The Blog-a-day Challenge

Official Start Time: 10:30 p.m.
Date: 7/7/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

Recently I was thinking about freedom of speech and how free we are to say what we like. Although we technically have the right to express ourselves the way we choose, we still face censorship when the words we spew infringe on the beliefs of our fellow man and his way of life.

We often run into censorship when discussing religion or politics. Things that are obvious to the naked eye seem to strike the wrong note when discussed in the presence of others. It could be something, that at the time, made perfect sense, but in todays world would be considered madness.

For example, in the past, homosexuality used to be looked up with even more disdain than it is now. In the Quran, for example, it is stated that homosexuals should be disowned if not killed for this betrayal to his religion and role in society. Say this to a Muslim, and the reaction you’ll get will be of utter shock and disbelief.

Christianity is no better, as the persecution of Muslims is even more epic in the bible. The issue here isn’t the faith or the text, but the distinction between interest and faith. Would it make sense for God, our government, or any other “holy” body to persecute people this way? Really it comes down to the time when this was written.

The context might not match the time, but discussing these issues shouldn’t promote hostility. We should learn to look beyond the hard core evidence and at what these mediums represent.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:30 p.m.
Date: 7/6/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

Today I got up a little earlier than usual and for the first time in a while got some reading done. It wasn’t anything for school, but a book I recently bought during the summer. It felt good getting in there and seeing the pages hurl, but it made me wonder why I don’t read as much as I used to.

When I was in elementary school, I remember I used to read all the time. Goosebumps, Harry Potter, etc. As I got into middle school though, the habit started to die as I read less and socialized more. My grades remained the same and I did well in school overall, but there was something I feel I lost when I stopped reading.

Since then, I only really read when it comes to school assignments. It isn’t so much that I don’t like reading anymore but that I don’t have the time for it anymore. School, family and reason just make it hard to pick up random books like I use to. Now it’s either sleep or work.

The scary thing isn’t losing the ability to read or the art, but the rawness it leaves to one’s life. Reading in many ways is an escape from reality. Without, I feel there is an emptiness to life where we no longer have the ability to imagine and foster new ideas. That no matter what we do, we are doomed for an eminent tomorrow.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:30 p.m.
Date: 7/5/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

Today I found myself lost in the idea of media-based outlets and how they function in the 21st century.

We all know that today blogging, collaborating, and sharing are second languages to today’s digital natives. These media-based outlets provide room for expression and creativity that many times has little or no cost. There impact however is huge as many levels of big business are stepping away from advertising on TV, to advertising on the Internet as more people are spending time online and away from their televisions.

Even regular individuals are stepping into this game: making money through sponsors, partnerships, and ingenuity that can only exist in this age of digital information. The compilation of these media-based outlets is where books like “The World is Flat” and “5 Minds for the Future” make me question if we’re what were doing is only a waste of time as global competition seems to reshape the Earth.

In many ways, this battle has always existed and will forever exist as long there is greed and reason to push forward. The Internet and 21st century technology has made this point strikingly clear across the globe, as the same connectivity that has allowed to share, collaborate, and create will one day be the fall of our nation.

Rigorous studying habits is one thing, but I feel that media-based outlets like YouTube are just as valid as the fight for tomorrow’s workforce as today’s students enter a world whose distinguishing features are always changing due to the ingenuity and determination that could only exist in the 21st century. Preparing them for any other world would just be utter chaos.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:30 p.m.
Date: 7/4/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

Independence Day!

Today in America, we celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July. On July 4,1776 the United States of America signed the Declaration of Independence and emerged as new country on the world map. This feat is celebrated every since then and invoke a sense of patriotism within every American.

Usually people celebrate with cookouts, spending time with family and fireworks. The fireworks are always great on the 4th of July and it is the one time in the year where I feel, people come together and forget how much things suck in life and celebrate all the things we are grateful for within our nation.

For me, I spent the day with my family. We had a little cookout in our backyard and passed the time playing badminton and listening to music. Time just seemed to fly by and I almost wish it didn’t have to end. The fireworks especially were great this year and we got plenty of pictures.

Well, I hope everyone had as great a day as I did and will continue to stay in touch in for celebrations just like these.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:30 p.m.
Date: 7/3/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

Summer is coming in rather smoothly and progress has been slow. I no longer get wifi in my house which makes posting these blogs nearly impossible without the help of friends and local free wifi spots.

In terms of school work, I haven’t really started any of summer assignments. It isn’t totally my fault. The last time I went down to Barnes and Nobles, I looked for the books I have to read for AP English, but couldn’t find them. One of the people told me they were ordering some more, so I guess I’m a sitting duck till then.

Last year alone has left me exhausted as I spend several hours a day either sleeping or planning. Procrastination has been become my best friend as I fail to tell the difference between the moment I woke up and the moment I went to bed.

Losing wifi though has put a major damper in my summer plans. This summer, I planned to finish the Analyzing Digital Media course and start working on building more courses in Curriculum Designers, Inc. So far, neither has been attempted and I fear will never be completed if I don’t sit down and actually get some work done.

I guess my best bet is to start getting more rest earlier and start to taking advantage of the time I do have. School this year is gonna be hectic and I have to many things on my plate to worry about because I’m lazy.

I think I need help.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:30 p.m.
Date: 7/2/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

Today, at least according to the time we officially land, marks the 1 year anniversary of my trip to China. It’s seems just like yesterday that I took that 16 hour plane ride that literally transformed my life. Since that day, my life was exposed to new frontiers, new ideas, and new experiences that I hope to keep for years to come.

The idea was first presented to me in December of 2008. I was asked by a program director at Education Connection, Steve Wilmarth, if I would be interested in taking part of a 2 week cultural exchange program. The idea at first was knew to me, seeing as I had never left my own state, yet alone the country. It wasn’t traveling that scared me, but paying for it as my internship with Education Connection was probably the only first real job I ever really had.

It didn’t take long for time to fly by and before I knew it, 1200 dollars later, I was sitting on a 16 hour plane ride to a country I had physical knowledge of.

The journey was exciting all within itself as good friends and new friends combined as we journeyed through each province and the mountains that laid ahead. The trip itself gave me a big wake up call as silly mistakes and reckless behavior nearly sacrificed all my hard work and the work of others who I will never be able to repay the altruism and patients they showed me in my time of need.

Now, 2 years later, the experience still runs proud and has consumed more of my life than I’d probably like to admit. Since that trip, I have participated in personal and facilitated endeavors that have taught me a little more of the future that lays ahead and my place within it. If there is anything my trip to China taught me is that to never give up, for determination and will to perceiver will always conquer all.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 9:00 p.m.
Date: 7/1/09
Official End Time: 9:30 p.m.

Why Spanish Soap operas Make No Sense

So, I was eating dinner with my mom and dad around the same time they watch their Spanish soap operas or "telenovelas" as we call them. Now, I've seen soap operas in the past and I can see the significance in why they were created but oh too often the art is abused and you run into soap operas that simply make no sense. This happens in all forms of art, not just soap operas.

So while we're eating dinner, my parents are watching they're favorite soap operas about some girl whose had a hard life, falls in love with some great doctor, and is hated by everyone she knows; I try not to pay attention. In this episode however, she's about to get married when her arch-foe comes and kidnaps her by sending a messenger boy with a note claiming that her husband wants to meet her for a surprise before they get married. *BTW, this girl has been poppy-trapped in the past*

Ok, so with the scene being set and the trap being armed a few questions come to mind. Having a history of being poppy-trapped, wouldn't you think she would be slightly skeptic of receiving a note from some random messenger boy that was supposedly written by her loving husband? Wouldn't you think she would know her husband's hand writing? And why is she just so damn stupid?

I can admit that in literature and literature based works, the reader always knows more than the characters but sometimes its like the characters have no common sense. Like they're oblivious to the horrors that run free in these places.

So to wrap it up, she gets kidnapped by her pregnant arch-foe and gets hauled away to some shack that's about to be lit on fire. The shack catches fire, the pregnant arch-foe starts going into labor, the stupid main character breaks free and pulls them to safety and helps her give birth through a pair of closed pants.

Now, in the real world and probably in the telenovela world too, this doesn't make any sense. How do you give birth with you pants still on? Does the baby magically rip through the pair of pants or is he a ghost and simply seeps through. It makes no sense.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman