Reading Log

Biology  Text book
12/5- 30 min
Chapter 7

The Warrior Heir
12/7- 1 hour
Pg. 1-60

The Lord of the Flies
12/8-30 min
Chapter 12 and quotes

Total= 2 hours

Omar's Prompt: Just Your Average Bus Driver

Prompt: The next time you're in a public place such as a coffeehouse, park, or a store observe the people around you. Pick a person, couple, or a group and imagine what their lives might be like. 

Every other day, I look out the window on my way to school and I swear the same bus driver pulls up next to us at the same intersection. I look through the window and see an aged man who seems to have seen a lot of life and then I wonder what kind of life that is. Has he served his country or working because it's what he loves to do? What is he like and what about family? Who is he?

From what I see, he's living a quiet life after a great deal of violence. He served his country and with a great deal of pride judging by the American flag that occupies the space beside his seat. He has a family and a quite nice one by the calm look in his eyes. His wrinkles show a long life and perhaps a long marriage and though all I do look out the window, I feel like I know him. He's that old, wise neighbor that I never had.
 

The Writing Center

The Writing Center helped me in more ways than one. First of all, I was rather... late in setting up my appointment. The last paper we had assigned for the semester was due the night of my appointment so one could say it was last minute. Even though it was so late, Ms. Spaht was able to help me set up a time. They were very flexible which is quite a plus. Another plus would be their helpfulness with my paper. I explained where I was with my paper and what I thought of it. I then read it aloud and that alone helped a great deal and the writing fellow i was working with assisted me by giving feedback that made more confident about my paper and enhanced the writing itself.

The experience as a whole was wonderful. I received help in technical matters as well as those having to do with the flow of the paper as well. I came out felling much better about the assignment as a whole. There was confidence in writing as I was revising. I was happy with the paper I had written and even though i wouldn't credit the writing center with gving me that happiness but the certaintly played a role in it.

Reading log

Science Text
11/21- 30 min, 11/23-30 min, 12/1-45 min
Chapter 5 & 6

Lord of the Flies
11/19-45 min, 11/20- 45 min
Chapter 4-7

The Hot Zone
11/30- 1 hour,  12/1-30 min
Pgs. 200-295

Total since 11/18 = 4 hours 45 min

Reading times

Science Textbook

11/12-30 min 11/14-30 min

The Hot Zone 

11/12-11/14- 30 min

Pgs. 100-200

Lord of the Flies

11/13-1 hour

Chapters 2 & 3

Blog Prompt- Music

Prompt- You can learn a lot about a person through their music. What genres do you enjoy and how does it affect your life?

I have a collective taste in music. I listen to rock, alternative, classical, jazz. I listen pretty much anything that is either 1. Inspiring/ beautiful or 2. Catchy or just plain good music. The only, genre that I can definitively say I enjoy all the time is Alternative rock. I'll run into a ify song here and there but generally I can listen to any band in that genre. The mixture of good beats and excellent vocalists makes for a type of music that I can just sit down and listen to all day.

Music influences my life in a few major ways. One being that it relaxes me. I could sit down, put in my ear buds and close my eyes, putting the whole day behind me. I sure I would be certifiably insane by now if I didn't have music. Secondly, I like haring my music with others. Once you find someone else who likes your music, you'll find you have a lot in common with that person. I cannot imagine a life without music.

Free Post- Ideas for Short Stories, Please Help!

Most of you have probably heard about the short story contest that pertains to the problems of today. I'm having quite a bit of trouble settling on a single idea. I could use some help in deciding so hopefully you all can help. Feel free to comment your own ideas as well (or use some of mine, just tell me before you do)

________________________________________________________________________________

1. Global warming- The worlds oceans are encroaching on the islands that were once great continents and people are rushing to makeshift cities that have sprung up in the only places not underwater

2. Oil dries up- All oil reserves are empty. The most powerful are the ones who control alternative fuels and energy sources. Wars break out for the remaining energy sources and people live in a dark world (mostly)

3. Technology controls us- Eventually all physical contact will be blocked by screens and technological devices. No more human interaction.

4.Radical Weather- Increased ocean temperature causes enormous storms until the entire world is engulfed by rain and wind.

5. Super Bacteria- The increased use of antibiotics on wounds and in  people has caused a strain of bacteria to become immune to all antibiotics known to man.   

Free Post: Genetically Modified Kittens

So recently I read a sci-fi short story and it far surpasses anything I've ever read in weirdness. It began with a simple scene in which a group of guys were riding in a car towards... something. The biggest man is bawling which is weird. Eventually they reach a stopping place and search for... guess what... genetically modified kittens.

Apparently in the future people are addicted to kittens who are made to be cuter than ever. This mammoth of a man is crying because he doesn't have his kitten and these guys are driving to go pick another one up from a vending machine. I don't even know what to think anymore.   

Deserted Island Simulation + Reading Times

Upon reflection, I found the simulation to be very interesting. At the start, we were disorganized and had trouble identifying a leader. There was a lot of talk but very little action. It wasn't until the development of the fork-passing that there was any kind of organization. A few good ideas came up and sooner or later we had a working idea that everyone could agree on. We would split up the kids on the deserted island into to different functional groups with certain numbers of younger kids to avoid chaos.

It seemed like a wonderful idea at first, but in the real world... I'm not quite sure it would work in reality. Kids are the best at following rules but on the other hand the plan was incredibly organized so if there really was a situation like this, as long as we  kept our cool, it seems like we could get along pretty well. I thought it was a very intriguing experience.

Sci-fi Short Stories
10/7- 30 min

Science Textbook
10/7- 30 min
Chapter 4

The Hot Zone
10/10-1 hour 15 min
Pg. 1-75

Total= 2 hours 15 min

Reading Log

Sci-Fi Short Stories
11/1- 30 min, 11/3- 30 min

AP World History Textbook
11/3-30 min
Pgs. Chapter 6 & 7

Fire
11/3-30 minutes
Pgs. 300-330

Total= 2 hours

Science Fiction- "The Man Who Betrayed Turing"

This short was weird. It was probably one of the weirdest I've ever read. I don't know what I expected in this story but it was definitely not what I got. From the very start,  I was met with a very interesting beginning. There was a man who wasn't human and another who was brought from the past to live in a world after the destruction of the human race. The plot of the story was going nowhere and the ending was unexpected.

Nonetheless the story was good. It was masterfully written and very dreamlike. I enjoyed readding the story no matter how confused I was. I don't normally read sci-fi so this was an interesting experiment. 

Reading Response- The Occurance at Oak Creek Bridge + Reading

I found this story to be very, very confusing but at the same time allowed the reader to be absorbed by the writing. Usually with a confusing or intricate, it's hard to be fully involved in the story. The interesting part was that it was so confusing that it invoked that feeling that forces you to figure out what's really happening so I ended up reading it twice over. I really enjoyed the writing but the ending though....

I'm not going to go into detail but the ending frustrated me to no end. It was like watching the entire series of your favorite TV show only to have the characters die tragically and BOOM! the season is over. It was a great story but the ending killed me. The man's connection to his family and his wan't for meaning could make for an interesting literary analysis.   

Reading Log 
Science Articles on Microfilaments + Science textbook
10/24-15 min 10/25- 20 min
Fire
10/27-1 hour 30 min
Pgs. 200-300
Total= 2 hours 5 min 

Free Post- Dialogue #2

An excited voice comes on the loud speaker, "And it's all over folks!"
It was all over. My life and career went out the window and I was in the hospital for a week.
I had lost the biggest fight of my life and I had only one choice; I needed a new job.
_____________________________________________________________________________

"So what qualifications do you have for this job?"
I looked nervously at the desk, "I don't have any."
"What?"
A bit more clearly, "I don't have any."
"I see... I guess I can train you, you're hired."
"Really?"
"Yep, Have fun at McSizzleburger!"

Reading Log

Siddhartha
10/14-30 min 10/15-30 min
Pg. 136-246

Fire
 10/20-30 min
Pg. 150-200

Biology
 10/20-30 min
Pg.51-57

Reading Log + Personal Questions

World War Z
10/9-30 min
Pg. 250-300
Fire
10/12-30 min 10/13-1 hour
Pg 1-150
2 hours 

Personal Questions:
When and where do I write best?
How can I improve my writing?
Where does my comfort zone lie?
 

Reading Log

World War Z
10/2-30 min 10/3- 25 min, 10/5-35 min
Pgs. 75-250 
Siddhartha
10/3-20 min, 10/4-10 min
Pgs. 56-120
Short Stories
15 mins
When the Mighty fall by: Jacob DeWitt
30 min
Total: 2 hours and 45 min

Plot line for Nico and Amos (When the Mighty Fall)

Title- When the Mighty Fall

Exposition- From Nico's point of view, sad and depressing, informs the reader of Nico and Amos'... predicament and their attitudes.  Explains Nico's want for something new.

Rising Action-Nico makes a trip to earth, falls in love and the watches over her. Amos finds out and falls in love too. They become increasingly angry

Climax- Nico and Amos Fight. The loved is harmed

Falling action- The gods realize what they've done and the implications

Conclusion- The Loved becomes immortal... but not in the right way. 

Short Stories

Over the course of the past few weeks, I've noticed a pattern emerging in the stories we've been reading. Each has it's own plot or storyline and each is unique but they all have one constant. The stories all contain at least one character that breaks the mold. A character that goes against the norm. They are either the main character or closely followed in the story but none of them are the narrators.
In "Harrison Burgeron"  the main character tries to change the world and literally breaks the mold. "A&P" closely follows 3 girls who blatantly break the rules. "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" follows an old, decrepit angel of sorts as he inadvertently helps a family because of how abnormal he is. In "To Da-duh in Memoriam" we follow a traditional, judging old woman that has a contrasting personality (ex. Judging vs. loving/caring). And finally in "Dry September" we meet a barber in a prejudiced southern town who respects the black population which goes against what the town believes.

Reading log 

The Rise of Nine 

9/24- 45 min, 9/25- 1 hour, 9/26-1 hour 30 min 

Pgs. 1-300

World War Z 

9/28- 1 hour 45 min 

Pgs. 1-75

Total=5 hours

Reading Log

Bitterblue
9/20-30 min, 9/21-30 min, 9/22- 45 min
Pgs. 450-550

Rise of Nine
9/22- 1 hour
Pgs. 1- 80

Total= 2 hours and 45 min

Nico and Amos

Nico
----------------------
My life is always being controlled. No freedom. I've been doing the same thing for thousands of years. My brother owns the day and I follow. Never have I lived my own life. Always living in Amos' shadow, literally. I'm seen as the Lord of the Night, evil, dark, and feared. Whereas Amos is the giver of life and a proud symbol of everything good. So here I am, caged by my own being. I want it to change, but even a god can't control fate.

Amos
-----------------------
I'm a god. Loved and feared. Without me, all is lost, nothing would survive.  Not even my brother can stop me. I am everything! 

Reading Response: Harrison Burgeron

I found this particular short story to be disturbing. It was entertaining, yes but twisted in weird ways. The weirdness began with the paragraph. It's impossible for everyone to be equal. The world just doesn't work like that. Next was finding out what it meant to be "average". You had to be basically mentally retarded and lacking in any sort of athletic skill. The United States is equalized by the "Handicapper General" in the most unorthodox of ways. With blaring sounds for the intelligent and bags and sheets of metal for the athletic. Family's can hardly remember each other and those who break the rules are eliminated.

Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote this story in 1961, had a very queer idea as to what life would be like in 2081. Was that the general consensus in 1961 or was the author juust as weird as the story he created? Though this story was entertaining and funny could it really be a look into the future?
 

Reading Response: Syrain Dilemma

Something that I've been reading about and keeping tabs on is what's happening in the Middle East and Syria. You don't have to read much to form an opinion on this "world" problem. What is happening in Syria, with the rebels and the oppressive government, has been a topic of discussion between whole countries to two friends walking down the street. It has wormed its way into every news outlet in the United States. But as a whole, I find the situation to be ridiculous.

I'm not saying that this fighting shouldn't be stopped and nor am I saying that it is to O.K. use chemical weaponry, but the one thing I'm trying to point out is that this country really needs to keep its hands to itself, so to speak. As a country, we've poked our nose into so many places that we are now expected to be everywhere there's trouble. Soon enough we'll fall apart ourselves. We'll be so divided and spread out that our homeland will be defenseless. The path that were going down is long, dark one with no foreseeable end.

Reading log:
Bitterblue
9/11-15 min, 9/12-30 min, 9/15-1 hour and 15 min
Pgs. 300-450
Syria Articles
9/12-15 min
Literacy Narrative
9/12- 30 min
Total= 2 hours and 15 min

Ebook

Modifications/ Tweaks: My paper is publication ready. I feel that there are no problems with privacy and things of the sort. It's self-explanatory so it needs no prior knowledge or of myself. My literacy narrative is ready for the next level.

Suggestions: To enhance the piece, I could perhaps add mysterious pictures that give the writing a certain "atmosphere". The title could be encased in a thought bubble maybe. I'm not quite sure what to do at this point. I like to keep my options open.

Reading log

Reading Log
Bitterblue
9/5-30 min 9/6-15 min 9/7-1 hour 9/8-30 min
Pg 165-350
Various Blog Posts
9/8-15 min

Total-2 1/12 hours

Update #1

Welcome to my first update for my literacy narrative. This will probably be the first and last update but not for future writing endeavors. So... the title. I found my title to be captivating. Dreams and Anomalies has an intriguing aspect as well as ring that is pleasing to the ears. It also contains the most important parts of my narrative. The dreams are those that we experience in sleep that we can enjoy or those can destroy us. The anomalies refer to those dreams that help me write.

Though it seems weird I oftentimes use anomalous dreams as inspiration. This is basically what my piece revolves around. It describes certain dreams as well my opinions on them and the resulting writings. At the moment, I'm really proud of my writing. I wish I could be this excitd about eerthing I write... 

Watch out!

           In a voice that only little sisters can make, Sonnie screeched, "Finn is trying to run away again!"
           In one respect she was right, but in an other she could've been more wrong, "No, I'm trying to escape!" I screamed, "Don't you see it?!"
           Sonnie ran, chasing me as fast as her 3 year legs could carry her. Her chase ended abruptly when my 4 year old body tackled her to her to the ground.
           "It almost got you, watch out!" I said, though it was muffled by the thick fabric of the carpet. We wrestled and faught as siblings would do.
            My imagination had blended into reality. Dragons patrolled the skies while lions and bears roamed the land. My sister and I desperately tried to save our castle in downtown Mayberry, Virginia.
            I hold those memories dear now that I have a family of my own. My castle is now our castle and the dragons and lions and bears are the dangers that my children face today in our scary world. I hope I can protect them like I did with my sister.

Response to Something Else: Rebel Music

So... my response to something else was the literacy narrative, rebel music. I've always been a fan of music. I don't care if it's rap, classical, anything as long as it has  good beat. I've never really had a preference. I enjoy music for what it is, an escape from the sometimes melancholy rut life can be. When I saw this narrative, I was naturally intrigued by it's title and subject so I read it and a few minutes later I knew I had read something profound.

The author poured his life out onto the pages. You had a sense of who and what he was. I felt like I knew him personally. Maybe it was the similarities between reader and writer or maybe he just has a gift for writing AND music but when I finished, I was left satisfied.

Reading Response: Bitterblue

With the unusual title of Bitterblue, this book definitely catches your attention. It begins with a disturbing prologue that portrays a deeply flawed man with incredible powers ruining his family and the land he rules. Then we unexpectedly are thrown 8 years into the future where the kingdom of Monsea is still recovering from it's former king. The daughter of this awful king is now Queen and is struggling to find herself and repair her kingdom. From what I've read so far, there are so many problems, within Queen Bitterblue and her kingdom, that I have I hard time seeing that any of them will be resolved. All I've read is problem after problem and it seems like soon there will not me any room for resolve or even a climax.

On the other hand, I do see some bright aspects in this dark and somewhat disturbing book. The reintroduction of some familiar characters and the clever way they are blended back in redeem this story a bit. Also, I found the writing to be fun to read and VERY descriptive. So in conclusion, the positive aspects far outweigh the negative ones so overall, I'm really enjoying this book.

 Reading for this week:
Bitterblue
8/27-30min, 8/28-30, 8/29-1 hour
Pg.1-165
Literacy Narratives
8/27-15 min
2 Narratives
Total=2h 15min  

Prologues

I'm sure many of you readers have toyed with the prospect of writing a book. I never have been one for this time consuming activity but I love writing the beginnings, the prologues. The mystery gives ideas that can grow and blossom into things of beauty. So I'm sharing this for your ideas. Please, read and enjoy.

        "Humans have always been a curious race. They tend to be young, reckless and primitive but they possess something that is unique. It’s found within the “hearts” of these beings. It’s known as hope. The basic principle of this “hope” is that even in the face of defeat, they will still try, no matter the cost or the consequence. They will give all they have until there is nothing left to give. This is what makes humans dangerous, it’s what gives them an edge that no other race has. This is why they will survive."

Mysterious you see. Aliens? The future? That's your story to write, so you better get started.

A Scene from my Life

I was running through the darkness, tripping and stumbling my way through the trees. Though light filtered through the canopy above me, the darkness enveloped me. I could barely make way through the twisting, winding path. The mulch beneath my feet was still soft from being freshly placed. The air was thick. It felt as though I swimming through it and I was drenched. The heat was incredible but rapidly falling. A veil of gray clouds was casting a shadow that feigned nightfall.

Then I broke from the forest's edge. The ominous glow of the veiled sun hinted to an incoming storm. Thundered roared and rumbled in the distance. I broke from the trail to the cold, hard, unforgiving cement and raced toward cover. Then the heavens broke loose. Rain and lightning struck and lashed the earth with extreme ferocity. My first run on the Coach Dupe Trail had been cut short.

Reading response: Gifts and Reading Log

            So, in relation to this weeks choice of reading material, I found myself feeling much like last week. I was so confused but so interested at the same time. The book was Gifts, and though the description and title seemed straight forward enough, the book was anything but. The description made this book seem like an adventure into the unknown for two young "gifted" children. I was expecting a much more fast paced exciting tale but what I got was a in depth look into a young boys life and the way it has been twisted by the dangerous and terrible power he possesses. This is the point at which this book totally confuses me. It starts and ends in the present. Its all just one, enormous flashback on this boy's whole life. The author creates a link between reader and character only to cut it short with the length of the book. There is no definitive plot which infuriated me to no end but the message the book sent and the quality of the writing made up for it. I finished dissatisfied but i still enjoyed the ride.
            This book raises a question: what do I look for in good book? As I picked this book, I had this question in mind. The author is known for her excellence in writing so I thought maybe if I payed attention I could find what I looked for in a good book. Sadly, I found what I'm not looking for. I don't want a mysterious ending unless there is a second book and nor do I want to get attached to a character to get slapped in the face. I don't want to watch the characters destroy themselves. I just want a exciting book that makes relationships and ends them well. I want something meaningful but i don't that meaning to destroy the plot. Picky as I might be, a good book is worth more than you can imagine.

Reading Log

Gifts, Ursula K. Le Guin
8/22- 30 min 8/23 -1 hour 15 min 8/24- 2 hours
Total-3 hours and 45 min    pg. 1-279

Various News Articles, Bing
8/25- 30 min


 

An Introduction

An Introduction

For those of you who haven't met me and are wondering what I'm like in and outside of English class, this is for you. So, in English class or rather as an English student, I tend to be a strong reader. When I have a good book in my hands and I get really into it, I've been known to read 120 pages in an hour.  I'm mainly a fantasy man. I like being introduced to whole new worlds and escaping from the real one. Lately though, I've been trying to get into new genres. I read a horror book recently that was set on the moon which I found to be a welcome change but I have had zero luck with much else but the journey has been... interesting.

I excel at reading but I try to keep my writing skills on the down low. They're not something to brag about (sometimes). My critical thinking... well let's just say it needs a little work, but I have had some luck  with creative writing due to my reading habits. I even tried my hand at a few fantasy books but they lead to the great, dark abyss of, "I swear I'll do it.... tomorrow." So, reading is a twisting, broken path to good writing and apparently I'm taking my sweet ole time getting to the end.

What am I like outside of class? That comes with time. Conversation is key.  

Reading Log

172 Hours on the Moon, John Harstead
8/12-50 min., 8/13-1 1/2 hours, 8/14- 2 1/2 hours
Total-4 hours 50 min. Pg.1-340 Finished

Every Day, David Levithan
8/15-1 1/12 hours, 8/16-3 hours
Total-4 1/2 hours, Pg.1-300 Finished

Reading Response- Summertime

As I was reading, I found myself to be utterly confused but somehow I was strangely intrigued. 172 Hours on the Moon was one of those books that made you hungry for more information. It gave you a piece of information at a time and I found myself reading the book just because the pretense held my interest. Honestly, I didn't really care about the characters. The author didn't spend enough time on each character so no bond was made and therefore when they passed away (most everyone died because it was a horror book) there wasn't much feeling. This problem was overcome by ensuring that the reader stayed interested in the plot line itself. The thought of having a horror story on the moon was absolutely incredible. The author also made the "hunters" within the story extremely mysterious until the end, when we realize who they are and the danger they present.

So, the author held my attention throughout the book and made sure there wasn't a  sentimental bond to the characters. This, I later realized, was most likely a good idea considering the ending. It started with a slow beginning and moved to strange build-up. Though this made a great, fast-paced climax, I was extremely disappointed with ending (unless the author is planning on a second book).