Entry #11 Final Blog Reflection

My Final Blog Post

 To future student(s),
   Blogging is one of those assignments to cherish in English 102 if you hate writing essays. Even if you enjoy writing essays and completing the draining LSA's (please refer to the gif. at the right side of this paragraph), blogging may come as a sort of relaxing hobby during English 102. Would I do blogging on my own spare time? No. Only because I have work and way too many video games to catch up on, but I have sincerely enjoyed blogging and getting back into HTML in the process. I did take blogging seriously during this course. The benefits to blogging is using blogging as a creative outlet for writing. Not only do you build on your writing but also learn how to talk to an audience creatively since they can comment on your content. Challenges on blogging professionally/casually is that you need to maintain rhetoric while covering a handful of different topics. I learned how to write for an audience during blogging. I learned to expand my topic so that it hits aspects needed for the type of audience I'm writing for. Blogging is great to learn more about your classmates without the awkward in-person interaction.

     You get to learn your classmates opinions/hobbies and you also get to comment on their writing as well as receive constructive criticism. I believe blogging is very useful as an assignment for class. It is relaxing and a new concept. I also like that it gives you easy points. Do the work and actually work, get points. Overall, blogging was a great new experience to learn. It made me love the class more, I would recommend blogging to any/every future student. 

As this being my last post that I see in my near future, I say so long to my fellow bloggers and to my audience. 

Entry #10 (Self-generated)

Christmas Time!

  With Christmas time coming up you might feel panicked to get gifts for friends and family, but the most important part of Christmas time to me is the sweets!

  Here is a recipe for classic gingerbread men cookies to try out during the holidays if you feel the same as I do.

First for the ingredients you will need: 

• 3 cups of flour
• 2 teaspoons of ground ginger                       
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (1 & 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

         
Directions to prep the cookies:

• Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses, egg and vanilla; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut into gingerbread men shapes with 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are set and just begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Decorate cooled cookies as desired. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days.

• Nutrition information

  (Amount per serving)

  • Calories: 158Cholesterol: 24mg
  • Sodium: 128mgProtein: 2g
  • Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4g
  • Fiber: 0gCarbohydrate: 24g

  After cooking the delicious cookies, decorations are more than necessary before setting out next to a cold glass of milk to eat.

  Here are some ideas to decorate your gingerbread men before eating:

  After decorating enjoy your delicious masterpieces! Feel free to comment a picture of your Christmas sweets below, gingerbread man or not!

Entry #9 Media Synthesize

The Age of Electronics

   I notice no one can stay off their phone, tablet, laptop, television, etc. for long periods of time. I also note that barely anyone has family time or when people go out to eat, it isn't really going out to eat. It's sitting next to someone eating while both people are on their phones. It's a sad thing to say that I also check my phone consistently throughout the day and my laptop is almost always on my lap when I get home.

  Another thing I have come across is the power of electronics. Electronics have become an addiction to modern society. With this addiction social behavior as well as the health of society has been affected. Such as communication, social anxiety, and depression.

  The power of electronics goes so far as to take lives. A large epidemic is texting and driving, many lives have been lost to this problem. I have noticed myself that many drivers next to me on the road are texting and driving or maybe talking and driving, either way these people usually are the "idiots on the road".

  Lastly, another large problem from the usage of electronics is the freedom of information in the wrong hands. For example, my little sister on Facebook, posting our address for all to see. Or how Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter can give off your current location, leaving you vulnerable to anyone. I realize the power of media through electronics and give a second thought before picking up my phone for the third time in the same minute to check the time. Compulsion is a large impact from electronics. You feel the need to pick up the phone, or the need to respond to those messages, the need to go on social media. This has been going around the world since smartphones and even before then. 

  What do you think about electronics/media? Do you feel although the internet has given too much access to knowledge and power? How do you see this in your life? Comment below!

Entry #8 (Self-generated)

Charity

  The work of charity is not for everyone, but what is charity exactly?

char·i·ty: the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need.

  Over the world charity takes place usually by donating money. But what is charity to those who have no use for money? For example, stray animals or infants. 

  This video shows a man full of compassion. He helps tons of stray animals on the streets, this is a form of charity. 

  Although throughout time charity has dwindled down to only a handful that will actually help those on the streets. Now, most think that by donating a dollar at the supermarket is their good deed for the month. 

  So my question to you is what do you define as charity? What do you believe is the most effective charity, Donating or Hands-on? Please comment your thoughts below and thanks for reading my blog!