Notes #8

All Day Long by: Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)

All day long in fog and wind, The waves have flung their beating crests Against the palisades of adamant. My boy, he went to sea, long and long ago, Curls of brown were slipping underneath his cap, He looked at me from blue and steely eyes; Natty, straight and true, he stepped away, My boy, he went to sea. All day long in fog and wind, The waves have flung their beating crests Against the palisades of adamant.   Carl Sandburgs poem "All Day Long" represents the actions of a teenage boy against his fathers wishes. When it says, "the waves have flung their beating crests against the palisades of adamant" it means the father tried time and time again but, yet failed in attempting to sway his sons decision. His son is described as "adament" which means he is very stubborn.

Notes #7

After the Sea-Ship

After the sea-ship, after the whistling winds, After the white-gray sails taut to their spars and ropes, Below, a myriad myriad waves hastening, lifting up their necks, Tending in ceaseless flow toward the track of the ship, Waves of the ocean bubbling and gurgling, blithely prying, Waves, undulating waves, liquid, uneven, emulous waves, Toward that whirling current, laughing and buoyant, with curves, Where the great vessel sailing and tacking displaced the surface, Larger and smaller waves in the spread of the ocean yearnfully flowing, The wake of the sea-ship after she passes, flashing and frolicsome under the sun, A motley procession with many a fleck of foam and many fragments, Following the stately and rapid ship, in the wake following. "After the Sea-Ship" by Walt Whitman uses imagery to describe the wake left behind after a ship passes by. Metaphorically this can be related to life and the impact that is left behind after something or someone passes. There's kind of a sense of excitement and then let-down.  This poem is also a metaphor of how people tend to blindly follow those who are more powerful, especially in the last two lines.

Notes #6

The bright essence displayed in the picture help idealize the importance of Earth. The droplet of water, containing the image of a tree, is dangling on the vibrant green leaf that is focuses in the center of the screen. The perfect shade of sky blue background containing a tree are blurred out to call attention to the droplet of water on the leaf. The image inside the drop of water contain a utopia of nature, which symbolizes the source of beatiful nature: water. The vegetation is healthy and bright in its' colors even with the intense sun rays that shine upon it everyday. Water is the source of all growth and it is the perfect remedy for life.

Notes #5

I am a goldfish; I am swimming around this bowl. It is getting dizzy.

A goldfish I am; It is getting dizzy. Swimming around this bowl I am.
Am I a goldfish? I am swimming around this bowl. It is getting dizzy.
It is getting dizzy, swimming around this bowl, I am a goldfish. I am.
Around this bowl I am swimming. It is getting dizzy. I am a goldfish
I am a goldfish. It is getting dizzy around this bowl, I am swimming.
I am swimming around this bowl; I am a goldfish. It is getting dizzy.
Around this bowl, it is getting dizzy. I am a goldfish; I am swimming.
I am a goldfish. It is getting dizzy. I am swimming around this bowl.
I am a goldfish. Bowl this around: it is getting dizzy. I am swimming.
I am swimming around this bowl. Am I a goldfish? It is getting dizzy.
Am I a goldfish bowl? It is getting dizzy. Am I swimming around this?
It is getting dizzy. I am a goldfish. Am I swimming around this bowl?
Am I a goldfish? Around this bowl am I swimming? It is getting dizzy.
Am I a goldfish? I am. It is getting dizzy, swimming around this bowl.
Am I a goldfish? It is getting dizzy. I am swimming around this bowl.
Am I a goldfish swimming? Around this bowl, I am. It is getting dizzy.
Am I a goldfish? It is getting dizzy. Around this bowl I am swimming.
Am I swimming? I am a goldfish around this bowl. It is getting dizzy.
Am I swimming? Is it getting dizzy? Around this bowl I am a goldfish.
It is getting dizzy. Am I swimming? Am I a goldfish around this bowl?
Am I a-swimming? I am a round goldfish. This bowl, it is getting dizzy.
This bowl: It is getting dizzy. I am a goldfish I am swimming around.
Am I a bowl? It is getting dizzy. I am a goldfish swimming around this.
It is getting dizzy. Am I a round bowl? I am this goldfish a-swimming.
I am a goldfish I am swimming around. Is this bowl getting dizzy? It is.
Is it? I am getting a goldfish. I am swimming around this dizzy bowl.
I am. I am swimming around this goldfish bowl. Dizzy it is a-getting.
I am a dizzy goldfish swimming. I am a round bowl. Is it getting this?
Is this bowl around a dizzy, swimming goldfish? I am. I am getting it.
Is this getting dizzy? Am I a round goldfish? Am I a swimming bowl?

I am a goldfish; I am swimming around this bowl. It is getting dizzy.      
"Thoughts of a Goldfish" by Richard Miles takes the classic elementary school pet and puts a quirky spin on it. The repetition and personification of a goldfish emphasize that daily thoughts that race through the head of a goldfish. The exclusion of stanza's add to the cluster which represents the compact bowl of life the goldfish can never escape from until death. The repetition of phrases and words convey the same confusion that the goldfish is feeling; Richard makes this poem relatable. While reading the poem, the words start to scramble and it all becomes a blur which is comparable to the racing thoughts of a goldfish as it swims around and around in a never ending circular motion. The personification took this average childhood pet to something that can relate to the average humans life, except humans experience this on a much bigger scale.

Notes #4

Fibonacci - Water (Variation 1)

Water
Water forms
Weeds in water
Weeds in water form patterns
Patterns form of weeds in water over stones
Over stones and weeds water forms patterns reflecting
sunlight and soul of water

Forrest Hainline

The poem "Fibonacci - Water" by Forrest Hainline depicts the simplicity of water in a complex way. The repetition of phrases throughout the poem convey beautiful qualities of water in a stream. The poem begins with one simple word "water" and the next line adds to it. This helps with the understanding of the poem by plainly laying it out. It is comparable to reading directions. The third line adds "weeds" to the two previous lines to form the phrase "weeds in water." The poem's blatant words have a complex meaning and they gradually incorporate the earthy setting. The number of words in each line are comparable to the number in the Fibbonaci sequence. This is unique because the Fibbonaci sequence is constantly said to be found within nature. By composing the poem with this structure, it looks like a wave in the weedy stream. The water is gently sweeping over the stones exactly as the words describe. The poem itself can compare to water; complexity and simplicity in one.

Notes #3

4. Elements – Water

Water an elemental
Water a fundamental
Building block of life
Water of Life
Water of Death

Water in all religions
Water in all living things
Water in all countries
Water also used for barter

No life without water
No rife with water
No respect for water
Willful neglect of water

Water, for cooking
Water, for cleaning
Water, for drinking
Water, for living
Water, for dying

Water is the same
In all languages
Water is the same
To all living beings

Anand Dixit

The simplistic and literal quality of Anand Dixit’s poem “Elements – Water” serves as a type of figurative language that creates a deeper meaning. The simplistic four stanza poem relates one simple element, water, to multiple purposes in different countries, languages, and cultures. The poet does this as a way to relate everything together no matter what differences there seem to be. Anand reiterates this in the last stanza, “water is the same to all living beings”. Even though water is used for a plethora of different things, it is always viewed the same. The poem, in itself, represents water, a simple but yet complex part of the universe.

Notes #2

Chris Jordan’s newest painting “Gyre” represents the negative view of the ocean by the materials from which it was made and the dull colors. This image was created from the millions of pieces of plastic that are found in the ocean every day. The plastic adds to the grainy texture that is similar to sand or dirt. The colors the painter chose to portray create a dreary monochromatic feel to the picture. Although the picture is held steady mid-wave, it has a lifeless feel due to the lack of vibrant colors that are generally associated with the ocean, a thing of beauty. The painter is trying to imbed the message that pollution can lead to the destruction of something once beautiful.

Notes #1

Sea Fever - John Masefield

I must go down to the seas again,

to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship

and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song

and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and

a grey dawn breaking,

I must down to the seas again,

for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call

that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day

with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume,

and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again,

to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull’s way and the whale’s way

where the wind’s like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn

from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream

when the long trick’s over.

John Masefield's "Sea Fever" is an artistically crafted poem that expresses the beauty of the ocean through its use of rhythm and figurative language. The meter in "Sea Fever" follows the movement of the ship by the portrayal of iambs and hard hitting spondees. The varied meter follows the actions of the “tall ship” through the high seas and strong winds. The personification and metaphors go beyond the meter to depict a deep desire for the sea. There are metaphors within the poem, but the whole poem is a metaphor in itself. It is comparing life to a sea voyage which amplifies the diction and overall significance of the poem.

Reading Goals

1. Read my Bible for 15 minutes everyday
2. Read outside every day the sun is out
3. Finish the Hunger Games series
4. Actually read my books for AP Lit
5. Finish another book series (undecided one which series?) Any suggestions?

Exercise #3

Book Reviews:
1. Someone Like You
2. Saving Zoe
3. A Kiss in Time

Things in common:
1. Beginning: Short introduction about author and/or history of the book. Basic general details about the novel.
2. Middle: Introduces the main characters and the conflict in general terms.
3. End: Finishes with a line or question that makes you want to read the book.

Exercise 2

(7)  Not only is a bitterness tone expressed, but also pure anger with some words and even sentences being capitalized such as "...because her little sister will NOT shut up she will NOT shut up SHE WILL NOT SHUT UP and Roberta is about to BASH her little sister's HEAD IN IF SHE DOES NOT SHUT UP."

(4)  Finally, Barry also  consistently bashed the city without giving it a single positive feature with her saying, "Once upon a cruddy time on a cruddy street on the side of a cruddy hill in the cruddiest part of a crudded-out town in a cruddy state, country, world, solar system, universe" exudes a snobbish and ungrateful tone to the readers.

(5)  The " cruddy time on a crudddy street on the side of a cruddy hill in the cruddiest part of a crudded-out town in a cruddy state, country, world, solar system, universe."

Exercise 1

Barry's novel Cruddy exudes a bitter and juvenile tone which provokes a sense of rage and rebellion. This occurs on a "cruddy street on the side of a cruddy hill in the cruddiest part of a crudded-out town,." The repetition of the the word "cruddy" intensifies the narrator's harshness towards the current situation at hand. The excessive capitalization throughout the passage punctuates the child-like diction and promotes the thought that the author is an adolescent. The boldness of words in this passage enunciate the emotion which enhances the author's distress and foreshadows to future vengeance.

Tom Storm

Why a bubble? This photograph was taken in The Windy City, also known as Chicago, and it captures the whole city in one, tiny bubble. The city is realistically portrayed in the top half of the bubble and is reflected into the bottom half. Tom's photograph from Chicago exhibits his surroundings in a never-ending circular quality that engulfs every detail of his current location. The location Tom picked for Chicago was perfect considering Chicago is widely known for its giant metallic bean in Millennium Park. The only other location in Chicago that would have equally summed up the city would have been Wrigley Field. However, for the city dwellers, shoppers, and travelers, who make up the majority of Chicago, Tom’s photo is an accurate portrayal. The area around the bubble is a blurred so the focus is maintained on the bubble, and what the bubble contains. It is comparable to a pair of eye glasses, vision is blurry without them, but when looking through them, everything is clear. The bubble being so small in size when compared to the giant skyscrapers in the background captures the world around it as if the city of Chicago was the smaller of the two. The giant bean is represented as the centerpiece of Chicago, sitting precisely in the middle, and surrounded by much larger things. By looking very closely and concentrating, almost unnoticeable black specks are scattered throughout the image, obviously people. This is the kind of picture where something new appears with every new glance. Tom’s idea was so ingenious, yet it captures how big the world really is. The funny thing is, he captures the largeness with something so small. A new perspective is all that is necessary.   

Short List #3

1. Tom Storm -
http://www.tomstorm.net/

This guy is incredible. He travels all over the world and takes pictures, the only thing is. He takes pictures through a bubble. I had the pleasure of meeting him in Chicago and in the first picture, that is the silhouttete of my friend Emily and I helping Tom blow bubbles. In the other picture that is a bubble Emily and I blew and it was voted best bubble for Chicago. If you look closely, my reflection is in the bubble. So cool!

Tom sent me picture he took of Emily and I and a T-shirt! If you don't believe me, go to his website and watch the video of "The Windy City" ... I'm in it!








2. Like chill retro stuff? Check this out - http://www.retronaut.co/
This website just has a bunch of retro stuff to check out. The top of the page has a timeline so you can pick with era you want to check out! You can check out the 1800's and life during the wars. It's pretty chill, and is really interesting.

3. My Favorite - http://www.remedylive.com/home.aspx#/?framed=true
This website is great. If you are a Christian, struggling with your faith, or not a Christian, come check it out. You can listen to live chats and even chat with someone online to help guide you through your personal struggles. It is really helpful and amazing to listen to the conversations that happen on there. They will talk about anything and it's designed specifically for teens. It's great!

Reading Log #6

This week...Sense and Sensibility. I am one of the few reading this book for pleasure's sake not for AP Literature, I being a student in Jankowski's class. I have previously seen the movie before, but regretted not reading the book first. So finally, I did it. While I am only in 143 pages in, the depth of the novel is much more palpable than the movie. However, most books tend to be. The Dashwoods have lived in the sane town, Sussex,  for many generations at an estate called Norland. After the death of Henry Dashwood, the son of his first married, John Dashwood inherits everything. This setting was all stated very plainly within the first few pages of the novel. I admire all the details early on that prepare you right away for what is to come, rather than novels that take forever to even begin the story. At this point, I like this book. Many claim that it is a girly book, but it also provides another story of a family and the issues that can be solved by communication and reasoning. It is wonderful to collect the specific details, it adds much more to make you think as to what each specific details' purpose is in the story and how it will affect the characters. I really enjoy books that make me think. However, I just started reading a book for a girls bible study at my church, so I will probably hold off on finishing this novel. I guarantee I will finish it someday though, just not sure when.

This American Life - Continental Breakup Short Summary

After a long difficult decision to decide what to listen to on This American Life I finally came to a decision. My decided upon episode 455, Continental Breakup. In this episode, Ira Glass interviews Alex Blumberg, a writer, and attempts to explain the credit crisis in Europe in a simplistic manner, easy enough for the average American to understand. The job was well done. They regress to 100 years prior and bring forth the events that lead up to the current problems in today's society. The controversial relationship between France and Germany is without a doubt, very interesting.

"Germany no longer wanted to dominate Europe. It wanted the opposite, actually. It wanted to be a team player, a peacemaker. Germany wanted to be the nicest guy at the European table."

"Of course, France didn't want Germany to dominate either. Germany would always be bigger, more powerful. So France wanted to link its economy to the German economy. That way Germany's strength would be France's strength."

"And also, a united Europe would be big enough and rich enough to become the world's other superpower and rival the United States, which both countries liked. All this was making a once-poetic dream much more appealing."

All of this shows the immense thought that goes on in society, that every day people don't usually think about. Every single decision made or not made by a country effects every country around it and the people within the country. Every decision is huge, and I have a lot more respect for the people in charge, because they have a lot on their plate. I'm really  glad I decided to listen to this episode, it sounded intriguing by the name, because I'm a history fanatic and I find anything worldly related interesting.

Awkward Family Photos

I could say so many things about every single picture on this website, but I had to pick just one.

To begin, the only person who looks truly happy is the little girl in the front. The older sister's smile in hiding what she is really feeling inside, which is "I don't want to be here" while the geeky brother has a smug look about him. The mother isn't even attempting to look happy, but I can assume she didn't get a lot of sleep the night before from her dazed expression. I don't even want to begin to worry about the father, who seems to have actually been photoshopped in the family portrait. I don't know what kind of family decides to take a family photo, without a member of their family. Another point, most families want to look great for their one family picture every 10 years so they are busy prepping themselves all morning. However, this family seems to beg the differ looking as if they just rolled out of bed. The eldest girls shirt blinding everyone that looks at this, and the nerdy brother in a puke green sweatshirt, and the mother and youngest daughter are wearing t-shirts? Classy. The father is the most dressed up, too bad he wasn't actually there. There seems to be almost a forced relationship between this family. If it weren't stated that these people were related, by their facial expressions it could be presumed that they are random strangers fitted awkwardly together to make a memory. This picture is definitely worthy of being on this website. Kudos to this family, because it makes me uncomfortable just by looking at them.

Reading Log #5

I've decided to continue reading books that help me grow in my faith. It is hard to follow Crazy Love, since it was such motivational and inspiring book. This week I began to read a book called When Teens Pray by Cheri Fuller and Ron Luce.  It originally attracted me because it was about Christianity, and teenagers. A lot of books focus on adults or younger kids, but this book put the spot light on teenagers. To me, teens are the ones that need the most motivation and encouragement to get through high school years. So much change happens as a teenager and I see it all the time, some go down the wrong path, some go down the right path, then there are those in the middle who haven't decided which path they belong in. To quickly summarize, this book is filled with true  stories written by teens from all around the world, who share their stories of faith and how God worked in their life. I wasn't far into the book when one story really stuck out to me. A teen named Adam, got caught up into drugs and alcohol and began to believe that the only way he would make it in the world was to join  a gang. So he did. He became a drug dealer, he had some visits to jail, he did it all. After being adopted into a family that attended church every Sunday, he began to wonder if there was really more to life. He slowly began to regress in his bad behaviors to become one of God's disciples. He felt God in his life and he knew he had to change. So he did. He is now a pastor and in his words he says,

"May God reveal to you the great and awesome plan he has for your life. May you and all your generation climb from the rubble of sin and ascend to your destiny. May you wash your hands and your hearts in the blood of the Lamb, allowing Him to cleanse both your actions and the motives of your heart. May every man idol in your life turn to dust. May you never again be captivated by MTV stars, by the drug dealer on the corner, by the music industry, or by this world's standards. May you, like the psalmist David, cry out to God, "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you" (Psalm 73:25). And above all, may you answer the great and glorious call to pray" (22).

I think Adam sums up being a teenager perfectly in his words. We all sin, nobody is perfect, but it is pointless to live your life in accordance to the world's expectations. Hearing these words from someone who has literally climbed from the rubble of sin, is so much more meaningful and realistic. Who cares who you are now, it only matters who you aspire to be and who you end up being in the future. Adam should be an inspiration to everyone, whether Christian or not. Why not  drop to your knees and say a prayer? It's worth a shot.

Short List #2

1. Free Rice
This awesome website (linked above) is a non-profit website that is run by the United Nations World Food Programme. By playing the educational games, you donate 10 grains of rice to the hungry people in different countries. It adds up quickly, trust me! You can create a username and password and track your overall progress and see how much rice you've donated in all and each day. It not only benefits those gain food from it, but those who use it as well. It is a great website to start spending a little bit of time one each day.

2. The Onion
The Onion is a not-so-famous website that covers the news. However, it adds a sense of humor and covers topics that most famous news websites don't cover. The Onion turns the spotlight on humorous and sometimes irrelevent topics. Although it isn't as serious as regular news, it is without a doubt more entertaining. Check it out!

3. Awkward Family Photos
This website isn't anything but hilarious. After going to the website and clicking on one of the many options in the photos category, you get some real winners. The name of the website speaks for itself. You may have thought your family portraits were weird, but trust me these are weirder. While looking through some of the pictures, it makes me realize how unique each individual person is. It is definitely something to check out.

Erika Eiffel

Erika's last name might ring a bell to some by bringing the Eiffel Tower to mind. Well, it should since Erika confessed her love to the Eiffel Tower and held a ceremony, then changed her last name to represent her marriage to the tower. The strangness of the whole situation has brought about many questions, and this scenario gives insight to some of the crazy happenings of the world today. The main question that crosses everybody's mind-

Is this legal?

 No, although she was allowed to change her last name and hold a ceremony, it wasn't an actual wedding.

Erika loves objects much deeper than just admiring their beauty. She percieves feelings from them, like they are talking to her. As weird as this may seem, Erika is a part of a small group of people who are known as "objectum sexuals". These people can love any sort of object they feel an attraction to, and they love these random objects rather than people. This disorder may be the answer for everyone who thought this was as strange as I, but I believe that these people should be given help.

Although, Erika needs medical attention in this aspect of her life, she otherwise lives a completely normal life. Many things can be assumed from this controversial situation, like has she ever been marrried? Has she always been like this? Did something happen that made her like this? Some answers we will never know, but we can conclude that Erika lives a different life than most and she interacts and sees objects in a way that most people don't. It is definitely strange, but sometimes it's best to do what makes you happy, and for Erika, that's her husband, the Eiffel Tower.

Reading Log #4

As I'm continuing my reading with Crazy Love, I read something that connects to the lesson I just finished learning in Bible study, giving God your first fruits. The timing was perfect, God works in funny ways, huh?

"God didn't just give a little for us; He gave His best. He gave Himself" (203).

True love includes sacrifice. In Bible study, I learned that God desires our first fruits. When we recieve our pay check, yes, even as a poor teenager, He wants us immediantly to give back to Him. I mean after all He's given us, it should be easy right? This is something a lot of people struggle with, including myself. He doesn't want what's left our pay check after we buy everything that we want, He wants it first. I've applied this concept to my own life, but without money. I generally tend read my Bible at night, before bed, until I realized that God doesn't want me when all I'm thinking about is sleep. He wants my attention, when my attention is on Him alone. This quote I read fits right in with this whole concept. I thought it was really cool to connect it and relate it to something I learned outside of Crazy Love's pages. Nothing has been more true, God really didn't just give a little for us, He gave everything. He didn't put in some effort, He did his best. He didn't give some of His time, He gave all of His time. He didn't give some of Himself, He gave all of Himself. He wants the same in return from us. Although nothing we do can ever compare to His ever-lasting love, He wants our best. He wants us completely. This book has done wonders to how I view everything around me. If you are looking to grow in your Christian faith, read Crazy Love.

Reading Log #3

I started the second Hunger Games book, but for some reason I wasn't interested anymore. As I searched for a new book to read, I decided to read a book that would help me grow in my faith, that's why I picked up Crazy Love off of my shelf and began to read. This book is INCREDIBLE. Every page is jam-packed with eye opening realizations. I've learned so much and I'm not even done yet. As a warning, if you aren't a religious person, you might not enjoy this, but it is something that is important to me enough to share.

"God knew me before He made me" (58).

This thought originally appeared as daunting to me..the fact that God knows everything I would do in my lifetime before I was even born, including my life after death, Heaven or hell. It's a hard concept to wrap your mind around. Skeptics crticize this all the time, why would He create bad people? I've come to the conclusion that He allowed us to have personal decisions in life, He just wants us to choose Him, and that's where some wander away from the only true Saviour. This leads me to the next thought..

"God knew who He was creating, and He designed me for a specific work" (59).

There are so many people today, specifically teenagers, who make destructive decisions and no matter what they try as an answer, there is only one true answer. Everybody just needs to understand that they are here for a purpose and no matter what happens, you can overcome it, because if you have faith, Jesus is with you. God designed each one of us differently, and we are each different in every aspect of our lives, and we should be thankful that He cares about us that much and he continues to love us no matter what.

To sum everything up..

"But I do know if God's mercy didn't exist, there would be no hope" (60).

Nobody is perfect. God is the only perfect thing in this world. We all sin, everybody, it is a part of our life, but you can either drown in your sin or ask for forgiveness and do your best to honor God through your actions everyday. I love this quote from Crazy Love, because it's so true. God's mercy is our only hope.

Week 5: Top Links

1. http://www.noemiegoudal.com/thelovers1.html

2. http://crookedarrows.com/the-story/

3. http://theburninghouse.com/post/14868457967/melania-semerad-meier

Short List

1. Coming Soon
The Hunger Games has begun a whole new fantasy world similiar to Harry Potter and Twilight. It couldn't be more perfect to draw a rich, exciting story from the dullness of District 9. There is an overall seriousness to the whole trailer, life or death, that kind of thing. The trailer, never giving too much away, entralls its viewers with the classic underdog story, everyone roots for the underdog.












                                                               2. My Friend Made This

My friend actually happens to be my brother, a former Homestead High School student. During his time at Homestead he won a People's Choice Award for his art and he participated in art club and guitar club. The sadness evoked in his drawing on the left is evoked from the Beatles song, My Guitar Gently Weeps. This picture describes him in numerous ways, the guitar playing, and the type of music he likes. His picture on the right, is made of charcoal, and I believe it is Jimi Hendrix. Jake is not only an interesting and talented artist, but he expresses his musical interest through his art.

                                                                                   
                                                                                    3. This Happened
Marriage is commonly known as a bondage of love between two people, that is, two living and breathing human beings. That is, until Erika Eiffel declared her love to the Eiffel Tower and changed her name to represent the love that she contained for the tower. Erika participated in a commitment ceremony to the tower and is somehow married to the inadament object. However, she supposedly has a disorder that makes her love objects rather than people. This story isn't anything but unique and extremely odd, but somehow intriguing.

Exceptional Writing

http://philippicsandcompliments.blogspot.com/

The blog that is linked above is my favorite. The length and description that is exuded on the blog makes it really intriguing to read. It was long, but it was worth finishing. I thought it was really cool that she said,

"I'm not going to lie to you, the beginning of the end dragged out for what seemed like an eternity"

 This gave me the impression that the mastermind behind this blog, is very real and speaks the truth about what he/she reads. This blogger told it like it is without embellishments and I respect that. I enjoy reading this blog for that reason. 

However, I had a different favorite for the Dead Poets Society post. I really enjoyed the blog: 

http://purple-pen-blog.blogspot.com/ 

"The boys walk down the dark, candle lit isle with stiff movements"

I took this quote from this blogger because I think he/she worded this really well. The quote really captures the essence of the introduction of Dead Poets Society. 

Reading Log #2

Although you may consider it boring that I am doing yet another post on the Hunger Games, it was imperative that I finsh the book. This particular book falls into the category of books that are so intriguing you would skip dinner to finish, and that's what I did. Just as I had hoped, Katniss won the Hunger Games, however, adding a surprising twist, so did Peeta.  "We both know they have to have a victor" (Hunger 344). These are the words that clung to Katniss as she began to think...

"Yes, they have to have a victor. Without a victor, the whole thing would blow up in the Gamemakers' faces. They'd have failed the Capitol" (Hunger 344).

In the last second before death overtook both of their lives with a mouthful of poisonus berries, they heard a frantic announcement to stop as they were both awarded victors of the Hunger Games. Not that I want to overthrow the government, but it would be the proudest moment of my life if I had the strength and wits to overthrow something so powerful. However, while Katniss may be feeling a sense of pride, she doesn't show it. The Games are over, she just won AND Peeta gets to survive as well, and she has a sulky attitude about her. Not necessarily the harshness and immorality of the whole Hunger Games, but the relationships that were made in the process changed Katniss. She began the Games with the attitude `how different is killing a human, than killing an animal` and she ended the game with pain everytime someone died. I don't think that the rough terrain, dehydration, or food shortage makes the Game unbearing. I think it is building a relationship with people and then seeing their faces in the sky the night they died. Just like that. Katniss is a perfect example of this. She saw her little sister, Prim, in the young girl Rue, who was selected as a tribute. Naturally, they formed a bond, and eventually, Rue was killed. Nothing seemed to bother Katniss until this point in the Hunger Games. Katniss was thoroughly upset with the loss of Rue, and she took the time to decorate her body with flowers before she was taken away. I think this is all true about life too. It isn't the obstacles in life that make it hard, it is the people around you. Your best friend moves away, you lose someone you love, your boyfriend breaks up with you. People make life hard, but they also, make it worth living. Katniss proved this.

Dead Poets Society

In the beginning scene of Peter Weir's 1989 movie Dead Poets Society, the formal atmosphere and serious facial expressions convey a forced etiquette on the teenage male hostages. Two boys are posing for a picture where the camera man coaxes them into showing brotherly affection, while two, older males scheme through whispers and the dreary bagpipes announce the march into the church. The words tradition, honor, discipline, and excellence linger through the air but, discipline seems to be the top priority. The parents seated throughout the sanctuary seem to be the inspiration behind each newcomber  lighting his candle signifying his entrance into a school of excellence, following in his fathers footsteps, continuing on the tradition. After the ceremony, that the Headmaster thought of as a great honor contrary to what the students thought, the parents must bid their children adieu, leaving them in tears and last minute desperation to rid the strict instruction of superiors.

"E Harmony Cat Lady"

This lady is my true inspiration. Love you sis!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTTwcCVajAc

Duo Close Reading "Nighthawks"

4 Elements
Perspective
Color
Movement
Setting

Specific Observations
Perspective- from the outside looking in, on the corner of the quiet street where life continues on the inside of the cafe
Color- Outside the cafe is painted dark and dull, no vibrant colors on the street, the inside is bright and its light shines over onto the sidewalk, vibrant colors inside pull the focus to the customers and the employee inside the bar.
Movement- there is little to no movement outside on the streets, all signs of life are inside, the people inside do not express movement either, they are still and calm
Setting- a lonely cafe, a slow night, late at night when no people wander the streets, a city corner, there is no life outside, the streets and even the interior of the cafe are crisp and clean-there's no clutter or props in the street background

The clean background, perspective of an outsider looking in from afar, lack of movement, and the increase in vibrant color radiating from the bar, draw the focus to the people inside and emphasize the tired, quiet, and dreary mood which allows the mind to ponder the unique stories of the four individual lives in the restaurant.

Poem of the Week

Out of the many interesting poems read in class this week, I had a particular liking for "Gee, You're So Beautiful That It's Starting to Rain" by Richard Brautigan. I have never before witnessed a poem with such randomness and without pertaining to the title in the least bit. However, while this poem makes me ponder, there is a phrase that sticks out as my phrase to "take to the island".

"God lives like music in the skin" (4-5).

I, being a deeply religious person, found reassurance within this phrase that God is everywhere, almost like He is always there for us, because I know He is.

Reading Log #1

"My quarters are larger than our entire house back home. They are plush, like the train car, but also have so many automatic gadgets that I'm sure I won't have time to press all the buttons. The shower alone has a panel with more than a hundred options you can choose regulating water temperature, pressure, soaps, shampoos, scents, oils, and massaging sponges. When you step out on a mat, heaters come on that blow-dry your body. Instead of struggling with the knots in my wet hair, I merely place my hand on a box that sends a current through my scalp, untangling, parting, and drying my hair almost instantly." (The Hunger Games 75)

While reading the new essential teenage read, The Hunger Games, the previous paragraph stuck out to me, mainly because, Katniss, the main character, comes from a society of scarcity where Charles Darwin's quote "survival of the fittest" seems only appropriate. District 12 isn't so terrible if you have money, however, many people succombed to District 12 live without, including Katniss. The whole story up until the point Katniss is chosen as a tribute in the Hunger Games, which is to my understanding a competition of death, is a description of Katniss's past life and the various hardships she's endured. The paragraph above describes Katniss's room in the Training Center with such extragant technology, but why give so much to someone who is potentially going to die? This question keeps crossing my mind the more I continue to read. Katniss has gone from low class to fine living in a matter of days. I think the "good" that Katniss is experiencing now  foreshadows to her winning the Hunger Games. Atleast, that's what I'm hoping for. With her brilliant entrance to the opening ceremony, I think she gained a fair amount of sponsors which will support her future high living standard. If Katniss doesn't win the Hunger Games, I don't see any point to all of the expensive, high-developed technology that makes Katniss's life wonderful, only to be tortured in the worst experience of her life. It doesn't make sense. On another note, I wish we had that type of technology today. The devices described, not only brought about question, but were quite intriguing. I anticipate technology that can do such things and more in the future.

Literacy Narrative

My earliest memories of reading date back to preschool. I remember learning the letters and each of their sounds. My preschool teachers would read us picture books for story time and my favorite was The Very Hungry Caterpillar. As my reading skills progressed, I loved to read. Junie B. Jones books' quickly became my favorite throughout elementary school. My brother, Jake, being two years older than I always brought home his books from middle school when he was finished reading them. I would always pick them up off the shelf and begin to read them in attempt to plan ahead for my future years of middle school. I figured this would give me an edge in my English classes. These tendencies gave me the title of "the smart one" in my family and I loved being better than my brother at something. To this day, the same thing happens. I read the books he brought home from high school in advance and eventually I read Harry Potter.  Then, I read Harry Potter again and again. It was and still is today my favorite book without a doubt. I used to read mainly just to one up my brother and prove that I knew more than he did, but now I read because I thoroughly enjoy it. In addition to Harry Potter, I enjoy books from a wide range authors today. I like James Patterson, John Grisham, Sarah Dessen, Nicholas Sparks, and many, many more. I like reading books based on true stories because it is easier for me to relate to someone or a particular situation if I know it actually happened, however, while nonfiction is more meaningful, I find fiction wildly entertaining. I recently found a new interest in reading Christian literature to help grow in my faith. Reading is filled with constant surprises and I have gained an excessive amount of knowledge from it. I will never regret following my big brother around trying to be better than him, and picking up my first book.