Week 5 Top Links

Elementary Love Notes by Wonderstruck
The first one catches my eye-- a torn piece of paper with a child's handwriting scribed in sloppy, uneven letters--it's a love note. It takes me back to my early school years remembering receiving those notes with an original drawing on the front and the infamous question with check-boxes on the back.

Most Endangered Animals by A Puppy's Point of View
So much can be learned from this article. Being an animal lover myself, this article and the images make me want to take action and prevent their extinction!

On The Effect of Heavier Things 
It's really neat how this author chose to write about a topic other than what he can easily find on the internet. By writing about something he is familiar with, in this case a classmate's band, the article may become more personable and interesting.

Much Madness Is Divinest Sense
Seeing a car driving through a tree isn't something most people would see everyday. The author then proceeds to explain that this article submission would contain photos of family vacation through the 48 contiguous states. Something I have aspired to do my whole life, but have not had the opportunity to do, taking a virtual tour seems to be the next best thing.

Hungry For More: Part 1

Oh yes, I am another one lured in by the hype of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I'm sure most have heard about or, in Mr. Hill's case, have read endless blog posts on this novel. I believe the same book can be read in millions of different ways, not literally forward and backward and on a train, but how the reader interprets it, so spare me your eye rolls, please.

The novel takes place in a region, Panem, that was at one time called North America. It is broken down into twelve districts. Each year an event called the "reaping" takes place choosing a boy tribute and a girl tribute from each district to participate in what is called the Hunger Games. Here, the tributes battle it out in avid fight for life against the other tributes. "Fight for life" can be taken literally as the contestants are plotted against each other to kill. In this cruel dogfight, residents of all districts halt their the normal goings-on to watch. This novel follows the the female tribute from District 12, Katniss, who bravely volunteered herself after her younger sister was chosen.
Instead of continuing to summarize a book you've most likely read, I'll share some of my favorite lines.

“To this day, I can never shake the connection between this boy, Peeta Mellark, and the bread that gave me hope, and the dandelion that reminded me that I was not doomed.” (Collins, 32) Too often, in our lives, we are consumed by thoughts that bring us to a dark places.These thoughts can twist and turn our minds into thinking phantasmagorical thoughts. We then rely on the miniscule things, like a dandelion in the midst of a patch of dead grass, to remind us that there is hope and life does, in fact, go on. Katniss finds herself in this exact case, but perseveres when a boy takes a smack across the face to outwit his parents into giving the bread to her, the bread that potentially saved her life and the lives of her mother and sister.

Each tribute is is provided a couple days of preparation before the Games begin. They are required to showcase their greatest talents to the Gamemakers who, in turn, will score the tribute on a scale of one to twelve. After ambiguous facial expressions and stares of disbelief to Katniss' unexpected behavior, she falls into a pool of anxiety and regret. She begins to question what the future will hold and what miserable penance she will confront. "What will they do to me now? Arrest me? Execute me? Cut my tongue and turn me into an Avox...?" (Collins, 103). The questions never end. The idea of "always expecting the worse" plays a key role in this passage. Her anxiousness and curiosity of the unknown drives her to a point of insanity, thinking, "I just ended my own life."

Short List #1

Addiction Dance 

The heart-felt lyrics, the chilling facial expressions, along with the expressive choreography capture the most important part of any dance: telling a story. The male, Kupono, plays the role of an addiction pressing dominance over Kayla, who is trying to escape the wrath of its arms. I am honored to say that I've had the privilege to witness the sheer perfection in person just a mere fifteen feet away. Hair-raising, jaw-dropping, excellence.

 

TIME Picks the Top 10 Photos of 2011
Sometimes the things that have the most profound impact on one person are the scents he smells, the sounds he hears, and most importantly, the images he sees. They are the things that appeal to to our five senses that intrigues the brain and traps it in like a life-long prisoner. Nothing can be unheard; nothing can be unseen. TIME Magazine is known for producing some of the most memorable images in the history of time. This list produces images that tell the story before reading the article; that's what a picture is all about.

Best of the World 2012
Being just a small speck of a creature, in a small speck of a Midwest town, amid the vast world of endless potential, I find myself dreaming of where my life is going to take me. I know most people would be jealous of the endless corn fields and bipolar weather of Indiana, but it's just not for me. It's images like these that make me want to immediately drop everything and go.  Whether it be climbing a smoking volcano or taking in the simplistic beauty of infinite green mountains. I want an adventure; these images, these words, they take me there.

Interestingly Enough...

Reading, Reflecting, and More -- http://rrr-nans.blogspot.com/

Quickly skimming through blog posts of my classmates, this one really caught my eye. I found myself reading everything on "nans" page. This author's claim about the "Nighthawks" painting really captures the meaning behind the whole idea of making a claim and analyzing any piece of work. "In 'Nighthawks' painted by Edward Hopper, an outsider looking into the empty bar with ominous apathy, lathargic complacency, and dramatic coldness of the night, portray the dark, lonely mood of the lifeless costumers in the peak of the night." Nans gives an ambiguous painting a profound meaning.

Chimerical Tales -- http://quasiurl.blogspot.com/

"Teachers aggressively glare at the new more youthful teacher, as if he alone took the proud banner representing "Tradition" and stomped it into the dirt ."The way this author gave a new perspective and a greater meaning to a measly few seconds of a scene is intriguing and evokes a sense of curiosity of the relationships among the characters within the movie, not just how the audience sees them.

Reading Log #2

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite" (Chbosky, 39). I want to feel what he feels. Is being infinite running into the sunset, young and care-free, casting a mere silhouette to the past? Is being infinite the feeling of escaping a small Midwest town and never turning back? Or is being infinite not having any feeling, whatsoever?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky intimately explores the existence of a lost soul, Charlie, who gets swallowed by the complex contemplation of every minuscule move he makes. Whether it be about love, loss, sex, drugs, or the occasional tree peeping through his bedroom window, to Charlie, there is always something greater to the picture. Philosopher? No. Pensive high school student with sheer curiosity? Exactly. This novel is set up in the style of letters to "a friend" who remains unnamed. By composing the novel in this manner, the author can speak more intimately and engage the reader more than he could with just journal entries. 

While I found this novel relatable upon many measures, the lachrymose sensations it brought upon me invoked my own deep contemplation resulting in a short abeyance of reading. Living inside of one's head for a short period of time can take one to a place he never thought existed.  Too often in society, we judge others based upon their outer appearance or maybe by their mannerisms. It's completely unethical because we don't know what makes that person this way; nonetheless, it's who we are as humans and it will continue infinitely. This novel teaches that even though everyone has (for the lack of a better word) crap in their lives, they have the power to do anything. Too often, I find myself stuck in the daily routine. Finding the true definition, better yet, the true feeling of being "infinite" has come to play a huge factor in the way I approach things. An unconventional way to finding a new adventure? I'm up for the challenge.

Reading Log #1

"It's so hard to talk when you want to kill yourself"(Vizzini, 1). The application of this harsh, but seemingly valid statement opens up the story and basically says it all. It not only grabs the reader's attention, but also locks him/her in.  It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini is told through the voice of a near teen suicide victim, Craig, who admits himself into the adult psychiatric hospital. There, he encounters a girl with self-inflicted cuts on her face and a transsexual sex addict. By comparing his "tragic life" to that of his new neighbors, he quickly becomes cognizant of the fact that his life is satisfactory and that he should be grateful for the love and attention he continuously receives. The book explores Craig's inner most thoughts and trepidations about his life. By entering the hospital, he receives the opportunity to competently confront all of his worries and figure out what his next step is in order to make "the shift" into a new and healthier lifestyle.
The structure of the book consists of ten parts, three being background insight of the events leading to the overwhelming depression of Craig and the other seven following the lively events occurring each day he resides in the hospital.This convenient break-down of time conveys the vast amount of change that one can experience in such a minuscule period of time.
Craig confides in his therapist, Dr. Minerva. A reoccurring theme comes into play during their sessions: the idea of "tentacles and anchors"(Vizzini, 307). Craig describes tentacles as people, activities, or events in his life that cause him anxiety and restrain him from living a normal lifestyle. His anchors are things in his life that never change and are always reliable. The problem with this is that Craig doesn't have any anchors to help keep him balanced or keep him sane. Although the terms are somewhat childish, the idea is applicable and relates to most lives. Most people have other things or people that they are tied to, but can't seem to cut the rope from. Those things may drive them to a point of delirium so it is important that they have "anchors" to provide a sense of harmony.
Overall, It's Kind of a Funny Story, creates a sense of hope and comic relief about a grave topic. By following the immature, yet insightful thoughts of a young teenage boy, the novel compels the reader to dig deep within his/her memories to relate to this character undergoing a profound metamorphosis. Craig not only exhibits courage to confront his issues, but also acts as a role model and provides hope for readers who may battle depression and wish to seek help.

Duo Close Reading

Modern Miami Home of Pharrell Williams

Setting
Character
Action
Style

Eclectic
Modern
Outspoken
Lighthearted
Intense
Open
Artificial
Contemporary
Bland
Cold
Loud
Life
Comical
Immature

The one of a kind, eclectic style of Pharrell's home provokes profound contemplation about the somewhat comical design features, which come across as incoherent with the modern aspect of his beach-front residence.

Renewed Love

Look at that nerd over there. How could he be so engrossed into something so... imaginary? Why does he waste his time? This is my thought process as I stare across the classroom in our free homework time. Most people yell obnoxiously across the room to their friends while I inconspicuously play Angry Birds on my iPod.
As an elementary student, I always wanted to be better and smarter than anyone in my class. I always had a book in my hand, not because I was forced to, but because I wanted to. I would finish the entire Summer Reading Program at the library within a week and be forced to impatiently wait to get my prizes until the proper dates. However, as I got into middle school and high school, I lost all interest. I got so caught up in playing sports, school work, and spending time with friends. Even the books assigned in English class didn't appeal to me. There were some that I never even opened. Needless to say, SparkNotes became my best friend. My grades definitely started to reflect the poor choices I had made. If it wasn't for my love of writing that saved me, I would have been in a sunken ship long ago.
The first day of Etymology class really opened my eyes. I am being graded on outside reading? I have to read 100-150 pages each week? You must be trippin, Mr. Hill. However, I took this as my opportunity to get back on track. Sure enough, the second day of class, a friend recommended a book to me and I read nearly 200 pages the first night I had possession of it. All day at school I was fantasizing what could possibly happen next. The characters of the book almost seemed as if they were my friends. They were all I could think about.

Reading has become my newest interest. Now, I guess I'm "that nerd" taking advantage of any opportunity to read. It is beneficial in so many ways: tremendous learning experience, offers entertainment, and acts as an escape. It's my own escape from reality. Who needs drugs when you have books?