ENG 001: Language & Writing

Sound Track of my Life

2007-12-07T13:33:00.000-06:00

Van Halen, “Jamie’s Cryin’” : Listening to Van Halen voices, was the same sound I heard for years. When I was little I used to cry a lot and so, like a good sibling, my brother, Corey, took advantage of this weakness of mine, and would “sing”, in a mocking tone, “Oh oh oh, Jamie’s cryin’,” over and over again, just to agitate me even if I wasn’t crying but especially if I was. He would wrinkle up his face and make sure that it seemed as though he, too, were crying. The burning tears would trickle down; the hot surface, bright red from frustration skewing all coordination and vision, making it hard to yell directly at the perpetrator or even try and throw a few punches.

The vibration from the sound waves of all the “singing” and screaming sent the tears flying to the ground and this would continue until either my brother or I stopped yelling or mom or dad would come running to scold both parties for whatever was going on. Each side of the argument was wrong in a way so each was punished, either by quiet time (time out) in the corner, where imagination became a best friend, or in your room, a better option, where there was a bed and toys. No matter how much trouble both my brother and I got into, for pestering one another, we could still come up with something to harass the other about in the blink of an eye; it just depended on which side we wanted to fight on. This song will forever be in my memory of my brother, not only because he mocked me with it, but because it always makes me go back to my childhood and relive those crazy days.

Survivor, “Eye of the Tiger” : Rocky’s theme song, Eye of the Tiger is one of the most, if not the most, listened to song by athletes. It is a great pump up song and perfect for all sports. When working out or getting ready for a race, “Eye of the Tiger” is always on the list, especially when swimming. In the humid room the pool was ridden with pee, sweat and occasionally a little puke from the workout. Although the pool deck at Lincoln Northeast High school was blistering hot, the water itself, was below the legal swimming temperature, a whapping fifty or so degrees. Core drills were done on the pool’s cracking tile floor; which were yellow and brown from the years of wear and tear, with no mats, while “Another bites the dust” and “Eye of the Tiger” played in the background. Two a day practices left each swimmer in the pool for five or more hours a day.

“Punches” to get better were thrown everyday in practice for a closer shot at victory and to prove ones worth. At state swim meets, boys shaved their heads because it is tradition to let your hair grow during season and then chop it off for state, not to mention, how much faster you could go without hair. This ritual, also includes the girl’s leg hair. (I think I got up to an inch of hair one year!) The crazy things one will do for that one chance at victory, that one date with greatness. Swimming was my life for four months of my life every year and I did everything in my power to become the best that I could be. Survivor’s, “Eye of the Tiger” always made me feel more powerful and always let me know that sometimes you have to throw punches over and over again to make dreams happen.

Sister Sledge, “We are Family” : The Sledge Sisters vibrant red outfits shout out fun and their moves are even better! The gray town backdrop, against their dresses, screams party and that is exactly what I think about when I watch their video. “We are Family; I got all my sisters with me”. This is a traditional song, ALWAYS played at all our family’s wedding receptions. Great Cousin Carrie calls the song up to the DJ in her wild scratchy voice, and then the clapping begins as shouts of joy and “YA HOOs” are heard from all around the room; everyone gets up to dance. Somewhere in the middle of the song, the Conga Line begins and the whole room even the old folds are following one after the other, hands on shoulders and legs a kickin’.

As the end of the song comes closer, everyone splits up and dances around each other, no one with one person too long for everyone has to dance with everyone at least once, and with at least 40 people, everyone moves fast. When the dancing continues, one song to the next, the intensity just grows. When I say that my family dances, I use the term dance lightly, for the smooth moves the Sledge Sisters were doing are some of the same moves that my family still uses making every wedding a night to remember, especially for the newlyweds. Two fifty year old men dancing "frisky" together is a sight to behold. A wedding reception for our family just wouldn’t be a wedding reception without the butt shaking, arm rolling, laugh out loud hot dance moves that my family provides. The resemblance to the moves of the Sledge Sisters is uncanny.

Alan Jackson, “Remember When” : In the background of Jackson singing, are clips and photos of a young couple in love that along with the song, tell the story of their life together through thick and thin. Allan Jackson’s love story portrays the way I feel about my current boyfriend and the way in which my life is headed for both him and I. Images of past events and things remembered are featured in photographs.

The picture most important to me is of the family I have made, my boyfriend, Matt, me, and my daughter, Ava. It is crisp and glossy as it is not too old, and no dust covers it. The memories the picture holds is worth more than I own in sentimental value. The picture tells unconscious thoughts and pushes feelings and words upon lips. The photograph, tells stories of relieved burden and joyous celebration for the birth of my daughter, Ava. It relays the path to future love and happiness and is a binding memory of cherish able triumph over obstacles of both physical and mental anguish that the adoption brought forth. It is the one memory, I will always hold dear, and the photograph brings about the story, the story of my life with Matt and of Ava. In this picture, Matt and I are in comfy clothes, ready for a long day of taking care of our baby, who is looking up at us and is smiling. These images in Jackson’s video remind me of the future I hope to make and the pictures I will take to remember the love I felt then and will hopefully continue to feel in the future.

ZZ Top, “Cheap Sunglasses” : Top’s stylin’ cheap sunglasses shine when they sing, while he adds their hot dance moves. The rhythm is excitingly upbeat and lets us know that ZZ Top is proud of their sunglasses. The sunglasses remind me of all the pairs of sunglasses that I have been through in the last four years from life guarding, from letting people borrow them, losing them, or breaking them in a rescue and the adrenaline and overall fun atmosphere at work.

My sunglasses are fake Oakley’s or “Foakley’s.” The frame is a black, thin structure and the lenses themselves are a mixture of green and yellow, depending on how the light shines. On the hinge of the sunglasses are multiple layers of scotch tape, which blocks all peripheral vision, yet my sunglasses have seen more than anyone; they have seen tears and sweat but most of all, water. They have seen the distressed swimmer, flailing their arms and kicking their legs as they fly through the air and crash into the water for a save. They have seen the rushing guards and the bug-eyed patrons as the victims are safely pulled out of the water and placed on the ground, while passer bys are rushed to the grass. Not only have sunglasses seen bad times but good; the guards playing in the water, lifeguard Olympics, pranks and overall joy at Woods Pool. My cheap sunglasses have been through it all with me. I lose them after every flight but regain another new, cheap pair for other adventures to come.

Carrie Underwood, “Jesus Take the Wheel” : Between cuts of Carrie Underwood singing in different rooms, this video puts in clips of a young white girl with her newborn baby, a married couple and an old man and his assumed to be, wife. The young girl with the newborn presents the viewer with the feeling of lost hope as the girl stands there with the baby in her arms, with her pale skin and dark circles around her eyes. I felt lost a year ago when I experienced an unplanned pregnancy and didn’t know where to turn, just like the cradle that sways back and forth, tumbling in confusion. There are nicks that can’t be smoothed and noises that cannot seize. The blankets give it comfort but don’t suffice the pain. It squeaks and cries for help not getting anywhere.

The girl is tired and has no more chances but to give her problem to Jesus. The lyrics, “Jesus, take the wheel. Take it from my hands. Cause I can’t do this on my own,” speak to lives at wits end, letting faith seep back in. These words make the cradle stop swaying, and the tears dry up from the young girl’s eyes. The dark clears and the light shines, with hope on her face. Without God and my faith (Catholicism), I would have never made it through my pregnancy, and if I had, who knows what choice I would have made and had to live with for the rest of my life. As Underwood sings, “ I know I’ve got to change so from now on tonight, Jesus take the wheel.”

Martina McBride, “In My Daughter’s Eyes” : McBride uses her video as a live performance, with the lights down. Tiny dots of light resembling stars are in the background and her video is live to show her love and passion for the words she speaks. This song reminds me of my daughter and the way she looked at me the first moment I saw her. Babies are born with no flaws, and look at others as though they are the same; pure. “ …brings a smile to my heart…realize what life is all about…hanging on when I feel like giving up…seen the light… in my daughter’s eyes.”

Ava looked up, swaddled in a blanket with a pink woven cap keeping her head warm and was placed in loving arms, making no judgments, knowing no fear. The light from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital shown brightly in her eyes and crying took place from all around. Fragile and innocent she was. Her eyes were the color of the roaring ocean, her nose a pink button and her hair so fine that it was barely visible. All the influential people in her life equally perfect to her. Life in general was, at that moment, perfect. The world is better with the ones who make all life worth living even in times of despair. Those who make one believe, who give strength and make everything good. There was only unconditional love in Ava’s eyes as she grasped at hands, and smiled, making the entire world a better place to live. There is nothing but heart in a child, no anger or sorrow, regret or grudge, just a life of new beginnings. My daughter is everything that I live and strive for. She will always love me no matter what, and I her.

Kelly Clarkson, “Miss Independent” : Kelly is presented in what appears to be college dorm rooms where she walks through and shows up to gatherings, otherwise known as parties. The dorm rooms are full of people, music, games, and laughter. Clothes are on the floor with everything scattered about. Clarkson is finally on her own; independent and free. I have joined this life of no rules and have developed my long waited freedom. I have entered the world of parties and inhibition, chance taking and experimentation. I have entered into dorm rooms where dirty clothes and late nights are a must. I entered college life at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

The cramped rooms and rotten food (macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles) make home feel like paradise. The heat and cold are always off balance as sweaters and t-shirts are changed hourly and a time to relax is unheard of. Life is so busy that getting time in peace or even time alone is not an option.
Waking up last minute and running to class is an everyday ritual as is eating wth the same people everyday at lunch and dinner. Life is lived in a small corner, the dorm room. Freedom does come at a price, but it is freedom none the less and a chance to be self-sufficient. This brings up the question as to why I was so apt to leave my home behind, where life was simple, and my laundry was done and hot, fresh, homemade food was served? Why did I rush to grow up? I wanted, like every other kid, to grow up. And grow up, I did, but way too fast.

NSync or NStink?

2007-11-16T12:16:00.000-06:00

I have never been good at knowing who sings what song and for that I have always withdrawn myself from circumstances in which I would have to know such things. When I was about nine years old, my best friend at the time, Jennifer and I, coming home from school, turned her CD player on. NSync was the sound that I heard. I remember Jennifer asking if I liked them and all I could say was they were okay, when in fact I had no idea who they were. Finding this out, months later she and soon later, my cousin, educated me on what the cool music was at the time. To this day, I still can’t say who sings what song on the radio but I am doing much better, with the help of my friends. So, I automatically adapted to whatever my friends liked, which, unfortunately at the time, NSync was popular among young kids.
After getting me to know the music for that time, then I was shown the video that went to the music that was cool, like NSync. Now that I look back I did think that NSync was a good boy band then. I never had the regular crushed on the singers like most of my girlfriends did, but I enjoyed the music, back in the 90’s it was hip and happenin’. As I watch the video today, I realize that although I would admit to liking NSync back then, it was cool and no one had a problem with it. I don’t despise the music today but I would not listen to by choice. Times have changed and the style with it, but who knows one day, just maybe, they might come back again. They still maybe popular for the younger generation but to come full circle to my age group again… Fat Chance!

Vanilla Ice- I Love You (1990)

2007-11-12T18:10:00.000-06:00

I believe I have found the worst music video ever and the winner of this esteemed award goes to Vanilla Ice and the video to his song I Love You. The music by itself put me to sleep and was boring but not to the extent of the video. I wanted to gouge my eyes out after two minutes and there was still two and a half minutes left. You tube didn’t even have all of the video, they cut it a little short, gee, I wonder why? While watching the video I didn’t even know what to say, I had no reaction other than to keep my mouth wide open in shock that someone thought this was good and keep my eyes trying not to burn. I was not happy that the only women showed in the video were well endowed and were wearing skanky clothing. Why can’t a “normal” female portray the woman he loves? I understand why the most gorgeous women are in movies and such but for realistic purposes make women seem like everyday women. The outfits were terrible and the fake clouds in the background didn’t help the video at all. Some videos are bad but hilarious so it makes up for how bad they really are but this video had no good characteristics but maybe the words. I didn’t listen to the lyrics too carefully but even if the words were good, after watching the video I would no longer like the song for every time I’d listen to it that awful video would play in my scared mind. I know that is video was done in the 90’s and style was different back then, but I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that this video may have been popular back then.

Nebraska Children's Home (NCH)

2007-11-11T15:11:00.000-06:00

I have seen rough times, but none as hard as when I signed over a life. My little girl, now nine months old, lives with her adoptive parents. Thanks to the Nebraska Children’s Home, I was able to find a family I could trust to take care of my daughter, Ava. The Nebraska Children’s Home Society, a non-profit organization, is the largest statewide agency in Nebraska helping over 20,000 children in its 114 years. The Nebraska Children’s Home’s (NCH) mission is to provide safe and loving care to children of all ages. The NCH provides care in three main programs. They have a statewide Adoption Program, including services to those who are dealing with unplanned pregnancy, Foster Care and Day Care, which focuses on strengthening children’s social skills for their future success. The Nebraska Children’s Home website shows viewers exactly what they are about and what they stand for. I can vouch for it personally.

Almost all of the well-known rhetorical strategies were used when this website was made. The main strategies used were logos via division and pathos. The focal point being the series of images, surrounded by the divisions of information, was designed to bring about emotions in those who viewed it in a simple organized manner and help out the cause. The viewers who make a connection, will give money, and in turn help the lives of children.

The division of information on the site gives the user less hassle when trying to find the data he/she wants or needs. The facts are then classified into certain sections, but when all of the knowledge is put together, it fits into the larger scheme of what the Nebraska Children’s Home Society really is, a home dedicated to children all over Nebraska. The square segments, yet simple, are efficient and are split up into the NCH news, press room, how we can help and how you can help. The division is effective due to its simplicity. The simpler and more organized a site is the more convenient it becomes for the viewer.

The layout in itself uses a lot of smaller plain text and bright colors. When someone visits this site, the NCH knows that this person is looking in the best interest of their child or children and have a big decision to make. When a person has such a decision, that person has a lot rushing through their mind and want simple, understandable answers to their questions. I know I did. The two main colors, black and white, compare and contrast. These two colors make it easy to read and make the site more convenient for viewers. The segmentation of the NCH site enhances the focal point, which in turn, utilizes pathos. Using pathos attracts people and connects them to the cause, consequently making money to help the children of Nebraska. Pathos is generally used when a corporation is trying to raise money because people are more likely to give money freely when they believe their money is going to help a good cause and feel connected to the cause in some way, shape or form.

The character/setting of the layout is altogether simple. The series of images featured in their website, the key division, shows those people who need and use the services of NCH. The images all feature children and are the basis for what the NCH is all about. The first image is of a young African American woman staring off into the distance. She is experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and doesn’t know where to turn. She represents all of those teenagers who have and will experience an unplanned pregnancy, a growing concept today; giving the site an everyday historical context. The second picture is a young girl playing with toys looking up at what is assumed to be a caregiver. The last images show a picture of foster parents, a young boy holding on to his adoptive parents, people who have waited a long time for a child to call their own and a picture of a young girl who has found her biological family. The illustrations show what the NCH does and draws the audience’s eyes to watch it. Cause and Effect is also portrayed in the series of images. It shows how the organization makes a difference in children’s lives from what they were before.

The up close and personal shots done by the photographer generates pathos within viewers. The close up shots let the audience feel like they are there and the viewer assumes the point of view of the person that is in the image.

The first picture of the little boy who is holding on to his parents’ hands is a close up shot to emphasize the unity of the hands. There is a fluid connection that flows from the mother to her son and then to the father. Close up images allow the viewer to see expressions and analyze them more carefully. There is an intimate connection made between the audience and the cause by producing a driving force or specific feeling of hope for children through these close up images that allow the audience to really see how these people feel. The language shown on every slide of the series of images is simple and to the point. Every picture has text that directly corresponds with the images such as, pregnancy, adoption, and searching, all show the services available at the NCH and provide emphasis for them. The relationship between the words and the images creates an analogy or association. Separately the images and the words have no real meaning or significance but together they make a powerful statement. Everyone can relate to struggles in life and know the pain that the individuals in the series of images are going through; this process is called empathy. They know what it is like and having that knowledge makes them want to reach out. Together the language and images bring about the emotion of sorrow for children who are in need but of hope for the cause of the NCH who will help the children.

When glancing at the website, the viewer feels a sense of needing to help. There is so much pathos used that the viewer feels obligated. This creates a logical fallacy or slippery slope. The viewer gets the feeling that if s/he does not help the Nebraska Children’s Home then children will suffer, and never lead as good a life. However, if the viewer does donate money or help in some way, then children will have a home and in the long run, save a life.

The NCH website demonstrates that they, as a team, are committed to helping children. Their site is designed to raise money for those who need its services. The overall simple layout combined with the strategic placing of pathos and logos in the images brings about a connection between the viewer and the cause allowing this change to occur. All of the strategies used create perfect harmony and a powerful sense of purpose and hope for children all over Nebraska. When searching for the perfect place to start my search for options as a pregnant teen, I knew right away that the Nebraska Children’s Home was the place for me. I see Ava every month and am lucky that I had NCH there for me every step of the way.

Music Video

2007-11-05T18:52:00.000-06:00

As I am not a big music video watcher I had to do some research and actually watch some videos. I only watched a couple but one of them that I enjoyed was Only Hope by Mandy Moore. This video clip comes from the movie, originally a book, A Walk to Remember, one of my all time favorite movies. Mandy Moore plays Jamie in this heartwarming love story based on a true story. I love this song because like every girl when they were little, they dream of a prince charming. They want that one person who sweeps them off their feet and they pray that they will find him and always be their treasure. Girls want to be able to give themselves fully to their partners and for that one person to be their hope; to be able to feel that one true special love.
This video shows that love just happens and if you have seen the movie you’d understand why. You love someone because they are who they are. Love just hits you and then takes all sense away. Time is lost and seems to stand still. For love people are more courageous and brave. Love drives you crazy to the point that you will never give up hope. You get stuck in a dream world and are lost in it forever. You want this kind of love so much that you pray every night for it no matter the result day after day. No one in the audience expected the boy at the table to kiss her at the end of the song but he did. He was lost in her trance and couldn’t see anything around him. Love blinds but is the best thing anyone could ask for. Love is so powerful that it is what binds us together. Love is not selfish, boastful or jealous. To love is to endure all things and as the bible says, there is Faith , Hope, and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.

News Issue: Product Pink

2007-10-21T22:20:00.000-05:00

Approximately one out of every seven American women will develop breast cancer. Recent studies show that eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D before menopause may help prevent breast cancer. The study stresses it may only prevent breast cancer if done before menopause. Because of all the recent pushes on breast cancer awareness and an increase in funding for research, women are more knowledgeable about prevention.
I have always known that breast cancer awareness was huge in America due to Alexandra Penney's Pink Ribbon and because a lot of major stores give a certain percentage of their profit in the month of October to breast cancer research, but I did not realize just how far we have gone to help breast cancer research. We now have vacuum cleaners, cookies and even planes colored in pink to help the cause. I love how enthusiastic we have become with regards to helping such honorable causes but I wonder if we have gone too far. It sounds bad to say that anything done to help save the lives of others may be taking it too far but if the cause was so important to us should not we just give money to help instead of getting something out of giving? It seems to kind of take the meaning out of giving if you also get something in return or gain a personal benefit. I believe that making items especially for cancer, however, is a good idea because now regular everyday items that people need can help fight cancer. The extra income to the cure could help save a life. All non-profit organizations should attempt to grow their profits the same way. They should put themselves out and let the world know about the cause. Only by putting themselves out there will they come to such great heights as the fight for breast cancer has become.

Inland Empire: Interesting to say the least.

2007-10-20T13:15:00.000-05:00

“In the future you will be dreaming.”
As I didn’t quite understand the movie, I understand this quote to be important but to whether or not I have the right connotation as to what the quote means is up to the experts or David Lynch himself. The whole movie deals with the old Polish lady, room 47 with the rabbits and the movie Blues of Tomorrow. The reoccurring themes in this movie deal with time and dreams. With what I put together, I think that the movie tells us to make good decisions and to be ourselves and face our fears or we will become someone else and live their life forever, like the Polish lady until she was saved. “In the future you will be dreaming” has to deal with what your dreams will be like in the future, depending upon the present and the future. If you aren’t yourself, your sense of time blurs and all seems forgotten but if you face your fear and find yourself, there will be No More Blue Tomorrows. In respect to the particular scene in which this quote is said by two prostitutes, I believe that it has something to do with the many lines in the movie that said something to the extent, In the future you will see us and ask if we’ve seen you before. The prostitutes ask this of Nikki because they know that she is will not be herself so when they ask her, they will not know her because she is hiding behind her character Sue. In regards to my own life, I think that this movie tells me to make wise decisions and to always be true to yourself because you never know what the future holds and you don’t want to dream about your past later.

Free-write: Racist Groups/Blee

2007-10-17T19:43:00.000-05:00

I read an excerpt of a book called Inside Organized Racism by Kathleen Blee and was both shocked and appalled by how many racial groups still exist today. Blee discusses how fear was a main component in racial organizations and how these groups use fear, threats and intimidation to gain power over their opponents. It was fascinating to hear Blee say that the more relaxed she became around her interviewees from different groups actually gave her less results in her in fieldwork because the sense of fear that she originally had led her to take more precautions and to think harder. It takes a special person to go out and risk your life for research but without these courageous people to go outside boundaries and explore. The outcomes of not learning from and about racist groups and other such untouchable subjects is a much greater tragedy than leaving the topic alone.
Using participant observation Blee was able to gain insight into their racial beliefs, which helped her understand their descriptions of their racist identities. She was sympathetic and tried with all her might to understand the world through their eyes. Although joining a racist group may seem disturbing and in all ways wrong, there are some good aspects incorporated into them. They are a community with loyalty, honesty (how many people are willing to openly admit that they are racist?), friendship and teamwork. Disturbingly, racist groups seem to be ordinary, as they have picnics, play games and have social gatherings, other than their beliefs of course. But what is an ordinary belief anyway?
Every culture has their own identity and as scary as it may seem, racist groups, much to our dismay, are just another congregation of people with the same beliefs. To Americans, Bull Fighting seems inhumane, but to those who grew up in a Mexican culture, it is a sport of strength and great honor.

Local Issue: Capital Humane Society

2007-10-14T13:41:00.000-05:00

I am deeply entrenched in all issues involving animals and when I read the article on the Capital Humane Society I was shocked at how the society was at one point in time thinking about splitting from the city. I do believe that the two systems, Animal Control and the Humane Society would do well to collaborate as one. I really connected with the article when the statement was said that Animal Control collects animals and the Humane Society deals with the outraged owners. I can understand why the Humane Society wanted to split because Lincoln was only paying $158,505 a year for sheltering and the society needed $253,080 for wages.
I am glad the Humane Society reconsidered because it would have made problems worse, having two non-profit organizations fighting for the same fundraising money. If both the Animal Control and Humane Society converge together, however, it would cut costs for both organizations. To get the program started may take time and money but in the log run it is in the best interest for our community and our animals.
Patterning our contract based on Omaha’s system is a great idea. Omaha has a very well organized and efficient system. As a city, we should take advantage of what we know works and apply the strategies here in Lincoln. Downey, the director for Capital Humane Society, says he would have his workers rotate shifts that way half of his staff would not get stuck with public confrontations. A problem the Humane Society was dealing with in the first place.
The Capital Humane Society wants to focus more on adoptions and the shelter capacity and divorcing city limits would’ve accomplished their wants but their new plan accommodates both parties. Although finalizations are yet to be made and ideas are still flowing to help and this battle, a new fresh start for both organizations seems to be coming around the corner and I’m glad. Just as people need and deserve homes, so do animals.

Free Write- LPS

2007-10-08T18:32:00.000-05:00

It has been shown throughout the years that Nebraska school teachers are wanted around the United States. States such as Colorado and even as far as New York are willing to give you the best offer they can in order to snatch Nebraska teachers up. This is due to the high quality teacher training done in Nebraska. If this is true and Nebraska does deem to “make” the most highly trained educators why is it that the Nebraska school system or at least the Lincoln Public Schools system doesn’t seem to be preparing their students very well for future academic adventuresTransitions from one school to another is hard but it is even harder going from elementary school to middle school to high school and then for some, off to college. I don’t think schools prepare kids enough for the kinds of changes that will occur. The leap from high school to college is the biggest life change and although educators may think that they have succeeded in every step possible to help kids into the next stage in education, I disagree. Schools should not only educate students on an academic level but on an emotional level as well. Although the academic part of schools is essential to furthering education, I believe that it would be a lot easier transitions for kids if they knew what they were getting themselves into.
For example, high school seniors should have more lectures and tests in class. Reading assignments should not be monitored but done on the students own time. This is a set up for college life. I also think that students should take courses that prepare them mentally for college life. We should teach kids coping strategies on stress and homework, tests, help them with their social life, write college papers and even how to take care of yourself away from home.
Our high school requirements are pathetic. We dumb down the material so that every kid will pass but it holds the rest of the students behind. The rest of the world has children learning Spanish and other languages in first and second grade. Why don't we do the same? Our students aren't as smart and its due to our ever present lowering standards. Bush set up NCLB because he saw how our children are suffering and therefore falling behind in our world. Although I do not like NCLB for my own personal reasons and reasons that Richardson touches base on, it shows us just how far we are falling behind today. We need to take better actions for our state in education now and not compete with others for what will essentially provide our nation with our next generation of successors. We are the wealthiest nation, but when it comes to smarts we fall way behind the others. As a nation we are falling behind academically and it's sad.

I think the hardest part about college isn’t the school work but the emotional aspect that comes from the everyday college experience.I believe that adding small things such as the aforementioned to requirements will greatly help kids in their future success.

The Sunken Gardens

2007-10-06T18:47:00.000-05:00

The second I step foot into the garden I feel a sense of renewal entering my body. I stop and look around, closing my eyes all of my problems are no longer present. I feel free. All my troubles melt away as I dip down into the abyss of flowers and notice how all are each tiny individuals stuck in the middle of a sea of people. Just as humans are all different shapes, sizes, and colors so are flowers. They represent us in a way. Just like every human, every flower is unique. Though a flower on it’s own may not be perfect, when all the flowers are together they create a work of art. Nature has no flaws. The big picture will always be different as the seasons change but come spring, another garden with its own personality and flare will rise in glory to God.
I wander around the garden and stop at the trickling waterfall. A breeze wisps by my face, cooling my body and bringing with it the unbelievable combination of pine, soil, pollen and succulent flowers. As a bird finishes his song overhead and flies towards the heavens he leaves behind the sight of garbage, a straw. I cringe, disgusted. Then the smell of smoke curls into my nose. How could someone be so disrespectful? This is a place of beauty and we take it for granted. Beauty is all around us, yet we never seem to notice or care for it. We are so caught up in our own lives that we forget that we only have this one world to live in. The environment gives us the resources we need so that we can live our lives and it only has so much to give. We have only one chance to take care of it and if we do, it will take care of us. Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden we are forced to make decisions everyday whether they concern our personal life or something bigger like the environment.
Some decisions we make are good and help us flourish while others put us on a path of trial. Adam and Eve were tempted in a beautiful place such as this and even though they could see what a good life they had, enough was not enough. We humans have to push our limits, even with full knowledge of the consequences, as shown by Adam and Eve. But what in this garden, would be the “forbidden fruit?” Would it be the Elephant’s Ear, the Cannas, the Daisies? Thankfully, I will never know the answer to this question. We suffer everyday from our mistakes and struggle to make things right.
The scampering of squirrels beneath my legs diminishes my current thoughts and the smell of gas lingers into my nose. I had never noticed how this beautiful garden was surrounded by downtown traffic. Why would such a place be in a location like this? As I close my eyes I no longer hear the chirping of birds or the trickling water, but I hear obnoxious car horns and veering traffic. The beauty is sucked away. Trying not to let my experience turn sour, I saunter into the center of the garden. Thinking I am safe from distractions I feel the leaf of a Lamb’s Ear, soft and wooly. I wish it was a pillow I could lay my head upon.
At the top of a hill is an unbelievable sculpture and what I like to call “The Nebraska Seasons Dome.” This dome’s hemisphere is split up into the four seasons. There are so many intricate designs that I could spend hours observing its every detail. Snowflakes, leaves, squirrels, trees, birds and even scarecrows are present. Representing Nebraska is the state capitol behind the sunset, a windmill, a crop-duster and a water tower. It shows the relevance of beauty in Nebraska and how it shapes our lives. Spring is the season of renewal and brings everything back to life. Summer months bring about activity, fun and spontaneity. When the leaves fall to the ground, life slows down. As winter hits, hibernation takes place. Just like the seasons and the flowers, people change. They are born, live life to the fullest, wither with age and eventually fade away.
Stepping foot into the Healing Garden I was filled with the feeling of purity. The garden of healing was full of white flowers. In my mind, it was the perfect place for angels to roam, a place where the flowers represent purity, spirituality and healing. I wandered to a bench and sat down to ponder the meaning in my life; and was greeted with faint smiles of contemplation by couples walking by. I sit back to people watch, deciding to observe the types of people that visit the garden. Just as I had expected older women were the majority. These women seem to appreciate what nature has to offer; they take time out of their day to admire the beauty. Unfortunately most of us fail to recognize the gardens importance. We all need to “stop and smell the roses” every once and a while and feel the difference a simple garden can make. Across the garden to my left, two young women sit side by side. One, a river of tears falling down her face and onto the delicate petals of the surrounding flowers, is in distress. I sit watching the couple for a while and wonder what is going on. Is her heart broken? Scarred? Did she lose her job? Have a bad day? And then it dawned on me. Flowers have their own language. They are feelings unspoken. A thank you never given. A sorry never said. They have silent but powerful meanings.
Flowers are used in both extremes in life; when you are down and when you are on top. We use flowers for mourning, celebration, love and forgiveness. Flowers given to others bring out the genuine signs of human flaws, weakness, and growth. When a man is “in the dog house“, what does he give his wife or girlfriend? Flowers. More particularly, why do we give red roses to those we love? How does a flower get a certain cultural symbolism? It is because of culture that flowers do not have the same meaning or portrayal everywhere you go. It explains why it is acceptable for a woman to receive flowers and not a man. It is because we make things acceptable. We make the rules that only women can be soft-hearted and that only males are breadwinners. Why? Why do we conform to everyday life?
There is more to a garden than its physical attributes. Behind gardens lie meanings, silent communication, healing, hope and forgiveness. The garden itself gives glory to God, while the flowers heal and soothe, forgive and thank, mourn and celebrate. They are our communication in times of love, gratitude, sorrow, joy and forgiveness. They grow and show emotions just as we do. They are more than we know. Flowers are like us and us like them. Take care and take time to appreciate them and help them grow so they in turn can help us.

Erik Campbell's Poetry Phrase

2007-10-03T20:29:00.000-05:00

“The buildings are burning because no one feels at home…”
What defines a home? Is it the place where you grew up? Is it a feeling within your soul of comfort and acceptance? Why is it that we feel comfortable in what we call our homes but the minute we step foot out of our zone we freeze? The world is everyone’s home but lately instead of the world being everyone’s we have split it up, claimed our territory and become a battlefield. Peace presides no where and life becomes a competition. We are all so locked up that no one even tries to understand our opposites. The buildings are burning because we, as a nation, as humans have destroyed it. There is so much war and hate that even the place you could once call home has disappeared like the ever growing old virtues of love and peace. Now people think for themselves and live for themselves. Iraqis must not feel at home because someone has taken over their way of life and told them that what they have been doing for years is wrong. You become a person stripped of all dignity and pride. So where do they go now? Iraqis wouldn’t risk their lives and the home they live in to attack the Twin Towers (buildings) if they didn’t feel threatened. We say America is united but how united are we really? We still have prejudice and bias and work to better ourselves. Unity refers to a unit of one and America does not fit that description. So, although the US may be called a home to many, in some ways it is a broken one. We tell people how to live their lives and then don’t abide by our own rules. Buildings like the Twin Towers are burning because no one feels at home in a world where no one trusts. No one loves. No one cares.

You Tube video on Lincoln

2007-09-23T14:32:00.000-05:00

For my first experience on you tube I was inspired, disgusted, amused, and scared out by everything that is on there. For this you tube video I wanted to know why a grown man is proud of having such a creepy house that everyone calls the museum of the odd? When I watched the video scan through the house it made me think of I-Spy books. His whole house is one big I-Spy game. Every I-Spy book has creepy old stuff and this house fit that description to a tee. The second thing that popped into my mind was the island of misfit toys. Charlie’s house must be a place where all of those broken or odd toys that no one wanted to play with go. I wasn’t even there in person and I was creeped out.
I could never sleep in that house for I would be afraid of something coming to life. There are lots of movies about killers keeping their victims toys and material objects due to mental illness and his house looked like a killer’s who was obsessed with creepy toys. After thinking about all the weird toys my mind switches to Charlie and I wonder why he keeps all of this junk, in my opinion. How much money and time has he spent trying to collect all of this? Is his effort really worth anything? My conclusion is that he has a lot of time on his hands and likes to see the progressive change in the world through toys. I am still convinced that might be a little crazy but I’m sure he has a lot of stories to tell. No one will ever be sure as to why someone does something until they dig but to find out the story behind this guy and his collection is something I will not go out of the way to find.

The Sunken Gardens

2007-09-17T18:32:00.001-05:00

The first thing I felt when I stepped my foot out the car door was the cool fall breeze that swept the humidity out of the air. The Sunken Gardens had been under construction and the newest structure was a dome. The dome was supported by eight pillars of stone the color of an elephant’s tusk. As I stood in the middle of the dome, I looked up and then laid down on the patterned ground, made with bricks to resemble a flower of different textures and colors. The top of the dome discovered the seasons. Snow flakes and falling leaves, birds and butterflies, raccoons and squirrels, the state capitol and a plane. Inscribed on the inside of the dome underneath the flowing seasons were the words, I expect to make this spot the most beautiful place in the city either in or out of the parks. The ground lends itself perfectly to the making of a sunken garden at the same time a spot rich in beauty. E.M. Bair November 1930. As I walked along the brick path, I walked on engraved dedications. I stopped and took a deep breath and could smell the potent but sweet aroma of thousands of flowers. I closed my eyes to the world and could hear the chirping of birds, the buzzing of bees and the unfortunate sound of the passing cars. I then stumbled along a path of rocks that led me to a sculpture in the Garden of Healing. The white flowers looked so pure and were like silk to the touch. The last sound I heard was that of the water fall in the center of the garden. It was the focus of the garden and everything else was built around it. When listening to the water, it took me away to a secluded forest where none of today’s problems could find me.

Lux Center for the Arts

2007-09-16T12:27:00.000-05:00

I had skipped practice to see the art gallery, I was sweaty and stinky from the haul in the blazing sun with my notebook in one hand and my pencil in the other when I sauntered into the air conditioned building. I took a look around and then walked into the first room that contained glass sculptures and as I admired the hand-crafted items before me I felt pressure build up in my body and couldn’t hold on, leaving a resonated rumble throughout the halls. “Great, I thought, not only am I hot, stinky and poorly dressed due to the fact that I didn’t care what I looked like, but now I was embarrassing myself. I shrugged it off, though the thought of what just happened lingered in my mind and searched for my favorite sculpture.
I found it at the end of the specifically placed on its pedestal around the room. The piece was named Vicious Circle and was a sculpture of a man’s face with a dog on his head. The man’s face was about a foot in height and had an elongated face. The man’s face was of curiousness and contemplation as one of his eyes was down and the other cocked up to see the dog, who at the top of his head was what looked like chasing his tail or getting ready for a nap. As I moved on into the next room, I saw the widest variety of art I have ever seen in one small building. There were leather scrap journals, hand-crafted cards, jewelry, quilts, pottery, almost everything a person could think of. I then walked up the old, rickety steps to find myself surrounded by dolls of all shapes and sizes, from about two feet tall to about half the length of someone’s pinky. There were dolls from all around the world and some dolls, I will admit, that I never ever want to see again.
The dolls that I could see creeping up into my dreams to create nightmares were called Topsy Turvy Dolls and like the cartoon Cat-Dog, had two half upper bodies sewn in the middle so you had two dolls in one. A doll that made me feel like I was a little girl around Christmas time, however, was a Japanese doll that had different ‘wigs’ that you could put on the doll so that she had multiple hair dressings. It was the coolest doll that I had ever seen, and that is a lot to say for a girl who was never really fond of dolls to begin with. I could spend all night describing all the different types of dolls that I encountered but let’s move on to the pictures.
My next stop was the picture floor, in which there were photographs, paintings, collages, lithographs and so on. My all time favorite exhibit was a lithograph named Shadows. It was a powerful image of a large group of soldiers marching in a scene of destruction and turmoil, with there heads bent down in prayer or sadness. That picture said a lot to me. I can’t really explain what I felt when I examined it for all the details and the story that it told, but it definitely told me one and for that I am grateful. I strongly recommend going to the Lux Center for the Arts to get lost in thought and in art.

Newspaper Article- Foster Care

2007-09-11T13:39:00.000-05:00

In your opinion what is the hardest job in the world, from an emotional stand-point? I can think of a lot of jobs that pile on strenuous amounts of emotional pressure on people every day but whatever job I thought was the hardest before, it has changed now. I read a newspaper article on foster parents who provide care for not only ‘regular’ foster kids but three of the 165,000 ill foster kids in the US foster care system. I was touched by a family who, including there own two children and one on the way, takes care of five foster children, three of which have special medical needs. As I sat and thought about those who give and never get back, I was reminded of my family friends Justin and Jill. They are foster parents in Iowa, who have several times over again, lost a child that they fell in love with and wanted to adopt as their own. But yet again, they don’t let that get to them, and they are still trying to adopt the baby girl that they are caring for today.
To give all you have for someone else’s child and bring them in as your own, especially at the cost of losing them is an unbearable thought for me. These people have hearts of gold and spirits that no one can break. Ron Westman, the father of the eight children, was quoted saying, “When you get somebody like Jay, with those eyes, he makes it kind of worth it all.” Reading that quote over and over again, I felt the tears swell and my heart throb. Foster parents don’t get a lot of recognition and credit. It is a full time job with more stress than any I can think of.
Ron’s wife Cathy had even mentioned that taking care of the kids is like some kind of sickness for they had tried to get out once, but just couldn’t say no. It’s the small things in life that give us the hope and compassion to keep trying. It’s the smile of a child and the chance to make a lasting impact on a child in need of a simple hug that makes this job, in my opinion, a job worthy of praise. The job may be overbearing at times, but the load is lifted when a child laughs, when a secluded child opens up and when you can see the child blossom simply because you took the time of day to care.

National Museum of Roller-Skating

2007-09-08T14:22:00.000-05:00

I want you to close your eyes and picture a skating rink, with women and men skating in the oblong oval shape that appears within this arena , with no cutting rules and a ‘speed’ regulation. The women in this image are wearing shorter skirts and the latest fashion in roller-skating, (as there were dress regulations at this time). Now pan back, and watch the crowd. What is shocking to you is that there are no children at this skating rink, just men and women being social. Stop your imagination right there, and shift your mind to skating today. Yelling kids, who speed around the rink as fast as they can and unfortunately crash into one another, leaving angry, bawling kids and consoling mothers. This picture seems more natural for most of us but back when, things were way different.
I am going to be completely honest when I say that I expected the worse from the skating museum. I thought to myself, as I walked in, ‘this will probably be the worst museum yet’, don’t get me wrong I like museums, but a skating museum!? Come on, how much fun could that be! As much as this hurts me, I have a confession to make. Much to my surprise, I actually enjoyed walking through the shockingly smaller museum and the climate had a homey feeling about it.
As I walked through the museum, I was astonished by all the advances in roller-skating. I think people today, including myself, don’t take enough time out of their day to appreciate all the small things in life, like how roller-skates came to be and the history behind it. And by how, skating is a part of our history and helps us, to an extent, understand the past. A skating rink used to be for adults only and was a social hour, a rink was considered a dangerous place for a child at that time. As time continued, it became more of a leisure recreation and eventually a sport with national championships. Then technology let skate-rollers start entertainment shows. Roller Vanities and Rollerettes, were women who dressed up in big show girl outfits and performed dance routines on television in skates.
In the museum was everything from odd skates, with balls for wheels, from jewelry from champion skaters, movies to outfits and pictures to clubs/sports. They even had stuff on roller hockey and roller basketball! I never realized how much skating was a part of our history. In classes, we are always so focused on the major events in the past that we don’t take time to appreciate the culture behind it, as my old history teacher used to say, watch things change over time.

Post 1: Discourse Surrounding the Essay

2007-09-03T21:41:00.000-05:00

“You wait for it to grow in your mind and suddenly you understand you can write about it. You quit longing for form and write what’s there. That sequence- that combination of patience with sudden impatience, that eventual yielding to the simple desire to tell- identifies the essay.”

- Ian Frazier in “ The Essay as Action.”

If you ask around, almost everyone knows the saying, “patience is a virtue,” and when it comes to writing, it is an essential key. To write a great masterpiece takes time, commitment, thought and a lot of patience. Thoughts may dwell many years in the mind of an author before it is ever put to paper. To write something without thought or feeling is like disrespecting elders, or in this case, the readers, it’s ignominy. A first draft of a piece that has no mistakes, is a tragedy. A writer needs to toil to find his way through the piece and stumble on the meaning of both his writing and the journey taken.
The process of creating a work that will open the minds of many is long, but the outcome, great. The feeling of knowing what story you want to tell and what powerful statement it will withhold is overbearing. At this point, all form will be thrown out the window, but when complete of all agony, sweat and memories, the piece will show itself worthy of the reader; but only then will the reader connect and feel the strength of the piece. The power of a patient writer, the one who waits for prominence to come to mind and who waits for all emotion and meaning to step into the light and fall into place, can change lives. Without effort, patience and understanding, an essay would have no journey, no voice, no feeling, no meaning, and in that case, then what would be the point of one at all?
Remember that writing is a gift and the human mind is full of ideas, that have to flock and reflect to come alive. What makes every essay inimitable is the journey that it takes and the people it meets along the way. Everything makes an influence, either big or small to the essay and can ultimately determine the mood, the setting and the adventure that it takes. A great writing may take months, years or even a lifetime, but when it all comes together, if it was written with patience and an open mind, it will overpower anything written in haste or without feeling; some of the writer himself should be left in the piece so that every time it is read, the reader can see the struggle and see the adventure.

Test Post

2007-08-31T14:30:00.000-05:00

First post for ENG 001, Section 7