A little bit about me

I was born in 1990 in Forest Park, Georgia. When I was seven, my family and I moved to California. It was a jarring adjustment due to being so young but I gained a lot from it. It taught me to be adaptable to different environments.

One of my passions is technology. I remember how excited I was when my brother and I got our first video game console, the Sega Genesis 3 or when I was on a computer, using either Windows 95 or playing a bunch of floppy disk games. It wasn't till high school where I really started to learn about computers. It was mostly software related but I want to learn more all around since you have to be a sort of jack-of-all-trades in this career path. That of course, doesn't just apply to technology. I love to learn and discover new things. It could be as insignificant as a little fact or something life changing.

Take Baseball, for instance. I've always been a big fan growing up with the Atlanta Braves and I enjoy knowing the rarest of feats. Most people don't even know what a natural grand cycle is; let alone who's the only one to do it. There's a fact of the day for you to look up, if so inclined.

Falling space junk that isn't a giant garbage ball...

This Friday, twenty-six pieces of a NASA satellite will plunge to the Earth over a 500 mile spread. Originally about the size of a bus, the satellite will break apart into pieces of flaming debris. The chances of it hitting you are 1-in-3,200. Launched back in 1991 by the Discovery shuttle, the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite was decommissioned in 2005. It was placed into a lower orbit to not interfere with the International Space Station. Presently, it has run out of fuel and has entered “uncontrolled reentry” according to NASA. The event is becoming somewhat of a pop culture phenomenon, major news outlets all over have reported about the arrival. Facebook has people buzzing about it, whether it’s about concern or jokes. As noteworthy as the story may seem, the Skylab incident back in 1979 had far more exposure with a humorous result in the end.

I chose this article because I am fascinated with space. I’m certainly no astrophysicist but I do know why the movie, Armageddon is so incredibly inaccurate. The realization that a NASA launched satellite will fall to the earth and the reaction that it generates is interesting. It’s true that it isn’t as popular or silly as Skylab or as devastating or tragic as the shuttle disasters but there is always going to be activity involved with something falling onto us. The article hit on the nail on the head about comparing it to thunderbolts hurled from Zeus. There’s always going to be paranoia with this sort of scenario. I just hope that one day, we don't launch our garbage into space...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/science/space/23satellite.html 

A Journey Back to High School

We all remember our high school and the ups and downs that came with it. My completion in fact, wasn't actually very long ago. Mare Island Technology Academy was…interesting to say the least.

When I attended, it was like the school was constantly metamorphosing, not only in its identity but location as well. It didn't have a permanent spot to call home for a while, so we were bouncing all over the city. Imagine having Spanish class in church pews or having to hang up blue tarp for walls. It definitely made things hectic but the curriculum never faltered.

Most of the staff was supportive and really did care. Our resources were just decent, especially for a school that supposedly specialized in technology. There was a sense of community but I think a chunk of it was because of the great deal of community service hours that needed to be completed. The goal overall was preparation for college, which was evident in its difficulty and many graduation requirements. In the end, it was a rewarding experience that challenged me academically and taught me discipline due to its strict code.

The Makeup That Forms my Language

Why do we use language the way we do? I’m referring to specifically the use of language, not languages themselves. Personally, I see it as an amalgamation of many factors.

One such factor is our peers. I believe that our friends can leave a lasting impression on us, in more ways than one. Certain slang words or phrases can get incorporated into our own speech for various reasons and vice versa. Possibly it’s based on repetition? You hear a saying or maybe even a catchphrase that a friend says often enough to the point of where you’re saying it. Maybe it’s something that’s hilarious or simply something that just sticks with you.

Personally, the media around me has a big effect on the language I use. Movie quotes, TV shows, music, video games and references of everything in between pop up in my head often enough. If the situation presents itself, there will be a quote or reference coming out of me. For instance, if someone does me a big favor, I’ll say, “I’m gonna get you so many lizards!” So there’s that.

That was a quote too…I just can’t stop.

To cut this short, I think that ultimately our culture is the main factor because it encompasses all of what I mentioned. Our culture is created by us and we draw from it.