English 102 (Final Entry)

Blogging is something we as humans do everyday. Submitting a tweet, typing a post, or attaching pictures on Tumblr are forms of blogging. In English 102, blogging plays a huge role in the class. In my personal experience, I participated in typing entries and using rhetoric to connect and persuade my audience. Blogging was an interesting experience. The topics were creative and also gave the writer a chance to think and organize thoughts before inputing an opinion. Using Blogger, it helped me, as a writer, and also improve my skills to persuade and keep the audience's attention. Even on the entries where the topic was self-generated, I still had to organize and put together thoughts on what I wanted to include in the entry. By using blogging to communicate with audience, which were the other classes, we were able to present out point of views and interests with classmates from different classes. We were required to comment on two blogs. The comment could literally be anything; our point of view, opinion, how it connects, etc. Overall, blogging gave me a whole different aspect on writing. We are so used to picking up the pencil and writing essays, that technology plays a role in the English language as well. Practicing writing structure and flow will continue to strengthen one's way of writing. With blogging, it gave me the ability to express writing into something we as a community are used to, which is using the social media to communicate with family and friends. I enjoyed every bit of blogging and Chris's English 101 and 102 class. I hope to meet professors such as him with his touch of teaching and personality. 

Chris, you're a kickass English professor.

 

The Gym (Entry X)

Hitting the gym is something I never saw myself doing. At first, gyms were nothing but a waste of money. Back then, I felt it was stupid to spend money on a membership that will be used once a week, sometimes twice, if I managed to climb out of my comfortable warm bed. Shortly after eating the 16' pizza I ate during the weekend, seeing a picture of a "transformation" on a friend's post really made me feel insecure. Throughout high school, I never went through any transformation. Perhaps the friends I hung out with, but nothing extreme as in changing my body figure. On the other hand, I was huge on cardio. I ran 5 miles a day, ate and still do eat healthy. I also managed to lift every other month. I was physically fit but not satisfied. As I looked at pictures of bodybuilders, transformations, "before and afters", a new "me" had wanted to emerge. Although, in the past summers, my goals to require more muscle had failed, I needed something stable. After putting time into it, I had decided to acquire a gym membership. As of mid-June, I have been hitting the gym everyday and have never lost interest since. When people say, "it takes time, be patient," its true! It took me at least 6 weeks to see noticeable change. Back in May, I was deciding whether to even try the gym. Although it took time for progress to show, I am still not satisfied with what I have now and always striving for more. Now, I work at my local gym and my membership is free. Not only is it worth the wait, but also exciting to see before and after pictures of yourself before the whole transformation. 

Media (Entry IX)

Media is communication. Whether we use our phones to communicate with our loved ones, catching up on "whats new" on the news, or even checking the daily newspaper, all of those are forma of media. This can be great for some and can be a downfall for many. For example, being addicted to cellphone and technology as a whole can not only be mentally bad, but physically as well. This can result in weight gaining, laziness, and loss of verbal communication. Although, technology is not the only form of media. The news play a huge role in people's lives. For instance, the situation that occurred in Ferguson stirred people into riots and chaos on the streets in Ferguson, Missouri. Not only did it destroy local businesses and stores, but angry protestors lit cars on fire and flipping over police cruisers as well. News channels have also been known for "wording" and "twisting" stories. How do I know this? Based on experience, I ride along with Peoria Police Department twice, if not, once a month. The crime scenes are either not explained thoroughly or explained with twisted words. Either way, never trust what the media shares with you. People become brainwashed with what the man on the television presents to them, that they do not consider to search information on the incident, but rather rant off an unsupported opinion on social media. Overall, media will continue to advance for generations to come. Its fascinating to believe that something we as humans do throughout the day is tied to media in some way

Vine (Entry VIII)

Throughout the years, Youtube has never failed to present funny videos. Whether they are fails, intense situations, or concert playthroughs, Youtube has given the world the opportunity to view from their computer screens footage of about everything and anything anyone uploads. As social media progressed, a new app found in both the App Store and Google Play called Vine, dropped about two years ago. This gives the user to upload a 7 second or less of video footage of about everything and anything they want to record. In my opinion, it is one of the best applications out, and its free! It is quick and to the point, and funny! For example, I love laughing. Many people worldwide upload these "vines" and it gets shared through people's Facebook walls, Instagram posts and Twitter timelines. Some are insanely funny, others are sad, musical, shocking; it is like a 7 second Youtube. Commonly used on Twitter, you can also follow users on Vine and like people's posts. I love going through Vine when I have nothing else to do. It never fails to give me a laugh. Even my father has Vine and he is always showing me the video that made him for the day. Last but not least, vines can be edited with music, cropping, recorded in different angles, etc. Simply by holding your finger on your screen will begin recording. Let go, and it will freeze again and you can gently place your finger again at the screen to begin recording. It is very handy if you want different angles and something instant. As social media progresses, I cannot wait to see what it has in store for cellphone users worldwide.

Here are my top 4 favorite vines, with some including explicit language:

1. https://vine.co/v/O1t2xbz0Ahn
2. https://vine.co/v/OnZIahxxWl0
3. https://vine.co/v/OhPWBFtBl2i
4. https://vine.co/v/MnZJ7lleLKV

Dumb Men (Entry VII)

Taking a look into Dumb Men made my night. First of all, you're introduced to a homepage filled with videos that bash on men. As I browsed trough the site, I found it simple and click friendly. Nowadays, in many video hosting sites, you are knocked down by ads and surveys, it makes it impossible to even enjoy a video. It's a great easy website with many commercials and videos that have amazing captions upon clicking on a video. I believe the admins are women who have been offended to the extreme by sexists men just because the captions are completely vulgar. Overall, I have never heard of a site such as this one and I find it very interesting. Why? Because there are commercials that are   aired on television, but we, as the audience, do not pay attention because we are focused on what manufacture's product has yet to present to the public. One commercial that stood out to me was the Trojan Condom Commercial. It stood out the most simply because I got a great laugh out of it. The situation was that a man, who was hours from getting married, went to his fiancé's house to find her. Shortly after arriving, he is found with her sister, whispering in his ear that she had wanted him to herself before he gets married. He bursts out the door and into his car. With cheering and clapping from next door, he is applaud by his fiancé's father, who congratulated him because he had "passed the test." In reality, he had gone back to his car to get condoms, because he did have intention of having sex with his fiancé's sister. The tome behind the commercial was sexual, in my opinion. The main reasons were because the fiancé's sister had been seducing him as he walked through the door, undressing her dress as she walked and looked back to grab his attention immediately. In the end, the man was saved simply because he had left the condoms in the car. If not, a whole different story would have unfolded. Overall, I enjoyed browsing through this site. It had angry admins who were putting these "dumb men" out there for the viewers to see how dumb they really look live.  

Key and Peele (Entry VI)

Ever laughed hard enough to the point where your laugh becomes silent for a couple seconds? To the point where your face becomes flat still, eyes either opened wide or closed shut, mouth open with drool coming out but you do not care because you are laughing the moment away? Comedy is a form of art almost everyone enjoys and can be expressed in many ways. For instance, comedy can be represented in romantic, horror, action; even in war. Key and Peele is an amazing and phenomenal show, which is aired on Comedy Central. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are the main characters of the show and play different roles in the many hilarious skits they act out. For instance, there are a handful of skits where Jordan Peele acts as Barack Obama. I do not kid you when I say that he acts almost EXACTLY like Obama. The stutter, the hand gestures, the looks, even the cut! Key and Peele have different masks but the show explains different and relatable experiences that happen in our lives, media, past relationships and politics. In almost every video, has a hidden message behind it. At times, it is an eye opener into connected situations in our lives or how society portrays something sad to something hysterical. A huge handful of their clips can be viewed on Youtube and some users have gone out of their way to record full length episodes to upload to Youtube. I just found out about Key and Peele and I was immediately hooked by the skits they presented. You will laugh and you will spit-take if you are drinking water. The show airs Wednesdays at 10:00 PM with new episodes airing from Season 4. Personally, I give the show a perfect 10 because it never fails to give me a great long lasting laugh. 

Seven Week Courses (Entry V)

Wouldn't it be great to be finished with school sooner than you expected? It is possible and you can be apart of it! 7 1/2 week classes are the next new thing. Forget the 16 week courses, where you dread to be in class and wish to be home. It is a great way to get the credits you need and jump onto the next course without having to sit there in your current 16 week class, bored out of your mind while you listen to your professor blabber about an experience that you have no absolute care for. It is even possible to finish within 3 years the than the typical 4 year university student. These classes are also known as Hybrid classes. They deliver a straight-to-the-point schedule where the student is shown almost exactly when everything will be due. It is also recommended that the student has access to computers to complete some tasks, as some classes will require to turn in homework or projects online. Responsibility is a mindset to have while attending these short courses.  Glendale Community College offers a handful of 7 week courses, such as the famous Chris Nielson English 101-102 course! Not only English courses, but also Math, Psychology, Reading; and the list carries on. It is neat to have these courses for students, including myself, because it is fast, simple, and straight to the point. Completing high school was one thing, and now, completing college can be such a drag because we have to complete 4 years of AGAIN, or even more, due to the different career fields one chooses. 

Alien Ant Farm (Entry IV)

Punk rock is slowly coming back into today's latest trends. This genre of music is best described as fast, offbeat and careless. A great band that is influenced by punk rock is Alien Ant Farm. The 4 man band is best known by the famously covered song, "Smooth Criminal" which was originally by deceased Michael Jackson. The music video gives the motive to get up and be productive, and in my opinion, BEATS the original Smooth Criminal performed by MJ. All four studio albums are an absolute joy to listen to. A good handful of songs are love songs, and we all connect to past relationships. Not just boyfriend or girlfriend, but even bestfriends or friends we've lost due to drifting apart or physically losing them. The lyrics are easy to understand, with mild rhythmic patterns in some songs. In addition, Alien Any Farm delivers an outstanding performance with energy and an urge to play. The concerts are always filled with jumping, face making, crowd surfing, and the list goes on! Although the band does not perform in big arenas as before, they continue to play in small pubs, bars, stages, etc. For instance, on September 13, 2014, Alien Ant Farm performed at Pub Rock in Scottsdale, AZ. Sadly, I was unable to attend but as far as live videos go, the band does not fail to amaze me. Even in a pub such as Pub Rock. Also, a fun fact about this band is that they crashed the BET Awards, a Gay Pride parade and the Christina Aguilera/ Justin Timberlake concert! The music video, "These Days", gives a walkthrough and clips of how it came to happen, reactions by famous artists such as Nelly, P. Diddy, Snoop Dogg; and how the local authorities came to shutting the band down. In other terms, a new upcoming album, Always & Forever, is set to release in 2015. A new taste and music from the underrated punk rock band. If you are looking for new music to listen to, connect to, and vibe to, these are your guys. Alien Ant Farm is a band who has been underrated for so long, that it is ridiculous that people would rather listen to what the radio feeds them than true lyrical music. 

Ebola in the U.S. (Entry III)

Ebola in the United States has became a huge scare for most living by the first victimized and official patient in Texas. As the virus roamed Africa, it found its way here in home soil. As the weeks passed, more reports of ebola like symptoms were being reported by local hospitals. All were quarantined and watched for safety for 21 days. All were set free, but another case in New York becomes the US's big concern as Ebola hits the big apple. The article http://tinyurl.com/mo2a3dg explains the United States celebrating from being Ebola free, until a diagnosed doctor becomes watched in Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. I find this article fascinating for many reasons. At first, Martin Salia's test came back negative, where the celebration comes in, congratulating and hugging him, as a sign of warmth and relief. As his symptoms remained the same, a new test on November 10th, this test returned positive. Furthermore, throwing him in isolation and also forcing his colleagues into quarantine with him. The report is interesting because it explains how the symptoms remained even after a negative test. In addition, the article includes quotes by the doctors such as, Komba Songu M'Briwa. The author explains the situation as a timeline; giving an introduction, a feeling of relief where the test came negative into the new test, which came back positive. Resulting in Martin Salia's unfortunate case with Ebola.

Pizza (Entry II)

Pizza is one of America's most ordered foods today, but I don't blame America. I know there is a God because Pizza shops roam the streets of the U.S. The tender crisp pepperoni is mouthwatering just by eyeing the 14' inch beauty. For myself, it is a MUST to have pizza every weekend. If I do not consume my 16' inch pizza from Papa Johns, I will have withdrawals. In today's society, Pizza is easily one of America's top foods. Social media portrays Pizza as a form of satisfaction and a necessity for daily life. For example, people's relationship goals contain their significant other to bring, order, buy, or bake pizza for them. Again, I do not blame them. I need to consume pizza sometime on the weekend as I watch my favorite show. It is part of my routine! In other related terms, this hot circle of Heaven can be made in many different shapes and sizes with thousands of toppings. Some people like their pizza with ketchup and some with the hottest pepper in their house; it is all preference! For those Papa John's pizza lovers, whenever an Arizona team wins, the day after, everything on their menu is 50% off! You are welcome. Treat yourself with a tender, cheese melting, steamy pizza today!

Blogs (Entry I)

Blogs are our way to connect with people around the world. Whether it is about the next hot shoe, the countdown of the best singles to release in 2014 or the ugliest dresses worn in the Grammy's throughout the years, blogs give us that connection with the world and the people behind the screen. In today's culture, people blog everyday without them knowing they blog. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube; are one of the many social media applications that ARE blogging. Hitting "Submit Tweet","Submit Post","Upload Picture","Upload Video" is evidence of people publishing their own type of blog to the web, for the world to see and comment upon it. Some blogs I have reviewed over the past couple of weeks are Twitter, Facebook and WorldstarHipHop. My least favorite blog is Facebook. If it's not the beheadings of the Mexican drug cartels, then it is the half naked pictured shared among the "men" on my friend's list. Also, the posts can get so ignorant but it all depends on the user and the friends with the user. Twitter is my definitely one of my top favorite blogs. You can follow whoever you want, the posts you want to view, mute the people who get obnoxious, and much more. There are many accounts that have the pictures that will just bring the laughter out of you, sharing it with the person in front of you. In some cases, some tweets are so relatable, that you can visually picture that same scenario playing in your head and getting a smile off it. Finally, WorldstarHipHop has to be a magnificent site where blogging occurs as well. The infamous videos of fights, events, surveillance footage and much more is shared through this site. Throughout the years, Worldstar has became the name that everyone says when a fight is going to occur. You either laugh until you can't no more or have a terrified look of suspense! Underneath the video is a comment section, and in some cases, the comments are far funnier than the video itself. It's a huge community where people upload their fails, "there at the right place at the right time" footage, and much more!

The Introduction (Practice Entry)

Hello! My name is Victor; Victor Ricardo. It usually confused with Ricky Ricardo, or Ricardo being my first name; giving people a headache. "Wait, isn't Ricardo a last name?" "That's so cool you have two first names!" "Oh! So like Ricky Ricardo?". Anywho, like everyone else in this world, I am very passionate with music. Styles such as Melodic death metal, Grindcore, Technical Death Metal. To be quite honest, if the song has growls, insane drum rolls, fast paced rhythms, amped-up guitars; I am going to listen it to regardless. Drumming is one of my main interests and have been involved in the percussion side of instruments for 10 years now. It is something that I kept going back to when I felt alone, bored, happy, sad, angry, depressed; etc. In addition, the police force catches my eye immensely. I plan to become a police officer a year upon graduating from GCC.  A family friend of mine is apart of Peoria Police. The number of arrests that take place in our own community is unbelievable. From ride along experience, I have encountered heroine usage, attempt suicide, criminal speeding, a shootout, crazy ex-husbands, and the list goes on! My current goal in GCC is to achieve my degree in Applied Science. So far, I am halfway done with what it is on my "to-do" list and in need of two semesters; or maybe just one with summer classes pushed into the schedule. Although, when the time comes, I will decide whether to take summer classes or not.