Monday, May 14, 2007

Letter against URR (Assignment)

To Whom it May Concern,
Mr. Uriah Randolph Riddle is one of the most perplexing individuals I have ever met. His personality makes it hard for me to come up with a place where he will truly be the man for the job. While I have never once doubted his intelligence and natural ability, he is somewhat of a social deviant.
Mr. Riddle honestly dazzled me with his talents in many facets of knowledge. The way he once applied management styles to modern theories of psychology absolutely knocked me off my feet. However, it was the way he handled himself in day to day life that makes me apprehensive as to give scream his praise. He had very sloppy long hair and never dressed very properly at all, almost as though he had just walked in from the street. He had a very hard time fitting in, and I believe this was because he never really wanted to. Once, when given a group assignment, he refused to participate because he felt he was much to intelligent for the likes of a group project. He even went as far as to call my own class boring and cut out every so often.
Now when asked whether he is qualified, I’d be lying through my teeth if I were to say that he isn’t one of the most intellectually qualified people you will probably ever interview. My assessment however, is not only one of the intelligence and aptitude, but of dependability and interpersonal abilities as well. As qualified as he is intelligence wise, he surely falls as short as anyone I’ve met in dependability and interpersonal skills. In my honest opinion, I believe Uriah’s talents may be better utilized elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Patrick Wagner

Letter for URR (Assignment)

To Whom it May Concern,
When I sat down to write an assessment of Mr. Uriah Randolph Riddle, I did not know where to begin. I guess the best way would be to first flat out say that he will be, in my opinion, an excellent bank manager. Mr. Riddle is one of the most unique people I have ever come into contact with. I’ll admit that the first time I met him that I did not expect much at all, but once he got to work I realized how very wrong I was. His mind does not work like yours and mind, it is far more advanced and efficient. I believe that this is why upon meeting Uriah many feel that he is moody and temperamental, while I believe that it is simply the fact that his mind just operates at a much higher level.
While in my class Mr. Riddle dazzled me day in and day out with his remarkable abilities in various fields of intelligence, while making it seem like he did hardly any work at all. He was able to take the vast knowledge he obtained in the many liberal arts courses he took and applied them to business like no one I have ever taught, or been taught by. Even knowing how brilliant he was he astounded me further when he wrote what I consider the best undergraduate paper I have ever received on relating the different management styles to the theories of psychology. I gave Uriah some leeway on attendance being that he could’ve completed, and probably taught the class on his own terms. Again he may not have been the best group project participator but this is because he could’ve done the work of two groups faster than 8 people together could. Uriah Randolph Riddle will succeed as a bank manager.
Sincerely,
Patrick Wagner

Informative Reversal Freewrite

Ever since Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker in 2003 there has been a poker boom throughout the US. Before Moneymaker, almost every winner of the World Series Main Event had been a professional poker player. The Main Event is decided over a Texas Hold-em Poker table and the buy-in is $10,000. The reason that Moneymaker, an accountant from Tennessee, cause such a big poker craze is because it made everyone believe that poker is all luck and no skill. Everyone began to believe that since one man got extremely lucky that poker was easy and anyone could be successful at it. Now this thinking does not seem very logical, considering when the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team won the gold medal against the heavily favored Russians no one rushed out there doors threw on a pair of skates and went to the NHL. The professional players that have been playing all their lives to make a living have for the most part enjoyed the craze. There is so much fresh money to be won because they believe that skill is the way to success; NOT luck. Of course there is some luck in poker, but there is luck and variation in almost any profession. There are certain things in life that are in no ones control the only thing one can do is to put themselves in the best position to succeed and avoid bad luck or as they say in the poker world, bad beats. There is a certain amount of variation in everything and poker is just another instance of that.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Letter to LH

Dear Left Hand,
Ever since I started playing guitar you have surprised me. I have known you for over 19 years now but you have always been overshadowed by the talents of the Right Hand. Playing basketball the Right Hand always scored more points and handled the ball and controlled the game most of the time. In baseball you were ultimately useless. You couldn’t really catch anything and if you tried throwing the ball is was embarrassing for both of us. No one as very been able to understand what you’re trying to write, it looks more like chicken scratch than letters. I feel very awkward brushing my teeth with you and I’m terrified to trust you with a razor near my face. All of a sudden, when I began playing the guitar, my entire outlook for you changed. You do new things every single time I pick up the guitar and never cease to amaze me. Sometimes I can just close my eyes and get lost in the music that you have learned to play so nicely. You have finally found your place in the world, you have found your calling. All I can say is that I hope that I’m as lucky as you in life. I’m genuinely happy for you and your newfound happiness and I want to thank you for showing me that I should never be afraid to try new things because you never know what will come out of any situation.
Sincerely,
PJ Wagner

Thoughts on Theology Reading

Jeremiah 31:31-34 paints a beautiful portrait of the mediator of the New Covenant. He says that God has told him that this New Covenant will be one of forgiveness and all shall know the Lord. Matthew’s gospel is very consistent with this portrayal and goes as far as to quote Jeremiah directly in Matthew 21:13, when Jesus enters the Temple of Jerusalem. Matthew clearly defines that Jesus is the new mediator and the true interpreter of God’s will and does so using literary devices such as typology, formula quotations and antitheses. It is very clear that Matthew believes Jesus was the gateway into the Kingdom of God and demonstrates that Jeremiah’s prophecy is fulfilled because all who know Jesus now know the Lord. Finally, God forgives the even the wickedest sins of humanity without punishment by sacrificing his only son Jesus by death of crucifixion (Matt 27:32-56). I believe that my understanding of Jesus today has been most influenced by the Gospel of Matthew because it is so easy to understand. Matthew gives a clear and precise description of Jesus and of his Ministry not physically but spiritually.

Tiger Woods Freewrite

Dear EA Sports,
I have been playing Tiger Woods golf since it game out in 2004. I have been a very loyal customer and have bought every edition since the original. I’ve spent many hours in front of my Play Station 2 playing your fantastic game and have become a very formidable competitor in the game. However, the latest version of the game is much more expensive than any of the previous. At $59.99, the price of the new game almost doubles the price of its predecessors. I would love to be able to buy he game but at such a high price I believe that it would be illogical to spend so much on one game. I am requesting that EA lowers the price to $34.99, like the other games were. At this price I would definitely purchase the game and continue my Tiger Woods PGA Tour career. It would be a morally just change as well as a smart business decision seeing that many others feel the way I do. I genuinely hope that the fine people at EA will do the right thing and lower the price of the game so that all their loyal fans can enjoy another of their fine games. Thank You.
Sincerely,
Patrick Wagner

Thursday, May 10, 2007

First Summer Breeze

The summer feels like its finally here. I don't judge by the calender or the humidity or that school is over. I judge by that first summer breeze that I feel. That breeze thats like the most comfortable sheets you have on your bed. It's such a refreshing breeze. No longer do you have to shiver when the breeze comes, rather you feel like having as little clothes on as possible so that the breeze can engulf your body. This breeze is a beautiful thing. For kids it represents freedom from the dreary school days. The breeze is a reminder that no matter how cold the winter gets something gorgeous is on the way. Its very comforting feeling lik no matter how bad things go that something this perfect could still be just around the corner. I remember being in gradeschool and walking outside for recess and feeling that warm breeze. Even when I was young I appreciated its beauty so greatly. I couldn't help but smile. The feeling is overwhelming when that breeze hits your face, runs through your hair, tickles under your arms and brushes by your legs. Yes this breeze is something unlike anything other. This breeze relaxes the muscles and the mind. It allows for children to play and friends and family to eat and drink outside and enjoy the outdoors. Unlike anything else this breeze is unifying. And when the breeze has gone and that first chill runs through your bones you say farewell and just wait for the next time you meet.