Ashley's blog

My experience with Kindred

I have never read a book that was written the way this one is. When I looked at the cover I thought that the book would talk about the life of a slave and how she gets through the pain and suffering of her time. I did not even read the back because I wanted the story to be somewhat of a surprise, and it sure was to me because it was not at all what I was expecting! I was actually happy to find that my idea of what the book was like was wrong, because the way Octavia Butler went about writing this novel is much more original, insightful and compelling.

As I read the very first sentence of Kindred I just simply thought that she was a woman that traveled to other countries and places and that she had suffered an accident on her last trip home. I did not at all think of the verb “to travel” to mean that she was actually traveling back in time, but doing that makes the novel that much more interesting to read!

I love that she chooses to takes an African American woman living in the end of the twentieth century and put her in the year 1815 where all those people that look like her have to indulge is such horrific and terrifying things that she has only read about in books. We get to experience this time through her eyes and we are able to feel the way Dana does while she is going through all of this.I find that there is a great contrast that Octavia Butler points out about the difference between the life of a twentieth century African American and the life of a nineteenth century woman, that goes more in-depth than the obvious fact that slavery no longer exists like it use to. When Dana goes to Alice’s house and sees Alice’s father being beaten she explains how she had learned about this in her reading but could now, through seeing this first hand, smell the sweat, hear the ragged breaths that he took from being beaten, hear every suffering cry and every cut that the whip made to the man’s flesh. She also explains to her husband how she does not have the endurance and overall strength to be able to go through all of the pain and suffering that the slaves of 1815 go through. She has not had to go through the subservient ways of behaving either which is the way the slaves must live in their time to be able to survive.

There is a great point made too, when we hear about all of these books being everywhere in their house, because later on in the novel, Dana and Kevin talk about how the majority of the slaves could not read or write as to not be able to forge a pass and seeing that now African American people are literate and can write shows a great change and enhancement from the eighteenth century to the ninetieth.   

Her husband’s name is Kevin; a white man; and this to me showed the most contrast when looking at both of the time periods. A white man is now legally able to marry an African American female, even though there was some conflict with Kevin’s family, which shows that there has been progress made in America and that now shows that African Americans are equal to whites.

All of these contrasts help me see the progress that America has made towards slavery and the mistreating of African Americans through the years and being able to see it through Dana’s eyes while time traveling makes it ten times more interesting! And the adventure continues!!

ikids Article Reaction

This all came as a shock to me as I sat reading this article; we do really use technology a lot! We use it up to 6 hours a day according to the article and that is almost as long as a school day! Most all that we do as teenagers today is play on our 8 pound computers and listen to the remixes of songs while “texting” and “ichatting” our friends. We can find and do so much with technology today that you can’t even say that you don’t get some kind of exercise while using it because now we have the “Wii” and stuff like that.
While I was reading this and they started to talk about the adults and how it is hard for them to grasp all of these new technology, I started to think about how my grandparents days were like now with the technology. They don’t even know half of the things that we are able to do now and I am sure that if I were to tell them they would become extremely overwhelmed.
Their day starts with them turning on the TV to the news (they only have around 5 stations) and eating their breakfast. They then go off and either work outside or are in the process of building something because they don’t think that a store will have something like that, and they need to finish it.
My grandma then goes to work and sees all of these people with their fancy phones she doesn’t even understand that you can do more then just call people on it!
When she gets home she sometimes gets on the computer to check her emails and then she sometimes gets on AIM to talk to people (my cousins set it up for her).
When she does get on she can only keep one conversation going at a time and she types a lot in 1 message.
She and my grandpa then turn on the radio to an oldies station and relax before going to bed.
It amazes me to see that they have no idea about all of the things that technology is able to do nowadays; I mean, my dad doesn’t even know how to turn a computer on (no joke)!

In comparison to the life of someone who has not been exposed to technology, I myself do not like to use things like a computer unless I have too, I don’t even play videogames, and yet I find myself spending tons of time “texting” and listening to my ipod. Today I listened to my radio in the morning, I used my computer for over 4 hours doing homework and other things and I used my phone a lot to text and call people.
As a student, I use my computer to do the majority of my homework and I use also use it to talk to friends after school (ichat/AIM), check my e-mails and go on facebook.

I have found that teenagers have so many alternate ways of communicating now that you can be so far away from the other and have a normal conversation. With technology it would seem like the ways that we are being taught now are becoming much harder to grasp because we would probably learn better electronically.

I really don’t know what people our age would do if we did not have this kind of access to the world and to the people around us.

My Hamlet Experience

Hamlet is a universal phenomenon. It was, to me, an intricate and insightful play. It showed me first and foremost the brilliance of Shakespeare, who thought carefully about every single line of the dialogues and always seemed to have portrayed a certain cleverness in the lines because there was always a deeper meaning than what you saw in the first layer.

I enjoyed the plot of the play and all of the adventure within it, but also the fact that this play was done so long ago and it still speaks to people in this time period astonishes me. To think that his plays still affect us, as they would in Shakespeare’s time, and maybe even more so today! His artful skill in his writing pulled me in; to think that with almost every line, we find an explanation or meaning to a word or phrase, which is different than what you would expect to find without a more “in-depth” reading. His language and writing style can pose difficulties to some, but I found it to be understandable and very insightful as to the feelings and emotions that the people were feeling at the time; because without that aspect of it, we would not have been able to see, and better yet feel, the same story that Shakespeare was trying to portray.
My experience with reading the Shakespearean language did not start out like that though. I found that I had to read much slower than I do for modern English literature. I found that with the help of the audio recordings however my attitude from a comprehension standpoint changed drastically and I was easily able to pick up on things that did not make sense to me before.

Shakespeare work is wonderful to read, for me I find the plots of the plays to be exciting and original. I enjoy the endings the most, whether they be sad (like “Hamlet”) or happy (like “A Midnight Summer’s Dream”). I would very much like to read more of Shakespeare’s work. I find that it stimulates another part of your brain, and that to me makes it even more intriguing to read.

The things that helped me the most were the audio recordings, the movie that we watched in class and the discussions in class. I found the recordings to do the most for me however. They made the transition much easier for me, going from modern English to Shakespearean English.
When our first assignment was given to us I though to myself how hard it was going to be to be able to understand what was going on and I was also worried about the time that the reading would consume and I started to dread the readings before they even started. When I started to read while listening to the audio recording I found it very comprehendible and I actually thoroughly enjoyed reading the scenes.
I also found that reading “SparkNotes” before reading the next scene or act was very helpful because that way the scene or act that I had to read, made more sense to me.

Reading “Hamlet” was a great experience for me and I would very much like to read more of Shakespeare’s work in the future. I enjoyed reading the play and I learned and comprehended much more than I had expected I would, with help from things like the in class movie, the play, the audio recordings and of course, the in class discussions.

How to Heal the World

To be able to help people conquer illness and better still, death is a great honor and a great way to use the knowledge so many Americans have. I believe this type of work to be one of the utmost important jobs that we must do to help the people in this world. The vaccinations they are creating and giving to people are helping to PREVENT certain illnesses from ever starting! The article states that “Vaccines do not cure disease; they prevent it, which is better.” They found that if you immunize 100 people you will keep them healthy and also prevent them from spreading the disease and every year these vaccines save so many lives that they used the word “uncountable” in the article. Their work is much appreciated and this article helps us to realize that we too can come up with ideas like this country doctor, a farm woman and an 8-year-old boy started, to help save lives everywhere!

We can not imagine our lives without all of these vaccines because we are always around them and have the ability to receive them when there are people that are suffering in much more hazardous environments that don’t even have these vaccines at their disposal and I feel that to be so unjust. We have millions of people in places like Africa and Asia where kids are not able to get the most basic vaccines to help them and they are not able to survive just because there are no vaccines there. That problem is so easily fixed and it is a shame that these things happen just for that simple reason. They need to be treated against the world largest killers like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis and they are not able to have that done either.

But there is another problem. Because the countries that need them the most are mostly poor they are not able to afford these costly remedies. Theses countries can not solve the problem with our money donations (they know this from previous experiences) and so they have to find another way. The article states that: “vaccines are still too expensive for most poor countries to afford, and experience has shown that it doesn’t work when rich countries just throw money at the problem. Considering the obstacles, it’s kind of amazing that people get immunized at all.”
These conditions make things hard to fix but people are doing it! People like Binka or people like David Edwards.

I am so pleased with Binka’s work! He, along with all of the workers in “INDEPTH” are helping and healing the lives of so many and the “GlaxoSmithKline” are testing a malaria vaccine in children in Africa. They are really moving forward and helping the people. In the article, a man by the name of Ripley Ballou (a GSK researcher who helped develop the vaccine) says: “ This trial is getting the same scrutiny as it would if it were done in the U.S.” “Hiring staff, training them, improving blood cultures, and transportation and infrastructure—it’s all being done.”
Binka wants to be able to treat everyone and wants the population in Africa to start to help them be self sufficient when dealing with these vaccines. He says according to the article: “You want to develop these people into laboratory scientists”.
I am also very happy that The Gates Foundation is working to improve the vaccine research. The article says: “it is impossible to write about the field without mentioning its name—expanded its reach even further. It announced a $200 million grant to Aeras for trials of six new TB vaccines, including the powder.” This powder that they spoke of here was created by David Edwards. It is a powder type of vaccine for “Mycobacterium tuberculosis” and he has created a whole other way of taking a vaccine. It could be taken in just by breathing it in.

All of these vaccines are being created and brought to those in need. I am very glad that they are doing this research and finding results. All of the things that they are doing are saving thousands of lives and they are still working on them. They have definitely contributed to help heal mankind! And we are able to contribute. Yamada is said in this article that: “He will look for good ideas anywhere. If he hears one from, say, a banker, he’ll take it, even if that banker hasn’t thought much about vaccines before. He has a big idea of his own”, like the boy or the farm woman did. And their ideas have saved lives!

New Orleans plans and effects

New Orleans was beautiful, poor but beautiful. Yet, in the great country of America, an attack to further impoverish New Orleans came as Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane not only impoverished New Orleans even more then it’s original state but also ransacked and or stiped it’s beauty from them. They were destroyed, their homes, their successes (if any) but mostly their lives.

The people were not able to leave the memories behind in the years to come because they are still living in similar conditions as the day that the hurricane hit them. They continue to hold on with hope, with patience and believing that “this great city will rise again”- as president Bush said. The plans are being developed… but maybe not fast enough, how are the people going about their lives differently now while awaiting the words of our president to fall into place? And the plans; what are they, are they about to commence? Can we hold on?

The plans now seem to be very well thought out. They are going to build better infrastructures to better insure the safety and security of the people if something similar were to happen again. They also have planed better overall organization that will no doubt help New Orleans with other things that might come up than just a hurricane.
The Committee said, according to the MSNBC website: “New Orleans should be rebuilt around “neighboring centers” with enough residents to provide services “equitability and efficiency” and , in addition to housing, contain all necessary infrastructure, parks, schools, health facilities, retail outlets and public transit.”
They are also going to rebuild the levee system and consolidate its management, the committee also said that they should revise the cities network of canals, locks and pumps, and restoring coastal wetlands.
They are going to work on a light-rail system that will help connect the people to the job centers, to the Baton Rouge, the airport, etc.
They plan to make parks in every neighborhood too.
Their plan schedule says that they on Feb. 20, 2006: the Neighborhood planning teams where selected, then on March 20, 2006: Identify residents who plan to return. On May 20, 2006: neighboring plans are completes, on June 20, 2006: Consolidated city plan completed. On August 20, 2006: Secure funding for reconstruction, begin property acquisition and reconstruction and on Jan. 1, 2007: Design and secure funding comities for transit system. This Plans list was also found at MSNBC.com.
They are still building, and seeing all that they are going to have to do and to so much terrain, this will take a while.

The people are suffering, they are living in unthinkable conditions at this time. They have hope, but the hope strand is thinning, some of the people that have left never want to return again. Their memories of this disaster scared the minds of them and of all of America.

The devastated New Orleans can and is being helped, But the damage is so large, it will take a lot of effort along with time, the people are eager to live a better life! Yet, they are hopeful and awaiting the transformation.

The Lord God Bird

                                                                     The ivory wood pecker and it’s impact                                                                                                     This bird is so amazing to me. I find it to me. I find it to be such a small but at the same time, great thing! I love listening to all of the people talk about how this bird made their lives in this little town mean and be something important. They are all very kind people and to find the bird rejoiced them all! 61       In thinking of all that energy that was spreading around at that time that the bird was found and how excited everyone was about this wonderful creature coming back bring their little town back in to rebirth, giving this town a new hope and especially the work just handed to the villagers by this “pterodactyl” from the tourists that will be coming in to see this bird. When I got to thinking, what else is this bird able to do besides help these poor people off of their feet? It is the size of a small pterodactyl, yet it is a woodpecker. This animal really is something cool! 169     I have found a few facts about this astonishing bird that I will share with you: It’s size is about 18 to 20 inches long, it has a very large wingspan of 30 to 31 inches and it weighs 15.89-20.12 ounces. That is one very large bird!!!! I also found that it can have either a red or red-and black crest on it’s head, it has a black body and large white patches in it’s wings. 243 The male woodpecker has a red crest on the back of his head and the female bird does not have the red crest on the back or her head. I also found that they “Call a nasal tooting “kent.” Drum a quick double knock” and that is the sound that they make. My first question about this woodpecker concerned their food that they eat; I was hoping for a response that said that they eat different things than do the other woodpeckers but they do not. They eat insects, beetle larvae, fruits, and nuts. 337   I was the most interested on where to find them, so I found a nice map that shows us that they live and like the hotter and more humid regions.                                                      They live in bottomland forests, with what are called cypress swamps with large hardwoods. And now in these forests they stripped bark from the recently dead trees so they can reach beetle larvae, and in doing so carve very deep holes into the trees.   I found this fact to be extremely important “Destruction of its forest habitat caused the Ivory-billed Woodpecker to decline, and by the 1880s the species was rare. Forest destruction accelerated for the war efforts of World Wars I and II and probably caused the final loss of the species in the United States. Although the species was thought to be extinct, it has recently been rediscovered in Arkansas.” what you have just read in parentheses was found at  http://www.birds.cornell.edu and that explains to us the outsiders view of the bird finding.501   I really was glad to have had this opportunity to learn more about this bird. I find it to be enlightenment for everyone, and a very very big and special thing to have for the town at which it was found.