TwN and just add water

Through Twelfth Night and the movie "just add water," many similarities can be made. For example the relationships between characters. Also the drugs that are presented in both pieces. In Twelfth Night, music is seen as a drug because of its enticing trance that the people of Illyria fall under. In the movie "just add water" many people in the town of Trona are addicted to meth.

Mark Smith, “Animacules and Other Little Subjects”

Mark Smith is extremely passionate about the microscopic world. He has devoted his time to animalcules and takes great pleasure in observing them. Unfortunately for Smith, the passion he has is not shared by anybody in his family. Smith's niece states how what her uncle is doing is interesting but only for the moment. From this article it seems as though Smith is possibly the only person he knows that is interested in this wonder. Alongside his family, not even scientist are interested in animalcules.

Phelan: How We Evolve

In Benjamin Phelan's article "How We Evolve," he carefully explains the self-centeredness that humans portray. He believes that as a whole, human beings will soon be extinct because we will be unable to adapt to the drastic change in our environment and the change in climate. The article explains the many different adaptations that humans have gone through throughout time. For instance we have evolved mentally and physically and because of these evolutions we have been able to adapt to our new surroundings and become highly knowledgeable about them. The debate that goes on between scientist and researchers is whether or not it was the science of evolution or some sort of higher power that put us on Earth. Because Phelan believes humans are self-centered we lack the proper mentality to think ahead about what we are doing now and how those actions will effect future generations.

John Broome: "The Ethics of Climate Change"

John Broome, author of "The Ethics of Climate Change," brings up a good point about humans today. His main point is that our society today needs to take responsibility for what is going to happen tomorrow. There are so many things that we know about climate change, such as the causes and effects of it but we have yet come to the understanding of what exactly we should do about it. Broome reiterates the fact that it is our job as today's society to educate ourselves and change our ways so that there is something left for future generations.

In this article, Broome explains the sudden increase in natural disasters that have hit the planet. There have been a tremendous amount of earthquakes that have rattled Earth. Because of all of these earthquakes there has been changes in the Earth's crust which results in more and more earthquakes following each other. The change in climate temperatures has resulted in glaciers melting, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods. In Iceland a volcano erupted which caused dismay for travelers. Most of this climate change can be blamed on global warming. These facts reiterate Broome's original standpoint which is that there are things we already know about climate change but there are still so many more things that we have yet to fully understand.

Another contributing factor to the climate change is us; human beings. We buy, use, and sell so many products that are harmful to the environment yet we continue to use them. "In going about our daily lives, each of us causes greenhouse gases to be emitted. Driving a car, using electric power, buying anything whose manufacture or transport consumes energy -- all those activities generate greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change."(12) Society as a whole over indulges ourselves with things that we do not need. Our mentality needs to change and redirect our minds to buying and using things that aren't harmful to the environment.

Writing Center

For me, going to the writing center was an essential part of my essay writing. When I met with Jen I had a lot of jumbled thoughts and a lot of different ideas. The conversation we had allowed me to piece together all of my thoughts and ideas into a cohesive outline for my paper. She explained to me her point of view of the sonnet and how she thought it would relate back to the play. Once I got her perspective on things, then my thoughts started to take over. Overall the writing center was extremely helpful.

Need to Know Questions

1. What happened to the town of Trona?
2. How did Dirk and his friends come to be in power?
3. What is the box that he keeps opening in the car?
4. How does the empty supermarket manage to feed all of the people in the town of Trona?
5. Why does Ray remain married to his wife if clearly he is unhappy?
6. What happened to Ray's wife?

A Writer

A writer is somebody that has the ability to convey their thought and speech onto paper, blogs, etc. A writer is somebody that is able to transform what they think or what they say into something that people can read. I think I am a writer simply for the fact that nothing I say or think makes sense, but as soon as I being writing everything flows and makes sense.

Just Add Water

At one point in time, there was water. Water is essential to the product to make it whole, but just how essential is it?

Excess Greed and Waste

Excess waste or greed looks like that one uncle during Thanksgiving who keeps going back for seconds, and thirds and fourths. He doesn't realize that there isn't a surplus of food and there are a lot of other people that want to eat. This selfish mentality is exactly what excess waste and greed looks like. Your uncle will eat and eat and eat, making a huge mess along the way. A mess that he will not be forced to clean up.

“Collaborative Learning and the Conversation of Mankind”

To better help students understand the material they are learning comes the technique of collaborative learning. Collaborative learning is when two or more people learn together and collaborate ideas. In the article "Collaborative Learning and the Conversation of Mankind," Kenneth A. Brufee states how many students did not want to receive offered help on their work. "These programs failed because undergraduates refused to use them. Many solutions to this problem were suggested and tried, then mandated programs that forced students to accept help they evidently did not want." It is pointless to force somebody to do something they do not want to do. I would suggest that these schools show the students the consequences of not asking questions to things they do not understand.

Collaborative learning is an excellent idea to help students learn to their full potential. By working with other students, one gathers different ideas and perspectives from different people to work with and form their own judgement. Having an array of different ideas allows room for broadening ones own horizons and seeing things from another point of view. Not only will this aid in the educational side of learning, but also the social. Working with another peer instead of a superior such as a teacher will allow the students to feel more comfortable. It will also take the pressure off of them so that they can fully express their ideas and not worry about saying the wrong thing.

Communication is a very essential tool to learning and understanding. The article states "To the extent that thought is internalized conversation, then, any effort to understand how we think requires us to understand the nature of conversation; and any effort to understand conversation requires us to understand the nature of community life that generates and maintains conversation." Having a basic conversation with another person is an easy way to broaden ones horizons. Such ideas as collaborative learning and peer tutoring makes learning and understanding material that much easier.

Hass and Jones

Both Haas and Jones' poems demonstrate how language is a slippery vehicle. The usage of the words presented in each of the poems shows nature in the making. In Rodney Jones' poem Hubris at Zunzal he says "No image like the image of language." Words are used to present an image in the readers head. Each and every word holds a power influence over whomever is reading them. Both of these authors use the imagery of language to portray their different ideas. For Robert Haas, the lack of language paints a more vivid image for the reader. As much as he tries to describe in essence how beautiful the trees are, he cannot find the proper word to describe them. Haas and Jones present the same idea from opposite sides of the spectrum. On one side, Haas' side, language is a slippery vehicle because there are somethings in life that cannot be described solely using words. On the other end of the spectrum is Jones who presents the idea that language provides its own sense of imagery.

Shakespeare Concordance

The data I retrieved was found in Act II and Act IV. The context at which Shakespeare the particular theme of sport is when they are referring to the game of love.

The data I retrieved supports my first thoughts on Shakespeare's obsessive use of the particular image doesn't necessarily relate back to my initial thought about sport. When I hear the word, I thought of physical activity and competition; but reading more into it, Shakespeare uses figuration to support sport into a game of love and a competition between people to win the heart of another.

Quote 3

Viola: Then think you right. I am not what I am.
Olivia: I would you were as I would have you be. (III.i.148-9)

Olivia is professing her love for Cesario, but he isn't returning the favor because underneath the disguise, it is Viola. The line Viola says can be taken two ways; as she is not in love with Olivia or that she isn't really the man she thinks she is. This almost seems as a desperate plea made by Olivia because she so desperately wants Cesario to love her back. She wants the feelings she feels for him to be separated, but they are not. Cesario is just the mess anger of the man that truly loves Olivia, yet Olivia ends up falling for Cesario instead.

Quote 2

Malvolio: ...and yet to crush it a little, it would bow to me... (II.v.1434-145)

This quote takes place while Malvolio is reading the letter that was supposedly from Olivia. He is so blinded by his own ego that in this quote he is trying to convince himself that this letter was actually meant for him. Malvolio over analyzed this letter to fit his want, which is that Olivia is falling in love with him. By the end of reading this letter, Malvolio is truly convinced that Olivia is in love with him just as much as he is in love with her.

Quote 1

Viola: I Am the man. (II.ii.25)


This is when Viola confesses that she is a man and truly realizes the consequences of her disguise. Essentially, Viola is the man that Olivia wants because Olivia has fallen in love with the disguise that Viola has put on. The love that Viola has for Orsino is just as hopeless as the love Olivia has for her because they both think that she is actually a man.

inkshed

"If you will not undo what you have done - that is, kill him whom you have recovered - deceive is not." (I.i.35)

Sebastian is expressing to Antonio that he doesn't need to be sorry for the bad service he has given, but more that he must own what is his as over and irreversible. Antonio is the person who saved Sebastian and he is basically saying that unless he is going to undo that he saved him in the shipwreck, he must kill him or leave. Antonio will not allow Sebastian to leave because he finds Sebastian's idea to be foolish and if not dangerous.

Free write

For me, writing the small object/large subject essay was a learning experience. Before writing this paper I hadn't truly considered what a product suchas Red Bull says about American society. I began to do research on Red Bull and the health risks that were presented with it, and I truly learned a lot. Granted I was up until a very early hour in the morning writing my paper, it had crossed my mind a couple of times to grab a Red Bull to keep me awake. The health facts that come with Red Bull genuinely made me scared and nervous considering how much I drank Red Bull prior to writing this paper. When asked the question "what does the widespread availabilty of this product say about American society," I truly had to dig deep and without bias answer the question. As I answered the question supported by numerous evidence, I began to realize that I am one of the statistics presented in the evidence and as much as I wanted to count myself out, I fall deep into what the product says about American society. Overall, I am quite pleased with the job I did on writing this paper and the amount of knowledge I learned.

Unanswered Questions

1. What is the tragedy that Olivia survived, yet her brother didn't?
2. Who is Maria?
3. What is every ones relationship to one another?
4. Why cant Olivia love Orsino?
5. Does the Fool just appear once or does he show up more throughout the play?
6. How can Olivia fall in love so easily while mourning her brother?

Abstract "Taking Wildness in Hand: Rescuing Species"

In the article "Taking Wildness in Hand: Rescuing Species," Michelle Nijhuis presents the ever so popular topic of global warming and its importance as a serious issue we need to face. Nijhuis writes of Connie Barlow who is a naturalist and writer. Nijhuis writes of Barlows encounter with Torreya State Park in Florida. Nijhuis begins to talk about a tree, the Torreya taxifolia, that was abundant and native to the state but due to global warming no longer grows as much and is slowly beginning to die off. What causes such a thing to happen? According to Nijhuis, a mixture of the changes in temperature, climate, and an over abundance of certain animals have contributed to the fall of this tree. In whole, one might look at this article and think of the small picture, the tree, and fail to realize that the tree is just a small metaphor for what is happening in the world. The changes in climate that the world goes through daily is Nijhuis' central point in referencing the tree. To further support her claim, Nijhuis presents evidence of the change that affects the whole globe.

Abstract Virtual Iraq

Sue Halpern's story of Travis Boyd in "Virtual Iraq" provides an insightful look into the problems and recovery of the men and women that fight for our country everyday. Once a solider returns home from their deployment, many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or P.T.S.D. like Boyd. This disorder "is characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive and uncontrollable thoughts, as well as by emotional detachment, numbness, jumpiness, anger, and avoidance." What Virtual Iraq does, is target and try to fix the psychological problems that these soldiers have suffered from. The focus of this experiment isn't necessarily to make these soldiers forget about the memories but to eliminate things in their everyday life that can trigger the fear and panic they felt. This is not the first time this program has been used, and the soldiers from Iraq are not the first to experience this treatment. Doctors have used programs such as Virtual Vietnam for Vietnam veterans and Virtual W.T.C for the people that suffered from P.T.S.D after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers. Boyd, who was hesitant when first asked to be involved in the Virtual Iraq trial claimed that the first thing he noticed after the Virtual Iraq exposure therapy was that "he was able to sleep without medication. He was more relaxed and he could joke around." Boyd then goes on to express to Halpern about the two people he felt he was and the change back to the one person he was before his P.T.S.D. After reading this article, the logical thing to do would seem to be to expose the hundreds of thousands of soldiers suffering the same P.T.S.D to Virtual Iraq. The least the American people can do is to help the people that are keeping us safe on a daily basis.

Abstract High-Tech trash

In the article "High-Tech Trash" written by Chris Carroll, Carroll explains to the reader the post-use of the electrical waste that the United States discards. Such things as computers and televisions end up in landfills in such places as Ghana, Africa. Not only does our electrical waste end up in the landfills, but dangerous chemicals and e-waste which come from these electronics is doing more damage to the health of the people of this country than the electronics are doing to the landfills. America's development in new technologies is a contributing factor to all the waste that is being discarded. The fascination and want for the newest technologies is causing more and more electronics to be thrown away. The waste of Americans has become a job for young Israel Mensah,his family and other members of the community. Their job is to go to the landfills, collect the scraps of electronics and burn them. On some occasions they will take the scraps and buy others. In the process of burning these materials, these people are breaking parts that contain hazardous chemicals. Despite the serious health effects that these people are suffering from, they continue to do this. Year after year, Americans continue to dump their waste into other nations. According to this article, "In the United States, it is estimated that more than 70 percent of discarded computers and monitors, and well over 80 percent of TVs, eventually end up in landfills, despite a growing number of state laws that prohibit dumping of e-waste." If there are laws that are prohibiting this form of littering, why do Americans continue to do it? There is no way this situation can get better unless the people of Ghana speak up and the Americans find other ways to dispose of their trash.

small object, large object

If we are what we consume, then the availability and widespread popularity of such products as Red Bull says a lot about contemporary American society. The energy drink provides a false sense of alertness made for the fast paced American lifestyle.

Red Bull is a not so safe alternative for the people that don't drink coffee. Although this product does provide energy, the crash after the run is not worth having. Red Bull provides something like a bipolar effect; meaning while drinking the product, you are full of life and energy, but after all of that wares off, you are left feeling drained and weary. From personal experience this has happened plenty of times, yet the addicting quality of the product keeps me coming back. Wether it is the extra boost of energy before an exam or I need to stay awake for a long drive back home, Red Bull is what I turn to.

At one point in time there was discussion about removing Red Bull from the shelves of stores for medical reasons. People were suffering from heart attacks following drinking Red Bull. Like other energy drinks, Red Bull has an excess amount of sugar thus causing heart problems. Red Bull's main promotion slogan is that it gives you wings. The metaphorical aspect of this slogan makes one feel as though they are invincible. Flying is a "super power" that most people crave; it presents a feeling of being on top of the world, and that is exactly how the makers of this product get the attention of consumers.

Although Red Bull may not be the healthiest of drinks on the market, American consumers keep demanding it. What this says about contemporary American society is that we do not value sleep or health and are willing to put energy drinks above that. This might come as a contradiction because there are many diet pills and foods out there, yet Americans are willing to deprive themselves of sleep and drink Red Bull as an alternative. The makers of this product assume that as long as there are those people who are staying up trying to get work done, or truck drivers driving cross-country, their product will remain in high demand.

Argument -- Is Google Making Us Stupid.

In the argumentive paper, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?," Nicholas Carr proposes that the simplicity of finding information on the Internet has thus turned this generation of people into people whom are impatient and are no longer able to sit for a long period of time and do something constructive. "Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages. I get fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do. I feel as if I'd always dragging my wayward brain back to the text. The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle." Not only does Carr feel as though he has lost focus when things don't come as easily as they do when searching on google, he also states that some of his friends and acquaintances -- "literary types, most of them" -- are also faced with the same problem. This new development in technology has turned our generation into people that are lazy and spoiled. Once a generation able to sit down and read lengthy works has been subdued to the convenience of google and many other popular search engines. In Carr's article he doesn't find it necessary to go into detail as to what Google is or what it is used for. The simple fact that he can just state what it is and further his thesis with evidence supporting the convenience of Google further emphasizes his point, which is Google is making us stupid.

Is Google Making Us Dumb

In the article "Is Google Making Us Stupid," many points were made and thereafter justified with evidence. One point in particular stood out to me; Maryanne Wolf said that "we are not only what we read, we are how we read." Immediately I thought of the great change and development between my generation and the ones that came before mine. When Wolf references "we are how we read," I believe she is referencing our claim as the technology generation. The drastic change and upgrade in technology has made information of all sorts easily accessible. I don't believe google is making us dumb, I just think that it is providing information to a generation of people who are used to the fast pace of the world. the accessibility of the information provided on google is just trying to keep up with the times in which we live in. The world isn't the same place it was twenty years ago, let alone ten years ago -- so as the times change, so does the technology, information, and the way we access that information.