Book War By: Wang Ping

This article states how the author grew up in China where the government dictates the lives of those who live in China. They are conroled on how to feel,think,act,and beliefs. Education is a privelage for mostly boys in China, while women stay home and cater. Wang tries to defeat the purpose of being uneducated having a passion for books. Wang and her next door neighbor start a chain of underground book swaps for them and many others. Wang then discovers her mothers treasure box of books, taking them wherever she pleased. Wangs mom then caught on to her daughters ways and demanded her Wang to dismember all the pages in every book she owned. Wang tried constantly to hide them but her mom caught her left and right. Wang then had no more books left and she felt in despair and crushed. She then sat in the chicken coop and began to memorize everything she read. She later on in life shared these interesting stories family,friends,and love ones. Her war to be a bookworm was not defeated, but she shared the fairy tales and stories, so she had the victory all along.

I am not much of a bookworm.I only read when it's neccessary. Reading is not a hobby of mine except the bible or when i'm in school,but other than that it's not my cup of tea. Honestly i've read maybe about fourty books my whole life. Out of those fourty books about ten fasicnated me, the other thirty were for shcool purposes. Although i do enjou reading magazines like hip hop and sports. If you give me something with twenty chapters i might take a rain check on it. All in all i rather get a visual then read something on paper.

It's very sad when people are living under a dictation. How can another human being tell how to act think and feel? Who do they think they are? They are human just like anybody they try to control, but who's to say if the tables turned on them and they had to live under a certain governemt, would they be willing to comply? I don't think so. The rulers and politicans do this because they like the feeling of being in control. When you authority over someone or something it gives you a sense of confidence. They see themselves superior to those they dictate, forgetting the fact that they are human beings also. One thing we were all born with is free will. We can ration what we want to be or what we want to do. Our rationale is in our control, but fear conquers the minds of many. The people in those thrid world countries are in fear of their lives. They feel if they don't comply then they will endager their lives and the lives of many.

We all have freedom, we only holds barriers on ourselves because of laws and regualtions. At the end of the day the choice is yours, what will you decide?

Driving While Stupid By: Dave Barry

Dave is a Miamian who has seen a sure amount of stupidity behind the wheel. He has traveled in other major cities where motorist drive like there's use of signs and billboards. He believes none compare to Miami where he says the worst drivers come from. He said something so funny like if there's a dead body in your trunk then police will let you off with a warning if it's your first time. a recent report he received a man on i- 95 shaving his head while driving. He had his mirror towards his face and just enough to see the road. Folks do all kinds of things eating,drinking,texting,etc. Dave believes he is by far one of the worlds most smartest motorist.

This is nothing new. In Providence it is the same thing. People do not pay attention to the stop lights. They will run a red light and find themselves in a collision from the other four lanes of the intersection.Having surrvelliance cameras do not do any good, because people still abuse their rights of  driving on the wrong light.Most people i notice will cut on the opposite lane if they see it's clear to cut in front a slower driver. How foolish will it be to explain to the judge that you caused  a head on collision because you drove in the opposite lane to out speed the motorist in front of you? Lot's of teenagers like to drive, but are not mentally aware of whats going on around them. They just look straight ahead not paying attention when shifting lanes or turining corners. Providence has had many accidents and deaths because of the unawareness of a minor behind the wheel. Not mention we get alot of intoxicated drivers. Rhode Islanders love to drink and drive and find themselves dead on I-95 because of the alcohol interfering with their driving ability.

I've seen plenty of foolish accidents because of  foolish things people do driving. I don't plan on being another statistic of a bad stupid driving situation. I rather take public transportation than drive, it is more conveinent than driving when i'm not all there in the mind some days. Be smart about your decisions behind the wheel and no harm will be done.

Cell Yell: Thanks for (Not) Sharing By: Eric A.Taub

Many people would agree about the behavoir of cell phones users in public. The writer in this article observes the repetition of behaviors when people answer their cell phones. Eric stated that most people answer their phones publicly because they want to see the eavsdroppers who invade on their phone call. Some people love when others hear their personal bussiness, it gives them something to talk about amongst themselves. He also went on to say that that most people have something called telecredibility. Those who have telecredibility are known to be very important  and it gives them a self confidence  when someone is constantly calling them every second. When people noticed someone who has telecredibility they are convinced that, that person is somewhat important.

Carol Page a Boston public relations consultant is the founder of a website called cellmanners.com. This site has recruited three cell spies in three cities in America to report on bad celluar behavior. They get all this good info and place it on their website from answering phones in publice squares and restauruants, to driving while texting. The webstite displays all the do's and dont's on cellular behavoir. This webstie used to benefit the behavior of cellular users across the nation to make a more healther cellular usuage environment.

The website is good, but i don't think it will prevent somebody from having a conversation in public. A cell phone has become an addiction that is hard to break free of. People are distracted left and right taking away massive time that could of been well spent on something else rather than answering their phones. I was on a job interview and the Supervisor stopped the interview and had a conversation with his girlfriend on what movie they were going to see that night. My mom likes to multitask,doing a million things at once talking on the phone,cooking,etc.Unfortunately the brain only focuses on one thing at a time. People are too distracted and the cellmanner methods won't have any affect.


 All this technology is taking away the life of people. Not too many kids go outside and play because of a video game or Facebook, or any website the internet has to offer. Kid's do not know what reality is anymore,instead it's seen on tv,or whatever the social networking tells them what it is. Society is falling apart by the second all due to what we view on a screen. Television promotes more violence and sex and that's what is polluting the minds of the youth. Crime rates and pregnancy are a trend setter oppose to comic book hero's and the disney channel. The children's stations are even becoming too racy and explicit for children to view. It's a complete disaster now and what will be the ending result of our new fashion of  life with tehchnology?

Two Ways to Belong in America By: Bharati Mukherjee

     Bharati Mujherjee is a writer from India currently living in America, along with her sister Mira, who came to America two years earlier than Bharati in hope to find high quailty education and jobs. Mira married a man from India who got his bussiness administration degree at Wayne University. They both required a green card. Her sister on the other hand married a man who was Canadian, but born in North Dakota and she could not recieve her green card, reason being because her husband was not born in America. Bharati and other immigrants had their polite arguments about their citizenship in America and how it should be transformed. Mira is not the type to argue,but she is just here to maintain identity and not transform it. The sisters both came to an agreement about America depriving immigrants of citizenship because one has to be born a citizen, or already be a citizens in order to recieve a green card. When the sisters shared view points about this issue Mira sahid the she will work here in America, but when she retires she is returning to India. Bharati insist that she will stay and fight for the Bill of Congress to change the law for immigrants to recieve citizenship even if they're two married couples who are not born in this country.

Over the centuries America has had its share of  discrimination acts and unfair practices.For instance, women not being able to vote is one. These women stood outside with pickit signs shouting and causing havoc until they went to jail with no food or water in a dark cell. They did not give up then they still pushed and fought and they eventually passed the law for women to vote. What I'm saying is that if immigrants fight for it then it will be passed. It's all a matter of how far are you gonna go to have it passed. Gay people are still fighting for the rights of  same sex marrige in all the states and have been for several years.They have not givin up yet, they believe that it will come to pass. Homosexuals face discrimation every day, but their fighting for the approval to be who they want to be and be accepted for it. So as in the case of the immigrants they will take persectiton, but if they endure they will have it passed.

Michael Jordan made a qoute that said, " I failed over and over again and that's why I am successful." That to me was quite encouraging. People need encouragment when they are going through a trial or tribulation. Words of encouragment will ispire someone to keep pressing forward. Without any support there is no vicitory. It's like going into battle naked, just you and no armour to protect you from harm and danger. A supprot system is needed. If we have a support system then it brings strentgh.When your encouraged by someone or something then your mind is strong. So we all need help along the way because a battle will be good fought with the help of others.

When Greed Gives Way to Giving By: Ana Venciana-Suarez

This short article talks about a man named Bob Thompson who who sold his road-building company for $422 million.Instead of Bob being a gluttonist, he did something not too many people would even consider doing. Bob paid off every body on the payroll with the millions that he received from selling the company. He divided $128 million dollars among 550 workers.Who do you know would just give like that out generosity? Ana went on to say that few us would not even give 10 percent. She then went on and said "The tendency is not to share more but to buy more, to hoard more." What Thompson did was priceless.
When i go to church and it is time to deposit the thithes and offering in the plate the Bishop says give not grudgindly, nor of necessity, but be a cheerful giver. I am not sure if Bob Thompson belives in god, but he has mastered the part of being a cheerful giver.

Not too many people in this world give any thing in general. Some people squezee a dollar so hard George Washington turns over in his grave.It's mostly American society that is this way. Gluttony  has mastered the minds of  Americans  since it was discovered. We have became a country of greed and self-centeredness. The reason beign is the way we address our  Liberty and freedom to be whatever or whoever you want in the U.S. We promote ourselves as arrogant and prosperous because of the freedom to create jobs, be self employeed, earn a education to get a good job,etc. It is appealing to the minds of people from many nations all over the world who want that same independence. So they sell their souls for a dollar that really doesn't bring them any happiness, but creates more conflict in their lives. Purchasing a whole bucnh of material things that have little or no value to it after we buy it. Every time there is an advertisement on television for a new iphone we rush and buy it, but ignore the man who is in dyer need of food and shelter. So we look down at him and tell him to get a job. Did you ever stop and think that, that could be you in the future?
All those advertisements on television are just to get you to buy the product and keep you in debt so that you can work it off for the rest of your lives.

Greed made it's mark on America and look the recession comes. Now people can't even get a loan to buy a house because the banks don't trust you with their money. Greed has now improsioned us all and we still buy to satisfy ourselves. What will be the ending result of this?

Giving is a way out of debt. People who freely give find themselves sleeping better at night. Lending a helping hand could change the way think and feel.Meeting the needs of others could benefit a lot of people and then it will come back to benefit you unexpectedly.

A Risk Free Life BY: Leonard Pitts

 Leonard Pitts is explaining how people can be control freaks.We would love to have everything our way if we could. We continually try to control every asppect of our lives no matter the cost or the risk. Our compulsive behavior is the reason for life the way it is today. We want every thing perfect. But he said stuff still happens thats life. Having everything to our satisfication is not promised to us when we enter this world.

To my knowledge no one is promised a perfect life. Each and everyday we get situations that seem surprising to our agenda. We can't always have it our way. Anyone who thinks that has not fully experienced life. People try everything in their will to control their lives how they want them to be but are never successful in doing so. These are the type of people who in the end find it difficult to live a happy life because they can't have authority over everything.

If i could control my life the i intended it to be then i would not be at CCRI right now. If  anyone had complete control over their lives then their would be no order. Everyone would be out of control. When we try to take self control then our lives become out of control. Because we have no one telling us what is right from wrong. So therefore your not really learning anything about reality except what you find pleasure in. That's the issue with us today we don't want anybody invading on our lives. We are selfish,arrogant,and too proud to say tha we are wrong. I'll admit even i can get like this. Without any discipline or correction we fail to acknowledge who we are and what life is really about.

Good Grammer Gets The Girl BY: Elissa Englund

     Elissa a Michigan State University Alumni had joined an online dating service  searching for her significant other. One invivdual she had an encounter over the internet  with was not so successful in his attempt to charm. His screen name was Craig and he had a very poor choice of vocabulary. He had multiple spelling errors and inncorrect usage of grammer in his sentences. Elissa was not turned on by his words so she had deny Craig. Craig on the other hand might of  been  indenial, but a man's words go a long way with a women. So to help a guy out Elissa gave out her vovcab strategy to help all those lame game fellas for a success with the ladies. She said to go over every you have written before submitting the messages. Then go back and correct the errors like mispelled words,puncuation marks,etc.This is very imperative  because one small mistake can lead to a denial. This strategy she believes will help keep the juices flowing for the guys.what Elissa is saying is that  looks don't mean anything without any word play.

As for me i have no problems in this area. In my dialect i speak very eloquently, but just enough to let her know i have a high vovcab. I can be poetic and political at the same time. It's even better when you have a sense of  humor and i happen to be very humurous. It can be boring when a guy is too serious, but what i also notice that women don't like guys who are too humurous. There are times when i got alittle discouraged in a conversation with a female because all i kept thinking about is the facial expressions she was making when we were talking. Some females can be challenging like that, but i managed fairly well through the time we had. That was when i was in my early teens. Now i am more confident, but not arrogant and do a lot better than most guys in their 30's and 40's.

Listen. Take my advice.It is better to be yorself than try to do what your friend does when approachin a female. What worked for your friend might not work for you. That's the problem with guys today they all use the same lines or get pick up lines from a book or off  the internet. How pathetic is that! They  have reality shows on T.V. where guys pay antother guy to help them with pick up lines while their on the date. What that tells me is that you did not really earn the girl , but the guy you took advice from did. Use your own knowledge. If it's not meant for you to have that female then they're plenty more in the universe to go around. The bucket doesn't stop there. Someone will be turned on by you. If she can't except you for who you are then it ain't ment to be. So many guys put themeselves through changes for someone who doesn't care about them. It ain't worth it. Just be you, but be confident about being you. Don't let one bad date stop you because if one door closes surely another one will open.

Only Daughter

The insight i got from this article was that Maria was the only daughter in a home of six boys born to a Mexican family in Chiago. Being the only girl her brothers were reluctnat to play with her they thought it would bring down their masculant reputation if they hung out with their little sister. She wanted to win the attention of all the males in her house mostly importnatly her fathers. Her father had an impact on her life as a kid. Maria  knew her physically aspects could not gain the attention of her dad so she saught out another way to please him. She went to College graduated  and had a major in English. Their she found a passion for writing and decided to become a journalist. Marias dad always told his children to use their brains and not their hands. So Maria did what he commanded from her as a women. She was to go to College and find a husband. Although she did not find a husband she found love in a paper in pencil. All Maria wanted to do was please her father so one day at a family gathering she wrote something about her dad. After all the years of not finding something to satisfiy her father with she finally did so with a writing untencil and paper. Her father could  not stop laughing.

Sometimes satisfy the ones who mean the most to you could take a lifetime sacrifice of  spending your time and talents to please them. It hurts when you feel like the ones you love neglect you because of your gender or physical aspects, or mental aspects, or whatever the case may be. We even get shattered like glass in our win their favor. Does that necessarily mean they don't love us? No. Of course not. However even though they might not show gratitude towards you trying to please them inside they are pleased.

You can win my apporval if you are a good cook. That's how people win my approval. Also if yor have a sense of humor to go with it then your in good hands with me.

Doing what makes you happy is easy, but try doing it for someone else you'll find much complication through the attempts,but he who endures through them all will see results.

A Brother's Murder by: Brent Staples

Brent Staples a journalist and college grad from Chiacago talks about  his past and how the fear he had for his brothers life led into a tragic loss. In the begging he explains about the death of his brother a dipsute between his brother Blake the age or twenty-two and a close friend of Blake's how a conflict over a female emerged from a share of unfreindly commets,gestrues,violence then the ultiamte death. His brother was the age of twenty- two when he lost his due to fatal gun shots wounds he was unable to recover from. The Staple brothers grew up in a Pre dominatley African American city(Chester,Pennsylvania) full or povery and violence. He explains the tragic losses of close friends due to perversity and corrpution of drugs,gangs,and all sorts or malicious activity overwhelming the low income neighborhoods. He later in life fled his home town and became a college graduate to defeat being a  street satistic back home. On a voyage two Roanoke,Virginia where his brother Blake lived he felt fearful of the lifestyle his brother choose. So instead of criticizing his baby cibling he encouraged him to leave where he resides and go on a journey with his older brother. Unfortuantley the plan was not so succesful.Brent got a call the next day and was not a pleasent one.


This story I can relate to because i grew up in an environement of poverty,drugs,and violence. The toughest decision to make was staying away from it all. It was very easy to fall victim to this lifestyle and so many teens and young adults fall victim to it everyday. I will be honest I  had my encounters with fights,drugs and malicious acts. For a while i saw it as a form of respect being the person i was. What i did not realize was that I was my own worst enemy. The choice was mine either stay in this way of life or be strong and come from among it. God gave me strength to say no to it all and that is why I'm here today.


 It is very hard for most people to leave it alone beacause they are blinded by what they are surronded by. What most people don't realize is that you can become deeply involved in a criminal lifestyle and not frind your way out of it.Those who live the life of a crimial do not perceive  themselves as a failure.Their perception of themselves is that they are in control of who they are and can't no body tell them different.A sense of pride is what it's called.They're living a lie. They want to be accepted by those the neigborhood fears ethier that or they fear if they don't unite with the bad people then they will become victimized themselves. Remaining in it is easy but leaving it alone can cause enimies. I say this because when people see you doing good then they envy that because they are not doing it so they want to lure you in their way of life and thinking.


Situations such as these happen all the time in everyday life.You always got two kids who live in the same household but grow up to have two completely different lifestyles. Some people would not understand why two children who have the same upbringing go in two opposite directions? Where did the legal guardian go wrong with the one child who is rebellious and unmanigable. I say this if they are both human then they have two differnt ways of  thinking and personalities. Its the individuals way of  percepiton of how they see life. Me i might see life one way but my brother will see it antoher way. We just are two differnt people. We have chioces. We were given choices on how we want to live our lives.

Dear Dads: Save Your Sons BY: Christopher N. Bacorn

Dear Dads is a great article that explains how today's youth (mostly males) are growing up without any kind of a male figures in their lives. A man who was counciling a troubled teen who was involved in gang activity and alcohol usage could easily discern the mother of teen and the hardship and suffering she is enduring due to her sons malicious demeanor. As he the mother was speaking to the counselor, the counselors shrewdness led him to think that the boy had no male authority in his life. The mother said she had no males figures around for her son to look up to. After the counselor had finished the session he felt much remorse and sympathy for the single parent mother and hostile towards the fact that the reason for troubled youth is a fatherless nation. He began to explain that American dads have a great effect on the child by not being in their lives. Then he began to say how the mom's are playing both roles as mom and dad. Women are trying to hold up both ends of the bargain while the males are every where to be found expect in the presence of their childern. He later explained the real men of America. These men are the support system at home, in shcools,at the soccer games, in youth programs,etc. These mens children are more likely to have a promising future than one who is fatherless.After he finally concluded if the all men were to stand up and take responsiblility instead of being sperm donors then a nation full of troubled and hostiled youth would not be occuring. What this man is saying is relatively  true  to me. I grew up as a fatherless child. It is unfortunate not to have a male athourity to admire. My mom tried to take on both roles as being the female and the male. Supporting me and  my four brothers the best way she knew how. She did a great job, but the role of a masculant being she lacked. My mom could not show us what a man could show us. I do not know how fix a tire, a car, I am not handy at alll. No knowledge of how to read a football play but i box. These are things my dad is suppose to teach me. So trying to learn these things on my own is challenging. I can not stand it when my mom or any wonen when they tell me to learn how to be a man. If only the male figures were there then it would not be a task. In order for me not to fall in the hands of being a troubled youth which i was for a moment i had to find favor in something other than streets and so cal friends who were just like me a fatherless teen. So i came to a buliding located in the heart of Central Falls not too far from where i lived. It was a small church. The first day i walked i felt welcomed and felt the presence of  love in the atmoshpere. I fell in love with the man they call Jesus. Ever since then i never stopped attending this church. It has kept my mind on a straight and narrow path. Without the love of god in my life i think i would not be here writhing this to you. Some people find favor in other things but i found mine in the lord, the only man who cares. Some people think it's lame or unusual for a young guy to be serving god but it's the best deicison i've ever made. People don't understand that it is a cycle. If a teen grows up deprived of their parents then they too will make children and abandon them for whatever reason and the cycle just keeps on flowing. When i see kids today they are some of the most spoiled and self-centered children i've ever seen. Some youth do have both parents in their lives but they're not enforcing enough discipline. So therefore you are creatiang monsters. Kid's today are being rewarded just for being attractive. I've carefully examined some parents who have one attractive child and one not so attractive. The two are treated totally different. The one who is not so attractive will have work for what they want and the beauty of the bunch is crowned with whatever he or she desires. Unfortunately the beauty will turn into the beast  you was not expecting but the other child the one who had no crown on their head will be your joy. I did not mean  to go off topic but what i'm sayingis that parenting is all wrong today. I am assuming that these parent's have to be youth themselves or they just don't care about their children. Youth today need a saviour and need it now.

hungry

Right at this moment there is  an 10.0 earthquake rumbling my stomach as i speak. Eating is one of my favortie hobbies because in order to live you must eat.althogh there are people in the world who die of severe starvation everyday beacuse the scoure of  food is scarce due to lack of money or whatever the case may be people die from hunger each day. Right here in the wealthiest country on the planet people of starved because they don't edible substances to give them strenght throughout the day. If this is the wealthiest country on the planet then why are there hungry people? someone needs to answer that question. A great way to please somebody is not expensive gifts and items. Those things will only give us so much satisfaction but an nice hot meal would melt the most coldest persons heart. Us here in America have the options of different resturaunts and grocrie stores to eat or shop at. We can eat whenever we desire, and not too mention the biggest part WE CAN WASIT FOOD! There are people in India ,and Africa who don't have the luxries of eating at a nice five star restaurant not even BurgerKing or Mc Donald's. If a person in who lives in Beverly Hills who has parents that are famous sergents say they are famished they are just joking. They would not know the meaning of famished if it hit them on the head. People who live in third world countries would know what a famine is. So if you have the privelage of a hot meal to consume everyday do not take for granted. Just think of who shoe's you could be filling tommorrow and who will be in yours. So grately appreciate what you have. If you don't know what it's like to be hungry then just ask the guy pushing a grocery cart full of trash down the street. While your at it but a meal he'll tell you all about it.