Utopia:
The group is discharged from the hospital and they return home to earth, a new world full of technology. Violet and Titus become closer and begin to form a relationship. Violet tells Titus of her ideas to fight the feed. Violet is the one true individualistic character in this novel. She is the only one who fights technology. This ultimately leads to her demise. Titus is intrigued and goes along with Violet. They talk of how everyone doesn't have feeds. Feeds are expensive and Violet herself didn't get hers until she was 7.
Slumberland:
This section is about Violet dying slowly. Due to her late implantation of the feed, her body is slowly shutting down. She is put in the hospital and Titus wants to be there for her but the burden becomes too much for him. She sends him mass amounts of pictures and videos, and memories, but he doesn't open them.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Feed: The Moon, and Eden
The Moon:
We went to the moon to have fun but the moon turned out to completely suck. The group went to the moon for a spring break adventure. They stay in a swanky hotel. They order room service. You get the sense right away that these kids are wealthy. They decide to go out one night to the Ricochet Club. While there, Titus, the main character sees a pretty girl and decides to go talk to her. Her finds out that her name is Violet and they begin talking all night. Meanwhile, there is a shady character standing in the corner. He walks up to the characters and passes a metal rod over them thus hacking their feeds. They all meltdown and wakeup in the hospital.
Eden:
The gang is hospitalized for their hacked feeds. The doctors are doing everything they can to reinstate their feeds back to their normal status. While in the hospital, the group realizes just how much they miss their feeds. They are not able to m-chat each other or send each other pictures and videos. All they can think of is the song I wanna sex you in, that was playing in the club when their feeds were hacked. They have to actually speak to communicate with each other, a rare occurance for the characters in this novel. They are constantly m-chatting each other, similar to instant messaging but in their heads. It is realized that many of these characters don't have supportive parents. Titus' father comes to visit and stays maybe five minutes. Violet's father doesn't come to visit either, it is blamed on his having to work, but it is later found out that he couldn't afford for himself to travel to the moon to check on Violet.
We went to the moon to have fun but the moon turned out to completely suck. The group went to the moon for a spring break adventure. They stay in a swanky hotel. They order room service. You get the sense right away that these kids are wealthy. They decide to go out one night to the Ricochet Club. While there, Titus, the main character sees a pretty girl and decides to go talk to her. Her finds out that her name is Violet and they begin talking all night. Meanwhile, there is a shady character standing in the corner. He walks up to the characters and passes a metal rod over them thus hacking their feeds. They all meltdown and wakeup in the hospital.
Eden:
The gang is hospitalized for their hacked feeds. The doctors are doing everything they can to reinstate their feeds back to their normal status. While in the hospital, the group realizes just how much they miss their feeds. They are not able to m-chat each other or send each other pictures and videos. All they can think of is the song I wanna sex you in, that was playing in the club when their feeds were hacked. They have to actually speak to communicate with each other, a rare occurance for the characters in this novel. They are constantly m-chatting each other, similar to instant messaging but in their heads. It is realized that many of these characters don't have supportive parents. Titus' father comes to visit and stays maybe five minutes. Violet's father doesn't come to visit either, it is blamed on his having to work, but it is later found out that he couldn't afford for himself to travel to the moon to check on Violet.
Contemporary poem
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/elizabeth_jennings/poems/14193
This poem is called Accepted by Elizabeth Jennings. She basically is talking about a person who has gotten older. They don't stand out based on looks anymore, but they haven't withered away. They don't know all of the latest and greatest things, but they know old things. They aren't rejected, but they are accepted.
This poem is called Accepted by Elizabeth Jennings. She basically is talking about a person who has gotten older. They don't stand out based on looks anymore, but they haven't withered away. They don't know all of the latest and greatest things, but they know old things. They aren't rejected, but they are accepted.
Flash Fiction
http://www.flashfictiononline.com/f20111002-in-an-old-mans-lap-dave-hoing.html
This story is called "in an old man's lap." In this story, a little girl and her grandmother go to the nursing home to visit the little girls grandfather. Her grandfather is 96 years old. He is seemingly unaware of his surroundings. Jacqueline, the little girl, runs from person to person climbing in anyone's lap who will let her. Colleen, her grandmother, sits there and remembers the time of the Ripper, a serial killer who roamed the streets of London. The nursing home is located in the same location as the insane asylum once stood that he was a patient in. If he had survived, he would be 96 today. Just then, a man named Mr. Kaminski walks up to Jacqeuline. He is covered in scars and has protrusions from his cheeks. Jacqueline is intrigued by this old man. She crawls in his lap. Colleen realizes Mr. Kaminski is 96. So the big question is, Is he the ripper? You decide.
This story is called "in an old man's lap." In this story, a little girl and her grandmother go to the nursing home to visit the little girls grandfather. Her grandfather is 96 years old. He is seemingly unaware of his surroundings. Jacqueline, the little girl, runs from person to person climbing in anyone's lap who will let her. Colleen, her grandmother, sits there and remembers the time of the Ripper, a serial killer who roamed the streets of London. The nursing home is located in the same location as the insane asylum once stood that he was a patient in. If he had survived, he would be 96 today. Just then, a man named Mr. Kaminski walks up to Jacqeuline. He is covered in scars and has protrusions from his cheeks. Jacqueline is intrigued by this old man. She crawls in his lap. Colleen realizes Mr. Kaminski is 96. So the big question is, Is he the ripper? You decide.
The Red Convertible
The Red Convertible is the story of two brothers, Henry and Lyman. They are American- Indians. They both decide on a whim one day to buy a red oldsmobile convertible. They start working on it together and get it running like new. They decide to take a road trip in it and pick up a girl along the way. Her name is Susy and she lives in Alaska, so they take her home to Alaska. Her family takes right to Henry and Lyman. They love them. When Henry and Lyman return home, Henry enters the army. They joke with Henry that the army only wants him for his Indian nose. He returns from the war around three years later, a completely chagned person. He is no longer the fun loving, carefree Henry that he once was. He just sits and barely speaks. Lyman yearns for the old Henry. He wants his brother back. Lyman feels the only way to get Henry back is through the car. He goes out and ruins the car. He beats it with a bat and ruins the upholstery. Henry is furious. He then spends every waking moment working on the car to get it working like new again. When he does, he and Lyman go on a road trip just like old times. They stop at a river and henry jumps in. He floats down stream, Lyman realizes that this is due to the current not because of Henry swimming. Henry says that his boots are filling with water. Lyman knows there is nothing he can do, so he takes the car and let's it drive into the river. The car fills with water just as Henry's boots did.
Although it is not directly stated in the story, henry is going thorough a great battle with Post Trauamtic Stress Disorder. Some of the symptoms of PTSD include:
Flashbacks
Showing little interest in things you once loved
Showing less of your moods
Feeling detached
being unable to concentrate
Henry was clearly suffering from PTSD. He showed no interest in the car when he returned home. He once loved that car so much, that I think he would have done absolutely anything to keep it in perfect running order. He barely speaks to Lyman or anyone in his family. They joked with Henry that he was accepted into the army because of his clearly indian background. Indians are strong, and have little fear according to legends. The idea of strong indians are used in advertisements still . At the left, this indian was used in advertisements nationwide in the 1970's. He sheds a tear because Americans are polluting the environment so much.
Although it is not directly stated in the story, henry is going thorough a great battle with Post Trauamtic Stress Disorder. Some of the symptoms of PTSD include:
Flashbacks
Showing little interest in things you once loved
Showing less of your moods
Feeling detached
being unable to concentrate
Henry was clearly suffering from PTSD. He showed no interest in the car when he returned home. He once loved that car so much, that I think he would have done absolutely anything to keep it in perfect running order. He barely speaks to Lyman or anyone in his family. They joked with Henry that he was accepted into the army because of his clearly indian background. Indians are strong, and have little fear according to legends. The idea of strong indians are used in advertisements still . At the left, this indian was used in advertisements nationwide in the 1970's. He sheds a tear because Americans are polluting the environment so much.
Charlotte's Web
This excerpt is one of the saddest excerpts that could be taken from the story. Wilbur has just won his medal and is over joyed. He goes to talk to Charlotte, and asks her what is wrong? She seems so slow these days. Charlotte informs Wilbur that she does not have many days to live. Wilbur is overcome with sadness and determination. He is going to save Charlotte's babies. If Charlotte can't make it back to the barn, her children will. Wilbur wakes Templeton, and instructs him to go cut the egg sack from Charlotte's web. Templeton grunts and groans but he does it. Wilbur puts the egg sack in his mouth, the only safe place to keep it, and leaves Charlotte with a wink. She musters up a goodbye wave and dies alone the next day. Wilbur safely returns the children to the barn, and he is never without friends. They have children and grandchildren. Even though there are all these spiders in the barn, none ever take the place of Charlotte in Wilbur's heart.
This was one of my favorite stories growing up. Everytime I read it, I was always sad when Charlotte died. Charlotte represents a character who has a great heart. She is willing to do anything for her friends. On the outside, she is a scary spider. At first, even Wilbur is scared of her. Once he gets past his fear, he gains one of the best friends he has ever known. Charlotte is a prime example of not judging a book by it's cover. Had Wilbur not gotten past Charlotte's tough exterior, he would not have gained a friend or accomplished the things he accomplished.
Templeton, on the other hand, is an undermining rat. A rat, that is what Templeton is literally and figuratively. When Wilbur wakes him up and tells him that Charlotte is dying, he is not phased. Wilbur asks him to please cut down the egg sack because he can't climb up and get it himself. Templeton then begins with his "me, me, me" rant. He tells Wilbur all of the things that he has done lately. He doesn't think he should have to get the egg sack down. He is more concerned with all of teh things that he has done, instead of helping to save Charlotte's children. Wilbur has to resort to bribing Templeton with the first pick of food forever. Templeton glady climbs his fat belly up the wall at this offer. Selfish, that is what Templeton truly is, a selfish rat.
This was one of my favorite stories growing up. Everytime I read it, I was always sad when Charlotte died. Charlotte represents a character who has a great heart. She is willing to do anything for her friends. On the outside, she is a scary spider. At first, even Wilbur is scared of her. Once he gets past his fear, he gains one of the best friends he has ever known. Charlotte is a prime example of not judging a book by it's cover. Had Wilbur not gotten past Charlotte's tough exterior, he would not have gained a friend or accomplished the things he accomplished.
Templeton, on the other hand, is an undermining rat. A rat, that is what Templeton is literally and figuratively. When Wilbur wakes him up and tells him that Charlotte is dying, he is not phased. Wilbur asks him to please cut down the egg sack because he can't climb up and get it himself. Templeton then begins with his "me, me, me" rant. He tells Wilbur all of the things that he has done lately. He doesn't think he should have to get the egg sack down. He is more concerned with all of teh things that he has done, instead of helping to save Charlotte's children. Wilbur has to resort to bribing Templeton with the first pick of food forever. Templeton glady climbs his fat belly up the wall at this offer. Selfish, that is what Templeton truly is, a selfish rat.
From Blossoms
From blossoms come peaches. The peaches were sold on a dirt path by a little boy. The peaches were succulent and sweet. That is the basic message of this short poem.
Reading this, I was reminded of my days visiting my grandparents farm. We used to run out in the fields and pick the corn from the stalks, and take the strawberries right off the vines. We would eat them right there, dirty strawberries. They always tasted the best right off the vine, unless the weren't ripe yet. I can hear my grandmother now telling me the strawberries aren't ready to eat, so I better not pick any. I did it anyway, and I always regretted it because there is nothing more bitter tasting than an unripe strawberry.
The author talks about while eating the peach, she is not only eating the peach but also the shade and the days it was grown. There is a lot of hard work that goes into growing a crop of fruit or vegetables. In North Carolina, lots of work goes into growing cotton and tobacco as well. Those hours are spent sowing the ground and planting the seeds. Even to this day, there is not a machiene to do everything. Somethings are still done by hand. My mom tells stories about when she was a little girl and she used to pick tobacco. She said there was nothing better at the end of the long hot day than a pepsi and a honey bun. She and the author of From Blossoms, know the hard work that goes into the growing of crops. My grandparents were the type of people who sold their produce out of the back of the truck on the side of the road, just like the story. They appreciated local consumers, and local consumers appreciated them. They were not interested in going to the grocery store and getting produce when they knew of a better place to get it, probably for cheaper too. When you bite into a piece of dusty fresh produce, remember that a lot of time went into growing that strawberry or that peach. Think about that next time.
Reading this, I was reminded of my days visiting my grandparents farm. We used to run out in the fields and pick the corn from the stalks, and take the strawberries right off the vines. We would eat them right there, dirty strawberries. They always tasted the best right off the vine, unless the weren't ripe yet. I can hear my grandmother now telling me the strawberries aren't ready to eat, so I better not pick any. I did it anyway, and I always regretted it because there is nothing more bitter tasting than an unripe strawberry.
The author talks about while eating the peach, she is not only eating the peach but also the shade and the days it was grown. There is a lot of hard work that goes into growing a crop of fruit or vegetables. In North Carolina, lots of work goes into growing cotton and tobacco as well. Those hours are spent sowing the ground and planting the seeds. Even to this day, there is not a machiene to do everything. Somethings are still done by hand. My mom tells stories about when she was a little girl and she used to pick tobacco. She said there was nothing better at the end of the long hot day than a pepsi and a honey bun. She and the author of From Blossoms, know the hard work that goes into the growing of crops. My grandparents were the type of people who sold their produce out of the back of the truck on the side of the road, just like the story. They appreciated local consumers, and local consumers appreciated them. They were not interested in going to the grocery store and getting produce when they knew of a better place to get it, probably for cheaper too. When you bite into a piece of dusty fresh produce, remember that a lot of time went into growing that strawberry or that peach. Think about that next time.
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