Brain Babies

Allow Me To Introduce Myself

2011-08-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

Braden Allen McBride, born January 4th, '94, in Corpus Christi to be relocated to Tynan then to Batesville, 2000, one sibling, Madison, '97.
throughout my younger years, because of limited exposure to the world, the motivation behind everything was to please the parents, those who provided for and did everything for me (entire baseball career, Boy Scouts, etc.; because of Dad's pushing) (when I was forced to order for myself at a restaurant, that's when my innocence died). it was only in junior high that I realized I am, actually, my own person - holy expletive. still thinking, of course, that parents knew best (as I'm sure their repetition claiming so has 'come true, though their advice often clashes with my mindset/theories/self), continued to enroll myself in the advance classes (english and math only), never really caring but, attributing this to the angst inherent in all of my age group, discovered when I discovered writing and drawing recreationally, doing as best as possible, allowing significant time for laziness, gaming, homies, etc. up to last year, homework was a priority, my future and parental wrath the motivation. It is in high school I burned out. I am interested in the advanced english classes because of the only thing I seem to be remotely good at, I seem to have a remote passion for, is that aforementioned writing, and, therefore (due to the weird logic I've developed) illustrating; I continue in advanced math because I am (I think) genuinely interested (was, at least). I do what's assigned me as best as possible, but stubbornness and lack of caring sometimes prevents this (the delay in getting this homework done due to the fact I couldn't get past the introduction to the book). As any friend of mine will testify to, my greatest aspiration now is to be a bum. Do not let this discourage you of me though; kick me out of the class because of grades if it comes to that, not because of attitude (can't/won't change it until circumstances call for it, if ever (plannin' on having to be slapped HARD by life, inevitable wake-up call, made peace with this, hahaha)).
strengths (perceived): taking orders (unless conflicting with my values, ideals, etc.; even then, I am (sometimes kinda) good at suckin' it up and gettin' it done). writing. sitting. staring. reading (if remotely interested).
weaknesses: flawed perceptions. bad attitude.
humor: favorite media: Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Simpsons, American Dad, Step Brothers, Anchorman, Xavier: Renegade Angel, Squidbillies - warped version of what has become the comedic norm (the excess of mentally challenged commercials (DQ, Old Spice (though O.S. was one of the originals to capitalize on the recently evolved, widespread sense of humor and Bruce Campbell is amazing))
not fishing for pity; being overweight tripled with the bad attitude and my several medical problems (minor scoliosis, required to wear a minor prosthetic in one shoe, (")growing sideways("), dos aortic chambers instead of the anatomically correct three) - stress is derived from anger and, despite being generally laid back, I bottle a lot of intense emotion. trying to address the questions from the relative standpoint of education; the forced technological methods of turning in assignments very easily completed using pen and paper usually provokes murmurs of disgust during class 'tween me and a bro of mine, who will remain nameless for his sake
no dreams or aspirations, really
no nightmares, really - I physically shudder at the site of and it is required of me to distance myself from even the thought or sight of a picture of centi/milli pedes (you know there is a species of one of 'em that will grab a scorpion by the effing tail and dominate it?! noooo thank you)

Reading Assignment VII

2011-08-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

What does the story signify? Haha, life and the components of that most touched Laura and company, what is any story about? Mentioned several times throughout, shone in her meeting with the workingmen, evident in her struggle and questioning with her like-minded family and herself, those "absurd class distinctions," once realized to be (one of) the governing force(s) of one's life, will, of course, begin to be questioned and dissected, diagnosing the self with a(n) (semblance of) identity. Sometimes feelings are just that, fleeting moments/sensations of emotion, to be validated or rejected by the self or the trusted ones. Why mess with what's in no need of repair? There's no denying the real world, but when the only connections 'tween it and yourself are as tenuous as those over-exposed photographs in newspapers, when it hardly concern or want/need you, what's the point in approaching it at the (ironic) cocktail party of life? Why break from comfortability to try, probably futilely, awkwardly, to converse with one who has no interest in you until circumstances are such that you two are forced to become acquainted, possibly through those newspapers? Ah, life, captured and symbolized in all those details coming before and sprinkled throughout the "actual" elements of the story; so complex and beautiful; perception affects every thing.
The thought of and then the hesitation to share the lillies, because of potential wardrobe malfunctions, unacceptable, with those in need; executed because of that class distinction. Far-fetched enough that these snobs from atop the hill feel pity enough to bring the scraps from their day of pleasure to those in, now, total poverty (as I'm certain the widow was a home-maker (...because of the time period)), to brighten the wake with greedy flowers, poaching all attention and affection, that's crost the line. Mrs. Sheridan realizes this, as Laura does on her journey. What's to be done? The real world often divides itself according to the population. Realizing, understanding where the proverbial DMZ ends and crossing it, to trek into a brave new world cautiously, these are two different things, the latter a thing unable to be asked of those such as Laura.

the hesitation to party or not, broken by the "laughter" of the other members
the comparisons to the "bird-dom" of the privileged was duly noted, unable to be applied to those in poverty as it was thought the lifestyle allowed the richies to transcend to the "external beauty of angels on earth" though it was thought that those at the bottom of the hill were also "birds," but trapped in their own bodies, unable to fluorish, wings clipped because of circumstances, environment
A lot of what was explained in detail by those "scholars" I alluded to, said without saying, got the same point across, putting much more detail in other factors - a perceived "fault" with my writing for which I surely pay in assessments others make of me, based on nothing more than a fragment of writing

The comparison 'tween the two heroines validates my ideal that this was a story of self-realization, so maturity. The fertility part was lost on me until revealed (a teenage boy who does not see sex in everything as this adult professor does, wow) but yes, this sound comparison confirmed some of my thinking and enlightened me on some other aspects.

Reading Assignment VI (Chapter 21)

2011-08-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

Archetype: a form of cliche so different from the standard forms in which this occurrence (usually) manifests (a black cat crossin' the street 'fore your eyes) that, rather than the feeling of ironic nausea, as common with cliche, a feeling of significance, in a number of ways, accompanies the realization of; generally, what gives the feeling of significance of an archetype, that without the certain presentation of, would be just another cliche, surely, is that presentation, the language of the author in conveying that which slightly resembles past pieces of the story, that which, somewhat because of this, grabs our attention so "The Eyes of the Dragon," a sort of prequel to the Dark Tower, reflects so significantly the basic fairy tale outline that, of course, the original archetype cannot be established. A king is murdered, a mage plots, a prince is wrongfully accused and convicted, sentenced to reside in, haha, a huge, nondescript tower. So well does this book call upon these cliches, while retaining a pretty original story, that those cliches are made exponentially more powerful to the reader; archetypes are nothing more than an author embedding material unoriginal in their own works, daring readers to recognize and make connections.

A lightning bolt that dominates the forehead, rests atop rounded spectacles, surveying all, utilizing the attractive force of "DIFFERENT" being screamed in all viewer's heads, despite the renowned etiquette of British society. The origin of this stigma, if remembered correctly, was from the confrontation with Voldemort while he was an infant, this depriving him of his parents and creating for him a stalker, a Goliath to be faced later, preparation for which prepared and enacted for him by the sympathetic administration of his school. All those he comes across are mesmerized by that scar, an incredibly powerful force of nature manifest on a young man's face, a young man able to tap into, for lack of a better word, the supernatural. An adolescent's transformation to an adult, all the while knowing from being informed by others that he is indeed destined for greatness; being a children's series, certain subtleties and methods of writing would be inapplicable - hence the quite apparent abnormality, in no way debilitating, not too repulsive; again, destined for greatness, different, significant, Harry Potter (this amazing scar cancelling out the plain-ness of his name).

Reading Assignment V (Chapter 17)

2011-08-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

In a great number of older movies, the cliche was established to show a couple before a fire on a bearskin rug getting ready to get busy; just before actual action, the camera pans to the drapes.
This, while insulting to the expectant perverts (Peewee) in the audience, who are then turned off (of the story) and are no longer invested, justifies the films' being called "romance" and not "porno," and deeply impacts the participants, the woman getting clingy and the man getting angry, taking it out on bowling pins, only to reconcile later, having learned about gender differences and love.

Reading Assignment IV (Chapter 14)

2011-08-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

Frankenstein (pulled details from story, not specific source)

1) not crucified, burned in a windmill; no noticeable, significant wounds in the appendages, but all limbs wounded... because they're dead

2) constant agony; justification for why he sounds so heartbreakingly constipated - angry at no relief

3) according to the most recent "Van Helsing" movie, he sacrificed a painful escape, a continuation of torment to be with his recently dead daddy

4) hahaha... if they would ever approach, he'd want them to touch his face and smile - be comforted

5) bad with fire, so good with water; with his life and body as it is, if he thought to, I'm sure he'd be good with wine; big man, so good with food (presumably)

6) the combined ages of his parts probably equaled to a multiple of 33

7) not applicable

8) when is he ever known to move any way other than by stumbling and hobbling?

9) depending on the time of creation, 1800 or 2222, he could walk through water with ease

10) yes

11) yes

12) "alive" in a living hell... yes

13) his daddy was a graverobber

14) inspiration for many metaphors, similes, slurs

15) dug up to achieve "life" in, let's say, three days (lotta prep work to actually MAKE a zombie)

16) not applicable

17) very angry... first step to being forgiving

18) came to show true humanity isn't always pretty

Reading Assignment III (Chapter 11)

2011-08-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Authors craft contenders, build the arena, and let what may come come, sometimes provoking, sometimes not. In "A Clockwork Orange," Alex, thinking his henchmen got his back, commences to terrify the lone woman whose house they have trespassed to, cat-and-mousing 'til he kills her; not that this bit of violence affects him too much, but the shock of what has happened, the feeling of unease that the easily eluded, therefore irritated, law is on the way, coupled with his debilitation, at the chain of Dim no less!, though the tension was clear for all to viddy. So Alex kills, so Burgess can justify his being sent to prison, his volunteering for a radical new rehabilitation method (though there is no justification for Kubrick's raping of the story, apparently allowed by Burgess, though he is remorseful of it) - to allow for the story to have multiple Parts instead of One; the serial killer in "The Alienist" works according to an oblong set of cogs arranged and energized by Carr. In "1984," Winston, enjoying the company of "his woman" as often as possible in the squalid hovel, second floor, designated "penetration point," "bush boulevard," (reference to the film, ewwy, apologies) is suddenly thrust into the maw of everyone's sadistic elder sibling, his love assaulted in front of then taken away from him; though her "death" may not be absolute, when he is told it is, it is very real to the completely broken, currently tortured pseudo-martyr and it is an act of malice plotted and executed by Orwell that begins Winston's crag-filled fall, him being flung from the "peace" he had fathomed by a flick of the quill. Kesey's hero in OFOtCN is strangled by the narrator, out of mercy in context of the story, actually out of an understanding by Kesey that to have a "happy ending," sometimes the disciple must calmly relieve the guru - to enhance the freedom gained by Chief, felt by all the boys, living or not (as an Indian, he gained a few more spirit guides through the climax).

Reading Assignment II (Chapter 8)

2011-08-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

Intertextuality: the concept of recognizing an author's implication that his (") original (") work is related to a prior, usually well-known work, be it by story dynamics, character qualities, whatever

Roland "The Gunslinger" : Winston ("1984")
"lone" heroes both forced by uncontrollable forces surrounding (being immune to the rules of reality, space, time just as horrifying as living in a completely subdued stat; vulnerable to the throes of the Dark Tower - fodder for Big Brother) to endure different forms of "dementia"

Alex, leader of the droogs ("A Clockwork Orange") : The Walkin Dude ("The Stand")
manifestations of evil, both, who, as every successful dictator/manipulator of man before, corrupted the minds of a few weaker individuals, who both endured the most testing trials to their character, who both survived to plot, and, hopefully, carry out more, even greater acts of bad

"Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" : Alice
Hunter S. Thompson as the individual, jumped down the rabbit hole, completely disoriented in the strange world (quite impressive levels of intoxication juxtaposed to innocence because of age being hilarious), his lawyer and her cheshire/chechire/whatever-er cat appearing every now and then, to offer advice and to present new problems our heroines (haha) must overcome to persevere and survive their stays in Wonderland; Thompson has a deadline to work toward and predestined acts to commit, while Alice is completely clueless, at the whim of her survival skills and ability to decipher who her friends are (being so clouded as blind by intoxicants, her feebleness becomes his); both journeys are fantastic, twisted and extremely funny

FALiLV being a "purely" journalistic endeavor, it is highly unlikely, especially since the book was transcribed from audio recordings made on the spot, while the events were happening, that such a connection as I have found was conscious on his part; a reach on mine or proof of the "One Story"?

Reading Assignment I

2011-08-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (focused on story, not story OR movie)

1) Our questor: a young rascal (adult, around 30 years of age), (probably righteously) imprisoned in an insane asylum; refuses to bend to the will of the overseers

2) A place to go: from the first scene of the movie, R.P.M. casually mocks the system that wants to break, er, "rehabilitate," (as best as possible, by any means necessary...) him but offers little in the way of actual resistance (goes with the flow; a laid-back bronco, not really scornful of the captors but stubborn as its cousin in rejecting riders); unable to take his ordeal seriously (the steed has the intelligence inherent in its relative), because of a lack of caring, he agrees to be given room, board and medication but strives to retain, and, perhaps, regain (total) freedom while incarcerated

3) A stated reason to go there: along with the usual games of "chance" (card games, "Bet I can lift that," and so on), Randall traps himself in an ever increasingly life-threatening (in several senses) bet - that he can get to the Big Nurse 'fore she can him

4) Challenges and trials: the nature of this significant mission strived at by such a charismatic jester causes this champion to create and scale his own milestones; a level-headed Irish hot-head butts heads with manipulative Ratched, whose charges include her boys and staff members, acting as sentries and guard: how to throw a bash with booze and girls when every portal is locked and, despite distracted (and "greedy"), archers at the ready, how to take the boys fishing in the middle of the day amidst all the pencil pushing, basket carrying, deceptively (as she (therefore they ('cept for her boys))are) vicious chastising of the day, how to provoke the leviathan with limited methods by which to

5) The real reason to go: deep inside his hard exterior, under his constant smile, cracked from sarcasm, he is devastated that such an old feeble insignificant mistress, with her rag-tag group of uncivilized underlings, has enslaved, shackling what's expected to be - meaning the entirety of those men; McMurphy wishes to see them restored to men (again) and not wrung out husks (; and, of course, refuses to let these men's fate befall him)

Teachers

2011-03-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

Education is an issue that requires all the assistance possible to repair it, but the "status" of teachers is completely irrelevant. This country used to be a leader in education, and is now thirteenth (approx.) in rank. The United States is laughed at and hated around the world - improvements in education would help our reputation. The reputations of teachers does not matter when addressing educational issues. The problem lies within the students and the teachers' abilities to reach them, interest them, teach them - not the social standing of teachers. Workers in any occupation will complain about their job; a lineman who decides he is not appreciated enough will refuse to work, equating to darkness, while an under-appreciated teacher will refuse to teach, leaving students ignorant, but still able to make a living, doing the various low-level jobs that need to be done (which would not be such a bad thing, especially since college acceptance rates are dropping). http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/03/27/how-to-raise-the-status-of-teachers/let-us-teach I agree with Williams that education would greatly improve if teachers were left to their own devices, able to decide what and how to teach, instead of relying on administrators who have never known anything about the position teachers are in to tell them how high to jump. Teacher A: begins teaching from Chapter 1, going through all the information, terms, questions, unit tests - continues this all year Teacher B: uses the textbook as one resource, calling on other sources to educate their students. Teacher B is clearly the more effective educator, as Teacher A is not a teacher at all - A's method of teaching could be undertaken by the students themselves. B's method of teaching actually requires the teacher's prescence for the students to receive an education.

Gatsby Analysis

2011-03-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Fitzgerald comments on the American way of life, reminiscing about events he couldn't possibly have been present at, evaluating the course humanity has collectively chosen to pursue (by living in and indulging on what this country has to offer). The intentionally evasive way he writes leaves his over-all purpose open to debate. We have left our humanity "somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night." His speaking of the all-natural, beautiful land-mass, landed on and corrupted by the invaders ("the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes..."), leads readers to believe that with the de-naturalization we wreak upon this "new world," converting it into a "great country," such as "Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby's house..." the moon refuses to illuminate us. Our natural satellite, a natural occurence, cannot, will not, brighten the fields of this nation; once teeming with earth-born life -- now devastated by the manipulations man conducts. This, especially, because mankind has learned how to create artificial light (thus, the absence of the moon)(and how to make our own food ("the dark fields" (containing nothing but ourselves))). "A fresh, green breast of the new world" is an opportunity to be profited from in the conniving hands of man. "The inessential houses began to melt away," until the realization that we have indeed corrupted what was once pure becomes clear; inessential because nature is the natural safe haven. "For a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the prescence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder." The transition man underwent when he arrived to this place was from the classical world of minor crimes to the modern world of death, destruction, pollution -- advanced technology, with which we enslave the world itself. The aesthetic contemplation He (mankind) felt was a wondering of all the changes we could force upon our new home to accomodate for our evolving needs (ridding ourselves of what is no longer required (things natural)). This, long ago, was the last time man will ever be able stare in awe at beauty and possibilities; beauty to be harvested, ripped from whence it came, and possibilities we can create and force upon the ground we stand. We arrived at this country to make a new home, but the advances we have made as a race have blinded us to our true cause (lost long ago because of rapid modernization), leading us to soil the natural beauty, to waste our lives worrying about the trivial. The American Dream is like courting a whore, who was once a marvelous maiden, but has become our sultry harlot, able to suck the life from the tyrants (United Statesians) that made her Her. We fight futilely against what we have created, complaining all the time, never knowing anything -- or why.

"My Wood" Response

2011-03-14T11:04:00.001-07:00

disagree with Forster's claim that consumerism corrupts humanity.
the notion that obtaining property causes greed to fester is absurd;
people don't buy things to stay current and ahead of their
"competition" anymore - petty rivalries over what is owned are
hardly prevalent anymore (although it is admittedly present
somewhat what with newer versions of technology being released
every week (and war)), especially with the economy the way it is.
things are bought for survival, comfort and practicality (entertainment,
safety, and so on (GENERALLY genuinely significant reasons)), not to
show up the neighbors. supporting the economy will not turn the majority
into greed driven zombies, bent only on increasing their wealth. money is
indeed what makes the world go round, the mechanism which turns it
being consumerism, the fuel (wealth), the incentive for thinking of and
creating new and better things, improving the lives (of those who can afford it (a "downfall" of the supposed snake in the garden)); currency is exchanged for these innovations, allowing for even more. wielded correctly, consumerism may very well be viewed as a catalyst for true humanity (since we are a (generally) ponderous people); back in Forster's time, though (revolutions in culture, technology, etc.) this tool of mankind quite possibly could have been wielded and swung unjustly, for petty human reasons.

3rd Quarter Reading List

2011-03-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

I read two books, the equivalent of six books.

"The Catcher In The Rye" 200 pages (counted as three books)

"DMT: The Spirit Molecule" 358 pages (counted as three books)

"DMT" is about a doctor's attempt at dissecting the unknown parts of life,
DMT acting as a catalyst for these events, the human body
usually the location. Though his book is about ethereal
things, it affects secular things on earth. His experiments the first
DEA approved since the '60's, his revolutionary ideas can be viewed
as either pure conjecture or enlightening. Either way, his theory
on metaphysical, spiritual and bodily matters are quite interesting,
especially those that involve the pineal gland. According to his
thoughts, the pineal gland is indeed the seat of the soul; where
the soul enters and leaves the body, where DMT is manufactured
in the human body, is surrounded by mystery (the origin, its actual
purpose, why it has moved throughout evolution, etc.).

Quotation On Consumerism Response

2011-02-28T11:13:00.003-08:00

Advertising signs: they con you into thinking you're the one
That can do what's never been done
That can win what's never been won
Meantime life outside goes on all around you

-Bob Dylan, It's Alright Ma, 1965

those companies that advertise only care for the money obtained from those gullible consumers. actual, real-life life continues in the face of this opressor; if only you can realize the scrubbing of minds THE CORPORATIONS do every day through media sources, you can set yourself free. free from succumbing to the evils of misleading products/campaigns for those products and go outside where all the life continues around you (though more and more rapidly, the life that is going on outsde is growing slimmer and slimmer, more victims of the evils of consumerism)

Reading Journal 4: 2/4

2011-02-15T20:10:00.000-08:00

Throughout the story, Holden makes several references to an ex-female friend of his, whom he had liked as a girlfriend but never really did anything with - Jane Gallagher. Every time he thinks of her, he also contemplates giving "...old Jane Gallagher a buzz," but he never does, for one reason or another (always amounting to his being scared to) (Salinger 202). Paranoia about ailments was common back then (the magazine article he reads about hormones and cancer (pages 195-196)) and identification and treatment of those ailments by the afflicted themselves (under supervision/advision) was the norm' (the modern-day health tonics of the late 1800's). Holden admits often that he is crazy; Salinger's almost mythic portrayal of Jane leads the reader to believe that perhaps she is a method of self-medication that he is too timid to pursue.
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. Boston: Little, Brown Books. 1945, 1946, 1951

(pages 201-204) Holden, while writing a letter to Phoebe in her school, notices an obscene statement (rhyming with "truck fume") and thinks about killing the supposed bum who wrote it while cleansing the wall of it. He comes across another statement of condemnation and finds it scratched in the wall (still in the school). Holden, after delivering his letter, goes to the Museum to wait on old Phoebe. Walking down the corridor to the mummies, which was lined with stones from the tomb of a Pharoah, sees yet another "Eff You," "written with a red crayon or something (Salinger 204)." Already extremely depressed and deprived, Holden comments that it is impossible to find a place of peace, for rest, as the world will always ruin the proverbial paradise of secluded narrow passages dead men are shut up in. Salinger explains the intensity of Holden's "manic," shall we say, depression, always qualified by Holden as "sort of," by alluding to the fact that so long as Holden breathes, his mind/shortcomings will prevent any semblance of happiness from staying long.
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. Boston: Little, Brown Books. 1945, 1946, 1951

Holden's little sister is pretty much the only thing he has to live for - his world. When Phoebe reads his letter stating his plan to leave his life behind for the West, she meets him with a suitcase full of clothes, as she wants to accompany him. Holden becomes greatly angered: "I thought I was going to smack her for a second... 'I thought you were supposed to be in a play at school and all,'... I almost hated her. I think I hated her most because she wouldn't be in that play any more if she went away with me (Salinger 206-207)." Holden makes mental plans for her to visit him in his self-built cabin on holidays, as he couldn't live without her in his life. But for the world to follow him in his pursuit of autonomy would defeat his purpose and deprive the world of continuing and enjoying its own revolutions. Phoebe, life incarnate, would prevent him from achieving solitude, his apparent sought after method of self-medication; Holden desires to live a martyr for himself - the most convoluted, perhaps noble, even, cause of all. Phoebe, mad at Holden's denying her her request, "...turned her back on [him]... She can turn her back on you when she feels like it (207)" Yet it is Holden who aspires to leave behind his/the world.
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. Boston: Little, Brown Books. 1945, 1946, 1951

Reading Journal 3: 1/28

2011-01-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

While Holden converses with Mr. Antolini, who steers the conversation towards Holden and aspects of his psyche, a prediction of Holden's future (what it may be, hold for him) appears; this future referred to as "...a terrible, terrible fall... (Salinger 186)" The sentences begin: "It may be the kind [of fall] where... Then again you may just pick up enough education to... Or you may end up in... (186)"; informal, inebriated palaver, heard by a youngster's ears, are read through the clouded goggles of matured adolescence that Salinger forces and keeps upon us, through his quite effective methods of story-telling.
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. Boston: Little, Brown Books. 1945, 1946, 1951

While watching the show with Sally, Holden remembers watching "Hamlet" with D.B. and Phoebe. He comments that he got a big bang out of watching "...Ophelia...sort of horsing around with her brother... (Salinger 117)," which was "the best part in the whole picture... (117)" "But you don't see that kind of stuff much..." indicates Holden's love of actors' comfortability to live while performing (117).
Holden also confides that he has to read the play, rather than watch the actors play it out, as he is always distracted by whether or not the players are "...going to do something phony every minute," phony being considered grand acting by others (117).
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. Boston: Little, Brown Books. 1945, 1946, 1951

Reading Journal 2: 1/20

2011-01-25T12:15:00.000-08:00

In Chapter 17, Holden, having decided loneliness is too much, and having made a date with an old "girlfriend," Sally, (after watching the show that constituted the date) joins Sally in ice-skating. The struggle to outweighing the fun, they take a break within the bar beside the rink, where she and Holden begin discussing things - not all trivial. On a whim - a method Holden often utilizes in thoughts, actions, feelings - Holden steers the conversation to several topics, beginning with "Did you ever get fed up?" leading to "How would you like to get the hell out of here?" and ending with "You give me a royal pain in the [mule], if you want to know the truth." (Salinger 130, 132, 133) During his ramblings, Sally keeps asking him not to shout - "I wasn't even shouting," - and comments a few times on the fact that Holden makes no sense, though she thinks that mainly because of the blatancy of his conversation, which she mostly drifts through (though usually he doesn't make complete sense because connections he sees and makes are impossible for readers to fully make out): "I don't know what you're even talking about...You jump from one [thing to another]...," "What?... I can't hear you. One minute you scream at me, and the next you [whisper at me]..." (130, 131, 133)
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. Boston: Little, Brown Books. 1945, 1946, 1951.

In Chapter 15, Holden sets up the date with Sally, and encounters two nuns at a deli while killing time. "It isn't important, I know, but I hate it when somebody has cheap suitcases." (Salinger 108) The chapter alternates between his story on suitcases and his conversation with the nuns. Though two completely unrelated things, it seems Salinger was subtley relating the luggage to the Women of Christ. Holden, being well off, carried Mark Cross bags, that "cost quit a pretty penny," while the nuns had "very inexpensive-looking suitcases." ( 108, 108) The comparison, though, is between what is inside the two different containers: in the Mark Cross, petty materialistic things bought with money at the price of the soul (which Holden hints at realizing); in the nuns, genuine spiritualism, peace, a promise of everlasting ecstasy, propelled along by the shell (the body) that seeks money to improve lives and spread the word of God. From then on, a change in Holden occured; nothing really tangible or able to be explained, but he becomes more introverted, searching himself for answers, though his search usually must be provoked (like by Mr. Antolini in Chapter 24).
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. Boston: Little, Brown Books. 1945, 1946, 1951.

Reading Journal 1: 1/13

2011-01-25T11:53:00.001-08:00

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is," reading this book is, like, like reading the testament of a teenager who does not know exactly how to get his point across (the '40's male version of a Valley Girl)(Salinger 1). Simple run-on sentences litter the pages, as does "graphic" language and references to things that involve him (talked about as if the feelings, events, etc. are common knowledge); to references only people living in those times will fully comprehend ("...all that David Copperfield kind of crap," - an assumed reference to the long introduction in which Copperfield opens (the "Twilight" of the time))(1). Occuring as often, if not more than, punctuation marks, "and all that," "(it) really does," "I'm not kidding,"' these sayings sometimes make the book tiresome to read. Yet, the story of madness affecting a sixteen-year-old (though funny only half the time, despite several attempts to make light of the situation (though, when funny, you will L.O.L. (not J.K.'ing))), as told from the point of view of the afflicted, written from the pen of a near-thirty-year-old man (written so well and convincingly that those who do not know better may assume it to be a sort of biography), is well worth reading.
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. Boston: Little, Brown Books. 1945, 1946, 1951

Holden Caulfield despises the movies. His brother, D.B., "used to be just a regular writer" but "now he's out in Hollywood... being a prostitute." (Salinger 1, 2) Such a strong label/image for a Hollywood writer. Later in the book, for the details you must read, a confrontation leaves Holden on the ground because of a fist to the gut. The madness is really becoming evident halfway through the book (his imaginings rival the actual event I'm about to divulge, as he sometimes makes a sport of "horsing around") after admitting to being crazy, several times, Holden starts to pretend/act/believe: "[the man he got into a confrontation with put a] bullet in my guts...had plugged me...coming out of the...bathroom with my automatic in my pocket, and staggering around a little bit...I'd hold onto the banister and all, with this blood trickling out of the side of my mouth a little at a time. What I'd do, I'd walk down a few floors - holding onto my guts, blood leaking all over the place...he'd see me with the automatic in my hand and he'd start screaming at me, in this very high-pitched, yellow-belly voice to leave him alone. But I'd plug him anyway. Six shots right through his hairy belly," (21, 103-104). He qualifies this by commenting "The god*** movies. They can ruin you. I'm not kidding." (104)
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. Boston: Little, Brown Books. 1945, 1945, 1951.

thINK #2

2010-12-11T00:13:00.000-08:00

"The Boy Who Couldn't Die," a sixteen year-old-character in the book of the same name, became "invulnerable" to death by unknowingly becoming a zombie (a mindless creature that roams eternally (obeying its master)), through spiritual means. The common conception of becoming a zombie is that a virus invades your system, putting a stop to all conscious thought, transforming the remaining shell into a creature bent only on sustaining, attempting to satisfy its insatiable hunger; only able to be quelled by ingesting "other" humans. Of all the components of life, there are countless interpretations of each, usually either: spiritual, logical.

"Spiritual Satanism" advocates "using one's brains to their maximum potential" and "does not in any way conflict with science." They "believe that all spiritual and paranormal phenomena can be scientifically explained in a rational manner; scientific knowledge has not yet progressed far enough to comprehend or explain much of the so-called 'supernatural.'" "True Satanism... is based upon total transformation of the soul... The goal of Spiritual Satanism is to apply this knowledge [which was brought by Satan] and transform [their [the ones who practice this religion]] souls into godhead..." Spiritual Satanism apparently strives for the realization of all truths, however natural they may be, while understanding that all is because Satan wills it (which combats with Christians' vehement denial of the theory of evolution). This religion seems to cross the boundries between thought and feeling, utilizing both trains of thought. {I do not advocate Satanism, in any form, though, being a Baptist, I cannot say I am for it, I tolerate it}

Edgar Cayce, "the modern/new Nostradamus," apparently had access to the "Akashic Records" while in self-induced trances. These Records, prophesied of in several ancient religions, more of an allusion to (thought so because of broad interpretations), hold the collective knowledge of every plane of existence. A set of supposed logical data that exists because of and is known only through spiritual means.

"Philosophy of science," once thought to be a solidly founded principle, a way to enlighten (on(SOME) spiritual subjects)(an interpretation, not concrete fact) through the use of logic, reasoning, is beginning to quiver because of "the existence of unobservable entities and processes (atoms, fields, genes [god[s]])."

"To attain evidence that is unnatural is unreliable because it is so outside the realm of materialistic, historical evidence." Knowledge attained "tangibly" is, of course, easy to believe because it is founded, discovered perceptibly. The entire point of religion (things spiritual) is to explain things we know nothing about in ways we can believe; to comfort us; all knowledge in spiritual matters is based on faith - unsure. In this highly logical era, it is understandable that religion suffers, dwells within the shadow of science, leaving those true believers dull and in the dark. The duality of man, the paradoxes, permeate through all creatures of man by man, knowledge discovered through methods we deem secure.

Time travel, a concept highly promulgated in science fiction, has been pondered by actual scientist and has had several theories involving it made (wormholes, those mythical portals scattered in the void, + vehicles = possibility(/ies)).
Time travel, a concept highly promulgated in crystal balls, has been achieved - to the point of knowing of past lives (possible through reincarnation (a highly improbable claim because all prior knowledge is forgotten when a new body is entered by the soul))(no physical evidence to support the claim).

Perhaps the origins of phenomena we encounter on a daily basis may never be fully understood, be it 'cause of skepticism, hard-headedness, or any other flaw branded into our selves by the Creator. Without knowing how or why something came to be, to truly understand stuff - the explanations for things will always be somewhat flawed. All that can be done is to have our salt shakers at the ready and to be content with knowing we know everything about nothing and nothing about everything; logic always being flawed because of all the things we know not of; religino being flawed because of the uncertainty.

12 Sentence Story

2010-11-30T10:31:00.000-08:00

Ripe fruit refuse sustenance, their vines growing taut over the expanded forms, their color becoming more vivid despite the sinking sun, their creator appalled at the progress, and the foundation growing less stable.

Nature dominates the world; the inhabitants dominate things natural.

All humans, creators at heart, can build anything to manipulate accordingly, and never do they refuse refuse a place to be recycled.

However, Earth feels a growing tension springing from within, then across the sky, behind the towers, inside the beings, and throughout the waters.

Mother runs and revolves and finally discovers a solution to the forthcoming problem.

Yes indeed.

She hoped that they would learn and that the self would be preserved and that her children would have some peace.

Thoughts abound, but none are realized.

In the elements, terrible saviors found, released.

"What did we do to deserve this?"

Descendants prosper, or perish, or become mobile, or remain standing, or fall, or tremble.

Mother Earth, by allowing therepeutic typhoons to rip asunder that which man has laid before Her, by allowing man to pollute Hr with the trash he refuses to clean up, by allowing all forms of existence near Her salutory neglect--wreaks vengeance upon those conscious.

Style Analysis Essay: "America Needs Its Nerds"

2010-11-29T06:33:00.000-08:00

Leonid Fridman's urgency in revealing the injustices done on a daily basis against those who practice anti-"anti-intellectualism" conjures up several emotions in readers. Sympathy or empathy is felt for the victims, as Fridman's portrayal is comparable to commercials advertising abused animals, starving children. However, the modern world is already plagued by an overwhelming liberalism, was even in 1990; the (almost) necessary acceptance and respect, (and fear of infringing on these) social requirements. Because of this already instated tolerance, an almost tangible disgust for Fridman spawns ("Really?!" followed by laughter is a common response among readers). Agreed, bullying is a problem that needs to be adressed, solved. Disagreed, the method in which Fridman chose to state this. His advocation of the ever dominant liberalism (when no more propaganda advertising this mindset is needed), the way he conveys his idea(s), his call to arms to embrace those smarter [aimed at those smarter; meant as fuel for the attempted negotiations between these and their tormentors, when these arguments are hardly ever fruitful anyway]; noble in their own rights, laughable when stated by Fridman.

The intellectuals who practice "refusal to conform to society's anti-intellectual values," which indicates that "something (is) very wrong with the system," are ostracized and suffer because of their intellect. The United States is a country of and for the ignorant: those advancements made by the minority taken advantage of by the majority; this fact instills fear into those with aspirations. The inevitable collapse of the world (this country) will come when those "children who prefer to read books rather than play football, prefer to build model airplanes rather than get wasted at parties with their classmates" cease to be individuals.

The shift, "Enough is enough," an example of epanalepsis, seperates his analysis of and stating the problem and his condemning the ways of the greatest country on Earth. The problem, "that someone dedicated to pursuit of knowledge is compared to a freak biting the head off a live chicken," and the analysis, "anti-intellectualism is rampant," correctly summarizes a world threat. Committing treason in the guise of one of the most well known cities on Earth in the U.S., "there are very few countries in the world where anti-intellectualism runs as high in popular culture as it does in the U.S.," Leonid committs hara-kiri; dies a literary martyr, rivalling the burning monks.

"For America's sake, the anti-intellectual values that pervade our society must be fought," a haunting prediction from a modern Nostradamus. Illuminating the sophisticated to the plight affecting their apprentices, Fridman preaches "It is high time to face the persecutors who haunt the bright kid with thick glasses from kindergarted to the grave,"; voices his desire to see bullying taken to ((kangaroo)) court(((s))). The idea that supression only creates more pressure (/will to strive harder) is laughable; the very lives of the future leaders are in the hands of those tyrannically bored and envious true traitors to this country. Maintaining our status is of the upmost importance as it will be impossible "to compete in the technology race with Japan or remain a leading political and cultural force in Europe." [stated even after his damning of the (popular) culture of the U.S.] Inaction by the capable caused by the active may result in our home being forgotten, even wiped out.

Little variety in sentence structure, rhetorical devices, has little impact on the point. Proving himself an intellectual, by using extended, descriptive sentences, the passion emphasizes that much more [more of a look into his past than an article of any relevance]. Imagery set off by a professor's droning; nearly symmetrical sentences/paragraphs; the target audience is appealed to.

Of the limited rhetorical devices used, symploce and epanalepsis, the most stable of the devicese the most evident. In the third paragraph, Fridman explains that the problems in "prestigious academic institution(s)" also affect those inhabitants of "U.S. elementary and high schools,": "Children who prefer to... rather than..., prefer to... rather than..., become social outcasts." Fridman utilizes symploce to reveal the typical hobbies of the two opposites; to subliminally pose the question "Which end of the spectrum do you inhabit?"; to plant a desire in those who bullied to prevent future torture. The shift, "Enough is enough," an example of epanalepsis, provides more structure to the article, subliminally implanting a desire for unity, peace, stability, in the reader.

While I respect Fridman for wanting to put a stop to bullying, I laugh at the way he attempted to spread his word. Wanting to convey to his intelligent audience that he was too a victim via limited variety in sentence structure and rhetorical devices, with repetitive words and phrases meant to stir a strong emotional response that does so only because of the laughter that splutters forth, he fails to bring readers to his side. Bullies were born out of spite, scorn; why else did the "No Bullying" signs that choke hallways come a few years after his "America Needs Its Nerds" plea was published?

(extremely limited and picky internet connection at home; no way to go anywhere else to publish this; distracted by medical conditions still plaguing my sister and I; reasons for the delayed assignment)

thINK #1

2010-11-15T16:14:00.000-08:00

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, a massive "article" written by Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, contains several powerful literary instances of his prowess as a writer ("gonzo" equaling "shocking"). One of the most striking excerpts from this "novel" is about the length of a paragraph; details his and his apparent attorney's literal car-full of intoxicants, more than two-thirds being illegal substances. These two are (almost) always intoxicated, going for great lengths without food, water, sleep (deprivation being the poor man's hallucinogenic), as well.
What would drive a man to push his body so hard, to abuse it with mind-altering, body-deteriorating substances?
Thompson's somewhat comedic, usually disturbing view ("beer" goggles being forced upon the reader as the author dons them) is entertaining and enlightening; pertains to aspects sobriety may cause the majority to overlook. As a journalist, this may have been his only motivation for punishing his body so: to write a piece that would force the readers to continue 'til no more pages remain (pain being universal, fodder for great art). Drug use/drinking/"fasting" is not uncommon among those who...
How to finish this sentence? There has not been identified any characteristics shared among all those who willingly seek an altered state of consciousness (though emotional problems and precarious perceptions (prior to use) are apparently common in these).
Ancient peoples would inebriate themselves to get in touch with a "universal force"-their gods. Holy men, past and modern, do so in the pursuit of enlightenment. Peer pressure, poor living conditions-little supervision; all factors contributing to addiction to these substances.
Any number of possibilities can be named.
I believe one of the most prominent reasons, though, is because reality simply isn't appealing to those who partake.
As stated by James Keenan of "Tool," if you desire for a "cure" to be found, you must destroy your favorite records, as the artists who made them were "r...eal ****'in high," (though this is not always true, of course; a generalization); but one of many ways to say that several aspects of life we take advantage of today have become so because of altering consciousness. Religion is a prime example (Greeks, civilizations prior (and after)).
I believe Cayce, "the other Nostradamus," was at least somewhat intoxicated while writing prophecy, despite the means by which he achieved this supposition (as the aforementioned Holy men and maybe even Nostradamus himself). I find him to be quite a "genius"-more so than Thompson because the drug use, if it indeed existed, was not flaunted by Cayce (subtlety is the key)-agreeing with several of his philosophies. He wrote that everyone has the capacity to do what everyone else (/he) can (/could) do, if willpower is honed and the desire exists. I may be guilty of plagiarism, though I wrote my/this philosophy prior to knowing of Cayce (writing without intoxication though).
I believe life is a journey, a point emphasized by Thompson despite the drama caused by the ever-approaching deadline and hectic-ness; the vehicle we find ourselves in (not a collective body) must be pushed to the limits to know what each of us is capable of (as retardation plagues several of us, in one way or another). The pursuit of enlightenment (/the knowledge of (how to obtain)), apparently able to be achieved through deprivation or gluttony, as it were, is ideal, otherwise a life is wasted. Opening your mind via secular means to escape secular bonds communally, as the filthy, dirty, hippies, would be a utopia; result in the end of the world.
What would drive a man to push his body so hard, to subject it to mind-opening, body-relieving substances?
The will/desire to live
(as we are all sadistic, prolonging Mother's and Father's punishment as long as possible, never wanting it to end).

Reading Plan

2010-10-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

Being and Nothingness, Jean-Paul Sartre
"Its revolutionary approach challenged all previous assumptions about the individual's relationship with the world... challenging the reader to confront the fundamental dilemmas of human freedom, responsibility and action."
I have never heard of this book or author before, meaning I have no idea where I would obtain this text from. In the event no local library or store carries it, I will rely on Barnes and Noble to at least order it (if possible).

Meditations on First Philosophy: In Which the Existence of God and the Distinction of the Soul from the Body Are Demonstrated, Descartes (Donald A. Cress-translator)
"Many other matters respecting the attributes of God and my own nature or mind remain for consideration... Now... my principle task is to endeavour to emerge from the state of doubt into which I have these last days fallen, and to see whether nothing certain can be known regarding material things."
Again, to rely on book purveyors is most likely required if I am to obtain this/these books.

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, Edwin Abbott Abbott
"Part geometry lesson, part social satire, this classic work of science fiction brilliantly succeeds in enlarging all readers' dimensional prejudices... This new edition of Flatland illuminates the social and intellectual context that produced the work as well as the timeless questions that it raises about the limits of our perception and knowledge."
As the other two books, research must be conducted as to how to obtain the book and then be acted upon.

The standard fiction has begun to bore me. The modern nonfiction never interested me. Only so many "classics" exist - 1984, Farenheit 451, I, Robot, Of Mice and Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the works of H.G. Wells and Robert Louis Stevenson, etc. - therefore, new parameters for reading must be crafted for the prevention of reading becoming monotonous. Philosophy has always interested me and the books I have listed prior to this paragraph seem to be written on subjects I wish to learn more about.

Second Quarter Reading List

2010-10-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

Ginsberg, Allen. "Howl And Other Poems." San Francisco: City Lights Books. 1956, 1959.

Ginsberg wrote "Howl" for a friend of his, Carl Solomon. If Solomon had not been in his life, Ginsberg may have committed suicide as he had "...from all the evidence, been through hell." The "Other Poems" do not seem to have any relevance to "Howl," other than the seemingly incomprehensible way in which Ginsberg wrote and the similarities of his condemnations (he blames drug use, capitalism, the modernization of the world for destroying "the best minds of [his] generation,"). "Howl" is a sort of love letter to Solomon in which Ginsberg dons insanity; the reader is allowed to delve into the minds and the relationship of the two men, with all the consequences surrounding them being revealed. The "Other Poems" seem to be written for the same reason; an almost tangible plea from Ginsberg: "know what I know, see as I see, I Dare You."
Some of Ginsberg's words ("Mohammedan angels," "who vanished into nowhere Zen New Jersey," "migraines of China," "who burned cigarette holes in their arms protesting the narcotic tobacco haze of Capitalism,") make little sense taken literally, logically, but, his words being poetry, may have a deeper meaning understood by those crazy enough to. The boundaries between religions are hazy; that which is applauded by the masses may very well be evil.

Sleator, William. "The Boy Who Couldn't Die." New York: Amulet Books. 2005.

Sixteen-year-old Ken undergoes a spiritual procedure to become "invulnerable" to death after his best friend dies in a plane crash. He unknowingly agrees to becoming a zombie, his soul being controlled by the bokor who granted him "immortality." With the aid of a native girl who knows of these spiritual matters, Ken embars on a journey to reclaim his soul.
The book, narrated by the "uppity teenager," is set off with italicized passages that are reminiscent of old vampire stories in the content and the way they are written. Still first person, the actions Ken committs and the details surrounding those actions seem otherworldly. The way in which Sleator embeds these pieces keeps the reader interested, even after the explanation of what these (") dreams (") mean is revealed. Two seemingly unrelated, parallel stories intertwined into one proves Sleator an experienced author.

Thompson, Hunter S. "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas." New York: Vintage Books. 1971.

Hunter S. Thompson, a reporter on location in the (south)western United States, is expected to cover his various assignments (a massive race and a police convention among them) professionally and ably. The persuasion endowed him and his attorney through inhuman substance abuse allows him to to gather "necessary supplies" (an extremely impressive, to say the least, collection of intoxicants) completely unrelated to his mission (through the eyes of his superiors). What begins as a journalistic endeavour, in the warped hands of Thompson, morphs into a work of nonfiction more twisted and entertaining than some of the best fantasy; that dissects human nature through the altered perception of users.
There is no basis for comparison while analyzing the style in which this book was written. It being a massive article, "Fear And Loathing," contained several exerpts from various documents and articles Thompson encountered throughout his adventure(s). Chapter 9 of Part 2 begins with an Editor's Note in which it is revealed that "the original manuscript [was] so splintered that [the team at Rolling Stone magazine] were forced to seek out the original tape recording and transcribe it verbatim." The entire chapter is written as dialogue in a script is written.

Burgess, Anthony. "A Clockwork Orange." New York: W.W. Norton & Company. 1962, 1986.

Alex, a mentally disturbed fifteen-year-old, participates in horrific crimes with his fellow droogs in a futuristic nightmare world. When his soft side (his adoration of women who sing opera) clashes with his companions' strictly horrorshow look on life, they double-cross him, leaving him to be incarcerated. Desperate to resume his criminal career, with revenge closer to the front of his mind, he agrees to participate in a program guaranteed to reform him and which would allow him release much earlier than his sentence length. Alex's fantasy is put to the test and the conclusion of the story was cause for much controversy.
Burgess's Introductino reveals that the book was among his least favorite works, despite the world renown it gained, the American film adaptation being one of the main reasons for each of these. This version of the book contains the original final chapter; the next to last chapter was the end of the film - the ending the majority of the "readers" knew. One ending leaves Alex at peace and completely reformed and mature, his violent urges a product of adolescence. The other leaves him still violent, still rebellious, still a droog. In respect to the last chapter, the actual ending, Burgess wrote: "I meant the book to end in this way, but my aesthetic judgement may have been faulty."

Smith, Alexander Gordon. "Escape From Furnace: Lockdown." New York: Square Fish. 2009.

Alex, while robbing a house with his friend, experiences his last moments of freedom in pure horror. Massive blackcoats and a wheezer infiltrate the house, kill Alex's partner, and taunt Alex to run. Futilely, he flees, to be captured within grabbing distance of his home. He is sentenced to Furnace Penetentiary for the murder committed by the overseers there; that he was blamed for. The tagline of the book correctly elaborates: "Beneath Heaven is Hell. Beneath Hell is Furnace." Along with a few accomplices, not all invited, friendly, Alex devises a plan to escape, in the face of a fate worse than death, leering ever closer because of snitches.
Although the book was written to appeal to pre-teens, Smith crafted a text that leaves all readers in suspense, eagerly awaiting the next segment (especially because of the Sneak Peek at the next piece) of the series. One of the ways he does this is by appealing to peoples' dramatic side: revealing the conditions of the prison. The standard ideas of prison gangs adn small scale riots, real to us, blend with his fiction: the sadistic, otherworldly guards and their mutated minions and assistants, the rumors that are all too real, the psychotic warfare waged on the inmates; lockdown means more than boredom and slight physical pain/discomfort.

Reflection: Reading

2010-10-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

Catch-22 was the first book i attempted to begin my eleventh grade reading career with; failure. This caused me to, basically, give up on reading for a while. Once this passed, more than halfway through the quarter, I, Robot was the next attempt; success. Though it took longer than it should have, I finished the book and comprehended the content. Brave New World, assigned by the mediator, was embarked upon in a different manner: reading was accomplished in irregular, far-between intervals, though when reading was done, several chapters were behind the left hand. Life: The Movie was read daily. Being in bed by 2300 hours is demanded of me; after reading, 0100 is a more prominent bed-time.

"Inking your thinking," though thought tedious and, somewhat, unnecessary, the benefits have been realized. The friendship I sustained with the dictionary has recently been renewed. I think that my "inking" my thougts has broadened my mind, but the thougts translated into text on paper may not be able to be comprehended by others of a name not mine.

If only I knew how to more precisely render my thoughts tangibly, it would be done. How to go about doing this though, as said, is unknown. Trial-and-error/experience seems to be the only way.

I used to favor fiction that allowed for the derived evaluation of human nature and the components of life (I, Robot); now, with the discovery of Life: The Movie, more philosophical texts that actually reveal components of human nature and of life are desired. The cataloging and genres of nonfiction, however, are unknown to me; perusing of libraries will now take much longer to find that which interest me.

Socratic Seminar Reflection

2010-10-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

The point of the socratic seminar seems to have been lost on me. The forced simulation of deep, intellectual discourse to be viewed and critiqued by others; the fixed time limit in which the discussion must be accomplished in; the strict regulations that could potentially hinder/intimidate the participants: all criticisms of the act.

The idea of an organized meeting designed to nurture the intellect and thought is, of course, a noble idea and something that should be pursued. Gathering information from the indicated source in the light of a proposed question/idea yields a greater understanding of the text, a greater understanding of the underlying themes.

My actual experience in the socratic seminar is not comparable to what is desired, ideal. Not liking the idea that the conversation is forced (though I do understand upon retrospect that this is really the only perceptible way to be able to grade the act), the fact that interrupting others is frowned upon and that anything mispoken or thought wrong by the majority would result in ridicule or a complete unacknowledgement in the future, to speak seemed an impossibility. Again, the concept is respectable; the actual act in action leaves much to be desired.

Annotated Bibliography for Brave New World

2010-10-11T10:07:00.001-07:00

Miller, Stuart. "http://media.www.the-standard.org/media/storage/paper1059/news/2003/05/02/Opinion/California.Embraces.Dangerous.Excessive.Textbook.Censorship-3364436.shtml". Missouri (State University). "The Standard." 2003.

In Brave New World, the collective government, namely The Controller, Mustapha Mond, directly decided what was able to be accepted by the public without stirring any (substantial) feelings or thoughts (at all). In this article, California is pasted onto the dartboard of scrutiny and is not allowed to fall off until the several spears of Miller's criticisms penetrate/reveal. "The whole politically correct, ultra-sensitivity movement continues to escalate," the whole "justified" censorship, over-protective elements of today's media, by the government (the whole point of the censorship being to protect the public from what we do not wish to hear), is not inching, maybe "mile-ing" us towards a newer, braver realm.

Dunn, Douglas. "http://www.wordwiz72.com/cloning.html". Douglas Dunn/World Wizards. 1998, 2001.

Directly referring to Brave New World in his article, Dunn, without hesitation, allows his rambling arguments to spill forth, with no actual evidence to support his claim that "In their hearts, human beings know that it is not so terrible to have a genetic double," hoping to disprove the world Huxley envisioned. Stating that in-vitro fertilization underwent the same skepticism from the public as cloning is now, apparently hoping for the conversion of people from "Cloning is morally wrong," to "It is but progress."

"http://www.scienceclarified.com/Qu-Ro/Reinforcement-Positive-and-Negative.html".

"Conditioning," in the context of Brave New World carries an evil connotation. This article reveals that conditioning is nothing to be feared or avoided at all; it is actually what enables us to learn (touch a hot stove, recoil; conditioning); strengthening the belief that the ones who crafted the world After Ford were in all reality evil, despite whatever the intentions were. The architects of this "improved" world utilized conditioning to teach the children/sprouts what they "needed" to be taught, rather than allowing natural conditioning to run its course, allowing the man-plants to be in control of their own destinies; the choices made in life yield exposure to different elements of life, different knowledge applicable to life, different paths through life. The latter is the way in which the world runs now-for now-is the best way for people to live.

Annotated Reading List for Independent Reading

2010-10-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

(NO FORMATTING COULD BE APPLIED, IN ALL ATTEMPTS)

Huxley, Aldous. "Brave New World." New York: HarperCollins. 1932, 1946.

In the year A.F. 632, there are is a significant difference in the ratio between types of people to number of people from our time. Inflicting a feeling of ominousness on the readers, achieved by enlightening the time travelers that "...the World State's motto [is], COMMUNITY, IDENTITY, STABILITY," it is almost certainly known before the end of the first chapter that some kind of, basically, moral dilemma is going to affect the way the world will evolve.
John the Savage, a man born of natural causes, (even mentioning this act in public arouses hysterical laughter or wary uneasiness of whoever spoke such "blasphemy") is actually quite civilized, rather as civilized as is possible, with being exposed only to the primitivity of, not really "his" people but the ones that he has been forced to live amongst. Because of this, it is quite plausible to believe that Huxley, in prophesying the dys-/u- topia that is sure to become, implied a certain, sort of devolution of the human race. Yes, the technology in this new world is extremely exceptional ("feelies" are movies that, by interacting with an apparatus, cause real emotions, sensations to be felt by the "viewers"), but by applying these advances (particularly to cloning), almost everything that makes humans human has been wiped from the civilized world (i.e., nothing but happiness is ever felt). This is what makes John such an easy character to identify with. Our world is constantly being "improved" by the daily technological developments, but humanity is still something to be treasured and flaunted (though it is slowly being marginalized by entertainment); John was raised by "savages," ones who forsook the progression of the world and decided to retain their traditionalist values (it is quite amazing how people in the future were able to revert back to a world almost identical to that of the Indians/Native Americans, especially with all history before the revolution (that brought on the "A.F." prefix to dates) being wiped from earth). ((259))

"I, Robot" began as seperate stories in science fiction publications.

Asimov, Isaac. "I, Robot." New York: Fictioneers, 1941; Street and Smith 1941; Street and Smith, 1941; Street and Smith, 1942; Street and Smith 1944; Street and Smith, 1945; Street and Smith, 1946; Street and Smith, 1947; Street and Smith, 1950. 1950

A reporter, Asimov incarnate, is extremely eager to interview the most prominent robopsychologist in this year, 2057. Robots have completely overtaken assembly lines, and the popularity of these machines is balanced by the criticisms of the traditionalists, effectively outlawing their presence on the earth (interplanetary travel has been "mastered," colnies exist on several other planets). Every chapter in this book was once published as its own story; Asimov crafted the story of the reporter and his interviewee, one Susan Calvin, to tie these seperate entities into one anthology, which reveals the history of robotics, how what progress has been made was made, problems and solutions to quandaries pertaining to robots and the Three Laws that bound them into servitude.
Of course, to do all this, Asimov had to become a robot during the writing process; the transformation from entity of flesh to an object of metal is completely seamless. In "Reason," one of the most advanced robots, at that time, questions everything his "masters," those foolish beings "...made of...soft and flabby [material], lacking endurance and strength, depending for energy upon the inefficient oxidation of organic material...", inform him of: the Energy Converter that powers the Solar Station #5 is not a tool created by humans for humans, absurd, it is the Master; space is "exactly what it seems-a black material just beyond this glass that is spotted with little gleaming dots... That is all." ((272))

Gabler, Neal. "Life the Movie." New York: Vintage Books. 1998

Hypothesis: Entertainment is slowly overtaking reality, becoming reality even. Discuss: Through the natural progression of humanity in every field, particularly technology, (')men have become lazier but more rebellious (of the ever ruling aristocracies), more wary (of those in any kind of power) but (despite that) content, more advanced but even more delusional (/ignorant). Chronicling the path to our current situation, to be informed is less significant than to be entertained, (entertainment represents the baser instincts and art is equated to the pursuit of knowledge, of the betterment of oneself on a transcendic level ("the difference between entertainment and art is the difference between 'spurious gratification and a genuine experience as a step to greater individual fulfillment.'")), from the 1800's to the present, so in-depth and precisely, that Gabler's opinions are hard to actually be called that.
Gabler's overall mission in having spawned this literature is to enlighten people of what is happening to us: we have become blinded by our addiction to entertainment, which we are exposed to almost ceaselessly, and from birth even!, and, while it is satisfying to "us," it hurts us, the true inner beings that need legitimate intellectual discourse, no matter what the means of achieving this. That description makes Gabler seem more like a (far-out) philosopher, which he is not, than a true crusader for men to, at least acknowledge what he has discovered, at most change their ways in pursuit of a higher level of civilization. ((303))

ARTICLES RELATED TO B.N.W. COMING SOON

Analysis Paragraph: "A Whole New Mind"

2010-09-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

Pink's self-righteous humor (that is to say, he knows he is correct in what he writes ("On the off chance that you're still not convinced, let me offer one last-and illuminating-statistic."), but he attempts to use "comedy" to smoothly 'suade others rather than blatantly stating his truths) (somewhat) subtly warns his fellow academics of the impending doom progress bears for them: "our left brains have made us rich...(but) the very triumph of L-Directed Thinking has lessened its significance. The prosperity it has unleashed has placed a premium on less rational, more R-Directed sensibilities-beauty, spirituality, emotion." The development achieved thus far is due to the abundance of worldly knowledge cultivated and the applications found for that knowledge. Whether more progress cannot be made in this same way, or whether humans have grown weary of academics and would rather explore what our ancestors did, it is hard to say; regardless, "In an age of abundance, appealing only to rational, logical, and functional needs is woefully insufficient." To ensure modern legacies will be carried on, offspring must be exposed to as many members of the "hippie" (politically correct term unknown) population as possible (evolution will prevent any ancestors from being shamed, as these "hippies" will don suits), far from the domain of public education, where they must spend only the minimum amount of time required (until the education system realizes in what way the world is traveling), to become successful members of society. Attractive and somewhat functional services/products/etc. will sell more than plain services/products/etc. that are extremely functional. The all too necessary pursuit of (applicable (to the world)) knowledge will become the pursuit of "Why?" (knowledge applicable to (just) ourselves) (transcendence), which will, ironically, be trekked upon (/achieved) by means of creativity. Worldly pursuits do not make people happy; what else is there? The answers can only possibly exist in the "abnormal." "The paradox of prosperity is that while living standards have risen steadily decade after decade, personal, family, and life satisfaction haven't budged." Prophesying the end of (the flourishing) of minds like his, Pink uses this book as what could be a last opportunity to sound smart while smartness is treasured.

Advertisement Analysis

2010-08-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

During the 1940's, every American was concerned with how World War II was unfolding. Several companies in the U.S. exploited patriotism to "build up hype" for whatever product was being sold. The Scotch tape company was no different.

In the ad found at http://adflip.com/addetails.php?adID=2323, Scotch tape applies ethos to improve potential sales. By mentioning Uncle Sam, the universal symbol for the United States (' army), readers are subconsciously forced to give their undivided attention to what Scotch tape has to say: American soldiers are using the tape to help bring Victory back home. If the United States Army can use Scotch to stay alive and vanquish the enemy, problems in our own country do not stand a chance. The "INVEST IN VICTORY - BUY WAR BONDS" at the bottom is more proof that the company is helping the Army, providing space in an ad the tape company paid for for the government to ask for help. By referring to their product as "good old Scotch tape," the company calls upon itself; "We've been around a while, so you can trust us." It is because of the long-standing record that the company holds that the readers are expected to understand that all the tape made is being sent overseas, as winning the war is more of a priority than pleasing the citizens. The tape will return when Victory does.

The men to the immediate right of the focal point, the woman in red, beam pathos from their faces. The woman in red (sexy, appealing to men, usually the larger demographic, especially from the viewpoint of an... "immature (and sexist)" publication) was carrying a lunch sack but now all her food has ripped through the puny bag and has fallen (which would not have happened had Scotch tape been applied). The two men are waiting for her to bend over and retrieve her food, like nearly any man, other than a gentle, would. Everybody on the train is smiling, except for the woman, who looks shocked, so readers are expected to either smile as well, or maybe even laugh at the woman, both positive responses. As mentioned before, the tape company uses the credibility of the nation's army to help sale the tape. By mentioning the fact that the army uses the tape, any readers who also use the tape, or that are planning on it, can feel a sense of patriotism, that they are helping the country.

It is logical for any company to list some of the potential uses of its product, and with the flexibility of the tape, Scotch is a brand to be trusted. However a company goes about advertising its product, though, if appealing to ethos, pathos or logos, no doubt the ad will help "move a few units."

Make Sense of This, You Are My Friend

2010-08-16T19:59:00.001-07:00

Jeff Lyons, the illustrator of this painting, comments on the comments others have made at http://lyonsart.com/wordpress/surrealism-abstract-artwork/; he explains that there is no symbolism in paintings of his like this one: “These are essentially meaningless images.” Acknowledged… Because I spent two hours looking for any image that was not copyright protected, though, I am going to pretend that some kind of analysis of this image other than an aesthetic one is able to be made and attempt to make a few such examinations.

At first glance, the “surrealist abstract artwork” looks to be a picture of some kind of eastern dragon, such as the ones that roam the streets during Chinese New Year. The red curtains on either side are pulled aside to release the “beast.“ The green figure on top is the horns. The “house-like things” on either side could be the eyes. All the blue and orange (bright colors, such as the ones splashed onto the Oriental dragons) make up the nose and mouth region. The blue “C” shapes, the curved part inside them, would be the snout extending from the face. The minuscule brick region in the middle would be the actual orifice that would take in food and release fire. The tiny figures on the tiled floor are most likely humans, which gives the paining a somewhat eerie feeling (as if the alien-like figure on top (green skin tone and cloak, white eyes without pupils, mouth agape, slight horns, pose), surrounded by some sort of aura, didn’t already). Such a small “mouth” on such a huge “creature” and we are still able to be consumed when anything else would be safe from such a tiny hole. The staircases on either side of the form are the legs, ironically. The towers on either side of the green figure at the top look as if they could be part of the whole “creature,” but the towers also look to be part of the windows surrounding the “dragon” and for the whole complex to be one solid body, keeping the “dragon theory” in mind, seems unlikely.

The multiplex may be nothing other than that. Red curtains are drawn to reveal a show or attraction and all the people, those behind and those blocked off by the curtain’s path, before being drawn, are aimed towards the only opening (there are stairs but the proportions make it look as though the stairs are at least three feet tall (assuming the humans are six feet high) and why climb when there is an open door); the red above the door signifies, if not says, “Vacancies.” In the open windows are shapes that look like hands… “beckoning people to come closer,” to be polite and optimistic. The green “man” on top must be the manager, or at least the magician, as that “man” must have been the one to open the massive curtains, to conjure the huge shadowy “limbs” in the windows. The “man’s” expression does not seem to be one of malice and mischief, but of concentration or surprise or ecstasy, if anything. Upon closer inspection, what I assumed to be the guardrail of the stairs, as they dipped down into the floor, may be the actual stairs. Following those lines up leads the eye to the windows of the towers on either side of the extraterrestrial, where there are two more “human-sized” shapes.

Random objects could have been thrown together, arranged symmetrically, to truly make nothing more than a “surrealist abstract” work of art. The central yellow part looks like a bell that has been filled with brick, to never resonate sound again. The white pieces in the middle of the bell, in the middle of the blue and yellow ornate decorations on the bell, look like a flower, with the blue and yellow surrounding it being the organs of the flower (perhaps the alien turned the flower inside-out to be able to examine more closely). The brick walls surrounding the bell are the walls of the garden. The buildings coming out of the sides of the bell are the groundskeepers’ shacks. The eaves above the doors are fanned out banana peels with cherries at the center of the “spokes.” The doorways are covered in lambs’ blood, to prevent plagues coming to their doorsteps. The gardeners gloat about their preparedness, hands in the windows, but the other inhabitants on the ground were not so thoughtful. They are being attracted by the alien’s bright tractor beam, emitting from the bottom of the bell-shaped UFO; the master’s mansion was converted to the space creature’s chambers. The two sentinels in the windows of the highest towers are the galaxy’s last defense: Alien escapes and everybody’s doomed.

I doubt if all, IF ANY, of this made sense but I just wanted to prove that whether the artist intends for there to be deeper meaning in their works or not, the more you dig, the more potential meaning can be found. Any meanings that are found, if enough evidence is present, can be proven to be right. The artist creates a world that we are sucked into and to hold our hand through the journey and tell us any meaning instead of making us find it renders art pointless. Again, how much sense this all made is another matter but just to find meaning that the creator did not intend to be found in their works is an accomplishment (…or maybe just a sign of a lack of a life).

Radical Ways to Alert - Like Gojira

2010-07-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

The painting at * http://www.artquotes.net/artists/keck/abstract-painting3.html evokes a feeling of violent movement: possible escape, probable pursuit. The red figure moves from the right, out of what appears to be a jungle of sorts, towards a tower at the left. From right to left, the shape's "back" has three jags on it, to illustrate movement (as in the common character for lightning). These bumps could also be the scales of a dragon, or maybe even raised hairs of sorts, like on a cat, which would show aggression, alertness. To the left of the third spike is another, more flat, one. This is either another result of movement as the malevolent form rushes towards civilization, or the ear of the dragon, lowered in the same manner dogs exhibit while combating each other. To the left of this: an upward "swooping" slash of lighter color. Is this figure pure fire or a creatures with slanted, concentrated eyes? I say the latter. Below the "ear" is another jag, the assumed chin or jowl, and to the far left of the form is a rounded part on top and a circular void below, perfect size for a mouth that is preparing to unleash a powerful force from within (and it is in this void that the lightest shade of yellow originates).

Clouds of fire emanate from the creature's back as smoke from the charred forests left behind are caught below the beast, sucked into the rush of air. This monster is clearly one of fire. Fire was discovered and harnessed by man. Man tears down forests and does what suits him best with the earth that is meant for all living creatures. The shape at the left of the image is clearly man-made, indicated by the intricacies of the stone and the small towers at the top of this larger. Perhaps the creature's motivation for charging so fiercely is to end the tyrannical reign of man, to save what is left of it's earth (ironically burning some of the most precious resources in the process (all wars suffer casualties)). The colors in this image (parchment yellow, charcoal black, vivid red and moss green) suggest some Asian influence, as does the nature of the building. Asian countries are some of the most polluted on the earth. The illustrator might have meant for this to be a warning: "The earth (the past, the forces, the ancestors) will take vengeance upon you for destroying this planet... brutally."

This painting is divided in two vertically. Maybe this is because the image took up two canvasses but maybe this was intentional. Looking at the left half alone, the proposed meaning of this image (a cry to end, or, at least, limit, pollution) cannot be. Without the forest and the entire length shown of the red figure, the tower stands alone with a path of blood moving towards it, or possibly a mountain range. The right half of the image still shows fire leaping forth (the red shape is wider at the far right end) from the jungle, but with no visible target. The forest could still be taking action against some unknown force. A fire started by man may be rejected from the forest, it shoving the flames back towards the creators.

However this picture is broken down, a slight feeling of uneasiness creeps into the viewer. The manifestation of man (the tower) looks so insignificant when compared to the vibrant shape of red hurtling towards it. The edifice is even slightly curved where the cloud of orange impacts. Man may have dominated and taken control of the earth, but the earth has the power to overthrow us whenever it so desires.

* During the composition of this journal, the URL from which I gathered this image, a website that sells art pieces, ceased to exist; the art piece this journal is about was sold or moved. So I included the image in this post, but kept the original link.

Abortion:Murder. Death Penalty:Justice.

2010-07-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

The death penalty is utilized to decrease the populations of prisons and to rid society of the worst offenders, today (though it has existed for thousands of years). This sentence is never taken lightly and is only administered justifiably... say supporters. People even remotely against the practice, though, oftentimes believe that this punishment is anything but fair and justified.

The picture found here, http://theblacksentinel.wordpress.com/2007/08/09/death-penalty-becomes-the-new-lynching/, illustrates the idea that the decision between the death penalty and a life sentence (black and white, opposites) is based solely on race (black or white). In the article containing this illustration, it is mentioned that through studies it has been found that the number of inmates on death row coincides with the number of lynchings in olden times, "proof" of the claim (if inspected carefully, the scale in the middle of Blind Justice and Grim Reaper leads the viewers' eyes upward, to the shoulders, where there are ruffles in the garment(s): a possible invisible, implied noose). The title of this image is "And Justice For All," but in the bottom right (Death's side) corner, there is a character proclaiming "Injustice for all..." that are sentenced to Death; because of the Reaper's preparedness to harvest while Justice allows the "Whites" to live, with her sword at her side. Ethnicity is not the only area in which opponents of the death penalty believe there to be bias, though.

The representation of a scale balancing nooses, as found at http://ucsbglobalvoices.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/episode-10-day-of-debate/, (the second picture down the page), further illustrates the concept that capital punishment is "unfair." One noose is heavier than the other, though there are less victims on the heavy side than people on the light. The left, heavy side is also darker than the right, light, lighter side, proving that the decision of a "jury" to put a person to death obliterates any hope the convicted held on to. The use of color and the depiction of the victims (none fleeing or panicking, plainly) evokes the feeling in viewers that perhaps the whole situation surrounding the executions is a sacrifice of some sort (if this is the case, the "peasants" would not view the action as executions but the fact that the victims are being sent to death equates to death sentences, the whole point of this "journal"). The scene is too broad for any further comments on the population to be made; no bias can be said to exist among them, though, if anything, the ones on the right must have acted as the jury condemning the ones on the left, outweighing the victims' (possible) objections.

Sometimes, no bias may exist at all; the whole reason for the execution is to provide a show for supporters of the "method of punishment." The image at http://www.drakecentral.info/cuba/cubainthenews/cubanews-2008.html, (about three-fourths of the length down the page, to the left of the bold "April 29") depicts an executioner questioning, who is assumed to be, the "marshal" of the village, about the prominent trend in executing at the time. The victim, of course, looks terrified, but the bulging of his eyes suggests mental cries of "What?! I'm about to die and you're only worried about pleasing the onlookers?!" The viewers stand in the background, looking anticipative and curious, completely unfazed that a man is about to die (quite the contrary).

Due to images such as the one shown in https://sloone.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/are-we-sure-there-are-no-secret-executions-in-malaysia/ (portraying an annoyed California informing the anesthesiologist that the nervous wreck of an Opposition is the one in need of the anesthetic, not the criminal, who lies on his death bed terrified and waiting), advocates and enemies of the death penalty are the most dedicated, respectfully. The juries that now send convicts to death may soon be voting on whether or not to completely abolish the practice. I do not support the possibility, but I do not completely savor the idea that my fellows' lives may be in the hands of some who are not capable of judging correctly and justly.

My Photo Stories

2010-06-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry if too small. Kind'a struggled to conceive of any picture to go with the stories and once one was conceived, I struggled even more to bring it to the digital world. Ended up having to scan the background picture and every hand-drawn piece into the computer then rearrange everything then print it then rescan it and finally begin on the process of completing the homework. Irrelevant but I wanted to share my pain... Few picture ideas, so I pieced together three dam workers; the middle one surrounded on either side by a fellow he likes (left) and one he does not (right). This is illustrated by the illustration of his divided face. So handsome. Oh, and he has a clipboard. 'Cause every foreman needs to feel important. (The face is not supposed to be a representation of myself.)

Analysis: Of Mice and Men

2010-05-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

Details:

From his first two paragraphs, John Steinbeck sets the scene in Of Mice and Men through his use of imagery/foreshadowing as he describes the natural world in a parallel to later events in the novella. "...under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp," may be talking simply about nature or of George and Lenny and the relationship between them. Under implies some thing over another, or protecting another, or above another. The leaves lie to viewers about the depth of them. Deep means not shallow, much to be gone through. Lenny is under George in intelligence as George is under Lenny in size. Lenny sometimes lies to George to try and keep himself out of trouble (he did not have a rat in his pocket apparently). George's motives for protecting Lenny are deeper than some think; he is not just doing it for protection, to have Lenny over him. The trees, George, protect the leaves, Lenny, even though they are slowly dying, the leaves are crisp and Lenny is doomed. "...a path beaten hard by boys coming down from the ranches to swim in the deep pool, and beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down from the highway," is able to be related to Lenny's impending doom. Lenny has made the mistake of getting into trouble with women because of his unknown strength. This has occured more than once, the beaten path. The boys coming down from the ranch are doing so in the pursuit of recreation, the elimination of one they do not particularly like, Lenny. The boys follow Slim, the leader, who handles his problems with violence and vasoline. The tramps, the women Lenny gets in trouble for associating with, come wearily, weary of Lenny and his ignorance and of life, in one case, down from the highway. Lenny and George were constantly on the move, symbolized by the highway. "...the limb is worn smooth by men who have sat on it," suggests tearing away a figurative mask, to reveal the true essence of a thing. George is the limb in this parallel. He is hard on the outside; with questioning, men sitting on the limb, the bark begins to wear away and his affection for Lenny is revealed. Countless authors describe the setting in a manner completely seperate from the characters, unless the story somehow involves the surrounding area; the description of setting has no point but to allow the reader to have some idea as to where to place the story. Steinbeck, however, describes the setting in a way that can also be applied to the characters and the story, through foreshadowing and parallels.

Point of View:

The third-person objective point of view accentuates the differences between each character through descriptions of their traits by the other characters' observations ("others" including the "unbiased" opinion of the "omnipotent" narrator). The chosen quote, from page 37 of the novel states that "Curley seemed really to see George for the first time. His eyes flashed over George, took in his height, measured his reach, looked at his trim middle." When Curley encountered George in the bunkhouse, looking for his wife, Curley only noticed George because of his involvement in locating the woman, and because of George's attitude ("cold," slightly confrontational). Curley was a small man and had self-confidence issues, forcing him to constantly be vigilant in the pursuit for fights to prove to himself and others that he was not to be underestimated. He looked over George to see how big he was in comparison, sizing up a potential opponent. George also happened to be small, this making Curley feel relieved and more at ease when talking to him, reassuring him that the fight, if one ensued, would not be a great challenge. Crooks, the black, handicapped, stable buck, always "...kept his distance and demanded that other people kept theirs." (pg. 67) As also stated in this passage, Crooks was "proud" and "aloof." These quotes show that Crooks knew he was different from the others. Keeping out of the way of the other ranch workers was the only way Crooks knew of to maintain his pride and to prevent his insecurities from overwhelming him. Third-person perspective allows readers to see the differences in Crooks better than if first-person perspective was used; first-person often evokes feelings similar to the narrator's and unbiased opinions, best derived from the third-person, are better for evaluating the text (readers are given the information and are able to make their own conclusions about the content). Without the descriptive passages regarding these characters in third-person perspective, these inhabitants of Of Mice and Men would not be as clear to "see" as they are.

Tones:

Steinbeck emphasizes the significance of trust between people and causes a significant amount of empathy to be had by the readers for the innocent and ignorant. George confesses to Slim that in page 40 that he "'Used to play jokes on 'im 'cause he was too dumb to take care of 'imself. But he was too dumb even to know he had a joke played on him... Why he'd do any damn thing I tol' him... He never got mad about it, neither. I've beat the hell outta him, and he coulda bust every bone in my bodyjus' with his han's, but he never lifted a finger against me... I turns to Lennie and says, 'Jump in.' An' he jumps. Couldn't swim a stroke... he was so damn nice to me for pullin' him out. Clean forgot I told him to jump in.'" George and Lennie are almost as brothers. George protects Lennie by looking out for him with his intellect; preventing people from taking advantage of Lennie because of his ignorance. Gerge confesses to Slim in this exerpt that he used to take advantage of Lennie in this very way. Lennie never got upset with him because he did not know any better. He completely trusted George and knew that he knew best. He followed him basically blindly. This system of protecting each other completely worked, as George managed to save Lennie from several near-death events. Lennie's size was his main contribution to the partnership. A big guy following a much smaller one is a sign to any potential attacker that the targets are brothers in arms and to mess with the scrawny man is to anger the bigger. This brotherhood would have lasted as long as the lives of the "brothers." And did, though George was forced to end Lennie's life. Why George had to do so is explained in this passage from pages 90 and 91: "'I like to pet nice things with my fingers, sof' things.'... Curley's wife laughed at him... 'When I'm doin' my hair sometimes I jus' set an' stroke it 'cause it's so soft...Here-feel right here.' She took Lennie's hand and put it on her head. 'Feel right aroun' there an' see how soft it is.' Lennie's big fingers fell to stroking her hair... She jerked her head sideways, and Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hung on. 'Let go,' she cried. 'You let go!' Lennie was in a panic. His face was contorted. She screamed then, and Lennie's other hand closed over her mouth and nose. 'Please don't,' he begged... 'George'll be mad.'... Lennie began to cry with fright... 'George gonna say I done a bad thing. He ain't gonna let me tend no rabbits.'... He shook her then, and he was angry with her... and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck." Lennie is mentally challenged. He enjoys simple pleasures, the most prominent being touching soft things and enjoying the texture. Curley's wife is what is known as a "floozy," unfaithful to her husband, and is always looking to spend time with random gentlemen (cough, cough). Soft things are usually delicate and dainty, and with Lennie's strength, this hobby of his is dangerous for him to pursue, as his great strength always seemed to damage whatever it was that he was petting (be it a small creature or a full grown woman). Curley's wife takes advantage of Lennie's weakness adn has him pet her hair, an attempt at having him open up to her for... further exploration for and of both of them (COUGH, COUGH). Lennie never means any harm to any thing and it is because of this that readers will feel empathy/sympathy for him. He is like a massive child: very easily entertained and subdued but overwhelmingly strong. Lennie only wishes to feel pleasant things but Curley's wife's panic at his insistence on petting her thoroughly causes him panic. Not knowing how to handle the situation, Lennie grabs on to her almost ferociously and ends up killing her, completely involuntarily. Steinbeck manages to grip readers' hearts in alternating ways through his nearly beligerant use of the tones of brotherhood and empathy, which seem to drip from the pages after having read the book.

Response to Powerpoint

2010-05-18T12:55:00.001-07:00

Incredibly poor housing and one parent to four children; Dorothea Lange's pictures depict a depressing scene. The thirty-two year old mother looks around 40-something and the children weep and are listless. Living in the middle of a field with no protection from the elements but a tarp and poles stuck in the ground convey feelings of hopelessness. The mother's contemplative concentration and concern for her and her children are evident and seem to express a need for help from any viewers. How she is going to provide for her family and ensure their very survival from one day to the next is shown/felt and serves as a grisly reminder to how terrible depressions are. The mother still wears her wedding ring, a small sign of hope perhaps. Few pieces of furniture (trunks included) signify the absence of comfort. The family is dirty and shaggy which is another indicator of poor living conditions. Feelings of pity and remorse emit from these photographs.

Mask Poem

2010-05-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Counterfeit consequences of "comical" 'capades,
Brain's automatic switch to "courtesy," on my face,
Eye contact and generous nods
Belie the underlying thoughts
Within; I spin
For the shock of the feelings I feel
(Is apparent from my posture and 'stant scowls); "Evil"
Comes to mind
Lives in mine
Alone, unengaged, I am Me.
In the presence of company?
Veneer is injected into my lips and my throat.
"Carefree, careful, careless," in my eyes, are clearly show'.

The Effectiveness of Orwell's Use of Animals as Characters

2010-04-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

Orwell, in Animal Farm, wrote an allegory of Russia and its communistic past, in an unimpressed manner. Some could say his manner was even one of laughing. It is common knowledge that fairy tales and fables are, more often than not, aimed at children and are therefore hardly taken seriously by those above the age of twelve. Animal Farm was dubbed by its own author a "fairy story." The satiric content of this story, involving talking animals as the main focus, could be said to be mocking the Russian failures.

The animals on the farm, though clearly endowed with human characteristics, are still felt to be animals by the reader, of course. These creatures' pursuit of freedom/their own utopia causes feelings of uneasiness in readers. We humans hardly think about animals and their means of existing, but Animal Farm forces readers to look into and ponder what we hardly would have otherwise. Orwell's use of animals expresses the fact that it is important to think about all the affected sides in a manner.

Orwell's use of animals as characters was more effective on readers than if the characters had been humans. It is apparently natural human nature to have more pity for "cute, cuddly-wuddly" animals than "stinky and stupid" fellow men. The feelings (such as sympathy) felt by the readers would not have been felt had the characters been anything other than animals; some of the important story elements (feelings evoked have different effects on people as they read) would have been lost.

Yeah, Sheee, Yeah!

2010-04-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

Paranoia runs in my family. I'm always devising plans in my head of what other people are doing, the motives that drive them to do something, etc. My parents are always questioning me about every little thing and attempt to be slick about making me incriminate myself in whatever I'm supposed to have done.

They are not slick, no offense meant. I realize what they are doing when they are doing it, but I usually just submit. Way easier, conflict is avoided, less stuff to deal with. Plus, I only have two more years of it to deal with (constantly, that is) so I can take it.

I say "deal with" and "take it." Maybe not the right words. I love both of my parents and am thankful for the role they play in my life. I am also quick to anger, though (like my dad). The fact that I know they think they are slick rubs me the wrong way sometimes and the constant hints they are dropping that I am "in trouble" just sets me off.

Back to the point, if I am suspected of doing something as slight as dropping a sock on the way to the laundry room, I get confronted by Dad with a false cheerful shout of "Uhh..Son? Heh, you dropped a sock, ya know!" His shouting puts me in an ill mood, so I go to pick it up. Apparently, I'm "storming" and he wants to know what's wrong. "Nothin', just get tired of you always yelling unnecesarilly." This continues and expands for quite some time.

A grade of 80 on anything causes my parents to question my sobriety and ethics. I am glad that my parents are strict because of what that means in the future (virtuous, better character, better job) but right now, I sometimes feel it is impossible to deal with the fecal matter they always drop on me(possible explanation: standard teenage mentality).

Poem Modeled After "The Red Wheelbarrow"

2010-04-12T11:20:00.001-07:00

Fantastic rays

shine,

Flow from the

fireplace,

Sparked at will,

blaze

Awakens the

int'llect

Saint Patty's Day

2010-03-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

March 17 is just another day for me. Although my family is descended from Irishmen, this holiday goes uncelebrated, but not totally unrecognized. My dad will offhandedly mention how today is as Irish as it gets and I like the attitude of "Come on, it's Saint Patty's Day, everyone's Irish tonight." Seems to me, this day is one of the most peaceful; nature's starting to bloom more and men are celebrating brotherhood and potatoes.

On Saint Patrick's Day, I am more proud of my ancestry than any other day, though it is a bit weird to have what I claim as my culture shoved into my face all at once and then have it disappear the next day. Irishmen are notorious for owning luck and so of course I lay claim to some luck as well, even though I am the exact opposite of a leprechaun. Most people wear green and pinch others who are clad in colors besides. I do not wear green for two reasons. I feel I don't have to with my blood how it is (not the most sane reasoning but it makes sense to me); at full length, my beard is red around my chin and my eyes are green. The other reason is that I do not own anything green. Oh well.

Snakes despise this day, full blooded Irishmen love this day (another excuse to drink, to fulfill the common stereotype), and I am somewhere in the middle. This isn't really a minor's holiday. Without alcohol, March 17 is just a day full of green and pinching and bad accents and stereotypical jokes. I don't really consider it a holiday at all but I am proud that those that I claim as my people at least have a day to them(/our)selves.

(At the risk of being questioned and interrogated, I am not advocating the use of alcohol. Merely stating that other than to partake of liquor, wear green, pinch others, and talk in a mocking fashion, there isn't much to do on or remember of this day (for the average person).)(I am pretty sure that today is a celebration of the liberation of Ireland from snakes by Saint Patrick.)

Persuasion

2010-02-24T19:28:00.000-08:00

Persuasion is a tool to be sharpened and honed daily. Persuasion and arguing go hand in hand, which is why I consider myself good at it. If I have a point to make and no outside factors prevent me from arguing/attempting to persuade, I will do just that until it can be done no longer. Whining does not do any good when trying to persuade. Assault the enemy constantly on all fronts or be prepared to surrender.
Persuasion is important in everybody's lives, whether they are the smooth talker or the eager consumer. Persuasion is used constantly in the media: "Buy this and in return..." Most people do not find it offensive, though, because the products generally: do help and that is that, do not help and are discontinued, make the consumer feel as if they work when they really do not (if this is the case, the results are often as good as the first scenario's (whether it works or not, if the consumer is content, the producer is twice as happy)).

Motivation/The Winter Olympics

2010-02-24T19:17:00.000-08:00

The participants of the Winter Olympics are very highly motivated to undergo such strain and to weather such scrutiny as they are subjected to. To be able to handle the physical torment the games cause, the mental torture ("...what if I mess up?! How can I win this for sure?!"), and the judges'/spectators' verdicts of the performances is amazing of the athletes; the players' willingness to go through so much just to play the games is quite honorable.
I do not think that I could ever be that motivated about anything. Sure, I want good grades so I will pursue them and if I want to buy something, I will work to earn the money to be able to make it mine. I just care too little to ever have a goal comparable to "competing in the Winter Olympics," whether compared by scope or importance it does not matter. Therefore, I care too little to be determined enough to follow through on that nonexistent goal.
I salute all the competitors and their will and determination to play. Anybody who conjures up a dream and pursues it is a winner, even if the dream is not achieved. Life is a journey, not a destination, though I do not know where my path is centered and doubt if any desires discovered along the way will be enough to motivate me more than minimally.

Embedded Link ("Hidden" Being a Hint)(Arrgh)

2010-01-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

The debate "Who would win in a battle, pirates or a ninja?" has been the cause of countless fights between geeks who would only care about matters such as this, me being one of them. This argument arose around the same time as internet chat rooms, though the roots of this hideous plant started before then.

In 1989, Atari released Skull & Crossbones, a video game that allowed players to play as pirates who fought groups of ninja. It was no doubt due to this release that the seeds of the conflict took root, though it is possible for it to have started before then.

Enough background. Who really would win? Several have tried to analyze the strategies of the opposing sides before, but I have not seen any that have done so thorough a job as http://www.ninjapirate.com/battle.html, though this website may seem a little biased towards the ninja. Despite the possible favoritism, I agree with thilo, the assumed author of the linked site, in that, even though he never comments on who would actually win, the ninja would be victorious.

Several factors have to be taken into account. Of course, fighting prowess is a major one. But the subtle differences might be what could make the biggest upset in a fight. As stated by thilo, pirates are smelly, loud, and, assuming the stereotype is correct, impaired in vision and mobility. Ninja are "nonexistent" (otherwise he is not a ninja at all), so therefore quiet, and very mobile and agile. Pirates are brutes and may overcome any obstacle with raw power, but ninja are great tactictians, observing their targets for a great time before making a move, which is usually a killing blow done in a split second. Pirates tend to enjoy being inebriated, so even if the ninja were defeated, they may only be made prisoners, which would allow time for the ninja to plan their escape while the pirates got drunk and pillaged.

The pen is mightier than the sword and brain overcomes brawn. Ironic how ninja weild swords, typically that is, though blades in general are used quite often (shurikens), and superior brain power over pirates.

Entergy is Picky

2010-01-14T19:06:00.001-08:00

My dad is a lineman for Entergy of Arkansas. He has been doing this kind of work for close to twice my age. He first started as a lineman in southern Texas in the '80's. The most advanced piece of equipment was a truck full of sub-par tools. He literally climbed poles and put his life in danger every day for barely more than minimum wage. He knows (nearly) everything there is to know about everything that is related to his work.

Coming to Arkansas in 2000, he had to make major adjustments. For one thing, there are bucket trucks here. A truck that climbs for you?! Wow! Had it not been for all his prior experience, he would have had to start a "greenhorn." He had to learn all the company's procedures and techniques and the "proper" ways of completing the tasks he was assigned. No problem.

Recently, there was a problem. He had to go clean up and replace a damaged line, which would cause him to deepen the rut he walks every day. Arriving at the sight, he saw that the line was lying across the street. As most people know, live power lines are feisty. They will shake and spark and sputter all over the place until the juice runs dry. This massive snake was dead. So Dad began to remove the line from the street. This is the part where he begins to "get dumped on."

He did not check to make sure the line was dead before he began maintenance, which is against company policy. "I'm not an idiot, son, I know if a line is live and I know that that one wasn't," Entergy found out about this "ignorance and stupidity" and forced unpaid leave on him.

During this "break," he began to make his case, going back to the sight, reliving everything and recording it. His hearing came up and he made his case. The company's only argument was, "It was against company policy," which is to say they knew he was right but because he did not do things by the book, he got demoted and, in his own words, screwed.

Sometimes Goliath falls on David. Who wins then?

The Power of I and I

2010-01-14T18:17:00.000-08:00

Being quiet and reserved most of the time, I am hardly ever subject to opportunities that would require me to "take a stand," though I do remember a time when third grade Braden did so.

"Time to put your books away, kids. Class time," the substitute spouted. This was wrong. We were given 30 minutes every morning to read before we even recited the pledge of allegiance. It was early in the morning, so I figured she may have skimmed over that part in the lesson plan.

"Uh... Miss? The teacher lets us read for a while first. Is she not going to let us today?"

"Uh... Kid? Your teacher is not here and she left a lot for us to do today. So put your book up and pay attention."

A little unnecessary, but I wasn't going to argue further on that subject. The substitute conducted class in the worst way, the other kids in class agreed. A few of them also tried to let her know that her age was not an excuse for mishaps. She would not have it. None of us had recess that day. I would not have been fazed over this, being an indoor kid, but it was the way she denied us, with so much unjust authority, that angered me.

Sitting in my desk at five past noon felt weird. The other classes kids' squeals did not help any. She told us to get out our books and read, as punishment. That was it.

Substitute had cut short our reading earlier in the day, even when it was evident we wanted to and were allowed to (which should have been evident, but apparently was not). This went against our regular teacher. Substitute stole our recess. This went against the school. Substituting recess for reading as punishment was so wrong I started laughing out loud.

"What's so funny?"

I would type the conversation but third grade logic isn't the most comprehensible thing, and I do not remember everything. My argument made complete sense to myself and my fellows but, again, she wouldn't have it. Within three hours of freedom, she sent me to the warden's office. I explained myself to the principal and for whatever reason, she agreed with me.

I have not seen that substitute to this day. I would feel bad about snitching... but I don't. She deserved it and I still find it funny.

FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury

2009-12-17T16:26:00.001-08:00

"'Now let's take up the minorities in our civilization, shall we? Bigger the population, the more minorities... The people in this book, this play, this TV serial are not meant to represent any(body)...anywhere. The bigger your market, Montag, the less you handle controversy, remember that!... Authors full of evil thoughts, lock up your typewriters. They did. Magazines became a nice blend of vanilla tapioca. Books, so the... snobbish critics said, were dishwater... It didn't come from the Government down. There was no dictum, no declaration, no censorship, to start with, no! Technology, mass exploitation, and minority pressure carried the trick, thank God.'"

Addressing Montag's concerns, while shattering (at least denting) his world at the same time, Captain Beatty, chief fireman, explains, among other things, his and Montag's profession. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, like 1984, is a look into an alternate terrifying future, the theme of Bradbury's being, "What if firemen started fires and being literate was basically a crime,"

His shift over, Montag begins heading home. On the way, he meets Clarisse McClellan, a peculiar young girl who, through a couple conversations, instigates Montag's questioning. "Why do firemen burn books," being the most prominent question.

Through several events, including a house and all the occupants of it being burned and Montag's secret being revealed, Montag meets a professor named Faber, who helps him realize what must be done for people to learn to live to a fuller extent again, rather than to just be content with simplicity and entertainment. Ironic how Faber and Montag believe to truly live, you must become learned (not necessarily literate though), as opposed to the "current" trend of driving vehicles in excess of one hundred miles an hour, among other favorite pastimes. Formulating a plan to topple the firemen hierarchy and renew an interest in learning and thinking, Faber and Montag take the beginning steps of that journey. This being a short story ("dime novel," according to Bradbury), not much can be written in a review without giving a lot of the plot away.

However, I will hop all the way around these spoilers. Clarisse is at the center of a problem that affects and plagues Montag, he never learning the true resolution to the problem. Faber assists Montag in formulating battle plans and executing them against the firemen, Montag being the inside man, Faber being inside Montag's ear. The Mechanical Hound, the firehouse's "mascot," trails Montag and is the cause of a compromising problem for him, which ends up having to be solved with fire and death.

In a world where nobody tries to change the standardized way of living, where everybody is satisfied with not reading, Montag takes a stand. He feels as if something is missing from his life and books being the only obvious thing actually missing from it, he pursues saving them. This he does, going against his wife, his coworkers, even the world's ways in general.

Fahrenheit 451 is comparable to Isaac Asimov's "The Feeling of Power," in the sense that in both short stories, a method of learning that has been with humanity for at least a thousand years each, reading and mathematics that is, is forgotten/done away with. Despite both being set in the future, these stories have the potential to teach a lot about the current/constant human condition. If that is too cryptic, read the stories and then prove me wrong. With that said, I recommend this book.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST By Ken Kesey

2009-12-17T16:00:00.000-08:00

"Ting. Tingle, tingle, tremble toes, she's a good fisherman, catches hens, puts 'em inna pens . . . wire blier, limber lock, three geese inna flock . . . one flew east, one flew west, one flew over the cuckoo's nest . . . O-U-T spells out . . . goose swoops down and plucks you out."

Ken Kesey's One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest compelled me with its excellence to read it completely in three days, all 617 pages. This may not be viewed as something to be proud of, but as I haven't read a book that thick in so short a time in a while, I'm proud.

This book is set in a bleak insane asylum (not much color is ever present, other than white, and the only variations between rooms are the furniture/appliances), told through the perspective/mind of Chief Broom, A.K.A. Chief Bromden, A.K.A. The Chief, a massive Indian who is deaf and mute. Though he could be argued to be the main character, since his psyche is closely evaluated while reading this book, since the book is his thoughts, Randle Patrick McMurphy could just as easily be viewed as the same, if not just the protagonist. The Big Nurse is THE bad guy, with several cronies and wards to aid her in suppressing the patients. McMurphy is a late arrival to the hospital, but with him comes hope, amongst other things that change everybody affiliated with the hospital permanently.

Cuckoo's Nest, despite being placed in a serious setting with serious undertones, is actually a very funny book at times. Being told by a "mentally unstable" Indian who does nothing but observe and has nothing but time to pay attention, with all seriousness in retelling the story, comedy is prevalent occasionally. Hardly any, IF any, details are omitted in the "retelling" of the story; details so vivid exist that there was no need for a movie to be made, if only the potential viewers could have the determination to read the whole book and the understanding required to experience it fully (this being a somewhat complicated book to follow at times, to say the least). This book is unlike others, in the sense that dramatic irony is hardly, if ever, present. The Chief tells the story as it goes, only foreshadowing occasionally; the readers never know (much of) anything about other characters until the potential things have happened/are happening. If the sentence, "The dog runs," was present in the book, it would be written something like: "Four legs bounding through the dew, the beast, our best friend, flees from the light of the moon," That is to say that there is never a lack of detail and the meaning of a sentence is not always spelled out. Sometimes the readers must be able to piece together the given information to understand a section, which pulls the reader in more, makes us more involved in the reading. And because the narrator is indeed a mental patient, some of the "unexplainable" events that take place are explained by Bromden, who is full of paranoia and fear ("the fog machine").

Because the narrator knows all the characters on a personal basis, and is not merely an observer nor the creator of them, the characters are told in the same manner as if you were to read a short biography of them, if The Chief's descriptions are not more detailed. Even the Vegetables (each group of patient is labeled by the caretakers), who are what their title suggests, are explained with enough detail to make the reader feel as though he is looking at them, knows them enough to consider them an "acquaintance."

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is indeed a critical necessity to any (Viking's) library. I have been lucky enough this year to have the following statement follow many, most, of my reviews: this book is worth reading a good several times.

What Makes A Leader A True Leader?

2009-12-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

A person may consider himself a leader if he has the ability to draw a crowd and lead them. Logical enough: a leader is one who leads. But I believe there is more to it than just being able to consider yourself a ringleader conducting the clowns.

A true leader does not look out for number one alone. Casualties (figurative or not) are looked upon with sadness through the eyes of a true leader. "As long as it gets me where I want to go," is a thought that never enters his brain. "How can I defeat OUR enemies with the smallest number of my people losing the ultimate battle," is.

Charisma is a must for a follower to climb to the top, without a doubt. How this trait is used is what is important. Charisma is "a spiritual power or personal quality that gives an individual influence or authority over large numbers of people" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/charisma). Hitler had charisma and he was a "great leader," nearly leading his Nazis to victory. But his gift was abused. He was the one with the initial thought of, "I'm better than them," and through strongarming (muscling his "virtues" into others) and brainwashing, eventually gained a following.

A true leader is one who finds others who shares his beliefs, virtues, values, ideals, etc. These others who "follow" his way of thinking may wish to gain power in a society, one of many motives that would require a leader/group. If his "people" wish to omit the quotations, then he will have their full support from the start, another sign of a true leader (or a completely evil genius, the difference must be determined without bias).

Julius Caesar is seen as both. He was a brilliant general and a sufficient leader (at least) who led Rome to great power. Sounds like a true leader. The other side to that though is the fact that to get to where he was/Rome where he led it, he killed several million people, "not much better than Hitler."

What Makes A Leader A True Leader is how people view him, how his motives and accomplishments (with ethics (or something else completely unbiased, since ethics are not universal) as the trays) weigh out.

JULIUS CAESAR By William Shakespeare

2009-12-15T20:40:00.000-08:00

Supernatural events take place in Julius Caesar. In Act I, Scene III of the play, Casca has been witness to several omens, relaying them to Cicero in a manner most frightened. “But never till tonight, never till now, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. - A common slave...Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches joined; and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched. - Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glazed upon me and went surly by Without annoying me. - ...they saw Men all in fire walk up and down the streets. And yesterday the bird of night did sit Even at noonday upon the marketplace,” In Act IV, Scene III, the Ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus, stating they will meet again at Philippi.

One criticism of some literature is that it relies too heavily on the use of the supernatural to advance the plot or provide foreshadowing. Julius Caesar is validly criticized in this way.
Neither of the examples I have provided can really be considered necessary for the preservation of the story; that is, without these excerpts, the story would be relatively the same, without much being lost.

However, Act I’s supernatural sequence is nothing but foreshadowing, as is the second example. Hardly any other methods are taken to foreshadow events. In Scene II of the first Act, a Soothsayer warns Caesar to beware the Ides of March, a soothsayer being one who can see the future.

Even Calphurnia’s account of her dreams to Caesar, horrible events taking place suggest something is wrong (Act II, Scene II), is considered to be supernatural, as it includes a lioness roaming the streets of Rome, zombies and warriors fighting with fire (as their weapons) in the sky.

The supernatural is not the only way Shakespeare conveys foreshadowing though. Act III, Scene I: Brutus shakes the hands of the conspirators, drenching his hand in his fallen comrade's (Caesar's) blood (who fell to the conspirators) beforehand, marking them all for death and later, after the conspirators left, he vows to avenge him.

Although the majority of the story is told without the supernatural being involved, enough of it is present to allow the statement, "Julius Caesar relies too heavily on the supernatural to (advance the plot or) provide foreshadowing," to be a valid conclusion. Not necessarily bashing the book, just an observation; imagination must be used to get some of the details out of the story (which is what makes a story worth reading, details).

Details

2009-12-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been the victim of Brain Babies; random "tidbits" of "stories" pop into my head from time to time. I really do not know why but for lack of anything else to rant about, this should suffice:

Clouds form around the sun; God looks on the act with contempt, which shines through the cornea; with malice, which is magnified; reflecting the Reaper's work.

Vehicles flock down the veins of humanity's civilization (the civilization-the being, the vehicular flocks-the blood), the species that longs for "bird-dom" (flight is achieved, songs are made, military conquests, family is stressed) resembles their template. The humans controlling the blood, the humans that made the being, are the souls of the blood of the creature-the life force.

Ghosts are seen in "our" world, said to be "visitors from the other side," maybe planes of existence overlap, maybe we're intruding on their property, preventing them from resting.

The elderly are punished for "winning" the game of life. Whoever can hold on the longest is the victor. Ha. The old-timers' old (as in long gone, not as in age) friends died doing what they loved: living as much as fast as possible. Living cautiously is not living at all, getting you nothing but grandkids that don't appreciate you and bad bones.
Shut it old man, I am bad to the bone!
Ha!! Calm down, work in a cubicle for forty years, at least, you'll see...

Questions = Answers
Answers = More Questions
Questions + Questions = Possibility (for the possibility) of inferred/implied Answers
Answers + Answers = "This is what we know _, this is what we don't: _______"Any Questions?
Questions + Answers = Problem Solved
Answers + Questions = Problem(s) Found/Made

The clouds were as the walls back where I escaped from; rows of life to be plucked and planted. Luckily, I found myself in a shadow, a row of life, yet to be harvested.. The birds were in on it, forming Morse code for the enemy, their masters, to interpret, knowing what was being planned in the process of formulating the process. The "letters" rearranged themselves as we spoke. None noticed. Ignorance is no excuse. "But when you're a prisoner, the task is not to shout epitaphs at the warden, but to get out."

To satisfy stereotypes Is to leave yourself disappointed. To conform civilly Is to satisfy others/Is to leave yourself disappointed. To not be addicted Is to deprive the body. To succumb to addiction Is to satisfy the body/Is to disappoint the mind. To know everything Is to be undead. To know nothing Is to have everything To live for. To know that two plus two equals five Is to march to a different drum. To know that two plus two equals four Is to conform/Is to be an addicted zom of a zombie (-un + undead).

Knowledge > Doubt...But Doubts Lead to Knowledge...The Ends Justify the Means

Destruction is a form of creation. Creativity is ideal when destroying. Creating is the negative. The world began "empty," (of things artificial) purely natural. Creating anything is adding something new(/converting), unnatural, despite the creator. Destroying is natural - erosion of things made. Creation is natural - if Mother Earth constructs it. Yes, we are all Her children, therefore everything is somewhat natural. But a lie is somewhat the truth, the opposite, man made. But a lie can be looked past, the truth being the blueprint for it. Natural(-ly).

The Top Ten Things I'm Thankful For

2009-12-03T09:10:00.000-08:00

Family - without them, i would not be alive, though the obligations that come with family sometimes make having a family tedious (attempt at a joke)
Being literate - I am able to learn and express myself
Technology - "convenience is cey"
Humanity's ability to converse - (though being literate is a branch of this, verbal language is what is meant) without it, humanity would make no progress as a species and be nothing more than another animal
Music - without it, life would be somewhat emptier (that is to say that music's impact on us is difficult to express in words, though it seems so simple)
Glasses - my visual connection to this world is cloudy no longer
Groups (of people) - things are done, missions accomplished, progress made
Conservationists - they postpone the inevitable "self destruction" of the world
Agriculture - humanity would never have evolved from nomads to lazier peoples without it (this lazyness allowing for more time to think and do more important things)
Medicine/Antiseptics - humankind will survive longer/the ability to make progress easier was a result of soap (death is prominent without cleanliness; progress can only be made if whatever the parent did with their life is continued after their death by their children)

THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEENS By Sean Covey

2009-11-16T11:06:00.000-08:00

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is essentially a self-help book written with teens in mind, composed by Sean Covey. A well designed book, the Habits are meant to help teens take full advantage of their lives and maximize their living.

Habit 5 (Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood) seems to be the most effective of the Habits. The Deepest Need of the Human Heart is revealed. Above everything else, a person desires to be respected and valued for who they are. I agree with this. A person who suffers from depression is more than likely misunderstood. True, they may be understood and it is because of that that they ARE depressed; ways to change oneself for the better are proposed elsewhere in the tome.

"I shouldn't have to change, people should like me for who I am!" If this is your mindset, persistence and patience will become your best friends. There will be some people that eventually come into your life that will like you for who you are. Be 'ware though. They may be part of the wrong crowd. That is not to say that you are a magnet that attracts negativity. It is to say that evil always looks attractive. Be 'ware. And to clarify, "eventually come into your life," does not mean to wait around and let them come to you. The best things in life are usually the ones worth pursuing.

I apologize for branching off on my own rant but it seemed to me that it held some relevance. Back to Sean. In this chapter, he describes five ineffective listening styles and provides methods that can be taken and procedures that are do-able to overcome these enemies to the ears. The difference between listening and hearing is alluded to and is very important to know while playing the game of Life.

Sean hardly ever tramples on and scolds those of us who do the opposite of what he advises. Additional ways are introduced to prevent this "slipping backwards" and, of course, we are only human, so to mess up occasionally is natural.

This book is worth a casual glance every now and then. Of course, it should not be followed strictly. To have the plan of your whole life set in stone, carved by an author, is not the best thing to do. This would actually prevent you from living every now and then. But several tips from the book are helpful; maybe even a laugh will escape you while reading (Top 10 All-Time Stupid Quotes is one of the segments). So to surmise, read this if you need help in managing your life or are just curious but if you are completely content with life (ha), steer clear.

Preventing Starvation Among The Lazy/Ignorant

2009-11-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

I of all people know how important the title of this blog is. I did not learn how to make a sandwhich until I reached middle school! I am not proud of this but to prevent other kids succumbing to this tragedy, I have taken it upon myself to spread this knowledge.

Wasting away to nothing because of inability to move or an unknowing of knowledge is pathetic. I actually may be the only one who has exhibited this but on the off-chance that I am not, this blog was spawned.

Collect the ingredients (bread, ham, cheese, lettuce, mayo, mustard, etc.)
Lay out the bread and begin piling the ingredients atop each other (the order in which this is done is not vital but will affect what is tasted more)
Put the bread together to make the actual sandwhich
Ingest
Digest
Relax

I hope this will not amount to a futile effort. This is meant to save lives. The sad thing is I am not blowing this out of proportion... Or am I?... No.... Maybe.... You decide.

ANIMAL FARM By George Orwell

2009-10-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

The pigs are responsible for this mind set and the pigs’ subjects are powerless to go against this. Before this problem is a problem (though it is never really exposed as a problem because of the animals’ ignorance) though, the initial problem of man had to be solved. If you oppress a group, they will raise up in a fiery rage and overthrow the oppressors. This is one of the first points of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. All of the animals on the Manor Farm grew weary of working for the humans, receiving nothing in return other than a place to sleep and just enough food to be able to continue working. Major, a twelve year old boar, called a meeting of all the animals after the humans had gone to sleep. At this meeting, he felt it his duty to pass on some knowledge before his inevitable death. He told the animals of a song his mother and the other sows used to sing when he was a little piglet. This, coupled with the belief that one day, animals will rise up and take back what is rightfully theirs, the farm and then the earth, which he passed on to the other animals as well, motivated the animals to start the revolution.

After the successful overthrow of the humans, the animals worked together for the common goal of preserving and bettering their lives. The pigs served as the overseers; they were the smartest ones, it only made sense that they should be fill the position that the humans filled, with the exception, of course, that the pigs were nowhere near as maniacal and tyrannical as man was. This continued for a while, with few problems. The main problem was the rivalry between Napoleon and Snowball, the two main pigs who ALWAYS disagreed on every subject brought before them. When this problem was solved, a new problem arose. This new problem is summarized in the last words of the story: “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” If a ruler’s power is not kept in check and only increases, that ruler becomes a pig, a dictator. The problems that affect his people do not affect him, meaning they are not solved and only grow worse.

Orwell’s “voice” in this story could be heard from one of the oblivious animals’ mouths. He writes about a traitor of the animals; if this book was transferred to the silver screen, a sheep could be saying all the narrator says about the traitor (sheep follow the pig leader blindly, not allowing for any words that go against the leader to be said, without the leader’s maxim of “Four legs good, two legs bad!” being uttered enthusiastically, drowning out “anarchistic” words). He writes from the point of view of the animals, never acknowledging what the reader gathers. While reading the story, the reader will realize that the pigs have put the animals under a dictator’s rule again, but the author never states this, and only speaks from the point of view of the other animals, who never realize this.

Animal Farm, like 1984, is a book worth reading that elicits analysis of one’s government, world and self. Unlike 1984, the only reason one would need to reread this book would be to identify the satirical identities of the animals, mainly the pigs. That is not to say, though, that it is not worth reading twice.

1984 By George Orwell

2009-10-15T20:13:00.001-07:00

“Do not imagine that you will save yourself, Winston, however completely you surrender to us. No one who has once gone astray is ever spared. And even if we chose to let you live out the natural term of your life, still you would never escape from us. What happens to you here is forever. Understand that in advance. We shall crush you down to the point from which there is no coming back. Things will happen to you from which you could not recover, if you lived a thousand years. Never again will you be capable of ordinary human feeling. Everything will be dead inside you. Never again will you be capable of love, or friendship, or joy of living, or laughter or curiosity, or courage, or integrity. You will be hollow. We shall squeeze you empty, and then we shall fill you with ourselves.”

This is what Winston Smith heard from one whom he believed was an ally during his imprisonment in the Ministry of Love. In 1984, the world is divided into three main factions: Oceania, where Winston dwells, Eastasia and Eurasia. In 1984, the government in Oceania is divided into four main branches: the Ministry of Truth, which handles the news, entertainment, education and the arts, the Ministry of Peace, which concerns itself with the war, law and order is maintained by the Ministry of Love, and the Ministry of Plenty is responsible for economic affairs. In 1984, even though nothing is illegal, because there are no laws, the simple act of keeping a diary could result in the death of the writer, if the Thought Police were ever to capture him (it is not a question of whether or not the Police would discover it, it would be inevitable for the writer to keep it secret forever). George Orwell’s 1984 ensnared me completely, using a well written story as the bait, the content of that story being the trap.

Orwell wrote this book in the `40's, using what was happening in the world as inspiration. 1984 illustrates what would have happened if democracy had been lost and communism and socialism had prevailed. Of course, in this book, none of the governments claim to be either communist or socialist, but considering their policies and methods of handling matters, it is only completely clear to someone from our time that the governments are what they claim they are not. Hardly anybody in 1984 realize this, though, because the government essentially brainwashes all of its people. If a person is not completely brainwashed and is able to think for themselves thoughts that contradict that of the government’s ideals, the Thought Police handles them. Kidnaping and vaporizations are common but are almost ignored completely. A coworker may be talking to someone one day and that will be the last day he is ever seen. If who he was talking to is inquisitive and asks around for news about him, he will be shocked to learn that the coworker who went missing never existed in the first place! The Thought Police handles any opposition to the government harshly and swiftly, whether the opposition is a single thought (“I doubt that the government actually cares about its people as long as it can remain in power,”) or the massive bombing of a building. “The more power a government holds over its people, the less human its ‘people’ become.” With the use of Newspeak, a language in progress (basically English but limited greatly; this was so to be able to limit the thoughts of the people), Big Brother, the government of Oceania, held more and more power over the people with each passing day. With each passing day, the people became more and more inhuman, following and listening blindly, with independent thought becoming more and more obsolete.

Doublethink is prevalent in 1984. Doublethink is the ability to KNOW that black is white when told so and to forget that black and white used to be two different things (2+2=5. to be able to know this when Big Brother proclaims that this is correct is to use doublethink; two plus two was four, as it used to be known, but when Big Brother says differently, it is different. so two plus two may equal anything but right now it equals five. to be able to know that two plus two equals five and to be able to forget that it used to be four and to know that it has always been five and to forget that doublethink is being used at all in the process (to forget that you are lying to yourself) is to use doublethink itself). Orwell uses a myriad of contradictions in his story, proving that the government has absolute control over its subjects and that the subjects are oblivious to this (in the story, though this possible future may become the present soon enough). Big Brother is always right. “Yesterday we were at war with Eastasia and it had always been so...”,“Today, Eurasia is the enemy, Eastasia is our ally and this has always been so.” It may be difficult to understand how the people could be so ignorant. All records that contradict what the government says now are destroyed or edited to ensure that the government has always been right and correct. The people in the Ministry of Truth, where Winston worked, tamper with history (newspapers, books, movies, etc.), making sure that Big Brother has always been right and that his/its mind has never changed (to change one’s mind is to show weakness). The editors then forget that they edited history at all and remember what they had edited to be truth. The Ministry of Truth is based on nothing but lies. Doublethink is prevalent in 1984.

1984 is a complicated story and needs to be read at least three different times to be able to understand every part of it completely. This should not be a chore though. This book is written well enough that each time it is read, it should still captivate the reader. Other than needing to read it more than once to catch every detail and contradiction, despite how complicated and how hard the story is to follow at times, this is one of the best books, if not THE best book, I have read and I recommend it to anyone who can read it. If a person can not read it, they should master the craft of reading and/or the English language just to be able to read this book.

(NOTE: this is not a good book in the sense of “happily ever after.” this is a good book in the sense that it provokes analysis of oneself, of the government and of the world.)

THE TIME MACHINE (And The Invisible Man) By H.G. Wells

2009-10-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

“I stood up and looked round me. A colossal figure, carved apparently in some white stone, loomed indistinctly beyond the rhododendrons through the hazy downpour. But all else of the world was invisible. My sensations would be hard to describe. As the columns of hail grew thinner, I saw the white figure more distinctly. It was very large, for a silver birch-tree touched its shoulder. It was of white marble, in shape something like a winged sphinx...It chanced that the face was towards me; the sightless eyes seemed to watch me; there was the faint shadow of a smile on the lips,”

The Time Traveler recollected his whole story in vivid detail, this detail, the first thing he saw when he reached the future, being no exception. Wanting more than anything to witness the fantastic, advanced world of tomorrow, the Time Traveler builds himself a Time Machine. After some consultation with his fellows, he rides the Machine forward in time, to the year 802,701 A.D. Once there, he realizes that his perception of what the future would be like is very wrong. Discovering this, the Traveler attempts to return home. Attempting this, he discovers a worse discovery: the Machine has disappeared. Venturing to reclaim it, from whom he does not discover til later, the Traveler explores the future and draws conclusions about what has yet to happen. H.G. Wells’ Time Machine enveloped me in a mind boggling report of what the future may be like in the form of a fantastic science fiction story.

The Morlocks and the Eloi, the underground monsters and the aboveground dwelling folk respectfully, are the results of several thousand years of the separation of classes: the Eloi representing the capitalists, the money holders, the ones in power and the Morlocks being the equivalent to the common people, the workers, forced to live with the machines they worked underground (contrary to the comparisons, it is actually the Morlocks who are in power, control (meaning that the potential revolt that is sure to come when a people are supressed must have already happened when the Traveler appeared)). The hopelessness of both existing illustrates Wells’ point very well, which is that an equal government, such as communism, is ideal if society and humanity are to prevail and defeat the natural decay that time causes.

Other than the people in the present, which is, of course, now the past (such as the Psychologist and the Provincial Mayor), and the Time Traveler himself, the characters that inhabit this world are not portrayed as people. Instead, they are portrayed as animals with somewhat high intelligence, considering the fact that they are animals. Weena, for example, is not perceived by the Traveler to be a human companion, but as a favored pet. Because the Morlocks and the Eloi never say anything, other than the short, choppy sentences that compose the remnants of any kind of language, spoken by the Eloi and the sinister sounding mutterings of the Morlocks, the idea that they are people is even more absurd and harder to prove.

The Time Machine can be read by almost anybody (some of the terms used in the book require a broader vocabulary to be understood/known) and should be read by the capable. Even though many countries are democratic and only a few are communists/socialists/etc., and one of the author’s points clashes with democratic-like governments, this short story is well worth the time it takes to read.

THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE AND OTHER STORIES (The Body Snatcher. Markheim. The Bottle Imp) By Robert Louis Stevenson

2009-10-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

“When this shall fall into your hands, I shall have disappeared, under what circumstances, I have not the penetration to foresee; but my instincts and all the circumstances of my nameless situation tell me that the end is sure and must be early...,”

So wrote Dr. Henry Jekyll to his friend and lawyer Mr. Utterson. Dr. Jekyll is a respected and pretty well liked member of society. Mr. Hyde is a shady character whose visage sparks disgust and terror into the hearts of any who are unfortunate enough to witness it. These two, though two completely different humans, are actually one human and must share the same body. Utterson realizes, after the situation is made perfectly clear to him, that to discover and utilize the remedy to this is extremely important. Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tantalized me with a captivating tale of mystery and suspense.

One of the most significant problems humanity faces is addressed in this tale: the ability to balance a life between good and evil (this is, of course, only an issue to the “majority” of people). Jekyll lives a righteous life, meaning problems are rare for him, and are even nonexistent, other than the desire he has to release his darker side. Rather than to commit misdeeds occasionally, Jekyll uses his science, he is a doctor after all, to construct a solution that grants him his wish. Edward Hyde overthrows Jekyll for control of the body and runs rampant. Because Jekyll could not find a healthy medium, adopting neutrality as his manner and not good, his need to transform consumed him and drove both Hyde and the doctor to their death(s).

The way in which Stevenson wrote this book appeals to readers that possess an extended vocabulary of and who know a considerable amount of “Old English” terms; that is to say that if your lexicon is only filled with modern English, this story is, for the most part, un-understandable. Extended sentences that may last for a whole paragraph occur often and incite annoyance, making it hard for any impatient, uneducated (of the old forms of English) potential readers to read this. If these two proposed “problems” are, in fact, NOT problems, by all means, read this. Other than those two obstacles, the finish line that is the end of the tale is easily obtainable.

Intelligence and patience are ideal to the complete understanding of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but persistence would allow anyone to be able to read this classic; and anyone who does finish this composition will more than likely have enjoyed the time spent reading it.