Magazine Exercise

1.) The New Yorker: May 12, 2008

Article: "Bad Dog" By:Larry Doyle
In this article Mr. Doyle talks about his dog and explains how his dog is, whether it be the dog's complaining, eating, or weird habits, but in the article he gives his dog personification as if he is talking to him (imagining what the dog would be saying to him). In the story there is reflection and shift in perspective and character ( the dog's character towards Mr. Doyle over time). i don't know whether this article is suppose to be funny and sarcastic or it should be taken more serious, or perhaps both.

2.) Mother Jones" April, 2008

Article: "Voluntary Confinement" By: Michael Mechanic
This article talks about the reality T.V. show called Solitary where they place nine men and women in separate rooms which are very small and cramped for up to 12 days without any human interaction and see which one can last the longest, and the winner walks out with 50,000 dollars. In the process they get barely any sleep and close to no food the entire time. They are talked to by this enabler or computer host named 'Val' who messes with their minds. People talk about whether this show is actual torture and psychologically damaging to the people who play in it, or if it has harmless effects. The creators of the show say that it is harmless and that some players find the solitary "therapeutic".

The Torture Sessions: Response, letter to editor

It is horrible that our government violated and abused these American laws and lied to the public because it gives U.S. citizens more reason not to trust the government and President Bush. I find it also amusing how we can find time to make decisions that go against national laws, and yet, cannot address or solve issues that are affecting our public, economy and relationships with other countries. This makes the United States look really bad and gives other countries more reasons to dislike us and be even more pissed off because they see that we can't even be honest or forward with our own country. So other countries, such as Iraq can use this as an advantage and also as a weapon against us because it puts our captured soldiers at risk for serious injures and death; they probably figure, 'what the hell, since they are doing it to our people and soldiers, we can do it to theirs.' I think that our government really needs to switch their gears up and think about the negative image and message this is sending to Americans nation-wide.

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 was a very weird movie and i did not enjoy it, mostly because I did not understand it. But in the movie firefighters go around burning books of all kinds in peoples houses because they say they are dangerous to people and cause them to be outcasts in society and they are filled with non-sense and "rubbish" and don't do any good for people; they also said that they are boring.

Songs in class

The songs today in class were pretty interesting. For the most part people played alternative rock or punk songs, some wtih political meanings or messages and some just talking about love or whatever else. The song by Lincoln Park that a student played talked about Japanese internment camps and how his father or grandfather was a part of them and what they did to his people and it was a great song put into a different and also personal perspective. I chose a song by Juelz Santana called "Who Am I" which talks about him being a young black man in society trying to make money and move up in live. He talks about selling drugs to make money, even though its bad he is still a good person and wishes he could follow a better path.