10th blog

"You don't pass or fail at being a person" (Gaiman 175) is so true. You can not possibly fail or pass at being a person because their is not handbook on how to be a person. If their was a handbook on how to be a person the entire world would be emotionless and full of robotic behaviors. Life would be so boring their would be absolute no diversity. Someone may say that someone who commits a vigorous crime such as murder or rape might fail as a person but I disagree. Yes, they did a horrific thing and need severe punishment for their actions but that does not define the type of person they are. Maybe there is something wrong with their brain it may not function as well as a "normal" brain. You can not define someone based on their actions and behaviors, because deep down their is more to a person than they are portraying.  Unfortunately, people dehumanize each other because they think that one may have failed at life because they do not see them as superior as themselves. Often when this occurs they blame the person that they dehumanize. They claim that they are not capable of being humane. For example homeless people often have the stigma that they are animals because they are dirty, have no shelter and food resources. The stigma that homeless experience is unacceptable. They are often veterans or people who suffer from mental health issues. They should not be viewed as anything less than human who are not receiving enough support from society. With that being said going back to my original point that you simply can not pass or fail as a person because who is going to determine if you passed or fail. I personally believe in God but some may not. Some people may view being homeless as a fail which is completely unacceptable because they do not have complete control in their circumstances. Some people may claim getting a college degree is a pass when other cultures don't believe in education or may not have the opportunity to get a higher education. You simply can not define pass or fail unless there is a reference present. In life there is no reference, you live and you learn.

9th Blog

A conflict that the author present in the novel "The Ocean at The End of The Lane" was Ursula, the nanny trying to trap the narrator in his home. According to the narrator his nanny appeared everywhere, there was no where he could go besides Lettie's land that she could not "see" him. But the perception of seen could have either been literal or figuratively. His perception of his nanny being some type of monster that would hover over him when he tries to escape after he was locked in a bedroom creates a higher power that attempts to entrap him within the border lines. On page 84, Ursula says "I told you I was going to lock you in the attic, didn't I?" attempting to scare the narrator to keep him from crossing those border lines where she could not reach him. As we have been discussing in class borders are often determined based on a higher power. In this novel the narrator see's his nanny as a higher power and the only save place he had was the Hempstock's home. Within those border lines of their land he felt protected. This conflict is resulted when Ursula disappears but he still finds a connection at the Hempstock's as he often visits their home.

8th blog

The characters, Lettie, Ginnie and Old Mrs. Hempstock in "The Ocean at The End Of The Lane" by Neil Gaiman share characteristics with the Triple Goddess. Lettie is like the maiden who represents the youth of life. Lettie appears as an eleven year old girl, which is a tie of youth and development. A Maiden is also associated with creativity and exploration. Lettie in the story is always present when the narrator is exploring through the forest. The next Goddess is the Mother who could represent Ginnie. The Mother is known for the fullness of life and the full moon. At the end of the novel the narrator mentions that Ginnie touched his shoulder and rubbed his cheek then faded back into the night. Following that event he said "The moon does shine as bright as day", the old woman responded "It's good to have a full moon". The reference of the full moon represents how Ginnie took care of him and was like a mother figure for him through out the novel. Lastly, Old Mrs.Hempstock is the Crone. The Crone represents wisdom, life, death, rebirth, past lives and guidance. The narrator often visits Old Mrs.Hempstock in through out his life and each time she gives him her wisdom and guidance. The Hempstock family is very similar to the Triple Goddess. They created a huge impact in the narrator's perception of life.

7th blog

When I was a child my father told me "Superman does not get sick" referring to himself as Superman. The oblivious child I was believed that he could never get sick and nothing bad could ever happen to him. After all he was my superhero so it was believable that he couldn't get sick... Until he was diagnosed with cancer. I was just five years old and did not understand why daddy was also so tired or why he couldn't come outside to play basketball with me and my brother. When my mother informed me that my father had cancer I could not comprehend what that truly meant until she explained that daddy was very sick. I was angry with him because he always said superman could not get sick. The cancer was like his kryptonite. The cancer morphed him into a stranger. He was so tired all the time, never came to play with me and my little brother, never held my new born brother and constantly away at "work" which actually meant the hospital. I didn't know what happened to my superhero. As the years went on and I finally discovered the reality that my dad was no superhero and he could get sick just like everyone else we restored our bond. He may not be a real superhero but he still is my superhero.

The untold story of the Three Little Pigs

We all know the story of the "Three Little Pigs" but for those of you who don't know they claim that this big bad wolf is after three sweet innocent pigs who built houses. The first pig builds a straw house and the wolf huffs and he puffs and blows the house down. Then the second pig and the abandon first pig hide in a stick house built by the second pig. The wolf huffs, puffs and blows the stick house down. Finally, the three pigs hide in a brick house built by the third pig and the wolf could not blow down their house. But the real story of the "Three Little Pigs" goes like this...Peggy pig build a house out of straw because it was the cheapest material she could afford. Then Polly pig built a house out of stick which met her finical needs. Lastly, Peter pig built his house out of brick because we was very rich. Then one day there was a terrible storm brewing outside and a homeless wolf. Woody wolf was looking for shelter during the storm and came across Peggy Pig. When he went to knock on her door to ask for shelter a big gust of wind came and blew her house down leaving nothing but Woody's desperate eyes looking at her. When he tried to explain himself she ran away to Polly's home. Woody lost with nowhere else to go followed Peggy, when he approached Polly's home a big gust of wind occurred again destroying their home, leaving nothing but Woody's desperation for shelter. Peggy and Polly frightened by Woody ran to Peter's home. Woody followed them again hoping to be able to speak to them. When he came upon Peter's door he knocked and the gust of wind followed. This time it had no affect on the home so Woody continued to knock and shouted "Please, help me I am just looking to seek shelter during the storm". Fortunately, Peggy, Polly, and Peter finally opened the door for Woody to stay during the storm. When the vicious storm ended Peter donated money to build all new houses for his sibling and Woody. From there til the end of time, the pigs adopted Woody into their family.
THE END

Fifth Blog

In the book, "The Transitions to College Writing" predatory reader is referred to as "reading from the top of the food chain" which means will you get the information out of the text that you need or will you allow the text to consume you. When the text consumes you, you will not comprehend any information and fail to answer any sort of questions you may be asked on a future exam. It is important for you to develop predatory reading skills for college because you are often asked to read a large chunk of boring information then are tested on the information from the text. Many students including myself allow the text to consume us instead of consuming the text. The five categories that are introduced in "The Transitions to College Writing" are prewriting or planning, composing, revising or rewriting, editing or proofreading, and release. Prewriting or planning is gathering information and ideas to write about. Composing is when you began to put together your ideas and thoughts together to start your paper. Revising or rewriting is looking back on your writing and fixing your writing. Editing or proofreading is making any changes that need to be fixed that you may have missed while revising or rewriting. Lastly, is the release which is turning in your final product. Another tip that "The Transition to College Writing" provides is when it is acceptable to complete writing in one draft. It is acceptable when the task is simple, you know directly what you wanna say and the standards are low. Unfortunately, these have a price which include leaving your reader lost and confused.

Border Walls

Often people find borders to be imaginary but so powerful. Some people view borders as a protector that ensures safety and comfortability but I think borders create the exact opposite. I find border to be ironic if I am being totally honest. For example President Trump's idea of building a wall on the Mexican-American "border" to ensure illegal immigrants and substances are remaining outside of the United States. But the United States was created on immigrants and opportunity. Building that wall as a "border" will block the future immigrants from opportunities that other individual had and will have. I think it is nearly impossible to blockade illegal substances if someone or something truly wanted a path in they will go through the border and ignore it. Borders can not prevent people from crossing they just cause a division. Its like the saying rules are meant to be broken, well borders/ blockades are meant to be cross or diminished.