War helping economy?

I had an idea for my research project but decided it would be too hard to get a lot of information about it. But, I made a proposal to see if it would be a good fit.. here it is...

Controversial. Whenever I hear that word, I immediately think: interesting. I like being different, and going somewhere no one dares to go. My first paper involved me going around to random people asking them about sex. Now, I’m going to dwell into the topic of war. After WWI, the victorious countries achieved a false economic high during the 1920’s. Then, the Great Depression hit, and everyone thought it would never end. That was until WWII began. Because of the war, many countries had to mobilize both troops and industry to prepare. This ended the Great Depression and created a technological advancement that has yet to end. The question I am trying to answer is, is war a key element for economic success and growth? To answer this question, I will dig into deep wars to see what the economic outcome was, and is today. This will require a lot of research in the area of history, which is my academic strength.

Firstly, I will take a lot of notes surrounding all the most recent major wars that have happened. The wars I decided on are as follows: the thirty-year war, WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Cold War, and of course Operation Iraqi Freedom. I will collect research from online, the library, and even some history professors here at St. John’s, involving each country involved; even those who just supply money or firearms. Then, evaluate how their economy was in the past and is right now. By doing this, I hope to really answer the question of war really having a great effect upon a countries economic success. This paper will not be a movie, pamphlet, newspaper, survey, etc… It will however, answer a very important question which surrounds the world today as we know it. I hope to clarify people’s understanding of war, and if it should even exist. The end product will not be a boring history lesson just found upon random websites across the web. It will be just the opposite, a clear report about war, and the history of war.

some reflecting

I'm always at a lose for what to write about on my blog so I thought I'd do some reflecting on some of the quotes from one tree hill..

• "Looking back on what I said all those years ago, all the hopes and dreams I had, I've come to the conclusion that if having things turn out the way you wanted them to is a measure of a successful life, then some would say I'm a failure. The important thing is not to be bitter over life's disappointments. Learn to let go of the past, and recognize that every day won't be sunny. And when you find yourself lost in the darkness of despair remember, it's only in the black of night that you see the stars, and those stars lead you back home. So don't be afraid to make mistakes, to stumble and fall, because most of the time the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most. Maybe you'll get everything you wish for. Maybe you'll get more than you ever could have imagined. Who knows where life will take you. The road is long and in the end, the journey is the destination."

I love this quote. It is said by the high school basketball coach who is living the last years of his life pretty much. But, people my age can really relate to this too. We, especially as college kids, all have dreams. Some may be to get married, fall in love, have a three-some, and so forth. But, does that mean that it will happen? No, it doesn't. What this quote is trying to say is that not everything is going to go your way and your going to run into obstacles throughout your life. Some may be small like not making a baseball team or breaking a finger. But others could be big. Nothing feels more real than when your heart is breaking. And don't think that getting your heart broken is always because of a guy. Someone close to you could have died, your parents could have gotten divorced. All of those things can break your heart. And everyone says that it's all psychological and your heart doesn't break. Coming from experience, you can feel your heart break in half when something like that happens for real. Anyway, things arn't always going to go your way. And if you do get your heart broken, you can't sit there and constantly think about it. You have to life the rest of your life to the fullest. Like he said, the greatest rewards come from the things that scare you the most. Be open to surprises. Life, in the long run, will never disappoint anyone. GO LIVE!

dating test

I was completely bored today and came across this dating test. The results are absolutely perfect. Everyone I have given it to, it's seriously been identicle to their lives. Try it out!


http://www.okcupid.com/online.dating.persona.test

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."

In reality, your not always going to get your way. There's going to be days where you think you lost it all and nothing good will ever happen again. You can't be a coward and sit back. Try to change your luck. Most of the time, those bad days end and your luck starts to turn. But, if it doesn't, don't keep complaining because that's going to get you nowhere. Always have faith that things will get better!

What did I learn about writing, reading, and research?

I learned that writing does not just have to be for school. "All writing is social." We write everyday: texting, instant messaging, and even post-its. Many people oversee this because it's not tedious writing, it's fun! I also liked what Doug Brent had to say. He was all about making contact with another person. Behind everything we read there's another human being writing those words. And you need to want to research the topic - that's the only way to receive it.

"We get used to the chains we wear, and we miss them when removed."

There are certain everyday rituals we, as human beings, tend to do. They all might be different, but their meaning to us is all equal. Some might be brushing teeth, doing homework, fighting with a boyfriend, or even driving a car. People take advantage of how significant little things could be if gone. What would we do without our cars or homework? We would be overwhelmed with boredom. In conclusion, there are a lot of things throughout our everyday life that we take advatage of. We must appreciate every aspect of life - even if it is little or tedious. They all have impacts on our lives.

One Tree Hill

My favorite show ever is one tree hill, and right now it's on a break until april 11th so I'm kind of having massive withdrawls so I thought I'd make a post about here. In the beginning of every show, Lucas' (one of the main characters) does a voiceover and says a quote, then the quote is finished at the end of the show. Here are some really good ones that have been played over the four seasons.

• "Do you ever wonder if we make the moments in our lives or the moments in our lives make us?"
• "Ever wonder how long it takes to change your life? What measure of time is enough to be life-altering? Is it four years, like high school? One year? An eight-week walking tour? Can your life change in a month, or a week, or a single day? We're always in a hurry to grow up, to go places, to get ahead…but when you're young, one hour can change everything."
• "Sometimes pain becomes such a huge part of your life that you expect it to always be there…because you can't remember a time in your life when it wasn't. But then one day you feel something else-something that feels wrong, only because it's so unfamiliar. And in that moment you realize…you're happy."
• "Happiness comes in many forms-in the company of good friends, in the feeling you get when you make someone else's dream come true, or in the promise of hope renewed. It's okay to let yourself be happy because you never know how fleeting that happiness might be."
• "Have you ever wondered what marks our time here-if one life can really make an impact on the world or if the choices we make matter? I believe they do. And I believe that one man can change many lives-for better or worse."
• "You know, say what you will about the ravages of sports in this corporate age where overpaid athletes expect prima donna treatment, but there's still something so unifying about sporting in its purest form -- when athletes rise above themselves and touch greatness, and in doing so remind us all that we all have greatness inside of us."
• "When life comes rushing at you out of the darkness who will you choose to face it with? Will it be someone you trust? Will they be wise? And will their love for you help them to guide you to the light, or will they lose their way in the darkness? Will they make noble choices? Or will that person be untested, someone new? Life comes rushing at you from out of the darkness. When it does, is there someone in your life you can count on -- someone who will watch over you when you stumble and fall, and in that moment, give you the strength to face your fears alone?"
• "There comes a time when every life goes off course. In this desperate moment you must choose your direction. Will you fight to stay on the path while others tell you who you are? Or will you label yourself? Will you be honored by your choice? Or will you embrace your new path? Each morning you choose to move forward or to simply give up."
• "Did you ever look at a picture of yourself and see a stranger in the background? It makes you wonder how many people have pictures of you, how many moments of other people's lives we've been in. Were we part of someone's life when their dream came true, or were we there when their dreams died? Did we keep trying to get in, as if we were somehow destined to be there? Or did the shot take us by surprise? Just think, you could be a big part of someone else's life, and not even know it."
• "There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads. Afraid. Confused. Without a roadmap. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days.
  Of course, when faced with the unknown, most of us would rather turn around and go back.
  But once in awhile people push on to something better-something found just beyond the pain of going it alone and just beyond the bravery and courage it takes to let someone in. Or to give someone a second chance. Something beyond the quiet persistence of a dream. Because it's only when you're tested that you discover who you truly are. And it's only when you're tested that you discover who you can be. The person you want to be does exist, somewhere on the other side of hard work, faith and belief, and beyond heartache and fear of what lies ahead."
• "At this moment there are six billion, five-hundred and two million, eight hundred and sixty seven thousand one hundred and twenty people in the world-give or take a few. And sometimes all you need is one. For better or for worse."
• "William Shakespeare wrote, 'Love is not love which alters when it alterations finds, it is an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempts and is never shaken. Love alters not with time's brief hours and weeks, but bears it out.'"
• "Does this darkness have a name? This cruelty, this hatred, how did it find us? Did it steal into our lives or did we seek it out and embrace it? What happened to us that we now send our children into the world like we send young men to war, hoping for their safe return, but knowing that some would be lost along the way. When did we lose our way? Consumed by the shadows. Swallowed whole by the darkness. Does this darkness have a name? Is it your name?"
• "Looking back on what I said all those years ago, all the hopes and dreams I had, I've come to the conclusion that if having things turn out the way you wanted them to is a measure of a successful life, then some would say I'm a failure. The important thing is not to be bitter over life's disappointments. Learn to let go of the past, and recognize that every day won't be sunny. And when you find yourself lost in the darkness of despair remember, it's only in the black of night that you see the stars, and those stars lead you back home. So don't be afraid to make mistakes, to stumble and fall, because most of the time the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most. Maybe you'll get everything you wish for. Maybe you'll get more than you ever could have imagined. Who knows where life will take you. The road is long and in the end, the journey is the destination."
• 'There is no privacy that cannot be penetrated. No secret can be kept in the civilized world. Society is a masked ball where everyone hides his real character and reveals it by hiding.'
• Henry David Thoreau once said, 'Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.'

Broken Hearts

Have you ever wondered why girls get so attached to boys where it seems as though you can never live without them? When guys continue to break girls heart, and keep letting them down time after time, why do girls stay with them? Why do they feel as though theres no other "fish in the sea" that will treat them better? These are all questions I wonder day after day. This can't be love, because love wouldn't be so complicated. Do girls actually enjoy being in such pain all the time? I personally think girls are too scared to stick up for themselves, and they constantly feel threatened by what their boyfriends will continue to do to them. Girls can get mad over stupid things such as not calling them at a specific time, but when it comes down to serious conversations, they run scared because they know their relationship is crumbling right before their eyes. Love yourself, and then you will be able to love others. Ladies, please, you are the only one that decides your hearts fate. You can choose to stay with this jerk of a man and continue to hurt yourself, or you can end it and actually understand what it's like to be happy. Guys are not worth any tears from your eyes. The one that matters, will never make you cry.

Draft #3

Stephanie Silvestri

English 1000C

As said by Swami X, “Sex is not the answer, sex is the question, yes is the answer!” Or is it no? A survey was conducted in Donovan Hall at St. John’s University about sex with both male and female students as the targets. Some base their decisions on religion and religion alone. However, the majority does not seem to care anymore, and just want to have fun during their college years. What will truly change a college student’s mind about having sex? Falling in love? Getting drunk at a Fraternity party? Or just simply following something seen on television or heard in the new hip-hop song? In the survey, 75% of males in Donovan Hall have had sex and only 40% of females have. The real question is, how are college students truly treating sex at this point in their life? This survey addresses the diversified answers about sex of both male and female virgins and non-virgins. .

Although a good percentage of male and female college students have already had sex, there are some who have not. The survey asked students if they were virgins or not, and why they chose this path. 60% of women are virgins and only 25% of men are. Out of that percentage, 38% of the woman and not even one male, claimed it is a religious standpoint, going by what the Holy Bible tells them what to do. Then, half the woman and all of the men say that they just simply have not met the right person yet but only 10% of women truly want to wait until marriage. There was only one male who said he wanted to wait until marriage or at least he was “hoping for it.” When asked about how many times a day they thought about sex, nearly all of the women replied, “Only when I’m with my friends.” When asked if they believed sex was an act of love, 75% answered yes. The rest just believe that sex can never be about love anymore. One girl even stated, “I think it should be an act of love, but it just isn’t anymore because of all the things on television and dirty talks across the country. This totally changes my opinion about sex.” Men on the other hand, had quite different replies to this question. Some common replies were, “once or twice,” “hardly ever,” and “daily.” Also, all of them believed sex was an act of love, not just something done when they’re drunk. Another question asked was, “Do you believe television and radio have any affect on your decision?” 25% answered yes. However, it seemed like no one really thought about the little things such as the amount of sexual appeal in music, or that all the pornographic material on the Web or television, would have any affect on their decision to have sex. Another interesting statistic about the men and women was that every one of them claimed they drank and that it gave them no added pressure to have sex. Is there a reason why there are many more many female virgins than male virgins? Some may say that women have higher morals, or that men are just dumb jerks who only care about sex. The fact remains that most college males, particularly students at a Catholic School, have no care for any religion or moral standpoint; the ones that do, seem to be very insecure about themselves. And girls seem to just want to wait until they fall in love. On the other hand, some college students have already had sex, and are very open with their answers.

Although there were some virgins accounted for at this Catholic school, there are still many non-virgins. 40% of the women asked were no longer virgins along with 3/4 of the males. 70% of those women have been with more than one man. In contrast, 72% of male non-virgins have been with more than one woman, half of them have been with more than five, and 22% have been with more than ten women throughout their lives which are at most nineteen years. This makes one ask the question, how many women will it be by college graduation? Apparently most women took that fact into consideration and decided to get tested for an STD. The men however, were not so smart. Only 40% have been tested, but that is a high percentage contraire to what most people assume about teenagers and getting tested. All of the women asked view sex as an act of love, while only half of the men shared that thought. What seemed to be interesting while surveying the woman was that all women who have not had sex drank. But, most woman who do have sex, do not drink. So, alcohol really does not have an affect on peoples’ sex lives. While surveying the woman was boring and awkward, surveying the men, seemed to very interesting to say the least. Unlike the girls, the men agree that television and the radio increases thoughts about sex. “We see sex all the time and it makes us want to,” said a student living on the third floor. More popular responses erupted after the question, “How many times a day do you think about sex?” Most men looked down and laughed at this answer, not knowing what to say. Some hilarious answers included, “there’s only a couple minutes I don’t think about sex,” “you lose track after noon,” and “how many seconds are there in a day?” But, surprisingly the most common answer was simply, “five.” Whether that was the truth, no one can ever be certain. The women always make sure they are using protection. Men however, found this question to be quite comical. They replied, “Sometimes,” “only on special occasions,” “no glove, no love,” and “is pulling out protection?” Men seem to take sex as a joke, and girls seem to take it more seriously. There was however, a common trend between both male and female non-virgins. They all seemed to have lost their virginity at the same time in their lives: their freshman year of high school.

Men and woman have conflicting views about sex. After answering questions about sex, most men laughed and played it off as a joke. But, women were rather shy and took longer to answer questions. The main point of this survey was to try to get young college students to open up about how they felt about sex. It brought upon interesting comments, and results out of the norm. Everyone always assumes that drinking influences college students decision to have sex, that people are not getting tested for STD’s, and the stereotype for most teenagers is that they lose their virginity on prom night during their senior year. This survey brought out the truth and put together a new light of what college students believe about their sexual lives.