Learning How to Google

When searching for something using Google, most people simply type in their topic and hope for the best. For small, quick details this may be exactly what they need, but if someone needed to seriously research a topic, the first five links Google brings up will most likely contain inadequate information. Google actually has many different search tools and operators that can help filter out the unhelpful pages and bring up specific one that contain exactly what a researcher may need. These search tools are easily accessible and not hidden at all. They're just a simple click away and have several different options that will quickly narrow down the search results by time, type and even location. Google is already a useful search engine in itself, but its many additional tools and operators make it even better.

After given the chance to try out all of these tools and operators I found that using "AND", "OR", quotation marks, and the minus sign were the most helpful. I was instructed to research the question, "How do democratic and republican positions on the fiscal cliff differ?". I did the first thing most people would do and simply type the question into Google to see what first showed up. Of course there were billions of hits so I began to use the minus sign to take away the things I knew were completely irrelevant such as social media sites or blog entries. I also took out videos because I was looking for articles or simply just text that would explain their different positions. Afterwards, I began using only keywords such as "democrats" or "republicans". Then I realized I needed to put "fiscal cliff" in quotation marks to make sure they were not separated. By slowly adding more keywords and using the "AND" operator I was able to really narrow down the search results. Using the minus sign was a very quick and easy way to get rid of things I wasn't looking for. Google's search operators made filtering through all of its results very easy to do. Learning how to use Google's full potential has now made it a lot easier for me to do research.

Falling to the Dark Side

One of the most attractive traits of the evil side is the power that comes with joining. Evil grants a person immediate power whereas on the good side, power is gradually gained. The person must climb the ranks and earn their power step by step. This appealing opportunity is one of the many things that can make a hero fall and become evil. However, heroes always make a decision, despite knowing the consequences, that make them fall from their heroic pedestal. In Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Anakin is drawn in by this appealing offer of immediate power and continually makes his own decisions that lead him to the dark side. Anakin allows himself to grow close to Chancellor Palpatine, ultimately leading him to be drawn to the dark side. Allowing Chancellor Palpatine to get in his head and choosing to go to the Chancellor as he was being arrested instead of waiting for Mace Windu to return ultimately turn Anakin into Darth Vader. Anakin also had several chances to remain a Jedi and yet he still made the decisions that turned him to the other side.

Chancellor Palpatine's persuasive words are one of the main reasons Anakin turned to the dark side. Anakin allowed Palpatine to get inside of his head and cloud his better judgement. Anakin also allowed his emotions to get the best of him. After having his vision of Padme dying after giving birth, saving his wife became his main priority. He began to stop caring how he did so even if it went against everything he was originally taught or what he originally believed. Once Chancellor Palpatine told Anakin that he could only save Padme by joining the dark side and using the dark side of the force, Anakin stopped caring about the Jedi ways and principles. He decided that it didn't matter how Padme was saved, as long as she was safe. Anakin decided to believe the Chancellor more than the Jedi despite both sides telling him to not trust the other. He was only concerned with saving his wife's life. Since gaining more power on the Jedi's side of the force would take more time than gaining power on the dark side, the dark side became more appealing. Deciding to believe and trust Chancellor Palpatine over the Jedi was one of the biggest decisions that Anakin made that led him to the dark side.

The biggest decision that Anakin made was when he grew impatient and decided to leave the council room and go to Chancellor Palpatine when Mace Windu was arresting him. Windu had specifically told Anakin to wait in the council room and allow others to make the arrest because he believed Anakin's anger would cloud his judgement. Despite Windu's correct analysis, Anakin knowingly disobeys these orders. Once again he was only concerned about Padme's life and wanted to do anything he could do to prevent her death, including saving the Chancellor so he could be taught the necessary skill to save her. However, once he actually arrives to the Chancellor, he makes a decision that completely turns him to the dark side. When Anakin arrives, Windu is close to killing Palpatine. Here Anakin had to make the decision to either allow Palpatine to be killed or stop it. He argues with Windu saying that Palpatine must stand trial, but Windu believes he's too dangerous to be kept alive so his life must end now. Anakin then stood at a crossroad. He either stayed true to the Jedi or saved Padme's life. He decides on the latter and this is when he is completely lost to the dark side. His intervention during the fight led to Windu being killed and from then on there was no turning back. Minutes later, Anakin decides to become Palpatine's apprentice in order to gain all the power he wants and becomes Darth Vader. Darth Vader now belongs to Palpatine and simply does everything he is ordered to, no matter how evil. Anakin Skywalker is completely turned to the dark side and is now Darth Vader.

Despite his ultimate turn to the dark side, Anakin had several opportunities to remain a Jedi. First off, he could have chose to trust Obi-Wan, his almost life-long friend, over Chancellor Palpatine who he recently befriended. If he had stayed true to Obi-Wan he would have really stayed true to the Republic and the Jedi Order. Secondly, Anakin could have easily remained a Jedi if he allowed Mace Windu to kill Chancellor Palpatine or if he simply waited for Windu's return like he was originally ordered to. If he had stayed, the Sith Lord would have been killed then and there and one of the Republic's biggest threats would have been eliminated. The Jedi could have then focused on ending the war completely and Anakin's strength could have demonstrated his strength during those battles. Soon after he would have been made a Jedi Master. Lastly, Anakin could have remained a Jedi if he listened to Padme when she traveled all the way to Mustafar to learn the truth about him and convince him to run away with her.  Despite learning that her husband had really turned evil, she still offered him an escape. She tried to get him to run away with her so they could just raise their kids together and not have to worry about all of the fighting and politics. Anakin could have decided to go with her. Going with her would have ended his time on the dark side. He could have realized the error of his ways and saved the Republic. However, by then Anakin was completely lost. He had lost his best judgement to all of his new power that made him turn down her offer. He truly believed that his own power would solve everything. He believed he would be able to save her life with his new power when in reality it was his turn to the dark side that killed her. Losing the love of her life to the dark side made Padme lose the will to live. Anakin made multiple decisions that led him to the dark side, but he still had several chances to remain a Jedi along the way.

The classic battle between good and evil is always a difficult one. The good side is almost always expected to win, but evil does gain its victories now and then. Heroes are a prime example. Heroes always start off on the good side and can continue on that path. However, a hero can fall and turn to the evil side at any point in their journey. Fallen heroes are those that make decisions on their own that lead them to the dark side. Anakin Skywalker does exactly that. Anakin allows the evil Chancellor Palpatine to get inside his head and decides to intervene in his arrest which leads to him turning into Darth Vader despite him having several other opportunities to remain a Jedi.

Proposition 37

Labels can both help us or scare us. They're full of useful information and frightening facts. Labels are full of words that tell us what we're using, buying or eating. However, words are also manipulative and deceitful and can scare us into believing false things. One of the most useful and necessary type of labels are those put on our food and produce. Food labels are useful and necessary for telling us what we're eating and what's in the food we're about to put into our bodies. But many food products and chemicals that are used to produce our food are given large, scientific names that can automatically scare people away from the food despite being chemically harmless. Proposition 37 would require all genetically engineered food to be labeled as such. If I was eighteen and could vote in this upcoming election, I would vote against Proposition 37 because these labels will do more harm than good because it will simply scare buyers away from foods, cost even more money to label the foods, and increase the average family food bill.

Like any proposition, Proposition 37 has many pros and cons. The labeling of genetically engineered food would allow all buyers to know what they're actually buying and in turn allow them to make the decision of whether or not to purchase it. On the other hand, the labeling of genetically engineered foods would simply  cause more problems than before. Labels can be deceptive and frightening. Big words can automatically turn people away. Loopholes will most likely be found and no one likes to be deceived. In addition, these new labels would cost more money. More money would have to be spent in order to label these genetically engineered foods and therefore the cost of some food would increase, increasing the average amount a family spends on groceries. Lastly, these extra labels aren't necessary. Already today, we have organic foods sold next to inorganic ones and almost every buyer chooses whichever is cheaper without even looking at the labels. New labels would just scare more people into spending more money than necessary. Buyers should already trust all the other food safety laws that have been passed and have no fear of being harmed by any chemicals used to produce that food. We do not need to spend more money on labels a majority of people won't even pay attention to and the minority of people will simply fear them. We do not need to spend money just to unnecessarily scare each other. I believe Proposition 37 is making a big deal out of nothing.

Labels on food tell us many things such as nutritional facts, amount inside, and what is it we're buying. They're very helpful, but can also scare people. Recently, with the growth of technology and scientific advancements, we have been able to genetically engineer our foods. Proposition 37 would require these genetically engineered foods to be labeled as such. I believe these labels are unnecessary. If I was eighteen I would vote against Proposition 37 because these labels would just cost the state and its families more money, and cause people to freak out.

If I Lived in the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages were a time where daily life was based on gender roles, social standing, occupation, and wealth. Your occupation depended on your gender. Your social standing depended on both your occupation and wealth. The Canterbury Tales  described and explored the common occupations of the Middle Ages and provided a description of each person's daily life. If I lived in the Middle Ages I would simply be a housewife because of my gender and lack of deep commitment to religion.

My daily life as a housewife would be calm, yet busy. I would live in a standard house in a big city such as London and spend most of my time in the house. My only jobs would be to cook, sew, clean the house, take care of my children and cater to my husband. If I had free time I could cook or bake extra food to sell in the markets. The only challenges I would face would be the daily challenges that comes with raising children. Children can make every day a challenge or an adventure depending on how they're feeling that day. I would also have to go shopping in order to make sure the house has enough food for every meal. My whole life would be centered around my family. My children and husband would rely on me for food and clothes, but I would still be seen as inferior to all men. My world would be limited. I would know the world is large but also be aware of how small a woman's world is. I would not have any military training because women are viewed as too weak to fight. All of my values and morals would be based on my family. I'd value integrity and hard work and make sure my children valued the same as they grew up. When I view my future, I see my children becoming successful in whatever they do. Once they've grown up I may try to open up a small shop or merchant stand that sells food or clothes for extra money. My life as a wife in the Middle Ages could seem boring, but I'd always be busy and barely have any down time.

Life in the Middle Ages was very structured and non-lenient. Your initial social standing was most likely your last. Women were still viewed as weak and were therefore limited in what they were allowed to do. If I lived in the Middle Ages I would just be a simple housewife.

The Reeve

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The Reeve is the manager of a large estate. He collects profits for both himself and his master and maintains the estate. He's a part of the high class due to the amount of money he has, but he is still under a master that he must serve. His money is his only source of power. He is an extremely clever man who cannot be tricked. He's a trickster himself so he already knows all the tricks to get people's money. He's also skilled at managing finances which helps him maintain his power. The Reeve also carries a blade on his hip. He used to be a carpenter before he became the manager. He has a very close-shaven beared and is extremely skinny.

My American Dream

The United States of America has always been the Land of Opportunities or a place to escape to when times became harsh. America used to simply be a place for a new beginning, but as the nation grew and more people began to settle here, the "American Dream" changed accordingly. Our parents and grandparents dreamed of being independent and owning property. Times have changed drastically, but my dreams haven't. My "American Dream" is to own my own place and to be able to happily support a family, just like my parents. However, with the way society and the economy has changed, that dream does not seem very realistic and in need of modifications due to both the receding economy and the increase in technology in every day life.

In reality, my dream seems standard and simple. I simply want my to own my own place that my future family and I can live in. Having my own home and being able to support my family has been the dream almost every adult in my family has dreamt for me. As I grew up it actually did become my dream. To move out and away from my parents to raise my own family is the ultimate goal. I've known from a young age that education was the way to achieve that goal. My parents successfully achieved that goal with simply a high school diploma and a few years of college. As the years went on a college degree became the way to stand out, but now it seems like even a college degree doesn't mean instant success. In "Generation Screwed", Joel Kotkin states that "college education doesn't seem to make a difference" (43). However, my dream still remains the same. Instead of being an advantage, a college degree is now the standard. So my "American Dream" is to move away from home for college, earn my degree that will hopefully help me get a job I enjoy so I will eventually be able to settle down in a place of my own and maybe raise a family.

The economy can definitely affect a person's life goals by ultimately deciding if they're achievable or not. Lately, the economy has been on the decline and has in turn caused society to change the way it operates in order to adjust to it. One of the biggest effects of the declining economy is that it's forcing people to have to work longer. This in turn means the older people are holding onto jobs that younger people both want and need (Kotkin 42). This economy is making me question the reality of my "American Dream".  According to "Generation Screwed", my generation spends hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to get that college education that will put us ahead in the job hunt, but we end up disappointed. All we end up with is immense amounts of debt and a job that barely requires a high school diploma. Faced with this harsh reality, I know that my dream of getting a job that will easily pay for any bills and for my family is unlikely.

The enormous increase in the use of technology has also affected the likelihood of my dreams, but in a more positive manner. Over the past few decades, technology has both made human life easier and harder. It has both stolen jobs and created new ones. Normally, we only hear about the positive effects of technology. We hear about how easy they make life. However, in "iCrazy", Tony Dokoupil explores the many negative sides effects of technology such as depression and addiction. I intend on going into either the computer or mechanical engineering field so the use of technology will be both my life and career. Technology will be the base of everything I do in order to achieve my dream. "iCrazy" has brought to my attention all of the risks that technology comes with, but none of them are going to affect my dreams nor stop me from achieving them. Dokoupil states that depression, addiction, and loss of social skills are all side effects of too much internet use. I believe it all depends on how a person uses it. I find it easy to balance my use of technology and that is a necessary skill to have when going into the technology field. Instead of making it less likely to achieve my dreams, I believe technology makes it more likely since it's the base of them all that will support all the others. Technology is quickly taking over more aspects of life and with new technology comes the need for people who know how to use, create and fix it. Which hopefully means the need for people with a background in my intended makor will increase and jobs will be plentiful. The increase of technology has helped raise my hopes for actually achieving my dreams.

The concept of the "American Dream" changes over time. My "American Dream" was to own a place of my own that I could easily raise a family in with my paychecks. However, with the decreasing economy and the decreasing value of a college degree, the likelihood of that dream has decreased immensely. On the other hand, technology is constantly on the rise and more people are needed to understand it. Technology changes a person's lifestyle, but once people fully understand it they should be able to benefit from it instead of letting it ruin them. The economy and the use of technology in every day life made my "American Dream" both more unlikely and likely, respectively. Therefore, I realized the need to alter it. I still dream of being able to raise and support a family, but owning property is much more unlikely in this economy. Now I simply dream of having my own place whether it's an apartment or a house, but I will still dream of complete independence.

Finishing Strong

Senior year of high school is the year full of both stressful moments as well as celebratory ones. Almost every student is excited and more than ready to graduate and finally be done with high school. However, entering the final year of high school does not mean the hard work is done. Seniors still have to worry about earning all of their credits for graduation, passing all of their final classes and about creating an impressive resume for college applications. Part of the college application process is submitting to the colleges the final list of classes the student is taking. The list might be extremely impressive and help the student gain acceptance into that college, but if the student ends up dropping or failing these classes that they said they were taking in order to get into the college, does the student still deserve the college's acceptance? High school seniors should have to work hard and pass the classes they submitted to the colleges because if they do not, they are showing their lack of determination, integrity, and preparedness for the rigorous college lifestyle.

One of the main things that colleges look for in their applicants is a sense of determination and integrity. Colleges and college professors do not have the time nor the money to waste on students who are not ready to work and then lie about it. Educational funding is being cut repeatedly all throughout the United States so every dollar given to the educational system must be put to good use and invested in students worth the time. For every student who slacks and does not want to take advantage of all the opportunities given to them with their college acceptance is another student who is ready, but is just waiting for their time and attention. Education is an investment and if not invested wisely, our nation will begin to lose money and our nation's overall educational value will decrease. Secondly, lying in any situation is never beneficial. Outside of school, lying about the work you've done can result in serious legal trouble. Colleges want students who are ready to become educated adults who will help shape the future of the world. Being a liar as an adult gets you nowhere. In high school, counselors and teachers are constantly there to help students and to make sure they are on track to graduation. The adults warn the students when they begin to slack off and help them get back on track if necessary. However, in college there is no help. Colleges are not there to babysit students and are not afraid to simply kick students out of their school when they begin to show that they are wasting the institution's time. If a senior can't look after themselves for at least one year and finish their last year strong, colleges cannot expect them to once they enter college. Colleges do not have the time for students who are not ready and determined to become well-educated adults. Therefore, high school seniors must work hard to finish their classes to prove to these colleges that they are ready for adulthood and worthy of their time.

College life is the first chapter of adulthood. Almost complete independence is achieved and hardly any assistance is provided in college. Senior year of high school is the year to show colleges that you're ready to become an adult as well as a part of their community. Therefore, it is extremely important for seniors to finish their last year of high school with the same determination and level of hard work as they did in any other year of high school. If a senior says that they are going to take a class and pass it in order to get into college, but end up failing the class, how can the college's admissions board know that the student won't do the same in college? The student might once again sign up for a college class, but end up dropping out later or not pass the class. Instead of that student taking up a seat in the class and wasting the college's money and time, another student who was more prepared could have taken that spot and actually used the college's resources to benefit themselves. High school seniors do need to work hard because when they don't it shows the colleges that they are not determined nor ready for the college and adult life.

Senior Year Highlights

It's my senior year and there's so much for me to be excited about. There are plenty of new beginnings and endings to last throughout the year. First off, I'm looking forward to working hard with my ASB commission and fellow classmates to win Homecoming. It's my first and final year in ASB and as an officer I've got a lot of work to look forward too. There are going to be countless fundraisers and events I'm going to have to plan and set up, but I'm looking forward to their success and knowing that I was a part of it. The ending that is the most bittersweet for me is the end of my wrestling career. I've wrestled all throughout high school and made it to State last year. I'm excited and ready to have a repeat this year, hopefully along with some of my other teammates. I can't wait to work hard with my girls, defend our PAL championship title, and bring home some medals from the State Championships.

Once most of the hard work is done, I'm looking forward to being able to celebrate. The first thing I can't wait to celebrate is my college acceptance letter. I'll finally be able to answer all of the college related questions all of my older relatives and other adults keep on asking me. Hopefully they'll slow down once they know I've chosen a college and have some direction. Afterwards, one of the main events of the year that I will have spent a majority of my ASB-related time and fundraising efforts on will finally come around: Senior Ball. Even before Junior year ended, Senior Ball became a top priority for my class so I can't wait for the night to finally come so our whole class can have a fun night out dancing the night away. The week after Ball will be the week of my final AP tests. I can't wait to get those over with and lose all the stress that came with them. Celebration will definitely occur after AP week. Lastly, the thing almost every high school student, including myself, looks forward to is graduation. Just thinking about putting on that white cap and gown, walking across that stage, and receiving my diploma along with my handshake makes me excited. After a long twelve years, I'll finally be graduated and ready to enter the adult world in May.