Descriptive Short: The Barn

     This last little thing I'm posting for the night was also from my writing classes. I loved doing this one because I got to describe one of my favorite places: The Barn. Bare with me, this is written in first person, which is not my favorite style to write in, but it was the assignment. But I chose to add this because I thought it showcased my descriptive ability, so here goes, a short descriptive essay on my favorite location, The Barn. :-)

The Barn

                The smell of leather, horses, and sawdust relaxes the senses upon entering the double sliding doors of my parents’ barn. To the right is the tack room, full of many needed equine things, such as saddles, bridles, girths, and bits. To the left when you walk in the barn is a wash stall, complete with running water, although most the time we use the outside wash rack that’s up the hill. Also on the left hand side is the grain room. A large grain tub sits in their full of grain and the coffee cans that my dad uses to dish the grain out to the horses with. The grain room is also home to the pitchfork and the wheel borrows for mucking out the stalls. After these rooms come the eight stalls, home to most of the horses, at least during the hot summer days and cold winter nights. The rest of the horses stay in the fields outside the barn, they have their own small barns called run-in sheds. Just off of the barn, connected to stalls six and eight is a small paddock. This is usually used for mares with foal or at this current moment, Merlin, a new horse we have that can’t go out with the other horses yet. Also around the barn are the sawdust pile, tie rack, tractor, and attached to the tractor the manure spreader. All of these things play an important role in running the barn and the horse farm itself. Many a great day has started by walking into that barn and hearing the nickering of the horses, the barn swallows chirping, and the barn cats coming out to greet visitors.

Books Vs. Electronic Readers

    This second article I wrote for my class is one of my favorites. I feel very personally about this issue. Books Vs. E Readers. I am old school, I like my books and how they feel in my hands. That being said, just read on to see how I really feel about E Readers and some of the pluses and minuses to both ways of enjoying the written word.
    *as before my list of references will be at the end.

Books VS. Electronic Readers

            Television didn't cancel out the radio; Electronic Readers (E-Readers) won’t trump books. People need books in their lives. Although popularity for these devices has risen in the last four years many people are still not convinced. E-Readers may be convenient but they cannot replace the feeling of holding a book or looking at one’s collection of literature proudly displayed on a shelf. In short books have been around so long that it’s going to take more than a few plastic gadgets to get people to change their ways.

            E-Readers are devices that allow one to read newspapers, books, magazines and other “printed material” on them in “digital format” (Cancio, par. 3).  Examples of these readers are Amazon’s Kindle, Barns and Noble’s Nook, and the Apple iPad. Some of these have internet capabilities, as well as games and movies, and some even add hyperlinks into the reading material to take the reader to similar articles. Although it sounds wonderful these devices have some downfalls. Besides not being a “real” book they have a few other negatives as well.  Some of these are: having a hard time skipping through pages, trouble reading in direct sunlight, and, in the Kindle’s case, only having a display in black and white. These are just a few of the problems one may have with an e-reader.

            Although e-readers seem popular right now, a 2010 poll actually showed that many people, 80 percent in fact, do not even plan on buying an e-reader any time soon (p. 3, pie graph). They may be convenient little gadgets but they have cons just as much as they have positives. While they hold many books at a time, e-readers are unreliable: imagine being in the middle of the best part, about to find out whom the killer is, and all of a sudden… black screen. The batteries have failed and now the reader has to wait until their e-reader charges before finding out the climax. No one wants to go through that, at least not if they’re an avid reader. Besides the batteries dying, an e-reader can succumb to other things such as a crash, just like a computer or an iPod, of course then one has to go out and purchase a new four hundred dollar e-reader, or hope the warranty covers it Books are way more resilient than e-readers, they “never run out of power and survive drops, spills, and being run over” (Pogue, par. 5). A person spills one soda on their e-reader and that’s it, time for a new one, books usually live to be read another day regardless of spills and stains.

            While most people are saying e-readers “could become the iPod of books”, dedicated readers and fans of books are not convinced (p. 4). E-readers are great, if a person only wants to choose from a certain number of books. Take the Amazon Kindle for example, a person can only buy books from the devices online bookshop, while this collection is vast, it is still limited. If the store does not have a book the reader is looking for, they would not be able to purchase it unless they went out and found the book in a store. Book sharing is another problem; most people love to share their collection with other avid readers. While e-readers have a program for book sharing it still has some limitations such as “time constraints” on how long you can lend out a book to someone (Cancio, par. 9). Another thing that deters a reader from purchasing one of these gadgets is plain old cost: for a decent e-reader one may pay up to five hundred dollars, not including warranty costs, and the price of books. Most books only cost about nine dollars but recently authors have been trying to up the price so they can keep their profits up without the cost of hardbacks and paperback editions. So when one adds in the total cost, is it really worth it? Not really. For people who love to visit secondhand book stores, go to the library and borrow books from friends, it would be a waste of money, that people in this economy, just don’t have.

            One of the other major downfalls to e-readers is the loss of jobs, and maybe even public libraries. Tons of people are employed in the publishing industry, with all books going digital those people would be out of jobs. Not to mention, if everyone switched over to digital, there would be no more secondhand bookshops or chain bookstores. People would lose out on the whole social side of books. Many people don’t just visit bookstores to find a certain book; they sit down, discuss, and sometimes even argue with other people over their favorite books. These are things people like to do and without bookstores we would all be missing out. The same goes for libraries, many people love to browse library shelves looking for nothing in particular, it has a relaxing effect on us. Unfortunately many people “say books are passé and should be removed from libraries to make way for the ‘future’ that technology brings” (McLaren, par. 8). While technology is great we cannot forget staples in our lives, libraries are places of learning, fun, or just a nice place to read a good book.” Libraries would not be the same without physical books, [they] would not be able to fulfill their traditional role as [houses] of knowledge” and their very essence and atmosphere would be gone (p. 7). In short we need small bookstores and libraries; they are a part of our culture and our happiness.

            The one good thing about e-readers though are the capabilities for students. Students are able to download their textbooks right to an e-reader. This not only saves money but also saves a student’s back from the weight of many textbooks. Although there are still problems with this, such as some textbooks might not be available and students also seem to have a hard time jumping “to specific pages during classroom discussions” (Reitan and Jawaid, par. 6). With this is mind, students still prefer hard copies of text as opposed to an expensive device that might not hold up through a student’s college years. This aside, people opposed to e-readers argue that hyperlinks, games and music that are on most e-readers are distracting to students and children learning to read. Children will get distracted with all the “extras” and forget to go deeper into the text if they even finish reading it at all.

            In the end it all still comes down to personal preference. We must all weigh the pros and cons individually and come to our own conclusions.  “E-book reading, like online shopping, requires a trade-off. The customer must give up tactile and visual pleasures in return for convenience” (Grafton, p. 7). Although these little gadgets are gaining popularity, it’s safe to say book are likely not going anywhere. No matter how big technology gets, books will never be outdated because “there is an aura to books that is irreplaceable” (Bloom, p. 6) Books, like the radio, are something that will last. Books are special and comforting, something that can’t be replaced, and anyone who has ever curled up on a rainy afternoon with a good paperback, knows that. 

Works Cited

Cancio, Colleen. “Are E-readers Making Books Obsolete?” 24 Feb. 2011.                                                                                                                                                                                        

      electronics.howstuffworks.com. Web.

McLaren, Bruce. “Libraries without Books? Never?” Factivia. San Angelo Standard-Times.

     2011. 15, June 2011.

Pogue, David, et al. “How Will E-Books Affect Reading Habits?” Facts on File New Services.

     2008. 19, Sept. 2008.

Reitan, Cheryl and Fatima Jawaid. “E-Books on Campus: Gaining in Popularity.” SIRS

     Knowledge Source. 2011. 26, Apr. 2011.

“E-Books.” Editorial. Facts on File News Services. 2010. 12, Apr. 2010

America and the Environment:

     To start off, while I am working on some ideas that are not ready yet, I would like to post some things I have written in the past. Most of these first few posts will all be papers I wrote in my college English courses at Germanna Community College. I am proud to say, I might add, that I received no lower than a B+ on all of these. :-)

     So here goes, this first one I'm posting is all about America's roll in preserving the environment. My article talks about how America needs to do a better job at reducing its carbon footprint and resolving other environmental issues the U.S. has helped cause. I outline a few of the problems the U.S. has helped cause as well as other countries roll in trying to reverse these problems. That's enough of an intro though, might as well let you read it for yourself, so here goes, America and the Environment 

*you will find my list of references at the end of the article

America and the Environment

            In America we always strive to do our best. Unfortunately we’re fallen behind in preserving the environment, something many of our fellow countries have not. America may only have “5% of the world’s population” but it is the cause of “more than 35%” of the world’s greenhouse gases (2). The U.S.’s refusal, under the Bush Administration, to sign a very important document, called the Kyoto Protocol, has set us behind many countries, such as Russia, Canada, and England. The Kyoto Protocol was set in 1997 to regulate greenhouse gasses from industries and factories. Although enough countries have joined to ratify the agreement it’s still lacking the signature of the biggest producer of greenhouse gases, the USA (Bates, par. 4).

            While the United States has become more aware of the environmental problems and issues its helped cause, the U.S. still has a long way to go in order to reduce its carbon footprint and help preserve the earth for future generations.

            Many people would think that the U.S. is doing a better job these days in preserving the environment, but unfortunately while the people might be doing better, the government itself has been lacking in its regulations of factories and industries. By letting businesses and factories choose whether or not to limit their emissions, the government is standing by and letting pollution happen. It’s not just the people’s duty, but the government’s as well to preserve this planet we live on, because, so far, it’s the only one we have. By refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, the U.S. “allowed its overall greenhouse gas emissions to rise by more than 15% between 1990 and 2004” (2). This is unacceptable if we want the planet habitable for our children’s children. As one of the world’s most powerful countries we should be setting a good example for developing countries, who are exempt from the protocol and still producing vast amounts of pollutants every day.

            Not only should we preserve the earth for our futures, but also for the beautiful views, magnificent mountains, vast oceans, and the wide variety of flora and fauna that reside on this amazing planet. Although America has been neglecting to regulate its greenhouse gas release, its people have been taking matters into their own hands. Many concerned mothers now recycle and reuse products, as well as purchase only recycled goods, and organic foods that don’t contain pesticides or other harmful chemicals and steroids. Also many Americans have been switching to electric or at the very least, more fuel efficient cars. Still more Americans are doing their part by not using plastic bottles, as well as getting newspapers and bills electronically instead of wasting paper resources. The general public are not the only one coming up with ways to be environmentally conscious, new rules have been put in place to subject factory farms to” waste-runoff regulations” (1). Large factory farms all have to find a healthy way to dispose of animal wastes to as not to contaminate rivers, lakes or well water. This helps tremendously in keeping the fish and wildlife population healthy, as well as the human population living near the farms.

            In the last fifty years the U.S. has been harder on the environment than most countries, with the exception of developing countries such as China and India, therefore it’s as much America’s job to clean it up as anyone else’s. Many positives come from cleaning up environmentally though, recycling, for one, has created many jobs for Americans in recent years. Not only are we putting jobs back in America, but we’re also paving a way to a brighter, healthier future. Recycling also cuts the cost of processing raw materials, mining and deforestation, not only saving the environment but also saving the country money (4). In recent years the U.S. and its citizens have been recycling more than ever, saving billions of trees and acres of untouched, unspoiled land. This along with tree farms, trees grown specifically for paper production, have made it so that the “timber supply is three times larger now than it was in 1920” (4).  Recycling combined with conservationist groups’ plans for rebuilding habitats and rehabilitating wildlife are saving our country’s unique geography and preserving its animals and landscape now more than ever before.

            America has come a long way in preserving the environment in recent years. The advance of science and our understanding of climate and weather has opened the U.S.’s eyes to the importance of taking care of our country as well as the world. Even parents are taking action by informing their children about the importance of recycling and not littering, as well as preserving forests and reducing society’s carbon footprint. Studies have shown that “teaching ecological principles to children” really makes a difference in our worlds’ “future quality of life” (Bates, par. 1). If each generation gets better and better, eventually we will have a much cleaner country and a safer world to live in.

            Another thing civil rights activists and other public officials have been looking into is environmental justice. Environmental Justice is “ensuring that all citizens… are equally protected from the negative effects of environmental damage caused by environmentally hazardous facilities” (1). This includes all people regardless of income, race, or religion. Environmental Justice, if regulations are set, will make sure that everyone is aware if a toxic pollutant will affect them where they live as well as where they shop or even vacation. It also will ensure that people who can’t afford to move will be protected one way or another from harmful toxins. Finding better ways of disposing of waste and regulating the release of harmful chemicals during production are just a couple of the ways the government is working to protect its citizens. In the near future communities as well as town and county officials will work with the government to compromise on what to do about Environmental Justice. Hopefully, if “interested parties can overcome their differences”, the United States will be taking another big step towards making the world a little healthier (6).

            Not everyone sees being environmentally friendly as beneficial. People tend to ignore the health risks for personal gain and an easier way of doing things. The United States refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol under the Bush administration because he called it “an unsound international treaty” (4). The main reason for not signing: the Protocol sets unfair standards for wealthy nations and is rejected by the world’s leading polluters, China and India. “Backers [even] warn that U.S. compliance with the agreement would be detrimental to the nation’s economic interests”, citing that it would cost huge amounts of money to regulate the way chemicals are released into the atmosphere (4). Money seems to be the biggest issue when it comes to helping the environment. Recycling facilities may mean more jobs for America, but that must also be weighed against the cost for training and paying these workers. While many people are recycling, facilities for recycling cost a lot of money, as well as the trucks that haul off recyclables. Trucks also have to take more trips because recycled waste cannot be compacted like regular trash removal. Trucks making more, trips in the long run, means wasting more precious fuel. Besides the cost, recycling still has its own problems, such as what to do with the chemicals that are used in breaking down and recycling products. Many of the chemicals used in recycling are toxic to humans and require their own treatments to take care of them, something which is also expensive (3).

            Besides the cost from a government viewpoint, it gets a little expensive for the average Joe to be environmentally conscious. Electric and fuel efficient cars are wonderful for the environment but not for an American’s wallet, many of these cars can cost upwards of $50,000. Likewise fees for picking up and dropping off recyclables in some states are too steep for some households, turning many American’s away from recycling. Also buying organic foods and recycled products can get expensive, many retailers set the prices higher just so environmentally conscious people will spend more. Unfortunately while this may work on some people, many people just can’t afford it. Aside from the expense of taking care of our planet many people are just plain lazy. Littering is still a big issue all over the U.S., even some people who can afford to recycle, either don’t, or do equally as negative things, like throwing trash out car windows. While some people have accepted that environmental clean-up needs to be done, many people still blatantly don’t care.

            The road to preserving our planet is a long one that still has far to go. Soon, with the implication of Environmental Justice as well as long-time coming regulations for greenhouse gas emissions, the United States will be taking a huge step towards making the world a better place. People are becoming more aware everyday of the impact we have on this wonderful planet and what to do limit our carbon footprints. Recycling, educating children, and not littering are just a few of the ways American’s can help. Gradually we will be able to not only preserve this planet, but also fix what we’ve destroyed. America is more conscious than ever of what’s going on environmentally in the world and seems to be ready to take the next step to ensure that our grandchildren will have a beautiful and safe world to live in.

References:

Bates, Patty. “Protecting Our Children by Preserving the Environment- 10 Basic Issues.” Ezine      

     Articles. 2 Dec. 2007. Web.

“The Environmental Impact of Factory Farms.” Facts on File News Services. 2003. 31 Jan. 2003.

“Environmental Justice.” Editorial. Facts on File News Services. 2008. 5 May. 2008.

“Recycling.” Editorial. Facts on File News Services. 2004. 23 Aug. 2004.

“Update: Global Warming.” Editorial. Facts on File News Services. 2009. 12 Oct. 2009.