Life After This Blog Post 12/9/13

 After writing a letter in this present moment to my future self, it was crazy to stop and think about what I really do want out of life. I'm not talking just a day to day kind of a deal but instead life long choices that I know I will have to live with for the rest of my life such as the choice of people I choose to let into my life, my career I want to accomplish and an assortment of other important matters. Growing up is something that's starting to scare me now because I feel that it's becoming more real everyday. Soon I know I will be on my own (more so than I am already) and that's when life's "test" really begins. My primary hope for myself is that I will be genuinely happy and satisfied with the choices that will be made from this day on. This assignment was a real big eye opener for me because it required me to do some deep thinking about what it is that I wanted to say in that future letter to myself ranging from the good to the bad!

I Can Read Assignment

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This is the video http://youtu.be/q3XaBuSh2jg

Paper Cut - work from 11/26/13 ( ABSENT)

  I wasn't able to turn in my Racial Profiling essay for a final revision due to not being at school that day however there are a few questions that I can answer based on the research, the overall process of writing and so on…

 After the numerous acts of editing and revising the Racial Profiling essay, I was astonished to find that each time I had to re write a passage, move some words around here and there,etc. I came across new findings and new thoughts that were crucial to the elements of the overall final paper. It was difficult at first to wrap my head around the concept of race, discrimination,sexism and profiling but after a vast amount of time just thinking about it all…it started to make sense. I guess you can say this was the climax point of my creativity/writing because once I started to connect key points to acquired information and so forthe, I couldn't stop! I do admit that yes when starting this paper it was very challenging in the sense that I hand't really known a lot about racial profiling and other race related issues but once I did my research on the issue it was so much easier to answer my own questions and what not.

What I did well:

• Connected core issues to that of one's everyday life through examples and primary sources. 
• I was able to take ALL the information I learned and break it down into a reasonable amount of work that then became my final paper. 
• Through my writing, I was able to put some of my own personal experiences in this paper, I felt that I did an excellent job of relating to my readers 
• "Put yourself in someone else's shoes" <----- Yes…I did that to the best of my ability by really thinking hard about the other race then writing from their perspective.

What I hope to improve: 

• Use/educate myself more so on better grammar structure and word placement. I have always been the type of writer to cram everything into a lengthy paper for I want to point out ALL my findings and all other information that I think is important to whatever it is I may be writing about. 
• Organization writing skills 
•  Rather than just focusing on 1 topic that can be put into a paper, I want to be able to focus on multiple topics that may be different from each other but then again they obviously are going to relate to the primary issue/context of the paper I would be writing. 

It was very time consuming and took a lot of patience/hard work but I'm happy to say that I learned a lot more about race issues going on in this world today as well as racial profiling and how it to can serve good and bad purposes within our society. Sometimes we go through life not really being mindful of our surroundings thus including people and the way they act. From my own findings based on just watching different races interact with one another, I was able to find that many races use different styles of communication not just on a verbal level but physically as well. That to me was very interesting because it wasn't something I was expecting to come across.

Long story short, I now feel more aware of racial profiling going on and I as an individual can better my overall character by stepping away from the stereotype box that so many get put into everyday just because of the way they dress, talk, look,etc. I won't be that someone that turns you away just because you have a tattoo on your neck and you are black, Hispanic, White and so on… 

Connecting The Dots 11/13

 Based on the blurb that I wrote in class today I was truly amazed to find that when I really sat down and thought long and hard about what it is that I want to do exactly in the future I was stumped. Not stumped because I didn't know what I wanted to do but stumped because I have SO MANY things I want to do it's really hard to choose one and stick with it! Regardless of the indecisive thinking, something I can do to help aid in the direction of my future is that I can always try an assortment of these diverse interests to see which one fits me for the long run.

• Sound technology Engineering 

• Addiction council/studies 

• Music management and business

• Nursing programs (not sure which one) 

This all is I have so far as for future plans,interests,personal passion,etc.

5 Additional Racial Profiling Sources 11/12

• http://works.bepress.com/harvey_young/1/

• https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=59250

• http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=n-6BH_5A1ToC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=discrimination+books&ots=KqT374B_5P&sig=GrPt-EusnbXffNcOsv6tcfkhtKU#v=onepage&q=discrimination%20books&f=false

• http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2522871?uid=3739560&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21102925533641

• http://ideas.repec.org/b/mtp/titles/0262701219.html

7 Times Post 11/5

 After reading Erica's blog post in regards to the Hispanic young man named Andy Lopez whom was shot and killed on the spot after being told to put the fake gun he was holding down, I have come to my own understanding that there may have been more than 1 police officer involved in this case therefore being shot 7 times is no surprise. 

  In specifics, Erica's post was one of the better ones I have come across responding to the issue of the shooting for she was able to relate to the young man as well as use a repeat in words emphasizing how it may or may have not been appropriate for officers to shoot this victim 7 times. Throughout this reading it seemed that Erica was upset with the way police officers handled the situation for hypothetically speaking a life may have been saved that day instead of taken. I think she does a great job at connecting the facts with her personal points she is trying to convey to the reader which majority were able to relate/cite with what she was saying throughout the writings. The use of examples and factual evidence makes this article 10x better in the sense that me (being the reader) am totally able to see why she feels the way she does about this topic along with making this whole written issue easier to fully understand.

   Conclusion wise I see that the big question remains: Why 7 times? Why did Officers have to gun down this victim not just once but 7 times? Was it to ensure death? Or was there more to it such as race involved? Conclusion wise these are the questions that remain however ultimately I feel that this is up to the readers to do their research on the topic and come to a conclusion for themselves about the issue. It's obvious that Erica doesn't agree with what police did that day like I said before however many of us see it differently.

  This compares to Javier's post (another author writing about this issue) in the sense that Javier was able to step back and remain from personal input for he examined all the possibilities as to why 7 shots may or may have not been necessary for the death of Andy Lopez that day.n Javier is able to consider the fact that if police officers were hesitant and did not act on impulse how many civilians lives may have been effected that day. It was after the fact that then police officers were able to identify the weapon as being a toy however evidence shows that in the moment from the distance the gun looked to be a pretty fair sized, automatic weapon that could have done a great amount of damage to not just police forces but innocent victims as well had this weapon been real. Within Javier's post, I can clearly see that he used a vast amount of evidence and other sources which got the reader to see the grey of the situation, not just the typical black/white one extreme to the next of the incident. By far I feel it is fair to say that both these posts had their equal strengths in the sense that the reader was able to perceive the information from which the author's produced however with this said, the way the reader conveyed both posts can be completely different for one post (Erica's) relates more so towards racial discrimination possibly being involved in all of this compared to Javier's post which selected many elements such as all perspectives from the situation to inflict a wondering state onto the reader. 

Vocab. #9 (absent) 11/4

ultimate: being or happening at the end of a process; final.

The ultimate decision was to not let her son go to the concert.

interactive: (of two people or things) influencing or having an effect on each other.

It was an interactive type of homework assignment to help the kids learn more efficiently.

principle: a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.

The primary principle of the lesson was not to drink and drive.

guidance: advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, esp. as given by someone in authority.

Sometimes more of us need some guidance in order to get through the day.

collaboration: the action of working with someone to produce or create something.

The collaboration amongsts the students was brilliant.

formative: serving to form something, esp. having a profound and lasting influence on a person's development.

My father had a life long formative influence on me.

summative: refers to the assessment of the learning and summarizes the development of learners at a particular time.

The summative forms showed where everyone was at school wise.

racism: the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

To this day many of us deal with racism and hate crimes around the world.

intelligence: the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.

She carried great intelligence in that mind of hers.

hyperbolic: of language exaggerated; hyperbolical.

He spoke in a very hyperbolic way to stress the elements of drama.

consent: permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.

I was not allowed to go sky diving without a parents' consent.

doctrine: a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.

After so many years, the doctrine was revised and updated.

hunch: a buttock and thigh considered together, in a human or animal.

The animal ate the hunch of the meet and left the rest.

predominant: present as the strongest or main element.

Right now the bear is showing that he was is the predominant animal compared to the rest.

discretion: the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information.

Before releasing the album, a discretion label had to be printed on the bulk of records.

provision: the action of providing or supplying something for use.

I watched the mother bird aid as a provisional source for her young by feeding them.

seizure: the action of capturing someone or something using force.

A seizure of captivity came over me when I came to the conclusion that I couldn't get out of the box.

warrant: a document issued by a legal or government official authorizing the police or some other body to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out some other action relating to the administration of justice.

I watched as the officer pulled out a warrant to search the suspected killer's house.

infraction: a violation or infringement of a law, agreement, or set of rules.

When we come into this world, we learn about the different infractions we can and can not live by/do.

Racial Profiling Lives On Notes ( work from 11/4 Absent)

Article:
   http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/15/opinion/racial-profiling-lives-on.html?smid=pl-share&_r=0

• So after reading this article about racial profiling and how an officer can use it to his/her advantage, it made me a little concerned not so much for my case but for others that may be a different race and what not that gets looked down upon majority of the time due to society. 

• It was interesting to find that racial discrimination especially from a law enforcer happens more often than we think yet it's excused and or pushed under "the rug". 

• Just like the example person used (Tony) reality wise I do see racial discrimination more so towards Latino/Mexican people here in Santa Maria however I don't look down upon it for I feel that an officer has the right to be curious of anyone; white,black,brown,yellow,etc. it doesn't matter. 

• I here a lot about racial profiling and what not however it doesn't surprised me that many of us are already put into a category before we even speak based on our looks because many others before us may have or may have not given off a bad impression of our "people". 

What I see Is All In My Head 11/1/13

 After watching the Selective Attention Test video, I wasn't surprised to see a gorilla walk across the court where the players were passing a basketball amongst one another. The goal was to count how many times the basketball was passed  from player to player because as someone is concentrating trying to keep track of the passes, the gorilla casually walks by. The first time majority of people don't notice this because mentally they are still on the goal of counting all the passes. After watching this video for a second time, majority were able to spot the gorilla!
  Conclusion wise I feel that this video completely ties into our world as we know it now for humans have always been selective of what we hear,see,taste.etc. it's the prime reason why arguments start,fights,misunderstandings,etc. for we are all hearing things differently, understanding things differently and so on. Just like this video, sometimes the context of what is trying to be conveyed needs to be broken down for people so they are on the same page as the person they are talking to,etc.
   Much of our own understandings are influenced by the universe,family,friends,lovers,acquaintances and so on. With this said, the way we perceive information, process it then speak all takes place in our own little "worlds", our minds. Depending on the situation, sometimes this is something that can be argued and other times it's VERY challenging to get through and into someone else's thoughts for humans feel threatened when their thinking is challenged.

Tools That Change The Way We Think Imput

The media and technology can change the way someone thinks in the sense that many people don't have the work ethic and or drive like they used to, instead majority of us rely on our "precious" smart phones and what not to solve our problems, to answer our questions, to give us something instantly for it is so easy. Technology/media can have its advantages and disadvantages however we as a whole must know how to FIND that balance and MANAGE that balance. Control the technology don't let it control you.

Filter Bubbles Post 10/31

   After watching this video I was very shocked yet amazed that this speaker was able to understand the little details such as what type of computer you are using, your location,etc. are all crucial information to online services/search engines for they can already market something to you within your "interest" range and most of us fall for it every single day not having a clue.
   With all of this said, it really makes me wonder if social networks such as Facebook, Twitter,etc. know the definition of unity and what they feed us is anything BUT that for we all are being "filtered" differently. How are we ever going to be on the same page in regards to what's truly happening in the world if all the information we perceive is different? How will we ever know what is fact and what is complete crap put in front of us just to shut us up?
   To find a neutral search engine such as Duck Duck Go, can and will help someone looking to choose what THEY want to see for it does not keep a record of what you search for the most unlike Google, Firefox,etc.

Lit. Analysis #3 Into The Wild 10/22/13

                                 
                                        Into The Wild                                              by: Jon Krakauer

    Into The Wild written by Jon Krakauer tells the life story of a young man named Christopher McCandless whom decides one day that he wants to give up everything he has such as his car, giving away the last of his money, etc. to explore and go to Alaska as his appointed destination. McCandless meets a vast amount of people along his adventure who are amazed by what McCandless tells them about his mission while some questioned his sanity. Over the course of his journey McCandless kept a journal with him to document every sigh he saw, people he met and most importantly the things he felt in that moment. This is the documented work of McCandless's story before he passed away in August of 1992.

    The story of Christopher McCandless was originally posted in an outdoor magazine article which then gained great recognition thus eventually becoming a book. The author chose to write Into The Wild because many wanted to know more about McCandless's intentions and why he did what he did in order to get to the Stampede Trail in Alaska. The reason why I decided to read this book because I to was curious as to what McCandless actually went through along with what he was thinking at the time. After reading a couple pages I couldn't put this book down for I felt that I could relate to what McCandless was saying when he was describing certain aspects of his life along with the wilderness scenes. Just like McCandless, I to have had to live off of the bare essentials for 2 months in the woods so to imagine that this man went a whole year living on very little completely takes my breath away. I found everything in this book to be 100 % believable for when McCandless was describing the cold and how his feet hurt from walking so much I to in the moment was able to relate and empathize with that of physical and mental exhaustion. The descriptions of what McCandless had to do in order to survive was very easy to imagine for it was written very detailed.

    For Krakauer to sit down and take the time out of his day to write about Christopher McCandless's story says a lot about his character for he greatly admired McCandless and his courage/strength to do what he did before starvation took over and killed him. The author himself seems like a very content, adventurous and observant man for his tone throughout the book shows that he picked up on every little detail and tracked every route McCandless hiked on upon arriving to his destination. 3 people that stood out to me the most out of this book was of course Christopher McCandless, Carine McCandless ( his sister) and Billie McCandless ( his mother). Through reading the text, it was said that Chris and his step sister Carine were very close in their relationship for they were around the same age and got along very well. Just like McCandless I to have a sister whom I am very close with so I was able to relate to this family dynamic. Billie, Christopher's mother was another character I chose to write about for she was a very down to earth woman who cared very much for her son and was shocked by his actions of just leaving one day to hit the road and never come back. The last character was Christopher because Chris seemed like a very genuine, down to earth, handsome and educated young man who lived for adventure and thrill. He was always the kind of person to never sit around and wallow in sorrow but instead wanted to help others and see what else was out there in the world. Throughout the text, you are able to see that McCandless was a very static character for he didn't change once he hit the road and he didn't change his ways once he reached his destination. As a result, my lasting impression of this character is that he is very strong,courageous and bold in his actions. I look up to Christopher McCandless for everything he went through leading up to his death. This man deserves great recognition for most of us can't handle the emotional/physical toll isolation and lack of wood,comfort,etc. takes on us after a period of time.

    The style of writing that the author chose to use when writing this book was a very journalistic approach along with lengthy descriptions and details describing the route McCandless traveled along with his day to day activities and the things he saw. It was neat to find that McCandless's information was organized and separate from that of Krakauer's written work. Not a lot of fore shadowing was used however their was a lot of imagery and descriptions used in order to evoke different emotions throughout the readers. After reading this book I was able to see that the author of this book was very amazed by the action and risks McCandless took therefore he wanted to share that with the public in detail. Many of the resources used to write this non fiction book consisted of journal entries from McCandless himself, pictures McCandless took while on his adventure and images of maps drawn out/tracked to show how far McCandless really traveled. By having all of this evidence displayed in his book, this shows that this event really happened in reality for it gives the reader proof and makes them believe more so in the story behind Christopher McCandless.

 
The first idea that I will remember for a long time after reading this book would be that you shouldn't worry so much about what others think of you and or your actions for then you will go through the motion of life never feeling personally satisfied for you are always trying to please those that will never be content with your decisions. For example, when McCandless decided that he wanted to live in the woods for a period of time he didn't base his decisions off of what his mother, father, sister,etc. thought he just acted on impulse. The second thing that I will remember is that people will forever do insane things and get recognition for it because a lot of us wouldn't dare put ourselves in harms way, we would prefer to leave that to those that don't mind taking big chances/risks.

   After reading this book majority of people learn about McCandless not just as a person but also his adventures that unfolded prior to death. This can be proven in the sense that if you were to go up to someone who has read this book they would be able to tell you what the overall jist of the story is about and recite some facts,information,etc. (that they came across in the book) about Christopher McCandless.

                                                   Passages from Into The Wild

• "Don't settle down and sit in one place. Move around, be nomadic, make each day a new horizon. You are still going to live a long time, Ron, and it would be a shame if you did not take the opportunity to revolutionize your life and move into an entirely new realm of experience."

• “So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” 

Vocab. #8 10/22/13

cursory: hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

The paper was a prime example of a cursory.

impetus: the force or energy with which a body moves

He had many impetus movements.

pinnacle: a high, pointed piece of rock

She hiked to the pinnacle point of the rock.

contumely: insolent or insulting language or treatment.

The French man seemed contumely to the American.

bereavement: state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one

She was very bereavement after the death of her son.

cache: a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place

He had a cache of guns. 

consummation: the point at which something is complete or finalized

The court date was consummation.

calamity: an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster

The car crash was a calamity event. 

avarice: extreme greed for wealth or material gain

Paris was an avarice kind of girl. 

fortify: strengthen (a place) with defensive works so as to protect it against attack

The fort helped to fortify the perimeters.

erratic: not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable

The drawings were erratic.

ubiquitous: present, appearing, or found everywhere

Trees are a ubiquitous thing.

fortitude: courage in pain or adversity

He had great fortitude for what he did.

nonchalant: (of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm

He spoke in a nonchalant manner.

affect: have an effect on; make a difference to

Global warming has an affect on the world. 

effect: a change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause

He went through the side effect of the stimulant quickly then fell asleep.

misappropriate: (of a person) dishonestly or unfairly take (something, esp. money, belonging to another) for one's own use

The merchant displayed a misappropriate behavior.

pragmatic: dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations

The ex army general was very pragmatic with his directions.

metacognition: awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes

I was trained for more than a year to be very metacognition over my thoughts and feelings.

devoutly: having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment.

Annie had a devoutly mannerism to her when it came to church.

Value of Learning/Life 10.14.13

                                                For This Week 

Activity #6 - read "To Be Or Not To Be" Hamlet soliloquy.

Activity #7 - answering questions about how the passages are organized in Hamlet

Activity #9 - read and identify within the text (with a highlighter) what it means to be alive according to Hamlet. Mark a + for a positive outlook on life within the text or a - for a negative outlook. Compare findings with other group members.

Hamlet - To Be Or Not To Be

To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
(+)The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them: to die, to sleep
No more; and by a sleep, to say we end
The Heart-ache, and the thousand Natural shocks
(-)That Flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep,
To sleep, perchance to Dream; Aye, there's the rub,
(+)For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There's the respect
That makes Calamity of so long life:
For who would bear the Whips and Scorns of time,
The Oppressor's wrong, the proud man's Contumely,
The pangs of despised Love, the Law’s delay,
The insolence of Office, and the Spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his Quietus make
With a bare Bodkin? Who would Fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
(-)The undiscovered Country, from whose bourn
No Traveller returns, Puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills we have,
Than fly to others that we know not of.
(+)Thus Conscience does make Cowards of us all,
And thus the Native hue of Resolution
Is sicklied o'er, with the pale cast of Thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment,
With this regard their Currents turn awry,
And lose the name of Action. Soft you now,
The fair Ophelia? Nymph, in thy Orisons
Be all my sins remembered.

Activity #7: The passages within Hamlet are organized in the sense that the first couple lines revolve around the simple question "To be or not to be?" along with Hamlet speaking of his suicidal tendencies he imagines/rants about throughout the whole passage. There is a pattern within this story because Hamlet's thoughts and descriptions switch from positives to negatives.

Vocab. List for Exam on 10/9/13 (alphabetical order)

accede: assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty.

accomplice: A person who helps another commit a crime

accumulate: gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of

adolescent: of a young person, in the process of developing from a child into an adult

adroit: clever or skillful in using the hands or mind

affect: have an effect on; make a difference to.

amicable:  having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor.

 annihilate: To destroy utterly and or obliterate

 arbitrary: Based on a random choice or  personal whim rather than any reason or system

avarice: extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

averse: having a strong dislike of or opposition to something.

belligerent: hostile and aggressive.

benevolent: well meaning and kindly.

bereavement: mourning,state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one

brandish: wave or flourish (something, esp. a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.

brazen: Bold and without shame

cache: a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place.

calamity: an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster.

cardiovascular: of or relating to the heart and blood vessels.

catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing chemical change

comprise: consist of; be made up of.

consummation: the point at which something is complete or finalized.

contumely: insolent or insulting language or treatment.

cursory: hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.

deft: neatly skillful and quick in one's movements.

destitute: without the basic necessities of life

devoutly: in a devout and pious manner

diet:the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats

disease: an abnormal condition that affects the body of an organism.

duplicity: deceitfulness; double-dealing.

effect: a change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

erratic: not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.

excessive: more than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate.

exodus: A mass departure of people

explicit: stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.

extirpate: root out and destroy completely

extol: praise enthusiastically.

facilitate: To make an action/process easier

feasible: possible to do easily or conveniently.

fortify: strengthen (a place) with defensive works so as to protect it against attack.

fortitude: courage in pain or adversity.

grimace: an ugly, twisted expression on a person's face, typically expressing disgust, pain, or wry amusement.

holocaust: destruction or slaughter on a mass scale, esp. caused by fire or nuclear war.

impervious: not allowing fluid to pass through.

impetus: the force or energy with which a body moves.

incorrigible: Not able to be corrected, improved or reformed

inopportune: occurring at an inconvenient or inappropriate time.

ironic: using or characterized by irony

jeopardy: danger of loss, harm, or failure.

latent: of a quality or state existing but not yet developed or manifested; hidden; concealed

mass: a body of coherent matter, usually of indefinite shape and often of considerable size

mechanism: a system of parts working together in a machine; a piece of machinery.

metacognition: awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.

meticulous: showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.

militant: combative and aggressive in support of a political or social cause, and typically favoring extreme, violent, or confrontational methods

misappropriate: (of a person) dishonestly or unfairly take (something, esp. money, belonging to another) for one's own use.

morose: Sullen and ill tempered

musty: having a stail or moldy smell

nonchalant: (of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm.

nostalgia: a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.

obesity:  is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health

officious: assertive of authority in an annoying way

ominous: giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen

opaque: Not able to be seen through; not transparent

paramount: More important than anything else, supreme

pinnacle: a high pointed piece of rock

pragmatic: dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

 prattle: Talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way

predispose: make someone liable or inclined to a specified attitude, action, or condition.

premeditated: thinking of a plan before hand

prevalence: the fact or condition of being prevalent; commonness

prevent(able): keep (something) from happening or arising.

quintessence: the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.

rampant: flourishing or spreading unchecked.

 rebut: claim or prove that evidence or an accusation is false

 reprimand: A rebuke, esp. an official one

retrogress: go back to an earlier state, typically a worse one.

scrutinize: examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.

sedentary: (of a person) tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive.

 servitude: The state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful.

slapdash: done too hurriedly and carelessly

solace: comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness.

 stagnant: of a body of water or the atmosphere of a confined space having no current or flow and often having an unpleasant smell as a consequence

stately: having a dignified, unhurried, and grand manner; majestic in manner and appearance.

stigma: a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person

 succumb: fail to resist such as pressure, temptation, or some other negative force

supple: bending and moving easily and gracefully; flexible.       

suppress: to hold in and or push down

syndrome:  group of symptoms that consistently occur together or a condition characterized by a set of associated

tepid: showing little enthusiasm.

ubiquitous: present, appearing, or found everywhere.

venal: showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery

A Million Little Pieces L.A#2 10/3

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey tells the story of Frey's 6 week journey through rehabilitation and all the experiences that Frey acquired while trying to find his soul purpose in life. An alcoholic for years and a crack addict for 3 Frey documents every person, place and thing that is new to him.

Ultimately Frey chose to write this autobiography about his life because he wanted to share his life story with the world more so than anything really. In the end Frey was able to succeed trough the strength of will power and choice while sadly watching some of his closest friends around him die and or relapse and never come back.

I chose to read A Million Little Pieces because it was interesting to picture the things Frey lived with for 6 weeks as well as his strength in will power. This book seemed realistic in the sense that Frey's style of writing evokes emotion in his readers as well as efficiently describing what went on for him physically and mentally. Some of the people that Frey meets throughout the book hold many qualities that makes it easy for the readers to relate to because most of them refuse to give up on him including the girl he falls in love with in rehab named Lilly. Miles is the last friend whom happens to be an ex alcoholic that is the last of Frey's close friends. All of these people within Frey's book make it an interesting blend to write about for they all have their own ways as to why they have managed to plant their presence into Frey's life while at the rehabilitation center.

   After reading this book, I feel like I was able to get a glimpse into the world of James Frey in the sense that this book documents everything he as a person has gone through in order to be who he is today. I see Frey as an honest non-sugar coating kind of guy that will tell you the truth to anything. Most of the descriptions that Frey used when writing this book consisted of a journal like style including lengthy descriptions that helped the reader to visually imagine what Frey was trying to convey. 

   The two overall concepts that I will continue to remember after reading this book would be that everything you do in life as a person ultimately boils down to a choice, you can't have a scape goat for every action you make but instead must embrace that of your own responsibilities. The second thing that I will always remember would be simply that anything regardless of it being drugs, alcohol, sex,etc. can ruin your life, the strange part is that some of those things are so little however if we as individuals don't/can't understand what's going in inside of us emotionally, mentally and physically then we are pretty much helpless as to how we can help ourselves.

                                           Passages from A Million Little Pieces                                                        

• “I turn and I slowly walk away and I don't look back. It has always been a fault of mine, but it is the way I am. I never look back. Never.”
  ― James Frey, A Million Little Pieces

•   “Let things be, let yourself be, let everything be and accept it as it is. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
  ― James Frey, A Million Little Pieces 

•  “This Girl with nothing but her own strength and a desire to be free. With nothing but a beating heart that is scared to be alone. With nothing but clear blue eyes that see through me and understand me. With nothing but open arms ready to receive me. To stand by me. To walk with me. To love me. I love her. Lilly. The Girl with nothing and everything. Lilly. I love her. A tear appears. She smiles. She leans forward kisses my lips softly kisses me and as our lips touch barely touch she whispers. I love you too, James. Our lips barely touching she whispers. I love you. Whispers. I love you.”
  ― James Frey, A Million Little Pieces 

 

  

Melancholy Grad Post 10/3

I have known Hamlet over these past 4 years to be someone whom thinks more on an intellectual level and knows how to use his words for good/bad. Though I can't excuse the fact that Hamlet killed his uncle, the way he wrote about it seemed that one day it to would go down in history like his name. Hamlet you are a smart, young, yet impulsive young man however I can honestly say that I'm blessed just to have gone through these 4 years of school with you. I know throughout the years you were having typical family/teenager problems however I'm glad that you didn't end up taking your own life, you took your uncle's which doesn't make it any better. Good luck in life and I wish you the best of luck Hamlet!

To Be or Not To Be, Decide 10/1/13

   Why bother trying to become a better person if you can just go through life then eventually die. Hamlet is saying we as people should question why we should follow through with this given life or not because we have a lot of hardships going up against us most of the time. His personal decision to kill his uncle was one that Hamlet thought out of r a while consequentially coming to the conclusion that he needed to follow through with the plan of killing his uncle. Hamlet also argues that most of the people in this world are afraid of death and there fore try their hardest to put off death and everything that else comes with the afterlife. The overall gist of Hamlet's story is that he was a teenager at the time when he wrote this passage and already he was very upset with his uncle and contemplated suicide over a period of time. The level of meaning that Hamlet was aiming for the most would have been life/death and what is it come when we all decease off of the face of the planet. In order to personally hold myself to a higher esteem I to have to continue with the cycle of life and not give up just because something didn't go my way like Hamlet is doing. The path that I will take consists that of taking total control over my life and not steering towards the direction of someone whom is helpless and can't find their purpose in life. I'm an individual who enjoys having some struggles in life here and there because ultimately without them life honestly would be to easy for me!