This Post Will Make Us All Believe

   At the heart of this song there seems to be a yearning or a desire to escape back to childhood innocence. Upon first hearing the song, I was intrigued by the melody and simple lyrics; it wasn't until I actually questioned the artists intent that I began seeing the deeper meaning of Adam Young's lyrics. The song starts by telling us we would "not believe" our eyes, a statement that suggests the song will cover some sort of fantastic occurrence. Then the song progresses into a dream like quality. The speaker actually speaks of fireflies as if they were surrounded by them, but I can't help believe the fireflies are supposed to stand for a specific event or situation. Hence the question: Who would catch fireflies?The song speaks about the innocence of youth and how quickly that innocence escapes us.  The answer: innocent children.  We are all forced to give up our childhood too soon.

   The chorus says "I'd LIKE to make myself believe" suggesting a desire of something that can not be completely accomplished. The speaker wants to believe earth moves slowly; if he can't believe that simple statement, it must mean the opposite is true--planet Earth spins much too fast. In other words, time passes by much too quickly. The speaker then talks about the desire to remain to remain in that dream trance instead of waking up to reality, because within that dream trance is the innocence of youth. An innocence and naivety that allows a simple act--catching fireflies--to become a magical excursion into a wonderland of possibility and adventure. The point of the song seems to speak about the need to hold onto and embrace (maybe even slip back into) our child hood innocence so the reality of growing up does not completely take away the magic and joy the world has to offer. We need more fireflies and rooms full of toys (video) to keep our lives simple and innocent.

    Everyone, young or old, wish that they can be young and innocent forever. I think that kids my age(14) want to grow up so fast but after hearing this song and falling in love with it, I can truly say that I wish I can be that same little kid who caught fireflies in the summer. People don't appreciate age enough and if everyone had a chance to go back, they would. When you're small, you have no worries, responsibility, and your only job is to have fun, again, the toys in the video. Life is too short and every moment counts. Sometimes we all need a break and live up every moment because one day you'll wake up and all the young years we have or had will be all gone and then what. I want to leave you with the want and desire to treasure every second of youth.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psuRGfAaju4

Posting in 4 different w4y

 In the magazine Wired, the article "Use your Own Words", by Anne Trubeck, is about text talk that can over run the english language. We know the word "later" but it has dramatically turned into a word you need to say aloud to understand as "l8er".This article shows the battle between proper spelling all the time versus using our "text talk" in school and official documents. But who shld tell us how 2 spel correctly 1n our own 1ives? I have to say that it doesn't matter. If you want to get graded down on an ELA essay or casually talk to your friend in another classroom, go for it. I think you should use it if you already know how to spell properly as most do already. But the difference is whether you know it by heart.

I wouldn't accept a grade schooler using this language because I don't believe he/she doesn't know the english language well enough to use it. I've been writing for a long time and I still try to use it too much. I also think it's part of your character how much, when, and where you use it. The quote,"English spelling is a mess anyway, full of arbitrary contrivances and exceptions that out-number rules..." "...What is the logic behind the ough,in through, dough, and cough?" I completely agree with it. So, why shouldn't people get to use "text talk".

People write with consistent spelling just to ensure clarity. Since everyone is now writing differently, shouldn't spelling change, too? What would happen if almost all consistence spelling disappeared in the screens of phones, computer, facebook, and twitter? People are always twisting things for them to be faster and more convenient. I think people will use "text talk" more and it will really influence other things that inspired it. So I ask you, does it influence your life and things around you?

Art in a Deeper Post

   In this painting of Frida Kahlo on the border of Mexico and American, it tells me that she feels in between the choice of home & a better life. It is as if she doesn't know which way to go. But it shows the difference between America's industrialization and Mexico's rural country side with the old temple in the background. She also gives hints of she is toward Mexico a little more because her arms are crossed with the Mexican flag facing Mexico.
   She may be toward Mexico because there is the flag as said before and she is wearing a dress that would look Hispanic rather than an American dress. Another thing is that her head is facing Mexico and the cigarette in her hand is toward America which can show that America is industrialized and polluting. But in several Frida Kahlo portraits, she has a cigarette in one hand but it may be toward America completely intentional.
    I can't personally connect with this exactly but I feel the same way with Poland. When ever I go there, I fun a lot of fun but yet, it is all planned. If I lived there, I wouldn't have nearly as much fun I would have in the states with friends. So reality is that if I was living in America, my life would be better. Frida Kohla spent a good time in the states because of this reason.



http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_299334/Frida-Kahlo/Self-Portrait-On-The-Borderline-Between-Mexico-And-The-United-States-1932

Nomination Day!!!!!

   I nominate Nathan Chakerian's blog because his post about aspergers blew my mind. I think it was great how his intro hooked me to read the rest without having that bored feeling to do this just for a homework grade. I thought how I would feel if my friend has aspergers and I didn't know it. I feel like he speaks to the audience in a way.

http://chackerian.blogspot.com/

American Born Post

   In American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang, I've noticed even in the beginning of the book that acceptance is a theme. The Monkey King rules all on his own little island but when he goes to the heavens for a dinner party, he announces his presence that he's the Monkey King and that he mastered the 4 disciplines of Kung-Fu. He isn't even let in because he didn't have shoes. At that point, I saw that acceptance can also change a person because after that, for began thriving for acceptance.
    He mastered the 12 disciplines of Kung-Fu and got his acceptance through force and power. I can also see that in a real world situation. A kid can feel bad that a "clique" didn't accept him/her and "rise" up against them. This theme is also being carried out later in the story when a little Chinese that moves to a new city and also wants acceptance but doesn't. He does the opposites of the Monkey King, nothing. This may be a pointless book but it does show a theme that everyone wants.
   Acceptance is everywhere. Whether it's a new kid at a new school or a late homework that a kid did the period before. It's an everyday day issue that this book shows it a lot. People don't realize but it can change a person's personality if it's sad and depressed or make them have anger and fury against the people that hurt them. 

The Post of the Flies

   I've notice the Jack in the book The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, tries to take control of the group even though Ralph was elected chief. He is ignorant and selfish and wants all the power. He thinks that all because his dad put him as head singer to the choir, he can take control of the majority survivors. Jack needs to learn that you can't always be on top of the pyramid just because you want to.
   As lead singer of the choir, I can see why he would do that. The other choir boys must have looked up to Jack as the leader but also because he showed savageness in a minor way before they really did. If I was in Jack's position as leader, I can't say that I wouldn't do the same. Jack isn't completely wrong for doing that but I don't agree with it all the way because it is unfair for the future hunters, Ralph, Piggy, and all of the other survivors.
  Jack isn't really fit to be a leader because Ralph show better leadership from the beginning hen he came up with the meeting and a way to get off the island. Ralph was also able to maintain self-control when almost no one else can and that was a huge factor to their survival on the island. They would spend all day looking for the "beast" and killing pigs and that's why I like Ralph a lot better over Jack because he had standards and showed a lot better leadership, too.

  In Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle, Robin expresses cleverness and he is definitely not greedy. He uses his cleverness to take from the greedy and give to the needy. The sheriff of Nottingham has a personal problem with Robin because he killed a man that was related to the sheriff so he wrote a warrant. The tinker, carrier of the warrant, befriended Robin not knowing it was himself. They drank in a tavern and the tinker fell asleep and Robin took the warrant. He showed great cleverness in not getting caught.
   In a way I admire Robin Hood in the way that he does good for the less fortunate and has "street smarts" like how he took advantage of the Tinker because he didn't know that the warrant was on him, Robin Hood. He was also very clever when he disguised himself for a archery competition that the sheriff made as a trap to capture Robin.  He is the jelly of a pb & j sandwich thats makes the story complete.
    If I lived in that era, I would really want to be the merry Robin Hood. He's the hero of the story that fights for the love of a maiden. His "street smarts", cleverness, and unselfishness add to the great, strong character everyone loves (except the sheriff).