The Great Gatsby and The Beatles

In the novel The Great Gatsby, central character Jay Gatsby is head-over-heels in love with Daisy Buchanan, a married woman from across the Sound. Every weekend, Gatsby throws lavish and extravagant parties in hopes that Daisy would wander in. The Beatles song I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party really relates to Gatsby’s anticipation and waiting for Daisy.

I don't want to spoil the party so I'll go,
I would hate my disappointment to show,
There's nothing for me here so I will disappear,
If she turns up while I'm gone please let me know

At the beginning of the book, Nick writes, “I believe the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited…Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission.” Here, he explains that Gatsby really had no personal connection with any of his guests, he was just hoping to bring in the girl he loved form East Egg.

Declaration of Independece

In A.P. Composition, February 9, 2012

THE DECLARATION OF ERIN CAMPBELL OF MCFARLAND, WI

Netflix has consumed time; it has taken time entitled to thousands of Americans and I, having a right to free, acknowledge the causes that have pushed me to declare myself separate from the institution of Netflix and its infinite supply of films.

I hold these truths to be self-evident, that Netflix is not only a destruction of the soul, but a destruction of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Its creators should be held responsible, for they have thus created an evil which is unendurable. Under absolute Despotism, Netflix has surpassed necessity. I, as a citizen of a free state, wish to proclaim myself rid of such tyranny. To prove the resulting evils, let the facts be submitted.

It has put thousands of interesting movies at easy access to suck in many procrastinators and demolish the push for productivity.

It has forbidden me to go out into the free world by providing me with full series of T.V. shows.

It has dissolved business, such as Movie Gallery and Blockbuster.

It has given no opportunity for study.

It has made successors into failures with its in depth documentaries about cute whales and crazy Facebook stalkers.

From this day forth I recognize that Netflix and its creators no longer are my oppressors. I declare independence from my Instant Queue.

Not-So-Sure-Transcendentalist

The basic ideology of Transcendentalism is appealing, but at this time I cannot see myself as a transcendentalist. In his essay about transcendentalism, Self-Reliance, Emerson speaks about the God in all of us. Personally, I haven’t found that god he speaks of, or any for that matter. Although, I do more or less agree with the idea that we all have a piece of some greatness or spirituality in us. Everyone has their own version of the world and I for one think that what makes you makes the world that surrounds you.

On the other hand, Emerson talks about self-reliance. He thinks we should take control of our own live as an individual. A philosophy I can drag out of his words are stay true to you. Emerson writes, “Speak what you think now in hard words, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again though it contradicts every thing you said today.” I love that, do and say whatever you want at that moment, even if they did change from the previous day.

Further, I like Emerson’s idea of our relation to nature. I’ve always found peace on the water or hiking in the woods. Transcendentalists thought that man and nature were innately good. I would love to believe this is true, but many people clearly stray away from ‘good’. As for now, I choose to believe that everyone has some sort of caring soul, and hopefully I am not proven wrong.

Map Analaysis: A New and Exact Map of the Dominions of the King

Made in 1715, this map shows the original colonies that were controlled by the King of England, George I. These first settlements were only along the East coast; therefore, the map ends at the Appalachian Mountains. It illustrates the Carolinas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New Foundland, New York, New England, and New Scotland. During the beginnings of the new world, Englishmen clashed with the many natives that lived there, largely over territory ownership. One of the first encounters with Native Americans was the Iroquois tribe, and in the map you can see where they settled.

In the bottom right, there is a square image of dry land with waterfalls filled with numerous beavers working to chop down logs and build dams. The beaver was great for trade during this time period, and England wished to corner the market for their fur.  This picture demonstrates the desire for riches that England and the crown strived for in the new world.

Valerie Babb writes in her essay Crafting Whiteness in Early America, “Naming settlements as Cape Charles or Cape Henry after British monarchs provided a connective between old English social structures and the order that would emerge across the Atlantic.” (p. 56).  In pre-national America, monarchs controlled the happenings overseas. Within the map you can see Charlestown named after King Charles and Virginia named after the virgin queen Elizabeth. At the top of the map, the title reads “A New and Exact Map of the Dominions of the King”. ‘Of the King’, that is most important, the absolute monarchs thought of the new territory not as the Empires for their country, but as the Empires of their individual power.

Op-Ed

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204394804577010080547122646.html

The above article titled, "What's Your Kid Getting From College", discusses the problems surrounding the rising tuition costs for college students and the quickly increasing loans indebted to graduates. William McGurn writes how along with the rise of costs, there has also been a decline in the quality of education that has been given to the students. McGurn never outrighetly states his opinion, but he does so through the facts and evidence he brings up against "the Ivory Tower" (as he calls it). He quotes people such as Florida Gov. Rick Scott to a college graduate. To strengthen his arguement, he also uses statistics and researched data (i.e. 1/3 of graudates from over 20 universities showed no improve in critical thinking, analytical reasoning, etc over the four years they attended the university). McGurn mainly utilizes facts and statistics to persuade the reader into understand his side of the debate.

Sound and Fury

Sound and Fury was an amazing documentary, and I thought the arguments it brought up were intriguing. When I was seven I took a summer school class to learn sign language, and took it again the following three years. I have met people that are deaf, but I cannot say that it has been many. I cannot say I am a part of the deaf Discourse indefinetly, but I have experienced it in some form. A main point they focus on in the film is "deaf culture" (i.e.deaf Discourse). You could say us "hearing people" are misunderstanding, just as Peter believed in the film. I know that I do not possess understanding from both sides of the spectrum, but I do know that I would provide my child with the cochlear implant.

In Sound and Fury those that are deaf in the family and those that aren't battle over cochlear implants for both Heather and Peter (Mari's child). Those that are hearing argue that the surgery would give them more opportunities. That their deafness is a disability and they will not be able to attain success in school and work. Though there are deaf people that hold high positions within their careers, I believe it is growing increasingly harder to do so. Technology is quickening the pace of business, and you see how fast businessmen and woman fly through conference calls and meetings. While signing is a developed language I feel it is much too slow for such a fast paced world.

Ommetaphobia

Ommetaphobia is the irrational fear of eyes or touching eyes. Yup, that''s exactly how I feel. By no means do I go insane if I look into someones eyes or need to be hospitalized for my fear. My friends find it humorous to see me squirm and whig out when they touch their eyes. I have even been reduced to tears after Callie got everyone in the room to touch their eye.

In horror films you see some mad scientist pull out a needle and shove into a helpless victims cornea...how horrifying?! It's like something is crawling under my skin, and I become quite restless and seal my eyes as to protect them from some invisible attacker. How do people just do that? Touch their eye!? It could pop out of it's socket or push it into their skull leaving a black gaping hole! Often I fear that I will get hit in the head and my eye will burst out spewing blood. It sometimes feels irrationaly, but I still hope I will never need conacts!