Jellyfish....Jelly...fish.

Introducing the Box Jellyfish. The Box Jellyfish is a little bit different from other Jellyfish in that it’s venomous sting is extremely painful and often fatal to humans and animals. Some people refer to this Jellyfish as the “sea wasp”, “marine stinger”, or “marine stinger”. You may recognize the name if you have seen the movie Seven Pounds. Box Jellyfish played a major role in the

If they sting you, they pump a substance called nematocysts on the skin with venom. You don’t notice until their venom has been injected. It is said that you can help disable some affects of the venom by applying vinegar; however, this will not alleviate any of the pain. The creepiest thing is that if the tentacles are removed they still have the ability to sting you or if they are dead they can still sting you, crazy! So if you get a tentacle on your skin your have to remove it with a glove or towel, or else you could get stung again. Have you heard that urine can heal you if your stung by a Jellyfish? Well I am sorry to inform you that this is false and has yet to be proven otherwise. Some researches even believe that attempts such as urine, ammonia, or meat can actually make the sting worse.

These jellyfish differ from other jellyfish because their umbrella is cube shaped instead of crown shaped. This Jellyfish is unique in that they are the closest thing to invisible, or as it says on Wikipedia “almost transparent”. They are also the only Jellyfish that has actual eyes—they have retinas, corneas, and lenses. Who would have thought? Box Jellyfish are different from others in that they don’t just float around drifting in search of prey; no, this Jellyfish hunts its prey at speeds at 4 knots. (Which is about 2m/s.)

Box Jellyfish can be found in tropical and subtropical oceans. They are in the Atlantic, East Pacific down to California, as well as the Mediterranean. They are widely dispersed to areas such as Japan, South Africa, and New Zealand. Right now there are 36 known species of Box Jellyfish, and researches believe there are still many more species undescribed.

“Box Jellyfish.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 July 2004. Web. 27 October 2010.

For those of you who like Julian Smith....

Week 9: It's probably a V-2

So my boyfriend is a big rock climber. Like serious outdoor stuff. He's kind of obsessed with rocks. I can't take him anywhere because he always ends up just studying the rocks and looking for bolts and nice routes. I've been getting tired of his endless chatter on "bolts" and "gri-gri's" and "cams" and "V-2 Ascents" and not knowing what the heck he is talking about. So this week's blog topic was a good excuse for me to start looking these things up so I can understand his passion and not get so frustrated with him.

I know what rock climbing is. I've watched videos, been to climbing gyms, and have even been climbing outdoors a few times. So I just looked up a few terms so I can try and keep up.

Bolts: Basically, these are like rings that you bolt to the face of the rock. As you are climbing up, you attach your rope to the bolts so if you fall, you won't fall too far.

Gri-Gri: A gri-gri is a piece of equipment that you attach to the rope. The person who is belaying (holding on to the rope from the ground for safety measures) uses the gri-gri to stay in control of the rope. It helps out a lot to keep the climber safe. It is good for giving slack in the rope, and taking slack out.

Cam: Another piece of equipment. This is hanging from the climber's harness at easy reach so he can get to it when he needs it. If you're on a tricky route and there aren't very many bolts, you can stick a cam in a crack and it will hang on tight so you don't have to. It helps to climb and it helps keep you safe.

V-2 ascent: I honestly couldn't really figure out what this is. From what I figured, it is just a way to describe a route up the rock. The description of the ascent (V-2, V-3, so on) is describing the intensity and the difficulty of the climb.

So those are some basic climbing terms that are helpful to know if you're hanging out with a bunch of climbing dorks.

http://www.rock-climbing-for-life.com/rock-climbing-training/

http://www.rockclimbing.com/gear/Add-On_Climbing_Gear/Bolts_and_Hangers/

Week-9 Snowboarding

Something that I wanted to learn more about was snowboarding. I have to admit, I have lived in Utah my entire life, and not once have I gone snowboarding or skiing. So I am interested in picking up on it this season, so I researched on the topic how to snowboard. The first objective that needs to be done is having the right equipment. You need to dress warmly and safely. In order to dress safely, you'll need to purchase a helmet and the appropriate boots for the snowboard. The next step is to know which foot will lead on the snowboard. The way to determine this is to slide on ice and figure out which foot naturally feels more comfortable in the lead. Another way to determine this is stand still and have a friend from behind push you, the foot that falls ahead first is the one that you want to use. Once we have figured this out and have purchased snowboarding gear, then we head off to the ski lift.

For beginners, there is a bunny or practice hill that will make you gradually descend the slope. To put on the gear, you place the board perpendicular to the hill to place the boots in the binding. Once this is done, stand up and make sure that you are comfortable, if necessary make appropriate adjustments. Now we are ready to start!

You apply pressure to the leading foot as you bend your knees and keeping your back straight. A big problem that needs to be avoided is leaning too much forward or backward, causing you to fall. The rest is up to the snowboarder in turning and maneuvering the snowboard. You move your feet forward and backward to make turns with the appropriate foot. Now you can do tricks when you get better and can elaborate your snowboarding skills by using a half pipes or railings. There are many different kinds of tricks that you can perform, it just depends on where you are on the slope. Writing this blog has helped me get more excited for this upcoming cold season!

Works Cited
"How to Snowboard." WikiHow. MediaWiki, 28 Sep 2010. Web. 29 Oct 2010. .

FBI

Ever since I was a little girl I have been interested in law enforcement. In preschool when all the other girls my age were dreaming of being princesses, living in a castle and finding true love, I was dreaming of being a police officer, protecting the people of my town, and catching the “bad guys.” In elementary school and Achievement Days when we wrote in our notebooks about what we wanted to be when we grew up most girls wrote about how they wanted to be mothers or nurses. Then there was me, once again writing about how I wanted to enforce the law and protect and defend people. I am still interested in law enforcement, but I have strayed away from the police field and have developed an interest in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I think it would be so amazing to be an FBI agent. As an Accounting major I am looking into the FBI. They recruit Accounting majors heavily. The FBI also recruits from Brigham Young University heavily because the students at BYU are known for having integrity and a good work ethic. Because I am interested in pursuing a career with the FBI I decided to learn a little more about it. The FBI as most of us know stands for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI has two main purposes. The FBI serves as a federal criminal investigative organization, and it also is an internal intelligence agency. The motto of the Federal Bureau Agency is “Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity.” The organization has jurisdiction over 200 federal crimes. The headquarters of the FBI is located in Washington D.C. in the J. Edgar Hoover Building. The FBI also has 56 smaller agencies in large cities around the U.S. as well as headquarters in U.S. embassies around the world. The FBI was created in 1908. Cities were beginning to grow and along with the increased population came increased crime rates. Corruption in politics was also on the rise as was the need for greater national security from foreign countries. The main categories of services performed by the FBI are terrorism, counterintelligence, cyber crime, public corruption, civil rights, organized crime, white-collar crime, and violent crimes and major thefts.


Works Cited

Burrough, Bryan. "Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34." New York: Penguin Press, 2004.

"Federal Bureau of Investigation." Wikipedia. 2010. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.

Week 9-Krumping

So for the past few years I have heard about this hot new dance craze called krumping. I honestly had no idea what it was, but I am a dancer, so of course I was interested. The first time I heard about krumping was when I was at a wedding shower and my cousin Kali showed everyone her krumping skills. I honestly thought it was kind of crazy looking, but at the same time she did look kind of hardcore, so I wanted to learn more about it. She told me to type “krumping” into Youtube, so I did. I didn’t know whether to be impressed or weirded out by this dance style.

On “So You Think You Can Dance,” a popular TV show, I say them do a few krump numbers and a krumper even won a season of the show. I saw what he was doing and I’ve decided to try it, but it is definitely intense. I have always wondered where this type of dancing came from.

It turns out krumping started out in the nineties in the more ghetto areas. Troubled teens started to use krumping to express themselves. It is a street dance kind of related to hip hop and break dancing, but with stronger movements and more intensity. It turns out krumping is used as an alternative from actually hurting people. Instead of getting into a dangerous knife fight, teenagers well have a dance battle. It sounds like a wussy way of doing things, but krumping is a very violent dance and is performed to rapid, fast-paced rap or hip-hop music.

Krumping is unique because there are no rules. Dancers just use their bodies to express themselves in a healthy way, and everyone does their own thing. Krumping is good for teens because is it is an alternative to violence, it is good exercise, and it gives them confidence for the street cred they get from winning a dance battle.

I guess I was pretty wrong about krumping. I thought it was crazy and weird, but it really has an art to it and beneficial to society by giving our troubled teenagers something to do that is actually kind of productive and helping them to stay out of trouble.

Works Cited

“The Life and Art of Krumping.” Krumping. October 2009. Web. 28 Oct. 2010

Week 9 - Lions Predicament

Our generation is especially familiar with and fond of the Disney classic The Lion King. It was always one of my absolute favorites growing up; my sisters and I played the pretend game of “lions,” with unrealistic imitations of pouncing and roaring, for years. Lions are a symbol of power, bravery, and loyalty in many cultures and they have always been one of my favorite animals. And yet despite powerful connotations associated with the lions it was surprising to discover that lions have been and continued to be threatened by climate changes and primarily human encroachment. The king of the food chain is vital to the balance of life (also known as a an “apex” and “keystone” species). And yet it has also been labeled as “vulnerable” because they are disappearing in droves.

Lions were once rulers of all of Africa; it was their primary domain. But they are now only to be found in the Subsaharan regions. They are critically endangered in India - their only other natural habitat. How did it come to this? How did the king of the animal kingdom suffer such critical loss? In the past couple of decades lions have suffered serious losses due to climate change and consequent outbreaks of Distemper epidemics. Higher temperatures have caused droughts that have infested and endangered their prey, and thereby them. But by far the “steepest challenge that lions currently face” are humans. “Population growth and agricultural expansion resulting in loss of natural habitat, as well as hunting, poisoning and poaching by livestock ranchers” are all threatening the lion.

Sentimental reasons aside, the lion’s presence must be preserved because of its central role in the ecosystem it influences. It is an “apex” or top of the food chain and “keystone” species, without which the tenuous balance of the ecosystem would surely crumble. For centuries mankind has taken heart from the royal courage portrayed by the symbolic lion. The lion is just as influential and crucial in human culture and pride as it is in its environment. We cannot allow for this magnificent beast to fade out of existence in its wild domain. He is the king of the savannah and king in our hearts.

Works Cited

"African Lion Facts - Panthera Leo - Defenders of Wildlife - Defenders of Wildlife." Defenders of Wildlife - Protection of Endangered Species, Imperiled Species, Habitats. Web. 29 Oct. 2010. .

"Lion." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 29 Oct. 2010. .

"Wildlife: Lion." AWF. Web. 29 Oct. 2010. .

SHARKS!

In the depths of the ocean is where many mysteries of the earth are hidden. One of these very mysteries and misinterpreted subjects is sharks. Just take a moment and think of the very first thing that you can think of when you hear the word "shark". Unfortunately, most people tend to think that they are scary and dangerous creatures, and should be avoided at all costs, because if you don't they will attack. However this thought is very misguided. While researching sharks, I learned that there are a small handful of shark attack fatalities in the world each year. Only 10 out of the 500 species of sharks have been implicated in incidents with humans. However, it seems like there are a lot more because the media puts a lot of hype into each individual attack, because that is what sells. Unknown to most of the general public sharks do not target humans as a source of a good meal. Usually the only reason a shark attacks is because they feel threatened or because they mistake a human as their usual food, which happens very rarely. It also stated that dying from a shark attack was less likely to happen than dying from being struck by lightning. Point being, sharks are more scared of us than many may think so anybody who has a fear of the ocean because of sharks, this should somewhat help them grasp the reality of the situation. So, instead of being afraid of sharks, we should instead help them because according to this website, sharks are in trouble. Sharks face the threat of extinction everywhere due to overfishing. However, since man is so ignorant and afraid of sharks, not much has been done so far to save the helpless mammals. Many people think that it is good to kill sharks because of how "dangerous" they are, however they contribute to the ocean in more ways than we may think. Without sharks, there would be an overabundance of most fish, seals, some crustaceans, and even many types of mollusca, namely squid and octopus. Just like any other animal, sharks are an important part of the food chain that, if destroyed, would provide crucial problem.

Works Cited:
"Myth: Shark Attacks Are Common." Shark Savers. Shark Savers Inc., 15 March 2009. Web. 28 Oct 2010. .

Works Cited

Haha sorry, I forgot the works cited:

“Autosomal Recessive.” MedlinePlus. Web. 26 Oct 2010.

Wexler, Nancy. “Huntington Disease.” Human Genetics.

Week 9 - Genetic Disorders

Genetic disorders are obtained through inheritance, whether they are autosomal, sex-linked, dominant, or recessive. Autosomal disorders are a result of gene mutations within the first twenty two chromosomes, while sex-linked disorders result from mutations within the twenty third (sex) chromosome. Ever since my freshman year of high school, I have been deeply fascinated by genetics in general, but learning about inherited diseases has been even more intriguing.

For example, Queen Victoria was a carrier for Hemophilia, a medical condition in which the ability for blood to clot is significantly reduced. Although she was a carrier for Hemophilia, her phenotype did not express the trait. In other words, Victoria was heterozygous for Hemophilia, thus showing that Hemophilia is a recessive disorder. If you were to study a pedigree of Victoria's family, you would see that some of her daughters were likewise carriers of Hemophilia; however, each of her sons who obtained the Hemophilia gene were homozygous recessive (they carried AND expressed Hemophilia traits). Based off of this scenario, you can infer that Hemophilia is a sex-linked recessive disorder. Only the recessive alleles carry hemophilia—since girls are given an x allele by each of their parents, girls typically are only carriers of the disease, being that one x may be affected while the other x is normal. Boys, on the other hand, are at much greater risk for expressing Hemophilia. Since boys are only given one x, they must either show full-blown symptoms of Hemophilia or not have it at all.

Although recessive disorders are most common, there are still dominant disorders out there, such as Huntington's disease. This disease is autosomal dominant and involves the deterioration of brain cells between a person's 30's and 40's. Death is a common result of Huntington's, but it continues to be passed down from generation to generation, due to the fact that most Huntington's victims are able to reproduce before they are affected. Children who are either heterozygous or homozygous dominant for Huntington's WILL obtain it, whether they are a boy or a girl. The children who are homozygous recessive for the trait, however, are safe and will not obtain Huntington's.

As I take more and more biology classes, I continue to gain a better understanding of these kinds of genetic disorders. My affinity for this topic is currently influencing what my major will end up being—I have declared Biology for right now, but I am also seriously considering Genetics for a major. I personally believe that advanced studies toward genetic disorders will, in turn, benefit the members of our society who have predetermined genetic diseases, being that these studies might help scientists, geneticists, and doctors come up with solutions to inevitable disorders.

Week 9- Cosmic Nebula

In the deep silence of space many wonders can be found. There are planets, stars, galaxies and so much more. The most important thing that is up in space is cosmic nebula. Nebula comes from the Latin word meaning “cloud.” Nebulae are big cosmic clouds of dust and gas. A nebula used to mean any astronomical object, but, thanks to Edwin Hubble, we now know that nebula have to do with stars. Nebulae are the beginning of the stars. In the midst of their massive, colorful swirls, stars begin. They are the elements in which stars and planets are formed. Encompassed by the swirls of blue gas, a star begins to be formed. The turbulence in the nebula becomes sufficiently high that the gases collapse under their gravitational attraction. The material at the center of the nebula begins to heat up, which is the beginning of a star. Were it not for cosmic nebula, many of the stars that we have to stare up at each night would not be there. When referring to the stars, Pumba was not far off when he said, “Oh, gee. I always thought they were balls of gas burning billions of miles away.”
Every time I go to a planetarium, I get a thrill out of seeing the many images of cosmic nebula. The one thing that constantly seemed to distress me was that I did not know what the difference was between all the different pictures. All I knew was that they were all different shapes and colors. This was enough cause me to look it up. What I found was that there are five different types of nebula; each correlating to a different conglomeration of colors. There are emission nebula, reflection nebula, dark nebula, planetary nebula and supernova remnants. Emission nebulae are more of a red color due to the high amounts of hydrogen that reside in them, while reflection nebulae are bluer in color. Reflection nebulae are the main sites of star formations. The dark nebulae appear as just dark masses in the sky because there is too much dust to reflect any visible light. The planetary nebulae are called this because they are shaped like planets while the supernova remnants are actual remains of a star after it dies. All of the amazing nebulae are formations of the stars we stare up at every night. Many of the stars we see even contain nebulae within their formations. Nebulae are truly the most amazing cosmic creations in the night sky. So the next time you stare up into the night sky, imagine all the colorful nebula that are up in the midst of the darkness.



Works Cited
Knight, J.D. "Sea and Sky." The Sky. Copyright 1998-2009.Google. 28 Oct. 2010 .

The Web Nebulae. Arnett, Bill. 1997 Feb. 10. 28 Oct. 2010 .

Netting, Ruth. "NASA Science...For the Benefit of All." NASA Science Astrophysics. 17 Sept. 2010. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 28 Oct. 2010 .

Week 9 - OCD

Did you know that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is the fourth-most-common mental disordered diagnosed in America, and is nearly as common as asthma or diabetes? To me this is crazy. I am interested in researching this topic because I have definitely been exposed to many obsessive compulsive individuals throughout my life, and I wanted to find out just exactly why they do what they do.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder in which intrusive thoughts will pop into a person’s head and cause the person to become distressed or uneasy. More commonly, though, people refer to someone with OCD as paranoid. Now most of you probably would not consider yourselves paranoid. But, have you ever been walking and tried to only step on a certain color of tiles? Or do you repeatedly check your car to make sure it is locked before you leave it? What about being ridiculous in the number of times you wash your hands each day? These things, and a number of other repetitive actions that people often engage in, are all symptoms of OCD. However, not all repetitive behaviors (such as a bedtime routine) that people do each day are considered OCD behaviors. It all depends on the context in which the behaviour is performed.

The thing I find most ironic about this disorder is that OCD sufferers most often times recognize that their thoughts and their behaviors are irrational, yet this realization only serves to make them more distressed and anxious. How funny is that! They know that they are being ridiculous sometimes, yet it is hard to break free of this disorder’s clench.

After having researched this topic, I have come to the conclusion that everyone struggles with OCD in some form or another. However, there are those few people who struggle with it a lot, and quite frankly, I find it amusing. This disorder is obviously not a good thing and would be a real struggle to overcome, but lets be real. Have you ever met someone with full blown obsessive compulsive disorder? It's fascinating.

Works Cited

"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 July 2004. Web. 10 Aug. 2004.

“Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.” Canadian Mental Health Association. Web. 2010

*** Want to know if you struggle with OCD? Go to http://psychcentral.com/ocdquiz.htm to find out! :)

Week 9-ZUMBA!!

Well lately, I have a new obsession with Zumba! Basically the coolest thing ever! It's like a dance/workout thing. Basically it's just a party and it's crazy fun! I went tonight for two hours and had a blast, but also burned like 1500 calories I'm sure! Haha. But I wanted to find out more about it, so I wikipedia'd it!

Apparently, it was invented in the '90s by Beto Perez in Columbia...who knows who that is. But some person named Beto came up with the name Zumba, which I think is a pretty tight name. He brought Zumba to America in 1999, but it didn't get really popular until 2001. Beto was a choreographer for Shakira, which is probably why during Zumba you move your hips so much. It's a dance fitness routine that is to latin and international songs (it can also be done with popular songs). But it is available in classes, dvds, even on the Wii! Zumba works your whole body, but especially your legs because you are jumping around so much! It combines different dances like the chachacha, the merengue, the mamba, the salsa, the flamenco, belly dancing, and hip-hop. It's the greatest! And there are all kinds of different Zumba classes. There is Zumba Toning, Aqua Zumba , and Zumbatomic for kids!

With my major of Excercise and Wellness, being a Zumba instructor is totally something that I would want to do! It's not super well known, but it will be really big really soon! Everyone should try it because it is just so fun! It doesn't even seem like you are working out but you totally are! Best invention ever I think :)

Zumba. N.p., 2010. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.

Week 9- Giraffes?

I am super creative. Because of this, I picked the first example that was given in the description of this assignment as a topic: giraffes. Here's a little song I wrote about what I found when I searched for more information about giraffes.

The giraffes are not an animals with ridiculously longs necks
They're a rock band from Brooklyn, that no one's heard of yet.
Its probably cause they don't really play that well.
They play really pretty creepy songs; they play metal.
They're singer was on the Manhattan bridge and had a heart attack
When they're on stage, people throw ice and glass at them then they throw it back
Apparently when they play they drink a lot
Go to one of their shows, I would probably not
Their guitarist Damien was once shot in the leg by a Fire Marshall.
Well, even I gotta admit that's kinda cool.
They're bands probably not gonna make it.
At least their songs got thirty-eight thousand hits

"The giraffes." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 2010. Web. 25 Oct. 2010

The Giraffes. Home Page. n.d.

I have always been fascinated with Europe, especially Italy. I visited there when I was very small but I have always wanted to go back. I've read a lot about Florence and Venice and Rome, but one place I have never really looked at is Vatican City. I knew that it is where the Pope stays but I had no idea that it was an official country.
The Vatican City, officially called the Holy See, is the smallest country in the world and is located within a walled area of Rome. It measures only 0.17 square miles!. . Since it is a small state with a small population the crime rate is much higher than Italy and approximately 90% of the cases remain unsolved (so hold on to your purse, it looks like the guards are just there for decoration) The Vatican has its own Post office and issues its own stamps; it has its own mail system which is widely used by Romans and in most cases is a lot quicker than Italian mail. The Vatican City issues its own passports; the Pope, cardinals, members of the Swiss guard and clergy being the ones who receive them. Italians are allowed to donate 8% of their yearly taxes to the Vatican instead of paying it to the Italian Government( oh that is soo nice of the Italian Government). To be a Swiss guard one must be: at least 5'8.5'' in height, Male, Catholic, between the ages of 19 and 30, have completed basic training in the Swiss military, and of course, be Swiss. And my favorite: It is rumored that Christopher Columbus was the son of the errant Pope Innocence the IIX. It's thanks to Pope Innocence that Columbus received the funding for his trip to the new world.
One of the things I discovered while learning about the Vatican is that there was once a female pope! Here is the story:
John Anglicus, born in Mainz, was recorded as being pope for two years, seven months and four days. It is is claimed that John was in fact female. Joan/John was taken to Athens by a lover of hers and made to conceal her identity by dressing in men's clothes. Joan was an extremely bright scholar and rose quickly in society. In Rome she rose quickly amongst learnered masters and students and soon she was the choice of everyone for Pope. While pope she became pregnant and it is said she gave birth during a procession from St Peter's Basilica to the Lateran, in a narrow lane between the Colosseum and St Clement's church. After her identity was discovered she was killed and buried in that same place. These are some Vatican City facts since that event: Popes are carried around in a chair with a hole in the bottom, supposedly to allow cardinals to check for manhood. From 16th century documentation there is evidence of a bust of Johannes VIII, femina ex Anglia among a line of papal busts in the Siena Cathedral. Papal processions stopped using the street in question (Via Vicus Papissa - lady Pope street). There was a statue and shrine on this street of a mother and child, representing the Popess and her infant. The statue is no longer but the shrine still exists. Legends says that a stone slab marked the spot where Joan gave birth and was buried. However, Pope Pius V had it removed in the late 16th century.To this day an illustration of her labor remains in Saint Peter's Basilica at the foot of the baldacchino, the main altar (over St Peter's tomb).Unlike most of the other Popes, no public illustration or painting exists in the Vatican of Pope Johannes .
Who knew that the Vatican City had such... interesting facts to be learned about it!


Online. Available: http://www.romanlife-romeitaly.com/vatican-city-facts.html October 25, 2010

Week 9 - QWERTY History

Over the past few centuries typing information has become the quickest and most efficient way of presenting information; first through a type writer and now through our personal computers. What I always wanted to know, however, was where in the world did the QWERTY layout of keyboards originate? To me it always seemed like a jumbled way of organizing our alphabet but the reasons behind it make sense. Now a day’s most cellular phones even have adopted keyboards and in effect the QWERTY system which make it even easier to send messages via text.

It all started in 1868 when Christopher Sholes and company patented the first typewriter. This keys were set up in alphabetical order and at first seemed to make writing easy. Building popularity and becoming mass produced in 1873 typist began to encounter a major problem; the keys would constantly jam. The immediate solution to this issue was to have typist slow down but this idea in a way reversed the advantage type writers provided. Jams occurred constantly when letters close together such as S and T were pushed so Christopher Sholes went back to the drawing board.

After a few years of tinkering Sholes produced a new layout that was very close to what modern day QWERTY boards are like. It was created to reduce the amount of “travel” and also prevent so many jams from happening. By 1878 Sholes had received a patent for this layout and slowly, but surely, the layout caught on and became a huge success. Now people can type at lightning fast speeds and text even faster thanks to the work of Christopher Sholes.

I am so glad that this layout was created because it makes writing papers so much easier. I remember as a kid when I began using a keyboard I would use the “Hunt and Peck” method and thought never would I be able to type quickly but now I can’t imagine typing without the QWERTY method. Having a phone that has a keyboard especially has helped me type messages faster, so thank you Mr. Sholes, your work is appreciated.

Phil Ament. QWERTY Keyboard History. Troy MI: ©1997-2007 The Great Idea Finder, April 26, 2007. Online. Available: http://www.ideafinder.com . October 25, 2010.

An Angel

An Angel- Declan Galbraith

I wish I had your pair of wings
Had them last night in my dreams
I was chaising buterflies
Till the sunrise broke my eyes

Tonight the sky has glued my eyes
Cause what they see's an angel hive
I've got to touch that magic star
And greet the angels in their hive

Sometimes I wish I were an angel
Sometimes I wish I were you
Sometimes I wish I were an angel
Sometimes I wish I were you

All the sweet honey from above
Pour it all over me sweet love
While you're flying around my head
Your honey kisses keep me fed

I wish I had your pair of wings
Just like last night in my dreams
I was lost in paradise
Wish I'd never opened my eyes

Sometimes I wish I were an angel
Sometimes I wish I were you
Sometimes I wish I were an angel
Sometimes I wish I were you

But there's danger in the air
Tryin' so hard to be unfair
Danger's in the air
Tryin' so hard to give us a scare
But were not afraid

Sometimes I wish I were an angel
Sometimes I wish I were you
Sometimes I wish I were an angel
Sometimes I wish I were you

Wish I were you
Oh I wish I were you

I doubt any of you have heard this song; its not very well known. It was first sung by Declan Galbraith when he was 12 and since then Declan has sung it many times over. Your probably wondering who the heck Declan Galbraith is, well he's not that famous so don't worry. He was a child pop star phenomenon over in England about six years ago, but since then has kind of faded off the charts.
The first most obvious tool that is used in this song is the fact that the singer is such a young boy with the most amazing and mature voice. When first listening to it you don't really pay attention to the lyrics but to the singers voice. You are drawn in by his rich tone and soaring soprano notes. He truly is an amazing singer. The second tool that is used is the imaginative imagery. After hearing it a few times I was drawn in not only by Declan's voice but also because of the images that the song wove into my mind's eye. I pictured myself 'chasing butterflies' in a wide green meadow and then waking up when the sun came up feeling slightly disappointed that the dream was over. In the next verse I can see myself looking up at the brilliant night sky with the thousands of stars looking like a hive of angels and longing to be there with them. I love this song. Its always made me feel so happy and peaceful. And so if you get the chance look it up on youtube, its definitely worth it.

Week 7--Song Lyrics

A song I feel has a strong emotional appeal is "Concrete Angel" by Martina McBride. It is the story of a girl who dies as a result of child abuse, while "the teacher wonders but she doesn't ask" (l 5), and "the neighbors hear but they turn out the light" (l 15). The use of these two phrases appeal to the intended listeners--those who perhaps didn't ask the right questions or ignored a possible problem--and causes them to feel a sense of responsibility and increased motivation to save children from the fate described in the song.

A second tool used by the songwriter is a use of precise diction. The fact that the girl's name is never mentioned, along with words and phrases such as "holding back" "hiding" "mask" and "secret storm" combined with the last line of the final verse: "a broken heart that the world forgot" indicates to the listeners that this girl is an unknown. She hides her troubles from the world, and the people around her wonder but don't ask, overlooking her until she is completely forgotten. Again, this tool appeals to the listeners' sense of responsibility, but also to a sense of guilt. It causes them to ask themselves how many times they have perhaps allowed "broken heart" to be forgotten, and to see the possible ramifications of their neglect.

This song is a call to remember this girl and those like her for whom there is still time. Martina McBride effectively employs descriptions of "character" (for lack of a better term) actions and specific diction to evoke emotions of responsibility and guilt in the listeners, causing them to have an increased motivation to protect their community and avoid the creation of any more "concrete angels."

..........................................................................................................................................

CONCRETE ANGEL -Martina McBride

She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holding back
Wearing the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with the linen and lace, oh

The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she was never born

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel

Somebody cries in the middle of the night
The neighbors hear but they turn out the light
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When morning comes it will be too late

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel

A statue stands in a shaded place
An angel girl with an upturned face
A name is written on a polished rock
A broken heart that the world forgot

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel

Week 7 - Fireflies

Faith Hill's "Fireflies" applies specifically to a female audience. The very first few lines often resonates deeply with girls, young or old, all over the world: "Before you met me I was a fairy princess. I caught frogs and called them Prince and made myself the Queen." When they're young most girls are enthralled by the romantic, sparkling magic of fairytales. And no matter how old, they secretly cherish the dream of stumbling upon their own fairytale, complete with beautiful dress, magic wand, and perfect Prince. But this song also appeals to an older female audience because it applies the magic of childhood fairytales to surviving and overcoming adult trials.

She encourages us to continue dreaming and keep our faith in love alive with "I slept in castles and fell in love because I was taught to dream. I found mayonnaise bottles and pocked holes on top to capture Tinker Bell. They were just fireflies to the untrained eye, but I could always tell." The image of a young girl falling asleep in her imaginary castle and determinedly capturing Tinker Bell remind us of our own innocent faith in love and life. We could be

anywhere and anyone we wanted to be my willing it. Faith successfully conveys the message that this amazing ability should not be lost with childhood: we must pursue our dreams with the same trusting fervor

The chorus of the song is perhaps the most moving: "I believe in fairytales and dreamer's dreams like bed sheet sails, and I believe in PeterPan, and miracles, and anything I can to get by...and fireflies." Fond childhood memories of playing princess dress up, pixie dust, tents made out sheets, and the unshakeable belief in fairies like Tinker Bell in firefly form mix a strong sense of happy nostalgia with Faith's message to never stop believing in momentary magic and miracles.

Faith makes expert allusions to dreams and images strongly associated with the idyllic frame of mind found in children, specifically young girls. By playing on these chords of nostalgia she inspires us to seek out and foster that belief in all things beautiful and magical that is an integral part of who we are. The easy faith of young children is too often crushed by the harshness of reality, but we do not have to let it die. Faith's simple, resounding words of "I believe" illuminate the wonderful fact that it is a choice. We can still choose to believe.

"Fireflies"

Before you met me i was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
Before you knew me i traveled 'round the world
I slept in castles and fell in love
Because i was taught to dream
I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture tinkerbell
They were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But i could always tell

[chorus]
I believe in fairytales and dreamers dreams like bed sheet sails
And i believe in peter pan and miracles
And anything i can to get by
And fireflies

Before i grew up i saw you on a cloud
I could bless myself in your name and pat you on your wings
Before i grew up i heard you whisper so loud
"life is hard, and so is love, child, believe in all these things"
I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture tinkerbell
And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But i could always tell

[chorus]

Before you met me i was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
Before you knew me i traveled 'round the world
And i slept in castles and fell in love
Because i was taught to dream

Week 7: Keep Holding On

Keep Holding On
Avril Lavigne

You're not alone, together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold, and it feels like an end
There's no place to go, you know I won't give
No, I won't give in.

Keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong,
Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you.

There's nothing you could say, nothing you could do,
There's no other way when it comes to the truth.
So keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.

So far away, I wish you were here,
Before it's too late this could all disappear.
Before the door's closed, and it comes to an end
With you by my side I will fight and defend.
I'll fight and defend, yeah, yeah.

Keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.
Just stay strong
Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you.

Hear me when I say, when I say, I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.
Just stay strong
Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you.

There's nothing you could say, nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth.
So keep holding on,
Cause you know we'll make it through

Keep holding on
Keep holding on

There's nothing you could say, nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth.
SO keep holding on,
Cause you know we'll make it through.



I love this song because it is just so encouraging. It is from the movie Eragon, and is just meant to show the connection between the characters. (I think. I haven't seen the movie in years.)The lyrics do an amazing job of portraying the strength you can find by sticking together and holding on tight to what you love.

The repetition is probably the best tool that is used. The phrase "I'm here for you" is repeated throughout the song and serves as a reminder that you (or your loved ones, depending on who you see as the narrator) is always there. "Keep holding on" is another phrase that is repeated throughout, also reminding us that when things get hard and we get discouraged, just look to the ones we love and they can lift us up and help us out. When I first heard this song, my first thought was the Savior. He is always here for us and is constantly lifting us up.

Week 7

“For What It’s Worth” Buffalo Springfield

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound

A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

This song is called “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield. It was released in 1967 and is one of my favorite songs. The audience of this song is the youth of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. The song symbolizes world turmoil and struggles. It especially refers to the Vietnam War, which was occurring at the time, and increasing conflict between law enforcement and unruly adolescents.

A tool that Buffalo Springfield included in the composition of this song is pathos. This song really appeals to your emotions. One way in which your emotions are engaged is through his word choice. Such phrases and lines as “battle field,” “a man with a gun,” and “a thousand people in the street” cause images of violence and dispute to appear in our heads. These images carry a variety of emotions with them— sadness, rage, hatred, and fear.

Buffalo Springfield also uses logos. The song contained some thought provoking lines which included logic. These line really get the listener thinking. One such line is, “Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong.” Upon hearing this line, the audience will pause and think about what is being said and they will realize that they are contributing to the problem at hand. It helps one realize that the situation is at a stand-still and that each side must give and take. This song also uses ethos because it refers to historical events. This reference to historical events gives the song-writer credibility. After analyzing this song I feel like the song has more meaning to me.

Week Seven - The Call by Regina Spektor

The Call lyrics
Songwriters: Spektor, Regina;

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry

I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because every thing's changing
Doesn't mean it's never been this way before
All you can do is try to know
Who your friends are as you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say goodbye

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say goodbye

Now, we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'Til they're before your eyes

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say goodbye

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say goodbye

I really enjoy Regina Spektor, she is an amazing artist. This song is said to have multiple meanings, some of which include some form of secret or shy lovers. For me, this song is intended for those discovering new territory. It is for those that feel as though they are alone and that there is no one to turn to. It is for those that are lost. This song’s purpose is to give the listener a reassuring notion that things will get better; that others are there to help because they have gone through the same things that you have. You find that you are not the first and last person going through this. Then you are back at the beginning, and it will happen all over again. You will have new challenges that await you to overcome. All of this creates a strong emotional appeal that is comforting and warm. It gives you strength to take on whatever you face.

This song also reminds me of our Savior Jesus Christ. Now I do not know if this was her intent, and being a Russian Jew it probably is not. I still use this kind of thinking sometimes when I listen to it though. A more religious view would be for a religious audience. This would appeal to emotion as well because of the comfort you get with religion. The way it starts as a feeling, that being the Holy Ghost, and then it is a hope which is our faith. It keeps growing, and you go off to battle. To me there is no literal battle, but one that is raged between yourself and the obstacles you face. When it talks about a light because you are going off to battle I think of that light as being Jesus Christ. He is the light of the world, and will always be there waiting. There is a way back, if you just call. He is there waiting for us to call him, we never truly have to say goodbye. “…know who your friends are…” Christ is your friend. With him there are never any goodbyes.

I still love this song, and I always will.

Week 7 - He Didn't Have to Be

He Didn't Have to Be - Brad Paisley

When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new

It always winds up feeling more like a job interview

My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone

Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run

I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old

He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go

A few months later I remember lying there in bed

I overheard him pop the question and prayed that she'd say yes

And then all of a sudden

Oh, it seemed so strange to me

How we went from something's missing

To a family

Lookin' back all I can say

About all the things he did for me

Is I hope I'm at least half the dad

That he didn't have to be

I met the girl that's now my wife about three years ago

We had the perfect marriage but we wanted somethin' more

Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends

Crowded 'round the nursery window as they bring the baby in

And now all of a sudden

It seemed so strange to me

How we've gone from something's missing

To a family

Lookin' through the glass I think about the man

That's standin' next to me

And I hope I'm at least half the dad

That he didn't have to be

Lookin' back all I can say

About all the things he did for me

Is I hope I'm at least half the dad

That he didn't have to be

Yeah, I hope I'm at least half the dad

That he didn't have to be

Because he didn't have to be

You know he didn't have to be

Essentially, this song portrays a young boy’s perspective of his new step-father. He reveals to the listeners that he is humbly grateful for his step-father, being that he filled the father position. This song especially exemplifies pathos as an emotional agent to aid in the understanding of the listeners. He uses specific examples in his song which relate the the average, everyday person; he likely does so to give the listener a feel that he and they are on the same level.