Magic

I havent seen a lot of magic tricks. I have never really been intrigued by them but after watching the video shown in class i was amazed. That was the best magic trick I have ever seen. I couldn't believe how she could changed clothes so incredibly fast. It was amazing. When they showed her face and just her out for changing, that surprised me. I'm so curious to how they are able to do that. I don't know If I would ever want to reenact it. These are just all magic tricks so is it just an illusion to our eyes ?

Carried through the Wild

Throughout any one's life, struggles and hardships occur. Some struggles and decisions are more drastic than others, but even the smallest influence from a person can guide these struggles. In the books "Into the Wild" and "The Things They Carried", two young men, Chris McCandless and Tim O'Brien  both experience hardships and share a common guidance. In "The Things They Carried" and "Into the Wild" there are two different boys who are lost and confused on where their life will go and how their decisions are imparting their life.  In the Chapters On a Rainy River (The Thing They Carried)  and Anxa-Borrego (Into the Wild) both boys meet older men who become father-like figures and supporters in time on need. Ron Franz and Elroy Berdhal are the two older men who influence these boy's decisions

In the book "The Things They Carried", Tim O'Brien talks about his days on the Rainy River. He was torn between facing the war or fleeing off to Canada. In the midst of making his decision he decided to take drive up north and fell upon a Lodge where Elroy Berdhal owned and stayed. Elroy allowed Tim to stay there because somehow he knew that Tim was having a tough time and needed a place to escape to. Taking O'Brien in and supporting him in a tough time was something Tim needed and allowed him to make the decision he though was cowardly but I thought was brave.  O'Brien states that "The man that opened the door that day is the hero of my life." Tim did not want to go to the war and fight for something in which he did not support.  Chris McCandless's situation relates because he was also taken in and some what guided by an older gentleman, Ron Franz during a period in his life when he was free but lost.

Chris was wondering all over the country, leaving his past behind not because he had to face something he did not wish to do but to do something that he longed to do. He wanted to live off the land and really experience life to the fullest. Along his journey he met a man named Ronald Franz. Franz was an older man who had lost his family. He met Chris and like Elroy, took the boy in. He was there for him and wanted to be apart of his life. He took him in as a son and acted as a protector. McCandless was too much of a free spirit and tried to avoid creating relationships, but Franz wanted to hold on to him. He enjoyed his company. Franz and Elroy both were supporting the boys either by feeding them and providing shelter or how franz gave chris a Machete, an arctic parka and other gear for his trip to alaska. Although they supported the boys they did not pressure them to make certain decisions like most concerned parents would. Elroy didn't even talk to Tim about the draft.

 At a crucial part in a young mans life both young men had someone they came across that made an impact on their lives. Neither of these older men knew the boys but they were there for them, they wanted to help even in the slightest ways. Elroy and Ron stood as strength and love in times of hardship.

Quan's Last Photo

POW

This mans duty to his country was served. He did everything he possibly could to stop the Americans and southern vietnamese until captured by the soliders of the 1st Infantry Division. He is a Prisoner of War caught during the operation El Paso. This man is supposed to be the enemy. Since his name is not given, he will be called Quan. He was captured near Quan Loi on July 10,1966. Quan has a family. A loving wife waiting for his letters back home with their two young children, one boy one girl. Their names are Kon and Lau. Quan was not choosen to go fight he wanted to. He wanted to protect his beliefs and country from Veit Minh. They were the enemy along with America and the Viet Minh supporters. The only thing he was thinking in this photo was focus.

Life during the Vietnam war was chotic. You couldn't trust anyone, even your wife. Not sure of what to believe or where to step, trying to remain living through the war for as long as possible. There was no real safety or protection. Every man for himself. No one knew when it would be over, or if it would be over but hope remained. Hope that someday they could live like they used to. Quan's children running up to him climbing all over him when he got home, that was the only image of happiness he fell back on.

His journey into the war began with his father. A proud  fighter and believer for his country. He had always told Quan that when your country needs you, you must respond and give it what it needs. Fight till you can not fight any longer. Crawl till you find the next camp to bomb. "Whatever you do Quan, never give up. Even when you are captured, remain focused and never give up."

So that is exactly what Quan did. Through the torture and agonizing pain he went through he never gave up. The only thing on his mind at all times was to get back home and protect his country. He was a born fighter, nothing distracted his focus. Although he did not make it, he died proud. He stayed true to the country he lived in his entire life and followed his fathers commands. He died young but not worthless. He tried and that was what counted.

What will stick with me about this photo is the look in Quan's eyes. His eyes show determination, strength, pain, and focus. He seems as though you can do anything to him and nothing will break him. Stay loyal to whatever you believe in, whether that is being a communist or fighting against it. Stay loyal to your thoughts and beliefs, that is what will stick with me.

Viewpoints on Racial Profiling

Experts contend Racial Profiling at Airports Works

• "Ethnic or racial profiling ... cannot be defended under any circumstances,'' said Rep. William Pascrell, D-N.J. "People's behavior should be the bottom line.''
• If we want to get rid of racial profiling then we should follow Rep. William Pascrell's comment, but do we ignore those people from countries that want to harm us?
• Just because someone is from a certain country doesn't mean they are out to get America.
• "Political correctness may be stifling the development of a profiling system that will enhance the safety and security of commercial aviation."
• Airport Security should have the correct knowledge and training to judge who they think is a threat and who isn't based on all aspects of their persona

Profiling would help Police our airports

• Israel is the most successful and advanced country in airport security and then profile people.
• Security guards must be educated

Mistry Cancels U.S. Tour over Racial Profiling

• The airports should not be "randomly" searching people just because they have a darker skin tone or have a full beard
• A man canceled a book tour because he is not treated right in airports.

Senior Project # 3

So this post will be short since I have not advanced my project since my last post. Since it has been raining and muddy out I have not had the chance to go hiking. I have been pretty busy with getting things together for finals and working on the weekends. I do plan to go hiking sometime this week though with this beautiful weather we've been having. On Saturday I leave for Hawaii and I am super stoked! I am planing on going to hana where I have been told has some awesome hiking places.

My research is stumped. I have to interview so people and do research on the disadvantages while hiking (medically). I will be doing this on the airplanes since I will have a total of about 20 hours this break on planes. For who I will be interviewing, I have a few people but if you are reading this and have hiked quite a bit and are willing to let me interview you just comment on it. That would be much appreciated!!

So yeah thats what my plans are for my senior project over the winter break. Have a good break everyone (Mrs. Guerard) !

Running with scissors #2

"I threw the meat in the cart. And moved on." The last line in Augusten Burroughs memoir Running with Scissors. I was not sure what the meaning of this story was until I read the last chapter of this book. Throughout the book Burroughs writes a series of nonfiction events that happened in the time span  of his childhood to teenage years. When he was a child his mother and father divorced from a very emotionally unstable and abusive relationship. Augusten and his mother left his father and moved into a small apartment. After his mother, Deirdre, started seeing a psychiatrist named Dr. Finch, Augusten slowly became more independent from his mother and began staying at Dr. Finch's home. His mother was lost and confused, with no thanks to Dr. Finchs treatments.

Augusten bonded with Natalie and Hope, two of Dr. Finch's daughters. Augusten would hangout with Natalie almost every day, especially after he was able to stop going to school at thirteen. Burroughs was a lonely kid though. He didn't have a home to go to. No where that was stable. At Finch's everyone got to do whatever they wanted and were looked at as adults. While at his mothers, although he got to do anything he wanted he had to deal with his mothers crazy life. She had a couple affairs and unstable relationships. These relationships did not help augustens view on love and commitment.

Its safe to say Augusten had a messed up and undesirable childhood. He was not given the best situation but he always moved on and kept going. I believe that is the message of the book. Even though life it tough at times and you are dealt situations you which weren't yours, sometimes there isn't much you can do about it so you got to throw the meat in the cart and move on....


..I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of humor in a really (for lack of a better word) shitty situation. Augusten Burroughs is an amazing author. I have read his other memoirs Dry and A wolf at the table and those are both excellent to.

 

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