At last, the last

This week I decided to do a short one dealing with bring/take. I sometimes get these mixed up so I decided to read up on the rules.

Bring/Take
Bring is suppose to be used when you are when viewing something from point of arrival. So if you are there and someone is coming you would ask them to bring something.
Take is used when viewing something from point of departure. So you are with someone you would tell them to take something.
You can find a little bit more info on these words at the following address. It is much more than what I described but it is helpful.

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/bring.html

America, Oh so beautiful

I enjoyed this reading. I liked the part when he talked about America bringing out the worst and the best of people. It is what defines America. People are encouraged to choose for themselves. I thought the example of the firemen and policemen on 9/11 does resemble the best of America. It goes in hand with what he said about our actions being greater than others because we are given the freedom and are not forced. With freedom should come greater responsibility for ones actions.
While reading this book I thought a lot about the Good and the Bad of America. Now days it seems like there is a lot of bad that takes place here, and is sometimes hard to see the good. That is why so many people don't like America. I started thinking about what makes America and what makes it great. The thing I most like about America is what it stands for. Now necessarily what it is becoming, but what it once and still kind of stands for. It is place that encourages every civilian to become what they choose, but gives reason to become something great. Some people do choose to give America a bad name, but there are those who remind us of its' greatness. America is shaped by its people, and when it is viewed in a positive way it is because of those who have done good in the world. When it is view in a negative is usually because of those who have acted in a negative way. There is always the impact of the media, and those who hate America, but a lot has to do with its' civilians.
I do love America, and regarding the war, if the American people to not have the moral confidence that D'Souza is talking about than we will lose. I don't think it as loosing as long as we are basing the decision, to stay or leave, from a moral stand point, and not based on greed and selfish desires. Are there better ways to solve problems other than war? Yes, but war is what it has come down to, but as long as those who are in charge are making decisions based on morality then America will support them. America is an amazing place to live, and I am grateful to call it home, because it gives me the chance to be me.

Only one left.....After this one

I have decided to do this weeks grammar post on semicolons. I am not sure exactly how, or when to use them. I also do not really know the difference between semicolons and colons other than what they look like.

Turns out that I am not as smart as I would like to be and the only thing a semicolon and colon really have in common is the letters colon in each word. A semicolon is more similar to a comma because they both connect two independent clauses but a comma uses a connector word like and, or etc. A semicolon can just connect both sentences without the connector word, or you can use a conjunctive adverb, and a semicolon. To better understand what I am trying to say and to learn more go to the following address.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/04/

Grammar Slammar

This week I was working on hyphens. I never really learned how to properly hyphenate words, but I do remember learning about it. I thought it would be good to learn.
Both websites that I found gave four rules of using a hyphen and the second of the two websites list a 5th that the first just talks about, but dosent list as a rule. The four rules are as follows:
To join two or more words that will be a single adjective for a noun.
When using numbers twenty-one to ninety-nine plus fractions
To help you understand what word is being used. To help avoid confusion, and awkward combination's of words.
Also when using prefixes that come before a capitalized word, figures and numbers. Also with the prefixes ex, self, and all. Plus the suffix elect.
The last is using one at the end of a line. It is not recommend especially with academic writing.

You can click on either link to learn more about Hyphens, Enjoy

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/hyphen.htm

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_hyphen.html

Which style of writing

I am debating between a classification essay or a cause and effect.
The first site is for a classification site, it is a long slide show and is old school. The second was more helpful.

http://faculty.mc3.edu/RDGREENW/classification/sld010.htm

http://essayinfo.com/essays/classification_essay.php



I found this website for the cause and effect to be helpful
http://essayinfo.com/essays/cause_and_effect_essay.php

Periods, Commas but not Colons

After reviewing my Rhetorical essay I realized that I wasnt sure whether to put the periods, or commas inside or outside of the quotation. I did some research and according to the University of Purdue's writing lab you put both commas, and periods inside the quotations unless you have a parenthetical reference that follows then you place the period or comma on the outside. You place semicolons, and colons on the outside, and only include question marks, or exclamation points if they are apart of the original quote otherwise you just put them on the outside of the quotation. You can read more about this at the following site listed below.




http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/577/03/

Grammar

I was reviewing my puppet essay and I was told to review commas being used with introductory words or phrases. I really never paid attention to this so I never knew it existed. You should use commas in the following instances: after an introductory clause, to avoid confusion, if there is a pause, after long introductory prepositional phrase/phrases, and after introductory verbal, some appositive, or absolute phrases.
All of this info and more can be found at the following address


http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_commaint.html

Civil Liberties

1. What rights have been changed in the last 10 yrs.?
2.How many taxes have been added in the last year?
3.How are our tax dollars being spent?
4.Should the Driver license age be older/younger?
5. What age is old enough to be prosecuted as an adult?
6. Should advertisement companies have more restrictions?
7. Should there be the death penalty?
8. Should Education be made optional to all ages?
9. Should we have stronger immigration laws?
10. Should Spanish be made an official language of American?
11. Should all Americans have to learn Spanish?
12. Should Americans have less say in national bills passed?
13. What say does the average American really have?
14. Is the Government corrupt?
15. Is education really that important to a successful future?
16. What affect has the war had on our civil rights?
17. Should the internet be monitored and restricted like tv?
18. What rights are being violated by ad campaigns that view women/men as sexual objects?
19. What rights are violated by illegal immigrant workers?
20. How have video games impacted our society? Have they broken any rights?

Forms/Hurting Women

After reading "Framing Class, Vicarious Living, and Conspicuous Consumption" I am left in a kind of bewilderment of human nature. It seems likely lately I have been filled with negative fact after fact, depressing story after story and I don't know what to say. Just the other day I was listening to the radio and some reporter came on and announced about 20 different things wrong right now with the economy, the nation, and with people in general. I actually just shut it off after while because he had nothing good to say at all. It just seems like that is all there is to report now days is the bad.
I am also amazed at how the producers: coca-cola, Pepsi, Doritos, etc. have so much power and influence on television. I am also amazed at how much is spent on advertisements. It does seem that everything now days is done for money not just because or some real reason but for money. For instance many, not all, but many of us are going to school so we can get higher paying jobs. It just seems like money runs the free nation. I remember seeing a show once where people went around trying to get other people to do horrible things for money. For instance, like some guys sweaty feet or something gross like that.
The part of the essay I like the most was when she was talking about civic journalism. The more she described that type of journalism the more of it I wish we had. She then goes on to say that "we can not assume that most journalists and television writers are in a position to change media portrayals of class and inequality" It is interesting because I am sure if one writer or journalist did try to change things they would most likely be fired. Perhaps all it would take would be just one to change everything but do you really want to be the one risking it?
I just got done reading "Two ways to hurt a women" It is a very pro women's right essay and made many good points, but it seemed like she let her opinions get in the way. I saw many fallacies in her writing. Like I said before she did make many great points and the whole time I was reading it I kept thinking about the recent abusive case of Rihanna and Chris Brown. The kid is only 19 years old and already feels like he can beat a female. That is horrible. What is worse is that she went back to him and people are saying it was her choice and you have to respect her decision. I dont really agree with that at all. It is like saying. Hey it is the crack heads choice let him be. I wonder what made Chris Brown actually think it was okay to beat his girlfriend. It also sucks because he mostly will get a lighter sentence because he his famous and rich. With all this going on the question still stands. What can be done?

Serving

This essay was hard to get through I kept getting lost and it was rather confusing at times. Then again I did just wake up from a nap before reading it so I am sure that had a lot to do with it. She does a wonderful job of displaying how hard it would be to be a waiter. I can't imagine it begin much better at any other middle class diner. While reading it I couldn't help but think " What if some waiters where there because of school?" What I mean is maybe a waiter took that job to pay for school but school was to expensive so they had to drop out and now they are stuck working a dead end job. What about the waitress with three kids? Maybe she was in school and started to party and ended up getting pregnant. I dont think school is the right answer for everyone. I am a huge supporter of education and believe that it is important but not necessary for success. I think it is our desires and our work ethic that in the end determine our success. I know plenty of people who never went to school and are very successful and also those who went to school and are not much better off than those who didn't. Take Michael Moore for example. He dropped out of college and is very successful and infamous. Is this the path that everyone should take? No, of course not but it does show that not everyone needs a degree to be successful. Maybe they should focus there attention more on the student than the actually degree or grade the student is getting. Maybe their target should not try and scar kids into going to school but teach hard work and determination. But then you must also consider the fact that some people are just stuck in a situation because of some bad decisions in the past that dont have to do with school or even some unfortunate events that have occurred in their life. It is really hard to pin point it down to just one thing. Education can play a important role in life but it is not the determining factor of whether we succeed or not. It is a good indication if we will, because a good education takes dedication, sacrifice, and hard work which are all qualities of someone who is successful.

Grammar

This week I chose to do Colons. On my political cartoon essays I was advised to work on my colon usage so I decide to give it a shot. Like most of the English grammar I don't know how to properly use the colon. I kind of just throw it here or there.
After doing some research it is apparent that you can use the colon in many different aspects of writing such as emphasizing something, to better explain a previous sentence, and to introduce a quotation. The most common use of colons seem to be signal a list of words, phrases or clauses that follow a complete sentence.

You can read more on colons and also find examples at the following address
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/punct/colon.html

Poems/Art

I think politics has a huge influence on art. Every decision the government makes impacts and influences us all. Before the government decided to go to war against terrorism there weren't as many pics, and poems about terrorism. Before Obama ran for office there werent as many pics, and possibly no poems about him. Polotics encompass us all and have a very strong influence over the economy, civil rights, and pretty much all categories of art.
The the second poem made me think about all the people who I have ever offered something better than what they had, and they turned me down. The reason is, because there are always people out there who are worse off than us, or at least to us they seem worse off. You and I can't imagine being homeless. To us it would be impossible to live a life like that, and I am sure to some rich billionaire it would seem impossible and horrible to live my life. Now I am not saying that the homeless person is completely happy, I actually don't know how he feels, and I am sure, like all of us, he has dreamed of something more. In life you get what you see. If you see yourself as just average and you see average as something bad than you are something bad.
As for the money poem, well the power behind money scars me. It is amazing to see what people will do for money and even with money.

An American Education

I like this essay a lot. I never really thought much about how our educational system does involve so much debate and that is what we are trained to do. It is interesting to me that we are also taught to debate subjects we dont even agree with. The example of the student who wrote a paper trying to make another writer look bad when the student agreed with the writer in the first place but knew if he wanted to get recognized he would have to attack someone famous. After reading it I began to pay more attention on how I would react in certain situation and found that most of my reactions where the form of a debate, whether it was reading a story, or talking with someone I found myself trying to prove them wrong.
I wonder where we would be if our society would, instead of debate, encourage and agree more. Where would we be. Would we be more advanced or not as intelligent as we are. Does all this debating really affect the students ability to learn. I know that there are many times where I am not really willing to ask a question or make a statement in class because I feel that it is a dumb question or comment. I thought the research and conclusion about females in the learning environment was awing. As I look back on all of my educational years it dosent seem to be that way with females in the classroom. They always seem to participate in the discussions, and always seem to have a great point of view. I will be paying more attention now to see if it is true in all cases.
The last thing I found interesting was how competitive schools outside the U.S. are. Living in the U.S. really has put me in a bubble to the outside world. I never really stop to consider how things are different outside of the U.S. and after reading about the educational systems in other countries, I am glade to get my education here.

Thesis

I have never really have been good at creating a strong thesis. I guess I dont fully understand what the readers are looking expecting. I always think that I have a good thesis but am usually wrong. I have done some reach search and have found some info that has helped me better understand what a thesis should consist of, and how to create a thesis.


You should fully understand the text you are writing about, your thesis statement should consist of two parts, argument, and evidence. You should decide what type of paper you are writing ex. analytical or argumentative etc. Is specific, takes a stand, expresses one main idea, and justifies a discussion. Also you can brainstorm your topic and come with a question, and the answer to that question can be your thesis statement. I liked this suggestion because it helps you really consider what you are going to be writing about.

I found this info in my notes from class and from the following two websites.



http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/

http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml

1st Conditional

I was just searching the web and came across conditionals. I don't really know the English discourse terminology very well so I decided to read up on it and it turns out that the 1st conditional is a future event that will happen when and if another future events occurs. It is something I already knew, but like I said I did not know the terminology.

The below address gives and example as follows if + present simple, will = 1st conditional

http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/1st-conditional.html

Along time ago

As I sit here thinking about all the teachers I have had throughout the years many names, and faces come to mind. I have learned something from all of these wonderful people in their own little way, but one teacher sticks out more than others. His name was Mr. Watrous. He was a quite and simple man, one that you could not easily pick out in a crowd. To anyone else he was just another teacher, but to me he was something more he was someone who loved what he taught and who he taught, and for this I respected him and wanted to learn more. When he taught it was simple and very casual. His voice was very soft and refreshing like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. He would teach as though everyone was listening and pay attention to every word that was being said, even though we werent and he knew it. It was interesting because he never talked about his personal life, but the scars on his forehead said enough for anyone to understand this man and his simplicity. He wasnt the best teacher by no means but it was his love and passion that inspired me to learn from him.
While writing this paragraph I was thinking how big of a variety there are of teachers and how some teachers we love others we can't stand. I dont think there were many students who felt the same way about this teacher as did I and I noticed that there were many teachers who some kids loved that I did not. It is the same way in life. Some people we are able to get along with and others not really.

Dependent Cluases

Last week when I was looking up info on commas, I came across Dependent Clauses and realized that I really didn't know what they were or at least the correct definition of what it was. Here is the definition of what a dependent clauses is.

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by a dependent marker word.

I hope that helps explain what a dependent clause is. If you go to the following address they will also provide an example of a dependent clause, and will help you better understand clauses.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_clause.html#definitions

Average

I really enjoyed this essay because it made me stop and think a lot about the educational system that we have, and ask myself what can be done about it. It seems that the school systems do have many flaws, but what can be done about it because there are so many people in the U.S.A and they are all unique in their own little way. What may work for someone will be hurtful to another.
One of the things that stuck out the most in his essay was about his parents. He said that the school was encouraging the parents to get more involved with their kids education, but then he goes on to say what help could his parents really provide. I think that the best thing his parents could do is encourage him to do well in school, but what did they really know. They didn't sound like they even had much experience with education so how could they really help him.
I really liked his teacher, and how he would challenge the kids. He would get them involved and was able to make learning fun. I also liked how the teacher helped him get into college, and also find some financial support. The teacher didn't sound like the coolest guy in the world, but he did love knowledge and wanted to share his love for it with others and because of him Mr. Rose was blessed with a future in education and a chance to achieve his full potential.
I this essay makes you wonder how many hidden Einsteins, Beethovens, etc. are out there and they are missing their opportunity to shine because they aren't given the opportunity. I mean where would we be today if every student had equal opportunity to learn and exercise their talents, and skills. It makes you wonder how big of a difference would it make if we did in fact focus more on the educational system and were able to discover all of the Einsteins out there. I think we would be a lot more advanced in technology, medicine, etc. then we are now. Hopefully one day we will be able to improve the school systems and give all students a better hope of a future as did Mr. MacFarland did for Mike Rose.

Too many Commas

I have a huge problem of over using commas. I never know when to use, and I also never know when not to use them, so I found some rules of when not to use them. I hope they help.

1. Don't use a comm to separate the subject from the verb.
2.Don't put a comma between the two verbs or verb phrases in a compound predicate.
Don't put a comma between the two nouns, noun phrases, or noun clauses in a compound subject or compound object.
3.Don't put a comma after the main clause when a dependent (subordinate) clause follows it (except for cases of extreme contrast).

These rules, and also some examples can be found at the following address

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html

Who Needs Education

While reading an "Idiot Nation" I found Mr. Moore to be rather hypocritical and negative. He found a problem with everything and everyone, and never offered a solution. Not to mention that his whole essay was about how America should put more emphasis on education and he himself dropped out, but I guess that is because he is smart enough to go without. He also talks about how we should respect teachers, and he goes and gets his principle and assistant principle fired, or has them resign. I find him more of an entertainer than anything else.
He does bring out some good points that make me wonder why the government doesn't put more time, and money into the educational system. If they don't put a lot of time and money into the education system it makes me wonder if education is really needed because it sounds like those who have it dont really take advantage of it and those that dont still are able to find work, might not be great work, but work non the less. I had a teacher once tell us that schools should make it optional to all ages that way those who want to learn can, and those who don't, won't disturb those who do.
I think the biggest problem with the educational system is that students aren't motivated, and have very little desire to go to school. The best teacher can not make the worst student learn, but the best student can always learn something from the worst teacher. It just shows that it is on the students part to go out an learn. It isn't the teachers fault if the kid doesn't want to learn but you can't force them to learn. The government could improve the educational system if they would put more time into it. They could easily take surveys of ways to improve schools, and how to make students more involved and excited about school.
I really found the last bit about businesses and them funding schools very interesting. When I look back at my high school years I start to realize all of the coke machines among many other advertising techniques used. That is just crazy.

Moynihan's report

Moynihan was a senator from New York, who published a infamous report called The Negro Family: A Case for National Action, which is better known as the Moynihan report. This report is full of very misleading theories about the negro community which upset many people at the time, and even some today. Moynihan's main argument was that the dilapidated housing, poverty, unemployment, and inferior education experienced by African Americans was the cause of their organization of the family. Moynihans most controversial statement was that the families were a Matriarchy.
Looking at it from Moynihan's point of view, I think he did what most people would do in his situation. Put the blame on somebody else. He was a senator so he had certain responsibilities, and had to deal with many issues that people faced during that time, and civil rights was one of them. With his report he was able to take the blame off of the government and put it on the Negro community. I believe many people do this everyday. We have a problem that must be solved and we are to blame, but instead of fixing it we make it someone else's fault and someone else's problem.
The report caused so much contention that a reporter by the name of Carol Stack went out and personally stayed in a Negro community for a certain period of time. When all was said and done she concluded that "the families there were neither nuclear nor male dominated. Nor were they disintegrating, nonexistent, or matriarchal. Instead, Stack found families that were complex organized networks characterized by five factors: Kin and non kin membership, swapping, shared child raising, fluid physical boundaries, and Domestic authority of women.
The problem is that people see what they want to see and with this both reports, have flaws, but Stack's is more creditable because she did more research, and had more experience with the Negro communities than did Moynihan.
I would say that Aulette was against the Moynihan report. She barly goes over it, and not into great depth, and then attacks it and proves Moynihan report wrong with great detail by using the "Flats" report. I would have like to have learned more about Moynihan, and the research that he did. I can make many assumptions about him and his writing but that is what was wrong with his report, just a bunch of assumptions.

Quotation Quotation

I am doing my weekly grammar rule on quotations. Not quotations in every aspect of English, but rather when you are quoted quoting someone. I never have known what to do. Do I double quotation it or what? Well according to Purdue University you use the normal quotations on the first person you are quoting, and then you a half quotation mark . The following is an example.
Last night in the interview the football player said, " I have never been late to practice I don't know why coach said ' That Owens is always late' "
Not the best example but I hope it helps, I know I understand it better now. If you still don't understand it you can go to the follow link for more help.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_quote.html

What is a President?

In this cartoon we see many things going on. First Obama has his hands in the air, is smiling and is not denying the belief that he is the Messiah. We also see that he has a huge group of supporters, who also follow the connotation that he is the Messiah. The final thing I wish to point out is the two man and the caption that says " Ok, this is too much." This leads me to believe that the Political cartoon is Anti Obama and Democratic. The devices used in this cartoon are Captions, and Symbolism.
I laughed when I saw this cartoon, because a couple of months ago I had a conversation with someone about how some of Obama's followers treat him as the Christ. I didnt know if anyone else felt the same way. I am interested to look more into this situation and find out how other people feel about Obama and who he is.



In this Cartoon we see that cartoonist using exaggeration, caption, symbolism, and stereotypeing. The exaggeration is that President Bush is a vatriliquist doll. The Capation is found at the Bottom left Corner and talks about 9/11 commission and Bush and Cheney's appearance. Symbolism is the doll and what the doll stands for. For the stereotype it really depends on how you look at the cartoon, because it can suggest that all the presidents are just puppets, or it can just be directed just at Bush. I believe the cartoonist intentions were negative towards Bush and Cheney, and those who dont like either would support this cartoon.
I chose this cartoon because I have always wonder what kind of a role the president really plays, and how much power he really has. I labeled this post " what is a president?" because we see two extremes between the our former President and our New President. In one Obama is worshiped as a God and in the other Bush is made out to be nothing more than a doll on someone's lap, and only able to say what he is told to say.

Underlining and Italics

I never have really known exactly what I should and should not underline or Italicize. I actually get it confused with it all the time.

According to the Purdue University you should use either underline or italicize in the following situations. For books, magazines, newspapers, etc. To sum it up it says titles of complete or major works. It also mentions foreign words not used much in english, words used as words, and words and phrases that you wish to emphasize.


All this info and more can be found at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_overvw.html








foreign words that are not commonly used in English

words used as words themselves

words or phrases that you wish to emphasize

Some kids dream of a family

n "Looking for work" we are given a boys personal experience of trying to create the perfect family. He shares with us what he did in a day to try and achieve the ideal family."What we really miss about the 50's" we are told fact upon fact of why the 50's wasn't the ideal time for families and how there are other things that stand out more. Both readings can be easily taken as literal contexts but I tried to do some critical thinking and go deeper into the meanings.


"Looking for work" was more entertaining and a lot easier read. I enjoyed his personal experiences he shared and also to I was able to get a little incite of how life was back then in his circumstances. In this type of story it seems easier to just think of the story literally and not do any critical thinking. As I did ponder the story I came to the conclusion that this young boy and developed a dream based on what was taught by the TV. After he had developed this dream he went out to achieve. He started by trying to change his family, and also by earning money. I am assuming that he had this dream because he thought that it would bring him happiness, but throughout the story we see that he found happiness in many different forms. One ways was swimming. He had his eyes set on his goal, to earn money to help out his family, but he ends up spending it when they went swimming. While swimming he had a great time, he achieve his dream but just in a different form than what he was looking. Next he wants this perfect dinner with his family, and even though he isn't able to have the dinner he sees on TV he is able to still have a great time with his family. It is funny to me to see that he was in a way living his dream, just unable to see it, and if he doesn't start to notice it he may just miss it.

"What we really miss about the 1950's" was not the funniest read ever, but she did make her stance very clear. I think her writing could be taken on a more literal/analytical basis because she gave many facts and statements and basically said this is how it is, but I found myself on more of a interpretive/rhetorical level of thinking because her essay lead me to ask more questions and taking the time to ponder what she was saying. I took it that she was trying to say that although the 50's is a well remembered era because of the family, it actually didn't have the best family relationships and there are many other reasons why the 50's should be remembered.

America

The Concept of America, or to be Politically Correct "The United States of America", brings a sense of pride, and gratitude. Not only do we have the opportunity to achieve our dreams, but we are encourged to by our goverment, teachers, family and friends. We also have many other freedoms and rights such as: Freedom of religion, right to bear arms, and the right to vote. I do enjoy these rights and freedoms and 'am grateful and proud to be an American. I know that America is not perfect and many people use their rights and freedoms in a negative way, I am just glade I have the right to do somehthing about it.

In the introduction to Rereading America it talks a lot about critical thinking, and myths of America. I think that critical thinking is great, it has helped us step out of the box, and come up with new technology, new ideas for how life should be and so on, but the books seems to put a negative image on the American myths. It's like they are trying to say " how can you prove this myth wrong, or what is wrong with?" We must also ask ourselves why are these myths around. Why the ideal family, as the book states, is a husband, wife, two kids, and a dog, or why our country was founded upon the belief of God? If we only see what is wrong with every myth or standard there is, then we have nothing to anchor ourselves to because we dont stand for or believe in anything.

I look forward to the next semester because we will be able to discuss, debate, and indulge into America and its myths. We are encouraged to step back and ask ourselves why this or why that, to actually question what is being taught instead of just seat there and accept it as a whole truth. We are able to do this because of the rights and freedoms we as citizens of the United States of America. This class is one more reason why I am grateful and proud to be an American.