Notebook of Quintessense

The quintessential notebook inspires one to flood its pages with thoughts and ideas about any subject you would like. Binded by a precise wire coil, the quintessential notebook has many clean sheets for taking. Thin blue lines guide the letters or drawings in a perfectly proportioned manner, with a red margin to keep it nice and fresh. Coming with a three hole punch and perforation, the pages are ready for storing or tearing depending on your time schedule. The cover of the notebook is a solid color as it has to protect your precious text from harm of the outside world. Be careful, as the sturdy cover protects from smudges, wrinkles and scratches, it holds no candle to the attack of liquids that will blend the colors and writing into an educational smoothie. Make sure you are prepared for thought, perhaps with the quintessential pen or pencil, but be aware that Sharpie lurks close by, a top predator of those thin, translucent pages.

Orleanna prICE (cold)

Psychological Critic: In this post, I will try to reason with Orleanna as she leaves her children in the Congo. What was her motivation?

When I read that Orleanna had left two of her kids in the Congo, I decided that both the Price parents are oficially insane. The Dad is one story as he shuns his family and runs around in the Jungle. Orleanna, the other. I really thought that she had some sense in her mind, even though I knew that she was a little shorted out/crazed from EVERYTHING that happened in the Congo since the day they were there. When she left with the kids, I thought finally, the end of the hell thats been going on with them in Africa...wrong. She leaves most of her kids their and flys away with Adah. W0W. This surprised me. They really fell apart into nothing. Why did Orleanna leave them? Did she think that she would get them back? Or me up later? She leaves Leah pretty much dead in the land of Malaria. She lets Rachel jet off to South Africa? Keep an eye on your kids before they escape to other countries why don't you. The only thing I can think of is that she actually thought they would meet back in the states when everything was better? I think that's crazy. She obviously knows that she is running the risk of tyhem being killed. A BIG risk. How could you think they would really get back safe and sound? Leah heres helicopters and gunshots at night. That isn't quite the Bethelehem, Georgia setting now is it? Orleanna is totally messed from what has happened to her in the past few years.

Delicious Words

In this Lit Circle post, I will be playing a little bit of each of these roles, Narratologist, Musician, New Critic, maybe one more than the other (musician mostly).
The first few paragraphs that start off Bel and the Serpent was some of the best writing I have ever seen. I felt like I was in the room witnessing the tension and mood in the damp air with both the American and the Belgian. Kingsolver painted a work of art, not just a picture. Making a movie out of these lines would be simple. Here is the passage:

"While they talk of labor and foreign currency their hunger moves apart from the gentlemanly conversation with a will of its own, licking at the edges of the map on the table, dividing it between them. They take turns leaning forward to point out their moves with shrews congeniality, playing it like a chess match, the kind of game that allows civilized men to play at make-believe murder. Between moves they tip their heads back, swirl blood-colored brandy in glass globes and wacth it crawl down the curved glass in liquid veins. Languidly they bring their map to order. Who will be the kings, the rooks, the bishops rising up to strike at a distance? Which sacrificial pawns will be swept aside? African names roll apart like the heads of dried flowers crushed idly between thumb and forefinger-Ngoma, Mukenge, Mulele, Kasavubu, Lumumba. They crumble to dust on the carpet."

The language in bold is pleasing to the ear since it is almost instantanious that you read the text and get the most detailed scene imprinted into your mind. It was such a smooth and detailed transition from eyes to mind, that it complemented the scene at hand. You could focus in and feel the tension in the heavy air, taste the wine they drank (then again I don't know what alcohol is), and worry for those Africans that they would crush to dust. It was such a tense scene because of the stakes at hand. I got the impression of two world leaders that played chess carelessly with their own puppets and countrymen. Kingsolvers words I didn't have to think about, it just happened. This is a key for many things. Sports for example, you don't what to think, just make it happen.

Litaphorically

Here is a passage that I will explain literally and metaphrically.

"Between moves they tip their heads back, swirl blood-colored brandy in glass globes and watch it crawl down the curved glass in liquid veins."
So here is the literal setting, these two men are sitting in this room talking and strategizing about the soon to be murder of Lumumba. While talking, they sit back and swirl their red wine in their wine glasses, and after sipping, watch the wine on the side of the glass suck back to the bottom in a vein pattern.

Metaphorically: Between talking and strategizing the killing of Patrice Lumumba, they lean back and think in their transparent glass brains about the blood of Patrice Lumumba, swirling with different ideas on how to execute the process of the murder. They see these different execution options in their mind and see them all play out as the blood thoughts finally settle in their minds blood veins.

LAX

A few weeks ago I was flying out of LAX airport. The security line was outside and ran along the sidewalk for about 50 yards (lots of people). I was worried about missing my flight and kept checking my cell phone to see how much time I had. Time was running low as the line seemed to grow in front of me. Worried I would miss my flight, I asked a few people what I could do in order to make my plane. I didn't really expect them to chauffeur me to the front of the line, but what were my options? I hoped at least for a little reassurance or someone to say, son't worry, we'll get you on the flight or keep an eye on you, whatever. Every response I got from each of the people working around the security checkpoint area said hey...it's not my problem or it's not my job or I can't do anything. I realize this is the outside world, your on your own, and its a busy LAX day, yet I thought to myself, if a kid came up to me and was worried or needed guidance, I would try to help the kid and not shun him off like a beggar. An esential question I have come up with is How can I help other people in this world, and I think that this is a good example of what some people choose to do. What I would do is different as I have noted, just becasue of the way I feel. Now days, people really appreciate if you reach out to them to try to keep them on track or to just offer a little help. You would be surprised how thankful people are when you assist in a situation that seems small to you becasue usually, it means more to them.

Raychill

In an older post, I talked about how Rachel decides to put an extra flourish on some of the words she uses. The first time I noticed, she changed execute into executrate and I didn't realize what or why she has done this for. I let it go, filing the fact that she changes and uses some wrong and weird words regularly. For me, I group all of the Price children around the age of 12. It's my general age that I picture when I am reading from each character's point of view. Recently, it hit me that Rachel was the oldest, and was even older than me! I think that using different and made up words to make yourself sound smart is pretty childish, especially for a 17 year old. I have asked myself, is Rachel immature? Does she not know better? I don't know how they were brought up, but I am sure they don't really get any kind of school education in the Congo, were they've been for about 2 years. Leah and Adah are younger, around 15 I believe, and come to think of it they are smarter than Rachel, and they know their words fine. With the years in the Congo and her regular personality, Rachel almost acts as if she is 14 or so (educated wise). I thought that I could relate to Rachel in some way since I am around that same age, but I think that relating to Leah or Adah would be more practical.

Mosquito Wood

I saw the first part of the film in class. (Mosquito...something) We have been reading the Poisonwood Bible (PWB) in class which is similar to the plot of the film we watched.
The two stories had a few things in common. One was that the family took off and lived in some "in the middle of nowhere" African country. They didn't have much resources, and lived harshly. Although what I noticed was that in the film, the family worked and pretty much built their own little town. Their house was almost like a log cabin while in PWB they haven't upgraded from their mud-hut. Something different I noticed between the two was that the moral and attitudes toward the whole thing was exactly opposite. In PWB, they really lived harshly and dreaded everything, when it seemed like the family in mosquito ridge made the best out of the situation. I think that the story lines veer off in different directions as the two stories continue on, but the general idea is quite similar.

Essentials

Most people know that I am an avid golfer. Recently I have been trying to get to the next level, in seeing that I have improved my game over the past year. I figured today that a step towards getting to that next level will have to be critiquing my game in a much more detailed manner. I remember in fourth grade that every day at the end of class, or the end of the week I have forgotten, we would jot down what we had learned that day. Personally I think its hilarious that I am bringing back this basic reflection to better a very intricate and important part of my life. Thats a lesson in itself. In a quest for progress and perfection, I have noticed that i unearthed another essential question in my life that i need to take a look at every day for various reasons. How can I improve each day?

Frendle

The other day in our lit circle group, I discussed Rachel's character with the character analysis person. Being the Lexicographer of the group, I was diligently searching the text for new words that I could share, when I came across executrate. To me it sounds like execute, but I wasn't sure what it meant. saying the word over and over, I flipped through the dictionary looking for this odd word. I kept scanning the pages untill I came to the conclusion that it wasn't a real word. I was lost. In talking to Mr. Watson, we agreed that Rachel made this word up. Why would she do this? I talked with my group and we started with the basics. Rachel's attitude is obvious to see. She likes to think the is the queen of the world every minute, walking with her hands out and prancing around like a barbie doll. She's always worried about her hair and her appearance. In trying to act as if she is so high-class, she tries to use big words around people, especially her sisters, even if it means making one up!

Very Interesting...

We took a walk around the school thinking of how we could protray what we saw through the pointof view of a PWB (Poisonwood Bible) character. I was assigned Leah, who in the book is very interested in the nature that surronds her. Here it goes.

We were only home for a week or so after we came back from the Congo, and all of a sudden we jet off to an island in the pacific. A particular school invited us to speak at their chapel about our trip to the Congo, what we learned, and what we did there. We arrived on campus and I immediatly recognized that this island is as exotic to me as the Congo was, nature wise. It was the first time that I have ever seen plants like this. There were these tall, skinny, brown stemed trees that erupted into a million long, skinny leafs. They had some kind of fruit growing up there, but I couldn't tell what in God's name it was. Noticing other types of foliage on the grounds, I particularly like the tree that had the spikey, skinny leaves. It was wierd though, it looked as if someone went around and bent every leaf in half! I didn't understand why God would do something like this. I enjoyed all of the peculiar plants, and loved the time that I spent with my father looking at all of them.

Net Neutrality

I never thought of the internet would ever be in danger, until this 11 minute short clued me in. I should have known that big industries like AT&T were trying to take over the world. I think it would be such a detriment to society if a company took control over the internet. It wouldn't be an internet anymore, since the internet is comprised of everything and everyone, nothing belonging to anybody, unless you made it of course. Education is just on the brink of braking into that 21st century way of learning. This is our world. We live in a technological world were students are just starting to collaborate with other students from around the world. The internet connects anything to everyone, which is just started to be recognized to its remote potential. To put a safety lock on it now would absolutely change everything. Aren't people in this country free? Corporations and industries aren't supposed to say what we can or cannot do, they are just making extra whatever out of whatever they've got. To try to make something this big their own for control over the entire world is just out of the question. The internet has so much depth within each one of us that without it, it would change life as we know it. I don't know about you, but I want the freedom that I deserve.

Review of SAT practice run

Reading and grading an essay in three minutes is obviously fast. To be able to carry this operation out, you need to be quick and decisive. As I read numerous times, many people felt rushed in the 25 minutes they had. Rushing through writing isn't good. The ideas get dissolved into one another, you may repeat yourself, leave out a key thought, quote, sentence, etc. Just take a second and look from the perspective of the grader. From the visualization activity, we have all learned that the graders are on the verge of snapping, so make it easy on them. Try to be simple. Each part of your easy needs to be a solid idea, perspective, or example. I noticed, since we all felt a bit rushed, some people had trouble with the flow of the language (guilty). I recommend an outline that you spent a few minutes on before you started to write so that you can refer back to it during your essay. I believe we all can get our answers from the prompt, and that organization will be key. Once in a while look at your paper from a broad perspective. These steps will help in your overall quality.

PWB: Lexicographer

In class we have started to read the Poisonwood Bible (PWB). We chat about it with small literature circles of about three people. Everyone has a job of some sort.

I am the lexicographer of the group. This means that whenever myself of my group members see a word they don't recognize or understand, I will take note of it. I look up the definitions of the words and then I start collecting! I imagine that these words will be useful in the studies for SATs, and to benefit everyone, I would like to share the words, so I have made my box of the words on my sidebar. Enjoy!

Practice Essay

Today in class we practiced our essay writing. Bear with me on this one, I rushed a bit and maybe go my ideas mixed around.

Newspapers, television, magazines, radio, movies, the internet, and other types of media do determine whats important for many people that are curious and crave the knowledge and events that go on outside of their own lives.
A source said, "[The media] Decide what information is important".
These people in which I just described want and need to know things that they havn't witnessed or havn't seen. The media supplies them with what seems to be sufficient information which curbs their appetite for outside knowledge. THis information has so many points of view and perspectives on various subjects, which can easily be adopted as "important" to a person.
On the other hand, many others don't even look in the direction of the media. Many people understand that the media can be untrustworthy and false many times. These people therefore do not label the knowledge that they recieve as important to them, since in a sense it can't be proven to them. Other people don't look in the direction of the media in a literal sense as well. Not paying attention and ridding yourself of the media is certainly tough, yet these people are more in favor of basing importance on their experiences that are around their individual lives. They chose not to be deendent on information and knowledge hat comes in from outside sources.
It all comes down to a choice. Media isn't built physically into our minds or bodies. It's an outside factor which can be chosen as worthy or not. If you look deep into the depths of media, its easy to accept its knowledge and perspectives as a possible importance to yourself. Choosing not to look inside will result in your different importances in life being derived strictly from your individual actions and beliefs.

A quick reflection

Looking back on my posts at this point, I have noticed that it helps to talk or write about things to get a better idea or thought about certain subjects. My essential questions that I have produced have been; What kind of world do we live in? How can I live in this world? What can others benefit from me? I have addressed all of these questions in one post or another. I have learned a few things writing about experiences, videos and text we have seen in and around class. One thing I have known/learned/looked furthur into is one type of world we live in. We live in a sketchy world. I looked into this when I wrote one of my more recent peices, "Homeless". I can't surely trust anyone, not even a man that looks like he is in dire need for shelter and food. Again, it is sad that you can barely help the guy because of worrying about your own protection. The world we live in has formulated a certain shield around us all that protects us from people we don't know. I had also learned more about myself, in a way that betters my understanding about various things. Listening to "This I Believes" and also making my own has really effected me in a good way. The perspectives I got from other people is invaluable. I dug deeper into feelings, mostly into passion. I have learned about my environment much more from writing in a way in which I can converse with my peers in a very open way (blogger). Hopefully this knowledge will keep coming in future posts and conversation.

Natural Elements

As many people know, I spend a good amount of my time on the course. For most people the sport, and word golf conjures up a certain image or thought, probably not to descriptive about the game at all since that person does not obtain a substantial amount of knowledge of the game or what is involved in it. For me, I think it is an awesome thing to be descriptive about, especially since I have experienced things most people can never experience.
I think the word behind descriptive is passion. I believe that passion can lead further into various things for various people. For me, it helps me invoke deeper into the sport of golf.
From above, I am little. The vast area of a golf course is monumental compared to a player that decides to take this creature of nature on. It has been perfected by many brilliant minds, and to take it on by yourself, well lets just say it has been previously dubbed a crazed action. Preparation is a necessity. I take out a ball that has been previously hacked about, knowing by the grass and dirt stains that have given this once new ball a different shade. I become intertwined with the same elements as I put the ball in play, and vice versa. Dirt becomes embedded in my fingernails and palms. I all of a sudden am trying to blend in with the course, trying to become one so that I have a better chance of escaping its grip that tightens, as I tighten my own. My hands are frequently callused from the harsh, roped grip. I guess you can say the creature is vicious, yet, at times it is innocent with its lush greenery that decieves you of its once harsh qualities. A suggested early morning start can open you up to a different course and personality. The air is brisk and the ground soft and wet as the dew drops slowly evaporate to reveal whats under the skin. I still play whether I am afraid or not. It is a sport that gets as natural as it gets. The ball soaks up the morning dew as it inscribes a path into the young grass. The hole is simply a hole. An imperfection? Quite the opposite. It displays what you don't normally see. Fresh earth is something not noted by the casual glance. As I repeatedly reach into the hole, I notice the beauty of the land. Rich with life, the brown dirt suddenly sprouts into a small greenery which is treasured. It is funny that only the top of the land is wanted, and we invent solutions that are used to rid our lives of that brown natural source. To be clean? Maybe not. Sometimes it is a shame not to share commonalities with the course. I just hope that my connections could be experienced by the people that do not do the same as I. They probably do, of course in a different way. i wonder if the feeling is the same?

Homeless

Its sad when I look at a beggar or a homeless person, and I need to question if he really is someone who is homeless and in need, or if he is a fake, just trying to rip people of their cash. What led up to this point? Why can't I see a beggar and say this money will definatly go to a good cause in helping this poor guy out. Is this skeptism a bad thing? Is it just me? I think that the reason this happened is obviously because some jokers do try to cheat us of our hard earned cash. I drove up next to a beggar the other day by Kahala Mall. I wanted to give him something for some reason. I never give beggars anything because of what I said above. The light was still red and I just remembered I had a huge box of Nutri-Grain bars in the backseat (Costco of course). I grabbed one from the back and was ready to open the window. My plan was to crack the window, and throw the bar to him as the light turned green. I didn't exactly want to hang around after I gave it to him, so I did as I planned. Making the U turn around his post, I heard a "GOD BLESS YA MAN!" It didn't make me feel any different. I am still unsure if he was really homeless and had no food. Do I feel good about it? I'm not sure. The questioning of his authenticity really kills the good deal feeling for me. I wish I could be more sure that my money goes to a good cause.

this I believe

I believe in golf courses. Most American courses are strategically designed with specifically placed bunkers and trees, with manicured slopes around the greens whose job is to suck your golf ball 20 yards from your target. European designes, which are closer to an original layout of a golf course, are built upon the earth with the upmost simplicity. Throw down some tee markers, cut a bit of grass far away, and dig a hole in it. It is such a different experience that takes such a different style of gameplay to master. The two opposite architectual designs lead me to recognize the needed balance between these two metaphorical ways to live my everyday life. Life in one way needs structure. It needs goals, plans of acheivement, and specific actions of accomplishment. This overall plan in life can take you to your potential in whatever you want to do. In order to succeed, you need this characteristic of finding and knowing a specific plan of action for yourself. It is a neccesity to know what you are able to acheive. This is all similar to my strategy when taking on an "Americanized"course. On the other hand, I need the opposite, the balance. If there is stress, you need relaxation, which is the simplist of the two. In this aspect of the game and also in being an aspect of the game of life, I belive you get in touch with different senses and feelings, especially ones that are incorporated within yourself that are attache dto a more casual side. Usually I learn more about myself in these situations, and also see the (w)hole a little bit clearer. It is not only for a cleansing kind of use, but is mostly for a recharging purpose, to get energy and strength back from what you lost by following your pre-layed tracks to life. I believe in golf courses, and how they can teach me a well balanced guide to life, as I get more learning opportunities and a better feel for myself and the world I live in.

The Arts

Lately I have been interested in art, whether it be photography, or my shot making abilities. Yes I believe golf is an art, a very intricate one at that. I listened and responded to some NPR "This I Believe" segments which talked about music, and how it can effect the people around you. It won't only effect the peope around you, but more importantly, it will effect yourself in a deeper way. I am glad these people belive strongly in their beliefs, so that I can learn about true being, and apply it to myself. I have found another way to express everything that I can express, in ways through art, while giving my surrondings a positive feeling.

NPR: This I Believe (Joan Tower, Emily Smith, Josh Yuchasz)

I just listened to three "this I believe" essays on the NPR site. Joan Tower's, Emily Smith, Josh Yuchasz. I found each one that I had listened to was very interesting because of the different characters that have different points of view. The POV's say many things about similar questions, which happened to be some of my essential questions.

Joan Tower had talked about how she believed strongly in the powers of music, how it made her come alive each day, and how it communicates with people in a public way. Music is a shared nourishment, and can reveal qualities around you that wouldn't come out under different circumstances. I question myself, how can people around me benefit from myself? I enjoyed reading what Joan had to say because she gave me an example of how she does it everyday.

Emily Smith talked about how baking is important to her. She does it constantly, and not just for fun. She bakes with her senses and memory from recipes. Baking in this fashion opens up a very personal connection between her and her family. She said that she bakes for love of the people in the present, and honor of those in the past, all at once. Emily tells me how she likes to live in the world, which I have noted as an essential question for myself. It seems that the answers to these deep questions are just as deep into yourself.

Josh Yuchasz says that he is different from a variety of the kids around him his age. He is infatuated with Godzilla. Josh sees a difference in himself, which helps him unlock a key to living. His key says that differences should be respected. We can learn so many more things from differences in people than it regular, ordinary every day, robotic life. Josh strongly believes in what he enjoys and likes to do, which is what everyone needs to do to help with the world's education. Josh tells me a little bit of the world that we live in today, and responds with how he lives in it. I believe that Josh is a great role model for millions of people.

Instant Communication

Recently I was in a movie theatre, doing what you usually do in a movie theatre. I was watching a movie. All of a sudden I was distracted by a R&B song and flashing multi-colored lights. I looked to the source of the distraction, and found out that it was a cell phone ringing in the middle of the movie. I didn't care at all about the ringing and lights, although I was astonished that the owner of the cell phone had answered the call.
This event that took place inside of the theatres was an example of the truth of modern day technology. Today, we live in a world of instant connections and communication. I believe this instant connection wherever you are has many pros to it, since most of us live pretty busy flexible lives that need some way of easy communication. I have however witnessed some reprecussions of the simplicity of communication. Countless times my Dad will get calls from work on a day off or vacation. The world still rotated when poeple didn't work when they weren't in the office. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that cell phones etc. are necessities in life. I really can't see the world at the moment without the current level of communication. I just wonder if and when it could go to far, and if there are solutions to those reprecussions that exist today. Are there necessarily problems in our system?

Water Buffalo Gift

Robert Thompson is a man that lives in a province in China that knows the value of a water buffalo, especially to poor farmers and families. Seeing that an American church wasn't acting upon there so called plan, Robert decided to get the money so that he could buy and deliver a water buffalo to one of the poor families in the Province. He did just this, and captured his adventure on video.
I think what Robert did is something that can not be beaten in a sense of giving and helping other people, which is a big part of life. His actions not only help the receivers, but helps other people get into that awareness of how much you can help other people and situations.
Incorporating these happenings with Singer's guide to human behavior, I have seen similarities in both concepts. Singer had said that $200 can save a child's life. I do believe in this statement by Singer with the events that took place in Robert's adventure as evidence. $200 does not sound like much in the society we live in, with that being the cost of many types of clothing, but I have realized the effect that it can have on those certain farmers and families. A gift like a $250 water buffalo can severely alter the ways of life of a whole family. Both the essay and video has changed my views on the life-changing effects of the bit of thoughtfulness done by a person or organization.

Singer's Essay

I thought that it was very clever how Singer somewhat trapped the reader after the part about Bob's hypothetical situation. I was thinking, yeah, this Bob character is a real selfish person, sacrificing a child for his Italian stallion. All of sudden as I read on, I was now Bob, by property of substitution.
"In all these respects, Bob's situation resembles that of people able but unwilling to donate to overseas aid and differs from Dora's situation." Singer's Essay.
I wasn't angry at Singer by comparing the people in this able, but unwilling situation to Bob, although I think that it is a little bit of a stretch to really compare the two. Which now leads me onto another subject. When Singer had said that certain things as in vacations, new stylish clothes, and going to restaurants were unnecessary, I felt I disagreed a little. Life is demanding, and progresses to new heights everyday. I believe some luxuries can help ease things like stress, and make recoveries smoother. Mentally you need to be in shape as much as you are physically. I need to be careful not to say that these luxuries are worth children's lives, but I am just trying reason out these harsh comparisons.

About Me

Hey, my name is Colton. This is my first blog page so give me tips. Driving the golf cart and hanging with friends is what I usually do...other than going to school. See you around.