Analysis of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe

     The "Tell-Tale Heart" is a fantastic yet haunting story about a seemingly insane man (though, who says it is a man?). It concerns his ambitions to kill an old man to rid himself of being haunted by the man's "evil eye". Once the deed is done and policemen come to investigate the crime, he is haunted by a noise that sounds like the beating of the old man's heart. The specific line used is "a sound much like a watch makes when enveloped in cotton". The noise becomes so unbearable that he eventually turns himself in to rid himself of the anxiety attack that he is clearly experiencing.
     The narrator, throughout the story, assures the reader of his being sane, which leads the reader to suspect his actual insanity, which is seconded by the deed he decides to go through with committing. Every time the narrator tries to do something, he does so with such precision, as if one false move would result in utter catastrophe. The odd thing is that he makes a mistake when spying on the old man as he sleeps on the eighth night, which could foreshadow (yes, Mr. Scotese, I'm using the word foreshadow, in case you are reading this...anyways...where was I? Ah, yes.) his ultimate arrest.
     The old man's evil eye could represent many things. It could be that it was something that had haunted the narrator since childhood, depending on how long he had been living with the old man. The ultimate thing that comes into question is when did the old man's "evil eye" start to bother the narrator? This can only be inferred, unless one would like to make assumptions based on Edgar Allan Poe's life before the writing of "The Tell-Tale Heart".
     Ultimately, "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a story that questions a killer's motivations for committing a crime. However, it adds the first-person aspect, which allows the reader to experience the frantic thoughts he or she is experiencing all this time. However, is there a political aspect to this story? The story was written in 1843, the year in which the American people attempted to impeach President Tyler. This attempt of course did not succeed. Perhaps Poe is making an analogy, in that the killer's attempt to silence the heart of the old man failed, so did the American people's attempt to silence the authority of President Tyler. It is a possibility! Think about it!
A Presto,
Simon

The Date

     It was a dark and stormy night.
     Actually, it was daytime. It was also mid-afternoon, and sunny. There was not a cloud in the sky. It's funny how clichè certain beginning phrases in a story can be.
     Anyhow, it was a bright and sunny afternoon, and a momentous occasion for a certain individual. This individual was Mark.
     As he looked in the mirror, preparing for his big night, he debated trifling changes in his appearance. Mark was a handsome young man, appearing to be of Russian descent. His porcelain skin glinted in the sunlight cascading in through his window panes. His soft blue eyes twinkled as he turned back and forth, adjusting his tuxedo before his eyes, practicing the poses he would strike and the attractive expressions he would put on his face should a camera come strolling by. Finally, he turned to walk out of the room just before remembering that pants are generally expected to be worn in public. Though Mark was a very smart young man, and of great intellect, he got distracted very easily.
     One more look in the mirror and he was ready to go. His muscular limbs stripped his outfit off, carelessly throwing it against his wall, quickly replacing them with a muscle shirt and athletic shorts. Running, he decided, was much more important than fashion.
     Mark bolted out the door into the humid Spring air of West Town. He breathed in deeply, inhaling the smells of nearby bakeries on Grand Avenue, the smell of a far away chocolate factory, breathing in the sounds of passing dog-walkers and musicians practicing, and sucking in the dreary sight of the treeless street. This was home. Though, it could be made better. A person standing nearby would have been astounded by the sounds and smells of West Town, but with little to no trees, the image was certainly not complete. It needed change.
     However, change was simply a figment of Mark's thoughts at that moment, as they were mostly concerning not tripping over his newly-grown legs. Though a senior in High School, Mark was a late-bloomer, and he was only just getting used to his new height and strength.
     Mark took a tour of his neighborhood, starting at his place of residence and working his way around the block. He passed houses that had been sitting where they were for approximately a century, and ones that had just been built and looked like something out of an old 20th Century sci-fi movie. On his jog, Mark ran alongside children playing in their not-yards and kids flying kites in their not-parks. Amidst his passing thoughts about sweating up a storm and how it would ruin his carefully perfected scent that night, Mark thought about how much the neighborhood was lacking, for all it had. If there were a touch of greenery in some places, everything would seem that more vibrant. And we know how great it is to be vibrant!
     As Mark returned home and dashed upstairs, said hello to his mother and father, tousled his little sister's hair, and pet his dog as she attempted to tackle him to the floor, though in a friendly way...Then he strutted over to his room. Yes, he strutted. He did not walk, skip, hop, nor did he jump, but he strutted off to his room and changed back into his fancy clothing. He had an amazing girlfriend with whom he was infinitely in love with, and they were on their way to become Prom King and Queen. Life could not have been better.
      After a re-examination and several frantic showers to allay the sweaty scent from running, Mark hopped into his car and drove off into the tree-less neighborhood of West Town. After picking up his date, Rosemary, he drove to his High School Prom, chatting with her all the way.
     The dance itself was fantastic.
     Everyone in Mark's grade was there. The decorations were phenomenal, and the music was loud and invigorating. Every time a photographer passed them by, Mark and Rosemary stuck a pose. It turned out that Mark's poses in front of the mirror actually came in handy! Though, what he didn't know was that Rosemary had been practicing as well...
     In any case, when they were called up to give their acceptance speeches, they strode up with style. While up on the platform, Mark scanned the crowd. He saw all the teenagers with their dates looking up at him and started sweating profusely. Mark was still nervous as he approached the microphone. As he took it in hand, one adult in the room recognized him. It was his alderman.
     During Mark's speech, he mentioned growing up in his neighborhood without any trees or greenery of any kind. Then he went into the normal jargon that a teen fills his speech with, but with style!
     Afterwords, he received much applause. "They LOVE me!" he thought with surprise. He hadn't practiced enough, in his opinion, but his speech went over very well. After Rosemary's speech, they stepped down from the raised platform and Mark's alderman approached the couple.
     He first said, "Wow, I'm very impressed with your speech, Mark! Very professional!"
     "Yeah, I spent TONS of time on it!", he muttered under his breath.
     "What's that?"
     "Oh, nothing! You were saying about me being great?"
     "Oh, right! Excellent speech! I was particularly moved by the section on the paucity of greenery in West Town. I've taken it upon myself to add trees and other shrubbery to your neighborhood! That should fix the problem, don't you think?"
     Mark thought he was dreaming. "That would be amazing," he said, "but how can that happen?"
     "I'm the alderman..." was the quick reply.
     Shortly thereafter, trees were added to West Town, making the aesthetic view of the neighborhood much more convivial and eco-friendly. After this, Mark was able to jog with Rosemary feeling satisfied that he'd done something right. And why shouldn't he? He got the girl and made a difference.

"In a Sentimental Mood" -Duke Ellington, sung by Ella Fitzgerald (I understand the speaker's feelings!)

In a sentimental mood
I can see the stars come through my room
While your loving attitude
Is like a flame that lights the gloom

This introduction sets the scene for the sentimental, blissful mood of the song. The stars coming through the speakers room add to the romantic feeling of the poem, and the simile put in place (a loving attitude like a flame that lights the gloom) shows the passion of one lover for the other.

On the wings of every kiss
Drifts a melody so strange and sweet
In this sentimental bliss
You make my paradise complete

  This stanza starts off with a metaphor of a kiss with wings. The aforementioned description gives life, emotion, and meaning to the kiss, from the speaker's perspective, and gives it life. With the next line, "Drifts a melody so strange and sweet", comes the theme of the piece, the cascade of notes and then a lilt upwards and downwards in a Perfect 4th, a major tone, which is a strange sound over the E minor, a second in the key of D minor. (Quick music theory lesson: In a minor key, the second scale degree should be diminished). To top it all off, when these pitches are sounded, she says the word "strange". And when she says the word "sweet", the chord resolves to a relaxing major chord, a G5 resolving to just a plain old G major, simultaneously completing the Perfect 4th. Interestingly, whenever, the word "sentimental" is stated, an A7 is called for by the chord chart. The next couple lines involve romantic ideas in the speaker's mind, relating to his or her loved one.

Rose petals seem to fall
It's all I could dream to call you mine
My heart's a lighter thing
Since you made this night a thing divine

  This is the bridge of the tune. The speaker is, at this point, incredulous that his or her lover has chosen this person. She is in a state of mind in which her lover is the center of her universe, having the ability to affect her in ways unexplainable to an outsider.

In a sentimental mood
I'm within a world so heavenly
For I never dreamt that you'd be loving sentimental me

This last stanza summarizes the tune in a recap explaining once more the speakers stupefied and ecstatic (and sentimental) feelings about how it could be possible that his or her lover has chosen the speaker. It even includes an oxymoron, that is, "within a world so heavenly" which really shows that the speaker is in absolute bliss. An interesting piece of information is that all the other times in which the word "sentimental" is sung, an A7 chord is used, though this time, the fourth scale degree is used, as the key changes to F major. Instead of the usual A7, a diatonic B7 is used, making a strange resolution to the seventh, E minor, which should be diminished, and then taking a strange twist with a final resolution on a strange chord--D major. This is a strange chord to end on, because it involves ending via a deceptive cadence, a cadence normally used to continue truckin' through operas. However, this cadence ends the tune, though it ends on a major version of the usually minor sixth, D major. Although, astounding female vocalist Ella Fitzgerald's voice can make anything sound good. Thus, it is a more interesting ending than it is strange.

     This poem's words speak of concrete ideas in an abstract way, which adds to the blissful mood of the poem. The words themselves are organized so that the syllables are perfectly intertwined, causing them to float across the air into a listener's ear and thus becoming much easier to listen to. "In a Sentimental Mood" is an extremely relevant song today because, to me, love, care, passion, emotion and connectedness are the most important ideas in a relationship. All five of these ideas are both explicitly and implicitly present in this song. Love is Life.

A Presto,
Simon

Liberty is one of my Rights

     Propaganda. It is a word representing a thing that is in our midst as citizens of the world each and every day, all the time, in almost every waking hour of our lives. This is what it used to be. Though nothing has changed, it, propaganda, has been taken to the next level. It is now a political strategy, a means of gaining attention from the common people, as well as a general nuisance in most of our lives.
     Propaganda, in my own words, is a voice of forgotten reason, a shadow of the past, a blur of the present, and a flicker of the future. It is a voice telling someone what could be, what should be, and what one must do. This obviously means it can not necessarily be taken very seriously. It equivocates exactly what it wants one to say or do or buy or subscribe to, etc. so as to plant an egg of an idea and spawn a new creation, growing steadily and increasingly larger every second. This is propaganda.
     Propaganda today seems to be used to gain the "home-field advantage", even if the person employing its powers is not necessarily on his or her home turf. It "trash-talks" the opponent, whomever this may be, and it gloats for the employer.
     Propaganda. In the past it was used mainly new product advertisements, rarely for politics, and the majority of the propaganda was used for recruiting for the army. This can be shown by the vast display of "Uncle Sam" posters placed all around the country, telling the common people that Uncle Sam wants YOU to join the army. These posters were seen in the form of wall-cut-outs, photographs, advertisements in newspapers and magazines, or even on billboards. Because of the high availability and commonality of these posters, the powers of propaganda get inside one's mind and plant ideas there, trying to make a person think a certain way.
     Propaganda. Many politicians today utilize propaganda as a way to win over the wills of the common people. It is also used by companies to promote their products on television, on the radio, on the internet, in newspapers, and in magazines.
     Propaganda. (Have you gotten annoyed yet? Yeah, that's the point.) I believe everyone should have free will and the right to choose a side. This should be an unbiased decision based solely on the person in question. The constitution guarantees us "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". One of these guarantees, liberty, can be obtained by recognizing an individual's free will, which propaganda does everything but promote. Though some good properties can be obtained by utilizing the powers of propaganda, such as awareness, it should most definitely be a rare occurrence.
A Presto,
Simon

B-boying Emerson Meets Richard Wright?

     Beat Street is a movie directed by Stan Lathan. It deals with the struggles of a group of friends as they try to climb their way up the art's chain in 80's Bronx New York. Each member of the group of friends has a special talent that helps the whole "gang" experience many aspects of 80's life. For example, the main character, Kenny, is an all-around hip-hop artist. His brother, Lee, is a "wonderful breaker", as Tracy, a choreographer, puts it. Then, there is Ramon, a graffiti artist, the one "white" person in the group of friends.
     As far as the actors themselves, there is only one familiar face I recognized. That is of Kenny's and Lee's mother, Cora, played by Mary Alice. I recognized her from her rather important role in The Matrix III, as the oracle.
     Each character in Beat Street has a distinct personality and exhibits certain flaws. For example, Kenny has trouble coping with situations that might pose as a minuscule threat to you or I. Though, with him, he "blows up" instantly. One could call it a "short fuse". However, he is the likely hero, as he is the character with the dream to be famous, yadda, yadda, yadda...He eventually gets his job as a fantastic club DJ, blah, blah, blah...And he gets the girl (Tracy) in the end. (DUH!!!)
     Lee is the one I know the least about, which could contribute to some of his apprehensive characteristics. He is a fantastic b-boy and partakes in myriad "battles" throughout the movie at various locations throughout the Bronx. However, for all his capacity as a great breaker, he does not talk very much, and seems to be, only at times, slightly shy. Obviously this shyness instantly leaves him every time he goes into his "uprock".
     Ramon is perhaps the most conflicted of them all. He must deal with his father's pressure to settle down and have a "real life" while he blatantly ignores Ramon's beautiful "burns" on the city's trains. Because of this, Ramon eventually bursts and gives in, deciding to work double-time and get a day job but still act the part of a graffiti artist at night. He does all this while juggling the responsibility of having a family, complete with a baby and all. Eventually, he moves into an apartment with his family together at last.
     As opposed to the book, Black Boy, which deals with the times in which young boys like Richard were extremely confused about racial differences--so much so that they felt they had to feed into and fit these pre-determined stereotypes--Beat Street deals with the difficulties of finding one's self amongst the temptation to stray from one's path in order to become something one does not want to be. This can be a very difficult thing to do, and is almost always easier said than done. Though, as Emerson says, with Self-Reliance, one can accomplish almost any task. Remember that and carry it with you at all times. It will come in handy in surprising situations.
A Presto,
Simon

Interacting with a Peaceful Attitude: Seattle

     This reading on "This Sacred Soil" was extremely meaningful to me because it showed exactly what it meant to be a Native American in the time in which white Europeans were invading their lands. It provided an account of a representative's exact thoughts and feelings on the whole situation.
     Seattle's state of mind was that the world is apt to change at any moment, and she used many similies such as comparing the number of Europeans to the number of blades of grass in a prarie, or comparing the attack on her people to the "scattering of trees in a storm-swept plain".
     It is an interesting first-person account because it shows how the natives strongly believed that they, the natives and the Europeans, could not exist together in harmony, as they were opposites in almost every aspect. However, the Native Americans were willing to attempt at tolerance, like brothers.
     I enjoyed this piece because many states of mind that the natives exhibited should be emulated today in interacting with other countries, such as peace, tolerance, and abstinance from war. One interesting quote from the reading shows why the natives were so outgoing towards the Europeans: "There is no death, only a change of worlds." Because of this mentality, they seemingly had nothing to fear. This is a mentality that has the power to adjust many lives for the better if applied in the modern-day.
A Presto,
Simon

Our King Governs Ideals

     Is Martin Luther King Jr. Still the "King" he was back in the 1900's? I believe he is more of a king nowadays, seeing as we remember him as a seemingly fearless rights activist today, when he was shunned back then for saying and doings his actions. These actions were remembered after the time of segregation, though our generation today does not consider King's actions as much. Instead, most of us just recognize that we get a day off of school for his birthday. However, he was much more than a name, a face, and a list of facts.
     Martin Luther King's ideas are still very prominent, though there does not exist much physical need for them anymore. Instead, people are now segregated in the mind--which causes some to think certain things about other peers, cultures, etc. In class, his ideas are useful for learning about history, and that the Civil Rights Movement happened, though we are now moving into an age in which one needs the rights to believe something, as opposed to existing in sync with others, which Martin Luther King Jr.'s ideals certainly cover.
     Is King still King? Yes, but only in some ways. He governs not a state of being, but instead a way of thinking. We as the a generation can use King's ideals and apply them to our own troubles as a society in order to surpass them.
A Presto,
Simon

Epistolaries are like Waves: Undulating Back and Forth....

     Children of the Sea is a short story written as an epistolary, or a tale told through the sending (or in this case simple writing) of letters. It deals with the struggles of the Haitian people as a whole. The story itself is quite interesting, as it could have taken place during any one of Haiti's troubled time periods, though it was written in 1994, in Edwidge Danticat's book Breath, Eyes, Memory.
     First of all, the writing styles of the two lovers writing back and forth are very different. The man's writing is much more descriptive and sophisticated, and he obviously appears to have been educated. However, the woman's letters, or journal entries, use no capital letters whatsoever and they are dull, lack general description, and use simple language. Her words are also very repetitive. The style of epistolary is also very interesting because the letters are obviously not being sent to one another. There is no way they could be, as he is on a boat and she is stuck on mainland Haiti.
     The story unfolds very easily through the tale the two letters reveal. On Haiti, the military breaks into houses at every turn and arrests and injures people for no good reason. Eventually, the woman/girl's family leaves and finds a place to stay in the mountains, though the girl's father made them become poor by paying the military not to arrest her. This makes her forever in his debt.
     On the ship, the man is traveling near the Bahamas. The boat floods at different intervals, though the holes get patched up with tar, a girl on board gives birth to a still baby and commits suicide by jumping off the ship with her deceased child. The ship is also rank with human waste, which makes the living conditions terrible. Eventually, it is implied that the man joins the sea, or will in a short while, and drowns. In the next letter written by the woman, many black butterflies float down to her, trying to touch her, and she takes it as a sign that her lover is dead, as it is most likely not a coincidence that she heard a boat sunk near the Bahamas on the radio.
     One of the most important quotes from this reading to me was "the sea is endless like my love for you". This was written by both of the lovers, though they hadn't seen each other or received each others' letters. This is what we should all strive for in our relationships--to have this kind of tight chemistry in order to fully understand each other in perfect harmony. This is something these two people obviously experienced, and I hope to in the future as well.
A Presto,
Simon

"Django" by The Modern Jazz Quartet, Written by John Lewis

Finally I get to talk about music, specifically Jazz!!!!!! First, a brief history:

Go to this address to listen to their version of Django: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmpLtYmSlvM

     This is a song called Django, a classic Jazz tune everyone should know. It was originally written by John Lewis after traveling to Louisiana and witnessing a funeral, which is exactly what the song represents--a Louisiana funeral.
     My personal favorite version is that which is performed by the Modern Jazz Quartet. Need I say more? The Modern Jazz Quartet is one of the most famous Jazz groups ever, as most other Jazz musicians flock to play with other musicians and never settle down in one group. This is what makes the Modern Jazz Quartet unique--they have played together since we've been alive, and hopefully always will be playing together.
     The group is all African-American, with Milt Jackson, the vibraphone player, otherwise known as a vibraharpist. He is considered to be legendary and is highly respected. I idolize him in my mind as one of the greatest improvisers of all time, to me. Whenever I improvise, I think of his solos, especially those in his performances of Django.
    Percy Heath is the bass player, whom I refer to as the "metronome". He is completely solid as far as tempo, and I always try to emulate his rhythm. My father actually photographed his son!
     Connie Kay is on drums, and his fills always leave me wanting more, especially between the cadences and transitions between chords and sections.
     Finally, John Lewis himself is the pianist and musical director, which are self-explanatory (Just go up a few paragraphs). He is legendary as well, mostly for his incredible compositions.What more is necessary?
     This song is an intercourse between a sad funeral march and a festive party in F Minor, as Louisiana funerals involve an exciting gala afterward, and then it eventually returns to the chorus--the funeral procession and leaves the reader in pensive remembrance.
     From an improviser's perspective, the song hold many opportunities to jam on Ab Major and F Minor Pentatonic scales as well as F Dorian and Ab Mixolydian modes to choose from. Of course, one can also always use chord tones to play the changes and cadences.
     The performance of the song is phenomenal. The visual effect of the vibraphone is fantastic to behold as well as its pervasive reverberation. The improvisation is, as always with the Modern Jazz Quartet, outstanding, especially (to me) that of Milt Jackson.
     With Jazz, one can never go wrong, as very little of it is written on paper. It is a special thing, as all jazz that is not recorded is lost, as a piece may sound different from day to day, by means of different people playing it, or, probably, because the improvisers have thought of something new to try out. I know these feelings and situations from experience. Playing jazz with friends, if anything, is truly exhilarating, which is exactly what the Modern Jazz Quartet does every time they perform a song.
A Presto,
Simon

Perfect Strangers...or are They?

     Jay and Nick, Nick and Jay...the two men in The Great Gatsby seemingly destined to become friends...or are they? These two "friends", or so it seems, have much in common with each other. Both can, at times, act in a rye, sarcastic way, and the reader comes to appreciate their humor. They are able to exist without much distracting banter, which says that they are relatively misunderstood people. Both of them seem to generally do more listening than active participation in conversation, otherwise known as talking.
     They seem to be very good friends from the moment they meet, which was under rather odd circumstances. They meet at one of Jay Gatsby's parties, and Nick doesn't even know who he is, though he is his host. However, they engage in bonding experiences shortly after, such as flying Gatsby's sea plane as well as going out to lunch. From then on, Gatsby sends Nick personal invitations to his parties. However, is it really friendship? Or Gatsby just using Nick?
     It is revealed that Jay was in love with an early character in the book, Daisy, cousin to Nick. It is then left up to the reader to determine whether or not Gatsby is using Nick solely in order to get to know Daisy. If one were to ask me, I believe Gatsby has a genuine interest in Nick, though he is more interested in Daisy. Because of this, Jay is willing to sacrifice his friendship with Nick in order to establish a romantic relationship with his cousin, and possibly rekindle their friendship at a later date. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that I believe Jay Gatsby has little regard for meaningful relationships with other human beings in the form of friendship.
     How about you? What do you think of Jay Gatsby's and Nick's relationship?

Energizing Others

Creation.
What a word,
the inexplicably fundamental noun of existence.

It is everything and nothing.
It has no form,
though everyone and everything existing proves it to be true.

There is nothing, then everything,
all at once,
stimulating each and every sense,
every microscopic nerve ending,
each cell,
down to the last atom.

It is truly incredible...

How incredible is it,
to be sucked into a vortex at maximum velocity,
after being born at the drop of a dime,
in the blink of an eye,
in a split second,
making slow, soft, gently violent gyrations,
thrusting, spinning, and flipping through the air
with the smooth, arching swoops of a falcon,
plummeting toward the Earth.

How incredible is it,
to lose oneself in a sea of swirling faces
of love ones you've never met.
Dancing and turning and revolving,
in a social gathering with everyone and no one.

How incredible is it,
to softly slow one's momentum,
and on a cushion of air,
land on a young child's soft, crimson, exposed tongue,
and to rest there in gratification,
gloriously satisfied,
           satiated,
                      and comfortably content with life itself.

How incredible is it to invoke fiery feelings of joy in someone you've never known to exist.

Language and Arts vs. Social Life: Thankful for a Classmate

     There exists such a thing as favoritism, which, among individuals, can create meaningful relationships as well as ill-mannered ones. Though favoritism is subjective, meaning the outcome changes based on whom one asks, it is a useful tool which can help one figure out the closest people to him or her. Because of these reasons, I don't particularly enjoy "playing favorites", as far as friends or classmates go, though if I had to choose, two people rise to to top of the list. These two individuals are named Gabrielle (Gabby) Burns and Shiloh Psujek.
     It's a little surprising that I'm writing this, as I've only known Gabby since the start of this year, and we haven't exchanged many words, though I have experienced enough to truly know I am thankful for her. Whenever we see each other in the halls, we say hello, and I try to encourage her as much as I can to be persistent with her INCREDIBLE Trombone playing-skills, as well as with her Spanish, as I am both a linguist and a musician. (Though, I wish she played jazz...we would jam so much!) She is a fantastic student, and always tries her best. She's always there for me when I need help, and I've even worked on a project with her. I also try to boost her confidence. Gabby, if you had more confidence in your excellent self, you'd be almost perfect.
     I've known Shiloh since Freshman Connection in the Summer of 2009. I didn't know her very well then, but we've become much closer since. She is one of the cleverest individuals I know, and always has to have the last word. She knows how to argue, and always has another sarcastic comment to make, after which I always laugh. That's probably the biggest reason I'm thankful for Shiloh--she knows how to make me laugh. It's something I can always count on when in her presence. Shiloh is probably THE BEST clarinetist in the world, which I knew the first time I listened to the gorgeous notes float gently out of her instument's bell.   She's one of the most beautiful people I know, both inside and out, and is one of my best friends. I can always talk to Shiloh about anything, no matter how difficult it might be to say. (I'm actually on the verge of "happy/remembrance tears as I'm writing this, because it's all very real and true). We talk about anything ranging from personal problems to jokes, school, relationships, and, Shiloh's favorite, RaNdOmNeSs!!!!! Shiloh, I'm thankful for you because you're one of my best friends, and I know I can always trust in you, and you can always trust in me as well! (OK, the tears have started to cascade down my cheeks...seriously......)
     In conclusion, my friends Gabby and Shiloh keep my life interesting and play at two different extremes of my life--language and arts vs. social skills. Both are very special to me, as are both of my friends. What would I do without them? I don't know. Although, I do know I have them as my very good friends, so why question it? Thank you so much, Gabby and Shiloh! I love you guys! (Now I need to go and wash my face...)
A Presto,
Simon

Be a Leader, be the Plow!

     What are some defining characteristics of a plow? Good question, I'm glad you asked! A plow is a hard-working, slightly old-fashioned piece of technology! It is a way of clearing a path for some larger force, creature, machine, person, or even a soccer ball! I even did my invention project in biology last year on snow plows, where I turned my bicycle into a snow plow. Could one ride it? Not really, especially since it couldn't turn right.....*whistles*. Anyways.....If we were taking this literally, a plow would be just that, a tool. However, in order to interpret how I am a "plow", we must delve deeper into the purposes and functions of a plow, or, alternatively, what a plow represents.
     My Italian IV teacher, Dr. Foy, calls me a firecracker. What does this mean, you ask? Well, she's never called me one to my face, just to my parents. Therefore, I have to infer what it means. I think it means I get people going. I motivate people to do better. Because I only, and I mean only speak in Italian in her class, I motivate both her and others to speak more Italian in class as well. Basically, it means I clear the way for others to follow in my footsteps. Get it? That's where the plow comes in!!!!! By "clearing the way", I become a leader in the class, which makes me more confident. It's a mutual benefit which helps others to aspire to be leaders and study harder as well, while I feel personal gain because I have helped others as well as having inspired them.
     In the future, I hope to plow my way through all the obstacles I may face, which is another defining characteristic of plows--they are able to overcome any obstacle. The plow is an ideal person, and obviously no one is perfect. To me, one can exhibit qualities of a "plow", but one cannot be a plow all of the time. Thus, when someone exhibits plow-like qualities, he or she is acting as a leader.
    In conclusion, I believe no one is a full-time plow, or else he or she would be perfect! Take me for example. I may be a plow in my Italian IV class, and at the same time,  I want to follow in the paths of Dr. Foy and Ms. Floreani, as they both teach an English literature class as well as Italian, and I would like to do just that. I would like to be a teacher of English literature as well as a high-level Italian teacher. How about you guys? What is one way in which you are a "plow", and one way in which you walk on a path cleared by another?
A Presto,
Simon

Ninjas in Mr. McCarthy's Class?

      Being a human, I have preferences, ideals, unique ideas, and beliefs which make me who I am. Because every human is unique and special, we all have certain categories which we fit into, which others can use to describe us to people who do not know us that well in order for him or her to mentally recognize us. For instance, I could say to one of Mr. Fanning's students, "Oh, you know Mr. McCarthy! He's the best, coolest soccer player/English teacher ever! " (Which I would record on tape and bring to Mr. McCarthy for extra credit).....Because of these preferences, everyone ends up being good at a certain array of things, or subjects. Therefore, what I personally believe could be changed, or not changed, as far as our American Literature classroom activities and atmosphere go, could, and most likely will be different than those which someone else thinks.
     Personally, I believe our classroom activities and atmosphere are nearly perfect the way they are. I love how every person can speak his or her mind and need not be afraid of being "shunned" based on his or her opinions. I love our discussions and our time debating about anything ranging from Nikes to child labor laws. We are free to be ourselves. One thing I really enjoy in this particular class is the daily journal. It helps me loosen up and get in my "literature zone" every time. Also, because Mr. McCarthy reads each and every one, I feel like we are able to establish a new level of connection with our teacher.
     Alternatively, one thing that I think could be improved on in our American Literature class is something contributing to discussion. I believe it would be fun if every night, one new person would be ULTRA-NINJA on the reading and know it completely inside and out, prepare discussion questions for the next day, and become the moderator of discussion in class the next day. This would remove the shyness from people as well as help them present something they know to their peers. I believe it would help us come together even more as a class.
     Well, that's it! Other than that, our class is pretty much perfect! (Mr. McCarthy, more extra credit, please?). It is the format and type of class I would like to be emulated by every other teacher in the school. It helps me think on my feet and learn in new ways, and ultimately, it allows me to be myself inside of the classroom.

Are we Still Puritan at Heart?

     When I first read about Salem, the witch trials, Puritans, and the House of the Seven Gables, I didn't think much of them. To me, they were simply words written about a place I'd never been to, about people I'd never met, and about a time to which I could not relate. However, more of the stories are true than one would think, and after reading about the background of the time period, Nathaniel Hawthorne, the house itself, and Puritans in Salem, I feel as if  I can understand more of the information presented in books I have already read or will read. It's pretty spooky, actually--seeing as it's Halloween.......BOO!!!

     For example, Nathaniel Hawthorne has more in common with Salem than one would think. For instance,  one of his relatives was John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch trials. Some trivia about Nathaniel Hawthorne include that he eventually changed his name to "Hawthorne" in order to separate himself from his infamous ancestors. Also, he was born on July 4, 1804, and graduated from college in 1825 with Franklin Pierce, who would later become a United States President. Finally, Hawthorne often visited Salem, specifically the House of the Seven Gables, in order to be entertained by his cousin, Susannah Ingersoll, whose family occupied the house at the time.

     Speaking of the House of the Seven Gables, let's delve a bit deeper! This house is located in Salem, Massachusetts (yes, THE Salem, Massachusetts!), at 54 Turner Street. It is called "The house of the seven gables" because it literally has seven gables,which are the pointy things on the tops of the roof. It is quite interesting that the house where Nathaniel Hawthorne was born was moved to The House of the Seven Gables and is now extremely close in proximity to it--they are separated by only a few feet! As stated in the novel, The House of the Seven Gables, the building itself has an impressive history. It has been in the control of several different families, all of which have a story to tell. For instance, by Hawthorne's time, the house could only be seen with three gables. However, his cousin told him the house's history, and showed him the evidence of former gables. The house itself can still be seen today.

     The novel, The House of the Seven Gables, is partially about the town of Salem dealing with its past--a past which is now referred to as the Salem Witch trials. There are many possible explanations as to why these trials occurred. One of these possibilities could simply be teenage boredom. These teenagers who pointed fingers at so many villagers in order to have them executed could have simply attributed to the lack of excitement in the village. Then, there is the matter of the children falling ill in Salem. These sicknesses could have been attributed to ergot, a fungus which is easily grows in warm, damp, rainy springs and summers. Is it just a coincidence that this is how the Summer of 1691 was described? Nearly all of the young girls lived to the West within the Salem village, which was an area with swampy meadows would have allowed ergot to thrive. Furthermore, ergot is commonly found in rye, a staple ingredient in almost every type of food in Salem. Alternatively, the summer of 1692, which was towards the end of the time of the "bewitchments", was extremely dry, eliminating the risk of ergot in the village. Some symptoms that may result from eating ergot-contaminated food include violent muscle spasms, vomiting, delusions, hallucinations, crawling sensations on the skin, and a host of other symptoms, many of which were experienced by Ruth and Betty in The Crucible. Lovely.....

     Finally, we have the Puritans. The Puritans were extremely radical Christian thinkers which occupied the town of Salem at the time. They were categorized as believing in a theocracy, or government by religion. Basically, this meant that the government officials in the Puritan towns were the Priests and Reverends. The Puritans had some very odd traditions and rituals, at least from our perspective. For example, they believed a child born on a Sunday was a child of sin. This is because they thought that children born on the Sabbath Day were conceived on a Sabbath Day as well. You see, in Puritan society, sexual intercourse on Sundays was forbidden. (So, being born on a Sunday, made you like Black Sabbath, right? ...Right? ...No? Whistles..... Anyways.....) Puritans lived their lives in fear of a God as well as in fear of his counterpart, the Devil. It seems like an extremely humble yet unenjoyable and fearful lifestyle. 
     How does the Puritan-type society that existed so long ago still influence us today? Well, our religious diversity in the United States is a prime example! Many states do not yet allow gay marriage. The constitution does not mention it as being a bad thing, though the bible does. This represents some of our Puritan theocracy roots, though there is supposed to be a separation of Church and State. Our Puritan ancestors still influence us today because of the laws that they set in place before our system of government came around. Some of them just happened to stick around. Leave me a comment as to what evidence of Puritan roots influences you in your everyday life!
A Presto,
Simon

"One nation...in liberty and justice for all"

     When was the moment I first knew I was an American? That answer can hardly be said in written form. It is more easily implied. In class, we have defined being an American as being a free person who has the right to choose what he or she wants to do for a living, where he or she wants to live, what kind of name, social status, and rank he is to have in society, and, ultimately, what she wants to do with her life. And American is someone under rather new rules, compared to the rest of the world, which offer a broader spectrum and give more "wiggle-room" to citizens. Based on this definition of an American, I can't say that I am yet an "American"--only on paper am I referred to as such. However, I have definitely felt some of these defining characteristics at some points in my life, such as the right to choose my own fate. Most of these types of characteristics I learned merely from reciting "The Pledge of Allegiance" in class.
     When we were required to recite "The Pledge of Allegiance", I would always pay attention to the words I was saying. I didn't want it to be some essay or chant that was mindlessly regurgitated solely to avoid wasting time and in order to move on with the day. No, I wanted it to be something special to me--something that had figurative value and meant something unique. This was when I knew I was an American. Of course, I knew I was my whole life, but up until then, it was just a word used to classify me. Then, it suddenly became a word used to describe me. It meant that I, Simon Black/Toby, could not be specifically defined as an American, but it could be used as a word to shape my image to others.
     Specifically, the lines "One nation...in liberty and justice for all" help prove my definition of an American as being correct. This quote from "The Pledge of Allegiance" shows that an American has the right to be free, not just physically, but mentally as well. One can have freedom of choice, expression, and social mentality. This once-boring chant in class now opened itself to reveal to me that I truly was, and I still am, and American. It made me realize I was an American because I found myself fitting into the categories of the words in the pledge. I know I am a free-thinker, and I act on my own beliefs, meaning that I choose my own paths, making me a true American thinker as well as an American citizen.

"Death" vs. Death? I Choose Neither!

     (ATTENTION. THE FOLLOWING IDEAS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT: THE WORD "DEATH" WITHOUT QUOTATION MARKS MEANS A LITERAL DEATH OF A PERSON, AND WHEN USED WITH THESE AFOREMENTIONED PUNCTUATION MARKS, IT SHOULD BE TAKEN AS HAVING A METAPHYSICAL OR FIGURATIVE MEANING. THANK YOU).
     When I think of a fight or quarrel between two combating individuals, I usually don't think of it ending with the death of one person. However, this "death" can be taken to the next level and be described as being a spiritual or figurative death as opposed to a physical one. In fact, there need not even be a physical "fight or quarrel".
      For example,  political figures may engage in mental "combat" through the course of debate and never swing a single punch. This will end in one of the politicians' defeat or "death", which, though it is not literal, still has a lasting effect on the person. Continuing with the politician analogy, one politician may support a controversial idea or topic, and the people in the nation not in support of this topic may rise up to commit drastic actions or cause the physical death of someone in support of the cause, or attempt at causing the hypothetical "death" of someone else within the confines of a civilized argument.
     In The Crucible, Goody (Elizabeth) Proctor causes the "death" of Abigail by subtly revealing to the village people in the town of Salem that she did something wrong, such as committing the crime of adultery, thus giving her a "bad name" in the village. This can be transferred into representing the death of her "good name" in the town of Salem. Mrs. Proctor did this by evicting Abigail from the Proctor house where she served as a maid or servant. She did this because she sense bad intent afoot, and was correct in assuming so, as her husband falsely committed the crime of lechery.
     Well, that's all for today. Can you guys that have read The Crucible come up with another area in the book in which one villager causes either the "death" or death of another? I can think of a few--at least a trillion.....Good luck!
A Presto,
Simon

Ah, Protagonist Classifications.....

     Is John Proctor a Hero or a Stooge? Good question.....To me, he has qualities that resemble both. Though, his negative qualities don't necessarily represent those of a stooge to me, but of someone who is conflicted and has significant flaws.
     John Proctor is a very conflicted person. He is a Christian man who holds little to no belief in witches. He is the protagonist of the play, though he has flaws such as a violent temper, which sometimes leads him to shout. It is also known that he has had an affair with the young adult, Abigail. However, I believe these faults make him more of a "heroic" character, because the reader is able to relate to him more.
     Think about it. If you read a book in which the protagonist was a "perfect human", (a phrase which should be a grammar error, as it is IMPOSSIBLE) would you be able to identify with this character? No way. This is because all humans are flawed, which makes us unique. If we lived in a perfect society, no one would be special or revered for his or her special talents, appearances, or intelligence because everyone would be have them. However, this doesn't exist. Doesn't that make you love life? To be here, in this world, living? It's great, isn't it? It makes me question................but I digress.
     Anyways, back to the ranch.....(Oppure Allora.....Questa e` che cosa ci diciamo in Italia quando dobbiamo parlare su un altro tema.....)
     John Proctor does not seem like a "stooge" to me because he doesn't seem like someone who would take orders very easily. Even with something simple such as religion, John Proctor is seen multiple times challenging the order of Reverend Parris. This shows his independence, a distinct heroic quality.
     Because of his many character traits, I believe John Proctor is a "heroic" character because he his sympathetic and caring, and though he has flaws, he continues to rise above them and become the protagonist he was made to be.
    

Jonathan Edwards said WHAT?!?!?

    A couple of days ago we read an excerpt of a sermon by Jonathan Edwards that was TOTALLY insane!!!!! (and not in a good way!) It was basically a huge death-threat to anyone who DARES doubt the wrath of God! He writes about God having the power to control rushing rivers--being able to let the water fly on anyone at any time. According to Edwards, he also has a bow and arrow constantly pointed at every person's heart, ready to let the arrow fly at any minute if he so chooses. This he will do to anyone who opposes him, i.e. the sinners of the world. This leads the sermon to be entitled "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God". This is why Edwards preaches for everyone to serve as an observing Puritan, so as not to anger God in any way and so that when life is over, one may have a merry, cheerful afterlife filled with strawberries, butterflies, and.........well, you get the idea. These people are being threatened and pressured into living life in the puritan way, or else, essentially, they will be smitten by God.
    As with almost all blog entries I've written thus far, I will express my personal opinion, as follows:

DOES THIS GUY REALLY THINK THIS #%^&*(^$%$##%$##$#&**()*(&&^%$#@#$ %^&*())(*&^% @#$%^&*(*&^%$%^&^%$%^&*@#$%^&*%^&^%^&*&^%^&*(*&^%$# WILL BRING HIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER PEACEFULLY?!?!?!?!?

   That's my opinion on his sermon. If I had to honestly say what I think of it, I would say that it makes absolutely no sense to me why these people would believe such a thing to be true.
    However, in order to make an unbiased decision, I would have to fully take into perspective the life of a villager in a Puritan society. I would imagine they only know this way of life, and thus have no idea what other lifestyle they might have had in Great Britain.
    However, if I were a British person, I would look onto these puritan societies as though they were extremely strange, which they still seem to be, from my perspective. It is no wonder that they essentially evicted them from Europe, banishing them to the 13 colonies where they could "annoy" the Natives.
   How about you? What would you do if you were a Puritan? If you were to pretend you had no preexisting bias, could you simply go along with the flow? What about if you were a British person or a Native American looking onto these strange societies? How would you feel then?

Here's the Neighborhood! Oh look, there it goes.....

     Hey guys! This particular blog entry is going to be based on the idea of someone or something moving into a new area and establishing a change in that area. There are many examples of this occurring in history, but only a couple stand out to me. One of these is Christopher Columbus, a rather hackneyed example, who attempted at imposing Christianity on the Native Americans, unwillingly on their part. Then, there are other examples, some of which I am learning about in AP World History that take place during the Paleolithic era (for those of you who don't know what this means, it was the majority of the time Humans have been on earth, also known as the age of hunting/gathering). In this particular era, Humans migrated, populating the planet, which required them to expose themselves to new environments everywhere they went.
     One could argue that these societies represent out own modern cities and urban centers today. When the Humans in the Paleolithic era found a place to settle down and end their nomadic lifestyles, they had to adjust to their new environments and also force the new environments to adjust to them. For example, a tribe that settled down in the forests would say, "Oh, look! Here's some weird plant that I can use to cover myself AND eat! Oh, there's a weird pig-goat thing that looks tasty enough to eat! Mmmmmm! Yummy pig-goat-thingy!" This is obviously an exaggeration, but it shows how the tribes themselves would adjust to their new "neighborhoods". However, say the tribe's people like the weird plants and the yummy pig-goat animals too much, and they set controlled fire to a certain area of the forest to encourage the growing of the weird plant, and then they hunt the weird pig-goat animal to extinction. What are we left with? A completely changed environment or "neighborhood" with a thriving population of weird plants and no pig-goat thingies! This shows how, even though a newcomer may know nothing about an area or its customs, he or she can still change its lifestyle forever.
     When an extreme situation such as this takes place in our lifetime, what do the people that live in what I will refer to as "the neighborhood" try to do? In my opinion, if I were someone who had lived in a neighborhood for a while, I would try to keep our older traditions active and hope that newcomers would just slip smoothly into our rhythm and way of doing things as opposed to changing our way of life entirely. This is the best way, as it involves the least amount of discord. Though, if I was the newcomer, I don't think it would be easy for me to adjust, and I would first attempt at trying to impose my own ideas, though I would be against exactly this if I were a neighborhood native. However, not everyone has this mindset. Thus, as we live in an imperfect world, there is bound to be a case where the newcomer would try to impose his or her mindset on the neighborhood somewhere. What do you think? What would you do if you lived in the neighborhood? What about if you were the newcomer? Leave me a comment! I can't wait to hear your responses!
     Well, it's getting to be that hour again! I must go, but you'll hear from me soon!
A Presto,
Simon