1455
The dragon is by the side of the road, watching those who pass. Beware lest he devour you. We go to the Father of Souls, but it is necessary to pass by the dragon.
-St. Cyril of Jerusalem
It was autumn in Oradea, Romania, and the crops were almost done for harvest. What better way to celebrate a year’s work than vacation. The Gabor family decided to venture off to Constanta, Romania to see the Black Sea. All had agreed on this location, but Grandmother Andruta who wanted to visit Hungary to see some of her old friends her son at the time was tending to some of the crops. While doing so, Grandmother tries to convey him to change his mind. She even goes to inform him of the twenty-five foot 1,500 lbs fire breathing beast that awaits them if they travel through Transylvania. But Sorin her son was too busy to listen to his mother’s cry.
Now in desperation Grandmother Andruta pleads her case to Sorin’s wife Vale who at the time was breast feeding the baby, and also looking at her husband as he worked. Vale’s clothes were rather simple. Though she wore a head piece that was rather comical being that it looked like two breast on her head. Despite the hideous hat she was a fairly attractive woman, with slim hips, and lusty cheeks and breast, along with the face of an angel. She was one of those women that was quite the looker, but felt empty. She felt this way due to Sorin’s lack thereof attention towards her, she was always busy with cooking and the children. Nevertheless she didn’t hear what Grandmother was trying to say. However, in the mist of Grandmother’s talk Dorian, Vale’s son heard everything she said. Dorian was a seventeen year old lackadaisical wiseass boy. Dorian replied saying “If this voyage doesn’t fulfil your pleasures, then perhaps one where you find yourself by yourself.” Dorian says this as he and his sister, Dalina a sixteen year old sassy pretty girl, about to head out the door. Dalina goes to add sarcastically that “The old ghoul can’t resist tormenting this family.” Grandmother then asks Dorian “the dragon, what would you do if it caught you lad?’ His response was “I will sever the beast’s head right off, and spit on the rest of its body.” Immediately after Dalina adds “the old filth wouldn’t stay home for a hundred pounds of gold pieces. She can’t survive without harassing our lives.” Grandmother returned swiftly with “Alright you unruly child you, don’t forget you’ll need your hair braided in the morning.” Dalina returned saying “fortunately for me, I just learned to braid my hair.” Also adding a childish face and sticking her tongue out at her grandmother.
Despite all of Grandmother Andruta’s annoying complaints she was the first aboard the carriage. Being that the family wasn’t filthy rich the carriage wasn’t top of the line, but it was comfortable. However, once everyone joined in the carriage Grandmother was as faithful as the sunrise in the morning, finding anything she could to complain about. From the way the seats felt to asking how much longer it would be. She actually did this to draw attention from her furry friend Scabbers the rat. Hiding Scabbers in her sactual, in which, she left food for him to eat. Turns out that was her entire reason for being first in the carriage. She knew that Vale and Dalina were petrified of rats. But she feared that with her gone for a week that Scabs would be depressed. Knowing that Scabs is an anxiety eater she didn’t want him to eat all of the food in the house. She thought it’d be best to take him along. The time of the sun’s peak is when they finally reached the outside of Oradea. Slightly after reaching Cluj-Napoca, having to go through the mountains to get there the family decided to rest for a few hours. Vale had prepared some bread and wine. Meanwhile Sorin was taking the horses for a drink by the river. Once he arrived back to the carriage and connected the horses back to their holsters Vale approached him with a kiss along with some of the bread and wine. Shortly after the break they all gathered back into the carriage and back on the journey to Constanta they were.
Awaiting them in Transylvania was Dragos the Great, a gigantic fire breathing dragon. Fortunately he hadn’t been seen in decades. However, he despises loud commotions. Meanwhile approximately fifteen minutes away the Gabor family was approaching. Vale’s arms needed a rest for a little while, so Grandmother Andruta offered to hold her. She passed Sorin the Second to her. Andruta takes him then starts making silly noises and faces to make him smile. The noises cause both Dorian and Dalina to wake. Both then make smart comments towards their Grandmother’s noise adding it to the other ways she tortures them. As they argued Scabbers had eaten all of the food that Grandmother Andruta gave him, and had slowly eaten his way through the sactual A few moments passed soon after Grandmother gave the baby back to her daughter-in-law. At that instant Scabbers had freed himself and was running wild. Unaware of where they were, Vale and the children were all terrified of the rat. Yes even “Mr. Tough Guy”, “Mr. Sever the beast head right off,” Dorian was scared. What the family failed to realize was that they were tilting the carriage by moving side to side. They eventually flipped the carriage over. Tumbling down a hill almost seven times, the fired lantern had burst the entire carriage into flames. The horses died one from banging against multiple trees, and the other from its entrails turned due to the rolling down the hill. The loudness of the family awoke Dragos the Great, who hadn’t been disturbed in decades. In the meantime, Sorin desperately trying to rescue his family from the burning carriage. He grabbed them one by one as quickly as possible. Everyone managed to be okay all except two, poor Scabbers had been crushed by Dorian’s foot; also Vale hit her head on the door knocking her unconscious and unable to keep hold on poor Sorin the Second. Vale dropped him in the mist of the tumbling. He suffered a blow to the head, as the family gathered they noticed his head was the size of a colossal pumpkin and his body as blue and cold as the deep sea. Vale finally regaining conscious when noticing her that her son has died. Grandmother Andruta partially feeling guilty and yet angrily about the situation at hand due to fact she lost her grandson and felt responsible, but also that Dorian crushed Scabbers on purpose to hurt her. The family shortly after started blaming one another, Grandmother Andruta blaming Sorin for choosing Constanta over Hungary, Vale blaming Andruta for bring the rat, both Dorian and Dalina blaming Grandmother Andruta for any and everything bad in their lives (typical teenagers), the only person not speaking or muttering a single sound was Sorin the First. Deeply in shock with the death of his son, screams then cover the area; they could be heard almost a mile away. In the mist of all the chaos only Sorin heard a distant, yet profound dragon roar. At first thinking it was only in his imagination, but then remembering what his mother was trying to tell him. Dragos the Great on his way as he closed the distance the family began to hear a crack in the wind, see trees bind, smell the essence of ash, and feel the all-embracing drought of their bodies. All fully alert now of what is coming; the Gabors were in shock and couldn’t move. Dragos flew by swiftly the first time; then circling back around announcing his presence once more with another profound scream. Dashing down at the ground, landing vigorously knocking the entire family on their backs, there Dragos stood at thirty feet tall and 1,600 lbs of pure beast, then breathing a large ring of smoke from his nose that circled the family and asking “Who dares disturb me in my kingdom of peace?” For a few moments there was no sound but the choking off the smoke ring. Then looking into Dragos eyes Dorian pisses his trousers, but instead of the piss running down his leg like a river, actually it almost evaporated on sight due to the presence of Dragos. Surprisingly Dalina tried to be smart and flee the area underestimating Dragos, but she paid the ultimate price being burned to nothing but mere ash. Dragos the Great then becomes annoyed with the disrespect and inhales; from there you could just see the flame highlight his belly to a bright red. Before he exhaled his fury upon the family Grandmother Andruta jumped to explain everything that had happened. Explaining that the entire family was unappreciative of her and that she had warned them of him, soon after that Vale went to explain her side, in the mist of commotion Dorian went to the ashes of his sister while Sorin stood still in shock from Sorin the Second’s death. Then Dorian started to cry and yell at Dragos. Dragos now immensely fed up inhales once more and then unleashes his flames upon all except Sorin the First, because he saw that his was already lifeless inside and most likely die from mere depression.
Comparative Analysis: “The Things They Carried” & “A Brief Encounter with the Enemy”
Often times we think of the nations reasons for war as well as the cause and effects it has on the countries involved. However, we underestimate the stress that the individual soldiers obtain while on tour. Tim O’Brien’s “ The Things They Carried”, and Said Sayrafiezadeh’s “ A Brief Encounter with the Enemy” focus on the individual more so than the country. Both also convey the though of love and the need for survival.
First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, who was in Jim O’Brien’s story is a sophomore in college. Jimmy finds himself taking some Reserve Officers Training Corps for a couple of credits. In a short time period, Jimmy goes from being a regular college student to First Lieutenant, having the responsibility of several men’s lives. Throughout Cross’s tour he shares letters with his sweetheart back at college. Martha provides comfort with picture and words that have nothing to do with the war. The letters were nice but Jimmy found himself losing focus on being in an actual war. After a fellow soldier, Ted Lavender, dies, Jimmy soon realizes that the thought of loving someone other than your fellow men is dangerous. He then burns the letters knowing that this could have been prevented. Jimmy also takes on the grief alone, due to the fact everyone else was in shock about the death of Ted Lavender. Although Ted’s death was a tough loss there were still men looking to Jimmy for guidance. Here you have an old saying, “One monkey don’t stop no show”, because you have to move on and learn from mistakes to be able to stay alive.
Said tells the story of Luke, a US Army soldier who is coming to the end of a year long tour. Before leaving on tour, Luke worked in an office and had barely any experience with survival during a war. Luke had a thing for a girl named Becky, who he had known since high school. The thing with Becky is that she would not give Luke the time of day. She eventually gave him her email so that they could remain in contact with one another, which did not help the situation because Luke got his hopes up thinking they would be more than friends. While overseas serving, Luke, battled with being bored, which in the beginning seemed harmless. Later it is found that Luke’s thoughts, during his time of boredom, would lead to the horrific killing of a man and his son. The killing of the man and his son was obviously murder but you cannot help but to feel sorry for Luke because of the different obstacles that he had been through.
Explanations of Sarah Orne Jewett’s “A White Heron”
Explanations of Sarah Orne Jewett’s “A White Heron”
In Sarah Orne Jewett’s “ A White Heron,” she tells the story of a young girl by the name of Sylvia. Sylvia is currently staying with her grandma who stays in the country. There she tends to her grandmother’s cows, and while trying to get a stray cow back home, a man comes along the path. The man then informs her that he is a hunter and asks if he could stay a night at her grandmother’s. Sylvia becomes fascinated with the man and tries to help the man find the bird that he is seeking (the white heron). Now to find the special bird she must venture upon an epic path of a tree.
“Half a mile from home, at the farther edge of the woods, where the land was highest, a great pine-tree stood, the last of its generation.” (442)
Here we have a girl whose already left right before the break of dawn and at least half a mile away from home. Just to get to the great giant pine-tree that she will have to climb. She also displays how enthused and dedicated she is by getting up even before the sunrise to get a head start on her adventure.
“First she must mount the white oak tree that grew alongside, where she was almost among the dark branches and the green leaves heavy and wet with dew… Sylvia felt her way easily. She had often climbed there, and knew that higher still one of the oak’s upper branches chafed against the pine trunk, just where its lower boughs were set close together. There, when she made the dangerous pass from one tree to the other, the great enterprise would really begin”. (443)
In this part Jewett informs us that the beginning of Sylvia’s path starts off easy and gradually becomes more immense. Pushing through the branches she meets one of her highest obstacles, which is jumping from one tree to another. Here the author shows how brace and steadfast Sylvia’s mindset is.
“The way was harder than she thought; she must reach for and hold fast, the sharp dry twigs caught and held her and scratched her like angry talons, the pitch made her thin, little finger clumsy and stiff as she went round and round the tree’s great stem, higher and higher upward. The sparrows and robins in the woods below were beginning to wave and twitter to the dawn, yet it seemed much lighter there aloft in the pine-tree, and the child knew that she must hurry if her project were to be of any use… Sylvia could see the white sails of ships out at sea, and the clouds that were purple and rose-colored and yellow at first began to fade away… Sylvia, where the green marsh is set among the shining, birches and dark hemlocks; there where you saw the white heron once you will see him again”. (443-444)
Works Cited
Charters, Ann. “A White Heron.” The Story and Its Writer: An Introduction to Short Fiction. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford of St. Martin’s, 1995. Print.
Video Games: Are They a Wast of Time?
Jorelle Farmer
ENG 131.01
Professor Lucas
May 7, 2014
Video Games: Are They a Waste of Time?
Who has felt that video games are a waste of time? Well, in this essay I shall make the argument that they are much more than a mere waste of time. Video games are beneficial to our health with their technology advancements, levels of difficulty, and diversity of game play.
Why I remember my first video game console and game like it was yesterday. In fact I was in the second grade, during 2002-2003, when my father rewarded and introduced me to the video game world. My first gaming console was Sony’s PlayStation 2 and my first game was Dragon Ball Z Budokai. The game was magnificent because it correlated with the actual TV show in story/campaign mode. Throughout story mode you could unlock new characters and powers for each character. The game was also a two-player one, which raised my excitement, because I felt with my knowledge of the show, and my experience playing the game made me invincible towards my opponent (whoever that wanted play along with me). Now at the ripe age of eight I never realized how much I was actually doing while playing DBZ (Dragon Ball Z) Budokai. While playing the game over a short span of time I learned every move of all the characters; how to block/counterattack, and depending on who I was playing and how they played I was able to use reasoning in certain situations to put me in a position to be victorious. All of the extra work in analyzing and practicing with the game gave me a sense of hope to succeed.
Although my first video game was a PlayStation 2, that wasn’t were video games began. The pioneer of the video game world is Ralph H. Baer, who created the first video games in the 1960’s. As to be expected, the video game console was a fairly simple design being a rectangular box with a brown wood-grain vinyl. Ironically the brown vinyl is how the console gained the nickname “The Brown Box,” but was originally called “TV Game Unit #7.” Even though mostly obsolete, Baer’s concept of two controller and multigame program system stuck throughout the years. In the beginning most video games were 2-D, but as time progressed they became 3-D. The way games were stored changed from cartridges to disc. Another thing that changed was the console and controller design. Every change was to ensure the comfort of the consumer. Personally, I’m a fan of all the changes because they are all reasonable and up-to-date. If I had to look at a 2-D game for more than an hour I would die of complete boredom. Let us not forget that the first controllers were like holding a brick. They were not built for hand comfort as today’s controllers with more curves that accentually “hug the hand.” The controller has come a long way. I think almost all my gamers can speak as to how much we appreciate wireless controls. I can’t remember how many times I would be playing the game, and in the middle of a game someone would walk by and trip the cords of the controllers. The first transition towards wireless controllers was with a USB receiver that would be plugged into the controller spot of the console. Eventually there was receiver built in both console and controller, and all that needed to be done was to synchronize them together. At last my prayers had been answered. Now if only we could stop people from walking in front of the television, make them glass, or maybe give us (the gamers) x-ray vision that way we could still enjoy our game.
As a passionate gamer I know that the difficulty you play on matters. For example you and I both have “Battlefield 4.” We both beat the campaign/story mode; you did it on “Easy” and I on “Hardcore.” The difference is that your level is designed to be a “cakewalk” while mine isn’t meant for tons of success. My point is that you’ll appreciate the game more. Imagine life without challenges, bad days, or any obstacles you would never appreciate your accomplishments. The only exception for anyone to play easy is if the person is a complete novice, yet even then most players still try a medium level. Gaming difficulties have been known to raise stress levels. Personally I agree with the claim; there has been numerous of times where I have been stuck on a level and have even raged. The best thing(s) to do are to either change the difficulty and or take a break from playing. Difficulties are set to test your playing ability in the game.
The greatest thing about video games is the diversity that they offer. There is a video game for almost anything now. Some of the main branches consist of action, shooter, adventure, role-playing, simulation, strategy, puzzle, and others that create their own genre. Some of the categories could also overlap and make one game. For example Grand-Theft-Auto V (GTAV) is a mixture between action, shooter, and adventure. Another example is Battlefield 4, which consist of a mixture of shooter, strategy, role-playing, and simulation. An additional point that Tom Bissell states in Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter is “the best part of looking up at a night sky, after all, is not any one star but the infinite possibility of what is between stars.” What this means is that video games offer more than just as a time passer. They also provide as a reliever from stress and can be used as a reward for a positive behavior.
Video games aren’t a waste of time. They are beneficial to our health with their technology advancements, levels of difficulty, and diversity of game play. Games are a sense of relief.
Works Cited
“Biography.” <i>Ralph H. Baer Consultants</i>. N.p., 1 Jan. 2010. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://www.ralphbaer.com/biography.htm>.
Bissell, Tom. <i>Extra lives: why video games matter</i>. New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 2010. Print.
“Videogames are stressful things, claims new study.” <i>destructoid</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://www.destructoid.com/videogames-are-stressful-things-new-study-121298.phtml>.
Austin Barker, Jorelle Farmer, Kaylie Heike, and Domonique Jones
ENG 131.01
Professor Lucas
April 7, 2014
Fast Food: Good or Bad?
Character Guide
Morgan Spurlock: The main character from Super Size Me, he spent thirty days eating nothing but McDonalds for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He ended up having major mood swings, dramatically increased weight, and health issues. He is a producer and a writer, known for Super Size Me(2004), The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011) and Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? (2008).
Dr. Oz: (Mehmet Cengiz Öz) Author, talk show host, and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He is an expert on many health issues. He now hosts his own health TV series, The Doctor Oz Show.
David Zinczenko: Author of Don’t Blame the Eater. He is the editor-in-chief of Men’s Health magazine. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Cook This, Not That! and The New Abs Diet.
All in homes Oz makes conference call to David Zinczenko and Morgan Spurlock
Dr. Oz: (on the phone) Hey would you all want to meet up for a jog this afternoon?
David Zinczenko & Morgan Spurlock: Sounds good!
Oz: Ok, let’s meet at the park at 3 pm.
Warm afternoon in the park. Morgan Spurlock, David Zinczenko, and Dr. Oz meet for an afternoon jog.
MS: Guys! I’m hungry
DZ and Oz: Ok. We will go with you to get something to eat.
Walk to the car and get in. They are now driving and trying to decide where to stop.
MS: Where should we get something to eat?
Dr. Oz: We should get something healthy.
MS: Well, there is a McDonalds right around this corner.
Dr. Oz: That is not a very healthy choice Morgan!
MS: Yeah, I figured that, where can I find a healthy snack or maybe a grapefruit?
DZ: I am not sure.
MS: You know that is just sad that we can’t go down this road and find a simple healthy snack or grapefruit, but there are three McDonalds in this small town, all near each other.
DZ: That is so true. “Drive down any thoroughfare in America, and I guarantee you’ll see one of our countries more than 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants” (392).
Dr. Oz: Look at all of the obese people who are walking around. Do you guys know what causes obesity?
MS: No.
Dr. Oz: “The cause of obesity is very complex, but based on a simple concept. It is the result of a person taking in more energy for calories (food) than they burn off from physical activity and maintaining proper body function (metabolism).”
DZ: This is a big concern in America. No wonder a lot of people are obese, one of the reasons is because we cannot go down this road and find fresh fruit, but we see tons of fast food restaurants.
MS: It causes weight gain. “And this weight gain has been linked to countless health problems later in life.” Its not worth eating fast food before I start jogging, I will just wait and eat after we jog.
They get back to the park and stretch
MS: It’s too bad that the park is empty all the time. I guess people just think exercise is too hard.
DZ: I come out here four or five times a week to jog, and all I see are elderly people walking.
MS: Now a days you see children indoors the entire time playing with technology, but you use to see everyone outdoors playing and enjoying themselves.
DZ: This is pretty sad to see this transformation, but Dr. Oz you know a lot about this situation because you told us before about it, so could you tell Morgan and I again.
Dr. Oz: I sure will. “Here’s a health tip that sounds too easy to be true: Stand up.” “the average American, spend[s] nearly eight hours a day—more than 50 hours per week—planted on [their] behind” “There’s a cost to all that downtime (and it’s not just a spreading lower half). When you’re sitting, your body undergoes a metabolic slowdown. You use less blood sugar for energy, and you burn fewer calories. Sitting also decreases the activity of an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase, which works to eliminate fats in the blood. The worst part: Even regular exercise won’t protect you. Research has shown that if you spend long periods sitting, you’ll have a larger waist, greater body mass index, and higher levels of blood sugar and blood fats than someone who takes frequent breaks to stand or stretch—regardless of how often you lace up your running shoes. Ultimately, spending more time on your feet means a longer life. However, even desk-bound workers aren’t doomed. [There are] simple changes can create a more active routine.”
MS: I guess we should get a start on our running. Maybe people seeing us be fit will convince them to get up and out. You know, set a good example.
Dr. Oz: That is a great way to start a change. Maybe next time we run you can invite your friends. The park is a great place to start to be fit and have fun too.
DZ: I saw one of your articles on that. You talked about taking your family on runs. I think it would be fun to start a group that runs each week. Then we might be able to get the community involved in some exercise. Well, we should probably quit chatting and get to running.
They begin running and depart from the park
Works Cited
David Zinczenko. “Don’t Blame the Eater”. “They Say/I Say”: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing: With Readings. 2nd ed. Ed. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkensrein, and Russell Durst. New York: Norton, 2012. 391-394. Print.
Oz, Dr. Mehmet. “Dr. Oz on the Importance of Being Active.” Oprah.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
Supersize Me – Morgan Spurlock Spews. Dir. Morgan Spurlock. Perf. Morgan Spurlock. Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2008. Film
“Treating Morbid Obesity: The Weight is Over.” The Dr. Oz Show. N.P., n.d. Web. 24.Mar.2014
Perception: Is Television Ruining Our Intelligence?
Jorelle Farmer
ENG 131.01
Professor Lucas
19 February 2014
Perception: Is Television Ruining Our Intelligence?
Introduction
The initial article of this annotated bibliography highlights that cognitive thinking has increased in television, therefore enhancing our society. Steven Johnson focuses on a controversial topic with a positive approach.
Johnson’s bibliography is followed by an account from Dana Stevens, who wrote this in response to Johnson article. Ms. Stevens opinion of the topic are the exact opposite of Johnson’s. Her opinions towards television viewers include negative effects, usually stemming from unethical portrayals.
The last article, written by Antonia Peacocke, concludes that television – specifically Family Guy – contributes towards cognitive thinking.
Annotated Bibliography
Johnson, Steven. “Watching TV Makes You Smarter.” “They Say I Say”: 277-294. Print.
Steven Johnson’s “Watching TV Makes You Smarter” states his belief that watching television makes you more intelligent through what he calls the “sleeper curve.” Sleeper curves are basically interweaving character threads. In the earlier years of television, the lists of protagonist were kept at a minimum so that the audience could follow along more easily. However, over time, minds grew and side stories increased. The entertainment industry also contributes towards cognitive complexity of contemplations. In addition to passed time, what is considered as “junk” television improved, therefore leaving the “sleeper curve.”
Steve Johnson, who teaches at New York University, has written Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter, among several other books and is a contributing writer for Wired. He also has a monthly column for Discover.
Stevens, Dana. “Thinking Outside the Idiot Box” “They Say I Say”: 295-298. Print.
Dana Stevens states in “Thinking Outside the Idiot Box” that “watching TV teaches you to watch more TV.” For example, the majority of society has become addicted to television and become consumed by its visually appealing products and images. The violence portrayed on TV appears to be more unethical in certain shows. However, a lot of this violence occurs in children’s programming.
Dana Stevens holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of California at Berkeley. She is the movie critic for Slate.
Peacocke, Antonia. “Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious” “They Say I Say”: 299-310. Print.
Seth MacFarlane’s Family Guy is a wonderful example of how the intelligence of the American society can be affected in a positive way, by the television satire and cartoons. Throughout the family sitcom, the audience is provided with numerous references of historical and current events relating to the United States. The cartoon comedy distributes more laughs per minute – particularly about race, sex, politics, religion, and others. Furthermore, the knowledge of the subject is crucial in order to further understand the context of the comedy.
Antonia Peacocke, a philosophy major at Harvard, wrote an essay focusing on Family Guy for “They Say I Say.”
jorelle farmer 