Today is my first blog in a long time. I find it unusual that I have such a hard time taking the time to blog. Recently, I have been working 40 hours a week, trying to get a little wedding planning done as much as possible, and attempting to have fun during summer.
As I sit and write this evening I ponder at the question asked in the title of today's blog. This question comes from Jason Mraz in his song "Live High."
My guess is Jason Mraz is trying to prove a point of what is actually real? Jason Mraz has a good point. This song strikes many questions to my mind.
How do we know the difference between reality and make belief? Who is to say what is real? Who is to say what is fake? Who determines what is right? Who determines what is wrong? Who determines what is cool or "in" or stylish? Who determines what kid at school is a nerd? Who draws the line of right and wrong at work and school? Who sets the standard? Who creates the double standard? Who gets a double standard? Which employee gets rewarded with the double standard and why? Is everything just a waste of time? What is the point of school? What is the point of work? Why can't we just live life and be happy? Who defines you? What defines you? Who are you? What do you see when you look at the starving man on the the side of the road? When you look at other people what are you looking at? Who are you looking at? Do you see more than what is on the outside? Why should I care? Why worry? Why conform? Does it all amount to nothing in the end? What is art? Who says that life is not art? What is the definition of life? Why can't you just make your own definition for your life? Why do people think everything should be easy? Why can't we all start over when we wish to? If we are given a second chance why do turn it down? Why do we rush to start our lives? Why? Who? What? When? Where? How?
I guess the point of this blog is to try to help me answer some of my questions.
I know life isn't always easy, but who said that this is hard? My life is no where near perfect but its farther from terrible than anything. If I have learned anything from sitting at this desk today I suppose it would be, why should I be thinking about all these questions when my life is incredible? If we all just sit and wonder "what if" nothing would ever get accomplished. I guess what I am trying to say is we should all follow our dreams and listen to our heart. Sometimes our heart is smarter than our head. We should not look for approval from our peers if we aren't truly happy. If we cannot make ourselves happy then how can we make everyone else in the world happy? Why do we waste our lives trying to meet the standards of other people when we can't meet our own standards? What do we do everything for? Who do we do everything for? What do we live for? Can we stand up for what we say we believe in?
Life: It is what you make it.
God bless.
km!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Poetry and Prose: More than Entertainment
This is another piece examining poetry and prose.
Shirley Jackson in her 1948 short story “The Lottery,” which first appeared in The New Yorker, provokes thoughts and questions about life and conspiracy. Jackson, who is best known for her subtle horror and suspense stories, tells a tale of a small village willing to sacrifice a woman in hopes of having plentiful crops. Edwin Brock, in his 1963 poem “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” exposes the “many cumbersome ways to kill” men and women. Brock, who has served in the Royal Navy, was employed as a police officer, and who has worked in advertising, exposes the cruel and unusual ways to kill human beings. Each type of work provokes thoughts and questions without giving answers, deals with the conspiracies in life and opens imaginations. Poetry and prose may be a source of entertainment, but there is more than amusement in each style of literature. According to the dictionary, poetry is a “rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative thoughts,” and prose is “a matter-of-fact, commonplace, dull expression.” Poetry is typically shorter, more meaningful to the writers as well as the readers, and has hidden meanings. Prose pieces have the tendency to be longer, more dense and not as meaningful. Poetry is more successful at provoking thoughts, opening imaginations and dealing with conspiracies.
“The Lottery,” first occurred three years after World War II, in 1948. Jackson discusses the village’s ultimate sacrifice of the “lottery winner” in order to have bountiful crops, and a better land. Jackson, whose husband was Jewish, explains in the plot, the “The Lottery,” has similarities to the background of World War II, in which both show a sacrifice of a certain ethnicity, religious group, or single person, by a group of citizens led by one individual. In Jackson’s writing, she gives subtle examples of the Holocaust. Jackson hints at the ludicrous ways governments and societies tolerate death in the masses. In “The Lottery,” the town holds the annual lottery, which is no ordinary luck of the draw, big prize winning sweepstake. In fact, the winner of this lottery wins no grand prize at all, only death by stoning from the villagers as a sacrifice to gain a superior amount of produce. The unreal tactics of the villagers are comparable to those of the Germans before World War II began. At the end of “The Lottery,” Tessie “held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her,” alike the many ethnicities of citizens killed by the Germans. “The Lottery,” gives many details and examples of the conspiracies in life, and raises many questions without giving answers.
Brock’s “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” is a prime illustration of the many conspiracies in life. The poem explains five ponderous ways that have been used to kill men or women in history. The examples in “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” date from the crucifixion of Christ to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. In his poem, Brock describes the gruesome and peculiar processes the governments have created in order to kill citizens in the masses. Brock not only exposes the conspiracies behind slaughtering innocent men, women and children, but raises many questions about this topic without giving readers any answers. “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” opens the imaginations of the audience to a whole new perspective of the world’s ways of treating man- kind. Exposing his thoughts about the torturous ways to kill, Brock writes, “Dispensing with nobility, you may, if the wind/ allows, blow gas at him.” Brock explains his feelings of disbelief toward the inhumane procedures taken by the governments to prove a point. “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” opens a wide door for the individual mind to deliberate the schemes behind the government plans.
Poetry and prose pieces are more than a source of entertainment. While both genres of literature examine the conspiracies in life, open imaginations and provoke thoughts and questions without relaying answers, poetry is more successful at doing so. Poetry may seem confusing and hard to read but it certainly does more for the mind than prose pieces. Poetry is an excellent technique to unleash the mind and soul.
Shirley Jackson in her 1948 short story “The Lottery,” which first appeared in The New Yorker, provokes thoughts and questions about life and conspiracy. Jackson, who is best known for her subtle horror and suspense stories, tells a tale of a small village willing to sacrifice a woman in hopes of having plentiful crops. Edwin Brock, in his 1963 poem “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” exposes the “many cumbersome ways to kill” men and women. Brock, who has served in the Royal Navy, was employed as a police officer, and who has worked in advertising, exposes the cruel and unusual ways to kill human beings. Each type of work provokes thoughts and questions without giving answers, deals with the conspiracies in life and opens imaginations. Poetry and prose may be a source of entertainment, but there is more than amusement in each style of literature. According to the dictionary, poetry is a “rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative thoughts,” and prose is “a matter-of-fact, commonplace, dull expression.” Poetry is typically shorter, more meaningful to the writers as well as the readers, and has hidden meanings. Prose pieces have the tendency to be longer, more dense and not as meaningful. Poetry is more successful at provoking thoughts, opening imaginations and dealing with conspiracies.
“The Lottery,” first occurred three years after World War II, in 1948. Jackson discusses the village’s ultimate sacrifice of the “lottery winner” in order to have bountiful crops, and a better land. Jackson, whose husband was Jewish, explains in the plot, the “The Lottery,” has similarities to the background of World War II, in which both show a sacrifice of a certain ethnicity, religious group, or single person, by a group of citizens led by one individual. In Jackson’s writing, she gives subtle examples of the Holocaust. Jackson hints at the ludicrous ways governments and societies tolerate death in the masses. In “The Lottery,” the town holds the annual lottery, which is no ordinary luck of the draw, big prize winning sweepstake. In fact, the winner of this lottery wins no grand prize at all, only death by stoning from the villagers as a sacrifice to gain a superior amount of produce. The unreal tactics of the villagers are comparable to those of the Germans before World War II began. At the end of “The Lottery,” Tessie “held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her,” alike the many ethnicities of citizens killed by the Germans. “The Lottery,” gives many details and examples of the conspiracies in life, and raises many questions without giving answers.
Brock’s “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” is a prime illustration of the many conspiracies in life. The poem explains five ponderous ways that have been used to kill men or women in history. The examples in “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” date from the crucifixion of Christ to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. In his poem, Brock describes the gruesome and peculiar processes the governments have created in order to kill citizens in the masses. Brock not only exposes the conspiracies behind slaughtering innocent men, women and children, but raises many questions about this topic without giving readers any answers. “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” opens the imaginations of the audience to a whole new perspective of the world’s ways of treating man- kind. Exposing his thoughts about the torturous ways to kill, Brock writes, “Dispensing with nobility, you may, if the wind/ allows, blow gas at him.” Brock explains his feelings of disbelief toward the inhumane procedures taken by the governments to prove a point. “Five Ways to Kill a Man,” opens a wide door for the individual mind to deliberate the schemes behind the government plans.
Poetry and prose pieces are more than a source of entertainment. While both genres of literature examine the conspiracies in life, open imaginations and provoke thoughts and questions without relaying answers, poetry is more successful at doing so. Poetry may seem confusing and hard to read but it certainly does more for the mind than prose pieces. Poetry is an excellent technique to unleash the mind and soul.
Communication: The Good and the Bad
Here is one of my pieces on some of the readings from last semester.
Deborah Tannen, in her 1990 article “Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” which appeared in, The Washington Post, exposes the linguistic differences in relationships between females and males. Tannen, who was born in Brooklyn, in 1945, who teaches at Georgetown University, who has written and edited several books about the issues of communicating within the different sections of culture, class, gender, and ethnicities, discusses the dissimilarities of the communication in female and male relationships. Stephanie Ericsson, in her 1993 exposé “The Ways We Lie,” which first appeared in the January 1993 issue of The Utne Reader, explains ten ways in which humans may have the tendency to lie. Ericsson, who was born in San Francisco, in 1953, who has been a screenwriter, and an advertising copywriter, has published numerous biographical books, claims individuals may have the inclination to falsify information in certain circumstances. Eric Schlosser, in his 2001 excerpt “Walt and Ray: Your Trusted Friends,” from his book Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All American Meal, proposes Walt Disney and Ray Kroc deceive the parents to make money. Schlosser, who was born in New York City, in 1959, who received a bachelor’s degree in American history from Princeton University and who went on to study history at Oxford University, and who was an award-winning investigative journalist, insists Disney and Kroc used children as a main audience to advertise their products in order to succeed. Each of these texts share common elements. The three writers attack communication within relationships, and the tendency to sell a product or a lie to benefit oneself. The authors all strike at the preferences some of the population lean toward with lying, and selling a product or a lie to benefit oneself.
“Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” is the text that best fits the criterion above, by Tannen expressing her thoughts on the phonetic contrasts between females and males in relationships. Tannen writes about different communicating techniques among men and women. When discussing the “stare straight ahead” body language of men while listening, Tannen states, “Women perceive such responses as belittling and unsupportive.” She has a good attitude throughout the article, giving subtle hints of jokes and sarcasm and stating a very strong opinion. Tannen’s thoughts of the “linguistic battle of the sexes” in the article “Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” is somewhat of a serious topic that needs to be dealt with as well as a joking matter. She has very strong thoughts and studies to back her opinions on communication amid females and males in relationships.
Ericsson, in “The Ways We Lie,” argues ten ways of lying or being deceitful to another human, which places this text in the second position of fitting the criterion above. Ericsson organizes her thoughts about lying in this article by listing the different ways entities have the ability to be dishonest. “We lie. We all do. We exaggerate, we minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare people’s feelings,” declares Ericsson after admitting her own lies in this article. Ericsson exposes the lies that can be so feasible to tell, the words that are so easily spoken to avoid harmful situations can be an obstacle in relationships.
Schlosser, in “Walt and Ray: Your Trusted Friends,” demands that producers have the tendency to deceive the consumer in order to gain a higher respect, and social status in the community. In, “Your Trusted Friends,” Schlosser makes a point to quote Disney, who said, “it’s the law of the universe that the strong shall survive and the weak must fall by the way, and I don’t give a damn what idealistic plan is cooked up, nothing can change that.” This statement is an example of the way Disney plans to succeed no matter what. Schlosser explains the many ways Disney and Kroc delude in situations in means to thrive.
The three texts are examples of communication within relationships and the tendency to sell a product or a lie to benefit oneself. “Sex, Lies, and Conversation” is the text that best meets this criterion, by showing different communication kinks in relationships between women and men. The text that meets the criterion second best is “The Ways We Lie,” through explaining the different types of lying. The text that fits the criterion the least best is “Walt and Ray: Your Trusted Friends,” although the text does a good job at fitting the criterion the text does not clearly state the thesis of the excerpt. There are many ways in which individuals have the ability to trick and mislead the community.
Deborah Tannen, in her 1990 article “Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” which appeared in, The Washington Post, exposes the linguistic differences in relationships between females and males. Tannen, who was born in Brooklyn, in 1945, who teaches at Georgetown University, who has written and edited several books about the issues of communicating within the different sections of culture, class, gender, and ethnicities, discusses the dissimilarities of the communication in female and male relationships. Stephanie Ericsson, in her 1993 exposé “The Ways We Lie,” which first appeared in the January 1993 issue of The Utne Reader, explains ten ways in which humans may have the tendency to lie. Ericsson, who was born in San Francisco, in 1953, who has been a screenwriter, and an advertising copywriter, has published numerous biographical books, claims individuals may have the inclination to falsify information in certain circumstances. Eric Schlosser, in his 2001 excerpt “Walt and Ray: Your Trusted Friends,” from his book Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All American Meal, proposes Walt Disney and Ray Kroc deceive the parents to make money. Schlosser, who was born in New York City, in 1959, who received a bachelor’s degree in American history from Princeton University and who went on to study history at Oxford University, and who was an award-winning investigative journalist, insists Disney and Kroc used children as a main audience to advertise their products in order to succeed. Each of these texts share common elements. The three writers attack communication within relationships, and the tendency to sell a product or a lie to benefit oneself. The authors all strike at the preferences some of the population lean toward with lying, and selling a product or a lie to benefit oneself.
“Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” is the text that best fits the criterion above, by Tannen expressing her thoughts on the phonetic contrasts between females and males in relationships. Tannen writes about different communicating techniques among men and women. When discussing the “stare straight ahead” body language of men while listening, Tannen states, “Women perceive such responses as belittling and unsupportive.” She has a good attitude throughout the article, giving subtle hints of jokes and sarcasm and stating a very strong opinion. Tannen’s thoughts of the “linguistic battle of the sexes” in the article “Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” is somewhat of a serious topic that needs to be dealt with as well as a joking matter. She has very strong thoughts and studies to back her opinions on communication amid females and males in relationships.
Ericsson, in “The Ways We Lie,” argues ten ways of lying or being deceitful to another human, which places this text in the second position of fitting the criterion above. Ericsson organizes her thoughts about lying in this article by listing the different ways entities have the ability to be dishonest. “We lie. We all do. We exaggerate, we minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare people’s feelings,” declares Ericsson after admitting her own lies in this article. Ericsson exposes the lies that can be so feasible to tell, the words that are so easily spoken to avoid harmful situations can be an obstacle in relationships.
Schlosser, in “Walt and Ray: Your Trusted Friends,” demands that producers have the tendency to deceive the consumer in order to gain a higher respect, and social status in the community. In, “Your Trusted Friends,” Schlosser makes a point to quote Disney, who said, “it’s the law of the universe that the strong shall survive and the weak must fall by the way, and I don’t give a damn what idealistic plan is cooked up, nothing can change that.” This statement is an example of the way Disney plans to succeed no matter what. Schlosser explains the many ways Disney and Kroc delude in situations in means to thrive.
The three texts are examples of communication within relationships and the tendency to sell a product or a lie to benefit oneself. “Sex, Lies, and Conversation” is the text that best meets this criterion, by showing different communication kinks in relationships between women and men. The text that meets the criterion second best is “The Ways We Lie,” through explaining the different types of lying. The text that fits the criterion the least best is “Walt and Ray: Your Trusted Friends,” although the text does a good job at fitting the criterion the text does not clearly state the thesis of the excerpt. There are many ways in which individuals have the ability to trick and mislead the community.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
My audience is the world.
Today will be a short explosion of something that has been on my mind recently. I will continue the next time I am available.
I got my title from my English professor last semester at MSSU, Dr. Cliff Toliver. He may be one of the brightest men I have ever come to meet. One day while discussing writing papers he told the class who we will be writing to. He continued to say, "the world is your audience." This might be an insignificant phrase to you, but to me it means so much more than who I am writing a paper to. The world is my audience. This not only means m audience is the world in my writing but in all that I do. I never know who I influence with my actions, my writing, my art, and all that I say. When I say my art I use the term loosely for I do not share my art often or with many people. I hope that one day that I make art the means something to someone other than me. I want my art to make a difference in some one's life. I want to make a difference in some one's life. I want my audience, the world, to be changed. I want to be the change. I am not saying that I hope to become famous or rich, I would just like to have a small impact on the world around me.
more to come tomorrow. or soon.
Have a blessed night and day tomorrow!
km!
:)
I got my title from my English professor last semester at MSSU, Dr. Cliff Toliver. He may be one of the brightest men I have ever come to meet. One day while discussing writing papers he told the class who we will be writing to. He continued to say, "the world is your audience." This might be an insignificant phrase to you, but to me it means so much more than who I am writing a paper to. The world is my audience. This not only means m audience is the world in my writing but in all that I do. I never know who I influence with my actions, my writing, my art, and all that I say. When I say my art I use the term loosely for I do not share my art often or with many people. I hope that one day that I make art the means something to someone other than me. I want my art to make a difference in some one's life. I want to make a difference in some one's life. I want my audience, the world, to be changed. I want to be the change. I am not saying that I hope to become famous or rich, I would just like to have a small impact on the world around me.
more to come tomorrow. or soon.
Have a blessed night and day tomorrow!
km!
:)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
I'm in college now. Right?
I know this is a crazy question, but I am in college, right? I find myself wondering this as I am dealing with a less than happy situation where some people cannot act their age. This must be my week to anger people with thing I cannot understand why they are a big deal. Sunday, I found myself having to watch a grown woman almost hit my car twice and myself once. Over a parking spot. Today, I found myself trying to be an adult and trying to resolve issues that apparently are too huge to put it in the past and move on in life. I am not trying to say that I am not in the wrong because it very likely is to be all me, but I can't figure out why others insist on failing to act the age she/he is. I am also not saying that everyone I have come to pass have done me wrong, or hurt me, because that is certainly not my motive. I am simply trying to comprehend the childish antics of those around me. It could be that I am being too sensitive in being frustrated with these things. I would just like to know which of the three it is.
I am very stressed this week, but I know that God will never give me more than I can handle. I would like to know how/why God thinks I can handle this much. At times I wish he would trust me with less. I know that is not the right attitude to have, that I should not complain, but I have to do things one at a time. I can't do everything this week. I am forever grateful for my small group, Devon, Kayla, and Kevin(in no particular order), for they never fail to put a smile on my face. Kevin does an exceptional job at this. He has a way to make me smile when I don't want to. Of course Kayla and Devon always know a joke, or memory to tell me to make me laugh. The three of them support me and listen to my venting and rambling. I love them all very much for that! My small group always supports me and prays for me. They all are another backbone for me when I am getting weak. (not to say that no one else is)
It is late and I am tired, I have two mid-terms tomorrow, and not to mention work. Thanks for reading! :)
Have a goodnight all,
km!:)
I am very stressed this week, but I know that God will never give me more than I can handle. I would like to know how/why God thinks I can handle this much. At times I wish he would trust me with less. I know that is not the right attitude to have, that I should not complain, but I have to do things one at a time. I can't do everything this week. I am forever grateful for my small group, Devon, Kayla, and Kevin(in no particular order), for they never fail to put a smile on my face. Kevin does an exceptional job at this. He has a way to make me smile when I don't want to. Of course Kayla and Devon always know a joke, or memory to tell me to make me laugh. The three of them support me and listen to my venting and rambling. I love them all very much for that! My small group always supports me and prays for me. They all are another backbone for me when I am getting weak. (not to say that no one else is)
It is late and I am tired, I have two mid-terms tomorrow, and not to mention work. Thanks for reading! :)
Have a goodnight all,
km!:)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The seventh day of March, the first post of my blog.
March 7, 2010
Well, this is the first blog I have done in a long time and must say I am stoked about it. Writing is such a great escape and easy way to express so many things. I have to admit that I am scared that I will not be able to write everyday, due to an insane schedule but I will try my hardest to keep up.
First off, I suppose I will introduce myself for those of who don't know me. I am girl who just so happens to love a boy. Well, a few boys. Jesus, for so many reasons, dying for me is a major factor as to why I love him so. My dad, for many reasons also, he is my father. Although he makes me mad sometimes he is still the best daddy a girl could ask for. I love Otis, he is my dog, and in a way my best friend. (cheesy, silly and weird? yes, I know.) Last but certainly not least, I love the wonderful boyfriend of mine, Kevin, there are many reasons for me to love him too. He is one of my best friends and I hate being away from him. He suits my dorky-ness very well. He's incredible. :) I have the best friends in the world. I would do anything for them. Kayla is my best sister friend. She has been my sister since I was born and my best friend since about 8th grade when we stopped the sibling fights and hatred. I think this information will suffice for today.
I am sorry to say that will have to conclude my entry for today, I might continue on tonight, but right now I have to get ready for church! I love my church, Northbridge. It is wonderful, full of love and passion for Christ and others.
Thanks for reading and until next time,
have a blessed day!
km!
:)
Well, this is the first blog I have done in a long time and must say I am stoked about it. Writing is such a great escape and easy way to express so many things. I have to admit that I am scared that I will not be able to write everyday, due to an insane schedule but I will try my hardest to keep up.
First off, I suppose I will introduce myself for those of who don't know me. I am girl who just so happens to love a boy. Well, a few boys. Jesus, for so many reasons, dying for me is a major factor as to why I love him so. My dad, for many reasons also, he is my father. Although he makes me mad sometimes he is still the best daddy a girl could ask for. I love Otis, he is my dog, and in a way my best friend. (cheesy, silly and weird? yes, I know.) Last but certainly not least, I love the wonderful boyfriend of mine, Kevin, there are many reasons for me to love him too. He is one of my best friends and I hate being away from him. He suits my dorky-ness very well. He's incredible. :) I have the best friends in the world. I would do anything for them. Kayla is my best sister friend. She has been my sister since I was born and my best friend since about 8th grade when we stopped the sibling fights and hatred. I think this information will suffice for today.
I am sorry to say that will have to conclude my entry for today, I might continue on tonight, but right now I have to get ready for church! I love my church, Northbridge. It is wonderful, full of love and passion for Christ and others.
Thanks for reading and until next time,
have a blessed day!
km!
:)
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