Macro Blog 8 - The Keys to Freedom

When the automobile was first invented, few people were able to afford one. Time passed, and driving became integrated with our daily lives. Nowadays, just about every family owns at least one car. The need for driving has increased, as well as the number of drivers. I myself became a licensed driver approximately fifteen days ago and I am very pleased that I did. Driving can be fun and convenient, however it can be very dangerous. As people commonly say, "driving is a privilege, not a right." A driver must assume full responsibility and take precautions when behind the wheel. Since the first automobile, many regulations and laws have been passed to help create safer driving. A few of these laws include no texting and driving, a new driver must have his or her license for six months before driving other people who aren't part of his or her immediate family, and a new driver is punished more severely for driving violations. I agree with the majority of these regulations, however I feel a few aren't quite necessary. Texting while driving can be lethal and I have never nor will I ever text while driving. I agree that it should be a law to help prevent it from happening. I also agree that new drivers should be punished more severely, but to a limit. New drivers can be punished with large fines, the revoking of their licenses and may have to retake any driver’s education classes they have received and pass the road test once again. I only agree with the large fines portion. With large fines, drivers should be influenced to drive safely and properly. It truly intimidates me knowing that I can easily lose my license with a simple mistake. I do not feel that that is required in certain circumstances, such as speeding by perhaps 10 MPH. I also disagree about not being able to drive other people. It would be much more convenient to be able to drive friends, and it may even help the new driver learn to drive safely with distractions within the vehicle while that driver is still cautious and safe rather than six months later when that driver may have become overconfident and cocky in their driving capabilities. It is understandable that the additional consequences for unsafe driving will help encourage safe driving, and the restriction on who a new driver can drive will help prevent accidents early on, but as a new driver, I feel far too intimidated by the consequences and yearn for the permission to drive my friends. However, the law is the law and must be obeyed. I can only hope that in the future, safe driving can be encouraged through other means.

Macro Blog 7 - Fright Night

With Halloween coming up, people are out buying candy and costumes. They are decorating their houses and preparing for a wondrous night of fright. Recently, Halloween has not been the only popular source of fear. A few horror films have been released into theaters, some resulting in terrified customers. One of these films happens to be Paranormal Activity 3. I have yet to see Paranormal Activity 3; however I have seen Paranormal Activity and Paranormal Activity 2. From my past experience, the Paranormal Activity series do not seem frightening. Most of the "scary" events, in my opinion, tend to be predictable. I do admit that based on the box office sales and the previews, Paranormal Activity 3 appears to actually be scary. It was only a $15,000 project but last weekend it received about $54 million in ticket sales. I have heard good remarks about Paranormal Activity 3 from friends and critics alike, however I have also read of some disappointments. It is truly up to the individual alone to determine what that individual considers scary, however many people will preach of how scary or not scary a movie is anyhow. Some people have said Paranormal Activity 3 has a sturdy plot and can be unpredictable and frightening. Others argue that it is just the same as its previous films and wasn't really worth it. Although I did not find Paranormal Activity or Paranormal Activity 2 to be frightening, I did find them entertaining and Paranormal Activity 3 appears promising so you can expect me to contribute to their revenue, once it comes out on DVD of course.

Trinket 3, Day 4 - Treated Worse than Dirt

I am but a lonely plastic ball. My intended purpose of creation was to be a practice golf ball, to be swung at with passion and lounging in the intense sunlight. Instead, I have been treated like dirt, maybe even worse. I am paid no attention as I sit in the bottom of my owner's backpack. At least he takes the time to actually empty any dirt he finds in his bag. I dent very easily, for I am made of plastic, but even if I were made of steel, it would not protect my heart from being broken by the negligence of my owner. I must stay strong, however, because I know that in three weeks I will be with someone else, and hopefully he or she will show me the compassion and attention I deserve.

Trinket 3, Day 3 - Documentary: Plastic Ball Edition

Today marks the beginning of Plastic Ball Awareness Month, or P-BAM. We will celebrate this day with the examination of an actual plastic ball in its natural environment. Imagine the plastic ball of the white variety, also known as plastique whiticus, in the gentle forest. Though small in stature, the plastic ball can be very deadly. It appears to be scavenging for the winter, when all of a sudden the natural predator of the plastic ball pounces. It is of course the 3 iron, or ironius ter. It prepares to swing at the plastic ball, but the plastic ball has a unique defensive maneuver. The plastic ball crouches and uses its many holes to produce a high frequency sound wave that stuns the 3 iron in its tracks. The plastic ball uses this opportunity to force the sound wave through a single hole, causing said hole to expand one hundred times its size. The plastic ball engulfs the stunned 3 iron and sends it spiraling into an eternal abyss of oblivion. The plastic ball then resumes its search for food and continues its role in nature.

Trinket 3, Day 2 - The Sad Little Golf Ball

Life on a golf course can be brutal. Once the sun emerges into the sky, the humans gather on the course for a friendly game to take their minds off life's problems. All goes swimmingly; the humans choose a club, set a ball down and take a shot. There are even carts and rinsing stations to make the game more convenient. Everyone appears happy on the golf course, that is, everyone except for a single golf ball. This golf ball isn't actually a golf ball. In reality it is a plastic ball made to be the same size and color of a golf ball. It has several holes, and it cannot travel quite as far as the other golf balls. This little plastic ball has always dreamed of being a golf ball, but no one ever chooses it to play with. Only on occasion does the plastic ball see action: when the small children are practicing. Yes, it is quite a sad life for the plastic ball indeed.

Trinket 3, Day 1 - The Least Bit of Excitement

As I return home from a hard day of school, soccer, and work, I think to myself, "I can't wait to just relax and go to bed." That is, until I saw my trinket that reminded me of the Micro Blog I had to complete for AP English as I unpacked my bag. I stared at that round, white ball with holes all around it, exhaled a deep sigh, and trudged my feet as I approached the computer to write about my trinket. I suppose it could be a fun trinket, with the hours of catching I may invest into it. More likely, it will sit either in the bottom of my backpack for at least a month or upon my desktop. In either case, it appears it will be quite a boring trinket.