Connections Made Between TWN and Just Add Water

TWN and Just Add Water both begin at a less than average state of normal. Illyria and Trona are both crazed places where the individuals are not very aware of others around them, nor the fact that life exists outside of their small civilization. A large emphasis can be put on disguise and the masking of individuals in both TWN and Just Add Water. Viola pretends to be a man throughout TWN. Ray and Nora mask their own insecurities and qualms with the town by going about their days with smiles on their faces. In both of these comedies, the individuals have to reach an all time low in order to be inspired to make a change. This relates to most of the articles we've read on climate change as well because society does not feel the need to be green until it faces "self-inflicted extinction." In TWN, the low point comes when Olivia marries Sebastian because there end up being two Cesarios according to Olivia, which causes havoc. Ray reaches a low point when he loses the adherence of his family. He catches his wife cheating and witnesses his son dealing drugs. Ray doesn't feel the need to change (similar to today's society and Viola in TWN) until his world comes crashing down.

Mark Smith's Animacules and Other Little Subjects

After reading his text, it is certain that Smith has a passion for life. Life on a microscopic level, pets, creatures that lurk in the water, or even humans: give Smith life and he'll ramble on for paragraphs about how much that various life form interests him. Although he cannot justify his fascination with the animalcules, I shall take a shot. I think part if his interest stems from the fact that nature itself is one of the cheapest, most intellectually stimulating, and available forms of entertainment out there in the world today. I think Smith likes to take advantage of nature for this reason because he knows it'll benefit him in the long-run. I think Smith's interest in animalcules mainly stems from his interest in the interconnectedness of natural beings and their environment. I share this interest with Smith. I am a sociology major and love studying how people are connected through groups and how they interact with each other given the division of said groups. I think Smith enjoys analyzing the similarities such as the fact that animalcules and humans are not so different because they're both eating all the time. He likes noticing that organisms all affect one another and are not as different from each other as they think.

I really enjoyed this article. His writing could have gone way over the reader's head if Smith decided to clutter his writing with biological terms and concepts. His decision to use figuration and an extensive amount of anecdotes made the reading interesting and enlightening. The anecdotes, especially, made the reading more like a conversation than a formal, scientific text like most of the other articles in the book were set up as. Smith's insight actually made me take a second look at the world around me, and how every living thing is connected in some way. Life does not just consist of one being; life is a collaborative group of many living things that coexist. Because we all coexist in this vast world, it is important to weigh our decisions accordingly and practice empathy with our fellow life forms.

George Carlin's The Planet is Fine

George Carlin's routine re-enforces Phelan's idea that the humanity is self-extincting. He points out that the earth has existed for far longer than humanity has, so therefore, it is fine. The earth doesn't need anymore meddling from humans. He points out that humans cannot even fix themselves, never mind a larger object such as the earth itself. There should be no attempts to save the planet until people attempt and succeed to save themselves. This is similar to what Phelan is saying. In his article, Phelan articulates that humans and the culture they have created are the most powerful too, yet, the worst potential enemy in remaining on earth. Similarly, humans should stop worrying about the environment so much as they should start worrying about how they are going to quickly adapt and keep up with the speedy climate change. Evolution is moving a lot quicker than biologists thought, but climate change is moving even quicker, so if humans don't start worrying about themselves, the environment will beat them to a pulp potentially ending in humanity's extinction. Depressing, right?

Focused Free Write - Symbol in Just Add Water

I think that Ray's tin box best exemplifies the film Just Add Water. Ray keeps the tin box in his car, and he's constantly referring back to it whenever he gets discouraged. The tin box and its contents represent hope. Inside it are pictures of Nora, which make Ray smile and also encourage him in a way to keep on going. He could have easily given up on himself and on the town on many occasions along the storyline, but he didn't. When he felt burnt out, he would refer back to his tin box and the pictures within, which restored his hope. The pictures send him back to the past, and thoughts of a better time. I think this symbol of hope represents the movie effectively because without some "ray" of hope, the town of Trona would have remained stuck in one place. The tin box and thoughts of Nora were Ray's source hope and encouragement to change the stagnant town of Trona.

Benjamin Phelan's "How We Evolve"

Phelan talks about "self-inflicted extinction" in his article "How We Evolve." The first three quarters of this article provided substantial evidence on how evolution works on a more technical level and how it is actually occurring quicker than biologists thought. Evolution used to be a rare concept that biologists and researchers did not really know much about because they did not have to tools to further such research. Now that the tools and technology are up to par, it has been discovered that evolution is actually moving at an incredible rate. "Up to 10 percent of the human genome appears to be evolving at the maximum rate, more quickly than ever before in human history" (193).

However, evolution may not be operating fast enough in order to keep up with the equally, ever-increasing speed of climate change. In as soon as five generations from now, humanity could be dealing with either extinction or a major evolution. Phelan calls this "self-inflicted extinction" because the culture we have created has provided the tools for us to advance into a complex society, yet it has also destroyed the tools like natural resources and a healthy environment necessary for our sustenance. In order for us to survive on this earth, science will have to evolve new tools that can control aspects of evolution. The culture we have created is our best friend, yet our worst enemy. A solution must be sought out using the same means we used to get ourselves in this mess before we're in too deep over our heads.

John Broome's "The Effect of Climate Change"

I do not think that examining climate change through a market-lens is the best way to go. Broome's essay was heavy on technical terms and hard to relate to. Through his writing, it was difficult to connect both issues being presented. Broome attempted to analyze climate change through a market economy. He believes that the more well-off an individual is, the more greenhouse gases he or she will emit into the environment because he or she has the means and money to do so. This is a difficult conclusion to draw because intent is also an issue at hand. Given the money, technology, and transportation, poorer people would most likely follow suit in terms of emitting greenhouse gases. This is not a safe conclusion to draw anyway because the lifestyles of many lower class individuals are not necessarily eco-friendly because they do not have the money to accumulate as many material goods. In a previous article, it was said that poor people actually end up carrying a heavier carbon footprint. Studies were done relating the significant correlation between obesity, poor people, and the carbon they emit. Poorer people tend to be obese and buy a lot of fast food, and food that is not made in a sustainable way. They also tend to be the ones driving around everywhere. Based on information like this, it is difficult to make the claim that the more well-off one is, the more greenhouse gases they emit into the environment.

I think it is difficult to look at climate change through the lens of a market economy. There is more to climate change then just economic issues. Human intent, the course of nature, and the expansion of technology must all be taken into account. Just because you're rich, does not mean you are any more of a burden to the environment than the next guy. It is humanity as a whole that must take a look at their actions and change them together. Solving the problem that is climate change is not an equation that can be solved by simple computation. It is more of an open-ended essay that needs to be developed by the writer over time. Therefore, I do not agree with Broome's conclusions made in his essay.

Blogging About Blogging

I think blogging is one of the best ways for this generation to communicate their ideas productively and in a new-age sort of manner. Students are constantly on their computers knowing that they are procrastinating and not doing the assignments they should be. However, having a blog as an assignment is much less intimidating seeing as how it is just another tab you open up on your search engine. Blogging also allows students to open up more than they would in a formal piece of writing because the blogs one follows are those of their individuals. Their audience is not just a teacher, but a number of students having the same qualms with completing homework as they do. Blogging enables a student to loosen up his or her language and opens up the possibility of having other students comment, criticize, and offer feedback on mini-writing assignments. This leads to my next point. There is no extensive writing assignment due on a blog. It is a cumulative effort of mini-assignments. I know when I blog, I let my fingers and thoughts just go and say what I want to say. Relating to Derrida's fear of writing, I make sure that when I blog I relinquish the beast and say what I want to say. I personally love blogging considering this is one of three that I have. Granted my other two are mostly photographs and music, this one like the others, makes me feel I can say what I truly want to say without the fear of it being harshly criticized solely by a teacher. I do not think simply blogging is appropriate for a class, but I think it is a great complement.

Just Add Water: Unanswered Questions

1. Ray's personality confuses me. Is he truly optimistic inside and out?

2. What kind of father takes his son to Betsy's to lose his virginity? Does he honestly believe in his choice?

3. Has Ray totally given up with Edward?

4. Is the fact that Charlene is sleeping with Ray's brother the only thing she has to hide? I feel like she still acts really uncomfortable and not simply from the guilt of cheating.

5. What's Nora's story? Is she single? Does she like Ray? Why does she stick around Trona?

6. What's in Ray's tin can?

This film reminds me of the book Holes where the town used to be a colorful, happening place to live, but because of environmental matters is not anymore. Trona is like the town in Holes because it is now a nuclear waste site that has not seen rain for days on end. This film also reminds me of a Wes Anderson film because of the way it is shot and written. There's a lot of awkward conversation, moments of silence, and simplicity in the way the people are portrayed. Instead of filming the best of times in the character's lives, the writer and director of this movie made it a point to draw on the mundane moments as well because those can be equally as important. On that note, I thought about Roebke's idea of things not existing until we observe them. This could make sense in this movie. For example, one may not recognize or question why Ray keeps going back to that tin can until the moment in the movie where they reveal what it is. The tin can does not exist until it is recognized by the viewer.

I think Wendell Berry would like the society portrayed in this movie even though they appear to be rather impoverished. They do not waste much because they cannot afford much. In this way, it makes me second guess Berry's idea. Sure, it is possible to be economically comfortable and ecologically friendly as well, but in most cases, it's the simpler folks who cannot afford much that are not doing much to abuse our environment. The individuals in Trona may not be able to afford lots of electronics, stress education, or maintain more commercial stores, but what they're saving in the environment, they're replacing in the behavior of the people. The adults bum and booze around in their front yards, the teens make drug deals and apparently pride themselves in going to brothels, and the younger kids ride dirt bikes on deserted football fields. This doesn't appear a great trade-off to me. It would be nice to find a happy medium between treating the environment well and raising valuable citizens, but what else is new?

Focused Free Write - Am I a writer?

A writer is anyone who has the capacity to express his/herself through the art of language, creativity, and written form. The type of writing I'm talking about does not have to be that which would be evident on a job application, graded essay, or anything being critically analyzed by another person. A writer is someone who jots notes down on paper, someone who stays up till the early morning getting thoughts on paper because the ideas would otherwise steep and boil up in his or her brain.

It is hard to define a writer. I believe everyone has the capacity to write, but there's an enormous stigma attached to the idea of being a writer being that one who writes is a bookworm, philosophical thinker, or an English major. Personally, I am not an English major, nor do I spend all of my time with a pen in my hand. Being a sociology major, I do complete a considerable amount of writing assignments, and do enjoy research writing. I consider myself a writer mostly because writing is a way for me to get my inner thoughts on paper when they are fresh in my mind. It is something I turn to on my own, not because it is forced upon me from outside forces like teachers. For me, it's therapy; the paper's a neutral friend who'll absorb the ink, preserve my thoughts, and help me move on. Writing may not be the therapeutic mode for everyone, but I find it very helpful.

Michael Specter's "Big Foot"

Michael Specter defines food miles as the distance a product travels from the farm to your home. It is a hefty concept weighing how much fuel is being used to transport food to different places. Specter and the researchers behind such a concept are trying to communicate that food may be fresh, organic, and manufactured by low-fuel standards, but the distance the food travels can make or break whether or not the food is actually good for the environment. I agree with Wilkington's statement about this era being one of creative destruction. I think the world's lack of creativity goes along with too much technology and overall laziness. If people opened up their minds to more than just technology as the safe-bet solution, I think our society could benefit in environmental, social, and economic ways. Americans have this idea that every solution requires lots of machines, lots of money, and lots of fuel. This is not always necessarily the case, and it is a philosophy that has been ingrained in the mind of individuals. Therefore, it will be very difficult for it to change. Creativity must be resurrected in the minds and solutions of individuals because seeing such a quality disappear in the American culture would be an extreme disappointment. What would the country then pride itself in?

I do feel personally responsible for global warming. I find that when I came to school, I got very lazy in terms of trying to be as eco-friendly as possible. In high school, I brought my coffee into school every morning in a thermos. Here, I go through two to three cups a day buying coffee because coffeemakers are not allowed in the dorms. I'm not trying to blame the school for what can also be deemed my laziness, but Hofstra does not only make it impossible for avid coffee-drinkers to reduce waste, but they charge you an arm and a leg to get your daily dose of caffeine. On the other hand, I find myself walking everywhere and reducing my carbon footprint in those regards. For a simple trip to the mall or the train station, my house jam as many kids as possible into the same car and make one trip. This is cheap and environmentally friendly. I cannot wait to live on my own to be in control of my food, laundry, electricity, and transportation. These are the most influential systems that can make or break whether or not an individual is being wasteful or not. I helped make my family's household an environmentally aware threshold, and I can't wait to do so when I end up purchasing my own place.

Joshua Roebke's "The Reality Tests"

"Do you really believe that the moon exists only when you look at it?" Such has been inquired by Albert Einstein while on the discussion of quantum mechanics' implications for reality. I do not fully buy into the fact that we create what we observe, and that things are evident because we perceive them being there. I think that properties we want to observe exist before we actually observe them. Sure, we cannot perceive the world as it exists fundamentally, such as in the terms of atoms and the building blocks of matter, but it is widely agreed and proven that there are physical components of matter that compose items available for our viewing. Atoms and tiny particles exist before we measure them, so why wouldn't they exist before we observe them? Properties and items exist before we observe them because if one individual just happens to no observe one item presented to them, another individual will come by and observe what the other had not. I think such a statement made about observation and existence is too broad because the power to observe is different between individuals.

Roebke attempts to conquer a very complex idea in reference to quantum physics. I do not even know if I fully understood what his thesis was, so I would say it was very weak. Most of the other articles in the book did a great job of connecting more complex ideas like global warming, e-waste, and the internet to issues with humanity that were easy for the reader to connect to. There was no accessible connection that was clearly made between the individual reading and the theory of quantum physics besides the mere example of perceiving the color of a blue couch. There was nothing tangible available in his article that could convince me about these reality tests because the concepts went over my head. All of the other articles did a good job of bringing the material down to eye level for the assumed un-knowledgable individual. Roebke's did not, and in this way, I believe he had a rather weak argument.

Wendell Berry's "Faustian Economics"

"The life of this world is small to those who think it is, and the desire to enlarge it makes it smaller, and can reduce it to finally nothing." In his article, Wendell Berry submits heavy claims as to society's deluded idea of limitlessness. He stresses that few things actually do have limits nowadays, or rather, limits that Americans would like to acknowledge. There is limitless wealth, growth, want, money, energy, and even debt. He does not think it wise that our society is founded on the basis of limitlessness because when the limits are recognized and pushed as far as they can do, everyone will just get hurt. The American way of life has become one established on waste, greed, and foolishness. Berry is very straightforward and rather harsh in the manner he addresses his thoughts, commenting on America as a possessing a "national insanity."

Berry addresses the country's fantasy of limitlessness as a concept of moral minimalism as well. As more technology and machines are added to the equation in order to be efficient at any cost, the idea of complex thinking disappears. People appear "to be genuinely embarrassed by any solution to any problem that does not involve high technology, a great expenditure of energy, or a big machine." In striving for ultimate freedom, Americans are trying to escape the limited nature of the world, but this is in fact, impossible because abusing resources will eventually catch up with us. Limits and restraints must be put on Americans in order to relieve them of their delusional ideas.

Berry uses the texts of Christopher Marlowe's Tragical History of Dr. Faustus and John Milton's Paradise Lost to reiterate and substantiate his thoughts on limitlessness in the human mentality. He seeks data from many political happenings such as summits held on alternate energy and statistics involving the burning of fossil fuels. He uses this data to stress that Americans are under the misunderstanding that limits constitute confinement. This is untrue seeing as how limits are necessary in order for society to function properly. Berry believes that Americans need to strongly re-evaluate the economic and environmental limits on this world. We, as guests to this planet, need to learn how to preserve and sustain the earth, economy, and morality since another world will not be given to us for mere abuse.

Freewrite: Waste and Greed

Greed is glancing at the power-strip under your desk and consciously viewing each and every occupied outlet. Your eyes follow the twisting veins that lead straight to the source that is pumping, pumping away, sucking the fuel from a source you probably could not describe in depth if you tried. To unplug one of the appliances would be to compromise flow and order of one's life. Necessary? No. Greedy? By, all means yes.

Waste is grabbing a cup of coffee from Starbucks every morning before work year after year. The smell of coffee beans must make the environment cringe a little bit knowing that there are individuals on automatic pilot who grab their venti lattes in the same green and black cups every morning simply to discard of the cup in the nearest trash receptacle.

Waste with a side of greed is having individual items from a grocery store placed in separate plastic bags for the sake of not mixing fresh and non-perishable items. When did we all become so unaware? When did we stop caring?

Jacques Derrida: Fear of Writing

Derrida appears to have a fear of letting his writing and thoughts go to a point where he may end up hurting the feelings or viewpoints of a particular colleague or fellow writer. For Derrida, his ideas and writings are powerful and purposeful at all times. He finds it necessary to write down the ideas that come to his mind, but this raw quality to his writing also produces fear. He does not want to harm others in the relinquishing of his heartfelt opinions, yet at the same time, he does not want to alter his writing in a way that would ruin its genuine nature. Derrida does entrust the written word with a particular power. He mentions that he has never revoked anything that he has written, meaning, the writing itself has power and authority enough over him to remain on the page. Writing, to him, is raw subject matter from his mind that makes its way to the paper in order to inform himself and other individuals of his ideals. Derrida entrusts an absurd amount of power in the written word. The written word has such a power over Derrida that it mulls over in his mind at times when he is about to nap or fall asleep as he addresses in the video.

I write freely sometimes at night, and it is there that I experience some anxiety in regards to the power of my writing. I will write after fights or any slip-ups I experience throughout the day. Sometimes a fear comes over me briefly that someone will read what I have written and know that it is about them, and that they'll take major offense. Another part of me doesn't care who reads it and what they think of it; it's a piece of my writing that I'm proud of and nobody can do anything to change my feeling about that. Writing is one of the best ways to draft one's feelings. For me, it provides a text for future confrontations I would like to make with the people I get in little conflicts with, who make me feel the necessity to write. In this way, I do realize the power of what I write, but I strongly believe in allowing written word to possess this power because it is a great tool that can be used by individuals.

Kenneth Bruffee's "Collaborative Learning and Conversation of Mankind"

Collaborative learning is a topic that can be debated about in terms of its effectiveness in the learning and working environments. Working with peers, whether they match one's intellectual level or not, can be a very valid and helpful tool in receiving advice, feed-back, and support on a particular project. Collaborative learning does not strive to change the content of what students learn nor dumb down the content, rather, collaborative learning aims at setting up a new social context in which students can learn. Peer criticism, or work done in small student groups, can be extremely helpful in creating a suitable work environment for students who are not inclined towards the traditional classroom setting. The way in which students converse about given material determines how they will think and how they will write. Working with peers also encourages the students to get more emotionally involved, more focused, and comfortable. Once all of these are achieved, it is easy to get right to work.

Knowledge is made through thought, conversation, reading, writing, and social interaction. Knowledge can be considered one's personal motivation to learn, question, and think. Conversations and thought begin within the individual and slowly externalize themselves through various conventions. For instance, when assigned an essay, there are many steps that an individual takes, sometimes subconsciously, when sorting out his or her knowledge on the subject. The day that the professor assigns the essay, students may have thoughts running through their heads regarding what they want to write about. This is reflective thought, more or less, and can be externalized by being written on paper in the form of an outline or talked through with peers by way of collaborative learning practices. The knowledge of the student will be ultimately expressed in the written essay. Knowledge can also be learned and expressed through social interaction. By sharing experiences with other people, learning side by side, or even by simply having conversations, knowledge is spread through direct contact with peers.

I do not think that is is necessary for alike intellectuals to converse exclusively when it comes to peer criticism and the furthering of knowledge. I definitely think normal discourse and peer criticism with like intellectuals is helpful, not completely necessary, but very helpful when it comes to seeking advice on a piece that is quite focused in its subject. In other words, I believe that more likely than not, it turns out to be useful and productive to partake in conversations with a group of knowledgeable peers. Once a set of conventions are set among a group of people, the group can just cut to the chase and get right down to work. Personally, I find it frustrating sometimes in class when working with others is practically forced upon the students, especially with no choice among who one wants to work with. It is refreshing to work with someone in a similar field and with someone who possesses the same level of motivation as me in that field. Overall, I think peer criticism is a valid option in terms of learning because not only does it help individuals learn more about the topic about which they're studying, but it enables individuals to come away with valuable social skills that can be used in greater communities. In this way, knowledge can be attained through the course material, and through the personal experiences of the peers who are working in a collaborative manner.

Language as a Slippery Vehicle

Language is a slippery vehicle. It's hard to steer, yet once mastered, can be very powerful. Language is composed of words, and words have definitions. Frequently, writers juxtapose words together that simply sound nice or evoke a meaning that the author wishes were the case in the actual context he or she is using. Overcome with eloquence, some writers rarely say what they mean or have difficulty describing what they are observing in an accurate manner because they are too caught up in using pretty words.

I think this is what Hass is getting at in his poem. It is good sometimes for poetry to disenchant us. Writing, and poetry, does not always have to be over-the-top in terms of word usage and imagery. Poems can be plain and still engage the reader. Writing is not a competition, and language is a gift. When putting the pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, it is important to say what you mean. Don't over-embellish because then no one will know what you're saying. In this way, meaning can be assigned to every word written, and the words chosen are important when deciding what to put on the paper because it will portray different pictures depending on what words are chosen.

In Jones' poem, it is very clear that he is addressing language as one of the most prevalent forms of illustration. No image like the image of language. He encourages the reader to unleash all inhibitions when writing. People should use their vocabulary to the most of their abilities because it is a beautiful vehicle of communication. Through the coconut shell full of rum and coconut milk on the ocean and let it wash over you. Let the words envelop you and use them to the utmost potential because through their usage, meaning is derived.

The Twelfth Night at Hofstra University's J.C. Adam's Playhouse

Thursday night, I was in attendance for Hofstra's production of The Twelfth Night. Overall, it was a great performance and unique interpretation of the play. I personally did not enjoy the setting of the play taking place during the Reconstruction period in Georgia. Shakespearean literature is already difficult enough to understand when spoken; adding a Southern accent atop all of that was a bit much. For some characters, it was difficult to understand what they were saying because Americn, British, and Southern accents meshed and voice proliferation was on and off. I would have preferred seeing a different setting for the action of the play. The set design was beautiful and intricate though for the given setting. The pillars and Spanish moss gave off a Southern feel while complimenting that classic feel that Shakespeare's writing emits.

My biggest surprise while watching the play was the performances of Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. While reading the play and even while watching the movie version in class, I was not very entertained by the roles of Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. However, while watching Hofstra's performance, I found myself awaiting their entrances on stage. They were simply hilarious! The actor who played Sir Toby was easy to understand and the perfect example of a party animal. His acting was spot on, his accent was perfect, and he was easy to understand on stage. Sir Andrew was the perfect amount of awkward for a flawless performance. While watching, Lindsey and I could not help but whisper to each other about how funny the two of them were in conjunction. Together, they were a spectacular team that stole the stage.

Viola's performance was a bit underwhelming. I expected a captivating performance from a character who's on stage the most during the production. For a student performance, the actress played her role very well. However, the fact that she was supposed to be a man was not very convincing, nor did she perform with a Southern accent like the rest of the cast. In my opinion, her acting was far from spellbinding and made the play drag on a bit in certain spots where in the movie, I would have been completely engrossed by the actress playing Viola.

The actress playing Olivia played her role well. Again, the Southern accent threw me off for the most part when she spoke. She seemed less contemplative and day-dreamy than she was in the text of the play. There was not as much believable chemistry between her and Cesario during Hofstra's version of the play. For all versions of the Twelfth Night I've seen, I wish there were more appearances made by Orsino. I enjoy his character a lot, perhaps because I can relate to him. The actor who played him did a great job in Thursday's performance. Feste, the Fool, was played very well also. He had a beautiful singing voice and many different identities. I actually found him to be more of a clown than the Fool in the movie. He was constantly using funny voices, jumping around like a prankster, and using a maniacal laugh.

Overall, I was able to sit through the entire performance, however, I was not enthralled. I am one who enjoys the theatre and productions of all sorts, especially Shakespeare. However, this particular show did not particular excite me. I was more eager to watch the film on YouTube than I was to sit through this performance. It was a nice take on the text, and the actors made a great effort. I will be excited to look out for another performance of the Twelfth Night elsewhere in order to experience different interpretations that drama company's have.

Lend Your Ear 3/4/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

Here is the thematic montage Lindsey and I made based on the motif of music. It is featuring the song "Easy" by Justin Vernon. Comments would be helpful. We put a lot of work into this project and we would love critiquing!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Freewrite - "I am not what I am."

3. Viola: Then think you right. I am not what I am. Olivia: I would you were as I would have you be. (III.i.148-149)

In this portion of the text, Olivia and Cesario are in the midst of a little debate about who they truly are. Olivia wishes that Cesario would stay and tell Olivia what he thinks of her. Cesario does not wish to linger and lead on Olivia anymore than he already has because anything beyond what already exists would be asking for trouble. Cesario bluntly says that he thinks that Olivia is denying who she truly is. Olivia gets a bit defensive responding that she thinks Cesario does not know who he is. Cesario puts up no argument because he is truly a woman, Viola. Viola does not know who she truly is or what she is going to do with the coming events so she does not deny the fact that she's confused about who she is. Olivia responds saying that she wishes Cesario was who she wanted him to be. Cesario admits that he wishes he was someone else because right now he is a fool. This is a point of dramatic irony because the audience knows that Cesario truly is a big fool putting on a drag act and fooling Olivia. Olivia has no idea what Cesario's statement truly means at its core. I thought it selfish of Olivia to say that she wishes Cesario was who she wanted him to be. I think that's a lot to demand of someone, especially someone you've just met. I feel as though she should know better because a comment like that could easily scare a man away. Olivia's selfishness in terms of chasing after Cesario is a bit annoying throughout this play.

Freewrite - crush & bow.

2. Malvolio: ...and yet to crush it a little, it would bow to me...(II.v.143-145)
Malvolio mentions this after he reads the primary portion of Maria's letter. After reading, he is baffled as to what all of it means, including the letters M.O.A.I. Malvolio is convinced that these letters have something to do with his name because they are all present in its spelling. Malvolio wants the love letter to be about him, so he is going to "crush" or shake up the words and their meanings in order to convince himself that it was written for him. Once he has assigned his own meaning to the words on the page, the words will favor him in a way that convinces him that the letter was truly written for him. Maria's faux love letter serves as a puzzle and false hope for Malvolio. I think what Malvolio has in mind for this letter is extremely whimsical and far-fetched. If one is direly in love with another person, I suppose it is plausible that he would read into the note so much and juxtapose the words in a manner that gives him the answer he wants.

Freewrites - "I am the man."

1. Viola: I am the man. (II.ii.25)
This quote is said by Olivia post interview with Olivia. Viola is confused about Olivia's feelings regarding Orsino and now she is considering the possibility that Olivia may very well be in love with her. Viola comes to understand that it is she who Olivia is in love with. Viola feels sorry for Olivia because Olivia mind as well be in love with a dream seeing as how she will never be able to be with who she thinks is Cesario. The countess decides to come out of mourning for a phony. Viola goes on to say in her speech that disguises are never a good idea, they are in fact, wicked. I think Viola feels that she should have known better because she knows personally how weak women are in terms of their feelings. She has now manipulated the feelings of a woman, which will make things quite complicated. Viola has dug herself a great hole because her disguise makes it so that neither Orsino nor Olivia can love her. I feel as though Viola would be a lot more scared and nervous when she found out another woman was in love with her. I didn't think that this portion of her speech was dramatic enough. She is a woman with heavy emotions that don't really come through in this scene. I'd expect her to get emotional, perhaps a bit scared, and very vulnerable. Reading this, I felt like she handled it as a man as if she were giving a big "whatever" to the situation.

Shakespeare Concordance Q's - Working with Data

1. What thematic strands have you located?
Music, song, sing, sound, tune, verse, pitch, ear, dying fall, Illyria.

2. Where is the data you retrieved from? What is happening in context when Shakespeare employs this particular theme or image?
Most of our concordance themes come from Acts I and II. The character that mentions these recurring themes the most is Orsino, probably because of his love for music in general. Orsino often demands music to be played for him. He loves his music so much that he practically wants to drown in it. The Duke's obsession with music is almost violent. Instead of wanting to hear songs for pleasure, Orsino uses music as an escape from life and love.

The characters that mention these themes the next most often are Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. The reason Toby and Andrew talk about music is most likely because their love of food and drink goes hand-in-hand with music. Music is their refuge, their fun, and their folly.

Viola refers to music because she compares her love to a sort of melodic song. She mentions in a couple of instances that instead of talking to someone, she wishes to sing to them and asks for their ears throughout the play. She is very audio-focused when speaking of love and life, as is Orsino.

3. How does the data you retrieved support your first thoughts on Shakespeare's obsessive use of a particular image? What can you argue about Shakespeare's figuration?
I took for granted all of Shakespeare's hidden meaning and symbolism in his writing. I never would have guessed that music was a motif in his writing if I didn't take a closer look at the text in class. Our research on the motif of music revealed that it was in fact, a deliberate doing on Shakespeare's part. Music, song, and singing are constantly being referenced throughout the play. For instance, Duke Orsino's character is purposefully obsessed with music to the point where it almost becomes a sick compulsion. Shakespeare had Orsino mention music so much in order to communicate his motif of music. Orsino also uses Viola (who's name suggests an instrument in and of itself) as an instrument. She serves as the messenger between Orsino and Olivia. Viola is also the receiving end of a lot of Orsino's lamentations and venting sessions. He plays Viola like an instrument. Shakespeare also had a lot of mentions of music appear in scenes with Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. This contends that music and drinking went hand in hand; they are part of the mens' very lax lifestyle.

Freewrite - "Sport royal, I warrant you."

I think "sport royal..." is Maria's way of saying that the scheme of embarrassing Malvolio is a jest and fun little game for her, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew to play. I think that royal refers to the fact that they are all of higher class standing. Maria is the waiting gentlewoman for the countess, Olivia after all. Maria is seeking a more sophisticated kind of humor, which comes in the form of fooling around with love and their pompous friend, Malvolio. He is a "sport royal" because he truly goes along for the ride. Malvoilo's a good sport because he has the perfect attitude and gullible personality for such a scheme as Maria's. Maria thinks that it will be a royal jest because it will be successful, amusing, and unbeknown to Malvolio.

Inkshedding Act II

This inkshedding activity is focused on a quote from Sir Toby in Act II, Scene 3, Line 5. They are discussing the hour and whether or not it is wise to retire for the night/early morning.

Sir Toby: "A false conclusion. I hate it as an unfilled can. To be up after midnight and to go to bed then, is early, so that to go to bed after midnight is to go to bed betimes. Does not our lives consist of the four elements?"

Prior to this quote, Sir Andrew is explaining to Sir Toby that they are up too late at night. Sir Toby is explaining in this quote that they are not up too late, but in fact, they are up early in the morning. The quote "A false conclusion. I hate it as an unfilled can" refers to Sir Toby hating Sir Andrew's logic as much as he hates an empty drinking glass. This proves his infatuation with all things food and alcohol-related. Sir Toby goes on to say, "To be up after midnight and to go to bed then, is early, so that to go to bed after midnight is to go to bed betimes." He believes it unnecessary for them to go to bed because the day is already in full swing. They wouldn't be going to bed late; they would be going to bed early. Sir Toby's quick chat about the four elements at the end serves as a justification of his statement. Everyone is made up of the four elements, meaning, staying up really late/early doesn't change. The earth goes on with all of its elements despite what people have to say about it. Therefore, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew should just remain awake according to Sir Toby. His philosophical outburst does not last long, for Sir Andrew goes on to say that life is solely made up of food and alcohol. They agree and continue on with their boisterous behavior.

Reflective Metacommentary - Paper 1

For me, writing the small object/large subject essay was a more tedious task than I anticipated. Five pages is generally not too much of a task for me to write because I am used to writing longer length papers for my major classes. However, I found myself lingering at four pages contemplating what to write next. Sugar substitutes, and all the topics in general, were rather difficult topics to write about because we did not receive lectures in class about our subjects, nor were we assigned subject-specific readings. We had to go out and find all the information on our subjects by ourselves. Not only that, but we needed to use our individual styles and opinions to embellish an essay that was coherent and strong on making points that were substantiated by evidence. This was also a bit new to me because most essays I've written have been lecture points in class, so I could use my enhanced understanding and notes from class to help me write the essay. The articles provided in Elizabeth Kolbert's compilation were, however, quite helpful in tackling the necessary style and format for the essay-writing process.

What I got out of writing this paper is that there is always more to write. If you don't have enough to write about, immerse yourself in another article or website. That is exactly what I did, and I went from being stuck at four pages to slimming down five and a half pages. The research process is just as important, and sometimes even more important than the actual writing process. I found myself taking more time making notes in the margins of articles and reading articles thoroughly. The more I understood the data and evidence presented, the easier the writing process became.

What I liked about writing this paper most of all, is that it helped me formulate a strong opinion on sugar substitutes. I went into the paper thinking that no matter which sugar substitute was being presented, it was harmful to the body. I learned that this is not always the case among FDA-approved additives and those used in moderate servings. Being an occasional user of Splenda in my tea or cereal, I do not feel as guilty about my using a sugar substitute once in a while as I do. The articles I read made me stand by the fact that I think natural is better when it comes to sugar and food in general. There is no need to fix what isn't broken when it comes to using sugar substitutes. Human bodies have functioned for years using natural sweeteners. Why change now? Writing my paper encouraged me to stand by my opinion that it is unnecessary for our culture to modify nearly every item that makes its way into our diets.

Post Act I Freewrite

After reading Act I of the Twelfth Night, I can't stop thinking about how quickly all of the characters fall in love. In the play, it's as if love is this persistent cold that almost every character catches. They try so hard to get rid of it, but the cold sticks with them. They become "lovesick," for lack of a better term, and drive themselves crazy. I don't understand how the characters think it is love after three days or a couple hours or even after a mere call upon one's home. Shakespeare really plays into "love at first sight" in his writing. I enjoy reading Shakespeare's tale for entertainment, but extracting any reality about love or relationships is difficult. The end of Scene V really stuck with me in this way. Olivia claims she's fallen in love with Cesario. I think what really got under my skin after reading Act I was the fact that these characters actually think they're in love - not smitten or impressed by an individual - but in love. Those two words are a bit dramatic for such slapdash meetings as the ones that took place in the beginning of the play.

Twelfth Night - Act I - Six Unanswered Questions

1. Why does Viola want to seek service with either Olivia or Duke Orsino when she can find many other ways to shield herself from society?

2. Is there a reason that Olivia is mourning the death of her brother for seven years? What was her thought-process, if there was one at all, behind that decision?

3. What is Olivia's degree in estate? If she does not marry above her degree, then are both Duke Orsino and Sir Andrew improbable candidates that are wasting their time?

4. Is there a literary connection behind the fact that both Viola and Olivia decide to handle the deaths of their brothers in the same manner?

5. Viola has only known Orsino for three days and speaks of wanting to be his wife. What is it about Orsino that makes Viola want to marry him so quickly? Is it possible for love to enact so quickly? Is it love, or does she simply think he'd make a suitable companion who'd take good care of her?

6. Is the Fool's cynicism a part of his act or has he relinquished his clowning ways for his true self and beliefs?

To Take Wilderness in Hand - Michelle Nijhuis

In her article entitled "To Take Wilderness in Hand," Michelle Nijhuis discusses the endangered population of a tree species called the Torreya taxifolia that is native to the Florida Panhandle. There are many possible reasons and causes for its decreasing population such as disease, drought, and invading animals, but the most pervasive of causes is that of climate change. Naturalist Connie Barlow decided that the tree should be moved to a climate further north for the cool temperatures and lesser amount of disease. Many efforts to save the tree species have been futile, so she sees no other solution other than to physically move the trees to a more suitable climate in order to promote their survival. This concept has been coined the term assisted migration. The example of the Torreya taxifolia is only one instance of vegetation that is being moved to a more suitable climate by human beings. Some are on board with Barlow's proposition while others think the idea of carrying plants to a different environment is simply ludicrous. To Barlow and many other environmentally-aware individuals, assisted migration is essential for the survival of many plant and animal species as the earth undergoes climate change. To others, tinkering with Nature is unethical and almost non-nonsensical. Nijhuis's article does a proficient job of describing both ends of the spectrum in terms of plant and animal conservation. The author does assume that global warming is a real presence evident in the world today, which others may argue against. She centers her argument around climate change, which is a highly debatable topic. Nonetheless, Nijhuis raises the important question: To intervene or not to intervene with Nature's right of passage?

Rehabilitation By Way of Video Games

In her article "Virtual Iraq," Sue Halpern discusses a new type of rehabilitation for those suffering from chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can also be referred to as "battle fatigue" or "shell shock," and it is usually experienced by individuals who have endured particularly traumatizing events such as war and severe accidents. Modeled after Virtual Vietnam in 1997, Virtual Iraq is a computer-simulated psychotherapy treatment created by Albert Rizzo that is designed to help affected individuals cope with their memories, not attempt to change or erase the memories altogether. Rizzo wanted to invent a program that would not illustrate the negative stigma that goes along with seeing a psychiatrist for some individuals. He also believes that he can reach more people by offering technological treatment through computer-simulated programs, or more bluntly stated, through video games. Rizzo states, "The last one hundred years, we've studied psychology in the real world. in the next hundred, we're going to study it in the virtual world." In order to prove Rizzo's success with Virtual Iraq, Halpern discusses the success stories of a couple individuals for whom this futuristic method of therapy has particularly reached out to in a successful manner. A large assumption about society is being made by both Halpern, Rizzo, and the individuals utilizing the Virtual Iraq program, and this assumption is that it'll work for everyone. Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America says, "We're a video-game generation. It's what we grew up on. So maybe we'll respond to it." Profuse technology and less human interaction may not be the best step for all individuals to take when coping with a disorder like PTSD. The coming-about of Virtual Iraq is a great contribution to mental health studies, but it is not the end-all, be-all solution when it comes to handling a serious disorder that affects many.

Expressionist Freewrite

It snowed last night, and there was a beautiful moment where four of us were stalling near a lamppost. I wanted a camera to capture the sight of the snowflakes against the pale light provided above our heads. Then I thought, no, a camera would ruin this image. I want my mind to remember this moment forever. A film-esque scene, and I was living it. Dancing in the drift, catching snowflakes on my tongue and eyelashes - something you would see in the movies. We joked, we laughed, we got frozen fingertips, but something kept us loitering next to that lamppost. You know that kind of moment where you forget all else and finally feel like you're living in the moment? This was one of those times. I could have easily already forgotten my interim journey outside my dorm, but I haven't. Maybe it was the dull light creating a hazy scene speckled with snow or maybe we were just procrastinating on our homework. Whatever it was, I hope I do not need something as an imprudent photograph to maintain this memory.

E-Wasting Away: An Abstract of "High-Tech Trash" by Chris Carroll

In his informative article "High-Tech Trash," Chris Carroll tells the somewhat disturbing story of what happens to electronic waste, or e-waste, that people all over the world dispose of at an overwhelming rate. Carroll claims that the world has come to a place where the safety of individuals is being compromised in order to keep production and disposal running smoothly. He states, "The key to making money is speed, not safety" (31). The safety and welfare of individuals, and children, in developing countries is being put at stake in order for the United States to get rid of its trash quickly and without much thought. Not only that, but Americans do not realize that they are also harming themselves with their ignorant habit of polluting lesser developed countries. This unsafe and slap-dash disposal of waste releases harmful toxins into the environment like mercury and lead, and the presence of such toxins threatens human health as well. As if this is not enough shocking information to take in, Carroll provides powerful anecdotes of his personal trips to such countries where profuse e-waste disposal is taking place.

Carroll describes that developed nations are in the midst of an age of obsolescence where technological systems are constantly being replaced by new and improved ones. Americans, especially, get sucked into this idea that if there is a new product on the market, they must have it in a moment's time. In reality, there is nothing wrong with lightly-aged systems besides the fact that they get discarded in landfills and barren fields in countries like Ghana and China. Government organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have attempted to pass legislation, such as the Basel Convention, to end waste disposal to lesser developed countries, but no such legislation has been passed. Legislators do not believe it wise to restrict locations like China and India for global use and negotiation. Carroll assumes that this is a problem that ever American and company that outsources their waste participates in. There are plenty of groups that make it their priority to dispose of waste in a mindful manner. Furthermore, he does not include examples of successful recycling organizations or companies that control where their e-waste goes. In this way, Carroll takes advantage of the topic's low-profile among Americans so that he can accentuate the wrong-doings of e-waste and persuade the readers to become more actively involved in the issue.

Sugar Substitutes: Friend or Faux to the American Culture?

Sweet n'Low, Equal, Splenda - tons of names and sugar additives are provided to our society, but for what purpose? Sugar substitutes stand by the idea that people who still want the presence of sugar in their food can experience sweetness and the guilty pleasure of sugar without the caloric impact. Sugar substitutes are not happenstance additives that occasionally make an appearance in the diets of American people. There are a number of sugar substitutes provided by the food industry for people to escape to. Their presence in food is almost haunting; it can show up in the most seemingly natural food. Not only that, but the taste between faux sugar and the real thing is obvious and disappointing. Data has also shown that many sugar additives actually provide more harm than good on the human body. If humans are what they eat, then are they ready to trade that mere teaspoon of natural sugar in for a plethora of chemicals?

Additives can say a lot about the values of American culture. Sugar substitutes demonstrate an obsessive quality that plagues society. People feel the need to count every calorie, every sip, every grain of a product. Why? Because they can. As human beings and Americans, individuals have and love the ability to maintain control over as many aspects of their lives as they can, including one's diet. They are infatuated with weight and appearance as well, which one would think translates to health in terms of concern. However, if dieters were truly interested in their health, they would be using natural sugar in moderation. The usage of sugar substitutes is very paradoxical in this way. Contemporary Americans need to take a broader look at the positive and negative effects of sugar substitutes before treating it as a highly consumed product that makes its mark on society.

"Is Google Making Us Stupid?" - Nicholas Carr

Nicholas Carr constructs an all too applicable article for these modern times in his piece, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?". In his article, Carr claims that the human self is undergoing an extreme transition in this world that stresses efficiency and immediacy. People are beginning to act like the avid decoders they are and operate without much feeling as proven by Carr's many examples. For instance, the invention of the type-writer in conjunction with the late writer Friedrich Nietzsche's blindness yielded a change in rhetoric and style in Nietzsche's work. His prior terse pieces became even more telegraphic in style due to his use of technology.

Carr goes on to explain that it is quite possible for the human brain to reprogram itself, and that our society is presently experiencing such. Our malleable brains are adopting simpler exercises due to the fact that internet-based services allow us to skim, browse, and extract information at our leisure. The decoders of information the internet has to offer have no choice but to add themselves to the equation of productivity and the consumption of information. Granted, Carr is assuming that all internet users utilize the services of Google and that all web-browsing is done in a distracted manner, his predictions and observation are spot on. There is a new sense of self on the way for the people of the world. Whether users are becoming more stupid or not, it is clear that some change is underway.

Where the System Reigns

With a highly connected, accessible, and wireless world, possibilities seem to be endless. However, they are just that - endless. The world has become a monotone place providing an infinite amount of distracting resources. This plethora of information is re-programing the individual to work by the binary coding of one's computer and the tick of one's time device. What happened to the world where humans acted and reacted to how they felt? Those days are gone and have been traded in for a world where humans are just a part of a big equation, and I do not think I'm okay with that.

I strongly agree with Carr's statement on the net's presence in the lives of people today. The internet and information resources are not necessarily making people less knowledgeable or futile in any way, rather, information technology is changing the way people approach life. I think that this new self that has been formed in reaction to information technology is not nearly as creative or in depth as the minds that precedent them because they are swallowed in the world of convenience. I think imagination and creativity are extremely important to humans because theses qualities add variety and spice to what can otherwise become a mundane way of life. Our lives now revolve around iLife, Facebook, Twitter, and our cellphones. What happened to face-to-face interaction? Phone calls? Thank-you notes? Personalized invitations? Written love letters? The internet is enabling people to get comfortable in this easier way of life that can get away with little to no creativity because everyone is doing it.

Pardon my stance on the issue, but as a sociology major, effective human interaction and social behavior is essential for influential decision-making and a productive society. Has anyone ever thought that some of the troubles in the world could be solved with more human interaction and less technological innovation? I believe a medium between accessibility, technology, and what would now be considered "old-fashioned" means of education and knowledge should be found. We as individuals cannot completely lose the purpose information serves to us and take it for granted by skimming and allowing our thoughts to wallow into a world of obscurity.