The Reckoning-Reading Response

    9/17-Cell 1 hr-83 pg
    9/18-Cell 57 mins 72 pg
    9/19-Cell 1 hr 74 pg
    9/20-Cell 30 mins 50 mins
    9/21-Cell 1 hr 73 pg


    The Reckoning, a book I have just started reading is about th e nonfiction death of a playwright named Christopher Marlowe, in th late 1500s.Written by Charles Nichol, it investigates, with the evidence that is left the way he died what his life meant.I suppose I chose this story for my own fancination with the espinonage and murder, more than its connection to anything in my life. I found in the morning randomly, upstairs next to plays, most of which I never pay any attention to.
    I currently no nothing of the story in general, but just reading the good language of the prologue has caught my interest strongly. The name though, The Reckoning, caught my eye and interest in seconds. I suppose this is because its loudness in the way of its words. Most other words to describe book are sometimes flat or seemingly unconnected. The Reckoning drew my attention, then as I read the summary, seemed to relate to the subject of the story, with both dissaproving, and vengeful undertones.Personally I think so far, that The Reckoning will be an extremely good book.
   I believe that the main subject, Christopher Marlowe, will have either a hand, uententional or otherwise in his own death. But I still think his death will be both sad and meek.

Mind Uploading

         Mind uploading. An idea that frightens many, when they really consider it. The idea of a human mind being simply moved from body to body or altered or infected with a virus is disturbing to most people. And most, when they think of ths console themselves with " It doesn't exist." In my opinion, it is merely a matter of time. You simply map the entire neuronal connections of the person, then the use different hueristics to have a baseline of neuronal function, and translate that, with multiple algorithms to change this interaction of virtual neurons into short algorithms, or into lines of code. The main problems with this is ethics and technology. I theorize that even when you "compress" a human mind in such a way, the product, simply a human mind with a different translation, will still not run in the fastest computer today. This is because of space. The average human memory is currently thought to be around two petabytes. To put this in perspective, it is one thousand terabytes, or one million gigabytes. Even though the amount of memory used in most people certainly isn't this large, but the amount already used in even a young child most be extraordinary. Now to ethics. Of course, people are going to have issues about this. Is that upload still a person? Or are they simply a copy, or worse a artifice? The list goes on and on. Then their is the problem of the mind-body relation. In many circles, it is believed that the body is intrinsicly connected to the consciousness. As in, the consciousness without the body is absurd, sort of like having software just there, in space with no hardware to be attached to, virtual or physical. I agree, but since this is probably correct, what do we make for them? A physical body possibly a robot or even a organic clone with an attachment for their download, or do they not even need that, and we could simply give them anything, as long as they express action in some shape or form? But I think through trial and err, and horrible, horrible mistakes, eventually all of these problems will be destroyed. Its only a matter of time.
       

11/22/63

9/9-Literacy Narrative-40 mins
9/10-11/22/63-1 hr
9/11-11/22/63-40 mins
9/12-11./22/63-30 mins
9/13-11/22/63-10 mins
9/14-11/22/63-1 hr

     I have just finished 11/22/63, and the critics are right, it is fantastic. The whole story, the time travel the characters,the plot, all together are awesome.The main character Jake Epping is believable and like most people.But he is in an unusual situation.Reality's falling apart, and every time he goes, residue is left. But in the end the story has a lot to do with him, his life and the world. His own psychology is,as Stephen King usually does, is both complex yet believable.His own issues with his love life, society, personal quibbles,all only helped keep my interest.
    I would love to read this story again and again. Stephen King has made a fantastic novel, that truly speaks to his great writing style. Anyone who reads this book, in my opinion will love it. Its characters, plot line, dialogue- while I'm being rather redundant you understand my point. This book, if you read it, will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

Literacy Narrative

I've already written the draft but here's the first paragraph:

Life, Death, and 1984

              I still remember when I first found it.

It was in the summer, about a year and a half ago, at the Governor’s Program for Gifted Children. I was in writing class and I had already finished my assignment, and the ennui was growing in me. Then this book caught my eye. It was on an old, oiled bookcase, next to Animal Farm and Republic, just quietly there, nothing signaling its significance. But reading has always been an avid passion of mine, and I pulled the book from the shelf, so I could see the cover. White, but slightly off shade, not easily named. It had a very large cold blue iris in its center, with a small black pupil. I red, the year “1984” ran through the iris, almost overshadowing the pupil.

I hope you like it.

Reading Respone -11/22/63

9/4-Dune Messiah-1hr
9/5-Dune Messiah-10 min
9/6-Dune Messiah-1 hr
9/7-Dune Messiah-30 min


     11/23/63 by Stephen King,so far is shaping up to be one of the best books I have ever read.The main character is Jake Epping, a teacher in Libson Falls,Maine. Al Templeton who runs a diner, shows him a way to travel back to September 9, 1958, at exactly 11:58 a.m., every time. But here's the kicker: Al wants Jake to save John F. Kennedy. On November 23,1963. Jake agrees of course, but the two don't consider some the worse possibilities in changing history.
    I think that the effects of them attempting to screw with history will either destroy the universe or make a worse future than we currently live in.This book is an extraordinary page-turner and I can't wait to find out what all of this does to history.

Response

    Thank you Dr.D for your comments. They have helped me amend my blog-writing process, and I hope that your comments will continue to help me improve.Your comments about my reading responses have allowed me to reconsider different ways I write them, and they have helped greatly. Your comments have highlighted many of the issues in my writing
    I am delighted for all the help that has been given to me, and hope that I will continue to recieve more.  Does a believe in something beyond the self lead to a need to pray? Might people believe in something that doesn't require praying?-Dr.D I personally think that societies, when believing in a deity/ies are drawn towards worship of that object or idea.Though it is true that people could believe in something you don't need to pray to that still can be considered.

Last Light

              Hours ago, the sun had began to sink, and I had began to look around. As it got darker, the sky took up a hue, as if the beautiful paints of nature had leaked into the sky, and as for the first time there were no lights to see by, and I saw something far more beautiful. Purples, reds, oranges yellows, I was mesmerized by the multiple colors. And in this framed by the setting sun's last light the forest next to the house gained types of green I'd never seen before, or at least never noticed. Then shadows began to gather inside and the last light of the sun leeched the sky, darker ochre, maroon, and indigo took hold. Then as finally the edges began to darken to a heartless, cold, black, I stared into the sky until last light, until the darkness over took my surroundings.Then all became unseen.

Reading Response-Dune Messiah

         8/27-Dune-10mins
         8/28-Jesus Incident-1 hour
         8/29-Jesus Incident-1 hour
         8/30-Jesus Incident-30 mins
         8/31-Dune Messiah-2 hours


          Dune Messiah  , the second book in the Dune series is shaping up to be a fantastic book. It is also by Frank Herbert, and is a magnificent piece of science fiction. This book is about Paul Muad'dib now the Emperor and his struggles to fight against his fate, and the plot to kill him. I love science fiction and Frank Herrbert's literary style speaks to me.
          One of my favorite quotes so far, as each chapter is started with one, is "There exists no seperation between gods and men; one blends softly into the other."This is fascinating in its religous implication at least in my opinion. In just 36 pages I've been puzzled, entertained, and horrified at the same time. To me, this book will be one of political intrigue and murder, that will entrance any reader that picks it up.
        My own prediction is that Paul will be attacked, but in the end good will when like it always does in stories.