Final Presentations

After watching four days of presentations, I have come to the conclusion of some of my favorites. I really liked the New York tour as well as the tour of Portland, however, I thought that this would have been a harder project to accomplish. How do you write a 4 page paper on the expanded definition of a night out in Portland?
It was also interesting to listen to the different class mates share their passions and interests. You were able to tell which people picked a topic that they were comfortable with and understood. The snowboarding and genealogy presentations were great examples of ones that were created with a previous love of the subject matter.
Overall, the last couple days of class were really entertaining.

The Tyranny Of Choice

The article The Tyranny of Choice, by Barry Schwartz, handed out in class is about the process of making decisions and the outcome off those decisions. Theoretically, people believe that more is better. However, psychologically thinking the opposite is most likely true.
Researchers have discovered that the increase in choice has actually influence a decrease in the well-being of people in the United States. The people within the resulting information were then split up into two different groups: the “maximizers” and the “satisficers.” A maximizer is someone who always aims to make the best possible choice, while a satisficer is ok with “good enough.”
A maximizer then becomes a person that goes into much detail and research to make the right decision for themselves. These people will spend much time and effort checking labels, reading consumer reports, and trying out new products. The downside of being a maximizer is the daunting feeling after making the decision, the “did I make the right choice” thought. As a result of further testing, maximizers experience less satisfaction with life and were less happy than others.

My Final Report

Putting together my final report was very enjoyable. I had a lot of fun creating and researching this project. I chose something that I was passionate about and this only added to my current yearn to play again. Softball is something that will always be a part of my life and this paper is just another addition to that legacy.
Giving the oral presentation was something of a different story. I really do not like giving presentations, they make me really nervous. Which is something that is really ironic coming from a head cheerleader!

Working on the Process Papers

So far, working on the papers has been actually enjoyable. As some one who still feels a little unsure about their writing, I feel that this project is actually helping to insure my confidence in my writing. With the subject that I chose, softball, I am able to use a lot of my own thoughts and really write from the heart. Softball was a huge part of my life, I have been playing over half of my life. It does help to have the feedback from the other students at the table, plus you get to learn something about what they have been writing about.

Free Write - Parents

Well, lets see, my mother at age 23 would be year 1975. It must have been cool to be old enough to really experience the seventies. Hearing the Beatles on the radio (not on the oldies station), being apart of one of the most interesting times in the history of the US. I believe at this time she was living in Colorado, going to Colorado State or just freshly graduated.
The differences between what I am doing today and what she would have been doing then are summed up by the process in which I am writing this blog. I doubt she is even aware of the concept of a blog today. I don't think personal computers were even that readily available in those days, let alone the Internet. She may have written in a diary or journal for class, which would be the only thing that would be comparable to blogging.
She would be wearing bell bottoms, re-sewn super tight. She said that you had to have help getting into your pants or have them sewn on. The hippie look was pretty much rocked by my mom and her two sisters (one of which would have been freshly back from Woodstock). I do remember her saying that she had to wear skirts to school, but I think that was more of a high school thing.

Ode to a Sandwich

In writing the peanut butter and jelly sandwich instructions it was pretty simple and straight forward. Our table group seemed to be very ambivalent about what part they wanted to write; I did the introduction, Janine did the step-by-step, Jake wrote the conclusion, and Preston was the copy editor. Writing the different parts were pretty easy, thank god for the Internet and email. The time frame was a little tight, we just barely had enough time to get everything done. The only problem that I felt we had was issue of what was the final product that we turned in. Some of the editing that was done I don't believe was necessary and many of the simple things were missed. There was too much focus on changing everything that was already written rather than checking for commas and other grammatical errors. Also, the attitude was not input friendly.

Crocodile Creek

Our group decided that Shelia was the innocent one of the group. She was just trying to make some money. Jim came next, he was the one getting cheated on. Followed by Mary, the cheater, and Ted who almost tie as the worst person in the story. Mary agreed to have sex with Ted for money, even though she was with Ted. And Ted was the sick pervert that wanted to pay for sex with Mary.
Persuasion can be a powerful thing. Especially for someone who is not very confident with making decisions or even with themselves. The ability to convince someone to do something that they do not want to do is manipulation. Where does the line form between manipulation and persuasion? I personally think that line is very blurred.

The Worst Thing Invented by People

I think that the worst thing ever invented by people was the gun. I am a firm believer that if wars were still fought with a sword we would not have the huge wars that darken our past. With the gun a person is able to stand hundreds of yards away and take out the enemy. But with a sword you have to physically impale your foe and be almost face to face. The gun has also become a status symbol; people who should never have a gun use them to show others that they are dangerous and strong. I understand that the gun becomes something of the natural evolution of warfare, but this is one area that we need to revert back to the Stone Age.

The Best Advice

The best advice that I have ever received was about the death of my father. When a person is going through something like that they are not able to see outside of the situation. You become this person with blinders on that is so completely enveloped into this world of darkness that it almost seems that there is no hope. But someone said to me a cliche that is cheesy as hell, but has helped me get through the toughest years of my life. They told me, "To every dark cloud there is a silver lining." It took me a while to understand the real meaning behind the metaphor, but it really lifted away the darkness that was about to strangle me. There is always going to be something positive that you are going to be able to find with every single situation. Somewhere in the misery there is some good that will come out of the pain. Did you learn anything? Do you look at things differently? Are you more appreciative of the little things? These are questions that you have to start asking your self. Yes, I lost a huge member of my family, but there are things that I have gained as well. There are things that I no longer take for granted. I never leave issues unresolved with people I love. I am able to tell people I love that I actually do love them. These are things that I was very happy to learn that I was now free to do, I opened up my self to live each day to the fullest. You have to just find that silver lining. It may take you years to find it and it may not be exactly what you thought it would be, but it will be there no matter what.

How to eat a lemon.....

How does someone eat a lemon? Well, I suggest only eating it as a garnish to a meal. However, if you had to eat a lemon, these directions will help you figure the best way. First, you must choose the ripest fruit possible. A lemon should be firm to the touch, but not hard. The color of the lemon should be a crisp yellow with no brown discolorations. The next step would be to slice the lemon into wedges/slices/pieces. Place a clean, dry cutting on a flat, level surface with the lemon in the center. Now with a sharp knife (a serrated knife works best), use firm pressure to slice off the ends of the lemon. Your lemon should now no longer have the little nub pieces on both ends and the cut should have exposed the raw fruit on the inside. If you have done this correctly, the lemon should be bleeding a little juice and releasing a lovely lemony sent. The next slice is going down the middle of the lemon. Place the lemon on one of the now flat sides created by the first slice you made and cut the lemon with the knife crossing the center (there should be a visible center surrounded by what looks like spokes) of the fruit. The result should be two identical halves of lemon. The next step is choosing how you would like to eat the lemon; the next cut determines the size of the pieces. I prefer to place the lemon half back on the cutting board, rind side up, and cut it into 3-4 pieces in the same direction as the first slice. I would do this with both halves of the fruit. Now you should have 6-8 little half-circles of lemon. Take 1 piece and bit it up to the rind, and savor the intensely tart flavor of the lemon.

What is Patriotism?

According to me, patriotism is about the strength of beliefs. I define a patriot as some one who loves our country, someone who is completely devoted to the creating a better situation for our nation. This person is a defender of his/her beliefs. So, patriotism is a system of beliefs; an idea that this great country we live in is worth the defence and devotion of civilians and military personnel alike.

Free Write - Brent, Arrogance, Sadness, Smooth

With arrogance, Brent slammed the car door. He turned away from the car and never saw the sadness on her face. As she watched him walk back towards his front door, she felt as though her heart was going to break clean in half. The feeling of emptiness was already so intense. He had done what he thought was right, he felt that this break-up was the best for both of them. All that she felt was the regret and the immense sadness of being without him. With one last glance back at the car, Brent walked through the front door of his house, shutting the door on her and their love. Devastated, she sat there only a moment more, a lonely tear streaked down her smooth, beautiful face.

How to Eat an Orange

First, make sure you have a ripe piece of fruit. The orange should be firm but not hard. Using a fingernail (or other handy sharp object), pierce the skin to begin peeling. Once you have gotten to the soft fruit inside, the rest of the skin should peel away easily. When all the skin is gone, you are able to take the pre-sectioned pieces apart and enjoy.

My Computer

About a year and a half ago I bought a new Hp computer. It was a fancy new toy for me to play with; LightScribe, 22" monitor, removable storage, etc. The only thing that was really different was that it was a Vista computer. Having to teach myself how to use Vista has been interesting, seeing as I grew up on XP. But, after having the system running for a while now, I am beginning to come around on the whole Vista debate; I am actually enjoying it so far. Although I feel this sudden panic that I may have just jinxed myself....

Free Write - Details, Gross, Massive, Humor

The joke was supposed to be massive. With all the details he went through to get the punch line out, it should have been a really good joke. You know how boys are, they will say just about anything to bring up the gross factor. There is nothing like a good, perverted sense of humor. They will say whatever it takes in order to get the offending response from the girls. Boys, they never change... doing the same things that they were doing in the second grade.

Have You Been COUGed????

The Student Leader Scholarship is a prize given to a WSU student every year. This scholarship is presented at the annual Leadership Awards ceremony this spring. A student that recieves this award is given to a student that truely makes an impact on our campus and community. With the help of this award they are able to achieve their goals to continue to support our area.

As a fundraising effort, the Student Leaders are helping to spread some Cougar Pride during Apple Cup. You can purchase a "You have been COUGed!" to be placed at any Vancouver-area location. SIgns will be delivered and the cost of the sign includes materials, delivery, and donation to scholarship. For a little extra you can have Butch deliver your sign personally.

Signs are $40 each or 2 for $75

For more information, call the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

GO COUGS!!

Free Write - A Memorable Meal

I have a very large extended family. There are all sorts of aunts, uncles, and cousins all over the country to which I am related. So, when you get our all of our family together it usually makes for a pretty memorable time no matter what. Thanksgiving is usually the biggest gather of kin, especially when it is held in Wisconsin (where most of my father's family is located). This may not seem like a huge feat, but when you consider that there are eight aunts, seven uncles, six cousins, and two second cousins in my paternal extended family. About 6 years ago one such meal was coordinated. That year was extra special because there were also 3 brand new additions to the family, two cousins and a second cousin were all born close together.

Free Write - Nothing, Snickers, Equilibrium, Dogs

There was nothing I could do to stop him. He was a monster on the loose, tearing up everything in his path like a deadly force of nature. After chasing him all over the place, I thought it was time to take matters into my own hands. First I had to power up with some chocolate. Knowing one of my favorite candy bars, Snickers, was waiting for me in the kitchen (I like them to be frozen), I decided that was as good as a place as any to begin my counter attack. I would have to get into the mindset of my foe, figure out where he was going next. At the sudden crash in the living room, my decision was made for me. Slowly sneaking around the corner, I spotted him. There tangled in my destroyed entertainment center was the monster of all dogs, the love of my life, my little pug I call Equilibrium.

Free Write - A Family Vacation

The best moments that I can recall on a family vacation would be on our trip to Cozumel, Mexico. I believe I was a freshman in high school and my dad's younger sister was getting married on the beach. She and her new husband are big divers, so they thought a beach wedding at the end of a week long stay in Mexico with the entire family would be the perfect setting. I think that the best part of the whole vacation was that my father's whole side of the family was there at the resort with us. That may not seem that interesting but you have to understand that my dad comes from a family of 9 children. So there were aunts, uncles and cousins of mine running all over this resort in Cozumel. Now, after my dad received his scuba licence we started going on vacations all over Mexico. And I have to say, after staying at a lot of different places in Mexico, that this resort in Cozumel had to be the best one. It was one of those all inclusive places that a bracelet your given at the front desk at arrival gets you anything at anytime at anywhere on the grounds. The buildings were made to look like grass huts and tikki bars. It really made for a memorable time.

Introduction

My name is Racheal Johnson, I am a student at WSU Vancouver and majoring in Digital Technology and Culture (DTC). My experience with writing has been very broad. I, of course, had the required English courses in high school with every grade's writing expectations; senior year I went through the Senior Honor's English class. We had a senior project as a capstone to our education which included a lengthy final paper. At the University of Washington, I went through the English 101 course, then branching out to writing for Art History which was an additional class attached to Art History 101. There were other classes with a fair share of writing: Philosophy, Shakespeare, Women's Studies, Comp Lit, etc. As for the personal side of writing, I enjoy poetry. There is a simplistic elegance to the way that a poem can emulate and emotion, either from the writer or the reader.

One fact about me: I was head Cheerleader of the Stevenson High School Bulldogs.