blog post#16

For the most part I enjoyed blogging. It was a whole new experience to me and I enjoyed blogging when I had the time to do so, however it felt like a drag at the end of the day when I didn’t have so much time for it in my day. I don’t think I’ll continue blogging because it’s not something I can really do just for fun. In addition, I enjoyed many blogs throughout the semester, too many to just name one. Finally I would like to tell all my fellow classmates that it has been a long semester but the end of it is almost here.

3 important people

My mother has definitely been one of the most important people in my life. She has really light brown hair, green eyes and a light skin complexion. She has had a lot of influence in my life. She’s also one of the most well- organized persons I know, and she has a lot of wisdom to teach. I’ve learned many things from her; too many to even begin to list them all. However, one of the most important things I’ve learned from her is to have patience.

            Another important person in my life whom I’ve gained much wisdom from is my grandfather. He also had green eyes, gray hair, and had a really light skin complexion. He has also had a lot of influence on my actions. I remember him always telling jokes and he was always laughing. I’d say one of the most important things in life I was able to learn from him was to always look at the bright side of things.

            Finally, another important person in my life would have to be my father. He has really big brown eyes, with a dark skin complexion. He’s always taught me that you have to work hard in order to gain something that you truly desire. In addition, he is a really handy man and has taught me to do a lot of the maintenance work around the house and our cars.

blog#13

I recommend everyone who likes BBQ to go and checkout “Just BBQ” in Ventura. It’s a really great place to eat and I’m sure you’ll be more than satisfied with it. They have a really great selection of BBQ, such as hot links, tri-tip, and chicken. Usually every time I go and eat at this place I order a tri-tip sandwich. I can never get tired of ordering that. However, they also have really good hot links, and chicken. In my opinion, the fresh meat they have available makes their restaurant different from fast food restaurants. The fact that you can see the meat roasting in the background gives you a sense of comfort knowing that the meat you’re about to order is truly fresh. In, addition, the sauce from this place is truly tasty and will surely meet the expectations of anyone’s taste buds. In my opinion, this place gets a 5/5 stars rating from me. Finally, this place usually has a pretty big line, especially during lunch time, but the wait is worth the food you’ll be receiving. You can find this place across from the old 16^th century theater in Ventura, just take the Johnson exit off the 101 north bound freeway.   

summary thoughts on Fast Food Nation

I think Fast Food Nation was a great book to read. It was well written out and very easy to understand. The author did a great job painting the picture of what he was trying to get across. This book made me think of many of the mistreated workers at the meat packing houses and the horrible working conditions they must endure everyday just to make a living. Another thing this book made me think about was the quality of the meat most people eat at fast food joints. Personally I don’t like to eat out at fast food restaurants simply because the food there is gross, but this book reassured me to avoid eating at fast food places at all costs. After reading this book I became aware of the marketing of fast food to children through television. I knew there were many advertisements on television for fast food places, but never looked at it from a kid’s point of view. It’s crazy how much the media can influence a child to bug their parents to take them to eat at a fast food place just from watching a couple of commercials on television. This book has opened my eyes to realize just how much fast food franchises have power over the lives of many other workers, not just their own.

5 lies 1 truth

1)  I have a dog as a pet

2) I am currently 21 years old

3) I can’t swim

4) I’ve broken 2 bones in the past

5) I have 3 siblings

6) My favorite color is green

The Raven

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" -
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never - nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore:
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting -
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

 

Interview with a student

I recently had the opportunity to interview Oscar Preciado during English class, and got to know a little more about him. Oscar was born and grew up in the beautiful city of Jalisco in Mexico. He came to the United States at the age of fifteen and attended Chanel Islands High School. Now 26 years old he attends Oxnard College. He is motivated to succeed in college for a better future. Oscar works full time Monday through Friday and attends two evening classes. Oscar’s motto towards succeeding in college is simple “Hard work.” Within a five year span he sees himself graduating from Cal State University of Channel Islands. Oscar likes the environment at Oxnard College and is surprised at how well he has done academically. He currently stands strong with a total of 52 units.

Family

Family is a very strong word. It can also have different meanings to a variety of different people. To some family might represent their close friends who they have personally chosen, either because their family might not be anywhere near them, or simply because they don’t have much a family to begin with. In my belief, culture affects a lot of what people think of as their family nowadays. In my culture, as with many others, spending time with the family is crucial. However, I see many people forgetting about their culture and don’t seem to care much about spending time with their family. In some rare cases I’ve seen cultures that don’t even seem to acknowledge the fact that they have a family. It is my opinion that family keeps people sane with the feeling of being able to connect with others that can relate and accept you for who you truly are without judging you. That being said, I see many people my age without any type of family to turn to with their problems, and I notice it frustrates them. This might lead them to create their own family based on trusted friends. I do not blame them. However, many of these young people, (but not all), who only have their friends to turn to, go on to commit crimes as a result of misguided anger. Nevertheless, I believe everyone needs a type of family to be there for them, and ultimately keep them strong.    

My First Full Time Job

I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was a beautiful Saturday morning during the month of June in 2009. As I lay in bed half asleep, I received a call from an un familiar phone number. Still feeling somewhat sleepy, I answered the call with a groggy voice. To my surprise, I was greeted by the sweet voice of a lady at the other end of the line. After confirming my identity she offered me a full time job at Harbor Freight Tools, starting the following week on Monday. Almost instantly I awoke to my five senses, and accepted the position. After hanging up I laid in bed fully awake from the call, and I remember thinking to myself, “what a great way to start my Saturday morning”.

            I had been waiting for that call for quite some time, and after receiving it, I was stoked. I was only 18 years old, and at the time had only worked at a few part time jobs in retail; however, that month of June I began working at my first full time job. I was ready to make the transition to a full time job. I felt like I finally had a real job, and more importantly I was on my way to becoming a man.

            Monday came around and I was expected to be at work at 6:00 a.m. for my training. I made sure I was extra early for my first day on the job. As I walked into the noisy, box filled warehouse, my watch read 5:50 a.m. and was quickly greeted by the lady whom I had spoken with on the phone. As we walked through the cold warehouse, she led the way. All I could think about was how closely the warehouse resembled Home Depot with its long, four story high, orange aisles. As we reached the corner of the warehouse she began to explain my job duties. I was responsible for only one aisle in the huge warehouse. I would walk down my aisle and paste a label on any box ordered from my aisle. Then, I would take that same box or boxes to the shipping dock, and repeat the process all day long. My job duties seemed easy enough, and they seemed like something I would grow to like fairly quickly.

            Soon I became accustomed to my daily schedule. I would work during the day , and attend a few classes during the evening. At this point in time everything seemed great. However, as the weeks passed by, my job suddenly required me to work a lot of mandatory overtime; consequently, I was forced to drop my evening classes. I completely stopped going to school. A couple of days after I had dropped my classes, I was called up to the main office by the company manager. He wanted to speak with me in private.

            As I walked into the cold and poorly lit office, the noise of the warehouse gradually began to fade away behind me as the door was swung shut. The manager then greeted me with a firm hand shake. He then took a seat in his large leather chair. As he sat behind his wooden desk, his eyes looked deep into mine. He then began to speak and firmly said, “there’s been some changes around the warehouse, and next week you will begin working the night shift”. I couldn’t believe what I had heard. After leaving his office I felt frustrated, since I had no control over his decision. I was going to have to switch shifts if I wanted to keep my job.

            As the months rolled by one after the other, I began to question whether my job was worth putting my education on hold. On one hand I enjoyed having the extra money I had, since I didn’t have many bills to pay; however, on the other hand I knew my education was worth more than the extra money I had to myself. After taking some time to think about the situation deeply, it became clear to me. I simply had no future working there. I was working at a dead end job, earning a little over minimum wage, with no control over my working schedule. It was then when I realized if I didn’t invest in my education, I would be stuck working at similar jobs for the rest of my life. I was sure that I didn’t want for my future, I wanted to have control over my working schedule, and I needed to do something about it. I had to go back to college and finish my education while I still had the opportunity.

            Finally after working at Harbor Freight Tools for a full year, the month of June came around again, and I had made a decision. It was half ways through the month as I walked through the warehouse with casual clothes on.  I made my way to the manager’s office. When I reached the manager’s office I was sure about what I was going to do. I walked in, took a seat in front of the manager and simply told him “I quit”. I told him I had my own reasons, and my priorities had shifted. I thanked him for the opportunity given to me to work at the warehouse, and he thanked me for my time. As I walked out of the warehouse for the last time that day, I was happy with the decision I had made. I was ready to pursue my education once again and nothing could get in my way. Furthermore, I was in control of setting my own schedule once again and wouldn’t let anything get in the way of my education again. The very next semester I signed up for school again, and started attending college part time. My first full time job served as an experience to help me realize what I really wanted to do with my life, and that was pursue an education, and transfer to a California State University with the intentions of majoring in agricultural engineering.           

texting

   Texting is a very common form of communication. It can be very handy, especially when you cannot reach someone by simply calling them. However, I myself don’t enjoy texting as much as others do. I would much rather call someone or speak to them in person if possible. I feel that a lot of the actual meaning and expression of a message gets lost through texting. Emotion cannot really be read because you cannot hear the tone of the person’s voice or see their face expressions. Although I notice many people prefer to text rather than call or talk to someone face to face, I try to avoid texting unless it’s the only way to reach someone.

   In recent years texting has become a problem for people who cannot stop texting while they are driving. This has led to many deaths, especially in most recent years. Unfortunately even though people are aware of the risk they are taking while driving and texting, I still see  many people doing it.   

reality television

There isn’t much I can say about reality television shows. The reason I say that is because I do not really like to watch reality shows. In my opinion they are boring. I don’t find any type of entertainment out of these reality television shows. I believe if you want “reality”, you should go out and experience it, instead of spending hours glued to the television watching some choreographed television show. There is too much drama and not enough reality in reality television shows nowadays, but it seems like that’s what everyone wants to see.

In a sense it seems like reality television shows are becoming a part of American culture just like fast food. It seems that everywhere I go people are talking about the latest or upcoming episode of the newest reality television show. I think reality television has a great effect mainly on the younger generation of teenagers. I see many young teenagers trying to imitate many of the characters on “Jersey Shore”. Having said that, I think reality television shows can have a negative influence on society, especially on younger teenagers. On the other hand, these reality television shows may also have a positive effect on society. For example, by exposing many of the consequences of teen pregnancies, (as seen on teen mom) people can gain a more profound sense of knowledge, and try to avoid the mistakes made by other people on these reality television shows. It all depends on how you perceive what you are watching, and how you project that onto society.  

fast food nation blog

Fast Food Nation Blog

My history with fast food has never been too bad. As a child I would eat at a fast food restaurant only every once in a big while. I would say McDonald’s was definitely my favorite fast food restaurant as a child, and every time I went I would order a happy meal. However, my parents have never been big fans of eating out at any fast food joint. As a result, whenever I ate at a fast food place I saw it as a treat. As a child I never thought about how healthy the food I was putting in my mouth was. At the time I thought it tasted great.

About a year and a half ago I completely stopped eating any type of fast food. I realized how unhealthy the food at any fast food restaurant was. In addition, I just didn’t like the way burgers, or anything for that matter, tasted at fast food joints. The food at fast food places just didn’t taste like real food, it tasted like a heated up piece of plastic to me. I haven’t touched any type of fast food in a very long time and it currently plays no part in my life. I completely shun it. I realize just how unhealthy the food produced by fast food joints is and completely avoid it. After doing some research on the nutrition facts of the items sold at some fast food places I was stunned by the results, and I can see why they are not put up on the menu. I can’t see fast food ever playing a big part in my life, I would much rather have a home cooked meal if possible.   

Marco Cabrera

          Hello everyone, this is first time writing a blog, not too sure how to start, but here goes nothing. My name is Marco Cabrera I am 22 years old and was born in the city of Ventura. Shortly after I was born my family decided to move to Moorpark, where I lived until I was about five years old. In the summer of 1996 my family decided to move to Oxnard, and I have spent the past sixteen years of my life living in Oxnard. I have no siblings as I am an only child, however growing up with many of my cousins I never felt much like an only child. Growing up with many family members that were my age was a great childhood experience and I will never forget about it.

          Currently I am attending Oxnard College to finish my general education. I am about two-thirds done with my general education and hope to finish as soon as possible. This semester I am enrolled in seven units and hope to provide my full attention to both of my courses. Through this course I hope to develop better writing skills and reading skills as I am a little rusty in English.

          In the future I plan to transfer either to San Luis Obispo, San Diego State University, or Fresno State University. Up to this point I am undecided about my major, although I am leaning towards agricultural engineering. I’ve never gave much thought about creating a family of my own because it’s not in my near future plans. I would like to start a family only after I am done with my education. In the future I also plan on traveling to many different parts of the world.