Don't you just LOVE finding new activities you enjoy doing? It's especially great when it is an activity that you never even thought of doing before! Recently I was introduced to the wonderful world of rock climbing. I had never been before and was invited to go for the first time about a month ago. I instantly fell in love.
Rock climbing is unlike many things I have ever done before. It is a great workout, but does not feel like you are exercising; and it is a very skilled process that can give instant gratification. The feeling of accomplishment when you finish a climb is amazing, and quite addicting. What I love most about rock climbing is that all levels of climbers are welcome--whether you're a beginner or have been climbing for years, you will have no problem fitting in.
I have only been climbing in a gym so far (Pipeworks in downtown Sac), but I cannot wait until I get the opportunity to climb outside! In the gym all of the courses are marked with colored tape to indicate their level. When climbing, you choose a course that is at your level and follow the holds with the same color tape. It is nice to have a course laid out for you already, and climbing at the gym is a lot fun. However, I think I am going to like outside climbing more. The courses are still already 'planned' because other climbers have discovered them, but they are not marked on the rock. Not only will I have to look harder for holds, which sounds fun to me, but I will also be outside, climbing real boulders. Being inside is nice for when the whether is bad, but there is nothing like being outside in the fresh air doing something you enjoy. I have been told it is harder to climb outside than in a gym, but I can't wait for the challenge!
Monday, November 12, 2007
"Let me call you back, I'm driving."
In today’s technology-driven world, it is nice to know our government is not afraid to step in and restrict the use of electronics in lieu of our health and safety. The banning of drivers talking on cell phones is supposed to be a great new law; not only is it designed to reduce the number of distractions for drivers, but law-makers are hoping it will reduce the number of distraction-caused accidents as well.
Harvard researchers estimated that one in 20 car accidents a year in the United States are linked to cell phones. They also say about 2,600 deaths result from those accidents every year. Although these estimates are a little sketchy because it is hard to determine the cause of many accidents, it can't be hard to imagine one in 20 car accidents being attributed to cell phone use, right? And even if the total number of accidents or deaths from cell phones is lower than the estimation, why not play it safe?
We all know there are many more distractions for drivers than just a cell phone. But eliminating one allows drivers to juggle the rest of the distractions without holding a phone to their ear as well. Now drivers will have two hands free to eat fast food, smoke cigarettes, and deal with the kids in the backseat all while having a conversation with a friend on the phone. I don’t know about you, but this seems much more efficient to me.
Despite the positive aspects of the law, many businessmen and women alike are probably not happy because it can significantly reduce the amount of time they are able to interact with clients. In today’s “time is money” way of life, driving time is time lost unless a business deal can be made while on the road. Businessmen and women might be afraid that they will bring in less money if they are not allowed to use their driving time efficiently.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger kept this in mind when passing the bill, which is why hands-free devices are allowed. The purpose of the new law, which goes into effect July 1, 2008, is to eliminate a distraction for drivers. Since, of course, it couldn’t possibly be the conversation that is distracting to drivers, but the fact that they have a phone held to their ear, the law allows drivers to talk on phones with ear pieces. This way they are still allowed to make business transactions and keep our economy running smoothly, all while being stuck in traffic. However, the law will ban text messaging and checking e-mail while on the road, which we can all agree is probably a good idea. Law-makers are hopeful that with both hands on the steering wheel, drivers will be safer while on the road.
The "only" problem with the new law is enforcing it. With the penalty being a $20 fine, drivers are not going to be too worried about getting pulled over for using their cell phones. And let’s be realistic, it is going to be pretty difficult for the police to tell if a person is on a cell phone unless they are stopped at a light or driving slowly. It is also hard to tell the difference between text messaging and picking a new song on an iPod. Though the law is great in theory, it seems a bit unrealistic when it comes to enforcing it. I guess the government is just hoping that the law will scare people away from driving while on the phone.
Harvard researchers estimated that one in 20 car accidents a year in the United States are linked to cell phones. They also say about 2,600 deaths result from those accidents every year. Although these estimates are a little sketchy because it is hard to determine the cause of many accidents, it can't be hard to imagine one in 20 car accidents being attributed to cell phone use, right? And even if the total number of accidents or deaths from cell phones is lower than the estimation, why not play it safe?
We all know there are many more distractions for drivers than just a cell phone. But eliminating one allows drivers to juggle the rest of the distractions without holding a phone to their ear as well. Now drivers will have two hands free to eat fast food, smoke cigarettes, and deal with the kids in the backseat all while having a conversation with a friend on the phone. I don’t know about you, but this seems much more efficient to me.
Despite the positive aspects of the law, many businessmen and women alike are probably not happy because it can significantly reduce the amount of time they are able to interact with clients. In today’s “time is money” way of life, driving time is time lost unless a business deal can be made while on the road. Businessmen and women might be afraid that they will bring in less money if they are not allowed to use their driving time efficiently.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger kept this in mind when passing the bill, which is why hands-free devices are allowed. The purpose of the new law, which goes into effect July 1, 2008, is to eliminate a distraction for drivers. Since, of course, it couldn’t possibly be the conversation that is distracting to drivers, but the fact that they have a phone held to their ear, the law allows drivers to talk on phones with ear pieces. This way they are still allowed to make business transactions and keep our economy running smoothly, all while being stuck in traffic. However, the law will ban text messaging and checking e-mail while on the road, which we can all agree is probably a good idea. Law-makers are hopeful that with both hands on the steering wheel, drivers will be safer while on the road.
The "only" problem with the new law is enforcing it. With the penalty being a $20 fine, drivers are not going to be too worried about getting pulled over for using their cell phones. And let’s be realistic, it is going to be pretty difficult for the police to tell if a person is on a cell phone unless they are stopped at a light or driving slowly. It is also hard to tell the difference between text messaging and picking a new song on an iPod. Though the law is great in theory, it seems a bit unrealistic when it comes to enforcing it. I guess the government is just hoping that the law will scare people away from driving while on the phone.
College: Time Well....Wasted?
It’s amazing how many college students in our generation take higher learning for granted. And believe me, I’m not any better, I know I take my college education for granted, but it seems hard not to. It is increasingly becoming a way of life. After high school, you go to college. No questions asked. It’s just what you do. This was different for the generation before us, and for the generation before that, a college education was only for the elite. For us--it's expected.
Society's higher expectations for our generation seem to result in a growing cynicism amongst college students of the importance of a college degree. When I was in high school, I knew I would be going to college afterwards; there was no doubt in my mind. I was young and excited, and I had big dreams for myself. I thought that a college degree would be my ticket to whatever career I wanted. Now that I am in college though, I find reasons not to attend class, despite the ridiculous amount of money that I spend on every unit I take. The more classes I take, the closer I am to obtaining my degree, the more I think a college degree is overrated. I have found that in the real world, it is all about who you know, rather that what you know.
Some students who feel the same cynicism towards college made a video called “A Vision of Students Today”. Some 200 college students, led by their professor, made the video to highlight the problems of higher education today. The students created a survey and took it, then collaborated all of the answers to find trends that are detrimental to the college system.
“A Vision of Students Today” is quite an eye-opening video that touches on many concerns of students today. They are concerns that plague many college students around the country, not just the few students who voiced their opinion on the video. I think these problems deserve to be looked at carefully, and I believe as more students realize the problems with our education system, more students will become cynical to the importance of a college degree.
The part of the video that talks about the number of pages a student will read in a semester, and how much of the reading will actually pertain to her life was most amusing to me. Professors assign reading homework, it seems, just to have something for their students to do. Unless there is a test designed specifically for the reading, most of what professors have us read is useless. And the cost of textbooks is even more outrageous than the fact that we have to read them! It baffles me that, after tuition is paid, students still fork out hundreds of dollars just on books! Usually books they will never need again.
I agree with the students in the video, students learn what they are doing, not necessarily what they are reading. Hands-on, real-life homework assignments are much more helpful to students. Filling out a scantron and marking bubbles A through E do not help them once they have their diploma. Being involved in real-world situations that would plague someone in their prospective profession is much more valuable than knowing all the key terms at the back of a chapter. Some professors know this, others will, hopefully, get on board soon. It is the only way our outdated education system will be revived.
Society's higher expectations for our generation seem to result in a growing cynicism amongst college students of the importance of a college degree. When I was in high school, I knew I would be going to college afterwards; there was no doubt in my mind. I was young and excited, and I had big dreams for myself. I thought that a college degree would be my ticket to whatever career I wanted. Now that I am in college though, I find reasons not to attend class, despite the ridiculous amount of money that I spend on every unit I take. The more classes I take, the closer I am to obtaining my degree, the more I think a college degree is overrated. I have found that in the real world, it is all about who you know, rather that what you know.
Some students who feel the same cynicism towards college made a video called “A Vision of Students Today”. Some 200 college students, led by their professor, made the video to highlight the problems of higher education today. The students created a survey and took it, then collaborated all of the answers to find trends that are detrimental to the college system.
“A Vision of Students Today” is quite an eye-opening video that touches on many concerns of students today. They are concerns that plague many college students around the country, not just the few students who voiced their opinion on the video. I think these problems deserve to be looked at carefully, and I believe as more students realize the problems with our education system, more students will become cynical to the importance of a college degree.
The part of the video that talks about the number of pages a student will read in a semester, and how much of the reading will actually pertain to her life was most amusing to me. Professors assign reading homework, it seems, just to have something for their students to do. Unless there is a test designed specifically for the reading, most of what professors have us read is useless. And the cost of textbooks is even more outrageous than the fact that we have to read them! It baffles me that, after tuition is paid, students still fork out hundreds of dollars just on books! Usually books they will never need again.
I agree with the students in the video, students learn what they are doing, not necessarily what they are reading. Hands-on, real-life homework assignments are much more helpful to students. Filling out a scantron and marking bubbles A through E do not help them once they have their diploma. Being involved in real-world situations that would plague someone in their prospective profession is much more valuable than knowing all the key terms at the back of a chapter. Some professors know this, others will, hopefully, get on board soon. It is the only way our outdated education system will be revived.
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