December 9, 2011
A letter to my big brother WWA #9
For this assignment, I wrote a letter to my older brother, Mike. About a year and a half ago he moved off to Santa Barbara to get his degree in business economics at UC Santa Barbara. And, when he left, we weren’t on the best terms in our relationship. We are only two and a half years apart, and we were both at a stage of being independent, and figuring out our own paths in life. And, more specifically, we were just two very different people, who were both very opinionated. We each saw things one way, and we never understood the other persons, nor did we believe it was right. Our relationship became serious, and about debates, rather than just spending time together and catching up about life. And, unfortunately, he ended up moving out while we still had a bit of tension between us. And, in the time that he has been away, I have really grown to miss him. Therefore, I thought he would be the perfect person for me to write a mail a letter to.
So, I wrote him a letter first off, apologizing for all of the arguments we had, and allowing him to leave in the midst of us being upset. I explained I didn’t want our relationship to be the way it had been. It was okay for both of us to have our own opinions and to see things differently; however, it’s not okay to not be open to the other person’s views. I encouraged both of us to be willing to compromise and allow the other person to have their own opinion. I also apologized for it not being that way before. Then, i told him that ultimately, I just genuinely care about him and appreciate the cares and concerns he has for me. He has just been looking out for my best interest, and trying to give me another look on life. I know, he cares for me as well, and I’m truly looking forward to putting things past us, and going back to not only be a brother and sister without tension, but friends.
Overall, I’m so glad I had the opportunity to send my brother a letter. It is such a personal way to express to him how I feel. I truly believe when he receives the letter, it will be a big surprise to him, a pleasant surprise. I am looking forward to hearing how he feels about the letter. But, in the end, I’m just glad that I had the opportunity to let him know the stuff that has been on my heart, and for him to be reassured of how much I truly love and care about him. And, what a perfect opportunity to let him know right before he comes home for Christmas!
December 7, 2011
Major Post #5- Momma’s Cookin’
I interviewed my mom on what her favorite recipe is, and she said her famous pumpkin pie! (And, I might add it is quite famous, because it truly is delicious!)
First, she gave me the recipe and described how she made it, so if you want to try it for yourself. You’re going to need 2 cups of pumpkin (this is from a real pumpkin, not the can), 2 eggs, 1 can of evaporated milk, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of ginger, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of cloves, 1/2 cup of white sugar, 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg, and a 9-inch single pie crust. You begin by cutting the pumpkin in half, and cooking them on a cookie sheet for about 30 minutes, or until they are mushy. Then, you scrape out the inside of the pumpkin and get two cups of it from there. Then, you just mix together all of the ingredients, and pour it into the crust. Set the oven at 425 degrees farenheit for fifteen minutes, then turn the temperature down to 350 degrees farenheit for 45 minutes. Pull it out and let it cool. Then, serve it with whip cream.
After my mom gave out all the details of her recipe, I asked her why this was her favorite. She responded by saying it has grown to be her favorite because it is her families recipe that has been passed down to her, and she has been cooking it since she was just a little girl in third grade with her mom in 4H club, and for holidays. It is something she usually only bakes around the holidays, which is her favorite time of year to be around family. So it is a recipe she really enjoys because it’s not only delicious, but it reminds her of some of her favorite memories. Next, I asked her if she believed this recipe corresponded and portrayed her ethnic background and heritage. She answered with a quick yes. My mom said our family is just classified as American, because we have such a wide range of ethnicities. We are like the melting pot ourselves. Her side of the family is full of all kinds of races, and my dad is adopted, so we’re not quite sure all the he is. But overall, we’re “mutts”, so we classify ourselves as being American. My mom said this is an American recipe and represents that part of her because it is an American tradition where her and her family have grown up. Pumpkin pie is a typical holiday recipe in America, that many people celebrate, and she is proud that she celebrates it as well. And, lastly I asked her what her philosophy on food is. And, she stated that food is one of the basic needs of life. It not only plays as a crucial role for our survival, but it also brings people together, it makes people happy, and it tastes good, all at the same time! It represents family, joy, happiness, and laughter and the memories and symbolism of family gatherings and holidays!
I couldn’t agree with my mom and her answers more. She grasps the meaning of food in our culture, it’s not only to eat the food, but it is to enjoy it, with people. Just as Lee puts it, food represents our culture and customs, our family traditions and ways of life. Food is the gateway to who people are and the way they live life with family. Each culture is different. But, from what I know as an American, is that holidays are big, and so are our family gatherings, and one thing that will always remind me of those traditions, are the food we eat during them. especially pumpkin pie!
November 22, 2011
Conference
I would like to introduce my 14 days project. What has always seemed to catch my interest is how music influences our day-to-day lives through our moods. Everyone listens to music, and we typically do so on a day-to-day basis. In seeing how music alters and shapes our mood, I thought it would be a great idea to base my project around it. Basically, what I will be testing is how music personally effects me; therefore, over a 14 day span, I will listen to a different genre of music for 30 minutes each day. I will share with everyone the music I will be listening to, in case they would like to join in on this experiment, and next, I will write about how the music makes me feeling both during, after, and later in the day. I will see what affects occur and inform everyone along the way! Hope you enjoy it!
November 16, 2011
A boy wearing his shoes, falling into the trap of society’s fashion sense
Fashion is a huge part of our everyday life. Fashion speaks to us. There is even an entire language of clothing stated by Alison Lurie. We want the world to view us in a certain way, and often times we mold our opinions into what the common view is. Rather than wearing and enjoying the clothes we like, we choose to wear clothes we hate in order to be accepted by society. But, why? Why do a majority of people hide who they truly and pretend to be something they aren’t just so people will like them? Our comfort and self portrayal should not be sacrificed for others.
I decided to interview my little brother, Joe Hendrickson, to see what his views were on fashion and how he choose to either fit into societies view or not. First off, I asked Joe what his favorite article of clothing was that he personally owned. And he responded with a very quick answer of his Vibram Five Finger Trek sports. For some of you who may not have any clue what these are, just look here. Unique, right? It is a new kind of sneaker, more so geared towards a workout shoe, which is supposed to fit to your foot, making physical activity more comfortable. When I asked him why this was his favorite thing to wear, he stated that they were super comfortable, fitting like a glove to his foot. He further went on to say he enjoyed wearing them because they allowed him to do all of the daily activities that he enjoyed so much; such as, running, going to the gym, hiking, walking, or even just being at school. And, he said he liked the edgy way they looked and that not a lot of people had them, so he enjoyed being different. Following this, I asked him how he would describe his sense of style to the world. He answered this by saying, “Swag” with a wide smile on his face. He defines himself as being “fitted” and having a good sense of style. He believes he not only fits in with the new fashion trends, but he sets a lot of the styles that people choose to follow. Getting more in-depth with him, I proceeded to ask him if he felt his Vibram five fingers captured his sense of fashion appropriately. He answered saying yes, because they showed people that he didn’t follow the trends that other people set. He was edgy and capable of being both comfortable and chic. Next, I asked him how he wanted the world to perceive him and his sense of style. Af first he replied by saying he didn’t really care what people though about him, but as he continued talking out his answer, he came to the conclusion that he wants to follow the basic rules of fashion and what people like in order to be accepted, because if you are not accepted, then you’re not successful. Also, he said if he doesn’t like something that is popular and a lot of people like, he will not wear it. and, lastly, I asked him if fashion was important to him. And, he said that looking good was important to him, but not specifically fashion being important.
Based off of my interview with him, I concluded that he too, a sixteen year old boy, pressured by society,was naive to himself falling into the trap of what society subliminally forces us to believe is acceptable to wear or not. He believed himself to not care what people thought, but the more he thought about it, he realized, he had to care about how people viewed his sense of fashion. He could only take risks on something, he knew followed the guidelines of what people accept. He may try to be different, and to set a new example, but really, he doesn’t push the boundaries on what is okay or not, because he wants to personally be viewed highly and to succeed. It flusters me that we are forced into believing we look different from the next person. But, how can we look different from someone and be accepted at the same time? We have become a society that strongly states judgement is wrong, yet each and every one of us does it daily. We need more people defying the views what is acceptable. everything should be accepted. My clothes should not dictate who I am, how intelligent, driven, or succesful I will be. It’s wrong.
November 6, 2011
Not trailer trash, not a Barbie, not superior. Simply a voice.
Based off of the article in Bitchmedia called “Don’t Mess Up When You Dress Up: Cultural Appropriation and Costumes” and the follow-up article to that blog called, “Open Letter to the PocaHotties and Indian Warriors this Halloween” I have become an “enlightened witness”. Of what you might say, and I can respond with the answer that white supremacy has become racist against white people.
Oh great you’re probably saying. Another white writer who feels offended and once again claims their superiority over all other cultures. However, that’s not just it. Just as you feel you are being subjected by the cultural categorizing, people (including yourself) are doing the exact same thing to me. Yes, I am white. But, no I am not racist. And, I am not in any form apart of the classifying of white people you are upholding. Unfortunately, racism is still an active part of our society. It is an everyday issue brought up through numerous things, such as, people’s speech, dress, and mannerisms, but not only does this issue come about directly through people, but also through society as a whole and the media. We see our races incorrectly labeled each and everyday through magazines, commercials, movies, billboards, and even shopping malls. However, I do not believe just one culture is being hurt and wrongly portrayed. I believe every single culture is suffering, including white people. Here’s how….
As we see in the articles above, each article portrayed cultures being offended by the way they were being viewed and dressed up to be. We are shown Native Americans hurt by Women sexualizing their culture as a PocaHottie. African-Americans hurt by the painting of one’s skin to become a rapper. An Indian hurt by someone dressing up as a terrorist. A Mexican man hurt by a Matador costume. And an Asian woman hurt by women dressing to be a geisha. These are all wrong in every way and they ARE extremely hurtful. But I am calling you to recognize that not only the white culture is doing this. Each and every person takes part in this racial and offensive holiday. And, also, I plea for you to take a step back and see that the white culture was not allowed to state their hurt in how they were portrayed during Halloween. I am offended by the way people dress up as white trash, in both the girl and guy form. I am white, but I don’t live in a trailer park, I’m not pregnant, I don’t smoke and drink, and I don’t show my skin to the whole world. Also, people very often dress up as Barbie, and no, I’m not her either. I’m real, and I’m not perfect. Unfortunately, we aren’t hearing that this too is hurtful and offensive to white people. And, it should be. I do not appreciate people viewing my culture as either materialistic, perfect, and rich, or the other extreme of drunk, pregnant, and poor. Neither of those are me, and I do not want to be thrown into that category.
Overall, I think society as a whole needs to understand that the issue isn’t solely white supremacy that is provoking racism. And, I’m simply asking people to understand that this issue goes beyond white people being the problem. Everyone takes part in this topic. You aren’t the only one hurting from racial inequality. Everyone hears the slurs, everyone is joked about, and everyone suffers from this cruelty. Each person comes from a race and particular culture, and everyone wants the respect for their culture, who they are, and where they have come from. But, in you classifying all white people as viewing themselves higher than the rest of the world , you too are doing exactly what you feel is being done to you to other people. Two wrongs aren’t a right. Take it to society as a whole. Call each and every person out. This is a world-wide issue. Not a white one. Hold everyone to the standard that WE ARE ALL EQUAL.
October 10, 2011
IAT Tests
I took both of the IAT tests on gender and race. And, I was quite surprised by both of the results.
The first test I took was on Gender-Career. And, my results came out to state that my data suggests a strong association of Male with Career and Female with family compared to Female with Career and Male with Family. This test I found to be somewhat challenging. I believe it is just due to the fact that there is a time pressure on things and you are told you must complete it as quickly as possible or else the answers may not be accepted. This definitely added pressure and made my hands press the “e” or “i” button before my mind was capable of processing what each meant. I do think this added to the results of my test; however, I do not think that the results were entirely altered from the time constraint. Largely, I believe these results came about mostly due to how we were raised, and how we view families, careers, men, and women in the media. Society is the biggest effector in this survey, and even though society is changing to accept a woman as the breadwinner and a male as the caretaker, as a whole, it is not entirely common. I think this affected my view widely. I am completely accepting of a woman with a strong career and a man with his family as the number one priority, however, that is still growing to become the normal, so I believe that is what was associated in my mind. Therefore, I somewhat agree with the results of the test.
The second test I took was on Race, specifically the African American – European American IAT. My results from this demo came out to state that my data suggests a strong automatic preference for European American compared to African-American. I had the same issues with the time limit on this test as I did with the other. however, the results of this test were more upsetting to me. I may subconsciously have a preference of European Americans than African-Americans, but consciously, I don’t. I guess it bothered me for the results to come out this way, because I do not like to think of race as an issue. I do familiarize myself with more people who are white, maybe because I’m white? But, I wouldn’t mind associating with African-American people. Therefore, I guess the results just seemed to puzzle me. I believe it was all subconsciousness, but even that I do not like, because I just don’t believe the color of someone’s skin should reflect who they are.
October 4, 2011
The Apology
1) In Plato’s “The Apology”, how does Socrates come across to you? Why do you think Plato chose to characterize him in the way that he did?
Socrates in Plato’s “The Apology” is portrayed as a person who can be familiarized with. Socrates is viewed as someone we can relate to. He was poor, common and intelligent; yet, he was brave, in a sense where he was not afraid to be true to himself, his opinions and his values. And, he kept these values even if it meant death for him. In my opinion, Plato chose to display Socrates with commonness because he wanted us to admirer him for being a person who came from a normal background rather than superiority from birth rights, yet he flourished from his normalcy into someone who was extraordinary. Plato was inspired by him, and he wanted to share this in order to inspire other people as well.
2) Who are Socrates’ opponents and what are they accusing him of?
Socrates had many opponents, but the three most prevalent people were Metelus, Lycon, and Anytus. And, Metelus was the ringleader or chief of all of them. These people accused him of not believing in the gods that the state believed in and accepted. And because he was accused of this, he was simultaneously accused of corrupting the youth to believe in different gods.
3) What does Socrates value?
4) What did the oracle really mean about Socrates being the wisest man?
September 30, 2011
Out on a Scavenger Hunt
Hello all-
To start things off, you might want to check out the best group ever’s pictures on my friend, Beniel’s blog!
They’re pretty fun right? Looks like we had a total blast? Well…you’re absolutely right! My overall experience with the Scavenger Hunt was that it was great! I thought it was such a cute, fun quick class activity. I loved having the opportunity to work with a group of people outside of the class in a low-key and adventurous study. I would choose that kind of participation over any other assignment! And, if we had to do the assignment all oer again, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t change a single thing! It was a fun experience! And, I definitely left class with a smile on my face!
But, let me just fill you in on the logistics of it. To fill you in, my group came up with a pretty clever strategy. One, to move quickly, and two, to do as many close things as we could. For example, we started off in the library to find a sleeping student, from there we went to the California History Center. In the midst of that, we found two guys who saw all 3 transformers. Then, we headed over to the front of the school to take a picture at the bus stop, and the art museum. Further, we continued to wrap around the rest of the school until we ran out of time.Fortunately for us, our strategy played out very smoothly because it worked well with the time crunch. And, we went to the side of the school where several things were in a close proximity to one another!
Don’t get me wrong, my group did face some challenges. Our biggest one was the limited amount of time. And, boy, did that cause some chaos! We certainly had a hang up on whether we should do certain items or not and several people would throw out ideas on where to go from there. But, at the same time, that is exactly how we resolved the problems we faced. we would throw out ideas, and thankfully we would all agree on the conclusion of it. Our team worked very well together and I think because we all had the same motivation to get this assignment done, that we found we were all on similar terms as to how to get it done.
And, lastly, I found I particularly enjoyed this assignment because it displayed creativity very well! Each group was given the same assignment, but every group went about the assignment in a different manner. So, I found it very interesting to see what people come up with individually, then how they execute that in a group setting. I also embraced the time crunch on things now, because I found it really intriguing to see what people came up with while thinking on their toes! And, finally, I loved seeing people put their shyness aside and talk to people, ask them to do the macarena with you or even scream out, “APRIL” in hopes of some stranger turning their head!
I hope your experience with the Hunt was just as splendid as mine! Hope you had fun reliving my group’s memories with me! 😀
shellyhendrickson12 
