Drama Queen Has Been Dethroned

So, I'm thinking now, looking back at that last post, that I was being a little melodramatic, no? That's ok though, it really is hard to leave all your friends, and I miss school. However, I am currently on vacation in a beautiful place called South Carolina with my family. Thanks to my lack of skills in sun-tan lotion application, I am now burnt in splotches, instead of all over...lucky me. I can say though that with the help of a little Sun-In my hair has started to lighten into a reddish tone...let's call it a pre-summer glow shall we? Right. Anyways, I just want to update this blog because I really don't want the last post to be so depressing as this last post was. I think I'm going to have a great summer. I'm a little worried about the job situation, because I really don't want the job I had last summer, but in this economy and my pickiness, I'm not sure what else I'm going to find. We shall see. In any case I'm going to have another amazing vacation in Ireland, so no matter what I else happens this summer, I'm going to be grateful. 

Well...I have a headache, so I'm going to just close this and go to bed. I will write more again soon...hopefully. Heaven knows I have the time now. Until then! 

Press Pause Please....

I'd like to take the opportunity to modify a quote from a dear roommate: "Press play please." I would suggest that now would be a great time to "Press PAUSE............please?" With Finals looming before me, not to mention the subsequent packing and goodbyes, I wish I could just press a Pause button on my life. Be it the added worry of moving out, or the harder nature of the classes I'm taking this semester, my stress level has reached a peak for the year and my head is on the verge of exploding from the crammed information I have stuffed into my brain. 

However, I think the worst part of this whole ordeal is the very finality of it all. Unlike last semester where I was just going home for a short time, now I face the very appropriately named FINAL weekend that is a veritable Final End to a lot of things. I feel like my life is a book in which the end of the chapter is coming and I can see it, but I don't want to read ahead because I know its going to be bleak. Maybe we could go back and reread the happy chapters? And as much as I want to stop it, I can feel the pages turning and the book closing with an ominous and resounding "SNAP." 

Maybe I'm overreacting, but the end always makes you look to the beginning and I can't help but feel like I need more time. More time to do what I planned. More time to make friends with the people I've lived around for the past eight months. More time to prepare myself for the inevitable goodbyes. More time. Period....or how about no period? Let's not end it. Let's keep it going. Instead of the terminating "period" let's just leave off at a semi-colon, or a nice ellipses...It just seems much kinder, less...FINAL. A little, "To Be Continued..." 

All you have to do is turn the page...

 

Introductions

Over the past two decades the game of basketball has evolved dramatically from a predominantly American sport to a globally popularized game that brings in audiences, and players, from around the world. Following the example of American teams, pro basketball leagues have developed in Europe, Asia and South America. As these foreign leagues have grown, American coaches and recruiters have taken notice. Now foreign talent makes up sixteen percent of the National Basketball Association roster, up from only six percent in the early 1990's. As basketball's foreign influence increases, this transition of basketball to a global sport is aided by the growth in television coverage and the support of corporate sponsors. As the games become more widely televised, people around the world are able to tune in and watch their favorite teams compete, creating a global network of fans. Corporate sponors also play a large role in the spread of basketball as they fund the teams, providing arenas to play in, uniforms and transportation expenses in exchange for broadcasted advertisements, player endorsements, and the use of their logos on team equipment. However, as foreign players, television and corporations have pushed basketball into an increasingly globalized sport, this will eventually lead to the loss of an American identity associated with the game and less localized unity in fan followings.


The move from pre-professional basketball to the National Basketball Association would be a leap for any player, but the culture shock was greater than most for foreign player Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks. The seven-foot player from Germany is among a growing group of foreign basketball players who are making the transition from the European leagues to the American NBA teams. A record 65 players from 34 countries outside the U.S. are playing in the NBA as of 2003, and the numbers are only expected to grow. Along with increased foreign talent and leagues, the growth of television and the funding of corporate sponsors has led to the globalization of the game and the expectation for future expansion; however, as basketball transitions from a uniquely American sport to a world sport, this will inevitably lead to the loss of American identity associated with the game, and the loss of localized fan bases.

Sources for Global Warming

Search Topic: Global Warming

Source #1
Title: A New Variable for Climate Change Study and Implications for the Built Environment
Authors: Wan, Kevin K.W. ; Cheung, K.L. ; Yang Liu ; Lam, Joseph C.
Source: Renewable Energy: An International Journal
Database: Academic Search Premier

This article/source is very credible. It is information compiled by a group of credible and legitimate authors for an academic international journal written on the broader subject of global warming. The article is a presentation of studies conducted on the effects of global warming on architecture and has thorough data to back up the findings and arguments.

Source #2
Encyclopedia Brittannica Online
Subject: Global warming

This source has some credibility but it is a general source that cannot be relied on to have comprehensive and up-to-date accuracy on the topic. It is useful for background research but should not be cited as a main source for study and research on global warming (or any other research topic).

Source #3
Title: Cold Facts on Global Warming
Site: Blog article

This source is not a credible source. As a blog site a person can say anything they want about a topic leading to biased information and a mixture of fact, myth and opinion. This should not be used as a credible source for the gathering of information and research.

He must be a good president if he likes the elderly!

In the 1996 presidential campaign ad for President Bill Clinton, running for a second term of office against Bob Dole, the advertisers use inspirational music, clips of women, children and the elderly, and facts to present a persuasive promotion for Clinton's re-election. Already experienced as President for one term, the advertisement emphasizes the good that Clinton has accomplished while in office, listing tax cuts, welfare reforms, and education and work projects to appeal to his credibility. These facts fade in over pictures of smiling women and children with upturned faces, and clips of Clinton mingling with the elderly and disabled. These pictures, paired with favorable statistics and inspirational and patriotic music appeal to the emotions of the audience, who is already aware of how Clinton performs as president. This ad tries to point out all the positive things Clinton has done in office with an emotional appeal to persuade voters who might not be sure they liked Clinton's presidency. The ad appeals to those who are maybe on the fence over which side to vote for, and tries to engage their emotions by presenting Clinton in a positive light as a man who is capable, compassionate and effective. I think this ad was effective towards its audience by combining a logical appeal with an emotionally engaging presentation.

Persuading Men to Come Closer to God

In the 178th Semi-Annual General Conference in April 2008, Elder Gerald N. Lund of the Quorum of the Seventy gave a talk titled "Opening Our Hearts" where he applied rhetorical tools to present a more persuasive and effective address. His talk relied mostly on ethos, while utilizing rhetorical questions to gain credibility and emphasize his points.

In the opening of his address, Elder Lund quotes Nephi and the Apostle Paul concerning the nature of the Holy Ghost and its importance in our lives. Because the audience are the members of the Church, this direct quotation and reference to the scriptures establishes his credibility as a speaker on this topic and gives added strength to his points. Elder Lund then continues directly after his scriptural references to ask two rhetorical questions in succession. This focuses the direction of the talk and adds emphasis to the point he is about to make. He then quotes President Boyd K. Packer, the leader of the Twelve Apostles of the Church, further strengthening his credibility and therefore his "argument."

The rest of Elder Lund's talk is filled with scriptural references and quotations, as he makes direct mention of such ancient and latter-day prophets and leaders as Alma, Mormon, Elder David A. Bednar, Joseph Smith Jr., the Psalmist, and even Jesus Christ. Clearly his talk is most significantly based on ethos, as Elder Lund quotes many of the greatest leaders of the Church, including Christ, the most credible reference one can make. Add to these frequent rhetorical questions to emphasize areas of his talk and drive his points home, and his talk becomes focused and credible. Addressed to such an audience as the members of the Church attending General Conference, his use of rhetorical tools, namely ethos, was effective to relaying his message and convincing his audience to draw closer to the Lord and His Spirit, the ultimate object of his talk.

The Waste-Not Trash Disposal! From trash can to treasure!

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