On Wednesday, April 18, Dick Clark suffered a severe heart attack and passed away at the age of 82. Dick Clark was more popularly known for his "American Bandstand" and "Rockin' New Years Eve" that show cased his love for music. My mother always talked about watching "American Bandstand" after school every day growing up, and "Rockin' New Years Eve" with her family every New Year. The New Year tradition continued on to our family who also gathered around the TV to countdown to the ball drop and watch favorite artists perform. My mother and I were in the car when he heard the sad news that Dick Clark had died, and began to wonder what the New Year celebration was going to be like for the coming year. While Clark's sudden passing is very sad, his legacy will live on and appears to be mirrored by Ryan Secreast. I guess we'll have to see how Ryan fills Clark's shoes.
"Dick Clark, Entertainment Icon Nicknamed 'America's Oldest Teenager,' Dies at 82" Good Morning America. ABC. ABC, New York City. April 24, 2012. Online
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
"Life of Pi" chapters 1-29
Well, not impressed with the first few pages, but still interested. The beginning of the book is very slow, and boring because he's explaining the difference between sloths and his study of sloths. As I was reading about the zoo and all its inhabitants, I couldn't help but feel like I was in Ms.Smart's class. I found the beginning of the book to be rather scattered and random in some parts. For example, he goes from talking about sloths, to his family zoo, to being named after a pool and swimming lessons, and then to religion and how it is like a zoo. I was really struggling through this book until he began to explain his religous choices and what led him to religious studies in college. I can't help but admire Piscine for just wanting to "Love God" through Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. While it is very odd, and violates a belief in all three practices, it's pure and simple. I couldn't help but laugh when he and his family ran into the pandit, the priest, and the imam and they began to belittle the others choice in religion. I also found it commical he called the three men of different faiths the three wise men. Perhaps a deeper meaning? Having an interest religions and respect for those who practice a faith different than mine, my favorite line in the whole book is "Bapu Ghandi said, "All religions are true.' I just want to love God," I blurted out, and looked down, red in the face.". I could go on forever about my views on this quote, but I will leave it at the I agree with him completely. I also loved that he didn't back down, and even asked to be baptized and to get a prayer rug. The diversity of this book has definitely grabbed me, and I am very interested to see how everything plays out.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Fahrenheit 451- The Sieve and the Sand; Burning Bright
The first part that grabbed my attention the most was when Faber began to talk about religion when Montag brought him a copy of the Bible. Faber talks about how Jesus is a member of the family and how Jesus is used as more of an endorser for products than to bring salvation to those who believe (81). This made me think about how now there are podcasts and broadcasts of church sermons and endless trinkets, notebooks, and other paraphernalia wiith Bible verses and references. Church today seems to be more of a chore or a chance to show off one's new expensive outfit or to just have the good Christian boy/girl title. As Faber said, Jesus is being used to make someone or something look good, instead of people following Jesus' teachings.
When Montag reads "Dover Beach to the women, he reads only the third and fourth stanza of the poem. The third stanza talks about "The Sea of Faith" which could be a symbol for life before books were banned in "Fahrenheit 451", and then it continues on to show a loss of something that leaves the narrator feeling melancholy and almost empty. This change could represent the removal and burning of the books because the people now are more robotic with their emotions, and depression in common in the society of "Fahrenheit 451". The fourth stanza of the poem opens with a hopefulness of the potential of the world before them, but ends with the reality of a "darkling pain" and "armies clashing by night". Montag is the one with the hope for the society because of his secret stash of books he began to read; and for the armies clashing part, the rebellion he wants to start to end books being illegal. However, the women do not enjoy Montag reading the poem, and abruptly leave his house upset. Montag also leaves and feels down because of the women's reaction to the poem. Them rejecting his reading could show that no one would want to help him on his fight to bring back books.
The most shocking part of the end of "The Sieve and the Sand" and the beginnig of "Burning Bright" would be the firemen getting a call for Montag's house. Mildred put the call in about books in the house, so Captain Beatty makes Montage come along, and do the burning himself. But while Montag is burning his home and belongings, he is enjoying himself. The idea that fire is cleansing comes back in this part because Montag is cleansing himself of things that were hurting him, such as Mildred's obsession with her "family", and their love-less relationship. Montag also cleanses himself of the firemen when he kills Captain Beatty with fire too.
I was really excited when Montag found Granger and the outcasts. I kept hoping they would build up their own little army like Katniss and District 13 from "Catching Fire". (It's ironic that the third book is title "Catching Fire" and has a rebellion, which fits with the fire of "Fahrenheit 451" and Montag's attempted rebellion.) Getting closer and closer to the end, I was waiting for an epic battle, but was only left with a giant bomb that destroyed the whole city..(That also makes me remember that the capitol in "Catching Fire" was partially destroyed with a giant bomb at the end of the book. Whoa..) Even though there was no fighting, I was still left with the idea that Montag, Granger, and the outcasts could rebuild their own new society.
I really enjoyed "Fahrenheit 451", and it made me appreciate having books even more. I'm sorry for being tardy with my blog, but I wanted to actually finish the book before writing this post.
When Montag reads "Dover Beach to the women, he reads only the third and fourth stanza of the poem. The third stanza talks about "The Sea of Faith" which could be a symbol for life before books were banned in "Fahrenheit 451", and then it continues on to show a loss of something that leaves the narrator feeling melancholy and almost empty. This change could represent the removal and burning of the books because the people now are more robotic with their emotions, and depression in common in the society of "Fahrenheit 451". The fourth stanza of the poem opens with a hopefulness of the potential of the world before them, but ends with the reality of a "darkling pain" and "armies clashing by night". Montag is the one with the hope for the society because of his secret stash of books he began to read; and for the armies clashing part, the rebellion he wants to start to end books being illegal. However, the women do not enjoy Montag reading the poem, and abruptly leave his house upset. Montag also leaves and feels down because of the women's reaction to the poem. Them rejecting his reading could show that no one would want to help him on his fight to bring back books.
The most shocking part of the end of "The Sieve and the Sand" and the beginnig of "Burning Bright" would be the firemen getting a call for Montag's house. Mildred put the call in about books in the house, so Captain Beatty makes Montage come along, and do the burning himself. But while Montag is burning his home and belongings, he is enjoying himself. The idea that fire is cleansing comes back in this part because Montag is cleansing himself of things that were hurting him, such as Mildred's obsession with her "family", and their love-less relationship. Montag also cleanses himself of the firemen when he kills Captain Beatty with fire too.
I was really excited when Montag found Granger and the outcasts. I kept hoping they would build up their own little army like Katniss and District 13 from "Catching Fire". (It's ironic that the third book is title "Catching Fire" and has a rebellion, which fits with the fire of "Fahrenheit 451" and Montag's attempted rebellion.) Getting closer and closer to the end, I was waiting for an epic battle, but was only left with a giant bomb that destroyed the whole city..(That also makes me remember that the capitol in "Catching Fire" was partially destroyed with a giant bomb at the end of the book. Whoa..) Even though there was no fighting, I was still left with the idea that Montag, Granger, and the outcasts could rebuild their own new society.
I really enjoyed "Fahrenheit 451", and it made me appreciate having books even more. I'm sorry for being tardy with my blog, but I wanted to actually finish the book before writing this post.
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