Week 5: Top Links

This week in class we searched our peers blogs and the short lists that everyone has come up with
The ones I thought were interesting and caught my eyes were ...


Rainy Mood is really interesting and never seen anything like it. Its the sound of rain. Really cool idea

Worlds Best Trips Has the dreamiest and most exuberant pictures of the world we never knew

Found Magazine give a quirky and almost brings the kid feelings back

final thoughts on Go Ask Alice

I left off from my last post about Go Ask Alice when the girl starts turning things around for herself and trying to forget the past. It took a while that's for sure. Meeting new "friends" that were probably not the best influence. She ran away from home and is on the street feeding her addiction whichever way possible. Yet again, she is tired of the lies and drugs so she vows one more time to never touch them.  After a traumatic event on the streets she can't take it anymore and decides to go back home. But how ? she thinks her family will never forgive her. Little did she know her story would turn out like the Prodigal's Son.
Well after finishing the book I was actually surprised because from her diary entries everything was going good she had the grades the friends.. a new beginning.. but thats not why I was surprised. Before reading the book I sneaked a peak towards the end of the novel and read the short epilogue paragraph. The girl who wrote these entries was found without a heartbeat in her room 3 weeks after deciding she didn't want to write anymore. No-one knows if she died by an accidental or premeditated overdose.. all we know is her story and journey throughout her life and sadly it had to be taken away.

Jottin' ideas #1

VS.

1. Internet Radio Smackdown :

Pandora and Slacker are just a few of the great internet radios that are out there in the cyber world. I personally use Pandora and cannot compare the two yet. They seem similar, but from what I have heard you either prefer Pandora or Slacker. These radios find out a specific genre or artist or specific song you like and generate a whole new playlist for you to listen. The benefits may be different but I do know you can discover new songs and artist that you never knew before. 

2. The Troubadour of Honed Banality

I don't know why but this picture really catches my attention. Possibly how everything fills the room and seems as if there is action going on. Every person has their own story. The way of life in Russia couple years ago yet in a way, seems to still be the same. The chaos gives the mood of the place with a sense of peacefulness at the same time. Almost like a casual chaos.  The article attached to this scene is written about a mans experience with his Russian girlfriend and gives us a little inside scoop of the culture. 

3. Will Adler Photos

This gallery of Will Adler's expresses and highlights his Californian influence. The randomness presents itself as calm, questioning the curiosity of Ardel. Recognizing his passion transforms through his palm tree pictures introduces an explosion of euphpria. 

best "Deads Poets Society" post

As I read through all the blogs, the one that caught my eye about the Deads Poets Society claim was written in Reading, Reflecting, and more Reading. I chose this one because it stood out to me in the use of vocabulary as well as the intriguing observations. The post did a nice job putting the right power verbs and adjectives that we work in class "..the explosive crowd of parents and the aggressively proud students highlight the sense of passionate strength and intense superiority.." The inference the writer created was strong and is noticeable that he/she really put some deep thought into it. 


Reading, Reflecting, and More Reading Blog

go ask alice

Go Ask Alice.. a real diary entry by a teenage girl who struggles with life, friends, family, and .. addiction. Because the author is Anonymous, we do not know who this girl really is. Before reading the book, the back side described this book as a testimonial against drugs and "she is one of thousands of drug deaths that year."
The fifteen year old began to keep a journal or diary as a way of escape and confidentiality. She expressed her thoughts on boys, loosing weight, her sexuality, if she fits in, and the struggles with her parents.  Before moving to a new place due to her dads job, she is excited to "refresh" and start a new beginning at school. Unfortunately, things took the wrong turn..she had no friends, shy, alone, and an outcast at her new school. Eventually meeting her only best friend Beth. But that soon soon ended after a summer camp she went to and met her boyfriend who she is with all the time, leaving our teenage girl once again..alone.
Visiting her grandparents and unexpectedly having the attention from the popular group from her old high school, she is introduced to LSD that was intentionally put in random bottles of Coca Cola. She writes her experience and the thrill and how much life is better with it. She even lost her virginity while on LSD. Worrying if she is pregnant and her grandfathers mini heart attack, guilt  starts to take over. She thinks about her actions and vows to never come back to her town... at least hanging out with the popular group and urgently wants to leave and return back home where she can be safe from all the drugs.
This girl seems very confused and not one of those bad girls. She writes how she has the perfect family, perfect house yet she isn't perfect. Maybe she doesn't want to be. Maybe the pressure or stress is too much for her. Maybe this diary isn't a bad idea to express her thoughts and feelings. Everyone has problems but she is one of those girls in school that seem to be deceiving. They look shy and quiet, when they are the most prone and can explode in.. not yelling.. can't describe it, possibly explode with rejoice? If given a chance and a little kindness she wouldn't be so alone. Maybe she wants to talk and be social..just can't..physically. I can't put this book down..every entry is a step closer in discovering really who she is, struggling, thriving, living with her addiction and maybe there will be a happy ending. Only one way to find out.

dead poets society

In the opening scene from Peter Weir’s 1989 film Dead Poets Society, the ceremonial tradition and baffling expressions on each individuals face develops the school’s intense tradition, honor, discipline, and excellence. The inaugurated adolescent boys demonstrate fearful curiosity, surrounded by grey, dull, generic suits; we discovered the traditional wear is strangely close to that of a portrait painted one hundred years ago. This inference develops the mood of the school, strict and witty. Due to the strong and affirmative diction of the head master’s speech, the boys are alarmed by the emphasis of pressure and intense competition that is waiting for them. The parents, however, encourage and have joyful optimism that the institution will provide the demeaning education their sons potentially will excel in. The traditional ceremony began with the loud bagpipes and organs to fill the room, possibly showing off the schools pride and confidence. This difficult private school expects the students to reach their highest potential and intelligence to tolerate the world in the future.

and you think your life is bad?

 Precious is a movie based on the novel Push by Sapphire. Yes it is one of those stories where you watch the movie, fall in love and read the novel it is based off. This story really caught my attention about a 16 year old girl who struggles with obesity, constantly raped by her father, abused by mother, and illiterate strives in the New York City ghetto of Harlem. Already given birth to a Downs Syndrom girl, Claireece P. "Precious" Jones, becomes pregnant with her second child Abdul (give of God) by her father and is still in Junior High at 16. She barely makes it to class everyday, never reads a book, never flips a page.
       "But I couldn't let him, anybody, know, page 122 look like page 152, 22, 3, 6, 5, -- all the pages look alike to me. 'N I really do want to learn."
Being invisible was easy for Precious, but it took its toll. Drove her crazy, everyday not knowing what difference between right and wrong. Eventually she was kicked out due to her bad reputation with school and lets face it, what school..Middle School.. would keep a 16 year old student with the discovery of a 2nd child on the way?
Not only does she have troubles in school, but in her small apartment living with her dysfunctional and abusive momma is absolute hell. Suffering long-term physical, sexual, and mental abuse from her unemployed mother she is forced to cook, eat, and eat. There was no way out of it, just had to do what she said or pay the price of an unexpected pan injury in the head. Her mother accuses and hate Precious because she "stole" her husband from her since he would rather have sex with Precious instead of her.
To continue her education, Precious is enrolled in an alternative school Each One Teach One. She enlists in the Pre-GED class where the goal is to help students learn the basic skill to move on to the regular GED class. In her time there, she learns there are people who care and love her. Only want what is best. The teacher behind all this magic is Ms Rain, who has a passion to drive each of her students in improving their reading and writing skills. Keeping a journal was her way of letting each one of them to express and write whatever they want as long as they were writing something everyday.
The style of this novel has strong dialect. Not necessarily using exuberant and advanced words but the "ghetto" talk told from Precious' point of view. She is believable and makes me realize bad things do happen to people. We take for granted for all the things we have. I can't imagine being put in her shoes, she has my deepest and greatest thoughts.  After reading Push I feel like I should go out and do something positive and uplifting because the novel was so intense.
Precious had triumphed her problems by:

        -having a desire for the better
        - experiencing genuine affection
        - finding a way out and started a new life
        - taking risks and tried something new even though it was scary
        - gaining the courage to speak whats on her mind
        - realizing the abuse she suffered wasn't her fault
        - really appreciating the things she was given and never gave up on herself

Visitation to a Miami home

Elements of Observation

layout -

-abstract yet modern in the way he presents his house 

-there is vegetation outside that reveals a life of its own

-surrounded by admiring pillars and outdoor pool 

-a Miami feel gives a joyful intensity

-the calm and sincere tropical environment shines on the house  

-appreciation of the beauty in the house comes from 

the exuberant sunlight that shines

style -

 -Cuban/Latin essence adds cultural effect

 -modern winding stairs pleasantly and effortlessly 

fill the room

-the amazing spiraling stair case gives an elevation 

of majesty and curiosity

space -

-randomly well planned
-abundant rooms give a confident and energetic feel 
-areas that are not filled with decorations 
or furniture seem to have a purpose
-very "cozy" and warm feeling with a 
modern twist

color -

 -vibrant and energetic colors that burst with color

-explodes the rooms with the excited colors

-the white that compliments his wood flooring and metal 

railings give convinces us how friendly yet formal he is

-white interior/exterior expresses warmth of the day

decorations/furnishings -

-animated, worldly collection of cartoon characters (Stewey/Brian)
-addition of lights compliment his collection of cartoons
-his obsessions of "Family Guy" is amusing yet fits the room persuasively
-modern furniture but still preserving the vintage feel
-abstract furnishings such as glass piano, the white bubble figure, and the 
 large sung-shaped light atop the upper level fill the room jubilantly

In the home of Pharrel Williams, his Miami residence has an abstract layout, Cuban/ Latin essence, energetic energy in the abundunt rooms, explosive colors, and his modern use of decorations express a feel of jubilant and enthusiasm.

Pharrell Williams House in Miami

About myself

I'll start by introducing myself. My name is Liza. Born in Moscow, lived there since my parents got a divorce 9 years after my birth. Always the same expression on teachers' faces when they call my name in the beginning of the year. Most don't know how to pronounce it then I have to deal with my name being butchered. Usually I just help them out by saying "here" when it's toward the end of the alphabet since my last name starts with "Y" and the "I don't know how to say this name" look, usually gives me a big sign that the teacher needs some guidance. Funny, you'd think out of all the teachers, English teachers would  be the closest in pronouncing it right, but even they have trouble.
I really was not much of a reader on my own time, only reading was required for school. Since I've started my Etymology class I decided to give a little more effort in my reading life. Feels like as each generation goes by, the interest in reading decreases due to all the technology provided for us but even those shouldn't be excuses. My excuse was I never had time to read, too busy with my life. But as I started to really think and realize.. I just didn't want to put the effort in finding time when I could be reading on my way to volleyball practice instead of sleeping. I remember in 5th grade when I moved to Indiana from Tennessee, we were assigned to write a book. I always thought the stories we learned in class of slavery and their struggle to become free was so interesting. So I decided to write a nonfictional book about Peg Leg Joe and his journey using the stars and drinking gourd to guide him along with the slaves to freedom. It was a competition in the class to which book would go to some meeting and my story with Peg Leg Joe won! I was shocked that out of all the great stories, mine was picked. First grade was a rough year for me, transitioning from a new country, new people, new culture, new house. Even though I knew both Russian and English, coming to America I was not enforced in my household to read. My teacher had story time where she would read all the Junie B. Jones series. One day my mother and I went to Barnes & Noble and I remember finding all those book series that we read in class and I ended up getting four of the Junie B. Jones series. Telling myself I would read them over and over again but to be honest, I don't even think I finished the first one. Over the years, never took reading seriously, and now its catching up. I have a hard time choosing the correct answers for comprehending questions in tests because I always seem to find two that seem so similar to me I just can't choose. 

Currently, I discovered I am interested in the books that are about people who are overcoming or in very deep struggles. I saw the movie Precious a while ago which is based off of the Novel Push by Sapphire I am reading right now. Great book, the author really connects and has an unbelievable way of telling the story and just everything about it I can't describe. I can feel the pain and the hardships this girl deals with in her life and home, just sad and I can't stop reading. Also, I went to our local library and checked out a book that was recommended to me, Go Ask Alice and Tweaked which I will be starting as soon as I finish Push. Overall I am really hoping my reading life does turn around not only for my Etymology class, but so I can find a book of my enjoyment and read just because I want to.