honesty shhmonesty

I hate to say it but I think I would talk about cliche things. I would always ignore such advice because I thought, yeah yeah same old same old. How many times can someone tell me this? But after learning the lessons myself I realize why people pound this advice into teens over and over.

Some of the topics I would cover would be:

Honesty
Patience
Communication
Regret
Happiness
Playing with the cards you are dealt

I would make my speech short and sweet because I feel speeches have more impact this way.

Surprise Surprise

This book is full of surprises. Levitt attempts to make the reader think about things in an unconventional way. He talks about the, "accepted truth" that are not facts but just the social norm. He shows the reader that things right in front of you may be much different than they seem. He attempts to make the reader look at things differently to find out real the truth. Though I have not come up with any astounding statistical information I have recently taken his advice.

Levitt digs through tons and tons of information and finds patterns that are very interesting. For example, swimming pools are much more dangerous than guns. He delves into reasons and facts on each finding and keeps you very engaged.

Atonement

Atonement comes along with forgiveness. Both parties must be involved to atone for a sin. Atonement is possible for small wrong doings. When it comes to bigger problems atonement becomes exponentially harder. Time is a major factor in the process. As it goes, time heals everything. I agree that time can help immensely but cannot heal everything. Some things, such as murder, are almost impossible to heal. Also without the willingness of the victim to forgive it is not possible.

Amir is very selfish. He stood aside and watched Hassan get raped and framed Hassan for stealing money. These things will be very hard to get atoned for. I say impossible. Amir is in a bad situation for forgiveness.

Regret

The word regret makes me cringe. If you regret something that means you have made a decision that you decide should have never happened. Though it is very hard to not regret things sometimes, I try to not regret my decisions, good or bad. If I make a mistake I try to find the silver lining. There is something that can be learned from every decision so I try to avoid regret.

A mistake I have learned from is not taking the SAT II's. Taking them would have given me the opportunity to apply to higher level schools. I was not rejected from any of my schools so I do not know my limits.

FREAKONOMICS

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores The Hidden Side Of Everything. By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.

This book is awesome. Freakonomics is a non-fiction book about everything from drugs to parenting to abortion to swimming pools to sumo wrestlers. There is no common theme to the book except the idea to thinking about things from a different angle. As an example, near the beginning of the book Levitt talks about crime in the 90s. Crime was on the rise and all experts were pointing toward even further escalation when there was a dramatic crime drop. The accepted explanation was that the war against crime though extra police officers and tougher laws was becoming effective. Levitt decided to look at it from a different angle. He believes the crime drop can be explained by the court case Roe Vs. Wade. This case made abortion legal. Levitt argues that a whole generation of criminals were never born because of abortion.

There are many other examples in this book that make you look at things a different way that is not quite the norm.

Mike Pierce

This picture depicts Mike Pierce on the last leg of his physical training obstacle course. He started by scaling a 100 foot cliff. Then he did standard army crawl and tires. Next was riffle accuracy testing and a hostage situation. The course was finished with a mile run down the bank of a river. At the completion of the course Mike will have taken all the necessary steps to graduate from Penn State R.O.T.C.

Will Evil Prevail?

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing.

This quote infers that evil is the norm. Or that in the absence of goodness there is evil or that evil is inevitable. I believe that there is not such an innate human evil. Yes there are bad people in this world that will do bad things but I am slowly learning that the heart of life is good. People close to me are teaching me that giving people the benefit of the doubt is the right way to do things. It gives people a chance to show themselves before making an assumption.

This also makes me think of Lord of The Files. In the book, the animalistic side of some characters comes out with the absence of civilization.

JUST MAKE A FREAKING DECISION!!!

There are a multitude of factors that go into making decisions. Many people consult their past experiences, friends, family, and peers. Depending on the situation I might make a graphic organizer to keep my thoughts straight. For instance, I recently made my college decision. I chose between Penn State and Fordham. I made a t-chart outlining the pros and cons of each school. Penn State came out way on top and therefore I enrolled there. An important decision I will have to make in the near future is my major in college. To make this decision I will take various classes to find out what my strengths, weaknesses, and interests are. I will also consult my academic advisors and mentors for guidance. I look forward to the challenges of the many decisions that I will meet in my future.

I've got the recipe ain't gonna tell no one....(g. love)

AFGHANISTAN

Ingredients:
Pashtun: 42%
Tajik: 27%
Hazara: 9%
Uzbek: 9%
Aimak: 4%
Turkmen: 3%
Baloch: 2%
Other: 4%
A dash of terrorism and radical islamic groups.

Spring Break Dude

Over the break a made a momentous decision. On April 6, 2009 at approximately 6:00pm I made my college selection. Starting in Fall 2009 I will be attending The Pennsylvania State University at University Park. That was fairly exciting. I also did a lot of partying aand sleeping. The only other event during my break was a leisurely visit to John's Hopkins University to visit some water polo friends. As a whole break was loads of fun.

TWO THUMBS UP

After I finished On The Road I can strongly recommend it. It is a very interesting book about travel with a lot of fun events and experiences along the way. This book would be good for any teenager because there is drug use, alcohol use, sex, and downright trouble. Who doesn’t want to read about that?

I Was Wrong! (Prompt 3 Part IV Chapter 1)

Before I predicted that Dean would be getting Sal into even more trouble but at this point in the book I was wrong. Yes, Dean and Sal have been getting into trouble but in chapter 1 of part IV we see a new side of Dean. We have seen Dean get high, drunk, and run amuck but it has seems he has bucked down a bit. Dean has started working more and more in the parking lot. He is also supporting both of his ladies, Inez and Camille. Dean has also gotten much quieter. Yes they still go to parties but Dean has definitely changed a bit. Dean has grown into a more mature person compared to the eccentric party animal he was before.

Strange Observations (Prompt 4, Part III Chapter 1)

Kerouac's method of writing has been consistent throughout the novel. He has done a lot of characterization and dialogue. It was strange to me when he speak with more symbolism. I had not been noticing him discuss race much in the novel until recent chapters. This chapter particularly starts off with the topic out in the open. Sal is living alone and unhappy in Denver. As he walks the streets, he envies the Mexicans, Japanese, and blacks. He wants their lives, which he considers to be happier and more simple. He believes their lives are filled with joy and music. He criticizes himself for having white ambitions. He would rather be anything than white. This was very surprising for me to read. Especially because this book was written in the mid twentieth century, I would have expected Sal to do the opposite of aspiring to become these races. Racism still ran rampant and most people were voting for segregation. Some were still making claims that whites were better than blacks. Why this intelligent, white man would want to be anything otherwise completely took me by surprise. He has potential to become whoever he wants to be, yet he is focusing on others who conceivably have no more than him.

HUH? (Prompt 2 Part II Chapter 4)

Now what the heck is going on? Some weird things happen in Part 2 Chapter 4 that confuse the heck out of me. As a complete shocker to Sal, Dean asks Sal to make love to Marylou. Not only does he want Sal to make love to her but he wants to watch as it happens. Now why, under any circumstances, would a man want his girl to make love to another man? In this case not only make love but witness the whole thing! For me this solidifies Dean’s absolute craziness. It makes zero sense to me. Sal agrees and makes the argument that Dean wants to know what Marylou would be like with another man but that still does not convince me that it is a good idea.

Who he is? (Prompt 16, Part II Chapter 1)

Many times in class we have discussed who Che Guevara really is. Throughout "The Motorcycle Diaries" and in the film we watched in class, there are several different Che's. There is the youthful, optimistic young adult who travels throughout South America is hope of helping out everyone. There is also the older, tough, and slightly crazed Che who believes that by making speeches accusing America that he will bring happiness to everyone. He watched death after death when Castro first came into power and did not flinch. It was hard to figure out who he really was. While reading "On the Road", it is very easy to see a similar struggle with Sal. In his past, he was depressed and coming off of a divorce. Then he tries to explore America and make it out West where things appear to have the characteristics of a "Promiseland." Soon after, he is back at school trying to swoon a woman named Lucille into marrying him. Once Dean arrives back in his life, however, he is back on the road again. He is constantly flip-flopping his ideals and what kind of life he is choosing to lead. He should have sat down with Che and they should have discussed who they really truly were.

Jack's Swagger/Style (Prompt 11, Chapter 7)

At this point in the novel I have begun to notice a pattern in Jack’s writing. Jack’s writing style is in the form of long, and sometimes rambling, paragraphs. These paragraphs can often last a page or more. The main character is always moving from place to place and never stopping. Once he reaches one place he promptly gets up and moves on to the next place. I think this nonstop movement is reflected in Jack’s writing. The sentences go on and on in long paragraphs without a break. This is like Sal going and going without stopping. After researching the author I came across some interesting information that my shine light on why Jack wrote in this rambling style. Jack wrote the novel on one long piece of paper.

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/ontheroad/

The article explains how Jack started and finished the novel in three weeks. He typed his work on a 120 foot continuous scroll. This can explain the rambling style in On The Road. Above is the picture of the actual scroll.

This won't be the Last (Prompt 6 Chapter 6)

As the novel continues, it is easy to see that Dean antics are only going to get worse. He is constantly bouncing off the walls and getting himself into trouble. Sal learns in this chapter that while Dean is still seeing Marylou, he has also met a new girl named Camille. Like it would be expected, Dean is getting the most that he can out of life and sleeping with the two of them. He pulls it off with relative ease of course. He is always trying to get the most out of life. After finishing this chapter, I have the simple prediction that Dean is going to continue to get even more crazy. He is going to get into an even fast lifestyle and bring Sal with him. I think that Sal likes him for his outrageous stints partially because he wishes that he could carry them off himself. I believe this is only the beginning of the trouble that Dean is going to get himself and Sal into.

On The Road, Jack. (Prompt 18, Chapter 5)

At this point it is fairly obvious why the book is titled On The Road. The main character is on the road for the majority of the book so far. He is constantly moving from place to place. What makes this book interesting are the people he meets on the road. One of the most interesting experiences in the chapter is when Sal gets a ride from two farmers. The farmers drive a truck and pick up everyone who wants a ride. Everyone plies in the back and has a grand old time. On the truck he meets many characters like Mountain Slim and Mississippi Gene. After trying to pick up some girls and drinking a lot, Sal hitches his final ride and makes it to his destination, Denver. The experiences he has on the road makes this book what it is.

Euro Trip! (Prompt 10, Chapters 4)

In chapter three, Sal has begun his travels out west. He sees the Mississippi river in Iowa which is something he was been dying to see his whole life. Throughout the next few chapters Sal is traveling further and further out west. He does this with minimal supplies and plans. In fact, most of his meals consist of sweets and desserts, yum. Sal hitches rides with truck drivers as they enter gas stations. While he is hitching he meets many interesting characters including Eddie. Eddie is also from New York and they decided to hitchhike together.
The events in this chapter make me think of my plans for next summer. July, 2010, I plan on taking a trip to Europe. Me and a few of my very close friends plan on backpacking through Europe for two to three weeks. I wish to travel just as Sal travels out to the west. I want to go with little plans but to see as much of Europe as possible. I want to be moved by things I see in Europe the way Sal was moved by the Mississippi river. As of now my only plans are to buy a Eurrail pass (unlimited train rides across Europe) and make my way from country to country. The bonding and growing experiences of this traveling will be priceless. My desire to travel to Europe is comparable Sal’s desire to travel out west.

Crossroads (Prompt 14, Chapter 3)

Throughout the book Sal is learning about himself. His experiences and the people he meets help him find who he is. In chapter 3 Sal wakes up not knowing where he is. He is completely disoriented and does not even know who he is for a moment. As he comes back to his senses he says that he is, “at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future” (Page 45). This is a defining moment for the main character. Before the trip the author was in a stagnant part of his life. He was tired and even depressed while living in New York. This trip has provided him with a change from the ordinary and a shake up in the normal routine. At this crossroads in his life he looks behind him and sees the old him and looks forward in a much more optimistic view. He sees this adventure as a learning and growing experience. This is how I view my upcoming trip to Europe. I do not think that my life prior to the trip has been boring but I see it as a chance to find out who I am and grow as a person.

And so it begins.....(Prompt 1, Chapter 1)

The first chapter starts the book off on a good foot. I like the first person style of the author. It shows the voice of the “intellectual” narrator, Sal Paradise. Sal is a depressed writer living in New York in the late forties. He hangs out with a eclectic group of friends who I am excited to hear more about. I also like the character Dean Moriarty. So far he is described as a wild womanizer. He is married to Marylou who, to me, sounds like a ditsy blonde. I can't imagine that they will last. From the description of Dean you know he will be a trouble maker. He was just released from jail and hails from Colorado. This is his first time in New York City. Keroauc uses great detail when he describes his characters. I feel like they are standing right in front of me.

On The Road

On The Road by Jack Kerouac is a story of two men traveling together. You can expect new posts approximately every 2 chapters I read (slightly more frequently).

Welcome Class!

Welcome everyone,

Today for your do now I want you to wikipedia Peru and find a random fact.

Post this random fact to your blog and, if it has any relevance to TMD, explain how it connects to the book.

Che Who?

Che Guevara was bent on making the world a communist hell. As a young man he traveled the world and through the trickery of the common man he was turned into a socialist. He used his communication skills to gain support and start revolutions in the name of Communism. He wanted to stand up for the common man. He wanted to lead a revolt against Capitalization. After his successful revolution in Cuba he amounted to nothing but a capitalist symbol through t-shirts.

Chile

A vertical sliver of South America.

Political Commentary

Towards the end of the section Che comments on the political scene. He finds it confusing, "The political scene is confusing" (p88). The different candidates interest him. He speaks about the communist party and hatred for the United States. He talks about how, "chile should... shake its uncomfortable Yankee friend from its back." (p 89) This foreshadows Che's later interest and involvement in politics.

Words Words Words Word Words Words

Embody America in six words? Impossible.

Who Is Andrew Thompson Nagelberg?

If there is one question that teenager’s hate it is, who do you want to be? It is a loaded question filled with so many variables that it is almost unfair. How, at eighteen years old, am I supposed to know what I want to be for the rest of my life. Not only what occupation I want but who I want to be as a person. I do not know the answer to this question but I do know a few things for sure.

1. I am excited for the challenges I have laid in front of me. I am looking forward to testing who I am as a person through challenges. Things such as college and travel will test my skills and knowledge and help me learn about myself. Stepping out of my comfort zone will help me grow as a person.

2. Though it is cliché, I greatly value honesty. Honesty with myself and others leads to better communication and understanding. To me these things are essential for any kind of relationship.

Though I do not have a concrete ideology I know the general path I want to take. Experiences that I will have in the near future will help make my ideology. I look forward to finding out who Andrew Thompson Nagelberg really is.

Similarities/Differences

These two instances are similar. Can they be compared exactly? No.

Similarities:
One group (Che, USA) is helping another group (Revolutionary guerrillas, Pakistanis) rid their country of a different group (Cuban government, Al Qaeda/Taliban)

Differences:
Che was getting rid of the government in power.
The USA is helping quell sectarian violence and small group nuisances while helping to keep the government in place.

Andele! Andele!, Arriba! Arriba!

Page 1. “This is not a story of heroic feats, or merely the narrative of a cynic’ at least I do not mean it to be. It is a glimpse of two lives running parallel for a time, with similar hopes and convergent dreams.” Ernesto’s voice in this excerpt shows an intelligent man. This sets up the book for an educated voice.

Page 40. “My tired eyes refused to sleep and in them a pair of green spots swirled, representing the world I had left for dead behind me and mocking the so-called liberation I sought. They harnessed their image to my extraordinary flight across the lands and seas of the world.” Ernesto writes in an airy, abstract, and metaphoric style. He is artistic in his writing and uses metaphors in place of concrete, tangible examples from time to time.

Conspiracy

The Central Intelligence Agency is responsible for the death of Che Guevara. That’s right, I said it. Uncle Sam is a killer. All the pieces fit to blame the United States. The USA is anti-communist while Che is pro-communist. Che is making a big fuss all over Latin America and could potentially make trouble for the United States. This man is leading successful revolutions for proponents of communism. How do you get rid of this problem? Kill Che. That is exactly what the C.I.A. did.

Lonely Adventure? I think not.

It has been told that a wise man once said, “There is nothing lonelier than adventure.”
That wise man is full of bologna.

Adventure shows one the world.
Adventure opens ones mind.
Adventures teach one about oneself.
Adventures fill one with experience.

Without adventure how would one know them self?
Nothing can make one less lonely than adventure.

Let Dreams Be Dreams

Che wanted a completely socialist country. He wanted all people to pitch in equally including government officials. Che led by example when, in the movie, he decided to roll up his sleeves and go to work in the factories and fields. Che expressed his radical views in a speech he gave in France. Here he practically said goods should be traded between communist nations for free because trading for a profit is like imperialism or capitalism. Che had big dreams but they were not realistic. Even though his friend, Castro, agreed on many aspects he knew Che’s dreams were not a reality.

Double Jeopardy: The Alex Trebek story.

All my life I have enjoyed random facts. For instance; Why are they called strawberries? Why are there ridges on the edge of coins? What is the reason for giving an apple to a teacher? Etc. I have the answers to all of these questions and many more. A man who is filled with useless information, like me, is Alex Trebek. As the host of Jeopardy, Alex has learned many random facts throughout the years. This is why Trebek greatly interests me because random facts have helped me learn and grow as a person so I can only imagine what they have done to him.

The Honest Truth

Up until this point we have been given mixed messages about who Che really is. Is he a bloodthirsty murdering communist or a loving and caring father? I wish someone could be honest and just tell the truth. If I were to make a documentary I would title it, “Man or Beast? Who is the true Che?” My documentary would focus on getting to the bottom of who Che Guevara really was. I would weigh the good and bad aspects and make a final decision as to whether this was a man to be lauded or ridiculed.

EURO TRIP!

I have begun the planning stages of a trip of a lifetime. I, and two of my best friends, will be traveling to Europe after we finish our first year of college. We plan on traveling all across Europe and seeing as much as possible in two or three weeks. We plan on visiting a few main places (Paris, Madrid, Rome, etc) but we will also play it by ear. We are going to purchase a eurrail pass so we can travel across Europe by rail and visit as many places as we please. We plan visiting historically rich places and learning a lot about the world while we are at it. This will no doubt be a trip of a lifetime and I cannot wait to go!

CHE CHE CHE

I am very judgmental when I first look at a book. The first thing I look at is the length of the book. If it is a book for school and it is long I instantly dread it. If it is a book I am reading on my own length is not as important.

I recently began reading Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner as part of aa book club. The cover is very eye catching. It has an image that accurately represents the theme of the book. It is a picture of an apple with a slice cut out. Instead of what you would expect on the inside, an apple, it is an orange. This is to show that sometimes things are not what they seem on the outside. The book delves deeper into events to see why they happen, and the answer is usually not what is expected. Just like the image of the apple.

Tricked?

The fact that the media and Hollywood would take a not so honorable guy and use him to make a buck is not surprising. Things like this have happened before. I recognize Che’s picture anywhere but I did not know what it was until now. This kind of makes me feel betrayed or tricked. At the same time I have some doubts about what beck is saying. Yes I believe this guy, Che, was bad but is Beck blowing it out of proportion? I think people should be informed about what Che had done but I do not think major change will happen.

I do not like Beck’s delivery. Yes he is very animated and the inflection in his voice make it seem like he is very passionate about the subject he is talking about but I think he is fake. His delivery is a little too much. He is trying to hard and it makes him seem disingenuous.

Hello World

I am ecstatic to start this blog. I believe this blog will give me the opportunity to grow exponentially. The educational value of my blog will be limitless and am thrilled to begin posting.

Thank you all