This is officially my last blog post for the school year in Etymology. I have read many books and when tallied up I have a total of about 1093!
This Semester has definitely changed my attitude for reading for better and for worse. I started out this semester not having read a book out of a classroom since probably middle school. However, at the once this class started I definitely knew that I had to blow the dust off of some of the books at home and actually begin reading them. My favorite book I read this semester was my first book read which was "The Road." I enjoyed it because of the futuristic plot combined with a twisted sense of humanity. I usually saved my reading until the end of my day when I was laying in bed because I found it to be the most relaxing environment. I enjoyed this a lot at first, but as the semester went on it seemed more to be a burden for me than an enjoyment. It wasn't the books that got worse, but the blogging about them seemed to overpower my reading, for instead of enjoying the books, I began reading them knowing I would have to summarize them later in a blog post. Sure blogging is a simple task, but its the repetitive weekdays of blogging that caused the annoyance. Although the blogging did not destroy my like for reading as a whole because I did open up my reading genres much larger and definitely began enjoying non fiction literature because I felt that I was actually learning something. Overall, the semester did greatly help me though, and I enjoyed this class.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens By: Sean Covey: Pages 58-102
SUMMARY:
In this section the book explains about the personal bank account. It's not referring to an actual bank account, but to how one feels about themselves. One who has a low PBA caves into peer pressure easily, feels inferior, alwyas cares what those around them think about them, suffers with temptations, and is arrogant. While those who have high PBA stand up for themselves, see life positively, are goal driven, and are happy for the success of others. The first step it says to increase one's PBA is make promises to yourself. Friends sometimes will let you down when it comes to fulfilling a promise they have made, and one's self also breaks promises to them self. Eventually, one begins to distrust them self. The solution is to keep the promises to yourself, and that way you will accomplish more of your goals. Another step is to do small acts of kindness. This action will help focus one's attention outwards instead of inwards. Another requirement is to be honest. Honesty really is key, for if one is dishonest, lies will just continue and continue to build up until one is in "debt."
The next section discusses the habit number 1 of being proactive. It begins with describing the differenece between being proactive and reactive. People that are proactive enjoy their lives and live on through their troubles,while those that are reactive are responsive to every little detail and become upset very easily. People who are proactive have a positive attitude and don't let other reactive people ruin their life. One's proactive or reactive lifestyle can easily be heard in the way they talk. Their language tells all, for reactive people will give excuses and over react towards situations, while proactive people are always looking for the best solutuion. The main way proactive people live successfully is by having a can do attitude, while at the same time having the ability to see the world from other than their point of view.
RESPONSE:
This section was loaded with lots of very helpful information. I was enlightened greatly with the section about proactive people. I can definitely work on my proactiveness because I saw some character traits of mine that lie in bothe the reactive and proactive lifestyles. I also can think of prime examples for each group based off of my friends. I hope that this reading will truly alter the way I see life now. I definitely have been given a new perspective ob how I live my life, and I'm going to attempt to try and live a more proactive lifestyle.
In this section the book explains about the personal bank account. It's not referring to an actual bank account, but to how one feels about themselves. One who has a low PBA caves into peer pressure easily, feels inferior, alwyas cares what those around them think about them, suffers with temptations, and is arrogant. While those who have high PBA stand up for themselves, see life positively, are goal driven, and are happy for the success of others. The first step it says to increase one's PBA is make promises to yourself. Friends sometimes will let you down when it comes to fulfilling a promise they have made, and one's self also breaks promises to them self. Eventually, one begins to distrust them self. The solution is to keep the promises to yourself, and that way you will accomplish more of your goals. Another step is to do small acts of kindness. This action will help focus one's attention outwards instead of inwards. Another requirement is to be honest. Honesty really is key, for if one is dishonest, lies will just continue and continue to build up until one is in "debt."
The next section discusses the habit number 1 of being proactive. It begins with describing the differenece between being proactive and reactive. People that are proactive enjoy their lives and live on through their troubles,while those that are reactive are responsive to every little detail and become upset very easily. People who are proactive have a positive attitude and don't let other reactive people ruin their life. One's proactive or reactive lifestyle can easily be heard in the way they talk. Their language tells all, for reactive people will give excuses and over react towards situations, while proactive people are always looking for the best solutuion. The main way proactive people live successfully is by having a can do attitude, while at the same time having the ability to see the world from other than their point of view.
RESPONSE:
This section was loaded with lots of very helpful information. I was enlightened greatly with the section about proactive people. I can definitely work on my proactiveness because I saw some character traits of mine that lie in bothe the reactive and proactive lifestyles. I also can think of prime examples for each group based off of my friends. I hope that this reading will truly alter the way I see life now. I definitely have been given a new perspective ob how I live my life, and I'm going to attempt to try and live a more proactive lifestyle.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Reading: 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens By: Sean Covey : Pages 1-57
SUMMARY:
Sean Covey's the book &7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens lays down an outline and provides short stories for examples on how teens should live their lives in order to become successful like-able people. Chapter one begins with Getting in the Habit. Starting off, Getting in the Habit explains that goals are key in living life. Goals provide the focus that drives us day to day and without them we would have nothing to continue going. However, the book goes on to explain that one must stick to their goals though because 90% of the time a person will make a goal and follow it for about a week but then drop their interests in it. The book then provides a list in order to help organize goo habits. The list goes as the following, be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek first to understand, then to be understood, synergize, and sharpen the saw.
The next section talks about Paradigms and Principles. Paradigms is a fancy word for perceptions. We all have perceptions on life and what we can and cannot do; however, this section begins by explaining that we cannot limit ourselves to what we can and cannot do but instead to perceive the things we think we cannot do, for why do things that we know we can do? It then continues to discuss real life stories of people that experienced situations that brought out different perceptions about themselves. Also, it then begins to discuss the problems of being to friend centered, and how that can disrupt the life of a person; similarly, the same results can occur if one becomes "stuff-centered." The section explains that being to centered on one thing can cause problems and one's life and that a mixture of everything is the best solution. The solution if one is too centered is principles. Principles establish a guideline for a way of life and define how a person will live from day to day. They help set up a structural plan for success.
RESPONSE:
I think this book is very good! It's like having someone there telling you the correct way to live a life that will lead you in the right direction. When I read this book I picture it sort of like when in a cartoon a little angel is telling a person what to do while standing on their shoulder. This book is easy to read and is great with its incorporation of pictures, quotes, and real life story examples. I truly think that this book will help change my life for the better and I'm excited to see where this takes me.
Sean Covey's the book &7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens lays down an outline and provides short stories for examples on how teens should live their lives in order to become successful like-able people. Chapter one begins with Getting in the Habit. Starting off, Getting in the Habit explains that goals are key in living life. Goals provide the focus that drives us day to day and without them we would have nothing to continue going. However, the book goes on to explain that one must stick to their goals though because 90% of the time a person will make a goal and follow it for about a week but then drop their interests in it. The book then provides a list in order to help organize goo habits. The list goes as the following, be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek first to understand, then to be understood, synergize, and sharpen the saw.
The next section talks about Paradigms and Principles. Paradigms is a fancy word for perceptions. We all have perceptions on life and what we can and cannot do; however, this section begins by explaining that we cannot limit ourselves to what we can and cannot do but instead to perceive the things we think we cannot do, for why do things that we know we can do? It then continues to discuss real life stories of people that experienced situations that brought out different perceptions about themselves. Also, it then begins to discuss the problems of being to friend centered, and how that can disrupt the life of a person; similarly, the same results can occur if one becomes "stuff-centered." The section explains that being to centered on one thing can cause problems and one's life and that a mixture of everything is the best solution. The solution if one is too centered is principles. Principles establish a guideline for a way of life and define how a person will live from day to day. They help set up a structural plan for success.
RESPONSE:
I think this book is very good! It's like having someone there telling you the correct way to live a life that will lead you in the right direction. When I read this book I picture it sort of like when in a cartoon a little angel is telling a person what to do while standing on their shoulder. This book is easy to read and is great with its incorporation of pictures, quotes, and real life story examples. I truly think that this book will help change my life for the better and I'm excited to see where this takes me.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Poem List for Anthology Project
Theme: African American Opression
1)The Song of Smoke: by W.E.B. Dubois
2)Caged Bird: by Maya Angelou
3)I Look at the World: by Langston Hughes
4)Booker T. and W.E.B.: by Dudley Randall
5)The Zebra Goes Wild Where the Sidewalk Ends: by Henry Dumas
6)Malcolm X, February 1965: by E. Ethelbert Miller
Video: The Zebra Goes Wild Where the Sidewalk Ends
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Action List: 5-3-2011
I just read the New York Times article on the capture of Osama Bin Laden and it was very informative. I find it sort of weird that the process of finding Bin Laden has been going on for so long, and they found him by writing down the license plate of a car with a passenger in it that was known as an Bin Laden courier. Most people are rejoicing over the death of the head Al Qaeda. This is a great accomplishment for the Obama and military administration; however, since learning of all these secretive operations going on to catch Bin Laden, it makes me wonder what other things is the government hiding form the American public.
Action List: 5-3-2011
Recently I have been reading a book by Dean Koonts called Watchers. The book is a fictional story from different character's points of view. The book centers around the results of experiments that took place in a laboratory. One of the characters, Tony, comes into direct contact with one of the experimented dogs that appears to have superior intellect. Another character, Nora, struggles with her self identity and confidence as s television repair man stalks her. Lastly, Clem tells his story from his point of view which involves multiple killings, for he is a hit man for an unnamed company. This book is a great read so far because it is fast paced and entertaining.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Reading: Watchers by Dean Koontz 128-170
SUMMARY:
On page 128, the story has moved back to Tony and the dog. They are sitting back at Tony's house, and Tony is about to give the dog a bath. Tony gathers up the tub and all the cleaning necessities and comes out to the back yard. He leaves the dog outside and goes in to grab a beer, and when he comes back out he is amazed to see that the hose is now in the tub and filling it up with water. Tony looks at the dog and tries to make sense of what just happened. He tells the dog to go and turn the faucet as he did before but he does not move. The dog then sees a butterfly and chases is around, but ends up running face first into a tree. Tony is confused as to how this dog can seem to have human characteristics but can instantly turn back into a dog. He gives the Dog a bath and decides to call the dog Einstein. Einstein and Tony go back into the living room, and Tony begins watching TV. As he is doing so he sees Einstein at the book shelf and hears him barking. When he comes to Einstein the dog looks up at the books and acts as if he wants them. Tony grabs one of the books off the shelves, a Dickens novel, and places it infront of Einstein. Einstein sniffs it up and down as if learning the plot and then places the book back. Then Einstein continues picking out books on the shelf, and Tony continues grabbing them and letting Einstein sniff them. Tony is building with suspense because he feels that the dog is trying to tell him something, and that he is on the urge of a great connection; however, the dog becomes frustrated with Tony as he cannot understand what the dog is attempting to do.
Meanwhile, Clem had received a thrid job to kill another Doctor. He wonders why he has killed only doctors but still accepts the job. Clem had more diffuculty getting into this thrid house because the doctor had taken safety measures to protect his house from intrusion, but Clem is a professional so he uses a glass cutter to open the back door from the inside. Once in the house he looks around for anything that could make sense of a connection between the killings he had committed earlier that night. He finds nothing though and goes into the doctors bedroom. Clem puts the gun to the doctor's head and forces him out of bed into the bathroom. Clem binds the doctor up an places him in the bathtub. Then Clem tells the doctor to explain to him if he knows the other two doctor's he had killed, and that he had the choice to die instantly or to be dragged out on death for up to 6 hours. The doctor explains that the three of them had worked together in Banodyne Labratories in Orange County. Clem asked what they had done there and the doctor proceeding in telling him all about the experiments and the dogs.
RESPONSE:
Wow, a lot has happened in this section. The dog story is by far my favorite like I have said before because it's just so intriguing. But now at the end my curiosity is burning since a connection has finally been made between the characters Clem and Tony. The dogs from the experiments, which are not explained yet, must be the dog that Tony is now in possession of. Now I just want to know what the experiments were and how this dog and the mystery creature in the forest will tie all together in this web of chaos.
On page 128, the story has moved back to Tony and the dog. They are sitting back at Tony's house, and Tony is about to give the dog a bath. Tony gathers up the tub and all the cleaning necessities and comes out to the back yard. He leaves the dog outside and goes in to grab a beer, and when he comes back out he is amazed to see that the hose is now in the tub and filling it up with water. Tony looks at the dog and tries to make sense of what just happened. He tells the dog to go and turn the faucet as he did before but he does not move. The dog then sees a butterfly and chases is around, but ends up running face first into a tree. Tony is confused as to how this dog can seem to have human characteristics but can instantly turn back into a dog. He gives the Dog a bath and decides to call the dog Einstein. Einstein and Tony go back into the living room, and Tony begins watching TV. As he is doing so he sees Einstein at the book shelf and hears him barking. When he comes to Einstein the dog looks up at the books and acts as if he wants them. Tony grabs one of the books off the shelves, a Dickens novel, and places it infront of Einstein. Einstein sniffs it up and down as if learning the plot and then places the book back. Then Einstein continues picking out books on the shelf, and Tony continues grabbing them and letting Einstein sniff them. Tony is building with suspense because he feels that the dog is trying to tell him something, and that he is on the urge of a great connection; however, the dog becomes frustrated with Tony as he cannot understand what the dog is attempting to do.
Meanwhile, Clem had received a thrid job to kill another Doctor. He wonders why he has killed only doctors but still accepts the job. Clem had more diffuculty getting into this thrid house because the doctor had taken safety measures to protect his house from intrusion, but Clem is a professional so he uses a glass cutter to open the back door from the inside. Once in the house he looks around for anything that could make sense of a connection between the killings he had committed earlier that night. He finds nothing though and goes into the doctors bedroom. Clem puts the gun to the doctor's head and forces him out of bed into the bathroom. Clem binds the doctor up an places him in the bathtub. Then Clem tells the doctor to explain to him if he knows the other two doctor's he had killed, and that he had the choice to die instantly or to be dragged out on death for up to 6 hours. The doctor explains that the three of them had worked together in Banodyne Labratories in Orange County. Clem asked what they had done there and the doctor proceeding in telling him all about the experiments and the dogs.
RESPONSE:
Wow, a lot has happened in this section. The dog story is by far my favorite like I have said before because it's just so intriguing. But now at the end my curiosity is burning since a connection has finally been made between the characters Clem and Tony. The dogs from the experiments, which are not explained yet, must be the dog that Tony is now in possession of. Now I just want to know what the experiments were and how this dog and the mystery creature in the forest will tie all together in this web of chaos.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Reading: Watchers by Dean Koontz 64-127
SUMMARY:
Once in the car Tony begins wondering how this dog managed to save his life with the insight of a non animal being. He is flabbergasted at the dog's intelligence and wearily tells the dog that if he is hungry that there is snacks in the glove compartment. Then he heres some ruffling and when Tony turns back around he sees the dog with a peanut butter granola bar in his mouth. Tony is amazed at the feat, but is then skeptical and tells him self over and over again that someone could have trained the dog to do that before he found him. Then the dog begins barking back at the road giving Tony the sense that what ever was chasing them in the woods is not over yet. He speeds up an continues driving and eventually the dog calms down. At first, Tony was not going to keep this dog, but after he became so intrigued with curiosity at its special abilities, he had to keep it. He knew the dog needed a name, but he wasn't ready to name him just yet.
Nora is now laying in bed reading a book when the phone rings. She is reluctant to answer it but finally does. When she answers the person on the other line says that they have never heard of him. Nora is confused and asks what he means, and the man on the other line says the police department has never heard of an officer as Nora's husband. Nora now knows that the man on the phone is Streck and is stricken with terror. She feels that she should slam the phone down and hang up on him showing that she is not afraid but she can't gather the strength to show him off. Then Streck continues by telling Nora that she is very pretty; however, Nora was always told growing up that she was ugly and shouldn't even waste her time pursuing a man. Nora is disgusted by Streck as he continues making sexual comments, but she is also confused in her mind as to how someone can find her attractive when she sees nothing attractive about herself in the mirror. Nora locks all the doors and grabs a knife from the kitchen and places it under her pillow incase Streck attempts to come into her house at night.
Clem in the meantime has gathered the new information for his next job. He grabs a quick meal and some cofee as he is still on his killing high and then proceeds to drive to the house he is doing the hit at. The target is an older doctor, but his wife is with him and he has a 16 year old son. The wife must be killed because she will be sleeping in the same room, but killing the kid is optional. Clem in his twisted mind though knows that he will kill the kid because he finds the best pleasure in harming children. Clem enters though a back door and goes up into the kids room. He puts the pistol next to the kids head and as soon as he awakens he kills him then he shuts the boys eyelids and kisses him on the forehead. Clem then goes down the hallway into the Master bedroom. The doctor and his wife are sleeping. Clem wakes them up and shoots the doctor in the face. The wife screams at the sight and tries to run, but Clem stops her and ties her up. Then he grousemly takes out a hammer, and then the next scene in the book is him walking out of the house crazy and excited from his duties.
RESPONSE:
This book is good because it is fast paced and exciting. I enjoy the mystery with the dog because I have a dog that is pretty smart but it would be awesome to have a dog like that. Nora's story is kind of creepy, but Clems story disturbs me because the rush he gets after killing victims in my mind is disgusting. I don't like when I read his parts, but it does keep the book going in a speedy way. I think that Clem and Nora will cross paths in this book pretty soon because I could see Clem going for Streck or something. I still can't quite figure out where TOny and the dog fit into this story yet so I'll have to wait and see.
Once in the car Tony begins wondering how this dog managed to save his life with the insight of a non animal being. He is flabbergasted at the dog's intelligence and wearily tells the dog that if he is hungry that there is snacks in the glove compartment. Then he heres some ruffling and when Tony turns back around he sees the dog with a peanut butter granola bar in his mouth. Tony is amazed at the feat, but is then skeptical and tells him self over and over again that someone could have trained the dog to do that before he found him. Then the dog begins barking back at the road giving Tony the sense that what ever was chasing them in the woods is not over yet. He speeds up an continues driving and eventually the dog calms down. At first, Tony was not going to keep this dog, but after he became so intrigued with curiosity at its special abilities, he had to keep it. He knew the dog needed a name, but he wasn't ready to name him just yet.
Nora is now laying in bed reading a book when the phone rings. She is reluctant to answer it but finally does. When she answers the person on the other line says that they have never heard of him. Nora is confused and asks what he means, and the man on the other line says the police department has never heard of an officer as Nora's husband. Nora now knows that the man on the phone is Streck and is stricken with terror. She feels that she should slam the phone down and hang up on him showing that she is not afraid but she can't gather the strength to show him off. Then Streck continues by telling Nora that she is very pretty; however, Nora was always told growing up that she was ugly and shouldn't even waste her time pursuing a man. Nora is disgusted by Streck as he continues making sexual comments, but she is also confused in her mind as to how someone can find her attractive when she sees nothing attractive about herself in the mirror. Nora locks all the doors and grabs a knife from the kitchen and places it under her pillow incase Streck attempts to come into her house at night.
Clem in the meantime has gathered the new information for his next job. He grabs a quick meal and some cofee as he is still on his killing high and then proceeds to drive to the house he is doing the hit at. The target is an older doctor, but his wife is with him and he has a 16 year old son. The wife must be killed because she will be sleeping in the same room, but killing the kid is optional. Clem in his twisted mind though knows that he will kill the kid because he finds the best pleasure in harming children. Clem enters though a back door and goes up into the kids room. He puts the pistol next to the kids head and as soon as he awakens he kills him then he shuts the boys eyelids and kisses him on the forehead. Clem then goes down the hallway into the Master bedroom. The doctor and his wife are sleeping. Clem wakes them up and shoots the doctor in the face. The wife screams at the sight and tries to run, but Clem stops her and ties her up. Then he grousemly takes out a hammer, and then the next scene in the book is him walking out of the house crazy and excited from his duties.
RESPONSE:
This book is good because it is fast paced and exciting. I enjoy the mystery with the dog because I have a dog that is pretty smart but it would be awesome to have a dog like that. Nora's story is kind of creepy, but Clems story disturbs me because the rush he gets after killing victims in my mind is disgusting. I don't like when I read his parts, but it does keep the book going in a speedy way. I think that Clem and Nora will cross paths in this book pretty soon because I could see Clem going for Streck or something. I still can't quite figure out where TOny and the dog fit into this story yet so I'll have to wait and see.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Reading : Watchers by Dean Koontz pgs 1-63
SUMMARY:
On page 1, Dean Koontz introduces the story by introducing a character that goes is just parking near an outlet in the woods. His name is Tony and he is now in his upper 50's. Tony goes into the woods to get away from his life which he now despises. He continues going through the woods until he comes to a meadow in a clearing and unpacks his bag. Tony then sits on a rock and enjoys some Oreo cookies he packed. While eating his Oreos Tony sees something out of the corner of his eye. When he looks at what caught, he notices a dog still out in the clearing ahead of him. Tony proceeds to move towards the dog, but is unsure if he is friendly or not. The dog appears friendly; however, when he attempts to pass the dog, the dog goes crazy and begins barking viciously at Tony and grabs his leg and drags him back to his entrance. Tony attempts again and the dog does the same, but this time the dog turns around towards the exit path and begins barking loudly at the path as if warning something away. Then the dog grabs Tony's leg and begins to run towards the entrance. Tony begins running with the dog and is afraid because he realizes that something in the clearing is chasing them and it isn't something normal. They continue running and Tony becomes paranoid as he continues running. Tony finally reaches his car with the dog and they get into the car and drive off as he wonders about the dog that saved his life.
Next, the reader is introduced to another character named Nora. She is a very timid humble woman who lives in her aunt's house that is now in her possession ever since she passed away. Nora never liked her aunt, however, and she was raised up to believe that all men are pigs and that all of life's experiences can be found in books. Nora's T.V. is broken and so she needs someone to fix it. Then the reader is introduced to Streck who is the repairman. Streck is described as a creepy looking man and looks at Nora in a sexual manner. Streck continues by fixing the TV and talking to Nora with many sexual inuendos, but Nora is too meek to stand up for herself. As Streck is leaving he asks Nora what her husband does (Nora doesn't have a husband) and she tells him that he is a police man. After her answer, Nora realizes that her answer was dumb because her house was much more than a police man could afford. Streck leaves, but Nora feels that he is not gone forever.
Then, the Character of Clem who is a hired killer. Clem had just parked the van outside of the doctor's house of which he is supposed to take care of that night. He then breaks in through the garage door and creeps into the doctor's living room. He says hello and as the doctor turns around Clem shoots the doctor in the forehead with a quiet snap as his silenced pistol goes off. Clem then cleans up the body and the scene and then leaves the house. He then drives to a public phone booth to cal the people that hire him and told them the job was finished. Then the people that give him the jobs tell him that his work is the best of their killers. They then proceed in giving him another address and he knows that that means that he has another job that night. Clem is excited that he has two jobs in one night because killing gives him an unmeasurable high on life.
RESPONSE:
This is a very interesting book because it tells the story from three points of view. I kinda like this style more than normal books because it provides some new scenery and input. I have read another one of Dean Koontz which portrayed the story from different characters and it was awesome because at the end all the characters were tied together and ended up crossing paths and ultimately completing the concept of the story. I enjoy the concept of the dog because it is acting as a protector to Tony, and Nora's stalker gives the book a sense of tenseness and suspense while Clem's killings provide a sense of dark twistedness, for he finds pleasure in killing people. I'm interested to see how all three of these unlikely characters come together.
On page 1, Dean Koontz introduces the story by introducing a character that goes is just parking near an outlet in the woods. His name is Tony and he is now in his upper 50's. Tony goes into the woods to get away from his life which he now despises. He continues going through the woods until he comes to a meadow in a clearing and unpacks his bag. Tony then sits on a rock and enjoys some Oreo cookies he packed. While eating his Oreos Tony sees something out of the corner of his eye. When he looks at what caught, he notices a dog still out in the clearing ahead of him. Tony proceeds to move towards the dog, but is unsure if he is friendly or not. The dog appears friendly; however, when he attempts to pass the dog, the dog goes crazy and begins barking viciously at Tony and grabs his leg and drags him back to his entrance. Tony attempts again and the dog does the same, but this time the dog turns around towards the exit path and begins barking loudly at the path as if warning something away. Then the dog grabs Tony's leg and begins to run towards the entrance. Tony begins running with the dog and is afraid because he realizes that something in the clearing is chasing them and it isn't something normal. They continue running and Tony becomes paranoid as he continues running. Tony finally reaches his car with the dog and they get into the car and drive off as he wonders about the dog that saved his life.
Next, the reader is introduced to another character named Nora. She is a very timid humble woman who lives in her aunt's house that is now in her possession ever since she passed away. Nora never liked her aunt, however, and she was raised up to believe that all men are pigs and that all of life's experiences can be found in books. Nora's T.V. is broken and so she needs someone to fix it. Then the reader is introduced to Streck who is the repairman. Streck is described as a creepy looking man and looks at Nora in a sexual manner. Streck continues by fixing the TV and talking to Nora with many sexual inuendos, but Nora is too meek to stand up for herself. As Streck is leaving he asks Nora what her husband does (Nora doesn't have a husband) and she tells him that he is a police man. After her answer, Nora realizes that her answer was dumb because her house was much more than a police man could afford. Streck leaves, but Nora feels that he is not gone forever.
Then, the Character of Clem who is a hired killer. Clem had just parked the van outside of the doctor's house of which he is supposed to take care of that night. He then breaks in through the garage door and creeps into the doctor's living room. He says hello and as the doctor turns around Clem shoots the doctor in the forehead with a quiet snap as his silenced pistol goes off. Clem then cleans up the body and the scene and then leaves the house. He then drives to a public phone booth to cal the people that hire him and told them the job was finished. Then the people that give him the jobs tell him that his work is the best of their killers. They then proceed in giving him another address and he knows that that means that he has another job that night. Clem is excited that he has two jobs in one night because killing gives him an unmeasurable high on life.
RESPONSE:
This is a very interesting book because it tells the story from three points of view. I kinda like this style more than normal books because it provides some new scenery and input. I have read another one of Dean Koontz which portrayed the story from different characters and it was awesome because at the end all the characters were tied together and ended up crossing paths and ultimately completing the concept of the story. I enjoy the concept of the dog because it is acting as a protector to Tony, and Nora's stalker gives the book a sense of tenseness and suspense while Clem's killings provide a sense of dark twistedness, for he finds pleasure in killing people. I'm interested to see how all three of these unlikely characters come together.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
College
College decisions are coming up soon so I need to start narrowing down my choices. I decided that I would most likely enjoy going to a place near the Chicago are because I enjoy the city. My top choice at the moment is Northwestern, but it is very selective so I hope I can get in. I also would like to look at the University of Chicago. However, IU would be the best financial choice so it's a hard decision.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Reading The Shining By Sthepen King pgs 258-311
SUMMARY:
On page 258, Danny is at the doctor's office for his appointment. Danny is introduced to Dr. Bill Edmonds, and Danny is being tested for epilepsy. The doctor tells Danny's parents that he probably doesn't have epilepsy, but he insists on talking to Danny alone about his invisible friend Tony. Danny describes Tony to Dr. Edmonds and explains to him that he goes with Tony wherever her takes him and that all he can remember is Redrum. After the doctor asks Danny if he can bring Tony in right now, Danny tries. He sees Tony and Tony shows him a drunken figure running towards Danny with a mallet. Danny returns to the real world but can't remember all that he had seen in his vision. Even though the events occur, the doctor informs Danny's parents that he think danny will be alright.
The next events take place in November when Jack goes down into the boiler room to look at the old newspapers of The OVerlook Hotel. In the boiler room Jack finds a white scrapbook in the name of Horace Derwent, and when he opens it he finds an invitation for a masquerade ball. He begins to flip through and read through the scrapbook and begins to be filled with the exciting history of the Overlook. It seems to be the place in the 60's for high crime people, and while reading a section Jack sees a picture of the presidential suite, but it had blood everywhere due to a shotgun murdering of three people. Jack puts the book away and goes upstairs.
Then Danny is looking at room 217 because he remebers Halloran's warning to him about the room. Danny comes very close to opening it but does not, and begins running down the hall way. He passes the old fire exstinguisher and the hose falls off and Danny invisions it coiling itself around him, but then looks again and it is back where it was. Then the story goes back to Jack and he is now at a library because he is determined to learn more about the history of the Overlook. After gathering more information Jack decides to call Mr. Ullman. Jack informs Mr. Ullman about his findings and Mr. Ullman thinks Jack should be fired but he doe'nt have the power to do so. The two argue for a little bit but Jack ends up hanging up the phone and going out to the car to meet Danny and Wendy.
RESPONSE:
I'm glad that the scary parts are finally starting to pick up because I was starting to feel as though the story was beginning to become dragged out. In this section Jack's obsession is beginning to develop and one can tell that everything in his mind is slowly moving on the verge of a psychotic breakdown. As the reader it is weird because I am starting to feel like a part of Jack and having an urge to learn more about the hotel and its secrets because I am one of those people who, once they start something, have to either find a direct answer or learn that the goal is not reachable. Jack is greatly struggling with his urge to drink so Im assuming that the alcohol will be the object that puts him over the hill of sanity. Great read so far so I would definitely recommend it.
On page 258, Danny is at the doctor's office for his appointment. Danny is introduced to Dr. Bill Edmonds, and Danny is being tested for epilepsy. The doctor tells Danny's parents that he probably doesn't have epilepsy, but he insists on talking to Danny alone about his invisible friend Tony. Danny describes Tony to Dr. Edmonds and explains to him that he goes with Tony wherever her takes him and that all he can remember is Redrum. After the doctor asks Danny if he can bring Tony in right now, Danny tries. He sees Tony and Tony shows him a drunken figure running towards Danny with a mallet. Danny returns to the real world but can't remember all that he had seen in his vision. Even though the events occur, the doctor informs Danny's parents that he think danny will be alright.
The next events take place in November when Jack goes down into the boiler room to look at the old newspapers of The OVerlook Hotel. In the boiler room Jack finds a white scrapbook in the name of Horace Derwent, and when he opens it he finds an invitation for a masquerade ball. He begins to flip through and read through the scrapbook and begins to be filled with the exciting history of the Overlook. It seems to be the place in the 60's for high crime people, and while reading a section Jack sees a picture of the presidential suite, but it had blood everywhere due to a shotgun murdering of three people. Jack puts the book away and goes upstairs.
Then Danny is looking at room 217 because he remebers Halloran's warning to him about the room. Danny comes very close to opening it but does not, and begins running down the hall way. He passes the old fire exstinguisher and the hose falls off and Danny invisions it coiling itself around him, but then looks again and it is back where it was. Then the story goes back to Jack and he is now at a library because he is determined to learn more about the history of the Overlook. After gathering more information Jack decides to call Mr. Ullman. Jack informs Mr. Ullman about his findings and Mr. Ullman thinks Jack should be fired but he doe'nt have the power to do so. The two argue for a little bit but Jack ends up hanging up the phone and going out to the car to meet Danny and Wendy.
RESPONSE:
I'm glad that the scary parts are finally starting to pick up because I was starting to feel as though the story was beginning to become dragged out. In this section Jack's obsession is beginning to develop and one can tell that everything in his mind is slowly moving on the verge of a psychotic breakdown. As the reader it is weird because I am starting to feel like a part of Jack and having an urge to learn more about the hotel and its secrets because I am one of those people who, once they start something, have to either find a direct answer or learn that the goal is not reachable. Jack is greatly struggling with his urge to drink so Im assuming that the alcohol will be the object that puts him over the hill of sanity. Great read so far so I would definitely recommend it.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Reading The Shining By: Stephen King pgs 209-257
SUMMARY
On page 209, the reader is brought to a short scene in which the Torrances are out on the balcony overlooking the front plot of the Overlook Hotel. Mr. Ullman reassures that Jack will take care of the place, and the family watches his car drive off until they are completely alone. Then some time passes by and it is October 20th, and Jack is attempting to shingle the roof. He is in the process when he undergoes another flashback. Jack remebers when he was 7 years old and his dad beat him for throwing something at a car. He then goes all the way up through highschool remembering the fights he had gotten in until he remembers breaking Danny's arm and hurting George Hatfield.
Next, Jack has a second flashback recalling the fight that he got into with George. George was one of Jack's students and was on the debate team. However, Jack ended up firing George due to his stutter. As a resuly, George becomes upset and slashes Jack's tires, and Jack overreacts by punching George until he is badly beaten. Jack's flashback ends Then Jack climbs down off the roof. Then Danny and Wendy arrive in from town and the family is getting along great. Jack even gives Danny an empty wasp's nest that he found on the roof. Wendy thinks that Danny shoud get checked by a doctor the next morning before winter arrives. That night Danny puts the wasp nest in his bedroom and goes to his parents room. He uses the bathroom but his parents become worried when he doesnt come out. They begin banging on the door telling Danny to come out, and finally Jack kicks the door in. They find Danny huddled up on the bathtub saying Redrum and Roque. Then Danny comes back to reality and explains that he doesn't remember what happened but that he saw Tony in the mirror. Jack and Wendy are nervous and are glad they are taking him to the doctors tomorrow. THen danny goes to bed and once again dreams of the Redrum, but is awakened due to something on his hand. When he wakes up Danny finds wasps on his hand, and he goes to his parents room. Jack is confused why there were so many hornets, and he tells Danny he won't ever lose his temper again.
RESPONSE:
This section began to get pretty creepy. In the beginning it was not that bad because the family was just starting to live by themselves. But at the end when Danny had the vision in the bathroom, and the occurance of the bees really gives me the creeps. I have never been stung by a bee before so I don;t knmow how bad they feel, but just the thought of one on me is gross. In this chapter Danny for a five year old is acting much more mature because he does not freak out and he is engrossed in his intriguement in learning how to read. I can't remember from the movie, but I wonder if once Danny learns how to read if he will be able to figure out what Redrum means.
On page 209, the reader is brought to a short scene in which the Torrances are out on the balcony overlooking the front plot of the Overlook Hotel. Mr. Ullman reassures that Jack will take care of the place, and the family watches his car drive off until they are completely alone. Then some time passes by and it is October 20th, and Jack is attempting to shingle the roof. He is in the process when he undergoes another flashback. Jack remebers when he was 7 years old and his dad beat him for throwing something at a car. He then goes all the way up through highschool remembering the fights he had gotten in until he remembers breaking Danny's arm and hurting George Hatfield.
Next, Jack has a second flashback recalling the fight that he got into with George. George was one of Jack's students and was on the debate team. However, Jack ended up firing George due to his stutter. As a resuly, George becomes upset and slashes Jack's tires, and Jack overreacts by punching George until he is badly beaten. Jack's flashback ends Then Jack climbs down off the roof. Then Danny and Wendy arrive in from town and the family is getting along great. Jack even gives Danny an empty wasp's nest that he found on the roof. Wendy thinks that Danny shoud get checked by a doctor the next morning before winter arrives. That night Danny puts the wasp nest in his bedroom and goes to his parents room. He uses the bathroom but his parents become worried when he doesnt come out. They begin banging on the door telling Danny to come out, and finally Jack kicks the door in. They find Danny huddled up on the bathtub saying Redrum and Roque. Then Danny comes back to reality and explains that he doesn't remember what happened but that he saw Tony in the mirror. Jack and Wendy are nervous and are glad they are taking him to the doctors tomorrow. THen danny goes to bed and once again dreams of the Redrum, but is awakened due to something on his hand. When he wakes up Danny finds wasps on his hand, and he goes to his parents room. Jack is confused why there were so many hornets, and he tells Danny he won't ever lose his temper again.
RESPONSE:
This section began to get pretty creepy. In the beginning it was not that bad because the family was just starting to live by themselves. But at the end when Danny had the vision in the bathroom, and the occurance of the bees really gives me the creeps. I have never been stung by a bee before so I don;t knmow how bad they feel, but just the thought of one on me is gross. In this chapter Danny for a five year old is acting much more mature because he does not freak out and he is engrossed in his intriguement in learning how to read. I can't remember from the movie, but I wonder if once Danny learns how to read if he will be able to figure out what Redrum means.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
My Spring Break
Wrapped up in a nutshell, I would have to say that Spring Break was great overall. I went to Siesta Key, Florida and saw a bunch of m friends. We all hung out on the beach, threw some frisbee, and caught some rays. Being in Florida greatly motivates me to be able to become successful when I get older so I can have condo of some sort for relaxing. So if anyone has any tips on how to make bank in a short amount of time just let me know your secret. I will also be taking any donations towards the cause..
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Tuesday Response #2
A house is nothing more than something that provides shelter, warmth, and a comfy living space, but Pharrel managed to convert his house into a masterpiece of childish adoration. Pharrel's life as a "kidult" is easily evident just by glancing at the place he calls home. Modern artwork fills the house with such odd sculptures like a ball of cartoon flowers. Although all of these materialistic assets may seem unnecessary to the common folk, Pharrel believes it is important to posses an equilibrium of playtime with worktime. I'm not going to lie; the house would be amazing to live in, and one day I hope that I could acquire the dream of having more money than to know what to do with it.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Reading The Shining By: Stephen King pgs 164-208
SUMMARY:
On page 164, the reader is introduced to Halloran. Halloran is a tall black man who has an afro that is turning gray. Halloran informs the family that they should have enough food to last them about a year at the Hotel. Halloran proceeds on informing the Torrances on their quarters and then the kitchen, and then he asks Danny if her remembers his name. Danny tells Halloran that his name is Mr. Halloran, but Dick to those that know him personally. Danny's speech is peculiar because Mr. Halloran never told the family that his nickname is Dick. Mr. Halloran explains to the family the history of the hotel, and tells them that it was built by a Mr. Watson, but his son was killed in an accident and Mr. Watson accidently electrocuted himself. Mr. Halloran finishes up his conversation and asks Danny if he would like to go to Florida with him. Danny declines, but Mr. Halloran asks if he can speak to Danny personally in his car.
Danny goes into Mr. Halloran's car and Mr. Halloran looks at Danny curiously. He tells Danny that he is 60 years old, and in that 60 years he has never seen anyone shine more brightly than Danny. Halloran explains that to shine is what Danny can do with his mind, and that he can do it himself as well. He also tells Danny that his shining is the greatest amount that he has ever encountered before. Danny then telepathically sends a message to Mr. Halloran and ends up hurting Mr. Halloran a little bit. However, when Danny tells Mr. Halloran about Tony Mr Halloran becomes worried about Danny. He tells Danny that these visions are the same thing as biblical visions and may fortell the future. but these visions are not always true. Mr. Halloran informs Danny that he too has visions but of bad things that are going on at the hotel and tells Danny to stay out of room 217. After his words of advice Mr. Halloran tells Danny to shine to him if anything bad happens, but says that his visions shouldn't be able to hurt him. Then Mr. Halloway drives away uneasily hoping that he was right about all he said.
Next, Danny goes back inside and rejoins his family but doesn't tell them about what Mr. Halloran and him talked about. Mr. Ullman takes the family in the elevator which is very old and scary, and Wendy thinks again of the family that had to retort to eting each other for survival. They reach their floor and Wendy says that they will never take the elevator again for as long as they stay here. Mr. Ullman shows them the presidential suite, and Danny sees a blood stain on the wall, but when he looks back the stain is gone. Mr. Ullman takes them down to the first floor and quickly moves past room 217 to show the Torrances where they will be staying. Then he brings them back down to the basement where Watson is waiting once agiain to inform Jack about the boiler. He tells Danny to take care of his parents and Danny agrees.
RESPONSE:
There was a lot explained in this section of reading. I think it was pretty cool when Mr. Halloran explained to Danny about his Shining abilities because it helped me understand the concept of the whole plot. Which was the reason for his character in the book I'm sure. Also, I am excited to see if there are more visions in Danny's mind than what appeared in the film, and I want to see how they are depicted. This is the first Stephen King novel I have ever read, and I'm not saying that I will jump on the Stephen King Bandwagon, but as far as a good writer I would say Stephen King is a very good author.
On page 164, the reader is introduced to Halloran. Halloran is a tall black man who has an afro that is turning gray. Halloran informs the family that they should have enough food to last them about a year at the Hotel. Halloran proceeds on informing the Torrances on their quarters and then the kitchen, and then he asks Danny if her remembers his name. Danny tells Halloran that his name is Mr. Halloran, but Dick to those that know him personally. Danny's speech is peculiar because Mr. Halloran never told the family that his nickname is Dick. Mr. Halloran explains to the family the history of the hotel, and tells them that it was built by a Mr. Watson, but his son was killed in an accident and Mr. Watson accidently electrocuted himself. Mr. Halloran finishes up his conversation and asks Danny if he would like to go to Florida with him. Danny declines, but Mr. Halloran asks if he can speak to Danny personally in his car.
Danny goes into Mr. Halloran's car and Mr. Halloran looks at Danny curiously. He tells Danny that he is 60 years old, and in that 60 years he has never seen anyone shine more brightly than Danny. Halloran explains that to shine is what Danny can do with his mind, and that he can do it himself as well. He also tells Danny that his shining is the greatest amount that he has ever encountered before. Danny then telepathically sends a message to Mr. Halloran and ends up hurting Mr. Halloran a little bit. However, when Danny tells Mr. Halloran about Tony Mr Halloran becomes worried about Danny. He tells Danny that these visions are the same thing as biblical visions and may fortell the future. but these visions are not always true. Mr. Halloran informs Danny that he too has visions but of bad things that are going on at the hotel and tells Danny to stay out of room 217. After his words of advice Mr. Halloran tells Danny to shine to him if anything bad happens, but says that his visions shouldn't be able to hurt him. Then Mr. Halloway drives away uneasily hoping that he was right about all he said.
Next, Danny goes back inside and rejoins his family but doesn't tell them about what Mr. Halloran and him talked about. Mr. Ullman takes the family in the elevator which is very old and scary, and Wendy thinks again of the family that had to retort to eting each other for survival. They reach their floor and Wendy says that they will never take the elevator again for as long as they stay here. Mr. Ullman shows them the presidential suite, and Danny sees a blood stain on the wall, but when he looks back the stain is gone. Mr. Ullman takes them down to the first floor and quickly moves past room 217 to show the Torrances where they will be staying. Then he brings them back down to the basement where Watson is waiting once agiain to inform Jack about the boiler. He tells Danny to take care of his parents and Danny agrees.
RESPONSE:
There was a lot explained in this section of reading. I think it was pretty cool when Mr. Halloran explained to Danny about his Shining abilities because it helped me understand the concept of the whole plot. Which was the reason for his character in the book I'm sure. Also, I am excited to see if there are more visions in Danny's mind than what appeared in the film, and I want to see how they are depicted. This is the first Stephen King novel I have ever read, and I'm not saying that I will jump on the Stephen King Bandwagon, but as far as a good writer I would say Stephen King is a very good author.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Reading The Shining By: Stephen King pgs 105-163
SUMMARY:
On page 105, Wendy and Jack are in bed. Jack is asleep, and Wendy is thinking about him. When Danny was born Wendy and her mother started talking again, but Wendy doesn't like being around her.Wendy then goes into a flashback. She recollects when Jack is in grad school and his drinking is under control and he gets a job at Stovington Prep. She remembers fighting when Jack dropped Danny on the floor and the time Jack broke danny's arm after being frustrated. Wendy recalls Jack's alcohol problem getting worse and worse, until a miracle happens. Danny tells Jack of the dream he had of him getting into a car accident and Danny stops drinking. Although he stopped drinking Wendy wants to talk to Jack because she is feeling as though she wants a divorce, but she feels pressure because she knows that her mother dissapproved of the wedding in the first place so she would just be conforming to her mother's beliefs. However, she knows that she still loves Jack and definitely loves Danny, so shes being optimistic and hoping that the hotel job will be good for the family.
The next section is very short and ivolves Danny. Danny wakes up and looks at the clock to find out it is 2 a.m. He was awakened by the sound of a crazy drunken rage, and he looks around for Tony. Danny finds Tony outside at the bus stop and the repeated vision of REDRUM flashes before his eyes.
In the next scene the Torrances are driving through the mountains on their way to the Overlook Hotel. Wendy is nervous as she fears they will get stranded and she alludes to a story of a family who had to eat one another to stay alive after being stranded. They continue driving until Jack pulls over at a scenic outlook. Jack points up to the hotel and shows wendy and Wendy says that she thinks the hotel is beautiful. Jack agrees, however, Danny feels uneasy about this new place because he remembers that this is the place in which Tony had warned Danny about and he knew that this was the place where redrum was. They approach the hotel and go into it. Mr. Ullman greets the family, but is preoccupied with the large rush of the last inhabitants trying to check out. Danny looks around as Jack explains the hotel to the family, and Wendy and Jack act as they are loving eachother, but Danny feels very strange and scared of this place.
RESPONSE:
I'm not going to lie, I am a little bit creeped out by this book. It is not straight forward scary but it provides its tactics with the use of suspense and the unknown. The movie was not quite as scary because although I viewed all the scenes, I did not feel as though I was experiencing them myself. This book does a great job of pulling the reader into the story and feeling as though they are part of the Torrance family. It also probably does not help that I am reading this book at night time in my room, but who's complaining. I'm thrilled to see how the book portrays the real happenings of the Overlook Hotel compared to the film.
On page 105, Wendy and Jack are in bed. Jack is asleep, and Wendy is thinking about him. When Danny was born Wendy and her mother started talking again, but Wendy doesn't like being around her.Wendy then goes into a flashback. She recollects when Jack is in grad school and his drinking is under control and he gets a job at Stovington Prep. She remembers fighting when Jack dropped Danny on the floor and the time Jack broke danny's arm after being frustrated. Wendy recalls Jack's alcohol problem getting worse and worse, until a miracle happens. Danny tells Jack of the dream he had of him getting into a car accident and Danny stops drinking. Although he stopped drinking Wendy wants to talk to Jack because she is feeling as though she wants a divorce, but she feels pressure because she knows that her mother dissapproved of the wedding in the first place so she would just be conforming to her mother's beliefs. However, she knows that she still loves Jack and definitely loves Danny, so shes being optimistic and hoping that the hotel job will be good for the family.
The next section is very short and ivolves Danny. Danny wakes up and looks at the clock to find out it is 2 a.m. He was awakened by the sound of a crazy drunken rage, and he looks around for Tony. Danny finds Tony outside at the bus stop and the repeated vision of REDRUM flashes before his eyes.
In the next scene the Torrances are driving through the mountains on their way to the Overlook Hotel. Wendy is nervous as she fears they will get stranded and she alludes to a story of a family who had to eat one another to stay alive after being stranded. They continue driving until Jack pulls over at a scenic outlook. Jack points up to the hotel and shows wendy and Wendy says that she thinks the hotel is beautiful. Jack agrees, however, Danny feels uneasy about this new place because he remembers that this is the place in which Tony had warned Danny about and he knew that this was the place where redrum was. They approach the hotel and go into it. Mr. Ullman greets the family, but is preoccupied with the large rush of the last inhabitants trying to check out. Danny looks around as Jack explains the hotel to the family, and Wendy and Jack act as they are loving eachother, but Danny feels very strange and scared of this place.
RESPONSE:
I'm not going to lie, I am a little bit creeped out by this book. It is not straight forward scary but it provides its tactics with the use of suspense and the unknown. The movie was not quite as scary because although I viewed all the scenes, I did not feel as though I was experiencing them myself. This book does a great job of pulling the reader into the story and feeling as though they are part of the Torrance family. It also probably does not help that I am reading this book at night time in my room, but who's complaining. I'm thrilled to see how the book portrays the real happenings of the Overlook Hotel compared to the film.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Reading The Shining By: Stephen King pgs 57-104
SUMMARY:
On page 57, the point of view is told from Danny's perception and he is five years old. He's singing nursery rhymes and thinking of Jack and Jill Nursery School in Stovington, Colorado. He knows his dad doesn't have the money for nursery school now, so he does what is best for his parents (A very mature decision for a 5 year old if you ask me hahah) We learn that although Danny is only five, he is very grown up for his age, for he always knows what's going on with his parents, and other things, but they don't really believe him. Danny understands his parent's relationship, but he doesn't quite understand all of the things that his mother is worrying about. However, the main thing that Danny is worried about is divorce because Danny believes it is when your parents fight over you. Danny then goes into detail explaining that he can't think too hard or else he escapes reality. Such as the time when his parens were fighting at breakfast and Danny remembers coming back to them asking him what was the matter. That is when Danny informs the reader of his invisible playmate who his parents named Tony. In this frenzie, Danny explains that he had been inside the mind of Jack and had seen the word suicide, but he does not know what that means.
After Danny's flashback he hears Jack thinking about Watson and the Overlook and knows he got the job.
After he here's the thoughts Danny realizes that he sees Toby now. Toby shows Danny the words Poison, no swimming. Danger!Live wires. This property condemned. After that Danny is in a room and in the mirror sees the words REDRUM. Danny is terrified and Tony brings Danny back just intime to greet his father Jack as he arrives. Later, Jack is taking Danny to the grocerie store when he has a flashback. He recalls his teaching job going well, and he is thinking of buying a house, but then he sees his student slashing his tires. After a fight, the school asks Jack to resign. After this fit Jack proceeds into going into a very long and in depth flashback of the times he used to drink. To spare the length it basically consists of Jack binge drinking and then driving home mutiple times, and a near death crash. The last pages of 103-104 then conclude Jack's flashback with his pride in himself for stopping his drinking. His flashback is ended as his friend Al Shockley answers the phone.
RESPONSE:
This book is a very fast read and inserts small words that add the effect of an eerie presence of something to come in the future. Danny's friend Toby acts as a harbinger and foreshadows events that are to come in the future. Danny seems so innocent and so he is the perfect fit for a child about to be lured into the darkness of a father and their stay at an isolated hotel. Stephen King has greatly attracted my attention, and the plot of this book to me is well done.
On page 57, the point of view is told from Danny's perception and he is five years old. He's singing nursery rhymes and thinking of Jack and Jill Nursery School in Stovington, Colorado. He knows his dad doesn't have the money for nursery school now, so he does what is best for his parents (A very mature decision for a 5 year old if you ask me hahah) We learn that although Danny is only five, he is very grown up for his age, for he always knows what's going on with his parents, and other things, but they don't really believe him. Danny understands his parent's relationship, but he doesn't quite understand all of the things that his mother is worrying about. However, the main thing that Danny is worried about is divorce because Danny believes it is when your parents fight over you. Danny then goes into detail explaining that he can't think too hard or else he escapes reality. Such as the time when his parens were fighting at breakfast and Danny remembers coming back to them asking him what was the matter. That is when Danny informs the reader of his invisible playmate who his parents named Tony. In this frenzie, Danny explains that he had been inside the mind of Jack and had seen the word suicide, but he does not know what that means.
After Danny's flashback he hears Jack thinking about Watson and the Overlook and knows he got the job.
After he here's the thoughts Danny realizes that he sees Toby now. Toby shows Danny the words Poison, no swimming. Danger!Live wires. This property condemned. After that Danny is in a room and in the mirror sees the words REDRUM. Danny is terrified and Tony brings Danny back just intime to greet his father Jack as he arrives. Later, Jack is taking Danny to the grocerie store when he has a flashback. He recalls his teaching job going well, and he is thinking of buying a house, but then he sees his student slashing his tires. After a fight, the school asks Jack to resign. After this fit Jack proceeds into going into a very long and in depth flashback of the times he used to drink. To spare the length it basically consists of Jack binge drinking and then driving home mutiple times, and a near death crash. The last pages of 103-104 then conclude Jack's flashback with his pride in himself for stopping his drinking. His flashback is ended as his friend Al Shockley answers the phone.
RESPONSE:
This book is a very fast read and inserts small words that add the effect of an eerie presence of something to come in the future. Danny's friend Toby acts as a harbinger and foreshadows events that are to come in the future. Danny seems so innocent and so he is the perfect fit for a child about to be lured into the darkness of a father and their stay at an isolated hotel. Stephen King has greatly attracted my attention, and the plot of this book to me is well done.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Reading The Shining By: Stephen King pgs 1-56
SUMMARY:
On page 1, the Shining begins with Jack Torrance being interviewed for the caretaker's job at the Overlook Hotel. The hotel will soon close for the winter, so they need someone to watch over it. The Overlook's manager, Ullman, is not positive Jack should be hired for the job. He informs Jack that he and his family will be by themselves at the hotel once the snow begins to fall because the closest town Sidewinder is forty miles away. Jack tells Ullman that he'll be working on his play so he won't suffer from cabin fever and that Wendy and Danny have loads to keep themselves occupied. Ullman then tells Jack that the previous caretaker had murdered his wife and children and then comitted suicide in a drunken rage. Jack overall ends up receiving the position.
Later, Jack's wife Wendy is watching her son Danny outside the window playing. She says a few comments of her thoughts and about Danny. Danny comes inside and asks why his dad got fired from his old job, and his mother replies that it was because he got into a fight with a student. Then the scene goes back to Jack as he is in the middle of a tour of the basement from an employee named Watson. Watson informs jack of the need to check the boiler's pressure, and then Watson proceeds on informing Jack on a bunch of scandals that have taken place at the Overlook hotel since it has been open. He says that an older women had committed suicide and a little bit later a woman claimed she saw the lady naked in the bath tub. Because of her ghost stories the employee was fired. Watson then tells Jack that a lot of older men have died here due to their relationships with younger women. Although Jack is supposed to be a retired drinker, he thinks that the best thing he could do right now is have a few drinks.
RESPONSE:
So far so good. I chose to read this book because I recently watched it on TV with my mom, and the overall story seemed to be pretty chilling and clever. There are a lot of minor details that I failed to put into the summary because I figured they were not necessary. I usually get bored by introductions to stories anyways so I believe that since I'm not bored yet that this book should be pretty interesting. The main character Jack appears to be pretty hot headed, and if the book is anything like the movie then I know what trouble that can cause later. I'm definitely excited to continue reading.
On page 1, the Shining begins with Jack Torrance being interviewed for the caretaker's job at the Overlook Hotel. The hotel will soon close for the winter, so they need someone to watch over it. The Overlook's manager, Ullman, is not positive Jack should be hired for the job. He informs Jack that he and his family will be by themselves at the hotel once the snow begins to fall because the closest town Sidewinder is forty miles away. Jack tells Ullman that he'll be working on his play so he won't suffer from cabin fever and that Wendy and Danny have loads to keep themselves occupied. Ullman then tells Jack that the previous caretaker had murdered his wife and children and then comitted suicide in a drunken rage. Jack overall ends up receiving the position.
Later, Jack's wife Wendy is watching her son Danny outside the window playing. She says a few comments of her thoughts and about Danny. Danny comes inside and asks why his dad got fired from his old job, and his mother replies that it was because he got into a fight with a student. Then the scene goes back to Jack as he is in the middle of a tour of the basement from an employee named Watson. Watson informs jack of the need to check the boiler's pressure, and then Watson proceeds on informing Jack on a bunch of scandals that have taken place at the Overlook hotel since it has been open. He says that an older women had committed suicide and a little bit later a woman claimed she saw the lady naked in the bath tub. Because of her ghost stories the employee was fired. Watson then tells Jack that a lot of older men have died here due to their relationships with younger women. Although Jack is supposed to be a retired drinker, he thinks that the best thing he could do right now is have a few drinks.
RESPONSE:
So far so good. I chose to read this book because I recently watched it on TV with my mom, and the overall story seemed to be pretty chilling and clever. There are a lot of minor details that I failed to put into the summary because I figured they were not necessary. I usually get bored by introductions to stories anyways so I believe that since I'm not bored yet that this book should be pretty interesting. The main character Jack appears to be pretty hot headed, and if the book is anything like the movie then I know what trouble that can cause later. I'm definitely excited to continue reading.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday Response: Online Poker's Big Winner
Poker is definitely a fun way to spend time with friends or relax, but when it comes to high stakes poker things become very stressful since large amounts of money are involved. However, online poker star Daniel Cates feels the exact opposite about the stakes. While playing four tables at a time of stakes of 30,000 or higher Daniel apologizes to reporter Christopher Morris saying that he "would be playing bigger, but it’s been a rough week.” Many people, including myself would be astounded to be playing for that kind of money. But Daniel Cates is different, he made his way into becoming a multimillionaire by sitting in front of a computer screen. I can relate to this story because although I have tried online poker and failed miserably, I do have two friends that play on their free time and win lots of money. One of my friends Devin Cassels, lives in PA and is currently a junior in college. He was salutatorian of his class, and went to Richmond University on a full ride Pole Vault/Academic scholarship. During his free time he plays online poker and wins sums of up to a few thousand dollars. But back to the article, Daniel Cates was practically an overnight sensation, for "within 18 months, Cates went from routinely losing at local $5 games to winning at the highest stakes of online poker for anywhere between $10,000 and $500,000 per night." This makes me want to pick up poker again and hopefully win a few bucks myself!
Tuesday Response
1) I found a lot of the interviews of the high school students to be very interesting. The question was "Where do you see your self in ten years?" I would most likely relate to the one student who wants to become a doctor, not because of a common life or anything but because we strive for the same goal. The most diluted I would take to be the student who wants to become a marijuana baker. Although his intentions are for those who are in need of medical marijuana, his business would not seem to be legal or practical nowadays.
If I were asked that same question my response would be a little confused. I say this because growing up I wanted to become successful, very generic. But as I get older, I see myself contemplating between taking part in the medical field as a doctor of some sort or trying to find my way in the business world. Business appears more fun to me, but it's a greater risk, while doctor seems boring and a lot of schooling; however, doctors have an income that is basically guaranteed. I'm sort of in a dilemma I guess.
If I were asked that same question my response would be a little confused. I say this because growing up I wanted to become successful, very generic. But as I get older, I see myself contemplating between taking part in the medical field as a doctor of some sort or trying to find my way in the business world. Business appears more fun to me, but it's a greater risk, while doctor seems boring and a lot of schooling; however, doctors have an income that is basically guaranteed. I'm sort of in a dilemma I guess.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Reading over the past quarter.
During this quarter of Etymology I have read a few different books. I read the Road by Cormac Mcarthy, This Boy's Life By: Toby Wolff, Odd Thomas By: Dean Koontz, and Think Smart By: Richard Restak. My favorite out of these books would have to be This Boy's Life. I enjoyed this book for the most part because it was comical and relatable to my life in many ways. I also enjoyed the fact that it made me laugh at sometimes by describing the events that Toby Wolff encountered as a teenager. I also enjoyed The Road, but it was dull in some parts so it did not totally entertain me. Think Smart was a different approach to my reading because it was purely an educational book rather than a story. I've definitely learned a lot this quarter and expanded my knowledge of writing and vocabulary.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Country boy Comparison
The film "Country Boys" successfully portrayed the life of two individuals Cody and Chris who had a hard time learning in run down counties. Both Cody and Chris had family problems, but the way in which they approached them was different. Cody had no father because he had died. But he didn't die of accident, he had murdered his mother and then committed suicide. Such an event had a big impact on Cody, but instead of having a pessimistic outlook on the world he turned to God to help boost his spirits. Chris on the other hand, also had family problems. His father drank way too much and was basically dead to the family but took up space. In response, Chris took on a fatherly role in the family and supported his sister while at the same time providing himself with a fiction role model. Also, Chris had a greater incline to learn that Cody.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Riddle: comment if you know the answer.
You will know that I am coming
From the jingle of my bell,
But exactly who I am is not an easy thing to tell.
Children, they adore me
for they find me jolly,
but I do not see them when the halls are decked with holly.
My job often leaves me frozen,
I am a man that all should know,
But I do not do business in times of sleet or ice or snow.
I travel much on business,
But no reindeer haul me around,
I do all my traveling firmly on the ground.
I love the time of Christmas,
But that's not my vocational season,
And I assure that is because of a sound economic reason.
From the jingle of my bell,
But exactly who I am is not an easy thing to tell.
Children, they adore me
for they find me jolly,
but I do not see them when the halls are decked with holly.
My job often leaves me frozen,
I am a man that all should know,
But I do not do business in times of sleet or ice or snow.
I travel much on business,
But no reindeer haul me around,
I do all my traveling firmly on the ground.
I love the time of Christmas,
But that's not my vocational season,
And I assure that is because of a sound economic reason.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Reading: Think Smart: By Richard Restak pages 179-216
Summary:
Page 179 is just a continuation from the part 5 section. the book continues discussing the brain and all the necessities for making sure your brain is healthy. This part basically serves as an overall sum of everything the book has talked about just in case one tends to forget things easily. Further research and experiments are described, including one about a research study formed in Boston. In which a professor asked students what the relationship from H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P had with one another. Only one student was able to answer it correctly (Thinking outside the box) that the sequence describes H to O, or H20 meaning water.
Continuing with the healthiness of the brain the book begins listing some supplementary products which are known to boost brain function. According to the book, fish oil taken in the form of a pill is not nearly as helpful for one's brain than if they ate normal fish. It says that when capsulated the ratio of the oils becomes disturbed so it is much better to just eat natural fish from the sea. Also, it incorporates a few handy puzzles such as a word search, soduku, and a crossword puzzle to test the limits of the brain. These puzzles take up the majority of the end of the book so as far as my summary goes it will have to be short because the book ends with puzzles so I can't really summarize those. However, I did do them and they were pretty fun.
Response:
I don't know why, but I find myself enjoying books in which I learn something and can apply my new knowledge to life. It's weird, I actually seem to be enjoying the realm of non fiction literature, for the sake of gaining knowledge. Shocking. This book makes me think of a new movie that just came out called Limitless with actor Bradley Cooper. In the film he takes a drug that opens up his entire brain for use, and he becomes a very wealthy successful man. I wish something like that truly did exist, but then again we all would be smart so I guess although the improvements would occur, our society would still be where it was today. I think I will continue with my pursuit of knowledge and begin a new book about Einstein next.
Page 179 is just a continuation from the part 5 section. the book continues discussing the brain and all the necessities for making sure your brain is healthy. This part basically serves as an overall sum of everything the book has talked about just in case one tends to forget things easily. Further research and experiments are described, including one about a research study formed in Boston. In which a professor asked students what the relationship from H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P had with one another. Only one student was able to answer it correctly (Thinking outside the box) that the sequence describes H to O, or H20 meaning water.
Continuing with the healthiness of the brain the book begins listing some supplementary products which are known to boost brain function. According to the book, fish oil taken in the form of a pill is not nearly as helpful for one's brain than if they ate normal fish. It says that when capsulated the ratio of the oils becomes disturbed so it is much better to just eat natural fish from the sea. Also, it incorporates a few handy puzzles such as a word search, soduku, and a crossword puzzle to test the limits of the brain. These puzzles take up the majority of the end of the book so as far as my summary goes it will have to be short because the book ends with puzzles so I can't really summarize those. However, I did do them and they were pretty fun.
Response:
I don't know why, but I find myself enjoying books in which I learn something and can apply my new knowledge to life. It's weird, I actually seem to be enjoying the realm of non fiction literature, for the sake of gaining knowledge. Shocking. This book makes me think of a new movie that just came out called Limitless with actor Bradley Cooper. In the film he takes a drug that opens up his entire brain for use, and he becomes a very wealthy successful man. I wish something like that truly did exist, but then again we all would be smart so I guess although the improvements would occur, our society would still be where it was today. I think I will continue with my pursuit of knowledge and begin a new book about Einstein next.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Reading Timeline
I just viewed the reading time line, and it brought me back to the good old days. I remember being a kid and looking at the covers of the books and being mesmerized by them. I particularly recollect books like The Polar Express and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Sitting here now as a 17 year old, I can still remember my dad or mom reading these two books to me when I would be in bed. Its quite an interesting feeling.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Reading: Think Smart: By: Richard Restak pages 151-178
Summary:
In part five Restak talks about fashioning the creative brain. It begins by telling the reader that if they follow all the steps in the previous sections then you should see overall improvements in your brain's performance. The working memory will be strengthened, attention span increased, spelling and vocabulary improved, and visualization skills will be increased. Restak begins talking about sleep. Sleep is incredible for what it does for the brain. In a test conducted at Harvard university, those who learned some vocabulary words and then slept recalled 3 times as many words as those who did not sleep. This is because sleep enhances creative associations between the words on the memorized list, therefore, making connections. Dreams alone are not necessary though for memory because just sleep alone can help memory. This process takes place during REM or when we are dreaming, for during this time the brain is very active and weak associations are strengthened.
Kenneth Heilman a professor of neurology at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville says that creativity comes from the frontal lobes of the brain. They are critical for divergent thinking. Along with the frontal lobes creativity lies heavily in the right hemisphere of the brain. Creativity involves a shift from the problem solving left side of the brain to the right side. This shift causes those moments of Aha!
One of the greatest attributes of the brain, but yet the hardest for most people to master is visual thinking. Picturing things in our minds can be very hard, but require complete concentration. Many of the great discoveries of our time have come from the ability to visualize. In fact, most scientists, artists, and inventors speak often of an image that inspired them instead of pure creation. Albert Einstein developed his theory of relativity by imagining how the movement of a person in one train would appear to an observer located in a second train running parallel to the first. Restak then gives the four steps to increase creativity. First, focus on the problem for as long as you need to understand it, the mentally put it into words your implicit assumptions. Third, Make certain that you understand what you must do to reach a resolution. And Finally, ask yourself "In what other ways can I envision this problem.
Response:
I found that this section was a little confusing to me. I'm definitely more of a left side brain thinker so I enjoy math and sciences, but when it comes to creativity I'm not too bad but I'm not great. This section had a few short creative brain puzzles in which I found myself over analyzing the problems and directions only to find out that the solutions were fairly simple. I also thought that the steps for increasing creativity were not very helpful because they were all very vague. However, although I didn't do very well on the problems I found them to be entertaining. I also found the sleep thing to be very interesting because this section was filled with accounts of scientists and students who made important discoveries and connections while dreaming.
In part five Restak talks about fashioning the creative brain. It begins by telling the reader that if they follow all the steps in the previous sections then you should see overall improvements in your brain's performance. The working memory will be strengthened, attention span increased, spelling and vocabulary improved, and visualization skills will be increased. Restak begins talking about sleep. Sleep is incredible for what it does for the brain. In a test conducted at Harvard university, those who learned some vocabulary words and then slept recalled 3 times as many words as those who did not sleep. This is because sleep enhances creative associations between the words on the memorized list, therefore, making connections. Dreams alone are not necessary though for memory because just sleep alone can help memory. This process takes place during REM or when we are dreaming, for during this time the brain is very active and weak associations are strengthened.
Kenneth Heilman a professor of neurology at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville says that creativity comes from the frontal lobes of the brain. They are critical for divergent thinking. Along with the frontal lobes creativity lies heavily in the right hemisphere of the brain. Creativity involves a shift from the problem solving left side of the brain to the right side. This shift causes those moments of Aha!
One of the greatest attributes of the brain, but yet the hardest for most people to master is visual thinking. Picturing things in our minds can be very hard, but require complete concentration. Many of the great discoveries of our time have come from the ability to visualize. In fact, most scientists, artists, and inventors speak often of an image that inspired them instead of pure creation. Albert Einstein developed his theory of relativity by imagining how the movement of a person in one train would appear to an observer located in a second train running parallel to the first. Restak then gives the four steps to increase creativity. First, focus on the problem for as long as you need to understand it, the mentally put it into words your implicit assumptions. Third, Make certain that you understand what you must do to reach a resolution. And Finally, ask yourself "In what other ways can I envision this problem.
Response:
I found that this section was a little confusing to me. I'm definitely more of a left side brain thinker so I enjoy math and sciences, but when it comes to creativity I'm not too bad but I'm not great. This section had a few short creative brain puzzles in which I found myself over analyzing the problems and directions only to find out that the solutions were fairly simple. I also thought that the steps for increasing creativity were not very helpful because they were all very vague. However, although I didn't do very well on the problems I found them to be entertaining. I also found the sleep thing to be very interesting because this section was filled with accounts of scientists and students who made important discoveries and connections while dreaming.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Reading: Think Smart: By Richard Restak pages 116-150
In part 4, Richard Restak explains how one can use technology to achieve a more powerful brain. Although many parents say, "Video games are a waste of time and make you dumber," video games actually increase your brain activity through focus and motor speed. The effect induced by regular video gaming can be compared to what occurs in the brain of a concert pianist. The best example of video game applications are flight simulators, for they overall improve your abilities of actually flying an aircraft. In a study conducted at Bavalier University, it reported that those who played video games had an 80 percent accuracy rate of speed sight recording while those who did not had a 30 percent accuracy.
Next, the author goes into video games and the mature brain rather than the mind of youths and young adults. In adults astonishing numbers of brain enhancement have been found through the use of video games. In recent polls, it is noted that those that play video games over 40 are actually playing games for longer sessions than those of younger ages. Video games actually help with a faster processing speed. However, video games aren't the only source for brain improvement because they are found to be easily addicting. Also, it depends on what kind of games you are playing, action games help with speedy determination, while other games like Grand Theft Auto prove to be negative impacts.
Another from of enhancement is brain gyms. Brain gyms can be referred to as any puzzle, riddle, illusion, exc. that requires the individual to produce deep thought for an answer. Riddles especially are beneficent for brain function because the answer is specific, but the brain shoots off on a hunt of many tangents to find possible answers. Through research it is found that individuals who interact themselves with brain puzzles daily or weekly develop much faster speed interpretation and overall intelligence. For instance, A crossword a day could greatly help the brain, and even in the long run help prevent disease.
Response:
I must say that this book is pretty awesome. I have learned a plethora of new facts that I can use for essays or even conversations. I am one of the few minority that does not play video games. I used to play them all the time during my sophomore year, but recently in the Summer I realized how much time I spent in the artificial world versus the real world and decided I was missing out on valuable free time. I don't regret my decision because now I am receiving much higher grades and have more time to do other activities. However this research on video game brain enhancement has interested me in noticing things about those who do play video games. I used to have a friend back in Pennsylvania that would play video games 24/7. He was my neighbor and I'll admit he was very good at "powning noobs" as he called it. My friend was plain out terrible in school and basically flunked every class, however, in science we did a reaction time test and his speed was far beyond any other class mates. So I guess video games does have its ups and downs.
Next, the author goes into video games and the mature brain rather than the mind of youths and young adults. In adults astonishing numbers of brain enhancement have been found through the use of video games. In recent polls, it is noted that those that play video games over 40 are actually playing games for longer sessions than those of younger ages. Video games actually help with a faster processing speed. However, video games aren't the only source for brain improvement because they are found to be easily addicting. Also, it depends on what kind of games you are playing, action games help with speedy determination, while other games like Grand Theft Auto prove to be negative impacts.
Another from of enhancement is brain gyms. Brain gyms can be referred to as any puzzle, riddle, illusion, exc. that requires the individual to produce deep thought for an answer. Riddles especially are beneficent for brain function because the answer is specific, but the brain shoots off on a hunt of many tangents to find possible answers. Through research it is found that individuals who interact themselves with brain puzzles daily or weekly develop much faster speed interpretation and overall intelligence. For instance, A crossword a day could greatly help the brain, and even in the long run help prevent disease.
Response:
I must say that this book is pretty awesome. I have learned a plethora of new facts that I can use for essays or even conversations. I am one of the few minority that does not play video games. I used to play them all the time during my sophomore year, but recently in the Summer I realized how much time I spent in the artificial world versus the real world and decided I was missing out on valuable free time. I don't regret my decision because now I am receiving much higher grades and have more time to do other activities. However this research on video game brain enhancement has interested me in noticing things about those who do play video games. I used to have a friend back in Pennsylvania that would play video games 24/7. He was my neighbor and I'll admit he was very good at "powning noobs" as he called it. My friend was plain out terrible in school and basically flunked every class, however, in science we did a reaction time test and his speed was far beyond any other class mates. So I guess video games does have its ups and downs.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Reading: Think Smart: By Richard Restak pages 78-116
In the second section of Part 3, Richard describes the Intelligence Conundrum. It is now believed that we can improve our intelligence based on our own efforts. Before, people believed that no matter how hard you try, you have a certain boundary for intelligence, but in recent times, it is now believed that intelligence can increase with hard work. Estimating a person's intelligence is usually done by their performance on an IQ test. However, we have been conditioned to believe that intelligence is based on IQ tests, IQ is genetically determined, and minor gains can be made to increase IQ. Yet none of these assumptions are true, according to James R. Flynn.
The author at first disagreed with his findings at first because he knows of people and like himself who excell in class while putting minimal effort into it. He then told the story of a person in his medical class who surpassed the works of all his peers, but claimed to not do anything to prepare. But in reality, he spent hours studying at his girl friends house. The author then goes into the details of how twins provide a complex sense to test intelligence. Identical twins tend to have fairly similar IQ's. The basis of Flynn's research explains that the environment will always be the principle determinant of whether or not a particular genetic predisposition gets fully expressed. This concept applies to all concepts of the brain.
Intelligence is composed of many compartments. Mental Acuity is our fluid intelligence which occurs when we are given problems or circumstances in which we have no prior knowledge to, but preform what we can. Knowledge and information or crystallized intelligence is the form in which we respond by recalling what we have already learned or practiced. Memory helps for new information isn't helpful unless it can be recalled later. Curiosity is important because the more curious we are the more we learn. A big factor is our speed of information processing, the time it takes for one to process information. Finally, the ability to think abstract. A chair and a table are not related because they have four legs, but because they are both pieces of furniture. However, once again the environment plays a key role in success, for even though one may be intelligent, their hard work and opportunities may provide them with the assets to be more successful. Also, the failure of memory can be attributed with the principles of distraction and failure to register what is going on during the original experience.
Response:
I found this section to be the most informational than all the other sections. Not only was it informative, but it was also entertaining. I agree with a lot of the things Restak is saying, such as the environment playing a factor in how intelligent a person develops. Those who are sheltered or in harmful conditions can not prosper as much as those that are provided with their learning necessities. Furthermore, I have always wanted to take an intelligence test so this section was perfect for me.
The author at first disagreed with his findings at first because he knows of people and like himself who excell in class while putting minimal effort into it. He then told the story of a person in his medical class who surpassed the works of all his peers, but claimed to not do anything to prepare. But in reality, he spent hours studying at his girl friends house. The author then goes into the details of how twins provide a complex sense to test intelligence. Identical twins tend to have fairly similar IQ's. The basis of Flynn's research explains that the environment will always be the principle determinant of whether or not a particular genetic predisposition gets fully expressed. This concept applies to all concepts of the brain.
Intelligence is composed of many compartments. Mental Acuity is our fluid intelligence which occurs when we are given problems or circumstances in which we have no prior knowledge to, but preform what we can. Knowledge and information or crystallized intelligence is the form in which we respond by recalling what we have already learned or practiced. Memory helps for new information isn't helpful unless it can be recalled later. Curiosity is important because the more curious we are the more we learn. A big factor is our speed of information processing, the time it takes for one to process information. Finally, the ability to think abstract. A chair and a table are not related because they have four legs, but because they are both pieces of furniture. However, once again the environment plays a key role in success, for even though one may be intelligent, their hard work and opportunities may provide them with the assets to be more successful. Also, the failure of memory can be attributed with the principles of distraction and failure to register what is going on during the original experience.
Response:
I found this section to be the most informational than all the other sections. Not only was it informative, but it was also entertaining. I agree with a lot of the things Restak is saying, such as the environment playing a factor in how intelligent a person develops. Those who are sheltered or in harmful conditions can not prosper as much as those that are provided with their learning necessities. Furthermore, I have always wanted to take an intelligence test so this section was perfect for me.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Reading: Think Smart: By Ricard Restak pages 50-78
Summary:
In part three is by far the longest section. This section focuses on Specific steps for enhancing your brains performance.It begins by giving a brief over view of the two previous sections, and continues into saying that in order to improve performance of the brain, the main thing one needs in Attention. It then goes into a brief story of a Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami who was a couch potato, but with attention and determination, turned himself to running marathons. After the brief short story, the author portrays that memory is simply a natural extension of attention. If you attend to something then you increase your chances of remembering it. It's a fairly simple concept. If you like it then you will remember it. Restak then states that we learn things based on past experiences. Our past illustrates who we are today and what we know. In essence, we create who we are.
There are three types of memory, sensory memory, long-term memory, and working memory. Our sensory memory is the brain's initial recording of physical sensations as they impose on our sense organs. Example, things we see, hear, smell exc. Our long-term memory refers to the memories that become a permanent part of us: friends, names, work, basic facts about culture. Long-term memory has the ability to be strengthened by practice. Also, we can never exceed the capacity our brain has for our long-term memory. Our third, working memory, is known as our short-term memory. It involves the most important mental operations performed by the hhuman brain which is storing information briefly and manipulating it. An example would be crammin for a test the night before. Working memory and Long-term memory differs importantly, for your working memory corresponds to something you need right now, while the long-term memory affects you for a while.
Reaction:
This part of section three was also very insightful, however, it was not fully necessary. I feel that it is common sense to know that long term memory affects us long terms, while short term is temporarily. Consequently, I never really thought about how much our past has an effect on us today. We are shaped on our past and that is what makes us who we are. Once again, it is sort of common sense, but I have never devoted much thought into it so I thought it provided an interesting spin on myself. I'm going to continue reading and maybe even become smarter.
In part three is by far the longest section. This section focuses on Specific steps for enhancing your brains performance.It begins by giving a brief over view of the two previous sections, and continues into saying that in order to improve performance of the brain, the main thing one needs in Attention. It then goes into a brief story of a Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami who was a couch potato, but with attention and determination, turned himself to running marathons. After the brief short story, the author portrays that memory is simply a natural extension of attention. If you attend to something then you increase your chances of remembering it. It's a fairly simple concept. If you like it then you will remember it. Restak then states that we learn things based on past experiences. Our past illustrates who we are today and what we know. In essence, we create who we are.
There are three types of memory, sensory memory, long-term memory, and working memory. Our sensory memory is the brain's initial recording of physical sensations as they impose on our sense organs. Example, things we see, hear, smell exc. Our long-term memory refers to the memories that become a permanent part of us: friends, names, work, basic facts about culture. Long-term memory has the ability to be strengthened by practice. Also, we can never exceed the capacity our brain has for our long-term memory. Our third, working memory, is known as our short-term memory. It involves the most important mental operations performed by the hhuman brain which is storing information briefly and manipulating it. An example would be crammin for a test the night before. Working memory and Long-term memory differs importantly, for your working memory corresponds to something you need right now, while the long-term memory affects you for a while.
Reaction:
This part of section three was also very insightful, however, it was not fully necessary. I feel that it is common sense to know that long term memory affects us long terms, while short term is temporarily. Consequently, I never really thought about how much our past has an effect on us today. We are shaped on our past and that is what makes us who we are. Once again, it is sort of common sense, but I have never devoted much thought into it so I thought it provided an interesting spin on myself. I'm going to continue reading and maybe even become smarter.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Reading: Think Smart: By Richard Restak pagges 1-50
Summary:
The book Think Smart is a non fiction account on how to improve our brain's function written by Doctor Richard Restak. The book is written in five parts, and has a total length of just over 200 pages. The first part is all about discovering the brain. The first page begins with the question, "What should I do to keep my brain working at its best?" Then the book adventures into all the background information on the doctor and how he frequently is asked that question and then explains how he conducted this book by a means of gathering all the useful information gathered by others and his own studies. Next, the book explains how far science over the brain has come at such a fast pace. It explains that fMRI images detect the changes in blood flow within active parts of the brain. Thanks to those images we know that the brain never wears out , and it gets better the more we use it. The author then goes into explaining how our brains differ from one another by using an analogy of a pianist will have a greater activation in the motor cortex while a taxi driver will have more activity in his hippocampus, the region sense and direction occur in.
The author then begins to give background on the brain and explains that basically, we are all born with almost all the neurons we will ever have. This growth period occurs between the 3 to 6 months of life. However, contradictory to what we would believe, as we progress in life into adulthood the brain's performance increases its efficiency while having fewer neurons. This is the only organ that appears to work better with less parts, to a certain degree. The process in which the brain eliminates neurons to form a greater rate of synapses is called Pruning. The more intelligent we are, and the more we use our brain, the greater the rate of connections with other neuron cells the brain will have. However, if we go through periods where we do not use certain parts of the brain we will lose some of our abilities. Overall, the brain mainly grows and develops as we do, but adapts to its surroundings.
In Part Two, Care and Feeding of the Brain is what is specified. In the beginning Richard Restak alludes to all the other diet books saying if you do this you will become skinnier and so on. So he felt that a brain diet was necessary. He says that 65 years of animal research has confirmed that caloric restrictions slows the onset of degenerative diseases associated with loss of brain function. The healthier you eat, the healthier your brain. Many people don't know, but obesity is linked with a loss of brain function. 2/3 of the United States is overweight, and diets high in saturated fats correspond directly to a loss in memory ability. Such a loss can be greatly due to all the toxins in the fast foods. The chief villain of the brain with foods is processed fats. Basically, what's good for the brain is good for the heart. A healthy diet for the brain is essentially a healthy diet for the body consisting of vegetables, fruits, and low fat substances. Alcohol is generally bad for the brain, but red wine has been proven to stimulate the brain's function due to the fact that the skins of the grape contains resveratrol. Not only does a healthy brain diet help the brain, but it can help prevent disease, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Reaction:
This is a very interesting book for a new read. For the past couple months I have been reading non fictional accounts of stories and literary fiction, but now I have moved on to a non fiction medical studies book and I am enjoying it. I feel as though unlike just learning a story I am learning many facts and ways of living that will increase my knowledge and health. The author is very informative, and even lists studies done to hellp solidify the information he is presenting. Usually books like this is something I'd have to read for a class, but since I'm reading this on my own I'm actually enjoying it, and I hope I continue to learn a lot more about the puzzling human brain.
The book Think Smart is a non fiction account on how to improve our brain's function written by Doctor Richard Restak. The book is written in five parts, and has a total length of just over 200 pages. The first part is all about discovering the brain. The first page begins with the question, "What should I do to keep my brain working at its best?" Then the book adventures into all the background information on the doctor and how he frequently is asked that question and then explains how he conducted this book by a means of gathering all the useful information gathered by others and his own studies. Next, the book explains how far science over the brain has come at such a fast pace. It explains that fMRI images detect the changes in blood flow within active parts of the brain. Thanks to those images we know that the brain never wears out , and it gets better the more we use it. The author then goes into explaining how our brains differ from one another by using an analogy of a pianist will have a greater activation in the motor cortex while a taxi driver will have more activity in his hippocampus, the region sense and direction occur in.
The author then begins to give background on the brain and explains that basically, we are all born with almost all the neurons we will ever have. This growth period occurs between the 3 to 6 months of life. However, contradictory to what we would believe, as we progress in life into adulthood the brain's performance increases its efficiency while having fewer neurons. This is the only organ that appears to work better with less parts, to a certain degree. The process in which the brain eliminates neurons to form a greater rate of synapses is called Pruning. The more intelligent we are, and the more we use our brain, the greater the rate of connections with other neuron cells the brain will have. However, if we go through periods where we do not use certain parts of the brain we will lose some of our abilities. Overall, the brain mainly grows and develops as we do, but adapts to its surroundings.
In Part Two, Care and Feeding of the Brain is what is specified. In the beginning Richard Restak alludes to all the other diet books saying if you do this you will become skinnier and so on. So he felt that a brain diet was necessary. He says that 65 years of animal research has confirmed that caloric restrictions slows the onset of degenerative diseases associated with loss of brain function. The healthier you eat, the healthier your brain. Many people don't know, but obesity is linked with a loss of brain function. 2/3 of the United States is overweight, and diets high in saturated fats correspond directly to a loss in memory ability. Such a loss can be greatly due to all the toxins in the fast foods. The chief villain of the brain with foods is processed fats. Basically, what's good for the brain is good for the heart. A healthy diet for the brain is essentially a healthy diet for the body consisting of vegetables, fruits, and low fat substances. Alcohol is generally bad for the brain, but red wine has been proven to stimulate the brain's function due to the fact that the skins of the grape contains resveratrol. Not only does a healthy brain diet help the brain, but it can help prevent disease, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Reaction:
This is a very interesting book for a new read. For the past couple months I have been reading non fictional accounts of stories and literary fiction, but now I have moved on to a non fiction medical studies book and I am enjoying it. I feel as though unlike just learning a story I am learning many facts and ways of living that will increase my knowledge and health. The author is very informative, and even lists studies done to hellp solidify the information he is presenting. Usually books like this is something I'd have to read for a class, but since I'm reading this on my own I'm actually enjoying it, and I hope I continue to learn a lot more about the puzzling human brain.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Readings I have enjoyed lately (Other than for this class)
1) The Rime of the ancient Mariner
2) Frankenstein
3) Think Smart-Increase brain function
4) Scar Tissue
2) Frankenstein
3) Think Smart-Increase brain function
4) Scar Tissue
Monday, March 7, 2011
SpellBound Comparison
The movie Spellbound is a documentary account of children who are preparing and participating in the national spelling bee. Two characters in particular Neil and Ted have very different circumstances which affect their behavior at the competition. Ted is very relaxed and comfortable when spelling because he has no pressure of others, but lacks the amount of studying time that Neil had. Neil had so much studying due to the fact that his father had pushed him so hard to be ready for the competition, while Ted relied on his basic studying tactics without the help of others. Also, Neil had much more to bare since his grandfather in India had promised to pay people if he won the tournament. Overall, due to constant stress and fear of upsetting his father, Neil had a much more upright child-like appearance when spelling his words while Ted had a slouched stature with a monotone voice while spelling.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Spring Break
Only 27 more days until I'm relaxing on the beach in Siesta Key, Florida. (And not blogging!)
Friday, March 4, 2011
Reading Odd Thomas; By: Dean Koontz pages 31-65
SUMMARY:
On page 31, Odd Thomas finishes up some background information and begins telling his odd tale. He states that it all happened on the hot Summer day of July 14th, 1972. He starts off by describing his entire day and what he had done. Starting with his constant daily routine of waking up to the same sound of his alarm at 5 o'clock in the morning. He says that that day felt like every other day, and he continued his routine of going into his jack and jill bathroom, which he shared with the guest bedroom which was unoccupied, and began taking a shower. He notes that most of the substances like soap and shampoo were practically empty, but he made use of them as best he could. After his shower he got dressed in his diner uniform and put on his Slaton Diner cap, and went out on his daily stroll to work.
Thomas claims that it takes him approximately 15 minutes to get from his house to the diner. Every morning he arrives at the diner in time to work his breakfast shift and cook food for any inhabitants of Slaton or tourists. Thomas goes off on a tangent here, however, and on his daily walk he explains his thoughts and why people found him to be odd. As it turns out, Odd Thomas was actually a genius, but his distraught view on humanity and social acceptance makes him feel the need to shelter himself in a small environment rather than carry on to a professional career. Thomas explains that in high school he flunked all his classes due to lack of commitment, but on the standardize tests he received a 36 on the ACT, and a 2370 on the SAT. However, although colleges sent him mail he refused to apply anywhere.
Thomas makes it to the diner and goes in and puts on his apron to begin his shift. He starts frying eggs and sausage and ham for the early birds of the diner. The smell of grease and polyester seats fills the air as he continues his daily grind. He describes how the over joyful elderly people try to engage in conversation with him, but he slyly avoids their seemingly "hours" of when I was younger chat. the hours roll by and its about noon time when Thomas notices something peculiar. Thomas is making a BLT for a tourist from Alabama when he notices that a man in a blue wool trench coat with a rimmed hat has been sitting at a table sipping his cup of coffee and glancing at Thomas for the past 2 hours of so. Thomas is under the feeling that he is being watched by this shady figure, but continues working behind the counter. Finally, Thomas' shift is over and he takes his apron off and departs out to begin his walk tot he junkyard. However, as he leaves he notices the man get out of the booth and go to his 1970 Ford Torino. Nervous, Thomas begins walking down the road, but feels relieved when the man turns the opposite direction out of diner. Thomas tells the reader that he had a strange feeling about this man, but at the time had labeled the occurrence as a coincidence. Thomas then continues walking to the junkyard.
REACTION:
This book has gotten better. In a way it builds up suspense in the dinner which is what I enjoy the most when I am reading a book. However, a will admit that the plot is sort of slow, and details seem to be a main thing that Dean Koontz enjoys putting in his books because it appears that they are a little too discriptive. Overall, I'm going to give this book a try, but I may have to put it away if it continues so slow.
On page 31, Odd Thomas finishes up some background information and begins telling his odd tale. He states that it all happened on the hot Summer day of July 14th, 1972. He starts off by describing his entire day and what he had done. Starting with his constant daily routine of waking up to the same sound of his alarm at 5 o'clock in the morning. He says that that day felt like every other day, and he continued his routine of going into his jack and jill bathroom, which he shared with the guest bedroom which was unoccupied, and began taking a shower. He notes that most of the substances like soap and shampoo were practically empty, but he made use of them as best he could. After his shower he got dressed in his diner uniform and put on his Slaton Diner cap, and went out on his daily stroll to work.
Thomas claims that it takes him approximately 15 minutes to get from his house to the diner. Every morning he arrives at the diner in time to work his breakfast shift and cook food for any inhabitants of Slaton or tourists. Thomas goes off on a tangent here, however, and on his daily walk he explains his thoughts and why people found him to be odd. As it turns out, Odd Thomas was actually a genius, but his distraught view on humanity and social acceptance makes him feel the need to shelter himself in a small environment rather than carry on to a professional career. Thomas explains that in high school he flunked all his classes due to lack of commitment, but on the standardize tests he received a 36 on the ACT, and a 2370 on the SAT. However, although colleges sent him mail he refused to apply anywhere.
Thomas makes it to the diner and goes in and puts on his apron to begin his shift. He starts frying eggs and sausage and ham for the early birds of the diner. The smell of grease and polyester seats fills the air as he continues his daily grind. He describes how the over joyful elderly people try to engage in conversation with him, but he slyly avoids their seemingly "hours" of when I was younger chat. the hours roll by and its about noon time when Thomas notices something peculiar. Thomas is making a BLT for a tourist from Alabama when he notices that a man in a blue wool trench coat with a rimmed hat has been sitting at a table sipping his cup of coffee and glancing at Thomas for the past 2 hours of so. Thomas is under the feeling that he is being watched by this shady figure, but continues working behind the counter. Finally, Thomas' shift is over and he takes his apron off and departs out to begin his walk tot he junkyard. However, as he leaves he notices the man get out of the booth and go to his 1970 Ford Torino. Nervous, Thomas begins walking down the road, but feels relieved when the man turns the opposite direction out of diner. Thomas tells the reader that he had a strange feeling about this man, but at the time had labeled the occurrence as a coincidence. Thomas then continues walking to the junkyard.
REACTION:
This book has gotten better. In a way it builds up suspense in the dinner which is what I enjoy the most when I am reading a book. However, a will admit that the plot is sort of slow, and details seem to be a main thing that Dean Koontz enjoys putting in his books because it appears that they are a little too discriptive. Overall, I'm going to give this book a try, but I may have to put it away if it continues so slow.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Reading Odd Thomas, By: Dean Koontz 1-30
Summary:
On page one, the reader is plunged into the world of Odd Thomas as he explains himself saying that he is not a celebrity nor any one famous. He is in fact quite average. He then goes into detail describing his siblings and all of their nicknames, but insists that he is not interested in their affairs. He then, being odd, informs that reader that he is not a murderer and has done nothing evil. The story reads like a narrator telling his story. Tomas begins going through his day explaining that he will get to tell his story in good time. Here, the reader is introduced to his grandmother Pearl Sugars, his god bargaining relative who believed more in reconciliation than anyone he had known.
Odd Thomas is a non fiction account of a story that takes place in the 1970's and depicts the life a a small town man who is referred to as Odd Thomas. Dean Koontz goes out of his normal fiction world to interview and write a book about this man who had an occurrence that although seems unreal is true. Anyways, Odd then goes around and explains to reader his dis functional family. His mother who was always gone on "business" trips, his father who had been long gone since the age of 4, and his brothers who were swindling con artist and sold "real" genuine luxuries in their car. Odd Thomas was apparently normal in his family, but to the rest of the world he was strange.
Thomas woke up every morning at 5 oclock to work his daily shift down at the local diner where he cooked food for mainly tourist in the small town of Slaton, TX. Slaton is a very small town and at the time of the book it had an est. population of 1,300. In other words, every one knows everyone. Thomas didn't talk much to other people and he wasn't very attractive so his love life was non existent as well. After his shift at the dinner, Thomas would go the local dump to try to assemble parts for his "creation" as he calls it together. Little detail is said about this so I'm hoping this is explained further in the book. After the junkyard, Thomas goes out to Sal's Saloon to liquor up so he can go home and pass out all his troubles away. On page 30, Thomas finishes up his description of his daily routines and explains that one day something changed his whole world.
Response:
This book is....slow. I was surprised that after reading 30 pages I had learned nothing about the actual plot of the book and learned enough background info to write a biography on a man I've never met. Furthermore, this non fictional story sounds like the build up to a science fiction novel in which the good guy is swept away buy aliens. But who knows, this book could go a complete different direction and end up pleasing me. I must say I do like the narrative approach to the story because it makes me feel anxious for the tale that is going to be told. I'm nervously optimistic for this book.
On page one, the reader is plunged into the world of Odd Thomas as he explains himself saying that he is not a celebrity nor any one famous. He is in fact quite average. He then goes into detail describing his siblings and all of their nicknames, but insists that he is not interested in their affairs. He then, being odd, informs that reader that he is not a murderer and has done nothing evil. The story reads like a narrator telling his story. Tomas begins going through his day explaining that he will get to tell his story in good time. Here, the reader is introduced to his grandmother Pearl Sugars, his god bargaining relative who believed more in reconciliation than anyone he had known.
Odd Thomas is a non fiction account of a story that takes place in the 1970's and depicts the life a a small town man who is referred to as Odd Thomas. Dean Koontz goes out of his normal fiction world to interview and write a book about this man who had an occurrence that although seems unreal is true. Anyways, Odd then goes around and explains to reader his dis functional family. His mother who was always gone on "business" trips, his father who had been long gone since the age of 4, and his brothers who were swindling con artist and sold "real" genuine luxuries in their car. Odd Thomas was apparently normal in his family, but to the rest of the world he was strange.
Thomas woke up every morning at 5 oclock to work his daily shift down at the local diner where he cooked food for mainly tourist in the small town of Slaton, TX. Slaton is a very small town and at the time of the book it had an est. population of 1,300. In other words, every one knows everyone. Thomas didn't talk much to other people and he wasn't very attractive so his love life was non existent as well. After his shift at the dinner, Thomas would go the local dump to try to assemble parts for his "creation" as he calls it together. Little detail is said about this so I'm hoping this is explained further in the book. After the junkyard, Thomas goes out to Sal's Saloon to liquor up so he can go home and pass out all his troubles away. On page 30, Thomas finishes up his description of his daily routines and explains that one day something changed his whole world.
Response:
This book is....slow. I was surprised that after reading 30 pages I had learned nothing about the actual plot of the book and learned enough background info to write a biography on a man I've never met. Furthermore, this non fictional story sounds like the build up to a science fiction novel in which the good guy is swept away buy aliens. But who knows, this book could go a complete different direction and end up pleasing me. I must say I do like the narrative approach to the story because it makes me feel anxious for the tale that is going to be told. I'm nervously optimistic for this book.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
3.1 Diction Exercise
"Keeping Things Whole"
By: Mark Strand
a) absence, missing, fill, part, whole, spaces, been, keep
b) Sound: Fluidity, Constant
Concreteness: Ghostly, transparent
In Mark Strand's "Keeping Things Whole", his fluid pessimistic outlook combined with the ghostly depictions of himself portrays the narrator's constant distress on his acceptance in a harsh world.
By: Mark Strand
a) absence, missing, fill, part, whole, spaces, been, keep
b) Sound: Fluidity, Constant
Concreteness: Ghostly, transparent
In Mark Strand's "Keeping Things Whole", his fluid pessimistic outlook combined with the ghostly depictions of himself portrays the narrator's constant distress on his acceptance in a harsh world.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I Need A Job
For the past couple of weeks I have been trying to find a job, however, I have had no success. I have put in applications, but no place has called me yet for work. Yesterday I stopped at Eddie Merlot and Aboite Steak and Seafood Grill and picked up applications. I'm hoping that I get a job at Eddie Merlots because it's nice and pays more than minimum wage. It would be nice to receive a job at Aboite Steak and Seafood Grill also because it is less than 1 minute away from my house so I would save money on gas. Either way, I need money.
2.23 Diction Exercise
A Farewell to Arms
a) bed, swiftly, powdered, rich, flashes, channels, boulders, stirred, plain
b)
b)
- Level of Diction: Down to earth, hoi polloi like language
- Concreteness: solid, image provoking
- Music: non musical, dry of melody
- Connotation: Contradiction between war and nature, mood for war, comparative
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Reading: This Boy's Life; pages 281-302 (End), By Tobias Wolff
SUMMARY:
On page 302, Toby learns that the Welch's end up requesting that Toby not work on their farm which is far worse for Toby than actually working on it. Things end up getting even worse a few weeks later when the sheriff arrived at the Bolger's door telling them that Chuck may be charged with rape. Chuck learns that a girl, Tina, was pregnant with his child and that if he doesn't marry her that her father will charge him and he will go to jail. Although Chuck is afraid of jail he never gives in to the idea of marrying her because he envisions a much happier future for himself. Luck goes Chuck's way as the sheriff comes to the Bolgers to inform them that a friend of his will be marrying Tina. Chuck rejoices and hugs Toby as if they were friends.
In Toby's life things start to turn out for the better as well when he gets a call from Mr. Howard informing him that he had won the scholarship for Hill prep school. Toby was happy to be leaving and Mr. Howard told Toby that he would like to take him to his tailor to get him outfits for school. Toby concurred and was excited to start his new school. Before this could happen, however, Chuck had to drive Toby to Seattle to meet up with his dad and Geoffrey for the summer. Toby had a plan of his own, and decided to get back at Dwight for all the troubles he had caused him by stealing all of his guns and pawning them at a shop on the way. Toby then describes getting fitted at the tailor and it is a lengthy process in which Mr. Howard picks out multiple fabrics and pieces of clothing for Toby to put on. Toby then looks at himself in the mirror at the new boy he has become.
Next, Toby then describes in a few paragraphs his future life. Toby explains that his mother had gotten a job in Seattle, and Dwight had been arrested for trying to strangle his mother. He also says that he does not do well at Hill and was only accepted by his English teacher who saw hope in Toby. Toby ends up getting kicked out of Hill and decides to join in the military as he said he knew he always would. Toby then goes back to his scene in the car with Chuck and describes that they had both been so triumphantly joyful to be free of all their troubles that they sang and sang the whole way home, and sums up his memoir by his happy memory of singing.
REACTION:
Wow, this book was definitely a great read. I enjoyed it more than the last book I read, The Road, mainly because the story just keeps on going and is always exciting. Tobias Wolff was able to take a non fictional account of his life and turn it into an adventure that seems not even believable. I think that I enjoyed this book so much due to the fact that it is reliable. Although the time period is 50 years ago from today, it appears that society still has most of all of the same views that it had then as well. When I read Toby's life I picture me in his place and imagine myself doing all the funny and almost criminal things that he did. It also makes me feel happy that his mother was able to keep up with such a moving life and be safe. I would absolutely recommend this book to a friend, family member, extc.
On page 302, Toby learns that the Welch's end up requesting that Toby not work on their farm which is far worse for Toby than actually working on it. Things end up getting even worse a few weeks later when the sheriff arrived at the Bolger's door telling them that Chuck may be charged with rape. Chuck learns that a girl, Tina, was pregnant with his child and that if he doesn't marry her that her father will charge him and he will go to jail. Although Chuck is afraid of jail he never gives in to the idea of marrying her because he envisions a much happier future for himself. Luck goes Chuck's way as the sheriff comes to the Bolgers to inform them that a friend of his will be marrying Tina. Chuck rejoices and hugs Toby as if they were friends.
In Toby's life things start to turn out for the better as well when he gets a call from Mr. Howard informing him that he had won the scholarship for Hill prep school. Toby was happy to be leaving and Mr. Howard told Toby that he would like to take him to his tailor to get him outfits for school. Toby concurred and was excited to start his new school. Before this could happen, however, Chuck had to drive Toby to Seattle to meet up with his dad and Geoffrey for the summer. Toby had a plan of his own, and decided to get back at Dwight for all the troubles he had caused him by stealing all of his guns and pawning them at a shop on the way. Toby then describes getting fitted at the tailor and it is a lengthy process in which Mr. Howard picks out multiple fabrics and pieces of clothing for Toby to put on. Toby then looks at himself in the mirror at the new boy he has become.
Next, Toby then describes in a few paragraphs his future life. Toby explains that his mother had gotten a job in Seattle, and Dwight had been arrested for trying to strangle his mother. He also says that he does not do well at Hill and was only accepted by his English teacher who saw hope in Toby. Toby ends up getting kicked out of Hill and decides to join in the military as he said he knew he always would. Toby then goes back to his scene in the car with Chuck and describes that they had both been so triumphantly joyful to be free of all their troubles that they sang and sang the whole way home, and sums up his memoir by his happy memory of singing.
REACTION:
Wow, this book was definitely a great read. I enjoyed it more than the last book I read, The Road, mainly because the story just keeps on going and is always exciting. Tobias Wolff was able to take a non fictional account of his life and turn it into an adventure that seems not even believable. I think that I enjoyed this book so much due to the fact that it is reliable. Although the time period is 50 years ago from today, it appears that society still has most of all of the same views that it had then as well. When I read Toby's life I picture me in his place and imagine myself doing all the funny and almost criminal things that he did. It also makes me feel happy that his mother was able to keep up with such a moving life and be safe. I would absolutely recommend this book to a friend, family member, extc.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Reading: This Boy's Life; pages 241-280, By Tobias Wolff
SUMMARY:
On page 241, Toby is greeted with phone call from a Mr. Howard who was a Hill School alumni and was interested in Toby for the school. He asked Toby if they could talk soon, and Toby agreed and suggested that they speak at the Concrete drugstore. Toby describes Mr. Howard as wearing a suit and tie, but instead of being irritated by it, he wore it with swagger. Mr. Howard conducted an informal interview with Toby in which he asked him questions about school and life, and Toby lied but responded with ease. Mr. Howard explained to Toby that Hill is not for everyone and that he might end up regretting the decision if he was chosen to go there, but Toby explained to Mr. Howard that he was set on going if he had the chance. Mr. Howard gave Toby his business card and explained to Toby that there were other boys that they were looking at for scholarship as well, and that he would let him know in a little while.
After the meeting, Toby is in shop class and is sawing a board while talking to a friend. Next thing he knows, Toby has a sharp pain and sees the tip of his finger on the floor. Toby recalls being in extensive pain and being rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery. When he woke up Toby had a large bandage from his wrist to his finger and was eventually let out. When at home, Toby got into a struggle with Dwight which lead to Toby falling down on his finger and crying in extreme pain. Toby's mother decided that this was the last straw and that Toby would be leaving and when she could she would get a job in Seattle.
Toby's mother talked to a family named the Bolgers whom were a religious family except for their son Chuck who was Toby's age. Chuck was crazy and would go on wild rampages once he consumed alcohol, but he would never hurt Toby. Mr. Bolger was a pastor and applied religion in his life but did not force it on Toby. Toby explained how the church ceremonies would go, and then how Chuck would get drunk every night. One night, Toby, Chuck, and some other boys wanted to go to another town and back, but they had no gas. Chuck said he knew where to go, and the boys trudged along the muddy farmland to the Welch's farm. The Welch's were an extremely poor family, and Chuck and the boys siphoned gas out of the truck and returned home. The next morning, Mr. Bolger woke up the boys and told them to come to the kitchen now. He explained that the trails were obvious last night and made them go over and apologize to the Welchs. Chuck apologized but Toby could not because he felt so bad for the Welchs. As a result, Mr. Bolger told Toby that he would be forced to work on the Welch;s farm and help them with anything they needed.
RESPONSE:
This section was both funny and sad. As it went on it got funnier and funnier, but when it came up to the Welch's farm it became a sorry full story. Toby's devious ways of tricking people and cheating allows him to receive awareness from a Hill alumni which is quite funny to me. This could almost never happen nowadays. However, I felt very sad for the Welch family when Toby described them as being so ashamed of the boys because they had stolen from them when they were so vulnerable and clearly not going to make it much farther. This part has really made me think about classes in life and how to see things through other people's perspectives.
On page 241, Toby is greeted with phone call from a Mr. Howard who was a Hill School alumni and was interested in Toby for the school. He asked Toby if they could talk soon, and Toby agreed and suggested that they speak at the Concrete drugstore. Toby describes Mr. Howard as wearing a suit and tie, but instead of being irritated by it, he wore it with swagger. Mr. Howard conducted an informal interview with Toby in which he asked him questions about school and life, and Toby lied but responded with ease. Mr. Howard explained to Toby that Hill is not for everyone and that he might end up regretting the decision if he was chosen to go there, but Toby explained to Mr. Howard that he was set on going if he had the chance. Mr. Howard gave Toby his business card and explained to Toby that there were other boys that they were looking at for scholarship as well, and that he would let him know in a little while.
After the meeting, Toby is in shop class and is sawing a board while talking to a friend. Next thing he knows, Toby has a sharp pain and sees the tip of his finger on the floor. Toby recalls being in extensive pain and being rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery. When he woke up Toby had a large bandage from his wrist to his finger and was eventually let out. When at home, Toby got into a struggle with Dwight which lead to Toby falling down on his finger and crying in extreme pain. Toby's mother decided that this was the last straw and that Toby would be leaving and when she could she would get a job in Seattle.
Toby's mother talked to a family named the Bolgers whom were a religious family except for their son Chuck who was Toby's age. Chuck was crazy and would go on wild rampages once he consumed alcohol, but he would never hurt Toby. Mr. Bolger was a pastor and applied religion in his life but did not force it on Toby. Toby explained how the church ceremonies would go, and then how Chuck would get drunk every night. One night, Toby, Chuck, and some other boys wanted to go to another town and back, but they had no gas. Chuck said he knew where to go, and the boys trudged along the muddy farmland to the Welch's farm. The Welch's were an extremely poor family, and Chuck and the boys siphoned gas out of the truck and returned home. The next morning, Mr. Bolger woke up the boys and told them to come to the kitchen now. He explained that the trails were obvious last night and made them go over and apologize to the Welchs. Chuck apologized but Toby could not because he felt so bad for the Welchs. As a result, Mr. Bolger told Toby that he would be forced to work on the Welch;s farm and help them with anything they needed.
RESPONSE:
This section was both funny and sad. As it went on it got funnier and funnier, but when it came up to the Welch's farm it became a sorry full story. Toby's devious ways of tricking people and cheating allows him to receive awareness from a Hill alumni which is quite funny to me. This could almost never happen nowadays. However, I felt very sad for the Welch family when Toby described them as being so ashamed of the boys because they had stolen from them when they were so vulnerable and clearly not going to make it much farther. This part has really made me think about classes in life and how to see things through other people's perspectives.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Reading: This Boy's Life; pages 166-200, By Tobias Wolff
On page 166, Toby is at the fair for the Boyscouts and is playing one of the games at the fair. Toby's original plan was to use the money he had taken to go with Arthur to Alaska, but this plan was foiled when Toby gambled all his money on the game. Toby and Dwight left the fair and went home. In the next scene Toby is walking up to the house and sees a large dog in the utility room. Dwight let's Toby in the house. and when Toby goes to his room, he notices that his Winchester rifle is gone. He is angry at Dwight and Dwight claims that he'll get it back but he never did. Later that year Toby and Dwight take the dog hunting, but it turns out that the dog is far to afraid of the gun to provide any assistance. After the dog gets into some trouble with the neighboring people's cats, Dwight is forced to take the dog, Champ, on a ride up the mountains with his gun, and Toby never saw the dog again.
Then, Toby begins telling the reader that he is now a sophomore at concrete and after midnight would take Dwight's car out on joy rides. This plan was working well until one night he got stuck in a ditch. The car was stuck good and Toby began walking home. Toby got lucky though because on his way home a man drove by and was able to pull the car out of the ditch, and Toby got back home in time to not be noticed. His escape was ruined though when Dwight ran into the man at a meeting and the man told him the story of what he did earlier. Dwight made sure Toby learned his lesson by giving him a good beating.
Toby next goes into his sophomore year at Concrete. He tells the reader that he ended up once again getting involved with the wrong crowd. They intended to get him drunk and get with the ladies, as of which Toby accomplished one of. One night during a basketball game, Toby and his friends went outside and drank. Toby got drunk and ended up falling off a tree branch and down a long fall until resting in a field of ferns. His friends could not find him, but Toby stayed there all night because he enjoyed the harmony of nature. Time goes on and Toby describes how his brother is a student at Princeton. Toby devises to get to Princeton by writing a fake check while at a Boy Scouts meeting. After creating a library card Toby tries his I.D. and check at a local store. The woman becomes suspicious and Toby leaves, but the women follows him out and tries to chase him down. Toby escapes and changes into his Scout's uniform and returns to the banquet. Toby checks people in and notices the same lady approaching. He acted causal and the women didn't notice him as he ushered her into the hall. He knew he had gotten away.
RESPONSE:
This was definitely my favorite portion of the book that I have read so far. I say this because I feel that I can more directly relate to his stories now since I am of similar age. I can clearly picture him hanging out with his friends and fooling around as I do, although I do not drink myself, but I can understand his circumstances and actions. Another reason I found this passage so interesting is that for the first time since I starting reading This Boy's Life, a feeling of suspense is created. When Toby is being chased down by the store clerk I found it impossible to put down the book because I had to see what would happen next and if Toby would get away with it and continue his luck spree. I hope that the rest of the book is as exciting as this section.
Then, Toby begins telling the reader that he is now a sophomore at concrete and after midnight would take Dwight's car out on joy rides. This plan was working well until one night he got stuck in a ditch. The car was stuck good and Toby began walking home. Toby got lucky though because on his way home a man drove by and was able to pull the car out of the ditch, and Toby got back home in time to not be noticed. His escape was ruined though when Dwight ran into the man at a meeting and the man told him the story of what he did earlier. Dwight made sure Toby learned his lesson by giving him a good beating.
Toby next goes into his sophomore year at Concrete. He tells the reader that he ended up once again getting involved with the wrong crowd. They intended to get him drunk and get with the ladies, as of which Toby accomplished one of. One night during a basketball game, Toby and his friends went outside and drank. Toby got drunk and ended up falling off a tree branch and down a long fall until resting in a field of ferns. His friends could not find him, but Toby stayed there all night because he enjoyed the harmony of nature. Time goes on and Toby describes how his brother is a student at Princeton. Toby devises to get to Princeton by writing a fake check while at a Boy Scouts meeting. After creating a library card Toby tries his I.D. and check at a local store. The woman becomes suspicious and Toby leaves, but the women follows him out and tries to chase him down. Toby escapes and changes into his Scout's uniform and returns to the banquet. Toby checks people in and notices the same lady approaching. He acted causal and the women didn't notice him as he ushered her into the hall. He knew he had gotten away.
RESPONSE:
This was definitely my favorite portion of the book that I have read so far. I say this because I feel that I can more directly relate to his stories now since I am of similar age. I can clearly picture him hanging out with his friends and fooling around as I do, although I do not drink myself, but I can understand his circumstances and actions. Another reason I found this passage so interesting is that for the first time since I starting reading This Boy's Life, a feeling of suspense is created. When Toby is being chased down by the store clerk I found it impossible to put down the book because I had to see what would happen next and if Toby would get away with it and continue his luck spree. I hope that the rest of the book is as exciting as this section.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Reading: This Boy's Life; pages 201-240, By Tobias Wolff
SUMMARY
On page 201, Toby talks about the letters he receives from his brother Geoffrey who is a t Princeton. Then he accounts Dwight's over reaction to an "empty" mustard jar that Toby threw away and shoves Toby's face in it to prove a point. After Toby cleaned it out, Dwight smacked him across the face. Feeling upset, Toby called his brother and told him what had happened, and Geoffrey said that Toby needed to leave immediately, and came up with an idea to send him to boarding school. Toby informed Geoffrey with lies about his life to give him a better chance of getting into a school. Geoffrey sent out information to Toby about schools he should apply to, and Toby sent mail for applications; however, Toby's grades and social life were completely off from expectations. Toby's dad then called the house a few days later explaining to Toby about how everything would work if he got accepted into a boarding school, and that he would come down and stay with him and Geoffrey for the Summer.
A little while later, Toby went down to Seattle to take the standardized tests. He then goes into detail explaining how he was mastering the test and all of its tricks and curve balls it tries to throw at you in the verbal section. A few weeks later, Toby is in school when Arthur gives a folder to Toby containing transcript forms, and blank paper. Toby used these materials to compile a fake school life where he received all A's and had recommendations from his teachers. With all of this, Toby sent in the applications. Toby then goes off into a quick tangent explaining how he and Arthur were forced to fight each other in the school gym, and Arthur kicks the crap out of him. Next, Toby explains that he did well on his tests, but he ended up getting rejection letters from all the schools he applied to.
REACTION:
I think that this section was one of the parts of the book that I can relate to most. I'm also in the process of trying to find the right schools to go to and which one is most economically practicable; however, my intentions and transcripts are not false. I enjoy this book mostly due to the fact that it's almost not believable that Toby can accomplish so many things by cheating a system. Wolff's ability to comically entertain the reader while telling his life story is what makes me keep reading on.
On page 201, Toby talks about the letters he receives from his brother Geoffrey who is a t Princeton. Then he accounts Dwight's over reaction to an "empty" mustard jar that Toby threw away and shoves Toby's face in it to prove a point. After Toby cleaned it out, Dwight smacked him across the face. Feeling upset, Toby called his brother and told him what had happened, and Geoffrey said that Toby needed to leave immediately, and came up with an idea to send him to boarding school. Toby informed Geoffrey with lies about his life to give him a better chance of getting into a school. Geoffrey sent out information to Toby about schools he should apply to, and Toby sent mail for applications; however, Toby's grades and social life were completely off from expectations. Toby's dad then called the house a few days later explaining to Toby about how everything would work if he got accepted into a boarding school, and that he would come down and stay with him and Geoffrey for the Summer.
A little while later, Toby went down to Seattle to take the standardized tests. He then goes into detail explaining how he was mastering the test and all of its tricks and curve balls it tries to throw at you in the verbal section. A few weeks later, Toby is in school when Arthur gives a folder to Toby containing transcript forms, and blank paper. Toby used these materials to compile a fake school life where he received all A's and had recommendations from his teachers. With all of this, Toby sent in the applications. Toby then goes off into a quick tangent explaining how he and Arthur were forced to fight each other in the school gym, and Arthur kicks the crap out of him. Next, Toby explains that he did well on his tests, but he ended up getting rejection letters from all the schools he applied to.
REACTION:
I think that this section was one of the parts of the book that I can relate to most. I'm also in the process of trying to find the right schools to go to and which one is most economically practicable; however, my intentions and transcripts are not false. I enjoy this book mostly due to the fact that it's almost not believable that Toby can accomplish so many things by cheating a system. Wolff's ability to comically entertain the reader while telling his life story is what makes me keep reading on.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Fort Wayne Finally Gets The Recognition It Deserves
Its official, Fort Wayne is finally internationally known as this was the number 1 watched video in the United States on February 11. Proud to be an AMERICAN.
Jeopardy Challenge!
Last night (and continuing tomorrow and the next day) Jeopardy came on like it always has at 7:30. This time, however, it was a special featuring the two best jeopardy players, Ken Jennings and Bryan Rutter. The new contestant was a super computer named Watson. THe show was interesting as it explained Watson's thinking process and at the end it was tied Bryan Rutter:5,000 and Watson:5,000. Tune in tonight on channel 2 at 7:30 to see how it compares tonight.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Close Reading #1
Count Chocula
Etymology 3
Close Reading #1
13 February 2011
Gene Kelly vs. Fred Astaire
In the scene “Moses Supposes”, Gene Kelly's fluid tap dancing, playful facial expressions, and clownish actions presents a more entertaining and comical viewing than Fred Astaire's “Night and Day.” For much of the scene “Moses Supposes,” Gene Kelly's legs move rapidly as they tap dance and synchronize to the orchestra music played in the background portraying his athletic and entertaining abilities. On the other hand, Fred Astaire's scene “Night and Day” lacks the overall wow factor due to a lack of rapid movement caused by Astaire's constant stiff upper body. Along with the dancing in the scenes, the playful facial expressions that Gene Kelly provides creates a fun-filled mood for the audience while Fred Astaire's more serious tone may establish a less interesting viewing experienc, yet Fred Astaire's constant use of vibrato while singing greatly competes with the voice of Gene Kelly. Kelly takes the cake in the end, however, by his comical storyline in which both Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor stack numerous amounts of items in the room on their vocal instructor which exudes a humorous situation unlike Fred Astaire's storyline that relates to those affiliated with romanticism. Both scenes were greatly made, but “Moses Supposes'” incorporation of humor and plot trumps “Night and Day's” affectionate outcome.
Reading: This Boy's Life; pages 131-165, By Tobias Wolff
SUMMARY:
On page 131, Toby begins by informing the reader that his mother had joined the rifle club and encouraged other mothers to join as well. Toby says that his mother was an expert shot and would always win, but Dwight was always a loser and would choke. He became grim we he lost his meetings and one day on the drive back home after Dwight lost he was a sore loser and mimicked the family. He forcefully got out of the car at the tavern and went in to drink while Toby's mother eventually went in after him. While this occurs, Toby goes through a series of short side note stories. Toby tells the reader that he was a liar and a thief. He'd began stealing money from paper customers on his route. Dwight complained to Toby about his attitude, but Toby no longer felt guilt.
Next, Toby comes back to the scene of him and Pearl waiting for Dwight and his mother in the tavern. He brings up that him and Pearl, his step sister, would constantly try to annoy each other by any means possible. He accounts all the songs he listened to with her on Seattle Bandstand. Dwight eventually returned from the tavern with Toby's mother, and she was pleading with him to give her the keys. Dwight would have none of it, and he started the car and recklessly drove home while the family hysterically begged him to stop.
Later, Toby describes his plan for leaving Chinook. He informs the reader that he had written a letter to his uncle in Paris about how horrible things were for them, In response, his uncle sent a check and asked that Toby live with them in Paris for a year. This plan was set, but then later they received another letter from him stating that they had changed their mind and urged that he be adopted to them and stay for 5 years. This commitment upset Toby and he no longer wished to live in Paris. The next scene is started off by saying that time has passed and Nora graduated from Concrete high and now has a job down in Seattle. She has met a new man named Kenneth and she brings him in for Christmas. After a plethora of heated arguments, Norra and Kenneth depart after Christmas and they eventually get married.
Toby is now a freshman at Concrete high, but he does not want to be there. He has devised a plan to runaway to Alaska and has saved up a total of 81 dollars that he has stolen from his customers. At first Toby didn't want Arthur coming, but as the day drew nearer, Toby decided he could. The day of execution was to be on the day that all the scout teams got together on The Gathering of Tribes. Toby competed and lost in the swim meet and at the end of this section went over to talk to Arthur.
RESPONSE:
This section of the book was a little less interesting than the other parts in my opinion. It did not contain any exciting events and portrayed a numerous amount of events that took place over a longer span of time. I also became excited that Toby would change perspectives by moving to Paris, but in the end it turned out that he would not be going. I also felt that the side note about Nora was quite depressing as she became an addicted smoker and a dreary person. The section was not all bad, however, for I did enjoy Toby's plan to run off to Alaska and I hope that he executes this plan in my further reading.
On page 131, Toby begins by informing the reader that his mother had joined the rifle club and encouraged other mothers to join as well. Toby says that his mother was an expert shot and would always win, but Dwight was always a loser and would choke. He became grim we he lost his meetings and one day on the drive back home after Dwight lost he was a sore loser and mimicked the family. He forcefully got out of the car at the tavern and went in to drink while Toby's mother eventually went in after him. While this occurs, Toby goes through a series of short side note stories. Toby tells the reader that he was a liar and a thief. He'd began stealing money from paper customers on his route. Dwight complained to Toby about his attitude, but Toby no longer felt guilt.
Next, Toby comes back to the scene of him and Pearl waiting for Dwight and his mother in the tavern. He brings up that him and Pearl, his step sister, would constantly try to annoy each other by any means possible. He accounts all the songs he listened to with her on Seattle Bandstand. Dwight eventually returned from the tavern with Toby's mother, and she was pleading with him to give her the keys. Dwight would have none of it, and he started the car and recklessly drove home while the family hysterically begged him to stop.
Later, Toby describes his plan for leaving Chinook. He informs the reader that he had written a letter to his uncle in Paris about how horrible things were for them, In response, his uncle sent a check and asked that Toby live with them in Paris for a year. This plan was set, but then later they received another letter from him stating that they had changed their mind and urged that he be adopted to them and stay for 5 years. This commitment upset Toby and he no longer wished to live in Paris. The next scene is started off by saying that time has passed and Nora graduated from Concrete high and now has a job down in Seattle. She has met a new man named Kenneth and she brings him in for Christmas. After a plethora of heated arguments, Norra and Kenneth depart after Christmas and they eventually get married.
Toby is now a freshman at Concrete high, but he does not want to be there. He has devised a plan to runaway to Alaska and has saved up a total of 81 dollars that he has stolen from his customers. At first Toby didn't want Arthur coming, but as the day drew nearer, Toby decided he could. The day of execution was to be on the day that all the scout teams got together on The Gathering of Tribes. Toby competed and lost in the swim meet and at the end of this section went over to talk to Arthur.
RESPONSE:
This section of the book was a little less interesting than the other parts in my opinion. It did not contain any exciting events and portrayed a numerous amount of events that took place over a longer span of time. I also became excited that Toby would change perspectives by moving to Paris, but in the end it turned out that he would not be going. I also felt that the side note about Nora was quite depressing as she became an addicted smoker and a dreary person. The section was not all bad, however, for I did enjoy Toby's plan to run off to Alaska and I hope that he executes this plan in my further reading.
My Weekend
My weekend was an epic adventure with Frankie Zirille, Kyle O'Malley, and Alex Dickson. This passage will focus mainly on Saturday because Friday I studied for the ACT and no one wants to hear about that. I woke up on Saturday morning and took the ACT, and after that is where my fun began. I called up all of my friends and we met up at Kyle Lake's house. On arrival, I witnessed an air hogs air pressure powered helicopter fyling down to its demise and crashing into the asphalt road. Pieces were everywhere, but the sound of cheering overrode the crash. After Kyles, we embarked on our way to Arbys where we ate and took part in teenage shenanigans. Then we met up with more friends and watched a movie at Nick Bernardini's house. Alright, so I know my post is boring and it's supposed to be an epic weekend, but it makes me feel better if I call it exciting because it was pretty lame.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Reading: This Boy's Life; pages 107-130, By Tobias Wolff
SUMMARY:
On page 107, Toby is in the middle of chatting with some other friends during his paper route he picked up. While they are talking Toby notices Arthur, the uncoolest boy in sixth grade, walking his dog towards them. Toby then describes Arthur is being very clever and smart and one of the boys that Toby feels he should be friends with, but Toby thought too much about what others would think of him. Arthur passes by and since he knew they were talking about him, he said a sly remark about Toby's pee colored hands from the nuts he had to husk. In response Toby called him a fatso and Arthur came back with another comment. It was Toby's next response when things escalated because Toby called him a sissy. This was a word that Arthur affiliated with bad memories and so he snapped. Arthur gave a right hook to Toby's ear and the fight began.
Toby fell on the gravel and Arthur came up and kicked Toby in the stomach. Toby was stunned, but he got up and saw Arthur running at him. Toby was surprised when he hit Arthur in the eye which started closing up instantly. They both rushed each other and wrestled until they fell down a muddy embankment. They rolled down into a wet boggy swale and wrestled around. They both grew tired and Arthur began walking up the hill and so did Toby. At the top Arthur turned around and impaired that Toby take it back, and eventually Toby concurred.
Unlike most fathers would react when they here the news of their son getting in a fight, Dwight was triumphantly pleased with Toby and made him retell the stories multiple times. Dwight was so proud that he took Toby into the utility room to teach him some fighting skills. Dwight taught Toby two techniques in which he can defend and inflict pain on his opponent. A little while later one afternoon, Toby was on his paper route again and saw Arthur walking his dog. When they got close Arthur stopped and said hello, and instead of confrontation, Arthur let Toby pet his dog and showed him some cool tricks.
In the next chapter Toby describes his step brother Skipper's car. It was a 1949 mustang. Skipper would work on that car every night and put a lot of hard work into it. He would show Toby all the new parts he was putting in and what his ideas were for the finished product. Skipper finished it all except the leather interior and told Toby he was going down to Mexico to get it finished. Toby was excited about possibly going to Mexico with Skipper, but instead, Skipper took his friend Ray. When Skipper left Toby began to have other things on his mind. He though about cars, his father, and hitchhiking. Toby began hitchhiking down to nearby towns and would try to go farther every time. He would be home in time for dinner though so his parents would never know. One day though Skipper returned from Mexico. When Toby and the family looked outside they saw Skipper's car, but the paint was dull and all the metal utilities were beaten up. Skipper explained that they had gotten caught in a sandstorm and it ruined the car. Toby said this was one of two times that he had seen Skipper become emotional.
RESPONSE:
This section was much more action packed than the other readings I have done. The fight that Toby gets in makes me sort of want to get in a fight. I've never gotten in a fight, but I have always thought that just one "friendly" fight outside of school wouldn't be that bad. It's kind of an irrational thought, but it has always been something I have thought about. I found it also pretty humorous when I learned Dwight's reaction to the fight was that he was proud. My dad wouldn't be too mad but he would not be proud about it. I felt like Dwight was trying to live his past back in Toby's story. The car also intrigued me because I think it's a real skill to be able to fix something up like that. This section was an easy read because I found myself having similar thoughts and ideas as the main character Toby did.
On page 107, Toby is in the middle of chatting with some other friends during his paper route he picked up. While they are talking Toby notices Arthur, the uncoolest boy in sixth grade, walking his dog towards them. Toby then describes Arthur is being very clever and smart and one of the boys that Toby feels he should be friends with, but Toby thought too much about what others would think of him. Arthur passes by and since he knew they were talking about him, he said a sly remark about Toby's pee colored hands from the nuts he had to husk. In response Toby called him a fatso and Arthur came back with another comment. It was Toby's next response when things escalated because Toby called him a sissy. This was a word that Arthur affiliated with bad memories and so he snapped. Arthur gave a right hook to Toby's ear and the fight began.
Toby fell on the gravel and Arthur came up and kicked Toby in the stomach. Toby was stunned, but he got up and saw Arthur running at him. Toby was surprised when he hit Arthur in the eye which started closing up instantly. They both rushed each other and wrestled until they fell down a muddy embankment. They rolled down into a wet boggy swale and wrestled around. They both grew tired and Arthur began walking up the hill and so did Toby. At the top Arthur turned around and impaired that Toby take it back, and eventually Toby concurred.
Unlike most fathers would react when they here the news of their son getting in a fight, Dwight was triumphantly pleased with Toby and made him retell the stories multiple times. Dwight was so proud that he took Toby into the utility room to teach him some fighting skills. Dwight taught Toby two techniques in which he can defend and inflict pain on his opponent. A little while later one afternoon, Toby was on his paper route again and saw Arthur walking his dog. When they got close Arthur stopped and said hello, and instead of confrontation, Arthur let Toby pet his dog and showed him some cool tricks.
In the next chapter Toby describes his step brother Skipper's car. It was a 1949 mustang. Skipper would work on that car every night and put a lot of hard work into it. He would show Toby all the new parts he was putting in and what his ideas were for the finished product. Skipper finished it all except the leather interior and told Toby he was going down to Mexico to get it finished. Toby was excited about possibly going to Mexico with Skipper, but instead, Skipper took his friend Ray. When Skipper left Toby began to have other things on his mind. He though about cars, his father, and hitchhiking. Toby began hitchhiking down to nearby towns and would try to go farther every time. He would be home in time for dinner though so his parents would never know. One day though Skipper returned from Mexico. When Toby and the family looked outside they saw Skipper's car, but the paint was dull and all the metal utilities were beaten up. Skipper explained that they had gotten caught in a sandstorm and it ruined the car. Toby said this was one of two times that he had seen Skipper become emotional.
RESPONSE:
This section was much more action packed than the other readings I have done. The fight that Toby gets in makes me sort of want to get in a fight. I've never gotten in a fight, but I have always thought that just one "friendly" fight outside of school wouldn't be that bad. It's kind of an irrational thought, but it has always been something I have thought about. I found it also pretty humorous when I learned Dwight's reaction to the fight was that he was proud. My dad wouldn't be too mad but he would not be proud about it. I felt like Dwight was trying to live his past back in Toby's story. The car also intrigued me because I think it's a real skill to be able to fix something up like that. This section was an easy read because I found myself having similar thoughts and ideas as the main character Toby did.
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