Text Wrestling

In “Offensive Play”, Malcolm Gladwell proposes that head-injuries in football stem from the dysfunctional relationship between the sport’s players and the game. While I agree with Gladwell that relationships play a part in football injuries, I don’t think the blame lies solely on the sport’s players or the game. I think the relationship problem that is allowing brain injuries to occur in football is a lot more complicated and dysfunctional than Gladwell proposes.

Gladwell provides compelling evidence that there are a lot of people who have relationships with football, all of whom know that playing football can result in irreparable damage to the brain, yet appear to do nothing but watch it happen. There are players, like Kyle Turley, who puts himself back in the game, after being sent to the hospital for a serious head-injury, which his comrades then minimize by joking about the fact that he can’t remember being naked while hugging the team’s captain. There are neuropathology scientists, like Ann McKee, who is also a Green Bay Packers fan, and Bennet Omalu, who also studies C.T.E., who know about the devastating impact that Tau takes on the brain and how it slowly tormented the lives of some of football’s greatest players. There are researchers like Kevin Guskiewicz, the head of the U.N.C.’s concussion research program, who tracks data about hits to the head by analyzing the data he gets from helmet-mounted sensors, and then compares the impact to someone crashing their head on a windshield in a car accident. And last but not least, there is the National Football League that pays millions of dollars to former football players with dementia, a condition that eventually came after they lived years struggling through life C.T.E. (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) whose cause is tied to brain trauma.

However, “Offensive Play” reports that not everyone who finds out about football injuries chooses to ignore it. In 1905, President Roosevelt knew about it and requested a meeting at the White House to discuss the brutality of the game, although Gladwell doesn’t mention what happened as a result of that meeting, beyond Roosevelt’s concerns. But, considering that twelve of America’s top colleges met to consider abolishing the sport, that same year, the concern of Roosevelt may have at least prompted others to take a closer look at the sport. Yet, Gladwell’s essay only mentions one college who actually took the nation’s growing concerns over player-safety a step further. According to Gladwell, “Columbia University dropped the sport entirely”.

Over a century after Roosevelt’s meeting, football remains controversial, judging by the by the interesting connections that Gladwell’s makes between football and the unethical and brutal activity known as dog-fighting in his article that was published in 2009. One of the most interesting and disturbing connections of which I found to be the one between Roger Goodell, commissioner of the N.F.L. and Michael Vick. After a judge decided that Vick should serve two years in prison for torturing and electrocuting dogs and his participation in sport of dog fighting, Goodell decided that Vick would be a good fit for the N.F.L. and allowed him to rejoin the league.

Do football injuries continue to devastate the lives of its players because of those who have relationships with it? I think they do.

Annotation

When was dunkin donuts founded?
Who is the founder?

Approximately how many dunkin donuts are there in the United States?
Why the colors orange and pink?
How are Dunkin donuts rebuilding in this tough economy?How much profit do they make in a year?

Does America really run on dunkin?

What is the average number of Americans that pay for coffee everyday?

How much caffeine does America consume?

Why does Dunkin use steirofoam and starbucks use cardboard?

Is Dunkin turning healthy?

Why the healthier food?
Haven't they done fine with selling donuts, bagels, and coffee?
Is America really beginning to eat healthier?

Were the demands for healthier food big enough to turn Dunkin around?

Will coffee prices every stay the same?
Why such a rise in coffee prices?
Where does Dunkin Donuts get their coffee from?
Is is really the best coffee?
Dunkin Donuts vs. Starbucks? Who wins?

Essay 4- Annotation

1. Is Wicca some form of religion or practice?
2. Can you tell if someone is Wiccan?
3. How come I never hear of it in the media?
4. Why does is have such a negative impact on people's opinions?
5. What good does it bring to our world?
6. By studying it, does it make you a better person?
7. What does that symbol represent?
8. What are witches?
9. Can you really hurt people by practicing Wicca?
10. How do Wiccans worship?

Annotation

Where is this notice posted?

• Is this a residential or a commercial property?
• Is it privately owned or publicly owned?

What is an Order of Quarantine?

• Do all Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs get quarantined?
• What is required to have this Order of Quarantine removed?
• Do other cities/towns/counties or states quarantine properties where Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs have been found?

What is a Clandestine Methamphetamine Lab?

• What kind of people operate a Clandestine Methamphetamine Lab?
• How many quarantine orders have been issued for Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs Covington, TN? Tipton County, TN? The state of TN?

What is T.C.A 68-212-503 and why does the "public welfare" require it?


What is a hazardous substance?

• What kinds of hazardous substances "may remain on this property"?
• Why do they "pose a threat to human health" ?
• Why is this property considered "unsafe for human use"?
• What are the medical implications of someone being exposed to the hazardous substances that may remain on this property?

Why is a crime to enter a quarantined property?

• What is a Class B Misdemeanor?

What impact does a Clandestine Methamphetamine Lab have on:

• a neighborhood?
• on society as a whole?

annotation project

1. What does this picture stand for?
2. What is Autism?
3. Who gets Autism?
4. What are the symptoms?
5. Is there a cure?
6. What are the treatments?
7. Is there ongoing research?
8. What is the prognosis?

Debra Morrissey

New Annotation

I chose a different picture. Here it is, along with the new questions relating to it.

What does this label mean?
Can it be used on anything?
How does “Organic” affect us or our environment?
What are the costs associated with this label? For the consumer or producer?
What products can use this label?
How long has this label been in use?
Who regulates this label?
What does this label mean for our future?
Can we notice a difference in products carrying this label?
How readily available are the products of this label?
Is this label the same as “Natural”?

Annotation

What is hemp?
How is it grown?
Where is it grown?
When was it discovered?
What are its uses?

**Updated Questions**

1. How did Hemp, a once mandated crop turn illegal to grow but legal to import?

2. What is the difference between hemp and marijuana plants?

3. Is it possible to legalize the farming of industrial hemp without confusing it with marijuana?

4. If legalized, what impact could this have on the United States economy?

5. How can industrial hemp help our environment?

Hambuger&fries!

1.How many people eat at fast food chains per day?
2.How much money is spent per year by a single person on fast food?
3.Is eating fast food's really harmful to your health and why?
4.How much weight does a person gain if they eat fast food for a week straight?
5.Fast food causes acne?
6.Where is the healthy fast food? What can I order?
7.You love french fries.The healthiest french fries are where?
8.What health affect are at risk when eating junk food?
9.Calories to one meal are?
10.What happens when your arteries are clogged?
11.What happens to your heart when eating fried fast foods?
11.How is fast food associated with diabetes?




Updated questions

1.How many people est fast food Chains per day, and how much money is spend per year?
2.What happens to your arteries when clogged, your heart when eating fried foods, how is fast food associated with diabetes?
3. On average how many families are losing out on table time because of fast food,and what about lack of home cooking?
4.Where are the healthiest french fires at a fast food restaurant?
5.Calories to one fat food mean vs. a home cooked meal?
6. Choices on healthier fast food options?



Sources

The dark side of the all-American meal, Volume 1000
By Eric Schlosser (2001)

Type 2 Diabetes and Fast Food
http://www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes/type-2-diabetes-and-fast-food.aspx

Eating Fast Food Means Weight Gain, Insulin Resistance for Teens
http://womenshealth.about.com/od/girlshealth101/a/fastfoodteenwei.htm

THE RHODE ISLAND CANCER COUNCIL, INC./FAST FOOD
Your Trusted LOCAL Source of Cancer Information
http://www.ricancercouncil.org/health/fastfood.php

Organic Consumer Association Magazine
Fast Food is a Major Public Health Hazard
article 3

Boxers

What kind of dog is this?
Why do many people love this specific dog?
Do they grow to be big dogs?
How big do they grow?
Are there any illnesses that this specific dog could have over time?
If so are there any cures?
Are these type of dogs easily trained?
Are they great with chidren and people in general?
What is the best quality in these dogs?
Would you consider this to be a family dog?

Annotation topic

what is this?
when did the first Ipod touch come out?
who came out with the ipod?
what features does the ipod have?
how much money have they made off the ipod?
have there been any big problems with it?

Annotation topic

How much does it cost to have a dog as a best friend?
How did dogs become man’s best friend?
Why are dogs man’s best friend?
Are all breeds equally mans best friend?
Why not a cat as a best friend?
How much time does this best friend occupy?
Do dogs miss their best friend if they pass away?
Are there requirements to having a dog as a best friend?
Should I have a dog as a best friend?
What is the life expectancy of this type of best friend?
Best friends until the end? Dogs effects on senior citizens.

Week ending 4/18

I have also changed my picture to the top one I wasn't sure how to get rid of the old one though.

Walsh, Froma. "Human-Animal Bonds I: The Relational Significance of Companion Animals." Family Process 4(2009):462. eLibrary. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.

"Fido Takes A Bite Out Of American Pocketbooks." Narr. TERRY GROSS. Fresh Air. 26 Mar. 2010. Transcript. eLibrary. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.

Saint Louis University. "Man's Best Friend: Study Shows Lonely Seniors Prefer Playtime With Pooch Over Human Interaction." ScienceDaily 9 January 2006. 17 April 2010 .


http://www.petplace.com/dogs/do-dogs-mourn/page1.aspx
http://dogs.about.com/od/becomingadogowner/a/costofdogs.htm

Updated questions.

How have relationships between people and pets changed over the years?
Best friends until the end? Dogs effects on senior citizens.
Do dogs miss their owner or other canine companion if one passes away?
What is the cost of owning a dog?

Annotation Topic

Here is my new topic. The topic about liver shunts remained too specific.

How did Disney World get its start? (A brief history)

What charity work has Disney done?

What do they offer members of the Armed Services?

What advancements have they made in technology?

How does Disney affect the local community in Orlando?

What is the "Disney Model" and why do other companies want to follow it?

Works cited:

Works Cited

Disney. Corporate Responsibility. Walt Disney World Resort Donates $12.5 Million to Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center. CSRwire. 14 May 2007. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. .

Disney Institute. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. .

Garcia, Jason. "Disney Quietly Working on $1 Billion-Plus "Next Generation" Project." The Daily Disney. Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2010. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. .

Give Kids The World: Corporate Heroes. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. .

Johnston, Theresa. "Disney's Armed Forces Salute." About.com: Orlando. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. .

Kober, J. Jeff. The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney. 1st ed. Kissimmee: Performance Journeys, 2009. Print.

Nissen, Bruce, Eric Schutz, and Yue Zhang. Walt Disney World's Hidden Costs: The Impact of Disney's Wage Structure on the Greater Orlando Area. Research. Miami: Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy, 2007. Print.

Rafferty, Kevin, and Bruce Gordon. Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real. New York: Disney Editions, 1996. Print.

Shades of Green® Resort. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. .

"Study: Disney Still Drives C. Fla. Economy." Orlando Business Journal (2004):

1-2. Orlando Business Journal. 28 May 2004. Web. 24 Apr. 2010.

.

Annotation Topic

What is this?
Why the two colors?
Why a separation in two sides?
Why the tear drop shape on each side?

Heather Fournier

Computers

What is a computer?
How have computers changed over the years?
How have they changed how we live?
Are flat screen monitors better?
How are computers used in daily life?


This is my new topic.