questions, comments

I don't have any currently


A Feast for Crows- 11/12= 60 mins
A Feast for Crows- 11/13 = 30 mins
Red Queen-11/14 = 70 mins 
A Feast for Crows- 11/15 = 40 mins
Lord of the Flies-11/16= 50 mins

Reading times

A Storm of Swords- 11/12= 60 mins,
Red Queen-11/ 13= 80 mins
A Storm of Swords- 11/14= 30 mins
Lord of the Flies-11/15= 45 mins
I choose this week to use my pass.

A nice joke

 Heard a joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says "But, doctor...I am Pagliacci." Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains. Fade to black.
This is a joke by Rorschach, and the only literal written joke of the graphic novel Watchmen, the menaing of this joke is interesting because its a window into the dark humor of this  disturbed vigilante.

Watchmen-Reading Response

This week, along with White Cat, I read Watchmen and A Storm of Swords. All three, one a graphic novel, and the other two books are by fantastic authors, and was supremely interesting.

A Storm of Swords- 10/29= 60 mins

Watchmen- 10/30= 60 mins,

A Storm of Swords- 10/31= 75 mins, 

11/1= 45 mins

White Cat-11/2= 60 mins

  Watchmen, written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons, is one of the best stories I have ever read. It has a large selection of richly drawn and described characters, all too human. One of the most interesting characters is Rorschach, a man who believes himself to be an existentialist but actually is more of a fascist, which is never said explicitly, but is obvious by his words and actions. White Cat, by Holly Black, is an entertaining story with crazy parents and dysfunctional families, and a good book overall.

Reading Times and Annotations

The Mind Within The Net- 10/22= 60 mins
TMWTN-10/ 23= 20 mins
 Incomplete Nature- 10/17= 30 mins
Infreno- 10/18= 45 mins
Noise-10/19= 20 mins
Half Life- 10/ 20= 20 mins
Micro- 10/21= 60 mins
    The three short stories I have read are Sucker,Sniper, and The Kuglemass Episode. Each story had different points and different values all according to the author, and truthfully, I find no real interesting story that could lead me to a good thesis. The first story I read Sucker was about a boy named Carson McCullers, and how he mistreated a boy nicknamed Sucker. Sniper was a extremely descriptive short story with no dialogue, and pointless overall.The Kuglemass Episode was basicaly a story about a man who can't learn from a mistake, and a cabinet that allows you to enter novels.
    While each story was interesting, their is seemingly no point whatsoever to any of them. The only thing I can gather from these is entertainment, but I honestly don't believe that something that simplistic is wanted. If I had to choose, I would pick Sucker, because it had the most emotional impact.To start I guess the author is expressing his regret for his stupid,but human misplacement of anger and dissapointment on Sucker, the boy who idolized him, and his fear of the result. I will attempt to develop this thesis further, but I'd love to hear comments from anyone who can help.

Reading Times

Noise- 10/15= 60 mins,and 10/ 16= 20 mins, Half Life- 10/17= 30 mins,White Mars- 10/18= 45 mins, Noise-10/19= 20 mins,Half Life- 10/ 20= 20 mins, Life Of Pi- 10/21= 60 mins

Character Development

  In Harrison Bergeron, the author, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., does a great job of developing his characters, using them to symbolize politcal problems. George Bergeron, the father,is has above average intelligence, but accepts his society is the way it is, and believes it is better the way it was before. While the character is not depicted in ridiculous amounts of detail beyond his subservient reaction to the government's way of control, it still gets part of the message through. Hazel, George's wife is entirely average, and cannot keep a single continuous thought in her head. Even though she grieves for her son for a moment, she can't remember a moment later. Diana Moon Glampers the  Handicapper General, shows what I believe was a purposeful display of skill shooting down the ballerina and Harrison with a shotgun-not exactly easy. I think Kurt was trying to say the government was unhandicapped and powerful.
 I feel that this observation matters because he used the characters behavior to express an idea possibly a critique of a government he lived under, or that existed in his time

General procedures, etc.

General procedures
  Every day, I've brought pencils, coming prepared, checking for assignments and every other requirement.
Lecture, announcements, whole class discussion
  I've always listened during class and tried to speak at appropriate times. I due admit a small percentage of the time I have been distracted by side conversation, but not to any great extent.
Individual and Group Work
  In both group and individual work I have tried to work to my fullest potential, and I hope hve made good contributions to the groups I have been apart of.
Growth
 In the section of improvement, I could definitely improve my blogging skills, try to extend the length of my blogs, and improve their quality in general. I suppose one plan of action would be to try to pay more attention tothe requirement that are posted, and do my best to follow them.

Reading Times

10/1 Clash of Kings 1hr 66pg
10/2 Clash of Kings 2hr 130pg
10/3 Clash of Kings 1hr 67pg
10/4 Clash of Kings 1hr 60pg
10/5 Clash of Kings 1hr 68pg

I am a writer who

I am a writer who loves to read, even when it interferes with work. Likes to daydream. Believes that ethics are not objective. Tries to understand the world in analytical terms. Wonders if fate exists. Wants to build an artificial intelligence. Wonders if Plato's transcendent forms are real. Hopes humanity won't destroy itself. Wants to travel the world. Does not believe in the Cartesian Ego.

Why The World Exists-Reading Response

   9/24-V for Vendetta 30 mins-40 pg
    9/25-V for Vendetta 25 mins- 60 pg
    9/26-Why the World Exists 1 hr 80 pg
    9/27-Why the World Exists 50 mins 70 pgs
    9/28-Why the World Exsts 1 hr 85 pg

   Why the World Exists: An Existential Detective Story, by Jim Holt is the book I decided to read instead of the Reckoning, and while I finished this Sunday, it has greatly changed my view of the world.The author Jim Holt, goes through his travels to different philosophers in different parts of the world to learn about mankind's most vexing question Why is there Something rather than Nothing?(question:his exact words). He shows off many explanations, like simplicity, God, brute fact, closed spherical space of zero radius, all known explanations. He even goes off track with the self and whether it exists.
   By the end of the story, I was both depressed and optimistic.I realized that no matter what solution is correct, or even if there's not a solution, all we'll ever be doing is grasping at straws to calm our minds. But, at the same time I was happy. Even though God is unnecessary to explain the world, there's no evidnece for anything to say some kind of deity doesn't (or does) exist. My own decision is more about what brings me peace than what is actually correct. For all we know a dancing monkey came from the void and clapped his cymbals together and it made everything. Why care?

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.

In Defense of God: An Agnostic Manifesto

      A school like Episcopal is rare these days and children need to pray. I say this not because He's real or not, but because when a child can't lean on friends, or family they can believe whether or not its true that someone cares they exist.I would hate to offend but if I do, comment in a reasoned fashion.

     First off, I say religion is what allows for some to have moral stability. This is because many people only follow rules because they fear hell.Its sad but people don't always do things for good.If God isn't real then whey not cheat?
    Second, many people can lose their hold on life if not for religion. Everyone wants to believe in something, and without it most go down into the emotional abyss.A great example is cancer victims, victims of drug abuse, and simply people who were dealt a bad hand in life.All these people can try to kill themselves already, and I think it would be worse if they didn't believe in a deity of some kind.
     A third, in all honesty humanity will always believe in something. Whether it be a person, or thing, or even themselves.We all must believe we're special in some way. Its a pinciple that just doesn't die. There's always a soul, or at least consciousness somewhere inside of us.