Problem Statement

The use of steroids in professional sports, specifically Major League Baseball, is a problem because the integrity of the sport can be tarnished. With many high-profile players being caught using this body enhancing drug, many people and fans argue that the credibility of all major league players is in jeopardy. This can also decrease the legitimacy of awards like the Golden Glove award or home run derby winners, because of the suspicion that a majority of players use steroids. Historically, many sports professionals have said that the hardest thing to do in professional athletics is hit a high speed baseball in the major leagues. Because of this, it will obviously generate a lot of suspicion toward a player who has been hitting a wild number of homeruns within one season. This was the case for Barry Bonds, a San Francisco Giants outfielder who was on the verge of breaking Babe Ruth's homerun record, when he was drug tested and found that he had been using a form of steroids while he was playing.


I believe a practical solution to this problem would be to drug test periodically and specifically look for these supplements that are in the players systems. Before all of these steroid issues came to surface in the late 1990's, there were little to no consequences for players using a certain steroid.


A research solution to this problem would be to investigate the real percentage of players in the MLB who are currently using or have used steroids in their playing career. There is a common misconception that all MLB players are juiced up but just haven't been caught.


For a media solution, I believe the media has already blown up this important issue and that it has been widespread enough to teach future players that using this drug has many negative effects on both the sport and the players own body. It probably wouldn't hurt to do raise more awareness in the interest of trying to eradicate the League of this issue.

Check in #3

Nick Davis

Check in #2

TO: Mikayla Beaudrie, Instructor of ENC 1101

FROM: Nick Davis, student in ENC 1101

DATE: July 25, 2014

SUBJECT:  Progress of Challenge, Gothic on the Tube

The film I chose for this challenge is the 1991 thriller, The Silence of the Lambs. One of the main characters is a psychopathic prisoner named Dr. Hannibal Lector. His role in this movie was to conference with a FBI agent who was trying to catch a serial killer by gaining insight into the mind of a criminal. The reason the agent is interviewing Dr. Lector is because he is in prison for not only killing but also eating his victims. This criminal profile matches the cannibalistic suspect that the FBI is after.

Cultural views of Cannibalism

The Gothic Hannibal Lector is considered to be horrific simply because our society today sees cannibalism as morally wrong and very gruesome. Although our culture sees this act as evil, there are many primitive cultures who have been practicing certain rituals for thousands of years that involve cannibalistic activities. The Amazonian tribes deep in the rainforests of South America, for example, have had little to no contact with more advanced civilizations and still continue to use cannibalism as a religious and spiritual experience, Many cultures believe that consuming the flesh or organs of a fallen enemy can give one the deceased’s strength or contain some healing powers. To these cultures, Cannibalism is a part of their way of life and do not see it as an evil act.

The Crime of Cannibalism

We can recollect some instances of cannibalism in which the people were forced to indulge in this brutal act for survival. In the story of the Donner Party during the 19^th century, this was exactly the case. The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers that became stranded in a blistering mountain snowstorm that forced them to do the unthinkable to survive. In the case of survival many have argued that cannibalism is not a crime. Although it is both a moral and legal issue, if there was no other way of finding some sort of food, it is human instinct to do what is necessary to ensure the continued existence of our species.

However, Dr. Lector isn’t in a life or death situation whenever he feels the impulse to indulge in his deadly habit. Furthermore, Lector was not raised in a culture where cannibalism is considered a natural habit. His dark curse was more than likely brought onto him at an early age after he witnessed something very traumatic and emotionally scarring. This character alone contains enough Gothic traits to be labeled as horrific or evil by a standard society. 

Check in #1

Over the next couple of weeks I will work in challenge number 3, Gothic on the Tube. I chose this challenge not only because I love movies but also really enjoy Gothic genres of film and television. I plan to complete this assignment by watching Netflix and going to the movies, which I am pretty good at.

Post 2

The first decision I made on my own as a young adult was probably when I decided to take a trip back to Minnesota to visit some old friends from when I lived up there. I had been in college for only a few weeks and chose to fly up the moment our week off from football started. I still had a bunch of graduation money that was waiting to be put to use. So, without my parents help or them even knowing about it, I purchased a plane ticket and arranged to stay at my friends place for the week. I did not even mention this to my parents until the day before my flight and much to my surprise they were fine with it. They even seemed excited for me to go, probably because I wouldn't have to stay with them for a whole week. This was not my first time flying alone but this time felt a lot more free and independent because I took care of everything myself. It may not seem very interesting because booking flights is pretty simple now, but at the time I had no idea what I was doing and almost bought a ticket to the wrong airport by mistake. So obviously, it meant a lot to me having to care of myself, and I ended up having a great time with some Minnesota friends. 

Post #1

For as long as i can remember there has been only one person who has inspired me to become the man I am and the man plan to be. My father has been my hero and greatest supporter throughout my life. Some say it is a little cliché to follow in your parent's footsteps but I honestly have wanted nothing more than to do just that. After his college career and a brief stint in the Canadian Football league, in 1987 my father began coaching the game of football at both the professional and collegiate level. Growing up with him has very much helped me with my opportunity to play this sport for one of the best universities in the nation. I was even fortunate enough to have been coached by my dad last year during my first season as a Gator and it was a dream come true. Getting paid to coach the sport that I love for basically the rest of my life sounds like heaven to me. However, just like with any other career choice, there is a catch. Today, football has become a very corrupt and unpredictable business that forces many coaches and their families to move around the country several times. I have lived in 7 states and went to 3 different high schools because of this. If I am going to pursue this kind of career I guess I am already used to the hectic type of lifestyle. Obviously, I was born and bred around this game and could not imagine my life without it. In short, I hope to someday coach and more importantly live just as my father did and still continues to do.