Reading Response #11

Chapter 2 of Steering the Craft was very inspirational for me. The author's is opposed to people who are over critical of other people's speech, and I feel the same. While I feel I do a manageable job at speaking and writing clearly, I know I do not always follow the rules. I understand the importance of appearing intelligent in scholarly endeavors, but I don't think someone's ideas should be discounted because they are presented in a less-than-clear manner. Sometimes I over-edit papers because I am anxious there may be some minor errors that my examiner will notice and moan over. Hopefully there is some truth in my favorite quote from the chapter, "people who don't worry at least a little about semicolons aren't likely to be writer" (34). I worry about them, constantly.

Reading Response #10

Richard Brautigan's "1/3, 1/3, 1/3" was a fun story to read beginning our section on prose. It is a provocative story that really explores several topics that we have discussed so far in our other required reading. I enjoyed the twist of the story turning into one of irony. From the way the story began, I thought the typist may have been scammed or something to that effect. This unique approach is something I would like to incorporate in my own work.

The author also did an excellent job in painting vivid descriptions of the characters. My favorite aspect was the use of local dialect to describe the "book" in the story. This use really helps create humor by contrasting it with how serious the "book" is alluded to in the story. Hopefully I can learn to mimic and eventually make-my-own these devices in prose writing.

Junkyard- Week 8

"Oh sister am I not a brother to you

And one deserving of affection ?

And is our purpose not the same on this earth

To love and follow His direction ?" - excerpt from Bob Dylan's "Oh Sister" 

We had this song in one of my seminars and I thought it was pretty cool. The rest are just some excerpts from the Bible. Been pretty busy this week and haven't done any reading that isn't class related other that the big book. These are just some that help keep me motivated for school and living.

Have I not commanded thee?  Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. - Joshua 1:9

The kingdom of God is within you. - Luke 17:21
                                                           

There is no fear in love; for perfect love casteth out fear. - John 4:18
                                                                                   

Happy is the man who finds wisdom and understanding for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and profit better than gold. - Proverbs 3:13-14

Classmate Response #7 Yeeva Cheng's Week 7 Random Impulse

Your piece on the boarding school was a great read Yeeva, I really enjoyed it! You have an engaging story that really made me curious to find out where it was going. Some items I might work on would be formatting and possibly contracting down some nonessential parts that seem to slow the piece down. I liked the rhythm you established with the alternating of short and long lines, but there are a few places where it seemed that there could have been more purpose for it. What I mean is some of your lines end with weak words that don’t really aid in the pace or visuals. Ending on stronger words will help engage the reader even more I believe.  I also wonder what effect breaking your piece into stanzas would have. Could doing that aid in the story process? You have a great piece to work with and hope this will help with possible revisions!

Random Impulse- Linclon Park Poem

A rough revision from class the other week. I haven't felt like writing much lately, hopefully I will get out of my funk soon.

Rapunzel retrieved her hair,

But it was too late,

This man was a track and field superstar.

Scaling the vertical challenge with candor and ease,

Porthole unbolt with jewel thief precision.

A banshee, he was upon Rapunzel without little sound.

Her eventual shriek stifled by chloroform dreams from handkerchief-ed hands.

(Baby wails)

Panic-the castle erupts in light, the guard bell roars. Rapunzel’s brother busts through-too late.

No console for the prince. Gold exchanged, ransom paid, dark prevails.

Junkyard- Week 7

Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself. Such is the first principle of existentialism. -Jean-Paul Sartre

I had to do a genogram of my family for a class this past week and this is how I felt about the overall utility of a genogram.

For the rest, I have been enjoying my spring break watching old seasons of "The Simpsons". Homer is a genius. Rich with satire and irony, "The Simpsons" are great to watch when one is down and even better when you're up. The following quotes are all from Homer. Just a few of the plethora of gems from him. Hope everyone has a great spring break!

Dear Lord, The gods have been good to me. For the first time in my life, everything is absolutely perfect just the way it is. So here's the deal: You freeze everything the way it is, and I won't ask for anything more. If that is ok, please give me absolutely no sign. Ok, deal.

Marge, don't discourage the boy! Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals! Except the weasel.
I think Smithers picked me because of my motivational skills. Everyone says they have to work a lot harder when I'm around.

I'm in no condition to drive...wait! I shouldn't listen to myself, I'm drunk!

Beer: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.

Random Impulse- Nonsense

"Federal researchers declare eastern cougar extinct" -AP news release today. 

I'm sorry, but the implications of this title prohibited me from not posting this. 'Cougar' is just a far too misused word now. I want to make a poem or short story about the sad decline of 'eastern cougars' in our society now-a-days. I mean, where is my 'eastern cougar'? They seem nothing but myth to me. Bring the 'eastern cougars' back! Let's reintroduce them into their native habitat and let them dominate and reproduce at their pleasure, isn't that their purpose?According to the article, they seem to be doing well in the west, and are slowly making their return to the east. Why is the east always behind the times of the accepting west? This beautiful species isn't one to be shocked or dismayed at. We should celebrate their keen predator-like and survivalist nature.

 Ok, enough of my obnoxious post. I do want to make some work off of this topic later though, the topic is just too rich with innuendo and irony giving our current times.

But seriously, where's my cougar?