Word 20

Word of the Week

FOLIAGE

Source: http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article66988357.html

"Plants were very uniform even after two hard winters and three growing seasons.  Flower stems were very few in 2015 and faded into foliage for a superior appearance."

noun
plant leaves, collectively.

example
The dying foliage fell from the treetops and fell onto our driveway.

Word 19

Word of the Week

EXASPERATE 

Source: http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-04-15/bernie-sanders-attacks-on-big-banks-make-him-a-populist-not-a-progressive

"The move officially starts a long regulatory chain that could end with breaking up the banks. Nearly a decade after the financial crisis, it underscored how the debate about banks being 'too big to fail' continues to rage in Washington and exasperate on Wall Street."

verb

irritate intensely; infuriate.

example

The justice system can unfortunately be very exasperating for all parties involved.

Blog 09: Technology Story Outline

The Good

Technology allows for instant communication at any time and anywhere. Methods of communicating with people who are far away from you are much simpler. For example, Skype allows businesses to avoid unnecessary business trips for meetings.

Gives us access to information whenever we need it.

Allows us to connect with our friend/families through social media.

Technology makes our lives a lot more efficient and allows us to use fewer resources. Increased production output with less human labor.

 Technology allows us to make great advancements in the medical industry, which can help us improve the standard of living and also save lives from illness.

Technology encourages innovative business practices. New forms of business, such as Uber or DoorDash, can be created through new technologies.

Improved entertainment: New music services such as Spotify or SoundCloud has given users access to all their favorite kinds of music on their laptops and smartphones.

Improved/Efficient methods of education: Modern technology has made it easier for students to learn from anywhere through online education and mobile education.  Also, students now use modern technology in the classroom for more efficient methods of learning. For example, students use iPads/Laptops to share visual presentations with fellow students in the classroom. This has made learning more convenient and enjoyable. Also new modern educational technologies support individual learning, which gives a chance to students to learn on their own with no need of tutors.

The Bad

Dependency: Technology may improve our lives in many ways, but it also makes us dependent on them to function in everyday lifestyles decisions. For example, I personally depend on my phone wherever I go. I find myself not fully complete, if I leave the house without my phone on me.

Lack of social skills: Technology may have opened windows for more forms of communications, but it also created a world where we have less face to face interactions with one another. Some people become so used to communicating behind a bright screen that they forget how to have a simple conversation with another human being.

Word 18

Word of the Week

DESECRATE 

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2016/04/07/franklin-graham-brands-paypal-as-hypocrite-of-the.html

"the Torah teaches that all human beings are created in the image of God and imbued with infinite value. In that spirit, we declare that our state should, under no circumstance, desecrate the holiness and dignity of any citizen."

verb
treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate.

example
The angry protestor desecrated the American flag during a violent riot.

Blog 08: The Spartan Daily Stories Q&A

Identifying patriotism as an American Muslim
The terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 redefined the way certain Americans viewed Muslim Americans. After the 9/11 attacks, Americans attempted to strengthen their sense of patriotism through various actions. However, for certain people this patriotism has led to an increase in discrimination against Muslims living in America. SJSU students retell their stories of their many instances of discrimination that they have faced growing up after the 9/11 attacks. One student, Duaa Hussein, recalls a time where she was at the supermarket with her family when an elderly white woman came up to her and started physically pulling off her hijab. She was then further insulted and even called a murderer.

Q: What are some ways American Muslims can prevent this type of discrimination from happening?

Serving those who served 
San Jose State University is filled with patriotic students who have served in our military prior to attending college. These students are assisted by Damian Bramlett, Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program coordinator, who offers aid to student veterans and connects the students to various services ranging from stat services to community services. Bramlett believes that military service is not the only way to express patriotism as an American citizen; he believes that helping them transition to higher education is equally as patriotic.

Q: What are some challenges veterans face transitioning to higher education after service?

Is it okay to burn the flag in protest?
Two different opinion stories show contrasting arguments about a burning question, is it okay to desecrate the American flag as a sign of protest? Daokotah Zabroski, a fellow SJSU student, believes that the burning of the flag is completely unacceptable. He makes the comparison that burning the flag in front of a military veteran is like burning the bible in front of a church. Another student, Raphael Stroud, argues that desecrating the American flag is just a way to express your displeasure with the American government or country in general. He brings up the argument about racism, hatred, inequality and elitism that still occurs in this country today.

Q: Is it currently illegal to burn the American flag?

Answers
1. Educate people on Muslim culture and tell stories of past personal experiences of discrimination. Have a voice and don't remain silent. 

2. The military life is a very structured and rigid environment where everything is planned for you. College is a world where you free to do whatever you want, no one tells you where you have to go or what you have to do. This transition between two completely different environments can be a major challenge for some veterans.

3. Currently, burning the American flag is not illegal in the United States. The Supreme Court of the United States in its decision from 1969 has ruled that the burning of the flag is protected by the First Amendment. However, the person who burnt the flag can be found guilty of a misdemeanor for starting a fire without a permit. (source: thelawdictinary)

Word 17

Word of the Week

DESICCATE

Source: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/features/top-10s/the-car-top-10-worst-cars-of-the-last-50-years/

"Make a small car out of a goldfish bowl, and then fit the weakest air-conditioning unit you can find, and see whether you can actually desiccate the occupants."

verb
lacking interest, passion, or energy.

example 
The repetitive monotone teacher led a desiccated class lecture on world history.

Blog 06: Jimi Yamaichi Interview

Jimi Yamaichi (age 93)

• He was born and raised in San Jose. 
• He refers the internment camps as American concentration camps instead of internment camps.
• 1942 Executive Order 9066 – “gave army the full right to do whatever they had to do to us.” Yamaichi’s registered number was 32420, which became his new identity at the camps. 
• If you were 1/16th Japanese, you were considered Japanese. 

Q: Challenges you faced while in the internment camp?
A: Their citizenship was completely taken away. Lowest as 1/16 Japanese blood you were sent to concentration camps. Lost their identity, known by a number. Surviving was a huge challenge, was highly discriminated everyday. Struggle to stay safe on a daily basis. Keeping the family together was another challenge.

Q: Was anyone shot while in the camps?
A: There were two people who he remembered that got shot. One was half blind and could barely hear. He was chasing after his dog who escaped and could not hear the guard yelling at him to stop running and ended up getting shot by him. Another person was shot a few days later.

Q: How did you feel after everything was over?
A: It took until 1960 before they were fully accepted as American citizens once again. He wanted to show the rest of the country that the Japanese were just as good as everyone else. It was hard to find a job; they took anything they could get to get by. High school was his top education, but he wished he acquired a college education.

Q: What was the first thing you wanted to do when you got out of the camp?
A: He went to trade school in 1941 and graduated inside Morris Dailey auditorium. He took up carpentry and wanted to go find work. When he got out of camp his strongest desire was fighting the issue of getting a union card to work. It was hard for him to find a job because he faced constant discrimination for being Japanese.

Q: What did you use as motivation to get through the hardships of the camp?
A: 7% of the people at the camp were financially stable; the rest of them were poor and/or homeless.  Most of these people didn’t have any money to support themselves. The biggest motivator to get through these hardships was working hard enough to earn money to support his loved ones.

Q:  Do you recall a time where you had to give hope to your younger siblings?
A: Our future was unknown but we tried to keep everything normal as possible. All the parents tried to make life as normal as possible for everyone. We had recreational facilities and we would make the most out of them. We would just take everything in stride and try to enjoy ourselves anyway we can. It was tough and scary, but it was survival of the fittest.

Q: How did the camp change your view of America?
A: It made me a stronger man.  I learned not to get mad, but try to understand the other person. I tried my best to figure out why they were mad. I learned that it’s all about how you look at the issue. I learned a lot about different people and the struggle of discrimination.