Birthday

I'm finally legal! I had a great birthday, apart from the presentation part. I couldn't have asked to spend it with better people. It was a nice transition into adulthood as I reminisce my childhood days. I'm a bit saddened to remember that things aren't going to be so easy anymore. It would be nice to be 7 again and to be able to play on the swings, the see-saw, the slides, and not think about all the worries of the world. But heck, I'm 18! Although there are a slim range of things an 18 year-old can do (at least in Michigan), I'm still stoked that I'm 18! Everyone says after this you're going to want to start wishing you were younger, but I say on with life! I can't wait to be 21!

2nd Post: A Changing Opinion

For the longest time, I was completely opposed to making English the official language. I thought it was destroying the individuality of each culture through their native tongues. I felt it was like forcing immigrants at Ellis Island to "Americanize" their names. While a part of me still thinks this way, another part of me is seeing it through different eyes. As I read more on the topic at hand, the misconceptions that I had are slowly fading away. Passing the legislature to make English the official language of Michigan will affect all cultures, for better or for worse. As I research, I find that it's goal isn't to destroy ones roots, but to help them strive in this English-speaking culture. While I'm still researching, I'm learning more about this legislature that I never knew. I've found many reliable sources through ProQuest, but I still have a lot more to learn.

My Early Birthday Present

Well, I was at work and then my manager came up to me and said I was going home early (5 instead of 7) because I had come in earlier both days that weekend. I was stoked and didn't think much about it. I had planned to go shopping for a birthday outfit but as soon as I get out of work my sister said she was getting coffee at starbucks. So I walk there to meet her and we're waiting in line and I get a text from her and I was about to ask her why she was texting me and I read it and it says "We're going to see Snow Patrol at 6:30 tonight!"

I looked up at her and hugged her and said, "oh my god you're joking!" But she sure wasn't since she took out the tickets. So I ran back into Pac Sun real quick to tell everybody and my manager already knew which is why she let me out early. I have loved Snow Patrol since my Freshman year in High School but I have never gone to see them in concert because the first time they were here since I had heard of them I was a bit too young to venture into Detroit alone and the other times I believe I had to work and I was out of the country.

Seeing Silversun Pickups, OKGO, and Snow Patrol in concert was really a great bithday present. Unfortunately, I didn't think Snow Patrol was what I had expected. Especially following OKGO, they didn't reach up to my standards as far as their performance goes. OKGO, on the other hand, were really good and great performers. Damian definately had the whole place laughing with his humorful stories. He also joked about Wrestlemania and Kid Bopz. I definately think all four of them were truly charismatic on stage.

Damian also suggested watching their new video on YouTube (since they are notoriously known for Here it Goes Again--check it out on the side). I really couldn't have asked for a better birthday (except for having a private performance with Jack and his guitar). One can only wish...

Living la Vida Latina

A Latin community can thrive anywhere and anyway. The language, the culture, and the heritage is passed on from generation to generation, constantly holding on to their roots. The Latin-American culture lives on in everyone's vida through the language, the religion, the music, and most especially, the dance.

Deep within el Barrio, or the hood; el Gringo wouldn't last long here.

Graffiti, as in every low-class areas, thrive through 'artists' (i.e.: rebels, gang members, etc.). Like with every culture, the Latin-American one has a large population of graffiti artists.



Supermercados (Supermarkets) and Carnicerias (Butchers) are common in Spanish communities. When I entered, everyone was speaking in Spanish and the majority of the products were from Mexico. I was entranced with the language for a while that I forgot that I was still in the United States.

Religión is a very important part to the Spanish community. Mostly everyone are Catolicos (Catholics) and often are included in religious practices including: bautizos (baptisms), comuniones (communions), and quincieneras (where a young woman celebrates her 15th birthday).

"Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School": Guadalupe, or La Virgen de Guadalupe, is an important Mexican icon. She is constantly praised and and prayed to.

La Juventud, or the youth, is another important factor to Spanish families. Being a machismo culture, fathers would prefer to have sons rather than hembras, or a brute way of saying females.

Viva futbol! Soccer is the most popular sport in Spanish countries but is referred to as futbol, as opposed to soccer.

The nightlife for Latinos brings out music, rhythm, dance.

Baila!

Salsa, merengue, samba, and cumbia are a few of the leading dances that never dies in the Latin community. They all differ in styles but all make a room feel alive with energy and warmth as the warm-blooded people let the rhythm take control of their hands, hips, and feet.

Although the Latin community depicted here was mostly the Mexican culture (with easy access due to Mexicantown in Detroit), every culture differs in it's own ways. What keeps every sub-group tied together is the language (except for vernacular), the religion, the music, the dancing, and the warmth.

1st post: English as Official Language

Whether you consider yourself an English-speaking American or an immigrant who speaks one of the 6,800 languages, the vote to nationally set the official language for the U.S. as English impacted everyone greatly. I remember around this time last year, the topic was first introduced to me when taking a Journalism course in High School. Immediately, it troubled me to think that people would want to make one language superior to another in a country that was built on immigrants who spoke in many languages and were from many countries. Although I lost touch on the topic since the media shone less light on this controversy, according to Senate Votes to Set National Language, the Senate overruled it. From a quick overview of the matter, it really stirred up the Spanish community. Although the national language of the U.S. isn't English, I'm almost sure that Michigan made English as it's State Language.

By setting a national language, I believe that it hinders the progression of this country. Language is crucial for business with the world and by making this country a bilingual country rather than a multilingual one, it just halts the communication movement. With Spanish being the most spoken language and Chinese falling shortly behind, it just doesn't seem smart to favor English. English is a popular language and definately used a lot during business meetings, but by setting it as the national language, it takes away the neccessity to learn more languages. Language is important because with language we grow as a culture, with language we learn of other cultures, with language we communicate. Although, I still have a lot to research (or update myself) on, I feel by writing my paper on this topic, I can open other people's eyes on this controversy, and maybe even open my own eyes to things I don't exactly know.

Apart from all that, I want to see how [or if] the ruling of English as being Michigan's official language affected Michiganians. I want to talk to English speakers, Spanish speakers, Chinese speakers, Arabic speakers, etc., and find out their opinion. I need to learn more about this topic because I think it's very important to know why so many people want to officially make English the national language. There's so much more to this topic and hopefully it is as interesting to me as it is to other people.

Peer-review: Photo Essay

Surprisingly the peer-review went really good. I saw so many good photo essays and so far the progress is great! I was a bit ashamed of mine since it's not going down the path that I envisioned in my head. But I'll try again and see if I capture what I really wanted to capture. A lot of topics were focused around homes, but not two were ever the same. It was good to see what everyone else sees, it was as if we were looking through their eyes. Each and every photo essay shows their personal voice. Thank you for everyone's meaningful comments and suggestions.

Progress on 'El Pueblo Mexicano'

Note: So far, I haven't shot the pictures I have really wanted to portray. I had to work during the day every day this weekend. I didn't go out until night time and even then I wasn't brave enough to venture out into El Pueblo. I did manage to go to a Cuban club in downtown Detroit. There were a lot of Latinos and a bit of what I wanted to show is seen through the pictures, but I have more pictures to shoot. Also, I would like make a note that I am considering editing the pictures, maybe even black & white. But I ask, would it take away the color (or life) of my Latincommunity that I'm trying to portray? Here goes nothing:

Living la Vida

A Spanish community can thrive anywhere and anyway. The language, the culture, and the heritage is passed on from generation to generation, constantly holding on to their roots. The Latin-American culture lives on in everyone's vida through the language, the religion, the music, and most especially, the dance.

Salsa, merengue, samba, and cumbia are a few of the leading dances that never dies in the Latin community. They all differ in styles but all make a room feel alive with energy and warmth as the warm-blooded people let the rhythm take control of their hands, hips, and feet.

This is just a rough-rough draft of what I want to portray. Dance is an important part to a latin community, but there's so much more I have to show. This weekend I am planning on going to El Pueblo Mexico with my Argentian and Chilean friends. Hopefully get behind-the-scene exclusive pictures to make my photo essay alive with the latin community. Any suggestions on what you would like to see?

El Pueblo Mexicano

So the topic for my photo essay is the Spanish community in Michigan. I'm thinking about making a trip to el Pueblo Mexicano (except I don't know when I'll be able to--during the day, atleast). I want to portray the Spanish culture within the American culture. I know it's a bit shabby in downtown Mexico City, but within the restaurants is where the language is alive. Within the stores and restaurants is the true culture.

Maybe I can even do a night vs. day comparison of the Spanish community. I really want to show the Spanish community through my eyes, I hope I do good. I just don't know how else I could narrow it down...

Adding Life & Color

Looking through the "Detroit Graffiti" pictures, I guess my opinion on graffiti was different. When I thought of graffiti, I thought of people making statements, not just drawing faces or funky letters. This kind of graffiti is the type that I think gives graffiti a bad name! It makes graffiti a taboo, but when you see the colorful graffiti, the beautiful graffiti, I just don't think it's that bad!

These kinds of graffiti makes the world more colorful. I would love to walk down the street and see all this color, alive with thoughts and artists displaying themselves. I do see this as a form of art, but it's not an art most people condone to. Would graffiti be more acceptable if artists would ask permission before marking the walls? Would it still be art if people had to comform to societies rules and laws?

I think the reason this art is also so tempting (to the artists themselves) is because of how rebellious it is to do it! I don't think it's so bad though, I just wish people would take it as more of an art as opposed to being rebellious and marking a wall with spray cans!

Stories on a Wall

Graffiti is basically a story on a wall. You can't help but to look at it because every seperate 'art' expresses different emotions and feelings. I've seen a lot of good graffiti; it's a way to speak out in a community. If people used graffiti the correct way, I don't think it would be so bad. For instance, graffiti speaking out against the war, against global warming, against animal rights, in my opinion, wouldn't be so bad!

Spring is in the Air

I really really adore this weather. It's definately a bit odd being that it's only the beginning of March and it didn't start to get warm until April last year (barely!) but I'm not complaining. It probably has something to do with Global Warming and while we're praising it people don't really realize that this isn't going to be around for much longer. Snow, snow-angels, snow-fights, a White Christmas! It just makes you think.

Nonetheless, it was nice to go outside and get some sunshine & fresh air. It was nice to see the lawn filled with people. It was nice to be able to walk around without a jacket. I definately could use more of these warm days.

Tara's Last Encounter

I had the urge to read the "most popular" article: The final moments of Tara's life. Although it focused more on Stephen Grant, you couldn't help but to feel sorry for Tara. They were very descriptive with the murder and Stephen's thoughts and actions with hiding the body.

I agree with what my classmate said about it being like "battering a dead horse" being that they just continue to repeat stories. I first caught this story after Brothers & Sisters on ABC and although I only got a few facts, I watched the news the next night and it was the same thing. The helicopters circling the house and the constant picture of the Grants' home where the murder took place.

This article is more grueling than the news I got from Local 7 at 11 p.m. and I symphasize for Tara's soul and her family and children. You really have to think how their children are taking it; there's obviously going to be a long-term trauma with the children and my heart goes out to them. Rest in peace Tara Grant.

I wish...

I really wish I could be traveling right now. Not just Chile, I want to go to Thailand, Greece, Ireland, Japan. I feel like I'm getting old and soon my opportunity to travel will be gone. Even though I'm still 17, I'm just so anxious to explore the world. I started traveling when I was six, but I want to go by myself. And really travel, not just stay in one spot. You learn so much by traveling, more than you could just by reading about it in a book. I would rather spend all my money on traveling, but then I'd be a fool. So I'll be smart about it. Which is why I'm getting a degree. I still wish I was traveling though; I get so bored and anxious staying in one spot.

Summer Plans

I'm getting so anxious for May. As my plans are finalizing, Chile is becoming more and more clear to me, I can almost see it! Mostly all of my family lives in Chile (while others live in Brazil, Australia, and Europe) so I'm excited to see them. I haven't seen them in two years. Not only that, I'll be going for three months. I'll experience the nightlife, but it's not what I'm really looking forward to!
My 22 year old aunt is a pre-med student at the University of Santiago. There are a lot of non-profit programs that have college students volunteer to help unfortunate people. They even have students from other countries come to volunteer. Her and I are going to travel to the south and build homes for less-fortunate people. Poverty is huge all around the world; while it's not as problematic as it is in Africa, it still exists and people still have to act. I'm really looking forward to actually building a home for a family, to bring joy to their lives. A lot of people don't think I can do it (given my petite size and lack of strength) but I think the families will motivate me. I can't wait to succeed and make a difference!

Journalistic Style: Restaurant Review

So the style of this paper is a bit troubling for me. Just like Sam pointed out in class, it's a bit different to what we're really used to. I mean, of course it's the journalistic style, so I have to get used to it, but it still is troubling. For instance, am I doing it right? What if I don't and what if I get marked down for it? It's definately new and I like how we explore outside of the boundaries of MLA-stylistic writing. It makes sense though. It's just really short paragraphs, with a few sentences, and direct. Except, I don't know if we follow the paragraphs of MLA-styles or the journalism restaurant-review-style. Hopefully it's somewhere in between. Everything else is going well for me. It's definately fun being creative with this paper.

Brainstorming: Restaurant Review

I'm looking forward to this assignment (even though all the assignments so far have been interesting) because it's different to the typical style of a paper. Not to mention, it's foooood! Who wouldn't like this assignment? I've been thinking of all the restaurants, I love sushi, thai, and Indian but I go there all the time. I feel like I want to do Bahama Breeze because it's not a restaurant I go to all the time and its atmosphere is so nice! If I don't do that then I could do a small, secluded restaurant like the House of India or this Thai restaurant I go to. But I don't think I would have as much of things to say about those restaurants as I would for Bahama Breeze. I'm excited to eat and write!

The Argentinian Culture Displayed Eloquently

My second home, Chile, which borders Argentina, resembles a lot of Argentinian trends when it comes to meat. The only difference is that Chile's main food is seafood (except for in the summer when asados, or barbecues are popular), while Argentina lives and breathes meat. I really think the meat culture of Argentina is portrayed accurately in Jane Slaughter's "South American Way."

She really displayed the meat culture as it is; especially how the main and basically only course is meat. I thought the restaraunt review was very interesting and easy to read. It's a lot different to most journalistic articles.

Waiting for a Break

Although Spring Break is a while away, I can't wait for time for relaxation. School's a bit overwhelming right now, I just want to quit and go travel but I don't know how many 'older' college students have told me NOT to do that! It's just so tempting but I guess it makes sense to just get it over with now. I'm still young (really... I am... still 17) but I'm just in a rush to get out and see the world. I have already seen a lot of the world, but I just feel like I have so much more to see!

So back to Spring Break, I wish I was going somewhere! Except, I'm saving all my money for my summer trip that I keep on mentioning. Hopefully, the plans get finalized soon. I want to go somewhere! But I guess, during this Spring Break, I'll just relax--or work a lot--I haven't decided yet. We'll see. I just wish Break would come a bit quicker.

A Mix Tape for Commerce

In no particular order, the songs I chose for my community are:

1. Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson: This song about sleeping-in best describes my community! Everyone sleeps in; it's just the way to be. For instance, sleeping in and not going to the first few hours of school is what Commerce kids are best known for. It's just so laid back! Banana Pancakes reminds me a lot of being out on the lake in the summer and listening to this song in the morning. Except I'd much rather be in Hawaii listening to this song; but I don't hold that against Commerce.
2. One Horse Town by The Thrills: A lot of people think of Commerce as being a place where if you don't leave after high school, you're tied down and can't get out. You just get sucked into the consistent lifestyle, laid back, small town kind of lifestyle. "Though my friends said don't go settle down, hanging around in a one horse town" only furthers my point on Commerce. I better get out before it's too late.

3. New Slang by The Shins: Kind of going along with the "One Horse Town," the shins really does have a curse for this town. This song is really mellow, which also makes me think of Commerce. Not only that, it's part of a really fantastic soundtrack (Garden State) and whenever I would listen to it while driving through town, it just kind of stuck to me. It also makes me think of when I was younger and when us Commerce kids were innocent. Ha, not so much anymore.
4. Breakdown by Jack Johnson: Another Jack Johnson song, although it doesn't portray just to Commerce, but also the surrounding townships (Milford, Birmingham, etc.) It's just hoping that the train breaks down so that you can take a look and walk around, to see what there is to see in this quiet, old town. It really describes this calm town. It makes you curious to step out and walk through the roads, and then you get sucked in (by the One Horse Town) and you're just doomed.
5. Champagne Supernova by Oasis: "How many special people change? How many lives are living strange?" Everything in this song really reminds me of the high school days and all the high school kids. Walled Lake Northern, Western, and Central are well known for its drugs, having random drug-dogs search the building and most of the time busting kids with illegal substances on them. It just simply reminds me of the youth in my community.
6. Don't Panic by Coldplay: The last line "Cause, yeah, everybody here's got somebody to lean on" really explains this community. Everyone's close in Commerce, especially in High School. Everyone knows eachother and everybody really does have at least one person to lean on.
7. Let Go by Frou Frou: "There's beauty in the breakdown" really describes this town. I think there really is beauty in the breakdown in Commerce.

An Interview with a Cousino

I'm really glad I chose Kevin Cousino to interview. The session was so uplifting, we laughed and cracked jokes the entire time and I miss those good ol' high school days. I learned a lot of things that I didn't know about him and we got to talk about the environment. I can't wait to write my paper, I have a lot of good quotes and a lot of funny ones that I could spend filling up the paper, but I want to show a different side of Mr. Cousino. For example we were talking about how when a person sees a celebrity driving a eco-car, they have to get it. I replied saying, "Yeah, people are just like sheeps." And he says, "Right [pause] put me down for saying that!" Of course I didn't, but we just joked around the entire time. All that laughing that went on, I think I've gained 3 years onto my life.

Also, I told him about my plans on going to Chile this summer (since he asked me how my trip in Australia went). He told me about students and what they're doing for the environment and people less fortunate and it got me thinking about that. Maybe when I'm in Chile I can build houses for less fortunate ones and maybe even go to the very south where the Glaciers are melting and document my experiences. Who knows... really. All in all, the interview was splendid and I couldn't have chosen a better community member.

Progress: Profiling Community Member

So I have been thinking more about it and I just don't think it would be appropriate to interview Mrs. Richards. I just would feel really impersonal and couldn't force myself to talk about Tyler. I miss him and it just would make me feel too sad.
I am considering my 11th and 12th grade science teacher. Kevin Cousino. He teaches Biology and A.P. Environmental Science and he is such a cool, laid back, young teacher. He really made students think about the evironment; he really did make a difference. Even when I see friends after high school at like a party, Cousino's name always comes up going along the lines of being a cool teacher! Still, I don't know if I could praise such a good man, but we'll see how the paper goes. At least it won't be as hard as an interviewer to interview Cousino since he's such a cool, funny guy. I'm sure it'll go swell.

Brainstorming: Prominent Community Member

When it comes to profiling prominent community members, I feel like I don't have the right nor the power to elevate ones superiority over anothers. It's such an arduous task and I wish I could include everyone and I feel kind of guilty pushing aside other people! Brainstorming, brainstorming, brainstorming. I guess when I first thought about it, Mrs. Richards came into my mind.

Tyler Richards died from a car accident my Freshman year. Walled Lake Northern High School had just opened, consisting of only freshmans and sophomores. We were two really close classes; a nice warm family that continued this tight bond until 2005. When Tyler died, I don't think an entire school has cried for one boy. It was devastating. After that, Mrs. Richards became really involved with our school. She was always at our high school, staying strong for her son.

I guess I would love to profile her, get to know more about her but I'm afraid to open old scars. Maybe I'll just keep on brainstorming.

Opinion on Peer Reviews

I really think the peer reviews are helpful. Not only is it interesting being able to read another person's work, but it's beneficial. By looking at ways to improve the person's paper, you also have your own paper in the back of your head, making mental notes of what to change when it comes to your own paper. I'm really glad we get to do this, although sometimes I feel embaressed to let someone read and critize my own work. But I guess that's the way it goes.

So Cold, Freezing Cold

This weather really is playing tricks with my head. One week it's warm and the next it's cold. And when it does get cold, it's not like a 'nice' cold, it's like Antartica cold. I don't know how much more of living in Michigan I can take! I miss this nice, warm beaches in Australia, surfing with my mates, being able to walk around without a jacket. It's like summer all year round. I don't mind the cold, but when it gets so cold that you don't even want to go outside, that's when it bothers me!

Like driving home from school with the ice and snow on the roads was terrible. It's so stressful because at any point your car can skid out of control. I don't even know how many cars I saw in the ditch or how many cars (on the freeway) moving all over the place. Hopefully everyone got home safe!

A Look at the Past

Progress on the analyzing of the Victorian house is going quite good. I'm learning so many new things that I didn't even know about my best friend's house, even though I've probably slept at her house 3 times a month since the 8th grade. I always knew about her house harbouring runaway slaves but I had never gone too much into detail with her. It's so interesting seeing where they used to hide them, except now it's patched up being that it's dangerous with her younger siblings.

Also, when I sat down with her mum and dad and talked to them about the history of the house, the brought out pamphlets and books written on the house and gave me dates of thse house (it was built in 1837). 1837! And I have slept there so many times and never actually thought about it. I feel guilty that I never considered it as a historical structure. Lastly, I was informed that Henry Ford used to stay at her house on his way up to his cottage. Henry Ford! I really do look at her house differently now. All this new information is so bizarre!

Disagreements on Coffeehouses

It seemed to me that a lot of people had different perceptions on coffeehouses in their own communities. I really didn't want to speak up so I figured I would go home tonight and write down my thoughts.

A lot of people thought that coffeehouses are just a social place to do unsociable things [going on the computer, reading, but I kind of disagree! Yes, it's okay to go to a coffeehouse to read or to be on your laptop, but there's more to it than just that! I've been to many coffeehouses around the world and I'm starting to think that maybe it depends on your culture or environment. To the coffeehouses that I have been to in different parts of the world, I have seen that it is a place for socializing. It is a place for sitting down, relaxing, and talking!

Take Australia's coffeehouses scenario: Gloria Jeans Coffeehouse on the strip, half a miles walk from the beach, in the heart of Cronulla (a hip beach town filled with surfers, surfer-bums, and professionals). Any time of the day (6 am - 10 pm) you will see the Coffeehouse filled with people! People sitting down, talking, drinking coffee, and in no rush to continue on with their day. Friends would sit outside with their pets, giving it a sense of a relaxed environment. It's not just Australia; New Orleans, Germany, and Chile are the same, just to name a few.

I guess all in all it depends on the culture and the environment, but for the most part coffeehouses are a socializing place, not JUST for unsociable things. Last but not least, coffeehouses aren't just a fad, they're here to stay!

A Coffeehouse Conversation

Marriott's article "Jiving with Java" was closely accurate to the coffeehouses in present-day, considering it was written in '95. Coffeehouses truly appeal to everyone who has taste buds! Even that, apart from the addiction to the caffeine, there's an addiction to the socialization. People get a kick out of going to a coffeehouse, not knowing what will happen during that visit. They go to coffeehouses to get a drink, to study, to read, to chat with a friend, to relax, or to just simply meet someone.

Coffeehouses, at least in my community, are the place to go when you want to meet up with a friend and talk or to do some homework. As lame as it sounds, most people probably see a coffeehouse "cooler than a library" but you can also get work done. I, personally don't go to a coffeehouse for homework because I get really distracted. But I do go if I want to read a magazine or a book, or simply to just meet up with friends and have a nice chat. It's such a relaxed atmosphere. I completely agreed with everything that Marriott said about coffeehouses.

COLORS of the world

A few months ago when I was in Australia, my cousin introduced me to a magazine. Not just any magazine though, but a "quarterly magazine that focuses on cultural topics from around the world." COLORS. Hands down, it's [my opinion] the best magazine! The second I picked them up I was taken over by interest; I read all three of them in a short matter of time. Every article in COLORS presents information to the reader and makes them think. It provides the reader with a look at the world, through different cultures, tackling one topic for each quartly magazine in different manners. Featured topics include Drugs (Iss. 62), Lust (Iss. 67), HIV/AIDS (Iss. 64), Photostudios (Iss. 58), Violence (Iss. 56), and Fat (Iss. 25), to name a few. Every topic provides an entire magazine worth of articles, each intriguing, each unique, set with vivid, colorful images that captivates the reader!

Issue 62, "Drugs," contained stories of "Coffee, A Social History," "Sacred Plants," "Body-Enhancing Drugs," "Fighting AIDS in Brazil," "Kicking the Habit on Mount Purgatory," and "Your Brain on Love" [just to show you how they tackle drugs as a broad subject, and not just as a recreational drug that we all would think of it as -- precisely why this magazine is so fascinating]. Although all the articles intrigue me, there was one that has stuck to me like glue. It's the shortest of the rest of the articles and it was found on the last page of this issue, Your Brain on Love.

Could a drug to deactivate hate be far behind? And could everyone in the world be convinced to take it simultaneously?

What do you think...

The Death of Wilbur Wright

Detroit Funk, being more interesting compared to Faded Detroit, showed unique funky pictures. One that got to me was The Death of Wilbur Wright, the Wilbur Wright School, that is. It was a mixture of the pictures and the words that moved me.

Seven pictures down, a picture of murals in what was of the school of performing arts is left, and dfunk writes:

The remaining school murals tell a sad tale of an institution that had once taught gifted children music, art and dance.

It's a pity this is what is left of the school.

The Sexist Role

Being a latin woman, the sexist role of a "woman's place" has always bothered me. From machismo to sexist domination, whatever race you are, women have always been forced into the housewife role. Bell Hooks "Homeplace: A Site of Resistance" portrays the housewife role as a place to "as a site of resistance and liberation struggle" (70). While this may be true, it seems to me that Hooks is merely covering up the sexist role with it being a sort of catharsis. She doesn't face nor mention the true explanations behind the sexist role, rather she seems to be giving excuses to make it okay. She doesn't mention the fact that most men probably beat up their wives with a bottle in their hand; she merely ignores these problems that need to be talked about when speaking of the Homeplace.

While there are a lot of things that bother me about this, I'm not entirely bashing Hooks' article. I feel as if she presented a strong story on black womens' struggle to fight racial oppression. I feel that black women bore a lot of burden in trying to maintain a homeplace that a lot of people don't give them credit for. Hooks wrote this to remind readers of the things black women had to go through, to remind readers of the struggle that occured and probably still does in some primitive countries. The role of women, in all, should be exemplified. Contemporary women don't partake in as many hardships as women from other eras had to go through, but there is a struggle nonetheless. I'm sure not a lot of men in this class actually think a womens' role is arduous. Think about pregnancy, a career, raising children after birth.

All in all I ask the question, do you consider contemporary women to have struggles in life?

The Big Yellow Victorian House

Analyzing a place or an artifact in my tiny township of Commerce seems like such an arduous task. Anyone who knows of Commerce knows it's dead-set in the middle of nowhere. A friend drives me home one day and he later explains to everyone that "it was like driving her to Egypt." I couldn't have said it better. But as much as I bash this far-away-from-civilization township, I still enjoy this place that I've been residence of for more than four years. A few years ago, Commerce was abundant with lakes, trees, wildlife (deers, squirrels, ducks, geese, skunks), but as four years has passed, a lot of the trees have turned into stores. Commerce is well on it's way to being another commercialized city, striving to live up to it's standards that lie behind it's name. While I despise the distance Commerce is to other fast-paced suburbias of Detroit, I'd take 2007 Commerce over a futuristic-materialistic Commerce.

So as I analyze an artifact in my township, I think of this township as it is now, and hopefully how it will be for a long time (preserving it's trees and animals alike). A Victorian house I've set foot in since I was an 8th grader is the first thing that pops into my head. The Victorian house owned by my best friend, a house I've grown to think of as my own. Spending many nights on the couch in the living room, often hearing creaks either from the ghosts or from the floorboards. I've never closely analyzed it's history, rather just hearing the stories of the house but never taking time to see what it's all about. So for this paper, I will take time to ask Mr. and Mrs. Baker about the runaway slave stories. I'll ask the residents of the Longs Farm, I'll research online.

But I just don't know how to make it interesting! Where do I begin? Is it even that interesting? What can be my "nikki's window"? It's the big yellow Victorian house that everyone in Commerce knows about. If you're in Commerce, you're bound to pass it, so why not know a bit more about it! Hopefully, next time I just won't dismiss it as my best friend's abode, but rather a historical monument!

A Blogger's World

I'm still getting a hang of all this blogging. It seems like everyone else is doing a really good job and inputting on the stories. So far I don't feel like I'm doing as good as everybody else; I even feel like I'm falling behind. It's too early to fall behind but I guess it isn't too early for my procrastinator side to come out. It's not hard to blog, it's just hard to get into the habit of getting on the computer 3 times a week and writing. So far though, everyone else can do it except for me.

Detroit Receives a Bash

The first read of the semester is always the hardest, at least that's how it seems to me. It's just a bore and hard for me to get into the rhythm, or get moved into the semester. "Niki's Window" by Jerry Herron really didn't do it for me. He made good points and told me things I never really knew about Detroit, but he just seemed too whiney for my taste. He puts Detroit down, making it seem like it's a worthless city that sells-out easily. I simply believe Herron complains too much. If he really held such a detestment for Detroit, he should leave or do something about it! Make a change, make a difference Mr. Herron!

The things he's arguing is, basically, that Detroit is full of fake money-making Greektowns and doesn't face it's real problems. He thinks Detroit is (like the title states) a humiliation to history. While he puts down Detroit, he states that Detroit should face and find solutions to their poverty problems instead of mask them with "Greektowns." I don't see anything wrong with cleaning up history and making it into a tourist attraction if it gets Detroit it's money! I suppose they could spend the money better than they do.

Last but not least, the terms pastness, nostalgia, and humiliation all refer eloquently to the piece. Pastness refers to something being of the past. Nostalgia refers to thinking about the past, in terms of reflection. Humiliation refers to being reduced to disgrace. I really don't care too much for this piece purely because of the fact that the author is too negative. There must be something good about Detroit, Herron!