tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26028349763285836012024-02-26T01:02:56.882-06:00Ashley EdmondsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-78751663473349539602013-05-29T11:47:00.002-05:002013-05-29T11:47:15.350-05:00The Crow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/g_iq5f6a4oc/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/g_iq5f6a4oc&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/g_iq5f6a4oc&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> </div>
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<a href="http://deadman.crowfans.com/crow_title.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://deadman.crowfans.com/crow_title.gif" height="147" width="640" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/G5iLAL5G28c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Since I was a preteen The 1990's film adaption of The Crow has always been among my favorite films. The film always stuck with me because of it's dark references and poetic influences. The Crow is about a young couple, Shelly and Eric, who live in a historical apartment that the city wishes to their down. One night after petitioning the couple is brutally murdered by a gang of druggies,while celebrating. Eric Draven is forced to watch his fiancee Shelly rapped and murdered as he lays dying. One year later the rock artist is brought back from the afterlife by a crow and is set lose to have revenge on the thugs that killed him and Shelly. <br />
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I recently was recommended to read J O'barrs graphic novel of The Crow. Like most books I was promised that the graphic novel was a million times better than the film. I found this hard to believe, because I grew up loving the movie so much, but would have to agree the movie really does not do the book justice. Like in the film version, the graphic novel is about a couple that is shot down before their time. The love the couple shairs is so great that Eric refusses death and is brought back by a crow to seek his revenged. The biggist differince between the two is the way that Shelly and Eric die and also that Eric is not this big rock god he is in the movie.<br />
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I believe that in the film version actor Brandon Lee plays Eric the rocker due to the heavy song influence O'barr uses in the book. O'barr admits that the majority of his influence for The Crow came from punk legends, Joy Division, The Cure and Robyn Hitchcock. He also modeled Eric Draven from punk "godfather" Iggy Pop. After reading The Crow for the first time I found that O'barr leaves you with a playlist of songs that fit the reading perfectly with the emotions and actions protraid by Eric.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1fcRtYQnBA_xp__9MyrSAJ7ulzTe94eL0RX1MXvVU46-5DPOTl3tpXMHGmFz5fYwDpgFlq1QirUGxOfDkqvFMKiEr5ZtDx626orhakdYCVd1uj6Nx-anp8YtyqQht6byUpAncewl4Js/s1600/picstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1fcRtYQnBA_xp__9MyrSAJ7ulzTe94eL0RX1MXvVU46-5DPOTl3tpXMHGmFz5fYwDpgFlq1QirUGxOfDkqvFMKiEr5ZtDx626orhakdYCVd1uj6Nx-anp8YtyqQht6byUpAncewl4Js/s1600/picstitch.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/T5qBiuIR7ig?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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In this video you can clearly see Iggy Pop in Eric. Everything from how he moves and carries his body is reflected the O'barrs character. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-44465628099678568432012-06-26T02:23:00.000-05:002012-06-28T03:11:53.342-05:00A Modest Metamorphosis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"If Kafka's <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5200/5200-h/5200-h.htm" target="_blank"><i>“The Metamorphosis”</i> </a>strikes anyone as
something more than an entomological fantasy, then I congratulate him on having
joined the ranks of good and great readers…for we can take the story apart, we
can find out how the bits fit, how one part of the pattern responds to the
other; but you have to have in you some cell, some gene, some germ that will
vibrate in answer to sensations that you can neither define, nor dismiss "<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(<a href="http://www.kafka.org/index.php?id=191,209,0,0,1,0">Vladimir Nabokov</a>)</span>.
Far be it for us to quibble with Nabokov. But agree, with each reader brings
different minds which can fabricate different ideas and views of Franz Kafka’s
tedious, although clever, fantasy of wordplay. For, literature is only an art
that is perceived on an open canvas as the portrayer sees. For we are all interpreters,
and media inspires everyone differently. At first the long drawn out melancholy
words, sentence after sentence, of Franz Kafka’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Metamorphosis</i> reeked of monotone as I read. However, after a
little background research and a second read through the sadness of Gregor’s
experience spewed from the pages. Soon my mind raced with images and then
music. Modest Mouse’s “Doing the Cockroach” soon filled in the background of my
mind.</div>
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In <i>“The Metamorphosis”</i> Gregor discusses his dread of his
jobs duties. He explains the, </div>
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“worries about making train connections, bad and irregular
food, contact with different people all the time so that you can never get to
know anyone or become friendly with them” (<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5200/5200-h/5200-h.htm" target="_blank">Kafka 4</a>). Gregor longs for days to
sleep in and not have to worry about the traveling world. As he awakes one
morning Gregor finds all of his salesman troubles have diapered. However, he is
now transformed into a beetle. </div>
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As I read through these lines Modest Mouse <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmQoLa_x4a8" target="_blank"><i>“Doing the Cockroach”</i></a> first came to mind. Modest Mouse, a folk band from the 90’s, are
known for their awkward keyed lyrics and underlining messages. In <i>“Doing the
Cockroach” </i>Modest Mouse sings about how we are all as worthless as a cockroach.
</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“This one's a doctor<br />
This one's a lawyer<br />
This one's a cash fiend<br />
taking your money</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tasty but worthless”
(<a href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/modestmouse/dointhecockroach.html" target="_blank">Modest Mouse</a>)</i></div>
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I believe they are relaying that no mater you job or power aren’t
we all miserable just riding the train of life, trying to make it day by day to
get by.</div>
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I decided to mash up the two for the obvious reasons. One,
both suggest the main character in a beetle of some sort. Two, on a deeper
level, both to me tells a story about society and how we as people go along
with what we are told or expected to do. Finally, I feel <i>“Doing the Cockroach”</i>
is a perfect companion to Franz Kafka’s <i>“The Metamorphosis”</i>.</div>
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Work Cited </div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li> Nabokov,
Vladimir. “Lecture
on "The Metamorphosis" by Vladimir Nabokov” Kafka.org. The Kafka
Project, 6 January 2012. Web. 31 May 2012</li>
<li> Kafka , Franz. <u>The Metamorphosis</u>. Tribeca Books,
1915. </li>
</ul>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-89550654887112235912012-06-21T23:55:00.000-05:002012-06-21T23:57:36.694-05:00Metamorphosis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></i><a href="http://culturehackdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/good-books-great-writers-series-metamorphosis-youtube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://culturehackdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/good-books-great-writers-series-metamorphosis-youtube.jpg" width="400" /></a></h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #999999;">
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>("There is at this moment a beetle the size of god's ass on the table
about six inches from the t-writer. It is worse than anything Kafka
ever dreamed, so big I can see its eyes and the hair on its legs — Jesus, suddenly it leaped off and now circles me with a menacing whir")</i></span></h4>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
At first the long drawn out melancholy words, sentence after
sentence, of Franz Kafka’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Metamorphosis</i> reeked of monotone as I read. However, after a little
background research and a second read through the sadness of Gregor’s experience
spewed from the pages. At a deeper look and a little persuasion from Barry
Creamer, a ministry blogger from Criswell
College, it became apparent
that Gregor’s misfortune and misery was in fact a reflection of Franz Kafka’s :</div>
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<i>The Metamorphosis</i> is in
the realization that Gregor himself is Kafka’s prodigal—the prodigal who never
“comes to himself,” never seeks help, never turns back, and never experiences
the warm embrace of life-, purpose-, and for-giving grace in the arms of his
true father or family. For genuine existentialists those experiences are as
unrealistic as the love of Kafka’s father was (or appeared to be) to him. (That
same sadness is mirrored by the family’s relief at Gregor’s loss rather than
persistent pursuit of his restoration.) (Creamer) With this it can be assumed
that Kafka portrays similar aspect of his own metamorphosis in his analogous
story. </div>
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As a young man in the 1900’s Kafka inexplicably resembled
Gregor in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Metamorphosis</i> as the weary
saddened dung beetle. Kafka too found himself pressured by his lethargic and
indifferent father to provide stability for his family. While growing up in the
bureaucratic wasteland of Prague, Kafka described his town as broad modern
streets of dreams, disguised with traces of the old ghetto, with its dreary
alleys, reeking taverns, ubiquitous corruption to be more real than the
palpable for the residents of the new city (<a href="http://leobaeck.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/1/233.extract">Sokel</a>).
During his time in Prague Kafka was faced with the infant death of two brothers
and constant moving that would soon send young Kafka into a state of
instability. Both Hermann Kafka (father) and Julia Kafka (mother) were industrious
people and instilled the necessity of work to Kafka at an early age. Although,
Kafka did exceptionally well in his jobs, first at the Assicurazioni Generali,
an Italian insurance company, and later with the Worker's Accident Insurance
Institute for the Kingdom of Bohemia, he
often took long time off as an escape from fear of becoming just another pencil
pusher (Wiki). During his time off Kafka
tried several attempts to purse his writing, but was shattered by his father
when he wanted him to take charge of his brother-in-law Karl Hermann's asbestos
factory, which took up a lot of his time until 1917 (when it was shut down) and
literally almost drove him to suicide. (Wiki)</div>
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In <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% fuchsia;"></span> <span style="background-color: white;">"The Metamorphosis" </span>the latter Gregor spends his days pressed up against the
window staring out onto the gray, contemplating thoughts of his earlier days.
Gregor soon begins to fit the role as the unfit beetle, pondering over the
meaning of his existence. </div>
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“Then he crept up
on the window sill and, braced on the chair, leaned against the window to look
out, obviously with some memory or other of the satisfaction which looking out
the window used to bring him in earlier times.” (Franz Kafka)</div>
</blockquote>
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As a direct reflection of Gregor, Kafka in his depressed
years at the firm was also known to have spent endless hours gazing out his
bedroom window contemplating his purpose. </div>
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Kafka also developed early in life an inordinate sense of
guilt. The idea of the insolubility of the most ordinary, even human problems
depressed his youth and later inspired his art, Gregor in “The Metamorphosis” (<a href="http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4332044?uid=2&uid=4&sid=47699054972617">Phillip
Rahv 62</a>).</div>
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<br /></div>
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Inevitably, when comparing Kafka’s life struggles of his
time, with those of Gregor, the distressed insect, the similarity of the two
are evident. This could be assumed as an arguable result of the unstable and
depressed ethnicity Franz Kafka lived in. During his time he faced numerous
hardships and obstacles that a young Jewish man went through in those times.</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Work Cited </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">Barry Creamer<u>.</u> “The Prodigal Son Parable” 2012.
Criswell College. 24 May 2012 Web </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Wikipedia.
“Franz Kafka” 2012. Wikipedia. 24 May 2012 Web </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">Sokel,
Walter. “Franz Kafka as a Jew” Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook. 18.1 (2012):
233-238.Web </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Rahv,
Phillip. “Franz Kafka: The Hero As Lonely Man” The Kenyon Review. 1.1
(1939): 60-74.Web</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Kafka , Franz. <u>The Metamorphosis</u>. Tribeca Books,
1915.</li>
</ul>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-35621916886489650242012-06-12T23:57:00.002-05:002012-06-12T23:57:39.486-05:00Midsummer Nights Dream (film) Annotated Bibliography<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<script src="http://storify.com/Ashykins/a-midsummers-night-dream-comparison.js"></script><noscript>[<a href="http://storify.com/Ashykins/a-midsummers-night-dream-comparison" target="_blank">View the story "A Midsummers Night Dream Comparison " on Storify</a>]</noscript>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-73836472493761683442012-06-05T23:39:00.000-05:002012-06-05T23:39:01.390-05:00"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Annotated Bibliography<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<script src="http://storify.com/Ashykins/a-midsummer-night-s-dream.js"></script><noscript>[<a href="http://storify.com/Ashykins/a-midsummer-night-s-dream" target="_blank">View the story "A Midsummer Night’s Dream " on Storify</a>]</noscript>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-40176810698317953092012-06-01T05:39:00.000-05:002012-06-01T05:39:09.220-05:00The Metamorphosis Decades Apart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"If Kafka's “The Metamorphosis” strikes anyone as
something more than an entomological fantasy, then I congratulate him on having
joined the ranks of good and great readers…for we can take the story apart, we
can find out how the bits fit, how one part of the pattern responds to the
other; but you have to have in you some cell, some gene, some germ that will
vibrate in answer to sensations that you can neither define, nor dismiss "<span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://www.kafka.org/index.php?id=191,209,0,0,1,0">Vladimir Nabokov</a>)</span>.
Far be it for us to quibble with Nabokov. But agree, with each reader brings
different minds which can fabricate different ideas and views of Franz Kafka’s tedious,
although clever, fantasy of wordplay. For, literature is only an art that is
perceived on an open canvas as the portrayer sees. For instance one artist, Carlos
Atanes, an underground filmmaker, adapted in his 1994 “The Metamorphosis of
Franz Kafka”; which entwines, loosely, the original story with Kafka’s reality.
However, both tails circulate around one meaning <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why do we exist?</i> What does the transformation of Gregor Samsa
symbolize?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>However, when inquired in
different decades the meaning takes on a different sense. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the original text, “The Metamorphosis”, Kafka paints a
scene based out of a dying Central European town in 1912. Based on the speculation
that Kafka portrays similar aspect of his own metamorphosis in his analogous
story, one could assume the grey town is a shadow of his hometown of Prague. During the early
1900’s, post the rise of capitalism, Prague
was a combination of ethical barriers. At the time Prague was segregated by Czechs, Jews and
Germans, endeavoring to industrialize the advancing city <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://leobaeck.oxfordjournals.org/content/9/1/305.extract">Tramer 305</a>)</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Prague crept into the new age, Kafka described
his town as broad modern streets of dreams, disguised with traces of the old ghetto,
with its dreary alleys, reeking taverns, ubiquitous corruption to be more real
than the palpable for the residents of the new city <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://leobaeck.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/1/233.extract">Sokel</a>)</span>.
Where families struggled to survive, however managed to wear a lucrative mask,
Kafka developed early in life an inordinate sense of guilt. The idea of the
insolubility of the most ordinary, even human problems depressed his youth and
later inspired his art, “The Metamorphosis” <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4332044?uid=2&uid=4&sid=47699054972617">Phillip
Rahv 62</a>)</span>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FRcBt904OJ0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Assuming that events are symbolic to his life, Gregor is
also faced with similar obstacles. In the story the protagonist, Gregor,
undergoes a gruesome transformation into a retched dung beetle. With his
transformation Gregor became compulsorily distant from his work, society, his
family and eventually himself. Which before long has him pondering what he
knows, or thought he knew, and asking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What
is my purpose?</i>. Given the obstructions Gregor faces, the meaning can be
concluded that humanity is susceptible to forcibly reforming to an authority. Rather
susceptible to settle for an expected job, lifestyle, or accepted idea, Kafka
suggests that we are all insects in society, going through the same routine,
decade after decade, week after week, day in day out, that eventually the custom
becomes instinct. </div>
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<a href="http://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/photo/wlc/image/10/10640f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/photo/wlc/image/10/10640f.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a> </div>
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Throughout history there has been compelling evidence of
illicit force being used to reform humanity. For example, during the early
1900’s life for Jews in Prague
changed from tolerable to unbearable. This was a result of the uprising of German
Nazis in the 1920’s. Reputations of Neo-Nazis racial propaganda ripped through
the population of Central Europe, inevitably causing
the segregation of communities. With popularity of the regimes fascist views
growing, Jewish families living in Prague
were stricken of rights and suppressed in the community by their fellow, Czech
and German, Spaniards.</div>
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“Our personal problem was not, in fact, what our enemies
were doing, but rather what our friends did,” stated Hannah Arendt, Jewish German-American
political philosopher, to a friend about her escape from a death camp in
Germany,1940 <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://www.fembio.org/english/biography.php/woman/biography/hannah-arendt/">Hannah
Arendt</a>)</span>. In Carlos Atanes film adaption of Kafka’s original work; that is
exactly the lesson Gregor learned. Atanes’ placed the Samsa family right in the
middle of late 1930’s fascist tainted Prague.
Effects of Jewish segregation faded in and out from outside the family’s house,
while inside, a half man half bug, Gregor tries to understand and cope with his
unfamiliar form. Gregor’s transformation into an insect, or Ungeziefer, with a
human-like appearance also echoes a grim realization of the Jewish torment. Ungeziefer,
German for unclean animal not suitable for sacrifice, is a term that the Nazis
used to refer to the Jews (Bruce 113). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Gregor’s figure in the causes his family to lose their companionship
for him, like the betrayal Jews experienced by their neighbors and friends.
After all, how could an unclean animal not suitable for sacrifice really be a
human? </div>
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<br /></div>
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Even though both Kafka and Atanes symbolic morphing toys
with the question, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why do I exist, what
is Gregor’s purpose?</i> The times of the events are different, ultimately
causing two different conclusions. In one Kafka suggest the formation of
Capitalism and falling into uniformity. However, Atanes implies the same meaning;
he strengthens it by adding symbolism of the Jewish population’s suppression by
society during the German reign. Given each portrayal of “The Metamorphosis”
the way an artist decides to set the scenery ultimately affects how an audience
receives the underling question or meaning. </div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Work Cited</span></u></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Nabokov,
Vladimir. “Lecture
on "The Metamorphosis" by Vladimir Nabokov” Kafka.org. The Kafka
Project, 6 January 2012. Web. 31 May 2012</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Tramer,
Hans. “Prague-City of Three Peoples” Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook. 9.1 (2012):
305-339.Web</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Sokel,
Walter. “Franz Kafka as a Jew” Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook. 18.1 (2012):
233-238.Web</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Rahv, Phillip.
“Franz Kafka: The Hero As Lonely Man” The Kenyon Review. 1.1 (1939): 60-74.Web</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Arendt,
Hannah. “Hanna Arendt” fembio.org. Notable.Women.International, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Web. 31 May 2012</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span class="format">Kafka,Franz. Corngold, Stanley. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><em>The Metamorphosis: A Norton
Critical Edition</em><span class="format">. W</span>. W. Norton &
Company<span class="format">, 1996. Print.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-34394864254308830352012-05-29T15:18:00.003-05:002012-05-31T04:08:12.205-05:00Annotated Bibliography: Franz Kafka vs. Carlos Atanes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
ADD:<span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.kafka.org/index.php?id=191,209,0,0,1,0" target="_blank">Lecture on "The Metamorphosis" by Vladimir Nabokov</a></span></div>
<script src="http://storify.com/Ashykins/a-comparison-of-franz-kafka-s-the-metamorphosis-an.js">
</script><noscript>[&lt;a href="http://storify.com/Ashykins/a-comparison-of-franz-kafka-s-the-metamorphosis-an" target="_blank"&gt;View the story "A comparison of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and Calos Atanes’ The Metamorphosis of Franz Kafka " on Storify&lt;/a&gt;]</noscript></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-86415535734521027132012-05-22T12:09:00.003-05:002012-05-22T12:09:38.101-05:00Annotated Bibliography: Metamorphosis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Still deciding the essential direction to go on analyzing how interpretations and presentations are a direct product of the culture of Franz Kafka. There are different ways I could go about generally answering the cultural aspects of Kafka in<i> Metamorphosis</i>. </div>
<script src="http://storify.com/Ashykins09/franz-kafka-metamorphosis.js">
</script><noscript>[&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://storify.com/Ashykins09/franz-kafka-metamorphosis" target="_blank"&amp;amp;gt;View the story "Franz Kafka - Metamorphosis" on Storify&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;]</noscript></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-58127646391177812072012-05-17T16:36:00.000-05:002012-05-17T16:36:13.547-05:00Faith In Night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The poem <a href="http://quotations.about.com/cs/poemlyrics/a/Night.htm" target="_blank">“Night”</a>, published in 1789 by English poet <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/116" target="_blank">William Blake</a>, was written with the purpose of enlightening about the existence of
protective forces, and the inevitable evils of mankind. “Night” comes from the 1789
collection Songs of Innocence and of Experience, which is portrays the two contrary
states of man “innocence” and “experience”. Like other poems in the collection “Night”
suggests an ever going struggle between the holy and evil. Some might argue
that the underlining point Blake tries to portray is as humans we all need to
be protected, that people need some kind of protector. There is also the
argument of sleep, that the poem in a whole is representative to the need for
sleep. How sleep is the “innocent”, where people are protected, and the awake
being the <i>“experience”</i> or <i>“evil”</i>. Although these are the suggested meaning I
think “Night” also suggests a Christianic relationship between mankind and an
all knowing God.</div>
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In the first three stanzas presents a sense of peace and guidance.
In these stanzas Blake implies the need for guidance by guardian angels. I
believe this represents the beginning relationship between man and God. For
example in the third stanza,</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span> </span>“They visit caves of
every beast,<br />
To keep them all from harm;<br />
If they see any weeping.<br />
That should have been sleeping<br />
They pour sleep on their head<br />
And sit down by their bed.” </span></i></div>
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Blake uses <i>“they”</i>, which to me is implying the existence of
Gods angels. I also see this representing sleep as the everlasting sleep, or
death, and angels sent to persuade mankind to believe. </div>
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However, in the fourth stanza Blake challenges the faith of
man. Wolves and tigers, representing the demons of life, try to break the faith
of others. With these challenges the guardians try to protect, but in the end
the decision is up to those who need protecting. In all I see the forth stanza
as being symbolic to the life relationship with God. Meaning, how we decide to
live in means of faith while on earth. </div>
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“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body,
whether good or evil.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>—2 Corinthians 5:10 </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span>Appearing before judgment is what I believe the last two stanza signify. Blake
uses a lion to represent God and in the end whoever passes through judgment, and has their sins washed away can come lay
beside the holy in peace. For example:</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"And by his health, sickness.<br />
Is driven away,<br />
From our immortal day.<br /><br />
And now beside thee, bleating lamb.</span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
I can lie down and sleep;<br />
Or think on him who bore thy name."</span></i></div>
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The 1789 poem “Night” to me represents the steps of life
through Christ. I also believe "Night" is a good representative of the struggle one might face and the reward of an afterlife for overcoming these challenges. The struggle starts with a beginning of innocence and choosing to be guarded
or protected. After experience in life demons and other evils come to challenge
ones faith. All stages leading to the end of life as one knows and being born
again after judgment. </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-47212862273408285512012-05-16T00:00:00.000-05:002012-05-16T00:00:04.308-05:00William Blake "Night"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/uploads/authors/william-blake/448x/william-blake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/uploads/authors/william-blake/448x/william-blake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b> "Night"</b> </i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>The sun descending in the west,<br />
The evening star does shine;<br />
The birds are silent in their nest,<br />
And I must seek for mine.<br />
The moon, like a flower,<br />
In heaven's high bower,<br />
With silent delight<br />
Sits and smiles on the night.<br /><br />
Farewell, green fields and happy groves,
<br />
Where flocks have took delight.<br />
Where lambs have nibbled, silent moves<br />
The feet of angels bright;<br />
Unseen they pour blessing,<br />
And joy without ceasing,<br />
On each bud and blossom,<br />
And each sleeping bosom.<br /><br />
They look in every thoughtless nest,
<br />
Where birds are covered warm;<br />
They visit caves of every beast,<br />
To keep them all from harm.<br />
If they see any weeping<br />
That should have been sleeping,<br />
They pour sleep on their head,<br />
And sit down by their bed.<br /><br />
When wolves and tigers howl for prey,
<br />
They pitying stand and weep;<br />
Seeking to drive their thirst away,<br />
And keep them from the sheep.<br />
But if they rush dreadful,<br />
The angels, most heedful,<br />
Receive each mild spirit,<br />
New worlds to inherit.<br /><br />
And there the lion's ruddy eyes
<br />
Shall flow with tears of gold,<br />
And pitying the tender cries,<br />
And walking round the fold,<br />
Saying, "Wrath, by His meekness,<br />
And, by His health, sickness<br />
Is driven away<br />
From our immortal day.<br /><br />
"And now beside thee, bleating lamb,
<br />
I can lie down and sleep;<br />
Or think on Him who bore thy name,<br />
Graze after thee and weep.<br />
For, washed in life's river,<br />
My bright mane for ever<br />
Shall shine like the gold<br />
As I guard o'er the fold."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Night by William Blake
comes from the 1794 Songs of Innocence and Experience. As I am interested
in the psychology side of things I chose to ask the indispensable questions. What
trials or ordeals does the protagonist face? What is the reward for overcoming
theme? Knowing that </span><span style="font-size: small;"> Songs of Innocence and Experience collection symbolizes the </span>innocent, pastoral world of childhood against an adult world of corruption and repression. "Night" is also a good example of this and I plan on using that <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<script src="http://storify.com/Ashykins09/night-by-william-blake.js">
</script><noscript>[&lt;a href="http://storify.com/Ashykins09/night-by-william-blake" target="_blank"&gt;View the story "Night By William Blake" on Storify&lt;/a&gt;]</noscript></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-82157050832923565802012-05-10T10:56:00.002-05:002012-05-10T10:56:47.570-05:00Truth for Peace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaP_j-OLHrtCSg0zdL8ZBOtH0HKGY_tetzyDfl8m_Cy3O7aEcn4FszaLHfU_IdsKU7CjmTr6F8dTEBnSggPDxXSvqJINJ4qetSel0ZtIRhaAqCSt-B0kKNixg34J9vci784qVhweXgA/s1600/peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaP_j-OLHrtCSg0zdL8ZBOtH0HKGY_tetzyDfl8m_Cy3O7aEcn4FszaLHfU_IdsKU7CjmTr6F8dTEBnSggPDxXSvqJINJ4qetSel0ZtIRhaAqCSt-B0kKNixg34J9vci784qVhweXgA/s320/peace.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: black;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<i style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.</span></span></b></i><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">" -<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Society of Professional Journalist Preamble</span></i></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
As a journalist it is my job to seek the truth and spread the truth. I
have made it my life's goal to help others by spreading the truth, in
hopes to bring peace to society. </div>
<div style="color: black;">
<i><br />
</i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-49399428058453270512012-04-26T10:55:00.001-05:002012-06-21T10:49:30.403-05:00Improvement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Over this past semester my focus as a writer has been organizing
thoughts, procrastination, and entertaining an audience. At the beginning of
the semester my blogs consisted of choppy word jumble and obvious and
procrastinated assignments. However, being able to have peer comments and
constructive feedback I realized it was time to step up my game and put forth a
little effort. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Only a few writings into the course and it was obvious my
lack of efforts and organization had been improving. Starting with the essential
post of <a href="http://whatmatterseh.blogspot.com/2012/01/organizing-thoughts.html">Organizing
Thoughts</a> where I asked for advice on how to improve the flow of my
writings, and was suggested to use the free writing method, with each posts to
follow I showed more and more improvement. I also found with free writing my
post increased in length every time. Although each post built off one another
in improvement, by the very next post <a href="http://whatmatterseh.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-have-to-get-this-donetomorrow.html">I
Have to get This Done!...Tomorrow</a> showed immediate improvement. Finally,
after several post to practice <a href="http://whatmatterseh.blogspot.com/2012/03/shtaintclear.html">Shitaintclear</a>
and <a href="http://whatmatterseh.blogspot.com/2012/02/into-future.html">Into
the Future</a> showed the most improvement. With each post it is apparent that
I had also improved on procrastination. Each showed improvement on length and
value to suggest more thought and time had been put into the assignments. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After improving and the two main issues of presenting my
ideas and giving my writings more thought and value I really wanted to turn my
focus to entertainment. In several of my posts I wanted to capture my readers
and keep them coming back each week. <a href="http://whatmatterseh.blogspot.com/2012/03/shtaintclear.html">Shitaintclear</a>
and <a href="http://whatmatterseh.blogspot.com/2012/02/into-future.html">Into
the Future</a> again are the two best examples of fun and interesting posts. I
would also add <a href="http://whatmatterseh.blogspot.com/2012/04/one-for-one.html">One for One</a>
as a great post even though it was a picture assignment. In this particular post
there may not be a written story however, I believe to layout and contrast of
the photos make the post a fun and vivid post. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With all the positives I have gained in each writing I am
still falling victim of poor editing and proof reading skills. For example,
there is probably evidence of this problem in this very post. I do proof read
and edit each writing, but my brain knows what I thought I wrote and I am oblivious
to the mistakes each time. Although, I have tried proof reading after taking a
break and that has helped a little I still have miss used commas and silly
mistakes. I would like to keep working on this problem by practicing with
commas more. However, proof reading I feel I will always need the extra read
through by a peer. </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-41139240370966952952012-04-11T00:51:00.000-05:002012-04-11T00:51:01.604-05:00One for One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnZWvPqvGkIpwkr9HLFK-qTcLLWe18rL6SRNjkh6hcrItuiGjKedcGEBT8G7znOdNmqVpH8JoLg9OijAtoktD0X1XMfPl6KuZDNdM4-cnt8_uF8Hzdq2aODu75weJJ9cXDPPcPbXFmgY/s1600/tomes+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnZWvPqvGkIpwkr9HLFK-qTcLLWe18rL6SRNjkh6hcrItuiGjKedcGEBT8G7znOdNmqVpH8JoLg9OijAtoktD0X1XMfPl6KuZDNdM4-cnt8_uF8Hzdq2aODu75weJJ9cXDPPcPbXFmgY/s400/tomes+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I was inspired to go the day without shoes to raise awareness
and money for Toms. Toms is a company that would match every pair of shoes
purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://www.toms.com/our-movement">One
for One</a></b>. Today April 10, 2012 Jacksonville State
University held a campus
wide awareness down for One for One. This event consisted of walking around
everywhere barefoot to obtain a better understanding of what children without a
way to protect their feet have to endure on a daily basis. As the day of fun
and festivities ended it was time for the long walk around University/Trusties Circle, barefoot of
course. This is when the reality kicked in. With the asphalt almost unbearable
and the rough rocks rubbing blisters on the balls of feet, it was a real
challenge to make it to the finish line. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This picture was inspired by today’s events. I used <a href="http://www.photoshop.com/">Photoshop.com</a> (online version) to increase
the contrast, brush the toenail polish glair, and made the blues really pop. I
found this assignment exciting and what a great way to involve my experiences
of today in my blog.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhyphenhyphenD9vjMzNEWSHSggjb-ZacRd4daRlBcpdMHB7K1-5WTAg1PpbYs-9SgxBDEBLlMti4xLjNT23I05tVi7vfhp2Yzx-r0YgHgyxMckz5nLaIp8O2PPYnB7CXd9hPEx1W_q-temcn-r_vA/s1600/tomsblog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhyphenhyphenD9vjMzNEWSHSggjb-ZacRd4daRlBcpdMHB7K1-5WTAg1PpbYs-9SgxBDEBLlMti4xLjNT23I05tVi7vfhp2Yzx-r0YgHgyxMckz5nLaIp8O2PPYnB7CXd9hPEx1W_q-temcn-r_vA/s320/tomsblog2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes those are blisters.</span></i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-74326522949481859412012-03-20T23:43:00.001-05:002012-03-22T11:15:10.061-05:00Sunset<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHQzZCbVNeh4GgQWSZjetHMDsH7bYR1ZQKzNfJ-hBTGSZx9AGyvXg6FbtBirzlnlhTdmKC0KJpZU48xbQrRTPdpnJGdo_WBJWdt8N6W2Ves2NOn-xy7xFAtF9KXElpubg6LUVecl2MMk/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHQzZCbVNeh4GgQWSZjetHMDsH7bYR1ZQKzNfJ-hBTGSZx9AGyvXg6FbtBirzlnlhTdmKC0KJpZU48xbQrRTPdpnJGdo_WBJWdt8N6W2Ves2NOn-xy7xFAtF9KXElpubg6LUVecl2MMk/s400/IMG_0535.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sunset </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wonder why when you say goodbye
<br />
beautiful colours paint the sky.
<br />
Shades of orange, yellow and pink too
<br />
all come out because of you.
<br />
And although I hate to see you go,
<br />
I really do enjoy the show.
<br />
I've seen you leave so many times
<br />
and still it's a favourite sight of mine.
<br />
There'll be no sadness, be no sorrow
<br />
because my sun, you'll come out tomorrow.
<br />
I won't feel hurt, I'll feel no pain
<br />
because on your way down, your colours will reign. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- Adoni Marcano</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-13032178079085871892012-03-16T00:24:00.000-05:002012-03-16T00:24:44.002-05:00Book Club?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">“If daily reading begins in infancy, by the time the child
is 5 years old, he or she has been fed roughly 900 hours of <span> </span>brain food! Reduce that experience to just 30
minutes a week, and the child’s hungry mind loses 770 hours of nursery rhymes,
fairy tales and stories. A kindergarten student who has not been read to could
enter school with less than 60 hours of literacy nutrition. No teacher, no
matter how talented, can make up for those lost hours of mental nourishment.”</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">
</span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.famlit.org/media-resources/statistics/" target="_blank">(USDOE, 1999)</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever heard the phrase “if you don’t use it you’ll
loose it”? So if you do not use your skills, like reading. You may not loose
your ability to read, but may struggle with higher literacy. Think about the
brain food quote. If this is proven true think of all the educational hours we
have lost. In <a href="http://whatmatterseh.blogspot.com/2012/02/cliffnotes.html" target="_blank">CliffNotes</a> I brought up the statistic that 25% of Americans will
not read a single book in a year. After some thought on the matter I have
decided I would personally like to change this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As of today I am setting myself a personal goal to read as
many books as I can by the end of the year. (20+) However, I do not only want
to read the books, but I also want to find ways to interact with them. For
example in high school I had found a few authors my friends and I really liked
and we would take turns reading the books. One book I remember reading is <i>The
Perks of Being a Wallflower</i> by Stephen Chbosky. While reading we would jot down
our thoughts as side notes, and then pass the book on to a friend to read and
add their thoughts. Finally after the book made it around the circle I would go
back and reread the book. This was such a great experience, because every time
reading was like reading a whole different book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With all the hype over The Hunger Games movie what better
book to start with then <i>The Hunger Games</i> by Suzanne Collins. What a great
opportunity to read the book then watch the movie and be able to compare the
two. My second book I would like to read is <i>The Rum Diaries</i> by Hunter S.
Thompson. I have seen the movie and can not wait to read the book. Hunter S.
Thomson is my journalist/writer hero and I would like to eventually read all of
his works including: <i>Fear and loathing in Las
Vegas, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of
the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, and Where the Buffalo Roam</i>. I would also like to
read <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i> again to see how my thoughts have changed
over the years. Those are only a few and I have a lot of catching up to do on
my reading. So if anyone has any ideas for books I <b>MUST</b> read please let me know.</div>
<div style="mso-element: comment-list;">
<hr align="left" class="msocomoff" size="1" width="33%" />
<div style="mso-element: comment;">
<div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1">
<span style="mso-comment-author: Ashykins;"><a href="" name="_msocom_1"></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-32872545117596683202012-03-07T00:15:00.000-06:002012-03-07T00:15:06.202-06:00Shtaintclear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Am I a great writer? No, in no means am I anywhere near
being a perfect writer. However, I do pride myself with having common sense,
and being a pretty “darn good” typographer. (Typography, in print journalism,
is the detail of layout of the newspaper, magazine, flier, exedra; that is the
key to what makes the text appealing to the eyes.) So yes, I do know a little
something on what is news worthy and appropriate. That is why sometimes when I
am reading smaller papers I really would like to call up the editor and ask
“WHAT!?!”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have attended Jacksonville State
University then you have
surely heard or read the notorious Chanticleer. In the latest publication there
was a lengthy opinion article on <a href="http://www.chanticleeronline.com/The_Chanticleer/Opinion.html" target="_blank">Rick Santorum</a>. After reading this article this defiantly made me say out loud, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WHAT!?</i></b>
But, before I go into the errors of the article itself, let me just touch on
this page. First, the filler the paper uses are atrocious. Second and the font
in a paper is ALWAYS justified. Third, this slandered article should have never
had a full page. However, all of my newsy pet peeves aside lets move on to the
article. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How many times have you written an essay and said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I am writing this essay about...”</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“This essay is about…”</i>, only to have
your essay returned inked to death. Well this article starts out just that way.
I quote, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I am so blessed to have the
opportunity to write a political opinion article,” </i>which translates to<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “I am writing an opinion article about…”.</i>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not believe this line should have
ever made it to the final cut. Later on in the piece the writer also mistakenly
says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Now with that quote in mind,”</i>
but never addressed a quote, only his thoughts on what NPR (National Public
Radio) had to say on the matter. There were several other “no no’s” in the
article, but the one that stood out to me the most was in the last paragraph.
“…a cheating, selfish, b----, who wants to colonize the moon.” <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">WOW</span></b>,
when did the writer ever feel it was appropriate to use the word bitch (even
though the last four letters where blanked out) in a new article! Internet,
okay but this is like turning on abc 33/40 and James Spann saying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“you is a dumb bitch if you don’t take cover
now”</i>. Even if you are writing for a college newspaper using profanity is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">never</b> okay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, do not get me wrong I am not for Rick Santorum nor
do I believe any of the “santorum” spewing out of this mans mouth. I am just
frustrated as a journalist and writer at the nonsense and errors that actually
get published in Newspapers and magazines. I know I do not have the best
grammar skills or am the best editor, but my fondest memories were always on
Thursday’s when my old advisor would bring in a few big named papers and we
would spend the class period giving it the red ink of death. Maybe this is why
little things in articles irk me more then others. </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-31911702844477585392012-02-29T00:02:00.002-06:002012-02-29T00:02:15.798-06:00CliffNotes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
In a world with internet access and cliff notes, the amount
of reading the average person does is decreasing with each generation. In a 1993
National Assessment of Adult Literacy, the largest government-funded national
literacy survey to date, stated that the average American reads at an eighth
grade reading level. Also, that 25% of Americans will not read a single book
within a year. For me I find this very true. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember in elementary school when we had such programs
such as STAR that would reward kids with prizes for the amount of books they
read within the school year. However, even then I could hardly tell you how
many I actually finished. For me, starting this habit of only reading part of a
book to retain enough information to pass a quiz has followed me into my adult
life. To be honest I could not even tell you the last book I actually sat down
and read all the way through. Yes, we as students have always had books
assigned to us to read, but of course I would procrastinate and end up reading
the cliff notes the night before the test. I have always wanted to broaden my
interest in books and reading, but I always find myself staring endlessly at
the TV or monitor screen. I would really like to work on ending this problem
for myself. I feel that if I could make myself set down and read (and finish) I
could grow myself greatly as a more intellectual person. But, how do I change a
lifestyle of a bad habit, and why is it that over the years we have distanced
ourselves from literature? </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-7882148069520177842012-02-23T14:17:00.003-06:002012-02-23T14:19:27.972-06:00Into the Future<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwN38hCw4wK2keSFvrXPVKRscMNjiAuF1_iJDbRjdr0K1mFwX7-SMUGwaNgqZ2r1iG0oSyVcskgo3Z4ontV_UUR1HWGJHjiGy1CJ_aBrWUarHwZnxe6Q3VpD8cxvy-JpC5T0rL4OrdKM/s1600/cyborg3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwN38hCw4wK2keSFvrXPVKRscMNjiAuF1_iJDbRjdr0K1mFwX7-SMUGwaNgqZ2r1iG0oSyVcskgo3Z4ontV_UUR1HWGJHjiGy1CJ_aBrWUarHwZnxe6Q3VpD8cxvy-JpC5T0rL4OrdKM/s320/cyborg3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For many years now the film industry has played fantasy on
virtual vision. For example the one I can think of off the top of my head is
the Terminator films. In these films director James Cameron introduces the 80’s
to “cyborg vision”. This vision is a virtual computer based vision equipped
with face recognition and commands. Fast forward 28 years into 2012 this once farfetched
vision is more realistic then one might have thought. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Earlier this week information from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/technology/at-google-x-a-top-secret-lab-dreaming-up-the-future.html" target="_blank">Google X Lab</a> was leaked the
release of the android powered <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/technology/google-glasses-will-be-powered-by-android.html?_r=1" target="_blank">Google Glasses</a>. Essentially these sunglasses
will be a virtual interaction with your smartphone. The glasses like Bluetooth will
be synced with your phone and will allow the user to interact with their phone
with out looking at it. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How do Google
Glasses work?</i> The glasses will be equipped
with one computerized lens and built in camera. The camera records and assesses
what you are looking at and portrays the content on the computerized lens
overlaying it on reality. For example, say you are at a historical landmark,
the glasses will recognize the landmark and display facts and comments on what
you are looking at. For more of a social example, don’t you hate when you run
into someone and they obviously know you, but you are not sure who they are or
how you know them. Well Google glasses can help, because the glasses have face
recognition. It will be able to access your accounts (Facebook) and show you
who they are and maybe how you know them. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How
do you command Google Glasses? </i> The
glasses are operated by head nods and side-to-side motion. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KtM2PVBR8Ws8I63_OxSsQZqX-foQ0W7ceSBZGoao0p8CBpTcCI4brUNitgfHWTZQpJL-hWnUrQp6LPGamRAVfkQEsMrVdLmwaJ8fq7hSome7XhMdh5oTwHV727RRzyYmsgdUP5OKL5I/s1600/google+glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KtM2PVBR8Ws8I63_OxSsQZqX-foQ0W7ceSBZGoao0p8CBpTcCI4brUNitgfHWTZQpJL-hWnUrQp6LPGamRAVfkQEsMrVdLmwaJ8fq7hSome7XhMdh5oTwHV727RRzyYmsgdUP5OKL5I/s320/google+glasses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Other Features </u></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">GPS</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Apps</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Motion Sensors </span></li>
</ul>
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Wow, who knew this technology would come so soon? Personally
this excites me to think how advanced everyday technology has come. However, I
can see the cons this product may bring about. Don’t you hate being around someone
with a Bluetooth set on and the awkward moment you realize they were never
talking to you? Well now you’re going to have that and someone who is head-bobbing
coming toward you. (Talk about awkward) Also, as if our generation is not already dissocialized
enough with texting, tweeting, Facebook, and angry birds the Google Glasses
take this to a whole new level. Now you can do these things everywhere at
anytime. I also could see the threats users could cause. We already can see the
issues with texting and driving, but now Google Glasses make this easier and
could possibly cause even more of a distraction than before. With that being
said, think about the phrase “the government is tracking us”. Well now that
your every move will be recorded this could be more true then ever. As exciting as this new product is I find it
just as scary. </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-14973004899043210252012-02-14T17:28:00.000-06:002012-02-16T15:52:15.362-06:00Is More Better?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Be honest, which do you find more effective, a brief description/
summary or a long drawn out article? Most would choose the brief description.
Think about it, when you Google something most people would prefer to read
briefly to get a general idea of the topic. So with this being said, why wouldn’t
teachers teach students to be able to write briefly and effectively on a topic?
</div>
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<br /></div>
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In the article, "<u><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/opinion/20selsberg.html?_r=2" target="_blank">Teaching to the Text Message</a></u>"Andy Selsberg, a teacher at John Jay College, saw the interest in texting as an
opportunity to teach his students using Twitter-based learning. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“We need to set our sights not lower, but
shorter.”</i> Selsberg along side traditional writing lessons also set up
projects that would test his students critical thinking. In some projects
students were asked to define things in two sentences. One of my favorite
projects was where Selsberg asked his students to describe a chalkboard in one to
two sentences. One of his students wrote, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“A
chalkboard is a lot like memory: often jumbled, unorganized and sloppy. Even
after it’s erased, there are traces of everything that’s been written on it.”</i>
This response is beautiful. I believe that these two sentences were probably
more thought out than if assigned an essay on the chalkboard. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I agree with Selsberg’s logic of using less to explain more.
I believe setting a required length or word count can take away from an
assignment. When setting a length students are more prawn to plagiarize,
ramble, or manipulate the true content of the final product. For example, say a
teacher assigns a 400 word short essay. Most of the turned in assignments would
contain one or even all three of these problems to make the essay seem legit.
However, with challenging the students with shorter content students are
required to think more about what to write, and could have a better
understanding of the topic.</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-46009525973119078702012-02-07T21:31:00.001-06:002012-02-07T21:31:06.861-06:00Social Vs. Traditional Learning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There is no argument that growing up in the digital era, solely
dependent on the technological interaction with our peers, that we as students struggle
with academic writing. A lot of times when assigned research papers it’s like
pulling teeth to write. I become extremely stressed about the assignment and usually
procrastinate to avoid the anxiety. However, because we DO live in a digital and
social world there are endless possibilities to learning and teaching that can
spice up a traditional class. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Recently I read the article “<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/education/edlife/muscling-in-on-the-term-paper-tradition.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blogs vs. Term papers</i></a>” by Matt Richtel. In this article Richtel
talks about the stress term papers bring students and teachers and also
discusses the arguments (pros/cons) of using a social media based classroom. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the article I find myself asking “WHAT?!?”. William H.
Fitzhugh protests against moving away from rigorous academic writing, and
believes the solution is not blogs but more reading. Fitzhugh also proposes
what he calls the “page a year” solution: in first grade, a one-page paper
using one source; by fifth grade, five pages and five sources. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">–again WHAT!? </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could
you imagine being responsible to write a five page paper with sources before
even completing middle school. I do agree that our generation has shied away
from reading and extensive writing, but this method might just be a little too extreme.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Personally I really enjoy this style teaching. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Teaching in a more interactive environment)</i>
I believe by using tools that students already use, like blogs, can be an enriching
way to teach. I agree that blogging is less stressful. I actually think that
having classes with blogs are a refreshing change. - 1.) I do not feel the urge
to OD on coffee or wake up wishing I could just have an IV of caffeine. 2.) I
learn more with constant feedback on my work. 3.) Students have the chance to
be the teacher. – I agree that students should have some scene of academic writing
but outside of school when is this relevant to most people. I think Professor
Davidson had the right idea by using blogs and teaching students cover letters,
business letters, and have them write short stories and essays about their
chosen careers.</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-81295427805326995192012-01-31T15:07:00.000-06:002012-01-31T15:07:03.162-06:00I Have to get This Done!...Tomorrow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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Procrastinate -t<span style="background: white;">o</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span>defer</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span>action;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"></span>delay:</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span class="ital-inline">procrastinate</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span class="ital-inline">until</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span class="ital-inline">an</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span class="ital-inline">opportunity</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span class="ital-inline">is<i><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: pointer;"> </span></i>lost<i>.</i></span></span></span> As
students and adults we are all at some point guilty of procrastinating. I would
like to bet that while leading up to this post everyone prepped about the same
way. Think about it, after class knowing about the next assignment, at some
point you said I need to do my homework and get it out of the way so I do not
have to worry about it later. Then either two things happened: one- you sat
down that night and got your work done; or two (of the more likely) – that night
you thought about your work and then said “well I will just do it tomorrow”.
Well most like, tomorrow turned into today and the deadlines creped up before
you noticed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="ital-inline"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I know this happens to me all the time. I convince
myself that I will, get off work and do this, this, and this/ wake up early and
accomplish everything, but who I am kidding it always happens the same; <b>I DON’T</b>. I usually find myself creeping
around on Facebook, captured my some show on TV, or my all time favorite sleep.
Now of course I know the way to not procrastinate is to simply <i><u>NOT to
procrastinate</u></i>, but that is way easier said then done. How exactly do I
motivate myself to not procrastinate? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="ital-inline"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">First I would say do not be around distractions.
Turn off that TV show and started the work before logging in to a social network.
I know this is extremely difficult when today’s culture is desperate to know what
is going on. (Who is dating who, who’s prego, oh no he/she didn’t social blah
blah blah) However I like to take these unbearable urges and turn them into
rewards. For example, after I am done with this post I will be rewarding myself
with a quick look on Facebook, coffee, and a long needed cigarette. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="ital-inline"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">So to make that possible sometimes I like to think
like to think about the essay “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamott. I find the quote,
</span></span><b><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 13pt;">"It's not like you don't have a choice, because you
do--you can either type or kill yourself"</span></u></i></b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 13.5pt;">,</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Garamond;">to be very helpful
when I find myself not wanting to write.</span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-53949245998335767992012-01-24T21:06:00.000-06:002012-01-24T21:06:07.439-06:00Organizing Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iBiyCbHVlsSR5Cd0XjUW4AAp5S8g5qXu5vUpP_Y0wy6fiA7OzIgGDlZU3tP6dlxSQwa1MY8GbQsloflOxMjymZmOB1YvBznLPFwnodsctQL6eK7pBiITxKYEmzzFKvPOe-qFTqf-X-4/s1600/organizing_ideas450.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iBiyCbHVlsSR5Cd0XjUW4AAp5S8g5qXu5vUpP_Y0wy6fiA7OzIgGDlZU3tP6dlxSQwa1MY8GbQsloflOxMjymZmOB1YvBznLPFwnodsctQL6eK7pBiITxKYEmzzFKvPOe-qFTqf-X-4/s320/organizing_ideas450.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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As a writer I know one of my challenges is organizing my
thoughts and getting my point across the way I would like to. When given a
topic I find my thoughts racing and struggle in putting my thoughts out there
so that my audience understands fully. Students at the earliest ages have various
formulas (on how to brainstorm and organize thoughts) engraved into our heads. For
example: webs, charts, lists, ect…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, what if these tools do not help you to your fullest?
That is the issue I find sometimes. I know that I can be a great writer, only
sometimes it takes me a lot longer then I would like to perfect one of my
writing. Sometimes this is the cause of different variables like: If I fully
know about what I am talking about. <i>(Like
most students in high school I perfected the art of how to bullshit people.)</i>,
If I really cared about what I was writing about, and If I took my time in
writing about the topic.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I would like to improve on these problems. I know every now
and then I should research, try to care, and not procrastinate on my writings. Other
then these issues, what could I do to help organize my thoughts? [Not including
the graphs, charts and webs I already use is there any helpful advice?]</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-71788372932926297772012-01-19T22:58:00.000-06:002012-01-19T22:58:07.993-06:00Tell<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>What are my writings
purposes?</i> As I sit here boggling that question– I try to think back to how
my love to tell started. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Growing up I remember being artsy in the fact of storytelling,
crafting, and presenting my imagination. Everything from music, writing, to
drawing I could somehow elaborate enough to capture my audience. Starting with my
earliest of age I have always seen myself as a “narrative” person. I am almost certain
all of my awards or contest where the result of a story or article but, at what
point were my writings me?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a writer I believe my purpose is to narrate or tell, and
I believe this has always my purpose. As an aspiring journalist it is my job to
tell and inform my readers, but any writer can do this. However the question
is: How can I do this without loosing me? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First aspects I must keep in mind and always improve on. <b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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*<b><u>Fundamentals: </u></b>Grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, without these
you are not a writer. From day one as writers we are harped this continuously,
but I believe no one ever really masters fully. To me it does not seem possible
because, what do they say, eventually when you are good enough you make up your
own rules of writing. But, how do you know if you are ever good enough?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*<b><u>Style-</u></b><i>focus and flow: </i>As a reader I do NOT continuously read an author or journalists
work I do not enjoy. I believe it is very important to stick to yourself so
that your work is recognizable.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In retrospect my goal in writing is to accomplish these two
things. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2602834976328583601.post-32800425267942991472012-01-18T03:21:00.000-06:002012-01-18T03:21:59.308-06:00Keep it simple<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a journalist I find it sometime challenging to just slow
down and keep thing simple. Which in journalistic writing this is a big “no no”,
since the audience the writing is directed to is the “average Joe”. This style
of writing is mint to be none bias, and for me this sometime apposes a
challenge to not be opinionated; also to take in mind who I am writing for.
Although I would like to improve on this, I am excited about not having such
strict guidelines on blogging. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455541736957221492noreply@blogger.com0