I just posted a comment on CEC's blog under her article, "Who Cares If Johnny Can't Read". There were many interesting opinions and thoughts.

chillin...

Many students these days do not realize the effects of what cell phone usage in school is doing to them.  According to Cincinnati.com, "Cell phone ownership among 12- to 14- year-olds increased from 13 percent in February 2002 to now more than 50 percent."  Also according to an article in the Washington Post, written by Sam Diaz, regarding cell phone usage found that cell phone usage among these teens is school was around two hours and forty-five minutes.  This statistic is astronomical!  During an average school day a student from ninth grade to a senior in high school would spend around 6 total hours in an actual classroom.  Yet if one student subtracts this last statistic from the hours spent in an actual classroom, one student would actual be studying or paying attention in class around three hours a day.  The use of cell phones in school is causing these students to lose focus in and out of the classroom.  In regards to this inability to focus, an article in the Washington Post by Donna St. George, writes interesting statements from David E. Meyer, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan.  He stated when one multitasks that there is "...a kind of mental brownout, If a teenager is reading Shakespeare when a text message interrupts, "Hamlet's going to fade in and out in a ghostly fog."  And the problem he states is that"...you're not truly time-sharing.  You're flitting back and forth, and the flitting itself is taking processing capacity."  Losing focus in the classroom from a text message or an email received, takes away from one student's mental capacity when trying to gather information for a test in the next week or a quiz due by next class.  Many students all around the country are affected by the use of their cell phones, myself being a member of this group.  Yet it's up to one's own actions on whether or not they want to affect their progress in school.

I just commented on laker4life's Showtime article about his "primetime" LA Lakers.  

I also commented on Azninvasion's Southern Millionaires.  I think a bunch of others could relate to this blog.

I also commented on the "Forgive and Forget" about Michael Phelps marijuana incidence.

Tiger Woods

The past few days I have been watching the return of Tiger Woods, who was out of competition for 8 months due to a severe knee injury. He is playing in his first tournament back, which is a match play tournament in World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play in Marana, Arizona. The world has been waiting for the return of Tiger, but was it the return he wished for?

Tiger made his first round match a statement to the world that he was back and ready for more. He beat his first round opponent, Brendan Jones of Australia, 3 and 2. Tiger stated after his finished his round of golf, that this was the "best I have ever felt." Not only was this defeat a statement to the golf world, it was a statement to himself that it was time for business.

Coming into the second round of match play, the world was expecting great things out of Tiger maybe even a championship win. But as the second round started against Tim Clark of South Africa, was Tiger really at his best to prove to world that he was back? Clark knocked off Tiger with a win of 4 and 2. But was it his knee again? No, Tiger just merely stated that he didn't make enough birdies to win.

With the early knockout of Tiger, I was still very impressed with his play these past few days. Not only does it take extreme work-ethic to recover, but to recover and make a statement like Woods did, is something to remember. I am very pleased to see Tiger back strong and hope that he can pull out a victory in the Master's in April.

I commented on, I Heart Question Mark's post "The Value of Athletics...", 

see my post at I Heart Question Mark

Spring Break

A lot of my friends have had their spring breaks planned out for at least two months now.  They all seem to be going somewhere exciting and full of activities.  Yet I look in the mirror and see myself stuck in this trance, a trance as if what am I going to do for my spring break?  The past few weeks have been so hectic and frantic with schoolwork that I can't even start thinking about what I might be doing.

However, last night while I was studying for my test, one of my best friend's dad call me.  He calls and asks me what I might be doing for spring break?  Of course I reply with no particular response.  Yet as the conversation goes on, he asks me if i would be interested in going to Lake Fork for a week to do some fishing.  Being the big fisherman I am, I didn't even hesitate to answer yes. This could not have come at more of the right time; I have been so boggled down with schoolwork and soccer, that I need a vacation and to relax my mind.  And why not do something that I truly enjoy.

My friend and I have known each other since we were about 4 or 5.  And ever since the seventh or eight grade we have gone to Lake Fork to do some fishing and camping.  As we got older however, we have gone the past few years missing out on this special occasion we always take.  So for him to want to get together and take this trip would be as if he ask me for the first time again.  During these trips, we do a lot of fishing of course, but while we are not fishing we spend a lot of time around the fire talking, eating, and just spending the quality time we don't get anymore since we are in college now.  So I hope this spring break will be one to remember and one to just relax from school and spend some quality times with some old friends.

check out some information on Lake Fork at http://www.lakeforktexas.com/Pages/fork.html