My Love, My Outlandos D'Amour

The memory is one I cherish. Mainly because I don't have many vivid childhood memories. The time frame for this one is somewhere between 1978 and 1984.

That puts me somewhere between four and nine…

Here's the memory:

Some neighbors from across the street were having a yard sale. We went over to peruse the junk and found great treasure: two reel-to-reel tape recorders. One was larger than the other. The smaller of the two was "portable" because it had a black plastic strap by which it could be lugged around. My parents bought both of them, one for me and one for my brother.

At the time of our tape recorder acquisition, my older brother Jon had borrowed Outlandos D'Amour from a friend's cool, much older brothers. It was already on heavy rotation in the Kapica household.

Keeping everything ultra hi-fi, I decided to record Outlandos onto my new tape recorder—right from our record player's one crackling speaker.

With my tape recorder, I would close myself in my bedroom closet and listen to The Police. My favorite song? "Be My Girl (Sally)." I would listen to this song over and over again, repeating as best I could the spoken word part-- British accent and all.

There I was, a small boy in a closet, singing a song about a man who finds love with a blow-up doll.

****

Regardless of the memories, Outlandos D'Amour is a great album. Every time I listen to it, I feel like a kid again. Whenever I teach William Carlos Williams's poem, "The Danse Russe," I mention Outlandos. The poem is essentially about those moments of joy (and horror) that we experience when there's no one else around. Williams writes of enjoying some "alone time" in the wee hours of the morning ("Who shall say I am not / the happy genius of my household?").

Whenever I listen to Outlandos-- alone at home, really loud-- I dance like a bloody fool.

And it feels good, and right.

The album is full of great, fast and furious tracks. A majority of the songs deal with typical rock themes of unrequited and spurned love, but Sting, a school teacher turned rocker, was always more literate (and pompous) than the usual bounty of rocker-wanna-be-poets (take that lizard king!). I am particularly fond of "Born in the 50s." True, it speaks of a different generation, but I have always been encouraged by Sting's assertion "We were the class they couldn't teach / Because we knew better."

I'm getting too old to dogmatically remember every song lyric of every album I purchase, but there was a time when this was simply the norm. I can sing-a-long to every single lyric on Outlandos -- while waving my shirt 'round my head nonetheless!

I'll end with this:

Outlandos D'Amour is one of those rare musical finds that will always reduce me to a singin' and dancin' fool.

Why does eveyone have to be so harsh?

So I found people that like the movie “The Kingdom” just as much as I did but I also was very shocked at the number of people that I found who didn’t like this movie at all. I loved it for its great action and its tie to current war situations, the awesome characters and their roles, and overall I was just amazed at the whole plot but I guess everyone didn’t get the same joy out of this film as I did. One of the Topic Critics by the name of Terry Lawson from the website Rotten Tomatoes says the “The Kingdom is a smart picture with much to say. But in the end, it elects not to say it.” I was completely shocked when I read this because I thought that the movie said so much about life and it sat back and posed lots of questions on the way different groups of people go through and decided to live their lives. Another man by the name of Lou Lumenick says that “it is an overblown, revenge-driven action thriller that exports the Rambo mentality to the contemporary Middle East.” I can’t believe all the negative things people had to say about this movie, there were defiantly more negative than positive things said. On a lighter note a man by the name of Tom Long says that The Kingdom was “From a literally explosive beginning to its high-octane end, The Kingdom is rocking-good mainstream moviemaking: painfully topical, edge-of-the-seat thrilling and totally engrossing.” Now that was what I felt when I say this movie, it was incredible fast paste and was completely overwhelming with amazement. Overall I know that everyone is entitled to their own interpretation about something but was just taken back by the amount of disgrace that people felt with this movie, I loved it and I think that everyone should see it if you get the chance it will totally be worth it!

A Pespective on Amy Winehouse

Finding a source that spoke about Amy Winehouse was not especially difficult. She has been all over the entertainment headlines not only for her music, but for her often bizarre behavior. However, Christian Hoard describes her as "nervy" and "witty" in her newest album entitled Back to Black. He also supports my claim that her Motown sounding music has a universal appeal to variety of people. He states that some of her songs from this particular album "don't hold up." I definitely have to disagree with this statement. Winehouse's album is one of few that I can listen to from start to finish. She covers a variety of emotions and situations in her lyrics. Even her most depressing songs have an upbeat quality to them. Hoard also brings up two of her most controversial songs: one that describes an ex-lover and "a wistful gem in which Winehouse chooses weed over a lover." I thought it was interesting that he, of all songs, highlighted these two. While I also believe that these are great, interesting songs, I think that there are better on the album. I disagree with his use of controversy to draw in new listeners. There are songs that are more pertinent and just as interesting that he could have easily used.
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/amywinehouse/albums/album/13355827/review/13385056/back_to_black

So What Do I Do Now?

So, I know she is in a better place now, but why am I mad at her? Why do I feel like she abandoned me? I mean, she is with my grandpa now, but not with me. He left me whenever I was only six and did not understand, but now I am eighteen, and I understand, but I just not why. So, help me.. I mean, I know she was sick, but I mean, she could have gotten better if she would have went to the doctor a year or so earlier. I mean, every time I think about graduation, she was always out in the audience with my mom and dad, being proud of me for graduation. And she was there for my first day of college, and my wedding, and everything. But that is because she has always been there. She has lived beside me all of my life. All of the holidays were celebrated there, you know, the major ones like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. And well, what am I going to do this year? It is going to be odd not going there, it is like a tradition. And I mean, we can still go there, but she will not be there. And well, she has always been there and now she is not. And well, her house is still there, but she is not. And I do not know what to do. I mean, whenever I needed something, she was always there. She was always there for me to complain about my parents or my brother and sister to. She was always there for me to just talk to. She has just always been there and now she is not and I don’t know what to do. My school work has been slipping, and all of my relationships have fallen by the wayside, and I just do not know what to do besides cry anymore. I don’t really sleep anymore either, I just lay with my eyes closed and drift. Because maybe I am asleep, and this is all just a bad dream?

So now that I have written about so many different things over the last six weeks I am going to just take some time to write about me and how much I greatly dislike writing! I do not feel like it is one of my stronger points in life and I am really glad that I went on and got this class over with, no offense Mr. Kapica it isn’t your fault. I have never been an English fan even through high school I would much rather take a Math class over English class any day. In math there is almost always one right or wrong answer, no personal interpretation and thinking critically to form a unique answer; and most of the time in math you can go back and check yourself to know whether or not you got your problem right before you actually turn something in. I also think that I am way to ADHD to be a writer, as soon as I sit down at my computer to type something up I automatically get on the internet or play games to put off what I really sat down to do. I start typing and get stuck so I tell myself well I’ll just play one game to clear my head and end up playing for like an hour and never accomplish anything. I also know that I don’t have that cool way of saying things that actually makes people want to read more, I just don’t have that graceful way of talking. So in conclusion I think that I am just going to stick to Math and Science, my two favorite subjects, and try to avoid writing anything that someone might actually have to sit down and read so I don’t make them want to stick an ink pen in their eyes!

Some Family

I really hate my family. I have a stepsister that is fifteen and she is as fat as a house. I also have a little half sister that is four. Both of them are the biggest brats that I know. They get everything they want and the can do what ever they want when they want and don’t have to ask. I’m nineteen years old and god forbid if I breathe without asking first. My step mom has a big problem. It’s not just the size of her lard butt, but the fact that she spends all her money on stupid shit and buying her kids shit that they don’t need and every time I turn around she wants money from me. I bust my ass of for all the stuff that I have they do nothing to help me. They always think that I owe them something. They play the card “ well we did get you that car for graduation” yeah they sure did now I’m in dept 13,000 dollars. Some graduation present. My whole step family is a bunch of two faced red head b*tches. That is putting it nicely. The only thing that I have to took forward to be seeing James. He is the only one who knows what I have to put up with. When we first started dating my step family said that I would have a baby by the time I graduated. They were so wrong. They are the ones you have kids and married. It just makes me so mad that I have to work so hard for everything and have nothing to show for it. It gets kind of depressing. James is the only one that I can turn to. He is the love of my life and I don’t care what my dad thinks of him. If I could I would stay with him. It is pretty sad that I am nineteen and can’t do what I want. It sucks to be to some extent.

Fall in Love all over agian

I love the movie Cinderella. It classic that has stud the test of time. This movie seems to come out about every seven years says Roger Ebert. He also said that when he first say it as a kid then saw it many years later that it had no changed much and is some ways neither had he. When I talked about the movie a spoke of more the meaning that I got from the movie. Ebert talks about the animation techniques and the use of unfamiliar voices. When I think of Cinderella I picture Cinderella and her prince charming falling ion love and living happily ever after. Ebert talks about the creation of the animals and how they help out Cinderella with everything from bathing and changing clothes to them helping her escape from her room when the men come to fit the girls for the slipper. Ebert says that the animals in Cinderella serve the same function as the Seven Dwarfs in Snow White. The animals provide moral support. Each animal has his or her on personality. Ebert said that the Disney people spent so much time in making the animals look alive like by making then wag their buttocks that is way they never but pants on them. He also notes that the second Disney animated classic that has been stretched into wide screen lost 25 percent of the original image. Disney would rather supervise its own wide format than allow projectionist to despoil the image.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/19871120/REVIEWS/711200301/1023

Cinderella

My favorite piece of popular culture that I wrote about was Cinderella. Not only is it a timeless classic but it really gets your imagination going. To some people it might be just another stupid fairytale but to some it maybe like a sanctuary, a place where they can escape the hard truth of reality. It’s nice to have a place to let your imagination run wild without fear of who is watching. In real life people squish all of your hopes and dreams out of you by telling you, you can’t do something. Walt Disney said “ Why do we have to grow up? I know more adults who have the children’s approach to life. They’re people who don’t give a hang what the Joneses do. You see them at Disneyland every time you go there. They are not afraid to be delighted with simple pleasures, and they have a degree of contentment with what life has brought - sometimes it isn’t much, either.” When I was little it couldn't have pleased me more than to sit and watch the pumpkin turn into a beautiful carriage. Now when my little sister and I watch it I love to see her face light up when she sees all the magic. I can’t to see when she gets older to see how much she really got from it. Cinderella had her step family to ring her dry of all her hopes of finding her prince. When she finally got her chance yet again did they try to ruin it. It goes to show that there are people out there that just can’t stand to see others happy. This movie really inspires me to go for what I want in life. In the end it comes down to whether or not you have the strength to get through the tough times to see the brighter days that will come along.

The Kigdom; The War you dont see on the News

I just saw that coolest new movie called “The Kingdom.” It is a modern day war film referring to our war issues that are currently going on overseas. This film is about four F.B.I. agents that are sent to Saudi Arabia after a bombing in broad daylight at a baseball field on an American Army base. This action packed film has a lot of great new actors like Jamie Fox, Jennifer Garner, and Chris Cooper. I have never seen Jamie Fox in such a serious roll as not only a father but one of the heads of the F.B.I. but at the same time he somehow showed everyone humor in a situation that many people wouldn’t be able to pull off. Jennifer Garner is kicking butt again as usual but this time she is completely frowned upon for trying to make it in a “man’s world” according to the people of Saudi Arabia. Fox, Garner, and Cooper are all striving to figure out what happened but at the same time are risking their lives in the pursuit of justice. I love this movie because it shows what the government doesn’t want you see; you are shown just how shady people with authority can be to cover someone who might pose a threat to them. The attack in the movie came from men in Saudi military uniforms but the government insisted that they had nothing to do with it, so the whole movie you are trying to figure out who is behind the bombing and in the end you get a great twist that really opened my eyes to the people around me. I think that this movie is a great movie to see and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see some awesome characters fight for justice in a really horrible situation.

Decision Making vs. Critical Thinking in Politics

The likeness between Decision Making and Critical Thinking is a lot more different than people think. Critical Thinking is when someone discerns from mistakes and thinks about how things could be done better. It's the process of getting to conclusions that are logical. Solving problems, analyzing factual information, and taking positive action based on the conclusions is called decision-making. Critical Thinking is looking at assumptions--not really accepting arguments at face value. Critical Thinking is looking for technical support when a printer is down. We use critical thinking skills with our feedback to determine if the printer can print or not. History is full of these two interlocking values getting into conflict in politics and foreign policy. Decision making is an action. It is the destination of logical and analytical problem solving which is based on fact. These main points are what the CIA use to get into your words and what you mean. They are matters of the mind. Yes, these things show that the U.S. is not able to discern things as a great nation of peace and prosperity. We cannot learn anything from the past because our decision-making has not lived up to the standards of what decisions are. Everything in today's time is not a picture of what the past had created. It is what people have decided to make us look like. Our critical thinking is still awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all that happens in Washington today though. We predicted it with our critical thinking, yet we have not mastered the decision-making.

Not only for teens, so take that Common Sense Media

I am now considered an adult. I think that people of all ages love The Outsiders. Even though it is mainly focused on freshman in high school and teenagers. As Common Sense Media says “teenagers love this book.” Well I believe myself a teenager, even though I am 18 years old. I have loved The Outsiders since I was in middle school though. So I guess I am an exception since I was a preteen or tween that fell in love with the book. The book have idyllic views of friendship, which most teens are trying to figure out, so the book sort of helps them with it. I know that whenever I first read the book, my best friend was my cousin, even though she is almost three years older than me. Well, needless to say, she is not my best friend anymore but we still do talk. I have found friends my age, aka Sarah and Wes, that maybe, do not like the same things that I like, like The Outsiders, but they like other things that I do, like music, or clothes, or movies, or something along those lines. We all like to go to the movie theaters and listen to music. We all like to go out to lunch together, and just hang out. We do not have to be out spending money to have fun either. While Common Sense Media says that it is a book for teenagers, I think that it is a book for people of all ages. Not just teens have problems with friendship, adults do too. So I think that Common Sense Media is wrong whenever it says that “teenagers love this book” because I am not really a teenager, and I love the book, and I fell in love with it before I even became a teenager. So take that Common Sense Media. http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-csm-117702-book-review--the-outsiders-t/?CMP=KNC-YahSSPFamily

Strangly enough, I didn't change my mind...

I don’t really regret picking Law & Order as my favorite pop culture, but I kind of wish that I would have narrowed it down to one of the sub series of Law and Order. Because now that I think of it, I really only watch Law & Order: SVU… and sometimes Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Don’t get me wrong, I love any and all Law & Order episodes. Man that kind of makes me sound like a loser. But, oh well! I’m a crime show junkie, I guess. I think the reason SVU is my favorite because of Mariska Hargitay. She plays Detective Olivia Benson in the show, and I’ve always loved how she handles things throughout the shows. She really seems to care about everything and everyone she deals with, and I like to think that I’d be like her if I ever chose to become part of a team like that. Her partner, Detective Stabler (Christopher Meloni), is also a great character. He’s always levelheaded and ready to do the best thing to get the job done. Vincent D'Onofrio is also one of my favorite actors, but he’s from the Criminal Intent version. He plays Detective Goren, who is a hardcore investigator. He never fails to hit just the right nerve in a criminal’s mind to get them to confess. His partner, Kathryn Erbe – who plays Detective Eames, is the perfect sidekick to him. She pays attention to the tiny details while he’s busting another bad guy. I guess what I’m trying to get at is Law & Order is a great show… because it has great characters, great plots, and everything just fits together perfectly! I like CSI, and even the new one – NCIS, too. But I’m sure it’ll never fail for me to end up watching my favorite crime show before I go to sleep. Law & Order!

Spring Fever

I have an odd addiction of searching the internet for quotes. My quotes usually come from a movie, writer of some sorts, or character. Anyway, I thought I would form a blog around a few of my favorites.

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather to become a man of value.”- Albert Einstein
I love this quote because I chose to write about it as the topic for one of my college essays. I think the quote appropriately defines how I want to live my life.

“I’m blonde, what’s your excuse?”- Reese Witherspoon
This quote is unique because I chose it as my senior quote and because Reese Witherspoon is my favorite actress. I especially love her in “Sweet Home Alabama.”

“Has anyone seen my shoes, I kicked them off in a fit of joy.”- Dane Cook
Dane Cook is the funniest comedian ever. I listen to his acts all the time and they never get old. It helps a lot too because Dane Cook is soo adorable.

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”- E.E. Cummings
I like this because I want to be different and to be myself. I don’t want to be pushed to give up what makes me “me” in order to become someone’s conformist picture of how society should be.

“It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”- Mark Twain
Well, it’s the beginning of March and so I thought it would be appropriate to use a quote about spring! I have been having the feeling of “spring fever” a lot lately. I really hope the weather continues to stay warm!

I have a whole word document full of quotes that I have found to be inspirational in some way. I love reading quotes. Who knows but maybe one day I will quote you…

The Apple doesn't Fall Far from the Typewriter.

OH MY GOSH! THE WORLD HAS ENDED! I enjoy writing. Ahhhh!! That is so crazy to say. It is all Mr. Kapica’s fault. I am going to be really honest when I say that I really like writing journals, blogs, and free writes. Well, I did not actually like having to do all that work, but after it was all over I really enjoyed the process. I had never written a blog in the past, but now I like to write blogs. They are fun for me because it is entertaining to be able to see the comments that people write about your opinions. Who would have known that the first essay I wrote for this class would be the same one I would write over and over again the entire time, but that was not so bad either. I love Sweeney Todd, but after writing this essay, I love it even more. My favorite was the free writes because I did not have to worry if they were grammatically correct or anything. I could express how I felt through writing. Wow. I could rant, smile, and sometimes cry. I know, I know it is a little corny, but I could really convey my emotions in a sentence. That had never happened to me before. My mom graduated from UNC with a major in journalism, but I always hated to write. After taking this class, she tells me “you really are my daughter!” It feels good to enjoy something that I inevitably have to do throughout my life. I am so glad I am finally able to enjoy what I thought was the end of the world. I may not be the best writer, but at least I take pleasure in the process. All I need now is a little practice.

There's no place like London...

I have read review after review about Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and most of the critics that matter like Time Magazine, Washington Post, Newsweek, and The New York Times have agreed that this movie is pretty much awesome. Normally after a movie, the top critics will have varying opinions. I mean I guess that would be true anyways considering the fact that opinions are someone’s own personal feelings on a topic, but how often do a group of people’s opinions match? Hardly ever. That just proves that this movie really rocks. A.O. Scott from The New York Times says “Something close to a masterpiece, a work of extreme -- I am tempted to say evil – genius.” Peter Marks of Washington Post states “Admirers of Stephen Sondheim who have wondered whether a riveting movie would ever be made from one of his stage musicals can put aside their doubts and worries: Tim Burton has finally accomplished it in his ravishing Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” The critic of Time magazine, Richard Corliss, even declares, “The movie's true lyricism is less in its score than in its visual and emotional palette, and in watching Depp rise to the majesty of madness.” Ultimately, what I am trying to say is movies like this do not come around very often. I believe, along with most critics, that this movie is already borderline “classic.” What truly makes a classic? In my mind, a “classic” is a movie that is memorable, in a good sense and pertains to its enduring interest and high quality. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street will, more than likely, be one of those movies that is truly inspiring and that will never be forgotten. I am almost positive that this movie will be renowned for many generations to come.

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/sweeneytodd?part=rss

I <3 Novak Djokovic...More Than I <3 Tennis?

I read an article recently about Novak Djokovic, number three tennis player in the world, which recounted the amazing story of Djokovic’s climb to victory at the 2008 Australian Open. Djokovic is not only an inspiration to the tennis community but also hands down my favorite tennis personality. Djokovic first caught my attention a few months ago when I saw a youtube.com video where he imitated various tennis celebrities such as Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, and Raphael Nadal. His impersonations of each player’s character were so exact that I couldn’t help but begin falling in love. Djokovic even performed live during his quarterfinal defeat of Carlos Moya at the 2007 US Open. I think Djokovic brings something to the sport that until recently has been lacking; a lovable personality combined with charm and superior tennis skills.

Born in 1987 in Belgrad, Serbia, Novak Djokovic’s past is a true Cinderella story. The story is that while Djokovic was growing up in Belgrad, he began his tennis training in an empty swimming pool. Prompted by the lack of indoor court tennis facilities, a sports club official had the idea to drain an Olympic-size swimming pool in the winter and put down a green carpet and net.

In January of 2008, Djokovic surprised everyone by soundly defeating the world’s number one tennis player, Roger Federer, in three straight sets in order to advance to the Australian Open finals. In the finals he defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets to become the new champion of the Australian Open. At twenty years old, Djokovic is the youngest player to win the Australian Open championship title since Stefan Edberg in 1985. Well apparently, Djokovic is not only good at playing in an empty swimming pool.

Novak Djokovic is just one more reason as to why I love tennis.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article3261592.ece

Don't get me wrong, I like it, but not that much....

I really wished that I had not written my essay about What I Like About You that first day of class, who would have thought that I would be writing it over four more times? I was just sitting there, a little stumped by the prompt, I had no clue what kind of pop culture I wanted to write about. I guess all that I could think about was the fact that I had an hour to write a paper and it was the first one that we had to write, and there would be so many more to come, so it did not matter if it were stupid. All I could really think about was how I had always used to think that the television show was stupid, but now I had been watching it on ABC Family quite often. Don’t get me wrong, I mean I like to watch the show, but I HATE that I actually picked to write about that show for my essay. There was no way that I could really write a four or five page paper, with research in it, I am still trying to figure out how to improve it and incorporate research in it. I have never ever been a strong writer, and probably never will be. As soon as I found out that we had to write the paper over and over again, I wanted to shoot myself. How was I supposed to improve a paper that I wished I had never really written in the first place? I kind of figured it out, I was going to have make some stuff up, for why I liked it, I really do like it, but I don’t really know why I like it. I wish that I would have picked a topic that I REALLY love, like a band such as Brand New, or Cobra Starship, or maybe even something that someone else could relate to, like a popular movie, but I guess that everyone is different with different taste. I felt like my topic was so middle school. I just wish I would have known that we would be writing about it four more times, then I would have thought more critically about what I would have written about.

A Wild, Crazy, Zany Aspect to the Characters...

owen_edwards from WGC, Herts, England left this comment on imdb.com about the television show What I Like About You:

"The premise and scripting of WILABT are both reasonable, and compared to many comedies out there, they're excellent. However, by the standards of Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond and Frasier, this is a distinctly average show.What makes me watch it every time it's on are Amanda Bynes and Wesley Jonathon. Jonathon is a great character actor, and livens up what could be a dull character (the "Best Friend"). The part of Henry is excellently written, which surprised me, as the Val and Jeff characters are both weak. But as I said above, Amanda Bynes makes this a good show. Easily the most talented teen on television, and in the top 10, whatever age, of current times, she's a great asset to the show. Rubber faced, with what could be described as a "beauty in repose", she takes a part that's been poorly-written, with physical humour that could easily look horrible, and makes it funny.What America may have found here is a true star - not a mildly talented actress like Lindsay Lohan..."

I agree with some of these statements made by owen_edwards and I also disagree with some of the other statements. I think that Amanda Bynes does make for a good actress, and so does Wesley Johnathon, but I do not think that the character Val, played by Jennie Garth is a weak character. I think that her and her best friend Lauren, played by Leslie Grossman are uniquely funny. I also disagree with the statement that the part played by Amanda Bynes is poorly written, and she is the reason that the part it is good. I think that the part is well written and she attributes to making the part funny, with her humor and natural ability to be comical, but even if she had not been picked to play the part, then someone else could have made her role as Holly Tyler funny and well played. I agree with what owen_edwards says about the role of the best friend, although, I think that both Wesley Johnathon and Leslie Grossman bring something that livens up the character of 'the best friends'. I think both bring a wild, crazy, and zany aspect to these characters.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0321018/usercomments

I had the hardest time finding a review on Law & Order. I mean, I spent a couple hours searching last night… only to give up and decide to try again this morning. So, after another hour of searching, I’ve finally found one by “riseley” on epinions.com that I like. He begins by raging about how much he hates television and the annoying advertisements that you can’t avoid whenever you choose to turn a TV on. He goes as far as to say, “I think that television is a satan worse than a president who would lie to congress so that he could persuade his country to follow him into a futile and unwinnable military conflict.” to prove his hatred for television. The fact that he feels so strongly about not liking television, is what makes his great review for my favorite show – Law & Order even better. Luckily for him, he got the entire season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent on DVD… which allowed him to watch it through without any interruptions by his oh-so-hated advertisements. He talks about how great a couple of the detectives are in the series, highlighting some of their quirks that seem to get people talking. “Riseley” talks about how the detectives always have the same issues within any given Law & Order episode. They’ll find a body, get some clues, identify a suspect and then go to the DA and she’ll tell them to go find some cold hard evidence. This sends them back to the streets, and they always hit “road block after road block,” in “riseley’s” words. But, somehow, it always comes together in the end, which is absolutely one of my favorite parts of the show, period. In the case of the episodes with Detective Goren, he uses mind play to find mental weaknesses in the suspect and make him confess before the hour is up. In the end, “riseley” says, “I like the world in which Detective Goren can always solve the crime in 42 minutes. It's very satisfying.” And, I couldn’t agree more! Like the title of my essay the only type of crime I like is on TV – when it all gets solved in the end. If you’d like to read his entire review, you can find it here: http://www1.epinions.com/content_326059331204.

here & now

Right now nothing comes to mind except the excruciating pain I’m in. I am really not much of a complainer but these past two days have been brutal. I started training at gym 365 with a trainer- and oh my goodness. I cannot move at all. My legs and arms and back, are well – dead.

Enough about that.

Let’s talk about the important thing—like how substandard conditions are at Davie high. For instance, I had a scholarship due last week, but the counselors weren’t available because they were completing freshman schedules, a process that has been going on for two months.

How many high schools have to navigate an administration with three different principals? Not many. True, every school has problems, but very few of them slap down 26 different trailers instead of building a new school.

Bottom line: I am for tax increase for a new school. We need it. Desperately.

Voters in Davie County need to come to our school for one day to see how crowded it is. Witnessing our squalor would change their votes—at least I hope it would.

Why are the county commissioners putting so much trust in common people who know nothing about education? True, it is their right to vote. But is it also their right to hamper our education?

Unfortunately, it all boils down to politics as a witless popularity contest.

Forgive my boldness. I am sorry if you have a commissioner in your family, or as a friend. But, for the sake of the students, the next time you see an elected official tell them if they had a conscience, they would do what is right for the school system and override the ignorant vote and build a new high school.

Sadly, the commissioners are more concerned with re-election than they are about what is right for the future of education in this county. Otherwise, they might have taken a stand and built a new high school regardless the consequence to the tax payers of Davie County. How bad would a small tax increase be if it ensured the future of the county?

But, in the end, it is Davie County. I don’t expect much from the leaders here anyway. What have they done to benefit me? Nothing. To benefit my parents? Nothing. And who sanctioned the clearing of land for the new hospital that was voted down by the state?! Why did we waste our money on something that wasn’t even promised? Whoever wasted money like that should be should have to go back to high school (and start all over again). Make them sleep in the bed they’ve made.

No matter what the circumstances are. Our county needs a turnaround, and fast.

Abandon All Hope.

What comes naturally to me? Nothing comes to mind. Sometimes it worries me that I have no goal other than “live life.” I do have an ultimate plan: an ultimate destiny. Will I ever reach this final destination? I don’t know, but the path is set in front of me. Maybe the obstacles on the path will be too difficult to overcome. In reality, I don’t believe that. I believe all goals can be reached with the correct amount of heart and dedication put to that task. I’m going to grow up, get through school, get a job, and die. That’s my realization. I now see why people take their religions so seriously, it gives their life a purpose. Often people tell me that “you should contribute something to society.” I have too much manners to speak my mind when this is said, but how I feel is “why should I give something back to a society that’s only given me judgment and bad movies?” I love life, often more so than I think I should. My motto as a kid was “Love life, f*&^ the world.” The harsh realities and bitter truths of the world are what corrupt great things, like life. It blows my mind that I can go to school and have the same conversations with two completely different people. It blows my mind how one friend can be struggling just to find a place to sleep at night, while another is overly studying for a test that they know they will not make below a ninety-seven on. Why?

I’m so thankful that I wasn’t born in Friend A’s shoes. I’m also thankful that I can live day to day without the obnoxious pressure put on me by society and my peers to do something I truly don’t want to do. I sometimes wish I could truly be in the mind of both. I wish I could hear how their clock ticks differently from mine. All I can do is ask to hear their story, try to relate, and pray that they give me enough information to understand. I often wonder who can breathe easier at night. I often wonder why things have to be the way they are. Then, I kill these thoughts, because focusing on them for too long will only make me depressed.

I value my mind more than anything. I asked the wisest person I’ve ever met if he believed if we were truly alone. He replied “of course, people are often blinded by the superficial truth. In the end, all you have is your mind and yourself for comfort.” I believe this to be one hundred percent true. Why wouldn’t it be?
*Cough cough* will anyone really read this? I hope not LoL.

Flow through movies.

Movies are a big thing for me. I watch them all the time. I like to talk about them, which is why I thought it would be a good subject for this blog.

What I like in a movie is creativity, vision, style. Some movies I enjoy watching purely because of how they look. One of my favorite movies is A Scanner Darkly. I originally wanted to see it simply because of how it looked. The movie was filmed and then animators traced over the original footage. Turns out it's a really good movie regardless, but that creativity drew me in.

Jim Jarmusch has a distinct style for his movies. He's one of my favorite directors. His movies capture the beauty that can be found in seemingly mundane, everyday experiences. His films are very slow paced with a very light plot, or no plot at all. In his words, "Life has no plot, why must films or fiction?"

Michael Gondry is another director I like. The Science of Sleep is an amazing movie. It's just such an experience, full of fantasy. It's a very creative film.

This seems to be turning into sort of a list of movies, so I've got to talk about Gerry, a film directed by Gus Van Sant. The average length of the shots in this film is sixty seconds, which is very long. This film is very slow paced, but very visionary and interesting to watch.

Alejandro Jodorowsky has written and directed some really amazing films. He creates surreal films full of symbolism and spirituality. Sometimes disturbing, and oftentimes hard to decipher, watching films like El Topo or The Holy Mountain is definitely an unforgettable experience.

Harmony Korine uses out-of-date and unconventional techniques to film his movies, which gives them a distinct look. He creates rather simple movies, in terms of plot, that investigate human actions and relations.

Well, after I started to write this I realized I don’t really have much else to say except, “I like movie title”. It’s hard for me to express feelings about movies in words so, just watch these movies, and a bunch of other movies. Or don’t.

Pomacanchi

For some reason, summer seems to be just around the corner right now. I guess it shouldn’t really feel like that because I still have around three months of senior year, but my long-term way of thinking never fails, and it seems like right now is when I need to finalize my summer. Thinking of summer has definitely brought Pomacanchi to mind. I was really hoping to go there for about two weeks or so over the summer, but I’m not really sure about that at all anymore. I guess that’s okay, but I’m going to have to get used to the idea of not going on a mission trip anywhere this summer. I’ve been extremely blessed with the opportunities I’ve had to go to Peru, and so I guess I can live one summer without going overseas. Pomacanchi is a remote village in southern Peru, right in the middle of the Andes Mountains, thirteen thousand feet above sea level. I first went to Pomacanchi in April of last year, which was the firs trip there that anyone from my church had ever organized. I ended up loving everything about it. The mountains are incredible, and no matter how long I stay there, they always make me want to stop and stare. The people, of course, are far more precious than the mountains. They have no hope of anything beyond just surviving. Most families consist of mothers who work in fields in order to maintain subsistence farming, children who have to grow up way too fast and have to take care of their younger siblings, and fathers who are nowhere to be seen, completely uninvolved with their families.

So since there is so much work to be done there and so much need for the gospel that brings hope of eternal life and rest, the youth group I’m a part of has “adopted” the village. As long as God leads us, somebody will keep going back to Pomacanchi and doing the work that He’s had in store for us. I think I can confidently say that my first trip to Pomacanchi was the best week of my life so far. It was a trip where I was fully convinced that God is everywhere, that He loves all people, and that all people need Him. And it was the trip where God let me in on a little bit of His plan for my life. And of course, it was simply a trip to a beautiful place where I got to watch God work alongside some of my very best friends.
While I would love to go back to Pomacanchi, I guess I can know that if it doesn’t work out, then God has another plan for me this summer.

"In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two seperate, yet equally important groups..."

If I am watching TV (which I don’t really do that often) the TV is sure to be tuned to one of the many channels that play Law and Order. Luckily for me, there’s rarely a time that my beloved show isn’t on. I know that most people watch television to wind down and not really use their brain for anything. But, I can not stand watching mindless television shows. This is one of the biggest reasons as to why I adore Law and Order. Rachel Hyland wrote in a review on my favorite show, “Even as most crime shows deplore the evil that men do, they at times also celebrate it.” I don’t want to watch some stupid “reality” TV show glorifying crime or other trivial parts of somebody’s life. I love Law and Order because it addresses real life issues, it doesn’t sugar coat anything. Rachel Hyland hit the nail on the head later in her review when she pointed out that “Law and Order does not make this mistake. Though it frequently, and most chillingly, tells tales of true crime … it also treats them with the dread, indeed, the disgust they deserve.” I couldn’t have said it better myself! Also, because it is so much like real life, it is absolutely attention-grabbing. I have never once got bored in the middle of an episode of Law and Order. Unlike most shows on MTV, which I can’t even sit through, my favorite show is sure to keep me on the edge of my seat. I love how you learn a little bit more about the detectives with each show, and you’re always along with them on the ride to solving the case. If you have never seen an episode of this wonderful television series, I urge you to go watch it! Just because you’re grandpa used to watch it does not mean it sucks. It just means it’s been great enough to stay on air all those years!

what a couple of weeks

I would have to say that I really enjoyed this class. It was a very entertaining and fun eight week, Ahh, I mean six week class. But of course it was not all, as of the last week when everybody was trying to get their work in on time. Seriously though it was not all fun, we actually learned something from it. The class, in its own way, it tore down all the walls, rules, and boundaries that were given to me about writing essays and other big papers from practically all of my previous writing teachers. Before when I wrote an essay or any other major paper I always followed the same routine and the same structure. That way of writing had me writing five paragraphed papers that did not have any of my own personal thoughts and or opinions. But for the first time, in a long time I am sure, when writing my paper the teacher actually wanted us, the students, to write about what we think. That really opened up my mind to the possibilities of good writings and brought me one step closer to being able to write a good essay or paper.

I would say that I had never ever written a Blog before this class no matter how popular it may be. They are alright but I still prefer writing in journals instead. Even if I have to do a free write and a prompted journal, I still like journals better than blogs. Although blogs are or can be shorter than other papers and essays. I might even start some writing again and getting better at especially sense I want to get into the film business and eventually write or co-write my own script that will be made into a popular movie one day.

Which reminds me, anyone interested?

My version of "Asphalt Jesus"

Over the summer I was on a street acting team I Brazil. I went around the second biggest city in the country and performed a mime. The mime was called "The Redeemer" and I really liked it because I could perform and change the way people think without even speaking their language. The whole idea of traveling around with a group of five or six people that you have never met before was fun too. I got to meet some very cool people but learning the skit at first was very awkward. If you have ever acted, you know that you have to be outgoing. After traveling for twenty some hours, you do not feel like being outgoing or learning a skit with people who you have never met. Anyway after six fun, long hours of practice and an awesome Brazilian pizza we learned the skit and performed for the next nine days almost non-stop.Like practicing for any improve drama, funny things always occur. For example, when performing on the side walk in Brazil, my friend was pretending to be dead in the street. She almost was not pretending when a car stopped two inches from her head. Another funny thing that happened was we were performing on the street and it was absolutely quiet. Someone said "that as soon as we got to the crucifixion scene everything would be really loud and busy." Of course, at the climax of the skit there was a lot of bustle, one of the actors almost got ran over by a horse. While the horse was passing, we were all thinking the same thing: "I hope that horse does not crap." Now that I am back in the states, I have decided to teach a group of my friends the skit. I had to make all the props and find the training video and after that find people who would be willing to learn the mime. My group and I will be performing this Saturday for an audience of 130 people. This is exciting, well it was exciting until I learned that one of the actors got hurt in a wrestling match and will not be able to fill the part of God. So now in less than a week I have to find a replacement of God, the big man himself; not exactly easy. After searching and not being able to recruit anybody, my dad finally volunteered to help me. It was really sweet because that is not my dad's cup of tea and it will be really awkward for him because he does not know any of my friends and he is much older than everyone in the mime (at least thirty some years older). But none the less my dad was very loving and volunteered to save my butt. Fortunately someone just volunteered today to help me and will be more fitting for the part and is a frequent actor.

Political Triumph?

Something that has shrouded my free writings from the very beginning is the political turmoil of a world that we live in. I am so into this presidential election, and the conflicts that the U.S. is currently involved in. It is history that we are witnessing this year, with a woman and a black man running for the presidency. First of all….I really see a great turn of events for the world when a man running for the seat of the presidency does not feel obligated to say, or put his hand over his heart when the pledge of allegiance is being said. I don’t know what you feel like on this issue, but it kind of scared me. I would enjoy feedback or any kind of comment that you have about this if you have heard or seen this for yourself. In church we recently had a man come into our class and prove to us that Obama is a Muslim. Obama is a member of a church in the north and this man called that church to see if the possibility of becoming a member of a Christian oriented church without renouncing there Muslim background could be achieved. He called and told them his full name and requested info on becoming a member of that church. The lady over the phone replied that the only thing necessary to join was to come and attend one Sunday, and that they would send him membership info in the mail. And when he had made his final decision, he would walk down the aisle and they would accept him as a new member. Then this man asked the lady, if it was necessary to renounce his Muslim religion to join the church. She replied and said that he absolutely did not have to renounce his ways of a Muslim; they would never ask anyone to do that. Then he said, “So is this how Senator Barrack Obama became a member of your church?” The lady was silent, and then she answered. “Ummm Sir I am not allowed to answer these questions”. Yea kind of scary, at least for me it was.
Yea well you might say, well that doesn’t bother me I am not religious. Okay well I do not have enough room to discuss that topic with you. I am sure you have a standpoint on the war we are fighting. Do you believe in the war we are fighting is for a just cause? Or do you just join the crowed at school, and believe what the majority believes. I am sure you are more mature than that. So what do you believe that this war’s main purpose was? I do believe in the statement of the Constitution that states we are the guardians of freedom, not just for us, but for all suppressed peoples of the world. So I want this last blog to be a real feedback for me. I want to hear what you American people feel about his war and why. The only reason I mentioned the Presidential Election was to give you a glance at how these situations could change with a president who is basically Muslim, or our first woman President who will probably have(no offence ladies) a motherly look at things. Or we could elect another conservative southerner, Mike Huckabee? John McCain? Alright you have to have an opinion, so let me hear it.

My Love for Power Rangers!

If you have seen my new display name, that may tell you something about me. I like, no, I love Power Rangers! I have been a fan of Power Rangers since the premiere back in 1993. I have seen nearly every episode of the series. I plan on watching the show until it the last episode airs (whether it be live-action or animated, if the rumor proves true). Common themes in all sixteen seasons are teamwork, friendship, loyalty, courage, and the forces of good being victorious against the forces of evil. Power Rangers is adapted from the Japanese Super Sentai. The series has spawned two theatrical films, only one of which takes place in the same universe as the TV show. The majority of the viewers are adults who have been watching since Mighty Morphin. Over the years, Power Rangers has lost some of its fanbase due to the switch from Saban Entertainment to Disney, less character development, and too much focus on the red ranger. Every season has a red, blue, and yellow ranger. Starting with Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, a new group of teenagers or young adults have become rangers each season. Previously, the show had the same group of teens gaining different powers and Zords, with some members leaving to move on with their lives. The show’s fandom loves to pair the rangers up romantically based on certain scenes in episodes. My favorite ranger couples are and always will be Tommy and Kimberly from Mighty Morphin and Wes and Jen from Time Force. Both were canon (actually in-show) couples. My three absolute favorite Saban seasons in chronological order are: Mighty Morphin (all three), Lost Galaxy, and Time Force. My favorite Disney-era seasons are Ninja Storm and Dino Thunder. Power Rangers Dino Thunder (2004) saw the return of Tommy Oliver. My least favorite seasons are Zeo, Turbo, and Wild Force (except for the team-up episodes). Over the years, I have accumulated a few pieces of merchandise. I still have a Kimberly (first pink Mighty Morphin ranger) doll, trading cards, a Mighty Morphin comic book, and a yellow Lightspeed Rescue figure.

a child's dream

When I was younger I wanted to be in some kind of band or at least just play an instrument. So when sixth grade came around our teacher said the only time we could join band is in the sixth grade. I was definitely joining band but, which instrument would I play? I don’t want to the piano because to me it was a little too usual. I wanted to learn how to play the guitar but, it was not an option. So just like every other sixth grade student, I wanted to ply the drums. Then our band teacher tells us, the class, that playing the drums is a privilege not a right. So basically the band students with an A/B average can tryout to play the drums. So let’s just say that was out of the question for me; but not of course for the teacher’s son. I mean when were they going to tell us, when it was too late. For me, if I would have known I would have actually worked harder in school. Moving on, so I picked the saxophone. It was fun for a while but, I would have definitely picked the drums if I could have. The funny part to me was all of my other teachers would tell us that we need to join band and play the drums whenever my classmates and I would beat on our desk, and all we could say is we don’t have the right. Anyway, I would have to ply the drums, which I would have been good at. I must say though I don’t think my parent’s would like me paying the drums. If the school had guitars that we could learn to play, I would have been the first to sign-up. Still to this day I wish I could learn how to play the guitar. When I tell my family they think I want to be some rocker chick playing an electric guitar. When in fact that is not the case I just want to learn how to play an acoustic guitar. Besides my little sister likes to write songs and sing and I think it would be cool if I could play her music for her.

The Legacy of Music and the Modern Musician

I want more for myself than to waste 65 minutes of my time listening to an album that I cannot cherish. I want everything in my life to have a certain timelessness, despite the fact that I probably will not. I would like my music to have its own legacy. In older music, I have found myself tied to a history that I don't necessarily have, the chance to connect to my "roots" and the ability to look at newer music in a refreshing way. When I reflect on older music, one of the most prominent figures in my mind is the late guitar player, Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix had a way of manipulating the guitar to produce a kind of sound that resonates in the ears of multiple generations. His music contains a certain quality that forces the listener to continually hear it, long after the song has finished. I often walk down the streets of downtown Winston- Salem listening to my iPod asking anyone who dares to get close enough, "Are You Experienced?" It is probably fortune on my behalf that they usually don't hear me. I feel that all music has its own historical tie which often goes undetected by the listener. What I hear from nostalgic music is not necessarily the lyrics that were written forty years ago, but instead I hear the emotions that are communicated through these records. Although rap has become a rather distorted genre, it still communicates to the listener the angry energy that stems from years of inequality and racism. Older music sometimes acts as the only association I have with previous generations. It is my connection to their time. Furthermore, many newer artist also use the associations that they find with older artist to supplement their own musical careers. Amy Winehouse, for instance, has collaborated with producer Mark Rohnson to create an album entitled "Back to Black" which features very Motown reminiscent hits. Winehouse has a soul stirring voice which could rival that of Billie Holiday. Artist such as Winehouse and John Legend have facilitated a new genre known as "retrosoul" or "retrojazz." Music has a fluidity that allows it to change into different sounds, communicating different ideas in different times. I feel that many older musicians have been able to achieve timelessness because of the emotion and drive that is reflected in their art.

Wherefore art thou Blog? Deny thy essay father and refuse thy essay name...

There are many differences and similarities between blogs and essays. Blogs are essentially, essays posted on the internet with certain modifications. Blogs often lack the structure that is found in a stereotypical college essay. Many students issue essays in a more formal tone that can often be condescending or confusing to a reader. I think that blogs allow for more of an exploration into the ideas and feelings of the author. Furthermore, I feel that many students, when writing a blog, throw formalities out the window along with simple grammar and spelling. It seems easier to not proofread and rewrite when you know that you are not writing to an academic audience. I think that this is problematic for blog writers because they often do not know to whom they are writing. Essays are often easier to read because you have a targeted academic audience. In a way, you know what they want to hear and how they want to hear it. When a blog is submitted to the Internet, it is capable of reaching almost anyone. Therefore, one may not convey their thoughts in a manner that is pleasing to everyone that reads them. I think that the Internet provides a medium to be judged by your peers instead of your teachers. Of course, unbeknownst to the author, teachers could be reading their blogs too. I think that blogs and essays both have a certain patterns that simply depend on the author’s writing style. I think that blogs tend to be more “stream of consciousness,” while essays are dependent on an established structure. I also believe that blogs allow for a more free flowing form of writing instead of the usual often torturous process. Blogs break up the monotony of how ideas are expressed by the author. I think that in society, essays are more valued because of their structure. I tend to be more captivated by blogs simply because, in my opinion, blogs tend to contain more passion and emotion compared to their essay counterparts.

Give him a chance

Anti-semetic? Sure. Too white? Sure. Too manly? Back then yes. Reasons to hate Hemingway and writing? No.
Hating Jews and being too manly in the 1920 perspective does not give one reason to hate Hemingway. I know plenty of boys who call people “Jews” in a derogatory sense, but that does not mean I hate them. I do not even know where being to white comes into play in this hatred. Michael Schaub, of a thousand books, first heard of Hemingway through his “manic former journalist prone to expansive arm gestures and standing on furniture” professor- A hostile atmosphere to first recognize one of the greatest literary minds in history. To me one should not hate a person because of his personal life, but of what he has contributed to the world. If the U.S. voted for president solely on his personal life, it would be stalemate every time. No one would be able to come to a conclusion. But, because we vote on his policy and achievements, the US is more able to come to a decision. Should personal life come into play somehow? Yes, but very little. Emotion does not rule the country, action does. If the US voted on someone who would do a good job in office, not just someone they liked; we might not be in this downward spiral. The same goes to authors. We should read what we think is good writing, not just who we like as an author. There are plenty of writers who are great people, but write horrendous literature. Schaub never simply states his position on the novel, or Hemingway but comes in contact with people who should have given Hemingway a second look. Between the lesbian he thought he liked and the entirety of his Hemingway notes, I think you will find Schaub’s comments very interesting. You can find him at http://www.bookslut.com/hundred_books/2003_07_000124.php

Do you love it...

You know what, I do not care what anybody says, but I consider game shows to be a big part of our popular culture just as anything else that comes on the television. They have been around since (????)…well a really long, since the television be came big. The cool part of it is, there are still people out there all over the world trying to come up with new ideas and some of them are actually being turned in to game shows. Any one could be on a game show because there are so many types. There are game shows for any body. And most of the game shows now try to stay on top by tweaking their rules and by having celebrity versions; where they have certain celebrities that play the games for charity. I like game shows because of their verity. There is, was, and probably will be a game show for anything a person can think of. When you get on the game show of you choice, you have the chance to win all kinds of stuff. That stuff can be: (most of the time) an amount of money, a title, a car; a house, or even food. The list can go on and on but, basically a prize can be anything a person could what. So I do not know about you but, I would love to go on a game show just to have a chance to win some big nice prizes. But even though there are thousands of game shows there is a chance that not everyone would be able to be on a game show. So there are take home versions of the games on television. Whether they are board games, card games, or even video games. Sure you do not get to win the prizes that you would have if you where on the game show, but that does not mean it is any less fun. So even if I do not get to be on a game show I can always get the game and play with my family. Besides it is good practice. If you can not be on a game show, then at least have fun playing the card or board game version and or watching the game show on televisions with friends and family.

to (blog or essay) or not to (blog or essay)...

It would appear that blogs would be chosen over essays almost any time and every time, because it would seem like a person would have a lot more freedom with what they write about and how they write it. Of course it would seem that way when the only essays that a person has ever written has had the same restrictions, guidelines, and boundaries every single time. I have always been taught and heard, that essays are to be informative and as far as the structure you are to have your thesis and at least three reasons supporting your thesis in the opening paragraph of your essay. Then the following paragraphs should support your thesis and the last paragraph should be your essay’s conclusion. When it came to blogs I had no restrictions, guidelines, or boundaries; I wrote it the way I wanted to. The topics I chose could be any thing I wanted it to be and it do not have to be informative, it could just be my opinion and or thoughts. And I did not have to meet any ones standers but my own, it was not like I was going to turn them in. Then I realized that essays had just as many unlimited possibilities as blogs did. Just as Annie Dillard said about essays, “There is nothing that you can not do with it; no subject matter is forbidden, no structure is proscribed.” Boy did I have that wrong. But even though I realized that essays had the same freedoms as blogs, why do I still feel the same way about essays. Perhaps it is because with essays they still should be some what informative, which means there is still a little more work needed when it came to essay than with blogs. Although that does not mean that while writing essays I can not put my own opinions and thought in the paper.

The New Yorker v. Star Wars

Anthony Lane of The New Yorker believes that Star Wars is “deep nonsense” and that it is “a remorseless non-comedy”. He believes that Star Wars creator George Lucas “swung out of orbit” after he created the earlier classic American Graffiti. Lane ridicules not only the names of characters (such as Jedi Master Mace Windu, asking if that is “something you spray on colicky babies”), but the characters as well. He puts down Padmé for not knowing that she and Anakin are having twins by not having an ultrasound.

I think that it is blatantly obvious that Mr. Lane hates Star Wars and has never given the saga a chance or researched it. While American Graffiti was an instant success, George Lucas became a household name due to the release of Star Wars in 1977. The Sith are a group that use the Dark Side of the Force and thirst for power. The Sith, as we know them, started out as a group of Dark Jedi who used anger to fuel their power. On the planet of Korriban, they came across a tribe called the Sith and procreated with them. Mace Windu is a revered and powerful Jedi Master. Bail Organa was a founding member of the Rebel Alliance. Had it not been for his influence on Leia, the galaxy would probably still be ruled by the evil Palpatine and his Empire. As in all fictional works, people and places must be named. I think that the exotic names of the characters, species, and locations to be unique and interesting. No one said that another galaxy had to have the same boring names that we have. As for Padmé not knowing about the twins, she had ordered her medical droid not to tell her the baby’s sex. Padmé believed that she was having a boy, while Anakin thought it was a girl. This scene can be found on page 217 of the novelization of Episode III, which is considered canon material. I think that Anthony Lane’s hate and ridicule of Star Wars is completely unfounded. But you can’t always convince people of why something is good or bad. His opinion does not seem to matter to the countless fans of the multi-million dollar franchise.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/05/23/050523crci_cinema

Johnny Depp is so amazingly gorgeous

If you know me, you know that I am pretty much a movie and media junkie. Let me enlighten you with something you must know. Make no mistake, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is one of the most amazing movies that you could ever see. This movie, even though it is a musical or maybe especially because it is a musical, has some of the greatest talents of today’s cultural media. The fact that Johnny Depp, voted one of the hottest men alive, actually sings is reason enough to see this film. Even if you are a guy, Johnny Depp’s acting in this movie is outstanding. Johnny Depp actually won “Best Actor” for this role at the Golden Globes. Sweeney Todd was originally a Steven Sondheim Broadway production in the 80’s, but when Tim Burton took over the plot and put his crazy mind into the recreation, the product was simply amazing. This movie has everything. It has humor, revenge, romance, tragedy, and not to mention a slight bit of gore. I loved this movie so much that I even purchased the soundtrack. My favorite part of the movie, besides Johnny Depp, was the irony of the duets. I thought it was fascinating how two different characters were singing the same words to a song, but having meanings that were in complete opposition. For instance, Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) was singing about his “friends,” which were his razors and at the same time Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) was singing about her “friend,” which was Sweeney because she had an enduring love for him. These characters were singing identical phrases, but the irony of the meanings was captivating. People will tell you to see movies all the time, but this one is definitely a must see. I cannot even begin to give this film the justice it deserves so what are you waiting for? Stop reading what I have to say about it and go check it out. You will not be disappointed.

From Dark to Light: Winter to Spring

I am in agreement with Russ Breimeier, critic representing christianitytoday.com, when he tries to sum up Foreman’s music. I also usually “think of these EPs as the lo-fi, indie folk side of Jon Foreman, along the lines of Elliott Smith and Iron & Wine. Acoustic guitar drives most of the self-produced tracks (executive-produced by Foreman's mentor Charlie Peacock), with occasional strings, horns, woodwinds, harmonica, sparse percussion, and more thrown in for color and variation. In contrast to Switchfoot's radio-friendly pop/rock, this music is quiet and contemplative, requiring deeper engagement and more active listening to fully appreciate.” The mood is indeed deeper and requires active listening to fully appreciate lyrics that are “relatable, honest, and at times, gut-wrenchingly broken, to the point where parts of Fall and Winter can seem downright depressing.

Breimeier points out something that I did not analyze fully: “why the order of these EPs is so important.” In conversation, I had previously commented on the tempo and mood differences found between “Fall” and “Winter.” Breimeier explains how the track from “Fall” are created to “play their part in the overall theme, which becomes clearer from the Ecclesiastes-inspired "Lord, Save Me from Myself": "This world is where I breathe/Let it never be called home." Foreman's strongest composition is "Equally Skilled," which bleakly addresses humanity's capacity for good and evil, yet the melody almost seems more hopeful when it changes keys for the verse about Jesus helping us overcome our weakness. It's perfectly paced and a brilliant message overall, drawing on the text of Micah 7: "I will be patient as the Lord punishes me for the wrongs I've done against Him/After that He'll take my case, bringing me to light and to justice for all I have suffered." He then clarifies that “Winter goes further as the season often associated with death. "Learning How to Die" wrestles with how we're not meant for life on this earth: ‘All along I thought I was learning how to take/How to bend not how to break/How to live not how to cry/But really I've been learning how to die.’…concluding Winter is "In Love," an Eastern sounding lament about love permeating all things, even in the hard times.”

Breimeir tastefully concludes his review by saying “the songs represented here seem rather sad in tone, remember that lamentations are prevalent throughout the Old Testament. Perhaps the best part about Fall and Winter is that we can look ahead with hope and joy to Spring and Summer, and all that it's likely to represent.”

http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2008/fallandwinter.html

Simply Adventure Stories

Amber Cowart, an essayist on a very thorough C.S. Lewis website, emphasizes interesting aspects of Lewis’s writing. In “The Success of C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia,” she focuses on the fact that Lewis did not write these stories with the sole purpose of relaying a religious message. Cowart points out that any Christian truth entered his Narnia stories “of its own accord.” She explains the sometimes-conspicuous metaphors by remembering that Lewis had a faith that would unavoidably impact all his works. In fact, Lewis wrote this series determined not to push away readers who do not accept Christianity. He understandably does not want to impose so much on his readers that they become resentful. Cowart says that Lewis concluded that the best way to present Christianity is to present it in a fictional world, “a world in which it would be easier to accept.” Cowart even points out that one of the reasons that the Chronicles of Narnia is so successful is that not all people acknowledge the character of Aslan as a picture of Jesus. She explains that Lewis did not intend for his novels to be a straightforward allegory, but simply adventure stories. If a reader skips right to finding symbolism in Lewis’s stories, he or she misses the beauty and excitement of them. Cowart concludes this thought by quoting that “children should be left to enjoy [The Chronicles] imaginatively and emotionally, without being asked to reflect upon [its] significance. Out of that enjoyment, meaning will come.”
Amber Cowart’s thoughts on the Chronicles as an allegory were very interesting. I agree that without a simple attitude of adventure while reading the stories, a reader can totally miss Lewis’s first intention in writing them. The fact that she admires C.S. Lewis becomes very obvious in her explanation of why he wrote these books. And I admire Lewis even more when I read that his faith inevitably became a theme in his works, even while he had a broader audience in mind.

"The Success of C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia"

It Seems BuzzSugar Has No Appreciation For The Finer Things In Life.

BuzzSugar posted a review of Joanna Newsom's Ys on his blog at buzzsugar.com and here are some of his thoughts:

"First of all, let me just say that I've tried—very hard—to fall under the enchanting spell of Joanna Newsom, to which most of my friends and fellow music fans have succumbed. Though I wasn't a fan of the baby-talk singing style and boring arrangements on the harp player's first album, 2004's The Milk-Eyed Mender, I decided to give Newsom's new album, Ys, a chance after reading a few stellar reviews and hearing good things from several Newsom-fanatic friends whose opinions I respect very much." Later he says, "Despite my best efforts, I still just can't embrace the classic-pop sound of this elvin-voiced chanteuese, who makes Bjork sound like a wise old matron."

I found it easy to be swept up in Newsom's voice and I believe her harp arrangements and the music she makes is wonderful.

"Call me, er, new-fashioned, but I like my music with just a little bit more roughness. Many people point out what they perceive as high-poeticism in Newsom's lyrics, but to me, the incredibly dense poetry often comes off as rambling and amateurish. Plus, after a few listens, I found myself yearning for lyrics about something besides bears, ponies, and "Sibyl sea-cow all done up in a bow."

I really like the old fasioned style of Newsom's poetry and I enjoy the fact that it is full of fantastical things and situations.

"If you like it, please come back and explain to me why I'd ever want to put this CD on regular rotation."

Well, Joanna Newsom's music is not something that can be explained. It's kind of a love it or hate it type thing. But if you do love it, then it is easy to listen to all the time, as I do, sometimes. I don't listen to it all the time. But I could if I wanted to.

Mr. Ebert says "MEH!"

Roger Ebert on Rocky Horror (in not so many words): Rocky Horror is not really a movie; it's a “social phenomena.” No one noticed Rocky Horror, even its die hard fans, until it was aired as a midnight cult movie. Rocky Horror saw its zenith in the eighties with fans lining up in front of theaters hours before the movie aired. Inside the show the fans recite the movie line for line while dressed up as key characters in the movie. Rocky Horror cultists are dysfunctional in an interesting way. The fans make this movie more than the movie. The movie isn’t as good if you don’t have the fans. It will probably be forgotten.

Bruce Wayne on Roger Ebert (lol) on Rocky Horror (oh, that got interesting): Ok, Ebert, I know you’re still fighting the cold hand of death to keep making bad movie reviews, but why so dull? Ebert couldn’t be more right about stating that the movie is made by the fans, but I think he missed the point. However, Ebert’s a professional, and I’m just a student trying to get by. To me, Rocky Horror wasn’t just watching a movie, it was an experience. If people can not watch it with an élan point of view, the movie appears juvenile, perverse, and dumb. A person seeing Rocky Horror for the first time, or even watching it at all, can’t simply watch it to watch it. It’s like attempting to participate in Christmas when you’re dressed in a Halloween costume. What I disliked about Ebert’s criticism of Rocky Horror more than anything was how dull and disinterested it was. It’s obvious he took no pride in watching the movie, or even cared to. I had a feeling he would have this approach on the movie, so I chose him to compare and contrast to. I also believe Ebert’s the perfect person to get a contrasting opinion from about anything that could be fun.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19750101/REVIEWS/501010356/1023

What I like about 'What I Like About You'

I like the show What I Like About You so much. I think that it is hilarious and so interesting. I watched it for the first time ever about two or three months ago and watch it every time I get the chance to. The very first time I watched it I was hooked, I just could not get enough of it! I could not help but to lay there in my bed and watch it without moving. I was so happy when I realized that the television station airs two episodes every Monday through Friday. It comes on at four o’clock until four-thirty and then four-thirty until five o’clock. Now, every time I get the chance, I try to watch it.

I think that I have seen almost every episode that they have ever made, and I like them so much that I could watch all the seasons all over again. I think the last season is coming to an end and then they are going to start back over at the beginning of the first season, so if you have never seen it, then you should start watching once the cycle starts back over.

They used to air What I Like About You on the WB television station, but when it was cancelled, ABC Family picked it up as they normally do to shows that are cancelled after several seasons.
A lot of my friends did not use to not watch What I Like About You back when it was a newer television show and it aired on the WB, but now that it comes on ABC Family, and comes on at a better time and more frequently during the week, they watch it and love to watch it just as much as I love to watch it.

Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises takes the reader to a place unknown to the “goody goods” of today’s society. I am in no way bashing the morally elite population of America, but simply trying to seduce them into Hemingway’s world. The Sun Also Rises includes the amoral lifestyles of both Brett and Jake. Perhaps Hemingway expresses his view on sexually independent women through Brett because of the consequences he puts her through. Brett’s sex drive prevents her from having a relationship with Jake although she loves him. The Sun Also Rises is a riveting adventure through Jake and Brett’s relationship. Both Jake and Brett manage to escape their flawed relationship by excessive drinking. Because I was born in the Bible belt, if I even had such thing as a sex drive or touched alcohol, I would be shunned. May I remind you reading, and engaging are two different verbs. Hemingway provides the world that most people lust about. The major themes in The Sun Also Rises consist of issues the post modern generation often thinks about. Hemingway writes on excessive drinking, false friendships, failure of communication, destructiveness of sex, and male insecurity. Through Hemingway’s novel one could conclude the consequences of such distressing events, in hopes to one day survive internal struggles of your own. The Sun Also Rises acts as a teaching tool, as well as a fantasy world come to life. The novel is one of my favorites, in a world of false perfection I am able to resort to Hemingway. He places the realities of my life in fictional form. By doing so, I can translate the character’s situation to my own in hopes to truly understand and resolve the conflicts I may be going through. Hemingway is a literary genius. He knows what trials people will go through if its 1920 or 2008. I would recommend the novel to every walk of life. It helps.

go check it out

The first time I ever read The Outsiders was in middle school. I first saw part of the movie at my aunt’s house in Winston Salem. I was instantly hooked on the movie whenever I was filled in on what had been happening before I had gotten there. But I am not a really big movie fan unless I have already read the book. I think that there is a big difference between books and movies. In the book, you get to imagine more than you do with movies, but movies are also fun because you can compare what you came up with in your imagination from the book, into what the director came up with for the movie. The Outsiders has been my favorite book since. It is also a movie for all of those non-readers out there. It is about a group of boys that are all friends. The book goes in order of events, it doesn’t jump around from past to present like some of the other books I have read. It is really easy to follow along with, and really hard to put down in my opinion. You don’t really know what is going to happen next in the boys crazy, mixed up lives, but it is fun to be along for the ride. I know that in the book the boys get into some trouble and two of them have to get away from the city. And then an unspeakable event happens at their hideaway. The book will defiantly not let you down, and you won’t be able to put it down. In my opinion, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is one of the best books I have ever read, and you should go and check it out at your local library or go rent to movie.

blogs and essays..

Essays are different than blogs. Blogs do not really have a specific style, they are just writings. They do not have to have facts or opinions or anything like that. They are just letting people know about what is going on. And sort of how you feel. I think essays are more formal than blogs. They have a few guidelines to follow where as blogs do not. They each have something that gives you something out of writing them. With the essay, you get to write something, express your opinion, and know someone will read and respond to it. But with blogs, you just write, and do not know if anybody will read it, or if they well tell you what they think. The normally would tell you if they read it, but you never know. But I think blogs are better to express how you feel about a certain topic, or how your day went, sort of like a journal. But online. Susan Orlean says in The Essay‘s Subjectivity, “As near as I can figure, an essay can be… a query, a reminiscence, a persuasive tract, an exploration; it can look inward or outward; it can crack a lot of jokes. What if need not be is objective.” I think that she is saying that essays come in many different styles. They can be from a memory, or, a prediction, or just about any topic that you want. That you need to put feeling into an essay and make it your own, and not follow the normal pattern, make it stand out. It makes me think that she wants an essay to be like a blog. Full of opinions, some facts, but mostly feelings. Feelings from thoughts, from experiences, for all of the senses that you are able to use.

What exactly is a blog?

What is a Blog? To me a blog is similar to that of an essay. I think that the only major differences are that a blog lets you let out more anger and feelings in a quicker and more efficient manner than an essay does. At least that is how I have always used a blog, I guess until now. I think blogs were developed to let your friends and fellow bloggers know how you feel without having to confront them face to face or having them to read a really long five paragraph paper on how you feel about a certain subject matter. I think blogging is a short and sweet way to voice your opinion without boring your reader. You can say whatever you feel without feeling any remorse over it, because it is your blog. Alan Lightman states “In reading an essay, I want to feel that I’m communing with a real person, and a person who cares about what he or she’s writing about. The words sound sentimental and trite, but the qualities are rare. For me, the ideal essay is not an assignment, to be dispatched efficiently and intelligently, but an exploration, a questioning, an introspection.” I disagree with Lightman, I think essays are boring, I think that it is just an assignment that you express a feeling efficiently and intelligently. I believe that if you wanted to voice your opinion in a more scholarly, intelligent way then you should write an essay because they seem to take more time and effort to develop. They have less grammatical errors and usually take more time to put together. Personally, I would much rather write a blog any day. I hate having to stay up all night the night before an essay is due trying to cram in all my thoughts and all the research that is needed to make the essay seem ‘perfect’.