Investing Money in Athletes

In the UpFront Magazine article "I'll Buy 50 Shares of Tom Brady" the article speaks about how now the new stock market may revolve around buying shares of professional athletes. This new concept of investing money into people is something that could be the next generation of stocks. And just a new way of thinking that could lead into investing money into things that people thought we could never really invest in.
One reason I think this could be the future of stocks and investments is because of the recent boom of investing of professional athlete's performance. For example, Fantasy Football has become so popular, which is games that you can make a lot of money off of if you have the right strategies in creating a good team. Personally, I play in a few money leagues and I've made almost five times what I payed to enter the league when I've won. This can't really be called an "investment" but it's become increasingly popular in some online ways people make money. As it says in the article, "your share will go up if the player receives a big contract or performs well on the field." It's weird if you think about it, you can make money off of how someone performs in a football game. I like this concept if you are into investing in a favorite player that you think has a lot of potential. And it's more of a short term investment which would make it more exciting for a little younger generation.
In conclusion, I think that investing in people is something that is still in its early stages, but could develop and could lead into being able to invest into other things. It could be the future of stocks and shares. It could really attract a certain group of fans and people that are into sports.

In the book by Malcom Gladwell "Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants" it speaks about how underdogs in either sports or life in general have the advantage. It speaks about how there isn't the pressure that you're expected to win something or do well. People expect you to lose and have no expectations.
One good point he makes is that you can always perform with a free spirit in your head. That free spirit is a critical part of success because it means that you are less tense and stressed out, therefore causing you to perform better. One example he used was in college basketball. The "March Madness" tournament is the biggest college basketball tournament that always has a few major upsets. The 15th seed underdog beating a top seed is always a common occurrence every year in the tournament. Those top seeds freeze up when they are down by a few points with not much time remaining. They're psychological game isn't as strong as their physical game therefore causing them to panic and then lose to a team they should beat. It happens a lot in sports, because as the old saying is "you have nothing to lose".  Personally, I play tennis competitively in tournaments and I always enjoy playing seeded players when I'm not seeded because I know I have nothing to lose. And that's always when I play my best because I have a free state of mind.
In conclusion, Gladwell's idea of underdogs really having the advantage is very accurate. They don't always win, but it allows them to play more freely, with less to lose. I've had that feeling of being the underdog and although people may not know you because you are the underdog, it's a great way to start by making a name for yourself and beating the higher ranked opponents.

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth

In Mike Tyson's book "Undisputed Truth"Tyson speaks about his incredibly tough upbringing. I think there is one main lesson that comes out of this book and that is that even the toughest still have a heart. I think that is the overall main lesson of the book and even though I am not finished, you can tell that all he wanted was to be loved and he would do whatever it took to receive love.
Mike Tyson grew up in Brownsville, and with no real father and a drug addict mother. He committed 38 felonies before he was 13 and he was just involved with gangs and fighting and with all kinds of bad influences around him. In the prologue, he mentions that he was in such a search for love that when he was famous, he would give so much money to charities and people around him thinking that they could love him. Not the image of Mike Tyson you think about when you hear his name. When you hear his name it's one of the strongest, craziest boxers and people to ever live. But this man didn't know what love was and had never experienced it. It seems ironic that a man who punches another until they fall unconscious was in search of love, but that was the only way he could find love. By winning fights, by winning money, and then using money as a way for people to love him.
In conclusion, I think that this book on Tyson not only reveals his inner, more gentle-hearted self, but also shows how even the toughest and baddest of all people, still have a heart. And that heart may be the only thing they've been looking for, and will do anything to find it.

Open by Andre Agassi

In the book "Open" by Andre Agassi, Agassi's relationship with his dad is what Agassi speaks most about. He talks about how much he hates his dad and tennis, yet his dad is the reason he has become the legend he is today. This is contradictory, and the real lesson that comes out of this book, is to pursue what you love.
One way Agassi gets this message across to the reader is by showing his relationship with his dad. His dad forced him to play tennis because he saw the real potential Andre had, but Andre hated tennis. What I find incredibly interesting, is that still to this day, Andre doesn't like tennis. The game that brought him money, fame and glory and that he was at one point the best in the world at, he hates. It shows his character and the independent person he was, but was not allowed to be due to his father's overshadowing and decision to make him pursue a career as a tennis player. Also, you can tell he was unhappy and wanted another life. For example, he rebelled against his school when he was shipped to Bollettieri's academy, he would not listen in school and go against the rules. It shows how unhappy he was. Even if he knew that tennis would be the key to success, he didn't want to go down that road.
All in all, my admiration for Agassi is endless, because as I am still young and play tennis, and know all the frustrations that come with the game, I can't imagine what it would be like to play it everyday, especially when you don't like it. To overcome his hate for tennis, and play because he loves his dad and wants to please his dad is above all the reason he played. And I am still amazed at how one person could hate a game that brought them everything they have.

Social Issues Response: The Help

In the book "The Help" written by Kathryn Stockett, the main social issue, racism, is treated in many different ways based on the point of view of the characters. More specifically, it's not just racism that's the issue, it's the way the characters in the book interact based on what they should believe and what society asks of them, and how they morally feel about the issue.
One way the characters interact based on what society says you should believe in is the relationship between the white owners of the homes, and the cleaning ladies. For example, Aibileen gets along with Ms. Skeeter extremely well because Ms. Skeeter is different then what the stereotypical white lady of the house that is expected from everyone in that time period. What's expected from society is that black people are treated poorly and should be given no attention by the whites. But as Ms. Skeeter treats Aibileen with respect, and talks to her nicely, it shows how much stronger and independent she is then the rest of society during that time period. Even when you see how she talks and interacts at her bridge games with all the other plantation owning white ladies, she's different. She's more independent, she doesn't let society bully her into treating blacks the way the rest of them do. It shows that she's smarter, and has the guts to decide for herself what's right and wrong. It shows heart and awareness and even though she is just 22, she can already distinguish what's right and wrong.
In conclusion, the social issue of racism is treated differently then a stereotypical book written in the South during that time period. The relationship that Aibileen and Ms. Skeeter develop is a beautiful and inspiring relationship that teaches everyone to rebel against society, especially when deep down, you know what society is doing is morally wrong.

Someone Who Inspires Me - Research Project

Someone Who Inspires Me

I’ve been playing tennis with this girl named Brittny for about 2 years now and every time I see her play I’m always amazed. I’m amazed to a point that if I hat to make only one bet for the rest of my life and put my house on it, I’d bet that she will become a professional tennis player. I always love to compete with Brittny, even though she beats me most times, because I know I’ll be able to say “I played with that pro tennis player when I was young.” I watch Brittny every time it’s her turn to go when we’re drilling and amazed at how hard she hits the ball and how clean her swing is. She puts so much effort into each ball and plays it like the last. But I think this inner-drive came from somewhere else. I know that Brittny doesn’t come from a very wealthy family at all, needless to say her father is always present and is one of the greatest people I’ve met. Recently, she got a 95% scholarship to Poly Prep for Tennis and went 11-1 in her Freshman Year to cap off an undefeated season for Poly Prep. I always wonder how such an unprivileged girl coming from an unprivileged neighborhood, plays tennis (which is an expensive game), is so good at it, stays so focused, and can fit right in with upper-class private school kids and take over as Captain in her first year their. It’s because she has a drive. She has a drive that no one else has. I’ve gotten to know Brittny very well as we see each other twice a week and talk. Never has her ego gotten in the way despite all of her recent success. She is a year older than me but treats me no different. When me and her play a close match and she edges me out by one point we just have a nice handshake and she goes off and tells me about something other than tennis. But what I don’t do, is tell her that she will become pro even if it is obvious in everyone’s eyes. Because I want her to get their. And by telling her, it’s un-necessary because it may throw her off. I know she’ll get there one day and hopefully I’ll be able to tell her how she’s inspired me and how even though she started out at the bottom, she’ll make it to the top. I know it. 

Ms. Berner Banned Books Letter

Dear Ms. Berner,                                                                   November 10^th, 2013

            It has come to my attention that you have been debating whether or not take some books out of the 6^th grade library, particularly books that have banned in other libraries across America. You should not ban any books in the 6^th grade library or any library. When incoming 6^th graders enter Middle School, they are one step closer to entering the real world and exploring real-world issues. And by sheltering them and taking out some of literatures’ most fantastic novels is just yielding them away from topics that they could learn about. You should not take any books out of the 6^th grade library. As Bill Moyers says “Censorship is the enemy of truth.”

            One reason you shouldn’t remove any books from the 6^th grade library is because some kids who may be going through a particular hard time may not know how to express themselves and seek help. As Sherman Alexie, author of “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” writes, in the article “The Best Books are Written in Blood” would have loved to have a book such as his to help him cope with some of the serious problems he felt and it was a way for him to help him deal with his emotions. He then brings up a good point. He says “Does Ms. Gurdon (the author of an article accusing Alexie of writing inappropriate content in his books) honestly believe that a sexually explicit YA novel might somehow traumatize a teen mother? Does she believe that a YA novel about murder and rape will somehow shock a teenager whose life has been damaged by murder and rape?” This shows that people who are living something are not spontaneously going to be scared or traumatized by the book, it’s just another way of expressing their emotions and knowing that they aren’t the ones going through one particularly hard time in their lives.

            Some people may argue that it is necessary to take some heavy content books out of libraries because they may feel it is too strong for a young adult to handle. First of all, they are books, Young Adult Fiction books are Fiction, so for the most part they are not true stories and some may have an influence from someone who did go through a particular event, but they are mostly fictional stories. The question that should be asked is: why should these stories be taken out of a library just because one or two people may feel uncomfortable whereas there may be someone shy who needs this story as a way for themselves to feel better about a particular problem they may face? In Texas, on channel ABC13, there was a student who attempted to ban the book Fahrenheit 451 because she personally felt uncomfortable with it. And selfishly, her father attempted to get it banned throughout the whole school just because she didn’t feel comfortable with it. That’s what is scary about book banning, it’s people who want to  ban books who then get other people to look deeper at vocabulary that could potentially be something hateful and end up censoring or banning some of literatures most historical stories. As Alexie writes “They are simply trying to protect their privileged notions of what literature is and should be. They are trying to protect privileged children. Or the seemingly privileged.” This is just upper-class people or people with some kind of power that want to shelter kids and not expose them to the real world because they are afraid they won’t be able to handle it. But part of entering 6^th grade is about growing up and coming into a more real-life environment and growing as a student and a person, and this comes with learning about heavy real-world issues. As award-winning author Ellen Hopkins writes in an article about book banning  “they bring young adult readers a middle-aged author's broader perspective. They show outcomes to choices, offer understanding.” This quote is a great example of what books can bring to one’s life. These books do not tell the readers to do what the character is doing, but simply understand the different possibilities the character is facing and which is the best choice in order to overcome that problem.. Chris Eakin, from the Fairview Post, writes “One thing about books and other printed material is that you can pick it up, put it down, open it and close it and where ever you leave it, it stays there, it doesn’t follow you around.” Eakin makes a good point here, if you feel uncomfortable reading something, then stop reading it. This goes along with taking books away from the 6^th grade libraries. If someone feels really uncomfortable reading something, they can just put it down and stop reading it, but taking it away from everyone Is wrong.

            In conclusion, you should not ban any books from the 6^th grade library, and if you really feel that it must not be there you can simply tell the teacher so she can warn the kids before they read it. By leaving it in the libraries you give the opportunity to a kid who may face a similar tough problem in their life, to read it and help them with their emotions. As Alexie said “I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed.”

Sincerely,

Felix Levine