Conformity.

One place that I felt that I have to conform to something or someone is at home with my mom. She's very opinionated and she will tell me what she wants and such. She would try to argue with whoever until she is able to prove that she is the one right, although she's not the right one all of the time. Coming from an asian culture, some pressures that I feel is that as a student, I have to put all of my focus into school and education. I have to try to do my best in school because that is my "job" and "duty".


I don't rebel against my mom about school and education because I do agree with her and think that I should focus on school but I do not put ALL of my time into school work.

Dead Poet's Society and Thoreau.

Mr. Keatting reminded me of Thoreau because he stood up for what he believed in and wasn't afraid to voice his own opinions. He held poetry dear to his heart and loved the meaning of each poem. Mr. Keatting was just so passionate about what he does and so was Thoreau. Both were very strong independent people who had a special way of thinking.

Female Writers and Female Characters.

In the portrayal of male and female characters, does it matter if the writer is a man or a woman? Give specific examples from the books we have read this semester. [The Bean Trees and Ethan Frome are the only ones written by women: Barbara Kingsolver and Edith Wharton]


I do believe that it does matter if the writer is a man or a woman. For example, with the book, The Bean Trees, Barbara Kingsolver had all of her main characters as female. She gave them strong personalities and showed the strengths and weaknesses of a woman. She also showed how females can be really loving and caring because the main character ends up taking care of a child that isn't hers.

Hey Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone!

What kind of education do you think is best? Can you get the best type of education in a public school?

I think the best education that a person can get is an education that they have earned or have paid for because it shows an effort that the person actually does want an education. I think you can get a good type of education at a public school if you are dedicated to your education. It really just varies among the people and what they think about education. I think some people don't take full advantage of a free education at a public school.

Civil Disobedience

What is civil disobedience? Have you ever done it? Can it change society?


Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government or of an occupying power without resorting to physical violence. (according to wikipedia) I have done it before at my old high school with a school policy of wearing student id's around the neck every day at school. It can change society gradually and surely, it can change society permanently.

Thoreau And Emerson.

Thoreau.

• a lifelong abolitionist.
• a 19th century philosopher.
• best known for his book, Walden.
• born in Concord, Massachusetts.
• studied at Harvard University.
• had three siblings, two older and one younger.
• died at age 44.
• an American author.
• known for his essay, Civil Disobedience.
• opened a grammar school with his older brother.

Emerson.

-Born in 1803 and died in 1882.
-One of the central characters in the transcendental movement.
-Resigned as a clergyman in 1832 to travel to Europe.
-Lectured in America about philosophy.
-Took over as editor of The Dial in 1842.
-Emerson loved Whitman's poetry.
-His book Nature, expressed how he thought that the imagination of man is shaped by nature.
-The book sparked a philosophical movement.
-He also wrote many essays that made him famous.
-Also wrote many poems that made him famous.

Fahrenheit 451 Podcast.

Think about the work your group did on the podcast.

1. What did you learn about using Garageband?
I was able to learn how to experiment more with the instruments and to create my own music and beats.

2. What did you learn about Fahrenheit 451?
I learned how a different sort of government can really change a country's lifestyle and the way that the people act and live.

3. What did you learn about working with others?
I learned that with working with others, I shouldn't procrastinate and that as a group, we should start working on the project earlier so we'll have more time to edit it and such.

Think about the groups that presented on Thursday and Friday.

1. What's one thing that you really admired in a podcast?
One thing was the humor that they put into the interview and the story.

2. How could the podcasts be improved the next time we do this assignment?
Next time, we should be able to make longer podcasts with a variety of topics that we can talk about.

Reflection.

What do you think of the class so far? What have you learned this semester? What would you like to learn more about? How can we use technology more in the classroom? How do you feel you're doing in the class? What can I do to help you more? What can you do to improve?

So far with this class, I've enjoyed the books that we have read. They're quite mind opening to read. I think that with technology, we should learn how to use all of the programs that are on the laptops, such as experimenting more with garageband and maybe photoshop as well. I think I'm just doing alright in this class but I know I can do a whole lot better. I really need to get on top of doing and finishing my work, especially on time.

Interview With Bradbury

Read the first section of the interview with Ray Bradbury. Based on his answers to the questions, what kind of a person do you think Bradbury was?

I think that Ray Bradbury seemed to be the type that doesn't really talk much. He tends to keep more to himself and would express his feelings and his thoughts through writing, rather through talking. He also seem to be a very opinionated person and isn't scared to take a stand for what he believes in.

:]

Fahrenheit 451.

Can you think of a movie adaptation that was better than the book? Is the movie version of Fahrenheit 451 better than the book? Give specific examples to support your opinion.

One movie adaptation that I thought was a bit better than the book was the movie, Tuck Everlasting. I found the movie to have a lot more emotions and it just caught my interest a whole lot more then the actual book.
I think that the movie version of Fahrenheit 451 is a lot better then the book just because to me, it is less confusing. For example, in the book, when they first described the burning of the books, I wasn't so sure on what they were doing. In the movie, I was able to see that they were searching through a house for books and were taking them away to be burnt.

Blank Paper

I sit here wondering what to do while staring at a blank paper.
Starting to brain storm things, trying to plan my maneuver.//
Quickly scribbling down my thoughts, my pencil is my power.
Writer's block must be my kryptonite like cooks without flour.//
Empty space is now taking its stage claiming the entire page.
All of this failure is encasing my mind with frustration and rage.//
Now my mind is fully engaged with thoughts and new images.
So many new ways to express my ideals, I'm like the old sages.//
Actually better yet I'm more like a stylist creating a new trend.
Setting an example unlike any other I'm a realist that knows no end.//
This paper is filled with possibilities I can draw, fold, write, or whatever.
Turning a sheet left blank into art, masterpiece, or origami right here.//
Still a single paper, endless opportunity, is still left bare and I fear this.
I think its time to dress and clothe this naked page with my lyrics.//
Fill it with all of my insights and truths, i think this looks better.
To tell you the truth, I guess you can call me a laser printer.//
Because in goes the paper blank and empty, and out comes your answers.
Funny how i started with writer's block, but now I'm cramping in my fingers.//
Come to think of it a sheet of paper is like all of the Earth's inhabitants.
Simple and indecisive when born but dies as a wonderful present.//

An Old Poem From DAAAYS Back.

let's just say, i'm sick of people not using their minds.
a deep, intellectual person is so damn hard to find.
most people don't realize the dumb ignorant crap that comes out of their mouth.
all i can say is "dude, you're heading down a horrible route."
use your mind, a beautiful gift that God gave to you.
don't be ignorant, don't be stubborn or careless too.
i'm sick of people not using their minds.
i swear, all these spoiled kids do nowadays is whine.
i'm so sad to see how this society has become.
wasted minds, people just be incredibly dumb.
i mean seriously, is it so hard to think?
in this life, you either swim or sink.
without your mind, you'll go completely nowhere.
and you'll probably whine and complain saying its not fair.
well i'm not one of those kids, who wastes their intelligence.
i don't live in the past nor the future, i live in the present.
whining over stupid little crap is not how i roll.
being a little spoiled brat won't help me reach my goal.

Utopia or Dystopia?

Do you believe the future will be better or worse than the present? How do movies and books usually portray the future? What will the future be like?

I believe that at the rate and the way that people are living now, the future will be worse then the present. I think that the planet will become very over-populated and way too polluted. Movies and books tend to portray the future with amazing technology such as flying cars and what it seems like an easy lifestyle for everyone. I'm not quite sure on what I think the future will be like but I do think that it's going to be a lot more complicated.

The Road To Greatness.

"Francis Bacon wrote, "All rising to great place is by a winding staire." What do you think he meant by this? You might think of the different paths we take in life. You might also consider what are the important things in your life. When you are old and gray, what will you remember about your life? "


When Francis Bacon wrote that quote, I believed that what he had in mind was that life is not an easy straight ride. Life will have its ups and downs, its turns and its obstacles. Honestly, when I'm old and gray, the hardships and the tragedies are the memories that I'll probably remember vividly. I'll remember those more clearly then other memories because those hardships and tragedies impact your life dramatically.

Forget Columbus Day.

Growing up having teachers forced feed me little stories with happy endings. I sat there and swallowed words that were typed neatly in hardcover history books, with pictures filling up the page. I'd regurgitate lies without question,"No, Little Girl. Don't ask. Absorb. What we say, goes." Chronicles revised, events being covered up - rise annually. I've been confused, fact with fiction. Mix heroes with nobodies. Naive, yes I was. I was taught to believe that he made the greatest discovery, one of the biggest discovery in history. Genocide sugar coated by images of pilgrims and Native Americans laughing over turkey. Having the time of their lives, so it seems. But, dried poultry couldn't absorb the blood of those who died by diseases they couldn't fight, by the ones who just didn't survive. Teary-eyed girls cried for violated thighs, for violated natural human rights. Indigenous women birthed sons whose color wasn't like their own, not fitting in with the norm. Victimized and destroyed. And we celebrate this life? We forget our roots for a three-day weekend? Names of schools, elementary schools lesson plans. Not today. I will not condone his villainous ways. I will not let those lies get in my way. I'll always remember the sweat of those slaves. Fuck 1492. This Nazi turned hero gets no glory in my eyes. Never.