Video Games

Instructions:

1.      Place coin in slot.

2.      Press the Red Button to Enter.

3.      Select games.

4.      Begin Play

This was how video games use to be operated. Video games have been around since 1958. What started as a small coin operated machine has evolved into so much more. Video games went from coin operated, to home consoles with remotes, to games with wireless remotes, and then games that didn’t need remotes at all. Video games has been enhancing ever since it was created and it will continue to enhance.  

One of the first machine operated video games ever.

To read a timeline for video games please read on at: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/gamestimeline1.html

A lot of people believe video games cause violent behavior, but that isn’t the case. Video games are beneficial and aren’t the cause of violent behavior.

There are so many video games out there and not all of them are violent video games. I remember growing up and playing Pac Man, Mario, and King Kong. All of these games have a little violence in them. For instance in Pac Man, we have to eat the little dots and when the eaters turned different colors we had to chase them and eat them. This doesn’t mean we go out and eat people when they change a different color, does it?

Now video games have changed since when I was growing up. Now there are such video games that relate to war, theft, and fighting. Some games include Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and UFC. Even though these games have violent actions, it doesn’t mean a person will become violent after playing it. War, theft, and fighting have been around since way before video games. These video games mock what goes on in society and what is already being done by people. These games are played by both kids and adults, but games are rated as rated M for mature. Parents buy these games for their kids and they are the ones that are responsible for how they act out from it.

What exactly is violence? “A game played by electronically manipulating images produced by a computer program on a television screen or display.” (Video)

Violent video games cause violent behavior. This is what some of you might say, and though very few people become violent or behave in a violent behavior, video games aren’t the main cause for it. 

“Numerous research studies have concluded that a complex interaction or combination of factors leads to an increased risk of violent behavior in children and adolescents.  These factors include:

•           Previous aggressive or violent behavior

•           Being the victim of physical abuse and/or sexual abuse

•           Exposure to violence in the home and/or community

•           Genetic (family heredity) factors

•           Exposure to violence in media (TV, movies, etc.)

•           Use of drugs and/or alcohol

•           Presence of firearms in home

•           Combination of stressful family socioeconomic factors (poverty, severe deprivation,    marital breakup, single parenting, unemployment, loss of support from extended family)

•           Brain damage from head injury” (Understanding)

Video Games are beneficial in more than one way. Playing video games can inspire some people to want to make their own video games. This can motivate them to go to a science school or a technology school to learn how to build up video games. When they create it, it can become a success and they can get a job with a design company. The possibilities video games can open.

Video games can help kids grow skills. “Some researchers who study electronic gaming believe that it may provide the “training wheels” for computer literacy. The design features of the most popular interactive games have been found to improve skills such as spatial visualization and visual attention.” (Key) This shows that video games can be beneficial for kids who play and learn from video games.

Another benefit from video games is that it is fun. If people weren’t having fun, they wouldn’t be playing them. Families use to use board games to have family game night. Now with the evolution of video games, parents can join their kids and play video games to engage in some family time. “According to a national survey conducted by the National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF), 92% of children and adolescents ages 2-17 play video games. [In the same study,] more than two-thirds of all children ages 2-18 live in a home with a video game system.” (Key) If families are allowing them to be in their home, they might as well use it to connect with their kids.

Get up and Play!

Works Cited

“Computer Space Video Arcade.” Cartoon. Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/‌images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbtvFT5uHZ5A2Sgmkcrma0ysEV2Ie-u1_ugnF-HpsEo8j58413eA>.

“ Key Facts:  Children and Video Game.” The Kieser Family Foundation. N.p., Fall 2002. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <http://www.kff.org/‌entmedia/‌loader.cfm?url=/‌commonspot/‌security/‌getfile.cfm&PageID=14092>.

“Understanding Violent Behavior In Children and Adolescents.” American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry. N.p., 2010. Web. 7 Nov. 2011. <http://www.aacap.org/‌cs/‌root/‌facts_for_families/‌understanding_violent_behavior_in_children_and_adolescents>.

“Video Game.” Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <https://www.google.com/‌#hl=en&q=video+game&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=ev-2Tp3UNMmHgwep6ZGlBA&ved=0CCIQkQ4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=3baf3e166be93664&biw=1366&bih=624>.

“Video Games Live.” Cartoon. Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/‌images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJufjbUf-u2ixFD81v4cWnmUQxfjxazFwR5Z9piIW9Xw5IqyM_>.

“Violence.” Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <https://www.google.com/‌#hl=en&q=violence&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=tAK3TvmGFuS02AWv-tHMDQ&ved=0CEYQkQ4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=3baf3e166be93664&biw=1366&bih=624>.

The Real Reason Why Highway Deaths Are Down- Robert Reich

Reich is trying to prove that the economy tanking is the reason why highway deaths are down. At the beginning you get a sense that Reich is mocking other reasons people have come up with for what highway deaths are down. His tone is somewhat sarcastic, yet he is right. Then he tells the readers his reason in a tone that almost seems like his reason is the only one that makes sense. His tone makes the reader believe what he is saying is right and everything else is wrong.

When I read  Reich sentence in paragraph 7, I didn't think much of it. It flows with his writing. Reich writes how he would speak. As a reader its easier to read someone's work with their voice and tone in it. It's almost like actually hearing the person tell you.

Reich's blog isn't to credible. He brings up some convincing points about their not being enough evidence, but his reason doesn't have a lot of evidence as well. It's more of an opinion and not a fact. There wasn't a lot of facts in his blog, therefor this isn't a credible source.

The National Highway Safety Administration is a reliable source and Reich uses it in the first paragraph because he is trying to find the causes for this effect.

Battle of Two Organs

When the heart and the mind compete against each other, only one will out pulse the other. Me, myself and I doesn't even exists when it comes to two competing organs in my body. They both fight it out until one is at victory. They are the ones that make my greatest decisions and without them, I'd just be stuck.

Question, should I leave home and go to boarding school at 14? Heart and mind get to it and battle it out and let me know how it goes.

"Being larger then you and are smarter then you, I guess I'll go first."

"Alright, I'll let you start, but do know big things come in small sizes"

"Yeah, yeah!" 
"Boarding school is the smartest thing for HER right now!"

Heart stops pounding and is frozen. After a long silence, it begins to beat again. "I agree, but what about HER family?"

"What about them," mind says with attitude. "HER dad is not helping HER and if SHE doesn't go SHE will be stuck."

"What about HER mother?"

Mind smiles, "Her mother is special. I've stored a special memory and whenever SHE feels sad, I always take HER back to this."

"Do tell..."

"When SHE was little HER mother use to hold HER in her arms and rock HER to sleep letting HER know everything was alright."

"I remember feeling that security and storing it in HER heart. SHE deserved it. After all I owed it to HER because even when I didn't want to I had to make HER feel pain. My worst days was when SHE left me cold and dark. I guess I deserved it."

"Don't blame yourself for what isn't in your control."

Both just pound silently...

Finally mind breaks the silence, "Not to be selfish, but what about us?"


"What do you mean when you say 'what about us?'"


"If SHE goes to boarding school I will become bigger and smarter."


"And what about me?"


"SHE will be happy and you will no longer have to make HER suffer. Think about it!"


Heart grins and says with sass, "Aren't you the mind? Shouldn't you be the one thinking?"


Both break out laughing and when their laugh finally dies down they just sit in silence and begin thinking and feeling. It was the first time the heart was thinking and the first time the mind was feeling.


"I think she should go to boarding school," both say at the same time.


It was the first time the heart and the mind agreed on something. They both smile and go back to their places and pound away in the darkness. 


I woke up with a tear in my eye and I just smiled. It's time to move on from the past and for once my heart and my mind felt at ease. 

Happiness Is Pricless

Students who work on campus receive minimum wage. I think if the school is trying to help, well thanks, but living in Miami is expensive. Plus students aren't allowed to pass 12hrs. a week. Now how much could a college student do with $7.25 an hour for 12 hours a week? Not much! I feel I work just as hard as the people I work with, and maybe I wouldn't be complaining if I was getting payed a little more. This is important because everyone needs money for basic needs. And once in the blue moon its nice to buy ourselves something we like. Plus there are so many students on campus who are working on campus and I know a little more money would help all of us out. The only good thing is our school doesn't take out taxes. I was kind of worried because I'm already making little money.
http://www.floridajobs.org/minimumwage/index.htm
If you'd like read up on Florida's Minimum Wage!

When A Hurricane Meets A Volcano

Violent celebrity relationships can ruin one's career. Chris Brown hi his girlfriend Rhianna, and in a sense it was the slap heard around the world. Both Rhianna and Chris Brown are talented artist, but after the incident, Chris Brown hasn't come out with a good music that people are willing to listen to. Rhianna on the other hand, is doing better then ever. Now I have a question for you; Should Chris Brown continue to be punish for what he did? I have to say no. I think when something that big impacts your life, you have to learn to forgive yourself and grow from it. I think Chris Brown has matured a lot since he attacked his girlfriend at the time, Rhianna. This is important because fans all over the world have been affected by this incident. Some Chris Brown fans have turned against him, because they are against abuse. I am the first to stand up for people in abusive relationships, but I also stand up for change. I believe people can truly change. Chris Brown has been trying to get back in the spot light, but everyone is still bitter for what he did. I think when something worst happens, then Chris Brown will finally be able to shine once again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eLRpf6kwHs
This is Chris Brown's song and it has a lot of feeling. Enjoy it and feel his sorrow.

Viviendo Unidos

There are many immigrants living in the U.S alone. Immigration is an important topic to talk about because it’s a constant issue in the U.S. My parents are from Puerto Rico, and legally Puerto Ricans can come into the United States without a passport. But, what about my neighbors; I grew up next to immigrants from Albania and Santo Domingo. My childhood wouldn't have been the same without them.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/09/pennsylvania.immigration.case/index.html?iref=allsearch

In the article above you'll read about an Act that penalizes landlords who rent to immigrants without legal documentation. There are a lot of illegal immigrants and this is just unconstitutional. How could someone be so cold to another person and not give them a place to call home. Something that has come to my attention is the fact that immigrants are helping our economy. For one, they are starting small businesses that create jobs which lead to more money. Plus, our economy can’t afford to send back every single undocumented immigrant. The U.S. is far in debt to be trying to get people out of it. Plus, immigrants aren’t causing problems, so why is their stay in the U.S. so looked down upon?

Hunger For Savior

Discipline has its barriers, but once those barriers are crossed, only scars are left behind. When is the right time to say enough? Abuse is more than just physical pain; it is also an emotional pain. The scars on one's body will eventually heal, but the internal scars will forever remain in place. Parent's sometimes don't realize how cruel they are being to their kids when they hit them and yell at them. Is there a right and wrong way to discipline a child? Is there a boarder that shouldn't be crossed? Of course there is! I have been affected by poor judgment of discipline. I am strong now, but as a child, things were different. Whenever I see a child who is scared, like I was, it breaks my heart. I’m still affected by the memories, but it hurts to see others go through it. Attention parents love your kids and don’t take them for granted, because one day they will slip away. Everyone grows up and eventually moves on. It’s what I’ve done, and now I find myself content with myself.

 Here are they symptoms of abused kids. If you see any signs of child abuse, report it! Don't let it go on any longer. Parents need to be careful with how they treat their kids and speak to them.