Immersing myself in new experiences, I spent the last weekend in Las Vegas to celebrate my roommate’s birthday. I had never been to Vegas before and did not know what to except from the city that never sleeps.
The clubs in Vegas were a foreign idea to me; the extravagant nature of the variety of types of clubs that were offered at the hotels was extensive.
For me the fish out of water experience was the entire weekend, the amount of money that people spend is ridiculous. The pack streets with stumbling drunks opened my eyes to the fact that even in a time when the country is in a recession and people are loosing there jobs, Vegas still draw huge crowds, needing an escape from reality.
Las Vegas was an entirely different world. I felt very out of place initially, having not ever been to a club let alone the Mecca of party places also known as Vegas.
After meeting and getting to know people who were also visiting Vegas, I realized that people are willing to gamble with extreme amounts of money. One person I talked with has just lost 700 dollars. This large loss did not even seem to faze him. He was still enjoying himself and continued to gamble, loosing more money through out the night.
My fish out of water experience was longer then most people, since I was visiting for the whore weekend. However, the longer stretch of time allowed me to become more comfortable in the unique environment that embodies Vegas.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
*** REVISED Blog# 9 Japanese Internment Memorial essay
Ruth Asawa is an American artist who through her artwork and sculptures details the lives of the 120,000 Japanese immigrants that were forced into internment. Her artwork is nationally recognized and she is best known for her wire sculptures and public commissions.
On Display in San Jose, Calif. is her depiction of Japanese immigrants life leading up to interment as well as daily life and struggles while being housed in the camps. The Japanese Interment Memorial stretches the streets of San Jose, may times passed and unnoticed by those that pass by. However, the impact of the internment camps deserves the recognition that Asawa has molded into a permanent figure in the streets of downtown.
The Executive order 9006 signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Of the 120,000 forced into interment two-thirds were American Citizens and over one half were children and infants.
One of the first stops before heading to the camps was San Jose State University. Yoshida Hall was used to check Japanese immigrants in before they were shipped off on their way to internment.
Asawa’s sculpture is filled with a multitude of small vignettes that give you a glimpse into what life was like.
The first scene that grabbed my attention was of a small house with a family crowded around a fire outside. At first inspection you only see the family and the fire, although after looking closer you are able to see the heartbreaking images of a young child covering her face as the father figure tosses a doll into the fire. Another young child is huddled behind the father figured crying because the family has not choice but to burn their possessions.
Families were only allowed to bring the possessions that they could carry, anything that was not of incredible importance to the family. Crowded in to small, makeshift, tents there was little room for unnecessary objects that would not fit in the little luggage brought to the internment camps.
The second sculpture image at the memorial that caught my attention was of a solider standing guard at the interment camp. The simple, stoic image gave me chills thinking of the fear that the Japanese immigrants would be feeling after being forced out of their homes. The guard is hold a gun and standing on a fort over looking all of the groups that is contained within the camp. This in my opinion symbolized the lack of respect at this time in America, especially along the west coast for Japanese immigrants.
While looking that the memorial wall as a whole I could not help but notice that along the top on both sides was barbed wire. This is a literal representation of being fenced in while in the internment camps where the freedoms and rights of Japanese people were taken
On Display in San Jose, Calif. is her depiction of Japanese immigrants life leading up to interment as well as daily life and struggles while being housed in the camps. The Japanese Interment Memorial stretches the streets of San Jose, may times passed and unnoticed by those that pass by. However, the impact of the internment camps deserves the recognition that Asawa has molded into a permanent figure in the streets of downtown.
The Executive order 9006 signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Of the 120,000 forced into interment two-thirds were American Citizens and over one half were children and infants.
One of the first stops before heading to the camps was San Jose State University. Yoshida Hall was used to check Japanese immigrants in before they were shipped off on their way to internment.
Asawa’s sculpture is filled with a multitude of small vignettes that give you a glimpse into what life was like.
The first scene that grabbed my attention was of a small house with a family crowded around a fire outside. At first inspection you only see the family and the fire, although after looking closer you are able to see the heartbreaking images of a young child covering her face as the father figure tosses a doll into the fire. Another young child is huddled behind the father figured crying because the family has not choice but to burn their possessions.
Families were only allowed to bring the possessions that they could carry, anything that was not of incredible importance to the family. Crowded in to small, makeshift, tents there was little room for unnecessary objects that would not fit in the little luggage brought to the internment camps.
The second sculpture image at the memorial that caught my attention was of a solider standing guard at the interment camp. The simple, stoic image gave me chills thinking of the fear that the Japanese immigrants would be feeling after being forced out of their homes. The guard is hold a gun and standing on a fort over looking all of the groups that is contained within the camp. This in my opinion symbolized the lack of respect at this time in America, especially along the west coast for Japanese immigrants.
While looking that the memorial wall as a whole I could not help but notice that along the top on both sides was barbed wire. This is a literal representation of being fenced in while in the internment camps where the freedoms and rights of Japanese people were taken
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
Packer’s story telling techniques display a unique style that places the readers into the scene. Her use of metaphors and similes create pictures in you mind that being a smile to your face.
In the short story “Brownies” Packer describes the troop leader in the as a “ White woman with the severe pageboy hairdo of an ancient Egyptian.” While reading, you understand what the character looks like, as some you get an idea of how she is setting type of character up to be portrayed in the story.
Her use of dialogue is reminiscent of the way people speak to each other, making her stories an easy read that jumps off the page. Great writers like Packer hone their style; she use of metaphors set her part from other writers. In one paragraph is would not be surprising to see her use four or five different types of metaphors to describe the scene and the characters involved.
Packer’s story telling techniques display a unique style that places the readers into the scene. Her use of metaphors and similes create pictures in you mind that being a smile to your face.
In the short story “Brownies” Packer describes the troop leader in the as a “ White woman with the severe pageboy hairdo of an ancient Egyptian.” While reading, you understand what the character looks like, as some you get an idea of how she is setting type of character up to be portrayed in the story.
Her use of dialogue is reminiscent of the way people speak to each other, making her stories an easy read that jumps off the page. Great writers like Packer hone their style; she use of metaphors set her part from other writers. In one paragraph is would not be surprising to see her use four or five different types of metaphors to describe the scene and the characters involved.
IMHO
The worlds obsession with Tiger Woods has created a hysteria takes away from the actual news that is taking place in the world. Back in November when the story first broke about Wood’s alleged mistresses the new media could not get enough of the story. Everywhere you look people were bombarded with the growing number of women stepping forward claiming to have had relations with the worlds best golfer. The world again has all eyes on Woods and is family as he prepares to make his comeback into the golfing world.
Woods has lost the respect for many of his fans, which once saw his as a role model but now are left feeling betrayed are the golfers persona and strikingly different social life. When will new coverage bring the same attention to the stories that matter rather then a private life of a golfer?
Infidelity is widely seen and displayed the world today. Divorce rates are at an all time high, however this does not mean that the infidelities of a celebrity like Tiger Woods have anymore bearing on our lives then an average person.
The grubby nature of this story sells papers and gets views to tune in. Ratings soared for the Masters Golf tournament where Woods made his first appearance on the course.
You can only hope that time will establish respect and meaning back into the news, but for now we are overwhelmed with the lives of celebrities like Tigers Woods.
Woods has lost the respect for many of his fans, which once saw his as a role model but now are left feeling betrayed are the golfers persona and strikingly different social life. When will new coverage bring the same attention to the stories that matter rather then a private life of a golfer?
Infidelity is widely seen and displayed the world today. Divorce rates are at an all time high, however this does not mean that the infidelities of a celebrity like Tiger Woods have anymore bearing on our lives then an average person.
The grubby nature of this story sells papers and gets views to tune in. Ratings soared for the Masters Golf tournament where Woods made his first appearance on the course.
You can only hope that time will establish respect and meaning back into the news, but for now we are overwhelmed with the lives of celebrities like Tigers Woods.
Word of the Week
Word: Melee
Definition: (noun) a confused hand-to-hand fight or struggle among several people.
Sentence: From on article on Yahoo.com
Shields is known as a mild-mannered man out of the cage, and as he didn't instigate the melee, he doesn't deserve much of the blame.
New Sentence: The melee broke out as the Christmas shoppers where told that all the tickle me Elmo toys were sold out.
Definition: (noun) a confused hand-to-hand fight or struggle among several people.
Sentence: From on article on Yahoo.com
Shields is known as a mild-mannered man out of the cage, and as he didn't instigate the melee, he doesn't deserve much of the blame.
New Sentence: The melee broke out as the Christmas shoppers where told that all the tickle me Elmo toys were sold out.
Word of the Week
Word: Glinted
Definition: (noun) a tiny, quick flash of light, gleaming brightness; luster, a brief or slight manifestation or occurrence; inkling; trace.
Sentence: From "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere"
His muscles looked embedded, sleek, and round as cobblestones. His gold tooth glinted in the darkness.
New Sentence: Surrounded by the pitch black night sky, the young girl felt a glint of hope when she saw a shoot start stretch across the sky.
Definition: (noun) a tiny, quick flash of light, gleaming brightness; luster, a brief or slight manifestation or occurrence; inkling; trace.
Sentence: From "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere"
His muscles looked embedded, sleek, and round as cobblestones. His gold tooth glinted in the darkness.
New Sentence: Surrounded by the pitch black night sky, the young girl felt a glint of hope when she saw a shoot start stretch across the sky.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Word of the Week
Word: incessant
Definition: (adjective) continuing without interruption; ceaseless; unending:
Sentence: In Astrology, Geminis have also gained the reputation of being the incessant talkers of the zodiac
New Sentence: Even after the fire alarm sounded the incessant teacher continued the lecture on how the first light bulb was created.
Definition: (adjective) continuing without interruption; ceaseless; unending:
Sentence: In Astrology, Geminis have also gained the reputation of being the incessant talkers of the zodiac
New Sentence: Even after the fire alarm sounded the incessant teacher continued the lecture on how the first light bulb was created.
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