ENG 001: Language & Writing

A Delicious Musical Life

2008-05-06T09:09:00.026-05:00

ROGER MILLER: KING OF THE ROAD

It may be a real cheesy back ground in the music clip but that is the point of the video. When you have no worries and are "King of the Road" your world is what ever you imagine it. It seems that this video was a dream and that he no longer ahs no worries. He has no clue where his life is going when he sings lyric, "Third box car midnight train... destination banger made." As for my life I had no idea at all through high school and until recently did not know what I was going to do with my life. I know I could have chosen Hakunah Matata like many would but I like this song relates more to the everyday folks. Like for instance when it refers to "Trailers for sale or rent and rooms for 59 cent." It is the average Joe's dreams to have no worries with the everyday problems that they have. When I was younger I did not dream of fantasy world I dreamed of my world just a whole lot easier and how perfect it would be. I dreamed of real thing and real situations instead of pixies.

JIMMY BUFFET: Hey Good Lookin'

Summertime is upon us and it means tailgates, fishing, and bbq's. This song is for all for having way to much fun. I have waited a long time for the summer and can't wait to get out there. As of today "Summer Time has officially started". Why not go and find yourself a "Good lookin'" girl "and cook something up with me". It summertime and I plan on giong and having a lot of fun. It talks about a new summertime love that would be just perfect for me. There is just work during the day and finding a good lookin' girl at night and cookin something up with me. Its the finding that inocent girl at the community bbq and than going on walks and talking about the world. Its than going and fishing with her and by night going out on a boat under the stars. Than by the end of the summer you may just happen to get a little kiss. Nothing can't get much better than that.

CHRIS CRAGLE: CHICKS DIG IT

The video starts off with a kid with mom's red drapes and dad's belt. He jumps of the roof of his shed and only to impress the girl. Although he got a broken arm he did get a kiss. He later goes on to do even more things to impress girls than ran over the farmers’ mail box for driving to fast after hitting a ditch. It goes on to show a skateboarding, a race track, dirt bike stunts, derby car smashing each other. Like this kid pain was only for little bit, and well the chicks dig it. Well when I was younger lad I use to do the craziest things to first be crazy and of course for the ladies. Well although I have grown in years I have only grown in more dangerous stuff, and because the chicks dig it. I now ride bulls during the summer, and get chased on the roof by a girl to only jump off and over spectators on the ground. The only difference now is I can feel it taking more of a toll on my body. I have now got a couple concussions from bull riding and getting bucked off. Also for not getting out of the arena after bucking off and then bull usually finds his rider. All of the crazy stuff I did as a kid and as the superman caped kid in the video was due in part to chicks digging it.

JOHN DENVER: ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

This is my state and the greatest song to contribute to it. It shows all the scenes from my gorgeous beautiful home. It talks about my how he was born in his 27th year, referring to the fact that he comparatively was not living until he lay and breathed the Colorado sights. He left everything he knew behind him and headed to the "Rocky Mountain High" and he totally became so peaceful with himself that it was unbelievable. I have on the other hand have left Colorado to the flat state of Nebraska, but tomorrow I will take the same trip back to Colorado and leave everything behind that I have grown to know and live for the last year. I too now will bale to live like John Denver was when he turned 27. I will be able to take in those sights and live so heavenly. Like he refers to in the song I will be able to see “it rainin’ fire in the sky” and the “quiet solitude the forest and the streams” have to provide the most at peace experience one could imagine.

Dierks Bentley: Every Mile A Memory

When I first watched this video is made me think of the two major moves I had throughout my childhood. In the video you see a guy driving his car on the interstate and reliving his memories. This Clip as he goes is similiar in the aspect that I drove roughly a couple hundred miles away from home and with every one of those miles I found a new and lasting memory in Nebraska. "Country Roads... Little Hicktown squares..." is the new and sights that I see now here in Nebraska and for the most part it is got a home feel to it. Even more so it is the girldfriend that I left behind as did the gentlemen in this song "No matter where I run, around every bend I only see just how far I havent come..." I could not escape the love that she put forth to me. In essence every mile I drove I had a memory but with every mile further away it became that much harder and was the cause for us to drift apart. The gentlemen could escape the memory of her through miles, as well as I could not.

Clay Walker: Then What

"Then What?" Is about a guy who finds other women very tempting. All he thinks about is leaving his mate now for the good looking one on the next boat. Well as this song continues it says that looking at them is not a crime and that he should take a step back and think. Well with a girl-friend over the past couple years and now at college there are sure a lot of other girls on the next boat over. I always stepped back and thought of the consequences. That is until recently I jumped over to that next boat and the boat after that one too. I know I cant turn back for what I have burned and really don’t care if new wears off and the old shines through, and it isn’t really love and it ain't really lust. I now am free to take what ever lead at the moment. I know that not to many people back home going to trust me with their hearts and "will be willing to kick me in the butt, but then what?" Well I just keep finding other fences and life goes on. For now it is not a matter of Then What?, but rather a Now What?

Rodney Atkins: If You're going through Hell

Life throws all sorts of unexpected things at you both good and bad but it wasn’t until high school that I realized that you get through anything if you just keep at it. The song “If You’re Going Through Hell,” by Rodney Atkins sums this lesson up in a few lyrics. The song says, “If you’re going through hell keep on going…you might get out before the devil even knows you’re there.” All throughout my life I was the type of person who would let little things bother me and when things weren’t going just like I had planned I felt disappointed and let down. The thing was that if I ever did get in a bad or tough predicament I would be able to sing these couple lyrics and be able to perceiver. Especially now in the hard times I face may not getting the Peer Assistant job based on my grades. So If I keep on going through hell I might get out before the devil knows I am there.

John Michael Montgomery: Life's a Dance

The video shows the mountains off the bat and that gives it more of a home feeling since I live next to the mountains. He sings about how he fell fast for a blue eyed girl in his homeroom class as so many of us do. "Trying to muster up the courage to ask her out like he points out" is next to impossible. He never did actually end up ask her out before she moved away. Like the song says "sink or swim you have to give life a whirl". It portrays the give and take between a male and female in that sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow. My Life has been a dance and I have sank many of time like not showing up to class and missing out on a huge opportunity in life. Well I have fallen not for a blue eyed girl but one with deep brown eyes. I still have yet to gain the courage to ask her out first she is that amazing and she has a boyfriend. Not only do I have to give a dance a whirl but I also have to out dance her partner now. Sink or swim I am going to give it a whirl.

Ice Ice that Video

2008-04-27T18:45:00.002-05:00

Ice Ice Baby is a one hit wonder. The beat is catchy and the only part the majority of people remember is "Ice Ice Baby." This music video looks like a white-man version of the Fresh Prince introduction to the hit series, with Will Smith. With a version of Eminem style of rapping in it. Vanilla Ice reminds of my high school, where would rap on the the bus to games. There is this one guy who looked angry or need to take a "deuce" when he rapped. Same here with Vanilla Ice. Besides the lame dance moves that little kids could come with on their own and to hid the dance moves they darkened the room so you could barely tell how lame they really are. Through and through after hearing this songs and its catchy little verse, watching the music video was a let down. So I think that this music video needs to go just as much as Vanilla Ice's hair. Well there is not much more to say about the video just an over bad job on it. Well no need to make anything with Vanilla Ice if he is only good for one good song. So I see what the producers were thinking. Tell him to produce his own music video so it is no cost to the company and if the song goes some where they would air it.

I CROSS MY HEART

2008-04-23T16:21:00.004-05:00

I really don't have a favorite song of the new stuff out. I personally like the good ole stuff. Like music from Waylon (Jennings), Johnny (Cash), Bocephus (Hank Williams Jr.), Clay (Walker), and George Straight. First ever portable music device I had was a Walkman and the first tape that I had was Pure Country by George Straight. I would listen to that for every hour that I was not eating at the dinner table. I would eventually have to start to buy my own batteries because I used to listen to it while I was sleeping. It been long time since I have had a Walkman, but I still have that tape, but it does not play anymore it. The metal piece that pushes the tape to the surface to be read no longer is in place. I have not gotten in on CD, not sure what I am waiting for really. This song when played brings me back down from my ambitious ways. I play this song to put a sense of calmness in the air. The melody is slow as are the words, it is very easy to follow. Now this song is my all time favorite and it comes from my all time favorite movie, which can been seen on CMT usually four times a month or so. This clip is from Pure Country the movie that tells about Dusty's life who George plays. This is when he finally gets back to his roots and the reason he loves country music. This movie follows similar themes as my life has and this song as you can see in this clip has a special place in my heart. I would tell anyone to go out and get it. Girls play it at your weddings, guys it will help you with your dating/brownie points. And for Ware it to late. Enjoy!

Only 8 Second Ride

2008-04-20T15:35:00.004-05:00

(This is a different ride)

After a grueling day of work it was finally Thursday and I went down to fountain to pay my money and ride a couple bulls no big deal. Went down with Jason Sharp whom I work with and rides bulls on the Enterprise Tour every weekend. Waiting around for my turn and I use Jason's hockey mask. He has seven plates in his head from not wearing one earlier in his career. I put the rosin on the bull rope before hand. Finally it was my go, and I walked and got up one the shoot. I was already pumping with adrenaline and was ready to ride. I got on Hurricane and slide up to the front, and centered my rope just off the center of the bull into my left hand. I was taking my time and the bull pinned my leg against the side of the shoot. The owner, Bob shocked him with a low voltage current and Hurricane slide over. I tied a suicide knot because I wanted to ride for eight. Head down, and one last calm breath before I gave the nod. Gate open and Hurricane jumped out to the right and cranked back to the left and went to town. I was told before hand that is normally what he does out of the gate, so I was ready for him. I was feeling it than about at the five second mark I let my riding hand open for a quick second and all I could do was hold out for three seconds which is a long time. At the eight second mark I simultaneous let go and the bull went forward and on his way back up I was bucked off. But on his way back down again I hit the backside of him and the guys told me I did a back flip and landed on my shoulders and neck. With my adrenaline going I could not feel it at all. I got up and I looked for the bull (which they yell at me for) and hoped up on the side of the arena.

Free Write (Reading Theory)

2008-04-17T17:38:00.001-05:00

Today in Reading Theory class we learned that there is no real magical age when someone learns to read. Like that a particular day or week when you know that you first learned to ride a bike, or the first day you walked or talked. Reading is not something that you can learn over night but rather takes practice and time. Also when students are said to be unable to read at particular level they are sent to special classes that build the basic skills needed to read. When actually the one skill need to become a better reading is to read, and read normally. We talked about how some of the practices are useless. Like breaking down sentences word by word, and letter by letter in order to make sense of the sentence. All that really needs to be done has students read and just read alone. If they make a mistake don’t stop them to correct but rather have them keep going to the end, and then ask what they had questions on. Through practice of reading their reading will improve.

I found this to be like a morning breath of Colorado air, refreshing. I went through school arguing the same fact that Smith talks about. I argued that stopping each time a student had made a mistake was tiresome and pointless. We should just read to read and we will learn as we go and if we have pressing issues that need to be solved than we can ask the teacher. They did not agree and as it was I had to sit in the classroom becoming less and less fond of reading. I think this book makes a good agreement about the basic skills and how to build those up in students who are struggling.

Cartoon turns to Harsh Reality

2008-04-13T21:38:00.006-05:00

The bombing, murder, and rape of people in Darfur have been around since 2003, and is a struggle between non-Arab rebel groups, and the Khartoum government and the Arab militias. It is estimated that 200,000 people have lost their lives and that almost 2.5 million people have left the Sudanese region. The cartoon shown a little later down the page is a jest at President Bush's lack of action on the topic of the genocide in Darfur. Also shown in the clip he still is not focusing on the problem or the tombstone but still reading possibilities of things he can do. This cartoon is a jest at the insignificant actions President Bush has taken in Darfur. I think that it is dehumanized humor that needs to bring a harsh and much humanized appeal to this very real problem in Sudan.

The cartoon uses a much dehumanized approach to this topic and it does not fully bring in the full aspect of the problem as this clip I have just shown you. This clip is to further bring in the Pathos and a humanization to the cartoon that represents the grave and the tombstone to a more realistic and visual manner. I want to concentrate on the pictures at the moment without sounds at this point. It begins with "Darfur the Tragedy", and than flashes faces and dead animals across the screen to project to you the anguish and pain that the every living thing is experiencing right now. This gives a humanized background of what this particular genocide is over to those who are unaware of the reasons of which hundred of thousands are dying. Than to emphasis the events the flash across the screen one word like "Rape.", "Starvation.", "Genocide.", to make an even more of a grab at your emotions. The authors employ using younger children and the horrifying pictures of what they have to go through on a day-to-day basis. Using children connects not just to a few but to everyone in this text because we either have a child, are a child, have siblings that are children, and last we all have been one. Of the child images shown the one that draws even more Pathos that the others is the image of the child laying with its head into the ground and the vulture sitting behind him watching and waiting as he dies. They allow this image to stay in front of you longer than the others to allow that emotion to bring a passion to do something to prevent what you have foreshadowed. We have the children at the beginning of their lives in pain and than the clip goes on to show young adults being destroyed by war. The author goes on to show the dead and the brutality in which these young adults were left. The victims have gunshot wounds to both the body and the head, and pools of blood surrounding them. Than the mass amount of body bags and than skeletons that were once living follows. The music played in this clip that is of a somber tone and it equally reflects the rhetorical appeal of pathos. This clip through the visual and audio ends effectively brings the tombstone and mass grave from the cartoon to a harsh reality. This is all to bring in to a perspective that the dehumanization the cartoon and focus of my rhetoric as established.

The cartoon and the clip have strong rhetoric lenses. The cartoon depicts the international issue of the genocide in Darfur of Sudan. In the rhetorical sense the comparison-contrast strategy has been effectively established in his cartoon. Analogy as well as cause and effect have also been implemented in this cartoon. This problem is colossal as you can tell by the size of the tombstone and tomb of which the 200,000 victims lay at peace. That is in comparison of President Bush's small efforts and sanctions that our President has put into effect. It was not until the 2007 that President Bush took political actions and placed sanctions on Sudan. President Bush still has not taken the time fully look at the tombstone and is distracted by his is policies on the matter. It is his way of making it a much dehumanized problem that does not affect him enough for him to take a sizable action.

The author of this cartoon uses analogy in an effective and obvious manner for the reader. As stated before the tombstone and grave is used to represent the pain and suffering with the end result of death. The size of the tombstone is representing the huge problem that this genocide has evolved into. The mass grave not only represents the 200,000 people who died, but to remind us the last time a mass grave and killing of certain people took place in the midst of WWII. The President is the size of an ant in representation of the minimal efforts on the part of himself and the United States Government.

Cause and effect portrayed by the text is being established. Due to the "200,000 Sudan Darfur Victims" President Bush responds with "okay, time I do something about this problem." In essence the author is saying that in order for President Bush and the United States to get involved into internationally problems there has to be a clear and distinct need for help as in the case of the 200,000 deaths.

From a rhetorical appeals stand point it the presence of Pathos that is most dominant. It is our memories of past genocides like that of the Holocaust, and most recently Rwanda that present images in our own minds of what has and is taking place now in Darfur and Sudan. It is the faces with no hope, and eyes of pain that fill the mass graves like this cartoon tries to portray for us. It not only helps us remember the little hope that goes with genocide but the lack of government and nations a like that standby and watch. As the United States is represented by President Bush finally feeling compelled to take action in Sudan.

This photo was drawn from the Youtube clip previously shown. It is to illustrate that after the cartoon a humanized effect needs to be established in order for readers not to be able to disconnect from the issue as so many have done so before. As the clips only appear for mere seconds, it is necessary to examine the still images in a still form. Like this one to the left it shows a child around the age of 10 that has been mercilessly shot in the head. This illustrates the point of the clip bringing in pathos into work. The room in which the child is laying has been destroyed and nothing seems to be left in tact. The other reason for this selection is the date in the lower right of the photo. This showing us that this occurred over three years ago, and it is only recently that President Bush has started political action against Sudan. These further shows the reality of the cartoon and how it has been is too little to late for too many.

This next photo was also shown later in the clip. You can see the men walking about with their AK-47's, and a skeleton still in the position in which it had been murdered. This shows the inhumane way in which people are being murdered, which bring in pathos in a clear and cut manner. Not only is it showing that of a dead person who was killed long before this image, but that of the group in which killed him. This picture brings out the sympathy for the victim and anger for those standing over him.

This cartoon turned from a little jest at President Bush and the United States Government in the lack in efforts in preventing and watching the genocide in Sudan. To a harsh reality that as the tombstone illustrated is enormous problem that at the time of the cartoon 200,000 are dead. Since then the total has risen to 400,000 murdered. This cartoon effectively uses rhetorical strategies of compare and contrast, analogy, and cause and effect. The cartoon implements pathos as a rhetorical appeal and the clip to follow backs that up even more. The clip uses the text as narration to establish its rhetorical strategy. From the rhetorical lens this cartoon was strong in this aspect, and was the Youtube clip.

2008 Election Critic for the World

2008-03-30T18:21:00.004-05:00

I have just completed a trip to New York where I visited with the United Nations and privately with the UN Ambassador from Angola and his associates. What they told me was that the United States is the for-front in politics and policies and it is crucial not just to United States in this election but to the rest of the world also. The next election in 2008 is even catching the eye of the world. I have chosen Barack Obama and his campaign, and the particular issue concerning Darfur in Sudan. In his statement he starts with what the opposite party and Bush Administration has done in the efforts for Darfur. "Barack Obama has been a leading voice in urging the Bush Administration to take stronger steps and efforts to end genocide in Sudan." Here it shows that it does not specifically state where the United States is on their stance, nor does it show what steps or lack of steps have been taken already. It was a vague, but powerful statement.

As I read this issue finding the rhetorical strategies used I found different ones each time I read through. First it was description of details that was prominent at first. It gives a brief and unorganized description of the history Obama has with this issue. Than in another brief statements gave a brief description, in half of a sentence, of what could be done to further progress peace in Darfur. "...including by imposing much tougher sanctions that target Sudan's oil revenue, implementing and helping to enforce a no-fly zone, and engaging in more intense, effective diplomacy to develop a political roadmap to peace." Examples or illustrations I felt goes hand and hand with the description part. It gave an example of and the "Darfur Peace and Accountability Act" that Obama and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) worked on together. Than again on the African Union peacekeeping mission that he and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) secured $20 million for. Also with his travels to Chad-Sudan border himself. At the end of his statement he sets up what must be done in order to progress the peace, by using the cause and effect strategy. Like in the previous quote he gives what needs to be done in order to achieve the ultimate goal of peace in Sudan.

On the rhetorical appeals end of the statement it was really a mixture of both Pathos and Ethos. With Pathos being “the pathetic appeal,” and appealing to the emotions which it does rather well with using words that connect to the emotional state of humans. As for example the use of genocide, refugee camps, humanitarian disaster, peacekeeping mission, sanctions, engaging, killings, robust enforcement. With these words playing with both the appeal of the humanitarian appeal that most humans long to help those in need, and by using these words it gets that passion to rise up. It was the same rhetorical appeal that the Bush Administration used to get support for the war in the initial stages. This just shows that in this statement that Ethos is also used. The statement gives the ethical appeal that obviously genocide is not ethical. It uses both Pathos to stir the emotions, but it is the ethical words that they use to make us feel compelled to help the current situation. This issue not very definitive on the aspects surrounding it does a real nice job giving the reader just enough to have something to contemplate over.

Zaireeka Reflection

2008-03-09T21:59:00.003-05:00

From that day in class when we listened to a wide range of songs, it has been a topic of discussion for a good week or so. I seem unable to forget the song about the girl going to India over and over again. This relating to the song about a girl’s bleeding vagina and how she feels disconnected to the world due to were womanly attributes. I remember walking by and hearing people say you have got to listen to what we just heard in English. From the high-pitched along side with low-pitch frequencies that cautions for an infants, pregnant, and people who are driving not to listen to, and to the song that sounds as if you just walked into a dog pound, it has stamped the class with an official unique mark. This class has been far from the normal of my English classes in high school. From going to online for a majority of classes as the world goes online more, which I find a plus, and to the unique topics we seem to come across like Zaireeka. Not only did I find myself sitting in that class trying to figure each song out and what it was trying to say especially even more so when my ghetto blaster seemed to get ahead of itself by a good 20 seconds, but what this class is trying to give us. Like one of the songs in which we listened to on that day, It is a weaving of different material that does not make sense by itself but rather when all together you can find some sense of it all. That arrangement of songs and class I doubt will leave the memories of many us as well as me.

Observation Essay

2008-03-02T18:32:00.008-06:00

I am attending the well anticipated LEAD retreat through Nebraska Wesleyan University. I count about 30 or so of that have been elected and paid that will be the first to go. I just needed a weekend away from Campus because I can not go home until this summer. First I am not at all worried, because I have been on numerous trips of this kind before. Although a little skeptical from our pre-trip meeting. I was not sure if the LEAD retreat would be more along the lines of how the previous people down played it to be or the potential I thought it can be.
Sounds of chatter in little groups and the lot of us are waiting in the coffee house down below the cafeteria. There are bags thrown in any floor space that one could find. I found many people deep in conversation with each other. While one person was in charge of getting people checked in and accounted for. The group is awaiting the bus to take us to Camp Carol Joy Holling. I grab my black army bag and pillow and throw it underneath the bus, climb on and grab an empty seat in the middle on the driver’s side. Still people are climbing, but I seem to notice great deal of higher pitched screechy voices climbing. From what I can tell only about 10 guys going on the trip compared to the 30 or so girls. I gladly put one ear bud of my Ipod on so I can drown out half the noise the girls of excitement are yelling back and forth. The sun is beating down upon my back from the window and the bus is dreadfully warm so I slid the window down. Ouch that smarts, I just received a hit in the back of the head by a branch from outside the bus because the stupid bus driver does not know how to maneuver a bus let alone should have attempted to drive through a round-a-bout with his caliber of skills. Well the girls are getting too much to handle, so I am electing to throw my other ear bud in to get rid of there annoying voices. The bus is getting seriously stuffier and I tend not do so well sitting in a stuffy enclosed space. So the motion sickness in my stomach and throat start to become more prominent. I have to place my head on the cool window and just bid my time.
So as it starts out my experience was not starting all that well. I already feel like I just want to return to the comfort of my room. Better yet back to my home back in Colorado where the crisp clean air can replace the stuffy air in my lungs. I can only hope that the remainder of my trip does not turn out as the some previous attendees were adamantly concluded a waste of time. If anything has gotten me this fair it would be optimism, and so I can only hope for there to be opportunities for this once in a life time event to conclude in an appealing fashion. I have seen some friendly faces among the crowd and if the trip is a disaster I at least I get to spend quality time with these select individuals. Here is a toast to optimism, lets see if it can hold its own.
The bus just turned off the main road and clamor arose that we are getting closer. There is a steady sound of people swapping stories about the previous times they have been there. While I still have my head buried against the back of an old brown fake leather seat and the chilled window. The afternoon sun allows the camp to be still visible. From what I can see from the bus window, while traveling down the dirt road, three main buildings two to the left of the road and one with white and green trim, five-star, hotel suit looking structure to the right. The two on the right are both brown and one recently built and another looks like the original building that has been weathered by time and Mother Nature. All which are multi-level buildings. Anyway we had arrived at the camp and the driver had left us in a huge mud pile so my shoes had a new mud bath. I throw my bag and pillow on a bed downstairs in the far back left room. It was a rather small room and the black bunk-beds with metal frames similar to campus lofts, and they seemed to be rather excessively noisy. I found that too many people were eager to lead at this retreat and not enough followers. In this aspect tensions arose rather quickly. We had done one in particular activity, and it was the only one I had not done before. The directions were not to speak and this was emphasized. In doing so the air could have been cut with a knife as the activity went on. I found out that I was one of few who admitted to the categories of having a single parent, also not leaking a secret in which people confidently told me not to, and I was the only one who openly admitted to ever cheating on a past girlfriend. It was the last in one particular that I found the most intense. I heard rumbling and few people stirred from the question, but I was the only to walk over the large room, and feel the cool tiling of the floor through my socks. I felt the looks of amazement and respect oddly enough, but it was the glares that caused my body temperature to spike and the reason I did not look at any of them in the group rather stared at the orator to allow me to take the cool walk back into the group whom I allowed to see a piece of myself not known to many. I was not a fan of tonight’s activities to say the least. It could have been that I have done many of these before in my life-time and that these were just repeats, or the one new one that totally isolated and made me come to far out of my comfort zone than I originally anticipated.
I was willing to be monotone for the remainder of the night. I did not know what to expect out of this retreat and I soon found out that night, and try to recover and not draw attention or conversation towards myself. We have done numerous activities. Since then the excitement about whom is coming on the trip and what we are doing have died down to emotionally drained corpses walking about in socks and pajamas. There seems to be a division now among some people. That coming from the people who like to talk far too much and those who are counting how many times a girl says like in her response. I can tell it is about eight times, and that is each time she opens her mouth. This is about three times after every question posing to the group. I have become fonder of the retreat in part to how much I have put into it and not holding back. I grow wearier as time passes in the time capsule of the retreat. Time presses on and so will I.
I am sitting next to a fire place that is now a blazing intensely surrounded by three couches and a little random green and dark purple rug, my guess to protect the hard tile floor from ambers, and in a giant conference family room, and which is as stuffy as the bus had been but the open space helps aid my insides. The room remains at a nice warm temperature comparatively to the very cool night lurking outside the walls. Some people are finishing up watching the Rosa Parks story that we previously started. While the others elect to play games at two of the five round tables that is surrounded by yellow chairs.
They are playing Apples to Apples which seems popular, but I don’t see any of the amusement as the others do. While at the other table they are setting up Cranium. A game I would much rather play. The tension has lifted while they are able to relax and return into the protection of their comfort zones, and as does mine. I here in a few moments will embark on a trip over to the Mother-Daughter Retreat or the all Women’s Retreat. For two reasons to explore the outdoors, and second because I need to create a space so I can effectively collect myself for the next round of leadership activities. The place smells a little also because people are asked to take off their shoes in due part to being truly muddy and snowy outside.
That walk I had over to the all women’s retreat was not what I expected. I had expected it to be an icy chill walk, but rather a painless cold nipped and brushed our faces. First the guy I walked with wanted to walk past the entrance and call it good I was more ambitious and curious. We walked n and found no one in the lobby area. There were stairs on the right that led up to the second floor, and a mini-bar with a sitting area to the left. We came across a large room with very inviting furniture and a huge big-screen television, and two ladies talking with each other. I startled them and they thought I was there to rob them but I assured them I was from Nebraska Wesleyan, and on a LEAD retreat and they were not going to get mugged tonight. We talked with the one lady from Georgia, who sat on the right and had a tan dress shirt similar to one that my grandma would wear to church and black slacks. The other lady on the left was from Nebraska. She was a little older and was in a sweat-shirt and black sweat-pants. They were both in their forties and came for a women’s Christian retreat. The lady from Georgia had asked about our names and our ages we told them. She had asked us about the dating age we had. I first thought lady sorry but she will be retired before I am out of school. She was asking about her daughter who was about 15 and about older guys trying to date her. She explained how grown men look at her in public and how she thinks they are perverts. By this time we had given into the inviting chairs that sat across form them. We told her only one or two exemptions could be made to date that far apart at our age, but said that it was not respectable for a guy or the girl beyond doubt. We had later gone on to discuss about other sorts of topics like sororities and fraternities. We decided to start back but were hoping they would mention the food down stairs we were welcomed to in the beginning of the conversation. I think the offered us food so we would not take their money. They instead went back to talking as if we had not interrupted their conversation. The wind was in our faces this time and proved to make our face just a little numb while it also pierced my grey sweat-pants causing my upper legs to become cold also.
The retreat down-right wore me out physically, emotionally, and intellectually. I would not have traded the experience for anything. The activities proved challenging at times, but so glad they challenged me to look at things in a new light. I have grown new perspectives on things while have scratched a few out also. Each activity went farther and farther out of our comfort levels. By doing so others and I grew more weary and taxed by each activity. The activities could have been easily overcome if separated by time, but it was the non-stop intensity for hours on end that tore you down and built you backup only to be brought right back out of your comfort zone moments later. With this I welcomed my dorm room and the securities it provided. With being so weary I took to the futon for the night to re-charge. I can not help but to say that my leadership skills are more polished as are relationships with friends became stronger. It was all due in part to my experience at the 2008 LEAD retreat at Camp Carol Joy Holling.

Picture and a little Dream

2008-02-21T14:29:00.002-06:00

This finely crafted machine is Eric Clapton's. This has a fiberglass body and was used in his first lie concert way back in the day. The tuning pegs on top were used to melt the lady's clothes off. Since that day he has made a tons of concert tours. The guitar was stolen from his home and sold to the underground black market. It has not surfaced at all and a bounty was placed on the head of the thief who stole the guitar. They tracked him to somewhere outside of Panama. Once he is taken under custody he is to be punished by the intense of a badly tuned guitars for a solid month. than to be shot on a Texas firing line. Well the reason they want this guitar back so much is that there is gold hidden underneath the fiber glass, but it is stolen gold. So our thief stole the guitar and has implanted stolen gold from the former King Arthur. I’m sure if King Arthur was around he would want to make a thief to suffer for his wrong doings. Breaking News just crossed the tele and they got the thief on the run. He has attempted to swim the Panama Canal now. I would think that to be useless considering we got a helicopter, tracking him by air and we got water patrol tailing him. Wait what was that. Gun shots coming from an unknown location. Our thief if is now head down in the water surrounded in blood. Apparently someone did not want him to talk. I can’t believe it all those things happen in that short of time. Oh jeeze I just woke up from dozing off doing homework I guess. How crazy would that have been if it was really real.

2008-02-20T21:47:00.003-06:00

My first choice is George Straight's 50 Greatest Hits. I grew up on these songs and now that they all were put on CD, and yeah I found a International trading company who did not have room on there ship for me but could trade my boom-box to one with a solar CD compatible one. My second choice is Clay Walker's Rumor Has It. this collection of music has never failed me in life and with the ladies. Something about these songs make them melt and I find the speak the truth. They also have a really nice melody. My third choice is Garth Brooks The Hits. I highly doubt that I will get tired of this collection of music. Most importantly it has the one song that when I am feeling blue still makes me blue and want to drown my sorrows in rum. That would be Friends In Low Places. My fourth choice is Brooks and Dunn Greatest Hits and this in due to part to My Maria and Boot Scootin' Boogie, oh and you cant forget Rock My World (Little Country Girl). My fifth choice is Jonny Cash and Walk the Line. I had to save the best for last. Not only will I be able to replay the movie in my head but his sounds and lyrics speak about real life hard times, whether he actually experienced them or not. This will also give me time to think about what the lyrics really mean in Ring of Fire. Either way It is a grand collection and if I don’t have to work or have means of needing an education, and if I have a supply of food I think I will be fine. I may get bored with out someone else there and maybe once get paranoid but I can always use a good vacation.

2008-02-17T21:17:00.002-06:00

On the every Sunday night I finish my homework and I turn on the tele to watch UFC octagon fights. If you have never seen it, it is two mixed martial artists beating each other for a certain amount of rounds, but they usually never go to decision of the judges. Usually one guy gets knocked out or the referee has to stop the fight before one guy gets fatally hurt. It is two guys who beat each other until one cant stand. Tonight anyway there were two friends who train with each other were put in the octagon. they promised a show and that is what they put on. Well they stood up for the entire fight and they exchanged punches back and forth for the majority of the night. After a good series of exchanges they would high-five each other. This I believe is lost in many of sports. A fake hatred amounts in the opposition when you look across into their eyes. I think it speaks volumes when two guys who have to beat each other until one gives can recognize that even though for fifteen minutes they are fighting, that they can still buy one another a beer afterwards. It went on and one guy gave a blow to the rib section crippling the victim. Well he went in for the kill but the victim landed a huge right hook on the chin and knocked out his opponent and friend. After the victim of the blow to the ribs landed his winning hook he dropped to the canvas in sheer agony. Friends who trained together, crippled each other, and will have a beer with each other. This shows that you don’t have to find a fake hatred toward your opponent to be able compete in style.

2008-02-13T14:08:00.003-06:00

JUST A LITTLE HUSKER LOVEN

Zach Beedle's Memorial Stadium, is the selection of my topic. He goes on to explain about his experience to the well anticipated USC s. Nebraska game last season. He explains about the atmosphere that surrounded the stadium, and the stadium following. Well I have only been to two games two games in Memorial Stadium and one cheering for Nebraska. I went to the game on my birthday, when they played KState. It was a well played game for Nebraska they scored on almost every drive. I give them props for that. I am from Colorado and I am a die hard CU Buffalo fan. I have been to numerous CU s. Nebraska games both the extremely exciting ones like when we scored 62 points on Nebraska's overrated defense, to ones that we held our one until the end of the game and lost it in the fourth. Through the history though I believe that the CU and Nebraska game has to be one of the greatest college football rivalries. I believe this because of how loyal Nebraska fans are. I think the rivalry would still be like any other if Nebraska did not have those die hard nut job fans. In Colorado many of us do admit you guys bleed Husker Red more than we bleed CU gold. I think that is enough compliments towards Nebraska. On a side note with the #1 mascot in college Colorado is going to beat Nebraska again like it did this year. While Cody Hawkins is at CU, Nebraska does not have a chance even with the new coach Bo . Although getting Bo as a new coach is the right move, CU made the same move two years ago. It will take a few years for Bo to build up the Nebraska team again. I do believe though in the near future you will be seeing both CU and Nebraska in the Top 20 in polls.

2008-02-10T15:11:00.001-06:00

THIS WORKS ON YOUTUBE I GOT THE EMBEDDED CODE IT JUST DOES NOT WORK ON THE BLOG.

NAME ON YOUTUBE IS....Fat Albert - "Readin', Writin' and Rudy" Pt. 1

HEY HEY HEY! Fat Albert and the gang encounter a new teacher. The significance is that I plan on becoming a new teacher I hope that I myself wont have to deal with someone like Rudy. Like Russell stated, "New teachers are for the birds." Well that does not sound to encouraging. Well it continues and well Rudy likes to be a stubborn one and lighten the mood of his buddies. I myself was like Rudy back in the elementary days, I had my far share of talks with the teachers. Mrs. Johnson though gave Rudy a second chance. I myself hope to be as understanding as see is when I become a new teacher. The day finally comes to an end and well Russell decides to enlighten Mrs. Johnson about how the guys feel about her. If I was told that on my first day I think it could take a huge chunk out of my optimizes. Well it only gets worse, the Cosby Kids are calling for war. They want to show Mrs. Johnson who is boss. Well that is the case in ever classroom I only hope like Mrs. Johnson to be able to get a peace treaty signed and sealed before I give up the country (classroom). Well Rudy eventually loses and decides to stop going to school. As a teacher at that level you want to be able to connect with all the children. Well I would find it difficult if kids dropped out of school on my account. Well if it was not for good ole Fat Albert and him being able to smooth some things out. Mrs. Johnson would have never been able to get through her first week let alone her first year. As a future teacher, with a past like Rudy’s in school. I think I might be keen on how I can command my classroom with ease, but a first day and week like Mrs. Johnson had could prove difficult.

2008-02-07T13:32:00.000-06:00

I also think that how a good writer becomes one is through reading, because without reading a variety of material they wouln't develop key techniques that other good writers that came before used and practiced.

It Matt’s post he ended it with the quote above that reading an essential part to writing. I would not known how words could interact with other words if I did not start reading with Brown Bear Brown Bear. See it was the rhythm in these books that allowed me use an imagination in writing. I personally would sit in class and just write to write. Nothing Shakespeare like or anything it was just little words and sentences that flowed with each other. It does not matter what book you are reading in fact a billboard can strike a writing style. I would advise using solely things such as advertisement but rather well written noels. Like ones that have been a New York's Best Seller. If you read your writing will improve, if you read well written books you writing will be well written. So not only should read but incorporate higher level text so that you can stretch the thought process of writing skills. If you were to look though it not reading, nor reading well written pieces but using the imagination like that of ancient Greeks and European novelists. Imagination is where the story takes place. First you need a place of origin in order to be able put something on a piece of paper. I encourage you to fantasy about unreal things, but even more fantasize about real things. From there that is where you work can be unique from the person next to you writing on the same exact subject. In order to write well you should exercise in reading, and in your imagination. From there you should always exercise writing. Writing I believe is more of a well practice craft, rather than art. And such a craft should not be wasted or allowed to rot away, should be rehearsed.

Quotation from Atwan02

2008-01-31T14:15:00.000-06:00

"An essay is a thing of the imagination. If there is information in an essay, it is by-the-by, and if there is an opinion in it, you need not trust it for the long run. A genuine essay has no educational, opolemical, or sociopolitical use; it is the movement of a free mind at play. Though it is written in prose, it is closer in kind to poetry than to any other form. Like a poem, a genuine essay is made out of language and character and mood and temperature and pluck and chance." -Cynthia Ozick

Through and through Cynthia Ozick has a definition of an essay that serves my style of writing. I have been one to right things that I know about, and whether they can be educational or not it that should not be what is in question. As Cynthia stated that there it is a free mind at play, and I believe for a genuine essay to be produced or one that has strong voice it does not need any forms of constraints. Rather it should be like a Journal able to right about when and what you want. This maximizes a writers’ thought process behind a piece and it allows for the writer to voice the points that they want in the truest form. Realistically this is the modern world and we are constantly being put in situations that we are given requirements when writing a piece. So I find it a huge purgative for an essay to be effective, the writer has to write the paper first as a journal. Than from there take all of those ideas and form them into categories, which can sere as topics of paragraphs. She later refers to the state an essay is similar to a poem. An essay such as this allows the imagination to create you own style, your own mood, and your own language. In own language what I mean by that is like English, Gaelic, and Swedish, they all have there own uniqueness to them in which no other language is identical. There maybe some that are similar but each one has its own style. As should an essayist be able to do. An essay should be the free flowing of the imagination through a pen, pencil, keyboard. Be viewed only for the ideas that the essay presents not for its educational value but rather the questions it subjects us to ask. It should be not be subject to criteria in order for optimal voice, character, mood, and language to be present in the piece.

TEST POST

2008-01-24T14:27:00.000-06:00

HERE IS A LINK TO OUR COURSE'S MAIN PAGE.