2006 Townsend Reading Scholarship Contest

I recieved my first three books for the 2006 Townsend Reading Scholarship Contest. I just finished reading The Story of Blima: A Holocaust Survivor by Shirley Russak Wachtel, Blima's daughter. It was such an eye opener. Just to think that people could be so cruel, for lack of a better word, just because of your religion, or race, it sickens me. How can another human being declare that another group of human beings needs to be destroyed? Why? Where did they come up with this idea? When I finished reading the book today, I sat in silence for a moment, just thinking, of the millions of people that were killed. People who prior to their capture, were going about their daily lifes, just as I go about mine everyday. People who worked for a living, people who took care of their families, just as I do. I thought about the families that were torn apart, never to see eachother again. It's hard to believe something like this took place in the 20th century, not so long ago.

My Demonstration Speech ~A~

I completed a demonstration speech today in my speech class. I demonstrated how to make a pair of wire bead earrings using 4 4mm beads, 2 2"head pins, 2 5-1/2 pieces of 24 gauge wire, and 2 earrng wires. The tools used included a wire cutter/round nose plier/flat head plier(a very verstile tool) and a wire jig. I was nervous as hell. I could see my hands shaking as I was using my tools and I was thinking "Do they see me shaking like this?" But at the end of class the instructor handed back everyone's evaluations and I received a score of 96 A. I was marked off a couple of points I believe because it was hard to see what I was doing, but I guess I made up for that with the "great visuals" (according to the instructor). I am very satisfied I must say, but rather dissappointed at the same time because there was another assignment due today that I completely for got about. It was only worth 15 points, but I am still mad at myself. I will complete the written assignment anyway though, and talk to the teacher to see if I could bring it in during her office hours. If not then at least I will have learned some key points that will be essential to know later on during the course of class.

Applying for Mensa Scholarship

Currently I am working on submitting an application to the Mensa Education & Research Foundation college scholarship program. Applicants have until Jan. 15 to write an essay of not more than 550 words explaining their academic and/or vocational goals and how they plan to achieve those goals. I REALLY want my essay to stand out. I may give myself a couple of weeks to get it together. Good luck to me.

My Argument Essay ~B~

Embrace the New World Economy


Americans play three roles at once: consumer, worker, and citizen. The consumer in us wants faster service and cheaper prices. The worker in us wants job security. The citizen in us is horrified of America’s uncertain future. In order for Americans to survive in the new world economy, the consumer in us must understand how the new world economy will benefit us, the worker in us must adapt to changes that occur within companies, and the citizen in us must embrace the new world economy.

Consumers want faster service. UPS’s collaboration with corporations helps corporations provide their customers with faster service. A customer who owns a Toshiba laptop computer that is under warranty and it breaks can call Toshiba to have it repaired, Toshiba will tell the customer to drop it off at a UPS store and have it shipped to Toshiba, and it will get repaired and then be shipped back to the customer. However, here is what they do not tell the customer: UPS not only picks up and delivers the customer’s Toshiba laptop. UPS actually repairs the computer in its own US-run workshop dedicated to computer and printer repairs at its Louisville hub (Friedman 168).

Consumers want cheaper prices. Wal-Mart’s low costs are possible due to Wal-Mart’s focus n three things. The first is bargaining with manufactures to get them to lower their costs as much as possible. The second is working on its supply chain from those manufacturers, wherever they are in the world, to Wal-Mart’s distribution centers, to make it as low-cost and seamless as possible. The third is constantly improving Wal-Mart’s information systems, so it knows exactly what its customers are buying and can transfer that information to all manufactures, so the shelves will stay stocked with the right items at the right time (Friedman 158)

Outsourcing benefits consumers. Corporations send sectors of work to countries like China because it is cheaper. The wage rate in China can start off as low as $50 to $60 monthly. China also has an abundant labor supply. There is a high availability for labor intensive, multi-shift, and repetitive operations (Ting 48). The less money corporations have to pay to run their businesses, the more savings that are passed on to the consumer. Outsourcing benefits corporations and consumers, but what about the American workers who are losing jobs due to outsourcing?

American workers want job security. Dietetics is a save profession to enter, for now. Employment of dietitians is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014 as a result of increasing emphasis on disease prevention through improved dietary habits. A growing and aging populations will boost the demand for meals and nutritional counseling in hospitals, residential care facilities, schools, prisons, community health programs, and home health care agencies. Public interest in nutrition and increased emphasis on health education and prudent lifestyles also will spur demand, especially in management. In addition to employment growth, job openings will result from the need to replace experienced workers who leave the occupation (bls.gov 1). Even though the future of dietetics looks bright, Americans still need to be ready for change.

American workers must adapt to change within changing companies. Jacque Howard started her employment with Voicestream Wireless in the fall of 2000. A year after starting her employment, she experienced the T-Mobile merger. Voicestream then became T-Mobile, and the company spokesperson went from Jamie Lee Curtis to Catherine Zeta Jones. In November of 2003, all wireless companies had to comply with federal legislation, allowing wireless customers to transfer their mobile numbers to any wireless provider they wished (Peterson 1). With that came the headache of explaining to customers who were still under contract, that they would be charged a $200 early termination fee if they transferred their number to another wireless provider. Within the mix of everything else that was happening in her job, Jacque also had to adapt to multiple changes to the companies policies and procedures. She could not get comfortable with one set of policies and procedures before they were replaced by new policies and procedures. Through it all, Jacque knew that if she wanted to stay employed, she had to embrace these changes with a smile.

American workers must be creative in combining multiple professions in order to become “untouchable” ( Friedman 278). According to Friedman, an untouchable is someone whose job cannot be outsourced, digitized, or automated. Who would have thought that the combination of nutrition and mobile technology would create an innovation such as My Food Phone? My Food Phone is a camera-phone food-journaling feedback service. Basically the mobile phone user can take a snapshot of their dinner, which may consist of cornbread, mashed potatoes, and green beans, and send it to their personal MyFoodPhone.com nutritionist. The nutritionist would evaluate the food for its caloric, fat, carbohydrate, and protein content, then reply back, via video, to the user’s cell phone. The nutritionist might commend the user for including green beans on their plate, then point out that their plate contained all carbohydrates, and might suggest substituting the cornbread with baked fish or baked chicken, and the mashed potatoes for whole grain rice. This demonstrates the synthesis of nutrition and mobile technology (Fried man 283)

American citizens are scared to death of Americas uncertain future. At Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City Missouri, an English 101 online class discussion about outsourcing is full of concerns about job loss, and security of personal information. The main statement that stands out is “It is scary”. It is scary, but the unknown is always scary. How can Americans let go of this fear and adapt to the new world economy?

American citizens will have to let go of the nation state way of life in order to embrace the new world economy. In the wake of the triple convergence, the more the playing field is leveled, the more challenging it will be for Americans and to hold on to our cultures, values, identity, democratic tradition, and bonds of restraint that have historically provided some protection and cushioning for workers and communities. Some people will be excited about it – an opportunity to soar, expand, dig, or build in any direction with a whole new set of tools. Others will react with the anxiety of person in free fall, with nothing to hold them up or in place in any direction and nothing to protect their privacy. Some will feel totally liberated, others totally disoriented (Friedman 237 and 238).
To some of us, assuming the role of consumer, worker, and citizen may be a challenge, even scary at times. However, in order to make a smooth transition into the new world economy, Americans must marvel the benefits that come with being a consumer, become adaptable workers, and receptive citizens.

Works Cited
Friedman, Thomas L. The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century. Updated and Expanded Edition. NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2006.

Ting, Anthony. “Outsourcing in China” Industrial Engineer 36.12 (2004): 45-50

U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Job Outlook.” Dieticians and Nutritionists. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocoidf.htm#D

Peterson, Molly M. “Telecom Industry Accused of Trying to Delay Portability.” Congress Daily AM 10/30/2003: p10-11

My Food Phone, Inc. “The User’s Experience.” MyFoodPhone.com Presentation. http://www.myfoodphone.com/demo.htm

I haven't recieved my evaluation sheet back yet, so not sure of the problems that resulted in 123 points/150 possible.

English 101 Final Grade: A

I recieved a B on both my argument and final essays, ending with an A as my overall grade. I am so elated. I start Speech 100 tomorrow. I hope I finish that class with a bang. I just can't contain myself. I will post my essays when I get them back. Not to mention, I also got an A as a final grade in my Introductory to Algebra class. The semester ends in December and I hope I end up with a perfect 4.0 average. I'll definitely be working on it. No more Monday classes for me, just Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday now. Oh my GOD!!! I got an A, I got an A, I got an A :-):-):-D I am not worried about my Saturday CSIS 115 class. That is a guaranteed A, it's sooo easy. Speech 100, I don't know yet. I am a pretty shy person, and speaking in front of a group of people may be a challenge. When I get in front of people I am so insecure. It's unbelieveable. I REALLY hope I will be able to get over it and ACE this class. I got an AAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY in ENGLISH 101, CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON! THERE'S A PARTY GOING ON RIGHT HERE..........

Turned In My Argument Essay Today, Now, The Wait

I am so relieved that the Argument essay is done and turned in. Now I have to wait on a grade. That's the worst part for me. I worked hard putting together the ideas for it, so I hope my hard work pays off. While I wait, I have my English final to think about, which will have to be completed online this Friday. After that, I'm done with English 101 and will have 3 more credits to add to the list. I will be glad when I can breath again. All this pressure is crazy, but I like it for some reason.

Argument Essay Due Next Monday, Online Final Next Friday

I am still trying to figure out how to start. I have done some freewriting to help generate some ideas. I plan on dropping my son off at my Mom's house tomorrow so I can go to the library. I think I have an idea of where I want to go in this essay, I just need to get those ideas on paper and then go from there. This time, I have to do research to write my paper, where as with the Expository Essay II, I only had to rely on personal experience and the two text books from class. I think I'm more comfortable with the writing process. There's the topic sentence, thesis, support, and then the conclusion. Sounds simple. I will try to keep it that way. In this essay I will have to discuss how I plan to survive in this "Flat World" as a worker, citizen, and consumer. I have one more day of English 101 next Monday, which is when the argument essay is due, and then I will have to complete an online final next Friday. It's almost over, THANK GOD!!!

I Got an ~A~ on My Academic Response Essay

Below is the Academic Response Essay that I received an A on:

What is the primary point of Kofi A. Annan's "In Africa, AIDS Has a Woman's Face," and what does that mean for the global economy?

AIDS is killing African women. African women are the backbone of African communities. If the the African woman is not preserved, economic growth in Africa will not be possible. Even though the recent United Nations report shows that H.I.V. infection rates in Uganda continue to decline, the U.N. must continue to focus on new ways to assist with famine and prevent AIDS in Africa, before it is too late.

African women are the foundation that hold the African communities up (Kofi A. Annan 124). Before the AIDS crisis, women proved more resilient than men (Kofi A. Annan 125). It is the woman in the African communities that takes care of a sick husband, reducing the time she can devote to planting, harvesting, and marketing crops (Kofi A. Annan 125). When her husband dies, she is often deprived of credit, distribution networks or land rights (Kofi A. Annan 125). When she dies, the household suffers, leaving children to take care of themselves. The older ones, especially girls will be taken out of school to work at home or in the farm. These girls, lacking of education and opportunities, will be even less able to protect themselves against AIDS (Kofi A. Annan 125). Because droughts happened once a decade or so, women who had experienced previous droughts were able to pass on survival techniques to younger women (Kofi A Annan 125). Women are the ones who nurture social networks that can help spread the burden in times of famine (Kofi A. Annan 125).

Africa's economy will suffer if women cease to exist. Because of AIDS, farming skills are being lost, agricultural development efforts are declining, rural livelihoods are disintegrating, productive capacity to work the land is dropping and house hold earning are shrinking-all while the cost of caring for the ill is rising exponentially (Kofi A. Annan 124 and 125). At the same time, H.I.V. infection and AIDS are spreading dramatically and disproportionately among women (Kofi A. Annan 124 and 125). During 2002, an estimated 29,400,000 of South Africa's adults and children were living with AIDS (Kofi A. Annan 127).

The U.N. must find new ways to help Africa fight famine and AIDS. A combination of new approaches to farming with treatment and prevention of H.I.V. and AIDS must be the focus (Kofi A. Annan 125). It will require creating early-warning and analysis systems that monitor both H.I.V. infection rates and famine indicators (Kofi A. Annan 125). It will require new agricultural techniques, appropriate to depleted work force (Kofi A. Annan 125). It will require a renewed effort to wipe out H.I.V.-related stigma and silence (Kofi A. Annan 125).

The recent United Nations report shows that H.I.V. infection rates in Uganda continue to decline (Kofi A. Annan 126). In South Africa, infection rates for women under 20 have started to decrease (Kofi A. Annan 126). In Zambia, H.I.V. rates show signs of dropping among women in urban areas and younger women in rural areas. In Ethiopia, infection levels have fallen among young women in the center of Addis Ababa (Kofi A. Annan 126).

The African woman will become exstinct if the U.N. does not take immediate action to halt the devastating effects of famine and AIDS in Africa.

Works Cited
Annan, Kofi A. "In Africa, AIDS Has a Woman's Face" The New World Reader: Thinking and Writing about the Global Community. Ed. Gilbert H. Muller. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. 123-126

B+ On My Expository II Essay :-)

I was so excited yesterday when I got my essay back. I was so stressed just waiting. Here's the essay I wrote:

Imagine: Americans as Foreigners


Foreigners from developing countries like Guyana, Nigeria, and Mexico are not welcome in America. Foreigners look to America as a place where they can have more opportunity to build better lives for themselves and their families, yet the America they arrive to is not the America they envisioned. Adult Americans turn their noses up at adult foreigners, while American children make the lives of foreign children miserable. America may be the land of opportunity now, but with countries like China quickly emerging as new economic powers, Americans will have to face the decision to leave America to follow opportunity elsewhere. Now is the time for Americans to become more empathetic towards foreigners in order to survive as foreigners.

Imagine upon entering a new country, having your expectations about that country crumble. In 1985, at the age of eleven, Lance and his family moved from Guyana, located in South America, to New York City, which is where his grandmother had already been living for twenty years. His grandmother’s home was basically the starting point for all of her family that wanted to start a new life in America. At the time Lance and his family moved in, there were about 20 people in the household. Lance remembers his grandmother in New York sending clothes to his family in Guyana. He could remember how new the clothes smelled and associated that new smell with America. Before moving to America, Lance had fantasized that America would be a beautiful place with nice, clean streets, and hospitable people. Instead, he and his family were met by the filthy streets of New York’s slum area and rude people with whom he had to fight with in order to gain the respect he deserved as a human being.

What if your child had to face cruelty from his or her peers on a daily basis? In 1987, Yugochi, an African immigrant from Nigeria, entered the first grade at Bancroft Elementary in Kansas City Missouri. She was definitely different from the other children. Her English was highlighted by her African accent, her hair was short and kinky, not pressed or relaxed like most African Americans girls wore their hair at the time, and her clothes looked as if they came from a thrift shop. Everyday, Yugochi would endure some type of harassment, surprisingly from African American students. The cruel children would often taunt Yugochi by singing hurtful rhymes like, “Black girl black girl how you shine, you have naps on your head like Frankenstein!” or “Look at the sky, what do you see? A little black n**** trying to hypnotize me!” Everyday, this is the type of cruel treatment that Yugochi endured.

Think of the arrogance you may face just because you do not speak the native tongue well. A dating couple decides to go out to eat at El Maguey’s, a Mexican restaurant in Grandview Missouri. As soon as they enter they are greeted promptly and treated with the greatest hospitality. “Welcome to El Maguey’s, smoking or non smoking?” The gentleman replies non smoking, even though he does smoke, but he is trying to impress his date. The waiter leads the couple to their table and provides them with their menus. “What would you like to drink?” “Water for me” says the gentleman. “I will have the same” says the young lady. After looking over their menus, the couple is ready to order. The waiter that returns to their table is a different waiter. “Are you ready to order?” The gentleman goes first, “Yes, I would like a steak fajita, but can you add mushrooms to that, and leave out the bell peppers?” The waiter, seemingly not able to understand, politely asks the gentleman to repeat his order. The gentleman, in the same fast pace as before, but with a more agitated tone, repeats, “I said, I would like a steak fajita, but can you add mushrooms to that and leave out the bell peppers?” Still unable to understand, the waiter excuses himself to get assistance. As the waiter leaves, the man mumbles, “Learn some damn English”.

America will not be the land of opportunity forever. China’s economy is growing at a very fast rate (Friedman 34). Ambitious leaders like Xia Deren, the Mayor of China’s Dalian, look forward to China becoming the next economic power, possibly within the next century (Friedman 33). The Mayor of Dalian stated, “The rule of the market economy is that if somewhere has the richest human resources, and the cheapest labor, of course the enterprises and the businesses will go there” (Friedman 36). If this is the case, then the people will follow.

America will not stay on top forever. Dalian Mayor Xia Deren implies this in the following statement: “Today, the U.S., you are the designers, the architects, and the developing countries are the bricklayers for the buildings. But one day I hope we will be the architects” (Friedman36). Now is the time for Americans to start putting themselves in the shoes of foreigners that come to America, because soon, Americans will become foreigners, possibly in China. So Americans, learn some damn Chinese.

Works Cited
Friedman, Thomas L. The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century. Updated and Expanded Edition. NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2006.

The issues this essay had, according to my Professor, is that there were no topic sentences at the beginning of a couple of paragraphs, the thesis was not strong enough, and the use of 2nd person. Out of 50 points, I scored 43 points. I am sooooooo Happy!!!!!!!