What Makes Us Different

After listening to What Makes Us Different By Joshua Bingwa I discovered some interesting things about humans. As humans we may believe that we are superior to any other living creature but in reality that may not be true. Take Joshua’s example for instance ” we humans have this weird mentality in our brains that we are superior to any other creature we think that we are like the gods of this world but the reality is there are only very few things that separate us and those monkeys that are swinging in the bushes.” I think this is  a very good point we may be able to do things that animals can’t do but that certainly doesn’t mean we are better than them. This speech has taught me a lot about facts that humans sometimes miss.

Trip up your Brain- OLogy

Sometimes our brains play tricks on us. When our brain receives different messages, simple activities can become more challenging. This is how our mind can get fooled by completing an easy task. On the website OLogy I found a really interesting article about your mind playing tricks on you. It’s called Trip Up Your Brain. It’s a really fun and engaging activity to challenge your brain by seeing how fast you can name colors. First the word is written in the same color that the word is saying.  In the second level the word is written in a different color then the word is saying. This element will trick your mind. The explanation for this is that a part of your brain called VPS recognizes the color of the word, while the OT understands the meaning of the word when the color of the word is different. When this happens it causes a conflict which is called the “dribble mouth” effect.

The experiment that I did with this activity was can a child’s brain identify the colors faster than a grownups brain or vice versa. In my experiment a child and a grownup both took the test two times. In both tests the child took less time to read the colors and words that were the same and the colors and words that were different than the grownup.  At first I was confused, why is the child taking less time than the grownup? After I thought about it some more I realized that maybe the grownups brains were used to saying the word as it’s written and not the color of the written word because they have been reading longer than the child.

 

If you want to try this experiment yourself click here

My Goal

I get very anxious. It’s out of my control, I’ll stress over the tiniest things and when their over it seems like nothing. that’s why I’m working on ignoring my fixed mindset. A fixed mindset is the little voice inside your head telling you that your not good enough or you should just give  up trying. You should never listen to your fixed mindset it’s bad for you and remind people that the shouldn’t listen to their fixed mindset either. But  what you should know is that your fixed mindset is just you stressing and you can ignore by using a lot of strategies.

Imagine this your about to take a test and you hear a little voice in your  brain saying stuff like you cant do this or your stupid.  You start to get really anxious you shouldn’t worry that you’re alone it happens to everybody. What you should do is  tell yourself that you can do this and that you got it. Encouraging yourself can make your work better. If you believe in yourself it can make  a lot of things better.

It can sometimes be hard so you should make a plan for yourself. When you make a plan you’ll feel more organized. Then give your plan a name. This doesn’t help majorly but it makes it seem more like a fun. My plan name is called keep trying cause that what you have to do it want be easy right away but it will get better if you commit.

There are also steps to get rid of a fixed mindset and achieve a goal like these ones

Step 1. visualize victory: When you achieve your goal be proud of yourself you finally did it!

Step 2. Name your obstacles: Know what you’re struggling with so You can make it better

Step 3. Make a plan to conquer the obstacles: Your struggles wont go away easily  your brain is wired to struggle with them but if you work hard you can achieve your goals

Step 4. Try your absolute hardest: you have to keep trying and trying and trying if you want to achieve anything!

So since I’ve explained everything to you now I want to leave you with a question, what will you do to get rid of your struggles?

 

The Steps

 

  I slipped past every step. The cold ocean air swarmed around me. I shivered and bit my lip ever step closer felt like getting closer to a cold black hole that would suck me in, and never let me out.The last step I felt as if I was already in the hole calling for help, but no one would hear he. “YOU CAN DO IT!” My mom called pressing the record button on her phone. Even from far away the click echoed through the waves like a lightning storm that wouldn’t stop. The sun shined through my eyes. The warmth filled my body. I closed my eyes you can do it I thought. I held my breath and jumped.

 

Suddenly the black hole felt warm. “It’s not even cold,” I shouted. I didn’t shout to anyone I shouted to myself.

 

 “How does it feel?” my dad asked staring down to the deep and dark black hole. He passed the board down “here I go,” he whispered 

 

“ It feels Great,!” I said My dad jumped into the black hole getting closer and closer. The waves crashed against the rock and the moment before my dad braced the water everything stopped.My brother stopped sliding down the steps. The waves stopped crashing at the rocks.But a big wave was coming. At that moment I felt the black hole sucking me in. I gripped the board tight and held my breath. And then the wave stopped.

My dad hit the water like a cannonball. He went under and quickly swam back up. Tiny waves bolted to the rocks almost knocking me off the board.

 

 “Haha,” my dad laughed. “Your right it isn’t cold,”. Tiny waves became big waves. I saw fear in my brothers eyes. I swam to the last step where he was standing almost frozen. I put the board out. 

 

“Jump,” I encouraged him. My brother held his breath I glided across the water to make room. He hit the water soft. The water sent ripples out into the black hole. He  swam up to the surface.

 

 “ It’s so cold,” he shivered.

 

 “No it’s not,” I nudged him. 

 

“You’ll get used to it,” my dad  said. The splashes against the rocks were normal now. My brother both had our arms on the board. I fought for my spot but he knocked me off. I treaded above the water but my legs were getting tired I didn’t know how much longer I could take care of this. “I’m getting a little cold,” I shivered. The waves got quieter but  my ears burned like I was soaking them in lava. I clung to the railing of the stairs when the bolt of water came back to the rocks. “Can we go in?” my brother asked chattering his lips. So I pulled myself up and as I stepped on the stairs. My foot forced itself off, and I fell back into the black hole.

 

“AAAAAA,” I screamed. The black hole pushed my face under. I bolted up and  coughed. My dad and my brother had climbed the first two steps though they seemed miles and miles away. I pulled myself up. Step by step the sun beamed at me. I felt like a Broadway star getting the light all to themselves. But sadly it was just sunlight and where I was  Broadway seemed like a million miles away. I felt warm though the black hole was beneath me and I should have been afraid but I wasn’t. But every step I took seemed like a journey to get to the thing I wanted most, a towel. I tried running to it but it was not going to work. I froze  my lips chattered and I shivered. I seemed like I was climbing a mountain and the people I had ventured with were at the top. Be brave I thought. It didn’t get better and every step still felt like climbing a moantain but I was doing it.

 

The last step was the best step you know you did it. I felt happy and warm inside. My parents watched me stand there and looked at me weirdly but I felt like a champion and nobody could ruin that. I stepped on the burning cement. My cold and slippery feet felt weird on the hot cement. I rushed to my towel. I slowly wrapped it around me.It felt like wrapping sunshine around me. I felt like I had just won a gold medal that hung proudly around my neck. There was nothing there but I believed there was. I was proud.

”I’m so hungry,” I said rubbing my stomach. 

 

“Yeah can we please get lunch?” my brother begged. 

 

“One minute,” my mom said typing away on her phone. Click clack click clack. I closed my eyes and covered my ears. I imagined myself throwing her phone down the black hole. Then the typing wasn’t so annoying . While I closed my eyes I heard chattering from  people everywhere. “Lunch time” my mom said . My stomach rumbled right on time.

 

I wanted to open my eyes eyes but I was too comfortable. I opened one eyelid and the sun beamed through. I got up and stretched. I snatched the towel up from the chair and wrapped it around me. “Oww!” I yelped, as my cold feet burned on the cement.”ow ow ow ow ow!” I yelped, as I ran around screaming. I sat down again looking down at my red feet. My wet hair dripped down my  back. One droplet at a time. My leg bounced up and down my lips shaked. I pulled the towel closer.

“I’m gonna’ do it,” a man called to another one at the bottom of the steps. He  climbed the fence right next to the top step and did a huge sigh. 

“Dude,” he called down “record”. I looked at him in awe how was he doing that wasn’t he scared, I shivered just thinking about it. “Here I go,” he gulped. He held his breath and jumped. Everybody stared in silence ,everyone was silent. Then we heard a huge splash. I rushed over to look down at the water. “WOOHOO!” he screamed. 

“That’s crazy,” I gulped.

“Awesome dude!” the other guy called.

 

“Lets get some lunch,” my mom said

 

“I’m starving,” I repeated “I was trying to tell you”.

 

As we headed to the restaurant we saw flocks of people  coming up from the ocean.

 

”were lucky we came early,” my dad pointed out. 

 

“Yeah,” my brother said.” 

 

“I got a super good video of you guys getting in the water, “ my mom said pointing to her phone.

 

”Lemme’ see,” I said, as I snatched the phone out of her hands.” Hey there’s me” I pointed out. 

 

“You look ridiculous with your goggles on,” my brother laughed.

 

” I DO NOT!” I argued.

 

 “Yes you do,” he said still laughing.

 

”Were you guys scared,” my dad asked trying to change the subject. 

 

“I was so scared,” I said. “But sometimes you have to be brave and not give up,” I said. 

 

“I wasn’t scared,” my brother said proudly. 

 

“Umm yes you were,” I pointed out. 

 

“No you were just scared,” he said 

 

“Sure,” I said sarcastically.  

 

My family walked and walked ahead of me. I tried to catch up but I was too tired.The restaurant wasn’t that far but I felt as if it was a million miles away. I could taste the pizza and the lemonade. I licked my lips  my mouth was watering. I was motivated to move ahead I powered walked to my family.

 

 “Comon!” I yelled  speeding past them. “Let’s go!”. I curved through a sea of people walking, talking, running,yelling. People were doing all sorts of things. I knew what I wanted to do eat lunch. My mind was set on food and I was determined to get it I zoomed to the restaurant my parents and brother we’re way behind me  but I didn’t care I was so hungry my stomach was yelling. “ Wait up!” my brother called running to me. I didn’t care I was so hungry. 

 

 Finally  we were at the last corner I turned to the restaurant I could taste the food in mouth my stomach rumbled. I looked up to the restaurant. Blue stairs piled in front of me. The restaurant was so close yet so far I  had to get up the stairs. I wasn’t afraid of the stairs it was just there were huge holes in the middle of each step holes I could slide through. I bit my fingernail. I waited for my family, my brother came first he glided up the steps he was too big to fall through.

 

”comon, let’s go,” he said taunting me. 

 

“ I’m just waiting for mom and dad,” I said “don’t worry just stay there,”. My parents came around the corner. People walked up the steps like there were no holes. Weren’t the scared I thought. My mom joined my brother up the stairs 

 

“we’ll go get a table,” she suggested . My dad was saying stuff to me but I wasn’t listening.Then something clicked in my brain I just climbed 50 or more steps with holes in them  I could do this. “Ginger,” my dad said “ are you listening.

 

 “Sorry, what were you saying?” I asked 

 

“ I was just saying do you need help?”. 

 

“Umm I think I’m ok,” I said proudly.

 

When we got in the restaurant a waiter led us to our seat.“This is your table,” the waiter said  gesturing to the table

 

“Thank you, “ my mom said. I sat in the chair and put the towel down to make myself comfortable. 

 

“ what do you guys want to eat?” my dad said picking up the menu 

 

“I’ll just have pizza”, I said “oh and an Ice cold lemonade ,“ I added.Waiters and waitresses curved through table after table jotting down orders. You could hear sizzling from the kitchen. The cooks were making all sorts of food  all of their smells smelled delicious together I inhaled and sighed. I licked my lips. When a waitress parked herself at our table she had scribbling up and down her notepad. She wiped sweat off her face and smiled. . “So how are you all doing today?” she asked scribbling something in her notepad. Before anyone could  answer I said “Great” and I wasn’t lying.

 

Basketball

My favorite sport is basketball. I  like basketball because I like dribbling,shooting, and passing. Basketball is a great team sport and teaches resilience,and to rely on a team and not just yourself.

I also like basketball because your team becomes like a family or just really close.I’ts a good experience to make new friends. I learned that being on a team means you can’t be the star all the time.For me basketball practice is a time to improve and have fun with your friends,you still have to take it seriously, because like anything your not just good at it when you start doing it.

 

To rely on your team mates is like to know that they have your back on you have theirs. To be  a good team mate you have to rely on your team mate, and have your team mates rely on you. You have to be able to rely on the coach that the feedback he or she  is giving you. I being able to rely on a team mate is a big thing in basketball. Just like in other sports you have to rely on your team mates, but I think that basketball is a key example. Like I said you have to have our team mates back in basically everything.

Overall I really love basketball for all these reasons, but some of the main reasons is because you get to make new friends and form a team.

Students Rights

In the United States every person has equal rights, except in schools where some students have different rights then others. The Supreme court said that public schools can limit certain rights that are in the first and fourth amendment. Private schools do not receive money from the government so they get to make their own rules.

Private schools can use corporal punishments when a student misbehaves whereas the majority of public schools cannot. This means that a student can be punished using force such as hitting, spanking with a paddle and pinching.

There are a lot of rules that public schools have to follow such as that you can’t force a student into saying the pledge or practicing a religion. Police can search anyone if there is probable cause. A teacher is allowed to do the same in a public school. If a teacher suspects that a student is cheating or bringing illegal weapons or drugs into school they can have their desk, locker, or even a bag searched. Teachers can search a locker if they believe that student is guilty.

If students interrupt class or use foul language the teachers have a right to give the student a punishment. Many state courts support no cellphones in class, these courts did this because students were getting distracted and they have a right to education without interruptions. Some public schools have a dress code but the majority of schools with dress codes are private schools. Even if some schools don’t have a dress code you can’t just wear anything you want.

Public schools can test a student for drugs if they participate in an extracurricular activity. The school is allowed to do this because they want a safe and drug free environment where students can succeed. The schools do not need permission from a parent or a guardian to do so.

I believe that students get rights taken away from them that are in the first and fourth amendment for their safety because they are young and don’t always know what’s best for them. I don’t agree with the corporal punishment that is still allowed. I do agree with most of the rights. I don’t agree with the corporal punishment because they are harmful to students and make for a not safe learning environment.

Party In The Escape Room

“This place gives me the creeps,” Brooke whispered to me and Lauren. We walked in to a dark room filled with keys and locks. “Stop freaking me out,” Lauren whispered angrily. We were set to be robbers trying to steal from the police.  We started off in then locker room for the officers. As we walked in the cold air hit our face. “AAAAAAA,” I screamed.  “WHAT?” Lauren screamed. “It’s just me,” Brooke laughed. The lockers were all locked. Abby and Julia started opening them. It was a symphony of screams when each locker opened. Finally we got the code to the office. The door creaked open as we walked in. “WOAH,” Lucy said. Lucy  went to the big chair next to the computer. “I think we have to hack in the computer,” Lucy said. “Hey what’s that,” I said. “WHO’S IN HERE” someone called from the door. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA” we all screamed. “HIDE!” Lauren screamed we all dashed in to the other room and hid behind the lockers. Heavy breathing filled the room the darkness seemed to get darker. The voice from the other room kept yelling.Screams were loud in clear.When the person left we came back into the other room. Hours of keys and locks were filled with clicks and clocks.”This is the key to get out” Abby said. Abby pushed the rusty key in the door “click” the key went. “YAY!” we all screamed. “You know, I would do that again! Brooke said.”I would too” I agreed.

South African Baboons Seek Out Private Pools To Beat The Heat

Title:South African Baboons Seek Out Private Pools To Beat The Heat

Article date: May 20,2019

By: Meera Dolasia

News type: World

 

Summary:

In South Africa baboons have discovered a way to cool off. Instead of cooling off in a lake or stream they’ve decided to refresh themselves in a pool owned by a family or a resort. Cameras were set up by people who thought their neighbors were sneaking into their pools. When they found out it was baboons they posted the videos of the playful baboons on the internet. The first video was released on May 14, 2019 by Garth Bradly. “They played in the pool for about five minutes, and it was wonderful to witness” Garth says. The second Video was released May 16, 2019 from a family. The thought it was their neighbors but it turned out to be baboons.” Given that baboons are very social primates, don’t be surprised if backyard pools across South Africa start to see a large influx of the uninvited guests!” they said.

Personal Response:

I choose this article because I thought it was funny that baboons were playing in peoples pools!

https://www.dogonews.com/2019/5/20/south-african-baboons-seek-out-private-pools-to-beat-the-heat

https://flipgrid.com/3565be

 

Self healing shoes may be in your future!

By : Shariqua Ahmed

 

 

Date: 5/14/19

 

 

News Type: World

 

Summary:

You may have shoes that have worn out soles and have no use anymore, but what if they could just be fixed by themselves! Impossible right? maybe not anymore. When people throw out shoes they do not think so far  as to question the cons of doing so. It’s very harmful to our environment. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, 300 million pairs of shoes end up in landfills each year, where they can take 30 to 40 years to decompose. Now we have a self-healing 3-D printed rubber material. The polymer is what was thought up by researchers at the University of Southern California’s  Viterbi School of Engineering and the University of Connecticut . The team, led by USC Assistant Professor Qiming Wang and UConn Assistant Professor Ying Li, created it through a process called photopolymerization. which uses light to solidify the liquid resin used to create 3-D printed plastic. The researchers found that adding the right amount of oxidizer to the liquid resin allowed the 3-D polymer to heal without slowing down the hardening process.Using the technique, the researchers were able to 3-D print a 17.5-millimeter square in just 5 seconds and entire objects in only about 20 minutes!The team, who published their findings in the journal NPG Asia Materials on February 1, 2019state that the repair time can be reduced by increasing the room temperature. “If you just put a broken shoe on a bench at room temperature, the rubber will heal itself in six to eight hours,” Wang said. With all this all we need is a automatic cleaner to get all the stains off and life will be perfect!

 

Personal response:

I choose this article because I think it would be cool to have shoes that I never had to throw out!

Sweden to offer one lucky person lifetime Employment for doing nothing!

Article date:April 1,2019

News type:world

summary:

Have  you always dreamed of going to work and getting paid? You’re in luck! in 2025 the Korsvägen train station in Göteborg, Sweden will offer a unique career opportunity to one lucky person, who will have a job for life with no defined responsibilities! This position comes with a monthly salary of $2,320! I mean there’s probably nobody in the world who doesn’t wan’t this opportunity! the  people behind this social experiment Simon Goldin and Jakob Senneby, who are famous for incorporating real world economics into strange new art forms. the two  proposed this idea in response to a design competition organized by the Public Art Agency Sweden and the Swedish Transport Administration for the Korsvägen train station. Instead of presenting a  artistic design, Goldin and Sennaby suggested using the prize money which was $753,000  to hire a lifetime employee to do nothing! Oddly enough the idea worked and the judges liked it! who revealed their choice in October 2018 and the eternal employment was born! But not surprisingly, the Eternal Employment Project has been met with politicians, as well as the general public, who believe paying someone to do nothing is a total waste of taxpayer money. Though the job sounds like a waste of life the  artists believe the employee will be doing abstract work. The best part by far is the equal opportunity job, which means people from all over the world can apply to be considered for this unique position ,be sure to mark your calendars for 2025!

personal response: I choose this article because I t would be amazing for getting paid to do nothing  I also think that thuis idea was really smart and all countries should do this!

 

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