Current Event

On thursday Supreme Court ruled that terrorism suspects being held at Guantanamo bay have the Constitutional right to challenge their detention in courts. In addition it was ruled that the Bush administrations means of classifying detainees as enemies didn't meet the basic legal standards. This happens to be the third time that President Bush's plan for handleing foreign terrorists is unconstitutional. This is a long awaited realization that the U.S declares they are the law abiding nation when in reality they are covering up the fact that they do a lot of unconstitutional or unlawful acts behind their citizens backs.

Rockin' in the U.S.A

Metal is said to have started in the 1950’s and 60’s with bands playing with heavy distortion and blues-rock roots. It started with bands like Led Zepplin and the Beatle’s Helter Skelter, which used the heavy distortion, scream like lyrics and sometimes (more with the later bands of the 80’s) tapping, which is where the guitarist will tap a fret instead of strumming the guitar with his right hand (or left if switch) then play something else with the left hand. This soon changed with bands like Judas Priest who claim that they don’t use blues techniques at all, they instead decided to just use the speed technique, which is exactly what it implies just really fast playing. This led to a new change because teens wanted different music that they felt truly related to them. That’s why underground bands like Metallica where really popular because they used “heavy” riffs and scream like music that kids felt they could really relate to and that truly expressed the way they were feeling about certain political or just events in general. This led to people like Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhdoes who started a new trend called Neo-Classical Metal which incorporates more classical techniques thus, leading to more complex solos while still maintaining that heavy distorted feeling that everyone loved.

"The Dumbest Generation? Don't Be Dumb." Current Event 5-30-08

This article discusses the fact that many high school graduates are ignorant of much of the United State’s history. For example many didn't know who America's ally was in WWII. (Soviet Union). Nor did they know things like, "What is the largest lake in North America?" (Lake Superior). All these facts are evidence that is brought up in a recently published book by a man named Mark Bauerlein, the book is called "The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future." As stated in the title this book discusses the idea that technology is making people dumber and it's retracting them from more important things (studying Vietnam war, Iraq etc.) This has sparked some relatively heated debate because according to some studies video games and this new emphasis on multitasking actually can be beneficial to the brain. It is said that video gaming can teach problem solving techniques, it also teaches them how to deal with many specific calculation that they normally would hate to see in class. In other words, with video gaming they get to learn in a new fun way. Games also can teach cause and effect for example they mention the SimCity game taught a young seven year old that" high tax rates in a city's industrial zone can deter manufacturers from relocating there." It is very impressive that a seven year old can come up with conclusions like that from gaming. A final argument that is made in this article is that judging a generation before it is 30 is just absurd.

Response to "My Architect" movie

Louis Isadore Kahn was born February 20th, 1901 in Kuressaare, Esonia but he soon immigrated to the United States with his Jewish family. One of the very distinct features that Louis possessed was a few scars on his face that he attained by putting some hot coals into an apron he was wearing and caught himself on fire. His father was not so sure Louis would (or should) make it, although his mother convinced him other wise. Louis grew up in a very poor family, they couldn't even afford pencils. They were able to improvise and created charcoal sticks that were just as effective in drawing and writing. As it turned out Kahn got a scholarship to go to the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on drawing and eventually moving on to attain a Bachelor's in Architecture. After college, Kahn had sort of a tough time trying to get his career of the ground but, with the help of his first wife, he was able to get a little place where he could focus and do his work. The only trouble was that, for Kahn, he couldn't really find his own unique style of Architecture.
That all changed when he took a trip to the Ancient Ruins where he finally (at the age of Fifty) discovered a form of architecture that really touched him and meant something to him. He took sketches of the ruins he saw and incorporated them into his drawings. His form of architecture became so huge and breathtaking that the University in which he had attended asked him to design some of the building on campus. He also designed a building that is here in La Jolla.
He definitely had a unique way of constructing that was incredible and fun to look at. He really knew how to appeal to his audiences and incorporate old ideas into the new world. I truly respect his audacity by bringing in this new form of architectural design (that a few people were opposed to) that was completely different than what most Americans were used to, and making it successful.
It is unfortunate the way he died. He was found dead in a bathroom located in the Penn Station in New York. It is said that he died of a heart attack. What was strange though was that the address in his passport was scratched out, which led to the three days of which he was unidentified.

Response to Article

Ethics is a concept that cannot be taught by anyone. You must experience things on your own and determine on your own whether something is right or wrong. If someone tries to say they can teach you ethics, they are not aware of how deep and complicated it can be to teach someone about morals. Making it a requirement to pass an ethics class in school is just flat out absurd. Humans are capable of learning from experiences and from these experiences you'll be able to mold your own idea of what is right and wrong.

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Departments/eLearning/Default.aspx?article=WhatHappenedEthics>1=27001

Ellis Orozco
Book Report/ Novel Summary
Crichton, Michael. Prey. New York. HarperCollins Publishers. 2002

Reason, type and setting: This book was recommended for me to read by my super mother. This book could be classified as a horror kind of a technological book. This book takes place in today’s modern world in California.

Plot: This book is about a computer programmer named Jack who gets fired from his job and turns into a stay at home father. He is having marital problems; he thinks his wife is having an affair at work due to the fact that she stays at work for long hours. Later he finds out that although she was having an affair it was much more than that. While she was at her work (a nanotechnology lab) she was trying to create a new way for the pentagon to take photos and spy on their enemies by means of nano-cameras that have just enough memory to hold the images. Unfortunately, something went horribly wrong while creating a batch of them and they escaped into the desert (the cameras) and developed a way to learn and evolve which made hard incredibly when it came to trying to “kill” them. The developed a way to kill and “eat” animals and humans. That is when Jack gets rehired to try to stop this killer swarm of nano-cameras. The rest of the book is filled with near death experiences for Jack as he tries to figure this swarm out and stop them. He ends up losing three of his friends and his wife due to the swarm taking over their bodies but, eventually, he kills the swarm.

Character; Jack Forman is a curious and caring father of two children (and wife). Jack is a very inspirational and daring person throughout the novel. When he was faced with death (which happened a lot) he completely ignored it and did the right thing by continuing on to try and stop a swarm that had the potential to kill populations of people. In the end, Jack ended up being more skeptical about advances in technology because there was no telling what we could end up. He was afraid of another thing closely resembling the swarm being created again.

Evaluation: This novel was incredibly interesting and scary. It has made me incredibly paranoid. Whenever I hear about new advances in technology I am always afraid that something like the swarm will happen. I know it’s silly but this book was incredibly insightful, interesting and scary all at the same time. If I were put in Jack’s place I probably wouldn’t have done half of the things he did. He had some serious guts and talent to do what he did.

Author, Context and trivia: This author has also written many other books namely; Rising Sun, Jurassic Park, Congo and The Andromeda Strain. I don’t really know much about the author just that he is an incredible writer. I have never read any books like this one but I would definitely like to read more like it.

Current Event 5-23-08

So, the FBI is being sued by the highest ranking Arab-Anerican in History due to the fact that he hasn't been allowed on any of the counterterrorism cases, He clamis that he has been thrown "under the bus" and denied raises. He also is trying to get the point accross that the FBI is incredibly understaffed and ill prepared to prevent another attack from the middle east because they do not have the assets.
This is very dissatisfying considering the fact that they are the ones who are supposed to play a role in keeping us safe and well protected. It is conserning that the FBI does not contain the tools to protect its own country. What else are we losing out on?
Below is a link to the article.
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/DOJ/Story?id=4905061&page=1

Shroud: As you can see this person is wrapped in a shroud, in the forest.

Tranquility: This is a very tranquil and pretty setting.

Tortuous: This road is very tortuous.

Synchroniously: These ladies are swimming synchroniously.

Senescent: This pear is becoming very senescent.

Proximity: I live within a close proximity to most of my friends.

Laboriously: The act of cleaning my room is a very laborious one.

Interminable: My love for snakes is interminable.


















interminable - incapable of being terminated; unending
intuit - to know or receive by intuition
laboriously - requiring much work, exertion, or perseverance
proximity - nearness in place, time, order, occurrence, or relation
reticence - disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved
senescent - growing old; aging
shroud - a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial
situation - manner of being situated; location or position with reference to environment
synchronously - occurring at the same time
tortuous - full of twists, turns, or bends
tranquility - quality or state of being tranquil; calmness; peacefulness; quiet; serenity

Response To Article

I feel as though the author makes a good point in saying that technology is an important tool in the sense that it allows us to communicate and store information but, I think we do spend a lot of time trying to "teach" others a rather simple application on the computer. I think we need to focus more time on getting the knowledge we need for later on in life with the mix of the occassional computer class so that later on in life when we need to do presentations and such we will be prepared because a)we've learned all the subject matter in school and b)we know how to present it in a matter that is entertaining.

http://www.mercurynews.com/community/ci_9034769?nclick_check=1&forced=true

Current Event 5/16/08

In the news lately there were a few stories on the House Of Yahmeh. The arrests that were made with regards to reports of young girls being impregnated by older men, and polygamy charges (this was only some of the atrocities going on in the house). Many of the girls where brainwashed in to believing that it was the right thing to do (marry an older man, and be the mother of his babies). Just today the lead pastor of this group was arrested on charges of polygamy. Although sex with minors is also a plausible charge. The 73-year-old Ysrayl Bill Hawkins was arrested for the second time on charges of polygamy, at his personal complex in Abilene, Texas. He was also suspected in preaching his followers to deny the fact that they have more than one wave(s).
These sorts of acts are a huge disgrace to the “honest” American and Churchgoers. It is sad that although we have come so far technologically, mentally, etc. we cannot shake these twisted thoughts that some have engraved in their minds.

America On Trial

We are the Youth Against Restrictions who focus on our freedoms of internet rights.

Michael: Music Downloading/Copyright Laws
Enrique: Movies/Games/Software downloading
Thomas: Freedom of Speech/First Amendment
Ellis: Censorship/ Commerce laws

Infatuation-a great, often temporary, and irrational passion for somebody or something. to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration. I used to have an infatuation with roosters. Whenever I saw one on tv (or in real life) I'd get all happy. It is kind of awkward in the sense that you don't hear of too many kinds who like roosters. My mother told me that my love of roosters would probably creep most people out (that was before she learned what animal my sister likes) and that I should get over my love of roosters and try to like an animal that most people like. Much to my dismay I had to acquiesce to my mother's wishes. Resistance to what my mother said was futile because if I did disagree her anger with me would be inevitable. It is sad though because learning and talking about roosters game me a sense of ecstacy. This deliterious act of having to give up my love of roosters was sad. I will miss that sense of delirium I got when I saw roosters. Now, playing guitar and listening to music give me that feeling and more.

Ellis Orozco
White, Stephen. Cold Case. New York. Dutton. 1951

Reason, Type and setting: This book is classified as a mystery. This book takes place in two small towns in Colorado. The main character is a man named Alan Gregory who is a clinical psychologist that owns his own business. My book takes place in the 1950’s.

Plot: On one of Dr.Gregory’s early morning shifts he receives a call from an old friend (an ex-FBI agent) asking him if he’ll attend a luncheon with a bunch of ex or current crime investigators, detectives, crime scene analysts etc. The main goal of the group is to solve old (also know as “cold cases”) crimes across the nation. The case that they were investigating was one out of Gregory’s area; it was that of two girls who went out to ride on their snowmobiles and never returned. They were later discovered under several feet of snow. After attending that meeting Dr.Gregory gets involved in an investigation that nearly ends his life numerous times. He ends up discovering the girl’s dirty history and at the end of the book a huge twist is thrown in. It turns out that the mother killed the girls on “accident.” And hid them so that no one would suspect anything.

Character: Alan Gregory is portrayed as a good-looking man who is kind and compassionate. I feel as though some of the things Gregory did seemed questionable because he wasn’t really sure how people would react to him coming into their town and bring up an old case that made the town look bad. He also came face to face with a gun quite a few times and yet he remained on the case doing his role.

Evaluation: I loved this book; throughout the time I was reading it I couldn’t put it down it kept me on the edge of my seat. The twist at the end really caught me off guard it was a nice effect I think that added a lot to the book. I felt as though I could make a real connection with the character. I thoroughly enjoy White’s way of writing.

Author, Context and trivia: Some of Stephen White’s other popular books are: Kill Me, Dead Time, Missing Persons and Dry ice. I have heard a lot about White due to my mom’s obsession with his books but this is the first White book I had ever read. I definitely will be reading more Stephen White.

So, as most American's now know Pope Benedict XVI is in America. What most people may not know or know little of is that he met with a very small ammount of the Catholic church's sex victims. This meeting has outraged many other sex abuse victims because they didn't get to tell their stories and the fact that they found out about this after the fact. Those who met with the pope say that he seemed sincerely sorry but, that sorry won't make they pain they've had to endure go away. There is small talk that the Pope is going to try to seek justice for the victims by holding the bishops accountable but, many feel as though he won't.

Vertigo: to turn a dizzying sensation of tilting within a stable surrounding or of being in tilting or spinning surroundings. By staring into this picture I definitely got a sense of dizziness.

Defamation: the act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good of another. This obviously is an act of defamation to John Kerry by making him seem unable to rule a country.

Quell: Put an end to; suppress. The fire in this picture has been quelled or supressed.

Forlorn; desolate or dreary, unhappy or miserable. This face has a very forlorn look. This is the expression of a truly unhappy face.

Revere: To regard with respect tinged with awe. I revere Randy Rhodes. His style of guitar playing can be appreciated by many because it is so technical and catchy. His guitar riffs are immediately recognizable.

"Plight of The Teenage Insomniacs"

The article that I read for my current event was published in the latest newsweek. I discusses the importance of teens getting their recommended nine hours of sleep per day. It states that many teens express symptons of insomnia and in effect they feel "5 times more (than those who get the recommended ammount) like they are lacking mental health, three times more likely to have health problems and problems at school and are twice as likely to turn to drugs like marijuana and alcoholism as a self-medication to get to sleep." Finally they stated that between the years 2001-2006 the use of persciption sleep medications went up by 45% in children under nineteen.

Newsweek magazine.

Ellis Orozco
Book Report

Brown, Dan. The Vinci Code. New York, New York. April 2003

Reason, Type and Setting: This book could be classified as action/historical fiction/fiction. I chose to read this book because both of my parents had read it and said it was good not to mention they said it sparked new interest for book I might want to read. This book takes place in modern day Paris and the U.K.

Plot: Robert Langdon is a professor from Harvard College who has a major in symbology. This professor was in Paris giving a presentation to many other scholars when he received a call to go to the Louvre Museum. When he arrived there he takes note that one of the most famous curators is lying dead on the floor in what appears to be a position mimicking that of the Vitruvian Man with a cryptic message. This unusual series of events leads to Mr. Langdon to meet a woman named Sophie Neveu (a cryptologist) who just so happens to be the dead curators granddaughter. Then they are lead on a wild scavenger hunt to try and discover what the dead curator was trying to tell them trough his riddles and cryptic messages. Eventually after much time and effort they are able to discover what it was that the curator was trying to tell them about. Unluckily, along the way the curator failed to mention the fact that many people would be chasing after them, to start the French law enforcement, because below the cryptic message another message is found that reads, “P.S find Robert Langdon.” Unfortunately, the French law enforcement officials determine this as the dead curator trying to tell them who killed him. When in reality the message was trying to say Princess Sophie (a nickname given to Sophie by her Grandparents) find Robert Langdon to help decipher the codes and solve the secret that was so immense it cost him his life. Throughout the book Langdon and Neveu are posed with many threats because other people are trying to figure out the secret to expose it to the world and gain total power. At the end of the book the secret is discovered and it happens to be the whereabouts of the Holy Grail, which throughout the book is found to be not a cup (which it was thought to be) but rather a woman (Mary Magdalene). This book refers to many famous beings such as Sir Isaac Newton, Da Vinci and others along with their works which are trying to tell the world what the secret is but, unfortunately the message was lost in their work. For Sophie and Robert it is tough to try and solve the puzzle while keeping it secret (what they discover) between them and keeping it away from people who pose as threats to the concealment of the Grail. At the end everything works out, the concealment of the whereabouts of the Grail is kept a secret preserved by those who know to ensure it won’t be lost.

Character: Robert Langdon is a relatively older man with graying hair who has blue eyes and dimpled chin. He is portrayed as a very well educated person in his field. He is able to interpret many of the curator’s codes and in the end of the book he discovers where the “Grail” is hidden. I found it very interesting the fact that although Langdon’s life was nearly ended in many cases and he was well aware that if he were caught by the French law with out having reason as to why his name was next to a dead man’s body he would be thrown in jail, he managed to keep going along with every step getting more and more dangerous is incredible, he had serious devotion (even though some times he was forced and his freedom depended n it). Being able to work under such pressure is impressive. If I were Langdon I probably would’ve chickened out in the sense that I would try to run away from the French law officials and I would probably not try to solve a puzzle after seeing a gun pointed at my face.

Author, Context, Trivia: Dan Brown has written a few other books namely: Angels and Demons, Deception Point and Digital Fortress. This is the first book of this kind that I have read and if I could read another one like it I would definitely would this book kept me hooked from page one until the end. In the future I know I will definitely be reading more Dan Brown because I appreciate and get into his writing.

Current Event 3/16/08

"Ron Paul To Drop Out Of Presidential race in web video"

Republican Ron Paul is due to drop out of the presidential race for the GOP (Grand Old Party) via a web video on his wensite. He was to be dropping out because his campaing hit the wall. Althugh he did win the party primary for the 14th Texas Congressional District by more than 2 to 1. Unfortunately he did not win the Republican Primary in Texas, he barely received five percent of the votes. Paul has managed to only get 14 delegates for the Republican National Convention. Some of his ideals have been taken in by other candidates running for president.

Emulate: to try to equal or excel. I have now been trying for the last year or two to emulate Randy Rhodes unique sound and style of playing.

Hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence. Coach Belichick had a huge ammount of hubris in his coaching "skills," and his team, yet the super bowl proved otherwise. His huge ammount of hubris led to his downfall.

Dearth: inadequate supply. Peru has a dearth supply of clean drinkable water for their people.

Volatile:evaporating rapidly, changeable. The polar ice are becoming very volatile and few in number due to global warming.

Endemic: belonging exclusively or confined to a particular space. The endemic stingrays are found in the bays and oceans near San Diego.

scuttlebutt –rumor/gossip. A drinking fountain for use by the crew of a vessel.
Bulwark –Any protection against external danger.
hubris –excessive pride or self-confidence
dearth –an inadequate supply, scarcity
deference –respectful or courteous regard.
emulate –to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass
imitate –To have a copy of; reproduce closely
mimic –to imitate or copy in action, speech; often playfully or derisively
endemic –belonging exclusively or confined to a particular place.
aborigine –one of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a country or region
inchoate –not yet completed or fully developed
precursor -one that precedes and indicates the onset of another

Taut: Tightly drawn, tense, not slack. This knot is what you might call a tautly tied knot. It is very tightly put together. There is not slack in it.

Emaciate: To make abnormally lean or thin by a gradual wasting away of flesh. This poor boy here in the pictuer has unfortunately been emaciated practically to death.

Obviate; to anticipate and prevent or eliminate by effective measures. In this animated picture the artists is trying to obviate the fact that if you try to feed the animals you could end up in a bad situation.

Paucity: Small in quantity. Darfur is said to be a place with a paucity of resources in the sense that many of their people are starving because they don't have foor. They also continue to get killed off because they don't have vaccinations for common diseases so they end up dying.

Obsolete: No longer in general use. All of today's T.V's are going to be upgraded to digital signal thus, making analog T.V's obsolete.

Vocabulary 2-25-08
1 Embezzle (verb)-To misappropriate, or appropriate fraudulently to one’s own use.
2 Emaciate (verb)-To make abnormally lean or thin by a gradual wasting away of flesh. (Starvation)
3 Obsolete (adjective)-No longer in general use. “An obsolete battleship”
4 Obviate (verb)-To anticipate and prevent or eliminate by effective measures.
5 Penchant (noun)- A strong inclination, taste, or liking for something.
6 Paucity (noun)-Small in quantity. “A country with a paucity of resources.”
7 Sycophant (noun)- a self-seeking, servile flatterer. Flatterer, toady.
8 Taut (adjective)- Tightly Drawn, tense, not slack.
9 Tenuous (adjective)-Weak, vague, thin o slender in form
10 Tenacity (noun)-the quality or property of being tenacious. Tending to retain, clinging to another object or surface.

Current Event 2/22/08


Last week there was a huge beef recall (143 Milion pounds) one of the largest beef recalls ever. A food safety expert was talking to a interviwer from npr about how it got out into the public. She said that the main reason why this was discovered is because there was an undercover person from the Humane Society working under cover and she just happened to come across this. However, this check was completely random, they had no suspicions about the place. Now, that they have discovered this they are wondering how many other factories have produced bad beef. As far as they know there could be a second recall.

Acumen- Keen Insight, shrewdness. Teachers are very high level of acumen in the specific subject matter that they teach.

Conciliatory: To regain or try to regain (friendship or goodwill) by pleasant behavior. In this image you can see that both gentlemen are trying to gain the others trust and hand in friendship by the hugging and smiling and acting like they liek each other.

Insurrection; An act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion. In this picture Mr. Shays is an insurrectionist. He is the leader/participant in the Shay's rebellion.

Complicit- Choosing to be involved in an illegal or questionable act. This man is obviously taking part in a complicit act by attempting to rob this place.

Fidelity- Loyal, accuracy, exactness. When I though aboout one of the definitions of fidelity (loyal) I immediately thought of dogs. They are considered man's best friend and a very loyal friend.

Vocabulary 2-19-08

1 .lucidity- Easily Understood
2 .conciliatory-To regain or try to regain (friendship or goodwill) by pleasant behavior.
3 .countermand-to revoke or cancel
4 .acumen- Keen Insight, shrewdness
5 .insurrection- an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion
6 .fidelity-loyalty, accuracy, exactness
7 .complicit-choosing to be involved in an illegal or questionable act
8. steadfast-steadily directed, firmly fixed in place or position
9. emancipation-freeing someone from the control of another.
10. bolster-to support with or as with a pillow or cushion

Ellis Orozco
2-15-08
Book Report 2-15-08

Wiesel, Elie. Night. New York. Hill and Wang. Copyright 1972, 1985. Translation copyright 2006.

Reason, Type and Setting: I chose to read this book because my mom read it before I did and told me she really liked it at that I’d probably like it. This book is more of and autobiography because it discusses Mr. Wiesel’s days in the concentration camps. My book takes place during the Second World War in the concentration camps.

Plot: This whole book is about this young boy (Wiesel) who ends up going to one of the Nazi concentration camps and he has to experience these horrendous occurrences at a very young age. He has to see people get tortured, burned, etc. It is a very powerful and moving book. It is incredible all the stuff that happens to him and yet he keeps going on and moving from camp to camp.

Character: Elie Weisel is a young innocent boy who is very naïve (like most young boys). He is a very emotional strong kid. He is able to go through some very tough times. Such as seeing his family get killed, yet he continues living with that hope that he’ll get freed (which he does). Elie Weisel is a very powerful and inspirational boy I wish I had the guts and strength to be able to endure what he did and continue going on with life. If anything the plot made Elie a stronger person.

Evaluation; I loved the novel it was very informative and powerful. I felt so terribly reading it but it was so well written that I had to continue going on. I really got attached to the character as the book progressed. It taught me in a sense more about the Holocaust and gave me a holocaust survivor’s perspective. I most certainly would recommend this book to anybody, it is very good. By reading this book I concluded the world has it’s obstacles and you are the one who decides whether you continue on and conquer them or let them conquer you. I never would’ve been able to act in the way he did. He had serious nerve and I respect him for being able to resist the Nazis oppression and hate.

Author, Context and Trivia: Elie Wiesel has written Dawn, Twilight, The Oslo Address, Sages and Dreamers along with many others. I haven’t read any other books by Mr. Wiesel but after reading this I would like to read more of them.

Current Event 2-15

It is a new “Fad” that has been taken in by many of today’s pre-teens. 82 kids between the ages of 6-13 have died from this chocking game. They wanted to experience the dreamlike or floating in space feeling without drugs or alcohol. In the game kids strap a cord or some sort of thing along those lines and strangle themselves to get this “high.” It is very sad that they couldn’t come up with any other better way of entertaining themselves when they get bored.

As you can tell this animation is in a state of sanguine, or cheerfulness. I personally feel as though this is a perfect representaion of the word sanguine because a synonum for the word is cheerful.




Jack nicholson plays a very baleful character in the movie "The Shinning."







The day Randy Rhodes Died was a very austere moment in time that shook the whole rock and roll world.






This man is disseminating these seeds manually throughout his land.







The model of resilient able to overcome people's hate and discrimination to become one of America's most famous and inspirational speaker, and civil rights advocate.






























1. Disseminate (v) - To scatter widely
2. Eloquence (n) - the power of expressing feelings or thoughts in words that impress or move other people
3. Austere (adj) - grave; sober; solemn; serious
4. Baleful (adj) - pernicious/ or sinister
5. Bigot (n) - a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.
6. Relapse (n) - falling back into a former state(v) - to fall back into vice
7. Repudiate (v) - to cast off or disown
8. Resilience (n) - ability to recover completely from illness, depression
9. Sanguine (adj) - cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident
10. Renovate (v) - to restore to good condition

I cant remember anything
Cant tell if this is true or dream
Deep down inside I feel to scream
This terrible silence stops me

Now that the war is through with me
Im waking up I can not see
That there is not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now

Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please god,wake me

Back in the womb its much too real
In pumps life that I must feel
But cant look forward to reveal
Look to the time when Ill live

Fed through the tube that sticks in me
Just like a wartime novelty
Tied to machines that make me be
Cut this life off from me

Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please god,wake me
Now the world is gone Im just one
Oh god,help me hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God help me

Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see
Absolute horror
I cannot live
I cannot die
Trapped in myself
Body my holding cell

Landmine has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell

Making Sense Of American Popular Music

The title of the song I chose to research is called "One" by the band Metallica. This song was released in January of 1989, it is classified as metal/thrash metal. The difference between thrash and metal is the fact that thrash metal is just any riff created with heavy distortion and it usually doesn't have any kind of specific technique. This song was written to expose the true horrors of war. The whole song talks about this book and more specifically the movie "Johnny Got His Gun" an anti war movie created at the end of world war one. In the song they (Metallica) make several references to the world war one veteran that got his arms, legs, and eyes blown out due to a mortar that went off beside him. Not to mention he's also a mute. Throughout the song Johnny learns how to use morse code and tries to communicate with the nurse and tell her to kill him. Unfortunately, he doesn't get hhis wish. It is a very solemn and kind of a downer movie yet it is also a good movie.

The song itself was written by James Hetfield (rythm, and lead vocals) and Lars Ulrich (drummer). This song received a grammy award for best metal song. It has also made the top solos in the world numerous times. In order for Metallica to do the music video for this song they had to buy Johnny got his gun because through a better part of the video they play scenes from Johnny Got His Gun. Below is a link to the music video. (You might have to copy the link below and paste it in a new web page sorry) (The lyrics to my song are posted above where it says Making sense.....)

http://www.last.fm/music/Metallica/+videos/+1-JwW9L_qzqp8

Current Event 2-4-08
It is a terrible enough having to be blind, but to have it affect you and consume you in a long time must be agony. I read up on a man who has been gradually losing his sight over the last 50 years, but that’s not the highlight of my article. After he went completely blind he started seeing all these fanatical images in his head that he hadn’t seen before. For example a civil war soldier appeared in his head very vividly. This is called Charles Bonnet syndrome, where you lose your sight and you start seeing things in their mind. Basically, when you have normal vision or just you can see in genera, you are taking things in for your brain to analyze but, when you go blind your brain can’t take things in therefore it creates its own images based on previous memories. In other words a “memory mash-up.” A compilation of a bunch of your memories to make new ones. Many other blind patients have experienced this too, along with deaf patients just that with them they hear voices of people who have passed on or living.


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18549104

In the past few days there was word that in a place by the name of Stephenville, Texas there was a UFO sighting, and that these military aircraft chased it off after it had been hanging there for about five seconds. The thing is that the military denied it at first despite the fact that many witnesses had seen the UFO and military aricraft chasing it away. Until just recently (Jan. 24) they had kept denying it but, eventually they said it was their mistake and that there was military aircraft in the area the day of the UFO aircraft.

Now, although this may seem like a relatively insignificant event this brings up the question of what else has the military been hidding from the general public. For example, if they won't be honest about something like this how can we trust them with national security and our safety.
Link to actual article:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18375952

Euphoria: a feeling of happiness/confidence. This picture is obviously trying to make a statement which is that this cat is feeling very confident like a lion if you will.

Eulogy: High praise or commendation, a speech or writing in praise of a person/thing. Jesus, need I say more. So many people on a daily basis namely priests and worshipers create speeches praising Jesus' work and him as a person.
Epitome: A person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class. Jesus is also what many consider to be the epitome of good and selflessness.

Euthanasia: Painless death. Compared to other ways that one could die. I feel as though dying in your sleep is the least painless way of leaving this world.

Eradicate:to remove or destory utterly. This is a picture of a victim to smallpox. Seeing as though smallpox has been eradicated (not to say it can't come back) from the U.S I chose to use this picture as a good rerpesentation of something that is eradicated.

erode (verb)- destroy by slow consumption or disintegration. The water has slowly overtime destroyed this mountainous formation due to the water hitting the same spot so many times day after day.




1) equivocate (verb)- To use ambiguous or unclear expressions
2) eradicate (verb)- To remove or destroy utterly, “To eradicate smallpox throughout the world.”
3) erode (verb)- destroy by slow consumption or disintegration. Battery acid had eroded the engine.
4) erratic (adjective satellite)- deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion.
5) escalate (verb)- to increase in intensity, magnitude. “A time when prices escalate”
6) esoteric (adjective)- Belonging to a select few, private, condidential. “poetry full of esoteric allusions”
7) espouse (verb)- To make one’s own, adopt or embrace. Chose and follow.
8) eulogy (noun)- high praise or commendation, a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing.
9) euphoria (noun)- a feeling of happiness, confidence
10) euthanasia- painless death,
11) epitome- a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class, “He is the epitome of goodness”

"Why We Fight" was a documentary created talking about why we fight (go figure). This documentary was kind of a response to all the media september eleventh and the War in Iraq received. This documentary was created to try to solve the question that has remained pretty mell hidden why do we fight? Is it the need to compete against everyone to be the next superpower, or is it all to benefit the big corporations that sell their equipment to the military. Prior to viewing this documentary I would have said it was for freedom . After hearing all the interviews and seeing all the speeches by Eisenhower, and others. I tend to lean more their way when they say the war truly does benefit politicians and big corporations. It's really sad they use this truly terrible way of manipulating and motivating people for their benefit so they can get money in their pocket.

Aspire: to long, aim, or seek ambitiously. I aspire to become a marine biologist like these scientists in the picture.

Fallacy- A deceptive misleading or false notion. It was a common fallacy that the world was flat. ( A long time ago)

Guru- Someone who's a leader in a specific field such as intellectual or spiritual. This is a guru because he contains the typical characteristics that you'd expect to see in a guru. (Someone who's looked up to, praised hence the light in the back).

Despondent- The feeling or showing profound hopelessness, despair, discouragement. Just by looking at this guy he is feeling very hopelessness because he is in jail and probably has no hopes of getting out soon.

Desultory- This was just a random picture i found on the internet and I figured since a synonym for desultory was random I posted this picture up. Enjoy.

Current Event 1/9/08
Summary: It’s the next west nile virus pandemic. It’s called Dengue, it is a tropical infection with flu like illnesses. It is said to be one of the most important reemerging infectious disease. There are and estimated 50 to 100 million cases per year. So far there have been 500,000 hospitalizations and an estimated 22,000 deaths (mostly children). They compared this to the west nile virus which killed 98 people last year. For dengue there are no real symptoms just maybe a mild fever but, if left untreated, it is very deadly.

Opinion: I feel as though if we weren’t trying to make every place into a miniature china and if we had better mosquito control then we could prevent things like this from happening. Also, with all the flying if there were some sort of medicactions or doctor on board to help this could maybe cut down the number of deaths. Thus, reducing this disease to nothing.

Daniel Shays
Daniel Shays, a man said to be very courageous and strong. He was born in 1747 in the town of Middlesex, Massachusetts. His father was Patrick Shays and his mother, Margaret Dempsey. He grew up on a farm and worked on it for a lot of his childhood. He had a very modest education and was a farm laborer for quite some time including during the time of the American Revolution.
He along with many of his other farm mates was very upset with the unfair and oppressive economic conditions. He wanted some way to seek relief from this oppression. So he joined a local militia and due to his courage he went up the ranks and eventually became Captain in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army. Unfortunately, he didn’t think ahead to how the war would affect him and the state he lived in.
After the war the farmers suffered dearly due to the scarcity of money from after the war. His local peoples eventually elected him into local office; they felt as though he would be a great advocate for the farmers whose voices aren’t normally heard in public meetings or by the government. He (along with others) wrote up petitions expressing the farmer’s distress and pain due to the unfair taxes and their lack of money. They were demanding relief for debtors by means of a reduction in government expenditures, and restraints on courts and attorney fees. When this didn’t work Shays developed his own group of people of about 1,200 and tried to seize the Federal Arsenal in January of 1787. Unfortunately they were taken by surprise and a lot were captured by the state militia on February 4, 1787. Shays managed to escape and go into hiding, but eventually, all of the revolters were pardoned and were excused of their crimes. Shays died on September 29 1825. It is said that due to his rebellion he influenced the replacement of the Articles of Confederation. Thus leading to a stronger national government. In other words, (for the sake of conversation) let’s say a law was passed in a certain state saying left handed people can’t vote, yet the federal law says no man shall be denied the right to vote so it is therefore shot down due to the greater power.