Fun Times at Sprint PCS: >>>Together with Nextel

So I was considering the different places I could possibly sit and observe, and try to not look like crazed, bored, fool while doing it and I came up with nothing... :-) So i just decided to go with what I first thought about and went with a Sprint Store.

Though I may look like a fool doing it(how long can you possibly ACT like you are looking at phones), it should be rather funny I think. This is appealing to me because I think Sprint, or any cell phone store for that matter, happens to be one of the most diverse environments around. Just Think if you know more than 3 people that dont have a cell phone. Umm Yeaaahhh, I didn't think so... I happen to choose sprint because I am a sprint customer and I am apart of their target audience, along with anyone else who do/dont have a sprint phone... Its all about the dollar, everyone is apart of their target audience.

I suspect I will observe many different age groups in the stor, many different attitudes, and many different reason that people come in. Some will be quick stops to pay the bill on the machine, some will be long stressful stops. But I think more than half of the people that will be entering the store, will in some form or fashion have an attitude or they will not want to be there. You know, I just wonder how I am going to look, walking around the store for 30 minutes or so, on a few different occasions. I predict I will be asked may I help you with something at least 3 times. Any takers...? Fun times at Sprint PCS/

Thinking about Public Space

Public space can almost be anything, anywhere. I dont exactly have a confirmed place that I am going to be observing and writing about, but I have a few places in mind. The first place I was thinking about observing was my cell phone provider Sprint. I was thinking of going in a few times and just watch how people interact inside the store. I kind of have a feeling that its going to be somewhat negative. I say this because everytime I go up there , its always for a reason other than what I want. Its usually a broken phone, paying my bill (I hate paying my cell bill), needing tech help, etc... Its always for some negative reason. Im sure there are people that come through that are just as happy as they want to be, but I just dont see it happening. Another space that I was thinking of observing was a restaurant. I didnt have a particualr one in mind, but I wanted to observe the different attitudes, and different types of people that come through at different times of the day.

AF1's

I love Nike Air Force 1's. They are my favorite tennis shoes in the world. I think they first came out in the early 80's. I currently have a little over 20 pair of them. They range in price from $80 to $200. The AF1 comes in three different versions, regular, premium, and supreme. Its almost like gas, regular being the cheapest at $80, premium at $125, and supreme at $200 or higher. These shoes come in all different colors ,schemes, and materials. But the most appreciated one would have to be the all white's. They are $80 and you can practicaly wear them with everything. From a suit, to khakis, to jeans. I buy a pair of the all whites maybe once every month and a half to two months. There is only one problem with the all white AF1's, they are usually in demand so much, that sometimes nike run out of stock and dnt ship anymore to the stores for weeks sometimes months at a time. Now you might ask why buy the same shoe, exact color, exact style over and over. Its because once you lose that crisp white of the shoe, it is almost ruined and its never the same again. I love Air Force Ones!!!

The Man with the Master Plan: Obama Y'all

On January 20th 2009, at 11:05 CST, history was made. The United States of America swore in its 44th president. Barack Hussein Obama, "The Man", elected to lead this great nation made history by being the first black president. Before I even speak on the speech, I believe that this is an argument in its on entity. I think this is an argument about the future of our nation, the type of progress we are making. Progress by which we are not only choosing the most qualified man/woman for the job (any job), but also by tearing down those color barriers, race barriers, and ethnic barriers.

Upon being sworn in and taking the podium to address the thousands of people in front of him, and millions watching around the world he remained poised and spoke with great confidence and conviction. The first argument I noticed was when he spoke on the negative present state of our nation from that of costly health care, to the ways we use our energy. I think this was effective because he spoke the truth, and for me, and I think for many, it made you personally want to be apart of the change and leveling of our economy and our nation. He then went on to propose and inform us about his plans while in office. He said "On this day we've come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises that have for far to long strangled our politics". He spoke with a sense of authority that was warming and wanted, incorporated with that much needed feel of prosperity for this nation. He perfected the use of the rhetoric triangle throughout his speech, I feel with a heavy dose on the pathos end.

"On this day we have gathered because we've chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discore". This is an example of arguments to make decisions. We all know that we are in a recession, a trying time for all, but we are making the decision to work for the betterment of the country.

The entire speech was a call to action for me. He said " Its time for us to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of remaking America". What more can he say? I almost felt the need to plant a flower, or recycle a can at that very moment. :-) But seriously, It was an argument to the audience, which happen to be the entire U.S. The book says "no argument can be effective unless it speaks compelling to others", and I was very compelled.

In Class: Why TCU?

My arguement is about the TCU Football team ending up ranked in the top 10 in the country in both the associated press polls, and the USA Today polls. Most people would say how in the world did something like this ever happen. TCU is in a non-bcs conference, meaning they dnt get an automatic bcs bid by winning the conference. TCU is respectively apart of the Mountain West Conference, which happened to be a very strong conference this year and has been getting stronger every year since 2005. So since we are in this so called sub par conference how did we end up number 7 in both of the respected polls at the end of the season.

Well this is how. We played 4 top 25 teams this year, and ended with a 2-2 record against those teams. We played a top 5 team the 5th game of the year against Oklahoma university, which just so happened to play in the national championship game.

"Allow me to Reintroduce Myself"

My name is Rafael Priest. I am 21 years old. I was born and raised in Dallas, TX and I love everything there is to love about my city. I attend Texas Christian University and I am a senior Communication Studies major, with a minor in social work and criminal justice. I am going into my last semester and plan on graduating this coming May. I have been putting of this course for three years now, and I finally have to take it if I ever want to graduate. The thing is I am only an o.k. writer. But hopefully, I enjoy this class and the topics we will be discussing and writing about. I am going to be a fourth year starting cornerback for the TCU Football team at the beginning of next season and I have high expectations for my team as well as myself. After graduation in May, I plan on starting on a Master's degree while I compete and fulfill my last year of eligibility on the field. Now I know you may be thinking, Masters = Writing. Yeah I know. But I mean I have been writing papers, text messages, and emails for this long, why not continue for a few more classes to get a better education and better degree. Plus I never said I was a horrible writer, I like to think of myself as a solid writer. :-). Finally, I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus, which I see as a contract for our course.