Bugs Bunny is the common day archetype of a trickster. He's a rebel, he plays by his own rules, and he doesn't care what people think of him. He's not afraid to put on a full woman's outfit and makeup for a good prank. He's an actor that can play any character, and a protagonist who thwarts evil. His playful, clever nature has long been a role model and symbol of hope for America.
The Cookie Monster. Big, furry, and voracious, with an insatiable appetite for cookies. In the past, he was a glutton, gorging himself on the crumbly sweets whenever he got the chance. He represented greed and endless consumption. However, he has always kept a kind heart. Thought he is inflicted with and obsession, it would never lead him to harm another being. Nowadays, in an attempt to curb childhood obesity, the cookie monster is making an effort to counteract any bad influence he had earlier by saying that "cookie is a sometime food" and supporting more healthy eating habits, like eating yummy fruits. He's a guy who knows how to enjoy the good things in life, and shows Americans how to do it.
Les Stroud, on the Discovery Channel's Survivorman, goes to remote locations around the earth and survives for a week. He educates viewers what they could do if they were in similar situations. Not only is it very entertaining, it's inspiring to see a man so brave and capable. Les is completely alone in the wilderness, filming himself as he makes it, and keeps his cool the whole time. He shows people that if something terrible happens and our culture is destroyed and we all have to go live in the wild, some will live. It won't be the end of humanity, for this beacon of hope will lead us to thrive once more.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
stories
1. Kids can learn important lessons, morals, and correct social behavior from stories, as well be entertained by them. Stories can also strengthen the relationship between the kid and the older person reading it to him/her. People might read to kids because it gives them a chance to return briefly to their childhood and enjoy their imaginations. The stories also build a foundation for an appreciation for fiction and literature for the child later in life.
2. For older, more mature older people, reading stories provides a means of leisure and entertainment. It allows for an escape from the real world to go on adventures or read about others' experiences. There are lessons that even sophisticated adults can learn from any sort of story.
3. Sometimes stories that people write are inspired by or reflect actual issues in the real world. The author may have insight that he wants to share. If a bunch of people read the book, then they can discuss this insight and maybe use it to create solutions to problems. Which are good. It can also lead to more national unity if people read things about lives that are different than theirs.
3. I remember at my cabin my dad would see how fast he could read Fox in Socks to me. It's a tongue twister of a book. That was fun. Earlier, at home, before bed, he once read Huck Finn to me and my brother. Maybe also Tom Sawyer. Earlier than that, my dad would lay in bed with me when i would try to fall asleep for a nap and he would come up with stories about "brave sir Devin." I think I had a friend monkey in those stories who would help me. There was an evil alligator too. I would fall asleep to those stories. I guess I associate my dad with stories because he was typically the one who read them to us instead of my mom.
4. A good story should have:
1. Vivid Imagery for many senses.
2. Characters, preferably a protagonist and antagonist, but they might be a little of both.
3. Careful syntax and word choice to make the story flow easily.
4. A point to the story; a theme or lesson to be learned.
5. Interesting organization that keeps it thrilling.
6. A setting well-described and offering opportunities for lots of action.
7. A well-paced timeline
8.The author should always try to keep the reader engaged and wanting to read more.
f
2. For older, more mature older people, reading stories provides a means of leisure and entertainment. It allows for an escape from the real world to go on adventures or read about others' experiences. There are lessons that even sophisticated adults can learn from any sort of story.
3. Sometimes stories that people write are inspired by or reflect actual issues in the real world. The author may have insight that he wants to share. If a bunch of people read the book, then they can discuss this insight and maybe use it to create solutions to problems. Which are good. It can also lead to more national unity if people read things about lives that are different than theirs.
3. I remember at my cabin my dad would see how fast he could read Fox in Socks to me. It's a tongue twister of a book. That was fun. Earlier, at home, before bed, he once read Huck Finn to me and my brother. Maybe also Tom Sawyer. Earlier than that, my dad would lay in bed with me when i would try to fall asleep for a nap and he would come up with stories about "brave sir Devin." I think I had a friend monkey in those stories who would help me. There was an evil alligator too. I would fall asleep to those stories. I guess I associate my dad with stories because he was typically the one who read them to us instead of my mom.
4. A good story should have:
1. Vivid Imagery for many senses.
2. Characters, preferably a protagonist and antagonist, but they might be a little of both.
3. Careful syntax and word choice to make the story flow easily.
4. A point to the story; a theme or lesson to be learned.
5. Interesting organization that keeps it thrilling.
6. A setting well-described and offering opportunities for lots of action.
7. A well-paced timeline
8.The author should always try to keep the reader engaged and wanting to read more.
f
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Some phone call I got. I think it was a wrong number.
My name? Oh, don't worry about that. But I know who you are and I've known for a very long time. I called you for a reason, Jane Margaret Berkshire. You'd best listen very carefully to everything I have to say. It'll go fast but you need to keep up. Your life depends on it.
I am an affiliate of a brotherhood. I could tell you our name but you wouldn't recognize it. We've had our eye on you and your sisters for some time now. We know that you are the great- granddaughter of the master sword-crafter Tetron Basaui. When he was young, he learned a secret of our brotherhood and he spread it around like wildfire. After many years of hunting and tracking, we've managed to destroy those who were told the secret so that soon it will belong only to the brotherhood again. You and your sisters know the secret. It was passed down in your family in the form of a lullaby sung before bed in order to burn it into your memory. Even your newborn child has heard it.
Now, my point. Jane. The brotherhood has captured your sisters. They won't survive the night. You are the brotherhood's next target. They are on their way to your house and should be there within the hour. You must escape with your child and leave your life behind. Leave your husband, leave the country, leave your name. You must be untraceable. The secret must live on through the Basaui line. The fate of the world may depend on it.
Who am I? A friend, for now. But hurry. You don't have much time.
*click*
I am an affiliate of a brotherhood. I could tell you our name but you wouldn't recognize it. We've had our eye on you and your sisters for some time now. We know that you are the great- granddaughter of the master sword-crafter Tetron Basaui. When he was young, he learned a secret of our brotherhood and he spread it around like wildfire. After many years of hunting and tracking, we've managed to destroy those who were told the secret so that soon it will belong only to the brotherhood again. You and your sisters know the secret. It was passed down in your family in the form of a lullaby sung before bed in order to burn it into your memory. Even your newborn child has heard it.
Now, my point. Jane. The brotherhood has captured your sisters. They won't survive the night. You are the brotherhood's next target. They are on their way to your house and should be there within the hour. You must escape with your child and leave your life behind. Leave your husband, leave the country, leave your name. You must be untraceable. The secret must live on through the Basaui line. The fate of the world may depend on it.
Who am I? A friend, for now. But hurry. You don't have much time.
*click*
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Hallucinations of eggs
Last Night I Dreamed of Chickens
by Jack Prelutsky
Last night I dreamed of chickens,
there were chickens everywhere,
they were standing on my stomach,
they were nesting in my hair,
they were pecking at my pillow,
they were hopping on my head,
they were ruffling up their feathers
as they raced about my bed.
They were on the chairs and tables,
they were on the chandeliers,
they were roosting in the corners,
they were clucking in my ears,
there were chickens, chickens, chickens
for as far as I could see...
when I woke today, I noticed
there were eggs on top of me.
2. This poem attracted me because of it playfulness. It's a happy poem, goofy, with interesting ideas. It begins frantic and startling with chickens and he doesn't know where they came from or why they were there. The chickens then seem to flood his mind, infecting his every thought until he's in a sea of poultry and he suddenly wakes up. The eggs that he finds question the reality of the chickens and suggest that the narrator might not be completely sane. Melding his dream world with his real world, the narrator's confusion and possible hallucinations illustrate a troubled man, lost in his obsessive delusions.
3. The title of this poem gives a preview of the main subject of the poem, dreaming of chickens. It also previews of the question of how much of the chickens is a dream, how much is reality, and how much is a hallucination.
4. One strategy the poet uses is to repeat "they were" at the beginning of almost every line. This speeds up the reading and makes the experience of the poem frantic. He also links some of his words using alliteration: "standing-stomach," "pecking-pillow," "hopping-head" It helps the lines to flow more smoothly and bouncy. He uses an ABCBDEFE rhyme pattern that also brings it together nicely. His list of "chickens, chickens, chickens" demonstrates the craziness that he's experiencing. The eggs at the end imply that more chickens will come, probably by the next night. This symbolizes that the narrator's insanity will never end, and the chickens will haunt him forever.
5. The tone begins happily and it's excitedly informative. Soon though, when the chickens keep coming, it becomes more a tone of panic. "Chickens" is a hard word with the plosive "ck" sound, as well as "clucking," and these words, when they're repeated more, cause an uneasy feeling. Initially, the image of the chickens is playful and goofy, but then they get overwhelming and scary.
by Jack Prelutsky
Last night I dreamed of chickens,
there were chickens everywhere,
they were standing on my stomach,
they were nesting in my hair,
they were pecking at my pillow,
they were hopping on my head,
they were ruffling up their feathers
as they raced about my bed.
They were on the chairs and tables,
they were on the chandeliers,
they were roosting in the corners,
they were clucking in my ears,
there were chickens, chickens, chickens
for as far as I could see...
when I woke today, I noticed
there were eggs on top of me.
2. This poem attracted me because of it playfulness. It's a happy poem, goofy, with interesting ideas. It begins frantic and startling with chickens and he doesn't know where they came from or why they were there. The chickens then seem to flood his mind, infecting his every thought until he's in a sea of poultry and he suddenly wakes up. The eggs that he finds question the reality of the chickens and suggest that the narrator might not be completely sane. Melding his dream world with his real world, the narrator's confusion and possible hallucinations illustrate a troubled man, lost in his obsessive delusions.
3. The title of this poem gives a preview of the main subject of the poem, dreaming of chickens. It also previews of the question of how much of the chickens is a dream, how much is reality, and how much is a hallucination.
4. One strategy the poet uses is to repeat "they were" at the beginning of almost every line. This speeds up the reading and makes the experience of the poem frantic. He also links some of his words using alliteration: "standing-stomach," "pecking-pillow," "hopping-head" It helps the lines to flow more smoothly and bouncy. He uses an ABCBDEFE rhyme pattern that also brings it together nicely. His list of "chickens, chickens, chickens" demonstrates the craziness that he's experiencing. The eggs at the end imply that more chickens will come, probably by the next night. This symbolizes that the narrator's insanity will never end, and the chickens will haunt him forever.
5. The tone begins happily and it's excitedly informative. Soon though, when the chickens keep coming, it becomes more a tone of panic. "Chickens" is a hard word with the plosive "ck" sound, as well as "clucking," and these words, when they're repeated more, cause an uneasy feeling. Initially, the image of the chickens is playful and goofy, but then they get overwhelming and scary.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Fuzzy gray Koala sitting in a tree
Sitting so soft and happily
Eating all the yummy eucalyptus leaves
Just like a Koala ought to be.
"How many thumbs have you, Mr. K?"
"Two on each hand!" he replied my way.
"I can climb trees and I don't eat hay.
I would let you pet me but you'd have to pay."
I didn't have money so I turned to go
And he kept sitting like he was before,
munching all he wanted, leaves galore,
I left him in my truck with an engine's roar.
Sitting so soft and happily
Eating all the yummy eucalyptus leaves
Just like a Koala ought to be.
"How many thumbs have you, Mr. K?"
"Two on each hand!" he replied my way.
"I can climb trees and I don't eat hay.
I would let you pet me but you'd have to pay."
I didn't have money so I turned to go
And he kept sitting like he was before,
munching all he wanted, leaves galore,
I left him in my truck with an engine's roar.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Me as a Writer
I like to read all sorts of writing, but I don't do it often enough. Poems are fun, especially if I can relate an idea from it to my life, or if it makes me think deep. I also like poems that appreciate nature and beauty and happiness. Robert Frost is probably my favorite poet.
My favorite things to write are short stories. It's nice to sometimes just sit down and start writing and I like to not worry about metaphors and morals and just let the imagination crank out an entertaining story. I wrote one about a vampire that was published in last year's images. I'm pretty proud of that. I've also written some poetry (one of which is also in the book) about things like nature and outer space. Most of it I did last year. Hopefully I'll be writing some more pretty soon. I enjoyed writing the play, it'd be fun to do more of that.
I used to write a lot more than I do now, which is hardly at all.
One thing I like writing about is violence. It's a good way to get rid of aggression. It's like playing violent video games but you invent what happens. I haven't written much about it, though. Otherwise, I like writing about nature, and snow, and love and stuff.
My favorite things to write are short stories. It's nice to sometimes just sit down and start writing and I like to not worry about metaphors and morals and just let the imagination crank out an entertaining story. I wrote one about a vampire that was published in last year's images. I'm pretty proud of that. I've also written some poetry (one of which is also in the book) about things like nature and outer space. Most of it I did last year. Hopefully I'll be writing some more pretty soon. I enjoyed writing the play, it'd be fun to do more of that.
I used to write a lot more than I do now, which is hardly at all.
One thing I like writing about is violence. It's a good way to get rid of aggression. It's like playing violent video games but you invent what happens. I haven't written much about it, though. Otherwise, I like writing about nature, and snow, and love and stuff.
Monday, February 25, 2008
3. literary longevity
I feel like in the case of old Greeks like Euripides, one of the major factors for their work's success is the fact that there just weren't many publications back then, so each new one became well known relatively quickly. When they survived the dark ages, the fact that they were so old and survived for so long kept them as popular as ever. In the case of Jane Austen, one of the reasons her books have lasted is probably because she was a woman writer in a world of men writers, and her language was very clever and artful (though her stories were pretty lame). Other classics I think were very original in their style or content and with the help of some luck, got onto the classics train.
I think these days it would be very hard to create a classic. There's something like 3000 new publications every day, and the chance that one of those would be read and stick out from the rest is very small. Not to mention reading has become a much less popular pastime in this hectic world of television, movies, and video games. It seems the really popular books are like the Da Vinci Code that keeps people on the edge of their seats. Popular books these days need to be noticed and talked about until the media covers it and a movie is made about it and then it will survive, for a couple years anyway.
While it would be fun to be a household name as a famous author, with more books and less readers it just seems to me like it would be nearly impossible.
I think these days it would be very hard to create a classic. There's something like 3000 new publications every day, and the chance that one of those would be read and stick out from the rest is very small. Not to mention reading has become a much less popular pastime in this hectic world of television, movies, and video games. It seems the really popular books are like the Da Vinci Code that keeps people on the edge of their seats. Popular books these days need to be noticed and talked about until the media covers it and a movie is made about it and then it will survive, for a couple years anyway.
While it would be fun to be a household name as a famous author, with more books and less readers it just seems to me like it would be nearly impossible.
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