A Music Review

The Decemberists. An indie band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 2002. I haven't been, I guess you can say, a true "fan" for many years. In fact I have only recently become a fan of their music (maybe about a year ago). I discovered the band on one of my walks around I-tunes and just fell in love with the music. Their new album, even though, it is not out yet, is one on my favorites. You can listen to the new album, The King Is Dead, on the internet or on I-tunes. It is expected out on January 18, 2011, just in time for a belated New Year's present (hint, hint. . .). But, with either this album or their previous ones, you are in for a treat. They really fulfill that "indie" feel of music while adding an alternative spin on it.


Also, since its the holidays and my favorite band is The Killers, I would also like to suggest their newest holiday song, Boots. I really like this song and not only because it's alternative and not your average Christmas song, but because of its lyrics. If you listen carefully they really highlight that holiday time with family and it makes you think of all those good times.

You Got A Friend. . .

Ah, the Great Gatsby and his ways of using people. He doesn't seem to know exactly what the qualifications of a friend are. Would such a good friend do that?

Yes, Gatsby takes Nick to lunch and invites him to parties, but he doesn’t really confide in him. . . at least not at first. He is just another guest at one of Gatsby’s parties; Gatsby doesn’t really pay attention to him, as a friend might. But, it is also obvious that Gatsby needs a friend, whether it be out of his own agenda or because he needs someone who can be there for him (Yeah, its for his own agenda). Nick is that ideal friend; there is a beginning of a great friendship between the two, even if it not so evident at first.

The way Gatsby throws all his parties and acts at them, give a big insight into his life. His parties are really impersonal and really have no rhyme or reason to them. It seems that he Gatsby just wants to fit in with the “old money” and will play that “cool cat” part by throwing legendary parties.
Nick, on the other hand is a little more skeptical and doesn’t believe Gatsby’s first story about his life. Nick is the friend Gatsby needs to keep him tied to reality and be his confidant and Gatsby is the friend Nick needs to embrace his “luxury side”.

A Wonderful Winter Poem

Snow falls around me
I look up towards the sky
My breath is taken away.

A Time to Be Thankful

So I am supposed to pick who I am thankful for. . . well, I really don't want to, because in reality, I am thankful for everyone. Think about it. . . If our class was missing even just one person (and I'm not talking about if someone is absent or something like that), the class would be completely different. Some things would not have happened and some of the discussions that made us think a little deeper may have not been started by that person who asked that random question. It would be a parallel world!!!

But, speaking of deep discussions, this topic is getting a little deep. Also, I came up with this spur of the moment as I was thinking there really was no EXACT person I was thankful for, and I came to the conclusion that I do not want to answer this is the way it should be answered. . .

So! I am thankful for the person who gives insightful perspectives, the person who doesn't read, the person who makes everyone laugh, the person who is always quiet, but surprises everyone with amazing questions and answers. I am thankful for the girl who sits behind me, the guy who sits behind her, and so on. In short, everyone makes a difference, no matter how big or small.

I. . . Am a Plow

*Yawn* As I start my day waking up in the field, I look around and wonder what's in store for today. Ugh, I'm probably going to be pulled by that smelly old cow again. How many beans do these farmers need to plant anyway. Their useless and they smell like the cow. I've never understood farmers, or humans in general. First of all, they talk to me (as if I would talk back-ha!), so you can tell they are a little mad. . . Second, they just leave me out here and don't even bother giving me a blanket. I mean, I know I can't talk, but show some love people. Plus, (this actually makes me jealous) they can walk in the rain and not rust!! What is this?! They just get all the luck! Pfft!

Arrg, here comes the cow and the 'human'. So now I'm just EXPECTED to do all of this work, while the farmer gets to guide the cow and chew on his wheat. Well, the work is pretty simple, I shouldn't complain; all I do is stay put. My perfect form (not to toot my own horn) is just so awesome I can just be pulled along and my work gets done. Its boring, but it gives me time to think.

The thought has come to me several times that sometimes those humans use me as a metafloor, or metapour, or something like that. The big farmer will tell the smallish farmer that he is a plow when he makes and cultivates new friendships. Or the humans on the P.V. will report that someone, somewhere is a plow to foreign places, paving the way, or something like that.

You may ask me how I know all of this. . . It could be true and I could secretly be spying on those pesky humans. Or, I can be making this all up. Well, really, what do I know? I'm just a plow. :)

A New Class. . . .Its All Quiet on the Western Front

Ah, American Literature. The tedious study of literature written by Americans. Sometimes the reading can be hard to understand and a pain to read; that's just how the cookie crumbles. But, the class itself is awesome. Of course, I can only speak for Mr. McCarthy's class, but however, I say only good things.

I can't say I love the House of the Seven Gables, but I can't say I hate it either. Something Mr. McCarthy said sticks out in my mind, "These were the first people to write novels; they had to figure it out by themselves and tried new things. They paved the way for the rest of America's great writers." Those may not have been his EXACT words, but when you think about American lit that way it gives you a new perspective when it comes to reading hard-to-understand-and-sometimes-boring-American-literature.

That's what I love about this class, it gives me a new spin on things or ideas I may or may not like and it makes me think more extensively about the topic. There is not much I would change. . . not much at all (I mean, I wouldn't mind not reading THOTSG, but. . .it is a requirement and I can live with that). The one thing I feel we need to do more of is vocab/grammar. I like doing vocab and things of that nature, and I absolutely hate doing grammar exercises (suffered through enough of that in grammar school. . .haha, and that wasn't supposed to be a pun-but hey, it's a literary term!). But, I think putting an emphasis on grammar (in papers, assignments, etc.) is really helpful and it will come in handy later in life.
So yeah, I really like my American lit class and have little to no complaints! It's allll good.

Modern Slavery

Slavery was common in the United States during the 19th century, but people eventually came to their senses and realized something was wrong. Thanks to President Lincoln, slavery was legally abolished. Or so we thought.

Today, the United States STILL has forms of slavery, but, not as severe as the 1800's. Latinos come to America looking for work to have a better life, but, big corporations and businesses take advantage of them, paying them below minimum wage for long, strenuous hours. In some states, workers are brought into the U.S. and FORCED(!!) to work.

All around the world, there are still forms of actual slavery. In many countries humans are sold into forced labor; they are forced to work for their "employers", which is just a nice way of saying 'master'. These slaves are forced to work long, tiring hours for no pay; and on top of that, many are frequently abused and threatened either mentally or physically. Many of these slaves are also children, obtained through trafficking, bought from traders, and bought even from the child's own family.

One of the examples I know most about comes from India. About a year ago, I read the book Sold. It was about a young girl who was went to go work in the city so she could send money back to her family. But, what she did not know was that the man that set it up was really selling her into a brothel, where she was forced to be a prostitute. This may not be a exact true story (names, dates, etc.), but it is based on what does happen to these kids in India.

Its unfair, unjust, and inhumane. Slavery is just WRONG. There is things we can do to help, though; organizations like Anti-Slavery, and Amnesty International work to protect human rights and abolish slavery once and for all. Working together as a race may be just what we need to finally create everyone equal.

(pic from: iwka.wordpress.com)