledge. They need to remember that laptops are not the only distractions that take place in classrooms and remember the positive things that it can achieve.
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