Self Search

Google searching shows that the Internet basically doesn't know who I am. It's kind of nice but the results I got were a bit strange to me. Here were some of the results:

-random Facebook pages with Kelly Brickey as the user
-countless sites for some Kelly Brickey who tunes pianos in Boise, Idaho and/or Mountainair, New Mexico
-a 1990 graduate of Pacific High School in Pacific, Missouri
-an executive director of a Downs Syndrome Awareness group in East Tennessee

Once I added Righetti to the search words, I found a couple links about my involvement on the volleyball team from Santa Maria Times. In the same search, I also found a quick snippet of a site regarding the kids who got a perfect score on the CAHSEE test.

Besides that, it's pretty much just random from there on out.

Thinking Outside The Box...

In Plato's "Allegory of the Cave", he takes the symbolism and metaphors from the men shackled in a cave to represent the need for the search of knowledge. As the men become more comfortable in their chains, they come to think that what they see in the fire's shadows are the reality of life. One prisoner is finally let out into the light to discover what they don't know, which is actually the real world itself. Even though the light of the sun (otherwise known as the truth in life) is bright at first, he soon adapts and goes back to tell everyone about his new discovery. They reject him due to their ignorance in the matter and unfortunately, the one prisoner is killed. Every aspect in the writing is a symbol to relate to our lives as searching humans. The shackles show the restraint we have thrown upon us in our environment of learning, whether it be school or influential people. The cave is the reality we adopt to our senses. It is the world in which we see what we want to see and block everything else out that doesn't matter to us. It resembles the ignorance towards knowledge we have in our own perspectives. Being outside the cave represent the world of ideas. This world is a place to get lost in and can be overwhelming at first glance. But it is the realm of knowledge that needs to be questioned and discovered in order to truly understand reality for what it is. Plato wrote this story to show that the search of knowledge may be a difficult journey, but it is worth looking for in the whole picture.

Sartre's "No Exit", on the other hand, discusses the lack of knowledge in humans is due to the reliance of other people. He uses his characters' circumstances to portray an isolation of the world and having to rely on what people say. Being in their "hell" is not the typical version of this place; it is the psychological prison we are put in if we don't expand our social horizons. Depending on the same people all the time results in a vicious cycle that can never be left. Sartre wanted to use his story to show people to be open-minded in new situations involving people they had never seen or known before. It demonstrates how being in one state of mind with the same surroundings can cause an ignorance in itself. "Hell is other people," is just his way of saying don't get sucked into the cliche swing of things. Be opportunistic and discover the other side of the spectrum of knowledge. Taking risks and being open to new ideas from different people is just apart of the intellectual journey.

Although both authors use their narratives to reveal the constraints in the journey of knowledge, they have different approaches in emotions and reasons. Plato takes the savage look on the issue by putting "prisoners" in a cave and bounding them in shackles. They have no way out because they are locked up in this rock shelter. The prisoners themselves really have no reasoning to how they got there; it's just the norm for them. They also aren't miserable as their minds decay just sitting there. Sartre traps his characters in a room with specific details that all represent the hatred of the characters. They are stuck in this hellish room with each other and determine pretty quickly that it's only horrible because they are forced to be with one another. Their differences mirror the evil that lurks in their souls and brings out the true sinners they are. For Plato, the search for discovery depends on questioning and wondering beyond the environment you are currently in. Sartre, on the other hand, believes depending on others is the death of a dream for seeing true reality. They both stress, though, that finding out everything there is to know about the world is important to survival in the world beyond what we think we know.

AP Lit Term: Parody

Dictionary definition of parody: an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic relief.


Real-talk definition: some new variation of a work that pokes fun at the original version in some way.

Although I have never personally made one of these, many people make their living off of parodies. They occur in all kinds of different media including music, television shows, and pictures. When I hear the word 'parody', I think of all the over-the-top examples used on a daily basis.


Here, for example, is a parody of Twilight made by the Jersey Shore cast on Jimmy Kimmel Live:



A person who is known for their parodies is Weird Al Yankovic. He has albums filled with songs that he dubbed the lyrics to in order to make fun of the original. One of his most famous ones was a variation of "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire. His version, below, is called "White and Nerdy":



Even Saturday Night Live is known for their sometimes controversial parodies of TV shows:



A parody is important in not only a literature point of view, but also as a part of the entertainment aspects. It helps relate different ideas to bring together one central point.

The BIG Question: Take Two

Here we go again:


What are the psychological and physiological factors that create our experience of being alive and living as ourselves?

Literature Analysis #3.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

1. Lord of the Flies is about a group of young boys are stuck on a deserted island after their evacuation plane crashed. After they all come together, they decide to be a unit with Ralph as their leader and Jack as the alternative. They like their time of freedom from adults for a few days, but when one of their signal fires goes awry and burns a portion of the forest down, they realize that their main objective should be saving. The younger boys in the group start to become scared of the beasts within the island, claiming the most dangerous one lives in the sea during the day. Their fear ensues when the twins on watch find a parachute and believe it to be the beast. When they go on a search to see where this creature lies, Ralph and Jack disagree on what to do with the situation. Jack takes the majority off to his new "tribe", while Ralph is stuck with a smaller group. In spite of Jack's new leadership, his tribe kills a pig and puts its head on top of a stick as a symbol. One of the boys, Simon, has an unusual encounter with it, claiming it as the "lord of the flies". This also makes him realize that there is an evil spirit inside each of them. As Simon comes to tell the others about this epiphany, Ralph and his friend, Piggy, beat Simon to his death. Jack comes to fight them for committing such a horrible crime; during the fight, a boy named Roger rolls a huge boulder that ends up killing Piggy. The hunt to kill Ralph ensues as he hides away from his attackers in the jungle. Jack and his followers burn the forest down to make Ralph evacuate to the beach. Soon as he does, Ralph faints, figuring that he will be killed soon. As he awakes, he finds a naval officer has come due to the sight of fire. The other boys soon arrive to kill Ralph, but instead, find the officer and begin to break down. They all start to cry because they know, now, they can return home.

2. One of the biggest themes in this novel about a civilization of young boys is losing their youth and sense of innocence. At the beginning of the story, they enjoy their time away from their parents by doing careless activities. They play games and have fun because they don't have any parents to tell them what to do or how to live. As the days drag on, they become weary and start developing a savage lifestyle. They begin to plot and kill each other due to the insanity they feel from their distance of reality. The symbol that plainly shows their loss of innocence is when they put the pig head on a stick and use it as an idol. It displays their change in attitude and their significant loss of purity.

3. The tone of Golding's narration worsens as the story goes on. He has a twisted view on the plot and it makes for a dark and savage tone. He is also very deceptive in his voice and violent when it comes to describing the actions between the boys.

- “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast. . . . Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!
- "Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!"
- "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!"

4. The five literary devices are:
Symbolism
- "The conch glimmered … a white blob against the place where the sun would rise. He pushed back his mop."
- "The fire is the most important thing on the island. How can we ever be rescued except by luck, if we don't keep a fire going?"
- "My specs!...One sides broken"

Foreshadowing
- "There was no light left save that of the stars."
- "Ralph was aware of the heat for the first time that day…an unusual heat."
- "There isn't a tribe for you any more! The conch is gone."

Diction
- "The crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words … but the tearing of teeth and claws."
- "The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering."
- "He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling."

Imagery
- "The water rose farther and dressed Simon's coarse hair with brightness. The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculptured marble."
- "Surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures, itself a silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations, Simon's dead body moved out toward the open sea."
- "The conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist."

Characterization
- "He was shorter than the fair boy and very fat…looked up through thick spectacles."
- "He was tall, thin, and bony; and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness."
- "You could see now that he might make a boxer…but there was a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil."
   

The Big Question.

Given this challenge, I have been trying to create a question that I have ever wondered about. There are so many to choose from. But this time, I'm going to go the psychological route.

How does our mind automatically connect to the body or person we are? How can we know if our conscious truly guides us to who we want to be or who we think we are?

Thoughts...

Hamlet & Performative Utterance: Take 2.

     Hamlet is a young man who knows that he wants revenge out of anger and spite; his only problem is he doesn’t know if he can deal with his emotional state along the way. He takes situations and critically over analyzes them to the fullest extent. He talks ideas to death within his personal speeches; he goes back and forth between his options until his mind is burdened by any result. This method of performance utterance and self-overhearing involved throughout the play, Hamlet, is a way to relate to the growth in being of the title character and develop an understanding for why he does (or doesn’t) follow through in his decisions. The way Hamlet speaks has a great impact on his plans and how his actions affect everything surrounding him, including his own story. Self-overhearing, in the context of my life and Hamlet’s, leads to destruction and can break down an issue to the breaking point. Many people take their thoughts and feelings into account and study them for theories, such as Austin and Bloom did. Talking things through, mentally and physically, can bring new life to the said action and give everything a reason to let it be or not to be.

Emotions weigh heavily on Hamlet’s decisions; he constantly is speculating on how to jump on his plan for revenge or even his next comeback with an enemy. His numerous self-talks contemplate the subjects from suicide to murder and how he must persevere in what he thinks he needs to do in order to reach a stable, even place of mind. Throughout his use of performative utterances, he realizes the power of action in his words. He develops an understanding for the impact of the forces (as explained in Austin’s theory) and realizes how his words may reflect and create consequences for other people. With this, Hamlet sets his goals where he thinks they should be at, but doesn’t conquer them right away. His soliloquies of self-overhearing give him a feel for himself and in those epiphanies, he grows into the person he strives towards throughout the actions he ends up choosing over saying. The story emphasizes the ideas in Hamlet’s head and without these thoughts, the other characters would have no meaning and the plot would be a one-dimensional portrayal of life. If the conversations Hamlet had alone were held secretly in his mind, there would be no suspense or second guessing in what Hamlet may do to Claudius or how he feels about himself. Performative utterance gives Hamlet a way to speak and display what he does, in spite of what others may not approve of.

Everyone has that little voice inside their head, guiding them to do the right thing or taking them to the next step. Conscience does throw in its own two cents about what it thinks is right and wrong, but it ultimately depends on the other half of analyzing the situation at hand. Hamlet uses his theory of self-overhearing against his original plans; he breaks them down to a tiresome state and ends up just using the contemplation as an excuse to get things done quicker. Although I am very determined in my goals, I can’t talk them up if I want to get them accomplished. The more I don’t think about certain things, the more effort I put towards them and end up doing what I said I was going to in my mind. Self-overhearing destroys my train of true thought and creates high expectations to live up to the actions that are usually let down very easily. Talking through the tasks I need to get done to myself ruins the chances of them actually happening. On the other hand, discussing things with another individual makes me want to prove myself to that person and helps me achieve what I claimed to do. Finding reason through others instead of keeping to myself encourages me to do what I had set out to do in words. Self-overhearing can be a form of self-help, but in terms for most, can also be a form of self-destruction.

When Hamlet was introduced at the beginning of the play, he was a manic, depressed teenager who just thought if he put his mind to something and swore to it, it would eventually be accomplished. He went through the ups and downs by talking to himself with performative utterance, trying to find out the real meaning in his words. It took time to realize the extent of his words and how only saying them doesn’t bring any force; action must be made to accomplish the task at hand. Self-overhearing contributes to the contemplation of it all and can drive a person mad with true intentions by what they say. Words said in the mind or aloud influence the problem at stake and can make a person wander around what they truly want to get done. The real world doesn’t depend on only the things people say they are going to do soon; it also matters on how the force of those words can be achieved. With everything running through the conscious mind, actions truly do speak louder than words with intention.

AP Exam Essay-Language.

     Language is the way humans communicate with each other and affects details surrounding a story. It influences reactions and plot lines with the context it implies and provides a flowing string of events. Both Hamlet by Shakespeare and Beowulf by Anonymous have their own way of telling epic adventures and events, but their different usage of language shows how the poems play out in different manner. Hamlet has a more melancholy and deep tone while Beowulf is enthusiastic and filled with doom. The diction Hamlet uses in his conversations and soliloquies are very emotional; Beowulf's wording is descriptive in an epic way. Even though both stories use foreshadowing, Beowulf describes it in actions and Hamlet conveys it during dialog. Language can control everything, whether it be for an epic hero like Beowulf or protagonist such as Hamlet.
     When a message is sent, it is the tone that determines what information really comes across. Hamlet is a story about a young man who is out to get revenge and in the process, becomes angsty and depressed with other situations around him. His emotional tone is prevalent in his soliloquies and shows the vulnerable side to the protagonist. "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer, The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them," questions Hamlet, determining whether to move on in his life when trouble has come his way. Beowulf, on the other hand, is exhilarated when danger looks him in the face. The narrator, encouraging, said, "Beowulf got ready, donned his war-gear, indifferent to death; his mighty, hand-forged, fine-webbed mail would soon meet with the menace underwater. It would keep the bone-cage of his body safe," and began the epic action to follow. Tone influenced how the characters felt and gave an insight to how they thought.
     Hamlet is a man of many words; he goes through each problem thoroughly in his mind and even talks to himself to decide what to do next. The prolonged thoughts are displayed in a rambling yet intense use of diction. "O that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d, His canon ’gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God! How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world," Hamlet would proclaim out of complete anger and confusion. His lengthy descriptions of his thoughts differed than the epic one of Beowulf. Beowulf wasn't afraid and faced everything that came his way without, as a hero should. "Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not, easy as it would be," he said, showing his defying words that gave confidence instead of fear. Words make or break whether a character is as strong as a hero or an average person.
     Foreshadowing can give away a story with subtle hints and lead to the climax of the somewhat unexpected. Although Hamlet and Beowulf use it towards the idea of death, the characters' way of implying it are subtle in their own ways. Hamlet, again, plays everything out in soliloquies and secret plans for revenge. Hamlet basically told the end of the poem when he said, "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift, As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge." His anger toward the situation and his language pertain to later events and how it could result in other acts of hate. Beowulf foreshadows death with a funeral: "They stretched their beloved lord in his boat, laid out by the mast, amidships, the great ring-giver. Far-fetched treasures were piled upon him, and precious gear." Having a prescience of the events that are lay ahead determine what will be the result in the protagonist's journey---good or bad.
     Every element involved in language develops the characters and begins a chain reaction in the making of a story. Language is the beginning to any kind of storytelling and can shape a person into an epic hero or a supporting role. In Hamlet, the saddening tone, wordy diction, and foreshadowing in dialect form give Hamlet the role as a typical young man facing adversity. He is a mixed up guy trying to face the problems as best he can. Beowulf, on the other hand, shows great strength and bravery in the hero of Beowulf, within the same elements. The parts of language make up a whole which, in turn, can make a man out of a boy or a boy out of a man.

What I Have Learned So Far...

One of the biggest topics we've covered this year has been all about the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. We broke it down line by line to figure out the true meaning behind it and why it is considered a different story for any reader. We unraveled the context of Shakespeare's language and read in between the lines to determine how details such as tone, style, and irony could create such a dramatic plot line. Because there are so many interpretations of what the true meaning behind the play is, I found two different cartoon versions to help demonstrate different views.

Veggietales is a kids program that focuses on values and virtues. It took the lighter route and put a silly touch on the story. Their rendition is called Omelet and although it is vaguely similar to the real version, it tries to bring out a good side of the story.



Another version that stays closer to the actual events is The Simpsons. Their take focuses on the main action points of the play but puts their own usage of comedy for a more entertaining look.



Hamlet was definitely a great story full of dramatic events and having it in mind for future reference will always be resourceful.

Roy Christopher and Others

Today, during third and fourth period, our AP classes had the opportunity to engage in an educational chat with Roy Christopher and other guests. The details of new and old technology were discussed and how they affect our generation and others to come.

Notes: Pre-Chat

- "The medium is the message," is a symbolistic way to say that it's all about perspective when a message is delivered
- Writing is a self-expressed way to tell a story or pass on tradition
- Marshalling (borrowing to make whole or complete) could be used in technology or in hip-hop (remix sampling)

Notes: During Chat

- Christopher went from the BMX world of interest to web design from friend influence
- started out as just a hobby of writing; taken over by the Internet sensation
- analog v.s. digital- both are a struggle and a natural idea but more of a struggle due to the threats of procrastination
- Christopher's path: BMX articles -> new media/science -> wrote and self-published book for websites
- "remix culture"- way to mix different cultures together and giving access to everyone interested or involved; adds to the new generation
- pop culture could be considered a blue print for the 21rst century culture
- advent horizons: new discoveries in technology that create a sensation and develop the next generation's idea on technology (TV in the 50's-60's, web in the 80's-90's)
- "analog scaffolding": taking the last idea and taking it to the next satep or beyond
- the medium may be surpassed with the new technology that we have now
- "program or be programmed": learn the background to technology to control outcome of its future; having more knowledge will prepare us for more information
- digital conquering other things like TV and cell phones
- advent horizons: challenge- to excel past old ideas and create new steps forward
                                  opportunity- teach the ones before us about how to control the concepts
- never disregard the value in past technology; can help develop new ideas for the future
- older generations do not trust younger ones about their knowledge and understanding for the new technology
- our generation shouldn't be embarrassed but should embrace the knowledge we own about computers, TV, websites, cell phones, etc.
- older generations should trust our judgement in a sense because we grew up around gadgets and it is like our second nature to understand it in different ways
- multitasking: more of a myth or made up concept; motivation if all focus is only on one project or idea; multiple goals cause for confusion, stress, procrastination, etc.
- digital native v.s. digital immigrant: natives may grow older and turn into immigrants or tourists but the digital label will always remain; the concept of digital is forever embedded in someone once they go to that side of technology
- we all have to shift to the learning of digital ideas soon because the future holds an advancement in that category
- collaborating online is an easy way to receive feedback quick and develop certain concepts as a whole
- "DIY aspect": chance for younger generation to make individual opportunities and create jobs to better the technological world ahead; more on your own work instead of going to someone else for ideas
- future is not bleak for those who embrace what technology has in store for us

The most important or relevant information are the point highlighted in bold font. These points in the conversation can help me to safely say that things like the internet and cell phones are in our favor. They will contribute to events later on in life, but eventually will be overlooked by the new advances in technology made someday.

Literature Analysis #2

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

1.      Wuthering Heights is a story set in the early 1800s about a girl's reminiscing on her childhood. Nelly was a young servant who worked for the Earnshaws in the manor and she recollects Mr. Earnshaw adopting a young boy by the name of Heathcliff. He joins Mr. Earnshaw's children, Catherine and Hindley, who are at first not very fond of their new "sibling". As time goes on, Catherine begins to love Heathcliff and when Mrs. Earnshaw passes away, Mr. Earnshaw treats Heathcliff like his own. Hindley, on the other hand, continues to detest Heathcliff and gets sent away due to his horrible cruelty towards him. Later, when Mr. Earnshaw dies, Hindley takes over the manor and takes revenge towards Heathcliff. In the meantime, Heathcliff and Catherine's relationship is like a roller coaster, reaching great highs and also becoming more complicated when she meets a new man, Edgar. Heathcliff hits rock bottom and runs away from the manor after being abused by alcoholic Hindley and heartbroken by Catherine (who becomes engaged and later married to Edgar).
     When Heathcliff returns to the manor, he takes it over as Hindley dies and marries Isabella. He finds out that Catherine has died after giving birth to her child and starts to be cruel towards Isabella, causing her to leave him and take their son with her. Thirteen years later, little Catherine is watched over by Nelly and meets Hareton; meanwhile, Isabella dies and leaves Linton, her son, with Heathcliff. A few years later, little Catherine meets Heathcliff and Linton. She and Linton begin a secret romance which lasts until they get married but ends when Linton suddenly dies. Heathcliff takes over little Catherine's place, Thrushcross Grange. Nelly ends the story with the continuation of what is happening presently: little Catherine dates Hareton and when Heathcliff dies, they inherit all he owned. They end up getting married and living in the Wuthering manor.

2. The main theme present in the novel is love and the effects it can have on a person's behavior and life. Heathcliff's passion for Catherine is everlasting, even when they have grown apart from one another. His depression grows deep when he realizes she has moved on to Edgar and he takes in out on his own wife, Isabella. He treats people he should love with such terrible cruelty and basically pushes them away because of it. His devotion to Catherine drive him almost mad in his actions but it also displays how strongly he felt towards her in the beginning and throughout his life.

3. The tone of the novel is different for the ongoing events that occur. At times, Bronte has a passionate voice when the characters describe their love towards each other. "I shall love mine yet; and take him with me: he's in my soul," claiming how she truly cares about her man. Bronte also has moments of an intense tone. Cries for help were said in such extreme words such as, "You have left me so long to struggle against death, alone, that I feel and see only death! I feel like death!" The majority of the novel also has a gloomy outlook on the tragedy that occurs over the years. "Terror made me cruel," and "Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves," reveal the depressing emphasis the novel had about life.

4. Imagery
- "I pulled its wrist on to the broken pane, and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran down and soaked the bedclothes..."
- "The contrast resembled what you see in exchanging a bleak, hilly, coal country for a beautiful fertile valley"
- "He wanted all to lie in an ecstasy of peace; I wanted all to sparkle and dance in a glorious jubilee."
Similes
- "Catherine's face was just like the landscape--shadows and sunshine flitting over it in rapid succession; but the shadows rested longer, and the sunshine was more transient..."
- "And his voice and greeting were as opposite as his aspect."
- "Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire."
Diction
- "If I imagined you really wished me to marry Isabel, I'd cut my throat!'
- "Kiss me again, but don't let me see your eyes! I forgive what you have done to me."
- "Be with me always--take any form--drive me mad! only DO not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!"
Metaphors
- "It was not the thorn bending to the honeysuckles, but the honeysuckles embracing the thorn."
- "Don't get the expression of a vicious cur that appears to know the kicks it gets are its desert, and yet hates all the world, as well as the kicker, for what it suffers."- "One is gold put to the use of paving-stones, and the other is tin polished to ape a service of silver."
Paradox
- "She was never so happy as when we were all scolding her at once."
- "A melancholy sweeter than common joy."
- "You must e’en take it as a gift of God; though it’s as dark as if it came from the devil."

Tools That Change The Way We Think.

   With all these new advances in media, the Internet, and technology, it can be a little overwhelming at times. But personally, I feel like these discoveries are dumbing me down. I only care about finding the right answer quickly---not the excitement or determination in searching for these results. When Google fills in my search bar with what I wanted to find, sure, it's more efficient and useful. But it also causes me not to care about what they may put in front of me. I don't take the time now to sift through various sites. I choose the first couple that are on the top of the list (which might not even be relevant to my question/search). Depending on technology has no depth to it; it gives you the information it thinks you would like to hear and nothing beyond that. Not only have filter bubbles made me lazier, but the option to have multiple Internet tabs up or have unlimited access to sites make me procrastinate. One click away from doing something important can lead me to a new site that takes me somewhere else and there goes an hour from my work. I can't concentrate on what needs to get done because I could go to a completely different link for something irrelevant.
   It's hard to imagine how people got along without Google or iPads. Of course, I know they used books and other news outlets for their resources but compared to now, they must have had some sort of driven attitude to get them where they needed to go. Researchers must have felt the need to hunt for the latest discovery where as now, kids can unconsciously look stuff up on their iPhone in about 30 seconds. Thinking about thinking was the norm because that was the way people learned anything they needed to. There had to be great effort to look up facts or know what was going on in the world.
   I wonder what it would be like if, right now, technology and media came to a halt. What would this new generation be like if we depended on print newspapers for the latest news in the world? Or if we didn't have all of the Internet's info in the palm of our hand? Maybe it would bring us back to a more intellectual and active time. After this article and watching the video, I want to go out and look beyond what is given in front of me. I want to balance what's important over irrelevant and find what actually matters that I can't see.

In Search Of...

     When I first watched the TED video, my immediate reaction was: the Internet is a creep. The search engine and its results all depend on what you like or where you've been; it knows things beyond what it needs to and uses it against you. Every time you search, it uses its stereotypical ways to give you some kind of biased results. Two different people can get two different products which shouldn't happen if you're looking for the same subject. Even though it may see more efficient, it also blocks people from what they need to read compared to what they want to see.
     With that, I tried different keywords in the Google search engine. I used phrases like: who was Shakespeare, William Shakespeare, life of William Shakespeare, and summary of Shakespeare's life. They all gave me different results from Wikipedia to PBS.com to william-shakespeare.com. Even though their information was generally similar, they still had specific points specified. I, then, went to Bing and used the same keywords as I did in Google. I got similar results within the websites and information, but for this search engine, I also received numerous image and news results as well. Lastly, I went to Ask.com with the same keywords as before. Like Bing, I got the same facts but more media advertisements and notifications. The searches may have all been relatively similar, but the final results show that personalization leaves a lot to be wondered.

Notes on Hamlet

     Let me start by saying: I knew absolutely nothing about the plot of Hamlet. Going into it, I wasn't exactly sure of how to see it. All I knew from the beginning scene is that Hamlet was a young man going through a tough time and expressing himself like any teenager does; he cared more about his emotional issues and angst than anything else on the planet. He was manically depressed over the loss of his royal father and recent marriage of his mother and uncle Claudius (who took over the throne from his late father). As the story progressed, he gained some backbone by owning up to the duty of revenge for his father. He was told by his dad's ghost that Claudius was the murderer and he needed to experience karma at its worst. Hamlet took this as a challenge that he needed to overcome for the sake of his family. With this new responsibility, he became more of a man and has grown (with emotions in full effect) into a human with dignity and integrity. Many of the supporting characters have shown some sort of betrayal or insignificance to Hamlet, causing for little surprise within their ways. If Hamlet stays on the path he is down, I believe he will complete his manhood by defeating the enemy and becoming more courageous throughout his journey.

Who Was Shakespeare?

     I go on to Google and type the words in: Shakespeare biography. After panning through the thousands of results given, I end up here: http://www.enotes.com/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-biography. The site starts off with the basics like the year he was born and the year he died (1564-1616). They talk about his personal life, discussing his schooling at Stratford, his wife (Anne Hathaway), and their three kids. They go on to talk about his 25 year devotion to being an actor and a playwright. He wrote his many famous sonnets throughout this time and while bearing the tragedy of his son's passing, became a partner in the Globe Theater. The later period in his life was when he relaxed and enjoy his wealth he had accumulated after the success of his works. Although the information from this site is all cut and dry, they claim that no fact is truly set in stone and that their data may be a little sketchy. This leaves me to wonder if they really know when all of his plays and sonnets were written or if they even have proof/substantial evidence of these works.
     From experience, the natural reaction to that of Shakespeare is: "Ugh," or "Ick." Although he is a literary genius, he is also hard to comprehend due to the old English iambic pentameter thing he's got going on. His stories are classic; titles such as Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet are household names. Even though he may have the fame, Shakespeare doesn't necessarily have the popularity of the new, modern crowd. They only see him as desperate, hopeless romantic or as a complete and utter fool. The first time I really experienced Shakespeare was freshman honors English with Romeo and Juliet. I was thrilled to read such a famous love story, but also a little intimidated on how hard it would be to fully understand what was truly going on. By the first scene, I was hooked; the rhythm of the lines was way easier to process and their elegant way of speaking wasn't too bad to read. I was enamored with this tale and still think Shakespeare is easier to tackle than some other random novel. Because it comes so natural to me, the only times I have questions are on the words that have become extinct in today's English. (Since when did bodkin mean dagger?) Shakespeare may be many students' worst nightmare, but to me, his work will always be second nature.

To Facebook or Not To Facebook?

     Facebook is just one of those things. You either love it or you hate it; there's no real in between. I got a Facebook a little less than a year ago and personally, it was for a good reason. I just went to a National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., and I decided I wanted to stay in touch with my new best friends. Once I signed up, I was able to keep in touch with people from here all the way to New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, and many more cool places. It was exciting to see what they were up to or chat with them about everything new going on in their lives. It was also another outlet to express my thoughts and share what I was doing with my friends.
     Of course, I knew the risks of losing my privacy online. I understood that if someone knew me, they could see my profile or the pictures I had recently downloaded. I got the point that it may be a little sketchy to have my name and other personal details on such a popular and public site. So I took the time to go through all of the security policies and read them for what they were. I checked the things I wanted somewhat safe and allowed the details of others to be seen. I still do double check the fact that technically, no one can view my age or any other random private facts about me. I'd be paranoid if I didn't have all of this kept away.
     After I read and analyzed the article about the privacy that Facebook offered, it basically validated most things I knew. I was surprised that a huge amount pre-teens sign up despite the fact that they really don't have legal permission. Because of this and Zuckerberg's fight against COPPA, it's easier to understand the business plans he has for his site and how he wants to pay for it. It's obvious that such social networking sites could be potential threats for young adults with bullying and other crimes, but protecting these kids shouldn't just be all on Facebook. It goes to show that they can do so much, but the site is also a business. If a parent is afraid for their child to be on there, enforce rules or punishments for such actions. There may be a temptation and Facebook tries its best to be a little more secure, but it is also just trying to make a profit off the advertisements that kids endorse with their sign ups. Facebook is a social media outlet that can be dangerous and risky, but in the end, it's a choice to make one and to use it wisely.

(Don't) Be Hamlet

     Suicide is not a topic on the average person's mind. It's definitely not a part of the norm and for most people, never really talked about. But Hamlet is not exactly the typical young adult. He sees that all of what once was stable is beginning to fall down. Everything is in shambles in his eyes and the consideration of taking his own life doesn't sound like a bad idea to him. Throughout giving thought over this sinful act, he contemplates the pros (no more dramatic events and ending heartache) and cons (shame toward his family and losing the love of Ophelia) in the situation. The setting and plot give reason for him to keep on living and being a man of such a young age, I believe he should stick it out for himself and his family's sake. Life always gets worse before it gets better; Hamlet should just face the music and not let the worst of things get the best of him.
     Hamlet is a man who is a little bit out of the box for his generation. He is beyond angsty, constantly depressed, and still grieving over his late father's tragic death. His emotions are deep to the core and go to dramatic lengths at some points. The end of his world is at his feet and his immediate thought is to end it all. His pondering about suicide leads him to debate both sides of the decision. One of the points he doesn't really touch on is the fact that in this time, suicide is very much frowned upon. It's a forbidden subject because it's the wrong solution to anything. The plot can also show a positive sign of living due to the fact that Hamlet should be focusing on the revenge against Claudius. He needs to put his energy towards his plan of attack instead of his plan of putting down his own life. He has much more to live for in his future and so much he has to fight for before he dies.
     When someone is truly suicidal or even thinking about the possibility of committing such an act, there isn't really a way to stop them. As Hamlet becomes more involved into the idea, his motives sound better and better to him; his inner demons are controlling his thoughts to the full extent. As the reader, I understand Hamlet's situation but can also put the other factors into consideration. Leaving behind what you once know isn't always ideal. Hamlet doesn't know what life after death is like; he may end up hating it more than living. He always doesn't really understand how much sorrow his mother would feel. She would be devastated because it's difficult to watch your child die before you do. He doesn't fully see the effects his one life-changing decision it would make. His selfish happiness in suicide could result in remorse for everyone else around him. He should find a light and keep his head up to get out of the rut he is stuck in.
     For most people, suicide is hard to wrap the mind around. The concept of self-destruction can tear apart everything a person may know. It can lead to burned bridges and remorse towards any part of life. Hamlet's new found discovery with suicide has him at a crossroads. "To be or not to be---that is the question," is his most important thought. Even though his world may be turned upside down, he should take into consideration what society was against in this time frame and what chance of revenge he will miss if he takes his own life. He also needs to see that his mother loves him (whether or not he knows it) and if he leaves her like that, her soul will be internally crushed. He shouldn't end his story yet; there are still so many pages left to discover in his life.

Literature Analysis.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald


1. Nick Carraway is a young man who moves to West Egg in New York. His next door neighbor happens to be a very popular, wealthy man by the name of Jay Gatsby. When he first moves in, he becomes closer with his cousin, Daisy Buchanan and her husband, Tom. They all attend Gatsby's parties later in the summer and Nick meets his love interest, Jordan Baker. They discover Gatsby's past secret love affair with Daisy and come to understand that the affair is continuing throughout the summer. When Tom becomes suspicious of this affair, he starts accusing Gatsby of crimes and put his hate towards Daisy (despite his own affair with a woman named, Myrtle). Later, Gatsby and the crew are driving into town and he accidentally kills Myrtle with his car. When Myrtle's husband finds out Gatsby did it from Tom, he kills Gatsby and then shoots himself. Nick ends the summer with Gatsby's funeral and leaves the town of West Egg, reflecting on the relationships he once knew.


2. The two main themes in this novel are the loss of the American dream and the lack of values in a high class society. The characters in the story focus on their status in public and their party life instead of going after the typical job, house, and family routine. They live off their family's money and don't have to work for what they own. Because of these low standards, their morals are reflect on the characters as snobby, rude people. They have no depth to them emotionally and don't know how to act humble despite their many properties.


3. Depending on what or who Nick is talking about, his tone adjusts to the scene and the action. When he discusses his opinion and situations with Gatsby, he has an almost admirable voice. "He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself," Nick would say, enamored by Gatsby's greatness. When it came to the other rich people in the town, he had a sense of disapproval towards their ethics. He frowned upon their rudeness and lack of integrity. "Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry," explained the thoughts that were hidden in the mind of the high class. About love though, he portrayed relationships romantically and with a sense of hope. "He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God," he said, proclaiming his views on passion.


4. Fitzgerald used many literary techniques to explain his point through Nick's eyes. He used symbolism through the green light to display Gatsby's hope towards his and Daisy's relationship."A single green light, minute and faraway, that might have been the end of a dock," displayed the theme of the American dream and how it was barely staying alive in those times. His diction was thorough, describing every little idea with as much detail as possible. He used this kind of wording to show how much the upper class cared about money and wealth. When Nick met Jordan, he noticed her snobby ways through her body language; "She was extended full length at her end of the divan, completely motionless, and with her chin raised a little, as if she were balancing something on it which was quite likely to fall." Foreshadowing plays a big role in the events of the story, giving the reader something to keep in the back of their minds as the days unravel. When Gatsby gets into the car crash early on, it gives a hint of another automobile disaster in the future involving him. The tone involved while the foreshadowing takes place is mellow yet pertains to Nick's high standards of Gatsby. Characterization influences the lack of values theme. Nick talks about the rich folk as if they think they are the best and they know their life is being handed to them on a silver platter. "'They’re a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.' I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end. First he nodded politely, and then his face broke into that radiant and understanding smile, as if we’d been in ecstatic cahoots on that fact all the time," Nick explained about Gatsby, using his features to describe how he felt about his high status. Lastly, Fitzgerald sets all the themes around the setting of the story. Taking place in West Egg during the early 1920's gives reason to encourage the heavy partying and drinking, leaving low standards for the American dream and wealthy people. "I see now that this has been a story of the West, after all--Tom and Gatsby, Daisy and Jordan and I, were all Westerners, and perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly unadaptable to Eastern life," Nick realized after a long summer of contemplating life's importances: live rich without a dream or be a real person.