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Pictures are worth a thousand words

Photos in which one is posing is simply “mere consumerism.” However, candid photos capture the reality of the moment. Candid means straightforward and frank; the assertion that a photograph “reveals virtually nothing” is false as evidenced by the countless number of candid photos. Sure, it is true that selfies and pictures of you smiling with your friends at a football game reveal nothing, not even our emotions – however, these are just forms of sentimentalism and a way to capture memories. To explain farther, a picture of you and your friends at a football game reveals nothing about whether the team you were rooting for won, or if you were genuinely happy, etc. While this may be true, a candid picture of the players on the field and you and your friends on the stands, throwing your hands up in anger, could capture the true moment of how the team was losing. The Kardashians posing for a magazine shoot could be defined as mere consumerism though. These photos have absolutely no meanin...
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Stranger Things!

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In the rural town of Hawkins, Indiana lies the Hawkins National Laboratory supposedly utilized for research purposes for the DOE (United States Department of Energy). However, in secret, the company performs experiments to explore the supernatural world. In doing so, they create a portal to the “Upside Down”- an alternative dimension which possesses a certain evil aura. More specifically, the Demogorgon. The opening of this portal brings about mysterious changes to the city of Hawkins. Will Byers, a local middle schooler, goes missing while riding his bike home late at night; the owner of a restaurant is murdered without cause. These enigmatic experiences have led three boys on a mission: to find the cause of the evil and, ultimately, save Hawkins. On the journey, many more strange events occur. Barb, a local high schooler, goes missing, a girl with mystical superpowers is discovered, etc. If any of you have watched the show Stranger Things on Netflix, you most definitely know what I...
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Fallacies in Daily Life

We are exposed to fallacies constantly in daily life whether it be on social media, amongst certain politicians, or even amongst our own peers. Although we may not detect that such extreme fallacies are being used, we must begin to recognize that the things people say may not always be the most reliable or relevant arguments. Here are some examples of fallacies that one may encounter every day: 1)      Ad Hominem: Imagine you are in an argument with your older sibling about some topic and he or she says “You’re younger than me how could you possibly know this?” By directly attacking personal characteristics rather than the actual topic, a logical fallacy is made. 2)      Slippery Slope: "If you break your diet and eat cake today, you will want 20 slices of cake tomorrow and gain back the 10 pounds you lost!"  This example shows that extreme hypotheticals are dangerous to use in arguments as they often are not reliable nor strong. ...
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Kindness: A Virtue

Kindness is a virtue. It is often characterized as “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate” (Google Dictionary). Many times, the value of polite speech such as the phrases “How are you?” or ”Nice to meet you” or “Let’s get in touch” are simply forms of kindness. Many may think that these phrases actually have a literal meaning; they would think that these words are only utilized to communicate genuine concern or care. However, this is not the case. Rather than truly meaning these things, people often say them because it is a form of rectitude. Many times, if these words are not spoken, it may come off as rude or even offensive. For example, in a situation such as a job interview, it is obligatory to say these things to leave an above satisfactory impression. If these phrases are not spoken, it could cost one their opportunity. One does not truly and entirely care how the interviewer is feeling, but rather cares about the outcome of the interview. Such phrases also a...
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What Conversations Actually Mean

Friend: Hi, Anishka! What’s up? Me: Nothing much, you? Friend: Nothing much. Me: Do you want to go to eat Italian food for dinner? Friend: I just had Italian yesterday, maybe we can go eat Chinese and then go watch a movie. Me: Hmm….ok. Do you think you could give me a ride to the restaurant? Friend: Sure, no problem! At restaurant: Friend: MMMM, that looks delicious! I haven’t had dumplings in so long. Me: Uh...ok would you like some? Friend: Really?! Thanks! The End Representation of how “words don’t mean what they mean:” Friend: Hi, Anishka! What’s up? Me: Well, my cat just died so I don’t really want to be here right now. I’m not even that hungry so we shouldn’t go out to dinner but you keep saying you’re hungry so I guess we have to go, you? Friend: My life is pretty boring so nothing much. Me: I want Italian food. Let’s go. Friend: I didn’t have Italian yesterday but I’m going to say I did so I can get Chinese food. Me: Fine. Drive me to th...
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Patience and Eggs

It was 9:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning and the only somewhat uncomplicated thing to cook at the moment was eggs. My parents were out on a walk so it was up to me to satisfy my growling stomach. I shiftlessly grabbed an egg from my fridge and watched the viscous yellow-ish liquid ooze out into a bowl as I cracked it open. I proceeded to whisk the eggs and added some salt and pepper. I heard the crisp sizzle as I poured it onto the pan and felt the heat radiating from the stove. After only a couple of minutes, being the impatient person I am, I flipped the omelet so the other side could cook a s w ell. Idly, I grabbed a plate and fork and began to eat the half-assed meal. If only I had waited a couple of extra minutes, the omelet would have been nearly perfect. The runniness of the egg was not at all pleasing nor tasty. Through this adventurous cooking endeavor, I learned that patience is not only key when cooking but also when building relationships and connections with others in everyd...
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Rhetorical Elements - "On Dumpster Diving"

The underlying purpose in the piece “On Dumpster Diving” is conveyed through Lars Eighner’s tone and ironic elements throughout to convey his lifestyle as a homeless man, and how it is necessary for him to rely on the privileged for basic necessities such as food. His clearly didactic tone emphasizes that he is not, in fact, embarrassed of the lifestyle he lives. Instead, he embraces it, all the while, critiquing the privileged and their snobbish and lazy outlooks on life. A recurring motif throughout the piece is “canned goods.” Throughout the beginning of the piece, he discusses canned goods to a great extent, illustrating how to assess if particular canned goods are ok to consume. However, later in the piece he discusses canned good in the context of college students. He reveals that his experience at a dumpster near the campus was truly eye-opening; the fact that students were throwing out canned goods demonstrates the irony of how these privileged students are wasting perfectl...
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