Project 4 Draft (Piece of non-fiction)

Questions with Sportsman Ronald York

Hunter Ronald York was born in Billings, Montana. He grew up in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Mr. York is now a real estate developer living in Alva, Florida. He has been an avid hunter for most of his life and is an all around sportsman. He will now answer 8 Questions asked by our avid readers.

What started your passion for hunting?

Well, the fact that my father, uncle, and older brothers were hunters, I guess. I grew up in the Rocky Mountains where hunting was a way of life as well as a way to provide quality meat for the family.

How old were you when you started hunting?

Well, I went on my first few hunts without a weapon when I was nine or ten, just to observe the hunt and not participate. I actually started hunting with a weapon at the age of twelve.

What is your favorite animal to hunt for and why?

The "Rocky Mountain Elk" would have to be my favorite. I love to hunt to hunt for it because it is one of the most majestic, graceful, illusive, challenging, and beautiful the creatures that God created.

How would you handle critics of hunting, or people who do not believe in the killing of wild animals?

They do not have to, I will do it for them. I would not want everyone out hunting because it would ruin the sport. We just need people who truly have a passion for hunting.

How have you seen hunting change over the last few decades?

It is no longer a right, it has become a privilege. It is really becoming more and more difficult to find a place to hunt.

What weapon do you prefer to use when you go on a hunt and why?

I prefer bow hunting, which is known as archery or hunting with a bow and arrow because I have hunted with every other type of weapon. I like the challenges that this type of hunting can bring about, I also like having to adjust to the weather and wind changes. Another plus is that I have to deal with a lot less hunters.

Who would you say inspired you to start bow hunting?

My brother, Dave because he started bow hunting twenty years before me. I wanted to learn how to bow hunt so I could spend more time with him doing something we both enjoy.

Do you have any helpful advice for the fellow bow hunter?

Shoot straight, be patient, practice without becoming tired of practice, and always expect the unexpected.

To hear more from Sportsman Ronald York, subscribe to next weeks addition of "The Rock", and read his answers to many interesting questions about the sport of fishing.

Project 4 Draft (Piece of fiction)

"The Fly fishing Expedition"

The sun was just rising over the vast mountains. The air was crisp and I could feel the cool breeze as it blew passed my Uncle Mike and I when we were walking through a grassy field. I clutched that rod in my hand tightly as we made our way towards the stream with rushing water loaded with rainbow trout.

I was starting to get tired from the long journey and asked, "Uncle Mike, How much longer till we reach this stream?" He said, "Ryan just keep walking we are almost there." So, I just shut my mouth and kept my legs moving.

Then, before I knew it we reached our destination. The stream was exactly what I dreamed it would be. The trout were furiously feeding on bugs and flies as they fell upon the fresh water of the stream. "Are they all rainbow trout?" I asked. "No, some are brown and brook trout, but we are looking for the prized catch of a monster rainbow," Uncle Mike told me.

So, we set out to accomplish our goal of catching that monster rainbow. As a reminder, Uncle Mike said, " The key to fly fishing is the cast." This made me a little nervous considering I did not know how to cast a fly rod at all. So, I asked, "Can you teach me how to cast Uncle Mike?"

"Of course I will teach you, and don't worry you will be casting like a pro in no time," he said.

I watched his every move a he made a perfect cast every time. With each cast the fly would lay perfectly on top of the water and he would have a fish on. But for some reason I just could not get the hang of the whole casting thing. I kept practicing and practicing, but I just could not get the fly to stay in the air and then lay on the water. Uncle Mike could tell I was getting frustrated and said, "Here Ryan, you can fight the fish after I get one on." I said, "That sounds good, thanks Uncle Mike." He said, "Sure buddy, I would be happy to help you out."

So, Uncle Mike let me catch five fish in a row, but I was not satisfied since I really didn't catch them by myself. At this point, I knew nothing would make me happy until I caught a big rainbow on my own. I said, "Uncle Mike, I'm going to go down stream and see if I will have better luck over there." He said, "Just be careful, and go catch a monster!"

I was on my way down the river, and I just kept a positive attitude and knew I would catch a big boy. I found a perfect opening where I could wade in the cool fresh water. I could feel the current as the water rushed into my legs. I saw many rainbow trout swim vigorously passed me, and I visualized one of the monsters eating my fly after I made the perfect cast.

I started to work on my casting for a little while. Suddenly, everything clicked and my fly was lying on the water looking like a delicious snack for my trophy rainbow. I watched as the fish decided to eat the fly and hit it with such force, it was incredible. I immediately yelled, "Fish on!" The rainbow put up a good fight, but I won in the end. I grabbed the fish with my hands and just took a moment to observe the beauty of this fish. The vibrant colors were truly eye opening. I knew there was no chance to show the fish to Uncle Mike because he was to far down stream. So, I took one more moment to realize what I had just accomplished, and then let the fish swim free again in the stream. I knew catch and release was the best thing to do with my trophy rainbow.

Then, I ran back to my Uncle Mike and told him the fantastic news. He said, " I always had faith you would learn the skill on your own and catch a rewarding trophy rainbow trout." I said, "Ya, but it is all thanks to you!" So, Uncle Mike and I ended our day of fishing on that positive note, and I know I will never forget that day.

In the News (Gas Prices)

After the election , we hope that with the new year and a new president are coming to many good things for the Americans , but what do you think that is going to happen with the gas prices? Well I believe that a large margin of the gas prices will go down considering that the price of a barrel of oil has dropped drastically in the last month.

In your opinion what are the real reasons why the gas prices was almost $5 dollars a year ago? I guess I would have to say one reason was because of the war, and most of our oil resources were overseas. I also think it is because we were deciding not to drill of shore oil in the U.S. and now we have decided to.

If you were the new president of the United States what are you going to do first to make reduce the gas prices ? If I were the president I would not really know what to do and that's why I am not the president, but I think the gas prices will go down because of the failing economy. So I guess that will be the reason for a drop in gas prices.

Journal Entry # 10

For my visual argument I am going to try and create a presentation of the aphorism, "Guns don't kill people, people with guns kill people."

Act: hunting, shooting a gun, holding a gun, a robbery, a murder, shooting a gun at a shooting range, buying a gun, selling a gun, selling and buying guns illegally, wars...

Actor: hunters, robbers, murderers, police officers, men and women on the military, people that own guns legally and illegally, people who sell guns, people who purchase guns, anyone in law enforcement...

Scene: the outdoors, a gun store, a shooting range, battle field, a house, a dark alley, a hunting lodge, a school...

Agency: firearms, bullets, hunting gear, gun holsters, etc...

Purpose: to give the hunters a voice, to help people to understand that guns themselves don't shoot or kill people, but people acting with these firearms is what truly harms people...

Project 2 (Revised Draft)

In today’s world, the aphorism, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” can be viewed in many ways. We see this alive in our world today, when innocent victims are killed by people with guns. Many people while arguing with their friends may like to say that guns kill people, not people kill people, but the true fact about it is that it’s a myth and a lot of people have their own ways of looking at it. The more accurate way of saying this could be,” people with guns kill people.” This myth has caused many conflicts throughout the years, and will continue causing conflicts in the future. Parts of the government have been trying to ban the ownership of certain types of firearms. This is a pretty drastic change for the United States to go through considering; we as a country have used certain types of weapons to secure or nation’s safety in the past, present, and will continue to do in the future. Guns have a certain relevance to how we became this great power of a nation in the first place. So to take away guns altogether or even to a certain degree could cause more conflicts, then may solve in the long run.
Others may look at guns as a total detriment to society, and that they should be banned for good to control all violence. If guns were banned for good then gangs, murderers, robbers, etc may not have as much power. Some believe that with this restriction violence in general would be greatly reduced. This could be the case, but this could also cause major chaos. Taking away the right for people to own guns may also cause criminal and murders to find other more unique ways to do their dirty work. The complete ban of guns could also cause a lot of illegal importing and exporting throughout our country. So many more major problems could come from such a simple thing as changing or repealing the second amendment of the constitution.
Some citizens in the United States may use guns for a different purpose, such as hunting. Now hunting in the legal sense which involves obtaining a license and permit can be considered by some to be perfectly harmless. The banning of guns would take this right away in a sense. Yes, there are many other ways for hunters to hunt and kill their game, but it seems that the use of a gun to do this is the most common way. Our nation’s citizens as well as tourists visiting our country may feel this is taking away a privilege that they have had throughout the past. This could cause an innumerable amount of issues, boycotts, and riots. Some may use hunting as a way of survival for food or a way of living which would cause more problems. So the restriction or banning of guns could and would potentially cause more conflict then peace in our own country.
Others in the United States may use guns or depend on the use of guns in their occupation. So the number of job losses due to this change in the second amendment could affect a large number of citizens. This could cause more disputes as well as lawsuits against the drastic change. Also, many people may be involved in a business where they feel it is necessary that they own some type of firearm to protect themselves and the others working around them. So a person’s sense of security could be stripped from the by taking away the ownership of the firearm they were once legally able possess.
One may also argue the fact that guns are weapons that kill and that is the bottom line. That people who own guns may take part in the accidental killing of themselves or others around them. In the news, we hear of children just playing around d with a parent’s gun that they may have found around the house. The child did not know that the gun was loaded and ends up killing themselves or someone else while they were fooling around. So with the ownership of firearms becoming a reality this could cause this problem to stop in its tracks altogether.
Others also get into disputes about those who find ways to get a deadly firearm in their possession and then end up going on a shooting spree and kill mass amounts of people. The people who are not mentally stable that decide it is their time to be heard and the only way is through violence and taking others lives before they take their own. So the banning of guns in a way would make schools, businesses, and in a sense the society a safer place.
As can be seen, the myth that, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” bring about strong arguments for both sides on the gun control issue in the United States. It also seems that both viewpoints are right in the case that there is need for a change in how we as a nation deal with issues involving firearm control. It just seems that the number of people that would be affected by the change in the constitution would be a lot more negative than positive. Even though one may think that the large limitation of guns in our nation would decrease violence. The amount of disgruntled citizens seems to outweigh the change at this point in time.

Journal Entry #9

drinking and driving causes death.

drinking and driving impairs your ability to make good judgement.

drinking and driving is not a smart decision.

when you turn 18 you gain a certain amount of freedom.

when you turn 18 you can buy a gun but you cannot buy an alcoholic beverage.

when you turn 18 you cannot obtain an alcoholic beverage because it's the law.

In the News-Jose Canseco

This article is on a recent interview with former major league baseball player and steroid user, Jose Canseco. This interview shows a more vulnerable side of Canseco, and his remorse for the mistakes he has made. He explains how he regrets writing his first book called, "Juiced". In this book he revealed all of the other players in major league baseball that he either injected with steroids or players that he knew where invovled in the use of steroids during this time. Canseco felt that baseball forced him out of the game, so he thought he could get revenge by writing his books. He also says the only reason that he felt he needed to use the other players names was to show that he was telling the truth about the steroid use going on during this "steroid era". Canseco says that he now wants to apologize to all of those players that he outed because most of them were his friends, and also players that he really respected. Jose Canseco feels that steroids have destroyed his life completely in all aspects and is unsure of what his health and future will hold.

Questions:

1. Do you believe that Jose Canseco was right in the fact that he gave the names of the baseball players involved with steroids in his book "Juiced"?

2. To what degree do you think the "steroid era" will tarnish the history of the great american sport baseball?

3. What is your view of some positive and negative aspects of performance enhancing drugs?

4. Do you believe that performance enhancing drugs play a major role in all sports today?