Warm-up Feb. 27th

I do believe the design of the poster for a public service or political advertising does affect how we react to the cause. I don't believe the poster will completely affect my reactions but, I do believe the design of the poster can have some small affect on the way I look at the cause. When you see a advertisement for "A cleaner America," or something like that, where they are trying to get you to stop littering. A poster that has a clean design, where they show a field or park with no trash anywhere it does have some affect on the message. If the design shows a park or field with trash everywhere, it can have a different affect on the cause.

Reading for February 26th

In "Reading the politics of Design" it focuses on how design is engaged in it's politics. For example how design affects consumers, as well as how design is used in the world. Design is apart of everything around you. Somebody designed the house you live in or the car you drive or the computer you type on. Their are many reasons for designing any particular thing. The articles in this reading look at if the design hype is true. Whether or not it would make a difference whether a brochure is designed one way rather than the other. It looks into rather Design is just to hide the real product. Because overall it doesn't matter what the product looks like if it doesn't work. The articles look into how the world is so fixed on the design of things nowadays.

Reading for Tuesday February 25th

A "Car Culture" is about the the way the design of cars is related to the society. In one case in particular the design of cars is related to females. Many people buy cars based on their design but design is not the only thing that attracts buyers. It usually is the first thing that attracts buyers. It can also ward off buyers. These articles look at the purpose of car design and how it effects consumers.
Everybody typically has their own style of car that they typically like. Some like the SUV's or the trucks while some like the more compact stylish cars. The design of the cars, SUV's, or trucks can affect the consumer responses. Some designers in a case in the reading don't mind if their design is not pleasing to many consumers, as long as some consumers are pleased by the design. Cars have many different possibilities for design. They can have different body styles, color styles, or interior styles. Every style is pleasing to different people.

Mac vs. PC

I prefer the PC over the Mac. The PC seems more organized and the style is a little more sophisticated. The stlye of the Mac is mostly more colorful and uses a lot of bright lights in the design. The design of the PC is more plain and simple, which makes it easier to use. As far as Advertising goes i see a lot more advertisement for the PC. So, design wise I would have to say i prefer the PC.

Free write movie/song quote

There have been a million times where my friends have qouted movies or songs, that I can't remember at all. The only quote that comes to mind is from Forest Gump only because I have seen the movie over a hundred times and my friends have quoted this one. The quote is "run Forest run.' Their really is no meaning for quoting this besides the fact that it just sounded funny to them. The quote is from the time where Forest has to run from these bullies coming after him and Forest has to run from them when he has braces around his legs. The quote comes from his sort of girlfriend screaming after him to run.

Short Writing Assignment #2

Brad Dimock
ENGL. 102-066
02/11/08
Short Writing Assignment #2:
Introduction:
“Ducks on a Pond,” is a short story about how an old man, Carl Mixson, affects the people around him through his past in baseball and through his heroic action to save a former teammate and co-worker’s life. The passage discussed in this essay reflects this message through a variety of literary elements, such as the imagery, symbolism, wording and more. This paper will reflect the important elements and meaning of the passage and how they contribute to the entire story.

Short Writing Assignment #1

Short Writing Assignment #1
1. “Ducks on a Pond” (CR 254-261)
2. The main point in this short story is that one man, Carl Mixson affected those around him through his success in baseball and his act of heroism outside of baseball.
3. The passage I am analyzing is the 4th paragraph from the bottom of page 259.
4. The author uses imagery in the passage describing the accident as the kid dreamed it happened. The image of Carl Mixson “careening of the curb,” symbolizes the accident that happened in the mill. The words graceful and surefooted refer to Baxter’s father’s ability to play short stop in his years of playing baseball in the mill league.
5. No, this passage does not have any rhyme, rhythm or alliteration.
6. The accident described in this passage contributes to the main point in this story because it shows the effect that Carl Mixson’s heroic action in the mill has had on Baxter. The image of Carl Mixson careening of the curb also contributes to the main point because it reflects the accident. The words graceful and surefooted contribute to the main point somewhat because they tie the message between what happened in the mill to the baseball field.

Thesis: The details and message in this passage of “Ducks of a Pond” clearly reflects the main point of the short story. This paper will reflect the important elements of the passage and how they contribute to the entire story.

Sonny's Blues Key word:Child

"I couldn't stand the way he looked at me, partly like a dog, partly like a cunning child"
"So we drove along, between the green of the park and the stony, lifeless elegance of hotels and apartment buildings, toward the vivid, killing streets of our childhood"
"Safe!, my father grunted, whenever Mama suggested trying to move to a neighborhood which might be safer for children."

The key word child in this story reflects the time when the brothers were children and refers to their pasts. It can also refer to the daughter who died while Sonny was in rehab and the brother was writing a letter to him. The word child reflects their pasts the most because they refer to their pasts throughout the story. How they used to be when they were young and what could have went wrong.

Inhabiting and Transforming a Poem

You're a girl
and you'd better not forget
that when you step over the threshold of your house
men will look askance at you
When you keep on walking down the lane
men will follow you and whistle
When you cross the lane and step onto the main road
men will revile you and call you a loose woman

If ou've got no character
you'll turn back
and if not
you'll keep going
as you're going now.

This poem is about a girl who is growing up to be a women and what she will face from men when she steps out into the real world. In the poem someone is giving the girl advice for when she steps out into the world. The person tells her what to expect when shes out there. The person tells the girl that guys will be whistling and following her but if she has any character she will not turn back.

askance: look with a side glance
revile: to degrade, abase
The story of this poem is about a girl who is growing up and becoming an adult about to face men on the streets who will degrade her. Its about a girl who in order to keep her character she needs to follow the advice given to her about the men she will face.

1. The narrator in this poem is an adult, mother, or parent.
2. The narrator is speaking to a young girl or daughter who is approaching her years of becoming a woman.
3. The girl is either a girl who is being given advice to by a mentor or a daughter of the narrator.

I think the peom means that inorder to keep your character or self respect you must never look back when passing by the evil temptations in this world. The reason I think this is because it mentions the degrading men she will pass by and that in order for her to keep her character she must never look back.

Videotape

I found this story to be very interesting and sort of creepy. The author paints a clear picture of every detail of what is happening in the video. This makes it appear as if you are there or watching it yourself. The story shows the power behind a videotape. You can relive any event or tradgedy caught on video. The thing that I did not quite understand is how the girl keeps shooting the video even after the man was shot. I did not get the picture from the text that the girl freaked out and forgot about the videotape. It was like she just kept right on like nothing happened. The author real gives you the feel of how the video is being shot, every detail in the girls actions and reactions.

The Fun House

This story was hard to follow because it never kept me interested and never seemed to stay on track. I found myself re-reading a lot because I kept feeling like I was losing my place or getting lost in the story. The way it seems is that he is talking about the past and rambling on about everything that comes to his mind. I never quite got a grasp of what the message in this story really was. It could possibly be the fact that I read Sonny's Blues right before this one and I was so fixed on that kind of story. I could have expected this one to be like that one.

Sonny's Blues

I really enjoyed this story. I felt like it had many life lessons and situations in it that many of us dont go through directly. They could be something for us to learn from. The story is about a teacher who finds out his brother has fallen into a bad situation. From there the man realizes he should have been there to help his brother more. The mans brother is going to some sort of rehab for heroine addiction and when he gets out the man invites him to come back with him. They soon realize they know nothing about each other. The story is very sad, the man's daughter died when she was only two years old at the same time he is dealing with his brothers problems. As it turns out Sonny ends up finding his way playing music and becoming very good at it. I felt like I could relate somewhat to the story because I have a younger sister going through highschool and struggling somewhat. I have to step up sometimes and be the older brother and help her on her way through life, because I've been through it.