Title: Bush presses anew for surveillance law
Date: 2/29/08
Source: The Union Tribune
Summary: Our oh so wonderful president strikes again. He's trying to pass a bill that will make it easier for the government to wiretap. On top of that, he threatened to veto any law that does not include giving the telecommunications companies legal immunity.
Reaction: I couldn't help but think of 1984 when I read this article. I mean, not to the extent of when I first got word of the Patriot Act, but I mean now the guy is actually threatening to veto any law that doesn't give him absolute power. It's just so unecessary. What are the odds of finding a real threat in all of those innocent conversations held between innocent people who just want a little privacy. I will not have the civil liberties I'm guaranteed taken away because of our power hungry, redneck president.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Vocab.
Obsolete
obsolete - of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date
CD's and CD players everywhere are becoming obsolete now that the iPod has conquered. Once I got an iPod Video, I couldn't imagine going back to a CD player.
Obviate
obviate - to anticipate and dispose of effectively
In Terminator 2, Arnold is sent back in time to prevent John Connor from getting killed so he can live on and save mankind in the future.
Penchant
penchant - a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something
I have a penchant for skating. Personally, I'm not that good, but I really enjoy doing it and I like being around the sport and even just watching it too. It's its own culture and it's fun being a part of it.
Sycophant
sycophant -
a self-seeking, servile flatterer
I know I've used Jack Sparrow as an example of a vocab word already, but when I read the definition of sycophant that guy came to mind. Look at that picture: he's trying to flatter and make jokes to get himself out of trouble.
Taut
taut - emotionally or mentally strained or tense
Milton from Office Space is the perfect example of a taut person. He's so tense he can't stand up for himself or even talk without stuttering.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Current Event
Title: Only 1 in 4 Americans recognizes heart attack symptoms, study says
Date: 2/22/08
Author: Asscoiated Press
Summary: So yes, the title says it all. The article talks about this and how women are more likely to get symptoms besides chest pain during a heart attack. For some reason the article doesn't say why.
Reaction: I think there should be a health week or something in schools and one of the things they learn about is this. If schools in the midwest can waste a week on an abstaining from sex program, then schools can have this. It will definitely help. And it's annoying that the article says women are more likely to experience symptoms besides the chest pain but it doesn't say why.
Date: 2/22/08
Author: Asscoiated Press
Summary: So yes, the title says it all. The article talks about this and how women are more likely to get symptoms besides chest pain during a heart attack. For some reason the article doesn't say why.
Reaction: I think there should be a health week or something in schools and one of the things they learn about is this. If schools in the midwest can waste a week on an abstaining from sex program, then schools can have this. It will definitely help. And it's annoying that the article says women are more likely to experience symptoms besides the chest pain but it doesn't say why.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Vocab. 4
Insurrection
insurrection - an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil authority or an established government
For this one I could have easily put the American Revolution or something easy like that, but, I wanted to show that other types of rebellion have taken place that are non-violent. In this case, I chose music, and I think the Sex Pistols are pioneers in musical insurrection. They were one of the very first punk bands and their songs showed their unhappiness with the way things were in the world and government, and they took stabs (lyrical stabs of course) at important figures like the Queen of England. It really opened the door for the future of the then-young genre of punk rock and showed it was possible to rebel through music. This is the longest vocab picture explanation I've ever done.
Fidelity
fidelity - loyalty
I know it's kind of cliche to say dogs are loyal, but seriously, they ARE. My friend's dog follow him everywhere and will actually protect him. How cool is that?
Acumen
acumen - keen insightJack Black's character in School of Rock shows he has an acumen in music by having an extensive knoweledge of it and it's history.
Lucidity
lucid - easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible
Here's something that seriously lacks lucidity. The SAT is filled with questions that are worded in the wierdest ways, just to though you off.
Complicit
complicit - choosing to be involved in an illegal act
In Fight Club, the main character Tyler starts an underground fighting club that later becomes a rebellious act called Project Mayhem, that goes around doing organized destructive activities, like bombing headquarters of major credit card companies. The members of Project Mayhem choose to do this so they are complicit.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Book Report 3 - Journey to the Center of the Earth
Verne, Jules. Journey to the Center of the Earth. New York, NY. Barnes and Noble Books: 2005.
I chose this book because, like I said in the book report for "80 Days," I like Jules Verne books and this was one I have been wanting to read. I would classify it as an action adventure book. Sweet. It takes place in 19th century (1863 to be exact) Hamburg, Germany.
The book starts out with Professor Lidenbrock arriving at his house. He shows a really old Icelandic book he just bought to his nephew Axel (who is the narrator). While looking through the book a piece of paper falls out with Runic letters written on it. The gents translate it to Latin but once they do they find the letters are jumbled up. They try for a long time to crack the code and Lidenrock even locks himself, Axel, and the maid in the house until it is cracked. Axels cracks it by accident but doesn't want to tell his uncle because the paper says the way to enter the center of the earth. He knows his uncle will want to try it and it will be a dangerous journey so Axel keeps it to himself. After two days he is starving so he just tells his uncle. They depart for Reykjavik, hire a local guide named Hans, and travel to the volcano known as Snaefellsjokul. The piece of paper instructed to go to this volcano and go down the chimney that the shadow of a nearby mountain called Scartaris touches at noon in late June. They go to the top and eventually the sun comes out and casts a shadow over the chimney they must go down. They travel to the bottom and find a tunnel that goes even deeper, presumably the one that leads to the center of Earth. They take it and after a while they run out of water but before it's too late they hear a subterranean river through the walls of their granite prison and Hans uses a pick axe to get some water to come through. They don't plug it up because it can supply them water throughout the journey because the floor slants downward and the river will easily be able to travel. As they travel on, Axel gets separated from the other two and the river somehow but finds them again by being able to talk against the granite wall and have his voice travel to them. They communicate and Axel heads in their direction but falls down a vertical shaft and gets knocked out. He wakes up to find himself back with his uncle and Lars. They are in a huge cavern that is lit by some electrically charged gas floating around above. There is a forest of giant mushrooms and prehistoric trees that lead up to an underwater beach. Yes, an ocean underground. Lars builds a raft (he comes in handy a lot in this book) and they set sail. They go on forever until they come across two prehistoric dinosaur/monster/fish fighting each other. They then run into a crazy storm and eventually they land. They look at the compass and they realize they are back at the north coast they started on! Reluctant they still explore the place more since it is in a different spot than exactly where they started off. They find piles of bones of prehistoric creatures and they walk through it until they find they body of humans. The corpses are mostly in tact and even have skin. They travel on surprised until they reach a forest. They look ahead and see a live heard of mastodons! And that's not all, they see a twlve foot, hairy human being watching over them! Stunned, wierded out, and scared they trio runs back to the coast where they find a passage with the initials of Arne Suknassem (the guy who wrote on the piece of paper how to get to the center of Earth) engraved in it. They head inside the cave to find it has been blocked by a cave in. Hans sets up some gun cotton and a fuse, Axel lights it, and runs back to the raft with the others to be safe on the water. The explosion blows a hole that sucks up water and it sends the raft zooming down a steep tunnel. For hours this happens until they are blasted upwards. The temperature rises due to water and magma that is blasting them up. For hours they rise quickly until they burst out of a hole in the side of the volcano Stromboli in Italy. They make their ways back home and Hans goes back to Iceland. They are all famous and their story of their journey is spread worldwide on newspapers. Axel marries his sweetheart and Lidenbrock solves the mystery of the compass. They find it points south instead of north, so when they thought they landed on the same coast they started on during the underground storm, they were really on the south coast they originally were headed for. The poles of the compass got mixed up by a fire/lightning ball that spun out of control near the raft, magnetizing all the iron on board. So, when that happened, the compass got jacked. THE END.
Hans is the greatest character ever. The young Icelander with long red hair and a beard stays incredibly cool during all the hectic times in the book. And plus he had a solution to EVERYTHING. And plus plus he says about 10 words throughout the whole book. The plot doesn't change him at all. Like I said, even during the crazy times, his cool spirit stays the same.
The novel was good. Better than "80 Days" but not quite as cool as "20,000 Leagues." It was definitely interesting and imaginitive but I was expecting the subterranean world to be even more strange. What Verne did was just put preshistoric creatures in the bowels of the globe. That's cool and everything but it would have been more fun with a dark, wierd, gross subterranean environment that would have been less predictable. The deeper meaning I got out of the book was, "you never know until you try."
Obviously the book is fiction because the real center of the earth is only a magma core (boring). But then again, how do WE even know that? We haven't been there either! But anyway, if someone wanted to excape reality and go on a fun little adventure, read this book.
If I was in Hans' position throughout the book, I would have asked for more money. This intense journey should have paid better. But then again, if Hans would have asked for more money, he wouldn't be Hans!
Jules Verne. Cool guy. Good books. Will I read again? Nope. I have read all the Verne I have wanted to. And plus I really don't know any more of his titles than the three I have read. But, if I do come across one that looks interesting, I will read. But until then, the mext books I'm reading are Farewell To Arms (Hemmingway) and then the Stand (King).
I chose this book because, like I said in the book report for "80 Days," I like Jules Verne books and this was one I have been wanting to read. I would classify it as an action adventure book. Sweet. It takes place in 19th century (1863 to be exact) Hamburg, Germany.
The book starts out with Professor Lidenbrock arriving at his house. He shows a really old Icelandic book he just bought to his nephew Axel (who is the narrator). While looking through the book a piece of paper falls out with Runic letters written on it. The gents translate it to Latin but once they do they find the letters are jumbled up. They try for a long time to crack the code and Lidenrock even locks himself, Axel, and the maid in the house until it is cracked. Axels cracks it by accident but doesn't want to tell his uncle because the paper says the way to enter the center of the earth. He knows his uncle will want to try it and it will be a dangerous journey so Axel keeps it to himself. After two days he is starving so he just tells his uncle. They depart for Reykjavik, hire a local guide named Hans, and travel to the volcano known as Snaefellsjokul. The piece of paper instructed to go to this volcano and go down the chimney that the shadow of a nearby mountain called Scartaris touches at noon in late June. They go to the top and eventually the sun comes out and casts a shadow over the chimney they must go down. They travel to the bottom and find a tunnel that goes even deeper, presumably the one that leads to the center of Earth. They take it and after a while they run out of water but before it's too late they hear a subterranean river through the walls of their granite prison and Hans uses a pick axe to get some water to come through. They don't plug it up because it can supply them water throughout the journey because the floor slants downward and the river will easily be able to travel. As they travel on, Axel gets separated from the other two and the river somehow but finds them again by being able to talk against the granite wall and have his voice travel to them. They communicate and Axel heads in their direction but falls down a vertical shaft and gets knocked out. He wakes up to find himself back with his uncle and Lars. They are in a huge cavern that is lit by some electrically charged gas floating around above. There is a forest of giant mushrooms and prehistoric trees that lead up to an underwater beach. Yes, an ocean underground. Lars builds a raft (he comes in handy a lot in this book) and they set sail. They go on forever until they come across two prehistoric dinosaur/monster/fish fighting each other. They then run into a crazy storm and eventually they land. They look at the compass and they realize they are back at the north coast they started on! Reluctant they still explore the place more since it is in a different spot than exactly where they started off. They find piles of bones of prehistoric creatures and they walk through it until they find they body of humans. The corpses are mostly in tact and even have skin. They travel on surprised until they reach a forest. They look ahead and see a live heard of mastodons! And that's not all, they see a twlve foot, hairy human being watching over them! Stunned, wierded out, and scared they trio runs back to the coast where they find a passage with the initials of Arne Suknassem (the guy who wrote on the piece of paper how to get to the center of Earth) engraved in it. They head inside the cave to find it has been blocked by a cave in. Hans sets up some gun cotton and a fuse, Axel lights it, and runs back to the raft with the others to be safe on the water. The explosion blows a hole that sucks up water and it sends the raft zooming down a steep tunnel. For hours this happens until they are blasted upwards. The temperature rises due to water and magma that is blasting them up. For hours they rise quickly until they burst out of a hole in the side of the volcano Stromboli in Italy. They make their ways back home and Hans goes back to Iceland. They are all famous and their story of their journey is spread worldwide on newspapers. Axel marries his sweetheart and Lidenbrock solves the mystery of the compass. They find it points south instead of north, so when they thought they landed on the same coast they started on during the underground storm, they were really on the south coast they originally were headed for. The poles of the compass got mixed up by a fire/lightning ball that spun out of control near the raft, magnetizing all the iron on board. So, when that happened, the compass got jacked. THE END.
Hans is the greatest character ever. The young Icelander with long red hair and a beard stays incredibly cool during all the hectic times in the book. And plus he had a solution to EVERYTHING. And plus plus he says about 10 words throughout the whole book. The plot doesn't change him at all. Like I said, even during the crazy times, his cool spirit stays the same.
The novel was good. Better than "80 Days" but not quite as cool as "20,000 Leagues." It was definitely interesting and imaginitive but I was expecting the subterranean world to be even more strange. What Verne did was just put preshistoric creatures in the bowels of the globe. That's cool and everything but it would have been more fun with a dark, wierd, gross subterranean environment that would have been less predictable. The deeper meaning I got out of the book was, "you never know until you try."
Obviously the book is fiction because the real center of the earth is only a magma core (boring). But then again, how do WE even know that? We haven't been there either! But anyway, if someone wanted to excape reality and go on a fun little adventure, read this book.
If I was in Hans' position throughout the book, I would have asked for more money. This intense journey should have paid better. But then again, if Hans would have asked for more money, he wouldn't be Hans!
Jules Verne. Cool guy. Good books. Will I read again? Nope. I have read all the Verne I have wanted to. And plus I really don't know any more of his titles than the three I have read. But, if I do come across one that looks interesting, I will read. But until then, the mext books I'm reading are Farewell To Arms (Hemmingway) and then the Stand (King).
Friday, February 15, 2008
Current Event
Title: Gay-marriage foes return with competing measures
Author: Lisa Left
Source: The Union Tribune
Summary: Groups that are radically against gay marriage are at it again. The groups ProtectMarriage.com and VoteYesMarriage.com talked to the CA Secretary of State to try to completely limit marriage to one and one woman but must get 694,354 signatures from voters before being able to do so. Apaarently they have a lot more money and backing this time from some psycho religious groups. In 2005 they tried the same thing but did not get enough signatures.
Reaction: PLEASE just give this up. I don't even want to talk about how ridiculous it is because it's been said so many times. There's no doubt that it's descrimination so I don't even need to bring that up. And why rob people of an opportunity that should be universal? I mean the term marriage to me is just a legal term but everyone should have a right to it. I mean come on. I hope these groups fall flat on their faces again.
Author: Lisa Left
Source: The Union Tribune
Summary: Groups that are radically against gay marriage are at it again. The groups ProtectMarriage.com and VoteYesMarriage.com talked to the CA Secretary of State to try to completely limit marriage to one and one woman but must get 694,354 signatures from voters before being able to do so. Apaarently they have a lot more money and backing this time from some psycho religious groups. In 2005 they tried the same thing but did not get enough signatures.
Reaction: PLEASE just give this up. I don't even want to talk about how ridiculous it is because it's been said so many times. There's no doubt that it's descrimination so I don't even need to bring that up. And why rob people of an opportunity that should be universal? I mean the term marriage to me is just a legal term but everyone should have a right to it. I mean come on. I hope these groups fall flat on their faces again.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Vocab. 3
Repudiate
repudiate - to reject with disapproval or condemnationIn Pirates of the Caribbean 3, the British Navy told the pirates to stop being pirates, or they would continue to hunt them down. But did those pirates surrender? NOPE. They repudiated the order and chose to fight against the navy. Go them.
Relapse
relapse - to fall back into illness after convalescence or apparent recovery
House, besides being the best tv show on the air, has great examples, in every episode of the word relapse. Every episode follows a pattern: at the beginning of the show you see the patient get bad, then, once in the hospital, they get worse. Then there's always a short time period where they seem to have gotten better, but then they get even worse then they were before.
Sanguine
sanguine - cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident
This comic strip made me laugh. The guy in the black suit on the right is sanguine.
Austere
austere - strict in manner or appearance
The principal from The Breakfast Club is austere. He won't hesitate to give you detention again if you talk back to him.
Baleful
baleful - harmfulMany people don't know this, but the platypus is a baleful animal. It can hurt you. How? It has sharp spurs on its ankles that actually inject venom.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Current Event
Title: Judgement nears for coastal toll road
Author: Terry Rodgers
Date: 2/5/08
Source: The Union Tribune
Summary: Tomorrow the state Coastal Commission will vote on a proposal for a toll road that runs right through San Onofre State Beach. The toll road would connect San Diego and Orange Counties, and it will lessen traffic on the 5. There are many endangered species in the area, and the four-lane road would rob surfers of one of their most sacred spots and people who wantto camp there.
Reaction: No. No. No. I have been to San Onofre beach and it is really nice. Surfers call it the Yosemite of surfing, and the park is home to many endangered species. It isn't worth having another freeway, especially one that just goes to the same place. If lazy people get on the road at the right time, there won't be as much traffic on the 5, jeez! And plus if they build this monster, it could spark other ideas. I can see it now, a freeway that cuts right through Yosemite, or a nice freeway to get people conveniently across that pesky Grand Canyon.
Author: Terry Rodgers
Date: 2/5/08
Source: The Union Tribune
Summary: Tomorrow the state Coastal Commission will vote on a proposal for a toll road that runs right through San Onofre State Beach. The toll road would connect San Diego and Orange Counties, and it will lessen traffic on the 5. There are many endangered species in the area, and the four-lane road would rob surfers of one of their most sacred spots and people who wantto camp there.
Reaction: No. No. No. I have been to San Onofre beach and it is really nice. Surfers call it the Yosemite of surfing, and the park is home to many endangered species. It isn't worth having another freeway, especially one that just goes to the same place. If lazy people get on the road at the right time, there won't be as much traffic on the 5, jeez! And plus if they build this monster, it could spark other ideas. I can see it now, a freeway that cuts right through Yosemite, or a nice freeway to get people conveniently across that pesky Grand Canyon.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Book Report 2 - Siddhartha
Hesse, Herman. Siddhartha. New York. New Directions Publishing Corp: 1951.
I chose this book because people in the class read it and said it was good, and I was kind of late on starting a book this time so I needed a short one (I'm not lazy! As a matter of fact, I'm reading The Stand by Stephen King for my next book which is intensely long!). I'm not sure how to classify the book. I would say it's a spiritual fiction novel. It takes place in ancient India.
The story starts out talking about our main character Siddhartha and how everyone likes him and he is good at everything. But, even though he has the love of his family and his best friend, Govinda, he is unhappy with life. He questions the life he is leading with the Brahmin (Hindu religious leaders) and questions their concept of enlightenment. So, to his fathers sadness, Siddhartha leaves, with Govinda, to join the Samanas, a group of wandering priests in hope of finding true enlightenment. But, after 3 years of being with them, he realizes they are no more enlightened than the Brahmin he used to live with. So, when he and Govinda hear Gotama the Buddha has appeared, they leave the Samanas and join a camp of Gotama's followers. Gotama teaches them about enlightenment and the many aspects of Buddhism. Govinda completely dedicates himself to Gotama's teachings, while Siddhartha once again, notices some flaws and contradictions in the teachings. Reluctantly, he realizes this way of life isn't for him either and he leaves his friend behind. Siddhartha goes in search of a life that isn't dependent on someone's religious teachings. He realizes that the true path to enlightenment comes from yourself. It is up to you to find true enlightenment. He thinks of going back to see his father, but realizes it is in the past so he shouldn't. While Siddhartha wanders, he really starts to notice things in the world around him. He spends the night in a ferryman's hut and the next day asks him to take him across the river on his bamboo raft. Siddhartha apologizes for not being able to pay him, but in response the ferryman tells him it is ok because Siddhartha will return and give him a gift at that time instead. He walked and when he came across the city he saw a beautiful girl being carried by four men on a chair. He later finds out her name is Kamala and she is a courtesan. The next day he has the barber shave off his beard and after he bathes in the river. He then goes to meet Kamala. He tells her he wants to learn from her, about love, but doesn't want to learn anything until he has enough money and gifts to provide her. Siddhartha asks if she is willing to kiss him in exchange for a poem. After he recites a poem just for her, she kisses him and comments on how good it is. Kamala gets a visitor so Siddhartha has to leave. But, it is not before Kamala recommends her friend Kamaswami, a business man to him, so Siddhartha can get money. They meet each other but Kamaswami doubts Siddhartha. When he find out Siddhartha can read and write he agrees to take him under his wing. Kamaswami notices he has a very carefree attitude towards business and dismisses any failures he has. He starts to pay him, to motivate him, but Siddhartha still retains his attitude. Kamaswami tries to tell Siddhartha about the joys wealth can bring, but Siddhartha find it silly that people get so attatched to material things and suffer because of them. In the mean time, Siddhartha learns a lot about from Kamala and respects her more because she can dismiss the material world and reminds him of the way Gotama lives. They get intimate, physically and emotionally, but they never fall in love. Siddhartha starts to get really into the game of business and becomes wealthy and starts to really care about the material world and starts gambling, eating expensive food, and wearing really nice clothes. After years go by, Siddhartha has spiritual dreams that prompt him to go meditate. He realizes the life he had recently been living as a rich merchant has done nothing for him, so he leaves without telling anyone. Kamala finds out he is gone, and no longer accepts visitors. She also finds out she is pregnant with Siddhartha's child. Siddhartha wanders by the river and thinks about killing himself because nothing can enlighten him. All of the sudden, his spiritual side wakes up again, causing him to stop him from killing himself, and just falling asleep by the river. He wakes up to find a monk meditating and realizes it's Govinda. Govinda doesn't recognize him at first. Govinda talks about how he is a religious pilgrim looking for enlightenment, still under the teachings of Gotama, and Siddhartha says he also is a religious pilgrim. However, Govinda doesn't believe hi at first because of the way he is dressed. Govinda leaves, and Siddhartha realizes he has been trying to hard to find a path to enlightenment. He then feels attached to the river and never wants to leave it. He meets the ferryman, named Vasudeva, again, and he tells him he wants to live with him. Vasudeva remembers him and sees that the river has spoken to him, so he lets him. Siddhartha learns many things from the river, like the fact that time does not exist. Later, the news that Gotama the Buddha is dying spreads and people flock to him. Kamala and her son are among this group and when they are close to the river, she is bitten by a poisonous snake. The boy cries for help, Vasudeva hears, and takes them across the river the the hut. Siddhartha recognizes Kamala and they talk. She tells him the boy is his son, and they talk about each other's inner peace status, and she dies. The son dislikes life with Siddhartha and Vasudeva by the river and wants to return to a life of material possessions. Siddharths cherishes the father-son bond so he doesn't let him go despite Vasudeva suggesting he should let him go. The boy runs away one night, and Siddhartha looks for him but cannot find him. Siddhartha realizes he must let him go on a spiritual journey on his own, and returns home with Vasudeva. Siddhartha is saddened, but at the same time thinks about how his father felt when he let him go to join the Samanas. Soon he starts to feel peace. He and Vasudeva sit by the river and saw pictures of people in their lives and heard voices of different emotions. During the hour they sat there, Siddhartha stopped fighting his destiny, and harmonized with everything in his life. Vasudeva sees this, and leaves him, making Siddhartha the new ferryman. His old friend Govinda comes to visit the river, seeking enlightenment. Once again, Govinda doesn't recognize him at first. Siddhartha tells him everything he learned, including that is it up to you to find enlightenment, not to get it from someone else's teachings. When Govinda asked if there was anything else he should know, Siddhartha told him to kiss his forehead. He did, despite the strange words and when he did images of people and events harmonizing flashed in front of his eyes, like they did to Siddhartha when he looked into the river. Govinda, now enlightened, and with tears running down his face, bowed to Siddhartha.
Siddhartha goes through many stages throughout the book. From the start, you tell he is not like the others. He is more of a deep thinker. He retains this characteristic throughout, and he learns more about the meaning of enlightenmentand how it is truly attained. He does lose his spiritual center for a while, when he becomes a rich merchant, but in the end it comes back to him and he continues learning more until he finally becomes a fully enlightened man. He's so enlightened, he is able to enlighten his friend just by having him kiss him on the forehead. That's pretty enlightened if I do say so myself.
I know I have said this for pretty much all of my book reports, but I liked this book. At the start I thought it would be boring, just because the way it was written made it seem like it would, but there is some really good messages that come from it. Really deep stuff, I like it. It really makes it clear that if you are seeking happiness or enlightenment, you have to do it yourself. You are not going to get it from following someone else's path to happiness. You aren't trying to find THEIR happiness, you're trying to find yours. I would recommend this book for others. It's a "feel good" book, for the most part anyway.
This book compares to real life directly. It talks about how it's not wise to live by a religous teaching to be happy, and people do that in today's world. The book also tlks about thinking too hard about how to get to happiness, and that' definitely present in today's world. I'm one of those people, as a matter of fact, not the religious part, but the thinking too hard part, I do that a lot.
If I was in Siddhartha's position, I would have returned to visit my father, just for a little bit at least. Siddhartha made a good point about it being the past and everything, but I would want to show my father how far I've come on the road to enlightenment. I like the way the book ended though.
I have never heard of the author before reading this so I have no idea what else he has written. So, I really don't think I'm going to read more from him. Siddhartha was a pretty good read though.
I chose this book because people in the class read it and said it was good, and I was kind of late on starting a book this time so I needed a short one (I'm not lazy! As a matter of fact, I'm reading The Stand by Stephen King for my next book which is intensely long!). I'm not sure how to classify the book. I would say it's a spiritual fiction novel. It takes place in ancient India.
The story starts out talking about our main character Siddhartha and how everyone likes him and he is good at everything. But, even though he has the love of his family and his best friend, Govinda, he is unhappy with life. He questions the life he is leading with the Brahmin (Hindu religious leaders) and questions their concept of enlightenment. So, to his fathers sadness, Siddhartha leaves, with Govinda, to join the Samanas, a group of wandering priests in hope of finding true enlightenment. But, after 3 years of being with them, he realizes they are no more enlightened than the Brahmin he used to live with. So, when he and Govinda hear Gotama the Buddha has appeared, they leave the Samanas and join a camp of Gotama's followers. Gotama teaches them about enlightenment and the many aspects of Buddhism. Govinda completely dedicates himself to Gotama's teachings, while Siddhartha once again, notices some flaws and contradictions in the teachings. Reluctantly, he realizes this way of life isn't for him either and he leaves his friend behind. Siddhartha goes in search of a life that isn't dependent on someone's religious teachings. He realizes that the true path to enlightenment comes from yourself. It is up to you to find true enlightenment. He thinks of going back to see his father, but realizes it is in the past so he shouldn't. While Siddhartha wanders, he really starts to notice things in the world around him. He spends the night in a ferryman's hut and the next day asks him to take him across the river on his bamboo raft. Siddhartha apologizes for not being able to pay him, but in response the ferryman tells him it is ok because Siddhartha will return and give him a gift at that time instead. He walked and when he came across the city he saw a beautiful girl being carried by four men on a chair. He later finds out her name is Kamala and she is a courtesan. The next day he has the barber shave off his beard and after he bathes in the river. He then goes to meet Kamala. He tells her he wants to learn from her, about love, but doesn't want to learn anything until he has enough money and gifts to provide her. Siddhartha asks if she is willing to kiss him in exchange for a poem. After he recites a poem just for her, she kisses him and comments on how good it is. Kamala gets a visitor so Siddhartha has to leave. But, it is not before Kamala recommends her friend Kamaswami, a business man to him, so Siddhartha can get money. They meet each other but Kamaswami doubts Siddhartha. When he find out Siddhartha can read and write he agrees to take him under his wing. Kamaswami notices he has a very carefree attitude towards business and dismisses any failures he has. He starts to pay him, to motivate him, but Siddhartha still retains his attitude. Kamaswami tries to tell Siddhartha about the joys wealth can bring, but Siddhartha find it silly that people get so attatched to material things and suffer because of them. In the mean time, Siddhartha learns a lot about from Kamala and respects her more because she can dismiss the material world and reminds him of the way Gotama lives. They get intimate, physically and emotionally, but they never fall in love. Siddhartha starts to get really into the game of business and becomes wealthy and starts to really care about the material world and starts gambling, eating expensive food, and wearing really nice clothes. After years go by, Siddhartha has spiritual dreams that prompt him to go meditate. He realizes the life he had recently been living as a rich merchant has done nothing for him, so he leaves without telling anyone. Kamala finds out he is gone, and no longer accepts visitors. She also finds out she is pregnant with Siddhartha's child. Siddhartha wanders by the river and thinks about killing himself because nothing can enlighten him. All of the sudden, his spiritual side wakes up again, causing him to stop him from killing himself, and just falling asleep by the river. He wakes up to find a monk meditating and realizes it's Govinda. Govinda doesn't recognize him at first. Govinda talks about how he is a religious pilgrim looking for enlightenment, still under the teachings of Gotama, and Siddhartha says he also is a religious pilgrim. However, Govinda doesn't believe hi at first because of the way he is dressed. Govinda leaves, and Siddhartha realizes he has been trying to hard to find a path to enlightenment. He then feels attached to the river and never wants to leave it. He meets the ferryman, named Vasudeva, again, and he tells him he wants to live with him. Vasudeva remembers him and sees that the river has spoken to him, so he lets him. Siddhartha learns many things from the river, like the fact that time does not exist. Later, the news that Gotama the Buddha is dying spreads and people flock to him. Kamala and her son are among this group and when they are close to the river, she is bitten by a poisonous snake. The boy cries for help, Vasudeva hears, and takes them across the river the the hut. Siddhartha recognizes Kamala and they talk. She tells him the boy is his son, and they talk about each other's inner peace status, and she dies. The son dislikes life with Siddhartha and Vasudeva by the river and wants to return to a life of material possessions. Siddharths cherishes the father-son bond so he doesn't let him go despite Vasudeva suggesting he should let him go. The boy runs away one night, and Siddhartha looks for him but cannot find him. Siddhartha realizes he must let him go on a spiritual journey on his own, and returns home with Vasudeva. Siddhartha is saddened, but at the same time thinks about how his father felt when he let him go to join the Samanas. Soon he starts to feel peace. He and Vasudeva sit by the river and saw pictures of people in their lives and heard voices of different emotions. During the hour they sat there, Siddhartha stopped fighting his destiny, and harmonized with everything in his life. Vasudeva sees this, and leaves him, making Siddhartha the new ferryman. His old friend Govinda comes to visit the river, seeking enlightenment. Once again, Govinda doesn't recognize him at first. Siddhartha tells him everything he learned, including that is it up to you to find enlightenment, not to get it from someone else's teachings. When Govinda asked if there was anything else he should know, Siddhartha told him to kiss his forehead. He did, despite the strange words and when he did images of people and events harmonizing flashed in front of his eyes, like they did to Siddhartha when he looked into the river. Govinda, now enlightened, and with tears running down his face, bowed to Siddhartha.
Siddhartha goes through many stages throughout the book. From the start, you tell he is not like the others. He is more of a deep thinker. He retains this characteristic throughout, and he learns more about the meaning of enlightenmentand how it is truly attained. He does lose his spiritual center for a while, when he becomes a rich merchant, but in the end it comes back to him and he continues learning more until he finally becomes a fully enlightened man. He's so enlightened, he is able to enlighten his friend just by having him kiss him on the forehead. That's pretty enlightened if I do say so myself.
I know I have said this for pretty much all of my book reports, but I liked this book. At the start I thought it would be boring, just because the way it was written made it seem like it would, but there is some really good messages that come from it. Really deep stuff, I like it. It really makes it clear that if you are seeking happiness or enlightenment, you have to do it yourself. You are not going to get it from following someone else's path to happiness. You aren't trying to find THEIR happiness, you're trying to find yours. I would recommend this book for others. It's a "feel good" book, for the most part anyway.
This book compares to real life directly. It talks about how it's not wise to live by a religous teaching to be happy, and people do that in today's world. The book also tlks about thinking too hard about how to get to happiness, and that' definitely present in today's world. I'm one of those people, as a matter of fact, not the religious part, but the thinking too hard part, I do that a lot.
If I was in Siddhartha's position, I would have returned to visit my father, just for a little bit at least. Siddhartha made a good point about it being the past and everything, but I would want to show my father how far I've come on the road to enlightenment. I like the way the book ended though.
I have never heard of the author before reading this so I have no idea what else he has written. So, I really don't think I'm going to read more from him. Siddhartha was a pretty good read though.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Song Project
"Minority" by Green Day
I want to be the minority
I don't need your authority
Down with the moral majority'
Cause I want to be the minority
I pledge allegiance to the underworld
One nation under dog
There of which I stand alone
A face in the crowd
Unsung, against the mold
Without a doubt
Singled out
The only way I know
I want to be the minority
I don't need your authority
Down with the moral majority
'Cause I want to be the minority
Stepped out of the line
Like a sheep runs from the herd
Marching out of time
To my own beat now
The only way I know
One light, one mind
Flashing in the dark
Blinded by the silence of a thousand broken hearts
"For crying out loud" she screamed unto me
A free for all
F*** 'em all
You are your own sight
I want to be the minority
I don't need your authority
Down with the moral majority
'Cause I want to be the minority
The song I chose is "Minority." I would say it fits under the pop punk genre like the rest of Green Day’s music. As for historical influences, it isn’t influenced by any classical European music or anything like that, but when I first heard it years ago I was reminded of the folk protest songs of the 1960’s by artists like Bob Dylan. But obviously it sounds a lot more modern and still retains that punk undertone that is ever present in Green Day songs. Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer and guitarist, wrote it and it is on the band’s sixth album, Warning, that came out in 2000. I think the song talks about having individuality and breaking away from the mold of "every day" American society to do what you want.
The song starts out with a short acoustic introduction and then immediately goes into the chorus. It then goes into the verse, the chorus again, and then there is a bridge ("Stepped out of the line…"). And then the song goes into the verse and the chorus after once more before ending with the same acoustic part at the start of the song. There are 32 stanzas.
In regards to society, "Minority" shows the struggle of people of younger generations to be different. It could be hard for them because of all of the trends that go on in our society and also with other elements (such as government, authority figures, other people, etc.) could be oppressing them as well. So, this song protests to this kind of oppression (in an upbeat way), and can inspire people to be the "minority."
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