Outside Reading #4: Want to live over your airplane?

I read an article on CNN.com this week, because we were able to read about whatever we wanted. I was looking through articles, and found one about people who have chosen to live on top of their airplane! Not exactly, but close enough. These pilots built their house on top of their airplane's hanger, and live their with their families. I believe they did this for a couple of reasons. I'm sure it is a lot more convienet, because you are living right above your work. It also must make them safer to know where there plane is at all times; if you need to go check on it, it's right downstairs. The article shows how some people are getting a little paranoid these days about their possesions. Like they say, "desperate times call for desperate measures".

"Want to Live Over Your Airplane?". CNN.com October 30th, 2008. <http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/homestyle/10/27/condo.airport.ap/index.html>

Outside Reading: Film Review

I read a film review of High School Musical 3, the latest of the High School Musical Movies. Owen Gleiberman, and I thought he did a great job. He gave background information on the first two movies, so one who had not seen them would not be confused. He then went on to talk about the actors and choreographers and their performances in the new flick, and a generally unbiased opinion on the entire movie. He gave great insight to dance numbers and climaxes, without giving away the ending. It's worth the read!-Andrea L

Gleiberman, Owen. "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Entertainment Weekly.Com October 23, 2008. <http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20234985,00.html>

Photo Analysis: Time is Fleeting

“Time is Passing”

Composition: The picture is of an hour glass. It is the only thing you can see in the picture, and it is the main focus. There is sand in the hour glass, mainly at the top which represents time, specifically the beginning of someone’s life.

Angle: You are looking up at the hourglass. The angle gives it power over us, because we are looking up to it. It has total control over us, just like time does.

Distance: This shot is a close up. You can see the entire hourglass, and you can see little details like the sand inside, and the simplicity of it. Your focus is completely on the hour glass.

Lighting/Shadow: The lighting is very dark. The darkness makes one feel more anxious about time, and adds to the mystery of it. The dimness represents how little one knows about the importance of time at a young age.

Outside Reading Post 3: The Path Poem

This week I decided to do things differently. I looked around online, and found a poem called "The Path". The poem talks about the many aspects of Buddhism, and basically sumarizes it in a poetic form. It talks about thr four truths, the eightfold path, desire, nirvana, the Buddha, and many more important topics in Buddhism. It also explains each of these things and how they relate to the religion. It was really interesting reading about this, since we are researching Buddhism in class. I would suggest this poem to someone who doesn't know much about Buddhism, because it is a great summary of the religion, and is presented in an interesting way. It was definetly worth the read! -Andrea L.

“The Path”. Poet Seers. October 9, 2008.
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Question: 2. 2. Is Odysseus a hero for modern times?

I do not think that Odysseus should be considered a hero for modern times. He may be a war hero, but I consider a hero to be someone who sets a good example or goes out of their way to do something tough. Odysseus shows his lack of heroism when he stays with Circe for a year. He was unfaithful to his loving wife Penelope, and was setting a bad example to his crew. Circe had turned some of his men into pigs, and the next thing you know Odysseus is her lover. What type of protagonist almost kills his enemy and then becomes her lover? It is shows how easily Odysseus can be swayed in his beliefs. His morals must not have been very likable. It also shows how disloyal he was to his wife, and disloyalty is not a characteristic of a hero. Another time Odysseus didn’t act like a hero was when Odysseus visits the dead in Hades. At first Odysseus met with his mother and war friends, but when more people wanted to talk with him he became alarmed and went back to the other world. This shows a cowardly and impatient side to Odysseus. He just raced back up to the ship and was on his way, without helping the people. Odysseus could have stayed and talked with people, and maybe they would have helped him on his journey, but he just ran away.
Odysseus also was unable to resist a duel. In book eighteen, a beggar insults Odysseus and challenges him to a duel. Odysseus accepts and fights the beggar and almost kills him. I think this was an overreaction. Odysseus could have ignored the beggar and kept peace, but he refused to be insulted and had to defend his “honor”. I think it would have been more honorable to ignore the man, which would have perhaps even given Odysseus respect from the suitors. Odysseus was also unable to control his anger in a situation with the suitors. When the time came for Odysseus to defeat the suitors, he murdered them all, not leaving one man alive. I think this was very rash and foolish. He could have just ordered them out of their house or even just threatened them, and they probably would have left, but he killed them all. This was a bad decision, because most of the men lived in the community. Time after time Odysseus made many mistakes. He was disloyal, dishonorable, and just didn’t think things through all the way. Odysseus may have conquered people by strength, but that does not make him a hero in my opinion.

Reading Post 2: Pet Custody

This week I read a story that may seem a little weird to some people. The article talked about how after an unmarried couple splits up, who gets the pet? Many people have been going through custody battles to try to get their dog or cat. A survey was taken, and 25% of matrimonial lawyers said that they have been getting more and more cases on pet custody. Some cases have to go to court, because both sides want their pet so badly. The article says that courts are still trying to decide how to handle these cases, but they are getting close to standardizing it. This article reminded me of the book My Sister's Keeper, because the character also goes through an unusual custody battle. I think that this article was definitely worth the read!
Andrea L.

Seligson, Hannah. "Couple splits up- Pet custody battle begins". CNN.com. <http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/02/lw.pet.custody/index.html>