• Journal – if you could register for any party, what would it be? Why? If you don’t know, what are the most important issues to you - what would your perfect party look like?

If I could register for any party, I would register independent. I have no preference for a party, so I would register this way in order to make sure that I am not voting for a party just because I am registered for them. All I would look for is how the candidates act, and I would look for their knowledge of issues in the United States and their plans to fix them.

Prop 10 PSA

The Proposition PSA that Alec and I did about Proposition 10 is on Alec's blog at:

http://theworks-thinkingman.blogspot.com/

What Is An American

An American is someone who belongs to this country - not just legally, but in efforts and spirit. An American appreciates the freedoms that come with this country as well as support its ideals and push to question the government. An American votes because they want their voice heard and an American makes sure that the right people get into office and do not become corrupt. An American has an opinion for the sake of having an idea of what they want.

Ethan's Party

Health Care
Much like Canada, Health Care should be at the forefront of budget spending. United States citizens should not have to pay for ailments in health, as well as be treated fairly. It will not be as easy to sue Doctors for malpractice as it is now, because this party promises the regular testing of Doctor's practices to ensure proper procedures.

Abortion
Abortion has constantly been a hot topic, but there is only one logical answer. It should be the choice of every woman to decide what their future should be. Abortion will be allowed for individuals who choose, as well as giving the freedom to minors to perform an abortion with parent notification. Additionally, aborted fetuses will have their stem cells used for stem cell developement and research.

LGBT
It is not the responsibility of citizens to determine what sexuality and preference is acceptable. Each citizen of the United States will have the opportunity to come up with an individualized opinion of their own sexual and physical preference.

Education
Next to Health Care, Education is extremely important. The No Child Left Behind Act needs to be eliminated from the governmental system, and a new plan that favors more creative subjects such as Art and Music will have increased funding to allow for more developement. Schools will have one of the largest budgets out of any government funded building and more stress will be put on properly treating teachers and giving benefits with their employment.

Issues

1. Energy: I feel like the candidates spend enough time on this issue, but I feel like they never do it for the right reasons. I don't care that it makes us economically dependant, because that isn't a deterrent to enough of the population to make a change. The real issue is what it's doing to the environment and that the gas company lobbies are holding down real progress.

2. Israel: Not too many of the candidates want to step on the toes of pro-Israel activists, but they just don't care enough about its ally. We need a candidate who is willing to protect its only ally in a very unstable region at any cost because of its technological and economical benefits.

3. Stem Cell Research: This is one of the most important advances in finding cures for some of nature's harshest ailments, but we are too bogged down by lobbies from the extremist views. I want a candidate who will be more willing to make this an important way to progress in medicine and health.

Green Party

History

The Green Party is a political party which was first established in Tasmania in 1972. Organization in the United States began in 1984, inspired by the success of the German Green party. In 2007, it became the third modern party with a Federal Elections Commission-recognized Congressional Campaign Committee. The Green Committees of Correspondence were the first Green political organization in the United States, forming in 1984 and eventually becoming known as the Greens/Green Party USA. This organization still exists. The first candidates to run on the Green Party ticket in the United States were Wes Hare (NC), Joel Schechter (CT), and Richard Wolff (CT), who ran for local offices in 1985. Official ballot access was not achieved, however, until Jim Sykes' run for governor in Alaska in 1990.

Idealogy

The Green Party of the United States emphasizes environmentalism, non-hierarchical participatory democracy, social justice, respect for diversity, peace and nonviolence. Their "Ten Key Values," which are described as non-authoritative guiding principles, are as follows:Grassroots democracySocial justice and equal opportunityEcological wisdomNon-violenceDecentralizationCommunity-based economics and economic justiceFeminism and gender equityRespect for diversityPersonal and global responsibilityFuture focus and sustainability

Famous Party Candidates

In the year 2000, the ASGP nominated Ralph Nader and Winona LaDuke for president and vice-president again. This time, the pair were on 44 state ballots and received 2,883,105 votes, or 2.7% of all votes cast. Nader's strong showing in several states solidified the changes in the Green Party from an "anti-party party" to an organization primarily dedicated to electoral campaigns. In particular, that was the widespread understanding of thousands of recruits to the party, as it went through an unprecedented rate of growth.

Site for the National Convention

The 2008 Green National Convention took place on July 10-14, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois at the Palmer House Hilton and Symphony Center. This served as both the venue for the Presidential Nominating Convention and the Annual Meeting of the Green Party of the United States.

Slogans

"Under Republicans, Man exploits Man. Under Democrats, it's just the opposite." - Earl Gray"The Green Party is the party for the 21st Century""In a nutshell: Ecology and Community!"

Political Platforms

War on Terrorism

The use of Homeland Defense monies to spy on citizens exercising First Amendment rights is particularly onerous, as are "sneak and peek" provisions of the U.S.A.P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act that allows surveillance of libraries, readers, the Internet, and computer users. Basic rights ensuring individual privacy are under attack. The U.S. government's use of high tech tools, including intrusive monitoring, data mining and analysis to identify and disrupt citizen activists, should be seen as an attack on fundamental rights of an engaged, active citizenry.The Green Party calls on Congress and the courts to reign in constitutional and civil liberties abuses that have become prevalent in the Bush administration and the John Ashcroft Justice Department

Healthcare

Medicare, which provides health care for over 40 million Americans, is at risk. We would vigorously pursue savings and cuts from abundant waste and fraud, eliminate unnecessary services that benefit providers more than patients, and rein in pharmaceutical industry price-gouging. National measures to reduce work hours, promote cyber-commuting for work, and increased vacation time for workers will significantly improve the public's health. We advocate access for all, irrelevant of income, to stress management training such as meditation techniques, yoga, tai chi, qigong, and biofeedback. improving the quality of our nation's food supply and our personal eating habits will lessen the strain on our health care system. We advocate subsidies for organic foods, as well as removing sugar/caffeine snacks from schools. This could save our nation as much as $700 to $850 billion of the $1 trillion annual health costs. We support the teaching of holistic health approaches and, as appropriate, the use of complementary and alternative therapies such as herbal medicines, homeopathy, acupuncture, and other healing approaches.

Education

Educational funding formulas at the state level need to be adjusted as needed to avoid gross inequalities between districts and schools. Educational grants should provide balance to ensure equal educational access for minority, deprived, special needs, and exceptional children. In higher education, federal college scholarship aid should be increased and offered to any qualified student. It is time to stop disinvesting in education, and start placing it at the top of our social and economic agenda. We oppose vouchers, or any scheme that will transfer money out of the public school system. That course only leads to a separate and unequal educational system. We also oppose charter schools or the administration of public schools by private, for-profit entities. We advocate state funding for day care that includes school children under the age of ten when after-school programs are not available. Classroom teachers at the elementary and high school levels should be given professional status and salaries comparable to related professions requiring advanced education, training and responsibility. We support tuition-free post secondary (collegiate and vocational) public education. Until tuition-free schooling is available to all, student loans should be available to all students attending college, and should be repayable as a proportion of future earnings rather than at a fixed rate. The Leave No Child Behind Act must be repealed, especially the section that gives the military access to student records.

Environmental Justice

Devoting greater efforts to full enforcement and prosecution of environmental crimes. Funding environmental crime units for district attorneys in counties with significant pollution problems.Imposing a moratorium on siting new toxic chemical or waste facilities in those counties with the highest percentage exposure to hazardous substances. Not forcing workers to choose between a hazardous job or no job at all. Preventing communities, especially low-income or minority communities, from being coerced by governmental agencies or corporations into siting hazardous materials, or accepting environmentally hazardous practices in order to create jobs.

Abortion - Reproductive Rights

Women's right to control their bodies is non-negotiable. It is essential that the option of a safe, legal abortion remains available. The "morning- after" pill must be affordable and easily accessible without a prescription, together with a government-sponsored public relations campaign to educate women about this form of contraception. Clinics must be accessible and must offer advice on contraception and the means for contraception; consultation about abortion and the performance of abortions, and; abortion regardless of age or marital status. We endorse women's right to use contraception and, when they choose, to have an abortion. This right cannot be limited to women's age or marital status. Contraception and abortion must be included in all health insurance policies in the U.S., and any state government must be able to legally offer these services free of charge to women at the poverty level. Public health agencies operating abroad should be allowed to offer family planning, contraception, and abortion in all countries that ask for those services. We oppose our government's habit of cutting family planning funds when those funds go to agencies in foreign countries that give out contraceptive devices, offer advice on abortion, and perform abortions.

LGBT

The Green Party affirms the rights of all individuals to freely choose intimate partners, regardless of their sex, gender, or sexual orientation. We support the recognition of equal rights of persons gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender to housing, jobs, civil marriage, medical benefits, child custody, and in all areas of life provided to all other citizens. We support legislation against all forms of hate crimes, including those directed against people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, and intersex.

Immigration

Preferential quotas based on race, class, and ideology should be abandoned for immigration policies that promote fairness, non-discrimination and family reunification.The Green Party calls for permanent border passes to all citizens of Mexico and Canada whose identity can be traced and verified. Work permits for citizens of Mexico and Canada must be easily obtainable, thereby decriminalizing the act of gainful employment. This action would help eliminate exploitation of undocumented persons by criminals engaged in human contraband (coyotes) and unethical employers. It would also help ensure that taxes will be paid in each corresponding nation per its laws. These measures will also help temporary residents from Mexico and Canada to secure driving privileges and liability insurance. Labor laws must be adjusted to take into account seasonal foreign workers. Employers must provide full rights to wages and health benefits to immigrant workers who make voluntary contributions to pension plans and pay Social Security taxes. We advocate an end to employer sanctions, which have been shown to hurt not only undocumented workers but also U.S.-born workers (especially those of color). A fair and equitable legalization program will provide equal access to working people of all nationalities, not tied to a specific employer or guest worker program. Programs involving temporary worker status must include the option of permanent residency for immigrants already in the U.S. and protection of migrant worker savings. Greens oppose "English-only" legislation. We would advocate legislation to ensure that federal funds marked for communities to provide ESL (english as second language) training, and health and social support services to immigrants actually go to them. When funds are spent in other areas, immigrants are being deprived of benefits that they earn as productive workers in their communities.

If I Were 18

If I Were 18...
And able to vote, I wouldn't this year. The two candidates are definitely choosing between the lesser of two evils and I really don't like to think that either one of them will lead our country. I would vote for things that supercede president, then I would choose to act on those rather then on the choosing of a bad candidate. It just makes me feel hopeless to think that these are our options.

PSA Response

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mVaSZdwPQY This PSA was a very bad PSA for several reasons:
1. The target audience of the PSA is very limited. The "perfect text message" seems to only appeal to a specific teen audience, one who will not be able to vote in the next coming election anyways
2. There was an attempt for celebrities to be used in place of having just normal people, but the celebrities chosen were not famous or distinguishable
3. The video's production qualities and dated technologies keep this from becoming a reusable advertisement

The Government

In class, we had a debate over who should be allowed to vote, following the original topic of how important it is for people to actually vote. I feel that voting is a privilege that should be exercised by every citizen of this country, but as a nation, we are not intellectually ready to make a worthwhile decision. My biggest ploy on how I feel this should be changed would be to have a system set up that required voters to watch School House Rock, an example of an interesting video that will inform voters on what is necessary to know before voting, and an unbiased candidate profile at every booth. Voting is important, but educated voting is that much more.

Final Book Report....ever

Clavell, James. Shōgun. United States/United Kingdom. Delacorte Press (US) Hodder & Stoughton (UK): 1975.

I selected this Far East meets Western civilization tale for two reasons: 1) I've heard great reviews on how intense the book is, and how amazing the writing style is 2) It was the book that stood out most out of Ross Roemer's library, due to its ripped off covers. This novel, written in 1975, takes place in Japan, exclusively.

This book starts off with English-born Captain John Blackthorne getting shipwrecked onto the shores of a foreign island nation. Blackthorne is a smart individual, but holds a grudge and makes a rash decision in the beginning of the book to insult a Samurai. He is then separated from his Dutch crew, who he commanded because of the English-Dutch relationship, and is taken under the care of the Daimyo (a feudal lord) named Toranaga. Blackthorne is given the title Anjin, meaning "pilot," by the Japanese because they can't pronounce his name. When Blackthorne is interviewed by the Daimyo, he informs the Daimyo that there is a split in Christianity (between the Catholics and Protestants) and accidentally reveals that there is a weakness to the ruling nations that hold sovereign trading rights to Japan (Portugal and Spain).

Blackthorne is thrown in prison by Toranaga to prevent a rival Daimyo, Ishido, to attain the Anjin. Blackthorne, with his ability to learn languages (resulting in his knowledge of Latin, Dutch, English, Spanish and Portuguese), attains knowledge of some Japanese dialogue in order to be understood. The Japanese, in turn, are torn over Blackthorne's presence; He is a cultural outsider, a leader of a disgracefully filthy and uncouth group of rabble (his ship's crew), but he is also a formidable sailor, and navigator. Everything from there on out is Blackthorne attempting to gain Japanese respect.

John Blackthorne is a tall, built, Englishman with blue eyes and a set jaw. He is incredibly intelligent and his quick wits and deductive personality allows him to live throughout the book. He is constantly persecuted by the Portuguese and the Spanish because they own Japan, and is increasingly like throughout the novel by the Japanese because of his willingness to adapt to the foreign culture. Blackthorne, like most Englishmen, commands a ship better than any other of the pilots in Japan and his talents and abilities are deemed valuable. Constantly he faces dilemmas on how to approach cultural correctness; he falls in love with the wife of a Samurai, tries to create a trade route for the English and surpass the racial and political hate that is held between all who are from different nations.

This book was beyond incredible. It was a masterpiece. Clavell created a world of individual characters with background information on each motive. Every character has a soliloquy that explains their actions and their motivations. Clavell is well knowledgeable in the disputes between the Portuguese, Spanish, English, and Dutch and is able to exhibit it. The book is filled with funny moments of cultural differences as well as serious essential questions. A main issue that Clavell constantly questions is racial tolerance; constantly he shows the friendship between a Portuguese pilot, Rodriguez, and Blackthorne and tries to break down the barriers of racism. He questions why people of nations at war are required to hate each-other; aren't they just wars between two people who have a lot of power?

James Clavell also wrote a whole series of "Asian" books. The next book in this series is called Tai-Pan which is a novel written about European and American traders who move into Hong Kong in 1841 following the end of the first Opium War. He also wrote other books about Iran, Japanese POW camps in Singapore and Japan in the twentieth century. I plan to read more of these books because of the quality writing style in this text.

The Dekkers Music

The origins of Reggae music are in the Caribbean. In the 1950’s, the youth of Jamaica started to turn away from the radio that they were able to listen to, and started listening to the music from New Orleans. They could pick it up on good weather days, and could sometimes here the powerful Miami radio station WINZ. They were playing records by Amos Milburn and Rosco Gordon, and they could sometimes here some of the famous New Orleans artists like Fats Domino and Champion Jack Dupree. It is said that since these radio stations were so far away, the music was slowed down, playing an important role in reggae music. There are many myths as to the word reggae, some say it was from the 1968 Pyramid single by Toots and the Maytals called “Do the Reggay”. Other myths are it came from the word “streggae”, Kingstone Street slang for prostitute, Bob Marley said it was the Spanish word for “the king music”, and others say it represents the beat of the music. By the 70’s, reaggae was starting to pick up in the US, with songs like “Israelites” by Desmond Dekker and the Aces, “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” by Jimmy Cliff, and “Mother and Children Reunion” by Paul Simon.

For our cover song, we chose "Driven to Tears" written by Sting of the Police. This song reflects the use of political standpoint in Reggae music, as well as the Police's reggae influences. The song has uptempo reggae beats mixed with all of the Police's influences, paired with lyrics doubting the world's attitude towards the third world.

Our original song is called "Good Morning" written by Ethan Stern/Alex Arvidson/Michael Arenson.

Current Event: Cocaine and Nature

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7413454.stm

The Columbian and British governments cooperated on trying to fight the war on drugs. The conclusion of their research was that Cocaine trades were ruining the rainforest. The Columbian Prime Minister said that: although drug use since 1988 has decreased as a whole, Cocaine use is the only drug that has been mroe frequently used.

I think that the two governments are completely missing the point. The point isnt to find out what drug is being more frequently used or why it is affecting the rainforest, but it is to try and figure out how economies that are using drugs as a crutch (like Columbia) can change without completely crippling the country. It's all about finding a creative solution, and this meeting completely missed the point.

VOOOOCAB 17

The cardiovascular system is a tortuous enigma.

A great example of situational comedy: Seinfeld.


In four-chambered hearts, the two auricles move synchronously


The school day seemed interminable; when would it end?


We had worked laboriously and with our best efforts because we knew we wanted to see the end product.


Their son was reticent and was relucatant to tell his parents anything.

According to Thoreau, Walden Pond had more tranquility to him than any other place.

She had noticed that there was a stalker in the proximity.

Technology and High in the Classroom

http://www.mercurynews.com/community/ci_9034769?nclick_check=1&forced=true

Matt Baxter, a writer for Mercury News - a newspaper in the Silicon Valley- complains in this article about the use and development of technology in the classroom. He reiterates that more money is being spent on keeping up the latest technology than actually just utilizing what we originally had. He made a great point about spending $30,000 dollars on new textbooks just because something was slightly changed.

I feel that he is pretty justified in what he is saying. It does make sense that we should be less obsessive about teaching elementary school kids how to type quickly or how we should be spending less time teaching them basic Microsoft office skills, but he is superseding the real issue. As a race, we fear being obsolete. The school system has went out of its way many times in the past century to keep up with the quickly growing field of technology.

What I really disagreed with in this article was a single sentance: "Meanwhile, sports, the arts and real school supplies suffer mightily." This is rediculous; sports and arts budgets can not be put in the same sentance. Sports has NOT suffered at all in the development of technology in the education world, but art has for other reasons. Instead of making an argument for increasing sports AND arts, just stick to the actual ones that are being hindered.

As a side note, Matt did touch on something that was nostalgic for me. I do remember that the best part of any science class was Bill Nye the Science Guy videos and the best part of math was playing on the computers. Technology may not be neccessary, but it sure did make learning fun.

Sounds - Journal

Students talking upstairs
Pop pop slam
Chatter around
Questions
Comments
Orders
Info
Attitude
Slam
Something braking
Doors opening
"Hello"
snap snap
pitter patter of a step
"Hey jew man"
Chatter

All of these are sounds of a kid in a working school.

What is Art? - Journal

Art is the visual expression of the mind.

Appreciating art, on the other hand, is the ability to translate it. Only the eyes of the beholder can define if something is insightful or beautiful.

Any expression of feeling and emotion is art, which includes: painting, graffiti, sculpting, writing or making music.

Art is a neccessary key to unlocking the door of sanity.

Art is invariably intertwined with culture and religion.

Gay Marriage: Legal

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gaymarriage16-2008may16,0,6182317.story

In California, the state government overturned the ban on same sex marriages. Homosexual couples throughout the state were overjoyed by the ruling. Conversely, many of the conservative Californians hope for a re-ban on the union, and that there should be a vote to illegalize it.

I think this is a great step for changing the political focus of the state. Instead of focusing on stupid issues like why we should be preventing people from getting married, we can focus on the state debt and other localized problems. What shocks me is how adament people are with trying to actually re-ban the marriage. How does it affect them? Does it really matter how other people decide to choose their sexuality?

SAME- School Arts and Music Education

Mission Statement: “To perpetuate music and the arts into schools’ core curriculum.”

Click here for website

Vocab Week X

I can't explain my infatuation with medicine. It's incredible to see all the medical wonders of man.


An incantation seems to be a very popular thing at religious ceremonies, but it is not limited to such.


It seems that all of our futile efforts boil down to one thing: we are all aware of our own boundaries and attempts to supersede them end in failure.



Michael told me the good news; conversely there was a caveat.


My leg was in an awkward angle, and when someone landed on it, it shattered.



Though I was never amorous, she knew how I felt.



My mind was in a state of ecstasy when the chocolate hit my lips;good stuff.


The termination of the contract was done in acquiesce; both sides had agreed on all terms.

Sinclair, Upton. The Jungle. New York. Doubleday, Jabber & Company: February 28, 1906.

Through all the hype, I decided to pick up this book from both recommendations and disgust of the plot. The book is a fictional account of an immigrant in a meatpacking city. The book was written in defense of immigrants and the honest man while it seems to lean towards a communist reach.

The book is centralized in the city of Packingtown, a city devoted to the meatpacking industry in the mid-west. The city has been a hub for all sorts of immigrants, from the Irish to the Slovaks and the Lithuanians. The book follows Jurgis, a strong youth from Lithuania with a will to work, who is trying to make enough money to establish his marriage to his sweetheart. Sinclair tends to create the most disgusting of all settings throughout this book, including extreme evils such as inhumanity, corruption and grotesque images, showing the capitalistic world in all its beauty.

Grandmother Majauszkiene is my favorite personality in the book. She is one Lithuanian who has been able to last in Packingtown longer than all the immigrants that have had to flee. She provides the ideal position, a woman whose son was able to actually pay off the house sold to them, and now lives by herself. Though she would seem to wish to help Jurgis and his family, she seems very cold to them, and represents a very sardonic, biting character.

I honestly did not like this novel. The whole text was a long whiny rant. Sinclair must have had a bad experience in America, because he really has nothing good to say. Between the corrupt lawyers who work with real-estate agents to swindle poor people to the unforgiving companies, Sinclair really makes America look like a fate even worse than hell. The redeeming qualities of this book, including great plot development and realistic characters, are trumped by Upton's lack of humane images.

This book really puts Capitalism and Racism into a clear light. THe book shows the clear evils of Capitalism, in the extreme cases of bloody jobs and severely unfair worker treatment, coincide with those of racism and a lack of acceptance towards immigrants. The attitude towards the immigrants in the book seemed very similar to those that are being expressed against those coming up from the border.

In another note, the book highlights the inhumane practices of the meatpacking industry, which must mean that Sinclair was supporting vegetarianism. I didn't really like how he portrayed the worst of the worst to make a point, but then again, those were different times.

Current Event: US Erects Wall

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/world/middleeast/18sadrcity.html?ex=1366257600&en=a151aa60f77a7c80&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

The United States army has determined that the best solution to their infiltration of militia fighters from Sadr City. The giant, cement wall has been constructed since last week, and many of the soldiers feel it is the right solution. Though many residents of other cities also with cement wall partitions have complained about a feeling of isolation, the walls have prevented insurgents from attacking the city.

Is this the 1600's? We're building a stone wall to prevent our enemies? This seems more ludicrous than going into Iraq in the first place. Of all things to do, while we're in someone else's country, it would seem that we shouldn't be erecting large barriers that will affect the population's living style. Think of it like someone's house. If you visited a friend's house, you might take some food or use their Tv, but you wouldn't go to Ikea, buy a furniture set, and then build it in your friend's house. Why should Iraq be any different?

Vocab Week T

I definitely revere all of those musical icons who made their way through the psychedelic years while avoiding the mass drugs that were passed around.

Slander is a sin in Judaism.

I tend not to squander my weekly allowance, but lately I haven't been so disciplined.


Those who appear to be forlorn are not as alone as they think they are.

I am unable to quell my thirst for knowledge.

Counter-Culture and Jerry

Counter-Culture is a movement, mostly based in the mid to late sixties, that was based upon the principles of rebellious natures, much like generations before. Like their parents, they resisted all strains of society that the previous generation had placed on them through art, drugs and protest. The movement is famous for acts such as the Who, who represented the Mod movement in England, and the Beatles, who were the first band to incorporate their drug experiments into their recording techniques. Counter-culture included artist Andy Warhol, who's brand of artwork which featured regular items in order to represent the view of going against the idea of art in the existentialist period, and Janis Joplin, who's singing style stood in far contrast from the accepted idea of how a female singer sounded and composed herself. The Counter-Culture era included mass protests of the generation against the war that was being readily supported by the parents and politicians, including the Cold and Vietnam wars. Many coincide the end of the era with the death of Janis Joplin, October 4, 1970.

I specifically chose Jerry Garcia, Andy Warhol's painting for the Velvet Underground's debut album, and the peace symbol because they all represent everything Counter-culture was about. The Mod generation of England and the Hippy generation of America believed heavily in creating a universal peace in the world, especially in contrast to the quickly spiraling Vietnam Crisis. Jerry Garcia, who's music was heavily influenced by the popular counter-culture drug, "LSD," was beneficial in spreading awareness of the movement and promoted its ideals. The quote chosen, "Hope I Die Before I Get Old," was penned in the Pete Townshend-written track, "My Generation," which was the Who's idea of what being in Counter-Culture was all about.

Gaza sniper kills Israeli Security Aid

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/world/middleeast/05mideast.html?ref=world

In Gaza, a sniper aimed at an Israeli Security Aid and wounded him. He was breifing a visiting group of Canadian Jews and was severly injured. Many Palestinians claimed responsibility for the shooting including Hamas and the Army of The Nation.

What? I...don't understand. Not only do people view Gaza in a positive light and blame Israel for its problems but they also play the news like a puppet. They claimed responsibility? A large quantity of orginizations say that they WANTED this man shot? I just don't understand how the world can watch Israel with such an ignoring eye, it makes me confused.

Wish Making

1. Be a Musician
2. Be a chef
3. Go to the Moon
4. Visit all 50 states
5. Skate like Tony Hawk

This talk really just made me depressed. What I realized is that some people have no motivation and some people do. Unfortunately, I feel completely unmotivated compared to this guy who not only went into space but worked with Imagineers at Disneyland. What this really showed me is that I am too short to get over the brick walls that prevent us from getting to my dreams.

I also felt that this placed a large emphasis on being self-indulgent. Everything shouldn't be done only for oneself; there should be a balance between caring for others and caring about oneself. The guy tried to appear as selfless as possible, but I felt he was extremely narcissistic and self-centered. Everything he did seemed to be done to benefit him.

Plus his jokes were terrible.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Due to college coming around the corner, I decided to choose a book, for this report, that would be linked to an interest of mine. I've always been fascinated by the inner workings of the brain and the environment around it, and what better of a book than Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Although I have been told that this book is a depressing novel(and a dry one at that), I have also been told that this book is one of the few I should read in my lifetime. The book is a fictional tale, loosely based on an experience Kesey had at a hospital in Eugene, Oregon. The entire book takes place in an asylum in Oregon, except for two chapters on an excursion to the docks, during the mid-fifties.

The story is told from the narrative of Chief Bromden, who has trained the entire faculty and inmates to believe he is deaf and dumb. Due to his "inability" to hear, many discussions between the nurses and aides are clearly observed by Bromden. After witnessing everything from the electroshock therapy and the lobotomies that have occurred over the past ten years, a new kind of inmate steps in with the ability to change the entire ward. Randal McMurphy, a red-haired nut-case, creates havoc in the ward, but utilizes it to free the inmates from the Catch-22 situation created by the cold-hearted Nurse Ratched.

The thing I liked about this book was that Ken Kesey does a great job of analyzing how the human mind works, and how society treats the individual. Kesey tries his hardest to show that a Catch-22 arises out of the parameters we call life: only a sane man would question authority and those who fight society are deemed insane. Though the book could be quite dry at times and superfluous (two chapters about a fishing trip for 50 pages?), the overall message of the passages and the intent of each character is well stated and designed. Kesey also does a good job of incorporating humor and sexuality into the novel.

My favorite character throughout the entire book was Bromden. Although he suffers from extreme schizophrenia and dementia, including hallucinations about fog machines in the hospital, he is the most accurate depiction of the hospital. His "deaf" ears happen to hear things that no other patient would, and he has witnessed every part of the ward, from the room where the staff has their meetings to the electroshock room. Kesey created a deep character, utilizing flashbacks at very appropriate times, to create the emotionally difficult Bromden, who, after suffering the loss of his tribe and watched his father turn into an alcoholic at the hands of his controlling white wife, is able to try and question authority without being as outspoken as McMurphy.

Ken Kesey is an interesting character. Throughout his years, he wrote many famous books, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Right Stuff. After graduating from University of Oregon with a degree in journalism, he volunteered for the CIA's "Project Multra," which resulted in Kesey's mass intake of psychedelic drugs, including LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and DMT. Kesey's involvement with the drugs led to a habit of throwing big parties known as "acid tests" and inviting (in the future) famous acts, like the Grateful Dead, to play with the drugs and entertain the drugged-out guests. Kesey was once arrested for drug-possession and faked his own suicide to avoid the police. After escaping from Mexico and returning to the open arms of the police he lived the rest of his life in seclusion. He died in November of 2001 from complications with surgery on the cancerous growth in his liver.

Cat's Cradle: Project Report

Vonnegut, Kurt. Cat's Cradle. United States. Holt, Rhineheart and Winston: 1963.

Though reading this novel was a project requirement, I was previously yearning to read this classic. Cat's Cradle, is a first person, satyrical, anti-war book. The novel takes place on both the island of San Lorenzo and the United States. Many of the events are shaped around the book's original creation, in the mid-sixties, but most ideas in the novel can be applied to current war times.

The main character, John, is composing a book about the creation of the atom-bomb. John chooses to write the book based on the events that occurred to those involved with the deceased creator of the bomb, Dr. Felix Hoenikker. Throughout the book, John meets many different odd characters that affect the author's perspective of the Doctor. Along the way, the narrator begins to get involved in a religion, Bokonism, which was started by a Calypso singer. This dominant, yet illegal religion, helps shift many ideas into a conclusion.

I feel that the most interesting character in the whole novel is that of Dr. Hoenikker's boss, and close colleague, Asa Breed, even if he is not a crucial character. Breed quaintly states in his first appearance that even though he was Hoenikker's supervisor, there was nothing he could do to control the man. This is one of the first of many statements from the character that lead to Vonnegut's strongest character development ever put on paper. Asa unravels to be a man who, even after losing the love of his life to his colleague who proceeded to ignore her love, considers his rival, Hoenikker, to be a great man. He is able to put aside Felix's responsibility for his wife's death and remember the man in a positive light.

This book helps unravel the mystery of practical application. The whole theme of the book deals with the idea that anything can be used for war. Felix is considered one of the most pacifist scientists who only wants to learn for the sake of learning. Unfortunately, the government, displayed by the same democracy that dropped the technology, will always find a way of taking knowledge from scientist's hands and turning them into something to gain an upper advantage in a battle.

Like all of Vonnegut's novels I have read, I enjoyed this novel immensely. Vonnegut never betrays his satyrical sense of reality and his ability to express it. The author has the ability to weave in ludicrous religions and ideas to create an added element of sarcasm and pessimism. Even if the writing was a little less coherent than that of Slaughterhouse-V, it is obvious why this book was Kurt's breakthrough novel. I recommend this to anyone who wants to read a good book.

Current Event of the Day

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/world/middleeast/08mideast.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

This is quite possibly the most depressing news to happen in a while. A former Arab driver from Jerusalem attacked students at a Yeshiva and killed 15 students. The shooter burst in while they were praying and attacked.

What bothers me most about this story was the fact that there were palistinians dancing in the street because of this atrocity. Where is the morality? Where is the sympathy? Fifteen students, who were doing nothing but praying and learning their religion, were shot, and people are celebrating?

I'm so dissapointed with how this is turning out. Why are people against the side that is acting in self-defense? How can the world back such a ruthless terrorist nation with conditions that are at a peak worst.

Lucky Sevensssss Vocab

His state of hubris was infuriating and frustrating; he couldn't even stop bragging about himself for a minute to work on the project.

In deference to my sister's condition, I let her rude comments slide by without making a retort.

As if it weren't hard to tell them apart to begin with, the twins would emulate each-other's behavior, making it impossible.


Though it seems ingrained in culture to an extent that it is natural, folk music is endemic to the United States, and many countries do not know of its artists.

There were many empires throughout the ages that would eliminate aborigine populations in order to help set up its empire.

Israel Threatens Invasion

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7270650.stm

All I can say about this conflict is how scared I am. The Palestinian Propaganda has set up a political quagmire that is unbeatable. The terrorist forces use Israel as a buffer for all bad media by setting up inevitable situations.

Lately, the terrorist Palestinian army has been bombing Ashkelon, and the Israeli government has threatened invasion. Unfortunately, the world will see this as another relentless Israeli attack, such that the common public, which views regular media such as BBC and CNN, will believe that the IDF is attacking helpless civilians and not terrorist forces.

I don't really know what can be done, but I do know that when they are done with Israel and gain the land, they will just move towards the Western World.

Vocab Six(Million)

As she began to get increasingly thin and started to emaciate, we investigated her eating habits and found she had been anorexic.

The invention of the telephone made the telegraph seem outdated and obsolete.

Though he was deciding to take care of himself from now on and have more self-advocacy, he didn't exactly attempt it in a sane way. He decided to come in to work the next day and obviate his problems, which took the form of colleagues.

The Irish have a penchant for having a good time.

My musical tastes may be selective. I feel that they are so selective that I am part of a paucity, one of which is shared by only a handful of people.

Vocab Week 5

Donald Trump is one of the most successful of all businessmen in the world. His acumen for where and when to make the right purchases seem to have paid off.











Many call the militia the greatest and most patriotic act that can be done. Those with the fidelity to defend their beautiful home have been rewarded with recognition and appreciation throughout the life of this country.








His steadfast gaze caught me by surprise; I felt like he was staring right through me.
















The school day can be incredibly long. Each student sitting in a class at the end of the day is waiting for freedom; an emancipation from this learning prison by another being with hands.






Many of the presidential candidates want to do what Bush intended: to bolster the still growing number of troops with additional forces.

Breakfast of Champions

Vonnegut, Kurt. Breakfast Of Champions. United States. Delacorte Press: 1973.

After many people have suggested this book to me, I decided to read "Breakfast of Champions" by Kurt Vonnegut. Most recommendations are based on the fact that this is "my style of humor." This book is a dark, satyrical look at the workings of America and the branch of insanity that is self-derived. The novel takes place during the late sixties, when it was written, and reflects the racial and international tension that was going on at the time. This novel helped me understand the crude and vulgar cohesion that is applied in Vonnegut's brain.

Kilgore Trout, an unsuccessful author, is suddenly and suprisingly called to the Festival for the Arts in Midland City, Ohio. Throughout his travels across the United States, we find that his unpublished and uncredited works, which tell of wonderous astronomical stories, are only published in pornography, who use his literary works to interpret pictures of "wide-open beavers."

While he is travelling, an aging car salesman starts to experience the early stages of schizophrenia. After his wife commits suicide, by drinking Drano, he descends into depression while the world goes crazy around him. After reading one of Trout's stories, he loses all sanity and, while taking the book literally, begins to attack all of his friends and collegues.

I thought that this has been the most enjoyable novel i have read since Catch-22. Vonnegut's trademark dark humor helps the book keep a light-hearted view on a man's plunge into madness. The author uses the novel as a basis for attacking all that is accepted in America, from pop culture to politics. I recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor and a minor interest in the way people work.

This book cleverly deals with the ideas behind insanity and madness. The story is told from two perspectives: one from a peniless author and one from a successful, but insane, car salesman. It seems inevitable, with his wife's death and the tragedies that affect him, that the used car salesman, Dwayne Hoover, would lose his mind.

Each plotline and symbolic item has repetitive representation in the book throughout and all of the psychological aspects of the characters are well defined.

Vonnegut also wrote the controversial war books, "Cat's Cradle" and "Slaughterhouse V," which showcased his simplicity and dark humor. Vonnegut wrote 14 books using similiarly broken up logic and plotlines that meet together to form a story. He is also notorious for throwing theories of story structure and chronology out the window, yet still developing a great book.

Current Event of the Day

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7252010.stm

In China, there is a constant rise of inflation rate of food. Inflation, a term used in economics, encomposses the idea that the value of money is directly tied with supply and demands of the country it is in. The costs of food and the inflation accompanying it are most likely caused by the harsh winter occuring in China currently.

The events in China make me wonder: can a developing country be completely hindered by such a problem? China is well-known as the growing power that many consider to be a future world leader, yet it is being bogged down by troubles that harshly affect most of the population. Each blow in the economy has to be taken at view-point: the country is just too big in population.

China's density in its smallest cities, comprised of no less than three million people, is most likely the biggest problem when it comes to agriculture and produce. The population must be spread out over its country size in order to maximize its ability to survive through famine and economic crises.

Album Review 7

Bob Dylan- Highway 61 Revisited

1 - Like a Rolling Stone*****
2 - Tombstone Blues ****
3 - It Takes a Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train toCry*****
4 - From a Buick 6 **
5 - Ballad of a Thin Man*****
6 - Queen Jane Approximately ****
7 - Highway 61 Revisited ***
8 - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues ****
9 - Desolation Row *****

It's definitely been a while! Time to return with a good album!

I don't know where to start or where to begin! This is considered the quintessential album for anyone whoever listened to Dylan, and it sets a milestone in Rock, when Rock and Roll and Folk crossed paths. Dylan never sounded more confident in not just songwriting, but singing and musicality. Every word he spews out from angry, biting lyrics to trippy eccentric imagery to majestic story telling comes out exactly the way it was ever intended to be. He is backed by spectacular musicianship, including Al Kooper's Organ debut (he literally never played organ before!). Songwise, there are no misses. "Like a Rolling Stone" boasts catchy melodies, interesting hooks and that great organ part from Al. This is most likely Dylan's most famous song, and rightfully so. He spews angry lyricsover upbeat music. "Tombstone Blues" kicks into gear with Mike Bloomfield's raging guitar and loud drumming. Following the angry beats of "Tombstone," Bob kicks into relaxed jam mode, and launches off my favorite song "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry." Not only is the title very long and hard to type, but Dylan lays a lazy bluesy vocal over a relaxed chord progression, with tasteful piano fills and solid drumming. Everything about the song is enjoyable and this album benefits from its flow.

I never really got into "From a Buick 6." The two most bizzare songs in the Dylan catalogue show up in"Ballad of a Thin Man" and "Queen Jane Approximately." In the former, Bob spews out non-sensical lyrics with the most bitter tone which can come out of his mouth (which is pretty damn bitter) and the latter could be about anything! The title track is enjoyable but not the best track on here, but has some very enjoyable sound effects. "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" is basically "Train Pt. 2,"with a laid back feel and catchy rhymes. Highway 61 Revisited ends with the epic storytelling song of the album. "Desolation Row" sets a horribly morbid setting of the "Dusty ol' Trail" whilst Bloomfield fills in space with beautiful guitar leads. There is really no downside to this album.

Vocab Words Again.....

Disseminate (v)
Though we all share a common ancestor, at some point the human race began to disseminate throughout the entire planet.








Austere (adj)
The most symmetrical personality would be that of a person who is the most austere. It is just predictable.








Baleful (adj)
The Penguin is the most sinister and baleful character of any show.








Bigot (n)
One of the strangest creatures, the bigot can be anywhere in the world.























Sanguine (adj)
The most sanguine icon ever was invented in the nineties.

Dr. Jekyll-Hyde

Stevenson, Robertson Louis. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Scotland. Longmans, Green & co: Jan. 1886.

The iconic characteristics of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have penetrated English-speaking society for more than a century. I was curious as to how the ideas originated, and where they come into effect. This book is a revered classic, and I was curious as to why it was so famous.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is less about the actual characters than it is about the inner struggle and turmoil of the being. Jekyll-Hyde, as it is more accurately described, expresses the inner turmoil between sinful urges and moral digression. Both have distinct conflicting ideals that tear the singular being apart emotionally. Each decision and reprocussion are looked at from both perspectives of the same person, and it is important to see Jekyll's view on Hyde's murders and how he views them from a third-person perspective.

I think my favorite character in this whole book is the lawyer, Utterson. Stevenson does well in creating a neutralized main character that helps push the story along. Mr. Utterson has the pleasure of being the holder of both the troubling will and the ability to examine all articles left by Jekyll-Hyde. Utterson is a character that all branch from, and he is the exact synthesis of what a main character should be in a mystery novel.

Many people who tell me they have read this book do not recommend it, and that it is lengthy and long-winded. I completely disagree with this reasoning, due to the proper nineteenth century english giving it a mysterious tone, while each word is excellently spent on the story. The book is short enough to be readable in this format, and long enough to carry the story to an interesting peak. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good psychological account of self-turmoil.

It is important for us to use this book to realize that there is no perfect good or evil. There is never a decision that is clear as a bell, nor is there a decision that should always be made in every situation. Each choice leads to a greater effect, but we must realize that this is not a linear logic, but a cyclical one, and that this book exemplifies a possibility of righting wrongs.

Chad's Chaos

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/world/africa/05chad.html?_r=1&ex=1359954000&en=95d792d2f3897631&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

In Chad, refugees fled the city of Ndjamena, where fighting between the Goverment and Rebel forces has been breaking out. Chad had previously been the main the refuge for those involved in the crisis in Darfur. Nearly a quarter of a million people from Darfur reside in Chad, and almost 200,000 people have been displaced in Chad by the clashes between the goverment and the rebellion.

It surprises me that so much is going on. This isn't front page news! On the front page of the UT is the Super Bowl, followed by the election. Why don't we care about anyone else? These crises are exact reprocussions of our lack of aid to those in need and our apathy towards chaos in the world.

Millions of people are being displaced in Darfur and in Chad, whilest people mainly care about sporting events. Will others show the same apathy if we are in need? Will we show the same apathy toward other countries in other continents? Should we be investigating the causes of the rebellion and the government opposition? Should we figure out what the situation is and help? Or should we just stay in safe, cozy little America?

Vocab 2.0

Eradicate

Some people had an agenda that included the eradication of a specific peoples. Most of the time, they do not succeed.













Erratic

One of my favorite actors happens to be the most erratic in show business. He's done everything from comedy to murder-mystery.



















Euthanasia

Euthanasia doesn't always apply to medical patients; the inevitability of death escapes noone.





















Esoteric

The creation of war seems like an esoteric profession. Nobody really understands it.









Eulogy

Even the most touching eulogy doesn't prevent people from being affected by the fact that there is someone who is deceased.