Candide

 If I had to choose a book to save, I would definitely save Candide written by Voltaire. If the reader understands the time period in which the book is written, many hidden satirist comments can be found under a thin veil of naïveté. This book contains unrealistic situations that always seem to ensnare the protagonist and his friends that would never actually happen. An example of such a situation is the survival through numerous ordeals that would kill any other person. For its time, Candide turned its world upside down. Voltaire attacks religious structures, both Catholic and Protestant, which are hypocritical along with the political atmosphere throughout Europe and its colonies. As the book travels from Eastern Europe to Spain and to the New World, the reader cannot help but laugh at the senselessness of the characters and events in the book. How religious superstition overcomes common sense and the obvious truth to the reader. Even the dialogue of the book is of satirist tone. Almost of the characters suffer unrealistic negative events that are so far out there, that even the most empathetic reader has to have a little chuckle.  

Halloween

As a kid I went trick or treating, until I was about 13 years old. I always enjoyed the event, but now I can just take candy from my brothers when they go. The best part of Halloween is all of the horror movies that fill every time slot for major television channels. I feel that after Halloween most people and stores already begin their displays for Christmas, which is still two months away and therefore too soon and a nuisance.  On top of that since my last name is Trick, I always get a lot of jokes based on my last name.  Overall, I still enjoy Halloween, just through other outlets other than trick or treating, such as haunted trails and buildings. It’s nice to see how my brothers enjoy Halloween in their own special ways, and it is always interesting to see what they want to dress up as.                                   

Wright State Changes

I am not too sure I would change anything about Wright State. Overall my experiences here have been good. Each instructor is unique and has their own way of teaching, so since that is most likely the main argument for change at a school that can be thrown out here.  As a freshman there is a lot I still don’t know about Wright State in general. Everyone seems nice enough, and I haven’t encountered any huge problems.  Maybe students should have more freedom in the material of a course. I think students in college should have the ability to choose what classes they want to take, and when to do so.

Revisions

My revisions are somewhat different from my original copies, but with changes in wording and sentence structure, instead of the overall ideas behind the paragraphs. Overall, I am satisfied with my midterm portfolio grade. It wasn’t the highest grade it could be, but it wasn’t a C either.  The revision process takes time, which I think is best if it is done in multiple days so you don’t rush through it. The topic assignments are not too challenging, even though they are not the topics I would choose to write about. I feel that our work would be better if we had multiple drafts done instead of just one, allowing more people to give their opinions on our work.

At the Moulin Rouge 1895

Purpose: To capture the style and interaction of Parisian nightlife

Audience: Urban city dwellers

Stance: N/A

Genre: Impressionism Painting

Media/design: Oil on canvas

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was an impressionists artist whom focused on the night life of city folk. The darkness of the background hints at the latest of the night. The focus of the painting is around the interaction of the people at the table in the center of the room as well as a lady in the right corner of the painting.  Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was very interested in interaction within Paris’s cafés. The viewpoint of the painting is from the outside, giving the impression that the viewer is on the outside looking in, observing the scene within. Many of his paintings were advertisements and basic paintings for café walls.

world without television

Since television was created, it has slowly become more intertwined with our society and our culture. Many households have multiple televisions and the average American watches at least over 4 hours of television.  We unwind in front of the T.V., we eat in front of the T.V., and we even sleep with the T.V. running. If the power grid was ever to fail us, (and therefore eliminating our precious television time) I feel Americans would freak out and there would be mass hysteria. People wouldn’t know what to do with themselves. A perfect example would be the film, Grown Ups. In the film several families take a weekend after a tragic loss, to visit a cabin that played an intimate role in the childhoods of the fathers. The comparison between the parent’s generation, (which tended to spend the majority of its time outside) and their offspring highlights younger generation’s dependence on electronics.  In an almost perfect utopia, the children grew bitter and resentful when they lost all forms of electronics. The children were so narrow minded they couldn’t see all the entertainment that was around them. It takes the children several days to adapt and see that they can live without electronics and become more active physically. Grown Ups has tackled the “what if” situation of a world without electronics or television. I believe that if television was to disappear, young people would adapt and venture more outside to interact and explore their environment leading to more independent and perhaps more intelligent younger generations.

ads

Advertising is all around us. Some of the material advertised is not for all ages however, and this trend is a growing concern in a world that is more connected and exposed to media than ever before. Young people are very vulnerable to what the media says they either look like or act. It is said that every American is exposed to over 2000 ads per day. To say that people don’t pay attention to ads would be incorrect in every statement.  When people call for the control of advertisement I would agree, but not in the manner in which they say it should be controlled. Most call for more government control, I would respectfully disagree. I would argue that it is up to society to control itself. Giving more control to the government gives away too much power that should belong to the people. If people want something done, then they should do it themselves and not rely on the government to do everything. Society should control the morality of a nation, not the government. Therefore pressure should be put on the ad companies to alter their ad tactics or only release certain ads where young vulnerable youth are more likely to see them. Enough pressure will cause the companies to change. It’s all up to the people.

Wright State or Ohio State

Wright State was always one of my top schools. My mom graduated from here multiple times and I have been to Wright State many times before walking onto campus. However, if I had sent my application to Ohio State sooner, and therefore receiving my acceptance letter sooner I would have gone there instead of Wright State. Now that I am here at Wright State I must say I would rather be here than at Ohio State. Ohio State is a great school to follow football, but looking at it now is way too big for me. I like how Wright State is well connected and centralized. Not only are all my classes clustered together, but Wright State also has a medical school, so hopefully I will stay at Wright State all eight years.

Socially, I have a lot of friends that have decided to come to Wright State from high school and some of us still stay connected.  One of my friends staying in Hamilton Hall has attended the same school as me since preschool. Other friends have begun to materialize in some of my classes at a steady rate.

Overall, I am extremely happy with my decision to come to Wright State. It is a quality school at a low price. I am very pleased with things here. The people and professors are friendly and are willing to help all the time. Going to Wright State has allowed me to become independent while maintaining my job that I have had now for two years.

Love And Peace Or Else

Love And Peace Or Else

Lay down, lay down
Lay a sweet lovely on the ground
Lay your love on the track
We're gonna break the monster's back
Ahhahhhhahhh
Eh eh
Lay down your treasure
Lay it down now brother
You don't have time before a jealous lover
As you enter this life
I pray you depart
With a wrinkled face and a brand new heart
I don't know if I can take it
I'm not easy on my knees
It's my heart that you're breaking
We need some release, release, release, release
We need love and peace
Love, love and peace
Lay it down
Lay down your guns
All you daughters of Zion
All your Abraham's sons
I don't know if I can take it
I'm not easy on my knees
It's my heart that you're breaking
We need some release, release, release
We need love and peace
Love and peace
Uh huh
Baby don’t fight
We can talk this thing through
It’s not a big problem
It’s just me and you
You can call or I’ll phone
The TV is still on
But the sound is turned down
And the troops on the ground
Are about to dig in
I wonder where is the love?
Where is the love?
Love and peace
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?

Love and Peace or Else is a very meaningful song. It speaks of human rights and respect for other peoples. Coldplay;’s The Scientist was by far my favorite song in high school, besides game days. I have always enjoyed Coldplay’s style and music tempo.(Along with The Fray, and U2) Piano along with guitar is smoothing sound to me, and I feel that it mirrors my personality. I like how U2 and other groups such as these challenge society to better as a whole, and admire how they take the higher stance striving for human rights and the diversity of cultures around the world. Human right are very important to me as well as maintaining the vast numbers of cultures throughout the world, that make us so unique. I spent two summers in high school in the Central American nation of Belize on a mobile medical clinic. During my travels I saw a lot of poverty and suffering, much of which could be prevented if more people in first world nations weren’t so tunnel visioned.. When most people see thatch houses they think primitive. That is not the case in most places. Around the world cultures are being destroyed by people seeking to “save” indigenous peoples from their savage ways. Native cultures need to be understood, not dismantled, however, for example, Large oil companies destroy fragile cultures and biodiversity around the globe. Unjust wars fill the news. Everywhere I look I see people doing harm to each other and to the world around us. I feel that these musical groups are
leading the way in bringing peoples together and away from abuse and hate.

Arizona Immigration Law

As the threats our nation change, it is necessary to allow the government to adapt to these threats. In order to keep us safe, I think most people would be willing to give up some rights and freedoms. However, there is a fine line between protecting and dominating citizens. The government should be limited in what extent they can revoke rights and freedoms. I think things should be handled uniquely and with care and responses should be altered to the specific need. That means the government can monitor and maintain our borders, but they cannot demand that everyone show documentation showing they are allowed in the country.


The new immigration law in Arizona is a complete violation of our rights and is racial profiling. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this law challenged in the Supreme Court, and that is overturned as unconstitutional. If we allow this law to remain in the system, it will be the beginning of infringement on our basic rights listed in the Bill of Rights. This will be the beginning of government control of morality and personal choice, a far larger issue than mere citizenship. I would like to point out that in Nazi Germany they had a similar policy of separating a certain ethnic group of people from other Germans, only they made them wear a star. If people were worried about illegal immigrants then the process of becoming a citizen should be reformed. If one ethnic group is required to show proof of citizenship I feel that everyone should as well.

Big Ten

Its all about the Big Ten.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQaegNSSBSg