Do you enjoy using blogs in your class?
No, I do not.
Do you use blogs for any of your other classes? If so, which ones? Are they set up the same as Mr. Hughes' blog?
No.
What do you like most about Mr. Hughes' blog? What do you like the least?
Is the blog easy to use? Was it easy to use from the beginning or did you have problems?
I like that I can look at other people's responses and I don't like that I have to go on the internet all the time and the blog is very easy to use.
Do you wish other classes would use blogs for their assignments?
No, I do not.
Do you have internet access at home in order to participate in the blog?
Yes.
Do you usually write on the blog at home or at school?
I write on the blog at home.
Do you feel you learn better by using the blog or by doing handwritten assignments?
I feel I learn more from doing handwritten assignments.
Do you have your own blog on Myspace, Facebook, etc..? If so, where is your blog?
No, I don't like blogging so I only do it when I have to.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Dead Poets Society
I would give this movie a 9/10. It's not a ten because i didn't like the romance sub story. Other than that, the movie was really good and made me think about how much i conform in my own life. My favorite part of the movie was when robert williams has the one kid come in front of the class who didnt write a poem and makes him come up with one off the top of his head by looking at the poster of a guy. I would wastch this movie again and then probably.. again.
I think you should show this to your future AP classes because it's very interesting and maybe they will be able to relate and have an epiphany. Additionaly, students might realize that poetry isint that bad and its kinad cool.
I think you should show this to your future AP classes because it's very interesting and maybe they will be able to relate and have an epiphany. Additionaly, students might realize that poetry isint that bad and its kinad cool.
Monday, November 26, 2007
"Sky Blue Sky"
Sky Blue Sky is a good CD but I think Wilco should consider renaming their band to something more catchy. I like some of their songs but I would prefer to read their lyrics than hear them. The lyrics are catchy and have a lot of metaphors and similies that make you think and ponder more than just one interpertation which makes me wonder why their name couldn't be just as clever. On the other hand they are very mellow and soft which makes this music very easy to fall asleep to or enjoy when you're in a happy, peaceful, and dreamy mood. Although, I find that each song is about the writers desperation to let go but then 5 seconds later he's talking about holding on. His message and thought is kind of confusing because he is always contradicting his self. But then again, I couldn't find a person who doesn't do that everyday. These guys also sound a lot like The Get Up Kids in a few songs.
Wilco would be a lot better if they switched up the song beats a little more and maybe even used the whammy bar. SYKE! This kind of music can only be listened to in moderation in hopes of not getting a migrane because every song sounds the same and is about the same idea. It's very relatable though and the only songs on here that I would want to listen to more than once in one setting would be 'walken' and 'sky blue sky' because i enjoy the message of the song. He believes that if only the sky was blue he would be happier, although, he knows it won't solve the problems he might have but it might give him a little bit of hope. All in all.. it's an OK band and CD.
Wilco would be a lot better if they switched up the song beats a little more and maybe even used the whammy bar. SYKE! This kind of music can only be listened to in moderation in hopes of not getting a migrane because every song sounds the same and is about the same idea. It's very relatable though and the only songs on here that I would want to listen to more than once in one setting would be 'walken' and 'sky blue sky' because i enjoy the message of the song. He believes that if only the sky was blue he would be happier, although, he knows it won't solve the problems he might have but it might give him a little bit of hope. All in all.. it's an OK band and CD.
"A Hunger Artist"
He sat in his steel cage lined in straw everyday to be spectated by the village people. He, was called the hunger artist, day in and out he would fast while people watched him as if he were the modern day television. People would gain pleasure from observing him and would go to the extent of watching him all hours of the night to make sure he wasn't to eat. The only thing to enter his mouth was a sip of water even though spectators would try to persuade this artist to eat. Although, eating was the last thought in his mind for he could only concentrate on the ticking of the clock in his enclosure. The artist would tell stories of his journeys and sing songs to prove to his listeners that he wasn't eating or sneaking food, but they ignorantly believed that he was singing and eating simultaniously.
After fourty days slowly pass the artist is brought to a ring where people gather and pay to watch the artist eat. He is spoonfed as the crowd cheers and the ladies cry to add to the intensity of his performance. No one understands why he choses to eat when he can go longer, but once he's finished eating the trend fades and everyone forgets about the passion of the hunger artist. He waits again to fast and this time hopes to do so even longer to help promote his art. Although, this causes the decline of his popularity and leads to his death. He is buried by the circus workers and is replaced by a prowling panther- the new entertainment of the town.
After fourty days slowly pass the artist is brought to a ring where people gather and pay to watch the artist eat. He is spoonfed as the crowd cheers and the ladies cry to add to the intensity of his performance. No one understands why he choses to eat when he can go longer, but once he's finished eating the trend fades and everyone forgets about the passion of the hunger artist. He waits again to fast and this time hopes to do so even longer to help promote his art. Although, this causes the decline of his popularity and leads to his death. He is buried by the circus workers and is replaced by a prowling panther- the new entertainment of the town.
Bowl of Oranges
"Bowl Of Oranges" by Bright Eyes
The rain, it started tapping on the window near my bed. There was a loophole in my dreaming,so I got out of it. And to my surprise my eyes were wide and already open.Just my nightstand and my dresser where those nightmares had just been.So I dressed myself and left then, out into the gray streets.But everything seemed different and completely new to me.The sky, the trees, houses, buildings, even my own body.And each person I encountered, I couldn't wait to meet.I came upon a doctor who appeared in quite poor health.I said "{I am terribly sorry but} there is nothing I can do for you{that} you can't do for yourself."He said "Oh yes you can. Just hold my hand. I think that would help."So I sat with him a while and then I asked him how he felt.He said, "I think I'm cured. No, in fact, I'm sure.Thank you Stranger, for your therapeutic smile."So that is how I learned the lesson that everyone is alone.And your eyes must do some raining if you are ever going to grow.But when crying don't help and you can't compose yourself.It is best to compose a poem, an honest verse of longing or simple song of hope.That is why I'm singing...Baby don't worry cause now I got your back. And every time you feel like crying,I'm gonna try and make you laugh. And if I can't, if it just hurts too bad,then we will wait for it to pass and I will keep you companythrough those days so long and black.And we'll keep working on the problem we know we'll never solve Of Love's uneven remainders, our lives are fractions of a whole.But if the world could remain within a frame like a painting on a wall.Then I think we would see the beauty.Then we would stand staring in awe at our still lives posed like a bowl of oranges,like a story told by the fault lines and the soil.
The rain, it started tapping on the window near my bed. There was a loophole in my dreaming,so I got out of it. And to my surprise my eyes were wide and already open.Just my nightstand and my dresser where those nightmares had just been.So I dressed myself and left then, out into the gray streets.But everything seemed different and completely new to me.The sky, the trees, houses, buildings, even my own body.And each person I encountered, I couldn't wait to meet.I came upon a doctor who appeared in quite poor health.I said "{I am terribly sorry but} there is nothing I can do for you{that} you can't do for yourself."He said "Oh yes you can. Just hold my hand. I think that would help."So I sat with him a while and then I asked him how he felt.He said, "I think I'm cured. No, in fact, I'm sure.Thank you Stranger, for your therapeutic smile."So that is how I learned the lesson that everyone is alone.And your eyes must do some raining if you are ever going to grow.But when crying don't help and you can't compose yourself.It is best to compose a poem, an honest verse of longing or simple song of hope.That is why I'm singing...Baby don't worry cause now I got your back. And every time you feel like crying,I'm gonna try and make you laugh. And if I can't, if it just hurts too bad,then we will wait for it to pass and I will keep you companythrough those days so long and black.And we'll keep working on the problem we know we'll never solve Of Love's uneven remainders, our lives are fractions of a whole.But if the world could remain within a frame like a painting on a wall.Then I think we would see the beauty.Then we would stand staring in awe at our still lives posed like a bowl of oranges,like a story told by the fault lines and the soil.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Harrison Bergeron
In Harrison Bergeron Kurt Vonnegut makes a society where excellence and acceleration are suppressed and places a physical handicap on everyone to attempt to make an equal society. Harrison Bergeron is the protagonist of the story and has handicaps because he is strong, intelligent, and handsom. He, like his father, wish that there weren't any such thing as handicaps but, unlike his father, Harrison acts upon his feelings. He breaks into a TV station and takes off his handicaps and has a ballerina join him and they dance until they are shot by Diana. Diana see's Harrison as a threat and wants to show people with such ideas what will happen if anyone else tries to pull a move. Vonnegut is satirizing our modern society because we are always trying to avoid racism, sexism, ageism, etc. because everyone wants to become equal to have a sense that they have just as many rights as the person next to them.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Why the future doesn't need us.
1. What kind of dangers does technology have on our future?
2. Do you think our world will be better 50 years from now or do you think it was better back when there wasn't as much technology?
3. What purpose will humans serve if we have robots performing all of our jobs?
4. If humans fuse with robot sand become immortal what will happen to our population?
5. If humans know the possible consquences of developing such robotics why do we still continue to advance?
6. What will all of this technology do to our environment?
7. What purpose would humans serve if robots are doing everything for us?
2. Do you think our world will be better 50 years from now or do you think it was better back when there wasn't as much technology?
3. What purpose will humans serve if we have robots performing all of our jobs?
4. If humans fuse with robot sand become immortal what will happen to our population?
5. If humans know the possible consquences of developing such robotics why do we still continue to advance?
6. What will all of this technology do to our environment?
7. What purpose would humans serve if robots are doing everything for us?
The Ones Who Walk Away
I really enjoyed this piece. In the beggining of the story I knew there was going to be a catch to this utopian society. The entire happiness of this society is dependant on one child that's made their scapegoat. Most people either accept this truth and live knowing what's actually going on, or make the smart choice of leaving the town and never coming back. Although, the ones who leave are just as guilty as the ones who stay and this is because the one's who leave are allowing such a situation to happen instead of attempting to save this child so everyone can learn some moral values. This story makes me question how much of my happiness is dependant on other people and if I could truely be happy if I was entirely independant and could walk away from it.
The Ones Who Walk Away is connected to 1984 in the sense that both of their happiness is fake. In The Ones Who Walk Away the society's 'happiness' is dependant on one child and it devastates and disturbes many people. No one really speaks of this child and truth either, it's something that's in the back of everyone's mind. In 1984 everyone's 'happiness' is dependant on the government and what they can make from it. Also, no one in 1984 can really speak of what's going on as well.
Some literary devices used are; plot twist, symbolism, and tone. Obviously plot twist is used because the narrator is describing this perfect society with no flaws and you know that something has to be wrong with it and that something bad is going to have to happen. The child is used as symbolism because he sybolizes the society's happiness. Tone is used because you can tell that the narrator doesn't believe in this society and says things like " Do you believe? Do you accept the festival, the city, the joy? No? " because he/she knows that such a society would never exist.
5 Questions:
1. How much of your happiness is dependant on other people?
2. Would you walk away from this society or would you stay?
3. How would you end the story?
4. Why does the narrator think that we believe happiness is stupid?
5. Why do people choose to walk away from Omelas?
The Ones Who Walk Away is connected to 1984 in the sense that both of their happiness is fake. In The Ones Who Walk Away the society's 'happiness' is dependant on one child and it devastates and disturbes many people. No one really speaks of this child and truth either, it's something that's in the back of everyone's mind. In 1984 everyone's 'happiness' is dependant on the government and what they can make from it. Also, no one in 1984 can really speak of what's going on as well.
Some literary devices used are; plot twist, symbolism, and tone. Obviously plot twist is used because the narrator is describing this perfect society with no flaws and you know that something has to be wrong with it and that something bad is going to have to happen. The child is used as symbolism because he sybolizes the society's happiness. Tone is used because you can tell that the narrator doesn't believe in this society and says things like " Do you believe? Do you accept the festival, the city, the joy? No? " because he/she knows that such a society would never exist.
5 Questions:
1. How much of your happiness is dependant on other people?
2. Would you walk away from this society or would you stay?
3. How would you end the story?
4. Why does the narrator think that we believe happiness is stupid?
5. Why do people choose to walk away from Omelas?
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Goal
Top 3 Colleges:
1. Wayne State
2. Detroit Mercy
3. Michigan State
GPA Goal:
Since I messed up my GPA last year I would like to raise it back up to somewhere around a 3.0.
A.P. English Goal:
4-5
Person:
Hopefully you, Mr. Hughes.
1. Wayne State
2. Detroit Mercy
3. Michigan State
GPA Goal:
Since I messed up my GPA last year I would like to raise it back up to somewhere around a 3.0.
A.P. English Goal:
4-5
Person:
Hopefully you, Mr. Hughes.
"Robot Dreams"
What similarities does this piece have with 1984? Differences? What might George Orwell say to Isaac Asimov if there were to have dinner together? On what issues would they agree? Disagree? Why?
1984 and Robot Dreams both posses many of the same ideas and concepts while the actual story and plot differ. In 1984 Winston and his government are controlled by a leading party that dictates what they do and controls every aspect of their life. It even goes as far as certain thoughts are considered a crime. Robot Dreams compares to this because Elvex is being controlled by the government and also has to live by certain rules as Winston has to. Elvex's thoughts are controlled as well for he is not allowed to dream or have human like thoughts which eventually gets him terminated.
If Orwell and Asimov were to have dinner together I believe that they would agree that our world is changing rapidly and the government is slowly taking more and more control over the citizens. Also, they would question our technology. I read an article today about how our scientists are being funded to make computers that can actually read our thoughts and emotions by the oxygen level in our brain. They believe this will help employers decide if their employees are working to their fullest capability. This demonstrates that our government is taking over slowly and I think both writers would agree that if this doesn't stop we will lose what little control we have left.
1984 and Robot Dreams both posses many of the same ideas and concepts while the actual story and plot differ. In 1984 Winston and his government are controlled by a leading party that dictates what they do and controls every aspect of their life. It even goes as far as certain thoughts are considered a crime. Robot Dreams compares to this because Elvex is being controlled by the government and also has to live by certain rules as Winston has to. Elvex's thoughts are controlled as well for he is not allowed to dream or have human like thoughts which eventually gets him terminated.
If Orwell and Asimov were to have dinner together I believe that they would agree that our world is changing rapidly and the government is slowly taking more and more control over the citizens. Also, they would question our technology. I read an article today about how our scientists are being funded to make computers that can actually read our thoughts and emotions by the oxygen level in our brain. They believe this will help employers decide if their employees are working to their fullest capability. This demonstrates that our government is taking over slowly and I think both writers would agree that if this doesn't stop we will lose what little control we have left.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Watts Reading Response
Alan Watts thesis is what should a young man or women know in order to be "in the know"? (pg. 3 par.1) What Alan Watts is trying to say is that now a days there aren't really that many taboos because everything has been exposed and made into old news. For instance when he speaks of sex (pg. 3, par 2) he states that in the past adults made it much harder to speak about because of emabarassment and now a days teenagers sometimes know more about it than adults and this shows how ideas change over time. I believe it means to be "in the know" when you know the secret to life and happiness, it's just no one has fully found that answer yet. On the other hand I also believe that that people who have become close to that answer try and tell the world and other people but no one is really 'listening'.
Alan Watts' view on religion is that religion is one's own private business, (pg 4 par 2) and debating about your religion vs. someone else's is ignorance because who is to say who's is right. Also when you read the bible now a days it's much harder to understand because in our current society we have our own thoughts as to whats right rather than relying on a Bible or Holy Book for answers. Our world has evolved so much from the times of when people would strictly follow a Book that now when we attempt to learn about it people will just tell us to act holy and god like and we will be saved.
Alan's proplem with the concept of 'conquering nature' is that instead of becoming one and living together with our nature and the things in it we are trying to conquer it. We as humans will hopefully find out that by destroying nature we are in fact destryoing what our life depends on but humans are too concered with gaining power. (pg.8&9 par.3)
Watts describes the 'new experience' (pg 11) as a new feeling of what it means to be 'I'. What he means when he says that we don't need a new religion or new bible is that humans don't need to follow the same thought we just need something new to happen to us to feel like we are an individual. Or at least that's what I got from the reading.
He believes the purpose of myths are to make sense of life by saying what it is like rather than what it actually is. (pg.12 par.2) Also he thinks you should not confuse myth with fact because you will be living a misleading life and ignoring what is actually happening or going on. Myths are just ways to simplify life and make it more understandable.
Watts says that to find our own identity you should let life take it's course (pg.21 par.2) and take what you can get from life and learn by experience.
Alan Watts' view on religion is that religion is one's own private business, (pg 4 par 2) and debating about your religion vs. someone else's is ignorance because who is to say who's is right. Also when you read the bible now a days it's much harder to understand because in our current society we have our own thoughts as to whats right rather than relying on a Bible or Holy Book for answers. Our world has evolved so much from the times of when people would strictly follow a Book that now when we attempt to learn about it people will just tell us to act holy and god like and we will be saved.
Alan's proplem with the concept of 'conquering nature' is that instead of becoming one and living together with our nature and the things in it we are trying to conquer it. We as humans will hopefully find out that by destroying nature we are in fact destryoing what our life depends on but humans are too concered with gaining power. (pg.8&9 par.3)
Watts describes the 'new experience' (pg 11) as a new feeling of what it means to be 'I'. What he means when he says that we don't need a new religion or new bible is that humans don't need to follow the same thought we just need something new to happen to us to feel like we are an individual. Or at least that's what I got from the reading.
He believes the purpose of myths are to make sense of life by saying what it is like rather than what it actually is. (pg.12 par.2) Also he thinks you should not confuse myth with fact because you will be living a misleading life and ignoring what is actually happening or going on. Myths are just ways to simplify life and make it more understandable.
Watts says that to find our own identity you should let life take it's course (pg.21 par.2) and take what you can get from life and learn by experience.
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