Option 1, 2, or 3

The discussion in class on Friday helped me understand a little more about what was going on in the book. So now I feel like I might possibly have a shot at writing this paper. But as far as knowing what to write about, I've got nothing. Here are the reasons why I am baffled:

Option 1: Find a relatively current event and research how rulers take care of their people.
When I read this, I think of politics. I know absolutely nothing about politics, so I can not think of a current example. Maybe I will think of something really cheesy to write about; I guess any group that has a leader would work.

Option 2: Look at a specific battle and compare it to how Macciavelli would suggest to handle it.
Well, I am most definitely not a history buff, and I am not interested in any certain period of time. So in order to so this option, I would have to brush up on some history which does not sound fun at all.

Option 3: Research an example Macciavelli gives and decide whether or not it is biased.
This option would also require me to know some history, which I don't. So I would have to do a lot of research. Plus, with my lack of understanding about the book, I would probably get all of the facts mixed up and my whole entire paper would be completely wrong.

Regardless of which option I choose, I need to pick a solid topic. My first paper did not go so well, apparently I did not pick a sufficient topic. I am motivated to do better.

The Prince

     I have been slowly working my way through "The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli. This book is not necessarily easy to understand,  so I am some-what confused. I have been reading and re-reading, and looking up spark notes. The language and style of speaking is what confuses me the most. I feel like the author kind of goes back and forth on what he says. Also, the sentences are like 7 lines long, so he talks about 18 different topics in one sentence; it is just  hard to follow. Even after the discussion in class on Friday, it is still hard for me to understand what is going on.
     What I have gotten out of this book so far is: Niccolo is telling an upcoming prince how to do his job. I think that he is writing this book as a gift to the prince because he believes that this book is the best gift that he can offer to the prince. I guess I just do not understand what makes Niccolo so special that he can tell a prince what to do and what not to do. Keep in mind that I am not finished with the book, but so far, basically nothing has happened. You can either obtain a new state which you can decide to live in or not live in, or you can acquire a state where you already live. That is the just of what I have read so far, but the author put it into about ten chapters.

Good Friend, Good Push

A few days ago, I made yet another trip out to Mt. Holly. This time I went with a friend and he encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and go down some runs that I normally would not have considered. We started off on the bunny hill because he had not gone skiing since middle school. He picked it up like an old pro and I was fighting to catch up with him all day. We quickly moved up to the intermediate runs. After a few trips down, he decided that he wanted something more challenging and he knew that I could handle it, so we headed to the terrain park (the run that has jumps and rails and what-not). I did not have the guts to hit a jump at first, but by the end of the day, I was riding on the incline leading up to the jumps, hoping to build up enough courage to go for it. Unfortunately, it never happened… But I did attempt some crazy moguls! We also did this one black diamond run a few times; while you were standing a little ways away from the top, you could not even see the run, that is how steep it was. It was a good trip; I enjoyed spending the day with my friend and I appreciate that he had enough confidence in me to push me to achieve bigger and better things (even though I was terrified the entire time!).

Snowboarding

      I feel strongly about snowboarding. When I was learning, I aspired to be able to make it down a run "the proper way". My belief of the proper way of snowboarding was to alternate heel-side to toe-side. I would sit on the chair lift and watch others snowboard, mesmerized; especially if it was a chick snowboarder. I think it is so neat to see a chick be able to go out and hold her own in a male dominated sport. Now, I am one of the chicks that I aspired to be, and it feels incredible.
      When guys see me at the top of a run, they most likely underestimate me. All that they see is a girl, sitting on the ground in her purple jacket, strapping her feet onto a pink and purple flowery board. But when I take off and blow past them half way down the run, they realize that I mean business. Riding to me, is so relaxing and exhilarating all at the same time. I feel in control, like I can take on the world with one hand strapped behind my back; but I also feel like I am constantly at the mercy of the mountain, I never know what will happen next and possibly cut my run short. When I am on a run, my mind is free and absolutely nothing else matters; that is exactly the way that I like it!