Defend, refute, or qualify: pirating music is morally and ethically wrong.

To qualify an opinion regarding this topic, whether pirating music is morally and ethically wrong, it would be prudent to see how the majority, that being society as a whole, has enacted rules of law to protect digital media.  The simple answer is that music published with copyrights is governed by the owner, or in this case, the artist.  While society stands on the rule of law, it is interesting to see the very constituents violating this law and crying fowl.  And pirating is rampant across the board, from kids to the elderly, irregardless of race, status, or circumstance, pirating music is a growing industry.  Here's the rub for the artist, where traditional stamps (records), or now CDs and DVDs, are produced for distribution.  There are costs involved, passed on to the consumer, that impact the artists investments for these products.  However, the traditional delivery of the media is fragmenting, where vinyl was replaced by cassettes, and now CDs/DVDs, there is still a cost involved.  And when these units do not sell, it is considered sunken costs, money lost and irreplaceable by the artist.  So when someone takes a purchased copy and produces copies for personal use, that is one thing.  However, reselling a copy of an original takes away from one of the produced units.  That is theft.  Imagine for the moment you walk into a music store, pop in a CD and make a digital copy, then put the CD back.  Is that legal?  Would the store owner allow it?  Would the artist condone it?  Obviously, the answer is no.   Thus, digital piracy is also morally and ethically wrong.

What should America’s role be in the world?

Can you say, hot topic? There are many that cling to the ideology of our forefathers that continental independence is as much about the right to speech, as it is to bear arms, and everything that falls between these two.  As America evolved, however, either out of necessity and/or design, we are allied to nations that are also in a struggle for their own independence, and lays the foundation in which provides a means to and end.  In this regard, others cling to America as being a global custodian, per say, that is underpaid and overworked, and the last to be thanked for cleaning up other conflicts.  Yet both camps depend on resources that neither can do without, nor would be willing to entertain, such that America as a whole depends on oil imports.  The bottom line is driven by our own sense of security wherein oil is a national resource, one that this nation would grind to a halt without it.  So, while both debate this issue into the next Presidential debate, both are keenly aware that our role abroad is to maintain, secure, and even defend this resource.

How is "On Dumpster Diving" a definition essay? Do you agree with Eighner's conclusion about consumerism and societies obsession with obtaining things?

The author uses many instances, examples, and comparisons to create an understanding, albeit Lars' understanding of a definition "On Dumpster Diving."  However, Lars' text speaks more to me about the survivalist guide for the homeless, or even how to safely salvage dumpster refuge.  Even so, I noticed that Lars' makes the statement, "Something like this drives the obsession to collect junk", this statement refers to the authors own distaste for wasted food thrown away.  And though I would agree with the question of whether I agree, I do.  However, indirectly stated, Lars' piece doesn't strike me as a conclusion, as much as an personal position that justifies dumpster diving.  Of course, I'm reading between the lines here, but this entire piece screams, "So What? I'm a scavenger.  Leave me alone!"    Or, "I'm too proud to visit a church, or eat at a soup-line."  Here again, my rhetoric is self-serving, probably only appreciated by a fellow vagabond that has walked this walk, not for one year, but for many years.  Even now, though I eat little during the day, scavenging for food is a luxury, not a necessity--not yet.  With the mission serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, their is no shortage of safe, clean, and free food.  Beyond this, their are churches, a diner, and activities that cater to the homeless.  Even so, I still find myself peeking into a trashcan, or food receptacle looking for that freshly discarded appetizer between meals. 

Have you ever found anything valuable in the trash, or do you currently have something that others would think is junk?

One warm morning, while driving my tractor-trailer, I pulled up into the service driveway of OfficeMax.  Turning the corner I noticed the doors to the refuge area ajar.  Slowing to maneuver around the dumpster area, I noticed a software package strewn around other miscellaneous papers.  It was enough to peak my interest for a look, after the trailer I was pulling was backed up to the dock.  Pulling the air brakes, exiting the cab of my truck, I strolled over to the litter about the base of the dumpster.  Sure enough, there on the ground was a sealed, though roughly scoffed, box for a game.  I don't remember the title and vaguely remember if it was a sports title or adventure game.  I picked it up and thought I should survey the dumpster for other titles.  Climbing up and looking in, nothing.  It was empty.  Obviously, the remnants of a dump that missed the dump trucks intake, and were less than a passing thought for the operator to even consider picking up.  My social duty complete, that game made its way to my home, where my kids enjoyed playing.

Based on David Sedaris's, "Me Talk Pretty One Day," write about a time when have you been in a situation that was new and frightening because you felt alone, new, or did not understand the rules.

In early 2009, with the economy a shambles and being out of work, I found myself doing what unemployed fathers do when their wives are working.  At first, her part-time job gave her (and us) discretionary funds towards our meager budget.  This was a time of doing with less, even without, a condition that we had endured years ago as newlyweds, here we were again pinching pennies, sometimes only enough to rub two nickles together.  At times, the fear of having nothing to put on the table, pay the bills, or have the resemblance of stability was scary.  For a family of means not a year ago, being humble and asking for help was hard.  There were times we had nothing to eat and taking the family to a church to eat was a bitter chore when my wife refused to be seen as needy.  The complexity of life, work, and budget (or lack of) created an environment that built resentments, stuffing of opinions, and ultimately the collapse of our marriage.  In 2010, my wife left me, taking all I had and asking for child support, despite the kids being over 18 and younger than 21.  To add to this my unemployment ended, and I was essentially both homeless and destitute.  The reality of being divorced, homeless, and no prospects towards work, the strife created a vacumn in which I learned to horde everything, share nothing, and accept poverty as a new normality.  Along this path, I learned to accept my situation, do my best with what I had, and the anxiety eventually lessened.  Even today, creature comforts and luxury items have very little value to me.  Being alone in these circumstances were scary.   Only after living among others in similar circumstances, did I begin to feel less alone, nonetheless.  Two years later, I have manged to adapt to the condition known as being 'homeless', and have learned not to fear labels.  With this experience, I learned the rules of being a vagabond, and though I don't see myself as one, nonetheless.

Based on "Lost in the kitchen," is Dave Barry correct in his assessment of men and women?

Dave Berry presents a kitchen tale from his own experience on one occasion--Thanksgiving.  As Dave opens, it is easy to relate, remember my own experiences during this holiday, and sense the tension in the air, palpable and even uncomfortable.  As the drama unfolds, although, there is this single event that Dave tries to paint men and women into stereotypes.  On the surface, this might be somewhat true regarding a portion of the population, men and women alike.  To answer the question stated above, I would be inclined to say, 'yes and no'.  No, simply because their are many reverse roles in society, that Dave either neglected to mention, or has not experienced firsthand.  I would even go so far and point out that while many women are working, more of them are stay-home wives, and mothers, with traditional working husbands.  Further, it would be remiss of me not to mention that insofar as men are concerned, they do enjoy cooking and helping around the kitchen.  Conversely, the same can be said about some women.  I would say that Dave Berry can suggest a mindset, such as this piece, and that would not be an accurate catchall within the scope of human sexuality.

What is your favorite book or short story?

Johnny Lingo is a short film made in 1969 that opens in a Polynesian setting that tells a tale of self-worth and love through the eyes of a Caucasian storekeeper.  As the story begins, Mahana's father is approached by a shrewed business man that wants to marry his daughter by bidding for her hand in marriage with the offering of cows.  The islanders take into account that Mahana is not attractive, and less industrious to the family bottom line, teased and ridiculed, she feels mocked that a wealthy entrepreneur would even suggest buying her hand.  All the townsfolk begin gossiping, bragging about how much their husbands payed for their wives, and how Johnny Lingo will most likely pay bottom dollar, er, cows for Mahana.  In the end, Johnny pays 8 cows-the largest sum for a wife.  In the closing scenes, the sale complete, the father comes to bid the newlyweds goodbye, when Mahana steps out of the hut.  He is stunned, for Mahana is transformed, no longer the scruffy mongrel that her father treat her like, into a gorgeous and beautiful brick-house figure.  And yet, the father voices his anger, telling Johnny Lingo that he ripped him off, "Mahana is a 10-cow wife!  You jipped me!"  The bottom line is not how we see others but how we see ourselves, and our self-worth is what is key in this story.  No longer would Mahana measure her worth by how many cows other wives were bartered up to, for her worth was a simple gesture by her husband, paying 8 cows for what others perceived as unlovable, unwanted, or worthless.  In the end, the storekeeper and Johnny closing a sale on a mirror for Mahana, when the storekeeper says, "I misjudged you, Johnny."  Johnny saw the beauty that had always lied within Mahana, that everyone else overlooked.  This film is applicable today and gives us hope for ourselves, and for others. 

How is Buckley's essay, "Why Don't We Complain?" a cause and effect essay? Is his message still relevant today?

While Buckley's piece, "Why Don't We Complain?", is a cause and effect essay, the message can be applicable for today, depending the audience.  Again, here is another author churning out literature that is singular in thought, without considering the broader readership, and submits a wholly one-sided construct.  Admittedly, while Buckley paints a vivid picture, orchestrating a masterful deluge of stories, on the surface one would be inclined to agree.  The scope to which the piece examines this cycle, pinning society to the structure known as centralized government, it is one side of the overall argument.  I find it humorous, to say the least, when readers quote such pieces to support such platforms.   It's as if people prefer to regurgitate the media than to actually read between the lines and see the hidden message, or even explore that which was not addressed.  Perhaps they are too uncomfortable with descent, or the friction of having an opposing position, that it is much easier to ride the coat-tails of a popular movement.  And, to some degree, this is another faced of the same argument, where passiveness passes off as social acceptance.  I would argue that while the majority of the audience may, or may not agree, there are people that will, or will not voice any opinion on the relevance.  For my own reasons, that I refuse to share, I would say the message is not relevant to the minority that does complain, and often.  We can measure this population by those that represent the majority--Representatives, Senators, and our President.