Miss Peregrine's Home Review

It was a struggle to get to the portion of the novel where everything made sense.  I'm the type of reader that needs to have a quick introduction into a plot or else I lose interest.  I chuggled along for quite some time before I found the concrete plot, and if I was reading the book for personal use I probably would have dropped it a good 50 pages earlier.

The beginning of the book goes on about the death of his grandfather, and the mystery behind everything surrounding his death.  The portrayal of Jacob's depression was rather legitimate and done well.

The pictures added much to the book's ability to tell the story.  If the pictures were not there, it honestly would just seem like any other novel with supernatural powers and events.  The pictures are what stood this novel apart from the rest, especially knowing that the pictures used were not tampered with and were actual pictures.

Overall, I'd give this book a 85%.  The long time it took to get to the main plot worked against the book in my opinion, however, the pictures really made the story stand out as a book to remember.

Declaration of Eagle

I am not a man who typically writes to get others in trouble.  However, in a course of events that makes it inevitable to write about, I feel it's pretty necessary.  It may be some sort of vigilante, and I get that it's not my place to write, but here's what I say.


Amy must go.  Her decisions as Hall Director have negatively effected the work ethic of it's inhabitants, and have possibly jeopardized the safety of paying students.  The selectively strict mentality is a sign of favoritism, and her unwavering hand for the guidebook is a direct cause of the turmoil in the hall.  A list of complaints:

1.  The instantaneous firings of 7 Residential Advisors has made certain floors, particularly 6th floor who is now running without a residential advisor has led to a certain freedom people enjoy too much.  Instead of letting it slide by the sheer magnitude of firings or preparing a contingency plan, these employees of ORL were turned lose.  The dorm is now running at 55% efficiency in terms of Residential Advisors, with no guaranteeing of replacements.  Replacements would be available no earlier then February.  6 weeks without full RA coverage minimum, and two of which during finals/finals week.

2.  Due to lack of coverage, control, and cooperation in some sense, the student population has rebelled and is responsible for 4 fire alarm pulls in a span of approximately 26 hours, all alarms occurring between the hours of 2:30am and 4:00am.  A stairwell was also completely rendered useless on December 1st at 10:00pm as massive amounts of water were poured down it.  These were deliberate pulls, not fire emergencies.  As a result, the health of the dorm has been diminishing, as seen by the rash nature of individuals on the FaceBook page.

3.  We were cited for a violation from Amy because of this water gun.

4.  The elevator has been broken many times due to people jumping on it.  Out of the 4-5 break downs, only two people have gotten fined $2,000 a piece.  This uneven distribution of punishment was administered by Amy.

5.  Noise complaints cannot be reported because a Residential Advisor is not available a good portion of the time even when there is one supposed to be on duty.  You will simply be laughed at for caring about essentials such as sleep and studying. 

At this point, my demands are that Amy turns in papers of resignation and that we receive new Residential Advisors, or the re-employment of those who were terminated.  

The JMU Experience

Let me just say this here and now.  This is not a testimonial against alcohol or any other substances.


I am a firm believer that if you want to blow off some steam, you can party and do whatever you want.  There is, however, a line that when I look around, most freshman don't even comprehend.  While college is supposed to be a life-changing experience, it is my belief that some have succumbed further to the JMU party scene as a way of life.  For those of you who have not lost yourself in it, and have grades to brag about, then this entry is clearly not about you. 

One of the first friends I've ever made while coming to JMU is a victim.  Her grades are horrible, and she cannot balance herself out from work and play.  Now that guys are finally giving her attention for the first time in her life, she has transformed from an innocent nice girl to someone who is in constant boy trouble to the point where her friends are all involved besides me.  A lot of this trouble was events that took place while she was drunk. 

There's someone else I know who has thus far wasted over $300 on weed.  He has no job.  Now he is broke.  Why?  He simply was a product of his environment here at JMU, party capital of Virginia.

People need to be responsible and not fall into the trap of going to a party school.  It changes people to the nth degree, and if you aren't careful, you too will find yourself skipping class and throwing all your money away.  Trust me I know.

Details About the PSA

So this PSA... well it was a topic somewhat implanted in my brain last year.

Being in PA all my life, the left always outweighed the right.  Looking back, now that my political environment was much more moderate then what it was before (some would even say that I'm still in a liberal state of mind because of college), I've grown to believe that everywhere I turned it was simply Obama or perish.

I took an AP Environmental Science course in this environment.  All my friends were there... and that was about the only redeeming quality of that class.  I busted ass in that class just for a 70% on tests.  Ironically enough, this may of been my worst AP class in grade, but it was the only one I ever received credit for.

Overfishing was a topic that we discuss in great detail in the course.  Personally, I'm against any environmental acts that hurt us economically.  However, this was one of the few causes seen where there simply was no economic negative if we decided to act.  Sure, the short run could experience some loss, but economics is always about long term growth.  How can long term growth happen in an industry that's dwindling in reserves?

All in all, that's why I did this topic.  Mischief managed.

Going Against the Grain

Nancy Somners has stated in her works that she has used other people as like a crutch.  In terms of editing and preparing speeches and papers, I don't believe she is alone in feeling that we do need the known approval of others for our work.  As a result of such a need, our work tends to be just a cookie cutter product of the people around us.

We enter a paradox whenever we reach out of an existing meta.  Take a common PC game League of Legends as an example.

If we follow the typical strategy and build for any game, the typical team will consist of 1 person in top lane, 1 person in mid lane, 1 person in the jungle, and 2 people in the bottom lane.  The mid lane is always a magic-based champion.  The top lane is always a strong melee champion.  The bottom lane is always a ranged physical damage dealer with a good champion to support them.  The support cannot get any farm from the minions.  Any alteration from this pattern, and you will be raged at by the community.  However, if the professionals do it at a tournament, then it's genius.

That's the trap we walk into.  How can we experiment in the world where if the average being alters from the norm if we are the common man?  How can we initiate change, or originality for that matter if this is the trap that we walk into?

Scars like a Tattoo

The day is November 26th.  It's way over a week after the end of the last Presidential election, and the scars still run deep.  The sad reality of an emotionally bloody election is just that; it becomes permenent.

Talk of Texas seceeding and people like the man above is what makes this time of year only slightly as facepalming as when the elections were actually going on.


The people that still are complaining about this I feel are a detriment to society.  This is a time to rebuild, not complain about how much we hate obama, or how things could be better without him.


Why can't we be friends?

PSA

Here's the link to my PSA!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1QHto6NtxQ&feature=youtu.be

Racism: That's Funny.

To most Americans, this blog post is going to seem very tasteless.  While I hope that I will be proven wrong, this is a reality that I as the writer have grasped, accepted, and have adapted to.

I'm not racist.  I just hate everyone equally!

Now, while the above comment may seem outlandish and humorous, just think about it for one moment.  Suppose in this world, racism was not frowned upon.  Men and women from their prospective races accepted the jokes flung out them, and everything wasn't taken seriously.  George Carlin, comedian and philosoph in some schools of thought adapted this stance.  Why do we have to take some jokes too seriously?  Why can't we laugh at ourselves?

In the article about racism in advertising, not many of these advertisements were American in origin.  They, infact, were foreign.  Yes, it is my belief that the problem is with us America.  We as a country, are way too uptight and need to calm down.  In terms of free countries, we kid the most when it comes to race. 

In a recent business trip to Great Britain, my dad spent 2 weeks inside an office while observing the landscape of London.  Inside the work place lies the true definition of melting pot.  America doesn't even come close.  Africans, Americans, Jews, Islam, Mexican, Asians... all groups were present.  And together, they made humor based around their own race.  A British guy was talking about how all blacks are good for are robbing banks, "shitty" music, and farming cotton in the field they should of owned.  In America, you can only imagine how this scenario would turn out... tons of bad blood and a possible lawsuit.  In Britain, the jest was treated as it should be, with laughter.   Being an American, this threw my Dad for a second, but suddenly he understood.  Race was simply a non-issue.  And so, throughout the work trip my Dad was subject to American jokes and jokes about his Mexican wife.  He did not scream, or shout.  Instead, he asked the Muslim what target he was going to blow up next.

What exactly is stopping Americans from doing as everyone else seemingly does?  Why is race such an issue that we cannot jest even the slightest about it without the occassional lawsuit happening every now and then?

Race is a non-issue.

P.S.  JMU is a diverse campus when you look at it in this light.  But the higher ups are simply screwing with us if they try and add race to this topic.  It's the inside that counts, or are we still THAT shallow?

Shake Weight: Head Out of Gutter

This here is an advertisement for the Shake Weight product, aimed at promoting women's health everywhere.  Now, this advertisement is not aimed at the female population obviously, unless they are buying the shake weight with the same purpose as buying lingerie.  The sexual induendos in the ad are the biting point moreso for gag gifts and husbands who wish to watch their wife work out in style... and what's in style is looking like you are sucking two guys off simutaneously. 

Or was this intially part of the plan?  Because the inuendos are so obvious, especially in ads like this, it makes us laugh.  The item became so popular it was featured on an episode of South Park, and at that point it's notoriety skyrocketed.  Due to the ridiculousness of the product and the ads, it's now a very known product on the market. 

Perhaps it's known for all the wrong reasons, but the advertising company was successful in getting their product known in the market. 

Conferences

There once was a man named Joseph Mastrangelo.  He had an idea at first, but then changed his idea at the last moment.  The topic was cruicial to Joe, as it was his final first paper of the month.  Last the night or two before, he created a draft that he held to highest esteem.  However, he knew the paper was flawed.  Instead of taking it to the writing center, he thought, why not just settle things in the conference?

The conference was a gathering of like-minded individuals all seeking for improvement of their writting.  The other papers seemed to be a lot better in standing when compared to mine.  Joe's topic was David Draiman, lead singer of Distrubed and his emotional battle with his ex-girlfriend's suicide, for he himself has blamed.  Joe had no idea whether or not to keep the narrative form or not, but with his professor's help, he has reached the conclusion that a more essay-informative route was necessary to preserve the ethos and logos of the event.

Joe then saught off on a quest to right the wrongs of his paper.  Not only was the form off, but a whole new set of pictures must be discovered.  He'll need the help of a trusty steed to gather the new photos.  Joe is planning to journey to the far corners in the land known as internet, in hopes that there will be something there for him... and a trip to the writing center to revise his paper once more.

In all, it was a very rewarding experience.  All 3rd person aside, it really helped me out a lot.



...and a picture for the lulz.  +1 if you know it.

It's Over 9000.

This isn't another meme post or a funny article.  The title simply says this: Over 9000 languages will be lost.

It's both a tragedy and a step forward.  Surely I may be considered a pessimist for thinking like this, but hear out this train of thought.

In the steps towards technological innovation phone companies had a problem.  5 years ago many different types of phone chargers were floating around.  Each were generally specific to the model or brand of phone, and seldomly they were cross compatable.  In today's world, there's only two different types of phone chargers.  Ones that are for Apple products, and those which are not. 

The same is true of the development of all Apple products.  Instead of creating different operating systems for their devices, they have created a single operating system in which to run their hardware.  Windows 8 is a testimate to this as well.

If this is how technology behaves, then why do we expect anything different when it comes to languages?  Just like different phone chargers or different operating systems, they create a barrier in which time is in some way spent overcoming.

It's my belief that the world will all one day convert to English or Mandarin.  Why?  Well here's some facts.

- All computer coding software availible is in english.  While string variables can be in any language, it takes additional software to convert the reserved words of a programming language into another spoken language.  Granted, this would have to be done for every single computer language used today (HTML, CSS, PHP, Objective C, C++, C#, VB, Java, Javascript, SQL, mrSQL, etc...)

-Mandarin according to Vanishing Voices is the most spoken first language. 


It's a tough reality to accept, but it's the future I'm bracing for.  It's simply the pattern that has already affected everything else.

In the Parallels We Struggle to Upkeep

When the bell struck in the year 1947, the United Nations established Israel as a Jewish state.  Because of this, the Christian Palestinian community had three options: convert, brave the masses, or leave. 
When the bell struck at the age of 15, a young boy who was slightly different from everyone else had to make a choice.  Fit in, brave the masses, or find new friends.

The story of the Christian Palestinian community is not all that differen't from growing up.  Some search for a long time to find their identity.  For us, we have the upper hand in the sense that we have all of college to figure that out.  However, during this time in our lives we all will be subject to the phrase "Oh, it's just another college kid" just as the Palestinians are held to the phrase "Oh, it's just another terrorist".  While one is much more extreme in the other in reality, both groups of people will face the same injustice of being given an identity with a negative context surrounding it.

As we grow up and possiblty obtain our identity of who we are, we lose the ability to go back just as the Palestinians cannot go back.  The older we get, the more likely with each passing day our grandparents, and our parents will pass on.  Soon following, their houses will be sold to some random family so that they can continue their lives.  How can one go back at that point... do you ask them to let you into their home so you can feel nostalgia?  It all seems a tad bit odd in today's world.

Then there's yet another argument.  Does anyone ever truly find their identity?  People are constantly changing, so when is it safe to say that an identity is found?  If the answer to the question tells us that we cannot change rapidly once we find our identites, then we'd all be our ignorent members of the family who aren't quite up with the times.  That is a trap I refuse to be in.

The only identity I keep is a name.  Everything else is expendable and changable.

Joe.

Black Insanity Review

I follow plenty of blogs on Tumblr; however, black-insanity is one blog that is much more than a personal blog.  It's a blog done by a typical teenage girl who enjoys her nerdy side.  This is made evident by the weight-loss photos and the motivational posters followed by fan art of her favorite male characters.  The art is something to take note of particularly.  Not only is there present art of existing anime characters, but she promotes original characters made by herself and anyone she sees.  In the art world, promotions are hard to come by, and this blog makes sure that they are promoted.

Aside from the art promotions, black-insanity features other aspects that make the blog more personal rather than strictly professional.  On Tumblr, it's a common trend to repost your emotion at the time of the current time.  For example, one photo tonight is of a book open to a page.  Using water droplets as a magnifying glass, "I am.  I'm afraid" shows in bulging letters.  Right next to this photo ios another photo that says "I don't want to grow up".  Both of these emotions, the feelings of being afraid and not wanting to grow up are two major characteristics of being a teenager.  I'm a man who can appreciate honesty and openness, and it's a good feeling thta sometimes I'm not alone in feelings these emotions.

With this serious posts comes the occassional comedic relief.   For example, someone asked how to describe math.  She immediately called it the Spawn of Satan.

It's this random mish-mosh of art, honest emotion, and humor that makes me absolutely adore this blog.


Here's the blog~!

It's over 9000