Why I Deserve an A

I took Opinion Writing this semester to improve my ability to formulate sensible opinions and write sound arguments supporting them. I also wanted to challenge myself to write about subjects that I am less knowledgeable of. This class provided those opportunities several times a week and I am pleased to say that I rose to the challenge!

Having to do a presentation each week on subjects such as economics, politics, European history and philosophy required a lot of research on my part in order to give an ‘A’ presentation. These are not topics that I am readily familiar with, but I put forth the required time and energy each to week to ensure my presentations were engaging and informative. I tried to think ‘outside of the box’ when I could to include humor and different perspectives to these subjects every week.

Of course a large part of our grade is based on our weekly blog entries, which I also approached with a combination of vigor and seriousness. For each topic, I worked hard to formulate my opinions into sensible, easy to read blog entries. I tried to interject my personality into my writing as well, so the reader could get a good sense of who I am after reading my blog.

Finally, I made time to read the blog entries of my classmates on different occasions to learn who they are and how they feel about the different topics we wrote about or discussed in class. I left comments to let them know how I felt about what they wrote, just as others had done for me. Getting an ‘A’ in any subject is hard work, but I believe nothing is gained without great effort. I once heard that anything worth doing is worth doing well. That is the approach I try to take in every endeavor.

Ethical Question

Is breaking the law ever an ethical solution to a problem?

Absolutely! Law in and of itself is a fluid entity and it's constantly evolving. This country was founded on principles that differed from the laws in place during the American Revolution... and without revolution, some things in this world would never change.



The story of the Sea Shepherd is an amazing example of how action, some legal, some not, can often force change. This situation is somewhat complicated by the differences in laws between separate nations that share the same oceans. In addition, maritime law may not be the same as the laws in this country; or more importantly, they may conflict with deeper held beliefs, such as the ideals of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Many may not agree with the tactics of the Sea Shepherd. Some say the law is the law and should never be broken. But the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is not a violent organization hell-bent on breaking laws. Their goal is not too hurt or harm anyone-- in fact, they are trying to preserve life-- and end the senseless killing of marine animals that is often a result of illegal fishing practices.

I applaud the efforts of the Sea Shepherd and any other group or individual who takes a stand for what they believe in. It is one thing to have strong convictions that differ from written law...it is another, to take action. There are acts committed every day that are unethical, but not illegal. To those people, I say shame on you. To the crew of the Sea Shepherd, I say thank you...

Free Topic

Rough Year for My Favorite Sports Teams

 

This has been a rough 12 months or so for my favorite sports teams. As much as I love them... and because I love them so much, it's been even more heartbreaking.

Here is a breakdown of my favorite teams in each of the sports that I follow:

Washington Redskins
Record: 4-12
Finish: Last in Division

Maryland Terrapins (Football)
Record: 2-10
Finish: Last in Division

Georgia Southern (Football)
Record: 5-6
Finish: Tied for 4th Place

Maryland Terrapins (Basketball)
Record: 24-9
Finish: Tied for 1st in Conference, lost 1st Rd ACC Tournament

Georgia Southern (Basketball)
Record: 9-23
Finish: Last in Division

Baltimore Orioles
Record: 4-18 (as of 4-30)
Place in AL East: Last

Atlanta Braves
Record: 8-14 (as of 4-30)
Place in NL East: Last

As you can see, other than Maryland basketball (which greatly underachieved) and Georgia Southern Football (had a losing record), all of my favorite teams either finished in last place or are currently in last place. Although the Terps basketball team finished in a tie for first place with Duke, they lost in the first round of the ACC Tournament and in the second round of the NCAA tournament. For a team with as much talent as they had, that was extremely disappointing.

Even so, other than GSU football (5-6 record) they are the only team that didn't finish in last place this season. I don't know how much more of this I can take! The Orioles have the worst record in Major League Baseball and the Braves are in the midst of a nine game losing streak.

So I don't see things getting any better for me this summer. Still, they are my teams and I'll love them until the end. Losing streaks have to end sometime and with 162 games in a baseball season, there's plenty of time to turn things around. Or so I keep telling myself....

Kahlil Gibran "The Prophet"

During my own personal "enlightenment years," when I was reading everything from Aldous Huxley to Friedrich Nietzsche, my mother gave me a copy of Kahlil Gibran's masterpiece "The Prophet."

In this work, Gibran shares his thoughts on everything from love and marriage, to friendship and giving. Written in prose style, Gibran shares his philosophies on freedom, pain and the search for self-knowledge.

Gibran was born in Lebanon in 1883, but moved to the United States with his mother, uncle, two sisters and brother in 1895. While attending an ungraded school in Boston, Gibran drew attention from his teachers for his drawings and sketches. He was later introduced to the artist Fred Holland Day, who helped Gibran on his road to artistic fame.

His most famous work is The Prophet, a book of 26 poetic essays that was published in 1923. Here is an excerpt from this work where Gibran shares his thoughts and feelings on Giving.



After Gibran's death, his life-time friend Mary Haskell donated nearly one-hundred works of art by Gibran to the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah, GA. This is the largest public collection of Gibran's art in the country.

My favorite quotes from Kahlil Gibran:

• "All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind."
  
• "An eye for an eye, and the whole world would be blind."
  
• "Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother."
  
• "Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."
  
• "Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof."
  
• "I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires."
  
• "Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children."
  
• "March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path."
  
• "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars."
  
• "The just is close to the people's heart, but the merciful is close to the heart of God."
  
• "To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice."
  
• "Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream."

Top Ten List for Why You Should Hire Me

Instead of ranting on and on about what a great prospective employee I am, I believe a list of admirable qualities can better demonstrate why I should be hired. I mean, if a person can't even identify at least 10 reasons why they should be hired, well then who would want to hire them any way?

So here it goes.

1. I am reliable (I have 2 cars, although that may not necessarily be a good thing)
   
2. I really care about doing a good job (seriously, I do)
   
3. I have lots of real world experience (not to be confused for being old)
   
4. I am educated (I actually have 2 degrees!)
   
5. I have great references (do drinking buddies count?)
   
6. I've learned to ask questions when I'm unsure (although I still hate to ask for directions)
   
7. I'm a real go-getter (I'm good at going to get things)
   
8. I'm a really swell guy
   
9. I'm good at taking criticism (I've been married for almost 10 years!)
   
10. I've got no place else to go

Batman...the Coolest Super Hero Ever

"Same Bat-Time, Same Bat-Channel!"

Unlike most of my fellow students, I had the opportunity to view the original Batman series (in syndication, I'm not that old!) every day on television as a young kid growing up. It was without a doubt, the coolest show on TV and Batman is without a doubt, the coolest Super Hero ever created, before or since.

"To the Batpoles!"

Not only did Bruce Wayne (Batman's alter-ego) live in a luxurious home (Wayne Manor), but he had the coolest basement (the bat cave!), the coolest gadgets (answer the batphone!), where he kept the baddest ride ever built (the Bat Mobile). And he got to spend every day fighting crime with his best buddy, Robin, The Boy Wonder.

"Holy Moly, Batman!"

Batman was also well connected. The Police Commissioner and the Chief of Police knew that in a time of crisis, there was only one person capable of defeating evil villains such as The Penguin, The Joker, The Riddler and the temptress, Catwoman.

"The Riddler, He's Struck Again!"

Although he could fly and do other bat-like things, Batman didn't have your traditional super-powers. Instead, he used his cunning intellect to process clues left by his enemies or solve a riddle before it was too late. Then, through hand-to-hand combat, he and the Boy Wonder would whoop some ass to save the day.

And for that, Gotham City will remain safe forever.

Goldman Sachs Faces Fraud Charges

Courtesy of ABC News, abcnews.com and The Washington Post:

On Friday, the SEC brought charges of Fraud against Wall Street Power Investment Banking Company Goldman Sachs.



Who is Goldman Sachs?

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a global investment banking and securities firm which engages in investment banking, securities services, investment management and other financial services primarily with institutional clients, which includes corporations and high net worth individuals around the world. They are a heavy hitter on Wall Street! Two former employees, Robert Rubin and Henry Paulson went on to serve as the United States Secretary of the Treasury after leaving the firm.

Goldman Sachs has been involved in several controversies in recent years, but last Friday, the high profile investment banking company was charged with Fraud by the Securities Exchange Commission.

The SEC is charging that Goldman Sachs misrepresented investors, more specifically that a third party, Paulson & Company (who was supposed to be looking out for investors), deliberately inserted mortgages into an investment package that it knew were very likely to default so that it could make money . Subsequently, purchasers of the security lost approximately one billion dollars while Paulson & Company profited one billion dollars (it is being reported that Goldman Sachs was paid a fee of $15 million in the deal).