Thanksgiving Break Son!!!

Well, my favorite holiday is unfortunately over, but it was a good as always. I have a great day with my family and friends. I went to my grandparents house for dinner and watch football all day and night. Even though my grandma said she was not going to cook, she still did anyway. I thought that her dogs were going to devour my stuffing on my plate, but surprisingly they waited peacefully until i offered them some. Then that's when they got pretty crazy. I also went over to one of my friend's houses that night after all my family festivities were over, and I had a blast there as well. With all of these wonderful people surrounding me, I cannot wait for next year's thanksgiving! I had a lot of fun on my break, and now it is time to get ready for all these exams that I have to take. I am not to enthralled by which classes I have to take exams in but hopefully I will make a good grade on my exams. So, bring it on exams. Let's dance....

In Class Essay

The essay we had to write in class was a little different than all the other essays I have written before. We had to write an essay on how well we participated in class and on a scale of one to ten; we had to grade ourselves on how well we actively participated in class. I feel like my participation in class is very well and I try to answer questions frequently and as often as possible. I love the way we discuss our subjects and topics in class, because I love how we are so comfortable around each other enough to be so open with each other. I enjoy the way we respond in class and the discussion in class is fun. The class is pretty active in participation, except for a couple of people in the class that cannot stop talking which tends to get super annoying. Other than them, class is pretty fun!

Writing Process actually did work!

So, in class, we went over our process on how we write our papers and surprisingly, this actually helped me out a lot! I did not think that doing such a process would be useful to writing my papers. I, of course, was proven wrong. I listen to music and actually make a brainstorm sheet now when I write my papers. In the long run, I think this will really benefit me. I pretty much just sat down and typed/wrote whatever popped into my head. Also, I used to hate making brainstorm sheets, I felt like they were just completely useless and that they provided no help at all. Now I see how much they make a difference and how much they can mean whenever you lose your place. I can now write my papers better than I have ever imagined! So thank you Mr. Sweeney, for going over that process with us in class. Someone did receive some benefit from that class.

Research Paper

I chose to write my paper about an article on bad music in public places, because I love music and the topic I had before this one was a good enough topic to talk about. The topic I had chosen before this one dealt with a football speech given a couple years back, but the only problem is that it really was not an argumentative topic. This new topic is more of an argumentative topic because not all music in public places. I feel like there are some places that play great music and definitely appealing to the public. The music that is played in public places all depends on the age group that most commonly comes into your store. So, that means the music might not be what you expected when you walked in. I know that from working at Kohls, we used  to always play 90's music and early 2000's music. However, since our shift has been aimed more towards the late 20's, early 30's age group, the music has became more hipster and more "today" feeling. It just all depends on your age group.

Grammar Schmammar

My grammar schmammar group did the difference of further and farther. I learn a lot about this topic and I am glad we had this one to do. I learned that further is the more commonly used word between the two. I had no idea that you used further for more of a figurative way than physical. Farther is used only when you are talking about a physical distance. These words are used incorrectly all the time because people usually get the meanings of these two words mixed up with one another. However, if you thought more about what you were going to say before you say it, you will probably use the correct word at the correct time. Now, it is time to finish typing this research paper.

DNA!!

I went to see a grunge band perform for my last beyond class assignment and they were pretty good. I ended up seeing a band that was from Wyoming that I really liked after they play their first song. Their name was The Righteous Vendetta and they brought the house down. I loved their music and their passion for what they love to do the most, which is make people happy and play music. They jam out so hard and powerful like it's their first time playing. DNA was super good as well, even though I came to see them, I still thought that The Righteous Vendetta was the best band that played that night. If I were you, I would go see this band the next time they come back to Virginia.

Public Schools Vs. Drugs

The Chesterfield County Public Schools have banned any sort of illegal substance in their schools. First of all, why are kids bringing these drugs into school in the first place? What is the point when you could just see them outside of school and make the drop way easier than the risk of getting caught by the officer assigned for your school? I believe that these kids need to be more logical in how they make their "drops". However, they are also drug testing students at these schools. I don't really know if they are doing this to everyone or if they are only doing it to the kids who have been caught in the past/present. I think that the drug testing is a little bit too harsh on these high school kids. There is a line that needs to be drawn. Drugs, excluding marijuana, is acceptable to be tested for. Plus, the only way the school system could have gotten away with this banning of illegal substances and drug testing, is if the parents have signed a legal document that approves this school act. So, this means these parents need to read more carefully when you sign papers that your kids hand you.

Picture From Class

The picture is about Jesus Christ dying on the cross. He died for our sins, and we are forever in His debt. The picture that is shown is showing that the light of heaven is coming down upon Jesus as He is taking His last breaths on the cross. 

This artist named the title of the photo, “Piss Christ”. This changes my whole view on this photo. It makes me feel like His name is being taken for granite. Disrespectful..

The people who were behind this picture, were antichrists and anti-American. They were making this picture and others like it to express their hate for everything holy. They get paid with our tax dollars to make these stupid, disgraceful paintings. There are people trying to rise up against these people. They say, ‘rotten art, leads to a rotten culture’ and they are right. I completely agree with the fact that they need to pull out from the funding of dirty art.

The gov’t should go through a very detailed approval process for them to fund certain artists.

Flux!!

I went to see Flux Pavilion as my beyond class assignment, and it was awesome. Flux Pavilion is a DJ from the UK and he is one of the most popular artists in the dance/electronic world right now. His concert featured 4 DJs and they were pretty good as well. Although one of the acts, Cookie Monsta, was too repetitive, I didn't let that hold me back from having a good time. When Flux came out the place lit up! (literally) He had a laser light show and smoke machines on the stage and it was so awesome. I can't wait to go back to another concert like that and get even more crazy than I did this time. That was my first dance/electronic concert I have ever been to, and it left a great impression on me!!

Lyrical Genius!

I wrote first paper on music, and the way that the lyrics can effect somebody.

It all depends on how you can in the perspective of the singer/band.

The artist takes his music and transforms it into something desirable and worth listening to.

As a musician, I feel like I, as well, must take in the "grabbing people in" perspective.

 

These lyrics are something were reading so enjoy!

 

You saw my pain washed out in the rain
Broken glass, saw the blood run from my veins
But you saw no fault, no cracks in my heart
And you knelt beside my hope torn apart

But the ghosts that we knew will flicker from view
We'll live a long life

So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light
'Cause oh that gave me such a fright
But I will hold as long as you like
Just promise me we'll be alright

So lead me back, turn south from that place
And close my eyes to my recent disgrace
'Cause you know my call
And we'll share my all
And our children come and they will hear me roar

So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light
'Cause oh that gave me such a fright
But I will hold as long as you like
Just promise me we'll be alright

But hold me still, bury my heart on the coals
But hold me still, bury my heart on the coals 

 So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light
'Cause oh that gave me such a fright
But I will hold on as long as you like
Just promise me we'll be alright

 

-Mumford and Sons

 

Paper Topics

                We discussed topics for the paper that we have to write on our experience, whether it be positive or negative, on language. The topics we had talked about were starting to get a little out of hand, but some of them were very useful.

                One of the topics I found most useful to write my paper about was the topic about music. Music has had quite an impact on my life good and bad. The positive way that it has impacted me is the way of lyrical expression. Singing has formed me better as a reader, better as of pronunciation, and better as a lyrical writer. Without these skills and abilities, I would not be where I am today musically.

                I guess you could say, the topic discussion really did help me get a good start on my personal narrative essay. So, I think I’ll get a head start and get my paper rolling onward.

The Flash and I

In Mr. Sweeney’s last class, we read an article entitled, Superman and Me. This article was about an Indian boy who grew up on a Indian Reservation, and he was a reading prodigy. No one noticed that he was a prodigy because no one cared, all because he was an Indian. He taught himself how to read at the age of three by looking at the pictures in a Superman comic book. I thought that was highly illogical, but then  again, if he really is a prodigy, he could pull it off….and he did. He read through the Grapes Of Wrath when he was only 5! That is freaking insane! This kid eventually got recognized for his work so he wrote his story…Superman and Me.

                My story, however, is very similar to the main purpose of Superman and Me. My story is about a little kid who wanted to be like The Flash when he grew up. So, this little kid went outside and always wanted to run in every sport he participated in, but the only problem was…everyone laughed at him because they didn’t think he was good enough. It turns out that he was given his chance to prove himself in a sprint race of 100m against the fastest kid in the school. He was so excited and ready to be a victor and no longer a ‘nobody’. As they step up to the line to start the kid he is running against laughs…but this did not phase him at all. The whistle blows, and he truly felt like The Flash as he won by a full second! He truly proved himself and showed everyone that he had what it takes to be a sprinter and champion.

                This is what the story made me think about when we were discussing the story in class. I felt like I should share that with you, and remind you to not judge others no matter what they look like, or even sometimes, how they act.