In the richest, most prosperous country in the world, there is an internal crisis. This is a crisis that could easily be solved, but presently is eroding the country. The system of health care in America is utterly terrible, and the worst of any developed nation. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “of all of the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane”. It is estimated that over 45 million Americans do not have any sort of health insurance, and an increasingly high amount are underinsured. This means that - if they get sick - nearly a third of the nation’s population is at risk to either become economic slaves to insurance companies, or become sicker, and possibly die. It is not much better for those who actually possess insurance. Providers have a plethora of guidelines that can leave insured individuals paying thousands of dollars. This leaves many with a choice between economic security and health. Such a choice should never have to be made. Even with all the money spent on coverage, the World Health Organization rates American’s level of health 72nd in the world. This is below Slovakia, Malta, and Hungary. All of this is occurs in the richest country on Earth.
While a switch to a system of universal healthcare would seem to be the only logical solution to this problem, it would be terribly inconvenient for the government which receives a great deal of funding from pharmaceutical companies. It would also take a great deal of organization, which after Katrina, we know is not necessarily a forte of our government.

add

An inconvenient truth

Thomas lee

Attention deficit disorder or add has become a house hold term for many Americans. Whether used as an insult or in the proper medical context “add” has infiltrated the vocabulary of the average American. What many do not realize is that ADD is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders. Many doctors and psychologists believe that ADD and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) are being over diagnosed as a cure all for any misbehavior that a child might display. Ritalin, Adderol, and other behavior modifying drugs are often prescribed to treat the symptoms of Attention deficit disorder. These drugs are stimulants which act on the central nervous system to increase alertness and help those with attention deficit disorder to concentrate better and overcome their disability. These drugs are classified as amphetamines. Use of Amphetamines is known to increase the risk of health problems such as heart attack and addiction. Street drugs such as speed and crystal meth are commonly regarded as very dangerous to a user’s health, but thousands of children are prescribed to similar drugs such as Ritalin and adderol starting as early as kindergarten. These children often stay on their prescriptions well though high school, putting them at risk to develop dependencies. The affects of these drugs when taken for a prolonged period of time is unknown, but as many of the first users advance into adulthood there has been concern about a possible connection to Bi-polar disorder. Ritalin may make a teacher’s job a little easier, but children are suffering.

Homeless Gay and Lesbian Teens

From coast to coast, there are approximately one-half million to one-and-a-half million homeless children and young adults living by whatever means necessary in the Unites States. According to The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, approximately 40% of that number represents gay teens. For those left to fend for themselves on the streets, prostitution is the only way to find food and shelter. “Survival sex,” as it is called on the streets, is realistically what many homeless gay teens face today when abandoned by their families. Clearly there is a disconnect between the young gays and lesbians who live among the human race, and the extreme rejection they face from the parents who raised them.

At first, when learning that their child is gay, some parents lose all sense of responsibility as a parent and cast their child to live on the streets. Unless the child can crash at a friend’s place, they have no choice but to live, eat, sleep, and make money by any means possible on the street. On the streets they run the risk of falling victim to hate crimes, where they may be mugged, raped, abducted, or even murdered. Another danger is survival sex, which is the act of selling your body in order to have a roof over your head at night, and to earn money for bare necessities. Sexually transmitted diseases run high in gay and lesbian communities, and are a common plight for these abandoned children. Due to the lack of unconditional parental love, many gay and lesbian teens have no choice but to live a life of degradation, disease, and poverty.

The truth is, however, that young gays and lesbians do exist and they are equal human beings. They are high school valedictorians, they are Speech and Debate National Champions, and they are Presidents of the Student Council. And yet American society brands gays as the main contributor to the downfall of American values. Yes, it is also true that gays are arguably preached against in the Christian Bible, and it is true in some religions, that being homosexual is one of the seven deadly, “unforgivable” sins. It is altogether inconvenient for parents to have a homosexual child; perhaps the family name can no longer be continued, or perhaps the family is embarrassed of their child due to an affluent background. Whatever the reason, no one is there to shed light on the helpless kids growing up on the street.

Where does the disconnect lie between parent and homosexual child, and how can it break through the forces of unconditional love? Even when a child is born with a deformity in this country, he has every opportunity to be taken care of. So why would being gay affect a parent’s love? Why would a parent rather see their child live on the streets, helpless, disease-ridden, and forced into prostitution, than to accept their child for who they are? Where is the disconnect, and why aren’t we as Americans over it? Why?

Project Proposal

Imagine walking through the halls of your high school carrying an umbrella and trudging through over an inch of water while sweat runs down your face. Then imagine walking through the halls of another school with three different gyms and air conditioning. Which school would you choose? I am sure that most of you would choose the second school. But what if you didn’t have a choice? The Ohio school system is ranked at the bottom of the list when it comes to how schools are funded. In a Supreme Court case is 1991, the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding filed a suit against the State of Ohio for not providing the necessary funds to educate students. The court ruled that Ohio's school-funding process was unconstitutional. Even though state legislators tried to fix the problem, in 2000, 2001, and 2002 Ohio's funding was still considered unconstitutional.

The topic I have chosen the research is the unjust funding of Ohio Schools. By relying on property taxes to fund schools, poorer school districts are disfavored. These are the schools that need the money the most and they are not receiving it. The fact that Ohio cannot come up with a suitable way of funding schools (other than property taxes) makes me wonder what is going on in Ohio’s state government. Education should be a major issue because students are the future and without having a proper education getting an adequate job is harder. The problem cannot be solved by simple giving all schools an equal amount of money. The schools that need more money should be able to receive more money until all of Ohio’s schools are running in a suitable manor.

This topic is inconvenient because government officials talk about changing the situation but are unable to pass the legislation. Everything that the government has tried to do has been considered unconstitutional. Also, parents who have children in the school systems complain about the situation but are not willing to pay more money than they already do towards schools. I think that parents should only have to pay a little more money because there are other ways of coming up with funds to help schools.

The questions I hope to answer in my research paper are: why are Ohio’s schools so unequally funded; what can be changed in the way Ohio funds its schools in order to have all schools at the same level?

project proposal

America is the greatest country in the world. We’re certainly the richest and most powerful nation on the planet. We seem to rank number one in nearly everything. Everything, that is, except educating our youth. Polls have shown that America is in a major education crisis. The nation is ranked in the high teens at best in standardized test standings against the rest of the globe. Standardized test scores have fallen significantly since the nineteen sixties. For the first time in our history, the next generation is at risk of being less educated than their parents.
The nation’s schools are in a deplorable condition. Teachers and students both suffer from the state of public education in recent years. The literacy rate for the country is at a low point for the last fifty years. A huge number of schools in the nation are grossly under funded and at severe risk of being closed all together. Yet, by least in my personal observations, local school levees seem to never make it on the ballots and if they do, they almost never pass. The inconvenient truth of the matter is that the state of education is in peril and it is up to the people to set it right. The nation has plenty of money and definatly the means to solve this crisis, but yet the schools continue to suffer. Whether it be from government legislation or the work of the general public, something must be done or our nation at serious risk of falling to far behind other industrialized nations to compete in the world market.
My paper seeks to answer two questions. First, exactly how did the education system fall to such a low. Why hasn’t some kind of effective action been found. Second, what actions can be taken at this point to save the schools. There is certainly some kind of reasonable proposal to fix this crisis. It is my belief that the most important thing a nation can do to insure it’s prosperity is to educate the next generation so they can continue to build a stronger and stronger country. I feel that without a correction to this impending crisis, our nation will quickly become so uneducated that we wouldn’t be able to compete in the world. If we wish to have any chance of a peaceful civilization, we must eliminate ignorance in the world with education. As Ariel and Will Durant said “Education is the transmission of civilization” and we are at risk of ending this transmission without action to right the crisis facing us.

Doctors, can they really help us?

June 5th, 2007, my whole life changed. The most influential male, my grandfather, passed away. This was the saddest day of my life, because I had been expecting it for so long. He died from one of the most fatal illnesses, cancer. The doctors decided, when he was first diagnosed, he should start some type of treatment. Like any normal, unknowing person he agreed. He received chemotherapy and radiation at the same time; a deadly combination. Over the coming weeks, he began to worsen very quickly. Before we knew it, he had passed away. As his family, we wondered, what happened in the short amount of time? How did the cancer overtake his body so quickly? I believe it all came down to the doctors giving treatment that was more harmful than helpful.
I believe doctors often prescribe treatment to the general population that is portrayed as helpful, but in the long run, does the body more harm. This is an inconvenient truth, because it would challenge the authority types in the world and the things we value as true. Most people want to in the USA, at least, would like to believe everything that their doctors, politicians, teachers, and other authority figures tell them. Sometimes, though, they do not realize these people aren’t always right. The best example of this would probably be doctors.
Many times, doctors misdiagnose patients, prescribe wrong medication, or even give them bogus treatment. Why would doctors do this though? More money? Whatever the reason, it is wrong and many people don’t want to realize it. Doctors do things that will cause more harm to the body, than it would actually help the body. Do these doctors actually know what they are doing? Another view that is not really talked about, is it a cycle where the medical industry and government work together to weaken the population? Or are they just another “pawn” in the game? There are a multitude of angles that are not talked about concerning the medical industry. The most important thing is that they are causing us, as the human race, more damage than they are helping cure our problems.
In my research, I hope to uncover how the medical industry causes us more harm than we think. I want to show the aspects of how the government works together with the medical industry to control the human race. I will discuss the types of treatment that are hurting the body of people all around the world. I would like to focus more around the aspects of medicine prescribed, treatments, and misdiagnoses. I have formed my research around this one question: Doctors, how much harm are we letting them cause us?

Body Wars: Project Proposel

Imagine New York City, a bustling metropolis of a little over 8 million people. Now, picture every single inhabitant of NYC as bone thin and wasting away. If every single American with an eating disorder was grouped together in one area they would overtake the entire population of the Big Apple. There is a very high possibility that someone you know, possibly even someone close to you, suffers from an eating disorder. It is more common than you would think, and that is an inconvenient truth. My freshman year my older sister, Lindsey, suffered from Bulimia. She was never overweight, though. I guess some would describe her as “thick,” but she was athletic so it fit her. I’m not sure when it started, and I didn’t even find out until last year. I just thought that she was losing weight unintentionally. Last winter my friend Janice told me that she, too, suffered from Bulimia and another of my good friends is diagnosed as suffering form “Anorexia Nervosa combined with Exercise Bulimia.” It’s a long name to say what is plain and simple. She is killing herself.
My project proposal is that I would like to research body image and the effect media has on it. Too many women and men suffer from eating disorders and I want to know why. I think that this topic is something that everyone should be educated on because it is so serious. Most people overlook the body image crisis, but it is ruining the youth of America. Not only does it affect teenagers, but there is a shocking number of children and women suffering. In a world where the media is overrun by “the perfect 10” our nation is forgetting about the size 10s and every other size below a 2.This topic is extremely personal to me because so many people I know have been affected by it. I believe that the media has a large impact on the way people think. With Victoria’s Secret ads popping up every 2 commercials and famous actresses weighing about 40 pounds, it’s easy to see that the media plays a large part in this inconvenient truth.
In my paper I hope to uncover the psychological and physiological consequences of eating disorders. I’d also like to figure out why so many people are suffering from theses, and how they can be stopped. If the media can see what they are doing to the impressionable minds of Americans then maybe they can help to solve the problem that they helped to create. Something needs to be done, and I want to find out what that “something” is.

To become the “perfect family.” It is something that has been the goal of society for a very long time. It is always keeping up with the Jones’ or like being in one of the 50’s sitcoms, but what really is the perfect family? One thing that is never included in the “perfect family” scenario is a homosexual child. That is something that just cannot be a part of a “perfect family” and due to that fact, many families choose to remove the child from their home, or just disown them altogether. This is something that the average person hears very little about in today’s culture, but they are very aware of the “perfect family.”

My topic is families forcing their children to move from their home or even disowning the because of the child’s sexual orientation. Many families make the child leave after finding this out about them. My family itself is divided on this issue, some say they would disown a family member and others say they would love them no matter what. With how accepting our culture is today, I find this very shocking. The people that feel this is acceptable say this because they agree are culture is too accepting and many families that disown or get angry with their child or even try to change them are religious. Even my own mother says she would disown me if I was homosexual because it is “disgusting” and “not what God wants.” The sad part is most people feel the same as my mother about this subject. They feel it is perfectly acceptable to fault someone for their sexual orientation.

The inconvenient truth with this is that there really is no “perfect family.” Every family has its problem no matter how “normal” they appear. I have never seen a news report about a family disowning their child, even though it does happen on a regular basis. Some friends that I have are homosexual and they are very afraid of coming out because they are afraid of the reaction of their families will have, especially their father. So the inconvenient truth is also the fear that the homosexual children have of their families. They feel that cannot confide in their closest loved ones, and this is a very large problem, especially since families are already growing apart today. It is very inconvenient for families and society to admit that they won’t accept their children for the simple fact of the sex they choose to love.

I am not well informed of the actual facts about how often homosexuals are actually excluded from their families, so I aim to find he actual statistics that show how often this occurs, and find stories of children who have had to go through this. Another question I want to answer is why families feel so strongly against their own children that they can do that to them.

Project Proposal

Imagine picking up your phone to talk to your best friend without knowing that there was someone else listening in on your conversation. For some odd reason you were placed on a federal watch list and whenever you pick up your phone, so does a federal agent. If you say something suspicious in the phone call, you’ll find agents at your door asking if you have a few moments to answer some questions. This is a reality for many people in the United States each day.

The topic I am going to investigate for this project is the unwarranted wiretapping by the U.S. Government on legal residents. In the years following the September 11th attacks, the government has come to believe that certain civil liberties can be sacrificed for the greater good of the country. There is legal precedent that the government may make decisions that may put certain liberties on hold for the preservation of the country. However, the amount of unwarranted wiretapping has become too excessive and is being used for reasons other than they were initially meant for. In addition, the power bestowed upon federal authorities by the USPATRIOT act is being abused. It is difficult to openly criticize this issue for fear of being labeling as “unpatriotic”. People are being accused and charged for crimes other than the one they were originally being investigated for, often in situations where they should never have been investigated in the first place.

In this research assignment I hope to learn more about how this is
affecting the lives of many people in this country. I would also like to look at the legal ramifications and precedents that protect these actions. I hope to find out what it is that citizens can do to uphold their rights. I think the more a person is educated about an issue, the more he can do to fight for any injustice he believes in.

Project Proposal

3.5 million people, 39 percent of them being children, are homeless. Another 33.6 million Americans are living on the border of poverty, not being "poor enough" to receive food stamps or other forms of benefits. That is an unacceptable amount of people simply struggling to survive in this land of opportunity and possibilty. Across America homelessness rates are climbing to an all time high. And life isn't getting any easier for the homeless. More than 60 cities in America are working to make it illegal to beg or sleep in the streets, to sit in a bus shelter for more than an hour, or to walk across a parking lot if the person doesn't have a car parked there.

As I'm sure you can already tell, I'll be researching homelessness as an inconvenient truth. This is inconvenient because most people think that enough is being done as is to aid the homeless. Sure, there are many agencies, non-profit organizations, and shelters working for the cause, but it's just not cutting it. Everyday you can see people suffering from homelessness, and it doesn't phase most. You become accustomed to seeing the man outside Chipotle, asking for sandwiches, burritos, and spare change. It becomes "just a part of life." Well, this has to stop. No one deserves to live on the streets and and beg to survive. This topic affects me personally because I have seen the deep impact of homelessness. At my church back home we are members of a program called Interfaith. Basically it's a network of churches who host a group of homeless people for a week The church provides shelter and food while the Interfaith agency teaches job skills and financial strategies until the families have their own home and are self sufficient. Meeting and interacting with these people changed my opinions of the homeless. Seeing children who are so grateful for simple thing like food and blankets, things I take for granted daily, opened my eyes to the world outside of my bubble called Springboro. I had no idea how many people were homeless and just how bad life on the streets was.

In my research, I hope to find answers to the following questions: What are the main causes of homelessness? What leads to a life on the streets? How hard is it to be homeless? Is there not enough room in shelters for everybody, and if not why aren't these spaces being utilized? What steps must be taken/ how difficult is it to overcome homelessness? Can't wait to report to everybody about what I've learned!

Research Proposal

The first thought when someone wakes up in the morning is not that this is their last day on earth. There are many people who think that they will live their full life and that death will come when they are older. Well most people don’t even consider that the end of their life could not be due to death but to the coming of the Lord. The Lord tells us that He will come again and that all the events he has spoken of must happen before He comes. The Lord tells us of many false prophets and false Christs that will appear and will deceive many people including Christians. War and natural disasters will become more prominent and more violent. There will be an increase in wickedness of the people and nations.
This is an inconvenient truth because in today’s society it is politically incorrect to talk about the word of the Bible. When a person tells the word of the Bible then they are seen as forcing their religion and views on others. Christians are the last to be heard and the first to be blamed. In our present world we live in many of the signs the Lord talks about have taken place. Our world is rapidly deteriorating and even though many have noticed these changes, they aren’t putting two and two together. The Bible is one of the most widely sold books in the world yet though most people own a Bible they never open it. If people read the word of God they would understand that these events that are taking place in our world are not just changes in weather or global warming or disputes between countries, they are the signs God talks about of the end times. Believe it or not science goes hand and hand with the Bible. Most people have never heard of The Second Law of Thermodynamics, but it helps prove that the end times are real and will take place.
My purpose for writing this paper is to show people the links between the events that are taking place right now or that have taken place and how they relate to the end times. I want to find the answer to what the events mean and how they relate to the coming of the Lord. I want to find out scientifically speaking why the world is deteriorating.

Project Proposal: Walter Reed Army Medical Center

On Friday March 3o, 2007 President Bush visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center after the uproar about the poor living conditions and health care of the injured soldiers returning from Iraq. Bush publicly apologized and promised to fix the problems at Walter Reed for our war heroes. However, I arrived at Walter Reed on May 12, 2007 and found no improvements: only chaos. My husband was medically evacuated to Walter Reed from Germany on May 9th. He had been injured in Iraq on May 1st when two grenades struck his vehicle, shooting shrapmetal through his left check into his eye. My husband did not forgo surgery to remove the metal in his left eye until May 15th: over two weeks past his initial injury. He is now blind in his left eye because the medical staff at Walter Reed waited too long to operate on him. The metal festered in his eye, creating an infection that deteriorated the retina: the critical part of the eye that sends images to the brain creating the ability to see. The promise that President Bush Made to improve the quality of health care and living conditions at Walter Reed has not been met and has not shown signs of getting better anytime soon.
The topic I am researching is the health care and living conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center of the injured soldiers returning from Iraq. This is a huge inconvenient truth for the Armed Forces and America because few people are aware of what is going on there and even less are doing anything about it. The Bush administration has just recently addressed this problem but still has not taken any steps to fix the problem. America is unaware that the large amount of tax money being spent on the war is not being distributed to important causes such as conditions for the retuning soldiers. The men and women who are sacrificing their lives are not being taken care of when they are being injured. The fact is, America is spending a trillion dollars on the war in Iraq, but no one knows what it's really being used for. The inconvenient truth is that the majority of the money is going to high ranked officers who sit in air-conditioning all day while the underpaid infantrymen are being blown up from poorly-made Hum Vs because President Bush is too cheap to protect our soldiers or provide for them when they get hurt. And Bush is hiding from it, denying it, and covering it up.
From this research paper, I hope to address such questions as, were the conditions at Walter Reed bad? How bad were they? Did the American people have any idea that brave soldiers who got injured were being neglected? Did the Bush Administration try to cover-up how bad things were for the soldiers once the truth came out? And most importantly, why are the conditions bad and why isn't anything being done? I hope to answer these questions and educate my classmates about this inconvenient truth. This issue is more than just relevant to me: I lived it. I witnessed it all first hand. I could write a book on the horrible things I saw and experienced. As well as, what my husband had to go through, the other wives and families, and of course, the men and women who served in Iraq and were sent to Walter Reed.

Everyone remembers watching Tara Reid stroll down the red carpet for Puff Daddy’s 35th birthday celebration. After all, how can anyone forget her smile as the paparazzi proceeded to go crazy as her jacket caused the strap of her dress to fall off and reveal her scarred and horribly constructed breast from a fateful round of plastic surgery. This is just one of many Hollywood horror stories resulting from plastic surgery gone badly. In 2006 there were 11.5 million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures that were performed in the United States, resulting in over 12.2 billion dollars spent. Breast Augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery performed on women. Plastic surgery has developed into an idea for women to get rid of their physical flaws, but ending in terrible nightmares that leave lasting physical and emotional effects.
For my research paper I have chosen to discuss plastic surgery and how it has developed into a startling phenomenon and common practice for women and even men all over the country. Most people don’t do enough research or talking with their doctors before deciding to continue with plastic surgery procedures. Plastic surgery not only results in horrible pain and strenuous weeks of recovery, but also terrible scarring that will forever be a reminder of the procedure.
Women and men of all ages go through periods in their life of low self esteem and body image. Working through these issues in a healthy way is not the only acceptable way now. Completely changing your body through painful procedures is now a common practice that is almost acceptable to most people in this country. It is a definite inconvenient truth that we are choosing surgical procedures in order to be satisfied with ourselves and our bodies. Girls as young as 14 are deciding to get nose jobs and other forms of plastic surgery just to feel better about themselves. Parents, teachers, friends, and family are looking the other way and forgetting not only the consequences of major surgery but also the emotional aspect it leaves behind. Plastic surgery does not solve poor body image and its time we face this inconvenient truth and solve low self esteem without going under the knife.
I want to explore many different areas and questions in my paper regarding plastic surgery. Why do women and men all over the country look to surgery in order to feel better about themselves? Also, what happens when the plastic surgery doesn’t deliver the exact results they are looking for-Did their doctor tell them everything? I look forward to researching this and uncovering what really happens when people go into and walk out of the operating room.

Project Proposal!

In 1989, the artist 'Dred' Scott Tyler showed the piece "What is the Proper Way to Display the American Flag?" in an exhibition at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, igniting a heated debate about patriotism and free speech. The installation included a picture hanging on the wall that depicted flag-draped coffins and people burning the American flag. Below the picture was a guest book, where every viewer was invited to record their thoughts. However, in order to reach the book, a person would have to step on a flag that was laid on the ground, essentially choosing between their loyalty to free speech or the flag as a symbol. Despite being eventually shut down, it exposed an important problem almost every society faces, including ours. Exactly what is patriotism; an unswerving dedication to the United States government, or constant analysis of the constitutionality of its every move?

I want to explore the exact meaning of patriotism today, and how that relates to free speech and artistic expression. According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, patriotism is the "love for or devotion to one's country," but we all know that there is much more to it today. Recently, for example, Barack Obama's patriotism has been questioned because of his failure to wear a flag pin, which although ludicrous, is seriously considered by some as an indication of one's love of the United States. I believe there has been an increase in the dedication to our country as a symbol, and a decrease in the discussion of the United States now as compared to what it should be. Add to this blind patriotism a heaping serving of fear, and you get the "either you are with us, or you are a terrorist" notion as phrased by George W. Bush nine days after September 11 (in a speech ironically called "Freedom at War with Fear").

So exactly what is wrong with believing you should either wave the flag or leave the country? In a very small nutshell, we are all entitled to use our constitutional freedoms however we please, including using those freedoms to criticize our home country. Labeling those who dissent as "un-American" is uncomfortably similar to those totalitarian regimes we wish to distance ourselves from, and has been a nasty habit ever since the beginning of the United States. From the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 (which contains eerily similar circumstances to that of today, including a 'quasi-war' and the deportation of aliens, among other things), to the House Un-American Activities Committee's role in numerous issues such as McCarthyism and Japanese Internment Camps, the United States has a track record of attempting to silence the free speech of all those who represent different view points and ideologies all in the name of patriotism. However, this is not something that is talked about openly: if someone in America is silenced, it can't be our fault, right?

At the end of my project, I hope to have completely explained the meaning of patriotism to Americans today, and how this affects free speech and artistic expression. Through both historical references and recent facts, I hope to show that a limited view of what it is to be loyal to America is directly equal to contributing to the oppression of the freedoms that one purports to love.

Matt Siegel- Project Proposal

David was an average 14 year old boy living in New Jersey. He lived with an extremely close family that did many things together. They would go to the beach, take vacations, and played sports outside. One day in the middle of David’s 8th grade year, he began undergoing feelings that he had never felt before. He started to think that things all around him were contaminated, including things that his family would touch. These thoughts seemed to come out of nowhere. Even David’s school, which is supposed to be a safe-haven for all children, began to seem contaminated.
Each day after school, David would come home and begin crying that he felt “dirty.” He would ask his mom to spray his backpack and all of his books with Lysol and then he would go into the shower for 30 to 40 minutes. After doing this for several months, the water bill started go up. This was becoming a problem; however, this wasn’t the only one. David also thought that tattoos were contaminated also. He didn’t want to be near anyone with a tattoo. If he was out to eat at a restaurant and the server had a tattoo and served the food, David would be forced to send it back because he felt that now the food was contaminated.
The topic that I will be researching is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This disorder can be very serious or very mild. If you mention OCD to any person, they may know what it stands for, but most don’t know what having this illness entails. The story of David above is just one aspect of OCD. Others have to do certain things more than once, such as, locking and unlocking a door numerous times before they truly allow for the door to remain locked. Others wash their hands constantly. And others are neat freaks and end up needing more time on tests because they feel that their work isn’t perfect enough. Many erasers get worn out with this aspect of the disorder.
This topic is inconvenient for many reasons. Much of the problem lies with ignorance. Approximately 2.2 million Americans suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but nobody wants to deal with it. As with many other diseases or disorders, people believe that as long as it does not become a problem for them, then it doesn’t matter. However, in David’s story, his family was extremely affected by David’s actions. David wished so hard that he could help himself, but he just couldn’t. David is just one of millions of people with this disorder and the problem is that the general population doesn’t know what it is or just pretends as if it doesn’t exist. My research questions are as follows: why do we ignore OCD in our society? Why is it so bad to have a mental disease or disorder? Can OCD truly affect others besides the actual person? I plan on making the topic of OCD more widely known and more widely accepted. Once one has a clear understanding of this disorder, that’s when the questions of why society ignores it come.

In my paper i wish to explore the paralles that exist between paganism and christianity. Also I am interested in resaching where and when the mistrust between the two of them developed.

Growing up I have always been interested in the way others view things, how they think, and what they believe. Unfortunately, I was raised in a Christian family, and extremely so. My father was a preacher as was my great grandfather, and his father before him, so I've been immersed in this religion my entire life. My family highly disapproved of me wanting to explore, and find what i believed in. I was taught others of different faiths were going to hell, and in some cases were bad people whom i should never associate with. One religion in particular that was shunned was Paganism.

However, many of the concepts in Christianity and Paganism are shared. Also many of the holidays thought to be Christian are actually Pagan. In my paper i wish to explore these parallels between the faiths. As far as questions right now they consist of the following; which religion copied from which/ which came first? where and when did the mistrust between the two develop? what all do the two share, and also what is different?

Project Proposal

Within the world today, there are many individuals who wish to promote the idea that man is inherently good. It is this veil of ignorance that we are shrouded in that leads us susceptible to disappointment and failure. Since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, our country has made some progress in the realm of race relations but we still have not come as far as we would like to think. Our country tells another story with one major flaw—it lacks truth. We are told that America is the land of opportunity and that those who are racially intolerant are a part of the fringe culture. On the contrary, the vocally intolerant might be a part of the fringe culture but at the end of the day, racism is still alive and well in our country. It has merely undergone a transformation into a newer, more concealed form.

Even as an individual coming from a vastly liberal community, I was able to see the prevalence of racism within my surroundings. As a young child, I would be punished almost daily in school because of the fact that I had fought someone who made a remark about my ethnicity. Going back even further, individuals shunned my mother and offered her money for an abortion so she wouldn’t have to have what they called, a “nigger baby.” I know that racism is still a reality within this great country of our’s. Though it may be “incovenient” to realize that we have so much farther to go in an effort to put such racist ignorance to rest, we must find a way to deliver ourselves from repeating the same careless mistakes we’ve made in the past.

The disaster known as Hurricane Katrina brought the issue of race back to the forefront as we were forced to question if one’s ethnicity had anything to do with it. Recently, race has become an even greater issue as presidential hopeful Barack Obama campaigns across the country under racial dissent so strong that CBS News was forced to remove the ability to comment on any Obama related stories. Over the course of the past few years, it has become more and more apparent that race relations still have a long way to go. As someone who has been shunned due to the color of their skin, I feel an overpowering connection with this ever so controversial topic. Through my research, I hope to address many questions. First of all, I would like to discover where this racism stems from. Secondly, I would like to discover if instances of racism are as prevalent as they were in the past. Thirdly, I hope to discover how I, my classmates, and the rest of the world can stand up against bigotry and intolerance.

Project Proposal

Sodium nitrate is almost all processed meats, including hot dogs, pink meats, and other packaged meats like turkey and ham. These nitrates are converted into carcinogens when in the body, which is a cancer causing agent. Nitrates used to be used to prevent the growth of certain bacteria that can cause botulism, a deadly food-borne illness, and to give cured meat a pink color. Children are most at risk of nitrate poisoning. Nitrates can cause urinary bladder, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, and brain cancer, along with child leukemia. One study found that children eating more than 12 hot dogs per month have nine times the normal risk of developing childhood leukemia.

This topic is inconvenient because of the risks it has. Hot dogs are very popular and many people eat them. It is a fact that people know that hot dogs are bad for them, but they don’t know the harmful effects they can have on them, and their kids. The government is aware of them and that hot dogs come from various parts of the animal. Yet, the government does nothing about it or care that people are eating these foods. The government needs to have better warnings about harmful chemicals in all foods, and not just on cigarettes. If nitrates are in fact the many cause of most cancers, then something needs to be done to prevent it.

Many vegetarians know about processed meats and hot dogs and that is why they have decided to follow the vegetarian path. In my research, I hope to uncover all the facts and truths behind sodium nitrates. I also hope to uncover how nitrates differ from vegetables and processed meats, and explain why vegetables are still good for you despite the chemicals being in them. I also hope to uncover nitrates in the water we drink.

Project Proposal

By now, you are aware that the major assignment in this class is to write a research paper and give a presentation. I have told you many times over the course of the quarter what this is about: an inconvenient truth...a topic that nobody seems to want to acknowledge or talk about.

I have even given you some examples of topics that are somewhat broad, and I've said that I hope you don't simply use one I mentioned without at least considering other possibilities. The reason I do this is that I want you to choose topics that have some personal relevance to you, your friends, or your family. Some of you have already talked to me about topics, and in fact, in one or two instances the topic relates back to the first-day essay you wrote, about a secret you are keeping. It is not just a coincidence this has happened, I thought that it might. Topics with deep personal connections will inspire you to do your best research, because you care deeply and personally about doing a great job. In fact, the intellectual quest you are on might in fact have real tangible benefits to you, your classmates who will hear your presentations, or friends/family who you can eventually share this information with. I am even trying to plan a way to post all your powerpoints online, if you choose to allow me to. It would be a tremendous artifact of our class--something to be very proud of--if we could put them there for the world to see. The assignment for Tuesday is to complete your proposal and post it to the blog.

It should be 500 words, single-spaced...roughly, the same length as your summary/assignment #1. It should have an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction can be telling a story, giving some examples, or presenting the audience with some startling statistics. In the body--which can be one paragraph or a few--you should explain exactly what the topic is and then why it is "inconvenient." [Now that I think about it, the body seems like it should be two different paragraphs]. In the conclusion, you should specifically address what your *research questions* are. In class last week, I told you that these are the questions you hope to answer by working on your paper.

McHate McSickness!!!!

One of the most powerful scenes to me, was the when he woke up in the middle of the night, talking about how he felt sick. Morgan Spurlock talked about how he felt pains in his chest, and how he would get these headaches sometimes; if he hadn't eaten his McDonalds fix. Basically, that without the McDonalds he wouldn't be okay, something like an addiction.
I though this was very interest because, for one, I never really thought that fast food could have this type of effect on your body. I always knew it was unhealthy, but I never thought it would cause you to have chest pains and headaches. Also, I never thought it would be addictive; I've had the cravings for some fries or a sundae, but I never thought that it would be something I would have to have. This is interesting, to me, what fast food will do to you body.

Macvomit

I think the part that hit me hardest was when Morgan wa interviewing the elementary kids. He showed them pictures of Wendy, Ronald MacDonald, Jesus, and George Washington. They knew all of the fast food icons, but few knew the truly important people. First, Morgan showed the kids a picture of George Washington, and while some knew who he was, they had no idea what he was famous for. One said that he was the fourth president, he freed the slaves, and he could never tell a lie. It's horrible that in our nation one out of three is acceptable. Another picture Morgan showed was one of Jesus. A child said it was George Bush. Now that's pushing it. However, when they showed pictures of Wendy and Ronald MacDonald the kids could list things off about them. Saying things like: "He does funny things on TV" and "He helps people at the cash register." What kind of society is this that children can tell you more about a creepy clown than they can about one of the founding fathers of our country? This part of the movie also reminds me of when Morgan is eating [MacDonalds, of course] with John Banzhaf and he says that when heand his children are driving past a fast food place he would punch them in the face. It was said for purely comical reasons, but he has a good point. Not about hitting your kids, of course, but about associating fast food with bad feelings when kids are young. My mom used to do the same thing his mom did, and fast food was always a treat- a reward for good grades or getting shots at the Dr's office. If we can associate fast food with bad feelings and healthy food with good feelings, maybe our nation would start losing weight. I know one thing for sure though... I may NEVER eat fast food again!

The scene that caught my attention the most involved Morgan interviewing the young children. His interview consisted of him showing the children several photographs and asking them to identify the individuals shown. Shockingly (or maybe not so much) the children were unable to identify historical figures like George Washington or Jesus, but all knew the face of Ronald McDonald.
The scene showed in a very convincing way exactly how addicted the nation is to fast food. Children are more familiar with a food service mascot than with the first president of the country they live in. The image of McDonald's is so ingrained in their minds that it is no wonder why they become so comfortable with eating the food, even if they know the inherent risks when the grow up. The interview proves Morgan's idea that fast food has become such a huge part of our culture that we don't care if it kills us, as long as we can satisfy our craving for it.

Effects of the McDiet

The scene in Supersize Me had to be the ending scenes describing the results of the McDiet. The scene showed a diagram of Morgan from before the McDiet and after. The diagram not only depicted the results of the diet but also stated a few long-term, dangerous effects to his health. He not only gained 24.5 pounds but also went from being very fit for his age by only having 11% body fat to very unhealthy for his age having 18% body fat. He also doubled his risk of heart disease and also for heart failure. His poor liver turned into a fat liver and now has massive cravings. Even his sex life was effected by going from amazing to poor. The scene also showed doctors saying that people should not eat fast food and also included that during the McDiet Morgan consumed 30 pounds of sugar and 12 pounds of fat. Now that's just plain gross!
I believe that this ending scene is very powerful, surprising and has a great effect on the audience by showing the shocking outcome of Morgan's health. It demonstrated the unexpected. I do not think that anyone expected the condition of Morgan's health to happen. It proves that eating fast food really can effect your life in a bad way and can have serious long-term effects such as the ones that Morgan is at risk for such as heart disease and heart failure. The scene made me at least thing twice about how much I eat McDonald's and other fast foods and think about fast food eating in a whole different way.

Macdiet Destruction

For me ,the part that stood out the most was the last visit with the doctors. At the beginning Morgan was is in “exceptional” health. However, by the end of the Macdiet it is evident that things have changed. While consulting with his physicians it is discovered that his cholesterol has raised, he has gained 18% of his body fat, and he is on the fast track to destroying his liver with a high fat diet.This was important because it dissolved all doubt about how bad the food is, and what it can/will do to your body if eaten regularly. I also thought it was interesting that at first none of the doctors were overly concerned, and didn’t think it would affect him dramatically, but by the end all told him to stop immediately.

Smoking or Fast food?

The scene that stuck out in my head was when Morgan talks to David Satcher who is the first surgeon general to bring up the topic about obesity taking over smoking as the number one cause of preventable death. And then he has lunch with Jacob Sullum who is an editor for Reason Magazine. That scene really sticks out because it shows perfectly, what is politically correct to say and what isn’t, and how it has changed over the years. There are many things that can kill us in this world, but why is it ok to say; Smoking is disgusting and can kill you but it is not ok to tell someone they are fat and eating that crap will kill you? 20 years ago teenagers were smoking as they walked out of school now we aren’t allowed to smoke inside or with in 20 feet of any building. Does that mean within the next 20 years we won’t be allowed to eat fast food? I don’t think it should be politically correct to say your opinion to smokers but not fat people and not only fat people because many skinny people also eat fast food. When will it be socially expectable to confront people about eating fast food?

Sick, Sick, Sick.

The scene from Super Size Me that i found very interesting was Morgan's last visit to the doctor's. He is told to stop his fast food diest immediately, that he is very sick. Sick meaning liver damage, high cholesterol and blood-pressure, suffering from depression, among other things. This is shocking because when he started out he was actually an extremely healthy man. He ends is a dilapitated for of himself.

This scene is so important because it shows, with medical facts what fast food, can do to your body. It shows that nothing good comes from fast food. From this scene there is no denying the harmful effects of fast food. It grosses me out to think what I allowed myself to put into my body before this movie came out.

Jesus Who?

The scene that stuck out the most for me was when Morgan interviewed the elementary kids. He showed them pictures of prominent historical figures and restaurant cartoon characters (i.e. Wendy, Ronald McDonald.) While most of the kids struggled to identify George Washington and even Jesus Christ, all of them were able to name Ronald McDonald. When asked, the children said they had seen Ronald on tv, in movies, and at the restaurant. They viewed him as a friend and correlated him with a fun time.
This scene offers huge evidence as to why the childhood obesity rates have doubled in the past twenty years. Seriously, no wonder they will be the first generation not to outlive their parents. I was sincerely shocked when they revealed the picture of Jesus after none of the kids could correctly identify him. (I also thought of my hard core democrat pappaw and if he had heard some kid say that the picture of Jesus was President Bush he wouls have a coronary.) But back to the point, if children are bombarded with misleading images of fast food everywhere, what else are they going to think? That's when the responsibility shifts to the parents. It's their job to inform, educate, and teach their kids how to make good/healthy decisions.

Fast Food is Everywhere

"A Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! McDonalds! McDonalds! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! McDonalds! McDonalds! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! I like food! I like food! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! You like food! You like food! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut!" The scene I found to be shocking was the one where the kids were singing a song about various fast food chains.

I found this scene to be shocking because it showed that today America's youth is growing up learning all about fast food and accepting it as real food. Most kids in America think of fast food chains when thinking about food. Fast food is spreading all throughout American culture and is even being incorporated into songs children are singing. Fast food is bringing happiness and fun to the minds of the kids in America. Maybe some of these kids need to learn the songs from this movie bashing fast food...

eat right and exercise.

There is a scene in Supersize Me where a doctor is talking about a conversation he had over dinner. In this conversation one person criticises another for smoking cigarettes. the cigarette smoker is ashamed that he does something so damaging to his health. he takes responsibility and admits that he should quit smoking.at the same time there is an overweight person at the table eating. the man telling the story feels like the obese woman should be criticized for eating while she is obese the same way the smoker is.

the problem i have with this man's opinion is the same as my problem with Supersize Me as a whole. Everyone's body is their own. they are responsible for its' well being. it is rude to criticize a smoker or an obese person. they aren't stupid. they know just as well as anyone else that what they do is unhealthy. people are ultimately responsible for themselves and if they can't eat McDonalds responsibly than that is their problem. no one at McDonalds forced anyone to eat at their restaurants. Its really quite simple if you want to be in shape eat right and exercise. and as for McDonald's brain washing children into wanting their food, i say this. just as we are responsible for our own health parents need to be responsible for their children. people can make excuses about playgrounds and nutrition sheets all day ,but in the end its all about responsibility.

Super Size Me

In the movie Super Size Me, there are many scenes that stick out. For me, the scene that was the most powerful was when he was interviewing the first grade students. When he interviewed the students, they were in a typical conference room with each child coming into the room one at a time. The studnets knew all about the fast food icons but struggled to remember many people important to American history.

I felt that this scene was powerful because it showed how advertisements for fast food restaurants are made to impact children. This scene shows that even though parents can try to shelter their children from such restaurants to help them in the future, it is pretty much impossible to keep the children from seeing any advertisement that is made for fast food restaurants.

Convenience of Obesity

Every time I watch Super Size Me, I walk away not wanting to eat fast food ever again. Most people think that they have no other choice because of its convenience. This convenience is the problem and the leading cause of obesity, which Morgan Spurlock successfully uncovered. It is cheap, tasty, and everywhere you turn, which are the characteristics of a fast killer.
I found two scenes to be the most shocking to me;Spurlock's first and last visits to the doctors. On his first visit, he was a perfectly healthy man. On his last visit, he was characterized as "sick" with liver damage, high cholesterol, and psychological issues . It was amazing to see how quickly his health failed during his 30-day McDonald's binge. What is more amazing is that his diet is almost no different than many 14-year olds with a McDonald's across the street from their high school.

Super Size Stomach Stapling

To me, one of the most important scenes in the movie SuperSize Me is the stomach stapling scene. Bruce Howlett, the man who drank around two gallons of soda a day, began to lose his eyesight due to his body's inability to cope with the large amounts of sugar he ingested. So he undergoes a stomach stapling surgery, which is the only known cure for diabetes, and is also accompanied by classical music. I covered my eyes through half of this scene, but I don't think I really have to describe the parts I did open them for, because everyone reading this is most likely picturing it right now. I think this scene could be summed up using only the word "gore."

However, the context of this scene is just as important as the shock value. Throughout the whole film thus far, Morgan Spurlock gave facts, showed interviews, and generally made the problem and its cultural context very clear. I believe this scene is the turning point of the entire movie. Not only does the long stretch of classical music contrast sharply with the rapid dispensing of information in the rest of the film, after the stomach stapling the mood of the movie is much darker. There is no comic relief or cartoons, and the health risks become not only serious, but immediate. I think this is very intelligent directing because Morgan Spurlock permanently associates this image with McDonalds and the negative mood in the film after the surgery, just as children associate McDonalds food with playplaces and fun. Although I am a chicken when it comes to surgery, I really appreciate how Morgan Spurlock used this scene as a way to persuade his viewers permanently.

Insights on Super Size Me

Though it happened to be my second time viewing the film, I could not help but to be impacted by the scene in which Morgan interviews the elementary school students. Though the children interviewed could not manage to name a historical figure such as Christ, they could easily identify the likes of Wendy or Ronald McDonald. In my eyes, nothing could be more tragic. Though it is not always evident, much of our lifestyle choices are dependent upon our past. Only through a proper upbringing can we truly live a healthy lifestyle and after watching the film, it appears that these children are already heading down the road to ruin at a rapid pace.

Too much time in our classrooms is spent on educating children on how to beat the test. In the interest of time, real life issues are lost along the wayside. It's about time that we as Americans step up and make certain that the U.S. school system does its part to make sure that these children are better educated citizens of our country not simply because they can pass the test but also because they possess real life knowledge. We are in the midst of a health crisis and much of this is due to the fast food industry. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for a change...

Super Size Me

The most shocking part of the film for me was probably how willing the people on the streets were to be apart of the film and share their input. The group of people who were in front of the White House and could not even finish the National Anthem left me in awe. They tried multiple times and still could not completely finish it correctly. However, when asked what the slogan for McDonalds Big Mac, one woman had no problem supplying the answer immediately. She then proceeded to laugh hysterically about this which I think is truly embarrassing.
This experiment definitely added to the movie's entire point. Morgan took this idea that our country is entirely obsessed with running at a fast pace, to the point where we start to kill ourselves. This is shown especially through these average group of Americans. While some people may laugh all they want that these people could ACTUALLY forgot the National Anthem, I am sure they may be surprised at what they fail to remember as well. This part of the movie really made me stop and think about how I need to slow down my life as well and really think about what I am putting into my body.

One scene that stood out to me is when Morgan Spurlock interviewed Bruce Howlett. Bruce said that he drinks two gallons of soda a day, and he actually lost his eyesight for a period of time. He ended up in the hospital for surgery, however once he eliminated sugars he regained his eyesight.
This is very disturbing and actually scary because it shows how severe the consequences are of eating fast food or drinking too much soda. One would think that after a certain point, Americans will do something about it and search for help. Obviously for some people, food is more important than their health.

Jesus vs. Ronald McDonald

The scene where Morgan interviewed the first-graders made me question the integrity of his entire experiment. He showed pictures of popular political and religious figures, like George W. Bush, George Washington, and Jesus Christ, and pictures of fast food restaurant icons like Wendy and Ronald McDonald. The children were asked to identify the person in the picture, but most of them, or at least the ones who made the movie cut, were unable to correctly identify anyone but Ronald McDonald and Wendy. I figure Morgan was trying to get the audience to conclude that McDonald’s was weeding its way into the minds of children, trying to addict them at a young age to their fatty and life-threatening foods. He expected the audience to think that the other more important figures (Jesus, the president), should be more recognizable to the youngsters than the fast food icons (Wendy, Ronald McDonald). The important idea to remember during this scene is that the “information” presented is based on information from people—from children; not statistics, not medical research, and not from a scientific study. All inferences made from the audience would be purely subjective, if not a little persuaded by the data presented by Morgan.

Having been raised a vegetarian, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I've eaten McDonald's. But I still could identify Ronald McDonald when I was 6 years old because the food chain is so widely advertised on television ($1.4 billion dollars worth per year), such as the Olympics, Ronald McDonald House charities, commercials, cartoons, and what have you. It’s also a common feature in most cities, both American and in locations across the world. So to interview a handful of first-graders who may not have been introduced to great historical figures of our country, but have likely been familiarized with McDonald's food, is clearly unfair. These kids are probably five to seven years old, and may or may not be a fair representation of the average first grader. For example, the child who recognized a picture of Jesus Christ as George W. Bush may not have been raised in a religious setting. Or he could have been Muslim, and may not have even known who Jesus is. Regardless, there is room to believe these few children interviewed are too young to be expected to identify political and religious leaders. You also have to keep in mind that kids say the darndest things, and trying to read into the silly things they say may be an equally silly thing to do. Therefore, watching this scene did not shock me. On the contrary, I felt like Morgan and crew were persuading the audience, maybe even sloppily pushing their agenda, to believe that American children are becoming stupid and fat. If he had interviewed a third or fourth grade class, I would probably be more concerned. Even still, there are wide variations and socioeconomical gaps between school districts, so he would have to take a sample from schools across the nation, from all different backgrounds, before I would be so moved to think that McDonald’s is the aiding the downfall of the American educational system.

PS. -- Just as a disclaimer, I was surprised by some parts of Supersize Me (such as his trouble in finding the nutrition information at McDonald's), but overall I felt like Morgan was reaching too far to get people to agree with him on an issue that most people already understand. Some people may not realize the extent of the health hazard Mickey D's presents, but people don't go there to lose weight or lower their cholesterol. It's bad for your health, and proportion distortion is not a new problem. I think one of the most crucial questions he poses is who is to blame for our obesity epidemic in America, us or the big corporations, and he kind of left it open-ended. I think if people were educated on what a calorie is, what exactly they are eating and what they should be eating to maintain a healthy body, that would be a good start.

Super Size Me

In Super Size Me the part that affcted me most is when Morgan Spurlock gets sick after eating a double quarter pounder with cheese. At first it takes him quite a while to eat the food, and this is towards the beginning of his experiment. After finishing the food he gets sick out of the window.
This part affected me because how McDonald's food can really affect you that much to where you can get sick just from eating it. This part shows how much the food can really affect your stomache and how eating it can make you sick.

SUPER SIZE me

What I found most shocking/interesting was when Morgan would interview people on the streets. One scene shows a family in front of the White House attempting to sing the Pledge of Allegiance. There were several takes shown of the family forgetting parts of the song and trying again and again to get it right with no success. However, the last take of the scene they were asked to sing the jingle of the Big Mac and surprisingly enough, one of the women sang it word for word as if she practiced it in her sleep! And she found it hilarious that she knew that song better than the pledge!
This was very shocking because it shows how much fast food chains affect us. I mean seriously, she knew the jingle better than the Pledge of Allegiance! Kids learn the pledge in kindergarten! America obviously has their priorities in the wrong spot if its own citizens pay more attention to food jingles than what really matters. We are a product of our environment, we remember and know what we are exposed to the most. Ironically enough, the lady was obese. (Go figure)

Shocking!!

I thought the most shocking part of the movie was something that is actually shown in the special features. Morgan Spurlock does an experiment with McDonald's food by seeing how quickly they mold. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen this part, but I thought the results were just shocking. It really changed my mind about the food for about 6 months and then I started eating it again.

I think this is an important part of the film because it gives the viewer insight into what McDonald's is really doing with their food. When watching this scene, you can see that their food is not natural. It shows that McDonald's probably puts dangerous chemicals into their foods.

Super Size Me

Hi Guys,
Matt Siegel here. The scene I wanted to focus on was actually two scenes that actually somewhat could have been regarded in the same way. This is when Morgan was interviewing people on the street and first asking them about their feelings about fast food and which places they prefer to go to. The two black men that he interviews who start talking about one being able to exercise for a little bit and lift some weights and all of a sudden you can have this fast food and it won't affect you. The other scene is when he interviews people on what a calorie is. People had no idea what it was.
I find these parts very interesting because I think they show how ignorant people are here in the US. My focus remains on the two black men who were interviewed. It is their belief that if you exercise for a little bit, it then gives you the free reign to eat fast food without any dire consequences. This to me is so incredibly stupid. This is not true at all. Yes, it may help a tiny bit, but not by much and the majority of people who eat fast food in the US don't get as much exercise as the Surgeon General says, which is 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise each day. Not just lifting as these men specified. I also thought it was sad that people don't know what a calorie is. I may not know the exact, scientific definition, but I know the general concept and this ignorance perpetuates bad eating habits and a lack of education on how to eat. That's what I think.

My names Brian Rutter. I'm 18 years old and from Lima, Ohio. I went to Elida High School which is right by Lima. My major is Aviation and I think i'm going to minor in Criminology. I've flown planes with some of my friends over the last few years which is how I decided to major in Aviation. I love every type of sport possible. I played every sport I could at least once. My favorite sports were actually golf and track. I wasn't an amazing golfer but it was one of the more fun sports i played. I ran the 100 and 4 by 1 in track. I also was a high jumper which is one of the sweetest things to do in track besides pole-vault. I also was in the band! I played snare drum and was the leader of my section for a couple years, I loved hearing the sound of a drumline. We had one of the biggest bands around the area and had fun every year. I also love to snow and water ski.
I come from a very close family. I have one brother who is a junior in college. Me and him have always been close he is defiantly my best friend. I'm cool with my parents most of the time. I love animals mainly dogs and horses tho. I am kind of a shy guy until I get to know people. I hate talking infront of groups but i'm getting used to it. I'm a strong christian. I'm not a huge partier but like to have a good time. Want to know anything else just ask.

murder, murder, muder, mu-murder

Hi, my name is Adrian. I'm from here (Columbus), and grew up in the neighborhood of Clintonville, about 10 minutes North, by car. I attended high school at Columbus Alternative High School, all known as CAHS. The highlight of my four years there was probably doing an underground newspaper with my friends during my junior and senior years, which was then featured in an article on the front page of The Other Paper, Columbus's alternative newspaper, over the summer. At the moment, my planned major is psychology - I'm interested in how people think (I guess that was implied by "psychology") - but I'm not sure if I'll keep it. Recently, I have had a strong inclination to major in unemployment, better known as "music".

I've played violin for 12 years, dabbled in piano for 1, and socially freestyle rapped for about 1 and a half (my skill is mediocre at best) . I also listen to a great deal of music. For roughly the past two years, the genre getting the most of my attention is hip-hop, especially the mid-90s East Coast and underground varieties. However, I am also a fan to a fair amount of rock, jazz, and classical. My other "hobby" is watching movies. Pulp Fiction, The Big Lebowski, and Fight Club are some of my favorites. I tend to be forgetful at times - I lost my Buck ID the first day here, and am constantly misplacing my new card, my room key, and my flip-flops (I don't know how, either) - but I am trying to get better about it. I also enjoy discussions about metaphysics.

One final thing about me: I am extremely intimidated by Adam's response to this prompt. Oh, and the picture isn't an attempt to be emo, it's just the only one I have of myself with short hair.

A Little Bit About Me....

"I know myself, but that is all" -Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Too much of life is outlined by boundaries. I strive to live my life in an effort to transcend all of those boundaries placed upon us by not only the society we live in but also ourselves. I constantly pursue deeper meaning and higher levels of thought in an effort to become an "enlightened person."

It is my belief that knowledge does nothing if we allow it to solely rest within our own souls. True knowledge comes the day you find the light and use it to illuminate the way for another. Although I have aspirations for my own success, I also desire to make the lives of those around me better through my presence. I do not fear death for as long as I do my part to improve the lives of others, I will live on forever in the good deeds that carry out for one another.

No mind should lie dormant. Therefore I constantly surround myself with other intellectuals from whom I can have serious, analytical discussions with. I am constantly thinking and therefore I look for others who do the same. If you're ever the person you're looking for to talk to for hour upon hour about anything or nothing at all, I'm the one to talk to...

Marisa

Hi, my name is Marisa Roberts. I'm from Norwalk, Ohio, lived all my life there. It is by Cedar Point for those of you lost. It's a very small town, I graduated with only about 120 students. I played soccer at Edison High School, made all district, it was a small district. Outside of school I worked two jobs, a waitress and retail. I listen to a lot of music, a lot could be an understatement, my favorite band is Aesop Rock. I highly suggest checking them out, they rock! I like to travel, but haven't been too far yet. After being here a week I miss my car the most, that small space you can pump with bass. I'm a psychology major here, although I'll probably change by next year. I'm living in Stradley Hall and I like it a lot.

ALICE!!!

Hello, my name is Alice. I'm from Vandalia, Ohio (which is a few minutes outside of Dayton), and I went to Butler High School. Despite the occasional bomb threat or science class chemical spill, high school was boring, so I am very excited to be here at OSU!

I have one older sister, who came to OSU a few years ago. I also have an orange kitty, who for some reason refuses to eat meat and enjoys cucumbers, cantaloupe, and watermelon. I am a 100% cat person, but when I was nine I did have one hamster that I found behind my neighbor's stove.

I am a diet coke fan, but I am trying to quit. This summer I was averaging two liters a day (no exaggeration!). I love food, especially beefaroni and ice cream. I do not enjoy being healthy and refuse to exercise. I also can 't stand the sound of nail biting and teeth grinding, and if someone does this, you will usually see me plugging my ears and generally freaking out. All of my friends think it is hilarious, which is probably true. I watch way too much TV and movies, but I have too many favorites to name them all.

I am a total art nerd. I love to paint, go to museums, and spend way too much money on art books. My favorites are Hockney's People and Frida Kahlo. This summer I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art wich was amazing! I hope I can return for the Frida Kahlo exibit, which I think is this fall.

Well, that's about all there is to know about me, I think. By the way, the picture is of me with a creepy fortune telling machine from the Mall of America.

Sara:)

Hey everyone! My name is Sara Turner and I am from Perrysburg, OH. Its a small town right outside of Toledo. I graduated from Perrysburg High School and I was pretty involved. I ran track and cross country, was in National Honor Society, and did some of the plays. I have an older brother who is a senior here at Ohio State, a dad, and my dog Brinkley. He is a Yorkie and I miss him a lot! I absolutely love country music, especially Kenny Chesney and going to concerts. I love reading and hanging out with friends in my spare time. My favorite movies are How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Titanic, and Hairspray. I am also obsessed with the TV show Entourage!
Right now my major is Psychology and I am living in Smith Hall on South campus. I hope to someday work with kids. At home I worked for a company called Party Hero's, where I would play with kids at birthday parties and it was a blast! I plan on maybe going to medical school and working with the law or starting my own business. I'm very excited for this class and look forward to meeting you all:)

Just Me...

Hey, my name is Alexandrea Carey. I have a bunch of nicknames, so any variation of Alexandrea is okay with me. I am from Columbus, OH; I've been here all my life. I went to Independence High School, where we only had 187 in our graduating class. I was Valedictorian of my class, and I graduated a year early; yes, I'm only 17 years old. I didn't plan on graduating early, but I didn't want to spend a year in high school doing nothing. I am glad I did end up graduating early, though, because high school was not for me!

I didn't plan on coming to OSU; I really wanted to go to NYU, but my mom couldn't let go of me. Now that I am here, I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in Criminology. I want to be a Forensic Psychologist, like B.D. Wong on Law and Order:SVU. I think I will enjoy working with criminals and detectives. I don't want to live in Columbus, once I start getting job offers. I want to move far East, like New York or Maryland. I love the fast pace of life on the East Coast!

Once you get to know me, you will find that I am very energetic. I love to dance, it's my life! I don't think I would have a purpose in life, if I couldn't dance! I am very into fashion. I don't dress the same as anyone I know, which is good because I can be different. I love to be different, I feel I have an impact on how people perceive others, due to their appearance. I try to be nice to people, but the world takes kindness for weakness. I am really fun-loving and friendly; other than that, I am just me.

hello!

Hi, my name is Lauren Fisher. I’m from a tiny town called Sabina(the whole town only has two traffic lights). OSU is a big change for me because I grew up on a farm, and have never had to navigate my way around a city setting before. I’m an art major and want to become an art therapist(for anyone who doesn‘t know an art therapist is someone who uses the creative process to accompany counseling and psychotherapy). I love to read, but don’t ask me to name my favorite book because it is constantly changing. Also, I love watching movies( Garden State in particular!). I also enjoy playing the piano, and theater (watching it and being involved in it).

Kayla Pickana

Hey guys! I'm Kayla Pickana. I'm 19 from St. Clairsville, Ohio. It's about 2 hours away, near Wheeling, WV. It's just a small town where there isn't much to do. Pretty boring!! I have a brother and sister who are both a lot older than me. I basically just have an average family. My dad works in a steal mill and mom is a nurse. Nothing exciting!
I played sports all my life. I've played almost anything. (I even wrestled for 6 years) It's pretty funny because guys who went on to win state and wrestle in college lost to me when we were younger. haha! In high school I only played basketball and softball. I really focused on basketball. I visited so many schools and I always planned on playing in college. They were all D2 and D3 schools though, and after living in a small town all of my life, I just really wanted to go to a big school. I ended up getting in a really bad car accident right before my senior year of basketball started. It was the most depressing point of my life because I had to sit half of the season. I was actually pretty thankful in the end because I was lucky nothing really bad happened to me. After that, I decided I was definately done playing sports. Deep down I always wanted to go to OSU anyways. I felt like I've always missed out on so much and I'd have so many opportunities here so I have no regrets!
I'm majoring in Communications and I'm planning on going into Broadcast Journalism. I'm planning on moving to California or somewhere else hot. I guess I have to see where the best job opportunities are first. I'm so excited to be here and start a new chapter in my life. If you want to know anything else at all, don't be afraid to ask! I'm really outgoing and love meeting new people!

Hey guys! My name is Katy and I'm from Springboro, Ohio. I'm one of those kids whose parents grew up down the street from one another and basically everyone in your family graduated form the same high school/live within a 10 mile radius. But I'm cool with it because family is really important to me. We're all pretty close so I miss them a lot. Right now my major is Middle Childhood Education, but I'm considering changing it to something artsy like Architecture or Design or someting. I'm also extremely indecisive. I'm a pretty fun person but a little quirky. I'm addicted to magazines, getting my hair cut, football(Go Bucks And Bengals!), music(basically everything especially country but not stuff you slit your wrists to), and lots of other stuff. I hate germs, bananas, scary movies, the dark, the browns, and all things blue and maize. I pretty much am computer illiterate so that's why I didn't put a picture on here, but you'll all see me in class. I'm friendly and will talk to anyone, which sometimes gets me in trouble, especially with street vendors and the homeless. I look forward to this year and am excited to make some awesome friends and have tons of fun!