Strawberry Ice Cream

Strawberry ice cream has been my favorite ice cream ever since I was a kid. This freezing, mouthwatering, and refreshing substance leaves you satisfied on a hot, summer day. Who can ever reject an ice-cream offer when it is a hundred degrees outside? I recall one of those childhood days, when you and your sibling sat in your sweltering and humid yard, wishing that a person could offer you an invigorating snack. Strawberry ice cream would have satisfied you on that day, it has a special, fruity taste that makes one addicted. Now, I sit in my high-school classroom dreaming for the last bell to ring, so I can sprint to my mom’s car and tell her that I want some strawberry ice cream as soon as I step in. When you take a bit into your mouth, you hope to find the frozen, hard, and icy fruit, and when you find it you feel the satisfaction of eating both a fruit and cream. I can safely say that it is impossible for me to reject this offer, even if I am satiated. Rejecting strawberry ice cream is declining the richest, sweetened edible. If you see that pink, creamy substance with a small handful of strawberries in it, your mouth will water and you will yearn for it.

New Prostrate Cancer Drug

Before 2004, the only known affective and prolonged treatment for men with prostate cancer was the chemotherapy drug docetaxel. On August 31, 2012, in an article called, “New Drug For Prostate Cancer Gets F.D.A. Nod” from The Huffington Post, Andre Pollack reported that the Food and Drug Administration approved a new life prolonged drug for men with prostate cancer. This new drug, which is called Xtandi was developed by a San Francisco pharmaceutical company called Medivation. It is in a pill form, which makes it more convenient than drugs that are given intravenously. Also, Xtandi does not stop a man’s testosterone growth, like other drugs that are used for this cancer's treatment. Many people will prefer to take the pills before trying chemotherapy. However, the drug has its own negative side effects, like seizures. About one percent of males who tried it in a clinic suffered from this side effect. Even though it is not the best produced drug, it will surely help men to suffer less then they originally would.

Medivation verified that the drug will add billions to the nation’s medical bills. They said, “Xtandi will cost $7,450 per person a month.” (The Huffington Post). This might be too expensive for the government to afford, but the drug will help many patients, as well as depressed families who have a member suffering from it. Cancer is a traumatic and unfortunate disease that can strike any person. However, it will be difficult for the government to pay off all the costs, especially when it is expected that there will be about 241,000 new prostate cancer cases this year.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

During the 1770s Thomas Jefferson wrote what has become a significant historical document today: The Declaration of Independence. The occasion is July 4,1776, when the document was first printed in newspapers and brought out to public. Even though Jefferson primarily wrote it, the actual speakers are the colonists of the thirteen colonies, who were striving to live freely from the English rule. He spoke on behalf of the colonists because the English had set laws that were not wholesome for all. He presents all the rights that people were permitted to have, which include “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence). These three rights were taken away by the colonists’ motherland: England. The English taxed the colonists, took away their right to trade with all parts of the world, and deprived them from the benefits of trial by jury. The audience of this historical document is King George III and the colonists. Jefferson wrote the document to King George because they have the right to live independently, without injuries and abuses. He mentions, “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns and destroyed the lives of our people” (The Declaration of Independence). The plural pronouns in this quote show that he is speaking on behalf of the colonists. The audience was the colonists as well because Jefferson informed them that they have the right to overthrow a government that did not treat them right. He exhorted them to revolt if they have to, to live freely and without vicious treatments.Therefore, the Revolutionary War was a worthwhile attempt of the colonists, who were suffering with brutal ruling tactics that were used upon them by the British.

Airline Dress Codes?

Airlines give many reasons not to let a person on board. However, what a person is wearing was never one of them.  On Saturday, August 25, 2012, David Koenig reported incidents of people who were not able to board in an article called, “Airline Dress Codes Ban Cleavage, Shirts With Expletives” from The Huffington Post. Recently, an airline employee confronted a woman, who was flying on the Southwest from Las Vegas, for showing too much cleavage. Another woman reported that an American Airlines pilot lectured about her shirt, which had a swear word written on it. Debate was brought out when both women told their stories to bloggers. Last week, a graduate from Arizona State University, named Arijit Guha was prohibited from flying on a Delta plane because he was wearing a shirt that read, “Terrists gonna kill us all” (The Huffington Post). He told them that his shirt was satirical and he wore it to a protest on racial profiling. Guha then stated, “I thought it was a very American idea to speak up and dissent when you think people's rights are being violated” (The Huffington Post). A year ago, Deshon Marman, a black youngster, was pulled out of an airplane and arrested because he refused to pull his low-hanging pants up when employees told him to. Marman’s lawyer complained that the same airline allowed a white man, who was wearing a woman’s underwear, on board.

The article is important not only because peoples’ rights are being violated, but also it brings into question that airlines are being racist. It is true that the first amendment forbids the government from limiting one’s freedom of speech rights, but it does not apply to rules set by private companies. Therefore it is important to take note that Guha was not confronted by government security screeners, but rather by private Delta employees. Airlines do not have clear rules of clothing, which leaves people to decide what to wear on their own. However, terrible that a black man who had his own style of dressing up was arrested, while a white man, who was wearing a woman’s underwear and nothing else, was allowed to fly.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/25/airlines-dress-code-controversy-cleavage-2012_n_1829989.html?ir=Travel

"Graduation" By Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou wrote “Graduation” about her eighth grade graduation experience. She is a reliable and smart author because she was educated. For instance, she stated that she had written a letter to the president and was a top student in her class. Throughout the book she implies her concern for continuing education after graduation. Her main idea was about the unfair treatment of African-Americans during that time because they were not valued for their educational intelligence. White people were in charge of African-American schools, and they were inequitable with black people. For instance, after boys graduated, they were sent off to work in fields and girls were to be responsible for home economics. Her experience showed a reader that black people had no accessibility even if they were smart and educated, like Maya Angelou herself. During the ceremony, a white man gave a speech about the granted improvements at a white school. Not only did he talk about those improvements, but he also praised black people for the couple of talented football players they have. This experience left Maya angry and disappointed with her race because they were valued physically first. As a result, the reader is able to catch her tone shifts. Before graduation, she sounded excited and predictable because she knew how happy she was and how the graduation ceremony was. For instance, she states, “Whitefolks would attend the ceremony, and two or three would speak of God and home, and the Southern way of life, and Mrs. Parsons, the principal’s wife, would play the graduation march while the lower-grade graduates paraded down the aisle and took their seats below the platform” (22). During the graduation her tone shifts to nervousness and anger because of the white man’s speech. Angleou states. “The Dutch children should all stumble in their wooden shoes and break their necks. The French should choke to death on the Louisiana Purchase while silkworms ate all the Chinese with their stupid pigtails” (29). However, at the end her tone changes once again after her class valedictorian, who was a black boy, gave his speech. This time she became excited and inspired because she had an epiphany. Angelou expressed herself saying,  “We were on top again. As always, again. We survived. The depths had been icy and dark, but now a bright sun spoke to our souls” (31). Through this quote, a reader understands that she was proud to be African-American. Even if her race suffered, they still continued to be happy with all the opportunities they were given.