Music Album Review: OneRepublic's Dreaming Out Loud Album

           This was not a hard one for me to decide. I just love OneRepublic's songs, and I have the whole album on my iPod Touch. I would listen to it every day (before my iPod got stolen) for up to 2 hours. It was released in November of 2007, and the critics do not rate it so well, according to Wikipedia, but I for one love the album. The album itself has 12 songs, the most famous of which (and probably my favorite song ever) is Apologize, in which Ryan Tedder has a solo. The song is about someone trusting and loving someone, and that person breaking their heart. The singer poured his whole heart into loving the person, but something went wrong, and the "rope" he is holding onto is precarious and then his love cuts it. She apologizes later, but it is to late to repair the damage. Later, he points out he still loves her and would like to be with her, but she has broken his heart too many times. As time goes on, he is more weary and loves her less, unsure he can trust her. He thinks of the love they had, and regrets what happened. The melody is slow,and there are some string instruments involved, as well as a piano, among other things (not the best at deciphering instruments). The other songs have similar themes of love, and are also beautiful.

The other songs in the album are:

 

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Say (All I Need)"	Andrew Brown, Zach Filkins, Eddie Fisher, Brent Kutzle, Ryan Tedder[10][11]	3:50
2.	"Mercy"	Brown, Tedder	4:00
3.	"Stop and Stare"	Brown, Filkins, Fisher, Tim Myers, Tedder	3:43
4.	"Apologize"	Tedder	3:28
5.	"Goodbye, Apathy"	Tedder	3:32
6.	"All Fall Down"	Brown, Filkins, Fisher, Kutzle, Tedder	4:04
7.	"Tyrant"	Brown, Filkins, Tedder	5:03
8.	"Prodigal"	Jerrod Bettis, Brown, Filkins, Myers, Tedder	3:55
9.	"Won't Stop"	Brown, Filkins, Fisher, Kutzle, Tedder	5:03
10.	"All We Are"	Myers, Tedder	4:28
11.	"Someone to Save You"	Fisher, Myers, Tedder	4:15
12.	"Come Home"	Tedder	4:27

Winter Poem: Chicago Winter (12-15-11)

           Snowflakes cascade from the sky in millions, latching on to outdoor Christmas decorations like a baby monkey clings to her mother, as well as on the ground, forming a military that can only be surmounted by the sun in its bright glory. Lights in a plethora of hues are strewn across the dark city, icicles are glued to people's noses, the brutal wind penetrates the pores, rendering them useless. The cold temperatures send sharp knife-like spikes into the human body, carving it into a sculpture resembling a hunk of Swiss cheese, delicate and riddled with dozens of holes. The days flee in seemingly infinitesimal seconds, while the nights stretch on as the moors of England do, endless and dreary. Incessant sneezes and coughs chase each other in rapid succession without apology, stumbling after each other like tired schoolchildren. Blowing noses, "bless you," and "wash your hands!" add more noise to the chorus. Throngs of feet clad in Ugg boots rush to their destinations, bulldozing anyone crossing their paths-these people are the epitome of a perfect juggernaut. Shopping bags hang on people's arms like decorations on a Christmas tree. Stores are bombarded by people jousting for pieces of cheap plastic. Any breaths in the frosty air convert to an odd smoke that hangs above one's head, never quite leaving. Slush covers the street in a dirty gray blanket, concealing the new black pavement. Snow plows are out in force; protecting the world against the horrors of deep snow. Scarves are wrapped around the faces of passerby, which are therefore inscrutable.  But one cannot deny the agate blue sky witnessed in the fleeting day, the euphoria of receiving Christmas presents, the cavorting that comes with a snowball fight, the triumphant feeling of braving a blizzard, and of course, basking in your well heated home, awaiting the long winter days to come. But all things must come to an end, even Chicago winters.

12/12/11: Where did you go, J.D.?

            J.D. Salinger-legendary author of Catcher in the Rye (and other works) died last year a social recluse. What led him to become like this? Perhaps fame was simply "not his cup of tea." He thought the more precise his work became, the more removed he must be from the public eye. Fame was not his thing. He was not one of the many flamboyant peacocks that strut around on our tellys today: he was a sociopath. Even in Catcher in the Rye, Holden expresses  his deep hatred of Hollywood and its actors. An author's narrator usually reflects the opinion of the writer himself. This is probably the case in this scenario.  If it was me, I might have done the same thing as Salinger. I am not a strutting peacock. Also, he only "wrote for himself." Perhaps he had not wanted to publish his works for a while before he did.
           I really don't know what to think about J.D. Before today, I thought he was a genius. Now, I think he is a maniac. He married someone 40 years younger than him, had affairs with people like Joyce Maynard, was put down by his daughter Margaret in her book about him, stayed secluded in Cornish, NH, and had an interesting history with women. But with his great works, he is OK.
            How was Catcher in the Rye viewed in the 1950's? It was received well, but had more critics than his other works put together. Libraries have and still ban the book because of its sexual allusions, language, smoking, etc. When John Lennon was shot, the shooter had the novel in his pocket, making many skittish with efforts to ban the book at school. Still, many high schools teach it.
               So, what about popular culture? An example of the novel affecting culture is this: screw up became much more popular after the book. Many movies also allude to the book (Salinger refused to let the book become a theatrical adaption).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_references_to_the_novel_The_Catcher_in_the_Rye
http://www.shmoop.com/jd-salinger/recluse.html
http://www.amazon.com/review/R137WGUQSMZA5R/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R137WGUQSMZA5R

Direction this Class Needs:12-12-2011

                 I am of the opinion that this class is absolutely fine, maybe even perfect. It's always a good period to dive into. I think the discussions are the most interesting, with trusty Christian, Sohrob, and Kirkland always weighing in with something. Mr. McCarthy also has to be my favorite English teacher. He is very astute and entertaining, and really knows how to set the ball rolling. Hmm, but Sohrob is right in his blog. Not many kids really participate. Just a small cluster, a minority, really. Perhaps they are (OK, we) are just shy. Or tired. Or overwhelmed. Sometimes, I am all three. I mean, yes, Mr. McCarthy does his best, but in a class of that size, how many kids can really be reached? The only regret I have about this class is that I do not participate as much as I should. Otherwise, this is probably my favorite class.

Some people harp on about changing their teacher's style to make the class better, but I disagree. Mr. McCarthy is the epitome of an English teacher. He is very smart, excellent at facilitating discussions and an all around cool teacher to know. He has pretty good taste in books (who doesn't like The Road?) He has certainly piqued my interest in critical thinking.

OK, maybe I am not really shedding the whole story. I sometimes feel incompetent in English.

Holden Caulfield: The Onion Returns

So, after over two weeks of reading Catcher in the Rye, what may be deduced about Holden Vitamin Caulfield? It may be concluded that he is an onion--just like the rest of us! Yes, with his many layers of complexity, he is an onion. He is a complex human being who constantly teeters from ingeniousness to insanity, just like other humans. He is not encapsulated by any one thing. He is a chromous, exotic flower that blooms at night. Holden Caulfield may be a cussing, indifferent seeming teenager, but he has layers that have not been accounted for: he is the catcher in the rye. He rescues and protects the innocence of children so they will not be indoctrinated by phonies. Everyone has strong opinions about something, and Holden has a strong opinion about phonies, fakes who hunt down the real people. Holden refuses to acknowledge he is a phony, though. He criticizes other people based on intricate details as well, like some of us. But he also has principles. He defends Jane and then is beaten to a pulp by Stradlater. That takes real dedication. He also loves like us humans. He is a bit over the moon for Jane Gallagher, always holding hands with her in a friendly way and kissing her when she cries. Holden, like the rest of us, fights battles that occur inside him, and his faults and talents are inextricably intertwined to each other.

My Red Hunting Hat (not really)

 Holden Caulfield's trademark item is his red hunting hat with flaps on the side and a cap on the front. He is extremely attractive (and warm) when he wears it backwards, something not everyone can pull off (well, not the former part anyway). My own version of Holden Caulfield's hat is my purple furry trooper hat (Hint: looks Russian), which I lost last year. If I can recall accurately, that hat was like my shield (it protected me from the blizzard of 2011--I survived). I believe I lost it after the blizzard. So what happened was the hat gave me insight (I think better with it on, like Holden) and instead of just going home (I was on the 126 when the blizzard commenced), I did something I thought of as bold and heroic (even though I nearly froze the next day)-- I went with my best friend Khaalia to her house, which was around a mile from mine. We transferred to the next bus alright, albeit me almost being blown off the sidewalk trying to get on. It's when we left downtown that things soured. My hat's magical powers were obviously wearing off (for my friend and I would be like the hunted deer, not the hunters), because our bus broke down in the street. We transferred into another bus (tightest fit ever- were were packed like sardines) and we shacked up in Khaalia's house for the night. With my lucky hat, I was able to go home the next day, although I had to wait half an hour for my bus. Holden's hat made him stand out, and mine did as well. I was one of the few I saw wearing that kind of hat all winter.

11/25 Blog: Thankful for a Classmate

           For this blog, I decided to stray from the norm a little bit. I think there is no one person that makes this English II class dramatically better and more interesting than my other classes. It requires a mixture of different people from different places. I'd have to say that Kirkland Buchanan is definitely one VERY interesting person in our English class. With him in the mix, the class discussions immediately become more flavored. It is always interesting to hear what he has to say, even if I am at odds with him most of the time (albeit silently). But in our class, it is usually Kirkland who sets the ball rolling. Not all the time, though. There is also Sohrob Moslehi, who I am also often at odds with due to his controversial claims on religion. I am rather in awe of him and others, however. I had never saw a brain that could connect the dots so quickly (OK, except for Christian Cattan, who also has much to bring to the table of class discussions). Behind the scenes is my good classmate and locker partner Zainab Abdullah, who can always show me the other side of the story. It is also very nice to have Shaponi Nalls and Kionis Watts in my class. They always crack me up, in a good way of course. Of course, there are others in the class I would like to acknowledge, but for the sake of length, the blog stops here. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Road (by Cormac McCarthy): Commentary on Death (11-4-11)

       Death is a recurring theme in The Road. The topic itself is explored numerous times, with people constantly threatened with it in various instances throughout the award-winning novel (people struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic scenario, pitted against the forces of cannibalism, starvation, exposure to disease, etc.) A good example of this is when the father and son deliberately avoid the men in the truck, who they know are cannibals. They care more about their own survival than interacting with other people. This survivalistic situation that occurs throughout the book makes the father suspicious of most humans they encounter, and leads them to avoiding taking risks with other human beings. The son and the father also frequently discuss death, actually based off of frequent conversations the author had with his own son.

So, why even bother to include death in the story, when thousands of authors never bother to address the topic in their books? Well, McCarthy answered the question in a New York Times interview in 1992, saying "(he only cares for writers who) deal with issues of life and death." He also says: "if it doesn't concern life and death, it's not interesting." These may not seem like adequate answers to the question, but the author tends to have an underlying meaning under every statement he makes. We can make an educated guess and assert that he meant that death is such an important issue that it makes more sense to address it than not to address it. This may help explain why McCarthy puts such an emphasis on a topic other authors have tread carefully around. Perhaps another reason why he addresses an issue is that it is taboo to discuss it in many societies today. Maybe he challenges this unspoken rule that people cannot speak of death, which they fear but attempt to ignore. Perhaps he brings up death simply to remind us how crucial it is to everyone. But with him being a member of Mensa, he probably used death as a theme for all of these reasons.

Letter to Charles Bukowski- for 10-28-11

Dear Mr. Bukowski,

Your poem Dinosauria We was very interesting and probably has some truth in it as well. The poem already shows some of the things that have occurred throughout history, especially recently. When you talk about hospitals being so expensive people would rather die than pay for it is becoming true for many people today, especially with the health care costs rising nearly 10% in one year. People are also murdering, emasculating, raping, in a few places eating, and yelling at each other. Political boundaries also shifted with this year's revolutions in the northern Africa region. People are also committing larger scale genocides as time goes by, with Darfur and the Holocaust as obvious examples. Millions of Americans are also in jail, and they are swelling as the days go on. Fools are also elevated by the masses, sometimes merely for looks (Hollywood, anyone?) Humans are born into materialistic, competing, self absorbed societies who trample each other for an elusive thing, be it money, fame, or power. 

You also seem to have a strong view on humans: that they are driven by a bad nature. The Chinese philosopher Sunzi would agree with you, while Mencius (another Chinese Philosopher) would propose "humans are good." I think you are partially right. While humans do possess judgment, survivalist instincts like those witnessed in the road turn them into self important cannibals who may even kill and consume their friends or family (although there are some like the boy in The Road who seem to be an exception). The only thing you failed to mention is that humans also have a capacity to love, to take care of, to create, and to form lasting relationships. 

I think your poem added some bits to my cave reality, and I am grateful to have read it.

From, Danni O.

Father and Son (for 10-20-11)

            In the award-winning post apocalyptic novel The Road, Cormac McCarthy depicts an extremely strong bond between a father and his son. Their relationship is marred by an unspoken of tragic event which annihilated the majority of America's (and perhaps other parts of the world as well) population. Their healthy relationship now has to reckon with bandits, lack of provisions, no real home, and the compromising of principles. Therefore, it is understandable that the circumstances of the times altered many previous definitions, resulting in a skewed relationship based on survival. The boy witnesses events (such as the murder of a man), something that can only be offered in a society bent on survival.

         The relationship between the two is sublime. The father even attempts to show his son glimpses of the previous world he had never seen, such as when he led his boy to the waterfall, or gave him Coca-Cola. The two companions talk to each other freely, both would die for each other, and the father will stop at nothing for his son's safety--even killing a man who attempted to murder the boy. The only tension between the two concern aiding people, where the father leaves them alone for their family to survive, whereas the son prefers to help them, perhaps even at the expense of his family's lives. The father and son juxtapose each other in another way--the father is suspicious of people in general, while his son is trusting nearly to the point of naivety. It is also the boy who constantly call the father's ethics into question, like a policeman. 

          The strong relationship between parent and child is very common. It is also a special bond that can be rarely duplicated; when people are united by blood and intent, sob and chuckle together, exchange information, share memories, and bask in each others presence. It is a special bond that should be cherished in all circumstances.

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge? (for 9-30-11)

So, is the protagonist of The Crucible a knight or a subordinate being with no backbone? Is he a person who has overcome obstacles and still looked generally good in the process, or is he just a nameless indentured servant to Abigail and her coterie of cronies? This post seeks to concisely answer the question, cutting back on precious time and superfluous words.

First, we must define: what is a hero? A hero is someone "identified with good qualities," is usually amicable enough, and has a decent track record. John Proctor fits the bill. The town, with mostly the exception of Rev. Parris, respect and perhaps even like him. He is a Christian, God-fearing man who other than plowing on Sunday has only committed one true crime, both legal and moral: adultery. He succumbed to his temptations, with Abigail Williams egging him on. Only once did he actually commit lechery with her, but that was enough to tarnish his relationship with Elizabeth and foster hope in Abigail of deja vu-an encore of what happened between them. He is indeed a hero, but he is a tragic one. He actually had two flaws, really: temptation influenced his dealings with Abigail, and in the end of the play, hubris (a Greek word meaning pride) keeps him from signing his confession that he is a witch, and leads him to his own hanging.

His brief relationship with Abigail should not be underestimated. Too many times in history, and especially today, you see people succumb to temptation and hurt their spouses forever, have children out of wedlock, step across ethical lines, and/or transfer AIDs and other sexual diseases. Even if he didn't impregnate Abigail, the situation between John and Elizabeth had never been the same again when she heard of the harlot's crime. Of course, there is also the breaching of ethical lines that must be taken into account as well. Therefore, John Proctor is not the fantastical role model so many people dream of. But then again, no one is. 

I'll finish off with a final word: as a young child, I always loved to divulge The Series of Unfortunate Events, written by Lemony Snicket (otherwise and usually known as Daniel Handler). In one of the latter books of the series, he brings up a few good points: that people are like onions (meaning their intentions may be murky and they are ridiculously complicated) and that humans are "a chef's salad," meaning they are composed of both good and bad things. People are like onions, with many layered ideas, intentions, and pasts that are difficult for even the most adroit scholar to decipher. Humans are also chef's salads, for even though they may have not ever committed a crime, life is a series of interlocking fates, with people simultaneously helped and hampered by others. Such is the nature of life.  

Sinners in The Hands of An Angry God: The Human Question

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is a sermon by the famous Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards (also a great intellectual, attending Yale at a mere 13 years old) concerning the fate of sinners who step out of line. In it, God is portrayed as a rather cold being who would cast the people he created into hell (because of their sins) without a blink, that the "wicked" deserve to be condemned without a second thought, and that God could impose his wrath on people without repercussion. This morose view is in line with predestination (a view first expressed by John Calvin, who influenced the Puritans), which states that God dictates one's destiny, with some people being condemned to hell and others to heaven. It is dubbed "predestination" because God imposes this fate on people before they are even born. This view coincides with another Puritan view, that they and they alone are "the chosen ones" (other religions and denominations often share similar views about themselves.) For them, it is rare when a non-Puritan goes to heaven, if at all.

The sermon, which was preached on July 8th, 1741 in the midst of the Great Awakening (a Christian movement in the early 1700's that swept Western Europe and the U.S. colonies, with Christians striving to learn more about God and mend their errors), brought a controversial reaction seen even today.  Although it is a cherished sermon which addresses the errors of sinners and wakes them up to the possibility of hell, there are a few loose ends. Number one, why doesn't the sermon tell the whole story (God's bad side is more mentioned than his good side)?  Also, is he suggesting humans are naturally inclined to commit evil, then good?

So, why didn't the sermon address the good side of God? There are two reasons: tradition and purpose. The Puritans have always set a priority of drawing the line, and talking about the dreadful consequences that ensue if that line is crossed. But their tradition doesn't highlight the goodness of staying inside that line (this can be compared to God commanding us to never stray from our set path, to not commit sins. There is a good side to not committing sins, not just a punishment if we do). Also, the purpose of his sermons was not to portray both sides of the story in a balanced way, nor was it to gloss over the bad parts. His sole purpose was to educate, to tell his fellow congregants that there is indeed a hell, and nothing in the world is more crucial than going to heaven. 

Second, and also important, are humans predisposed to do good or evil? Edwards' sermon brings  a certain historical character to mind: Sun Tzu, or Sunzi, (a Chinese general who served emperor Wu) believed that humans are inclined to commit evil by nature (his firsthand experience of war doubtless influenced this idea he possessed). On the other side of the spectrum is a famous philosopher named Mencius, who lived a few centuries later than Sunzi. His view on human nature juxtaposed that of Sunzi's, with him advocating the idea that humans are inclined to do good. So who is right? None of them, that is to say both of them. They are both partially right. Humans have an eternal battle raging in their hearts with two sides, the side of good and the side of evil. Neither completely prevails. 

Put it this way: both humans and God are a many layered onion we may never fully grasp.

There Goes The Neighborhood: The Showdown Between the Palestinians and Israelis

When some groups mix together, catastrophic results may follow. The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is a vivid example of the bad chemistry that is a consequence of what happens when a certain groups are meshed together. Ever since the late 19th Century, the Israelis and Palestinians have been in gridlock over who is entitled Jerusalem and its surrounding cities. At the genesis of the conflict, Zionism (a Jewish political movement advocating the installation of a Jewish State, Israel) and Muslim Nationalism (the majority of Palestinians are Muslim, and the Palestinians make up a large bit of Israel's population) have been prevalent in the country. The conflict has evolved into a bloody one, with nearly 10,000 casualties since 1948. There are disputes between the Jews and Muslims, mainly over entitlement to land, as well as water distribution, securities, mutual recognition, and so on. 

So, why is there such a fierce battle for the land (modern day Israel)? The Muslim Palestinians had lived in Israel (which they called Palestine) had lived in the country for centuries, and only relatively recently did many Jews seek refuge in Israel after World War 2, after the horrors of the Holocaust. However, many Israelites had been exiled from the country centuries ago. The Jews formed a Zionist Army (with the permission of the United Nations), which helped them establish a nation-state which we now call Israel. Jews believe they are entitled to the country, something they support with religious scripture from the Hebrew Bible. This claim posed a problem to the Palestinians, who had nurtured the land for generations and called it their home. They didn't buy the Hebrew Bible, either. After the Israelites attempted to return to their country, clashes ensued. Propaganda on both sides boosted their enmity, adding fuel to the fire.

There have been many attempts of peace, each with varying success. The Balfour Declaration, drafted in 1919 with cooperation from both sides, supported the building of a Jewish State in Palestine (a wartime promise from the UK), with Palestinian cooperation. The British Mandate for Palestine, released in 1922, gave the UK a large influence on Palestine and set up Israel. This spurred an increase in Jews immigrating to Palestine, sparking many riots. The UN would later allot 1/2 of the land to each side, with the exception of Bethlehem and Jerusalem in the International Zone. However, as neither side was satisfied with the compromise, the violence resumed. 1948 brought the Israeli-Palestinian War, resulting in many deaths and hundreds of thousands of Jews becoming refugees. Many wars and peace treaties later, efforts for peace appear to be futile. There is still violence, there are still problems, and it is uncertain how things shall turn out. Despite encouragement from many governments, the two sides refuse to bargain. A two-state solution was suggested, with the Palestinians only occupying the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Sadly, this is only one of a plethora of battles that occur over neighborhoods, large and small. Hopefully, humans can continue to come up with additional creative ideas to help combat modern problems.

Introduction- 9/9/11

I suppose you could say I'm unusual. Funky. Avante-garde. Well, it's the truth. How many people can devour three lemons in one sitting, read over one hundred books a year, and possess around fifty different laughs? Not many. This freckled, bespectacled bookworm has a story to tell! 

The story picks up in Tabor, a town located in Southeastern Czech Republic, on December 21st, 1995, when a squealing infant named Daniela is born to two ecstatic parents. Around six months later, tragedy strikes. I, the young infant am found to have a coloboma, a birth defect which scars the retina, scars the pupil, and reduces one's vision drastically. Haven't heard of it? Not surprising. Only 1 in 10,000 people get it. Despite the setback, life went on, as it always does. I have been used to coping with my handicap from birth (luckily, the defect was mostly in my left eye), and in my whole life, I have never shared the perspective of those with normal eyes. This has helped me appreciate different perspectives and what I do have.

 

 When I was barely one year old, my parents and I moved to America, something that seemed unlikely with the couple being young (my mother twenty years old and my father twenty four). They would be the pioneers: starting the first generation of my family in America (everyone else still resides in Czech Republic and Slovakia). We moved to Rhode Island, with my early years punctuated by a happy childhood and a caring family, with my mother watching me while my father went to school. As I grew up, I was diagnosed with a learning disability, although my family helped me improve greatly. I lived there until the summer of third grade, when the surprising news came: our family would move to Chicago! The reason? My father had earned his second masters degree at Harvard  and would study for his PhD. at the University of Chicago.

And so we moved. The first year in Chicago was difficult, but my loving family helped me overcome some obstacles. My parents were in a divorce, as new immigrants, our economic resources were limited, and to top it all off, my ISAT scores were in the 30th percentile, largely due to developmental delays. That's when a  miracle happened: I was rewarded with one of the most caring teachers I've ever had: Ms. Webb, an alumna from Dartmouth. She was an inspiration for me, a kind, loving woman who gave me consolation when my father had cancer (ironically, the diagnosis was on April Fool's Day), my ISAT scores burgeoned to the high 90's (though I still had a B average, with a few C's), and she taught me how books helped me explore new worlds. I shall not forget her helpful personality and excellent teaching. Things improved considerably after that. My father made a strong recovery, I attended Lenart Regional Gifted Center, and was enrolled in Whitney Young. I also have an amazing stepmom who cares about me, who is kind to me (even when I do not always return the favor), gentle, and loving. 

Life may be difficult at times, but with perseverance and a loving family, you can overcome many things.