Outside reading post

 In Oh The Glory of It All, Sean Wilsey has grown up with a life split in half. One with his mother and one with his father. This twisted life has sent Sean on a rough path through life; he has made poor decisions and doesn’t seem to care. His half brother, Mike, reminds him; “ None of us understand why you were sent away to school. You’d always been a good kid, despite your eccentricities. So I asked Dede, and Dede said you’d pulled a knife on dad and that’s why they had to spend you off. She said you’d threatened him” (Wilsey 287). Sean has screwed up his life and has made his own ethical decision. Sean has chosen instant gratification of a quick escape only finding that there is no escape from his family’s separation. Sean doesn’t necessarily say “none of this is worth it” but he does describe things he does as if he regrets them: “ Cascade was a High School made up of the rejected students of many other High Schools, opposite of the cream, the most marginal characters to lurk in the corners of a normal High School” (Wilsey 291).  Sean has been sent to a “ special” High School for troubled teens. WE can see through his description that he obviously doesn’t want to be there. We can also assume that when he talks about the marginal characters he is talking also about himself. He is almost mocking himself and what he has become. This memoir has been getting more intense each chapter. I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Stay tuned. 

OTW Post Question

In the movie On the Waterfront character exude their various beliefs of what they believe to be a “ stool pigeon” or D and D. On the Waterfront there are multiple characters that believe that if you speak to anyone about “the job” down at the docks you are considered a rat; these people include Jerry, Doogan, and the Mobsters.  Both Jerry and Doogan are witnesses to what happens when a person rats on their so-called “friends.” To these men if you squeal you are not only a “rat” but also a traitor to your friends and partners. A traitor cannot be trusted and unfortunately for Doogan, being a traitor resulted in his demise.

Knowing what position these men were in and the choices they faced I can make a decision on the difference between a traitor and a snitch. In comparison to the mobsters I believe that a snitch is nothing but someone who has the confidence to speak the truth.  In this particular case it was important for the truth to be let out even if it meant sacrificing yourself. A traitor, in this case, would be the mobsters. A traitor is someone who betrays their country or fellow workers for their own selfish desires. If I had to choose between the traitors of the movie and the “snitches” the traitor would be the mobsters and the snitches would be everyone else. 

AMS Blog Question

In Arthur Millers’ play, All My Sons, Characters make choices to act depending on the needs of their family over societies laws. Joe, Kate Chris, Ann. In the play Joe Keller is one such character; in his attempts to save his family Keller foolishly sends off 120 cracked engine heads. In his defense he states, “ It was to late. The paper, it was all over the front page, twenty-one went down, it was too late. They came with handcuffs into the shop, what could I do? Chris. . . Chris, I did it for you, it was a chance and I took it for you. I’m sixty-one years old, when would I have another chance to make something for you? Sixty-one years old, you don’t get another chance, do ya?” ( Miller 70).  Joe is telling us that the reason he sent the cracked parts was for his family so they could be successful.  Joe  did something in order to benefit his family even if it meant going against societies’ laws. Another decision made was when Chris, Joes’ son responds to the news. He believes that his father should have never sent out the cracked engines. He scolds his father, “ For me! Where do you live, where do you live, where have you come from? For me!- I was dying everyday and you were killing my boys and you did it for me? What the hell do you think I was thinking of, the Goddam business? Is that as far as your mind can see?    What is that, the world-the business? What the hell do you mean, you sis it for me? Don’t you have a country? Don’t you live in the world? What the hell are you? What must I do to you? I ought to tear my tongue out of your mouth” ( Miller 70).  Chris has chosen society over Family, he thinks his father never should have sent the cracked engines. So much for  “ The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!”

In my opinion I found the play very funny and gripping the different characters and their opinions resulted in a interesting reading. Throughout the play there was the question of family or society. Does family come first or the laws of society? In my opinion family is very important but society wins by a hair. If we didn’t have society and people didn’t follow the rules there would be chaos. No one would listen to anyone and people would be going around doing whatever they wanted. This is an example where society would be placed above family. 

Q2 Outside Reading #2

In the Beginning of this memoir we see that Sean Wilsey lives a privilege life but in one day all of that would be nothing but a memory. Now after his parents divorce Sean is feeling responsible and recalls; “ we go into her bedroom and watch T. V. I sleep in her bed that night, making sure she doesn’t change her mind. Somehow, I realize the next morning, over the course of the night responsibility for her life has been given to me. From now on I must save her from killing herself; ad I must save myself by saving her with my love, but also by never getting too close and saving/being myself with sarcasm. And this paradox rules my life, every other week” ( Wilsey 102). Sean is feeling the burden of the divorce, he feels like the responsibility of his mother was given to him with no questions asked. It is fascinating and saddening to read about this double-sided life. I also find it interesting that while Sean’s family was exceptionally rich they were also generous; “ when she was married to dad she was profligate in her generosity, regularly making outrageous gestures of kindness, such as adopting an entire Appalachian school” ( Wilsey 103). Through his writing we find that Sean was favorable/ biased to his mother he would always talk about her in generous and ardent hearted ways. I am excited to keep reading and find out what else Sean ha in store. 

Wisley, Sean. Oh The Glory Of It All. New York, NY : Penguin Books, 2006.

Outside Reading Post 1

The Book I am reading is a memoir of Sean Wilsey, a young man who grows up with a movie star mom and wealthy father. Together they live in a marble and glass penthouse eight hundred feet above San Francisco. Life is not a fairytale for Sean, his father and mother file for divorce when Sean’s father falls in love with his wife’s best friend. This memoir shows how Sean survived with his family falling apart right in front of him.

         Sean grew up, for the time being, in a safe comfortable and fortunate family lifestyle. Sean seemed to be involved and observational into what his parent’s life was like, unfortunately one doesn’t read much (so far) about his life. Next we have Sean’s’ mother whom he describes as: “ impossible to overstate her grandeur, haughty, joyful, generous, suffering”(Wilsey 15). Then there is Alfred Spalding Wilsey his father; we find that even Sean’s father’s father was divorced. My guess is that like most Hollywood couples now days, people never stayed together for a long period of time. Right in the beginning of the memoir we find Sean’s parents to have divorced and why. A theme that may be portrayed is nothing lasts forever.  

 Wisley, Sean. Oh The Glory Of It All. New York, NY : Penguin Books, 2006.

Should Homer be considered an early feminist or an old-fashioned sexist?

 Homer’s treatment of women in the novel The Iliad would appear sexist, but in the period at which this novel was written, Homer was a feminist. The fact that he gave power to the goddesses; Athena, Hera and Aphrodite was a major stepping-stone in this period. Although the goddesses often appear sneaky, the fact that they can get away with such schemes also proves that home disguised women as being clever. Not only in the Iliad did Homer show his feminists views but also in The Odyssey.  Home distinctively shows his point of view through the characters Penelope and the nymph Calypso, a temptress. Being a women with no husband and a son to look after, Penelope maintains a high level of social class. This was how homer portrayed the “independent woman.” In The Odyssey. Homer shows his point of view through the nymph Calypso, a temptress who has captured Odysseus. As Hermes sets Calypso into rage by demanding Odysseus. She begins to quibble with the fact of the Gods being sexist. Homer is giving the reader the opinion of a woman, something not sought after in his time.

To us Homer’s writing may appear sexists, but we must look deeper, we must see at the point inn time at which he wrote this novel. Homer was anything but sexists, he was complementary. 

First post Poll: Obama Maintains Comfortable Lead

With less than one week until Election Day, Barack Obama maintains a clear lead over John McCain in the presidential race. Although the figures include both heavy  supporters of each candidate and those not fully committed. The idea of politics in general reminds me of the politics in The novel the Iliad. the entire novel was of The Great Odysseus and his journey home. Along his way home his pride got the best of him. It was as if he was selling himself to the people he passed i.e. a politician. Odysseus also feels comfortable in his power and majestically. 

"Poll: Obama Maintains Comfortable Lead." CBS News Oct. 30 2008 2. 30 Oct 2008 .

Maker of known steroid masking agent halts sales

The lengths people will go, Minnesota Viking players using weight-loss supplements and steroids to improve their game. Bumetanide was recently added to the NFL's list of banned substances as a known masker of steroid use. Pat Williams and Kevin Williams were named in a Fox Sports story as players who could face four-game suspensions. The use of steroids has always been a concern in the NFL. Players being found year after year to be using steroids or anything to win glory and honor from their team and coaches. As I read this article I thought of the men in the Iliad  and the way they would risk anything in order to win honor and glory. The things people will do ?!

"Maker of known steroid masking agent halts sales"  Star Tribune. 9 October 2008. startribune.com 30 October 2008

Third outside reading: Film review

HSM 3, High School Musical 3, everyone’s talking! Teen heartthrob Zac Efron stars as Troy, alongside Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) in the third High School Musical, surprise, surprise. Senior Year' focuses on the struggles of being a senior while juggling a girlfriend, the musical and a potential Stanford basketball scholarship. Troy’s dad is pressuring him to pursue sports at his hometown alma mater, but Juilliard beckons with a performing arts scholarship. The only way to resolve these conflicts is with nonstop songs and dance.  If you’re yearning for some good old fashioned fun go and see High School Musical!

Covert, Colin. "Movie review: 'High School Musical 3': Older, but not growing up." Star Tribune.1October 24 2008. 1. 29 Oct 2008. <http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/33042159.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUnc5PDiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU.>

Visual literacy Outside Reading (fourth Outside Reading)

Staff Sgt. Michael Rodriguez (bottom) took cover from the “downdraft” as a large load of mail sent to soldiers killed or wounded in recent action.  The low angle at which this photograph was taken, gives one a perspective of the reoccurring scenery in Afghanistan. As a student, one tends to forget about the men and women fighting in Afghanistan. Not only do we forget about their fighting but also the long-term effects the war can have on a persons mind and heart. The fact that most families will not receive the notice of a family members death for months at a time is slightly disturbing. I chose this image was the fact that Veterans Day is around the corner. Although people are reminded of this day in school, calendars and work I do not think one takes the time to think about it, so here’s a reminder.

John Moore. "Pictures of the Day Oct. 28." 28 Oct. 2008 28 Oct 2008.

Spring Break in Paris

First Blog

Sorry everyone, my blog was previously deleted. Just to remind you my name is Mikayla and for the next few (8) months I will be blogging about; short stories, movies and books. Just to tell you a little about myself..... I enjoy soccer, flag football, volleyball and pretty-much every sport. I also enjoy drawing painting and the occasional Jodi Picoult novel. I hope you are entertained by these post. Ta Ta for now!