Chocolate

Just got back from my vacation. Think beaches, warm weather, crystal blue waters, and people waiting on you day and night.

Naturally, I just had to post this [10 min quick write]:

It taunts me. Begs me to take a bite. Wills me to ruin its perfect layer. Milk chocolate in just the right shade of brown. Not too dark, not too light. Like a well crafted Prismacolor colored pencil. The clock ticks, each second becoming more and more unbearable. I settle for touching it. It is smooth. So much like a baby's skin. A savory cube with two small bumps on the top, like a camel's hump. I bring myself closer. What's inside the velvety layer? I dare myself to find out; I want it so badly, the need for chocolate overwhelming all other senses. I finally comply. Crunch. Oh, what on Earth can compare with this feeling? The chocolate melts in my mouth immediately, paving the way for a softer chocolate inside. My mind wanders to a time where I ate s'mores around a campfire. And that smell. Excruciatingly intoxicating. The choclate is so much like a drug, the savory aroma of milk and sugar that seeps into my senses, leaving a tingly feeling behind. The taste, so much like a sense of heaven, with a nostalgic feeling. On the inside, a light coffee color, as soft as a pillow, but firm and strong. I thank thee, Athos, Pathos, and Aramis.



My favorite candy bar for a while, chocolate in chocolate. None of that creamy caramel that gets stuck in my tooth. Plain good old chocolate.

The only thing I can't resist is temptation.

Switzerland

After learning so much about Switzerland from our immigration unit at school, I can sincerely say that I would love to take a trip there. An excerpt from a speech on immigration follows, with just the introduction and the conclusion.

Simply delicious

Switzerland, the land of holey cheese, chocolate, banking systems, Roger Federer, and Swiss Army Knives. A landlocked country of towering mountains, deep alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with neat farms and small villages, and thriving cities that blend the old and the new, Switzerland is the nexus of the diverse physical and cultural geography of Western Europe, renowned for both its natural beauty and its way of life. Aspects of both have become bywords for the country, whose very name conjures images of the glacier-carved Alps beloved of writers, artists, photographers, and outdoor sports enthusiasts from around the world.

Beauty at its finest

For many outsiders, Switzerland also evokes a prosperous if rather staid and unexciting society, an image that is now dated. Most Swiss live in towns and cities, not in the idyllic rural landscapes that captivated the world through Johanna Spyri's Heidi, the country's best-known literary work.There are four main languages in Switzerland due to the different buffer countries around and that the UN and Red Cross situate their headquarters in Geneva: German, French, English, and Italian. These languages mark the various zones of the country and, thus, highlight different aspects of life.

And,

We can see that the American society tends to not open its doors to immigrants due to the very aspects of life immigrants have to deal with. For one, the society seems to not accept change and a new look, often not truly taking into heart that “Change has come.” If the American society had open doors to the winds of change, maybe we could go forward and mature ourselves with every immigrant that steps out of the airport or the boat and take in Lady Liberty’s inscription in Ellis Island

Diversity

Many people view immigrants as harmful to our society because they take jobs and overcrowd our country. However, I think that they [legal immigrants] are beneficial to our country because of the diversity they bring. Illegal immigrants are a whole new topic altogether. For now, let us embrace our country, for its diversity, for its culture, and most of all for its ability to make people feel welcome. After all, we're living the American Dream.

"No matter what other nations may say about the United States, immigration is still the sincerest form of flattery."
-Clayton Cramer

Tradition & Modernity

In turning in my photography final, I learned I lesson I was not prepared to learn. My photograph is a sepia toned image of a grove of trees. Nowadays, many people turn to technology as it renders all other older methods obsolete. From looking at the endless rows of trees, I wonder about farmers in the old days.

Hard work and labor. Why suffer, when there are obviously easier ways of accomplishing something. But it's not just the convenience, more the method. The process of understanding what you're accomplishing and how you're going to get there.

So many people no longer appreciate the joy of pure hard work. That tingly feeling you get from doing an honest days work that doesn't compare to anything else. Farmers especially, are known to make up the bottom of our social class. But without them would we have anything? Not food, obviously. But more than that, we all had to start somewhere. And that's usually at the bottom. It's when you move up from the bottom that truly matters, because face it, it's no easy task.

A couple weeks ago, I, in order to complete some volunteer hours took on a task of picking fruit from trees to feed the underprivileged. From 9 to 12, I labored under the hot sun, climbing ladders and picking grapefruit. But when I was done, I can honestly say that I hadn't felt as good in a long time. Not just for completing my hours either. To know that I put in a honest days work.

This brings me back to my photograph. For our final, we had a choice, print in the darkroom or develop your image digitally. Most people were drawn to the latter, but I differed. I wanted to work in the darkroom. Although digital prints seem to draw people in more due to their sharp focus and crisp colors, I opted to spend every single day remaking prints. And in the end, I got my final done and I'm happy and all is good. And my picture is a tribute to those farmers, with all my undying gratitude and all my faith that they did contribute to this society.

Jen

Shot some photographs for my friend using studio lights. I definitely couldn't resist her flapper dress. Turned out pretty well, I guess. I think this picture captures her personality quite nicely. Upon first impression, we may think that she's just another high school student on drugs, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. And for the record, it's a fake cigarette.

It's Not Black or White

In a world that's not black or white, what's wrong and what's right? Where do we draw the line? Do the ends truly justify the means? Is it acceptable to kill to save? Does that sound ironic to anyone else?

Deontology or Utilitarianism?

To give an example, would it be morally permissible to torture a person to get information that could save 10 lives? 100 lives? 1000 lives? Most people would hesitate as the number of people saved increases. However, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (More Information Here), torture is never acceptable, no matter what circumstances. Do we leave 1000 people to die in order to save 1?

Let us have weapons! Let us kill! After all, it's for the greater good.

I personally believe that the ends do not justify the means. The means are every bit as important as the ends. We cannot, and must not, as a society, allow ourselves to believe that only the ending counts. We will not pardon crimes simply because they act in favor of the greater good.

To spark some minds, think about this:

“The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end.”

-Leon Trotsky

As always, leave your thoughts.