My Thoughts

Apple's I-rack

2009-12-04T04:18:00.000-08:00

A funny skit by Mad TV about Apple's new I-rack (Iraq).

Owl City/ Armin van Buuren

2009-11-29T01:48:00.000-08:00

Well this month has been quite a treat, I got to see Owl City last week then Armin van Buuren this last Friday. Woohoo! My sister, Priya, and I went to see Owl City at a local... performance room of sorts last week. The whole show was behind schedule and we had to wait in line for awhile then wait again inside till some local band came on. They were ok... the synth guy messed up a few times but that ok. I felt bad for them because the crowd just wanted to see Owl City so they weren't very nice. Owl City finally came on with a big bang, Adam barely got his guitar on when he started singing right away. The crowd was crazy loud and the band was really tight. The band consisted of a keyboardist/singer, a guitarist/singer(Adam), a violinist, a cellist, and a drummer. Some of the highlights (I thought so) were when he made a little heart with his hands after the first verse of "On the Wing" and when they came back for an encore and the crowd sang the chorus for "Fireflies." Thankfully we had our coats with us the whole time and didn't have to wait with the other hundreds of people to get ours from the coat room.
And this last Friday Armin van Buuren came to town so Sam, Jamin, and I went to see him. B4 we went I had Jamin shave "AVB (Armin van Buuren) on the side of my head but the only comments I got were "Why do you have the initials for average (AVR) shaved on your head?" Argh but who cares it was sooo awesome, crowded but what could you expect. The dance floor was packed out but it would move according to the pressure applied on it I guess... I'd imagine it felt something like a ship but I'm not sure. The entire wall behind Armin was lit up with visuals and the lights were amazing. Twice a cage lowered from the ceiling with girls dancing on it Woohoo! It was so rad but my camera ran out of batteries pretty fast x( but yeah it was AWESOME and he's continuing his tour so if you get a chance go see him.

You! Could Be the Next T-Pain

2009-11-14T01:56:00.000-08:00

With auto tune anyone can sing like T Pain.

Funny video

2009-11-09T02:51:00.000-08:00

Curses!

2009-11-09T02:48:00.000-08:00

Obama's health bill passed congress... one more freedom taken into the hands of the government.

Change

2009-11-05T05:08:00.000-08:00

Well, my computer has a problem with the graphics card so I can't really watch videos or play computer games. Therefore! Boredom has driven me to start updating this blog again. I haven't been recently because... well I decided the human anatomy and physiology wasn't going to interest any hapless reader. So I'm going to be one of your average bloggers that's rants about random things on my blog.

Short Post On Obama

2009-08-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well look who's been deploring troops to Afghanistan. I know its kind of old news but seeing as I haven't been able to post about it, here I am now. For those of you who don't know who's been sending more US troops to Afghanistan that would be President Obama.... anyways I've talked about this before and don't feel like getting into it on a big scale so I'll be concise. US troops are being killed in Afghanistan and so are the innocent civilians there. War is a bad thing and most people admit going into Iraq was a big mistake but now we've managed to expand into Afghanistan too. Maybe it’s a new trend for US Presidents to start a new war in office.
Let's see what else Obama has done so far.... gotten North Korea AND Iran pissed at him (so much for the new foreign diplomacy we hoped for). What else? He's attempting to raise energy costs on the struggling taxpayers of American, taxes are being raised, he's taking over medical care, gay marriage is springing up over numerous states, and he's granted even more bailouts that are coming straight from the American citizen's pockets. He must be trying to spend our way out of debt.
Well I know what I've written doesn't really provide much proof or solid evidence but you can go look it up yourself. Obama fed the people bullshit about "Change" and a new positive system of government but really, he hasn't delivered.

I'm Back... For Now

2009-08-11T00:16:00.001-07:00

Well I'm visiting Japan right now and again have the chance and oppertunity to access this blog. Anyways I'm going to post some more stuff yay!

Schooled

2009-06-04T01:28:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I learned an important lesson: electronic devises (especially cellphones) cannot be submerged in water (namely pools).

Civilian Gun Control

2009-04-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

Patrick O’Connor April 13, 2009

Civilian Gun Control

Gun control is one of the most contested issues in the United States of America while worldwide it is common and almost expected. So is gun control for good or for bad? Is civilian gun control justified and reasonable, or is it stifling the greatest means of self defense and ushering in further government control and oppression?
Now the main concern for the availability of guns is their use in crime. We’ve all seen the news headlines splashed with articles of school shootings, psychotic killing sprees, and mass murders committed by mentally deranged minds. Movies also portray the reality of gang violence that claims young lives through drive-bys and shootouts. In the USA nearly 66% of murders per year are committed with firearms. Aside from murder, guns have been used to assist in robberies, sexual assault, rape, and aggravated assault. So would a gun ban really decrease the crime rates across the board? Well let’s take a look at Britain who established strict gun control laws a decade ago. In 1997, the year following the ban and confiscation of handguns, crime involving the very same banned handguns increased by 40%. The statistics show stunningly larger increase of gun related deaths and injuries over the years. Since 1997, Britain has issued even more restrictions and bans on guns but the gun related deaths and injuries of 2005-2006 show a staggering increase of over 500% since 1998-1999. Hmmm looks like the gun ban didn’t work but why?
It’s simple, putting a ban on firearms only affects the law abiding populace whom are rarely involved in crime. Do you really think convicted felons will willingly turn in their firearms and possibly face jail time? No of course they won’t. The guns they own have most likely been acquired illegally and have probably been used in crime. So your law abiding citizen will have one of his prime self-defense weapons taken from him while the criminals face the exact same consequences they did before the ban.
Well some might say that gun laws make it too easy for the criminal to attain a firearm in the first place. If you’ve seen “Bowling for Columbine” you can plainly see how easy it is to acquire a gun. But the reason why is clear, Michael Moore is a law abiding citizen with no history of criminal violence or mentally instability; they had no reason to not give him a gun. If you have a history of crime and mental instability then obviously you cannot get a gun that easily. Nevertheless, criminals are acquiring guns but how? They are acquired through illegal means. Statistics show that 80% of guns used in solved crime, were acquired through illegal means. So putting restrictions on the legal gun acquiring system will only make it harder for law abiding citizens to attain them while boosting the potential for a larger smuggling market.
Well, you might ask, how often does one actually use a gun in self-defense? Well for ever bank security guard that carries a gun, for every shop owner than keeps a revolver handy, for every landowner that owns a rifle, criminals might think twice about committing a crime. And if you want actual, tangible numbers and figures then look at this statistic; between five thousand to six thousand violent crimes are stopped PER DAY by just showing a gun, this includes rape and murder. So that means firearms are used 65 more times to protect the lives of innocent civilians than to commit violent crimes.
What do law enforcement officials think about civilian gun ownership? Surely legally acquired guns must be their number one fear. Well law enforcement officials have seen the stats and recognize the pro’s and con’s. The police force is simply not large enough to respond to every timely crime that arises, they realize that citizens must take it upon themselves to, at best, protect themselves until help arrives. Guns provide that protection. Any small woman has the ability to pull a trigger when threatened by a violent rapist but to single handedly fight off an assailant is unlikely and dangerous. Needless to say as of year 2000, 92.7% of law enforcement officials believed that civilians should be able to purchase guns for self-defense and hunting purposes.
Now another big argument against gun control is the issue of freedom and liberty. The whole purpose of the 2nd Amendment is that the people should have the power and authority to rid themselves of an unwanted government, or a tyrannical leader. As fatty Rush Limbaugh said, “You know why there’s a 2nd Amendment? In case the government fails to follow the first one.” If your government is making destructive and immoral national decisions, the people should have the will and power to demand and enforce change. Some of history’s greatest gun control activists were also some of the most destructive world leaders. Adolph Hitler was a gun control activist and how did that play out? Or what about Mao Tse Tung? He believed that political power came from the gun barrel, thus he barred Chinese citizens from acquiring firearms. Good thing he did because they might have opposed his “collective farming” idea which reduced food supplies and cause millions to starve. Or maybe further down the line, Chinese activist might have had protested differently instead of rioting at Tiananmen Square. “A man with a gun is a citizen. A man without a gun is a subject.”
So with all that being said, is it reasonable to ban civilians to own and carry firearms or is it a deprivation of their safety from violent criminals and tyrannical oppressors. I believe in a violence free society, but until that status is achieved, law abiding citizens should have the means and resources to protect themselves if necessary. If those means and resources come in the forms of firearms then so be it. As for the freedoms and liberties of individuals, I believe that the civilians should have the power to change the government if necessary. If the government becomes so tyrannical that it enforces unjust laws that infringe and personal freedoms and refuses to comply with the people’s wishes, then the people should be able to overthrow or somehow change the government. “Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” So as long we have wolves on the prowl, I say let the lamb carry a gun.

Suzanna Gratia Hupp on Gun Control

2009-04-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

Young Goodman Brown

2009-02-23T16:09:00.000-08:00

Notable Short Story
I haven't been able to write anything later due to different factors. Between the feast, caring for my guests Jonjon and Aiki, and preparing to move to China, I've been pretty swamped. But I hadn't written anything in awhile so I'll write a quick couple thoughts on my (for now) favorite short story, Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Young Goodman Brown
It is dusk in the village of Salem, Massachusetts, a community of god-fearing Puritans. At the threshold of the front door of his house, a young man named Goodman Brown kisses his wife, Faith, goodbye and embarks on a journey into the forest. He is not to return until the next morning. What activity would lure him away from his pretty wife, whom he married three months before, and into the dark and menacing uncertainty of the woods? It is a witches’ sabbath, a meeting at which he and others from Salem and surrounding communities are to be inducted into an evil brotherhood. (By Michael J. Cummings...© 2003)

Thoughts: Perhaps most noteworthy attribute of this story is the eerie imagery Hawthorne portrays. These portrayals range from the desolate forest to the demonic communion, the portrayal of Lucifer himself to the serpent staff; all these deserve attention.

Noteworthy quotes: The whole forest was peopled with frightful sounds--the creaking of the trees, the howling of wild beasts, and the yell of Indians; while sometimes the wind tolled like a distant church bell, and sometimes gave a broad roar around the traveller, as if all Nature were laughing him to scorn. But he was himself the chief horror of the scene, and shrank not from its other horrors. "Ha! ha! ha!" roared Goodman Brown when the wind laughed at him. "Let us hear which will laugh loudest. Think not to frighten me with your deviltry. Come witch, come wizard, come Indian powwow, come devil himself, and here comes Goodman Brown. You may as well fear him as he fears you."
In the interval of silence he stole forward until the light glared full upon his eyes. At one extremity of an open space, hemmed in by the dark wall of the forest, arose a rock, bearing some rude, natural resemblance either to an alter or a pulpit, and surrounded by four blazing pines, their tops aflame, their stems untouched, like candles at an evening meeting. The mass of foliage that had overgrown the summit of the rock was all on fire, blazing high into the night and fitfully illuminating the whole field. Each pendent twig and leafy festoon was in a blaze. As the red light arose and fell, a numerous congregation alternately shone forth, then disappeared in shadow, and again grew, as it were, out of the darkness, peopling the heart of the solitary woods at once. "A grave and dark-clad company," quoth Goodman Brown.
"Welcome, my children," said the dark figure, "to the communion of your race. Ye have found thus young your nature and your destiny. My children, look behind you!"… And there they stood, the only pair, as it seemed, who were yet hesitating on the verge of wickedness in this dark world. A basin was hollowed, naturally, in the rock. Did it contain water, reddened by the lurid light? or was it blood? or, perchance, a liquid flame? Herein did the shape of evil dip his hand and prepare to lay the mark of baptism upon their foreheads, that they might be partakers of the mystery of sin, more conscious of the secret guilt of others, both in deed and thought, than they could now be of their own. The husband cast one look at his pale wife, and Faith at him. What polluted wretches would the next glance show them to each other, shuddering alike at what they disclosed and what they saw! "Faith! Faith!" cried the husband, "look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one."

Imperial Christianity in the U.S.

2009-01-25T23:55:00.001-08:00

Imperial Christianity in the U.S.
Having just read “Imperial Christianity in the U.S.” on Mama’s blog, I was in total agreement on the revolting stance of war that American Christians have taken. For years American conservative Christians have sent American soldiers into Southern East Asia and the Middle East to “fight for democracy”. Instead of liberating these so called “oppressed people” we end up killing thousands or millions through shootings, bombings, and economic sanctions. For years also, conservative American Christians have backed Israel’s slaughtering of millions of Palestinians and are the only country to support Israel as they steal land and lives from these desolate refugees. Yes sadly Americans are the only country on the face of the planet that knowingly see the death toll of innocent Palestinian civilians rise into the thousands but still be fully supportive of yet another Palestinian Holocaust.
BUT I did have one issue with this article on Mama’s blog. To me the author of this article sounded like a biased democrat and since Mama and Peter didn’t write it, I have no reservations in opposing some of it.
In this article the author harps on and on about how McCain is such a war monger and if he had won we surely would have had more blood on our hands. He then bashes Christians who ignored the fact that McCain encouraged war but still voted for him because of his pro-life stance. He says “Imperial Christians have a warped view of what it means to be pro-life. But don’t adults and foreigners have the same right to life as unborn American babies? There should be no difference between being for abortion and for war.” Hmmm funny, that’s the same thing republicans say about Obama. Maybe he’s not a war monger but he encourages killings of innocent babies and that’s just as bad. In fact I think it’s worse to be a two faced biatch who parades around promoting peace and brotherhood abroad while at home you kill children because maybe they came into your life at a “bad time” or you’re just to selfish stick it through until you can put it up for adoption. IT PISSED ME OFF THAT THIS AUTHOR CAN BASH AMERICA FOR KILLING INNOCENTS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY BUT HE HAS NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE ABORTIONS THAT KILL MORE AMERICANS THAN ALL OF HER WARS COMBINED. Sure just go ahead and just turn your eyes as a doctor in white crushes a baby’s skull and uses a scalpel to slice the infant into small enough pieces to dispose of. Then why don’t you go ahead and defend this doctor in your writings by turning the focus elsewhere.
And as far as this whole Middle East thing the author did not once, in this article, mention that Obama plans to pull troops out of Iraq. Yes the plan is vague and improbable but it seems like such a noble thing to do so why didn’t this author mention this? Wouldn’t it make McCain look so much worse? Oh, but wait! Obama then plans to stick these troops into Afghanistan. Yes Afghanistan, that’s where those evil Taliban are hiding. It’s funny how this hypocritical author can talk negatively about Christians who voted for McCain but he doesn’t say a thing about Christians who voted for a socialist, homosexual who kills our babies AND wants to send more troops to the Middle East. In conclusion, yes this article did have some truths but his biased one sidedness ticked me off.

Contrast

2009-01-11T01:39:00.000-08:00

Contrast
Ghastly darkness emanated from every pore of substance around him. Past memories were inaccessible; the present over rid all systems of past or future, there was the present and nothing else. He knew nothing of how he got here for his only thoughts were of a way to escape. The pure trepidation of this place robbed his body of its rightful control. He floated through this dark substance like a drunkard, drowning in an ocean of horror. Demonic growls echoed off the invisible boundaries about him. These boundaries, though unseen, were as real as the utter terror that shook his being to the core. And these boundaries they did oppress, they did repress, they did suppress, they did depress and subjugate. As he struggled to somehow break free from these vices of misery, voices mocked him. They laughed at him, they hooted and cackled at him, and stole away all self-confidence. All opposition was futile; there was nothing left but grotesque acceptance, sadistic surrender.
As he accepted his inability, his weakness, his helpless plight, a light was lit. A thin ray of light pierced through this obscurity. With this light came hope and rescue. Slowly the voices and snarls grew quieter, the darkness grew lighter, the pain melted into ecstasy, the fear and anxiety turned to peace and chillination. As his sleeping body basked in the dawn’s early light, a glowing radiance emanated from every pore of substance around him. Past memories were inaccessible; the present over rid all systems of past or future, there was the present and nothing else.
And oh how pleasant was the present! Life was good. A drink of water was like drinking from the fountain of life, a breath of fresh air filled his chest with bliss, every flower and leaf represented beauty in its finest form, the feeling of solid ground beneath his feet gave him an orgasmic body high, the mere control of his body was a euphoric sensation. But why was the mundane normality of everyday life so good to him? Because without bad, good doesn’t exist; without hot, you have no cold; and without hell, you have no heaven. So take that into account next time life throws shit at you. With the lowest lows come the highest highs.

Too busy to post much

2008-12-13T00:47:00.000-08:00

Cool song about the Palestinian Struggle
http://supersexygabi.blogspot.com/2008/10/free-palestine-song.html

Obama's Victory Speech

2008-11-05T01:13:00.000-08:00

So the elephant has lost. Too bad but I guess Obama has his good points too. But wow, Obama's victory speech was one of the best I've seen. Though I'm no democrat fan, his speech has changed my opinion a tad bit. Here are some nifty quotes from his victory speech:

"Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America,"

"It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America,"

The majority of Obama's thanks was dedicated to the American people, as he shared the victory with the nation. "Above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you," he said. "This is your victory," he added.

"Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people,"

"To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope."

He then ended it with a nice "Thank you, and God bless you. May God bless the United States of America."

Ass or Elephant

2008-11-04T01:34:00.000-08:00

I'm standing with the elephant. Why? In general I think the democrats are socialist pigs that killed our constitution years ago.

As far as McCain vs Obama I support McCain. Yes the McCain that wants more troops in Iraq. I don't support the war in Iraq but Obama isn't exactly your peace loving president either. And there is no way I can support my country rotting from the inside out through abortion, homosexuality, stem cell research, and communist or "socialist" ideas.

Where’s Your Balls America?

2008-10-28T19:05:00.001-07:00

Patrick O’Connor October 29, 2008
Where’s Your Balls America?
In 1962, following the Bay of Pigs, Russia began building missile bases in Cuba and selling Cuba offensive weapons. Kennedy replied by stating: “It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union. To halt this offensive buildup, a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba from whatever nation and port will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back.”
Kennedy showed some guts there but what has the Bush administration done with the Russian nuclear-powered missile cruiser docking in Venezuela, a socialist country lying so close to American soil? White House spokesperson said "The Russians and the Venezuelans can engage in whatever cooperation that they would like.”
What??? I can’t believe the Bush administration is just letting the Russian fleet waltz down to South America like that. What happened to those billions of dollars spent on the defense budget? Oh right we used those weapons to instill democracy in the Middle East. Well get your priorities straightened out America. Stop worrying about other people’s freedoms and start caring about your own.

Russia's warships head for exercise with Venezuelan navy (Hmmm sounds like the Cuban Missile Crisis)

2008-10-28T18:33:00.000-07:00

From The Times
October 6, 2008
Russia's warships head for exercise with Venezuelan navy
Michael Evans, Defence Editor

Russia displayed its military strength in the Mediterranean yesterday after warships heading to Venezuela passed through the Strait of Gibraltar in the second deployment of Russian naval vessels in the waterway since the Cold War.

The nuclear-powered missile cruiser Peter the Great, accompanied by the Admiral Chabanenko, an anti-submarine destroyer, as well as a reconnaissance vessel and a support ship, are destined for a maritime exercise with the Venezuelan navy.

En route, however, the aim appears to be to demonstrate to the West and Nato that Russia is once again back in business as a blue-water power.

“It's all about strutting your stuff and cocking a snook at the West, in the same way that the Bears [Russian strategic bombers] have been doing since they began patrolling again,” said Andrew Brookes, of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

It has also moved to intensify contacts with Venezuela, Cuba and other Latin American countries. Russia has signed weapons contracts worth more than $4 billion with Venezuela since 2005 to supply fighter jets, helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikov AK47 assault rifles.

Stephen Crane

2008-09-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

I had actually finished this a while ago but it's suppose to include a bunch of other stuff making it a seven page research paper. But I can't figure out how to get the word document onto this blog and I'm too lazy to post it elsewhere so here's the essay part of the paper.

Stephen Crane: How Personal Experiences Influenced His Writing

Readers are awestruck by the uncanny insight into real life situation that Crane paints in his works. Just how did he succeed in writing out the thoughts and emotions of people in these situations? Well it’s simple. Aside from The Red Badge of Courage, his works came from personal experience. He wrote from his heart, he wrote from his head. He never achieved in writing great fantasy stories, he was more interested in revealing the innermost passions that we ourselves knew not we had. Stephen Crane’s greatest gift was in turning both complex thoughts and ordinary situation into words and stories that common people could understand and enjoy.

Crane’s “verbal wizardry” came from much practice and experience. Crane was said to have begun teaching himself to read at the age of three, and at the young age of 16 Crane became his brother Townley's assistant and reported on the New Jersey shore (Wikipedia). He continued to write articles for illustrious papers such as the New York Tribune until, at age 19; he dropped out of college and began to write full time.

No longer in college and with time on his hands Crane visited New York often where he was drawn to the slums, attracted by the human nature witnessed there (Wikipedia). Though he called upon saloons, dance halls, and brothels for more than research purposes, he did have a genuine desire to help improve the ills there. Crane was one of the first of his generation to use realism - or naturalism - as a method of exposing social ills (Bamber Gascoigne). Believing that no writer had written anything sincere about the Bowery, Crane became determined to do so himself (Wikipedia). Thus Crane began to write his first novel, Maggie: Girl of the Street, based on slum life in Bowery. Publishers refused his manuscript because its realism was too “ugly” and the “true to life depictions of class warfare” played out in the novel were too convicting. With no other option Crane decided to publish the novel himself (Bamber Gascoigne). Without suitable publishing attention, his book was generally unheard of in his day though today this book receives praise and admiration for being "the first dark flower of American Naturalism (Wikipedia).” Of this novel crane said “how I looked forward to publication and pictured the sensation I thought it would make. It fell flat. Nobody seemed to notice it or care for it... Poor Maggie! She was one of my first loves." Slums and the accompanying lower class of society seemed to have been a subject of great ardor to Crane. Among similar works were George’s Mother and “An Experiment of Misery”, which he wrote after dressing up as a tramp and spending the night in a flophouse.

Crane’s war stories were written with perhaps as much fervor as his slum works were too written. Probably because observing deadly combat is no small occurrence and no doubt provokes such mixed emotions. Because Crane believed in order to give clear and precise depictions one must do all possible to truly understand the subject of which he was writing, he visited the battlefields in North Virginia on which he was to describe (Wikipedia). After these visits, Crane wrote five more Civil War stories following his masterpiece The Red Badge of Courage. After his failed attempt on reaching Cuba, Crane signed with the New York Journal to cover the looming Greco-Turkish conflict (Wikipedia). Crane witnessed his first large battle when the Turks made an assault on Greek forces in Velestino after which Crane wrote "It is a great thing to survey the army of the enemy. Just where and how it takes hold upon the heart is difficult of description (Wikipedia)." During this time his works met with harsh criticism and critiques believed his war letters self-centered and unrelated to the matter at hand. Despite these negative reviews the Blackwood Magazine offered him a position to cover the impending Spanish-American War, to which he accepted. While the war idled, Crane spent much time interviewing war personnel to get a better insight on the soldiers mind. When the fighting begun, however, Crane was at the front lines to, as he put it, “gather impressions and write them as the spirit moved.” Although he would write honestly about his fear in battle, others observed his calmness and composure (Wikipedia). Beside more than twenty dispatches Crane wrote in his fist three months covering the war, Crane also wrote the war tale "Marines Signaling under Fire at Guantanamo" based on "this prolonged tragedy of the night" when Crane personally observed US Marines assault on Guantanamo Bay (Wikipedia).

Of literary pieces based on personal experiences, “The Open Boat” is perhaps the most well known. This short story was based on Crane’s misadventure when he was marooned on a 10-foot dinghy after his boat sunk off the coast of Florida (C. D. Merriman). Being close to death showed its effect on the story as the philosophical study of man vs. fate and nature is apparent. Crane’s last complete work is Active Service which was written about Crane’s life as a writer, journalist, and reporter. One year later (1900), Crane died in a sanitarium in Germany (Sloan, Gary).

Crane used his gift of clarity to turn his works into dictionaries delving inside the human mind. Crane was the master of realism. His writing style and ability to paint a Sistine Chapel ceiling with his words has been a source of envy and inspiration. It has been up to following modernist, such as Ernest Hemingway, to induce Crane’s skill so that their works might be enhanced.

Non Lethal, Non Domestic Civilian Violence in Our Modern Age

2008-08-21T01:32:00.001-07:00

Grammar and Composition 10

Unit 21

Patrick O’Connor August 14, 2008

Non Lethal, Non Domestic Civilian Violence in Our Modern Age

The 20^th century was one of the most violent periods of human history and statistics show the 21^st century having great potential to top previous centuries. On the maiden year of our newest century 199,000 youth murders took place. The World Health Organization estimates that for every young person killed, 20-40 receive injuries that require hospital care. In our next year nearly 1.8 million people were assaulted. The next year the World Health Organization named violence as the leading worldwide health problem. Though statistics claim that up to 191 million people lost their lives directly or indirectly as a result of conflicts in the 20^th, the number of people who have been victims of assault and non lethal violence in the 20^th century can only be guessed and estimated. This essay will cover the topic of non lethal civilian violence while excluding domestic violence.

In the late 1970’s violent crime was notoriously high in the USA while reaching an all time high in 1981. Statistics showed violent crime slowly decreasing until the 1990s when it again spiked in 1994, nearly topping the violent crime rate set in 1981. Since then reported violent crime has been steadily decreasing in the USA though pragmatics argue that now days the legal hassle of reporting assault, which makes up nearly 75 percent of all violent crime, is not worth the legal gratification. Mugging, car jacking, extortion, and sexual assault are still rampant in other parts of the world as we are seeing a new mentality in the criminal world as fluctuating and corrupt governments fail to clamp down on criminal activities. A mentality that believes it to be acceptable to commit such crimes as long as justice cannot catch them or that believes it to be okay as long as everybody else is doing it, or because they need it. Truth be told, this mentality is not new to mankind but had been somewhat curbed earlier in history. Such mentalities are shown in un-stables states in Africa, Southern East Asia, the Mid-East, South America, and even in “civilized” countries such as America. Incidents such as the Rodney King’s Riots, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and US occupation of Baghdad showed the ugly side of human nature as civilians took the streets violently looting anything they could get their hands on.

Reciprocal group violence is becoming more and more popular as rivalry is built up between sports teams, gangs, schools, races, etc. Though racial discrimination has decreased in forms of restricted public services and media biasness, gangs and schools often choose opposing ethnic groups as targets of their violence and racial hate is still very much alive. Statistics show that cities with a population over 250,000 people all have gang activity. All over the world, youths establish gang connections as means of protection and respect. Firms are another popular kind of group to join for violent activities. Popularized in the stupendous movie Green Street Hooligans, “firms”, or gangs of sports hooligans, reached an activity height in the 1970s and 1980s. The Heysel Disaster is an example of how devastating sports hooliganism can get. Firms are, like schools and gangs, are bound by great loyalty to their faction.

A big controversy these days is whether consensual violence is allowed or not. Whether legal or illegal, it still happens. Everyday consensual violence occurs in schools, bars, workplaces, prison, and other places. A statistic from the US school system shows that 88% of all boys and over 76% of girls surveyed said they hit someone in the past 12 months because they were angry. True we often make wrong decisions when angry. But another survey shows a disturbing actuality. Instead of peaceably settling disputes this survey shows that among boys, 42% of high schoolers and 32% of middle schoolers believe it is okay to hit or threaten a person who makes them angry. One in five (20%) of the girls agrees. This is a great stepping away from traditional values of meekness and temperance.

Why are we becoming increasingly violent? Why is it that when someone cuts us off on the highway we respond with road rage? Why is it that we have replaced a witty tongue for a pair of fists in our arguments? My guess would be the public’s view of violence has changed from the past. Violent computer games such as the popular Grand Theft Auto, Warriors, Crime Life, and hundreds of other games show violence as a norm of life. Another promoter of violence in brought in by mainstream music. Modern musicians often choose to add violent lyrics to their songs. In the song “Kim” by Marshall Mather, he raps about him arguing with his wife “SIT DOWN BITCH, YOU MOVE AGAIN I'LL BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU!” Another popular trend in the music industry is for rappers to affiliate themselves with gangs while rapping about their gangster lifestyles. This puts the gangster lifestyle in a whole different perspective as young peoples strive to be like their role models. And probably the biggest influence on the public is movies. While some movies show violence in a negative light, many movies show violence in a good light. I know from personal experience many movies such as Green Street Hooligans, Fight Club, Gangs of New York, Cinderella Man, and just about any Jet Li movies, have made me want to go out and punch something

People look back on the Roman gladiator days with disgust at the bloodthirsty, perverted appetite of the crowds. But really are we any different? On youtube, street fighting videos are some of the most popular videos on the site. Many street fighting videos have over one million views while some exceed two million views. Still more disturbing were the “Bum Fights.” The video series “Bum Fights” was criticized as “inhumane” and eventually banned from many countries. But before it was banned, millions of copies were sold or distributed worldwide. All over the USA teens began to attack homeless people and at least three counts of murder were said to be “inspired” by these videos. The popularity of these videos shows the absolute perverseness of the public. Let’s hope the future holds more of a peaceful society as we do our part to make the world a better place. “Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.” Psalms 120:6.

2008-08-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

G & C 10, pg 286 August 8, 2008

Patrick O’Connor

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

I will be writing this critical book report on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This book was written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson who used the pen name Lewis Carroll. The book is fictional though the main character of this book has many similarities to Alice Liddell, a friend of Dodgson’s. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland begins with Alice being very bored. When she sees a rabbit with a waistcoat and watch, she is naturally curious and follows him down a tunnel into wonderland where animals and objects talk and nothing makes sense. There she continually hunts after the white rabbit while encountering many strange and sharp tongued characters who recite poems and gobbledygook to Alice. Some of these characters include the Caterpillar, the Duchess, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Cheshire Cat, and many more. Alice is led to the Queens garden where she meets the Queen of Hearts. After the Queen sentences Alice to be beheaded, Alice wakes up from what she discovers to be a dream. She then relates all to her sister who ponders that Alice will always be an innocent girl at heart. I love this book because of the unreal world that Dodgson creates. His witty writing and unusual choice of words leaves me trying to apply these quotes into my everyday conversations. The absurdity of the book makes it fun to read; the odd yet entertaining characters of the book brings out many a word play and the illustrations of the characters fit almost exactly; the colorful and innovative plot leaves nothing certain and all seems possible in this wonderland created by Dodgson.

Alice plays the part of an individual with dreams and ambitions far surpassing the stuffy rituals of everyday life and society. She follows her curiosity at the spur of a moment. An example is from when she chases the white rabbit. “In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.” Many people throughout history have identified themselves with her. Alice is a bright girl who remarkably clever and logical and has a fabulous vocabulary far beyond her years. Throughout the book she argues sensitive and stubborn characters on far flung, absurd topics. Here is another example. 'Who are YOU?' said the Caterpillar …. Alice replied, rather shyly, 'I--I hardly know, sir, just at present--at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.' 'What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. 'Explain yourself!' 'I can't explain MYSELF, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, 'because I'm not myself, you see.' In this story Alice has to endure quite a deal of verbal abuse from surly characters.

The poetry from Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland is a huge part of what makes this book what it is. Though some of the poems in the book are wholly of his own creation, many of these poems are parodies of other famous works from Isaac Watts, Robert Southey, Mary Botham Howitt, and others.

Dodgson’s supporting characters in the story are, for the most part, quite mad and bizarre. At one part the Cheshire Cat himself states 'we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.' This explains the ingenuity and inventiveness of the characters.

Again the creativity and originality in this book is stupendous. I love this book because of the unreal world that Dodgson creates. The witty arguments and word play in the dialogue and poetry is absolutely fascinating. The bizarre nature of the book makes it fun to read while the characters of the book add a whole new perspective to the book. And again the absurd plot leaves nothing guessable and all boundaries are blasted away. I believe Dodgson certainly created a master piece that has been greatly loved since and still will be a popular book in the future as people yearn for a world beyond this one.

2008-08-11T23:47:00.000-07:00

Taiwan’s Sovereignty

I would to first address a topic that I feel particular strongly for, Taiwan’s sovereignty. Taiwan is its own country. As much as China likes to dispute that fact, they too know it’s true.

The KMT (the current ruling political party in Taiwan) ruled in China before World War II. When the Communist party drove the KMT out of China in 1949, the KMT and its supporters fled to Taiwan. It is important to note that after Japan’s surrender Taiwan came under KMT rule and has been to this day. Though Communist rebels took over China they never took over Taiwan. Since then Taiwan has proven its self autonomy. Taiwan has its own currency, has its own laws, has its own government, has its own military, and has all the characteristics of a self governing country. I could go on and on but I believe the facts above should say enough. But if this article is not convincing enough, then do just say so and I will post further.

P.S.

2008-08-07T23:06:00.000-07:00

I'd like to add that those two ppl mentioned earlier are Nathan McCarthy and Juliet Thomson.
Nathan McCarthy has a brilliant, encyclopedic mind and can hold his own on every varying subject matter that I have come up with. If I ever get enough time I WILL co-author a novel (or two) with this man. (this is of course after I build myself a studio, learn martial arts, become a hypnotic, and do some other things I've always wanted to do.) We also plan to create a politic party and philosophy to rule the world.
I was so shocked when I first talked about politics with Juliet. Curiouser and curiouser the only woman I can think of right off the top of my head who talks about politics would be Rice (shivers). Contrariwise I was pleasantly surprised to find it not so. Though she might have opposing political views from yours truly, lets hope i can brain wash her.

Nathan McCarthy Juliet Thomson

P.S. If you know me and are offended that I didn't mention your intelligence don't be hurt so for you may have these attributes but they are just unknown to me.
Oh, I do discuss these thing with my dad.