Response to Fish Oil Presentation

     Some of the main points in this presentation were how fish oil can benefit your health, omega-3s, how people discovered fish oil, and some of his personal experiment. He talked about how he took a total of 6 fish oil pills a day and even showed a chart that illustrated how the fish oil effected his health by showing stats from the beginning of the month compared to stats at the end of the month. Overall, a very informative and well organized presentation!
     One thing that I found very interesting in this presentation was some of the history of fish oil. I think it is pretty interesting that fish oil was discovered because people started noticing that communities that were near water and communities who's diets were more based on fish tended to be healthier! Another thing I found very interesting was that fish oil can actually help you lose weight.
     I am not usually very easily persuaded, but after hearing this presentation, I am really considering incorporating fish oil into my diet. I thought that I took away a lot of information from this presentation. it was very informative and well thought out.

Response to Napping Presentation

     This presentation was very organized and presented well. The main points of this presentation included how naps can be beneficial to a person's health, power napping, how napping relates to stress, body weight, etc. She also talked about her personal experience a little bit as well and how she tried to completely cut out napping of her daily routine.
     One thing that I found very interesting about her presentation was how short "power naps" can be and still be effective. I never would have imagined that taking a fifteen minute nap would have any effect on me at all. I also really like and found the question and answer portion of her presentation very interesting. They were very informative and creative.
     Some things that I can take away from this presentation are that napping throughout the day does not mean you are lazy and can actually benefit your health both mentally and emotionally.

Response to Caffeine Presentation

     Some of the main points of this presentation included how caffeine works and some effects it has on the human body. The experiment was also mentioned in the presentation and how it affected Jaime's life. She talked about how it took a lot of getting used to, but now that the experiment is over, she does not drink caffeine as much anymore. 

     One very interesting point in this presentation I thought was how much weight was lost just in one month of avoiding caffeinated drinks. I had no idea that these kinds of drinks could have such a great impact on body weight! It was also cool that she talked about saving money because some caffeinated drinks that people love, like Starbucks, can get pretty pricey.

     Something that I can take away from this presentation is that caffeine is probably not the healthiest of choices when I am going to get something to drink out of the refrigerator. 

Response to Photoshop Presentation

     The main points of this presentation included talking about photoshop and what it is. Also, what all of the features are on photoshop and how people can completely manipulate photos to make people look completely different. Photoshop can make skin look brighter, remove blemishes, and even slim people down. People look up to celebrities and when they see them on magazines they try to emulate them and they want to look just like them. However, the way they appear on these magazines is not how they really look because the images have been altered by photoshop.
     What I found interesting about this presentation was actually how much a persons appearance can be altered by photoshop and how much this tool is actually used in the media. From this presentation, I took away not to always believe what you see and know that even celebrities aren't perfect when they appear to be on magazine covers and in articles.
 

Response to Exercising Presentation

     Some of the main points for this presentation were the benefits of exercising and how these benefits are not only physical, they can be mental as well. Another main point was the sense of achievement and confidence boost that most people experience during or after they exercise. One thing that I found very interesting in this presentation was the experiment that was mentioned about the people who exercised regularly, six out of seven days a week, and then were told they were not allowed to exercise for a period of time. It was interesting to me that the peoples moods changed while they were not allowed to exercise and that as soon as they were allowed to exercise again, their moods went back to normal. I found that very interesting. I also found interesting the fact that exercising can aid in anger management, and also the experiment that was mentioned to confirm this claim.
     Some things that I can take away from this presentation include that exercise has a lot of positive benefits involved with it. However, it is not good to ever overdue exercising and physical activity because it can be hazardous to ones health.

Response to Stress Presentation

     This website was very interesting and thought out well. Some of the main points of this presentation included how stress actually works. It also included ways that you can relieve stress and get your mind off things or distract yourself. Another main point was the aspect of meditation and how it is a remedy for stress. One thing that I found interesting about this presentation was the fact that meditation is the most effective way to reach absolute calmness within yourself. Another aspect that I found very interesting was that there are several different types of meditation. When I think of meditation, I only think of the most basic technique of meditation. I was unaware that there are more complex and difficult strategies to meditating.
     From this argument, I can take away a lot of tips on how to relieve my stress. It was helpful to me because, being a college student, I am stressed the majority of the time, as most college students are. I could use some of the remedies mentioned in the presentation to help me cope with and reduce my stress levels.

Response to Lucid Dreaming Presentation

     This was a very interesting topic and presentation. Some of the main points of this presentation included what lucid dreaming is, being able to control your dreams and realize that you are actually dreaming, lucid dreaming as an escape, and lucid dreaming as it relates to improvement. What I found interesting about this presentation, first of all, was the visual. It was very vibrant and colorful which immediately caught my attention. It was also very neat and organized. Also, what I found interesting, was that Vinnie was actually able to experience a lucid dream himself. That was something that I thought would never even be possible, I can barely even remember my dreams half the time, let alone actually realize that I am dreaming while I am asleep!
     From the argument, I took away a couple different things. One being that lucid dreaming is actually possible if you make the effort and have the determination. More personally, for me, I thought that the presentation also hinted at the fact that if you put your mind to something and have the drive and motivation, you can make it happen. Overall very interesting!

Multi-modal project

     For my multi-modal project, right now I was thinking that I wanted to create a video that I could introduce at the beginning and then when it was finished, wrap up at the end. Also, maybe have a few times while it was running that I would talk and explain some things. I am not the best at oral presentations, so I think for everyone to get the most out of my presentation, this would be the best way to go. I don't really have too many ideas on what I want to put in my presentation yet, so if there is anything anyone would like to see, I am open for suggestions! I did my project on caffeine consumption.

This is going back to my research project and being tired without drinking any caffeine.

What is Text?

     In my eyes, the word text can be referring to a few different things. It could be referring to someone else's words, for example in a book or in an essay. It could also be referring to your own words. Text is something that is written down. It is not simply words floating around in your thoughts. Text is a group of words that have been thoroughly thought out and organized into an easy to understand fashion and have been written down or typed into some sort of document or on paper.

Excellence is Not an Act, but a Habit

     Over break, I did not intentionally continue my experiment. I love drinking pop and caffeine and honestly, caffeine is what keeps me awake most days. However, for spring break I just went home and had a relaxing week. I slept in almost every day and was wide awake usually without the help of caffeine. Because of this, I was not tempted as much to drink caffeinated drinks. I found myself drinking more milk and water just because I had been in the habit of it and did not feel that I needed the extra energy. I think it is very interesting that I subconsciously did not consume as many caffeinated drinks as I normally would have and I think that Aristotle's quote is very accurate in that it was more because I had gotten in the habit and mind-set of not having caffeine.

Experiment: Week Four

This is the last week of the experiment and I am exhausted! I have had numerous headaches this past week and I have just been outright sluggish. We began practicing longer hours this week as well for volleyball, which I am sure is not helping my case much. However, I am doing my best to stay away from caffeine. I am going to be very excited when I am allowed to drink caffeinated drinks again. This experiment was very eye opening for me. It has shown me that I depend on caffeine a lot just to get me through the week. I have been falling asleep earlier and taking naps more often. These results are probably expected, however I did not realize how much it would impact me!

Waste Land

     The statement made by Vik Muniz in The waste land, I believe is completely true in some situations. However, I also think that it has to do with ones perception on a situation. Two different people could look at one situation completely differently. One person could view a situation as a learning experience, for example, while maybe another person can only manage to find the negative aspect in the situation.
     In my opinion, his argument does not change so much throughout the documentary itself. I think that his statement changes more peoples view on their lives. In the beginning of the film, a lot of the workers, in my opinion, simply thought that this job was the only option they had. It was the only way they could survive and they knew that was going to be where they would be the rest of their lives. After their experience with Vik, and they saw how he could take useless garbage and mold and create it into a beautiful work of art, I believe they started seeing that they could better their lives and make something more out of themselves, just like Vik made something better out of the garbage. I think it had the most affect on the man that was in charge of the landfill picking, when he accompanied Vik to the auction and was able to witness himself how much money Vik was able to make off of his work created from garbage. It was really cool to see the workers outlook on life change after their experience.
     I do believe that this statement could be considered universal because I think with the right mind set, anyone can better their lives if they think about how they can apply this quote. If someone is always looking at situations with a negative attitude, then no, I don't believe anything better can come out of it. However, if people are optimistic and see that if they try hard enough, they can make something negative into something more positive or beautiful. This statement can relate to anyone who is going through a hardship. It is a very inspiring message that I think can be very helpful to people.

Experiment: Week Three

     This week I have continued to avoid caffeine no matter what. Let me just say, with 6 a.m. lifting workouts for volleyball every morning during the week, this is not easy to do. I have had a lot of headaches and have actually noticed that I have not been able to lift as much weight as I normally am able to. The energy just is not there which I thought was very interesting. It is definitely not a mental matter. I will be very excited when I can once again drink caffeine.

Experiment: Week Two

     Today, I am starting the second part of my experiment, cutting out caffeine completely. This means no caffeinated pop, no Starbucks, no chocolate. Let's just say this is going to be a difficult two weeks for me. I am extremely interested however in how it will affect my mood, my health, my sleeping patterns, and more. With the first part of my experiment I noticed I was frequently in a very good mood despite the fact that I had to be up at 6 a.m. every day and wasn't taking a nap later on in the day. This was very different because normally a schedule like that would make me very irritable and in a very bad mood. We'll see how these last few weeks go!

Experiment: Week One

     For the first week of my experiment I am drinking at least 40 ounces of a caffeinated drink each day at no specific time. Throughout the first few days I have been alternating a lot what I drink. I have had diet caffeinated drinks, regular caffeinated drinks, and the occasional cup of Starbucks coffee. I have consistently gotten right around 6 hours of sleep each night going to bed at midnight and waking up at 6 a.m. for my morning volleyball lifting workout. I am usually exhausted after this workout and occasionally get an an hour nap before I'm off to class. I haven't noticed any major changes through the first week other than having a headache the second day of the experiment and on the fourth day I woke up with a pretty bad cold. I am starting to feel better and am continuing to drink my caffeine.

That's the Nature of Research

     The object I brought with me was a bracelet. It was just a little metallic leather bracelet you could probably find just about anywhere. I personally found it at Tropical Trends and wore it religiously for a good six months. This bracelet doesn't have any deep meaning to me other than I really loved wearing it at one point in time. It reminds me a lot of my senior year in high school because that is when I wore it daily. However I chose to bring it because a lot of times, bracelets like this one are symbols of friendship if given as a gift and they can have a lot of significance to people.
     I then destroyed the bracelet by cutting it up into little pieces with scissors. I took the pieces home and pondered what I could possibly create with the pieces I had left. I decided that I would create a Christmas tree ornament with the pieces. i used the golden part of the bracelet to make a star and then used the string part that was on the bracelet to create something so it could actually hang on the tree. Considering the quote, "all acts of creation require an act of destruction," I believe this to be very true. In order to even be inspired to create something new, I believe there must be some sort of problem or destruction to want to create something new.  

The Art of Listening

     The article, "In Africa, the Art of Listening," was a very intriguing article in my opinion. The author posed some very interesting ideas about people and how we have changed over time and how we are now. The author seems to think that humans are story telling creatures, and the only way to get anything out of story telling is by being able to be a good listener. I think that this relates to the situation we read in class in the sense that there were several people taking place in an argument and from the way the excerpt sounded, the argument wasn't going to be getting resolved any time soon. Possibly, if the individuals involved would have taken a step back from the situation and would have taken the time to listen to some other prospectives on the topic, the issue could have been resolved. If you don't take the time to listen, you will never be able to give anyone else a chance to explain their point of view to you, ultimately never believing that you are wrong. Everyone is wrong every once in a while. I think if these people would have been better listeners, the problem wouldn't have been as big of a deal.
     I also believe that this could relate to our research project. I think that being a good listener also has to do with being able to read between the lines in a sense. I think it involves going thinking deeper into what a person is actually saying. Throughout our research, we will most likely come across opinions, whether it be from other people or simply online sources. I think if we take the time to listen to them, and not just assume that we are right, our research may come out far more accurate.

Library Session

     I learned a lot of new information during the library session on Thursday. I had used some databases before, but I had never really been taught how specifically to use them effectively. This session went in depth on how to really search and find reliable sources on the topic you wanted. I also learned how the library's website worked and some of its really helpful features. Before the session, I had never been on the website because I didn't know how to work it or what it did. Now I know not only what the website can do, but I know how to use it as well. I know how to use cardcat, which I had no idea even existed.
     This information will be very helpful when it comes to my project for this class. I have already used the databases to find some resources for my topic proposal. I think this information will also be helpful because I now know how to search for books in the library on my topic using the website, when before I most likely would have relied solely on the internet for my information. I also think that being able to talk to a librarian will be helpful. They will know a lot of information that I think will aid in my research process. Overall, this session was extremely helpful and has made me feel a lot better about this project.

Find Out What's Important To You

     Of the given communities, I would say that my personal community is the most important or most significant to me. My family and friends play a large role in my life and in everything I do and I don't know where I would be without them. My mom, my dad, my sister, and my grandmother are the family members that I am closest with and rely on the the most. I also have several different groups of friends. I have friends that I play sports with in several states, I have a group of friends at home, in Columbus, Ohio, and I have a group of friends here at Ball State.

     Some discussions that take place within this community include a lot about my daily life and activities. In addition, my family and friends are the biggest support groups that I have and when we are together we talk about topics that maybe I need help with or reassurance. I always know that I can go to them with problems and they know that they can come to me if they ever need help with their problems.

     I have relied on my family and friends in a lot of situations to help me with major decisions. For example, I played club volleyball my entire high school career. About two years ago, I had a big decision to make. The team that I had played for my whole career was bringing in another player in that played my same position. I had to make the decision whether to stay on that team and sacrifice some playing time, or to play with another team where I would be guaranteed more playing time. However, that meant stepping out of my comfort zone getting used to playing with new people. My friends and family where there for me when I made the decision to play with a new team. They supported my decision and were there for me when I was frustrated with the situation, or just simply needed someone to talk to about everything.

     A problem that exist in this community is that everything is not always perfect. There are disagreements and bickering between family members and friends. When this happens, it is not always the easiest thing to deal with, but it is always important to stay strong and make the most of the situation. Though there are conflicts, your family and friends will always be there for you in the end.