She goes on to gives reasons such as to show a person with a large body shows a relationship that steers a physical well-being well as our emotional health. A romantic partner often has more influence on our behavior than any one else.

Deanna Meyler says, “We tend to hook up with people like us”. “Everyone says opposites attract but opposites don’t stay together for that long”.

            Rebecca Webber then shows examples from different couples that goes through different situations. One couple married, they were both self-employed, smoked cigarettes, dunked a lot of coffee and ate a lot of cheese. The woman in the marriage states, “We had no idea what all of this was doing to our blood pressure and blood sugar”.

            When two people marry there habits are more likely to rub off on each other. Researchers found that spouses do influence the others, exercise habits, doctor visits, and use of alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana. Another couple stated “We have our best talks or good sex when we smoke together”.

            Jody Sindelar an professor from Yale Public Health Service stated that “If one spouse quits smoking the other has a six to eight chance of stopping also. Alex, a man from one of the examples in a marriage states that “One of the most dangerous things you could do is to say to the other person, if you loved me you would do this”.

            The couples that face a chronic disease such as cancer will face a whole lot of challenges, such as financial burdens, depression, lack of self worth, regrets, questions and rage. The person who is taking care of the spouse who is sick may say to the person “If you would’ve stopped smoking and drinking, taking care of yourself years ago this would’ve never happen.

            This article was very important to me because while this is all so sad it is all so true. I do believe people should find out as much that they can before people get married. Including myself, I do wish I would’ve asked more health questions and would have seen the bad habits of drinking and smoking for myself. Now if something happens I would be in a situation to stay and take care of my spouse or leave my spouse because of the choices he made along time ago.

            In Peter Singer’s article “The Singer Solution to world poverty”, he states that “In the end what is the ethical distinction between a brazilin who sells a homeless child to organ peddlers and an American who already has a TV and upgrades to a better one knowing that money could be donated to an organization that would use it to save the lives of kids in need?

          Peter Singer tells us about a woman name Dora and man name Bob. In his stories he leads us to question rather of not if we should donate $200 to our children of the world that need it. He believes we have opportunities to save the lives of children out of poverty. He portrays that we all are in the situation to make a decision to sacrifice our savings to help these children out.

          In response to Singer’s article writer Greg Schaefer, wrote “Singers not so persuasive solution to world poverty”. He says that “Singers solution to world poverty argues that there is no reason why Americans who could afford to does not donate to the needy”. He feels that singer can not force anyone to donate so instead he writes to hypothetical situations to persuade us to donate.

          He states “We are like Bob on that we have a choice on whether or not to divert the train”. He feels that while two hundred dollars is not a lot of money, but if it really could save a child’s life then yes, we should want to donate it.

          In a sense I would have to say I feel the same way. If I knew that $200 would save a child’s life and I had it to give, yes I would give it. I think it would be on my conscience if I knew a child had died because I did not give.

Part I.

1.    What is a soul-mate

2.    Why do we what to find a soul-mate

3.    What makes a perfect soul-mate

4.    What does it take to have a successful marriage?

5. Are soul-mates the answer to a successful marriage?

Part II.  {What do I already know}

           1.    That love is patient and kind

 2.    That everyday a marriage is like a job

 3.    That it takes communicate, a open mind, trust, honesty, friendship and respect

What some may argue that?

1.    Love comes and goes. One day you are nice and the other you are crazy

2.    You may hate your job or have regrets

3.    That communicate may be hard sometimes, having an open mind may be a set up and trust and honesty should go hand to hand. Friendship may take over the relationship and respect is earned not given.

* What does it take to have a successful marriage*

This topic is very interesting to me because my grandparents have been married for 55 years. I think it is a beautiful thing for them. But now that I’m married going on my 5^th year I question is he my soul-mate? Am I supposed to stay with him 55 years? When finding out my answer I know I may come across some non-believers in forever love, that feel no love lasts forever. Then I may come across some people who may feel they do want to find there soul-mate or may have already found there soul-mate.

          I do hope to discover my answer to my question, but also I hope to find out what is the true meaning of soul-mate.

Thanks for listening :}

Crystal Johnson

          I believe that people mean well and try to live the best that they can.

          I believe that society focuses on the wrong things when it comes to how this country should be run.

          I believe that the government right now can be  better if giving the right leadership.

          I believe that justice should always be served. If you are wrong you are wrong.

          I believe that knowledge is the key to success.

          I believe that science educators are very, very, smart.

          I believe that realities of situations are always clear and there to find.

          I believe that life right now for me is getting there. I’m almost where I need and want to be.

          I believe that happiness will come to those that are patient and have faith.

          I believe that goodness can be found within you from time to time.

          I believe that death will come to us all. No matter when, or where, when it is time it will be time.

          I believe that {IN} GOD “THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT”.

          I believe that Knowledge is the key to success. My belief was formed when I was about thirteen years old. My grandfather is a Bishop, of Church of God in Christ in Long Island NY. I can remember listening to his sermons and teachings of telling the congregation, “The more you know, the further you will go”.  “The more you learn, the more you will earn”.

          I didn’t really understand it then, but now it’s the way I live. I do believe that without an education I will not know my history, and the key things to survive or live comfortably. My everyday life consists on me striving to be better, and to make a difference.

          There may be some people in the world that feel that the way I live is absurd , that I need to take it one day at a time and live life for what’s its worth. I do understand those feelings because I do wish sometimes that I could wake up in the morning with a carefree attitude, without a worry at all. But I cannot live like that, it is unrealistic to me and being unrealistic is not going to help me be successful.

Thanks for listening :}

Crystal Johnson

Stanley Fish is a dean at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He feels that he basically has the answers for the English composition courses. He seems to be a straight forward guy who tells his students taking this course that “We do not focus on content”. He feels that composition’s being written today emphasizes on the content rather than the form or the theory.

                He believes that the students that will currently graduate High School will not even be able to write a clear, coherent sentence. On that note I will have to disagree with Mr. Fish. I think that all High School English teachers are more than capable of teaching us Standard English. From High School to College, I cannot remember one teacher who taught the same structure. Every Teacher has there own methods and standards of English compositions.

               To back up his theory he uses different examples from the student taking his class. He places the students into groups and asks them to up with there own language for teaching strategies using syntax. Using distinctions between tense, number, manner and mood. After the assignment is complete Fish states that “14 weeks later he is presented with a language of incredible sophistication and precision.

              Professor Brooke does not quite agree with Stanley Fish. He feels that his English course is a load of crap. He states “I would never presume to characterize most of the composition courses in my own department”. Brooke feels that the theory Fish cities are against the idea which contemporary of composition development and rhetoric has emerged. I do agree with Professor Brooke because he is “absurd”, to imagine that his course will be the only way correct English should be taught. Fish does give only a few “straw” arguments to back up his claims and who is to say it is all true.

Crystal Johnson

             After reading both articles I would have to say that I side with the writer Steve Almond’s article and opinions. Although, Harold Bloom did express himself in a harsh way, he did make some good arguments I must say. But it is very obvious that both the writers Harold Bloom, and Steve Almond have different opinions in the writer’s world.

            Harold Bloom implies that by giving Stephen King an award states that people only care about how many books he has sold verse the people who really deserve the award for excellent writing. Bloom, feels that Stephen King is a inadequate writer, who just writes sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, book to book. In Boom’s words he feels that writers like Thomas Pynchon, Phillp Roth, Cormac McCarty, and Don Delillo deserves an award for there writing.

           Steve Almond, does agree with Bloom, to an certain extent. He also feels that Stephen King does not belong in the same league with Bellow or Roth, but also feels that “There’s an entire world of literature, quite serious and beautiful”. Almond makes a strong point by saying, “Today’s youth are not about to drop their Nintendo’s and pick up a copy of the Middlemarch at the behest of some sourpuss curmudgeon.

I totally agree with him on that because in today’s time our children are not thinking about picking up a book and learning from it they are in front of the television or computer playing the next new video game. I feel that Almond’s article is clearer, I can understand what he is trying to say, his tone is much better and he hits his last sentence on the head by saying, “writing should be about wanting to get people reading, thinking and feeling again”. I know this is how I want to feel when I’m trying to read a good book.

Crystal Johnson

               On December 23rd 2004, at approximately 7:30p.m I stood in front of my husband to be, my grandfather {The Pastor} along with family and friends. I was twenty-one years old and he was only nineteen. I had this image of living the life of this great Wife and having a wonderful husband and never having to worry about a thing.

             Well my plans did not and are still not going according to our plans. Reality set in with us both I guess when we moved here in February 2005. The idea of paying bills on our own and on time without our parents was a big laugh!!

             Yes, he was in the Navy but we were living in the real world, there is nothing for free. So I decided to go back to college and get my degree so now maybe our plans can get back on track. When I look back and see how I was living in this dream world and how I had this dream we was going to live in this fairy tail marriage I get very upset at myself. Because I went from Daddy’s little girl, to somebodys wife overnight.

                We had this vision that I would stay home and go to school, while he was in the Navy serving our country. But in the end the Navy was to much for him so instead of doing at ten years he only ending up doing four. So now my reality check on life is always plan for the unexpected and always plan for yourself as woman.

Thanks for listening

Crystal Johnson :}

                       First off let me say there are so many different types of sweet foods that I have enjoyed. My most favorite one of them all would have to be Honey Buns. I know you must now think wow!! this chick must be HUGE!! But honesty I’m really not.

                       It all started when I was younger, my dad and I would go to the 7eleven and he would always seem to get a butteroll, hot tea, and honey bun. So you can sort of say it grew on me. By the time I was a young teen I always had to have a honey bun for a snack.

                       The sad part about it is, my family starting treating me like I was really addicted to it. Like it was really my personal drug. Everytime I would go and workout or walk, they would say to me “will you have a honey bun on the way there, or on the way home.” Okay yea I know that may have been harsh. But I know they was only trying to look out for me.

                       I guess it was the taste or the size that got me. The taste always left me feeling I needed another, and the size actually made me think “this would hold me over until I got a hold of some real food”.

                       I now do realize having a honey bun more than once a week is not good for you. But I’m also happy to say I have not had a honey bun since March 28th 2008. My husband thought he would get me all my favorite things :} For now I just enjoy ice-cream mostly to trade off the honey bun kick.

                     Sometimes I feel like a little kid who goes crazy if I cannot get want I want at the candy store. But in the end I guess eating more healthier is more important then a sweet tooth, but deep down inside I think I will always have and be Mrs. Sweet Tooth.

Thank you for listening..

Crystal 

        My name is Crystal, and I have to say I’m a little nervous knowing everybody and there momma {LoL} can read what I’m going to writing for this class :} But I’m also happy to be taking this class because i have never done a blog before. I’m looking forward to graduation in December and going on to Norfolk State University. My goals are to become a 4Th or 5Th grade teacher, then later on in the future to become a elementary school principal.

Good Luck to you all…….

Thanks for reading

Crystal :}