Super-Ultimate-Blogoramananza

2011-04-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Tom from Texas: QUALIFIED

2011-04-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

It would have been nice to review one of the actual contributor's responses, but instead, I chose to agree with Tom from Texas, who commented on one of the posts. See his response below (cause I can't link to a comment)>

I like your response. As a retired teacher with 30 years in public education, I know that you have a good understanding of economics. However, you face a culture that wants to do anything but pay a babysitter such a high salary. We know that teachers are not babysitters. Teachers are responsible for developing the minds of those who are the future of this country and the world. We should be trying to draw the best, most talented people to this profession and give them the tools to improve over time. That is what I see in your position.There is a cultural idea that paying teachers more money subverts the dedication for which educators are so famous. If you pay teachers a minimal salary then they must be dedicated to continue to teach and we all want dedicated teachers, don't we? Talented teachers entering the profession are drawn away by higher salaries in other fields of endeavor. They leave not because of a lack of dedication but to earn a respectable living.Various schemes have been tried over time but the obvious is to raise teachers pay which will draw more talented people to the profession. Raising teacher pay will increase the labor pool from which schools can draw to fill positions. Having a larger labor pool allows schools to choose the most talented from a larger pool. It also allows schools to be more selective about keeping teachers whose performance is marginal. Yes, even with teacher unions, there is a period of trial period before a teacher attains tenure. Many districts hold onto marginal teachers simply because there are not enough teachers in a specific discipline to allow them to go out looking for another teacher.Here is the tough part. Teachers are required in numbers in the millions to staff the classrooms all over this country. Any increase in pay requires a huge amount of money from the community which may employ a few dozen to a few thousand teachers. Cutting back on administration brings in a few dollars to fund some increase but in most school districts I know, the administration is not large enough to make a serious difference. Someone is going to have to pay more money in taxes to the school district, the state or the federal government. If the public really wants better schools staffed by good teachers they are going to have to step up and pay for them. The old saying, you get what you pay for, applies here.Working conditions also need to be addressed. The factory model of education puts teachers on duty continuously for extended periods of time. There is little chance to stop and reflect on our work during the school day. Even taking care of physical needs like eating and using restrooms are squeezed into the schedule. Often these activities require assistance supervising students from another teacher. Administrators know that any time a teacher is not with students an additional teacher will be required so they schedule teacher contact with students very heavily to reduce operating costs.I read a study once which concluded that in a normal classroom day, a teacher has about 10,000 personal interactions with students. Some of these are conversations, others are a glance or a gesture to recognize student performance or to keep students on task. This mental juggling is constant and exhausting. When I first began teaching I would go home and sleep for an hour just to recover from the day. When I read that study, I knew why I was so tired. A teachers day does not end when the students go home. There are papers to grade, lessons to plan, materials to be organized. Over time, teachers have been given assistance with some tasks related to classroom planning but grading and lesson planning are professional activities that can not be handed off to others without a cost in performance. Then to top off the day, teachers are often expected to be at school beyond the school day to supervise or lead student activities and performances.

MY CONCURRING CLAIM: In order for the teaching profession to be attractive to worthy individuals, salaries must be raised, and to make sure that other funding isn't cut, we must raise taxes. Only qualified teachers will raise respect for the teaching profession. If the public wants better teachers... they'll just simply have to pay for them.

MY DATA: Countries with higher tax rates like China, Germany, or Denmark have higher educational proficiency than ours, and also poll higher general satisfaction.

MY WARRANT: The conception that higher taxes is a bad thing is completely false in this regard. If the taxes are spent upon public education, then this is a positive use of money that would have otherwise gone to something frivolous (in a graduated income system of course).

FURTHERMORE: Still, taxes may be a bit higher which will certainly anger some old people who don't have children in school. What about a school system in which attendance isn't mandatory? This would decrease the need for teachers in subjects that are trivial (P.E., Foods and Nutrition, Desktop Publishing), and increase test scores. Student dissatisfaction with the totalitarian school system would diminish, therefore by association increasing respect for teachers.

MORE DATA: Countries without mandatory attendance have just as much attendance as others because the competition needed for diplomas and resulting jobs is much higher. Going by a capitalist doctrine, more competition produces better products, so what's the downside?

Last Page of Gatsby

2011-03-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Fitzgerald's prose presents to us the untameable force of time at work against the material despondency of human nature.

As "big shore places"close and "inessential houses" melt away, we see the futility of mankind's efforts to make any sort of mark upon nature. The "dark fields of the republic" are not beautiful and wondrous as the New American Continent once was, betraying their true nature (not to be confused with NATURE nature) as pointless human endeavors . Already they are being swallowed by that "vast obscurity" of unhindered natural order to the west.

Time seems to be mankind's antagonist here. Everything is moving, erasing plans and dreams of silly humans with each step forward: the "ferryboat across the sound,"the "moon [rising] in the sky," or the metaphorical "current" in the final paragraph. Time allowed forth Dutch settlers to deforest the island as soon as they landed and for the construction of Gatsby's estate, but just as soon, it has wiped the slate clean. Time giveth and time taketh away. Consequently, the characters of the story (we can only presume) are not in control of their destinies, but in fact the ebb and flow of time decides their fate.

This then must be Gatsby's conundrum: he has not yet become content with his present circumstances because of his concept of time. He has in mind an "orgastic future" which he can one day reach if he simply "stretches [his] arms a little farther." His concept of time is linear, and he assumes that if he continues moving towards the future, he will one day reach it. His perceived future is so perfect and nearly tangible to him that the present just will not do! In reality of course, the future is unreachable because we are always in the present. All that anybody can do is affect the present in as profound a way as possible, however, Gatsby's psychosis is that of an unrealistic time-plane, of unfulfilled dreams because his dreams can only be fulfilled in the future. He "beats on" in his flimsy boat, yet what he will not accept is that he cannot outpace the rate of time.

Putting My Wood in Perspective

2011-03-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, as Forester states in his essay, owning "things" does make us heavy, greedy, restless, and selfish.

But these are necessary evils.

Since we are all physical beings, and have not yet evolved into disembodied-Space-Odyssey-star-children, we can not immediately dismiss the physical aspects of our life, and that includes what we own. What we own becomes an extension of ourselves in the sense that, just as our mind is nothing without ideas (either borrowed or created or fused with another), our body is nothing without physical items. The ownership of property, however, becomes much more dangerous to our souls because of the tangibility of property's nature. If we can feel, see, smell, taste, and hear something, it becomes so much more "real" to us than an abstract idea or emotion. Therefore, we put physicality above the more ethereal elements of our lives, leading to greed and selfishness.

Ads, ads, ads!

2011-03-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

This add (by the Axe Corporation) is using a technique described in the New York Times article. The singular technique which equates simply commodities with experiences. What this add and other Axe ads are implying is that purchasing any of their axe products ALSO purchases the buyer the company of sexy ladies.

The Axe corporation can continue to do this so long as men are gullible enough to think that a (in my opinion putrid) scent can attract these elusive "sexy ladies." However, as any sexy lady knows, this is not the case.

This then leads me to believe that Axe's marketing campaign is not simply an innocent sexual exploitation of women, but instead a treacherous play on men's low self esteem and denial. They are tempting males with a sort of medieval alchemy. While a man my logically know that using a certain deodorant won't win him the ladies, he still will attempt to turn rocks into gold and a $2.50 can of spray into a sexual experience.

Consumerism?

2011-02-28T10:59:00.000-08:00

"The kingdom of consumption the citizen is king. A democratic monarchy: equality before consumption, fraternity in consumption, and freedom through consumption. The dictatorship of consumer goods has finally destroyed the barriers of blood, lineage and race."
-Raoul Vaneigem, The Revolution of Everyday Life, 1967

Yes, if everybody started with the same amount of capital at the same time, each and every man would be equal, but in the fatal flaw of capitalism, as economic gaps become larger generation by generation so also do social injustices. And then begins the debate between stagnant and hopeless capitalism zombies and the leftest indignat social justice zombies. Notice, no matter which side is morally in the right (the left), both become zombified per se by the tiresome nature of the "fight." I identify with the stereotypical intellectual who chooses a touch of socialism almost entirely because it is the "hip" thing to do.

As J. Alfred Prufrock waxes poetically in T. S. Eliot's poem about the pitfalls of intellectualism, we see the triviality inherent in "fighting the system." Intellectuals do not want to change the order of things for the betterment of mankind, just to prove that they are right. Just as hollowminded conservatives wage warfare for silly tax breaks and backwards religious power-plays, leftists must inevitably feel the emptiness of the pursuit of profound and transcendental creative endeavors. I even now sense the futility of criticizing this pattern.

What does this say then about man's purpose? If it certainly is not to waste away in an uncomfortable system of affairs, and is not to attempt to change that system for the better, then the only outlet left is creation. To create something, anything, that is not yet of this broken world is to reach out into space, the realm where reality has not lain its hand. Such a path is the only one which we can find our own fulfillment in because to creat is to make something that is OURS- not the collective conscience's- not the groovy undercurrent's. To create is to carve meaning out of hopelessness for yourself. The sculpture can be whatever you wish to make it.

Two Chunks on my Diddles

2011-01-17T19:30:00.000-08:00

Wharton's diction shows the cynicism of the New York social elite in these first chapters through the "taste" and "form" of Newland Archer. As he reflects on the opera singer's choice of public transportation as opposed to the "cold-and-gin congested nose of one's own coachman," we see the incredibly judgmental way in which Newland and the other characters structure their lives. What is "the thing," and what is not "the thing" become the defining characteristics in the characters as opposed to any substantial character traits (Wharton 4).

The way in which Newland describes himself, leads the reader to believe that he is quite full of himself. For instance, "Newland Archer felt himself distinctly the superior of these chosen specimens of old New York gentility," or, "[he] had probably read more, thought more, and even seen a good deal more of the world, than any other man of the number," (Wharton 6). The way in which he is so ready to assume dominance over his betrothed and assumes her innocent stupidity leads us to believe he is also quite sexist, falling in line with the ideas of the time. "He contemplated her absorbed young face with a thrill of possessorship in which pride in his own masculine initiation was mingled with a tender reverence for her abysmal purity," (Wharton 5-6).

Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2002. Print. Norton Critical Edition.

"Time Travel is Wack, Kimosabe"

2010-12-10T06:46:00.000-08:00

That's right. Time travel is wack. SO WACK, IN FACT, that most scientist who have tried to explain it over the years have ended up in madhouses: houses for the wack. But, for sake of a thINK, I will risk my very sanity for you, dear reader.

Time travel would be fun, wouldn't it? "Yeah, Sean," you reply, "that would be SO COOL!" Right, glad we're on the same page. But it's also confusing, and that brings us to the first problem with "traditional" time travel: paradoxes.

What happens if you go back in time and kill your grandget it on with your grandmother and father yourself before you're born? Bam, paradox. Why would you kill him if you didn't exist in the sense that you are in the future to go back in time to kill him? Or, actually, by going back in time at all to change anything, in the present when you would normally go back to do so, it would already be changed, and therefore, you wouldn't go back to change it, so therefore, you wouln't have changed it, and it would be the same, which would make you go back and change it, but you already did, right?

See?

But, don't worry, there may be a solution. Ever heard of the space-time continuum? It's the idea that space and time cannot be easily separated. They are almost one and the same. Anything that happens in space, must also occur in time, and anything that occurs in time, must also occur in space. So the space-time continuum allows that when you travel back in time, you must travel to somewhere, and according to the parallel-universe theory, that will be a universe just like yours, but ripe and ready to be manipulated, because it is at a different point in time than yours. Really, you aren't traveling through time, but through space, to a point that is already back in time.

The parallel-universe theory comes from the quantum physics electron paradox, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Around an atom's nucleus, an electron can and needs to be in any position within the atom's electron shell (or something like that). Because the electron can only physically be at one point at any one time, but we can't ever know, the idea that there are infinite numbers of parallel universes for each point that the electrons could be located at ends up being the only way to solve the mathematical equations that make up String Theory (not even touching that today, sorry guys). The point being, that there are an infinite number of universes with an infinite number of historys at infinite points along their timelines. Time travel is possible because space travel is possible, and if we can ever find out how to bridge the gap between these parallel universes, we can one day go back in time and kill our grandfathers and get it on with out grandmothers.

I am certainly not condoning such behavior.

______________________________
Articles:
The Uncertainty Principle- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosphy
What Are Parallel Universes?- wiseGeek
Time Travel- PBS NOVA

I Cannot thINK about anything but Inception, so I Am Forced to do so Here

2010-11-11T11:57:00.000-08:00

Inception is a movie that you have heard about, and either you have seen it and came away impressed, or you haven't seen it because you thought it was all hype.

It was all hype: all this talk of special effects and it being one of those movies that "makes you think." The hype was all hype, that is, not the actual substance. The plot, and more importantly, the relationships that drive it along were complex and confusing and functioning and DEEP, simultaneously.

With as much hype that surrounds the movie, there is an equal amount of speculation regarding the plot, and after weeks of deliberating, I have come to the opinion that most of the movie takes place in a dream-state (which I would love to explain in furthest detail if anybody wants to ask me, but I don't want to spoil the movie. It's not knowing what's going on that will spoil it, but how and why that'll getcha). Why is this important? Because the characters are all two dimensional, flat and boring. This movie uses it's perceived terrible characterization to change the meaning and enhance the experience. Because the movie's cast is dreamt, it is allowed to function not as a collection of characters but as a plot device.

"These days a lotta cats is outa line" sings Andy Sandberg of The Lonely Island fame, and he's right. A lotta script-writing cats is out of line up in this day 'n age. They will sacrifice characterization for shallow watchability. The emotional attachment, the depth, and the life-spark that truly makes a good movie a GOOD MOVIE has checked out lately. Special effects and emotional themes will trick people into believing that they are getting intimate with a story, but in reality, they are only scratching the surface, because that's all there is for them to scratch. People have become satisfied with mediocre storytelling, and that includes not just plot and theme and setting but also characters. Nice, meaty, tasty, preferably teriyaki flavored characters just asking to be devoured (mentally). Stories are an integral part of human development, and I'm glad that Inception has restored at least a little bit of my faith in Hollywood while also satirizing the common practice of inserting archetypes in order to push a failing plot along.

Books I'd Like to Read

2010-10-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some books I would like to read.

1. Plato's Republic: I've been wanting to read this sucka for quite some time. Partly because my father won't stop talking about it, and secondly partly because I am actually interested in what this guy has to say. Greatest thinker of all time? We'll see. I'm particularly concerned with seeing if his ideas for the acheivement of an ideal world from 4000ish years ago will translate into our timeframe right now.

2. The Bible: Yep, I haven't read it all, and I think I'd like to decide for myself what the pillars of Christianity are, instead of having them dictated to me through the agenda of a denomination. Plus, rather than just memorizing verses, I would like to experience it consecutively in the sense of the story and plot. Reading the Bible like an actual book would be an excellent change of perspective.

3. The Book of Mormon: And this one, i accidentaly stole from the Mormon chuch (forgot to put it back when I left), so why not? Or perhaps that was their nefarious plan?! Well anyway, I was planning on reading this anyway, along with the Koran, Baj ri, and other holy books from different religions. These works have accumulated huge followings and it's only fair to investigate them as thoroughly as my own religion.

Thank you for reading my list.

Reading Journals and Stuff

2010-10-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

Reading Journals: not productive.
Reading Log: likewise.

I don't mind reading, but the first step in this downward spiral of condescension and time-wastery is the requirement of recording how much we read and when. I think it's about time that the school system stopped treating us like 5 year olds and put some trust in us. The reading is obviously secondary to the assignments and tests we have to do, so those who read and expand their vocabulary and comprehension skills will naturally perform better. Those who don't logically would want to start reading in order to improve their grades. If they don't want good grades, then don't force them. This is the mindset that drives me absolutely crazy. Why are we stooping down to the kids who don't want to learn and trying to get them to against their will? You can only teach the willing. By doing this, the educational experience is significantly slowed down for everyone.

And the reading journals are not helping either. All the writing that I did simply recorded what I had already thought of. So the act of writing in our journals did not encourage thinking, but simply showed that we had done it. I suppose that those who don't read and don't think were forced to do so, but once again, that's their problem and not mine. Until they get the drive to learn on their own, then they aren't worth the effort. So if the reading journals are only a way of monitoring that we've been reading, once again, shouldn't our reading be reflected on our other tests and assignments? Therefore, we don't need to go through this whole rigmarole.

Socratic Seminar Post

2010-10-11T10:17:00.001-07:00

These so called "socratic seminars" were welcome breaks from the monotony of regular old learn-and-spew schoolwork (as I like to call it). Instead of intaking information simply for the purpose of expelling it onto paper in a test, we took in information and expelled it to our peers, but in the process we also got expelled all over. So by the end of each seminar, metophorically speaking, we're soaked with knowledge juice that other people so kindly vomitted up upon us and we need to go take showers.

Also, I feel as if I may have lost a lot of street cred there whilst I was defending video games. There seems to be quite a few people who don't think that video games can possibly be productive, and no thanks to the new episodes of Law & Order in which video game addicts are repeatedly portrayed as rapists and murderers, they have some valid points. But to say that video games are this generation's soma is COMPLETELY LUDICROUS. And the same goes for movies and TV. It's not the outlet that is the problem; just as there can be terrible books, there can be terrible television shows. TV and video games will only be somafied once they completely stop producing thought provoking stories and concepts.

I feel that I may have done fairly well, that is, if everybody else thinks I did. I got in there and got my business done, though not as eloquently or with as much of a sophisticated air as others. I noticed that more than actually presenting interesting takes on questions, many times somebody's goal was to look like they were presenting something profound. So many people agreeing with each other and basking in their mutual sophistication. Just a lovely little cesspool of purveyed wisdom. At least, I got that impression sometimes. Surely I participated in some beard-scratching myself.

Thesis+Diction Paragraph for "The Facebook Addiction Spreads"

2010-09-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

Angela Adair Fowler may attempt to charm us with her alliterated name, yet her message of the far-reaching tentacles of Facebook's influence spreading uncontrollably means to frighten us. Facebook is an "unrelenting virulence" of "epidemic" proportions consuming college campuses like a "pestilence." Fowler's words create an image of disease and destruction, spreading uncontrollably. Instead of being and epidemic with biological effects, it is one with social effects. Suddenly though, Facebook gives her a sense of "satisfaction" and is a place for "unlimited communication" in which people can talk "without barrier[s]." This evokes positive emotions and unlimited possibilities. Such an environment must then have redeeming qualities. As Fowler explains, Facebook may indeed be a virus infecting the world, but not necessarily a bad one.

Huxly Diction Over a Spot of Tea

2010-09-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

THE ADVENTURES OF POMPOUS BRITISH MAN

"Help," cries the child from his cell of mental torment, "I've been assigned another tone thesis paragraph by my cruel, cruel English teacher!"

This sounds like a job for Pompous British Man!

Our titular hero arrives at the scene of the crime in his horse-drawn carriage, just in the nick of time. The poor boy has already been scrambling for any meaning in the several sentences that he has been ordered to thoroughly dissect.

"What ho, young lad," says Pompous British Man, sipping his earl grey tea, "Looks like you need some diction to get started."

"Like what, Pompous British Man," asks the child looking up hopefully as he wipes the falling English muffin crumbs out of his eyes.

"Well," replies Pompous British Man, "How about this-

The diction that Huxley uses in the portrayal of the microscopes is filled with colour and energy. The microscope tubes are "yellow" and exhume a "rich and living substance" while also appearing like "luscious streak[s]" of "butter." This enticing description of the tools almost evokes a sort of machine worship. It is as if the glory of these scientific instruments relinquishes the dreariness of the otherwise grim nature of the rest of the room like some sort of aesthetic messiah."

"Ah! Foiled again!" cackles the boy's English teacher from her nefarious lair.

"Thank you, Pompous British Man, you're my hero!" the boy joyfully declares.

"Oh, 'tis no trouble to me, old chap," Pompous British Man humbly replies, "I've got to make a living somehow, 'ent I? And this is certainly better than working in a Londontowne factory with those bloody, mucky peasants."

THE END

Analysis of a Chapter in Dan Pink's Book (In Choose Your Own Adventure Form!)

2010-09-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

The excerpt from Dan Pink's book "A Whole New Mind" stands as one more reminder to the developed world that it has gone completely insane. With his particular brand of detached realism, Pink lays the facts before us and creates a picture that becomes more and more startlingly clear. We have a lot of stuff, and we don't need or even want it. [To investigate this matter further, go to paragraph 2; to punch the wizard and steal his diamonds, go to page 44]

Sounding like a significantly less furious student of the unabomber's manifesto, Pink states, "that bevy of material goods has not necessarily made us much happier." Not much happier, you say? And then everyone in the history of the world replies, "pish posh, Dan Pink. The more stuff I have the more fulfilled I will be." This mindset has been proven incorrect again and again and again and again, yet the concept remains frozen in a permanent state of denial. But anyone with half a mind will inevitably figure this out, so what is the big deal? The big deal is that because of our continued failures, we may finally be able to learn our lesson. [To find out how we will learn our lesson, go to paragraph 3; to eat a sandwich, go to page 86]

"People everywhere have moved from focusing on the day-to-day text of their lives to broader context" continues Pink. This turns out to be quite the opposite of the unabomber's concept of a highly developed culture (sorry that I keep bringing up homicidal maniacs, but you should really check this out http://www.newshare.com/Newshare/Common/News/manifesto.html). To use our outrageous and unnecessary abundance for good and not evil would be great, and that's precisely what is happening (sort of). Because we are not preoccupied with the struggles of existence, namely procuring food, water and shelter, (those are all provided for us) we have the time and energy to devote our attentions to higher purposes. With all this free "life" on their hands, people are investigating religion, spirituality and philosophy in droves. If the pattern continues and we end up with a wiser culture, perhaps we can finally realize that our material possessions are just... not that big of a deal. [To read an apology to Dan Pink, go to paragraph 4; to engage the space-squid in a battle of wits, go to page 25]

A Thoroughly Useless Apology to Dan Pink

Sorry Dan Pink. I know that you would only have been able to read my blog on the weekend, so I should have posted this earlier, and now, since you won't read this, there is no reason for me to post this. But in my defense if ever we should meet, I would like to inform you about the plague of my generation: procrastination. However, I would not classify it as a plague but a blessing. By not being psychologically able to work on anything until the last possible minute, we subconsciously instill a greater sense of meaning in the present. Like the Hopi Indians, we place the past and the future in a gray area of "what isn't", making the ideas, things, and people of the now infinitely more important. This is an area that is neglected by older generations. Living for the future or dwelling in the past can be just as harmful to relationships and ourselves. If there is one thing we can all agree on, it is that what is happening now is happening for sure, and therefore we should invest our most in that moment. Best regards, Mr. Pink.

Slack Power

2010-08-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

Ready to get your slack power on? This guy most certainly is.

This ad from the early 70's employs the ethos, pathos, and logos in some remarkably funky ways. If a brother would just take a look, they can clearly see the use of pathos. This undeniably attractive male is showing off well haired and toned chest (but not the pants are too far up to see his undoubtedly chiseled abs), and sending the sublime message to other men that "if you buys these slacks, you will be a buff dude like me." To the sure to be swooning ladies, he says, "this is what groovy men look like; support these pants."

Though tugging on our sexstrings as opposed to our heartstrings, the logical appeal may be a bit more comforting for those of us feeling woefully inadequate after analyzing this picture for quite some time. If the common man or crossdressing lady happened upon this ad and didn't want their pants in this shnazzy plaid, then they wouldn't fret, because these slacks "come in a mighty medley of plaids, stripes, checks, and solids." And they're only ten dollars! Logically, for the best selection and lowest prices, any slack shopper could only shop at H.I.S.

Finally though, comes the serious part, as well as the seriously manipulative part. In the wake of the turbulent 60's the culture of counterculture began to emerge. The African American, hippie, and rock and roll subcultures were being looked down upon and suppressed, and therefore, out of these groups arose anti-establishment sentiments. "Slack Power" is obviously a play on the subversive orginization, the Black Panthers, slogan "Black Power". Soon enough, it became hip to be unpopular or put down. To be disliked by the social elite was to be desirable. That explains why these pants are call "Anti-Establishment Post-Grad Slacks." The post grad part further emphasizing that the counterculture is righteous in their values of equality and reason. That a black male is marketing slacks that designate a college graduate at this time is quite a statement. But remember, it's the governments and the corporations, man! They're just twisting your mind! They don't care about the cause; they just want you to surrender to the system!

Relevant Adventures in the Realm of Darkon?

2010-08-08T21:57:00.000-07:00

How about you decide? If you, faithful blog reader (haha, yeah right), have and hour and thirty minutes to spare, then you might find this documentary interesting or at least entertaining. Then again, its possible you may not so you're taking your life in your own hands by clicking that link.

Too dramatic? These men and women wouldn't think so. They are the subject of the film Darkon. All are middle class workers in the Baltimore area who pretend to be fantasy wizards, elves or warriors each weekend in the made up realm of Darkon. Mending their homemade armor and weapons, anxiously awaiting the next Darkon event, they lead average lives in suburbia and then dress up outrageously for a jaunt in the woods with their role playing comrades. The film centers primarily around the home life of Skip, a stay at home dad managing his three kids, and then his alter ego Bannor, lord of the country of Laconia. While Skip makes Halloween costumes and deals with his children and makes dinner, Bannor strikes out on an epic quest to bring down the evil empire of Mordom. Kenyan, also known as Keldar the terrible, is the ruthless leader of Mordom and also a ruthless investor. While the two go head to head in Darkon, it is extremely intriguing to observe how they're role playing days have affected their personal lives. While Darkon helped Kenyan gain confidence, it kept Skip from keeping a job. The strain that such behavior can sometimes cause shows in this film, yet also the friendships that people and characters gain in their fantasy land can positively lead into real life.

However, there is always the fear that the two will become indiscernible. What is reality and what is fantasy? And more importantly, the question is raised: Does it even matter which is which?

Another Blog Post About Radiohead (I must conceal my obsession)

2010-07-23T15:23:00.001-07:00

I've said a great many things about Radiohead, and there are people who are probably sick of me saying a great many things about Radiohead, but I shall say some more.

Radiohead is a band that I would say could be described as "spectacular." There, now you all know how I feel about them, and that is why I have chosen to write about their album O.K. Computer.

The overarching theme of this album is the well known, crazy person idealism of not wanting to waste one's life. Song by song seems like the best way to dissect this complex work of art, so bear with me as we take a magical journey through the world of Radiohead's O.K. Computer...

The album starts off with the sleigh bells and soaring guitar melody of "Airbag," a not-quite-typical pump up song that dances around the mixolydian mode (the type of scale most upbeat rock songs are in). The lyrics describe a man (or woman, i suppose) being 'born again' and being very excited about 'saving the universe' and such optimistic topics.

Then the music takes an more interesting turn with the song "Paranoid Android." Driving percussion makes the album seem more sinister already. Acoustic guitars and shakers make this song seem deceptively mellow, but the lyrics are angry. Somebody feels rejected. Perhaps his optimistic lease on life is not easy to keep up in this society. Then the song explodes into electronic noises and overdriven guitars. The 'hero' is overwhelmed.

The next tune, "Subterranean Homesick Alien", is a play off of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" which plainly describes modern society. The 'hero' doesn't want anything to do with that, calling for aliens to come take him away from this 'uptight world'. The spacey and psychedelic music goes well with his attempts to phone home.

"Exit Music (For a Film)" uses sound bites from film scores to create an atmosphere of a dramatic movie ending, and the hero 'tries to escape' from the oppressive 'rules and wisdom' of modern society. Obviously the aliens didn't come for him and as if to express that he's still angry, the last lines of the song are directed towards his unspecified enemy, 'we hope that you choke, that you choke.'

It's fairly easy to get the meaning of the next song, "Let Down." This song is of course about how our titular 'hero' feels let down. The melody seems to always be falling, as if he's considering giving up.

"Karma Police" is a piano driven song that describes part of what is letting the hero down. The lyrics describe people who are unaccepting of others, people who don't conform to society. The 'karma police' come to take them away. Their judgmental attitudes condemn the 'others' to a lesser plane of existence.

And then the curveball of the album, "Fitter Happier," shows that, at least subconsciously, the hero realizes what is wrong. In a robotic voice against a backdrop of abstract snippets of 'daily life', the lyrics speak of a 'fitter, happier' individual. This individual has a 'good job', has a 'full life', and 'is stable.' Underneath though, it is clear that this character has lost his soul in the flow of modern life. Finally though, his description becomes more and more metaphorical, and the final line goes, 'fitter, healthier, and more productive, like a pig in a cage on antibiotics.'

Cataloging another problem with society in our hero's big book of complaints, "Electioneering" is a song about political falseness and futility. Nobody makes a difference, and that is shown in the chorus while one singer sings an ascending major scale and another sings a descending one musically as well as literally saying, 'i go forwards, you go backwards, and somewhere we will meet.'

"Climbing Up the Walls" has to be the creepiest song on the album. With horror movie lyrics and distorted voice effects, it seems to be the hero's subconscious speaking. The hero doesn't seem to realize it, but he's slipping into what he hates. He's just feeling sorry for himself and not actually doing anything with his life.

This leads perfectly into "No Surprises" which shows that the hero, whilst wasting his time complaining about society has fallen completely into it's trap. He's simply gone along with it all, hoping for a way out. He has 'a job that slowly kills him', a 'quiet life', a 'pretty house and a pretty garden'. He just wants no alarms and no surprises.

The penultimate song on the album, "Lucky" is a cry for help. He's too far gone, with too many ties to his boring life. He cries for somebody to pull him out, 'pull me out of the air crash, pull me out of the rain.' He is still pathetically referring to himself as a the 'super hero' out to 'save the universe.' But we all know that he's helpless, and just another one of societies countless losers.

The last song, "The Tourist" is not really the last song at all, which I'll explain in a second. This tune is a slow song with lyrics that describe the hero as moving too fast. 'Hey man, slow down, idiot, slow down' somebody is yelling at him far in the back of his mind. The song is so lackadaisical, that we imagine the hero has completely given up and has resigned himself to a meaningless life. The lyrics speak as if he is driving a car too quickly, but they could be more metaphorical than that. And then, the song ends suddenly.

Now, if listened to back in the 90's when this album came out, we would listen to it on a CD player. CD players return to the first song immediately after the last one, so hearing this correctly, "Airbag" would start after "The Tourist." It's as if the abrupt ending to "The Tourist" was a car crash, and the "Airbag" saved his life. He's back now, and has survived a near-death experience. He is truly 'born again' this time, and is out to 'save the universe' once again. But the question is, will he give in again, or this time... will he really do it?

Sports Illustrated Suicide by Rationality

2010-07-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

"Haha. How did this get by the editors?"
-Sean Mason Roulier Esquire, after having read the article "Seven Days in the Life of Catastrophe" in Sports Illustrated.

I don't usually read Sport Illustrated, but one day whilst bored out of my mind, I picked up a copy laying on the couch and flipped to a random page. This page started the article "Seven Days in the Life of a Catastrophe" by Gary Smith. Gary's boss apparently instructed him to go down to the Gulf of Mexico to write a story about how sport fishing has gone completely dead there, obviously as a result of the massive BP oil spill, but the story became much more than that, having to do with sports very little at all.

The article details the seven days that Gary spent in Louisiana speaking with and observing the hardships of the locals. However, throughout the entire article, he sneaks in little snippets of sports radio shows he is listening to in the car.

"Did you see LeBron last night?" "The Lakers and Celtics should apologize to us!" "What everyone's talking about is Nebraska leaving the Big 12 and going to the Big Ten!"

The announcers and talk show hosts babbled on about pointless games while the people of the gulf went through hell as their livelihoods and homes were destroyed. Rallies were held to raise awareness, but nobody came. An old man lost the only link to the past he had left when he had to stop fishing. People fought over who got to keep working with BP and friendships were ended. All the while, people elsewhere were only worried about sports.

The message that Gary tried to establish was this, as he writes, "Obsessing over Nebraska and LeBron, over fun and games, was a luxury that evolved because we had all those things (air, water, soil, food, shelter, education)." In essence, it became a story about how sports are pointless, and they distract people from real life, from real tragedy. Gary Smith realized that telling a sports story wasn't quite as important as telling a real story. How this got published in Sports Illustrated, I'll never know.

six word stories and a lovely picture of me

2010-06-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Of Mice and Men Word Analysis

2010-05-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Analysis of Detail
Steinbeck uses nature as a form of character analysis. For example, "the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green." The deep describing the river could also describe George, who is wise and street-smart after having taken care of Lenny for so long. Lenny would identify more with the green. Green meaning new and innexperienced. Because Lenny has the mind of a child, he is "green" compared to George. Secondly, "slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains." At first glance, Lenny would seem like the strong one, so tall and sturdily built. He is a strong a mountain. However, because Lenny knows so little, he needs George to take care of him. George becomes his mountain. And finally, "the limb is worn smooth by men who have sat on it." George is worn because of his constant protection of Lenny, saving from danger and teaching him the right ways to do basic activities. Because of this, perhaps, Lenny has stayed smooth, not learning and experiencing events as he should. George's protectiveness could be hurting Lenny.

Analysis of Tone
The tone of the novel could be described as unfortunate or dire. For an example of the unfortunate circumstances and attitude that drive this story forward, page 12: "George still stared morosely at the fire. 'When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace.'" George's position is unfortunate because his cannot enjoy his free time like so many of the other ranch-hands. All of this energy is spent protecting Lenny. The same feeling is expressed in another quote from George: "Well, we ain't got any," George exploded. "Whatever we ain't got, that's what you want. God a'mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want…" While George's situation is difficult, Lenny's is just as troubling. Lennie has a mental condition that keeps him from understanding things on a rational level, and it's nobody's fault, just a cruel twist of fate, and therefore unfortunate. Another possible tone word would be dire. For example, "The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again. Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering." Only dire circumstances would lead to such actions, and they are scattered throughout the book, such as with this quote, "Well, that girl rabbits in an' tells the law she been raped. The guys in Weed start a party out to lynch Lennie. So we sit in a irrigation ditch under water all the rest of that day. Got on'y our head sticking out from the side of the ditch. An' that night we scrammed outta there." These all contribute to the tone being dire.

Analysis of Theme
The theme that best represents the plot of this book is summed up in the following sentence. Keeping your brother will not be easy and may sometimes take strange forms. While that may seem to ramble, it seems to fit the tone relatively well. As for unfortunate, George keeps his brother (Lennie) though he stops him from having fun most of the time. As for dire, when George shoots Lennie, he is still "keeping his brother." By killing Lennie, he was showing mercy because the other ranch-hands would have tortured Lennie. Though this was a hard decision, it turned out to be the right one.

Migrant Mother

2010-05-24T07:08:00.000-07:00

After analyzing Dorothia Lange's Migrant Mother photgraphs, the part that kept my attention turned out the be the expression on the mother's face. The expression is not of sadness, it's not of worry, it's not even an expression of anger at her family's depressing state. The expression seems to be one of being deep in thougtht. It is as if she has switched to complete survival-mode. Nothing matters anymore except for acquiring food for her children and saving them from starvation. She surely must be planning and debating the best way to go about this in the photo.

She's a grizzly bear protecting her cubs, a gorrila sheilding its young, a sea turtle burying its eggs. This is how I read the migrant mother's face. Hardened by hardship, yet it wont give up for its offspring's sake.

Animals in Animal Farm?

2010-05-24T06:52:00.000-07:00

Orwell's decision to use animals to play out his parable of counterproductive revolution was not all that original. He simply played off of Aesop's fables in which animal stereotypes were used to tell stories about people.

Orwell uses pigs (dirty and wanting) to describe the greedy, power-hungry people who joined the communist party to exploit the simple russian peasants. He uses sheep (uninteligent) to portray the uneducated masses. He uses a horse (strong) to show the hard working ideals of the proletariat. And finally he employs dogs (viscious and blindly trusting) to be Stalin's harsh secret police.

These parallels are clearly drawn because animals are familiar and through our culture, the seem to represent archetypes. This translates well to Animal Farm, because though it has a complex plot and length, it is at heart a simple lesson.

The Giver Review

2010-05-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

"Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness. Before my time, before the previous time, back and back and back. We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with difference. We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others."

-The Giver, Lois Lowry's "The Giver"

Lois Lowry's acclaimed novel "The Giver" stunned and warned me while it painted a picture of a bleak future that is completely and totally under control.

At the begining of the novel, Jonas is satisfied with his controlled society. He never feels pain and all of his needs are accounted for. Then the day comes when his vocation will be selected by the community elders. Jonas is chosen to become the next Giver, the most honored occupation in the community. However, he doesn't realize what the job entails. As Jonas recieves more and more memories of the world's past, he begins to question whether his community is really perfect without all the freedom that people used to enjoy many years ago.

Though this book explores some fascinating themes, the storytelling doesn't isn't quite up to par. I found myself becoming bored with this book on a few occasions, because Lowry attempts to drive the story through deeper relationships, but it is hard to do that when most of the characters are feelingless drones. Aside from that, this book is a worthwhile read for those who enjoy the failed utopia strain of books by Orwell or Bradburry.

Synthesis Essay Survey

2010-05-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

If you would kindly take this survey for my English class...

Thank you for your time and attention.

CROSS-EXAMINATION

2010-04-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

DA = Ditrict Atorney
SR = Sean Roulier

DA: Sean Roulier... is it true that you just sat around and did absolutely nothing at all for three hours yesterday?

SR: Yes. Why is that a problem?

DA: Look, I'm asking the questions here.

SR: You're asking stupid questions. Of course I did that. You're the distric atorney, you've done your research I suppose. Why would you ask me a question about something you already know?

DA: This is a grave offense! You shouldn't take it so lightly!

SR: You sir, need to calm down. My mental processes were still going. Just because I didn't get anything accomplished doesn't mean that it was a waste of time.

DA: You're being very defensive.

SR: You're being very confrontational.

DA: Um, I don't like you very much.

SR: Big deal. I'm hungry, do you have any goldfish? I have an unsatiable hunger for the snack that smiles back.

DA: No. I do not have any goldfish.

SR: See, now we're getting nowhere. Can I leave?

DA: I guess so. I guess we're done here?

SR: Yeah, I'll see you later.

This should be the final poem, so don't worry

2010-04-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

this one's about fish:

There he is,
the poor little fish
that gets it

from the big
ones. it meaning that
he gets eaten.

(Disclaimer: These stanzas were shaped like fish, but then blogger wouldn't keep them that way, and I don't know how to make it cooperate, so I understand if you are a tad bit disappointed.)

Celebration, another poem.

2010-04-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

What is it that I would Celebrate?
The chance to write a poem as a well deserved break
for that is much easier than making plans
and writing out a well thought out digital rant.

Don't get me wrong, about how much I love to blog
and show the world what I hope and what I'm dreaming of
but surely now you wouldn't want to do this all the time
My ideas and my fancies are mine, selfishly mine.

So when such a chance to slack off a bit and write a simple poem
comes my way with arms waving and welcomes me home
to my mellow, peaceful place where I need not worry about school
I would take it immediately for I am no fool.

Hark! A Poem!

2010-03-31T10:27:00.001-07:00

Here's a poem that I wrote in response to a Paul Lawrence Dunbar poem. You know that one, "We Wear the Mask." I wrote this one called "Do We Wear the Mask?"

Judge for yourself
Do I wear the mask?
Come in closer to discover
You need only to ask

But tie a rope around your waist
Let the bread crumbs trail behind
You may know not what to do
With the truth that you find

Do we wear the mask?
It's our duty to discern
To reach out to each other's lives
Although we may never return

Yeah! There's some high class poetry! I just love reading and writing poems and then posting these poems for all to see!

(sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm)

St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's Day doesn't mean anything to me personally, not even the ceremonial wearing of green since one can always counter with the kindergarden answer of "I'm wearing green underwear." If anything, it is a day to be looked down upon, because St. Patrick, as with many so called "saints" was another forceful converter.

What I mean is that he led a particularly nasty attack on the druids of Ireland. Sure, they were leaders of the pagan religion, but also, they were the record keepers and philosophers and doctors and intellectuals of the Celts. Patrick's speeches and lessons led the people into open revolt against the druids and because of this, much early Irish history and writing is lost. Here we have just another example of Christian ignorance of other cultures, and that's nothing to be celebrated.

Persuasion

2010-03-13T12:39:00.000-08:00

I don't try to persuade people all that much, unless I feel they are willing to change their minds, and usually, people just want to continue believing the same thing that they have been. They are afraid of change, or are just afraid to be wrong.

Don't get me wrong, I'm just as afraid to be wrong (was that a bit redundant?), but that's OK because I'm not wrong all that often. I've got about a 91% chance of being right.

Anyway, a technique that I use to persuade people on the off chance that I feel like doing so, is the obnoxious and continual "why?". I'll keep on asking why they think something until the root of the belief is reached, and it is discovered to be something completely stupid or pointless. However, such is the nature of belief.

And on that meaningless, yet philosophical seeming note, I'll end this post...

the commitment, the determination, the pressure, the privilege, the reward...

2010-03-03T07:14:00.001-08:00

What would I put a whole lot of effort into?

Not much, at least if we're talking about Olympic sized effort. I definitely wouldn't put it into curling or bobsledding, that's for sure. Maybe I would put that much effort into my music. That's what I naturally do well, so I feel more motivated to do it. I assume that is how the curlers and bobsledders must feel. They probably went out to their local curling rink or bobsled run and tried it out and were good at it. So they go home and watch either Evil Santa or Cool Runnings (whichever movie corresponds with their obscure winter sport) and then commit their lives to their sport. I love music and I watched Gladiator and wanted to commit more to my music. Wait a second, Gladiator isn't about music... Maybe to key to committing to Olympic effort is not watching an activity specific movie, but watching Gladiator. Yeah, if this post didn't make any sense to you, then perhaps you should go watch Gladiator. Maybe you should watch it even if this did make sense to you. I suppose that the theme of this post is twofold: People would rather pour effort into things that they are good at, and go watch Gladiator.

BEING A WINNER

2010-03-01T06:16:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing that can be said about winners in general, it is that they win things. I'm sure that these winners feel pretty good after a win, and I would too. After Kobiachi wins a hotdog eating contest, he goes to the bathroom for a while and goes to some press conferences and then goes home and feels good about himself. Well, that is all fine and dandy, but the unfortunate truth of the matter is that most contests that result in winners and losers are not really worth anything.

That is, they aren't really worth anything to anybody that is not involved. The kinds of wins that last, however, are ones that transcend the barriers of the contest. An example of this would be the American civil war. The fact that somebody won meant that the nation could be whole again and start regrowth. Well, I'm not sure that this is the best example of what I'm attempting to say, but the point is, that the north won the struggle. Congratulations. But by winning, a country was changed for the better and justice was served and slaves were freed and a way of life was preserved.

The contest that I am most proud of winning would have to be a little game we had at my church in which I had to get some trivia questions right. Well, I did, but the glory and the honor were not the important consequences. The Quiznos roast-beef sandwich was the real prize. My win had transcended the barriers of my stomach and had served me well. Now that is a victory we can all rejoice in.

Awesome?

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

Dinosaurs + Lasers = Awesome

Here, check it out --> WOAH, THIS IS COOL.

Hmm, well, I suppose I should say a little more than that. I'll be explaining my viewpoint using some Ionescan logic. If you need to know what I'm talking about there, take a look at this --> THIS. Here we go:

OK, so if dinosaurs are gigantic reptiles that eat each other then we can logically assume that they are awesome, and if lasers are rays of condensed light so powerful that they can cut through metal, then we can also assume that these are both awesome. Awesome plus awesome equals double-awesome, which still falls safely inside the awesome category. Thank you for your time and attention.

Book Review for Mostly Harmless (Taking a Stand)

2010-01-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

"A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."

-Mostly Harmless, Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams' Mostly Harmless is the last novel in his Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, which I would have to say is my favorite series that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. However, it ends on an unfortunately distasteful note.

The story follows the continuing adventures of Arthur Dent as he is living on the a peaceful pre-industrialized planet where he is the chief sandwhich-maker. He discovers that the Hitchiker's Guide offices have switched him to a parralel universe, and in this universe, he has had a child with his initial love interest, Trillian. When his new found daughter runs away from him, he decides to stop just blindly following the lead of Ford Prefect, his much more knowledgeable alien friend (which has been working out pretty well for him so far), and instead take matters into his own hands. This course of action results in disastrous consequences for Arthur, Trillian, and their daughter, as well as the planet Earth.

The idea that Adams is attempting to push forward is that we should all relax and go with the flow. When the main character takes his destiny into his own hands, he destroys his life as opposed to the peaceful existence he had been enjoying previously.

I have heard that Eion Colfer is writing a more satisfying ending to the "trilogy" as the series is continually referred to even though it consists of five books. Though, I'm not sure that Colfer can live up to Adams' humorous and distinctive writing style, a more satisfying ending would certainly bring this amazing series into a better light for me. This book being the "last" in the series, I would encourage everybody who plans to read it to read the first four books first, then get back to me about whether Colfer's is worth continuing on, because the series could have easily ended on four. If you want to take a risk and see what happens when Aurthur Dent takes his life into his own hands, then by all means, do so, but be warned that this is the least satisfactory in an outstanding series by an outstanding author.

When Did I Stand Up For Anything?

2010-01-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

Never, that's when.

Maybe I don't stand up for anything because I don't have anything to stand up for. I live in the Bible Belt, where nobody will ever put you down for your faith. That is, unless you are a dirty Athiest, Bhudist, Hindu, Muslim, or any other religion except for Protestant Christianity. I can't stand up for my little brother getting made fun of because he's one of the "cool kids." I don't need to stand up for myself because I really am not worried about what anybody has to say to me about what I'm doing wrong. If it is something consequential that I deem worthy, I'll change it. If it is something that really doesn't matter, I'll ignore it. I'm not going to make a big deal out of some sort of dissaproval of my ways.

Maybe I don't stand up for anything because when somebody stands up, they are put down. It is as if life is a huge ironing board and any and every wrinkle is ironed out the momment it appears, unless wrinkles somehow become fashionable, and then all the flat parts must be wrinkled or they'll whip out the Wrinklifier (tm)on them. The flow of time is so resistant to change that no one man can do a thing to stop it. Only years and years of work with help from many, many people can effect the world.

Maybe I don't stand up for anything because my legs are tired and this chair is comfortable, or because if I stand up, I'll hit my head on a lamp. Sure, I could move it out of the way, but really, is it so bad where it is? Is sitting down right now really that harmful? Is it even harmful at all? This fabric of this arm chair is extremely soft, and check it out, it even reclines...

Somebody Who Stood Up For Something

2010-01-19T06:28:00.000-08:00

LEON TROTSKY

Yep, Leon Trotsky, that dang commie. Okay, now that we are done with the ceremonial, socialist bashing for the day, the real work can begin...

After Lenin successfully overthrew the Tsar in Russia, the fledgling communist government was working as semi-orderly as any government after a revolution. However, because of some dangerous Tsarists still loitering about, actions had to be taken to subdue the lingering opposition. These harsh tactics led to more and more opposition and more and more harsh fighting which eventually led to a civil war. When Lenin died, one of two party leaders where set to take his place: Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin.

Trotsky wanted to stop this downward spiral of violence and focus on the world revolution that was close at hand. He believed in the key socialist ideals, but also used to be in one of the more liberal opposition parties. He was a great orator, mediator, theorist and general, and Lenin himself supported his succession. Stalin was the exact opposite. He was violent, not intellectual, backhanded and not nearly as effective of a leader. However, he had the one thing that Trotsky didn't have, and that was lots of stuck up beurocrats on his side. That is,a large group of party members who were greedy for more and more power. When the time came for a vote, Stalin won, and Trotsky, even though he had fought so hard against him, had a choice. Would he sacrife his ideals and use violence as a means to gain his power, or would he simply submit, but keep his integrity and the integrity of the old socialist party intact?

Trotsky submitted to the party and was eventually exiled when Stalin's rise to dictatorship was complete. He had fought and lost, but he had fought, and in his innaction, he had protected the integrity of his values.

Well, now that I'm done with that, I should probably go participate in the biweekly commie burning here in the good old United States. Excuse me while I get my torch...

Julius Ceaser Review

2009-12-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

"This was the noblest Roman of them all;
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He, only, in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, 'This was a man!"
-Mark Antony speaking of Brutus from "Julius Caesar"

Shakespeare's play, "Julius Caesar," satisfies all of the desires of any Shakespeare reader, betrayal, action, redemption.

In Shakespeare's interpretation of the assassination and aftermath of Julius Caesar, Caesar is a prideful Roman patrician that the people love. The envious Cassius, convinces Caesar's friend Brutus, a respected Roman, to join the underground movement to assassinate Caesar. After this goes down, things get out of hand with Caesar's vengeful general Mark Antony. Brutus must learn to cope with the regret of killing his friend.

This play also has its share of suicides also, which, if you're into that type of thing, may add to the experience. The story opens, runs, and ends with that typical Shakespearean logic which takes all of the story elements, and nicely ties them off with a big loop at the end. Bravo.

Book Review for Great Expectations

2009-12-18T06:56:00.000-08:00

"That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."
-Pip, from Great Expectations

Charles Dickens' novel, "Great Expectations," awed me with it's incredible scope, and ability to balance humor with tragedy.

The story begins with the orphan, Pip, being raised to be a blacksmith with his sister and her husband. After many various, mysterious, encounters with people of high social standing, Pip is sent the message that he is to be made into a gentleman. Who could have done this? Was it the dreary Miss Havisham with her beautiful adopted daughter Estelle? And even more pressing is the question, why?

I have not been a huge fan of Charles Dickens after reading "A Tale of Two Cities." However, the novel redeemed him in my eyes. It was an exceedingly plotted novel, with twists and turns that leave you satisfied. Until the end, that is, but I'll let you read that for yourself.

I would recommend this book to anybody who likes books about people's lives. Books in which the narrator tells his whole life story leaving no loose ends.

Since Connor Did It, So Shall I

2009-12-18T05:14:00.000-08:00

Connor, for his topic of choice, chose the best guitarist list. I figured that I should probably help set things straight since he no doubt put down a zillion death metal guitarists or something along those lines. And now without further ado... Another List of Greatest Guitarists!

1. Jimmy Page: Now I'm not just going off of "Stairway to Heaven" here. I have heard every single song by Led Zeppelin and (until their last album, on which Jimmy was far to whacked out on heroin to actually add anything) I love every single song they wrote. Jimmy Page's guitar is not only shows top notch skill, but also top notch creativity.

2. Eddie Van Halen: Yeah, he's good, just watch a video of him sometime.

3. Jimi Hendrix: Let's just get him out of the way quickly so that people don't make some kind of big stupid deal out of him not being first. He didn't have great guitar work, but he had his shining moments (Castles Made of Sand, All Along the Watchtower) and those were good enough to get him on my list.

4. Donald Roeser: This guitarist, one of the guitarists for the Blue Oyster Cult, was a versatile riff-master, there can be no denying that, he was the guitarist for some of my favorite songs of theirs, such as "Don't Fear the Reaper," "Dance on Stilts," and "Eye of Peace."

5. Eddie Hazel: Eddie Hazel is on here because he is maybe the most soulful guitarist I have heard. Playing for the likes of Parliament and Funkadelic, his most powerful work of pure soul-funk-extreme-awesomeness is the ten minute guitar solo "Maggot Brain."

6. Phil Keagy: Mostly playing guitar for Christian ensembles, Phil Keagy was still a master guitarist. His acoustic instrumentals are where he really shines.

7. Dave Beegle: This is basically Phil Keagy, minus the skill (just a little bit) and up the ferocity. Dave Beegle plays with acoustic and electric bands and rocks in all of them.

8. David Gillmore: The guitarist from Pink Floyd was not the fastest guitar player, but he may have been one of the most effective because of his choice of notes. Usually playing in strange scales, he creates great solos and also just great music.

9. Eric Clapton: If only for "White Room," here he is. I love that song like a lemon loves citric acids.

10. Jeff Beck: Taking the last place on my list isn't so bad, as exemplified by Jeff Beck. He is a versatile guitarist that only grew in his solo work since the days of the Yardbirds with Clapton and Page.

Leadership...

2009-12-18T05:03:00.000-08:00

What makes a leader good? Well, first of all, he must have THE GREAT in his name. No, wait, that comes afterward. Aha! I know. A good leader must be organized, must have a vision, and must be inspiring.

Firstly, Organization is key in any leadership role, because if the leader isn't organized, then whatever he's leading surely wont be, and therefore can't be nearly as effective. Secondly, a leader must believe in his cause. If he does not, then all of his actions are second rate; his cause isn't worth the total of his energy and time. If you are a leader and you are being matched up with the greatest of all time, then you are going to need to try harder then that! Finally, a great leader must be inspiring. They could possibly posses every other great leadership quality, but if they do not have a following, then they aren't even leaders. Lack of inspiration will lose a leader their following surely and simply, and that is probably why inspiration is the most important key to good leadership.

Thanksgiving

2009-12-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

This is the Thanksgiving post, a little late, but who actually wants Thanksgiving to end? Except for PITA, that is.

1. I'm thankful for contractions, because they shorten words for me, and there's nothing wrong with them grammatically.
2. I'm thankful for microwaves, the inventions of the century.
3. I'm thankful that the world has lasted so far. 2012, here we come.
4. I'm thankful for sarcasm.
5. I'm thankful for scurvy killing off all of the pirates. It used to be pretty dangerous around here.
6. I'm thankful for Indiana Jones saving the treasures of the past!
7. I'm thankful for food.
8. I'm thankful for thanks, so that I can get some gratitude every once in a while.
9. I'm thankful for death controling the population (there's nothing grusome about that. How would you like to be crowded in with a gizilion, trilion people)
10. I'm thankful for Scooby Doo. That's just a great show.

Book Review for Ted Dekker's Three

2009-12-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

“Indeed,” Dr. Francis said, “Can man step beyond evil's reach? I think not. Not in this lifetime.”

“Then all men are condemned to a life of evil,” Kevin said.

“A lifetime struggle with evil, not a life of evil,” Dr. Francis clarified.

-Kevin talking to Dr. Francis, from Three by Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker's novel, Three, starts out as a philosophical dive into the truth of human nature, turns into an explosion filled action story, and ends as a satisfying mixture of the two.

Three chronicles the story of Kevin Parson, a seminary student with a mysterious past. When he receives a phone call from a man called Slater, telling him that, unless he admits his sin to the world, his car will explode. And he only has three minutes. Kevin doesn't even know what sin he is supposed to admit, and so the threat sends him back into his past, tearing his life apart in the process.

The novel is exciting and surprising, yet it still allows the reader to ponder the plot. If you enjoy stories with big twists, then you'll love this book; Ted Dekker even manages to twist his own twists. This book is actually a fairly impressively plotted, and should therefore not be written off as just another useless thriller.

I would recommend this book to anybody that likes thrillers, because this one goes above and beyond the call of duty, by being thoughtful as well as exciting.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Favorite Habit?

2009-11-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

What was my favorite habit from Sean Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens"?

Obviously it was Sharpen the Saw, because if the almighty Sean Covey tells me to relax, I'm all for that. It's certainly a better deal than the almighty Sean Covey telling me to think about others. Don't get me wrong, helping others is fine and all, but relaxation is what I do best. Of course, I could work more on it. If I took more time for R&R instead of work though, who knows how effective of a teen I might become. The sky's the limit!

As Sean Covey himself says on page 167, "I didn't care how much he knew, because he hadn't shown me that he cared."

Hmm, well, I'm sure he said something more profound than that, but right now, I don't remember anything. So yeah...

MUSIC IS A GOOD THING

2009-11-04T10:27:00.000-08:00

Well, as you can see by the title, the internet has just told you that music is a good thing. What will you do with this information? If you are a dedicated internet worshiper as I asume that you must be, then start listening to some music!

Here's a list the top ten ablums (in my opinion) for your enjoyment.

1. Dark Side of the Moon- Pink Floyd

2. Eldorado- Electric Light Orchestra

3. Parachute- The Pretty Things

4. Oracular Spectacular- MGMT

5. Houses of the Holy- Led Zeppelin

6. At War with the Mystics- The Flaming Lips

7. O.K. Computer- Radiohead

8. The Satanic Satanist- Portugal. the Man

9. Meddle- Pink Floyd

10. Led Zeppelin III- Led Zeppelin (obviously)

Book Review for the Fountainhead

2009-10-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

"Do you mean to tell me that you're thinking seriously of building that way, when and if you are an architect? "
" Yes "
" My dear fellow, who will let you? "
" That's not the point. The point is, who will stop me? "

Howard Roark speaking to the Dean of the architectural school, Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead impressed me, even though I might not have agreed while-heartedly with its moral themes.

The story of the Fountainhead covers a broad pallet of characters who, by the end of the book, seem to be more similar to one another than previously thought. The conflict involves the genius architect Howard Roark, and the society bent on destroying him. Throughout his struggle he changes very little, but changes the lives of all those around him. The way it is written allows the reader to join in that struggle and fight alongside him; it is certainly a very uplifting book.

However, Ayn Rand's view is certainly biased towards the more gifted among us and is subject to frequent philosophical rants. If the speeches were camouflaged into the story a bit more flawlessly, then I could have forgiven her, but as things stand, this will most likely be a love-hate book for the majority of readers. Personally, I'm torn. I can't tell if this is a masterpiece or the worst thing that I've ever read, but I would encourage everyone to read it. After all, that is the message of the whole book, “Think with your own mind, and don't let anybody tell you what to do.”

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be challenged to look at themselves and ask, “Am I the best I can be?” and then be able to answer themselves truthfully.

Book Review for Frankenstein

2009-10-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

"'from that moment [he] declared everlasting war against the species, and more than all, against [Frankenstein] who had formed [him] and sent [him] forth to this insupportable misery.'"

About Frankenstein's monster, from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein surprised me with its interesting story and stimulating moral questions.

I read this at first because I had to read something in class and I was under the impression that I already knew everything about it from the various movie adaptations that I had seen. I was completely wrong. In this book, Dr. Frankenstein doesn't own a castle, and the monster is an intelligent being, not a drooling idiot. Therefore, the story becomes much less cheesy. Frankenstein is an imaginative young man that , in his quest to unlock the secrets of nature, creates life. However, his creation is disgusting and dangerous so he, and all who come in contact with his monster, are automatically prejudiced against it. It is a tale, overall, of Frankenstein taking responsibility for his actions, as well as his monster's struggle to be accepted.

Frankenstein is a haunting tale with profound moral implications, especially in this day and age. With the scientific community being close to cloning a human being, what responsibilities will its creators have? What struggles will it endure?

I would recommend this book to anybody tat is interested in philosophical books, novels that don't just present a well plotted story, but also deep questions for us to ponder.

Book Review for The Invisible Man

2009-10-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

“Alone – it is wonderful how little a man can do alone! To rob a little, to hurt a little, and then there is the end.”
o Dr. Griffin, of The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man would come in at second of my favorite H.G. Well's books (after The Island of Dr. Moreau) because, while it does not include the same spectacular thrills of his other novels, the book does hit home on a more personal level by focusing more on a singular man, rather than on the future or annihilation of our race.
The story of the Invisible Man begins with the cold, but inventive, Dr. Griffin attempting to find a cure for his self inflicted invisibility. What at first seemed like a grand idea, quickly becomes the doctor's undoing. As events unfold, Griffin enlists the help of several innocent bystanders who eventually become the objects of his wrath, as they are driven off by his every increasing insanity.
While the overarching sense that one receives from this novel is pity, it reminds us how easily people can become monsters. Wells seems to push the thought that if we are prompted in the wrong direction, then we will stumble down that path blindly.
Though it is ,at first, difficult to read of Dr. Griffin's descent into madness, it is also fascinating and, at some points, even humorous. Even as the subject matter becomes more and more dark and disturbing, the novel continues to be a good read, as is the case with most of Wells' books.
I would recommend this book for fans of psychological novels such as Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, as well as for fans of non-space related science fiction.

Book Review for Slaugherhouse 5

2009-09-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

"He is in a constant state of stage fright, he says, because he never knows what part of his life he is going to have to act in next."
- About Billy Pilgrim, Slaughterhouse 5

Kurt Vonnegurt’s Slaughterhouse 5 intrigued me because of the startling views that it held on human nature and the concept of time.
Slaughterhouse 5 details the fictional account of Billy Pilgrim, who is an ordinary person that becomes “unstuck in time”. He is a soldier in World War I, and eventually becomes an optometrist back in the United States. Because of his condition (that is, living his life out of order), he has a hard time discovering who he really is and the motives of those around him.
Help arrives, however, in the shape of the strange aliens who abduct him and bring him to their intergalactic zoo. There he discovers the intricacy of time and fact that humans have a very limited view of existence.
I would recommend this book to fans of George Orwell and writers like him because it challenges our preconceived notions of society.

Post 1: the begining

2009-09-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

I'm just doing this for an English class, and I need post something so bare with me. No, I'm just kidding, don't take your clothes off. That would be inappropriate.

Well, if anybody is awkwardly reading this out there in the world of the Internet, don't worry. I was just trying to tell a joke to lighten the mood because I have some shocking news to tell you.

The Reptilian overlords have finally done it. They have taken over the world completely, and if anybody out there is still not under their influence, oh no, oh no! They're coming! Help! Help! They're dragging me away from the computer while I'm typing this! Ahhhhhh!

No, I'm not really being serious. If there really was an intelligent reptilian species out there, then they would have taken us over by now. Honestly guys, they're probably like Aquaman and can talk to crocodiles. I'll believe it when you show me the giant crocodile army coming to eat me. That would be sweet. I would love the chance to go Rambo on an army of talking crocodiles.

If only Steve Irwin was here to save us.