Dear Grandpa,

Remembering your birthday this past Thursday was not easy, but I feel it is something that is important to reflect on. It has been about 30 years since you have passed. It has been my dream to meet you and get to know you. My Dad and I share such a special relationship, one that is built on trust and spiritual values. I could not be more grateful for the incredible impact that you had on his life; for the way you were able to mold him into becoming a respectable and ethical man.

            He constantly talks about the great impact you’ve had on him. Raising my father on a farm in a 3^rd world country could not have been easy. There is so much that goes into raising children as well as running a farm properly. The fact that you did both fairly well is amazing to me. You did that and much more, including running as mayor in a small town in the country of Haiti.

            The man that you were, inspired my dad in being the man he is today. I cannot help but get emotional when talking about my dad. When he finally left Haiti to come to America for a better life, both you and grandma passed away. He was just getting settled in America and was not able to make it back for your funerals. Your deaths have affected him so much; he loved you and was sad he couldn’t be there for you. Regardless of this unfortunate event, he did not let this hold him back in life. At the age of 22 he was in a foreign country, not knowing the language and in search of a job. He was alone but driven to make the most of his life.

My dad is now a spiritual man, with a very good job, an accomplished wife and two girls. Grandpa, because of your example, he was able to accomplish so much. I’m so grateful for the impact you had on my Dad’s life and I know you would be really proud of him.

                 Holding thirteenth place on the American film institute's list of the top 100 american films, Star Wars is widely known as one of the most influential movies of all time, with two very succesful planned sequels following right after, and later, 3 prequels with mixed reviews, but still with a great amount of success. It currently stands with 27 billion dollars in revenue, hundreds of spin off stories and a new TV show, millions of fans, some of the most recognizable stories and characters of all time, and now, nearly 9 years since the 6th movie, episode 3, was released, the series has a new owner, and plans for a 7th film to be released in 2015.
                 Set to be directed and co written by J.J. Abrams, with support from its new owner of Disney, people wonder whether these new sequels will turn out better than the last, the prequels being known by many original Star Wars fans as a disappointment. But many also believe that these new movies to be made will be done extremely well, and be a good contribution to the series. And what exactly would happen if a new batch of Star Wars movies were made, and they ended up being as popular as the first?
                  From an economical standpoint, this would be huge. As all of the success from the series can be traced back to its revenue, all points to consider will be related back to them. First, the movies alone had a combined box office sale of 4.4 billion, with the newer movies actually making more on average than the originals. If only 3 more were made, going by this pattern of increased value, the movies could make at the least, another 2.5 billion dollars. But box office sales aren't where Star Wars made most of its money, the toys were. Just under 3 times the value of ticket sales, 12 billion dollars, is how much money was made selling Star Wars toys. Disney, a large producer of toys, would no doubt further there profits by putting out more and more of these, from action figures to toy lightsabers, billions of dollars could still be made in new lines of toys. What this means, is that Star Wars would be a major influence to the economy for years after they are made, and Disney stands to gain all the 4 billion they spent to buy Star Wars from creator George L:ucas and then some. This will in turn provide money for other future projects, maybe another Indiana Jones, which they also now have the rights to, or even movies made by those influenced by star wars, new generations of film makers to come. Regardless of critical acclaim or popularity, the new Star Wars movies may be the source of the greatest economical impact we've seen in a long time.

Student athletes are a unique species of individuals who must delicately balance playing the roles of both a full-time student and a full-time athlete. At Milton High School, a large percentage of students are involved in school sports. One prerequisite for students attending Milton High is that they must take P.E. every year. This class is designed to fill a list of requirements including getting kids active, increasing their fitness, and teaching them about sportsmanship, teamwork, and the rules to a variety of games. However, I would argue that for students who participate in sports, P.E. is redundant. I believe that student athletes should not be required to take gym while they are playing a sport.

Student athletes receive adequate exercise while playing a sport. Practices are longer than the typical gym class. For many, practices are frequently two or more hours, while gym class lasts around one hour. In addition, sport specific workouts are more intense. These factors increase the athlete’s fitness. If playing a sport does indeed improve your fitness, isn’t it rather unnecessary to participate in a class who’s objective is to do that same exact task?

P.E. class also seeks to measure your athleticism through a variety of tests such as running a mile, doing the v-sit, or completing the shuttle run. However, I wonder if your flexibility, endurance, strength, etc. can be accurately measured after lunch or before a big math test. For individuals who play a sport, athleticism is appropriately measured during games, meets, or competitions. Again, this factor points to the conclusion that gym is rather redundant for students who participate in sports.

P.E. class strives to teach students about sportsmanship, teamwork, along with the rules to an assortment of games. This attempt is somewhat successful, but not completely. In gym class, the sport you play and the team you are on switch daily. This can be problematic seeing how individuals never get to experience the true feeling of repeatedly working together for a common goal. I believe that students who are on a sports team have a deeper, more profound understanding for sportsmanship and teamwork. They achieve meaningful wins and suffer through losses together. For individuals who participate in sports, gym class is unnecessary and repetitive because they learn the true meaning of these respective lessons while playing with their team.

I would offer a couple of solutions to this problem. First, I would suggest that throughout the time that an individual played a sport, they would not be required to take gym. Rather, they would have to take either a health or nutrition class. These classes would be equally beneficial to the athletes as gym would be to non-athletes. I would also suggest that instead of gym, athletes could have a study hall period, seeing as they have two or more hours of sports after school consuming their time. However, I recognize that this second suggestion could elicit some negative feedback from those individuals who participate in the musical or the music programs seeing as they put in just as much time after school as the athletes.  

 

Every year during the holiday season, up to 70,000 people flock to the White House to get a glimpse of the year’s Christmas decorations. The decorating began in the 1960’s when Jackie Kennedy chose the “Nutcracker” theme for her daughter, Caroline. Last year’s theme “Joy to All” paid tribute to the Armed Forces and their families. Trees adorned with red, white, and blue yarn, patriotic ornaments and ornaments decorated by military children living on bases across the world.

This year’s theme is “Gather Around”, to remember the stories and traditions that bring friends and family together over the holiday season. The season of giving celebrates those who have served our country and the history of our nation. Eighty three volunteers decorate the twenty four trees scattered throughout the White House. Going along with the “Gather Around” theme special trees made out of four hundred and fifty repurposed books remind us of the stories we like to tell over the holidays. The repurposed books will be donated to a local school’s book drive next year to continue the cycle of storytelling.

There are two rooms devoted to honor military families. In the East Visitor Entrance guests are greeted with the Armed Forces Tree, adorned with ornaments placed by Gold Star Families (families of those who have sacrificed their lives for our country) that represent all five military branches. Visitors are encouraged to pen postcards that will be sent abroad to service men and women who are currently on active duty. The Blue Room also honors military families. The 18 1/2 foot tall Douglas Fir from Lehighton, Pennsylvania, the official White House Christmas Tree is also in the Blue Room. The tree is decorated with over 2,000 patriotic ornaments sent in from children living on military bases representing their favorite family holiday traditions.  

Another White House tradition, the replica gingerbread house sits on a creamy white fireplace covered in cookies. The chefs used 300 pounds of dough to create the edible replica. Visitors can peer into the large window to see the miniature rooms. On the outside of the house sits the President’s two Portuguese Water Dogs, Bo and Sunny. Next to them there is a working water fountain and blown sugar pine trees.

The unveiling of this year’s holiday decorations began in early December with the 91^st annual lighting of The National Christmas Tree in front of the White House. The First Lady also reads T’was the Night before Christmas to crowd of festive listeners to enforce this year’s “Gather Around” theme.

When did Christmas become a source of such controversy?   There are arguments that Christmas is too commercialized.  People complain that the message of the birth of Christ is lost in observance of modern day Christmas and that it has become the territory of retailers rather than the Christian community.  If we strip back the layers that have grown over and around the most popular holiday on our calendar, what is it, really?

Even the youngest of children, Christian or not, can tell you who Santa Claus is and that he brings gifts to children all over the world who have been good.  The image of Santa has a jolly old man with a beard flying around the world in a sleigh is relatively recent dating back only to the late 19th century. Prior to that, several European cultures celebrated gift-giving saints, some named Nicholas.  The earliest of these saints, originating in the 4th century AD, was canonized for giving to the poor.  Our modern Santa is a compilation of these historic and legendary figures. Many of the ancillary elements of the various legends have been overlooked.  The gift-giving is the common thread that brings Santa and his ancient counterparts together.  Our modern Santa is featured in advertisements for toys, cars, electronics and is "present" in every American mall from Thanksgiving to the 25th itself.  Santa today is viewed as a poster-child for modern day consumerism.

The biblical origins for Christmas, or the birth of Christ Jesus, date back well beyond the earliest sainted figures in human history. Jesus make his physical appearance in the first four books of the New Testament written in the first and second centuries AD. The promise of the Messiah, which is the Hebrew translation of the Greek Christo or Christ, is mentioned the earliest writings of human history. The first book of the Old Testament, Genesis, addresses the origins of human life as we know it and millennia before the birth of Christ.  Throughout the books of the Old Testament, the coming of the Messiah is mentioned many times.  God promises redemption from the sins and reconciliation with the world through a personified symbol of his love and forgiveness.  When He finally comes, Christ is the ultimate "gift" God can bestow upon his creation. "For God so loved the world, that he GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Gift-giving is not the creation of human beings. The most important gift ever given came from God himself in the form of the Son of Man, sacrificed for the ultimate gift of everlasting life for believers. I believe that any gift given at Christmas, whether made in the name of Jesus, Santa Claus, parental love, or coerced by commercial consumerism can only be a reflection of God's love.  In my experience, no one gives gifts to people they hate.  The worst of humanity, whether they recognize it or not, will give gifts large and small, material and emotional, as a reflection of love.  All love comes from God.

"Ryan just told me Santa isn't real!" I looked down at the little girl with big blue eyes and buck teeth. I think her name was Anna or Annie. Her eyes filled with tears just about to burst over onto my new jeans. I shot a dirty look over to Ryan, a well-known trouble maker in the 5th grade. Days like these, I question why I decided to work at a after school filled with runny nose children that tattle tail on someone looking at their bag. I sigh and bend down so I can get at the level of a first grader. Obviously the right thing to do is lie.

      I remember when I figured out that Santa wasn't real, it was the same time my brother did. It was Christmas morning. My brother had gotten a Gameboy which was the coolest thing back in the early 2000's. He shouted out, "Look what Santa gave me!" My father of course says, "I got the receipt just in case you don't like it." I saw my Mom flick my Dad in the arm and give him the same dirty stare that I gave to Ryan. I remember how confused I was at the time. Who really ate the cookies and milk that I left out religiously each year? Why had everyone lied to me for so many years? It wasn't just me but every child in the world that was told the same lie. It was the universal white lie. This fib is bolstered by Christmas movies, songs, parents, and even a fake Santa tracker that tells you where he is on Christmas eve. Yes, I was a avid Santa fan and stocked him every Christmas eve with that tracker. Maybe it is the joy of seeing how excited a child can get over a imaginary man that keeps the lie going. Or the blackmail that parents put over their children, saying that Santa will only come if they are good.

     I looked into those big, blue eyes and did the right thing, "Don't listen to Ryan, he is just mad that he is on the naughty list. Of course Santa is real, there is even a Santa tracker that can show you exactly where he is." Yes, I am a coward but at least Anna or Annie can have a few more Christmas' believing a lie that can always put a smile on a kid's face.

Are they natural or plastics? This is a question many have asked when looking at k-pop stars in dramas, music videos, etc. "Surgery is driven by an admiration of celebrities." The idea of looking like korean stars and k-pop artists has driven many teenage girls to seek for a better appearance. The teenage girls look themselves in the mirror everyday hoping to alter their appearances. Many koreans do not crave for general appearances  (look skinny, have double eye lids, skinny noses, implants in hair, etc.), instead they crave for specific appearances such as wanting to have specifically the same eyes and nose as their favorite idols. 

As of 2010, Korea has reached first for the most plastic surgery procedures performed. This is an issue. Billboards, magazines, and even TV commercials are all embellished with numerous advertisements to encourage Koreans to change their appearances. Plastic surgery is common in South Korea. A significant number of korean actors and actresses and artists had all undergone plastic surgery. However, most of the idols do not regret the decision they made because their face and body becomes their source of living in the k-pop culture industry. The desire for beauty "comes down to people losing their own identity" and "that's why they treat their body as a product and lose the meaning of who they are."The k-pop entertainment industry becomes an influence to the younger generations.

In the documentary The K-Pop Effect, a young high school graduate named Hwain is given the opportunity to attain double eyelids through plastic surgery by her very own mother as a graduation gift. The young girl desires to look like korean stars and celebrities because they are "pretty like dolls" and she sees them "as a standard of what is beautiful". Her mother believes that the plastic surgery procedure will make her daughter feel more confident. The documentary then ends with Hwain leaving the plastic surgery facility looking jolly and extremely positive with her new eyelids.

Also, in the documentary The K-Pop effect the female singer with a naturally talented voice can most definitely sing with her band. Unfortunately she suffers from criticism due to society's perception of beauty. The female singer tells the journalist, "They like my voice but not my appearances...they occasionally me tell they don't like my teeth." The message is clear when the female singer is told she can sing but she needs to change the way she looks. You must look appealing and also have talent.

The documentary allows me to reflect on our society and question the value of beauty. What happened to the famous quote "You are beautiful in every single way, shape, and form"? It is shocking to see a mother agree to allow her own daughter to undergo plastic surgery. It is a shame to see a mother agree that double eyelids make people prettier. It is a shame to see a mother not tell her own daughter she is beautiful the way she is. Apparently, beauty is everything.


Sources:
http://www.seoultouchup.com/korean-plastic-surgery-statistics/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjWqshVF5lA

Yesterday, I opened a new tab in my browser and I typed nba.com into the address bar. Once the page finished loading, I was greeted with a red header titled "Breaking News: Doctors Clear Rajon Rondo for Full Practice and Contact". This news made me think about his ACL injury earlier this year in January. He injured his ACL in a game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 25, 2013. At the time, the Rondo and the Celtics were not sure of the exact diagnosis and Rondo then played for another 12 minutes with a torn ACL. To play for another 12 minutes with an injury that is supposed to have a player sit out and recover for a year, takes heart and strength. The Celtics and the National Basketball Association (NBA) were informed of Rondo's torn ACL right before the Celtics vs. Heat game the following Sunday. This news broke a lot of Celtics fans' hearts but now these hearts will be put back together due to the breaking news. I as a Celtics fan am excited to see Rondo back on the court soon.

After my excitement for Rondo's hopeful return in January, I then thought about the Patriots who are going to be finishing the year without their star Tight End, Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski. Gronk injured his ACL as well as his MCL in last Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Injuries to any player of any sport can be detrimental to their career. No one likes seeing a player of any team get injured. The fans and players want the injured player to get back on the field as soon as possible. This I saw in last Sunday's Patriots game when some Browns' players gave Gronkowski a pat on the back to encourage him on a speedy recovery. Fans cheered when Gronkowski was carted off the field to show their support.

Injuries to players are not pleasant to watch nor deal with. All injuries and their effects are different depending on the player and their situation. The recovery period after an injury is important and essential to having a player come back to an ideal health where they can play their sport once again. Injuries for a player are like a roller coaster ride where the injury is the lowest point and the time where the player comes back on the field is on the way up to the peak of greatness.

                                                                                              

Coming from a family of reluctant drivers and money-saving enthusiasts, I’ve grown up a regular user of public transportation. The “T” scene is as familiar to me as any Bostonian: grungy, open platforms, that will assuredly be the death of me come some frosty winter; the loud screech when the train lurches in twenty agonizing minutes late; the grimy cars stained with spilled Dunkin Donuts coffee; the pushy commuters desperate to sit and the rowdy teenagers hanging off the hand-rails and blaring music from their Beats; the announcement system that muffles the conductor’s comically strong Boston accent to the point where I can’t figure out which language they’re speaking, much less what the next stop will be. 

So the first time I took the Japanese subway after I had moved to Tokyo, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming of what could only be described as “subway heaven.” Each car is spotless, because most Japanese people actually follow the rule that bans eating or drinking on the train. They also abstain from talking on their phones because, surprisingly, it may disturb those around them. If they miss their train, the next will come in five minutes, or even as little as two if they’re taking the downtown loop. Digital screens in each car report the next stop (sometimes in three languages) and the time it will take to reach the rest of the stops on the line, as well as any delays on other lines. And a real shock is, when the train pulls up, those waiting on the platform make two lines, one on each side of the door, wait patiently for those on the train to exit, and board calmly and swiftly, all while music playing over the loudspeaker lets them know how long they have until the doors close.  

Then what’s stopping the Boston subway from emulating that of Tokyo? Cultural differences are a likely start. Even in New York, where the trains run twice as fast as Boston’s, Americans’ lack of respect for the importance of sanitary public transportation is only more evident. We also feel our revered freedom of speech extends undeniably to our cell phone conversation, no matter the volume. And there’s the problem of funding. The Tokyo “metro” rests safely in the hands private companies, while Boston struggles with angry passengers over raising fares for renovations. While I would like nothing more, I’ve resigned myself to acknowledging the Tokyo subway in Boston is only a Eastern Asian train admirer’s dream.