Black Flies Post #6

In this last section of Black Flies Ollie's character finally comes together to make a delightfully happy ending. Earlier in his career Ollie applied to college for a medical degree and was denied, but this year he tried again. He studied for a very long time and took the test, and passed. Although he was only being a paramedic as a filler until the year when he was accepted to college he was hesitant to say yes. He felt a strange bond to the job that he once dreaded and didn't know if he could stop. I find this very interesting and a huge example of character development. At the beginning Ollie hated the job and wanted to quit, but after seeing the difference that he makes in the world, he really began to enjoy his work. This job opened his eyes to the real world and gave him and life experience that not many people have the chance to experience. This job is disgusting and traumatizing but the way of life that Ollie had to conform to taught him about not only himself but about the society that he was living in. The book ends while Ollie was on a job, attempting to save a girl in a flooding building he was thinking about his future, and then and there he knew that he had to go to medical school. Right after he made this crucial decision he found his patient, the girl. He looked at her and noticed, "Impossibly pale skin, mouth open, eyes staring blankly in the dim, flickering light- she was dead" (180). He knew that he had to act fast to if he wanted the chance to save her, and his partner wasn't responding to him. So he got out the shocker paddles and after multiple tries she finally came back to life, Ollie had finally earned his save badge. His job gives out badges for achievements that the paramedics do. Although earlier in his career he had saved a patient, he needed help from Rutkovsky so it didn't count, but for this girl he saved the twelve-year-old girl all by himself. I was very pleased when Ollie finally succeeded. He has been working extremely hard, putting up with the taunting, and has devoted his life to his work and it was a spectacular ending to have him finally reach his goal. Although many of his coworkers haven't been taunting him in the past couple of months, they didn't fully respect him, until he received his save badge. The final theme of this book is that if you work hard, and have the drive to accomplish something, you can do it. I'm a strong believer in this theme and it was the perfect ending to this gross yet fabulous story.

Burke, Shannon. Black Flies. New York: Soft Skull P, 2008.*Black Flies should be underlined

Black Flies Post #5

In this section of Black Flies by Shannon Burke the job and mental aspect effects Rutkovsky mentally. One hot summer day the men are called to help a mother that is giving birth to a "still born" baby, this woman is a crack addict, takes methodome, is HIV positive, and is giving birth to her baby two months early. When they men get there the baby is born and Rutkovsky says the baby is dead, while he is dealing with the baby Ollie is talking to the mother. The baby is taken down to the ambulance where another paramedic determines that "the dead baby is breathing" (117). Soon later Rutkovsky is fired, all the men are questioned but Ollie says he saw nothing and he was talking to the mom the whole time. The job began to get to Rutkovsky and ultimately altered his thinking. He always wanted the patient to live and to be comfortable but at this moment he didn't want the baby to have to live in that sort of environment. Although he had a "valid" reason for his actions this is extremely out of character for him, and really shows how the job has effected him immensely. A few weeks later the paramedics get a call to help a man in a park that had shot himself, it was Rutkovsky. The fact that he didn't have his job anymore and the things he had seen changed him and his view on life completely. He wasn't able to deal with all the tragic things he had seen so he killed himself. His coworkers thought that the way he killed himself in a "joking" way, he shot himself in a way that would ruin his face, and in a park that he knew his friends would respond too. The job of being a paramedic took a huge toll on Rutkovsky's and every other mans life as well. I really hope that this job doesn't do the same for Ollie. I think that the job that these men are doing is extremely honorable and selfless. They are willing to give up everything to help people and a community that they aren't affiliated with at all. This job takes a huge toll on theses men and women's lives, and they aren't commended enough for the amazing work that they do. The things that they experience are tragic and no one should ever have to see that but they deal with it with care and sophistication.

Burke, Shannon. Black Flies. New York: Soft Skull P, 2008.*Black Flies should be underlined

Black Flies Post #4

In this section of the book Back Flies by Shannon Burke, Ollie has began to fit in with his coworkers, but what he calls "normal" has dramatically changed. After working the job and proving himself to his coworkers, Ollie is now accepted and almost liked by the other men. He is teased no more than any other guy, and is seeming to enjoy his gruesome and peculiar job. One this that is apparent in all the paramedics is that they all seem to have gone a little bit crazy. Not only has Ollie changed what he finds normal but all the paramedics have. One day Ollie realizes "Of knowing without even thinking about it the progression of lividity, rigo mortis, and gradual decay. And all of this the normal routine of our day" (91). Here Ollie is admitting that all the crazy and disgusting things that he sees are now what he finds normal. I find this weird but also a sort of dedication to the job. No one should ever find organs falling out of a body normal, but when they do there is something very wrong with the situation. Although this is disgusting I find this very dedicating to the job. Not everyone would be able to deal with the terrible things that these men see, and by changing what they find as the "norm" they are then able to deal with what they must to ensure that they will do their best work and ultimately save lives. Not only are these men changing their views on the world but they are also becoming a tad bit insane and proceed to act in very strange ways. First of any one who finds bone sticking out of a wound or seeing a brain normal to a days work there's something very wrong in your head. Yet these men then do very weird things, like talking to everyone through a puppet. Marmol, one of Ollies coworkers, says with his puppet " 'Talk to Papi!' Marmol said. Then with they puppet, 'Whats the pain feel like?' " (92). Marmol was trying to keep his mind off of the diet that he was on so he decided to talk to everyone, including the patients, through a puppet named Papi. "Normal" people don't talk to others through a puppet, well unless their clowns. This job effects not only the time that these men have but it changes their minds and how they see the world. This book is very intriguing due to the fact that I have never heard a story of a paramedic, and I never knew that how much of an effect it could have on these honorable men's lives.

Burke, Shannon. Black Flies. New York: Soft Skull P, 2008.*Black Flies should be underlined

Black Flies Post #3

In this section of the book Black Flies, Ollie is starting his third week as a paramedic and is beginning to understand how the job works. Ollie is clearly the one to pick on at the station but he is beginning to realize that he isn't the only person who isn't well liked. There is another man, Phelps, who had been working at the station for eight months, is a very kind nice man who loves his job and is thrilled by it as well. Due to this happiness and eagerness to be at work the other men aren't fond of him and always give him a hard time. One day Phelps's partner put a transfer slip in Phelps's mail box. A transfer slip is a form the workers fill out and give to their partner if they aren't happy with what their partner is doing. Phelps's partner wasn't fond of Phelps and didn't want to work with him any more, so he filled out a transfer slip and gave it to Phelps. When Ollie sees this he knows that it's not the right thing to do because Phelps is a good worker and loves his job, yet due to Ollie's status at the station he wasn't allowed to interfere with the situation. This transfer slip is rude and extremely embarrassing for Phelps, but unfortunately his coworkers didn't stop there, in addition they put a dead maggoty dog in the front seat of his car. Ollie returns home that night and talks it all over with his girlfriend, Clara. Clara got in to med school, while Ollie did not. Clara believes that Ollie is an amazing medic, but he didn't get in to school because he wasn't confident. Clara isn't fond of Ollie's new job because she thinks it's not helping him become more confident, so Clara tells Ollie that if he wants the other guys to like him he has to give them something to like and respect. The next day at work Ollie and Rutkovsky see a boy walking down the street with a trail of blood and a dog following him. While the other medic's help bandage the boy's wound Ollie goes to check on the dog. They had successfully locked the dog inside a parking lot, and the friend of he injured boy was about to shoot the dog when Ollie walked in. Ollie took out a sandwich and gave the dog pieces of it, and soon the dog let Ollie grab him by the collar. The police took the dog away and the owner of the dog came to the scene. The man was crazy only caring about his dog, and not apologizing to the boy or thanking Ollie Cross. While the EMT's were standing there Rutkovsky told Ollie good job, but rather than calling him his nickname, Coroner, he called him Cross. After this name change every one had a little more respect for Ollie, changing his situation. At the beginning of this section Ollie was insecure with himself, and this attitude radiated off of him giving his co-workers a reason and opportunity to make fun of him, but by the end of this section he proved himself on the job. Ollie was brave enough to take care of the dog rather than killing it, and this action earned him respect. No one else wanted to even go near the dog. but because Ollie had the strength to confront the dog showed his partner that he was serious and was confident. Ollie also realized that he wasn't the only guy on the job who was getting a hard time, but he did realize that he could control it. He proved himself to everyone and created a better environment for himself at work. Hopefully Cross will now have and easier time at work, and will be able to stay this confident and continue to progress in his work otherwise he will never have a chance at getting into med school and possibly becoming a doctor at a hospital. I'm very happy to see that Cross is learning to adapt to his new environment and learning how to deal with all the obstacles that he faces while working in Harlem.

Burke, Shannon. Black Flies. New York: Soft Skull P, 2008.*Black Flies should be underlined

Black Flies Post #2

In the book Black Flies, so far all the reader knows is that Ollie is a new paramedic struggling to deal with the gruesome and disgusting scenes he encounters in his job of being an EMT. At the beginning we don't know much about his life before his job of being an EMT but later on we get some more insight. Ollie went to college and didn't get in to medical school right away, so he decided to take a year off and become a medic and apply the nest year. Ollie is not only struggling with the horrific events, he is struggling with how his co workers deal with the situations. His partner Rutkovsky, isn't fazed with any of the tragedies he sees, and even has bars under his badge to prove it. Ollie asks Rutkovsky, "... he only displayed a single black bar over his badge...From when I was in the war. It's a kill bar. For a confirmed kill"(16 Burke). Ollie has a difficult time wrapping his brain around the idea that Rutkovsky had killed anyone, and isn't even fazed by it. Ollie continues to be ridiculed about him being new, but one day he gets his chance to prove his skills to his co workers. Burke writes, "I lines up behind the head, set the laryngoscope up, and went in with the scope, trying to find the vocal cords. I couldn't see them" and later Ollie received help from Rutkovsky "Now! Rutkobsky hissed. I stabbed inward with the tube... As the air went in the guys skin flushed and his heart rate went up into the sixties..."(12, 13 Burke). At first Ollie is scared and doesn't believe he can accomplish the job, so he receives some help from Rutkovsky and ends up completing the task and saving the man's life. Although Ollie saves this man's life all his coworkers still make fun of him because he wasn't confident and almost killed the man.

The gruesome details are still there but the story is getting much more interesting. The story is beginning to get some plot behind the basic idea and is really becoming interesting. I'm curious to see how Ollie deals with all the pressure that is put upon him, if he will crack or rise to the occasion. I also enjoy how Burke writes about how Ollie is trying to cope with this new job, but leaves out how others cope with all the blood and gore. I'm really interested to if the views of the other workers and even Ollie change later on.

Burke, Shannon. Black Flies. New York: Soft Skull P, 2008.*Black Flies should be underlined

Black Flies Post #1

I'm reading the novel Black Flies by Shannon Burke. This book follows the story a man Ollie who is new to his profession, being an EMT. Ollie is a new guy so he is not accustom to all the gore and death that is experienced in the job, because of this he is made fun of by the veteran EMT's. This book has a huge amount of detail making the scene's very easy to visualize, even though they might be gory and terrible to think about. A crime scene is described, "A half dissected cadaver lay on a steel table, the interior cavity of the body exposed, the organs visible. the grayish formaldehyde poled in the folds of the plastic wrapping, and all around us high shelves held jars with floating hearts, brains, kidneys, fetuses, and encephalopathy babies"(8). This line was an amazing description of a tiny room with jars all around the walls. While reading this I had a vivid picture of the scene in my head. Although this isn't the best picture to have in your head, it enhancs your reading and understanding of the book. In this scene Ollie is unable take it all in, the gore and death is too much for him to handle. Due to his incapablility to handle all the graphic deaths his coworkers taunt him and ridicule him, they even go so far as putting a dead decaying pig in his car.

At the beginning this book seems as thought the plot is thin, but as you read on the story becomes more and more interesting. Not only does the graphic deatailing enhance the story but it gives the book "style" and makes important details and parts to the story stand out even more. Burke has done an excelent job putting this extremely difficult and gory job into terms that the reader can begin to understand. Although I'm only at the beginning this book is very intriguing and is very well written. So far I'm enjoying the book Black Flies.

Burke, Shannon. Black Flies. New York: Soft Skull P, 2008.*Black Flies should be underlined

Outside Reading- Post #6

After Christmas Frank's father finally gets a job, but then looses it his first day. Then rather than returning home to his excited family, he spends all the dole money at the pub and comes home drunk singing Irish songs. Frank, Malachy, and Angela are extremely disappointed with Mr. McCourt and don't accept the penny he tries to give to them as an apology gift. Frank's school gets a new head master who hates answering questions, and there just so happens to be a boy in Frank’s class who loves to ask questions, so he's always in trouble. Franks amazing conscience helps him to send a message to his class mates. One day at school he finds a raisin in his lunch and every one begs him for it, but rather than giving it to the normal kids he gives it to the other poor kid in his class, Paddy. In a few weeks it's time for Frank’s first communion. He's extremely excited for this because he will get money to spend on the movies and sweets, but unfortunately he throws up his communion wafer and misses the money collecting part. They get to the heater and Mickey pretends to throw a fit and Frank is able to sneak into the movie. Much later Frank is forced with the decision of going to the university and getting an education or getting a job to support his family. He chooses the job so that his family can finally have an income that they can depend on. Throughout this book Frank has grown immensely as a person. He has an extremely difficult life and it would be much easier to stoop down to terrible and low levels; but him his mom and his brother are very good people and it shows through their actions. Frank selflessly gives his sweet raisin to the other poor and hungry boy in the class, doesn't retaliate to the teasing that he experiences, and chooses his family over himself. Frank has an amazing sense of what is "right" and is strong enough and courageous enough to follow through with his beliefs. I feel that Frank McCourt is an amazing role model for everyone. He had a terrible life, but grew up to be a successful, smart, and courageous man. This book was an amazing story and I would recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a great book!

McCourt, Frank. Angela's Ashes. New York: touchstone, 1996.

Outside Reading-#5

Some time passes as the McCourt family is accommodating to their new home, but with the dole money decrease things are still as hard as ever.  Two weeks before Christmas the boys return from school to find that their house had been flooded.  So they are forced to move in to the top floors apartment which they call Italy, because its hot and dry. The next day Angela goes to the butcher to get meat for the family to eat on christmas, but all she could afford was the meat on the head of the pig.  Unfortunately for Frank he had to carry the pig head home and on the way he saw some of his friends who made fun of him for his poverty.  On Christmas day the boys go out to fetch some coal scraps so that Angela can cook the pig, but they convince a landlord to give them real coal for free.  They then have to drag the coal home in the rain and are once again made fun of because of their poverty. The boys go home and celebrate a great, and happy christmas with their family. 

I find it amazing that these boys are able to stay true to themselves and stay out of trouble with all the teasing they are experiencing.  Unfortunately people judge others on their appearance and the amount of money they have, so consequently the McCourt boys are ridiculed endlessly.  The school is really making a difference in the boys lives, although they haven't made friends they are staying out of trouble and learning an education.  The McCourt boys are very strong and I believe smart as well.  They haven't had any good examples of how to act or what to do in their lives and yet they are two respectable boys.  I also find it amazing that this extremely poor family is still able to have a great and joyful christmas.  Usually people judge their christmases on the amount and quality of the gifts they receive, but that's not what christmas is about.  If a family like the McCourts can find the true meaning in christmas, and make it a splendid and enjoyable day, anyone can.  I'm really anxious to read about what happens next!

McCourt, Frank.  Angela's Ashes. New York: touchstone, 1996.

Outside reading- #4

Shortly after returning home Franks one-year-old brother, Oliver, dies in the hospital. The day of the funeral Franks father spends all his dole money on alcohol.  The McCourts move to a new home, and Frank and Malachy finally begin school. The school that they are attending is difficult and challenges your spirit.  After starting school the McCourts face, yet again, another challenge, Eugene dies of pneumonia.  Yet again Franks father drinks the whole day of Eugene's funeral, so Frank has to pull him from the pub so that he can pay his last respects to his son. After the funeral Frank and Malachy eat fish and chips.  While eating Frank can't help but think about how Eugene has been taken by angels to go see Margaret and Oliver.  After Eugenes funeral Mrs. McCourt decides that the family should once again move, so they do. Unfortunately Mr. McCourts pay is reduced to 16 shillings a week, and they have to share a bathroom with 11 other families in their new home. 

The McCourts life just keeps getting worse and worse. Having to lose one child is something no parent should have to deal with, but three is just terrible.  Although this tragedy does strike I feel that the move and education that Malachy and Frank finally receive is exactly what they need. These kids need something they can escape to so that they have something other to do that just get in trouble.  Although the first move is good for the boys, the McCourts are once again just attempting to run away from their problems when moving isn't going to make them disappear. At the beginning I felt just a little bit of sorrow for the McCourt family but now I feel terrible.  No one should have to go through this type of a life, and I really hope that their situation gets better in the near future. 

McCourt, Frank. Angela's Ashes. New York: touchstone, 1996. 

Outside Reading Post-#3

When I last left off the McCourts new life in Ireland wasn't going to well, and I was hoping that their situation was going to get better, but unfortunately it hasn't.  Mr. McCourt has a job that pays 19 shillings which isn't enough to pay rent and feed his family.  So one morning when the family is eating breakfast Franks grandmother tells Mr. McCourt that if he wants he can go to the IRA so that he can ask for money to commend what he's done. Before they leave they go to church and even there the family is referred to as Yanks "... he hoped he'd see us all at Mass, especially the little Yankees..."(McCourt 48).  Once they are there Mr. McCourt asks for money but the man working the desk refuses him even the fare to get a bus ride home.  The whole McCourt family went along to try and get money, but they were sent home empty handed. 

The McCourts have a much worse life in Ireland than in America.  Mr McCourt has a terrible job, no money and his children are learning terrible habits.  I really don't understand why the the McCourts family wanted them to return to Ireland with them.  They too are living terrible lives, and for me if i loved someone I would want the best life for them.  This life can't be found in Ireland.  The kids are being given drugs, not being fed, and aren't receiving an education.  I think that if the McCourts stay in Ireland the kids will not be able to make better lives for themselves.  Although this book is sad, the writing style is very intriguing. Frank puts a funny flare to his writing and makes the rare funny parts of his life almost stick out just as much as the unfortunate events.      

McCourt, Frank. Angela's Aches. New York: touchstone, 1996.

Blog Question Response #3

In the movie On The Water Front all of the working people know that what the mob is doing is wrong, and they want to see the mob gone, yet they withhold the information they do know in fear that they will be thought of as a "stool pigeon" and end in their demise. All of the characters, apart from Doogan and the reverend, were to scared to stand up to the mob and become moral crusaders in fear that they would be "tattle tales". All the characters think that anyone who stands up to the mob is a brave person, but unfortunately they know that the mob will become angry and "get rid" of them. The truth is that these people who did stand up to the mob, and attempted to make a difference in every one's lives were moral crusaders, but they were thought of as tattle tales. Most of the characters in On the Water Front know what the right thing to do is, but they won't stand up to the mob because although they know what the crusader is doing is right and brave, they are to scared to take action in fear that the mob will think they are a tattle tale.

I believe that the smart people are those who stand up for what is right. Although they may stand alone they are strong and they have a cause that they believe in, and are willing to make sacrifices so that change will occur. In real life a tattle tale is someone who tells someone of a higher authority any little detail that can have some importance, but usually doesn't. A moral crusader is someone who shares information that will help and make a difference in theirs or others lives. Tattle tales are usually small minded, scared people who have no back bone and are only doing what they are doing so that they have safety provided to them. Where as a zealot is someone who is brave, and knows what the right thing to do is and takes action so that the situation will get better, rather than going along with everyone else.The cause that these brave citizens are fighting for is usually something of importance to them and others. Although we might think it's easy to stand up to others, in the situation that the characters in On the Water Front face is a very tough and scary decision. These citizens are forced to choose between a better tomorrow while possibly giving up their life, or just standing in the background and watching the same terrible things happen over and over again. The effects that the moral crusaders have to deal with are serious and real, but if they are willing to risk that so that them and others can have a better life, then we should all support them and help them so that their journey can be easier.

Blog Question Response #2

In the play All My Sons there is one main character that has to make the immense decision of family over society, Joe Keller.  He is forced to make the decision between his sons future, and the lives of the pilots who fly with the parts that his company makes.  Keller decided that his son, Chris's future was worth more than the lives of many men in the army.  While Keller and Chris are fighting Keller admits, "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?" (Miller 70).  Keller felt that his duty as a father was to create a better life for his son than he had.  Keller does exactly this, yet he forgets to show his son what is the "right" thing to do.  This decision is a very difficult one, yet Keller feels that he had only one option if he wanted to be a successful father.  In addition to Keller believing Chris's future was at the up most importance, he also thinks that his businesses reputation and success is more important than a humans life. While making the decision to send out the cracked parts he thought of his businesses future and reputation for each of the two possible situations. Keller, attempting to defend his decision tells "I'm in business, a man in business; a hundred and twenty cracked, you're out of business... you stuff is no good; they close you up, they tear up your contracts, what the hell's it to them?" (Miller 69).  Keller knew that if he didn't send anything that his business wouldn't make a profit, and the army would look to another company for their products; so he told Steve Deever, his partner, to weld the cracks and send them out anyways.  He did this so that his company could still make profit, even though it meant many men would die, and families would suffer.  Keller had a huge decision to make, and he choose to make his son's future better rather than making sure his products were safe.  Although his decision helped out his Chris, he wasn't happy with what his father decided. 

Keller was able to make this huge decision, yet I don't feel as if I can. The love that a parent feels for a child is like no other love in the world, and can sway and alter you ethics.  I feel that I'm not in the right position to make this decision because I have no children and I have never been in the terrible situation where I've had to choose between family and society.  I also feel that I'm incapable of making this life changing decision because I've never felt that type of pressure and I think during that moment you have to make the decision your random feelings and pressure can sway your choice.  In my life I hope that I never have to make the terribly hard decision of the future of my family over the well being of people I've never met.  

Outside Reading- Post #2

One thing I need to correct from my last post was the relationship between Malachy and Angela. Although they were in love at one point and had a child, they didn't want to marry, but it was a forced marriage so they had to. Their life in Ireland is harder than they thought it would be. The whole family is still depressed about the death of Margaret. I found it was weird that the family thought they could escape the sadness of loosing a child by moving back to Ireland, and that they thought their lives would be better in Ireland. They didn't want to move at first but then Angela's family sends her money so that they can come "home" to Ireland. When they leave they know their leaving a life of freedom, yet they hope it will soon become better. I think this is a poor decision on their part because everyone is striving to move to America, they had a place to live and just enough food to get by, and they left it for a sceptical life. Once they're there they are not welcomed. In America everyone noticed they were Irish so they didn't fit-in, and now in Ireland they we're referred to as the Yanks so they didn't fit-in in Ireland. Malachy finally found a job that only payed 19 shillings which is worse than the pay he was receiving in America. The house they live in is crowded, and now their family of six was going to have to starve.

I really don't understand their move back to Ireland. They didn't have it that great in America, but it was the land of opportunity and almost all of the other immigrants were in the same situation. In addition if Malachy can't hold a job in the "land of opportunity" how is he going to hold a job in Ireland where money, food, and work is scarce. To make it worse Angela's family wasn't even nice them when they moved back to Ireland. I think the decision wasn't thought over enough and ultimately no one is liking the move so far, hopefully it will get better. This relates to what we were doing in class because JGC and Rawlins moved to Mexico to try and find a better life, but Angela's family was doing the opposite.


McCourt, Frank. Angela's Ashes. New York: touchstone, 1996.

Outside Reading- Post #1

The memoir I’m reading for outside reading this quarter is Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt. This book is about the life of a poor Irish family and their struggles through life. The family’s life is portrayed through Frank’s point of view. The story starts out with the move back to Ireland. The parents had met in New York, both as immigrants from Ireland. Once they met they fell in love and started a family. Their family consists of the mom, dad, frank, his brother Malachy, his twin brothers Oliver and Eugene, and his sister Margaret. They were all born in America, but soon after the twins were born the moved back to Ireland. Although Frank did have a sister, Margaret, she dies before the moved back to Ireland. After this Frank just describes how hard their life in Ireland was, growing up as a poor catholic boy.

After this first chapter of the book I already love it. Frank’s style of writing is so innovative and funny that you really feel as if he were there talking to you in person. I believe he also has a trade mark saying that he says, “Her arse”. He has said it multiple times already and I can’t wait to see if he continues to use this through the memoir. Already I would recommend this book to anyone in the class. I feel this is one of those books you just can’t put down. Hopefully the rest of the book is just as good as the beginning.

McCourt, Frank. Angela's Ashes. New York: touchstone, 1996.

Week 5- Jennifer Hudson's Relatives Killed

The article I read was about the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mom, brother, and nephew. It was said that Jennifer's nephew, Julian, had been reported missing since Friday morning, and was later found dead in an white SUV. Along with Julian, Jennifer's mother and brother were found shot to death in Ms. Donerson's (Jennifer's mom) home. Many of the details of this case have not been released to the public yet, which could be a good thing. This event is most definitely tragic for Jennifer, and many others. I too think this is terrible, because from what every one who knew the Hudson family, said that they were all wholesome, polite, and hard working people. Personally I feel that people who lead lives like the Hudson's don't deserve such a gruesome ending to their lives, unfortunately that isn't always the case. The fact that most of the details of this case haven't been released is a good thing because then the public doesn't have as much to talk about. The public has already blown this story up and told as much as they possibly can, but for the sake of The Hudson family, keeping most of the detail secret would be in their best interest so that the media can say what's wanted and then move on. The reason I choose this article is because now a days it seems like murders are happening all the time. Most of the people killed in these murders did nothing to deserve this fate, and these murders just cause problems and grief for the families and friends of the deceased. This obviously isn't the most important issue in our country right now, but it still has importance and needs to be discussed so that we can find a solution.

Blumenthal, Mitchell L. "2 Relatives of Jennifer Hudson Reported Slain". New York Times News Paper. October 24, 2008.

My citation issue

I'm having trouble indenting the second line of my citation. It shows up when I write it and in the preview, yet when it's posted there is no indent. Can any one help me?
Thanks!

Week 4- Nick and Norahs Infinite Playlist

The film review that I read was about the movie Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. This movie is about a teenage boy, Nick, who is depressed about the loss of his girlfriend, Tris. He tries to win her back by making her music mixes, but instead of Tris listening to the mixes, she throws them away. After weeks of trying to win Tris back, Nick’s band mates force him to come play their gig on a Friday night. On that same night a band Where's Fluffy is also playing a concert, which is why Norah and her friend Caroline are in New York City. Norah attends Nicks band’s (has no official name) concert, and while trying to make Tris jealous, Norah and Nick share an extremely long awkward kiss. They then spend an adventurous night together battling obstacles while trying to find Where’s Fluffy. The author of the review I read, Roger Ebert, portrayed this movie ask dumb, boring, and lacking plot. He then goes on to criticize the acting of both Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings) as stupid. I however completely disagree with this review. I too saw the movie, and although I am a teenage girl who loves romantic comedies, I truly enjoyed this movie. The plot was interesting and had many unsuspecting twists. While watching this movie I never once became bored and wanted to stay and watch. I felt that this movie was very well made and the acting was superb. Nick and Norah have amazing chemistry, and I couldn't imagine any others playing the rolls of Nick and Norah. I would recommend every teenage girl to go see this film.

Ebert, Roger. "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist". Chicago Sun-Times. Film

Review. October 2, 2008.

My Picture

Week 3- Bill Murrays Devistating Divorce

The second I saw this title I was extremely intrigued by the devastating news. This story is about the terrible breakup of Bill Murray and his wife Jennifer Butler Murray. Jennifer filed for divorce during may of 2008, and in the papers she accused Bill of being an alcoholic and being addicted to marijuana. This is such an unfortunate divorce because they were married for 11 years, and personally I felt they were perfect for each other. Yet the great thing is that instead of Bill being depressed for a long time, he's engaging him self in his new movie, The City of Ember. I feel that the allegations made by Jennifer were preposterous. Ever since I saw the amazing move Meatballs Bill was one of my favorite actors/comedians. He has been an amazing man, and has graced us with many great movies and episodes of SNL. I'm truly saddened to hear about this divorce. Although I am a Bill Murray fan, I also felt the need to blog about this article due to the augmentation of divorces in our society. I have many friends who's parents are divorced; sometimes it's good and sometimes it's not. I feel this is an issue in today's society because either people aren't taking enough time to consider their love, or yet just evidence that marriage is a hard thing. I picked this article because it involved a current issues, and is a big deal for Bill Murray fans. This connects to Siddhartha because in chapter 7, Samsara, Siddhartha must fix whats wrong with his life (right intention) so that he can proceed in the eight fold path, and this is the same as what Jennifer is doing. Unfortunately Jennifer felt that for her to proceed happily with her life, it didn't involve Bill so she fixed her problem.


"Bill Murray Looks for Renewal After Devastating Divorce". CNN News. News article October 9,
2008.

Week 2- Answer to Ms. Froehlich's question

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

On one hand Athena is a powerful, resourceful and respected character.  On the other hand, Penelope is the  stereotypical wife, waiting at home working on household chores while Odysseus sails the globe and has a lady in ever port.

Now a days women have almost as many rights that men do, and equality is much more popular.  During the time of the Odyssey many women were forced to stay at home and do house hold chores, be forced in to slavery, not being able to fight in the wars, and have no effect on if their loved ones get home or not.  I would most definitely consider Homer to be and old-fashioned sexist.   

Many thought that the typical woman stays at home and does all the household chores, this idea is portrayed by many women in the Odyssey including Penelope.  Penelope stays at home, cleans and cooks all day long. I would consider this to be sexism because its the stereotypical view on women that many men had back in the old days, and now. Most men didn't think that women can do what they can because of what the past has taught us, so in Homers days that role for women was typical.  Even though he was just going along with what everyone else thought, he was still a sexist in the sense that he didn't believe Penelope or any other women could amount to the work that the men did. During the Odyssey women not only had to stay and home, they were often forced into slavery when others attacked the city.  Unfortunately today women are still sometimes taken advantage of, but it is now frowned upon because women have the right to say no.  Yet in the Odyssey when women were forced into slavery none of the other people had a problem with it. Penelope along with many other women were forced to work for and pleasure the men who "controlled" them.  The fact that Homer wrote about this numerous times and didn't hint at anything immoral with this, completely portrays him as a sexist. Not only were women taken advantage of, but they were never given the chance to prove that they could do more with their lives.  There were and are women who are just as smart as men and many times even wiser than men. In the Odyssey women were never given the chance to fight, and prove that they could.  Homer wrote that some women, such as Athena, were able to fight.  Yet Athena was a goddess, and there were definitely many women that if given the chance, would fight to defend their home and family. Homer shows his sexism by portraying many of the women in this poem as week and unable to defend themselves.  Due to this lack of ability to fight the women of this tale were unable to help their loved one, husbands and sons, return safely from war.  Now a days we have many women fighting over seas to protect our country, but in the times of the Odyssey it was never even talked about.  Again Homer was just writing about the truth of what society was like, but that still doesn't justify his sexism.  If Homer was in fact not a sexist he would have possibly hinted or even directly wrote about a strong, wise, and driven woman who made a difference in society. Instead he just wrote about hundreds of men.  After reading the Odyssey there's no doubt in my mind that Homer was a sexist.