Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Should marijuana laws be relaxed?
In current times, marijuana law debates remain open. Many people today, especially young people, like to live in freedom and do whatever they want. For entertainment, they like using marijuana in the form of joints, or mixed in brownies, to experience a psychological reaction causing sedative and analgetic effects, known as a “High”. However, marijuana is a drug, and using it is illegal in the USA. This drug is bad for you, and has many negative effects on the body and brain, because it can cause such things as loss of memory, schizophrenia, paranoia, anxiety and breathing problems, and other such serious illnesses. On the other hand, marijuana has many therapeutic uses also, and has successfully been used for easing symptoms for patients with glaucoma, AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and patients with other chronic diseases or terminal conditions. Although each side presented good points on the Pros/Cons of their arguments for and against relaxing marijuana laws, I personally agree with the Con portion written by Robert L, Dupont, M.D. President of the Institute for Behavioral Health. As a doctor, I see his medical views very well. I know the medical complications that marijuana causes, not only to the physical body, but also the environment of the users, such as the negative effects it has on the families, or even worse on fetus of pregnant women, who are either users, or their partners are users, impacts the growth and development of the fetus. Also some babies may be born with dependency on marijuana, and have future learning disabilities which will impact them for the rest of their lives. It’s a personal choice for each individual, if they believe the consequences are worth it.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Armenian Family
Making a family is the most important thing in most cultures. Families can be big or small, young or old. Around the world the families can eat, dress and work differently, but all are united to take responsibility to care for their kin. Armenian families are not an exception. An average traditional Armenian house is composed of, a man and a woman. The man assumes leadership and major responsibilities, and is known to be the sole decision maker. The woman’s responsibility is assumed as the cook, housekeeper, dutiful wife, and mother who raise the children. These responsibilities are reserved for females, even though they may work outside the home.
The kitchen is the "territory" of the Armenian women and one dares cross the boundary, and especially not during cooking. When the man comes home from work, the dinner must be at the table. The Armenian man is an excellent food critic, so he thinks. They are very critical, as the food never measures up to that of their mothers, but in their eyes, they are offering constructive criticism. One thing that saves the Armenian woman from food preparation errors is that the recipes are "full proof", as they have been handed down generations after generations, from grandmothers and great, great grandmothers and on.
One of the delights in a day of the Armenian woman is Armenian coffee, otherwise known as Turkish coffee. It is a daily ritual for them; they may drink it several times a day. After drinking, it is traditional to put the plate on top of the cup; they agitate the cup a couple of times and make a wish, then turn the cup upside down onto the plate. This ritual has been taught to the family members from grandparents, who would then read the coffee grinds, which they believed told their fortunes. Younger Armenian girls look forward to this portion of the coffee drinking, as they are very interested to know when their Prince Charming will show up. The older women on the other hand, are very interested to know when the money will show up. These moments always leave room for lots of humor.
In Armenian families, it is a standard to have children. Average 2 or 3 children are in the home. Children are the center of attention, and are traditionally raised by their mothers, but grandmothers and aunts also help raise the children. When the first child is born, it is often named after either the maternal or paternal grandparents.
Armenian families are known to be very strongly united. The word "divorce" is not one that is appreciated or respected, as the mentality is to be married for life. I remember when I was married; my father said to me,” In our family we don’t know the word "divorce", if you choose your husband once, it is forever". It was a good advice from my father to me.
In our culture we have a big respect for man’s elderly parents’ .However they live together with parents and take care of them and their health.
Also Armenians like invited guests for an evening dinner, or call to invite themselves for coffee to spend together time.
For me family is big support, because you can to rely in a difficult situation, and you know they can help in a different time.
The kitchen is the "territory" of the Armenian women and one dares cross the boundary, and especially not during cooking. When the man comes home from work, the dinner must be at the table. The Armenian man is an excellent food critic, so he thinks. They are very critical, as the food never measures up to that of their mothers, but in their eyes, they are offering constructive criticism. One thing that saves the Armenian woman from food preparation errors is that the recipes are "full proof", as they have been handed down generations after generations, from grandmothers and great, great grandmothers and on.
One of the delights in a day of the Armenian woman is Armenian coffee, otherwise known as Turkish coffee. It is a daily ritual for them; they may drink it several times a day. After drinking, it is traditional to put the plate on top of the cup; they agitate the cup a couple of times and make a wish, then turn the cup upside down onto the plate. This ritual has been taught to the family members from grandparents, who would then read the coffee grinds, which they believed told their fortunes. Younger Armenian girls look forward to this portion of the coffee drinking, as they are very interested to know when their Prince Charming will show up. The older women on the other hand, are very interested to know when the money will show up. These moments always leave room for lots of humor.
In Armenian families, it is a standard to have children. Average 2 or 3 children are in the home. Children are the center of attention, and are traditionally raised by their mothers, but grandmothers and aunts also help raise the children. When the first child is born, it is often named after either the maternal or paternal grandparents.
Armenian families are known to be very strongly united. The word "divorce" is not one that is appreciated or respected, as the mentality is to be married for life. I remember when I was married; my father said to me,” In our family we don’t know the word "divorce", if you choose your husband once, it is forever". It was a good advice from my father to me.
In our culture we have a big respect for man’s elderly parents’ .However they live together with parents and take care of them and their health.
Also Armenians like invited guests for an evening dinner, or call to invite themselves for coffee to spend together time.
For me family is big support, because you can to rely in a difficult situation, and you know they can help in a different time.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
When I Was Lost In Moscow
Every summer my family spent our vacation in Moscow, Russia. Moscow was a huge city, and also famous for being the capital of the former USSR, now Russia. It was a business city, and had a lot of historical places you could see. Moscow was famous for the Red Square, the Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum, and the metro station.
Red Square was the most visited place by tourists. The Red Square was made from red bricks, and the name translated to “beautiful” in old Russian. It was the center of the Soviet government, and the main entrance to the Kremlin. Another interesting place that attracted tourists was Lenin Mausoleum. Lenin was mummified in 1924. If you wanted to see him, you would need to stand in the long line, but luckily, it moved swiftly.
I was ten years old. .I was shy person and close to my parents. It was my first time visiting Moscow. My family and I liked spending our time in historical places to learn about the history. We went to see the State Tretyakov Gallery, the morning that the event happened. It was a beautiful morning, and everything was going well. I was amazed by Tretyakov Gallery. The Tretyakov Gallery was famous for its awesome art of landscapes, portraits and other painting , and also icons. It was interesting to see the artwork.
We entered into different halls, and spent six or seven hours looking at amazing art. Believe me, we could not see everything in one day, so we needed to go again. It was at lunchtime when we exited from the gallery. Our tour guide said, “We can get lunch now”. One man from our group suggested, we take the extra time to go see the Lenin’s Mausoleum and the Kremlin. If we did not go, it would have been like visiting New York, and not having seen the Statue of Liberty.
Everyone started pushing and shoving to get in line to see Lenin. You could never imagine how many people were in the Red Square at that time. You could easily get lost in the chaos. People split me from my parents, and pushed me to another side. My parents believed I was behind them. But in all this chaos, I was lost and alone. I could not find my parents. I was a little girl lost without my parents, without any money, in an unknown place. I did not know what I could do. I felt too shy at that moment, and did not ask anybody for help. The time approached evening hours. I waited hoping my parents would return to find me.
All at once, I heard whispering, “Where are they? Why are they not here?”
I turned around, and saw a tall, middle-aged man, dressed with a white shirt and jeans, walking back and forth. I shyly asked the man,
“Did you lose somebody?” He looked at me and surprised said,
“Yes, my children. They were going to see Lenin in Mausoleum, and I lost them in this chaos.” I plucked up courage, and I said to the man, “You know, I lost my family too. I am in the same situation.” One second later, I asked him, “Do you have five pennies for metro station? I want to go to my hotel.” He said, “Yes, of course.” He put five pennies in my hand. I was so happy; I could go back to my hotel. These five pennies for me were like five million dollars!
Thank God, the metro station was behind me. I ran to the metro, put five pennies in the ticket gate, sat on my train, and after forty minutes, I was at the hotel.
I walked into the hotel lobby, and waited. Half an hour passed. Through the big hotel window, I saw my parents coming into the hotel. I saw my mother crying. When she saw me, she said, “Thank God, you are found and fine!” They had reported me “lost” to the police station. That event changed me from a shy person, gave me courage, and helped me in my life to know, if you have difficult situations, you can find solutions with some courage.
Red Square was the most visited place by tourists. The Red Square was made from red bricks, and the name translated to “beautiful” in old Russian. It was the center of the Soviet government, and the main entrance to the Kremlin. Another interesting place that attracted tourists was Lenin Mausoleum. Lenin was mummified in 1924. If you wanted to see him, you would need to stand in the long line, but luckily, it moved swiftly.
I was ten years old. .I was shy person and close to my parents. It was my first time visiting Moscow. My family and I liked spending our time in historical places to learn about the history. We went to see the State Tretyakov Gallery, the morning that the event happened. It was a beautiful morning, and everything was going well. I was amazed by Tretyakov Gallery. The Tretyakov Gallery was famous for its awesome art of landscapes, portraits and other painting , and also icons. It was interesting to see the artwork.
We entered into different halls, and spent six or seven hours looking at amazing art. Believe me, we could not see everything in one day, so we needed to go again. It was at lunchtime when we exited from the gallery. Our tour guide said, “We can get lunch now”. One man from our group suggested, we take the extra time to go see the Lenin’s Mausoleum and the Kremlin. If we did not go, it would have been like visiting New York, and not having seen the Statue of Liberty.
Everyone started pushing and shoving to get in line to see Lenin. You could never imagine how many people were in the Red Square at that time. You could easily get lost in the chaos. People split me from my parents, and pushed me to another side. My parents believed I was behind them. But in all this chaos, I was lost and alone. I could not find my parents. I was a little girl lost without my parents, without any money, in an unknown place. I did not know what I could do. I felt too shy at that moment, and did not ask anybody for help. The time approached evening hours. I waited hoping my parents would return to find me.
All at once, I heard whispering, “Where are they? Why are they not here?”
I turned around, and saw a tall, middle-aged man, dressed with a white shirt and jeans, walking back and forth. I shyly asked the man,
“Did you lose somebody?” He looked at me and surprised said,
“Yes, my children. They were going to see Lenin in Mausoleum, and I lost them in this chaos.” I plucked up courage, and I said to the man, “You know, I lost my family too. I am in the same situation.” One second later, I asked him, “Do you have five pennies for metro station? I want to go to my hotel.” He said, “Yes, of course.” He put five pennies in my hand. I was so happy; I could go back to my hotel. These five pennies for me were like five million dollars!
Thank God, the metro station was behind me. I ran to the metro, put five pennies in the ticket gate, sat on my train, and after forty minutes, I was at the hotel.
I walked into the hotel lobby, and waited. Half an hour passed. Through the big hotel window, I saw my parents coming into the hotel. I saw my mother crying. When she saw me, she said, “Thank God, you are found and fine!” They had reported me “lost” to the police station. That event changed me from a shy person, gave me courage, and helped me in my life to know, if you have difficult situations, you can find solutions with some courage.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Interviewing my classmate
I was interviewing my classmate, Danielle Hernandez, who is a freshman, and full-time student at Oxnard College.
In spit of her age, as she is only 18 years old, she is a shooting guard on the girl’s basketball team. Danielle has a busy schedule, and she has a job at “Ventura Sports Zone Imaging”, where she is an “on call” worker.
She lives with her parents, older brother and sister, and their three dogs.
When I asked her who motivated her to attend college, she said, “My parents, because they did not have the possibility to get an education, and they could not graduate from a high school. My parents inspired me to come and study at Oxnard College. They wanted to see me educated. It is a big step for my family and me.”
Danielle is very close with her family and grandparents. For her, her mother is a role model in her life.
In her school schedule, she is taking English and Art Appreciation on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and basketball on Fridays.
She has only weekends when she can rest at home, spend her time with friends, going to the cinema or malls. Sometimes she and her best friends like to meet at each other’s houses to spend time together.
When I asked her, “Can you describe your self in three words”; She said with smile, “I am silly, amusing and athletic. I am goofy, and always laughing which make me amusing. I like to play basketball because I am athletic.”
Danielle is a very friendly, trusting girl, she likes to consider herself as a very understanding and self-critical person .In the future, she wants to see herself married, with family, be healthy, successful and financially stable. She said, “To be successful in the school, I have my philosophy, get what you need to be done, so you have time to do what you want.”
Danielle stated she likes to take classes in Oxnard College because the college is not crowded and they have a basketball team. She likes the fact, that, college is more independent than high school. She likes the independents of preparing her homework in college, but she did not have the same opportunity in high school.
She hopes that in the future, maybe, Oxnard College classes will be improved, so that fewer students would drop out.
In closing quote she stated, “I shall always make time to make someone laugh or smile, because laugh and smiles give me energy for others”.
I loved interviewing Danielle; She was very warm and friendly. She is a bright and energetic yang lady, and I hope she fullfills all of her dreams.
In spit of her age, as she is only 18 years old, she is a shooting guard on the girl’s basketball team. Danielle has a busy schedule, and she has a job at “Ventura Sports Zone Imaging”, where she is an “on call” worker.
She lives with her parents, older brother and sister, and their three dogs.
When I asked her who motivated her to attend college, she said, “My parents, because they did not have the possibility to get an education, and they could not graduate from a high school. My parents inspired me to come and study at Oxnard College. They wanted to see me educated. It is a big step for my family and me.”
Danielle is very close with her family and grandparents. For her, her mother is a role model in her life.
In her school schedule, she is taking English and Art Appreciation on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and basketball on Fridays.
She has only weekends when she can rest at home, spend her time with friends, going to the cinema or malls. Sometimes she and her best friends like to meet at each other’s houses to spend time together.
When I asked her, “Can you describe your self in three words”; She said with smile, “I am silly, amusing and athletic. I am goofy, and always laughing which make me amusing. I like to play basketball because I am athletic.”
Danielle is a very friendly, trusting girl, she likes to consider herself as a very understanding and self-critical person .In the future, she wants to see herself married, with family, be healthy, successful and financially stable. She said, “To be successful in the school, I have my philosophy, get what you need to be done, so you have time to do what you want.”
Danielle stated she likes to take classes in Oxnard College because the college is not crowded and they have a basketball team. She likes the fact, that, college is more independent than high school. She likes the independents of preparing her homework in college, but she did not have the same opportunity in high school.
She hopes that in the future, maybe, Oxnard College classes will be improved, so that fewer students would drop out.
In closing quote she stated, “I shall always make time to make someone laugh or smile, because laugh and smiles give me energy for others”.
I loved interviewing Danielle; She was very warm and friendly. She is a bright and energetic yang lady, and I hope she fullfills all of her dreams.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Text messages
Text messages are a part of everyday life for millions of people. People are using messaging for some reasons; however sometimes it can be a problem. For some of them, it is a way in which they can support boyfriend or girlfriend relationships.
For others, it is a possibility when they can communicate if they are not able to talk face to face.
People are using messaging because it makes their life easier, and it is a perfect method to connect with friends, or family without interrupting their work or company.
Sometimes it becomes an addiction for more people. It is a big distraction when they drive. They put themselves and people at risk at this moment.
In addition, it is a distraction for children too. They sending or reading messages during their classes, even if the teacher forbids it.
Using text messaging today is the fast and cheapest way to communicate and we can use it responsibly. In normal situations, it does not hurt us.
For others, it is a possibility when they can communicate if they are not able to talk face to face.
People are using messaging because it makes their life easier, and it is a perfect method to connect with friends, or family without interrupting their work or company.
Sometimes it becomes an addiction for more people. It is a big distraction when they drive. They put themselves and people at risk at this moment.
In addition, it is a distraction for children too. They sending or reading messages during their classes, even if the teacher forbids it.
Using text messaging today is the fast and cheapest way to communicate and we can use it responsibly. In normal situations, it does not hurt us.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Reality TV
Millions of people in the world are watching reality shows. I am not an exception. I watch them, when I have time.
First they are entertaining and pleasing to me (some of them), because these shows create amusement by the participants’ ridiculous behaviors. This is funny to discuss with family or friends.
I like many shows: “Dancing with the Stars,” American Idol and “Iron Chef”. I started to watch “Iron Chef” when Mario Batali signed his book to me.
“Dancing with the stars” is an interesting and colorful show. You can learn to dance by yourself from professional dancers. You can see your favorite stars, nice dresses and finally, you can get a wonderful spirit.
With “American Idol”, you can enjoy seeing people who come to this show to get their success, and this show gives them the chance to be famous.
In “Iron Chef”, I love to see when chefs challenge each other. It is surprising that they can make five dishes just in one hour! It is interesting to see how quickly it does.
I avoid shows showing force, aggression, abuse when you hear swearwords, see immoral behavior. I was surprised, when I read the article that says, most people show interest in these types of shows. I really did not understand why….Maybe aggression stimulates them. These shows send a wrong message to people. We have some shows on TV they show negative effects on children and teenagers. They are learning bad things from some of the shows.
I think, the good shows are only for the benefits of people. People find something useful to themselves by watching. Sometimes reality shows help people forget there real-life problems. They can get a good spirit after the show.
Some people see participants in the show .It makes them exited. Some of them than decide to go and to participate in these shows. It is the chance to be famous or win money.
I understand that reality TV shows are inexpensive productions, producers make more money, and these shows are cheaper than producing a film.
It is a fact ,reality television has been constantly on the rise, and every day millions of Americans watch their favorite television shows and they don’t know if it is good for them or not.
First they are entertaining and pleasing to me (some of them), because these shows create amusement by the participants’ ridiculous behaviors. This is funny to discuss with family or friends.
I like many shows: “Dancing with the Stars,” American Idol and “Iron Chef”. I started to watch “Iron Chef” when Mario Batali signed his book to me.
“Dancing with the stars” is an interesting and colorful show. You can learn to dance by yourself from professional dancers. You can see your favorite stars, nice dresses and finally, you can get a wonderful spirit.
With “American Idol”, you can enjoy seeing people who come to this show to get their success, and this show gives them the chance to be famous.
In “Iron Chef”, I love to see when chefs challenge each other. It is surprising that they can make five dishes just in one hour! It is interesting to see how quickly it does.
I avoid shows showing force, aggression, abuse when you hear swearwords, see immoral behavior. I was surprised, when I read the article that says, most people show interest in these types of shows. I really did not understand why….Maybe aggression stimulates them. These shows send a wrong message to people. We have some shows on TV they show negative effects on children and teenagers. They are learning bad things from some of the shows.
I think, the good shows are only for the benefits of people. People find something useful to themselves by watching. Sometimes reality shows help people forget there real-life problems. They can get a good spirit after the show.
Some people see participants in the show .It makes them exited. Some of them than decide to go and to participate in these shows. It is the chance to be famous or win money.
I understand that reality TV shows are inexpensive productions, producers make more money, and these shows are cheaper than producing a film.
It is a fact ,reality television has been constantly on the rise, and every day millions of Americans watch their favorite television shows and they don’t know if it is good for them or not.
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