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”.