I found a wild Shane Cheverez and asked him some questions...
...they can be found here...
What are you working on?
-I am learning to play the guitar.
Why?
-Music, particularly guitar, is my true passion. I have listened excessively for years; now it is finally time to start playing myself.
What is the significance of this project in your life/career?
-I am developing a skill that will continue to endow me with enjoyment for the rest of my life. These beginning stages are tough, but nothing worthwhile comes easily.
How do you see this work helping you in life outside of school?
-This question doesn't pertain to my topic - all of my project's direct benefits are independent of school.
Has anything surprised you in your work?
-The sheer difficulty of guitar did catch me off guard. I've always had an enormous amount of respect for the instrument, but it is impossible to understand how hard it really is until one has tried for him/herself.
What do you need to successfully complete your project and present it?
-Honestly, I need more time to get where I want to be, and there is no substitute. Seeing as I can't add any more days to the month of May, however, I need to just keep practicing without being dismayed by my time constraints. Getting good takes a lot of hard work, and it doesn't happen over night. Even with an impending deadline, that is a simple fact that must be accepted.
What have you learned that's worth teaching someone else?
-The same thing Dr. Preston has been telling us all year: nothing is out of bounds. Doing what you actually want to do isn't too good to be true, even though it may seem that way. Have a little faith in yourself, and make the jump while you can. b0ss
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
Beginnings
My masterpiece isn't really helping with beginning a new chapter in my life. It has shown me that there are still simple things we don't understand and that there can and must be a way to communicate in a way that educates and expands without compromise. It is often we take for granted what we have and what we can get, we mistake possibilities as endless and assured. In this world, nothing is certain. We need to understand what we are doing and what we should be doing, regardless of how difficult it is or how long it takes, or even who agrees or disagrees. To accomplish goals, priorities are set and met, and they don't always align with everyone.
My journey has been one of inquiry, one that simply shows me what exists and asks to be explained. Mostly ignored, and an abstract concept in and of itself, freedom is complicated. As with all ideas/concepts, they are easy in theory but difficult in practice. To think these ideas are black and white is simple and creates an erroneous hope of simplicity. They require careful consideration and planning, but they must ultimately serve the purpose they were intended to serve, which is why it is so unique. Even though I may not get paid to think, money is only one of many rewards.
A simple pride in the intent, the investigation, the inquiry. Just look around, if everything seems alright, look harder. I may somewhat represent the balance one day, but it's all bigger than one person, or just an idea. Everyone makes the choice we face everyday. Our values should reflect in them, even if we can't.
My journey has been one of inquiry, one that simply shows me what exists and asks to be explained. Mostly ignored, and an abstract concept in and of itself, freedom is complicated. As with all ideas/concepts, they are easy in theory but difficult in practice. To think these ideas are black and white is simple and creates an erroneous hope of simplicity. They require careful consideration and planning, but they must ultimately serve the purpose they were intended to serve, which is why it is so unique. Even though I may not get paid to think, money is only one of many rewards.
A simple pride in the intent, the investigation, the inquiry. Just look around, if everything seems alright, look harder. I may somewhat represent the balance one day, but it's all bigger than one person, or just an idea. Everyone makes the choice we face everyday. Our values should reflect in them, even if we can't.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Design
For the most part my environment is fine to work in, but I do think that I should do whatever necessary to have more people in my collaboration group so that I can confer with others and get feedback. At this point I feel as though anything regarding my projects, that I give away, are spoilers for what's to come. I would rather surprise than make people await the expected. I do believe that suspense, or a sense of confusion, is necessary to bring a desire to ask questions, which is what my topic is primarily about. Obviously, I need to get them to ask the difficult questions in order to hear what people think.
Getting those responses requires an audience of sorts, and this class will provide me with that once we have begun our presentations. I don't know if having an early test presentation will help or ruin the project. I want that confusion but feedback is good as well. I'll talk to some close to the project to see what they believe would best suit the environment. Though everyone is welcome to comment.
If people decide to comment on this, let me know what you think I should do. What would you like to see? Do you think I can make a poster worthy of this class?
Getting those responses requires an audience of sorts, and this class will provide me with that once we have begun our presentations. I don't know if having an early test presentation will help or ruin the project. I want that confusion but feedback is good as well. I'll talk to some close to the project to see what they believe would best suit the environment. Though everyone is welcome to comment.
If people decide to comment on this, let me know what you think I should do. What would you like to see? Do you think I can make a poster worthy of this class?
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Responses
To get the context for this post please read HERE.
Raising a Moral Child talks about the differences in positive and negative reinforcement for behavior in children. It discusses consequences as well as actions and reactions to common childhood development phases and what each one tells a child. It talks about each type of response and what they can do to a developing mind's decision making skills in the future. I feel that many early parents are confuses as to what they should do or say when they're child achieves or misbehaves. Will their response determine how their child will and learn and grow positively or negatively? The answer may be easy, but we're learning that even our punishments and rewards/praise have a lasting effect. This reinforced what I already was concerned about, that there is a fundamental way to teach a child incorrectly, and even though you may think it's right, you're just setting them up for failure. That scares me, that it's so easy to influence, not just the youth, but our infants and new adolescents. We must be careful to what what we do and say and how we do and say it, for these actions can impact a life forever.
Parental Involvement is Overrated discusses parents' roles in their child's education and why we shouldn't jump to any conclusions or always play a major role. New studies are finding that children don't all learn the same (duh) and that that not only applies to coursework and the learning environment, but to parent involvement in school; from homework to field trips. We can't safely assume that everyone will equally benefit from extra help, and that it won't negatively impact them either. We need to take a step back and learn what helps and what hurts. Intentions have a way of becoming demands, and pushing children isn't always what they need or want. Research shows that different races tend to respond differently to school help and will either do better or worse depending on individual findings. These can affect how a child learns and if they have the desire to learn in that way. We should approach every opportunity cautiously, for we know not the consequences of our actions.
Recovery for Whom? is about how the 2008 recession may have hurt all of us, but the recover that follows it is mainly benefiting big corporations and homeowners are still up a creek without a paddle. Especially those who are just now entering a workforce hit hard by job loss and a reluctance to spend more money. Businesses are currently cutting corners wherever possible, even though they continue to enjoy tax cuts and enormous profits. I believe that tax reform is of the utmost importance and that the only thing stopping it is the lobbying by the corporations it world effect most. These companies have enjoyed the ease of lobbying
and kept tax cuts to boot. They also continue to spend less while making more, even as they commit illegal, or wrongfully legal, acts in order to maximize profit. The great 2008 recession was built by the banks and paid for by the fed. But they don't care because, one, it's not their money and, two, they are paid by both the government and by the corporations they protect. Whether it's fracking, sub-prime mortgages, tax evasion, bailouts, privatized healthcare, unregulated spying, or food privatization, those in government who have been bought will always go with who has the most money. It's when the will of the people is no longer represented and the representative is no longer accurately representing, they must be removed, but this is often difficult to do. Whether it's lying to the people they represent or lying to the government they work for, they deserve no place in a developing society.
Saving Young People from Themselves focuses on how our future workers aren't adequately prepared for the future, and how the system meant to help them is in fact working against them. Mainly, that they aren't saving up enough for retirement, and even the systems we have in place now aren't enough to deal with the current impending destruction of everything people have saved for. The systems we have in place should work as advertised and should work for the benefit of the person saving without compromising their current paychecks. We should better prepare our future by educating them and by allowing them to save more efficiently and effectively, making money with their money, instead of letting it devalue. If we let our money sit around, we only allow inflation and the value of the dollar to determine what we'll have left in the end. We need to make smart decisions now to prepare for later.
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| Once the recession began, people owed even more money than their county was producing. That's not good. |
Saving Young People from Themselves focuses on how our future workers aren't adequately prepared for the future, and how the system meant to help them is in fact working against them. Mainly, that they aren't saving up enough for retirement, and even the systems we have in place now aren't enough to deal with the current impending destruction of everything people have saved for. The systems we have in place should work as advertised and should work for the benefit of the person saving without compromising their current paychecks. We should better prepare our future by educating them and by allowing them to save more efficiently and effectively, making money with their money, instead of letting it devalue. If we let our money sit around, we only allow inflation and the value of the dollar to determine what we'll have left in the end. We need to make smart decisions now to prepare for later.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
The Crossroads Between Should and Must
I'm not sure why every discussion about what we want to do has to involve existential decisions. Maybe, if every society valued how every individual on Earth felt, we would all relate, all understand, all follow this path. But it isn't that easy. Maybe if we lived in a Star Trek universe we wouldn't need to worry (money no longer exists and humanity simply works to better itself for all) but we don't. We still consider those geniuses who haven't become obviously useful yet; "weird", "crazy" "mentally unstable" or maybe they're the next innovator. Either way, the world works in predictable ways and it doesn't always appreciate a visionary. That's not to say we don't owe a lot of today's successes to them, we do, but we quickly move on to the next big thing. (It's become a slogan.) For me, I'm just moving forward, wherever that is.
'Should' is made out to be redundant and 'must' is made out to be superior, where everyone needs to be. But why can't I just be what I want to be? If we're trying so hard to become what we want, find our "calling", why can't I go about it my way? What significant difference will it make to display my prowace for putting water on fires? Or even discussing the idea of freedom? Maybe I'm missing the point, but am I not also allowed to interpret this in my own way? Simply narrowing things down, as I see this doing, seems counter-intuitive and destructive to an individual, personal approach. It sounds like an obligation.
What am I obliged to do? Currently, the popular one is "contributing to society" and that's an easy one, but it's not universal and it's not applicable to all. Your situation and desires dictate your possibilities, but you should always stride for success, whatever that is for you. I like that some people find words of encouragement or fantasies about success enjoyable and uplifting, but I'd rather hear what I'm doing wrong so that I can improve and grow. It's important to remember what's important, regardless of if it's an obligation or a choice.
'Should' is made out to be redundant and 'must' is made out to be superior, where everyone needs to be. But why can't I just be what I want to be? If we're trying so hard to become what we want, find our "calling", why can't I go about it my way? What significant difference will it make to display my prowace for putting water on fires? Or even discussing the idea of freedom? Maybe I'm missing the point, but am I not also allowed to interpret this in my own way? Simply narrowing things down, as I see this doing, seems counter-intuitive and destructive to an individual, personal approach. It sounds like an obligation.
What am I obliged to do? Currently, the popular one is "contributing to society" and that's an easy one, but it's not universal and it's not applicable to all. Your situation and desires dictate your possibilities, but you should always stride for success, whatever that is for you. I like that some people find words of encouragement or fantasies about success enjoyable and uplifting, but I'd rather hear what I'm doing wrong so that I can improve and grow. It's important to remember what's important, regardless of if it's an obligation or a choice.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Look at my Brain
The title already has me sort off miffed. On one hand, people like to investigate, to know, they sometimes go too far, obsess over what they don't have, in an effort to feel like they're part of a crowd. [See how I'm already off topic?] I'm not a fan of show-boating, boasting, or displaying my achievements or successes in life. I do like sharing my interests in hopes that others can better understand me or have conversation with, but I don't like involving most people, it's easier to just keep it simple and not raise too many questions. I'm deciding to just talk a bit about what I have, in hopes that it mainly clarifies things to me or helps me flush out thoughts.
I'm thinking mainly about presentation now. How can I convene a construct of the mind? I think I want to use the audience to my advantage, to utilize them to teach others about how they themselves think. It sounds simple really, but it has to be easily understandable but also raise more questions than it answers. If I simply had all the answers, why would anyone look themselves? It should be a personal attachment, your feelings and ideas, but ones that can be changed or improved. I'm thinking of using power-points or even, dare I say, a poster to illustrate my points. I don't want to spoil anything, it's sort of better as a surprise, but I like the idea of writing down some words from anti-famous people, asking students to write some down in class during presentation, and comparing them. Or, a power-point on what we think we know, and the truth, about what goes on in the world, what we don't understand.
I'll need more I feel, but these are a start. I'm always thinking of new ways to show people just how wrong they are, and then educate them, of course. I think we can all come away a little more inquisitive if we all go in with an open mind and leave with a confused one.
I'm thinking mainly about presentation now. How can I convene a construct of the mind? I think I want to use the audience to my advantage, to utilize them to teach others about how they themselves think. It sounds simple really, but it has to be easily understandable but also raise more questions than it answers. If I simply had all the answers, why would anyone look themselves? It should be a personal attachment, your feelings and ideas, but ones that can be changed or improved. I'm thinking of using power-points or even, dare I say, a poster to illustrate my points. I don't want to spoil anything, it's sort of better as a surprise, but I like the idea of writing down some words from anti-famous people, asking students to write some down in class during presentation, and comparing them. Or, a power-point on what we think we know, and the truth, about what goes on in the world, what we don't understand.I'll need more I feel, but these are a start. I'm always thinking of new ways to show people just how wrong they are, and then educate them, of course. I think we can all come away a little more inquisitive if we all go in with an open mind and leave with a confused one.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Literature Analysis #6: Mocking Jay
FICTION ANALYSIS
Mocking Jay
Suzanne Collins
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses (exposition, inciting incident, etc.). Explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
- We've returned back to the story to find that the Capitol has obliterated District 12 and killed most of it's inhabitants. Some are now refugees living in a secret District 13, quietly plotting to overthrow the Capitol. They live a very regimented life, in secrecy, underground, in a world filled with the ever present threat of bombings that could end it all. Katniss has survived and so has Peeta, but Katniss is wit her family in 13 and Peeta is locked away in the Capitol as a prisoner and an example to rebels. Slowly, Katniss and other tribute survivors adjust and fall into their new lives, helping plan attacks against Capitol rule in other districts. Although the rebels believe Katniss is their best weapon and inspiration, she feels very reluctant to be the figure head of the entire rebellion. She doesn't know what to say, and quickly realizes she's acting, and not a real warrior.
She pushes for more dangerous ares to go to, untill she ends up behind enimy lines. She and her comrades decide to risk their lives to take the Capitol out at it's core. While soldiers fight in the streets, they battle in the sewers and make their way silently to the center. They and arriving soldiers take President Snow's government building, but not before her sister Prim is killed in an errant rebel bombing gone wrong. In the end, Katniss kills the new president, Coin, because she wanted to have a final hunger games that capitol people would fight in. We see that even after all is said and done, some people are no better than the "evil they seek to destroy. Katniss returns home and falls in love with Peeta, for real this time.
- We've returned back to the story to find that the Capitol has obliterated District 12 and killed most of it's inhabitants. Some are now refugees living in a secret District 13, quietly plotting to overthrow the Capitol. They live a very regimented life, in secrecy, underground, in a world filled with the ever present threat of bombings that could end it all. Katniss has survived and so has Peeta, but Katniss is wit her family in 13 and Peeta is locked away in the Capitol as a prisoner and an example to rebels. Slowly, Katniss and other tribute survivors adjust and fall into their new lives, helping plan attacks against Capitol rule in other districts. Although the rebels believe Katniss is their best weapon and inspiration, she feels very reluctant to be the figure head of the entire rebellion. She doesn't know what to say, and quickly realizes she's acting, and not a real warrior.
She pushes for more dangerous ares to go to, untill she ends up behind enimy lines. She and her comrades decide to risk their lives to take the Capitol out at it's core. While soldiers fight in the streets, they battle in the sewers and make their way silently to the center. They and arriving soldiers take President Snow's government building, but not before her sister Prim is killed in an errant rebel bombing gone wrong. In the end, Katniss kills the new president, Coin, because she wanted to have a final hunger games that capitol people would fight in. We see that even after all is said and done, some people are no better than the "evil they seek to destroy. Katniss returns home and falls in love with Peeta, for real this time.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
- Although it's left for the very end, I feel a more prominent them would be to fight for what's right, not to fight for what you want for others. You may have the best intentions, but that doesn't mean you can control what happens if you aren't the best qualified or if you have questionable morals.
- Although it's left for the very end, I feel a more prominent them would be to fight for what's right, not to fight for what you want for others. You may have the best intentions, but that doesn't mean you can control what happens if you aren't the best qualified or if you have questionable morals.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Raising Digital Awareness
I believe people come to this place due to some idea that I'm an idea machine, that I always have the right answer and that my way is inherently superior. If you believe that, stop. You need to be able to create your own understanding of the world around you. However, there's nothing wrong with learning from others and applying these improvements to your life, we call that learning. I learn new things pretty often, but I don't share them, it isn't my job to educate you. I feel that's a job to be undertaken by the individual, and not a shared experience. I do realize that's not how the 'internet age' works, but not everything sticks to everybody. I could begin a renewed start to share some interesting things with the world, but it's almost so easy a caveman can do it.
I would subscribe to reddit.com, the entire point of Reddit is to re-post the best stuff. And, best of all, it has "subreddits" that allow you to get information on one specific topic, discuss with similarly interested people, and share your own material. It's like a news site, only if you stripped everything away and rebuilt around what people actually want. It's everything you could need in personal interaction and information seeking.
I would subscribe to reddit.com, the entire point of Reddit is to re-post the best stuff. And, best of all, it has "subreddits" that allow you to get information on one specific topic, discuss with similarly interested people, and share your own material. It's like a news site, only if you stripped everything away and rebuilt around what people actually want. It's everything you could need in personal interaction and information seeking.
Also, you could just as easily find in depth videos on youtube.com detailing everything from string theory to why the sky is blue. People have almost everything we know about everything at their fingertips, yet they don't use it. It's less of a "school is failing us" and more of a "school isn't preparing us". When's the last time a teacher asked you use YouTube to answer a question on your homework? Or told you to Google your math homework to get the correct answer. Because what teaches us hasn't advanced, we cannot expect our students [across the board] to advance.
We'll always need some sort of interaction, but people won't always have our answers. The college professor won't have all the answers forever, and neither will the scientists or the geniuses. Knowledge will be able to transport itself around the world faster than we can learn it. The trick is to let us learn from our past to better prepare for the future.
Just a thought. A pretty good one.
Monday, March 24, 2014
This is Only a Test
What could it be? What should it ask? What should you study to prepare? Who administers and who participates?
Quick think of a test, any test. What did you think of? I honestly thought of a test of some sort of drill or
plan, a fire escape plan. You may have thought of a bubble test (given your probable age) or a Scantron. Others, older, may think of a demonstration of their abilities, their experience placed in the hands of a grade. Tests are important, or unimportant, for many reasons. They show others you're qualified or show how fast you can make little circles with graphite and wooden sticks. They represent the desire to measure, and in society, they show a need for scales. To be able to discern between the "have's" and the "have-not's".
These are just a few more questions, in an infinite line of questions, that I seek today to expound upon. What constitutes a test, and why might we fear them? For one, they can limit, but they can also prove. They can embarrass or they can extol. They make us feel things, and it's just a test remember.
These tests practice what we know, and school us on what is important. But what if those are arbitrary? What if the knowledge is useless and the importance fallacy? Who creates these constructs of what should and what shouldn't be? This is where freedom steps in again [to save the day].
Quick think of a test, any test. What did you think of? I honestly thought of a test of some sort of drill or plan, a fire escape plan. You may have thought of a bubble test (given your probable age) or a Scantron. Others, older, may think of a demonstration of their abilities, their experience placed in the hands of a grade. Tests are important, or unimportant, for many reasons. They show others you're qualified or show how fast you can make little circles with graphite and wooden sticks. They represent the desire to measure, and in society, they show a need for scales. To be able to discern between the "have's" and the "have-not's".
Like I said, they can be official, important, necessary, or trivial, boring, repetitive. Some people are incredibly good at them, making them just a matter of answering a question or matching some letters. To others, panic can set it, they're afraid, afraid if what a single test can show. The unknown of their ability to remember information all at once in a single sitting. Helpful or not, not everybody is effected by tests. Pass or fail, they vary in severity and in difficulty. It's important to use the right test lest you waste your time. I like to think of my test as a sort of ability exercise. Can I create freely without needing to barrow? To refer? To repeat? What works and what doesn't? What do I and others respond to, and how can I make those responses change? My test is more of a conversation, pick anything, everything is free game.
Is There an Expert in the House?
I would like to say that, only narrowing the scope of one who investigates freedom, will only cause to segregate what we consider research and what we consider destructive. It's counter intuitive to create arbitrary lines of which we shouldn't cross, in the pursuit of what we may never fully understand. It's noo Cosmos, but it's a sort of mystery that surrounds the thoughts we have and what we care to share with the world, or what we hear, or do.
Who's to say we're not all experts? With personal experience and collective knowledge, what can't we seek to explore? Where do we stop? Is there an end? All questions we should ask, but the answers we may not find, yet. It's everyone's duty to take up arms against normalcy, to fight the stagnant and the restricting. We've been doing it long enough to bear the gifts it gives us and the words we use today. "Innovation", in our tech geared culture, sounds the most familiar. The ultimate freedom sought by anyone with tools and a dream. We may think our freedom is over, that it's the end of the personal. But it is our choice to accept or reject these assumptions. That is why; I believe that anyone and everyone can be an expert. I feel that anyone can contribute, that holding some back would be the very thing we sought to remove.
It may be more difficult, yes, more complex, more varied, but more knowledgeable, more educational, more agile. If you look to explore what we have and create what is next, you must know the ins and outs, or at least have somewhere to go to get them. Not only I, but we can be those people, wiling and able to share in what we know and what we seek. Because, we aren't the only ones, not today, not tomorrow. Not everyone enjoys what we have, ans us them, but we can collectively shape the world in which we live, for a better life for all.
Who's to say we're not all experts? With personal experience and collective knowledge, what can't we seek to explore? Where do we stop? Is there an end? All questions we should ask, but the answers we may not find, yet. It's everyone's duty to take up arms against normalcy, to fight the stagnant and the restricting. We've been doing it long enough to bear the gifts it gives us and the words we use today. "Innovation", in our tech geared culture, sounds the most familiar. The ultimate freedom sought by anyone with tools and a dream. We may think our freedom is over, that it's the end of the personal. But it is our choice to accept or reject these assumptions. That is why; I believe that anyone and everyone can be an expert. I feel that anyone can contribute, that holding some back would be the very thing we sought to remove.
It may be more difficult, yes, more complex, more varied, but more knowledgeable, more educational, more agile. If you look to explore what we have and create what is next, you must know the ins and outs, or at least have somewhere to go to get them. Not only I, but we can be those people, wiling and able to share in what we know and what we seek. Because, we aren't the only ones, not today, not tomorrow. Not everyone enjoys what we have, ans us them, but we can collectively shape the world in which we live, for a better life for all.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
I, Entrepreneur
Contrary to some other popular words I could use to describe Hitler, I do believe he could be described as an entrepreneur. He decided that he was going to do some thing that few had tried to do before. Maybe it was wrong, a "crime against humanity" but that's a discussion for another time. My point is, he did something that few had tried before, and he wanted to do it bigger and better than ever thought possible. People may do things for the wrong reasons, but no one would remember a mediocre dictator bent on world domination.
My plans aren't anything as big, nor what I would consider myself an entrepreneur. I do plan on being the best I can be, but not at anything new. There's no limitations on ability, but it isn't my intention to specialize on a new field. Firefighting isn't exactly a "forward thinking business". There's no desire to innovate or create new things, its a profession based on personal values and public service.
And just because you're an expert, you aren't an entrepreneur. Some people just like being a cog in the machine, and they may be the best cog in the world. Ambition is not measured in new ideas, its measured by how hard you work in everything you do.
My plans aren't anything as big, nor what I would consider myself an entrepreneur. I do plan on being the best I can be, but not at anything new. There's no limitations on ability, but it isn't my intention to specialize on a new field. Firefighting isn't exactly a "forward thinking business". There's no desire to innovate or create new things, its a profession based on personal values and public service.
And just because you're an expert, you aren't an entrepreneur. Some people just like being a cog in the machine, and they may be the best cog in the world. Ambition is not measured in new ideas, its measured by how hard you work in everything you do.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Ten Questions
Hey Adolph Hitler, what's up?
- You seemed like a busy guy back in the day, how did you handle all of your important duties to ensure an efficient Third Reich?
- Why create an "inferior" group of population in your country? Why not try and use the best of what you had, instead of trying to eliminate a race?
- How does one go about branding the Nazi party with the use of the swastika? How did the Indians feel?
- I understand you wrote a book while in prison because of your early political career. What in the book has come true and what do you wish had?
- It did seem like a good idea to team up with Japan, Italy and the USSR, but why double cross Stalin? He was such a nice guy.
- I hear you were a painter at an early age, why did you give up a life of art?
- Did you ever imagine that Japan and China would eventually completely switch political views?
- What ever happened to that underground tunnel to Britain? We may be able to use that later...
- Those Hitler Youths look awfully like Boy Scouts, did you take any hints on the uniform?
- And finally, are you sorry for ruining a mustache?
If your confused, angry, sad, or otherwise lost: Sarcasm.
- You seemed like a busy guy back in the day, how did you handle all of your important duties to ensure an efficient Third Reich?
- Why create an "inferior" group of population in your country? Why not try and use the best of what you had, instead of trying to eliminate a race?
- How does one go about branding the Nazi party with the use of the swastika? How did the Indians feel?
- I understand you wrote a book while in prison because of your early political career. What in the book has come true and what do you wish had?
- It did seem like a good idea to team up with Japan, Italy and the USSR, but why double cross Stalin? He was such a nice guy.
- I hear you were a painter at an early age, why did you give up a life of art?
- Did you ever imagine that Japan and China would eventually completely switch political views?
- What ever happened to that underground tunnel to Britain? We may be able to use that later...
- Those Hitler Youths look awfully like Boy Scouts, did you take any hints on the uniform?
- And finally, are you sorry for ruining a mustache?
If your confused, angry, sad, or otherwise lost: Sarcasm.
Hey There!
I saw you checking out my blog, and wanted to mention...
The music you listen to is trash.
Go listen to some quality music.
You're welcome.
The music you listen to is trash.
Go listen to some quality music.
You're welcome.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Today's Topic
CNN: Putin: Russia has no plans to annex Crimea
If you have ears, you've (hopefully) heard about yet another reason to fear that World War III is upon us. Throughout the last few months, we've heard more about Ukraine than we probably ever have. And that's pretty typical of foreign conflicts. Here, in the US, we don't really care until it could upset our foreign interests. In this case, we've chosen to oppose Russia again, in, what could become, a familiar Cold War proxy war. As with every conflict since we called for an end to war in the Middle East, we've taken a side and gotten involved in yet another foreign disturbance instead of letting countries solve their own domestic problems.
I wonder how long it will take the drones to get over there...
If you have ears, you've (hopefully) heard about yet another reason to fear that World War III is upon us. Throughout the last few months, we've heard more about Ukraine than we probably ever have. And that's pretty typical of foreign conflicts. Here, in the US, we don't really care until it could upset our foreign interests. In this case, we've chosen to oppose Russia again, in, what could become, a familiar Cold War proxy war. As with every conflict since we called for an end to war in the Middle East, we've taken a side and gotten involved in yet another foreign disturbance instead of letting countries solve their own domestic problems.
I wonder how long it will take the drones to get over there...
Super 5
Here are five experts that I would like to find out more information on. I feel they have a very close relationship with freedom. Good or bad.
- Barack Obama
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Gahndi
- Adolph Hitler
- Joseph Stalin
Now, most of these people are deceased. However, much other their lives are documented for later study, such as in my case. If you're interested, these are the people to look to.
- Barack Obama
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Gahndi
- Adolph Hitler
- Joseph Stalin
Now, most of these people are deceased. However, much other their lives are documented for later study, such as in my case. If you're interested, these are the people to look to.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Go follow this guy's blog! Seriously! Right now!
If for whatever reason, you like my blog, you definitely need to follow Shane Cheverez's blog. Honestly, it's far better than mine. Just look at that layout! That color pallet!
That was pretty much it. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to look at some words I typed on my keyboard that somehow became a group of pixels on a screen transported to you through a piece of wire. Magic.
Thank you all.
Dale.
That was pretty much it. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to look at some words I typed on my keyboard that somehow became a group of pixels on a screen transported to you through a piece of wire. Magic.
Thank you all.
Dale.
Literature Analysis #5: Catching Fire
FICTION ANALYSIS
Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses (exposition, inciting incident, etc.). Explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
- The story picks up where The Hunger Games left off; Katniss and Peeta have returned from their battle in the arena to face their home back in District 12, which hasn't changed since they left for their trials. They are now victors and must act like it, they're treated much better than the rest of the district's people; getting to live in modern houses, no more worries about money, and the ability to ensure their families are taken care of. Unfortunately, the next Hunger Games, the 75th annual, has a twist in store for them. They are put back into the arena again to face past victors, all who have won past games.
They battle new enemies, who've all been there before, and face new dangers, from Gamemakers out to force them to fight, or kill them themselves. They make new allies and new enemies in interesting ways. And fight to the death once more, almost bringing them to death again. Their allies devise new strategies and use old tricks to beat the other tributes and survive until their last ditch plan goes wrong.
In the effort to electrocute the final remaining hostile tributes, things go wrong, some are attacked or killed, and they all think the plan is falling apart. However, due to Katniss' quick thinking and immaculate shooting skill, she electrocutes the force field around them, causing the entire arena to malfunction. This allows her apparent "rescue party" to pick up her, and most of her team, to fly them to a safer location. They are the last hope for the rebellion, but Peeta is gone and, worst of all, so is District 12.
They battle new enemies, who've all been there before, and face new dangers, from Gamemakers out to force them to fight, or kill them themselves. They make new allies and new enemies in interesting ways. And fight to the death once more, almost bringing them to death again. Their allies devise new strategies and use old tricks to beat the other tributes and survive until their last ditch plan goes wrong.
In the effort to electrocute the final remaining hostile tributes, things go wrong, some are attacked or killed, and they all think the plan is falling apart. However, due to Katniss' quick thinking and immaculate shooting skill, she electrocutes the force field around them, causing the entire arena to malfunction. This allows her apparent "rescue party" to pick up her, and most of her team, to fly them to a safer location. They are the last hope for the rebellion, but Peeta is gone and, worst of all, so is District 12.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
- The theme of the novel is about the same this time around. I still believe that the novel describes suffering provides entertainment, inequality between people, and the importance of appearances in great depth. I'm not going to reinvent the wheel very much this time around, so, if you want to see the original, check here for a good idea.
To be brief, it hasn't changed much from before, it still feels like the same feelings are given off. I do, however, feel that more compassion was given in this part of the narrative. I think that the characters were much more emotional this time around and pulled out all the stops to show that, no matter how fake. I appreciated the small changes, but it still remained very similar in values.
- The theme of the novel is about the same this time around. I still believe that the novel describes suffering provides entertainment, inequality between people, and the importance of appearances in great depth. I'm not going to reinvent the wheel very much this time around, so, if you want to see the original, check here for a good idea.
To be brief, it hasn't changed much from before, it still feels like the same feelings are given off. I do, however, feel that more compassion was given in this part of the narrative. I think that the characters were much more emotional this time around and pulled out all the stops to show that, no matter how fake. I appreciated the small changes, but it still remained very similar in values.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
- In this book, I think the tone was explained in a newer way, and it wasn't as displayed the same way as it was last time. I feel, because this is a very "close to the original" sequel, it wasn't meant to introduce, it was meant to expound on the topic and show just how far it had gotten, especially in the center of the evil, The Capitol. It gave readers an inside look at how they live in their posh comfortable lives, and how, no matter what, people are always ready and willing to put others down. "There's no welcoming committee on the platform, just a squad of eight Peacekeepers who direct us into the back of an armored truck. Effie sniffs as the door clanks behind us. "Really, you'd think we were all criminals," she says." (Pg. 447) Even with their sensational victor status, they can be treated as low as a criminals, just because they can.
It makes a fool of the people, honestly, who could be so "honored" to ride in such a vehicle, and for the measly cost of their disagreement. "A pair of Peacekeepers dragging the old man who whistled to the top of the steps. Forcing him to his knees before the crowd. An putting a bullet through his head." (Pg. 451) It's [the little] things like this that reinforce what we are exposed to all along. That the regime has ways of dealing with people, and they are swift and decisive.
- In this book, I think the tone was explained in a newer way, and it wasn't as displayed the same way as it was last time. I feel, because this is a very "close to the original" sequel, it wasn't meant to introduce, it was meant to expound on the topic and show just how far it had gotten, especially in the center of the evil, The Capitol. It gave readers an inside look at how they live in their posh comfortable lives, and how, no matter what, people are always ready and willing to put others down. "There's no welcoming committee on the platform, just a squad of eight Peacekeepers who direct us into the back of an armored truck. Effie sniffs as the door clanks behind us. "Really, you'd think we were all criminals," she says." (Pg. 447) Even with their sensational victor status, they can be treated as low as a criminals, just because they can.
It makes a fool of the people, honestly, who could be so "honored" to ride in such a vehicle, and for the measly cost of their disagreement. "A pair of Peacekeepers dragging the old man who whistled to the top of the steps. Forcing him to his knees before the crowd. An putting a bullet through his head." (Pg. 451) It's [the little] things like this that reinforce what we are exposed to all along. That the regime has ways of dealing with people, and they are swift and decisive.
4. Describe a minimum of five literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)*
- Pg 392 - "If it were up to me, I would try to forget the Hunger Games entirely. Never speak of them. Pretend they were nothing but a bad dream." Katniss reflects on the games many months after. She'll soon be on a tour in all the districts to thank them for their participation. It reminds her of what she has done in the name of sport.
- Pg 402 - "Haymitch is still dead to the world" Their mentor has been forgot by the people, and so he forgets them by drinking his way though life. He can be of use, even helpful, but he often doesn't care to.
- Pg 403 - "Just the sound of his voice twists my stomach into a knot of unpleasant emotions like guilt, sadness, and fear. And longing." Katniss, although honest, is still very confused as to what she wants, and what she needs. She's put into difficult situations often, not always at the hands of others, though.
- Pg 406 - "I'm staring into the snakelike eyes of President Snow." Obvious villain, right? He's quite the character in the story, though he on;y shows up occasionally, and knows how to create a mood. He's feared by most because he's the reason everything is the way it is. Katniss is right to be fearful, and hateful, he orchestrates all of the conflict in her simple life.
- Pg 406 - "In my mind, President Snow should be viewed in front of marble pillars hung with over-sized flags." Although, right after, he's painted into his currently plain environment, this is eluding to him being a Hitler-like character that symbolizes the evil. It puts a face, and a voice, to all the evil you can think, which is convenient.
- Pg 392 - "If it were up to me, I would try to forget the Hunger Games entirely. Never speak of them. Pretend they were nothing but a bad dream." Katniss reflects on the games many months after. She'll soon be on a tour in all the districts to thank them for their participation. It reminds her of what she has done in the name of sport.
- Pg 402 - "Haymitch is still dead to the world" Their mentor has been forgot by the people, and so he forgets them by drinking his way though life. He can be of use, even helpful, but he often doesn't care to.
- Pg 403 - "Just the sound of his voice twists my stomach into a knot of unpleasant emotions like guilt, sadness, and fear. And longing." Katniss, although honest, is still very confused as to what she wants, and what she needs. She's put into difficult situations often, not always at the hands of others, though.
- Pg 406 - "I'm staring into the snakelike eyes of President Snow." Obvious villain, right? He's quite the character in the story, though he on;y shows up occasionally, and knows how to create a mood. He's feared by most because he's the reason everything is the way it is. Katniss is right to be fearful, and hateful, he orchestrates all of the conflict in her simple life.
- Pg 406 - "In my mind, President Snow should be viewed in front of marble pillars hung with over-sized flags." Although, right after, he's painted into his currently plain environment, this is eluding to him being a Hitler-like character that symbolizes the evil. It puts a face, and a voice, to all the evil you can think, which is convenient.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
- (D) Katniss may not always understand herself, or often others, but she's very clear and concise about what she's thinking. Not always why, but always what.- (D) Peeta doesn't do very much different from when he first met Katniss. He was, ad is, always her ally, no matter what she does to him. You could say it's blinding love, but he chooses the person he knows inside, and ignores the outside that makes mistakes. What ever she's going through, he believes he can help solve it, not not let her down, or slow her down.
- (I) Katniss likes to analyze, but she keeps it all to herself. She never brings up the fact that she does it all the time, and that she may over-analyze things, thus causing her to make decisions that otherwise could have gone over better.
- (I) Haymitch cares for his new victors, he really does. Unfortunately, life has disappointed him after his rise, and he's fallen from eye, and let himself fall as well. It any be a lack of motivation, but he's abandon himself so that others don't have to do it.
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?
- You see it when Katniss talks/thinks about Peeta the most. It's slight tone change, and it's not always the same. Depending on who's in the power position, and it changes surprisingly often, she thinks of him differently. As she always assumes the worst, it makes it difficult to rely on people, no matter the situation. It's a desire to succeed with an expectation of failure. It isn't always bad, and it isn't always unwarranted. Katniss just has some trouble around people, driven by her past notions and her current practices. She can accept change, but very slowly. Like I mentioned before: "Just the sound of his voice twists my stomach into a knot of unpleasant emotions like guilt, sadness, and fear. And longing." Which continues: "I might as well admit there's some of that, too. Only it has too much competition to ever win out...He looks strong and healthy, so different from the sick, starving boy I knew in the arena, and you can barely even notice his limp now." (Pg 403) Though thoughtful, there's no mistaking the size-up and the determination if he's worth it. If they weren't forced to be the "star crossed lovers", would they have remained separate? One can only assume so.
- You see it when Katniss talks/thinks about Peeta the most. It's slight tone change, and it's not always the same. Depending on who's in the power position, and it changes surprisingly often, she thinks of him differently. As she always assumes the worst, it makes it difficult to rely on people, no matter the situation. It's a desire to succeed with an expectation of failure. It isn't always bad, and it isn't always unwarranted. Katniss just has some trouble around people, driven by her past notions and her current practices. She can accept change, but very slowly. Like I mentioned before: "Just the sound of his voice twists my stomach into a knot of unpleasant emotions like guilt, sadness, and fear. And longing." Which continues: "I might as well admit there's some of that, too. Only it has too much competition to ever win out...He looks strong and healthy, so different from the sick, starving boy I knew in the arena, and you can barely even notice his limp now." (Pg 403) Though thoughtful, there's no mistaking the size-up and the determination if he's worth it. If they weren't forced to be the "star crossed lovers", would they have remained separate? One can only assume so.
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
- I would like to think that Katniss is more evolutionary this time around. Especially in her social ability, she's engaging much more, though it is still very tactically inclined. There's always a plan to kill everyone at any time, so to speak, and she entertains the fact that she's the only reason things are the way they are. She takes no credit, but she realizes that she's the catalyst for many of the events that take place across the districts. She accepts more responsibility as time goes on, and learns to live with, though not well, her choices.
- I would like to think that Katniss is more evolutionary this time around. Especially in her social ability, she's engaging much more, though it is still very tactically inclined. There's always a plan to kill everyone at any time, so to speak, and she entertains the fact that she's the only reason things are the way they are. She takes no credit, but she realizes that she's the catalyst for many of the events that take place across the districts. She accepts more responsibility as time goes on, and learns to live with, though not well, her choices.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
- I feel like I met her again for the continuation of her life and the battles that she fights. She's grown, and that can engage different parts of your expectations of her, as well as change some old ideas of what she would or wouldn't do. It's different, and that's good. She adapted to fit into her environment, and, although it was very familiar, she refused to assume and took matters into her own hands. She may let you guide her, but she'll drink when she wants to.Monday, February 24, 2014
Welcome to the Interdisciplinary
My topic is freedom. Very broad, very difficult to put into words. It means different things to different people. It's a best friend to some, and a mortal enemy to others. The word can bring happiness or sadness. It can create or be destroyed. But you can see it, hear it, speak it, feel it, maybe not taste it, but you know it's there or, a lack thereof. It isn't a new word, or idea, or concept, and not just humans understand it. It's complicated, because we made it that way. We used our freedom to limit others, increase others, and diversify this great word with-which brings great solidarity or change. Say it in the West, the North, the East or the South, it means any things. Not just in your community, but your country, or your planet. Is this all good? Did we make the right decision? Do we make the right decisions? Who made the decision? Who makes them? How? When? Why?
Again, it's complicated. It always has been, ever since humans decided to evolve society into what we know today. It's a basic concept, an Old English word, "frēodōm" which meant "freedom, state of free-will, charter, emancipation, deliverance" (wiktionary.org). The meaning hasn't changed much, no, but it's use has. It varies by place, people, language, and meaning. Especially it's meaning which, may be definable, but that's simple a best-case-scenario. Most of the time, it's being used in conjunction with other words, or a subject relating to it. It's useful to use "Freedom" because, if you attach other words or ideas to it, it becomes easier to understand and to relate to.
Heck, you're probably doing something right now relating to freedom. Reading this on my blog is an exercise of your first amendment right of "free speech". I write what I want, without worry that any government will come arrest me for it (unless they decide to). And you read it, without worry that you will be caught reading material from another person (unless you're offended). And Google has the ability to offer people the ability to rent web-space for free without worry they'll be in trouble for the things I write or what you read (unless they are). Those statements are true, but so are my parenthesis. It just depends on your freedoms, their freedoms, the laws, our feelings, [etc.] and what you can do with these. It's not impossible to say that these freedoms can change, that they'll be altered, that they'll effect us in a profound way or that they'll change a life. It's complicated.
And, because I don't like to go on for forever, I'll finish with what I think is the most important thing. No matter what; Think. If anything else, it will impact you more than anything. No matter the amount of freedom given to you, you'll always have freedom in the mind [unless they take it away from you].
Welcome to my Network
Shane Cheverez, because his subject is simply emotion. It relates to my field and could help explain the emotional effects of my idea.
Johnathon Begg, becuase of his desire of writing, specifically fiction, which deals a lot with creative freedom.
Jacob Lear, due to his interest in cooking, and I think I can explore the culinary freedom associated with that.
Maria Luna, she is looking into a few subjects such as language, culture, and religion. These are some core ideas for freedom or control.
Chance Miranda, because he's very interested in baseball. Not just current players, stats, games, teams, and more, but maybe a career. Sports offer freedom but create boundaries as well.
Johnathon Begg, becuase of his desire of writing, specifically fiction, which deals a lot with creative freedom.
Jacob Lear, due to his interest in cooking, and I think I can explore the culinary freedom associated with that.
Maria Luna, she is looking into a few subjects such as language, culture, and religion. These are some core ideas for freedom or control.
Chance Miranda, because he's very interested in baseball. Not just current players, stats, games, teams, and more, but maybe a career. Sports offer freedom but create boundaries as well.
Monday, February 10, 2014
My Vocabulary #1
Freedom - noun the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints; immunity from an obligation or duty
Visa - Noun A legal permit to enter a country.
Representative - Noun A person who represents others.
Refugees - Noun People who flee their country because of persecution or danger.
Principle - noun a basic truth or law or assumption; a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system; a basic generalization that is accepted as true
Society - noun an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
Control - noun the activity of managing or exerting control over something
Standards - ideas about morally correct and acceptable behavior
Regulation - adj. prescribed by or according to regulation; noun the act of controlling or directing according to rule; the act of bringing to uniformity; making regular
Communism - noun a political theory favoring collectivism in a classless society; a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership
Socialism - noun a political theory advocating state ownership of industry; an economic system based on state ownership of capital
Legality - noun lawfulness by virtue of conformity to a legal statute
Politics - noun the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs
Equality - noun the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status; a state of being essentially equal or equivalent; equally balanced
Self-Control - noun the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior; the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses
Liberty - noun freedom of choice; personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppression; immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority
Moral - adj. concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
Right - adj. correct in opinion or judgment
Duty - noun work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons; the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
Visa - Noun A legal permit to enter a country.
Representative - Noun A person who represents others.
Refugees - Noun People who flee their country because of persecution or danger.
Principle - noun a basic truth or law or assumption; a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system; a basic generalization that is accepted as true
Society - noun an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
Control - noun the activity of managing or exerting control over something
Standards - ideas about morally correct and acceptable behavior
Regulation - adj. prescribed by or according to regulation; noun the act of controlling or directing according to rule; the act of bringing to uniformity; making regular
Capitalism - noun an economic system based on private ownership of capital
Communism - noun a political theory favoring collectivism in a classless society; a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership
Socialism - noun a political theory advocating state ownership of industry; an economic system based on state ownership of capital
Legality - noun lawfulness by virtue of conformity to a legal statute
Politics - noun the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs
Equality - noun the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status; a state of being essentially equal or equivalent; equally balanced
Self-Control - noun the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior; the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses
Liberty - noun freedom of choice; personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppression; immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority
Moral - adj. concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
Right - adj. correct in opinion or judgment
Duty - noun work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons; the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
Launch: Freedom
-What are you passionate about? What do you want to do?
=I want to explore freedom. In more ways than one, I want to understand as much as possible about its facets. I desire to learn as much as possible about this broad topic, to be able to correlate between ideas.
=I want to explore freedom. In more ways than one, I want to understand as much as possible about its facets. I desire to learn as much as possible about this broad topic, to be able to correlate between ideas.
-How can you use the tools from last semester (and the Internet in general)?
=I can use sources from last semester, as well as sources in general, to fill in the blanks and to expand. I'll be looking for sources to help me find new answers, and maybe new questions.
=I can use sources from last semester, as well as sources in general, to fill in the blanks and to expand. I'll be looking for sources to help me find new answers, and maybe new questions.
-What will I need to do in order to "feel the awesomeness with no regrets" by June?
=I want to be able to teach people about things they don't know or understand. I want to prove to myself that learning benefits everyone, not just the individual. Success is a definite goal, but failure is always a possibility.
=I want to be able to teach people about things they don't know or understand. I want to prove to myself that learning benefits everyone, not just the individual. Success is a definite goal, but failure is always a possibility.
-What will impress/convince others (both in your life and in your field)?
=Showing new information or explaining things we thought we understood. Expanding knowledge and providing another body of knowledge.
=Showing new information or explaining things we thought we understood. Expanding knowledge and providing another body of knowledge.
-How will I move beyond 'What If' and take this from idea --> reality?
=I will keep looking for new things to bring in, different ideas to consider. I'll be writing these things down in order to share my ideas/findings/questions/etc.
-Who will be the peers, public, and experts in your personal learning network?
=I will keep looking for new things to bring in, different ideas to consider. I'll be writing these things down in order to share my ideas/findings/questions/etc.
-Who will be the peers, public, and experts in your personal learning network?
=People that I know, people with different ideas. People with similar ideas or people who challenge them. It's important to take comments from all angles.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Literature Analysis #4: The Hunger Games
FICTION ANALYSIS
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses (exposition, inciting incident, etc.). Explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
- In a dystopian style future, a girl Katniss Everdeen who lives in an outlying district of a futuristic colonial society, becomes a player in the Hunger Games, a sport much like gladitorials in which random people fight to the death. She is pitted against other "tributes" and male from her District; Peeta Malark, who is seen as an enemy until she realizes he's helping her. They work together to survive the games, making an example of n iron fisted Capitol that treats the districts like slaves.
The story tells of an obvious conflict between the rulers and the ruled, that unfair treatment is upsetting and immoral. Besides the obvious, we discover that Katniss, the main protagonist, has issues trusting people, but mainly subconsciously only looks to serve herself in her actions and choices. We learn this by the way she detests being in-debt to people.
- In a dystopian style future, a girl Katniss Everdeen who lives in an outlying district of a futuristic colonial society, becomes a player in the Hunger Games, a sport much like gladitorials in which random people fight to the death. She is pitted against other "tributes" and male from her District; Peeta Malark, who is seen as an enemy until she realizes he's helping her. They work together to survive the games, making an example of n iron fisted Capitol that treats the districts like slaves.
The story tells of an obvious conflict between the rulers and the ruled, that unfair treatment is upsetting and immoral. Besides the obvious, we discover that Katniss, the main protagonist, has issues trusting people, but mainly subconsciously only looks to serve herself in her actions and choices. We learn this by the way she detests being in-debt to people.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
- Some themes are; suffering provides entertainment, inequality between people, and the importance of appearances. The first one, is the main event of the book. Even the story builds it up and exemplifies it as the most important part. The displays of humanity at war are disturbing, but the citizens are inducted to agree. Second, the rich and poor people are separated, hundreds of miles apart. Divided, they work to provide for the Capitol, receiving meager supplies and being abused. Third, people are put on pedestals for insignificant, or even untrue, things. They are waved around as a sort of item or perfection.
- Some themes are; suffering provides entertainment, inequality between people, and the importance of appearances. The first one, is the main event of the book. Even the story builds it up and exemplifies it as the most important part. The displays of humanity at war are disturbing, but the citizens are inducted to agree. Second, the rich and poor people are separated, hundreds of miles apart. Divided, they work to provide for the Capitol, receiving meager supplies and being abused. Third, people are put on pedestals for insignificant, or even untrue, things. They are waved around as a sort of item or perfection.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
- The author looks to illustrate a path that democracies could head down, given that wealth inequality is one of the greatest dividers. It creates further division and tension between the haves and have-nots. This is not an impossible future. It is even set in the once United States. "In school, they tell us the Capitol was built in a place called the Rockies. District 12 was in a region known as Appalachia." The idea that this could happen in time sets a tension that needs no explanation. It signals the spiral of society into one of domination and slavery. It is designed to scare people into picturing them as the ones on the outside, the ones in the dirt. "Besides basic reading and math most of our instruction is coal-related. Except for the weekly lecture on the history of Panem. It's mostly a lot of blather about what we owe the Capitol." It's created to make you disdain the Capitol, it's residents, and it's control. It sets the tone for most of the actions.
- The author looks to illustrate a path that democracies could head down, given that wealth inequality is one of the greatest dividers. It creates further division and tension between the haves and have-nots. This is not an impossible future. It is even set in the once United States. "In school, they tell us the Capitol was built in a place called the Rockies. District 12 was in a region known as Appalachia." The idea that this could happen in time sets a tension that needs no explanation. It signals the spiral of society into one of domination and slavery. It is designed to scare people into picturing them as the ones on the outside, the ones in the dirt. "Besides basic reading and math most of our instruction is coal-related. Except for the weekly lecture on the history of Panem. It's mostly a lot of blather about what we owe the Capitol." It's created to make you disdain the Capitol, it's residents, and it's control. It sets the tone for most of the actions.
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
- Pg 150 - "I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster I'm not." This is foreshadowing to later on in the story, where Peeta becomes a different person, not by his own hand, but by his captors'.
- Pg 151 - "Give my best to my mother when you make it back, will you?" Peeta remarks that he isn't strong enough to make it through the games, that he will fail. He remarks Katniss' abilities while still hoping for any positive outcome.
- Pg 156 (and others) - "Cornucopia" It's an average word. It means a plentiful and varied assortment of things, usually food. In thins, it refers to a large, often metal, cornucopia where, during the games, large amounts of supplies are stored for tributes to use. It represents bounty while also representing the death that may await you as you try and use it's advantage.
- Pg 162 - "Maybe it's better, if he's gone already." Katniss ponders whether it's better if Peeta dies at the hand of another, or herself. It shows that, while she cares some for others, she mostly cares about her own survival.
- Pg 193 - "All my bravado is gone." Katniss has been temporarily put in an awkward position and must take on mounting odds to live. She once had the upper hand, but now, she's been reduced and must re-muster her courage.
- Pg 194 - "For a while we hold each other's gaze...points to something above my head." Rue and Katniss exchange a mutual feeling of helplessness as they've both been running from their stronger enemies. Rue decides to help Katniss even though they have never really met. It shows that in desperate times, allies are indispensable.
- Pg 205 - "I think, at last, this is over, but it isn't." She realizes that, no matter how bad things get, they can always get worse. That there is no limit to pain and suffering.
- Pg 207 - "...Because for some reason Gale and Peeta do not coexist well together in my thoughts." WE see that Katniss has several internal conflicts that aren't even full understood yet. These two mean very different to her, they exist differently, they serve different purposes. They exemplify her fears in some ways; people in her life.
- Pg 207 - "I find I'm actually anticipating the moment with pleasure." Katniss gets a hold of a weapon, a weapon she's incredibly skilled with, putting her into an offensive position. This changes the rest of her time in the game.
- Pg 211- "She reminds me of Prim" Her sister. Rue's place in the games, being that she is small yet fast, makes her an excellent runner, an outlast-er, that she'll adapt. She reminds Katniss that these are still children, and that they can't always defend themselves.
- Pg 150 - "I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster I'm not." This is foreshadowing to later on in the story, where Peeta becomes a different person, not by his own hand, but by his captors'.
- Pg 151 - "Give my best to my mother when you make it back, will you?" Peeta remarks that he isn't strong enough to make it through the games, that he will fail. He remarks Katniss' abilities while still hoping for any positive outcome.
- Pg 156 (and others) - "Cornucopia" It's an average word. It means a plentiful and varied assortment of things, usually food. In thins, it refers to a large, often metal, cornucopia where, during the games, large amounts of supplies are stored for tributes to use. It represents bounty while also representing the death that may await you as you try and use it's advantage.
- Pg 162 - "Maybe it's better, if he's gone already." Katniss ponders whether it's better if Peeta dies at the hand of another, or herself. It shows that, while she cares some for others, she mostly cares about her own survival.
- Pg 193 - "All my bravado is gone." Katniss has been temporarily put in an awkward position and must take on mounting odds to live. She once had the upper hand, but now, she's been reduced and must re-muster her courage.
- Pg 194 - "For a while we hold each other's gaze...points to something above my head." Rue and Katniss exchange a mutual feeling of helplessness as they've both been running from their stronger enemies. Rue decides to help Katniss even though they have never really met. It shows that in desperate times, allies are indispensable.
- Pg 205 - "I think, at last, this is over, but it isn't." She realizes that, no matter how bad things get, they can always get worse. That there is no limit to pain and suffering.
- Pg 207 - "...Because for some reason Gale and Peeta do not coexist well together in my thoughts." WE see that Katniss has several internal conflicts that aren't even full understood yet. These two mean very different to her, they exist differently, they serve different purposes. They exemplify her fears in some ways; people in her life.
- Pg 207 - "I find I'm actually anticipating the moment with pleasure." Katniss gets a hold of a weapon, a weapon she's incredibly skilled with, putting her into an offensive position. This changes the rest of her time in the game.
- Pg 211- "She reminds me of Prim" Her sister. Rue's place in the games, being that she is small yet fast, makes her an excellent runner, an outlast-er, that she'll adapt. She reminds Katniss that these are still children, and that they can't always defend themselves.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
- (D) Katniss can very often be blunt about a situation and not try to lie or hide at all. She has little fear when it comes to human emotional interaction. This is throughout the book.
- (D) Peeta is also up front but doesn't take people for granted. He protects those he means to without hesitation and without second thoughts or ulterior motives.
- (I) Katniss has problems communicating, probaly due to a lack of healthy relationships with family and due to their either leaving or their misuse of her trust. She disdains unnecessarily conversation as well as others' topics.
- (I) Peeta is a good person. He doesn't say it, nor does anyone else, but a few know it. Katniss realizes that Peeta has been her best ally the whole time, even though she mistreats him and put him down. She uses him throught the book, but Peeta stays by her to protect the one he wants most to.
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
- (D) Katniss can very often be blunt about a situation and not try to lie or hide at all. She has little fear when it comes to human emotional interaction. This is throughout the book.
- (D) Peeta is also up front but doesn't take people for granted. He protects those he means to without hesitation and without second thoughts or ulterior motives.
- (I) Katniss has problems communicating, probaly due to a lack of healthy relationships with family and due to their either leaving or their misuse of her trust. She disdains unnecessarily conversation as well as others' topics.
- (I) Peeta is a good person. He doesn't say it, nor does anyone else, but a few know it. Katniss realizes that Peeta has been her best ally the whole time, even though she mistreats him and put him down. She uses him throught the book, but Peeta stays by her to protect the one he wants most to.
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?
- There's not much character switching, if any at all. The story is told though the mind of Katnisss, and what she sees, we see. She explains things in great detail, removing most other character thought explanation.
- There's not much character switching, if any at all. The story is told though the mind of Katnisss, and what she sees, we see. She explains things in great detail, removing most other character thought explanation.
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
- I think Katniss is incredibly static. She begins the story in one fashion, and ends it in the exact same one. She doesn't grow as a character, she doesn't learn anything, but most importantly, we realize that she disregards other's for her own gain, basically destroying any hope for any character changes through forced partnership.
- I think Katniss is incredibly static. She begins the story in one fashion, and ends it in the exact same one. She doesn't grow as a character, she doesn't learn anything, but most importantly, we realize that she disregards other's for her own gain, basically destroying any hope for any character changes through forced partnership.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
- I feel like I know Katniss decently well, but from what I've read, I wouldn't much like to meet her. She does what she wants and will probably ignore any useful additions to an already light group of contacts. "Were they dealing with me because I was my father's daughter, or because of my ability to bring trade to the table. I always thought of them as my own, but I was never sure and it didn't matter." It may be sad to some, but she chooses to work the way she does, for better or worse. So far, it worked out, but in the Games, she had to enlist unlikely, and unwelcome, assistance for survival.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Hafta/Wanna
There's a difference between high school and everything after it. It would seem to me, one is structured, while the other is not. We can attempt to replicated a similar experience throughout life, and some succeed more than others. That is not to say, people inherently desire this, but it exists. It can be a quick change or it will never wear off, the feeling of having your life dictated by the government for your benefit. You're thrust upon life's doorstep, expected to make a lasting impression, one that lasts, hopefully, for the rest of your working life. It's important to not lose sight of what's important because, when the world is spinning around you, everything can change. Don't let it change you, be who you are, and love what you do.
Vocabulary: #4 Spring
accolade - noun a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
acerbity - noun a sharp sour taste; a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
attrition - noun the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction; a wearing down to weaken or destroy; sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation; the wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice; erosion by friction
bromide - noun any of the salts of hydrobromic acid; formerly used as a sedative but now generally replaced by safer drugs; a trite or obvious remark
chauvinist - noun an extreme bellicose nationalist; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
chronic - adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
expound - verb add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing;state
factionalism - noun of a faction or factions, self-interested; partisan
immaculate - adj. completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error
imprecation - noun the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
ineluctable - adj. impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
mercurial - adj. relating to or containing or caused by mercury;relating to or having characteristics (eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, thievishness) attributed to the god Mercury; relating to or under the (astrological) influence of the planet Mercury; liable to sudden unpredictable change
palliate - verb provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
protocol - noun code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state; (computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data
resplendent - adj. having great beauty and splendor
stigmatize - verb mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
sub - noun a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes;a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States; verb be a substitute
rosa - noun large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses
vainglory - noun outspoken conceit
vestige - noun an indication that something has been present
volition - noun the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
acerbity - noun a sharp sour taste; a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
attrition - noun the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction; a wearing down to weaken or destroy; sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation; the wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice; erosion by friction
bromide - noun any of the salts of hydrobromic acid; formerly used as a sedative but now generally replaced by safer drugs; a trite or obvious remark
chauvinist - noun an extreme bellicose nationalist; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
chronic - adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
expound - verb add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing;state
factionalism - noun of a faction or factions, self-interested; partisan
immaculate - adj. completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error
imprecation - noun the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
ineluctable - adj. impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
mercurial - adj. relating to or containing or caused by mercury;relating to or having characteristics (eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, thievishness) attributed to the god Mercury; relating to or under the (astrological) influence of the planet Mercury; liable to sudden unpredictable change
palliate - verb provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
protocol - noun code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state; (computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data
resplendent - adj. having great beauty and splendor
stigmatize - verb mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
sub - noun a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes;a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States; verb be a substitute
rosa - noun large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses
vainglory - noun outspoken conceit
vestige - noun an indication that something has been present
volition - noun the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
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