Bryan’s AP Blog

A) Malcolm X describes how he learned to read and educate himself while in prison. He frequently proclaims his love of books as well as thankfulness for having gone to prison, in which allowed him the time and resources to learn.

B) 1. emulate: imitate; match or surpass. 2. machinate: engage in plots and intrigues; scheme. 3. ratification: sign or give formal consent.

C) Q1. Had malcolm ever been acquainted with Elijah Muhammad? Q2. If Malcolm loathes the “bleached” men as much as he does doesn’t that make him no better than his white oppressors? Q3. What exactly are faustian machinations?

I was probably nine or ten when I first met him. It was towards the end of the summer and he and his wife had just moved in. Being the annoyingly curious little boy I was I walked over to the garage sale they were having. Once there I commenced asking the annoying questions you’d expect someone of my age to ask. How it happened I couldn’t even tell you, but it seemed this elderly couple new to the neighborhood had come to like me, or should I say put up with the questions.

Though it meant little to me at the time I learned that Mike had cancer, this mysterious sickness of which there appeared to be no medicine for. Time passed and we both grew older and wiser. I was now more aware of his condition and asked, “Aren’t you scared of dying? I mean cancer is pretty serious.” It wasn’t right then and there when I was to be answered, but later, in the time between where I would find clarity in his situation.

When he was diagnosed with the illness the doctors estimated a few months survival, it had been several years since then. A while later he would be diagnosed with leukemia. Same story, couple of months, few years later still going strong even in spite of the chemo therapy. It’s hard to see people you love suffer, but not once did I ever pity that man. Not from a lack of heart, but from his abundance of happiness and optimism. He had found his medicine. It was free and required no prescription.

Whether aware of it or not he taught me that though sadness and depression are natural feelings we all experience, over time you realize that those precious seconds you spent in emotions of sadness were seconds you could’ve been happy and enjoying life. 

Fahrenheit 451 is a story written by Ray Bradbury taking place in a future where reading and acquiring knowledge is prohibited by law. The most common theme for the cover art, or when this particular book comes to mind is undeniably fire. Depicted on just about every cover is ash and/or flame symbolizing the method of which so-called “firemen” use to destroy literature, in essence, knowledge.

            The books title itself is quite appropriate for the story since the temperature 451 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature at which paper will burn. A common trend for cover illustrations is an image of a fireman whom according to common knowledge is one who puts fires out, not one who in this book ironically starts them. Another symbolic image is an illustration of one of the firemen with a phoenix perched upon his back. The phoenix is a mythical creature symbolizing the flame born from ashes.

            In my opinion the most meaningful cover is the illustration of the paper made man engulfed in flames. I find it safe to assume that the man displayed could resemble Guy Montag’s character. The figures body language displays tones of tire, sadness, possibly confusion, feelings that early on in the book you could sense Guy feeling after his meeting of Clarrise McClellen. These feelings leading to him questioning his occupation, the current society, and life as people know it during his time period.

A Pop tart is a delicious snack enjoyed by many around the globe. It is comprised of a sweet fruit filling enclosed by a tasty, flakey crust and topped with a layer of icing. Known for its on-the-go readiness and portable packaging, make it most suitable for optimum “eatability.” I have had many an experience with these delectable devils and have been thoroughly satisfied every time.Though made for on-the-go sustenance I find a Pop tart most enjoyable when made with love in every crumb and slightly toasted, creating a warm gooey center and crispy outer crust. The first thing you should do is pre-heat your toaster to approximately 350 degrees. If your toaster doesn’t do this, throw it out and get a new one, seriously.Once you have your toaster fired up prepare your Pop tarts for toasty glory. Second, remove the pop tart package from the box; don’t bother reading the instructions (you’ve got mine). Carefully tear the plastic sealing your Pop tarts open, inspect for any Pop tart damage, insert into toaster CAREFULLY and allow them to toast for three minutes or until desired crispyness is reached. About this time you must be pretty excited now that you’ve neared the final steps, I know I was my first time.Once you hear the bell on your toaster ding CAREFULLY remove your Pop tart and slip into a world of sweet, crispy, fruity euphoria.  

Section 1) Purpose is describing the basics of dumpster diving, the “how to” steps. Tone is lighter even comic while still maintaining solemnity from its truth.

Section 2) Describes personal and general experiences of dumpster diving and the feelings of one new to the experience.

Section 3) Includes the ethics of dumpster diving. Judging people by their trash.

2) Experimental psychos

4) Humans are being over zealous to accelerate evolution.

5) I see it as the tables turning, I don’t agree though because food was put here for our disposal and use.

6) Sarcastically serious, the pictures create a happier, lighter tone. 

I agree with the fact that an individuals’ academic, or, for that matter, any achievements should be a much sweeter prize than any trophy or recognition on account of being capable of such things. But, to work so hard to reach those goals and not receive some sort of recognition is like curing cancer without even getting a pat on the back for it. In the long run the true question for those people obtaining outstanding academic achievement awards is, what’s worth more? some scholarship to some school, or the ability to come up with ideas that could possibly better mankind, turning mirrors that trap us in perpetual confusion into windows of progress.

The general argument made by Sherman Alexie in his work “Superman And Me” is that children should strive to read and educate themselves in order to obtain a brighter future. He writes, “I read with equal parts joy and desperation. I loved those books, but I also knew that love had only one purpose. I was trying to save my life.” In this passage Alexie is suggesting that through the reading of books and almost everything containing words he saved himself from falling into failure of the non-Indian world. In conclusion Alexie’s belief is that education is the key to the doors of success.

            In my view Alexie is correct, because in this day and age the only way to receive a decent job is to posess at least a four year degree in college or university. More specifically, I believe that however useful, or vice versa education and knowledge is, it is the pathway to the things you want. For example, an employer is probably going to choose the applicant with the four years of college compared to the one with a high school diploma. Therefore, I conclude that reading is essential to expanding the mind in which leads to education and learning.

1) Asyndeton. It creates a sense of how they lived.

2) Most Indians didn’t care to receive an education, Sherman’s father wanted to be educated.

3) Illustrates for the reader how Alexie perceived his newfound talent.

4) He is referring to himself at present.

5) He wants it to seem as though he is wondering to himself.

6) The beginning is cumulative, he builds up to the next part of the essay. I think it’s classic. He uses narration and description to develop his essay. Overall it paints a brief picture of his childhood leading into adulthood and his career showing how he wants to help those children who were like him.

7) They assist in showing Alexie’s understanding of the values of education, as well as his wish to contribute in helping the children to understand.

I think it’s directed towards the non-Indians to show they are capable of educating themselves and becoming successful. “As Indian children, we were expected to fail in the non-Indian world.”

When Virginia Woolf stated that, “the angel in the house is dead and no longer lives in the imaginations of either women or men” she was referring to the poem “The Angel in the House.” This poem essentially represented the ideal Victorian woman. During a talk given in 1931, she describes her battle against this “phantom,” better known as the Angel in the House. This phantom hindered her writing taking her heart out of her words for the cause of being sympathetic.

         To better understand Woolf’s reason for her action you must first understand the phantom. The phantom, as she calls it is the mindset in which women of that time were to think. It was a mindset of staying below the radar, being selfless, inferior to men, or better yet, staying in the kitchen. During that period of time women had few professional options, and by the social standard the typical “ideal” image of a woman was of one who stayed home, cared for the children, cooked the meals and cleaned the house. The thoughts, ideas and opinions of a writing woman would have been unheard of, thus making it essential for Woolf to slay this voice in the back of her head constantly questioning whether it would be socially acceptable to say what she was writing.

         I believe in today’s society the image of women has positively changed. On a general scale the majority of society has accepted the fact that women are just as capable of the duties a man undertakes. Returning to Woolf’s assertion, “the angel in the house is dead and no longer lives in the imaginations of either women or men” I find it safe to say this has been achieved. Women have fought and earned their rightful position of equality, whether it may be in the social or professional world. Though some might argue, I would refute by saying it was the remark of an individual plagued with shallow-minded ignorance. Of course stereotypes precede their owners but the proof is in the historical change. The change in which hard fought female rights have allowed a woman to out rank said shallow-minded individuals from a professional point of view.