Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Perks of Being a Wallflower


The Perks of Being a Wall Flower is a novel written by Stephen Chbosky. It is an epistolary novel which means it is wriiten as a series of documents. It consists of letters that the main charicter, Charlie, writes to a freind, whose identity is never revealed. The book is about being a teenager and it touches on many teenage topics. Charlie is a freshman in the book and at the beginning is the "wallflower".

The book is easily relatable by adolecence becasue it talks about things they are expirieincing. This was my favorite book all through high school. The Catcher in the Rye and this book are very similar in the aspect that they both have a teenage boy as the main charictor and they talk about them going through tough situations. In the book Chbosky reffers to other literature and films, one of them being the Catcher in the Rye. He finds J.D. Stalinger as a big inspiration and read his books growing up.

My favorite poem is from this book.
once on a yellow piece of paper with green lines
he wrote a poem
and he called it "chops"
because that was the name of his dog
and that's what it was all about
and his teacher gave him an A
and a gold star
and his mother hung it on the kitchen door
and read it to his aunts
that was the year father tracy
took all the kids to the zoo
and let them sing on the bus
and his little sister was born
with tiny toenails and no hair
and his mother and father kissed a lot
and the girl around the corner sent him a
valentine signed with a row of x's
and he had to ask his father what the x's meant
and his father always tucked him into bed at night
and was always there to do it

once on a piece of white paper with blue lines
he wrote a poem
and he called it "autumn"
because that was the name of the season
and that's what it was all about
and his teacher gave him an A
and asked him to write more clearly
and his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because of its new paint
and the kids told him
that father tracy smoked cigars
and left butts on the pews
and sometimes they would burn holes
that was the year his sister got glasses
with thick lenses and black frames
and the girl around the corner laughed
when he asked her to go see Santa Claus
and the kids told him why
his mother and father kissed a lot
and his father never tucked him in bed at night
and his father got mad
when he cried for him to do it

once on a paper torn from his notebook
he wrote a poem
and he called it "innocence: a question"
because that was the question about his girl
and that's what it was all about
and his professor gave him an A
and a strange steady look
and his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because he never showed her
that was the year father tracy died
and he forgot how the end
of the apostle's creed went
and he caught his sister
making out on the back porch
and his mother and father never kissed
or even talked
and the girl around the corner
wore too much makeup
that made him cough when he kissed her
but he kissed her anyway
because that was the thing to do
and at three a.m. he tucked himself into bed
his father snoring soundly

that's why on the back of a brown paper bag
he tried another poem
and he called it "absolutely nothing"
because that's what it was really all about
and he gave himself an A
and a slash on each damned wrist
and he hung it on the bathroom door
because this time he didn't think
he could reach the kitchen


This is a great book and everyone should read it.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

antiapathy




Is Apathy really okay?
Dictionary.com defines it as:
lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.

When something is hard and chalenging why would you think it was a good idea to just give up?

If you do it anyways you will be a stronger person in the end. You might even be proud of yourself. It is horrible to look at everything as a daunting task. Look at is as a chance to learn somehting new or to become a better person.

If i ever hear "don't sweat the little stuff" one more time.....

It does matter and maybe don't be psycho about it just get it done and look at things positively not negatively.

"A ship inside a bottle"



This is a story about a man who builds a car in his basement knowing one day he will have to get it out. I find it entertaining but also very interesting. It seems to make a point about the new found trend of doing for yourself. People, with their overly consumerist lifestyles, are getting fed up with the fauly quality and expensive prices of products. So they are deciding to make things themselves. Why not? It's way more fun.

This website tells you how to make almost whatever you want.
Makefair.com

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Black keys


The Black Keys have been producing music since 2001, but their latest album, Attack and Release, seems to be headed in a whole new direction. The producer, Danger mouse, has helped this rock duo find the soul they needed to produce an album better then any they ever have. They seem to have broken free of any restraints allowing them to open up and experiment with new ideas. The product is a psychedelic bluesy rock album with great harmony and catchy lyrics to match.

The Black keys were asked by Brian Burton, better known as Danger Mouse, to write songs for an album by Ike Turner. The passing of Turner in December put an end to the project. However, Danger Mouse decided to help The Black Keys make their fifth album. This was a change in luck for The Keys because he helped them produce an amazing new sound. It is much different then their normal rythem and blues album.

Attack and Release has a whole new element that opens the album up to a greater variety of fans. They have included new instruments, instead of the same old guitar and drums, they now have a bango, synthesizer, organ, clarinet, new vocal harmonies and much more. Danger Mouse has really helped these guys to up their game and there is no backing down from here.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Religulous




Religulous is a documentary written by and starring Bill Maher. The title is a mix of religious and ridiculous because that is what the documentary emphasizes, the irrational thinking related with religion. Bill, a political comedian, goes around the United States and interviews people about their religious beliefs. In the documentary he is trying to find out how people can be so critical and rational about their everyday lives but still believe in these religions that are not rational, that are negotiable about their factuality. Most people won't believe something unless you can proof it is 100% true. In a court trial the jury has to be sure beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict the defendant. This definitely doesn't apply to the juries religious beliefs. They believe in talking snakes and dead people coming back to life.




When i was watching this movie i was in amazement. Everything that i had ever thought about religion i could not put into words that made sense and that expressed what i really thought. Bill Maher did this perfectly. He took all of my thoughts and beliefs and backed them up with intelligent information and arguments that made sense. I loved this movie and i think it was put together perfectly. He definitely makes his point, i would recommend everyone to go see it.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

College

College.....just thinking about that word makes me want to run to my closet and hide. That dreaded question i seem to get asked everyday, "Where are you going to college?" It makes me want to scream....

I DON'T KNOW

I am a senior in Highschool and have yet to go on a college visit or even think about applying for a college. The main issue is trying to decide what I want to do with the rest of my life, what am i going to major in? In Psychology we are learning about Erickson's stages of development and Darwin simplified it best, happiness in adulthood depends on two major things: Relationships and Work. If you are not happy in your job, if you don't feel like you are accomplishing your goals, if you're not interested in what you do then you won't be happy. No matter how good your life is. You could have an amazing house and beautiful children, but Erickson argues if you do not get passed that step of having work that you enjoy and that meets your interests, you will not be happy. This makes my decision even more streeful.
But wait there is another variable added to the mix....my boyfriend. We want to go to the same college, and yes I know it's not a good idea to base your choice off this, but it's what i want. I don't think that my boyfriend will be able to get into a college that i could get into though. We are thinking that maybe he can go to a community college that is by the university that i attend. I can't deal with all of this. There is too much to think about and to take into account. I think that we are going to a college planner very soon to get somethings straightened out. I will update you on how the visit goes. Also here is a link to a very good college planning site that i have spent many hours on.