Smith - Animacules

Smith, a self-proclaimed “lifelong devotee of life” (264), has an intriguing relationship with the smallest representative life he finds in pond water. He discloses: “I have trouble explaining my satisfaction with the animalcules” (260). Can you explain his keen pleasure in observing the animalcules? Post two paragraphs that react to data from the article



Honestly I didn't really enjoy this article very much. It really is something that I wish I cared about, but don't. Smith obviously loves these little animacules and the whole new world he finds under his microscope, but reading about it isn't all that interesting. Yet, this shows me just how much Smith really does love his pond scum. If he can write about it this much, paying attention to every little detail and attempting to paint a picture of it in my mind, and STILL believe that what he's writing is interesting... well then he must have found his calling in life. The theories of microlife are neat for a little while I guess, but I would definitely be more like his niece that said "eww" and asked to look at something else.

Overall, the big picture of Smith's article does interest me to some extent. I enjoy the fantastical ideas he has when he wonders about amoebas and things like that, but when he gets into specifics my attention is lost completely. But all in all, I easily picked up that he is definitely a lover of life. He reminded me of a woman I was watching on BBC that was rescuing elephants. She was talking about them to the camera and you could just tell that she REALLY just LOVES elephants. Everything about them. Her voice, diction, and tone just showed her genuine love and interest in these creatures. So when I read this article, I thought of Smith's words coming out just like the elephant woman's. I think when someone finds something they love so much, they should follow what their heart tells them to do. Smith doesn't have to explain why he loves observing the animalcules, he just needs to know that is what he truly loves to do.

FFW - Dessert in Just Add Water

The small object of “just add water” to me is dessert. Throughout the entire movie, dessert makes itself present in many forms. It symbolizes the different struggles along the plot of the movie, and it represents the different relationships among the characters. For instance, Ray’s mother is killed over her lemon meringue recipe. This overwhelming importance on a dessert shows the strained relationship between Ray’s sister and his mother at this point in the movie. The dessert fight is not actually over a dessert; it is more an argument over control and trust within their relationship. Another instance of a dessert is the pudding Nora saves for Ray. Not only is this an act of kindness, but also a small instance of Nora’s adoration for Ray. The pudding that is saved shows that Nora does care deeply for Ray, and is willing to make sacrifices for him. The last main instance of dessert occurs when Charlene gives Edward a frozen icicle from the freezer for dessert. The forced offering of this “popsicle” shows how strained the relationship between Ray’s family is. His wife does not truly want to be there, or else she would be serving cake or ice cream. Sadly, she can only offer an icicle from the freezer; it is a feeble attempt at the least possible effort she is obligated to put in to carry on her duties as a mother and a wife.

Angry Writing

Response to that man on youtube:


So, I see this man as an arrogant close-minded individual that is only giving his feeble attempt to amuse the less educated and informed consumers of the delusional segmented country we like to call America. Obviously by stooping to the level of the ill informed and provincial ignorant mass of people that refuse to accept factual scientific information, he has found a nice niche where his little comedy career can benefit and therefore make him lots of money (the ultimate goal of most people around these days). Yet, just because he states his opinions with such a strong and confident force behind them doesn’t make them true. This guy reminds me of an elementary school child that is distraught on the playground. By being left out and not taught how to properly understand his surroundings, he takes one solidified viewpoint of another and pokes fun at it. Just because he does not see the effect that humans have on the world, he mocks the efforts that millions of people around the globe put in every day to better our planet. It is not a secret that within our lifetime our carbon emissions will reach an unsafe level in parts per million, and although that number has been increasing since (most likely) the beginning of time, it has SKYROCKETED since the industrial age of humans. America has been producing much more CO2 (one of the most important greenhouse gases due to its prevalence in our atmosphere, long life-cycle, and integration into industrial economies) than any other country, and leads the industrialized world in per capita emissions. Although China now produces as much total CO2 annually, the US still produces many times more carbon per person than China, India, and most other influential countries. Not only this, but America has blocked meaningful international action for many years, and (just like this man) refuses to accept what is obviously happening all around us.


(borrowed from ecology.com)


Well, that is all I had time to write in class... I don't think it would make sense for me to continue this post a few days later since I'm more calm now and would therefore be writing in a completely different tone. So, that is it. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!!

My Thoughts on Blogging

I like blogging. It is definitely a lot easier than keeping a real journal or turning in actual formal essays and homework assignments. Also, with blogging I can vary my tone a lot more than in a traditional assignment. If I feel very strongly about a subject, I have the opportunity to write about the different sides of the issue and what kind of logic I would use to make sense of it. Yet, if I don't really like the article, I can write about why I didn't like it. This way, I feel like I am exploring the many topics we've studied much more deeply. Also by being given this little soapbox, I can express myself a lot more than I could in most other classes. Since this course is about WRITING and not learning factual knowledge on a certain subject, it gives everyone in our class a lot more freedom to branch out to new styles and techniques of writing while still gaining skills on how to accurately express their opinions to a third party. All in all, as tedious as it seems somedays, blogging isn't so bad.

Phelan - How We Evolve

Phelan worries about human beings’ “self –inflicted instinction” (202). How does he support his angst? Do you concur? Post two paragraphs that are supported by data from the article.


"The fate of our civilization, and maybe our species . . . may be determined by the next five generations" (202). Well, I'm glad I won't be around. It's not that I don't have faith in the future of the human race, but I don't want to be around when this complicated matter becomes even more OVER complicated by our own selves. When signs of change finally start to show, there will be no way for people to ignore our extinction. Of course, most people think the word "extinct" means that some sort of meteor or something is going to hit the Earth and we'll be out like the dinosaurs. Yet, Phelan describes the other way that humans might be their own end. By focusing so much on new technology, we might create our own successors.

I guess some people would try to fight this, and keep the "human" race alive... but why fight something natural? If our educational structures and new inventions/discoveries are pushing us toward a new plateau some hundred years in the future, why should we see that as a bad thing? Many people are scared of change in any form, which can be seen in this article. My personal opinion is that we should all stop worrying about what is going to happen to our race and why, it is all just speculation. Natural selection "has your back" so to speak... it really is only a way to help us out as humans. People need to stop thinking that they're smarter than nature... the world has been around for BILLIONS of years (FACT!!!) and humans have been around for what... a couple thousand? Yeah... shut up.

The Ethics of Climate Change

What does Broome claim the money market reveals about people’s ethical judgments about the value of future well-being? Post two paragraphs. Use data from the article.



John Broome poses a question here: "How should we -- all of us living today -- evaluate the well-being of future generations, given that they are likely to have more material goods than we do?" This question basically sums up what Broome discusses in his article, "The Ethics of Climate Change." All in all he is an advocate for moderation, and believes the world should share his viewpoint. By being more conscious of the world (not only that around us, but what is still to come in the future) we can sustain many of our goods and resources to benefit future generations. So in Broome's opinion, the main focus of our current lives should be how what we do will affect the people of the future. Broome also said that "sometimes you cannot avoid harming someone, and sometimes you may do it accidentally without realizing it. But whenever you cause harm, you should normally compensate the victim." He obviously is suggesting that we become less self-centered in our society, and look at the bigger picture.

Money markets display the common belief of Americans very well. We tend to put more focus on the here and now instead of the future. For instance, more people would rather have $100 now than $130 in two weeks. Although the benefit increases without a doubt, instant gratification is an overwhelming force. The fact that our society is only interested in the present moment shows a lot not only about how and why we save our money (and other financial habits), but it also backs up Broome's environmental theory. Our community would rather get all of our benefits now than worry about how they might affect us later. Broome talks a lot about costs and benefits, and continues to further the theory that a shift of importance is due if we want to have a sustainable world. We must stop thinking about only ourselves, and focus more on the future.

FFW - Are You a Writer?

There are many writers in the world, and many ways they are defined. There are journalists, novelists, students, bloggers, editors, and countless other specific types of writers out there. So speaking in a general term, yes, I am a writer. Because I write, I am a writer. I am not a novelist or a journalist, I don't claim to be some sort of author. Yet, because I write, I am a writer. I write in class, in my free time, and at work. I don't try to make this fact anymore complicated than it should be. Because I write, I am a writer. I really don't think it is that hard to understand. By my definition, because I write... I am a writer. Get it? It doesn't define me, it doesn't control or limit me, it merely describes me. Since it's a word, there will obviously be different opinions of what makes a "writer." But to ME, in MY head.... because I write.... I am a writer.

It's Hot in Here

(Specter’s article)

There are many things about global warming and environmental protection that aren’t known to many people of our generation. For instance, did you know that a Hummer driving vegetarian is leaving a smaller footprint than a Prius-driving meat eater? And did you know that electronics in your home use most of their power while in the off position yet still plugged in? There are so many issues on environmental policy and prevention that are unknown to most of the world, which is one of the main reasons why we are so slow to create a solution. I don’t believe that the majority of Americans are consciously destroying the environment by buying harmful products of wasting water and energy; they are simply uneducated on the alternatives. I guess we are in an era of creative destruction; even many products we think are helping (or “green”) are not as helpful as many are led to believe. The expansion of technology is simply giving us new and improved ways to pollute our world.

Obviously I feel somewhat responsible for global warming, it would be INCREDIBLY ignorant of me to say anything else. I am a consumer. I buy products that aren’t always great for the environment and I eat meat, among other things. I contribute my carbon footprint (although I believe it to be smaller than many, many others) to the big picture. I am one. One seems so small. But one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one ends up equaling a billion pretty quickly. And then all of those little ones are confused as to how they ended up being a part of something so huge. And then the world explodes or melts. And it’s over and all we can say is… whoops!

Thinking

Upon reading this article, I immediately connected it to what we’re learning in my Culture and Expression class. By studying philosophers such as Nietzsche and James, among countless others, I have learned a lot about types of thought. Just like Roebke says, we may literally perceive the same thing, yet everyone can take it to a different connotation. Being based on experience and upbringing, every action has the potential for a different reaction from all people. For example, we all physically see the same blue couch. Yet, based on your past, you may see the couch in a different way than the next person. When we observe, we naturally see more than just the physical thing in front of us, and that is what makes human thought and cognition so unique and interesting. We all have a different point of view, which is why our society is becoming increasingly open-minded and is beginning to share broad knowledge.

The main weakness in Roebke’s article is the fact that his is confused on his audience. He seems to be speaking towards a general population, everyday people that are affected by different kinds of thinking and feeling. He focuses on trying to explain a phenomenon instead of trying to teach it, yet the language he uses seems to favor the more scientifically apt or educated. So although the way he explains many of his examples can only been properly understood by the people of his field, it is not meant to be a completely scientific work. If he picked one side - scientific or general - and stuck to it, I think his article would be much more clear and effective.

Just Add Water

Just add water. Well, there are definitely several directions in which I could take this. Yet, the first thing I thought of was life. Yes, there are countless products out on the market today where "just add water" appears on the label. You do simply that, just add water, and poof! Something magical happens and you end up with your final product in the blink of an eye. Take your to-go Minute Maid mix, just add to your bottle of water, and there you go! Yet, just adding water made me think of something you can't buy in a store. By just adding water to things in nature (flowers, trees, grass, animals, people) you can watch them grow into something a lot more exciting than a glass of lemonade. This addition of water, just one simple thing, can create such wonderful life. Nature doesn't ask for much, just water, and it will grow and support you in so many ways.

My Writing Center Experience

I never would have thought that the Hofstra Writing Center could help me so much on an essay, but it did. I didn't know what to think of the Writing Center before stepping foot in it, it was uncharted territory. Yet, when I entered the room in Mason Hall I was surprised of what was in front of me. I appreciated the size of the Writing Center; it was small enough to get a lot of personal attention, yet had enough people that my mentor and I could ask for outside opinions if we were stuck. The boy that was helping me (I don't remember his name) was open to working on whatever I wanted and helped me brainstorm my essay. He was very open-minded and treated me as an equal, which made the brainstorming session so helpful and relaxing. We explored the possible themes of my essay until we picked something that we both agreed would work.

Unfortunately, I had not prepared anything for my visit to the Writing Center. Yet, upon explaining the play and showing him a few powerful sonnets, we were able to start our work. Even thought I didn't have anything for him to critique, he helped me think outside the box for a unique and interesting paper topic. After the topic was chosen, he helped me work on my thesis. After writing a basic thesis down, we corrected it bit by bit until it was a solid point. Then, we had a quick chat about the general outline of my paper, then my time was up and I had to leave. So instead of making grammatical or contextual changes, I changed my blank paper into an idea that had a lot of potential.

4/7 Notes

*Bruffee: the making of knowledge*

Conversation ~ contact with another intellect

Thought ~ conversation internalized

Writing ~ conversation re-externalized



Assignment: Show what waste or greed looks like. Take the reader to some point of contact that will legitimately express (via SHOWING) waste/greed, itself or perhaps a wasteful or greedy being.

To me, wasting is like forgetting the last kids picked in gym class. Granted, this style is rarely seen in real classes anymore (NO child left behind), but maybe imagine you’re on the playground instead. A game of dodge ball is about to start under the hot sun, and all of the children take a break from their sugary candy and interesting bug collections to make a line on the blacktop. As the captains choose one by one, there will inevitably be the children left standing, unwelcome on either side. Who has the power to say that they aren’t worthy of joining the dodge ball game? The overlooked children, all individuals with their own strengths and abilities, are stranded on the line while the rest of the children (favored for millions of unknown reasons by their peers) begin the game. But what is so wrong with the stragglers? Each one of them has the same potential as the rest to achieve greatness in this game, so who is to say that their energy and strategy should go to waste? Leaving all of these game-ready and excited children on the sidelines is the definition of waste. The captains have cast aside something that could have been to great use to them without providing a legitimate reason. Based on social standing and assumptions, two of many flimsy biases or judgments, the kids on the line are becoming this waste: a waste of vigor, a waste of talent, and a waste of resources sitting right in front of their peers. This theory can be applied to any kind of waste, regardless of type. By ignoring a perfectly stable asset when that option is just as easy as it’s opposite, we choose to waste. Why? That is what we must ask the wasters, why? I think we would all be surprised by the lack of a solid answer.

Faustian Economics

Although a good, solid article, I found this a bit ironic. Berry is trying to set limits on the limitless thinking and learning that our society has focused on throughout history. He says that there seems to be an obvious emphasis on using newer and better methods and technology to constantly keep improving every aspect of our lives. It is a never-ending cycle, and I think it is silly that Berry tries to peg it and define it in this article. Yet I suppose if everyone followed that mindset, there would be no work at all, would there? It takes all of the contents of a certain time period to propel itself forward into a "new era." As I see it, it is interesting to talk about this perpetual future, but taking it too seriously may result in a loss for what our current generation really stands for.

Berry used many examples from other literary works throughout his article. By using these works, he can pinpoint the universal values that have sustained over the years. For instance, limits are addressed in many of his examples. Faustus sells his soul to the devil in return for limitless knowledge, which shows the same modern idea of losing your current self in favor of a big picture you might not understand. Like I said in the last paragraph, Faustus here is forgetting that to end up with a tall ladder to climb to your final destination, you must not forget to build the individual rungs that will lead you up.

I particularly enjoyed Berry's ideas on natural resources near the end of the article. He is a realist when it comes to these theories, he is taking real action to formulate a real plan. I like that he understands that we only have once chance on this Earth, we cannot get a redo if we use all of our natural resources or pollute our land and water. His solution to this problem of no second-chances is to use our obsession, technology and ever-growing knowledge, to take matters into our own hands. By focusing the thing that defines our country so well, we can make our own living space into somewhere we can be proud to pass to future generations.

Derrida Video Response

I can relate to what Derrida was saying in his short video. He knows that language and writing cannot please everyone, no matter what the subject is or what the writer's intentions are. Even thought he himself is just writing what naturally comes to him with no extra hidden meanings, he is aware that something he never intend may sneak it's way to paper with his words. Yet, he finally sees that he must believe in his words or else they will lose their meaning even further.

It is also apparent that Derrida fully understands how powerful his words are. Obviously, he would not get so broken up over something that he sees as trivial and weak. So as he sees, words are some of the most powerful things if they can make people think and act the way they do. He sees how words can easily be taken in different ways to cause different emotions and reactions, which make them such a force.

Collaborative Learning

First of all, I really enjoyed this article. Bruffee makes a lot of interesting points on the nature of thinking and conversation. There will always be the age-old question of “do I think the same way as everyone else?” floating around in society, to which there will never be a definite answer. Yet, this essay reflects the notion that maybe we all do have the same basic thought process based on conversation. The main point I had trouble understand is that if we did not know English, what would our thoughts be like? If we couldn’t converse with ourselves in our head, how would we process thoughts and perceive the world around us?

The next thing that caught my attention from the article was the approach Bruffee took to the main subject, collaborative learning. I do believe that his argument was true, students do learn better in a collaborative learning environment. I think this is because when working alone, some people may be unsure of themselves. Once they open up and are willing to share ideas with the group, they can be reaffirmed that their original idea was correct. Similarly, peers can branch off from the ideas of others to come to a higher conclusion. The ping ponging of ideas building off one another creates new ideas that you may not have come to had you been just thinking, not engaged in progressive dialogue. This situation reminds me of running. If you are running on your own, you may go at a bit slower pace since you have no motivation to run fast. Yet, if you are racing someone, or even merely running with a friend, you may feel obligated to maintain a faster pace to keep up with them or to prove your skill. In conclusion, speaking your ideas out loud with a group, or even just one other person, will help you in the long run.

Finally, I was struck by Bruffee’s example of “the blind leading the blind.” True, the inexperienced may be leading the even less experienced through collaborative learning, but that is an approach which I think works very well. The best people to teach on any subject are people that have lived or experienced it themselves. So, the best people to teach you are those around you. Since they’ve all been in the same situation, they know what you need to understand and the best way to learn it. This is why student tutoring is so effective. Students feel they can relate to their tutor, as appose to a teacher or professional. Since they feel on the same level, they may be more willing to learn, instead of being in a situation they feel forced into. The key is making the learner feel comfortable. By being in a negative state of mind, they will not be open to learn. Therefore, peer tutoring, mentoring, and evaluation is a no-surprise success.

FFW - The Problem of Describing Trees

All I have to say is that I really like this poem. I feel that I can connect with what Robert Hass is arguing in The Problem of Describing Trees. Language is something that is indefinitely finite. There are only a certain number of words in our language, or in any language for that matter. Yet, there are unlimited actions and feelings in the universe. The problem with these limits is that we confine ourselves merely because we do not have a correct word for a thought or emotion. Just because we cannot name something does not mean that it cannot exist. Time is up!

Going back and comparing this to the other poem we read, I can see an obvious connection. They both explain how when using any language, there is always a gray area. Actions are more specific than words, and it is not possible to be as specific as a certain action calls for. All in all these poems are nice, but they are using this shortcoming of language to explain something they know and teach that cannot.

Twelfth Night Important Quotations

"I am the man." (II.II.25 - Viola)

This statement by Viola is obviously ironic. She is not actually a man! Tangled in the web of deceit of this play, Viola is becoming more and more lost in her own character. By living in this love triangle (or some kind of polygon) she is seeing herself like the rest of the characters see her, as a man. This realization of sorts is a nod to the fact that her disguise is the cause of central disaster in the play.


"... and yet to crush it a little, it would bow to me..." (II.v.143-145 - Malvolio)

By merely reading this quote, you may have no idea what it meant (like I did). But, upon revisiting the text, the situation Malvolio was in gives it all away. Malvolio is reading Olivia's note, which he believes to be intended for him. Yet, it is not! This quote shows that Malvolio has so much hope and trust in the fact that the note is for him, that he is changing the meaning to fit him because he wants the contents to be true... so badly.

"Viola: Then think you right. I am not what I am.

Olivia: I would you were as I would have you be." (III.i.148-149)

In this scene, Olivia is finally making her move on Cesaro (Viola). Although she is not truly a man, Viola cannot come out to Olivia without her entire plan falling to shambles. Particularly here, Viola is trying to hint to Olivia what her true identity is. Yet, Olivia is so "in love" and thick headed that she cannot see through these hints that Viola gives.

Concordance Data

1. What thematic strands have you located?

time, young, youth, old

2. Where is the data you retrieved found? What is happening in context when Shakespeare employs this particular theme or image?

The data I have collected is found all throughout the play. Since all four of the words I searched are seen frequently and in many situations, it illustrates how the theme is time in central to the story of Twelfth Night. In most cases, youth appears with the word or theme of beauty. In relation, being old or passing time is seen negatively (or at least is not necessarily favored).

3. How does the data you retrieved support your first thoughts on Shakespeare’s obsessive use of a particular image? What can you argue about Shakespeare’s figuration?

What I have found from this data mirrors my original thought about this theme. I've seen that Shakespeare gives time an important role in Twelfth Night without overshadowing the many other themes that occur in the play. This theme is simple, not being connected to much strong symbolism or alternate meaning.

New Media Project

3/1 Notes

Properties of an Argument:

1. Claim or assertion

2. Reason(s) for such claim

3. Reasons are linguistically explicable and overtly expressed

4. Claim is linguistically explicable

5. Attempt to communicate the claim and reason(s)

Explicit properties entail the following implicit properties of arguments:

6. Some person who uses the claim and its reason(s) -- may be the author (sender)

7. Some person intended recipient -- audience (receiver)

8. It is the intention of the user to bring the recipient to accept the claim on the basis of the reasons offered (motive)

For the group project:

1. The viewer must be able to identify the visual argument's premises and its intended conclusion.

2. The overt messages of visual arguments must be richly evocative.

3. It may be useful to consider the interaction of texts and visuals.

4. Music, humor, and movement may also be advisable.

Sport Royal

Well, I'm sure there are many interpretations of Maria's use of the term "sport royal" to describe her manipulation of Malvolio. In my opinion, it seems she is referring to simply put, a royal sport. Rich people are known for using hunting as a great form of entertainment. If Malvolio is used in Maria's sport, then he is given the image of freedom and free will, yet is still controlled deep down by Maria. She is only playing this game because she knows she will win in the end. Malvolio gets chased just as long as Maria sees fit, then she'll take her final step, the kill in this hunt. Roar!

After Act 1...

Not sure if I was supposed to blog this or not, but it's in my notes so...

After reading Act 1 of Twelfth Night, I can't stop thinking about the way people interpret plays and novels, or actually any story in general. I've sat through so many classes over the years, each one focusing on a discussion of the character's inner most thoughts and motivations. For instance, in this class we'll probably discuss something like "why Olivia is mourning and swearing off men for seven years" and we may discuss her past and her opinions on life. Yet, she has none. She is not real. She is a character made up by a playwright hundreds of years ago. I understand why we do this though, it can be a good thought exercise and whatnot. Yet, I can't help thinking about the absurdity of it all. Maybe it makes more sense to discuss how actions and emotions in the play reflect society of that time period, or Shakespeare (a real person)'s life itself. So I guess what I'm saying is that what I can't get off my mind is the way thinking and discussing plays differs for all individuals.

Reflection on Essay 1

Well, I'm not really sure what to write about. I guess I'm supposed to be looking back on the first essay of WSC2. It definitely was not a hard essay to write since it was mostly opinion and theory based instead of factually centered. Yet, I probably should have put more time into it. I didn't plan or outline anything, which I usually do for my papers, so I'm sure it was a little scattered. Also, I probably should have proofread it a little better. I have a bad habit of not proofreading my writing (for instance, I am definitely not going to proofread this blog post, that's just the way it goes). So, I guess it's not bad if I know what I need to work on for papers. Or is it worse that I know what's wrong but am too lazy to fix it? Not sure, really could be either. All in all, I think that paper was pretty good though. I had some valid points and I feel that I backed them up enough to make a solid argument. Funny story, I was actually telling my friend about writing this paper and we ended up have a thirty minute discussion about gift cards and modern society. It was interesting but a bit annoying since I had just spend an hour or two writing the paper. At least it's a subject that I enjoy and have opinions about, so I had that going for me as well. Well, I'm not too sure what else I need to include in this particular blog post, so I'll just end it now. Paper #1: success (in my opinion).

Inkshedding

Fool: "I did impeticos thy gratillity, for Malvolios nose is no whipstock, my lady has a white hand and the Myrmidons are no bottle-ale houses. (II.iii.27-29)

In this quote, the Fool is asking for his tip for entertaining. Then he continues to poke more fun at various characters by speaking truths. By stating the Malviolio's big nose is unlikely to cause any trouble with suspicions, the Fool is keeping Andrew and Toby at ease. He is also saying that his lady, Olivia, has a white hand (symbolizing status and innocence). All in all he is doing what a fool should do, keeping everyone calm and happy, no matter what the situation.

Twelfth Night - Act 1

1) What significance does the title Twelfth Night have so far in the story, if any?

2) Is Viola's disguise meant to represent something beyond her physical appearance?

3) Why does Olivia choose seven years to be in mourning? Does it have some significance to the way her brother died?

4) Is Toby's drunkenness simply for a humor factor, or is it to reiterate the idea of Olivia being detached from any men in her life?

5) What makes this play so easily adaptable to film and modern culture (i.e. She's the Man)?

6) Is Viola's brother really dead, or did the Captain's questions about him foreshadow his return?

To Take Wildness in Hand Abstract

Claim: Assisted migration may be a more effective alternative way to help plants and animals that are currently living in an unsuitable habitat.


Statement of Claim: "But climate change calls all this into question. If rising temperatures and changing weather patterns make restoration difficult or impossible, new brands of meddling may sometimes be the only alternative to extinction."


Subclaims: Although steps are being taken to relieve the stress on the environment which creates the unfavorable living situations for many plants an animals, it is currently not enough.

Assisted migration, which sounds good to many (yet disastrous to some), does not always use favorable allocation of many of the related resources. It also comes dangerously close to crossing the line of too much human involvement and control in nature.


Support: "Conservationists, in response, have offered more ambitious versions of familiar strategies. Bigger nature reserves. More protected corridors for wildlife migration and movement. More regulations, incentives, and ingenuity in service of greenhouse-gas reductions. But even the most expedient tactics could leave some species—especially those as tightly circumscribed as the Florida torreya—marooned in habitat too hot, dry, wet, or stormy."

"Yet the suggestion of assisted migration, of planting Torreya taxifolia trees outside these Panhandle steepheads, makes Printiss’s face tighten. Such efforts, he says, threaten to take attention and funding away from the work in the preserve, and make an already bad situation even worse."

"But while we’re welcome to restore, redesign is frowned upon; that sort of tinkering crosses an invisible line between humans and capital-N Nature, and risks making things much worse."

"Perhaps the most disturbing implication of assisted migration is that the traditional conservation notion—call it an illusion if you like—of a place to get back to will disappear for good. Yet with or without assisted migration, that pristine place is already slipping out of reach."


Warrant: Michelle Nijhuis assumes that the readers of her article have at least a minimal grasp of several environmental problems our world is currently facing. She also writes to an audience that cares about natural preserves and may be interested in exploring options on how to fix the problems within them.

Virtual Iraq: An Abstract

Claim: Virtual Iraq and other virtual reality programs are a promising therapy for soldiers suffering from PTSD.

Statement of Claim: The idea [of Virtual Iraq] is to disconnect the memory from the reactions to the memory, so that although the memory of the traumatic event remains, the everyday things that can trigger fear and panic, such as trash blowing across the interstate or a car backfiring—what psychologists refer to as cues—are restored to insignificance. The trauma thus becomes a discrete event, not a constant, self-replicating, encompassing condition."

Subclaims: PTSD, which has no known common cure, plagues many soldiers after they have served in combat or generally stressful situations. The symptoms affect them on a day-to-day basis.

A new approach, a virtual reality, looks to be a more promising therapy for soldiers than merely sitting down and talking with a third party.

Support: "He couldn’t sleep. His mind raced. He was edgy, guilt-racked, depressed. He could barely do his job"

“'Most P.T.S.D. therapies that we’ve seen don’t seem to be working, so what’s the harm in dedicating some money to R. & D. that might prove valuable?' Paul Rieckhoff, the executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said last November"

"Like Virtual Vietnam, Virtual Iraq is a tool for doing what’s known as prolonged-exposure therapy, which is sometimes called immersion therapy. It is a kind of cognitive-behavioral therapy, derived from Pavlov’s classic work with dogs."

Warrant: Sue Halpern's article is aimed towards people that have a general knowledge of the wars of the US, and how they have affected the lives of soldiers. The people Halpern is writing to have a general idea of what is going on in Iraq, but they are not experts. They also are familiar with virtual reality programs, probably just by being generally technologically savvy.

State of the Art Flashy vs. High-Tech Trashy

I don't mean to start my blog off on a harsh note, but it has to be done. I've been seeing some other blogs that describe the feeling or shock or awe that they're flooded with upon reading this article. I don't normally generalize, but this is the typical American response. Where did you think all of your old TVs and cell phones were going, to the moon? It really bothers me how so many people can not even begin to consider what they've been doing with their old technology. Did you know that although your "old and outdated" Blackberry phone can no longer make a call via sign language or brew you a cup of coffee, it does not mean that it is no longer useful? A program that accepts phones, broken as they may seem, to turn them into emergency devices for the less fortunate is always available (and usually at an arm's reach, although you may not know it). Think about other people for a change, America. As a society we are known worldwide for our horrible vision; we can't see beyond our own doorstep. Carroll's article is directed towards people with this train of thought, the ones who aren't aware. Well, they are aware of the fast paced technological world we live in, but not the consequences.

"It is next to impossible to gauge how much e-waste is still being smuggled into China, diverted to other parts of Asia, or—increasingly—dumped in West African countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast. At ground level, however, one can pick out single threads from this global toxic tapestry and follow them back to their source."

In Carroll's words, this seems like a tough battle to fight. No matter what kind of regulations are put in place, e-waste will continue to plague third world countries all around the world. It is possible to trace these "threads" as he calls them, but especially due to the fact that most people (even some interviewed in this article) would choose to remain anonymous, it seems we may be scared to speak up. Of course, e-waste wouldn't exist if it didn't benefit someone, and most likely it is a someone you don't want to cross. Big businesses and companies are saving thousands of dollars by being able to simply dump this waste, and usually collect some spare parts. Even smaller parties, like the maintenance man, are taking advantage of this situation to help himself financially. Until there is a force that comes up and takes a real stand against the e-wasters of the world, nothing will change.

I don't claim to be making a real difference myself, this is just my opinion on the subject. I'm also not saying that we should all use our parents' old black and white television sets and rotary dial phones, but we should at least be more conscious of where these products are now.

The Gift Card Economy

Essentially, gift cards are the ultimate safety present. You avoid the risk of a look of disgust you might have caught a glimpse of had you gotten your friend that sweater (not quite her style) at H&M. No one wants to be rejected, and the fact you'll see that same sweater on a homeless woman at Penn Station two days later paints a quick portrait of your friend's opinion on your attempt at a present. Yet, you're also saved the sketchy look that may have been flashed by your friend upon seeing two twenty dollar bills fall out of that corny birthday card thousands of other Target shoppers had purchased the day before as well. "Did you forget?" she'll wonder as she labels you a last minute gifter. Or does she question your friendship? I mean, this is your friend after all, you even say "hi" to her on campus instead of doing the fake text message check (you all know what I'm talking about). Offended at your unoriginal idea, birthday girl begins to question her worth to you. Yet, you at least provide relief to her; she knows exactly what to grace you with on your next birthday. This is where the gift card comes in. Mask your inhibitions in a plastic card that says "Hey, I tried."

Gift cards show that our society is moving towards convenience without completely forgoing personal interaction and attention to emotions and feelings. They're our excuse for a mental roadblock, ill preparation, mismanaging time, or prioritization (obviously not favoring the giftee). Gift cards are for those who care, but are unsure and don't have time to figure it out. The gift card givers of America don't have the time or energy to stand pondering at Roosevelt Field for two hours, and they sure as hell aren't enthused about the idea of wrapping this gift themselves (all that tape and paper, scissors and a bow? You could be getting a latte in that amount of time!). This generation takes the easy way out, using a compromise to reach the same goal as a real gifter, with the convenience of a cash-giver.

Actually, I Prefer Abstract Painting

Claim: Technology, the internet and Google specifically, are changing out mindset on how to obtain information. It also affects how our society responds to long, traditional readings and books as oppose to skimming, skipping, or choosing generally short works.

Statement of Claim: “What the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation.”

Subclaims: Googling is taking the place of actual researching.

Our society is becoming lazier in regards to our steps of gathering and processing information.

Old media is morphing to fit the mold of the new media.

Our "intellectual technologies" take away a sensory feeling.

We are losing the ability to interpret deep readings.

Support: The mechanical clock example -- we're putting more importance on "mathematically measurable sequences" of technology rather than using our own natural reasoning.

Nietzsche's use of the typewriter -- the use of this new instrument caused his "already terse prose [to] become even tighter." With the help of this new technology alone, Nietzsche's form of expression took on a great change.

The British Library's logs -- it is a proven pattern that although these internet readers had saved a few long articles to come back to later, most of their time spent was on browsing. Logs showed that people spent less time on article than usual, suggesting that skimming is at use. People also tended to favor reading shorter articles, and forgetting the long ones they had even saved.

Warrant: Carr is speaking towards an audience of internet users that are familiar with Google and/or other similar search engines. He assumes that his readers are frequent internet users and are somewhat dependent on it on a day-to-day basis.

"Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

In my opinion, Google is not making us stupid. In fact, Google is not making us anything. After all, in the end it is our choice how we use tools such as Google or other search engines. In a world where everything can be outsourced except time, each minute is of crucial importance. If saving time by "googling" any of life's questions can allow you to spend more time working, sleeping, or just living in general, there doesn't seem to be a reason for seeking any alternative. Although I do believe that Carr has a point with his article, I don't necessarily think that the age of Google is an age of any less intelligence than our fathers, and fathers before them.

The word "intelligence" is even loosely defined. Just because as a group we are reading less articles and long books doesn't necessarily make us less intelligence. Dictionary.com defines intelligence as "capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc," and mentions nothing about the ability to sit and engulf yourself in a novel for hours on end. Since in 2010 we, especially noting us Americans, are used to living in a more fast paced and self-satisfying world. By having so much information available to us, we can more easily compare the options in front of us that can be followed for any certain goal. This constant availability teaches us to not waste time; it teaches us to choose the path that will be most beneficial to us. In this sense, I think the use of Google would actually show how intelligent we really are. We learn the options, reason to find the best one for us, understand how to use it to reach our goal (which may be anything from finding a meaning or fact that would once have needed to be researched to help us grasp a truth of life).

Not only does Google serve as a tool for success in several aspects of life, but it also makes so much more information in very easy access. For instance, if I wanted to learn about one of my interests, let's say the history of cats, I could gain a plethora of information in an instant. Just by Googling "Siamese cats" I can instantly connect myself to their origin, the fact I'm interested in. So in just a few seconds I can learn that Siamese cats were first domesticated around 1884 in Asia. If I had to go to the library to research this, it may have taken hours. By checking out several books on Siamese cats and reading them, I sure would have learned a lot more about them, that is true. Yet, how much of that knowledge really stays with me? I would learn about their coats, diet, and personality, and history of course, what I was interested in to begin with. At first it may seem like this style of learning would leave me with more knowledge, I would be forced to learn much more than I expected by searching for the answer to my original inquiry, though I can't say that I would retain it. Let's face it, if we don't care about something, it will not stay in our brain for very long. Google only helps eliminate the time spent reading things you aren't interested in that you will forget in only a few minutes. It may seem sad, but that is how our brain works.

So those were twenty minutes worth of my thoughts and ramblings about Google. Just because it saves time and is a new idea does not make it any worse for us to use. We are not becoming less intelligent, just more efficient. The unintelligent thing would be for us leave it unused, resting at our fingertips.