What I Deserve In This Class

As you have realized by now, logically I deserve a "B". My work has been my best effort, but apparently, "above average" is all I am going to get. I have gotten "B"s in your intro and online classes as well so at least I am consistent. I did the work, although most of my blogs were weeks late. Even so, I did learn how to properly blog about topics that I otherwise wouldn't have approached. I took on topics such as politics, religion, the economy, and even Nazis. Those controversial topics I would have steered clear from at the risk of offending someone. Now, with having completed this class, I have learned to tactfully handle those topics as well as a plethora of others.

With this in mind, the grade I would LOVE to have at the end of this class is an "A". I have only missed one class the entire semester which shows my effort. Along with this I did my best which, as our parents always tell us growing up, is all that matters. Also, because this my last semester and even more than that, my last final ever, I would like to think you have a heart and would give me an "A" as...a graduation present. If nothing else, consider that my overall GPA will be a 2.99 with a "B" in this class but I will have the satisfaction of graduating with over a 3.00 if I earn/get an "A".

Whether I achieve an "A" or more likely, a "B", I will leave here with the satisfaction of knowing that I learned many things in this class. I have learned about blogs and hyperlinks and my knowledge will be put to the test this summer as a web intern for South Magazine. It has been fun getting to learn about the side of journalism that, until now, has seemed like a relatively easy type of writing. In fact, it takes research and hard work to form an educated opinion and back up your facts. Although in blog writing you do not have to be fair and balanced, you do need to know what the other side represents in order to discuss what factors you disagree with.

Thank you for teaching me the lessons I learned here and I hope you had as much fun as I did.

80's [Flash]dance party!

I have always loved things from the 1980s: 80s fashion, 80s movies, and 80s music. When we were given this assignment to pick a CD I naturally went for the one from my favorite decades. Although some songs I really enjoyed, the majority of them were not my favorites. I like 80s pop songs and artists: all Jon Bon Jovi songs, DJ Bobo's "What a Feeing", "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurithmics, and Kenny Loggins' greatest hits all grace my iPod.

The CD created by Geoff Carr did have a few gems I had never heard before. I am pleased to say these will fit right it with Rick Springfield.

1) Pere Ubu's "Breath" was easily my favorite on the album. It had the cheesy, upbeat music that I love most about the 80s. The message is also pretty cute. It's about a couple spending the last moments together before she leaves. The boy in the song is showing her around his town and it's really touching. The only downside is Pere Ubu's thrashing about on the stage.

2) I enjoyed Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" as well. It vaguely reminded me of something by Duran Duran. The lyrics are a kind of nonsense that only the 80s could provide. Even so, the song is so quintessentially 1980s that I have no choice but to love it. There's not much to write about it other than I feel like I should get my legwarmers on and dance.

Most of the other songs were a little to...rock for my liking. Although they may have been popular in the 80s, they weren't my cup of tea. Then again, who am I to judge? I only was alive for 2 years of the 80s.

Daredevil

The film Daredevil features the secret life of Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen. Murdock meets and falls in love with Electra, the daughter of a wealthy politician? In both his personal and professional life, Murdock is thriving; however, Kingpin, the man who killed Matt Murdock’s father when he was 12 is still on the loose and still the mastermind behind many crimes. Kingpin has hired Bullseye, an evil man with a killer shot, to do his dirty work.

At this point, the reader may be curious how a blind man can pass as a superhero. Matt Murdock has compensated for the loss of his sight by developing keen hearing. He uses sound waves to “see” much like how bats use sonar. Rain helps him see the best because “each raindrop hitting a surface makes a sound”. This whole idea, along with the graphics available in 2003, seems, well, cheesy. The entire idea of this is difficult to believe.

In addition, it seems as though the director or producer obtained several of their ideas from pre-existing superheros. Now, I have never read the comic book so I am not sure if these were present before the film, but in the movie it seems as though they borrowed powers from Spiderman and Batman. Matt Murdock’s seeing-eye cane has many of the same powers as Batman’s belt and he uses a wire that shoots from his stick to swing through the air much like Spiderman. Because this movie came out in 2003, it proceeded the Batman Begins franchise, but Spiderman came out in 2002.

Besides the terrible graphics, the improbability of Murdock’s way of seeing, and the borrowed powers, my one other problem is the acting. This has nothing to do with the storyline, but Ben Affleck’s monotone voice is the worst I’ve seen him in any movie…including Mallrats. My one other question; in this film

*SPOILIER ALERT* Electra, Murdock’s girlfriend, is killed by Bullseye, but doesn’t she have an entire spinoff movie based on her life? It is possible that is a prequel, but still. Either way, this movie is a disappointment in regards to superhero movies. The only one it is better than is the Eric Bana version of “The Incredible Hulk”.

Disney Princesses (Free Topic)

As a little girl I loved Disney movies more than anything. The princesses were my heroes: I idolized them. They were beautiful, had beautiful voices, cool pets, and best of all, men that adored them. But that has gotten me thinking, what about them appeals to me now?

First: it is important to note there are two types of Disney princesses. First, there are the main six: Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, and Jasmine. There are also other Disney princesses that are well known, but don't have the type of following as the main six. Disney princesses such as Pocahantas, Mulan, and Meg fall into this category.

One thing they all have in common is they are strong, beautiful women. On the other hand, they are each in need of one thing: a man to make them happy. Even Belle, the most "independent" of the Disney six is told to "look for a man" and her father tries to set her up with Gaston, the handsome, but wicked, man of the town. She is also seen as "odd" and "peculiar" by other townspeople because of her lack of a man. Mulan begins the movie by looking for a man, then goes off to war and defends her country but doesn't bring honor to her family until she finds a man at the end.

Disney's perception of females and what should be important to them hasn't changed much since Snow White appeared in the 1930s. Even still, we have to wonder if it's what Disney and the corporation find important or what American little girls dream about. It's far more common for little girls to play house and dolls than soldier and cowboys. With this in mind, some little girls do go the "tomboy" route, but there are movies like Cars for them.

Bottom line, the Disney Princesses may be sexist and anti-feminine, but they are a small piece of nostalgia and innocence from my childhood that is still around. Little girls don't understand the sub-text of the storyline. They are much more concerned with the songs and the singing animals. Let them watch their movie with joy instead of trying to inform them that they should be happy scrubbing floors.

Is It Okay To Break the Law?

Such a complex question can really only be thought of on a case to case basis. Is it okay to pull a gun on someone because they cut you in line at the supermarket? Not so much. But there are other, more plausible examples, of times when breaking the law is okay.

One fairly common example is using marijuana to treat chemotherapy side effects or glaucoma. Technically using marijuana is a misdemeanor ;however, using it in the case above is legal if you have a doctor's permission. This isn't necessarily breaking the law, but it is bending it slightly.

A story recently caught my eye that trends on this topic. Aaron Vargas, 32, had been molested and stalked by Darrell McNeill, 63, for the greater part of his life. Vargas, who was first molested by McNeill on a fishing trip, finally snapped and shot the man who had made his life "hell". Vargas' family said that he had gone through a lifetime of punishment and was only doing what he felt was the only way to escape his situation. Even McNeill's wife said that Vargas shouldn't be punished. At the time of this article, the charges had gone from "murder" to "voluntary manslaughter". This means he can get anywhere from probation to 10 years in prison.

In the case of Vargas although I don't condone killing, if he felt there was absolutely no other way then I can see how it's justified. It was reported Vargas had filed restraining orders and moved states but McNeill continued to haunt him. In this situation, if I were the judge, I would be more lenient but still punish him. It was still a crime, but it wasn't unprovoked.
Aaron Vargas

Philosophy of Buddhism

Philosophy is defined as "the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct"

Buddhism, an east Asian, uses their teachings and methodology to become teachings for its followers.

Legend goes that Siddhartha Gautama was a prince in 556 BC. Those around him in the palace shielded him from the horrors of the outside world such as death and pain. One day, he went over the palace walls and saw the truth. He escaped the palace to find out the truth and in doing so, reached enlightenment.


They're four main teachings are:
1) Desire is the root of all suffering
2) Ending desire ends suffering
3) Life is suffering and pain
4) Believers should follow the eight-fold path.

The eight-fold path is:
1) Know and understand the Four Noble Truths
2)Give up all worldly things and don't harm others
3)Tell the truth, don't gossip, and don't talk badly about others
4)Don't commit evil acts, like killing, stealing, or live an unclean life
5)Do rewarding work
6)Work for good and oppose evil
7)Make sure your mind keeps your senses under control
8)Practice meditation as a way of understanding reality

Buddhists practice discipline and self control. They use these methods in their everyday life and truly believe it is the way to holiness. This is why it qualifies as a philosophy.

FAMOUS BUDDHISTS:
-Richard Gere
-Goldie Hawn
-Kate Bosworth
-Tiger Woods
-Jet Li

*start at 10 min in*

The Visit

On Friday, April 9, I had the pleasure of going to see the Georgia Southern production of "The Visit". In this play, a wealthy former resident returns to her hometown. The town, which has recently fallen on some financial hardships, is hoping the wealthy benefactress will bestow upon them a monetary gift of some kind. Claire, the wealthy woman, agrees to this but only if her former boyfriend, Anton Shill is killed. When they were younger, Claire became pregnant by Shill, but he denied paternity. This caused Claire to have her reputation destroyed and was forced to become a prostitute.

The townspeople of Gullen, led by their Bergomaster (or Mayor-like person) deny they will ever succumb to her stipulations. Suddenly, townspeople begin buying things on credit and purchasing things that aren't a necessity, like new shoes. Anton Shill becomes suspicious and eventually he relents and allows the town to kill him for the money.

This play, though very interesting, was about an hour too long. At three hours running time, an hour of the story could have been cut out purely for times sake. This being said, the story was captivating and morbid. The audience wants to find out whether or not the town will rise up and kill the man and if so, why was Claire so dead set against him being killed.

My one wish is that the actors would have gotten into character more. The play takes place in Germany, yet only the character of the Bergermaster, played by Geoff Carr, is the only one who attempts a German accent. I did enjoy the costumes and how they depicted the period of the play.

My favorite characters were the two blind men who follow Claire around. They dress in identical suspender outfits and repeat everything they say. They offer comic relief in an otherwise depressing play.

Overall, I enjoyed the play and was grateful for the chance to see it. It was a fun event to enrich my last semester at Georgia Southern.