My Attempt to be an author

I got an A

2008-12-20T17:11:00.000-08:00

I got an A in my writing comprehension class!! Some may be shaking there heads and wonder "what was the professor thinking?". Still, I am very excited about the grade. I have always struggled with writing and it is exciting to think that I can produce something of quality. I actually got a lot out of this class, even though I did not want to take it. I think that Professor Longoria did a great job of communicating with his students and presenting the materials. Of course I would say that after getting an A, right? I felt that way before I knew my grade, and I thought I was doing much worse. Now I have to remember to keep the talent alive.

Bicycle Lane Proposal

2008-12-02T14:59:00.000-08:00

This is my final paper for writing class.

Edward Ellsworth

Professor Longoria

WRC 1023

21 November 2008

A Proposal for Local Bike Lanes

About a month ago the author of this paper left his home at the corner of Hausman and Bandera for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) campus. His wife had taken his car keys leaving him no alternative but to bike to class. He arrived at the campus visibly shaken and stressed. He vowed never to bike to class again and walked his bicycle home. The author may be overreacting, but considers what happened on November 23 of this year. The report for mysanantonio.com says, "Bexar County medical examiner’s investigators have identified a bicyclist who died Sunday night when he was struck by two vehicles as Danny Zamora...Zamora was pronounced dead at the scene" (par.1). Danny was twenty two years old, with a long life to live. Now his family has a funeral to plan instead of Thanksgiving Dinner.

Zamora's accident was in an area downtown, but it reminds bicyclers of the real hazards involved. Because there are five major apartment complexes close to UTSA, college students have the option of traveling by bicycle, but not under safe conditions. There are no shoulders or bicycle lanes on Hausman, Babcock, or UTSA Blvd. Though the area has a growing student population there has not been any effort to make it safe for local students to travel by bicycle. UTSA students need bicycle lanes because they provide safety and promote the use of clean affordable transportation.

There are many benefits to bicycle travel. The article "Two-Wheeled: WONDER" from Sierra magazine says, "A human on a bicycle is more efficient (in calories expended per pound and per mile) than a train, truck, airplane, boat, automobile, motorcycle, skateboard, canoe, or jet pack"(par. 1). The article also points out that "at zero pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, versus a car's one pound per mile, a bike does not alter the global climate" (par.3). In addition to saving the environment, students benefit from traveling economically. USA Today Magazine sums up the list in their article "Redesigning Urban Transport", by saying, "It [the bicycle] alleviates congestion, lowers air pollution, reduces obesity, does not emit climate-disrupting carbon-dioxide, reduces the area of pavement needed, and has a price within reach for the billions of people who cannot afford the automobile" (par. 7). Many students at UTSA favor these benefits, but lack the confidence to travel down UTSA Blvd.

The city San Antonio needs to build bike lanes around the UTSA area to make it safer for the increasing number of student bicyclists. The UTSA area consists of three major roads, namely Hausman, Babcock, and UTSA Blvd. On each of these roads there is a constant flow of traffic, and during rush hour the streets get congested. Without bicycle lanes bicyclists are forced to ride dangerously close to the edge. Large amounts of debris collect on the edges of these roads. By providing bike lanes, bicyclists could travel these streets without having to worry about colliding with traffic or being thrown from their bicycle by some foreign object.

Construction of the bicycle lanes would not require a lot of restructuring. The bicycle lanes require a minimum of three feet with clear markings. Hausman is a poorly maintained road that has room for expansion. UTSA Blvd. has enough space for almost four lanes. Babcock has portions of road that are like Hausman and other portions that are like UTSA Blvd. The city can provide the bicycle lanes when they repair streets that are currently in poor condition. The city can also redraw the boundaries on the streets that are in good condition.

A single off road bike path is the only existing bicycle accommodation for the UTSA area.In order to get the city to act, UTSA students need to show support and desire for the bike lanes. Without student or local support the city will not recognize the need for bicycle safety measures in the UTSA area. If the students of UTSA sign a petition that clearly states the need for bicycle lanes and their location the, city will respond. By making the need well known, and pleading with the citizens of San Antonio, the students can rally enough support to speed the process of getting the bicycle lanes approved.

It is important to recognize that there are organizations attempting to make San Antonio a safer place for bicycling. In 1977 the San Antonio-Bexar County Urban Transportation Study was designated as the local Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The mission statement from the MPO web site says, "The MPO's mission is to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and continuous ('3C') transportation planning for safe and efficient movement of people and goods consistent with the region's overall economic, social, and environmental goals"(sametroplan.org, “What is a Metropolitan Planning…”). The MPO has an extensive plan for developing San Antonio's bicycle network. Future plans stretch out as far as 2030, and there is no indication that the UTSA area is on schedule for bicycle lanes any time soon.

It might be suggested that bicycles should be contained to off road paths. This is too restrictive. How would a bicyclist get from their house to the path? There is no way unless the bicyclist drives an automobile to the path, and that would defeat the purpose of riding the bike. Off road paths are nice for recreation but they are impractical for normal transportation.
The city has put up warning signs in many areas. This is a cheap and ineffectual method of providing safety for bicyclists. First, the assumption is made that drivers will see and heed the signs. Second, signs do nothing to prevent the cars from getting to close to the bicycles. Bicycles, like other vehicles, need space to maneuver in the case of an emergency. When movement is restricted the bicyclist’s life is put in danger.

By having bike lanes around UTSA, the city would not only be providing a safe environment, but it will also be providing a clean environment. As the students in the area turn to their bicycles for transportation much of the automotive traffic in the area will decrease. Andrew Curry from the U.S. News and World Report says, "And simple solutions-from funding bike lanes and bike racks to requiring bigger mirrors to help trucks see bikers-combine to make riding more appealing" (Par. 2). The number of students on bicycles could potentially double if the students felt safe.

Students are drawn to bicycles because they are not as expensive to purchase and operate as cars. A used car in very poor condition can cost around two-thousand dollars. For the same amount of money a student can purchase a top quality new bike. The maintenance costs of bicycles are minimal and fuel costs do not exist. When safety concerns are removed students will immediately see the benefit of reducing their costs.

UTSA is a growing campus. As the campus grows, so does the student population. The campus already has great difficulties providing parking for all their students. UTSA has installed several new bike racks to encourage students to use bicycles. The main source of discouragement for UTSA students is the failure of city planning to provide them with bicycle lanes. Without the protection of proper lanes, UTSA students will never be safe.

Works Cited

Curry, Andrew. "Making the Streets Safer for Cycling. (Cover story)." U.S. News & World Report 142.11 (26 Mar. 2007): 42-43. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. John Peace Library, San Antonio, Tx. 1 Dec. 2008 http://libweb.utsa.edu/loginurl=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspxdirect=true&db=a9h&AN=24409501&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site

mysanantonio.com. “Cyclist fatally struck by 2 SUVs identified”. 27 Nov. 2008. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/traffic/Cyclist_fatally_struck_by_2_SUVs_identified.html

"REDESIGNING URBAN TRANSPORT." USA Today Magazine 137.2759 (Aug. 2008): 16-16. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. John Peace Library, San Antonio, Tx. 1 Dec. 2008
http://libweb.utsa.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=33627261&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehostlive&scope=sitesamtroplan.org.

“Bicycle Master Plan Document”. 01 Dec. 2008.
http://www.sametroplan.org/pages/Committees/BMAC/BMP/Regional%20Bike%20Plan%20Aug%2031,%202004.pdf

sametroplan.org. “What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization?”. 01 Dec. 2008. http://www.sametroplan.org/pages/About_MPO/whatismpo.html

"Two-Wheeled: WONDER." Sierra 93.2 (Mar. 2008): 49-49. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. John Peace Library, San Antonio, Tx. 1 Dec. 2008 http://libweb.utsa.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=31195587&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Essay 4

2008-11-12T10:21:00.000-08:00

This time I chose a topic that I actually enjoyed discussing. I think my feelings on this subject come out very clear in my writing.

Edward Ellsworth

Professor Longoria

WRC 1023

12 November 2008

The Question of Socialism

On October 30, 2008, in a desperate attempt to motivate voters to cast their ballot for McCain, conservative Ross Mackenzie attacked the Democratic Socialists of America as being “quasi-Communist” (Mackenzie, par.3). Right away Mackenzie was attacked by socialist Frank Llewellyn for not having his facts straight. Llewellyn argues that socialism and communism do not equate to the same thing. It is quite possible that Llewellyn may have smoked dope in his younger years, because how else could he come up with idea that socialist and communist ideologies differ. Despite all of the rhetoric socialism is really no different than communism.

A brief look at the Communist Manifesto can give some deep insights into the philosophies and intentions of the Communist Party. Marx lays out his intentions by saying,"The immediate aim of the communists is the same as that of all other [working class] proletarian parties: formation of the proletariat into a class, overthrow of [upper class of capitalist society] bourgeois rule, conquest of political power by the proletariat"(23). In other words communism aims to destroy distinctions between classes. They accomplish their goals by empowering the working class to overthrow the upper class. They also go on to propose that "what is distinctively communist is not the abolition of property in general but the abolition of bourgeois property"(24). Abolishing private property is seen as the great equalizing force in the communist movement. Communists give supreme power to the government in order to regulate their single class system.

Socialist leaders have always argued the case of the working class. In fact, many unions have been started by socialist leaders. Eduard Bernstein, who helped define Democratic Socialism said, "The trade unions are the democratic element in industry. Their tendency is to destroy the absolutism of capital, and to procure for the worker a direct influence in the management of an industry" (267). The socialist groups rely on the working class for support. If the poor working class could be united under one socialist banner, their numbers alone would assure victory. The socialists encountered a major problem when they attempted to unite poor members of the working class. That obstacle was the middle class.

Middle class society softens the argument that upper class societies are oppressive. Bernstein notes that "...the support of neighboring middle class parties has again and again been forgotten..."(277). In order to overcome the middle class, socialists attack the moral structure and social norms that make up middle class society. Their argument contends that they are not bringing the upper classes down, but that they are bringing the lower classes up. In reality, for the classes to be equal both would have to move. The socialists want to establish a government regulated middle class.

Socialists, just like the Communists, fight the ideology of private property. They applaud taxation of the wealthy but feel that it does not go nearly far enough in equalizing wages. Likewise they rejoice in the taxation of real property. This remains one of the main milestones in achieving class equality. Bernstein goes on to say, "The conquest of political power by the working classes, the expropriation of capitalists, are no ends in themselves but only for the accomplishment of certain aims and endeavors. As such they are demands in the programme of social democracy and are not attacked by me" (266). Modern Democratic Socialism does not denounce the ideologies of Marx; rather it seeks to expound upon them.

The proponents of socialism have been very deceitful. Considering their history it is not hard to see why they chose to act that way. In Robert Conquest's book, Where Marx Went Wrong, he reveals the fact that "socialism is a doctrine that existed before Marx...Many writers, from the time of Sir Thomas More, 1478-1535, and even earlier, have advocated societies in which there should be neither rich nor poor. The first man to whom the word socialist was applied was Robert Owen, 1771-1837" (34). Socialism was born from the ideology of the French Revolution. The violence in the French Revolution causes skepticism towards its ideals. Socialism went on to give birth to Communism, Fascism, National Socialism or Nazism, and Anarchy.

As the United States watched Russia fall to a hard socialist regime Americans became increasingly suspicious of communist activities in their own country. This led to the first red scare. Then the fall of China and the atomic bomb lead to the second red scare and the McCarthy era. Is it any wonder that Democratic Socialists want to disassociate themselves from these other parties? However, they can not because the fundamental socialistic principles are the same for every party. Karl Marx describes the relationship by saying that, "they attack all the fundamental principles of existing society" (35). Indeed all socialist parties look to a Utopian society where classes cease to exist and every man is made equal by the superior laws of socialist architects. It sounds wonderful, except that they always leave out the part where the poor proletarian must completely surrender his will to the will of the party.

In Llewllyn's article he says, "Democratic socialists believe in democratizing control over corporate behavior by giving workers and consumers a democratic voice in how these powerful firms are governed"(Llewllyn, par. 6). Everything he says here is absolutely true, but he fails to enlighten the public as to how far this 'Democratic' process is meant to extend. For the answer to that question a close look at the Communist party might bring forth some interesting revelations. After all, communism and socialism are essentially the same.

Works Cited

Conquest, Robert. Where Marx Went Wrong. London:Chaucer. 1970

Llewellyn, Frank, "Socialism Is Not Communism."Opinion. Inrich.com. 07 Nov. 2008. 07 Nov 2008 h ttp://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/opinion.apx.-content-articlesRTD-2008-1 1-07-0024.html

Mackenzie, Ross. "Straight Talk: McCain, Obama, and the 'Change We Neeed"Townhall.com.30 Oct. 2008. 7 Nov. 2008 http://townhall.com/columnists/RossMackenzie/2008/10/30/%20straight_talk_mccain,_obama,_and_the_change_we_need.

Marx, Karl, Engles, Friedrich and Cowling, Mark, ed. The Communist Manifesto. New York:Edinburgh, 1998

Salvvadori, Massimo, ed. Modern Socialism. New York:Harper. 1968

Bernstein, Eduard. "Eduard Bernstein no Revisionism." Salvadori261-279

Essay #2

2008-10-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

I got a B on this one. It took a while to get it back from the Professor. My next paper is already in the works. Wish me luck on that one.

Edward Ellsworth

Professor Longoria

WRC 1023

3 October 2008

The Irresponsible Ad

After booting up a computer and turning on the Internet, it is not uncommon to see a woman dancing in the corner of the screen, or to have a wrestler walk out in front of the article being viewed. Without even looking, the individual knows that it is an advertisement. Advertisers do everything they can to try and grab the public’s attention. Sometimes their methods cause the audience to question the need for advertising. At times it is considered more of a nuisance than an aide. As such, advertising needs to be held accountable for their methods of selling, because advertisers are not following any type of ethical guide and they know how to take advantage of the public.

Advertisers have used a variety of techniques to get their client's products to the consumer. The effectiveness of their techniques has caused companies to look for new and more sophisticated means of selling a product. In a recent New York Times article, Stewart Elliott covered the American Association of Advertising’s annual conference. According to Elliott, “Creativity as the pathway to consumer persuasion…” was the theme for the conference (Elliott, par. 2). Advertisers do not have any trouble being creative. The creativity in Mr. Elliott’s article was addressed as the “accountable kind that is rooted in insights derived from hard data about customers shopping patterns” (Elliott, par. 3). Accountable creativity may sound great, but the consumer needs to ask who advertisers consider themselves accountable to. Advertising firms are only accountable to their clients. While laws exist to help protect the consumer and competing companies, they are limited and difficult to enforce. Also, advertisers have learned to be flexible and often push their limitations.

Marketing experts evaluate target market segments like mice in a laboratory. Mr. Elliot observed, “Omnicom has on retainer consultants like M.I.T. Laboratories to stimulate ideas for clients that include the Air Force, BMW, and South West Airlines” (Elliott, par. 16). Chuck Brymer, president of DDB Worldwide, noted that “research techniques… would offer ‘new opportunities…’ [to] help agencies understand why shoppers prefer one product over another ‘and how to influence customer behavior” (Elliott, par. 15). The attitude of media outlets focuses more on the needs of their clients than the needs of the public at large. Jean Kilbourne author of the book “Deadly Persuasions” said, “Behind the scenes, however, it [MTV] tells potential advertisers that its viewers are lemmings who will buy whatever they are told to buy” (Kilbourne, pg. 329 par. 13). The attitudes and motives of the advertising world are appalling. They view the public as fat lazy Guinea Pigs ripe for market experimentation.

Advertisements are not as straight forward as the marketing companies would have the public believe. They use catchy slogans and repetitive words to lead their audiences towards a buying decision. One of the most popular advertising methods focuses on a need for rebellion. John Leo, contributing editor at U.S. News and World Report, says, "But the central message here is very serious and strongly antisocial: We should all rebel against authority, social order, propriety, and rules of any kind" (Leo259). The way that advertising agencies keep feeding the public their misguided social doctrine gives the impression that companies believe the things they tell consumers. However, this idea is false. Mr. Leo goes on to say, "The peculiar thing is that so much of the rule-breaking propaganda is largely funded by businessmen who say they hate it, but can't resist promoting it in ads as a way of pushing their products" (260).

The most dangerous part of advertising is the market segmenting. Advertisers are very careful to target younger audiences. Companies want the younger consumers to grow up on their products. Jean Kilbourne commented, "Marketers attract children to their Websites with games and contests and then extract from them information that can be used in future sales pitches to the child and the child's family" (Kilbourne, pg. 330 par. 18). Is it any wonder that children break from their parents’ values, after combining the message of rebellion and then focusing that message on a young impressionable audience? With the current economic down turns do children really need to be encouraged to spend impulsively?

The old saying buyer beware no longer holds any weight today. It is true that a certain degree of responsibility falls on the consumer, but how much thought does a child put into buying a product? If a child wants something, he will either whine about it, or he will just go get it. If that child is taught and coached to respond to advertising, will they really be smarter buyers when they reach maturity? The recent crash of the housing market on Wall Street would suggest that the effects of a frivolous generation are already being felt. One way to counter the negative effects that the advertisers are having is through the consumer. Consumers can stand up to the advertisers by not responding. There is nothing like a million dollar advertising campaign with negative results to send a message. When the public stops responding to commercials, maybe they will stop running them. When is this going to happen, not any time soon!

Since it seems ridiculous then to ask the public to give up their buying habits, restraints need to be put in place to restrict negative advertising influences. With mediation between advertising professionals and concerned activists, a set of guidelines can be laid down to guide the industry. Television broadcasting companies get tired of a complaining public and came up with a rating system for television programs. In this same way, leaders in the industry could set up an ethical board to review and grade advertisements. This would lead to a competition among agencies for reputation. The company with the better reputation wins more clients. If advertisers are unwilling to police themselves, then the public’s last course of action is to turn to the government for aid. This action is the most costly one for companies and the public.

There is nothing wrong with advertisers being creative. They do a service to the public and to the companies that employ them. However, it can not be denied that advertisers are influential. With the power of influence comes the responsibility of restraint. This is a hard lesson the public is learning today. There needs to be a way to make advertisers accountable to the public for their products.

Works Cited

Carpini, Dominic Delli, and Jack Selzer, ed. Conversations. New York: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2006.

Elliott, Stuart. “Agencies Hear a Call for More Creativity, but Also More Accountability”. Editorial The New York Times Online. 20 Apr. 2007. 30 Sept.2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/business/media/20adco.html?scp=1&sq=advertising%20accountable&st=cse

Kilbourne, Jean."Buy This 24-Year-Old And Get All His Friends Absolutely Free.” Carpini 325-335.

Leo, John. “The Selling of Rebellion.” Carpini 258-261.

Essay #1

2008-09-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

This is my first essay assignment for my writing class. The previous one did not require any kind of formatting or sources. I just threw them in for good measure. I was limited in my source options. I don't really have a very strong opinion on wealth. As I point out in the essay I think obtaining wealth is just fine, but I do have a strong opinion about families. I think that it is the family that often gets hurt as attention is diverted elsewhere. My argument was limited to only three articles, none of which mention family. I chose this topic because the majority of opinion articles discussed Sarah Palin. I did not want to go there, and it was hard to find three or even two separate sources that discussed anything other than Governor Palin.

Edward Ellsworth
Professor Longoria
WRC 1023
5 September 2008

Life on Top of the Economic Ladder

What was rich 40 years ago is not the case today. Someone may work their entire life attempting to climb the economic ladder of success and never see the top. Meanwhile, the opportunities found in family and friends go passing by. Once wealth is obtained there are no guarantees that life will get easier, or that riches can bring satisfaction. A life that is spent in the pursuit of wealth is wasted, because life is too short for the fast lane, and there are greater joys that far too often just slip past without notice.

American culture has come to accept wealth as the symbol of success. After all, if a man works hard he should reap the rewards of his labor. In the present, more than in times past, men can rise to success from their own merits and not just from the position they are born into. Everywhere in the world today there are images appealing to the need for status and recognition. As it has been observed by Dr. Dalton Conley, of the University of New York, industry has the age old image of bringing the fruits of comfort, plenty, and respect (par. 3). Dr. Conley also points out that expensive laptops, mobile phones, and blackberries have become the image of the working business man (par. 8). The message comes across that the more a person owns the greater their importance will be. Advertisements prompt buyers to purchase these products for the sake of status. According to an editorial published by the Washington Times work is no longer a simple means of satisfying our needs. Today work is viewed through the medium of a career for the purpose of making a mark in the world ("Too busy...", par. 6). Sam Dealey, opinion writer for U.S. News, analyzes Dr. Conley's article by pointing out that the stereotype of the "idle rich", who harvest their money off of trees and victimize the rest of the world, is false(par. 1).

Though he criticizes Conley, Dealey does concede that those who earn the most work the hardest (Dealey, par. 4). Americans in the nineteenth century worked an average twelve hours per day, seven days a week("Too busy...", par 4). Today there is more leisure time, but in order to move ahead the entrepreneur has to "burn the midnight oil"(Dealey, par. 4). This means extra hours at the office, more time spent making phone calls, doing research, entertaining clients, and volunteering for the occasional charity. Conley states, that the "higher-income folks work more hours than lower-wage earners do"(par. 4). He goes on to explain the "economic red shift", a sensation experienced by the lower upper-class as their wealthy peers move out ahead of them. It creates a cycle that causes the wealthy to constantly strive to obtain more wealth(Conley, par.11). The Washington Times article agrees with Conley by saying that the majority of Americans have abundant choices in the number of hours and job options, but higher-income families spend less time in leisure than lower-income families do("Too busy...", par. 10).

After a man has surrounded himself with riches it is easy to think that he will sit back and relax. Studies are showing that this is not the case. Conley observes that one study has said, "women with higher incomes report feeling more stressed than women with lower incomes"(Conley, par. 7). The Washington Times attributed this to the soccer mom attitude. Women that can pay for their children's extra-curricular activities have so little "me" time for exercise and hobbies that the term "leisure" becomes redefined. The distinction between work and play has become less clear("Too busy...", par. 11). The article concludes that the spiritual aspects of life are being sacrificed, and suggests that a lack of time is due to a confusion regarding values and priorities (par.13).

It is often argued that without money the stresses in life are too great. If crime is taken out of the equation it becomes more difficult to see the hardships of poverty in modern America. I do agree that finances can be a great burden on a family, and not everyone who has money will neglect the special intimate moments that make life so meaningful and worthwhile. The wealthy have done a lot of good for the world. Rising to a higher income often means rising to greater responsibilities. Indeed, to work hard and see the fruits of labor is a very rewarding experience. This is hardly a free ride, but the idea of working harder today so that there is no need to work in the future is a fallacy. When do the rewards become great enough to satisfy the demands of labor? Obligations to companies, stockholders, family, government, and sometimes the public at large greatly tax a persons time and resources. There are often missed opportunities to see a smile, a sunset, a day on the beach, or to have a long conversation with a daughter or son. There needs to be a steady balance between work and life.

The wealthy live a fast paced life. It is not an easy life. In fact it is starting to appear that the life of the rich may be more difficult than the life of the poor. The wealthy are certainly working hard, but sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice a little bit of wealth for a memory that will last a lifetime. It is wise not to become so consumed in the pursuit of wealth and success that the little things pass on by.

Works Cited

Conley, Dalton. “Rich Man’s Burden”. Editorial The New York Times On line. 02 Sept. 2008. 02 Sept.2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/opinion/02conley.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=rich%20man.

Dealey, Sam."Class Warfare and the Hard-Working Wealthy”. Editorial. U. S. News. 02 Sept. 2008. 02 Sept.2008 http://www.usnews.com/blogs/sam-dealey/2008/9/2/class-warfare-and-the-hard-working-wealthy.html.

“Too busy to enjoy Labor Day?”.Editorial. The Washington Times. 02 Sept. 2008. 02 Sept. 2008 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/01/too-busy-to-enjoy-labor-day/.

Composition & Rhetoric

2008-09-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

I just started some new freshman classes to make up for prerequisites not covered in my previous degree. One of the required courses is Freshman Composition II. I just turned in my first assignment and I am going to publish it here. In class the instructor showed us the video An Inconvenient Truth staring Al Gore. He then showed us some opposing views. We were then asked to pick a side and explain our view. Keep in mind that I only had a day to do the research, and the paper was only one page in length. I feel this limited me in making a solid case. There is so much debate on this issue that it could literally take a life time to research. Be warned, this is where my super conservative side comes out.

Edward Ellsworth
WRC 1023
4. September 2008

The Question of Global Warming

One of Shakespeare's most famous quotes comes from the tragedy of Hamlet, where he asks the rhetorical question, "to be, or not to be." Alarmist Al Gore seems to be asking the same question with the emphasis on taking action against global warming. The "to be" represents a safe environment, and the "not to be" represents a man-made disaster. There are serious doubts about the validity of his argument, because of Al Gore's actions and some of his statements.

In his film he makes claims as though they were absolute. He says that "Scientific consensus is that we are causing global warming."(Gore) If consensus means that scientists are all in agreement there is no evidence to support that statement. Dr. Peter Webster from the Georgia Institute of Technology makes claims that man-made factors are partly at fault for more severe storm systems, while researcher Chris Landsea from the U.S. National Hurricane Center argues that these claims are fictitious.(Fitzpatrick Holtz) One article favorable to global warming concludes that the research is incomplete and gathering the data is "easier said than done."(Black)

Al Gore has also made a pretty good profit from his work. He went from being worth under four million after the vice presidency to being worth over one-hundred million today.(Lucas) There is nothing wrong with earning a little extra cash, but things can be a little different when your message is about stopping waste. His home reportedly uses 221,000 kilowatt hours, a ridiculous amount of wasted energy.(Lucas) His carbon credits tell the true story which is that, in order to live the carbon lifestyle, the world requires a tax. Al Gore is the tax collector.

People might be more willing to support Al Gore in the fight to stop global warming if he would present honest facts. It would also help if he would simply put aside some of the comforts in life to set a standard for the rest of the world to follow. There is no way that the rest of the world will invest in carbon credits unless they see the opportunity for a return on their investment. For now it appears that all investments are going into pockets of Al Gore.

Works Cited

Black, Richard."Global Warming 'proof' detected." BBC News. United Kingdom 2005. 09 Sept.2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4495463.stm

Fitzpatrick, Dan, Robert Hotz."Scientists Remain Divided Over Issue Of Changing Patterns in Storms." Wall Street Journal. New York 2008. 03 Sept. 2008. 09 Sept. 2008.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122031269288088877.html?modgooglenews_wsj

Gore, Albert. An Inconvenient Truth.dir.Guggenheim,Davis Prod. Lawrence Bender, Laurie David, Lesley Chilcott and Scott Z. Burns. 21 Nov. 2007. DVD

Lucas, Fred."Cashing in on Climate Change."Foundation Watch. Aug. 2008.03 Sept.2008 Capital Research Center

The God Killers

2008-07-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

This story is certainly meant to have deep religious meaning. I intentionally tried to make the moral as blunt as I could. I intentionally left out any direct mention of God until the end. It was my hope to open up some perspective and stimulate thought on the actual definition of what God represents. Though the reader may not agree with the message I do hope that they will at least enjoy the presentation of the message. It is a little Biblical in nature, though the language is as modern as I could express it.

Before mortality was the immortality of a great and masterful being. He had knowledge of all the sciences and arts. He chose a place that he could create and he made a world. In this world he made some of the most beautiful creations. He made each one unique with it's own beauty. Then to make this world truly his own he took parts of himself and made beings who were like himself but lacking in knowledge and skill. Though only children, the Great Master gave to his sons the tools they would need to learn and grow so that they might one day be able to continue his works of creation. But his sons, as soon as they became aware of their Great Master, began to fear his awesome power. They would not trust him and grew jealous of him. They sought for every opportunity to gain power over him, even if it meant that they could in some way destroy him.

However, there were a few that, though they feared him too, trusted him to be their teacher. These sons he cared for and nurtured, helping them to grow. It was because of the faithful sons that he spared the rest and did not try to start anew. Despite The Master's mercies the unfaithful sons found ways to conspire against him. Because The Master did not dwell among them they would deny his existence. They created other masters of stone, clay, and wood. In essence they slew him in their hearts and began to deny his existence. They used their tools of learning to distort and destroy The Masters creations. They said "We can govern ourselves and make laws of our own." But, they began to fight among themselves over who would be their law giver. From that day on the unfaithful sons called their leaders King. King was a position determined by the strength and cunning. Since the Kings made the law they declared themselves Great Master of all creation.

Then The Master said, "I will go down among my sons, walking as one of them, and I will teach them in ways that they can understand." When word came that the Great Master had made himself mortal then said the unfaithful sons, " Now we can slay him. He is mortal and can die just as all mortals die. " They executed their plot and took him bound. They beat, scourged, and publicly humiliated him. They mocked his wisdom and great power. Then emboldened, because he took no action against them, they took his life. What they failed to recognize was that The Master had power over life and death. Though his sons had power to take it he alone could restore life after it was gone. He took up his lifeless body and caused it to live again.

Of those that had slain him, they refused to believe it. The Master continued to visit and teach those who listened to him. Those who thought The Master dead began to persecute those who followed him. They worked diligently trying to wipe out his memory. When they found this task impossible they worked to distort his teachings, saying "When his teachings have been distorted enough we will once again deny him." They thought "Surely his memory will be forgotten." In time they had even managed to convince themselves that he had never existed. They at last had succeeded in killing him, at least in their own minds. Still, to those that remembered and accepted him, The Master came. He also sent out hints of science and art to his sons from hidden sources. The unfaithful sons openly proclaimed their knowledge to be growing greater than The Master's.

So, the conflict continues until this day when the unfaithful sons are heard to say, "How can we gain knowledge from a dead God?"

Giants

2008-03-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

The quiet of the land. The peace in the air. All seemed serene. Then the ground shook. Lightning crossed the air as two large figures stood facing each other across the valley's floor. Tall as the redwoods the last two giants stood. Each showed the wear of time. They stood for hours in silence. The last time that they had met meant the destruction of their families. They blamed each other for the demise of their race. "And now!" both giants thought, " Vengeance shall be mine." The Giant to the south let loose a terrible, fearsome roar. It seemed as though the earth gathered darkness with his cry. The Giant to the north just stood still, fixated with his hate. Then in a flash he burst forward with all of his might. The Giant to the south grabbed a large bolder in each hand. As the gap rapidly closed between them the rushing Giant stuck out his hand and grabbed a very large tree. With a slight pull the tree was pulled up by its roots, and went swinging toward the defensive Giant. The Giant from the north suddenly stopped a few feet from his assailant, letting the tree fly forward like the shot of an arrow. The southern Giant instinctively raised the boulders to block the incoming projectile. With a great crash the tree knocked the Giant back off his feet. Then a boulder came soaring through the air. The southern Giant rolled quickly to the side just in time to avoid being hit by the enormous rock. He then bolted up a nearby cliff and dove down on his assailant. The two tumbled down the hill into the river bed. Here they wrestled. They bit and clawed, each trying to crush their opponent with incredible strength. They struggled on through the night, then through the day, until at last the two collapsed from exhaustion. There they lay side by side, ever so peaceful and calm when at the break of the next day a bird landed on a Giant's nose. He slowly awoke and looked around. Then seeing his enemy lying there beside him, he was once again filled with inexpressible anger. He rose, then finding a sharp broken branch he finished the deed. Then after resting walked away as the last giant.

Upon his death the last giant wrote this epitaph. Once a noble, great, majestic race, greed, anger, doubt, and hate hath brought to pass a lonesome fate.

This is the giants sad end.

Oh the color of the sky & What do I feel?

2007-12-22T07:01:00.000-08:00

I relize that most of childhood is about discovery so I wrote these. The first one is for ages 3-4 and the second one is more for toddlers.

Oh, Look! Oh, Look! What do I see?
I see wispy white clouds high above the earth.
The only thing higher is an endless sea of blue.
Right below them are large fluffy clouds strolling along.
And over in the distance is a very large storm.
As the sun goes down it turns from yellow to orange.
Down at the bottom it is always a very dark gray.
Lightning will flash neon, purple, and blue.
As the sun falls lower and lower a rainbow appears with all the primary colors displayed.
The sun drops lower still and the clouds are lined with deep oranges, yellows, and reds.
The sun starts to fall down beneath the earth.
Its rays can be seen shooting high in the air.
The clouds hugging the horizon are bright, bright florescent, while the other side of the sky grows dark.
Then slowly far, far above the earth bright little lights start to appear. They blink and twinkle. Over in the distance the storm still rumbles on.
Lightning jumps across the tops of clouds.
Then an orange round globe begins rising from under the earth.
It gets whiter and smaller as it climbs the sky.
Streaks of light zoom across the dark abyss, then flash red and disappear.
Some stars refuse to stand still.
How wonderful it would be to watch this show forever.
But, as the moon reaches his place up in the sky he looks down and says, “Hush. Hush. Hush now. It's time to go to sleep.”

What do I feel?
I feel something soft and prickly. If I touch it softly it tickles my hand. I can grab it with my hand, and if I pull it will tare. It’s grass!

I feel something smooth and cold. It is hard and round. It’s a rock!

I feel something rough and hard. As I move my hand across it is bumpy. Tiny pieces break off in my hand. It’s the bark of a tree!

I feel something cold and rough. It falls through my fingers and sticks to my hand. It’s dirt!

I feel something wet and cold. My hand goes right through it. I can feel it rushing by. It’s a stream!

I feel something that brushes my hair. It comes and goes. Sometimes it’s warm and sometimes it’s cold. It’s the wind!

I feel something soft and warm. It is smooth and round and it moves! It’s MOMMY!

Be Still

2007-10-26T05:52:00.000-07:00

This is a story that I created from a past memory.

Edward ran through his Grandparents house. “Edward! What’s wrong with you?” yelled his Grandma. “I swear you are the wiriest little child ever. For Pete’s sake be still!!”

Edward just ignored her and went on running through the house, making swooshing sounds as he went. Then Grandpa stepped in. “Edward, sit in that chair right there!” This time he obeyed, but when his grandparents looked away he was right back up again. “EDWARD, back in that chair!” Grandpa was not someone to be crossed. “My goodness son, can you even sit still for five minutes?”
This was insulting. Of course Edward could sit still. “Yes I can!” was his response.
Grandpa looked sternly as he said “Then let’s see you prove it. You sit there for the next five minutes and don’t move.”
That was not fair! Edward kicked his feet and shook his body. “That’s not sitting still.” said Grandpa. “You just sit there and be quiet. If you move again it will be another five minutes.”
Now Edward was really upset but he was not going to move. After all, five minutes was not that long, and he was determined to prove that he could do it. So he looked at the clock and sat there, and sat there, and sat there, and sat there. This was taking FOREVER and the little hand on the clock had only gone halfway around. Edward tried looking around. He looked at the window, the counter, the table, and the floor. Nothing was moving and this was boring. He looked back at the clock. Only one and a half minutes had gone by, but looking around seemed to help so he tried it again. He looked at everything he had looked at before and then looked back. NO, only four seconds had gone by! Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, couldn’t this thing move any faster?! For a second it seamed as though the clock was going backwards!! “Can I go now?” Edward yelled to the back room where his grandparents had moved.
“Has it been five minutes yet?” responded his Grandmas voice.
“No” said Edward.
“You can move when your five minutes are up.” Edward turned back around in his chair and tried looking around again. Then he looked back at the clock. Three minutes had gone by. That’s not so bad. He can do this. ‘One, two, three, four, five, six… Counting the seconds is boring. Maybe if I count them upside down’ he thought. ‘If I look at the clock this way then several hours have gone by. Ow, that was my head!’
He tried touching the floor with his foot, but as he slid off the chair he realized that this was not sitting still. So he sat up straight as he could, and then turned around to see the clock again. Four and a half minutes! Now he just needed to wait, wait.. wait…five, four, three, two, one. Edward was out the door! He had done it! He did it! He knew he could, and after sitting there for FIVE minutes he could do anything!

Israel and the King

2007-10-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

Israel’s father brought him forth to stand before the King at the age of eight. In exchange for the King’s favor Israel’s father gave him to the service of the King. The King was so pleased with the man’s sacrifice that he gave him lands and great wealth. The King then took Israel into his house and had him clothed as one of his own sons.
As a member of the King's house Israel was taught about math, science, art and culture. He learned to play many instruments and how to hunt wild beasts. The King's son was Israel's closest friend, for all learning and instruction they received together. They enjoyed long talks and would always counsel with each other. Yet despite their friendship Israel kept in his heart a secret jealousy for the King's son. Israel knew that though he was raised in the King's house he would never be an heir to the throne.
In time the King called Israel to him. He said "Israel, I am most pleased with your service. I have loved you as my own son and I desire that you should rule over the land of Canaan. I give this land to you as a stewardship. Be faithful in this task and I shall give you lands which are greater still.” Israel was grateful. He set out immediately to set up his kingdom. The first thing he did was to build a palace for the King. He then set about to building great cities and cultivating large fields. Soon he had established a great and prosperous kingdom with a very large palace of his own. Many of the rulers in neighboring kingdoms came to counsel with him.
One day it was announced that the king had sent his son to visit Israel in his kingdom. Israel became greatly worried by this unwelcome visit. He began to think within his heart, “surely the prince will see my kingdom and want it for himself.” He will take it from me and I will be left with nothing. He summoned in those with whom he counseled. Instantly the kings of the neighboring kingdoms saw an opportunity to destroy the kingdom of their great enemy, Israel’s King. “My Lord”, they said, “why not just cast this usurper out of your kingdom. Make him feel unwelcome here through your subjects and he will never desire to return.”
Israel turned to them and said, “Do what you must, only keep him far from my throne.”
This was just what Israel’s counselors wanted to hear. They immediately set out on a plot to kill the King’s son. They hired thieves to set in wait and kill the prince as he entered the land. As he came the thieves fell upon him, beating him harshly. After thrusting a knife into his side they took his clothing and all the possessions he had, leaving him on the side of the road to parish. They then returned to their benefactors reporting the death of the prince.
Israel’s counselors could not have been more pleased. They made public the news of the prince’s death at once. They then set about trying to divide the people, thus destroying the work Israel had done.
When the news reached Israel he was very distraught. The King’s son had been his best friend. He had not meant for his friend to be killed. He concealed himself in his palace mourning his friend’s death, also fearing the wrath of the King. Meanwhile, the land was greatly divided. No one could be safe in the land as every man turned against his neighbor. Israel did nothing to maintain order, and the kingdom that had been so graciously given to him was ripped apart.
Soon the day of reckoning that Israel feared came. Word had reached the King of his son’s death. As he came down through the land he spared few - only those who still upheld his law and carried his standard. All of the King’s enemies were swept down before him. When he came to Israel he raised his sword and wept. He cried allowed, “Oh Israel, how I loved you, and you repay me with the death of my son. Is there no one here to speak your defense?”
One did come forth. It was the King's son. The thieves had underestimated the prince’s strength. He managed to pull himself to shelter, and after having regained sufficient strength he continued his journey to finish his father’s mission. Now in his weakened state he pleaded for the one responsible for his wounds. “I am yet alive, and though I may have been injured in my Brother’s lands I plead with you Father to spare him!” The King lowered his sword and wept even more.
The King looked about him and saw the great desolation and asked, “What shall be done for this land and these, my people?”
The King's son reached down and lifted Israel off the ground then said, “We shall rebuild it all. Israel shall do all things under my direction and, we shall counsel each other as before.” Israel fell into the princes arms and wept. With the King’s support and his friend’s direction he was able to rebuild his kingdom greater than before. At the King’s passing into death Israel was granted all of the lands within his stewardship and all the lands belonging to the enemies of the King.

Characters

2007-09-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Right now I am working on a novel. It is a murder mystery with conspiracies attatched to it. I have a very general plot but I am having trouble with character development. Creating a whole new person is not something that is easy to me.

2007-09-21T05:25:00.000-07:00

This is a children’s story that I wrote using some of my business education. It is meant to teach kids about supply chain. I wrote it in a very short time and I don’t think that I could duplicate it, showing that inspiration truly comes from a different source.

Little Carle Trentworth woke up about seven or eight. Got out of bed and started his day. He brushed his teeth and combed his hair. Put on his clothes, then went right downstairs.
When Carle got down stairs he went right to the table. His Mother had made him a breakfast delight. He turned to his Mom and asked so polite, “Ketchup Please!”
There was a slight pause before his mother’s response, “You see we have no ketchup at all. Not one little drop, and we shall not have any more till I’ve time to shop.”
Carle asked to be dismissed and left right away. This was a matter that could afford no delay. He went down to the store and said to the man mopping the floor, “Ketchup Please!”
The little old man looked down and smiled. “My son I’m afraid that you came a little to late. That lady over there took the very last bottle. You’ll just have to wait until they bring the next order.”
Well this was no good! Not good at all! Carle turned around and marched out again. He marched down the street right past all his friends. He would solve this at once, the sooner the better. He would go to the warehouse to address this matter.
He came to the warehouse and knocked on the door. A man came around to ask what he was there for. “Ketchup Please!” The man looked startled then came the response. “I’m sorry my son we sent out our last case. We have to wait for the factory to make some more paste.”
That was enough. Carle was moving right down the street. He went out a mile until he came to the factory gate. The guard at the gate met Carle with a smile. “Well hello there my lad. What are you here for?”
“Ketchup Please!”
“I’m sorry dear boy the factory’s not open. We need more tomatoes to make the ketchup for which you were hopen.”
This was just wrong. Why could they not understand? Without his ketchup his food would be bland. So he went out of town to the old farmer’s farm. Went up to the farmer asked using all of his charm. “Ketchup Please!” The farmer looked shocked. He stood scratching his head. Then came the response that Carle would dread. “Well son I’m afraid that the seasons not right. It will be five more months till the tomatoes are ripe.”
Well this was the end. Carle didn’t know what to do. His mother arrived in a very bad mood. She took him home to eat his food.
Here he was again, just Carle and his food. He still had no ketchup to make it taste good. So he closed his eyes and took a big bite. The surprising thing was that the food tasted fine!