Entry #11 Blogs.

Writing has been around for hundreds of years. It is the way we communicate and learn. Without writing we wouldn't have many of the things we take for granted today.The language of today has changed dramatically compared to that of years ago. People have become less personal about their experiences and opinions. Gone are they years of getting into detail and trying to prove your point with the proper information needed to support individual thoughts or ideas. People are so fast to share what they have to say, yet give no proper information to support their ideas or explain to their audience why those idea/thoughts are important to them.

An example to put this into prospective is blogging. What is a blog you ask?

Blogs are a website containing a writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites.

While attending college, you learn the writing process. But for some, this is scary and hard to understand, especially as a new student.

In learning the writing process and applying it to assignments for school, you must introduce your subject, support it, and conclude what it is that your are expressing and writing about.  But why is this the only appropriate time where the formal writing rules apply?

Well, not anymore.
In English 101 with Professor Murphy, you will learn to blog, or formally blog I should say. What I mean when I say "formal blogs" is that you can't just ramble a bunch of thoughts and then be done with no support. This is an assignment! The blogs needed to include the three main parts (into, body/support, and conclusion) just like in your English writing assignments. At first, this can seem like hard work and irrelevant to your blogs. Aren't these our own personal thoughts? Yes, but we are learning in this class right. Clearly blogging must have a purpose.

Initially, I had no intention of actually liking to blog. "More wasted time on unnecessary writing assignments." I thought. But I was wrong! As I continued to blog through my English 101 course I was hooked. For the first time I was able to apply the writing process at a much smaller scale. Allowing the breakdown for writing to come at an easier pace and a completely different point of view. Blogging  made it easier to understand how to write correctly. Blogging was also a great way to be able to read and comment on classmates own opinions and thoughts and see subjects in a different point of view. This allowed me to learn a lot about different topics I had no clue about. I also learned a lot of new ideas on subjects I wrote about, classmates wrote about. The writing process became easier because I was writing about things that interested me or that the whole class wrote about in their perspective even if I did or did not agree on it. Commenting on blogs was a great way to let a classmates know what I thought about their opinions on certain subjects or allowed me to let them know my point of view on something they wrote about.

With technology changing the world today, blogging is a great way to teach students (including myself) that we need to be formal, not only in our assignments but the way we think and talk. Blogging has become the modern day "casual conversation" of our thoughts and opinions. College is preparing us for "real-life" experiences after all. You can't just say whatever you want and then not even know why you agree with the matter. This is why you need your support/evidence on that subject. "I heard this from someone or somewhere" is NOT enough to get me to agree or even know what someone is talking about. Support your writing even when it's a thought or opinion. We are learning and teaching at the same time when we communicating with others in our blogs. We are building a sense of community through technology.

Entry #10 Natures Connection

Human noun hu·man \ˈhyü-mən, ˈyü-\ : a bipedal primate mammal (Homo sapiens) :  man; broadly :  hominid 

Nature noun na·ture \ˈnā-chər\ : the physical world and everything in it (such as plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc.) that is not made by people.

Human Nature noun : the ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that are common to most people.

Coincidence?  Humans progress has always been a result of what nature has had to offer us. The ecosystem is clear evidence of everything  in our world working together. To the tress we use to create paper, the water we clean and drink, and the food we harvest and eat are all utilized are all examples of nature being used. Humans are part of nature and our survival depends on it.

In a recent blog by Renne Cho, he explains why we must reconnect with nature. He explains how technology is changing how people act. Cho says "Today many children and adults suffer from what Richard Louv calls “nature-deficit disorder”— reduced awareness and a diminished ability to find meaning in the life around us. Children no longer have the opportunity to play freely in nature, exploring woods or wading in a stream, and there are fewer natural areas that are accessible." 

http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/05/26/why-we-must-reconnect-with-nature/

"Nature-deficient disorder" is a great way to put the issue of humans not being connected enough to our world.  Cho also mentions that "Studies reveal that children are healthier, happier, and perhaps even smarter and more creative when they have a connection to nature. Nature has positive effects on children with attention deficit disorder, asthma, and obesity, and being in nature relieves stress and improves physical health. Adults who work in spaces incorporating nature into their design are more productive, healthy and creative; and hospital patients with a view of nature from their window heal faster."

Nature has been proven to improve our health. We need to replace our health care system with doctors prescribing more time out side and eating your daily fruits and vegetables and less fake chemically made medication. 

Entry #9 Pink Slime

Has convenience changed the way people eat? Absolutely! It's not only changing the way we are eating, but the way we are living. But not all change is bad. Times are rapidly advancing and humans are getting smarter. Sometimes we change stuff for the good and it back fires. This is when we have to stop, analyze, and CHANGE again for the good.

In order for  fast food industries such as McDonalds  to keep up with the demand of consumers needs they have to invent ways for food or specifically meat to be able to reach this request and not expire on the way. Most are aware that the famous "cheeseburger" or "chicken nuggets" are two of the most popular food items being sold in the fast food market. But what are we really getting when we order these menu items?

PINK SLIM. That is what consumers (YOU) are actually getting when they order these foods. Basically every part of the animal besides the  actual meat, that is treated with ammonium hydroxide- a CHEMICALLY PROCESSED FOOD.

If you look back to my previous post about CHEMICALLY processed food vs. WHOLE food, I think you will change your mind on considering "fast food" as unhealthy to rather "chemically processed food."

http://mel2065268.blogspot.com/2015/05/entry-8-whole-foods-vs-processed-foods.html

Change your food, change your life. We need to completely cut out the chemicals in our foods!! These artificial ingredients and chemicals are killing us slowly. We must act now before its too late!!

EAT WHOLE FOODS NOT PROCESSED FOODS.

Entry #8 Whole Foods vs Processed Foods

With the technological advances today, people have become lazy. They are allowing machines to do all the work for them instead of doing the labor themselves. While in some aspects, advancing is good for the people and the economy. But when it come to our food, mass production has a negative effect on how it has modified our produce today.

Have you or someone you know eaten a fast food meal? Some french fries or a cheeseburger? The chicken fingers at the restaurant down the street? Truth is, most of us are guilty of eating some type of fast food because it has become more convenient for people then buying and making their own food. Our food has gone from FRESH to PROCESSED. 

Now allow me to clarify the meaning of processed because most of the time there is confusion. Most food today have to be processed if we haven't grown and picked it ourselves.  Oranges are cut from trees, and meat has been cut by machines. But the difference is between MECHANICAL processing and CHEMICAL processing. It doesn't matter if ingredients have been put in a jar or cut up for packaging, it's still REAL WHOLE FOOD with no chemicals. 

PROCESSED FOODS are generally known as food that have been chemically processed and made from refined ingredients and artificial substances.

According to Kris Gunnars, here are 9 ways that food is actually slowly KILLING us. 

http://authoritynutrition.com/9-ways-that-processed-foods-are-killing-people/

1.  Usually high in sugar and fructose corn syrup.

2. Are "hyper rewarding" and lead to overconsumption.

3. Contains all sorts of artificial ingredients. 

4. Many people become addicted to processed junk foods.

5. Are often high in refined carbohydrates.

6. Are low in nutrients.

7. Tend to be low in fiber.

8. Requires less energy and time to digest.

9. Are often high in trans fats or processed vegetables.

We need to eat more WHOLE and FRESH food instead of fast food! Our health is depending on it!!