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I made a comment on Littlecoe4's blog about AVs.  

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I left a comment on Britney Spears' post about how people and relationships change because of college, new friends, and new surroundings.  

cRAzy much?

I’m sure many RAs break rules and do things that are not up to University standards, but one RA in particular went to far.  A former (as of recent events) RA has reluctantly resigned and left relationships with his/her residents shattered. 

So what exactly did he/she do?

a.     Wake residents up by blasting music in the lobby at 8AM…on a Saturday morning

b.     Have a parakeet

c.      Stalk residents

d.     Let him/herself into resident’s rooms with his/her master key

e.     Let him/herself into another dorm just to go “hang out” with “friends”

f.      Allow residents to drink in the dorm

g.     Take naps in the middle of the hall so he/she would not miss class

h.     Bang his/her head on a wall because no one would listen to him/her

i.       Leave an old pet goldfish to rot in the community bathroom

j.       Randomly yell

k.     Talk crap about his/her residents behind their back

l.       Dress up in theme just to take pictures with his/her “friends” while he/she was on call

m.   Get in a fight with residents and then leave to sleep in an abandoned dance studio

Did I leave anything out?  If so, please feel free to add.

As defined on the University’s website, a Resident Assistant’s (RA) duties include, but are not limited to:

            building a positive community experience for residents

            serving as the link between residents and the University

            advising on academic or personal matters

            enhancing community and involvement

            guiding their residents

and most importantly, serving as a role model for students in every aspect of University life. 

So at what point should he/she have been fired?

The Value of Athletics...

I read an interesting email from the boy’s basketball coach, Matt Doherty, right before their season started.  In this email, he encouraged students to attend the games.  He went on to make the claim that if more students attended, the more driven the team would be.  The more driven the team would be, the better the team would be.  The better the team is, the more recognized SMU is.  The more recognized SMU is, the more our degree is worth in the long run.  I thought this was an interesting way to persuade students to attend games.  Then, I started to think whether that was true or not. 

When I look at the University of Texas or USC, it kind of started to make sense.  Would those school be as prestigious as they are if their athletics program was not as good as they are?  In all honesty I do not think so.  Texas and USC have become powerhouses in more sports than one.   Thousands of students apply each year and only a small amount are accepted.  But what makes those schools so appealing? Do you think athletics play an important part?

Heat-Moon Question

How was Least Heat-Moon an example of a person who  “sits around and wait for the world to poke them” (395)?

Least Heat-Moon waited for tragic events before he did something that would change him.  The things that “poked” him were his divorce and his loss of work.  He waited until after these things occurred before he went our and did the things that he obviously really wanted to do.

I had a friend whose mother passed away when we were in 11th grade.  She was a very strong girl and had to be the rock for her father in fall on.  It wasn’t long before her father started dating a new woman.  She was outraged that he could move on so fast.  She tried to keep her felling in and she did pretty well for a while.  Then, out of nowhere little things started to happen.  She met a boy who got her into doing drinking.  The casual drinking led to binge drinking.  Then things got a lot worse.  The same boy got her into doing drugs.  Then, a few months later she found out she was pregnant with his child.  After things didn’t go so well once her father found out, she ran away from home.  Her father called the cops and reported her missing.  When the cops found her, she punched one of them and had to be taken to jail for a few days.  It took all of these things for her father to realize how badly she was hurting inside.  Thankfully, they are both healthier and once again a family. 

It is a sad reality of how many people actually act in this way.  Most people need events to “poke” them before they realize what is going on and change their lives.  Does anyone feel the same was or have a different view?

Comment!

I left a comment on Paris Hilton’s blog about Halloween Hoes!  I was in agreement with her when she says that girls should not be so provocative and stay classy on Halloween! 

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I left a comment on Rochelle Sloan’s blog about her Switchfoot song.  I told her about another song that I listen to when I am feeling the same way.  It is my stress reliever.  Here is the comment.  And if anyone is interested in my song it is called “You’re All I Want” by Lifehouse.

More Thoughts...Same Subject

     Despite the posts opposing the government bailout plan (now called rescue plan) it has been approved and is currently in effect.  Before speculating on its progress resuscitating the economy I wish to address the overwhelming responses against government intervention in financial system.  I didn't clearly express that given less severe circumstances I too would be a lesser advocate of government intervention. True our economy is a survival of the fitness and these greedy institutions that shoveled out poorly underwritten loans should bite them bullet. However and very unfortunately these bad credit loans became financial instruments that the current economy became reliant on.  Since the loans are dissolving and now worthless (which should have been realized when such loans were originated) the economy is in turmoil.  So to let the banks fault would equate to suffering of the middle class (the majority of our nation).  I understand and respect opposing post that this intervention installs fears that U.S. is running along communist/fascist lines but letting "weak" financial institutions fail would shrivel the middle class thereby widening gaps between wealthy elite and create a larger lower class.  Such socioeconomic system is truly what occurs in communist/fascist state (despite its fundamentals of equal wealth).  The recent posts have an elitist undertone because advocating the fall financial institutions fail ignore the many that would fall with it. 



     Now to address the rescue plan I know it certainly has not had the effect its proponents wished.  However the problems have no quick fix.  It is going to take well over a year for our economy to bounce back from our wayward actions.  Because of this recent polls have revealed an increasing number of people against their new stake in banks.  Moreover in becoming validated by the senate and the house it was altered and hastily thrown together.  As it is missing the many safe guards I advocated (since this is taxpayer investment) I don't feel it will have the effect on the economy many wished. Banks can get away using this money to pay dividends to investors.  As credit is still tight I'm not sure this when rescue plan will start to exhibit positive effects on economy.  I knew in advocating it that there was no single answer to complex problem.  However I believe it has prevented market from diving irreparably thereby protecting middle class or least buying more time.   




Reserved Parking?

     I was one of the “lucky” people whose parents allowed them to bring a car to school their first year.  I love having the freedom of being able to go anywhere I need to, but most of the time I do not even want to drive.  Why?  Because I don’t want to lose my parking spot!  It is such a hassle to search for one every time I leave.  One thing that I have noticed that maybe could (and probably should) change is the amount of handicapped parking spots there are. 

     In the residence quad of Virginia-Snider, Shuttles, Peyton, and Mary Hay there are way too many spots being reserved for people who do not even park there.  There are approximately sixty-five parking spots (not including the faculty area or the metered parking) in this residence hall complex.  Out of the sixty-five, there are sixteen or seventeen reserved spots for handicapped parking.  There are seven at the entrance to Virginia-Snider.  Then there are two more on the Virginia side, two more on the Snider side, two in front on Shuttles, two in front of Mary Hay, and another two in front of Peyton.  To make matters worse, this whole year I have seen one maybe two cars parked in any of these spots. 

     Yes it is the law that there has to be so many spots available.  But the amount we have greatly surpasses the required amount.  According to the Texas law, if there are between fifty-one and seventy-five parking spots in a lot, there must be at least two standard and one van accessible spots dedicated for the handicapped.  We have almost twenty!  Something needs to be done!  Does anyone feel the same way?

To view the ADA Handicap Accessible Parking Regulations visit this website: http://www.adaptiveaccess.com/handicap_parking.php.

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I left a comment on Thryston's blog "Reach for the Stars."

The Great Depression of 2008?

     It is fair to say that the U.S. financial crisis, which was ignored, has exceeded the parameters of such expression.  With the solution being taxpayers funding seven hundred billion dollars bailout, I assume many are, or at least should be, aware to the current grave situation.  It should not be an issue of whether taxpayer bailout should be passed but repayment should heavily discussed.  I full heartedly back Barack Obama’s position that taxpayers should be treated as investors and not light heartedly "invest" their money.

     I also believe it is valid argument that repayment should not be the determining factor that slows the approval of the bailout.  If taxpayers don't do their part, the situation will become dire.   Many financial systems are already teetering on the edge.  If Americans do not inject money into markets to uphold liquidity, then we could face a deep recession comparable to the great depression.  If repayments are not to be expected then I believe an overall financial system is in order.  I understand that government meddling is the antithesis of a free market.  I now realize that this "invisible hand of the market" exists only when the economy is doing well.  The situation we are in now is much like the one we were in five years ago when the economy was booming because of the greedy financial institutions that were giving poorly underwritten, but profitable home loans.  One would not think of any government intervention but now that economy is down, it is expected.  Hopefully we can learn from our mistakes.  Any other thoughts?

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

“A recent government survey showed that at least 36 states are anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013” (EPA, 2008).  I don’t know what everyone else’s views on recycling are, but I am very passionate about the subject.  There are so many easy and simple things that people can do to make our world a better and safer place to live.  For example:

• When you go to the grocery store, don’t use plastic bags.  Either use a paper bag or take one with you that is recyclable. 
  
• The average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of two gallons per minute. “Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth in the morning and at bedtime can save up to 8 gallons of water per day, which equals 240 gallons a month” (EPA, 2008).
  
• Use fluorescent light bulbs.  “They produce the same amount of light, use one third of the electricity, and last up to ten times as long” (Worldwatch Institute, 2007).  Also, “if every household replaced its most often-used incandescent light bulbs with these energy-efficient bulbs, electricity use for lighting could be cut in half” (Worldwatch Institute, 2007).
  
• Recycle paper!  “Recycling paper instead of making it from new material generates 74 percent less air pollution and uses 50 percent less water” (EPA, 2008).
• Recycle your aluminum cans.  We save enough energy by recycling one aluminum can to run a TV set for three hours.
• Don’t just throw your glass bottles away because they can be recycled too.  If all the glass bottles and jars collected through recycling in the U.S. in 94 were laid end to end, they'd reach the moon and half way back to earth.
  

These are little things each of us can do everyday.  For more facts and easy ways to live green, please visit http://www.eponline.com/articles/58167/.

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I left a comment on JSC's blog about parking at SMU.
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