Note #2

In "Something's Missing" John Mayer sings of a confusion which leaves him dumbfounded. A sense of defiance is evoked when he says, "Im not alone. I wish I was," but he also wants to pinpoint the reason of his despair. He mentions "they" to generalize fans as an insignificant body: "I couldn't find a friend around/To love me like they do right now./They do right now." John Mayer feels like he has all he should need, but is missing something important. He is lost because he "[doesn't]know what it is." He has tried to satisfy his need of something more by having and buying everything he wants, but he has still found himself missing an important thing.

Reading Log 3/18 - 3/24

I finished reading Catching Fire and moved on to Mockingjay! So far I've been reading a lot more that I usually do, and I'me really enjoying it. I usually set time at night before bed to read, and I find time during many of my classes at school. Since my bus ride is about an hour long every morning, I get a lot of reading time then, too. Catching Fire ended with a total cliffhanger, and it wasn't as good as The Hunger Games, and I've heard that the third book is even worse. The Picture of Dorian Gray is such a slow read, and I really don't like it at all. I know it's good to try new types of books that I wouldn't normally read, but I can never seem to focus on it when I'm trying to read it.

This Week: 367
This Quarter: 892

Exercise #3

1. Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker
2. In Darkness by Nick Lake
3. Double by Jenny Valentine



1) An introduction is given about them main character and the main conflict is brought up.
2) A "content rating" and more formal review usually follow the intro. This is more formal and reviews the story itself instead of summarizing the book
3) The reviewer tells how they feel about the book and rate it themselves.

Note #1

"The Darker Sooner"
By Catherine Wing

Then came the darker sooner,
came the later lower.
We were no longer a sweeter-here
happily-ever-after. We were after ever.
We were farther and further.
More was the word we used for harder.
Lost was our standard-bearer.
Our gods were fallen faster,
and fallen larger.
The day was duller, duller
was disaster. Our charge was error.
Instead of leader we had louder,
instead of lover, never. And over this river
broke the winter’s black weather.

An inescapable despair is evoked by "The Darker Sooner." Everything has transformed from delightful to disgusting. Catherine Wing carries the words to a darker, emptier place which is "father and further" from "happily-ever-after" and closer to "disaster." The poet introduces the sense of change during the first couple of lines which mandates an unwilling hopelessness.

Exercise 1

The Mud Below is almost sung with a monotonous and common language. Annie Proulx's depiction creates a heated sense of urgency when Diamond "slapped his face forcefully, bringing the adrenaline roses up on his cheeks." The author enhances the stress by throwing the reader straight into the action. Rito brings the bull-rope "delicately to his hand from under the bull's belly." There are small things being noticed instead of the large roaring crowd. Annie Proulx stresses that everything must be perfect when riding a bull when Diamond noticed that "everything had gone a little slack." The tiny details are all magnified when about to ride a bull.

Anthology Theme Statement

I might make my anthology about missing something, or being outside/outdoors. I often feel like there's something missing, but I also like being outside and there are many texts that I can use for that.

Reading Log 3/11 - 3/17

So I've been reading the Hunger Games trilogy, and I can't put these books down! One of my goals is to beat my girlfriend in finishing the series. She started about a half a week ahead of me, so I've had some catching up to do. So far, I've finished the first book, and gotten half way through the second. This means I've read over 500 pages this week, plus about 20-30 pages from Dorian Gray. I think I've done well with my goals. I don't really have a specific number of pages that I'd like to read each week, but just to try and read more than I usually do, which has gone well. I've noticed that I like books with outdoor hunting/gathering stuff in them, because I really like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, and it's similar to the Hunger Games in a way. I think the Hunger Games has a good balance of drama and action which attracts a wide range of readers.
Goals:
1) Finish The Hunger Games first
2) Read more than I'm comfortable with
3) Finish a book every week (if it's short enough)

This Week: 525
This Quarter: 525

Reading Log 3/9/12

I'm reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins right now. So far, I really like this book and I can't seem to put it down. I actually can't wait to finish this post so I can read it lol. The author's use of imagery brightened my mind and made me feel like I was in the story when she described the Capitol. Her description of the colors and materials used in building the city was welcoming and exciting at the same time. The city seems like a mix between Willy Wonka's factory and the world from Ratchet and Clank. The people seem really creepy and grotesque, but the story is so hooking.

Sub#4: New Mayer vs. Old Mayer

John Mayer's music has been full of intricate guitar solos and bluesy harmonies for his past few albums. He recently underwent throat surgery last September, and then started recording his new album, Born and Raised. John Mayer commissioned Martin to create a custom guitar which Mayer says makes "organic cowboy guitar sounds." It seems as though John Mayer's new guitar sound will be completely different from the way it sounds in his previous albums.

The sounds of John Mayer's new teaser for Born and Raised are twangy and bright which contrast his music on Continuum. This teaser, "Shadow Days," hints at a drastic genre change from bluesy rock to country or southern rock which might be a way for John Mayer to modestly brag about his musical talent. "Shadow Days" seems to be just as intensely impressing as previous songs, but some fans are so critical that a country sound may be a wrong turn. Mayer's throat surgery could have just caused him to decide on a new life path, but judging by Mayer's egotistical reputation, he probably wants to prove his aptitude. Mayer's song, "Bigger Than My Body," might just be describing his larger than life ego.

In "Shadow Days," John Mayer seems to be contradicting most peoples' opinions of him when he sings,

"I'm a good man, with a good heart
Had a tough time, got a rough start
But it finally learned to let it go
Now I'm right here, and I'm right now
And I'm hoping, knowing somehow
That my shadows days are over
My shadow days are over now."

John Mayer's raw, raspy vocals give his previous albums a sense of freedom and independence, which can also be contributed to a career in country music. Mayer still incorporates complicated musicality into his new song, so truly musically enlightened listeners will understand his change, even if it is drastic in others' opinions. He could just be recording a country album to explore different genres. Many artists through the years have strayed from their original sounds to attract more fans or give themselves a little variety.

Submission #4: Blog Assignment

Good Claims

1) Vivir, Soñar, Leer

The radical range of color schemes, discombobulating object scale, unusual item combination, and drastic angling of geometric shapes combine to form a divine harmony in the middle of a flustering discord. From drastic reds and harsh blacks to soft pinks and peaceful blues, the colors of the rooms create a dramatic range of mood from breathtaking to calming.

This claim is like a "one-two punch" that almost completely describes the colors and moods of the rooms on this website.

2) Books for Dummies (like me)

This opening scene is pivotal to the rest of the film because it already sets the stage for the theme of horrific deaths by sharks. The frantic movement of the kids and the thundering suspense of the music conveys this sense of carnage and trepidation so that the audience might pee their pants in fright.

Not so good claims:

1) Well.. I can't really find the claim on this one..

2)"The whimsical vividness of the collection of drawings and pictures is just plain astonishing."

Foggy Wednesday

This foggy Wednesday
Is looking like an "ehh" day
I guess whatever..
--Jonny V.

Short List

1) Older John Mayer vs New Teaser "Shadow Days"
-J Mayer's older music from Continuum and Heavier Things had a rockier feel, but his new song has a country sound.

2) My Fish Tank
-Compare different species, and how they interact

3) "Buddy Holly" music video by Weezer
-Compare Happy Days and the song/video.

Sub #3 Middle School

Middle school is a long and grueling process of torturing kids until they either break, or become a typical rebellious teen. Breaking a preteens includes throwing kids into stressful situations such as making it to class on time, school dances, school sports, and the new social life that kids must adhere to.

This podcast highlights some of the main conflicts that preteens have during middle school situations. There is a girl who has trouble wearing her new clothes and shoes to school right away due to fear of being belittled. She received new moccasins which she and her friends now love, but was afraid of wearing them for a while. She was broken into worrying about every other girl's opinion of her appearance. This is a true problem that many middle schoolers face.

The awkwardness of middle school dances is also highlighted in the podcast. There is a girl who was asked by 5 boys to the dance. She had originally planned on going to the dance with a group of friends, so she was not sure how to respond to the boys. Of course, it was ridiculous to never give the boys any straight answers besides "I don't know," but the girl had never been in a similar situation before. The kids at the dance all had a new experience that they would either love, or hate. Middle school is an embarrasing time for most kids, and most students have to endure similar situations.

Podcast Response: Middle School

I listened to most of this podcast to realize that most middle schoolers must have similar experiences. The entire duration of the podcast had me laughing and reminiscing because of the funny events that i shared with the kids in the podcast. There was a section about a girl who wouldn't want to wear her new clothes right away because she was afraid people might judge her too much. Personally, I've never worried about something like that, but I can see a girl having similar problems.

One of the main points made in the podcast was that middle school is a time when kids find out their true personalities. This isn't really a good point, because you're always going to change ideas, but middle school is definitely a start. Judgmental groups of friends will always stay judgmental, and there will always be independent people who stray from the norm.

Short List #2

I've been thinking about writing an article about the interactions between the fish in my aquarium. They all react a little differently to food and to each other. There are a few different species in the tank, so the relationships differ vastly.

I'm also thinking about writing a piece on a music album. Maybe a new one that I checked out from the library yesterday or maybe one that I already have. Either way, I think this would be a good topic. I could possibly describe the storyline through the songlist and how the moods change.

Sub #1 Comments

"In addition to the whole video that complement the title very-well, we have this "player" trying to make his way to the top and that is what explains the title "Fly Me to the Moon". He wants to get to the top so that he can be with the people being with the "stars" the famous people. And then there are many people getting in his way, which is the thing that is trying to kill him/ bring him down! And once he makes it to the top he is rewarded with many gold coins and a crown hat. This symbolizes his achievement!



Every time I click the link to this video I just cannot help but watch it, it has a smooth but chill beat to it that draws my attentions to it… this video has brought me to wonder about more sonic animation videos that may grab my attention as this one did."

This is a submission posted by a student from another Ety class. They focused on summarizing the video and explaining their direct reaction to it such as "Every time I click the link to this video I just cannot help but watch it." They did a good job of telling what happened in the text, but this assignment needed to be analyzed at a deeper level. The writer could have told how the main character in the video felt when he reached the "stars" or how the others in the video reacted to his success. Again, this is a good summary, but not a very strong analysis.

Reader-- Picturing America

Picturing America’s Postwar America page is a collection of pictures dating from 1946-63 of post-WWII events and common life for Americans. These photos help clarify how people lived in America after the war. There are captions along with the photos that tell a little about what is going on, and they help create a connection between viewers and the things in the pictures.

The whole website still looks similarly to a textbook, but it brings a little excitement to viewers by introducing a human aspect instead of reading a history book. The connection gives a viewer a strong sense of patriotism that does not always accompany a person after reading a history textbook. Seeing peoples’ faces while they stand in fallout shelters helps to convey the fear caused by nuclear warfare. It’s an overall interesting page that would be eye-catching to Stumble Upon.

Week 5: Top Links

North America's Most Engangered Animals seems interesting because a blogger can write a lot about each type of animal and why it is endangered. I also really like animals, so this caught my eye.

Rainy Mood is an interesting website for late-working highschool students, office employees, or anyone who enjoys the sound of rain. This website plays sounds from a thunderstorm on a loop or it changes tracks seamlessly. Either way, it's a very cool website that I will probably use in the future.

I like the entire website, It's Nice That. I keep stumbling upon links to it, and every link is one that I want to add to this list. So, I decided to add the entire website instead. The photos in this website make me think a little bit more than usual and seem to open my mind up to new views.

Short List

This is a picture of a fallout shelter taken by an unknown photographer in 1960. It helps give a picture to what I've learned in US History instead of me making up images in my head. The entire page, actually, interests me and brings a lot of ideas for articles to mind.

I think it would be fun to write a report on the life in my fishtank. Such as the relationships between the different fish. I watch them often so it'd would be interesting.

Cool Blogs and such..

I think "Bacon, Eggs, and Arsenic" http://redlightedmovies.blogspot.com/ is has a pretty cool layout. It has an easily read font which is definitely a good thing. They also have Fish at the top, so viewers can feed their fish if they feel like it.

"Unfettered" http://jovialpursuit.blogspot.com/ has a very interesting response to Dead Poets Society. They had really good word choice and kind of quickly described the intro of the movie without getting off track.

Dead Poet's Society

In Peter Weir’s 1989 film Dead Poets Society, Welton’s “Light of Knowledge” ceremony reveals deceitful respect between students, parents, and the headmaster. Almost inaudible whispers and chatter suggest teachers are worried about secrets kept among the adults. A strong bellow of bagpipes and flags bearing the words "Tradition," "Honor," "Discipline," and "Excellence" prove Welton's pride for its academic success. School staff has the students march down the hall, and the headmaster ignites the "Lights of Knowledge" to gain trust and respect of the boys' parents. The entire ceremony seems like a big, fake act rehearsed down to every step in order to make the headmaster seem like a more "Traditional, Honorable, Disciplined, and Excellent" man.

Reading Log #1

I've been reading the short story, "The Mist," in Stephen King's collection of stories, "Skeleton Crew." I've seen the movie, so I already know what happens. King uses a very informal voice that infers that the reader lives in the same town. David, Stephanie, and Billy are a family that lives in Maine on a lake. They were living their lives when a summer storm hit their lake. It tears up the entire lake, leaving a path of broken trees, docks, and boathouses. David is disappointed about the storm, but doesn't question it. Stephanie, on the other hand, is very suspicious, and doesnt think it was a normal storm. They then realize that there is a giant wall of mist on the far side of the lake which gets closer, and closer to their house.

Jackson Pollock, "#1" (1950)

In this painting, Jackson Pollock expresses an indifferent ambivalence through his choice of color. The blue suggests a cool calmness while the black streaks introduce a bit of distress. The paint was thrown at the canvas at random and which created a rough texture. The random blotches of paint give the viewer a hint of chaos which is suppressed by blue, tan and white. The softer colors almost portray sorrow. Gray in "1" provides a neutral fill that does not contrast either the blue and tan or black. Jackson Pollock filled the entire canvas with paint which develops the idea of a full mind on the verge of explosion.

Literacy Narrative

Sometime around second grade, I realized I read a lot more than other kids in my class. I found myself trying to read at every possible moment during class. I often stayed up late after bedtiime to read. I usually read popular fiction series such as The Boxcar Children, Harry Potter, and Series of Unfortunate Events. I read this much for most of elementary school and through 8th grade, but once I reached highschool, I felt too pressured with homework, sports, and showchoir to read very much for fun. I still find a good book every once in a while, but I don't read half as much as I used to before highschool.

I don't really have a certain role model or influence for reading. I just find it fun to see a movie in my head. Of course I have to read some books for class, but those aren't really for fun. If I could read more for fun, I'd read some nonfiction books about topics that interest me such as music and some science. I also enjoy reading action novels that keep me on the edge of my seat. These are books that I like because they usually don't bore me and cause me to dread reading them.

Reading has changed my life because I honestly believe it has helped me comprehend teachers or anyone else during school. It has also helped me with grammar which I've noticed when writing essays for class or even texting. I've noticed that since I haven't read as much in highschool, I sometimes have trouble understanding more difficult text in Bio or Chem. I know I'll have to read a lot of science books in college because I'm planning on studying Biochem so, a lot of practice with that should be beneficial during highschool. I still enjoy reading for fun and even for classes, but I don't always have very much time to do it.