Thursday, March 21, 2013
Shakespeare, Scary? Nah.
Okay, so we're supposed to be reading Shakespeare and whatnot. It's really cool, but the language is kind of hard to understand.
So our English teacher had us look up some sites to better help us understand his way of writing, since some students find it intimidating and/or scary. (Whilst I, on the other hand, think no such thing.)
Site #1
I think this first one I stumbled upon is pretty good. I actually think it may be the best. It's full of... Well, it looks like translations, but that's wrong. It just explains some of the words he uses and the way he uses them. It also explains wordplay and many other things.
Site #2
This site is also pretty good as well, I think. It explains how Shakespeare used words like thee, thou, art, ay, etc. It also explains the usage of all the other words we see daily, but that are used differently.
Site #3
This one is not as good as the other two I found, but it explains how to read his plays.
Site #4
This site is not as good as the first two, either, but it gives some pretty good strategies at how to understand Shakespeare's language. It also says something about all the words Shakespeare made up, which from my understanding is over 1,500.
Site #5
This whole website is dedicated to understanding Shakespeare, not just the linked page. It includes some of his sonnets and plays, as well as understanding them better.
Another thing, I commented this onto Sara Snoeyenbos's blog:
I want to read this book now. You made it look pretty interesting!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
That's Dystopian-Tastic...
Delirium
In my English I class, we are reading books about dystopian societies. We could chose from five books, so I chose Delirium. I'll be honest with why I chose it... I chose it because it looked the least stupid out of the books. And I was already reading two of them when we got to choose... So, yeah. I actually like it more than I thought I would... It's very interesting. I like its plot and its conflict, and its characters actually have some depth, unlike some other dystopian society books I've read. It has basically zero romance in it for being a book about amor delira nervosa, which is basically love. The people in the United States are not allowed to love though, and when they are eighteen, they undergo a surgery that prevents them from loving (or feeling anything else, really).
This is the book cover. It fits.
Here's the official Delirium website
And here's where you can buy the book online
This book really fits the dystopian criteria... There is somewhat of a hierarchial society. There is a very strict conformity. Very, very strict. There sure as hell is a disgust with the world outside. There is constant surveilance of the citizens.. (That sucks). And, hey, guess what? The protagonist questions society!
In my English I class, we are reading books about dystopian societies. We could chose from five books, so I chose Delirium. I'll be honest with why I chose it... I chose it because it looked the least stupid out of the books. And I was already reading two of them when we got to choose... So, yeah. I actually like it more than I thought I would... It's very interesting. I like its plot and its conflict, and its characters actually have some depth, unlike some other dystopian society books I've read. It has basically zero romance in it for being a book about amor delira nervosa, which is basically love. The people in the United States are not allowed to love though, and when they are eighteen, they undergo a surgery that prevents them from loving (or feeling anything else, really).
Here's the official Delirium website
And here's where you can buy the book online
This book really fits the dystopian criteria... There is somewhat of a hierarchial society. There is a very strict conformity. Very, very strict. There sure as hell is a disgust with the world outside. There is constant surveilance of the citizens.. (That sucks). And, hey, guess what? The protagonist questions society!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Censorship? Just Peachy!
So... Censorship. In my completely hosest opinion, it sucks ass. And you know what? I'm not going to censor that, or anything else. Do you know why?
Because censorship bites!
No matter, I am not here to talk about how it bites, and I am also not here to spout profanity (although, I may have to to emphasize some points)... I am here to talk about some idiots censoring the "n-word" in Huckleberry Finn. You know what? It's obsurd.
It's a book a man wrote a long, long time ago. Like, over 120 years ago! When the word was "appropriate for everyday use" or wahatever. You know what? I say get over it! It is a word. Used in a book.
Apparently, they replace the "n-word" with "slave." Uh, okay.
They (meaning the people who censored it in the first place) are thinking "Oh, little childeren read this book! No profanity!" First off, little kids don't read this book. It's older ones, who should be mature enough the read that damn word. Seriously. Young kids shouldn't be reading huge books anyways.
You want to censor The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? Well, it's not a profound book. How about Fifty Shades of Gray? Or Fifty Shades Darker? They do not censor words in those books out because it's mature adults that read explicit books like that.
So anyway.. Some more thoughts on this article:.
Eleventh graders Melvin Efesoa, Joseph Jaurdio and Ryan Farrell are confronting the controversial word and their feelings about it.
"I feel that that word is in there for a reason. Twain put the word in there to get our attention. And every time we read it, it does exactly that. It gets our attention," Farrell told Pitts.
"If you replace that with the word slave, of course people would be less bothered, but I think Twain wants people to be a little bit bothered," Jaurdio said.
"Melvin, you smiled," Pitts remarked, while interviewing the students.
"I smiled because like I just kind of think that constant use (of) the N-word, and to me, it feels unnecessary," Efesoa said.
"Why? What is it about this word?" Pitts asked.
"It reflects on African-American history back then. And like I said, it's a history that nobody wants to relive," Efesoa said.
"Do you think the discomfort starts and stops with the N-word? Or the discomfort extends to a conversation about race?" Pitts asked NewSouth Books' Randall Williams.
"In this specific instance, it is the word itself that is the problem. People are not comin' up sayin', 'Well, we can't teach this book because it's got discussion about slavery.' What they're sayin' is 'We can't teach the book because it's got all these repetitive instances of the offensive N-word in there, and therefore, we're not gonna use it,'" he replied.
Those boys sure are right.
How would you like your favorite book, or another well-loved book in America to be reprinted just to get rid of "Offensive language?" Or worse, If it looked like this:
I sat down on the porch looking out over the yard. I saw my friend, running from a dog. What an Idiot! (idiot)
I laughed as he made his way to me. "Shut up,(shut up) dude," he yelled.
Or, even this: jkfjaf sdasdfasf and adsad me, sfsfsfsfdf.
Okay, maybe that's a lttle outrageuos. But you get the point.
Censorship? More like Censorshit.
Because censorship bites!
No matter, I am not here to talk about how it bites, and I am also not here to spout profanity (although, I may have to to emphasize some points)... I am here to talk about some idiots censoring the "n-word" in Huckleberry Finn. You know what? It's obsurd.
It's a book a man wrote a long, long time ago. Like, over 120 years ago! When the word was "appropriate for everyday use" or wahatever. You know what? I say get over it! It is a word. Used in a book.
Apparently, they replace the "n-word" with "slave." Uh, okay.
They (meaning the people who censored it in the first place) are thinking "Oh, little childeren read this book! No profanity!" First off, little kids don't read this book. It's older ones, who should be mature enough the read that damn word. Seriously. Young kids shouldn't be reading huge books anyways.
You want to censor The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? Well, it's not a profound book. How about Fifty Shades of Gray? Or Fifty Shades Darker? They do not censor words in those books out because it's mature adults that read explicit books like that.
So anyway.. Some more thoughts on this article:.
Eleventh graders Melvin Efesoa, Joseph Jaurdio and Ryan Farrell are confronting the controversial word and their feelings about it.
"I feel that that word is in there for a reason. Twain put the word in there to get our attention. And every time we read it, it does exactly that. It gets our attention," Farrell told Pitts.
"If you replace that with the word slave, of course people would be less bothered, but I think Twain wants people to be a little bit bothered," Jaurdio said.
"Melvin, you smiled," Pitts remarked, while interviewing the students.
"I smiled because like I just kind of think that constant use (of) the N-word, and to me, it feels unnecessary," Efesoa said.
"Why? What is it about this word?" Pitts asked.
"It reflects on African-American history back then. And like I said, it's a history that nobody wants to relive," Efesoa said.
"Do you think the discomfort starts and stops with the N-word? Or the discomfort extends to a conversation about race?" Pitts asked NewSouth Books' Randall Williams.
"In this specific instance, it is the word itself that is the problem. People are not comin' up sayin', 'Well, we can't teach this book because it's got discussion about slavery.' What they're sayin' is 'We can't teach the book because it's got all these repetitive instances of the offensive N-word in there, and therefore, we're not gonna use it,'" he replied.
Those boys sure are right.
How would you like your favorite book, or another well-loved book in America to be reprinted just to get rid of "Offensive language?" Or worse, If it looked like this:
I sat down on the porch looking out over the yard. I saw my friend, running from a dog. What an Idiot! (idiot)
I laughed as he made his way to me. "Shut up,(shut up) dude," he yelled.
Or, even this: jkfjaf sdasdfasf and adsad me, sfsfsfsfdf.
Okay, maybe that's a lttle outrageuos. But you get the point.
Censorship? More like Censorshit.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
That's SatireTastic. Woop-dee-do. (song!)
So, my English class is supposed to make a satire-song thingy. This is going to be fun. Soooo....
The is going to loosly be based on "No Handlebars" by the Flobots. And by "loosly" based, I mean it's going to have the same format and kind of same tone.. You'll see. It's going to be a parody. Also, I think in the future I'll do one of these about swallowing my gum.
Mine's about Driving. From permits to licenses to crashes. Yup.
Here we go:
The is going to loosly be based on "No Handlebars" by the Flobots. And by "loosly" based, I mean it's going to have the same format and kind of same tone.. You'll see. It's going to be a parody. Also, I think in the future I'll do one of these about swallowing my gum.
Mine's about Driving. From permits to licenses to crashes. Yup.
Here we go:
No Headlights On
These people drive their cars with no headlights on
no headlights on
no headlights on
I don't know 'bout you but..
I can't drive a car with no headlights on
no headlights on
no headlights on
~Verse one~
Look at me, look at me
Hands on 10 and 2 like its good to go and
DRIVE
And I'm a decent driver,
Even when the road's all squiggly
I can show y'all how to turn right
I can show y'all how to do a U-turn
I can take apart the engine block
And I can put it (almost) back together
I can hook-up a chain real good
I can tell you all 'bout Mr. Earnhardt
I know the Owner's Manual back 'n forth
And "The Rules of the Road" too
Me and my friend saw some jaywalkers
Me and my friend called the cops on 'em
And guess how long they took?
I can drive however I want, cuz, look:
I can keep my speed with no cruise control
No cruise control
No cruise control
I can see yo' face on the radio
On the radio
Hey, that's just how I roll
~Verse Two~
Look at me, look at me
Just called to say I'm on a
DRIVE
In such a small town
Everybody seems to stink at this..
I need to make some money so I can pay for gas
I can take you with me if ya want
Look at me, look at me
Driving and I won't
STOP
It feels so good to be alive
and oh... Cops.
My foot is sinking
Down to the floor
Pedal to the medal, lock up the doors
My gas is waning
The lights burnt out
The cops just caught me
They wouldn't have noticed if
I had driven with my headlights on
my headlights on
My headlights on
If I hadn't driven with my taillights out
My tail lights out
My tail lights out.
So... Yeah. I don't know where it came from. It kinda stinks. But yeah. I like it.. :)
Thursday, January 10, 2013
That's SatireTastic.
Okay, so my English I class watched the movie Shrek in class and then find examples of satire.
Shrek is such a parody. It pokes fun at all of the Disney princess movies. You know how it'a always "Prince Charming" that rescues the princess locked in a tower on his noble steed? Well not here! Shrek, and ugly ogre, rescues the princess. His noble steed? Donkey, a very tiny donkey.
What's a good example of reversal you ask? Hm, where do I begin? Let's see... The first thing I generally think of is when little princess Fiona beats up like... A bajillion guys. (Okay, it's more like 8 but still.) You'd think the big bad ogre'd do that for her, but all he did was go get and arrow stuck in his buttcheek.
Incongruity's turn! When Robin Hood and the Merry Men come out and have a stage in the middle of the woods... And then they have a musical preformance. Very..... Erm, Incongruent.
Last but not least is... Drumroll please!
EXAGGERATION! *applause*
Anyways, the whole movie is full of exaggeration. Like Lord Farquad (?). His castle is huge... Maybe he's compensating for something very small.. Like himself? The guy is like 4 feet tall! Also, when Fiona beats those Men up, it's going all Kung Fu Panda and Matrix on you! But that is the best part of the movie.
The most prevailant satire is... Parody. The whole MOVIE is basically a parody.
Aside from making fun of stereotypical princess stories, the creaters of Shrek and his friends are basically saying, "Look, your true love doesn't have to be Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome. He can be green, fat and oger-ish. If it's love, It's love." It's not like I'm saying they're wrong or anything... It's just not like most girls would want their true love to be that... Unique.
Shrek is such a parody. It pokes fun at all of the Disney princess movies. You know how it'a always "Prince Charming" that rescues the princess locked in a tower on his noble steed? Well not here! Shrek, and ugly ogre, rescues the princess. His noble steed? Donkey, a very tiny donkey.
What's a good example of reversal you ask? Hm, where do I begin? Let's see... The first thing I generally think of is when little princess Fiona beats up like... A bajillion guys. (Okay, it's more like 8 but still.) You'd think the big bad ogre'd do that for her, but all he did was go get and arrow stuck in his buttcheek.
Incongruity's turn! When Robin Hood and the Merry Men come out and have a stage in the middle of the woods... And then they have a musical preformance. Very..... Erm, Incongruent.
Last but not least is... Drumroll please!
EXAGGERATION! *applause*
Anyways, the whole movie is full of exaggeration. Like Lord Farquad (?). His castle is huge... Maybe he's compensating for something very small.. Like himself? The guy is like 4 feet tall! Also, when Fiona beats those Men up, it's going all Kung Fu Panda and Matrix on you! But that is the best part of the movie.
The most prevailant satire is... Parody. The whole MOVIE is basically a parody.
Aside from making fun of stereotypical princess stories, the creaters of Shrek and his friends are basically saying, "Look, your true love doesn't have to be Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome. He can be green, fat and oger-ish. If it's love, It's love." It's not like I'm saying they're wrong or anything... It's just not like most girls would want their true love to be that... Unique.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
(That's) Uh, Newspaper?(Tastic)
Faerie Gazette
December 4, 2012.
Hello, all my faithful, long-time readers! It's your favorite editor Jessie yet again! Wondering the news for today? Well, I have a surprise for all of you! We interveiwed Bilbo Baggins about his Unexpected Journey! The first question was "Bilbo, what were your thoughts when all the dwarves appeared at your doorstep?"
"Well," he had said, "I was a little taken back by the lot of them. What would you be thinking if 13 midgets came to your house all of the sudden?!" I had to laugh at that!
What were your thoughts about being called a "burglar" and "theif" repetedly?
He had to think about his answer before replying. "Well, I didn't like it. I never liked stealing anything from anyone. It had gone against everything I was taught and had learned. But in the end I started to enjoy the thrill a little..."
What was the scariest part of your journey?
"Do I even have to answer this? EVERYTHING was scary. There were so many things I'd never seen before... But I was mostly scared that I'd never get to see my little hobbit-hole again. Or have tea-time. That was Terrible! Almost as bad as talking to Smaug... That was pretty bad and scary and... Just really scary, okay? I don't want to talk anymore. Sorry, it's just too scary!"
Well there's my short little installment for today's paper. Next interview we'll be talking to either Beorn or Bard, so keep on reading!
Until next time,
Jessie
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
That's FanatsyTastic.
Fantastic.
You know... I'm reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's a good fantasy book... With references from other myths and whatnot... Like dwarves and goblins and trolls, et cetera. Our English teacher wants us to compare the creatures in this book with the same creatures in other books... (Which doesn't seen fun but, hey, that's just me!) Harry Potter would probably be a good reference, but in all honesty, I strongly dislike those books. I'll use those references anyways, though.
First off, there's a wizard. With a big white beard and everything! Gandalf (said wizard) reminds me of Merlin, from... The King Arthur story. Tall, old, beard, magic. (kind of scatter-brained...) But Gandalf keeps company with a hobbit and dwarves. Merlin's with Arthur and lancelot and whatnot.
Then there's the dwarves. Short (height-wise and temper), kind of pudgy, huge beards, old (mostly), and they like underground and treasure. These dwarves remind me of the ones from the Eragon series. They live in tunnels... And have treasure... And are short... And dislike dragons, for the most part.
And there's also Smaug, the big, evil dragon. I've read SO MANY stories with evil dragons, it's not even funny. When I think of dragons, the first one I tend to think of is Dragon, from Shrek. You know... She has those adorable little donkey-dragons with Donkey... But that's besides the point. She's not evil, but that one dragon (I think a guy named St. George killed him...?) in that one story steals treasure and sheep and demands fair maidens from the towns he terrorizes... Yay evil dragons!
There's also Beorn, a half bear, half man crature. He reminds me of a werewolf... The one from London! I like Beorn, but then again I think all shapeshifters are pretty legit.
There's also the elves! They always remind me of the elves from Eragon. They also live in the woods... and are magical. I wish I was an elf! It'd be cool to live in the woods and have animals listen to you and actually understand you.
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