THE END

With the world coming to an end, at least I can die happily after completing this course. Writing Rhetorically is a course where students learn how to communicate to a variety of audiences, and think complexly. This semester is coming to an end and if there were to be one thing that I can say I learned,  it is that writing does not only "matter in college", it matters in life. Writing Job applications, blogs, cover letters, reports, e- mail's,  or even lab reports are all writings we possibly do on a regular basis. In high school, writing assignments were conducted with little to no freedom. Natural writing voices were lost, writing projects had to be five paragraphs no matter what, and on top of that the prompts were not even broad. After the completion of this semesters english class, I have gained my own personality when writing and it has been presented within my blogs by gaining knowledge of different writing styles.
Short stories, argumentive essays, editorials, and just to name a few are all writing styles our class attacked this semester. Learning research paths,  how to write a thesis, and writing structure, all varied amongst different styles. Gaining this information put me two steps ahead in the presence of my colleagues, or those who did not take this course. Whether I was sending an applications with a cover letter, or a lab report for chemistry class, I knew how to attack each assignment. These are information I wish I knew all along. Getting insight from each assignment given to me this semester has allowed me to digest small things from each chapter that'll allow me to create this individual writing style that I speak of. For example, I remember in one chapter it spoke of incorporating sarcasm and humor in a  writing. I am a humurous guy so why not put my own voice onto the paper?
Surely, I am very pleased with the results shown in my writing from this class. High School does not even compare. Writing is how we communicate with others, wether it is through the cyber world or through a piece of paper, our writing needs to be able to stand out. To do that, we must establish our own personality in our writings. Professor Mcpherson once told our class, "You all have individual qualities about yourselves, and If you can just be yourself in your writings, it will be that much more beautiful." I will cherish those words forever.

A Blow To The Head

                New National Football League's (NFL) rules aim to limit the number of head injuries amongst professional players. Applying more fines and penalties to head collisions on game day will increase a level of player safety. Issues arise as former NFL players file lawsuits on the league based due long term brain effects. It is said to be the biggest lawsuit in sport history, and targeting the National Football League can take away the way the game is played and viewed from pop warner to the professional league. According to ABCNews, “More than 2,000 former NFL players filed a lawsuit. These men are accusing the league of concealing head trauma information, linking football- related injuries to long-term brain damage." Some fans may disagree that these changes will take away the very nature of the game, the excitement, and the violence. The destructive potential effects can cause major issues to the brain, therefore, I believe that the safety of professional football players should be top priority.

                Multiple bows to the head, documented, and or un-documented concussions are leading to horrific long term effects to football athletes in America. Long term affects from concussions can include loss of memory, behavioral issues, depression, headaches, and etc.  Many former professional players have even died, one in particular, former Patriots’ linebacker Junior Seau. He was found dead in his own home to what was apparent to be a suicide. ABC News reporters say that Seau’s death may be related to head trauma during his active days in the league.

                Jim McMahon said in an interview about his fellow teammates and friends, “breaks your heart, a guy that you have known for years and years and he cannot recognize you, does not have any idea who you are or anyone else, that is just tough to deal with." The head trauma from these hits can and will cause a defect to the brain if the league does not take action. From personal experience, a collision to another player head on is equivalent to a car accident. It truly hurts and impairs one’s health. Most importantly, deriving from Jim McMahons’ statement, brain injuries affect the ones we love the most.

                Former NFL players are dying and memories are vanished. These brain injuries are irreversible so, why not make the safety amongst the players be top priority? The numbers of concussions across the nation are brought to our awareness more and more. New helmets are being built, new penalties, and fines are enforced. Football is a sport but, none the least it is also an entertainment business and without fans there will be no revenue for the league. Controversy arises as the thought comes to mind to please both sides. How do you make the game safer, while keeping the reason why people watch the game, still alive? But, players are dying more and more, just two reported in the last two weeks so, when do we say it is enough?

CITATION

AVILA, JIM. "Former NFL Players File Lawsuit Against League on Concussions." abc News. abc News, 7 2012. Web. 9 Dec 2012. <http://abcnews.go.com/US/nfl-players-file-lawsuit-league-concussions/story?id=16514359

abc news, , prod. Former NFL Players File Lawsuit Against League on Concussions. 2012. Film. 9 Dec 2012.

Going Green

           Do you feel as if things in the United States are just not the same as they once were? Well with the inflation of prices, it makes the American dream that much more difficult to achieve. Some prices that are set in the economy, just do not fit the average american hourly rate. The once adored lifestyles can no longer be fulfilled, and consolations are forced upon American families. The high average price increase of fuels and electricity in the United sates from 1990 to 2010 has caused Americans to become more stubborn about their spending habits for transportation.
            According to the United States census from 1990 to 2010, unleaded regular gas has increased from $1.16  to $2.79 per gallon. That is an average increase of a $ 1.63 per gallon. That is almost a two dollar increase per gallon. Also, unleaded premium has increased from $ 1.35 to $3.05 on average per gallon. Which is a $1.70 per gallon average difference over the course of twenty years. Now it comes to mind, how will the Americans react to this increase in price?
The increase in fuel has caused Americans to turn to more economically feasible ideas. Ideas like riding a bike. According to the bike league, survey results show that the estimated number of bicycle's sold from the U.S. bicycle market from 1997 to 2007 has increased from a total of 15.2 million bikes sold to 18.5 million. A 3.3 million total difference over the course of ten years. American people are using less machines that utilize fuel, and instead Americans are being more reliable to their own manual labor. A bike costs less, and on top of that, it uses no gas.
             Hybrid- electric cars do indeed run on regular gas, but not as much as conventional cars. These machines are much more fuel-efficient than regular cars. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, " the average mileage for a hybrid is at 38.7 miles per gallon(Roos, U.S Energy Administration)." Hybrid vehicles require far less  gas to cover the same distance as any conventional vehicle. The effect of the minimal gas used, causes for the less greenhouse gases emitted off into our atmosphere. In the U.S census the sales of hybrid- electric vehicles has increased noticeably. A sample from Americas two leading models, Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic shows a drastic difference from the year 1999 to 2011. From those two models, sales rose from absolutely nothing to almost 2.15 million.
              Each day Americans are finding new ways to save the planet, at the same time it save us all a few change in our pockets. Each cent counts nowadays, and each day new ideas are being created in order to make Americans less stubborn about their spending's for transportation. Riding a bike to nearby destination or even buying a hybrid- electric vehicle are all routes we can pursue to not spend our money on valuable costs that shift with the economy. Thomas Huxley once said," Economy does not lie in sparing money, but in spending it wisely. "

CITATION:
United States. US Department of Commerce. Prices: Fuel Prices. 2012. Web. <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/prices/fuel_prices.html>.

. "Facts & Figures." League of American Bicyclists. League of American Wheelmen, Inc., n.d. Web. 3 Dec 2012. <http://www.bikeleague.org/media/facts/

Roos, Dave. "Does hybrid car production waste offset hybrid benefits?." science.howstuffworks. A Discovery Company. Web. 3 Dec 2012. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/does-hybrid-car-production-waste-offset-hybrid-benefits2.htm>.