Post #14, 5-12-09, Leave the Past in the Past

I took my AP Chemistry test today, so bear with me if my newest blog post isn't top notch. But my apology actually serves as a sort of introduction into what I want to write about today. I think I studied more for this particular test than I've studied for the accumulation of all past quizzes and exams. I'm your typical procrastinator- I start out with good intentions, but end with an indifferent attitude. I constantly put things off until "tomorrow". As a result, I developed terrible study habits. I've never spent more than an hour reviewing old notes, and I rarely read textbooks. I was able to get away with that until high school, so freshman year hit me like a ton of bricks. Even still, I didn't put in the needed amount of effort to achieving the highest grades possible. I got by, and that's all I cared about. Until this year. Junior year, I decided I was really going to try. Although I didn't give my full attention every day, I did try during most class periods, and my study habits began to improve. It really paid off in AP Chem, which was where it was needed most. Science has never been my strong suit. The entire class was preparation for the AP test at the end of the year. We went through what felt like a chapter a week, and it took all that I had not to fall behind. Anyway, I flew by the seat of my pants all year, but when May came along, I discovered that I knew more than I thought. I had acquired a genuine understanding of the concepts taught, and I was proud of that. But after today, I'm doubting how much I actually understood. I walked into the library this morning with confidence. I felt ready. I had studied for hours the night before, by myself and with a small group at the library. I got a full eight hours of sleep, and I'd studied even more this morning. I had done everything I could to prepare, and it still wasn't enough. I walked out of the library in extreme disappointment. I was angry at myself for not doing better. I was in a bad mood until school let out. Then I realized, I had absolutely no reason for my attitude. I did my absolute best, which is something I don't honestly say very often. I don't regret anything about this past year, and that's a first. So what did I have to be angry about? I thought about that while reading the last of A Streetcar Named Desire. Then, suddenly, I had an epiphany: Blanche. Need I say more? Her entire life is based on past mistakes and traumatic experiences. She lives every day like it was years ago. Look where it got her- a mental breakdown cost Blanche her family, friends, a paying job, her house. She lost everything by dwelling on the past. Although I definitely do not focus on the past to that extent, I did realize just then that replaying past events over and over in your head gets you nowhere. I believe that the past is there for you to grow stronger from, to learn from and move on. We reside in the present for a reason. If you don't believe me, look at these quotes. People all over the globe, of all different ages and backgrounds, have said the exact same thing throughout the years about the past in regards to the present and the future. It doesn't change.

Post #13, 5-5-09, World Peace?

With the world in its current state- wars erupting left and right, economies steadily declining downhill- the individual's moral decision making is extremely important. The decisions that people of authority make- the president, other members of government- effect all of us. In the latest Newsweek, an article by Sharon Begley was titled "Adventures in Good and Evil". The subheading read, "What makes some of us saints and some of us sinners? The evolutionary roots of morality." Earlier this year, during first semester religion, I took a Christian morality course. During that time, I developed a strong interest in the reasoning behind choices people make and the effects each choice has. This particular article brought up many interesting points through summaries of past and present experimentation on psychology. Some studies show that when placed in control of a situation in which a person is rewarded for inflicting pain on another person, or is made to believe that the situation is beneficial on the larger scale of things, the moral judgement of the person in authority diminishes. In another study, "if people are asked whether they would be willing to throw a switch to redirect deadly fumes from a room with five children to a room with one, most say yes, and neuroimaging shows that their brain's rational, analytical regions had swung into action to make the requisite calculation. But few people say they would kill a healthy man in order to distribute his organs to five patients who will otherwise die, even though the logic- kill one, save five- is identical: a region in our emotional brain rebels at the act of directly and actively taking a man's life, something that feels immesaurably worse than the impersonal act of throwing a switch in an air duct. We have gut feelings of what is right and wrong." I found this incredibly interesting. I would have never realized the connection in the two circumstances if it had not been pointed out to me. It's unbelievable to me how the brain functions- that it can place identical situations in different moral categories, and convince you that one is a more righteous act than the other.
The article goes on to say that important principles instilled during childhood, life-altering experiences, observing qualities like compassion and forgiveness in others, and feeling secure in multiple aspects of life are also characteristics of those with high moral character. A different study shows that, "if only people could feel safer and less threatened, they would have more psychological resources to devote to noticing other people's suffering and doing something to alleviate it." After reading this, I began to wonder what the world would be like if everyone felt safe and secure, assuming that this theory is correct. I think that further testing and developing this idea could be extremely beneficial. It could be a start at world peace, something we all can only dream about. We could potentially eliminate poverty and war. It's almost too much to think about how we can create a more perfect world by simply studying the why's and how's behind our response to critical situations. I don't know, do you think this is attainable?

Post #12, 4-28-09, Remember When?

"Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders."

-Mary, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

For as long as can be remembered, memory has been a highly intriguing, thought-provoking process. The inner workings of the human brain have not only been the focus of intense scientific study, but also play a large part in the media. Movie after movie, TV show after TV show, book after book have been based on psychological theories. When a certain Newsweek article caught my eye, I began reading and was immediately reminded of scenes from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a 2004 release starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. The title of the film was inspired by "Eloisa to Abelard", a poem written by Alexander Pope in the early 1700's. A small portion of the poem reads as follows:

"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd."

The Health for Life section of this week's issue of Newsweek features an article written by Claudia Kalb called "To Pluck a Rooted Sorrow". The article starts by describing an experiment begun by Karim Nader. This experiment involved testing a "fear conditioning technique", in which rats were electrically shocked each time they heard a certain sound. The rats soon started to associate the unpleasant shock with the sound, and formed a memory. Nader then realized that after injecting the rats with a new drug, the rats relaxed when the sound was played. The fear of shock and the sound were no longer connected. This same drug can be used on humans. We may be capable of actually erasing painful memories. This recent discovery is nothing similar to what is seen on TV, however. Dr. Roger Pitman is currently concentrating on victims of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, an illness kick-started by exceptionally distressing memories.

We may be able to help people who suffer from emotional scarring, but at what cost? In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the two main characters, Joel Barish and Clementine Kruczynski, erase their memories of each other after their relationship falls apart. Clementine undergoes the memory-erasing procedure first, and after hearing about it, Joel decides to forget about her too. However, half-way through the process, Joel changes his mind because he is still in love with Clementine. While the actual movie is much better than the rough story line I just provided, I got my point across. In the article Dr. Eric Kandel states, "Removing memory gets into dangerous territory. We have to think about it very carefully."

"To Pluck a Rooted Sorrow" brought up many interesting points, and I agree with something psychologist Alain Brunet was quoted on in the article: "People cherish their memories, even their bad memories. They don't want them to be erased, they want to recall them with less pain." I think that's what we all want, ultimately. A perfect life. But that's an unachievable goal. Life, in reality, is messy. When we make mistakes, we have to learn from them. When people hurt us, we have to forgive. I believe that our experiences shape us into who we are. Without knowledge of those past experiences, I'm concerned that the person we pride ourselves in being might be forgotten along with our lost memories. Any other thoughts?

Post #11, 4-21-09, Women

Through recent readings, I've come across several perceptions of women and the place they hold in specific societies. On one side, women are viewed as "truly the fairer sex". The article selected for "The Verdict" section of the April 20th issue of Newsweek describes women in governmental roles. It is said that President Obama will choose a woman to fill the next empty seat in the Supreme Court. Currently, there is only one female member of the court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Many people strongly agree that there should be more women present in politics. A theory based on the book by Carol Gilligan, "In a Different Voice", states that "men prefer their law with rigid rules, clear lines and neutral principles; women prefer to look at the totality of the circumstances and favor what Gilligan calls an 'ethic of care' over an 'ethic of rights'." Women provide a different insight, a different perspective on topics of interest. It is necessary to have more than one viewpoint on consequential issues.

However, the other side of the extreme often objectifies women and treats them as inferior. Peter Hessler observes this during his two-year stay in China, and writes about it in his book River Town. In River Town, Hessler describes the two types of Chinese women, or "xiaojie":

"It was impossible to define exactly what xiaojie meant, because it stretched across a broad range of implication. Anne was a xiaojie and so was Li Jiali, the prostitute who had pursued me at the teahouse. Xiaojie was a vague term, which was appropriate because it was difficult to define exactly what was expected of young women in a place like Fuling. They weren't like young upper-class men, whose aspirations could be neatly summarized, and I found that I had no equivalently simple definition for the average young woman in Fuling. She was expected to marry young and promptly have her child, and yet her childbearing was strictly and legally limited. She was expected to have a job and earn money of her own, but job discrimination was even more severe than in America. Traditional morality was breaking down, but this happened unevenly and in unhealthy ways; prostitution was becoming increasingly common and so were love affairs. I was amazed at how many of my young married friends in the city were cheating on their spouses, but divorce still came with a definite stigma for the women involved."

Hessler continues with other complex conditions Chinese women are expected to abide by. He later says that although circumstances were worse in other countries, "the issue of women's independence had reached a transitional stage, and it seemed to be a particularly painful one."

I find it interesting that a woman's purpose and status in society has been and remains so controversial. It is unclear to most what is expected of women, and various cultures come up with their own ideas of what is acceptable.

Forum #5, 4-7-09, A World within the World

"The Restaurant Owner" focuses mainly on Huang Xiaoqiang, a husband, father, and proud owner of a noodle restaurant called the Students' home in the East River district of Fuling. Huang Xiaoqiang lives in his own little world, a world that completely revolves and depends upon the success of his restaurant. Pete Hessler writes in this chapter: "Any changes are made within the world of the restaurant." When Huang Xiaoqiang experienced financial difficulties, he bought a telephone for his customer's use in an attempt to raise money. He also worked to obtain a driver's license, something not many others had in the city. This provided him with multiple opportunities. Hessler informs his readers: "They have no desire to go elsewhere. 'We're here for yibeizi,' Huang Xiaoqiang says, 'A lifetime.'"
This section of the chapter stuck out to me. I began to wonder, do we experience similar situations here in the United States? What are our individual "worlds"?

Post #10, 3-31-09, Weight Watchers

In the newest Newsweek, the health article by Sarah Kliff posed an interesting perspective on how to get children to eat more nutritious foods at early ages. It's really a simple idea. Kliff starts the article: "What's the best way to make sure a kid eats an apple? Ask him if he really wants one... Want her to eat her veggies, too? Rename them." In short, this new concept, called "stealth health", will cause kids to find a balanced diet more appealing because they are being pushed towards the healthier choice. Kliff states that this "push" may be verbal encouragement in the lunch line in the school cafeteria, more expressive food labels in grocery stores, and making healthier foods more readily availiable. As a result, "the most nutritious decision [will be] the most desirable one."

It seems that especially in the United States, people are either at one end of the extreme or the other when it comes to weight. It's easy to find nine year olds who are anorexic, or young adults that weigh three hundred pounds. Fitness is a main focus here. Almost every magazine has at least one article per issue on health, Newsweek no exception. Looking good is a very important part of our society today. I'm not arguing that staying active and eating right are bad things, but the more this concept is stressed, the more I question it's actual benefit. Although these articles target all of the pro's to healthy habits, continually reading them could be a possible con. Your opinion?

Post #9, 3-24-09, Is it the simple things in life?

"You couldn't have said something like that at Oxford. You couldn't simply say: I don't like Hamlet because I think he's a lousy person. Everything had to be more clever than that; you had to recognize Hamlet as a character in a text, and then you had to dismantle it accordingly, layer by layer, not just the play itself but everything that had ever been written about it. You had to consider what all the other critics had said, and the accumulated weight of their knowledge and nonsense sat heavily on the play. You had to think about how the play tied in with current events and trends. This process had some value, of course, but for many readers it seemed to have reached the point where there wasn't even a split-second break before the sophistication started. As a student, that was all I had wanted- a brief moment when a simple and true thought flashed across the mind: I don't like this character. This is a good story. The woman in this poem is beautiful and I bet her fingers are slim like scallions."

-Pete Hessler, River Town

Pete Hessler spent two years in Fuling, China as an English teacher at a small college, and afterwards wrote River Town providing a written account of his life while there. During his stay, Hessler discovered countless times how extremely important language is in China. Pete writes, "So much depended on knowing the language- my friendships, my ability to function in the city, my understanding of the place." Two tutors arranged to meet with Hessler seven hours a week in order to improve his written and spoken Mandarin. Hessler studied rigorously out of stubbornness, because many of his students and colleagues thought his interest in the language a joke. The process of learning Mandarin was a very enlightening experience for Hessler. Everything was "budui"- everything was wrong. It didn't matter if only one character was slightly mispronounced, in the Chinese way it was all or nothing. This caused Hessler to begin to appreciate what he did correctly, even if it was merely reading a short paragraph a young schoolchild could handle.

Although in Hessler's classroom the roles of teacher and student were reversed, the same concepts still applied. Hessler's students declared their thoughts outright and plainly. Because the students were learning the language, there was no need to go into great detail over the meaning behind what was being read. The students were able to come up with their own observations about the characters and plotlines, imagining them as real people in real situations.

Sometimes I think that we need to go back to the basics. Sometimes I think that we let things become too complicated. We focus more on the author's intentions rather than our own interpretations of the story. Often this mindset causes us to develop a hate for literature, rather than an enjoyment. Even with River Town itself, the first time it was introduced to the class there were moans and sighs of disappointment instead of smiles and excited gasps. We dread the point when we are going to have to dissect the book, and look deeper into the story for connections to our everyday lives and hidden intentions behind the author's word choice or sentence structure. On the other hand, I do understand the importance of developing a deep understanding of the book in all its entirety. Sometimes we learn more from our conclusions than from the story itself. I guess, both aspects might be of equal value. It's possible that the two might go hand-in-hand, that fully comprehending the book's plot leads to attempts at comprehending the book's meaning. Let me know what you think.

Post #8, 3-17-09, More than Words

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." -Mark Twain

Save that thought.

So, I took my SAT's yesterday. It was a long, excruciating process- no joke, no lie, no exaggeration. I thought, with as much experience as I've had taking test after test, week after week, over an accumulation of sixteen years, nine months, and seventeen days, that this would be a breeze. It wasn't- I lost stamina, not even half-way through. Word of advice to those who haven't taken the SAT yet: don't fight it, timed writes really do help.

During one of the three critical reading sections, during one of the million excerpts and passages, one short story really struck me. Let me just say, after about the first section the stories all start running together; you end up filling in the second half of each sentence and skimming paragraphs, bored out of your mind. The reason why I'm not fond of reading comprehension questions is simple- I'm terrible at them. I'm incredibly stubborn, and if I'm not interested in what's been given to me to read, I just won't read it. In these cases, I usually forget words the instant after I read them. So the fact that this excerpt particularly stuck out means a lot. The story was about Zubin, a computer programmer who decided to then pursue life as a novelist. He quickly learned that writing out repetitive source coding in complex computer programs is very different from writing a book. A book requires finding the exactly right words to fit into the exactly right sentences with the exactly right structure, etc. etc. etc. It's a much more meticulous process. In the end, Zubin had a new-found respect for writers, as well as a greater knowledge of the off-the-page work involved.

The quote mentioned at the top of the blog was mentioned in the passage mentioned in the previous paragraph. I'm sure I wasted a good three minutes of my test time rereading Mark Twain's wise words over and over. I believe that there's two types of people in the world: the writers, and the editors. I am an editor. I've never really written out an actual draft, of anything. When I write, I continually pick apart what I want to say in my head until I find it worthy enough to put on paper. I rarely find existing words capable enough to perfectly express my thoughts. I am extremely picky; my thesaurus is my best friend. Knowing that someone else felt the same way was a huge relief.

light⋅ning

–noun

a brilliant electric spark discharge in the atmosphere, occurring within a thundercloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.

light⋅ning bug
–noun
any nocturnal beetle of the family Lampyridae, characterized by a soft body with a light-producing organ at the rear of the abdomen.

"firefly." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 17 Mar. 2009.

"lightning." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 17 Mar. 2009.

Obviously, the minor change between the two words is not minor at all. The addition of three letters changes the definition entirely. That is a concept I can easily relate to. While writing this, the video we watched in English class last semester keeps coming to mind- the documentary about Isabel Allende. What I specifically remember is the part of the interview in which Isabelle Allende discussed the importance of words, and how the meaning of a certain word in Spanish can mean something completely different in English. She used the example of "bread". In English, bread is an every day staple. To us, bread is an often overlooked, common household item. We use it to make sandwiches, toast when it gets old, and that's it. But in Spanish, bread has sacred connotations to it. Bread signifies the "bread of life". It's almost overwhelming how unalike identical words can actually be.

Just some food for thought, I guess.

Yahooing the "importance of words", I came across a business article about how to make your writing more effective in the corporate world. I realized, words connect countless topics. You can end up learning a lot from something you wouldn't think relates at all to what you're talking about.

Post #7, 3-10-09, MacFrugal's: The Way to Go

When it comes to frugality, I've grown up in a pretty average family. We're somewhere smack dab in the middle of all the typical economical stereotypes. We don't toss aside the never-been-used every Wednesday with our trash, but we don't hoard everything either. However, I have to admit- after reading the latest business article in Newsweek, I felt like my family could be doing a much better job at managing our money. Called "The Frugal Family Guide", Steve Tuttle describes his family life growing up in rural Virginia. His parents have never owned a television, clothes dryer, or credit card. Some people may think that their approach to life is a little extreme, but it actually worked. The Tuttle family ends up saving enough money every ten years to buy a new car and pay in full the day of. Up until now, I basically thought doing that was impossible. Even the most thrifty people I know are nothing in comparison to the Tuttle's. Long story short- I was amazed at how far living simpler and more efficient can get you. But the point of the article was to convince readers that during this recession, "there are still valuable lessons to be gleaned: the people who have been living the thrifty life all along are the smart ones now... while the rest of us watch and worry, my parents, with their paid-for house and their old rusty mousetraps, have peace of mind to spare." This is true. We're in the midst of some difficult times. My dad just recently switched jobs and is making less money than before, but we're still pretty well off. We cut back a little, but with the way the economy is headed, I'm beginning to wonder if it's enough...

Post #6, 3-3-09, A Difficult Read

"The death of a beautiful woman, is unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world."

-Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe sure seemed to think so. Most, if not all, of Poe's dark work seems to have something to do with the death of a beautiful woman. Poe was raised to be a Southern gentleman: witty, charming, intelligent, polite. As a result of his upbringing, he practically worshiped women and viewed them as angelic figures. Due to the poor sanitation of the time, Poe stood by and watched most, if not all, of the women he loved die. His mother died of Tuberculosis when Poe was very young and his first girlfriend died of brain cancer when he was fifteen. But perhaps the most influential of all these on Poe's writing was the death of his wife, Virginia, in 1847. From this event, short stories and poems such as "Annabel Lee", "Ulalume", "Lenore", "Eleonora", "The Oblong Box", "Ligeia", "Metzengerstein", "The Tell Tale Heart", "The Black Cat", "The Cask of Amontillado", and "The Raven", were all written. Obviously, these deaths had quite an impact on him. Learning about Poe earlier this week, I discovered just how full of tragedy his life really was. It seemed as if everything he had ever strived for- family, true love, a career- all slipped right out of his grasp like handfuls of sand. His father abandoned him a year after he was born and as previously mentioned, his mother passed away shortly after. He was put into foster care and eventually taken in by John and Frances Allan, family friends. John Allan treated Poe cruelly and extremely disliked him. His stories, if ever published, did not make enough money for Poe to live off of. These misfortunes caused Poe to develop a mindset in which he felt the need for his every attempt at a better life to fail. If these attempts were not unsuccessful on their own, Poe destroyed them himself. This eventually led Poe to his death in 1849.
Yes, Edgar Allen Poe's biography can be rather depressing. I figured that out the hard way. But after thinking about it for a while, I realized that good did come out of it. For one, Poe is now well-thought of and seen as a very talented and influential writer. His ultimate goal was reached, although it was some time after his death. His written thoughts give the sad and lonely something to relate to. His unique writing style give students something to study, teachers something to teach, and fellow writers something to emulate. Being a model to others is the most anyone can ask for. So, in conclusion, here's something to keep in mind during the hard times: there's always a bright side; silver lining can be found on anything. Don't forget it.

P.S. Need more of a pick-me-up? After reading Poe's Biography, you just might. Turn to Scripture- after rough days, God will always be there to pull you out of it. These encouraging Bible Verses are here to help: http://highhopesforhardtimes.com/.

Post #5, 2-24-09, Procrastination

Procrastination- a medium length, five syllable word that causes an infinite amount of damage. "Later" and "not now"- smaller words in length that destroy just as much. I've learned that the hard way, one too many times. Take last night for example: we're given a week to do an essay. Our teacher makes it extremely simple for us- we pre-write for two days in class, even write a practice essay. But after the due date had been extended, I still hadn't made a dent in it. Hadn't even started actually. I'd been formulating what I planned to say in my mind for a couple days, but I was still staring at a blank Microsoft Word document on Sunday afternoon. Monday comes along, and I get home around five. I put my backpack upstairs, unpack it, and head back downstairs to turn on the computer. After sitting down and waiting for my desktop to load, I realize I need my English notes. I run back to my room to get them. Sit back down. Need my Writer's Inc. Run back to my room to get it. Sit back down. Dinner time. Sit back down. By this time, I don't even remember what I was doing at my computer in the first place. See- this is what procrastination does to you. Put things off and put things off until you find yourself submitting your essay an hour before it's due. Not a great idea, trust me. You'd think after about the millionth time I'd learn. I hate stressing out over hours of work, getting major writer's block. Procrastination is probably the reason why I type so fast. Well, that's one good thing from it. So what do I do to discontinue this bad habit? Absolutely nothing. "Never make the same mistake twice", right? Wrong. I've tried time and time again- learning better organizational skills, writing in planners, the whole shebang. In the end, I'm the one up past midnight scrambling to finish everything that needs to get done. Yes, crunch-time is something I'm very familiar with. And if you asked me why, I couldn't tell you. It makes no sense whatsoever. No one wants to add to the stresses of daily life when there's no reason to. Yet I keep finding myself in the exact same situation. If there's anyone out there that can help me out, please do. I'm tired of being tired.

In searching "procrastination" on the internet, I discovered the answer to "why". But I'd still like feedback, advice, and tips on what I can do the next time an assignment is given.
Psychology Today, "Procrastination: Ten Things to Know", http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20030823-000001.html.

Post #4, 2-17-09, What's your story?

This is mine- inspired by a story in Newsweek, about the power of storytelling.

Called "Stop Me if You've Heard This One", this week's My Turn article was written by Ann Banks. In her essay, Banks starts by telling readers a story that she's sure her grandmother would tell after reading some of today's headlines. She knows this story like the back of her hand, inside and out- she grew up on Depression stories told time after time around the dinner table. Now, in the midst of a recession, Banks recalls this story- a story about how an artist had cemented a silver dollar in the middle of a mosaic map of Florida on the floor of a real-estate office in Palm Beach, and how, during hard times, someone had stolen that silver dollar- chiseled it right out of the floor. Banks said that although her grandmother had lost so much during the Depression, she spoke about the silver dollar so much more. "It comforted my grandmother, I believe, by reminding her that in her misfortune she was far from alone." For that reason, Banks strongly believes that "storytelling is due for a revival... It got folks through the depression. It can work now, too." Banks also says that "we need again to imagine a future that is meaningful in the face of difficult circumstances. Listening to each other's stories may grant us a sense of common purpose that money can't buy."

At first, this article grabbed my attention because of its catchy title. I like being in the know, and I wanted to see if I ever had "heard this one". But the title wasn't the only thing well-chosen. With every word, every sentence, I was drawn further and further into Banks's story. About halfway through the article, I came across a quote that made me stop and think: "I became fascinated by the role that stories play during hard times- the way they seem to strengthen people, offering a bulwark against loneliness and feelings of personal failure." How true is that? When we're in the middle of a major crisis, what do we look for to help us feel better? A friend, maybe- someone who will empathize with us, someone who will share a similar, enlightening experience with us to show that we can overcome our trial. Ultimately, we look for a story. That is what convinced me- a simple, yet powerful, story might be just what we need after all. I'm sure plans to reconstruct our economy are necessary too, but the most brilliant strategy will do us no good unless we keep a positive, optimistic mindset and are determined to achieve our goal. That is where the work of our stories comes in. Each one of us has something to contribute; each one of us has something to say.

So that, was my story. Now it's your turn to tell yours.

To read the entire article, pick up a copy of Newsweek and turn to page 18, or visit this link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/183675.

Post #3, 2-10-09, Not a Trekee

I have to start out saying that I am not a Star Trek fan. Never have been, never will be. Whether it be watching it with my Dad on Spike late at night because he won’t let go of the channel changer, or watching an episode in English class because it sort of ties in with The Crucible, every episode bores me to tears. However, when the latter situation did arise, and I was forced to suffer through 45 minutes of Betazoids and Vulcans, I found that I was able to stay awake long enough to actually learn something from it. Yes, I learned something from Star Trek. Not in a million years would I have even imagined saying that sentence. But for that reason, I found it interesting enough to blog about.

In English, we watched “The Drumhead”, Episode 21 of Season 4. The storyline of this episode is very similar to the plot of The Crucible, numerous parallels can be drawn. In “The Drumhead”, Admiral Satie arrives on board the Enterprise to assist Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the investigation of a security breach. They quickly find that a Klingon exobiologist named J’Ddan is guilty. However, the trials do not stop there. Admiral Satie is convinced that there is a conspiracy on the ship, and is determined to stop it. She goes so far as to even accuse Captain Picard before her unethical hearings are finally brought to an end.

Many important points were brought up during “The Drumhead”. In a scene when Admiral Satie and Captain Picard were discussing the trials, Admiral Satie argued that the trials were necessary because they needed to find all conspirators. Captain Picard replied “Oh yes, that's how it starts, but the road from legitimate suspicion to rampant paranoia is very much shorter than we think.” This quote stuck out to me. It made me think about how fast things can get out of hand. The trials started because of one spy, but soon unraveled into false accusations directed towards most of the Enterprise crew.

Another scene that stayed fixed in my mind was towards the end when Captain Picard was talking with one of the accused, Simon Tarses. During the scene, Captain Picard tells Tarses that he’ll still have a place on the Enterprise if he is not found guilty. But Tarses responds, “It doesn’t matter. I lied on my application. That mistake will be with me for the rest of my life.” The trials completely exposed Tarses for who he really was, and ruined his reputation. Often times, we make rash judgments about others without even realizing it. We are quick to jump to conclusions after hearing rumors and gossiping with friends. Those judgments will tear a person down if we are not careful. We should allow others the chance to reveal what they are hiding and not do it for them. The hearings started with proving a person guilty, and ended with a person being forced to prove their innocence.

In one of the last scenes, Worf confronts Captain Picard about Admiral Satie. Worf said, “I believed her. I... helped her. I did not see her for what she was.”

Captain Picard told him, “Mr. Worf, villains who twirl their moustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well-camouflaged.”

Worf: “I think... after yesterday people will not be so ready to trust her.”

Captain Picard: “Maybe. But she, or someone like her, will always be with us. Waiting for the right climate in which to flourish, spreading fear in the name of righteousness. Vigilance, Mr. Worf. That is the price we must continually pay.”

I'll leave you with that to chew on.

And although I'll admit, I actually did enjoy watching this in English, it was more because we didn't have to do a Timed Write, and less because the show is growing on me. If I'm ever up late with nothing to do, turning on the television will definitely be my Dad's choice, not mine.

Quotes from: Star Trek: The Next Generation.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation#The_Drumhead_.5B4.21.5D

Post #2, 2-3-09, Blog-Challenged

“What to write… What to write.” That is the question I’ve been asking myself over and over for four long, busy days filled with events completely irrelevant to English. As a matter of fact, I’ve been asking more than just myself that question. Family, friends, friends of friends- no one’s been fortunate enough to escape my constant interrogation. I talked to someone for two hours yesterday on possible topics, to no avail. Throughout today I asked everyone and anyone who crossed my path. Our conversation normally went something like this:
Friend: “Hel-”
Me: “What should I write my blog about?”
Friend: “Uhm. Hmm, I don’t know.”
Me: “I already wrote about The Crucible for my last post, so I kind of want to move on from that subject.”
Friend: “Oh hey! What about The Crucible?”
Yeah, as you’ve probably already guessed, the typical responses I received didn’t help much. One friend thought he was being helpful by repeating, “I know! Why don’t you write about something really boring, and then make it interesting!” Great idea! Psyche.
So finally, it’s sixth period, and we’re doing nothing, as usual. I ask the girl sitting next to me, with little hope that she’ll say anything of use. But, of course, she was the person who ended up providing me with an actual answer: “Write a blog about writing a blog”. And that, is exactly what I’m doing.
Step number one: Decide on a topic.

Step number two: Using proper “netiquette” (we should all know what that is by now), sit down in a quiet, comfortable location and write your blog.
Your blog should be written about something interesting. Your blog should engage your audience, captivate them, take them to another world riding on fascinating thoughts. The rule: it has to somehow relate, however tangentially, to something previously discussed or studied in English Class. Okay, let’s face it- “interesting” and “English” don’t easily connect. Upon hearing the words “intriguing” and “exciting”, some think sports, some think shopping, some think Twilight- the last thing on the endless list is school. But it seems the other thirty-two students are having no problem with finding some sort of link between the two, so I’ll move on.

Step number three: Give your blog a flashy title (without forgetting to include the post number and date) and publish it!
There you go- the simple three step process is complete. The only thing left to do is read the rest of your group’s thrilling, action-packed blogs and comment on two appropriately (again using proper “netiquette”).
The best part- next Tuesday afternoon, the cycle starts again. Hopefully between now and then the class period will be spent doing something other than correcting vocab. But if we continue discussing the difference between a “moral” and a “theme”, and a friend is having difficulty finding an idea for Blog #3, it would probably be beneficial to reread my first paragraph before replying.

P.S. If you find this blog lacking (I'm still learning myself), try reading through some of the tips here: Problogger, "How to Write Great Blog Content", <http://www.problogger.net/how-to-write-great-blog-content/>.

Post #1, 1-26-09, Crime

"It were another sort that hanged till now. Rebecca Nurse is no Bridget that lived three year with Bishop before she married him. John Proctor is not Isaac Ward that drank his family to ruin."
-The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Act Four, Parris to Hathorne

What is to be considered crime? The simple, five letter word has innumerable meanings. Definitions of crime range from "an act committed or omitted in violation of a law forbidding or commanding it and for which punishment is imposed upon conviction", to simply "any offense, serious wrongdoing, or sin" ("Dictionary.com", crime definitions). Therefore, how are crimes to be justified? Should punishments be chosen based on the severity of the crime? Are all crimes equal, and should, for that reason, have the same punishment?

It is important to distinguish between two types of crime: something illegal, and something immoral. In The Crucible, the church and court were ultimately the same. Both the Church doctrine and the town’s laws were supposedly based on the Bible. Early in the play, witchcraft was named the source of two young girls’ illness. In reality, there was no witchcraft present in the town. The lie was made by Reverend Parris’s niece, Abigail, whose ulterior motive was to become John Proctor’s wife. Abigail accused many people of doing the Devil’s work. She chose to condemn people who had bad reputations in the town, people that were disliked and looked down upon in society. These innocent people were thrown in jail and later hanged while the rest of the town watched. Hathorne told Parris, “at every execution I have seen naught but high satisfaction in the town” (The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Act Four). However, when Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor, two Christian and upright people, were sentenced to death, the town began to question the court’s justice. Because there was no difference between the church and court, illegal and immoral became impossible to tell apart. So, then, does it suddenly become acceptable to stand by while disreputable people like Isaac Ward and Bridget Bishop are killed? If someone has committed an immoral crime, is it alright for them to hang for an illegal crime they did not commit? If we live with this mindset, the questions again arise: is all crime equal? Should we rank crimes by degrees of seriousness? Should punishment be the same for all crime?

How can we effectively deliver justice when we all should be put in jail?