Dubai

Around Thanksgiving time, my dad told me about and showed me some pictures of Dubai because he had just gotten back from there.  I didn't really pay much attention, because I didn't realize the history behind Dubai, or why it was so cool.  Lately though, I have been hearing Dubai come up in numerous conversations, and I've seen articles about it in magazines.  I decided to google it to find out what was so exciting about the city.  I found a CBS 60 Minutes brief about it, and found Dubai to be very interesting.  The city has been developing since 2000.  The man who is in charge of Dubai, Shake Muhammed seems to be extremely ambitious.  The news brief followed him around Dubai as he talked about his ideas and goals for the city.  Already, Dubai is a major business landing, and an expensive area to invest it, and it's only growing.  Currently, a tower is being built to be twice as tall as the Empire State Building.  Muhammed stated that in 2 nights, 85% of this building was sold for a total of $1.2 billion.  This city seems to be on the rise to be the biggest and the best; the biggest shopping center in the world is currently under construction in Dubai. Shake Muhammed does not seem to be one to settle for anything less than the perfect.  He is striving to make this city an epicenter for business and travel, and he is succeeding thus far.  I think the concept of building this city from the ground up is really exciting, and I look forward to watching its progress as it becomes more established throughout the years.

Human Maltreatment

I just read an article on the CBS News website that a 73 year old Australian father had been holding his daughter captive for 24 years until last night.  Authorities searched and searched for her, as this man kept the grueling secret that he was the actual one holding her captive.  Throughout these 24 years, this woman gave birth to 6 children, who are suspected to have been conceived by her father, as he raped her numerous times.  You can read the article at this website: http://cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/27/world/main4048458.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4048458.  I found this article interesting, not only because of how shocking it is, but also because we just wrapped up a chapter on child abuse and neglect in my Development Psychology class.  Although this woman was not a child, the concept is similar, because her father was the one abusing her.  Child abuse is horrible, and sadly not uncommon.  It is reported that about 900,000 child maltreatment cases are reported annually.  Of these 900,00 cases, 60% of them are considered neglect, 20% physical abuse, 10% sexual abuse, and 10% emotional abuse.  Although this case would not have been reported as child maltreatment, this woman would have been considered neglected, physically abused, sexually abused, and most likely emotionally abused.  Girls are four times more likely than boys to be sexually abused, like this woman was.  It's sad that people could treat others with such disrespect.  You would think people who acted with such awful behavior would be considered to have a mental disorder, but studies have shown that these people are 100% normal, they just took a wrong turn.  You should definitely read this news article.

Goodbye Freshman Year. Already?!

It seems like just yesterday that I was leaving my home to drive to the airport and catch a plane for Dallas, to start my first year of college.  I was nervous and excited, and I knew it would be a long time until I came home for summer to catch up with my friends.  I've missed my friends so so so much throughout the year, but I just can't believe that I'm going to get to see them again in less than 3 weeks!  This school year has gone by faster than any other school year so far.  I'm super excited to be reunited with my friends, but I'm not ready to leave SMU, or for my freshman year to be over.  Freshman year seems as though it's different than any other year at college.  Freshman year is full of new friends and new experiences.  I personally am not ready to leave that.  I'm going to miss coming back to the dorms after going out, and I'm going to miss seeing the faces in the hallways of my dorm that I take for granted everyday.  I hope all years do not fly by this quickly.

Comment : Career Choices

I commented on Miss Lame Names post about career choices.  See what I wrote here...

http://misslamename.blogspo.com/2008/04/argument-career-choices.html

Comment: Career Choices

I commented on Miss Lame Name's post about career choices.  See what I wrote here...

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http://thoughtsofatexasgirl.blogspot.com/2008/02/juicy-campus.html

I commented on Texas Mustang's post, "Juicy Campus."  See what I wrote by clicking the following link...

Inmate Sex Change?!

Earlier today, when I was at the gym, I was watching the nightly news while on the treadmill.  The news anchor reported that an inmate, named Michael, is trying to pass a contract that would allow him to get a sex change.  Michael would like to become "Michelle."  I support him if he wants to do this, but if he really wants the sex change, he should pay for it with his own money.  Somehow, he thinks that he community will fund this operation of his.  Keep in mind that Michael is in jail for murder.  He murdered his wife, and now wants to become a woman.  I don't think the tax payers should have to support such an operation for a murderer.  It's ridiculous that the story has even made it as far as to make it on the nightly news.  This case should have been dropped long ago, because it's never going to happen.  Community members have much more to worry about as far as their taxes go.  For example, they could be supporting the schools and parks with these same tax dollars that Michael believes should go towards funding his sex change.  What do you think of the situation?

Commented: "Who Killed JFK"

I commented on I Seriously Have a Blog?!'s post, "Who Killed JFK." Read what I wrote by clicking on the following link... <https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6340726685837417441&postID=8781947547020406105&page=1> !

Commented: "Home is Where Your House is"

I made a comment on I Love My Life's blog, "Home is Where Your House is." See what I wrote by clicking this link... <https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5505478424685587855&postID=7625912117470243997&page=1> !

Housing

Lately, I've had my housing for next year on my mind. While I would love to live in the dorms again, I know that doing so is not very prevalent on SMU's campus after freshman year. My parents are allowing me to get an apartment with two other friends, however they worry about our happiness. They keep asking me, "Are you sure this is what you want to do?" I tell them I do, because if I stay on campus, I'll be living with basically freshman only. They then tell me that if I live off campus, it's likely that I'm going to feel apart from the university, and lose my sense of campus; I won't have the opportunity to be surrounded by others (as I am in the dorm), and I won't see all the people I used to run into, without effort on both sides of the relationship. I have the same worries as them. As excited as I am to live in a big apartment, have my own bedroom and bathroom, and have a kitchen, I really don't think it's the best idea. I think SMU should provide more housing for sophomores so it can keep kids on campus. By allowing students to live off campus just after their sophomore year, SMU really loses it's sense of community. Does anyone else feel this way?

I hope next year's apartment turns out to be my best option!

Economy

Lately, I've been hearing so many people talk about the downfall of our economy.  I'm really worried about what is happening in America today.  We are no longer the strongest nation, economically.  Instead we're having a steady downfall that we must recover from.  I recently heard someone discussing the White House's plan to help the situation.  From what I understood (which may not be correct in full), the White House plans to send out money to workers and homeowners, to help boost their income for the year.  However this seems to me like a small band-aid on a big wound.  This will only temporary help out workers and homeowners.  Unless these people really understand money and investing, I don't know if they will take advantage of this luxury, and put the money to use.  I hope to learn more about our economy and this dilemna we're currently a part of.  I'm sorry if this information is not all correct.  Leave me a comment if you know this more in depth!

Web Logging

I think this web logging idea is a good one; it's a unique approach to education.  I really like how it allows us (students) to express our thoughts in words.  Typically I would not write out what I am thinking.  This blog however, forces me to write out in words what I'm thinking, and therefore clear my head a little.  I think it will help me sort out everything I'm thinking about, and my emotions.  College is a lot of fun, but not so much fun when you're homesick and missing your old friends at the same time.  I think when I'm homesick and missing my friends, this blog will be a good place for me to think "out loud."