Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close #2

    As I read through the novel, I noticed a flotilla of change, resolution, and even disappointment. Most of this occured at the conclusion of the book, as most fiction stories usually contain change, and the main character Oskar realises the point of his journey.
    The whole story his founded around this journey that Oskar Schell, our main character embarks himself on, physically and mentally. After he finds a key with the name Black inscribed on the back of the envolope he sets off on a somewhat preposterous journey to find the key. He assumes that the key belonged to his dad and he probably did this because he was desperate for answers. He didn't know where to go to resolve what happened to his dad. Any chance of answers he would take. By assuming that this was his dads key it gave him the determination to find the answer to the key.
    At the end of the journey he finds out that the key belonged to one of the Blacks. It belonged to the father of the man and was used to open a bank safe. With this conclusion Oskar was enraged and heartbroken. He thought that this whole adventure that he had gone on for about one year would conclude with answers for him. But Oskar learned that the world does not focus on just your own personal self, but rather the people around you, the world, the universe. You will not always get what you seeked, but rather a totally different thing entirely. Oskar was shocked but at the end of the book when he discusses with his mom, he realises this.
    In conclusion, Oskar realises at the end of the book that the world does not rotate around him. He learns that other people also suffer and go through pain, and helping them out also brings a sense of peace to ones self too.

Extremely Loud Incredibly Close

    The book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close portrays the life of 8 year old Oskar Schell, a young boy in New York who experiences the after-effects of his father's death in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He suffers continuously from not only the loss of his father, but also his mom and friends breaking away from him. His mom now tries to find somone new and indeed she does. His name is Ron. Oskar hates Ron as he always thinks that his father is being replaced. I think that Oskar can't except the fact that you have to move on. You can't stuff everything inside, but instead throw the bad things out. His mom is pulling herself out of sorrow rather than wallowing in it.
    In addition to the death of his father, Oskar wants to know how he died. He feels uncomfortable with the fact that there were millions of ways for his father to die. In the book Oskar says this is the reason why he invents. Throughout the book you will occasionally hear of some of his inventions and maybe even their references to his Dads death. One is a skyscraper that moves up and down while its elevator stayed in place. And he then says: "if you're on the 95th floor, and a plane hits below you, the building could take you to the ground, and everyone could be safe". Another is a tear reservoir where all the people that cry in their bed at night could see how many other people cried the last night on the tear forecast". He makes all of these inventions to either reenact and save his dad or find out how his dad died. Oskar is the type of character that will not rest until he knows and he goes on a sort of journey to find the truth to end his suffering. These inventions is the way he deals with his pain. He doesn't move on but instead stays and retreats into his own horror, inventing the death of his father
    In conclusion Oskar has gone through a lot after the death of his father. When he finds a key that belonged to his dad he goes on a journey not only to end his thoughts of his passed away father, but to mature and prosper in the glory he hopes to find.

Will Tebow fulfill Sanchez's Role?

    Tim Tebow came into a rough situation in the 2011 season on the Denver Broncos. They were going 1-3 when he came and he turned them into a playoff team. They ended up going into the playoffs, beating the Steelers, but were unfortunately defeated by the Patriots. "Tebow really brought the team together for those games," said Broncos fans. Tebow became a well-liked player throughout the whole nation and was even famous for his 3:16 propaganda. But after all this, was a trade to the Jets worth it?
    Many Jets fans are happy, yet many are unsure and upset about Tebows trade to the Jets. Mark Sanchez has already been signed in until 2015 and has been doing better than Tebow. Mark Sanchez has 55.3% pass completion, while Tebow has a 47.3% pass completion. Why did the Jets do this. I think they may be doing it for attention and some extra interest in the team. Others say that Jets coach Rex Ryan wants to put pressure on Sanchez so that he will perform better. Fans are still unsure whether Tebow will be a starting or secondary quarterback,  but whatever he is it ought to be interesting.
    In conclusion the trade of Tebow between the Broncos and Jets is still being debated between many fans. People still have no clue of why they made the trade, but I think it will be a very interesting 2012 season.

Iran vs. Israel: What will the U.S. do?

    In an article by Nicholas Kristof he talks about Iran. Iran is a very powerful country, not in the sense of overwhelming armies and power, but in it's effect on the rest of the world. Iran is famous for it's oil and nuclear, not always in a good way, and we are somewhat in their mercy for these resources. Many countries buy oil from Iran, including the United States. Oil prices would skyrocket if we were to upset Iran and end trade with them. The problem is Israel... The U.S. pledged themselves to the country of Israel after creating a stable government to them. Israel contains mostly Jewish people and they are constantly fighting against the many Muslim countries that border them. Israel and Iran have both hated each other after Iran's leader in 1979 said Israel wasn't even a country. Over the years tension has been very high and threats of war are lurking. If a war starts between Iran and Israel start, what will the U.S. do?
    The U.S. has always been the World Police for over a century. From helping overthrow an unfair dictator, to lending support for the survivors of a natural disaster. But has the U.S. gotten itself tangled up too far. Iran is possibly developing nuclear weapons and Israel may launch attacks on Iran. Will this pull the U.S. into war? Will this set off a chain reaction? This conflict may lose us a very important trade partner, which is important when you deal with oil. The U.S. has already put limiting sanctions on Iran and is about to be pulled into this maelstrom.
    In conclusion the U.S. has really tangled themselves up. This situation can affect us economy-wise and military-wise. We have to get out of this mosh-pit. The only problem is that we've gone too far to just go back, which is what happens in most of our conflicts.

The New Colossus

The New Colossus

By Emma Lazarus 1849–1887 

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

 

        The New Colossus gives a multitude of emotions to those who lived through the time period and for those that live now to comprehend its meaning. It was written in a time period where there was little hope and a multitude of problems. Millions of immigrants poured in the U.S. and they were mostly poor and hopeless. They were discriminated, hated, and persecuted in their old countries. They seeked shelter here and got a somewhat better life.

        This poem is about immigration and the Statue of Liberty. Most immigrants that come through New York Harbor see the statue of Liberty. It shows a symbol of hope and prosperity to the immigrants that travel through to Ellis Island. In the poem it compares the Statue to Greek and Roman Statues. They were all crafted in the form of a man that usually held a weapon in strength. The Statue of Liberty is a woman that hold a torch of hope towards the sky. She wants to show the difference between might war-like golems to a peaceful beacon of hope. Such a big difference.

        In conclusion, the new colossus really wants to represent America as a place as hope. She wants the poor and those that need help. She compares the Statue of Liberty to the Colossus of Rhodes. They are two very different things that represent many different ideas. This poem was to give freedom to those who need it.

Inheritance and the Relation to our World

    In our world and also the world of Alagaesia, there is rascism and prejudice. There are a variety of races in the fantasy world including: Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Urgals, Dragons, and Ra'zaac. Some of these races work together comfortably, but their is one rivalry that has gone on for centuries between the races. These races are Humans and Urgals.
    Urgals are humanoid immense beings with thick horns and rough hide. They are a war-like race, which involves warfare as an average part of life. Young rams must prove themselves by defeating and killing humans or bears and wild creatures. This idea of slaughtering does not earn you respect when you are kind of brought up in a culture where you learn to hate and kill humans, which in turn brings humans to hate urgals. Why the author made it humans as the rivals to urgals I'm not sure, but I think it's because we can relate to humans. Humans all around the world hate and judge other people, and by choosing a race that we are familiar with I think it is trying to tell us to bring us all together. And that is indeed what happened... In the book Eldest, the Urgals and the Varden (mostly human) made an alliance to fight the evil lord Galbatorix. But the leader of the Varden, Nasuada seems only interested in the request not to bring the races together, but to have extra men in her army. This seems as an evil thing to do and I disagree with her decision. She is taking advantage of a whole army which is wrong. But the other characters also have opinions, especially Eragon. Eragon was at first reluctant to become allies with members of a race he was forced to hate. Throughout the book he might jump when he see's them and pull his sword to kill them, because this is instinct to him. But over time he and some of the Urgals share stories and become better acquanted with each other. Unfortunately, Eragon adapted quickly and the rest of the Varden still hold a tension with the Urgals. One man even assassinated three urgals in their sleep and was protected by other rascists of the Varden to not be charged. This was an extremely hard decision for Nasuada because she could not save both parties. But over the books the relationship has grown to be better.
    In conclusion, the world of Alagaesia is very alike to ours. There is still rascism and still tension between races. As time goes on these fudes are dying out in both worlds, and eventually we will all be truly equal.

Hunger Games the Movie Review

   The Hunger Games book was an amazing story, with a good plot, characters, and theme. But the movie seemed as if you needed to have read the book to see the movie. Emotions were not shown at important junctures and I felt as if I could not relate to the characters at all. Katniss and Prim were the only characters that I had a view of. Peeta was unrelatable and so were many of the Capitol characters as well as Haymitch. I also didn't get a feel for the torture and evil of the Capitol. In the book they make slaves called avoxes that have their tongue cut out to shut their blasphemy. In the movie it never even mentioned avoxes or what they were. The only real treachery of the Capitol was the hunger games and what that involved, but in the end the movie could not express what the book showed.
    Rue was a very important character in the book, not only because of her young age, but also because she became friends with Katniss in an arena where you are forced to kill each other. The districts are seperated and some are stricter than others, but in the end they have no way to communicate. So this sharing of information is a very important part in the story. But unfortunately, in the movie there was no connection whatsoever. They meet for about 30 seconds and become instant friends. I was very disappointed because I think Rue and Katniss becoming allies was an extreme point in the storyline. You can't disregard scenes with such importance and turn it into nothing. Her and Rue shared their stories in the book for what seemed like hours, but in the movie it was about 1 minute. The scene was extremely rushed, and when you saw Rue die, you wouldn't feel much at all. In my opinion this part could have been done better.
    In conclusion, the Hunger Games movie was not as good as the book. At times you had to rely on your knowledge from the book to make sense of a characters emotions, which was not fun. That means that some scenes would be strange to people who have not read the book. I think that the movie was made assuming that most people read the book, but just because a lot of people have read the book doesn't mean some people haven't. In addition, most of the characters were impossible to relate to and feel their emotions. This is probably because the book was written using first person and the movie couldn't really work that in. The book and movie were different in many ways, but then against, when is a movie better than the book?

Mercutio's Curse

    As Mercutio lay on the ground, blood flowing through his wounds his final voice shot from his mouth: "A plague o' both houses!". He then is pulled off the stage moaning helplessly and dies.
    Mercutio was always an extraordinary character, and sometimes even a little hectic at times, but his words had meaning and half-witted wisdom in them. His famous Queen Mab speech really shows his role in the story as an exquisite philosopher of fate, fortune, and dreams. He also tries to make everyone have a good time, and helps inspire and bring the mood up. But overall he is somewhat of a Neutral man, that in the long-run always knows what will happen. When the party is over and Romeo wishes to visit Juliet, Mercutio is objecting to it and jest Romeo for his love, when Mercutio is the one that wanted Romeo to love. He is such a hypocrate with actions and words that give a foreshadowing for the future. He and the Friar are both very important characters when it comes to fortune and fate. Especially when Mercutio curses the Capulets and Montagues. He knows that their love will never work and that both families will lose members. He commends Romeo and Juliet to death, because he disagrees and predicts.
    In conclusion Mercutio plays a key role in Romeo and Juliet. He kind of reminds me of a fortune teller or a foreshadower, always knowing whats next. The curse he places on the families determines the end and the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet the movie

    In the movie of Romeo and Juliet I focused mainly on the statue that is depicted countless times during the movie. On either side of the statue are the two families; the Capulets and the Montagues. They are seperated by this statue (I believe is Christian origin) and the statue holds its two hands out, like a scale. A scale of right and reason, feud and peace, blood and healing. This statue was, in my opinion placed their intentionally by the director to show the balance and impurities between the two families. It is also the place where the Capulet and I believe Montague dead are buried. In this it shows that the two sides are at peace in the afterlife, buried together, and closer than they ever have been before; lying eternally next to eachother. It is also very ironic how Romeo and Juliet die inside/near the statue. They are both meeting in the center and they bring their families closer because of their love and death.
    In Romeo and Juliet this statue and monument is a line between the two sides and seems to always watch over them. It may be judging their actions and watching over the familie's actions. I believe this statue represents a whole lot in the symbolism of the tale.
    In conclusion I think that this monument represents a lot more than a stone collusus, and instead a guideline and line between the families that brings them together in the end, even though they take the casualty of two lovers who died in seemingless vain.

Eragon and the Great Realization

    As Eragon's small isolated town in Carvahall lives a normal life, the lives of those who live lives in the southern region are vastly different. Unfortunately, Eragon's adventures bring him and endorse him in the lives of those who are much closer to the Capitol. Slavery is very common in the country and are treated like animals. Eragon sights an auction house that sells slaves by the hordes, and while in the desert he encounters slavers, who think of Eragon as an object more than a human being. Along with this the King has his own Personal agents, the Ra'zac, who use very torturous and lethal ways to kill their targets. Eragon's uncle is doused in a poison that takes days for the subject to die, while the pain sears through him at every second. In addition, the Empire kills off innocents by the throngs, using monstrous mercenaries to do their work. These are urgals, a savage race intent on killing and slaughtering. The Empire is secretly allied with them, and the Urgals can do the empires bidding and make it look like the Urgals fault. Eragon comes across a deserted town, until the stack of bodies is found in the center. A babies head is impaled on the top... Another casualty by the Empire. The Empire also has a policy in which they usually murder the woman and children along with their enemies, even after the battle is over.
     In conclusion, Eragon has finally bloomed from his isolated town and found out the Empires true intentions. These past experiences may affect his choice of siding with the Varden, Empire, Elves, Dwarves, or Riders. I want to use this information to determine who he will choose.

Abandoned Halfway

   

    This picture was taken in Ireland, when it was rebelling against Britain. The cause of the Destruction of the car was unknown, but I think this car has more meaning then just a fatal accident. I think that the car shows the Irish during the rebellion, showing how they changed and also showing what could come to this country. If you look real closely the car is half on the road and half off. This, I think shows who the Irish were during the time period, they are half on the road of peace, yet half on the road of war. The Irish did protest during the revolution, but along with this they threw molotov cocktails at ships, robbed stores, and disrespected the laws the British had given them. In addition, the road slopes down, and then straight back up to rise to a greater elevation. I think that the picture is trying to show how you have to go down and fight for what you want to be brought back up. There was probably many casualties going down, but the outcome of rising up again is infinite.

    I can really feel the connection of these events. How could a burned-down peice of metal represent a whole enitre countries fight? I don't know, but I can still feel the connection. Sometimes you have to go down to be brung up.

Galbatorix's Silencer

    Currently I am re-reading the book of Eragon, and I am similiarly (Like I did in the HG) going to focus on the dictator/ruler of the main country. Every year in Carvahall, which is the town Eragon lives in, a group of traders come to sell the town all the goods they need that would last them the year. At the ending performance their is always a story-teller. At this one the story-teller Brom tells the real tale of how Galbatorix came to power. It shows how he killed most of his companions to gain leadership. Eragon's uncle then says that everyone here would have been executed if Imperial agents were here. This shows the true face of the Empire, which is ruled by a mad leader, who killed hundreds to be proclaimed as it.
    As I read the series I want to see what type of people were for the king, and what actions they take to get their assignments completed. I also want to pay close attention to the color scheme and environment of major cities, and their relationship to the King. I can see what beliefs the Empire is formed on.