Herrera p.141
“It just occurred to me, he is listening to crap talk---he is writing! The tattoo woman writes a few rows back. The guy in front cracks a notebook-stapled report. We are all writing poetry.”
In this quote, Herrera is saything that everythat we write is poetry. No matter how insignificant the wiriting seems to be, everything is poetry. Most people do not realize this, and just throw their writing aside.
Herrera p. 147
The whole “Letania para Jose Burciaga”
I really found this interesting. This whole poem is in Spanish. I do not know how mnay readers of this book also speak Spanish, but I am guessing it is not a lot. Most of the readers cannot read this poem at all, yet he still puts it in. For what reason?
Monday, May 21, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
chile 5
Herrera p.125
“Down there, by your house.
The night is wet with victims,
year in year out.”
This quote ended a poem that really demonstrated the violence that there is where Herrera lives. There is violence everywhere, right where he lives, nonstop. His wife’s brother was killed in one of these violent acts. There are victims being made all the time.
Herrera p. 128
“Three roses pomade, stiff khakis, greased head, levis as hard as ceramic pants, cardboard boxes instead of suitcases…”
I really liked this quote because of how simply it describes himself, yet how strong an image you get. HE is poor, so he must use cardboard boxes instead of suitcases. He has that tight, strict look to him. After all, he is a warrior for the Aztlan Liberation Army
“Down there, by your house.
The night is wet with victims,
year in year out.”
This quote ended a poem that really demonstrated the violence that there is where Herrera lives. There is violence everywhere, right where he lives, nonstop. His wife’s brother was killed in one of these violent acts. There are victims being made all the time.
Herrera p. 128
“Three roses pomade, stiff khakis, greased head, levis as hard as ceramic pants, cardboard boxes instead of suitcases…”
I really liked this quote because of how simply it describes himself, yet how strong an image you get. HE is poor, so he must use cardboard boxes instead of suitcases. He has that tight, strict look to him. After all, he is a warrior for the Aztlan Liberation Army
umm...chile 4?
Herrera p.74
“Snipped chicken head x chopped cactus + fried pork eye = Diploma”
In this quote, Herrera is saying how useless a diploma is. He adds three crappy things up to make a diploma. He thinks that diplomas are worthless.
Herrera p. 90
“When I read the poem on my way to teach my prison workshop I knew this was a poem. No publisher. No price necessary. No pages numbered. No sales clerk. No one waiting to see the poem or ever hear the poem. But, it was loudest poem, the most magnetic.”
I really liked this quote because Herrera defines what makes a good poem. He throws out all of the things that people think makes a poem good, and starts all over. A good poem is not about fans, or making money, or being famous. I real poem is wrote to be written, not to be heard.
“Snipped chicken head x chopped cactus + fried pork eye = Diploma”
In this quote, Herrera is saying how useless a diploma is. He adds three crappy things up to make a diploma. He thinks that diplomas are worthless.
Herrera p. 90
“When I read the poem on my way to teach my prison workshop I knew this was a poem. No publisher. No price necessary. No pages numbered. No sales clerk. No one waiting to see the poem or ever hear the poem. But, it was loudest poem, the most magnetic.”
I really liked this quote because Herrera defines what makes a good poem. He throws out all of the things that people think makes a poem good, and starts all over. A good poem is not about fans, or making money, or being famous. I real poem is wrote to be written, not to be heard.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
chile 3
Herrera p. 69
“My mother published a thousand poems and a thousand songs in the quiet air of our house. Recitals were held at any given moment, unexpectedly, during a pause in a dry conversation, or just during the day.”
This quote was one of my favorite quotes because once again he talks about poems and writing, not as formal pieces of work, but as anything with words. I really like how he say that his mom published these works, when she only said or sang them. She was not even singing to other people, just to herself.
Herrera p. 69
“A women asked me what writers influenced me, who did I read? I said, my mother.”
This quote is connected to my first quote. They both talk about his mother being a writer. He says that his mother is that writer who influenced him, because he sees how everything that she says is like a poem, and that is what he grew up to.
“My mother published a thousand poems and a thousand songs in the quiet air of our house. Recitals were held at any given moment, unexpectedly, during a pause in a dry conversation, or just during the day.”
This quote was one of my favorite quotes because once again he talks about poems and writing, not as formal pieces of work, but as anything with words. I really like how he say that his mom published these works, when she only said or sang them. She was not even singing to other people, just to herself.
Herrera p. 69
“A women asked me what writers influenced me, who did I read? I said, my mother.”
This quote is connected to my first quote. They both talk about his mother being a writer. He says that his mother is that writer who influenced him, because he sees how everything that she says is like a poem, and that is what he grew up to.
Monday, May 14, 2007
intro
In “The Swimmer” by Raymond Carver and “Are These Actual Miles” by John Cheever, the narrators have similar problems that they have to deal with. They are both living in the same suburban life. Both stories are about a man who has problems with his life. These problems are connected to life in suburbia
chchchile 2
Herrera p. 58
“You are the paper, oyeme, Mamita, you are the words, you. Not me. Look at yourself put the words on paper – You.”
This paper is saying how he feels about his writing. Since he is writing about his mother, he is telling her that is is her that decides what the story is about, and what happens. She is like a book herself, or at least that is how Herrera sees her.”
Herrera p. 39
“Corporate handshake molds. Camouflage wedding rings.”
In this entry, he is just saying what seems like random things. I did not understand the message that he was trying to convey, and I say little use in reading a random assortment of words in which I could find no meaning. I did, however, find two lines that I really felt were interesting. The first, makes me think of how in corporate world, it all about handshakes. Its not all about handshakes, but that is one thing that seems to mean noting, but it s actually a way that many people judge others. And the mold part, it says to me how there I a mold in which everyone in coroporate world puts there hand before a handshake. The second quote, I liked because of how it is an oxymoron almost. A wedding ring is to show that you are married, so why would you try to hide it? It would be more practical to just take it off. I don’t know, probably stupid, but just my thoughts, which look better in my head then on paper.
“You are the paper, oyeme, Mamita, you are the words, you. Not me. Look at yourself put the words on paper – You.”
This paper is saying how he feels about his writing. Since he is writing about his mother, he is telling her that is is her that decides what the story is about, and what happens. She is like a book herself, or at least that is how Herrera sees her.”
Herrera p. 39
“Corporate handshake molds. Camouflage wedding rings.”
In this entry, he is just saying what seems like random things. I did not understand the message that he was trying to convey, and I say little use in reading a random assortment of words in which I could find no meaning. I did, however, find two lines that I really felt were interesting. The first, makes me think of how in corporate world, it all about handshakes. Its not all about handshakes, but that is one thing that seems to mean noting, but it s actually a way that many people judge others. And the mold part, it says to me how there I a mold in which everyone in coroporate world puts there hand before a handshake. The second quote, I liked because of how it is an oxymoron almost. A wedding ring is to show that you are married, so why would you try to hide it? It would be more practical to just take it off. I don’t know, probably stupid, but just my thoughts, which look better in my head then on paper.
Friday, May 11, 2007
chile!!! 1
Herrera p. 5
"Ok, Mom. Just put your foot in this pan of hot water. Hold the toe up, Juan, come on. Ok, now, give me that razor. What razor? Your papi's brand new Gillette. It's not brand nweww, Mama. 'S OK, the hot water and the salt will burn the germs."
I found this quote very interesting. Its from the beggining of the story, and he gives no context about this short entry. He does not use quotations to seprate what him and his mama are saying. He does not seperate it at all. I found this style very interesting.
Herrera p. 8
"I drop my burdens from my lungs that fill them. I drop my burdens from my stomach that knots them. I drop my burdens from my body that holds them."
I really liked this quote becuase it reminded me of a chant. It is much longer that this, but every other line is "i drop my burdens" this makes it seem like a spiritual song. i find Herrera's stlye of writing like this very creative, and effective.
"Ok, Mom. Just put your foot in this pan of hot water. Hold the toe up, Juan, come on. Ok, now, give me that razor. What razor? Your papi's brand new Gillette. It's not brand nweww, Mama. 'S OK, the hot water and the salt will burn the germs."
I found this quote very interesting. Its from the beggining of the story, and he gives no context about this short entry. He does not use quotations to seprate what him and his mama are saying. He does not seperate it at all. I found this style very interesting.
Herrera p. 8
"I drop my burdens from my lungs that fill them. I drop my burdens from my stomach that knots them. I drop my burdens from my body that holds them."
I really liked this quote becuase it reminded me of a chant. It is much longer that this, but every other line is "i drop my burdens" this makes it seem like a spiritual song. i find Herrera's stlye of writing like this very creative, and effective.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
interview questions
1. How did you become an appalation trial hiker?
2. How many years have you been hiking the appalation trail for?
3. Do you hike the appalation trial every year?
4. Do you hike with other people? If so, how many?
5. Do you hike with the same people every year?
6. What is the hardest part about the trip?
7. How long does it take you to hike the trail?
8. How does hiking the appalation trail affect your life the rest of the year?
9. Do you think the appaltion trail is a good counter culture lifestyle? Why?
10. Why do you hike the appalation trail?
2. How many years have you been hiking the appalation trail for?
3. Do you hike the appalation trial every year?
4. Do you hike with other people? If so, how many?
5. Do you hike with the same people every year?
6. What is the hardest part about the trip?
7. How long does it take you to hike the trail?
8. How does hiking the appalation trail affect your life the rest of the year?
9. Do you think the appaltion trail is a good counter culture lifestyle? Why?
10. Why do you hike the appalation trail?
Monday, May 7, 2007
house on mango street
House on Mango Street
Cisneros p. 747
“The house would be white with trees around it, a great big yard and grass growing without a fence.”
This is the girl’s idea of a perfect house. It is like the dream of a perfect life in suburbia. The white house, nice big yard, and trees and grass, all cliché parts of a perfect suburban house. She thinks that having this house will make her have a happy life.
Cisneros p. 748
“ You live there? The way she said it made me feel like nothing. There. I lived there.”
This quote once again shows the girls wish for that perfect house in suburbia. She wants have a house that she can be proud of, one that she will be proud to be outside of. Although this house is theirs, it is not good enough for her. She wants to live the suburban dream. Its interesting how because she lives this lifestyle, she wants suburbia, yet in Dharma Bums, the are trying to get away from suburbia, to her lifestyle.
Cisneros p. 747
“The house would be white with trees around it, a great big yard and grass growing without a fence.”
This is the girl’s idea of a perfect house. It is like the dream of a perfect life in suburbia. The white house, nice big yard, and trees and grass, all cliché parts of a perfect suburban house. She thinks that having this house will make her have a happy life.
Cisneros p. 748
“ You live there? The way she said it made me feel like nothing. There. I lived there.”
This quote once again shows the girls wish for that perfect house in suburbia. She wants have a house that she can be proud of, one that she will be proud to be outside of. Although this house is theirs, it is not good enough for her. She wants to live the suburban dream. Its interesting how because she lives this lifestyle, she wants suburbia, yet in Dharma Bums, the are trying to get away from suburbia, to her lifestyle.
seeing 2
Seeing 2
Dillard p. 704
“When I walk with a camera, I walk from shot to shot, reading the light on a calibrated meter. When I walk without a camera, my own shutter opens, and the moment’s light prints on my own silver gut.”
I really like this quote because it is comparable to many people today. Many people are not connected to where they are. They use cell phones, i-pods, and all kinds of other electronic devices. These things pull people away from where they are, and put them somewhere else. They are not able to observe their surroundings. Dillard has a similar situation. When she has a camera she is only worried about how good a picture is, so misses the small things that can be the most important.
Dillard p. 705
“The world’s spiritual geniuses seem to discover universally that the mind’s muddy river, this ceaseless flow of trivia and trash, cannot be dammed, and that trying to dam it is a waste of effort that might lead to madness.”
I thought this quote was great because I love the idea of the mind’s ideas and thoughts as a muddy river. There is a pure and impure thought, and they mix together to create a muddy river. I was not sure if when Dillard said, “dammed” she meant to stop it or just to slow it, and purify it. I think that she meant to try and purify because stopping the flow of thoughts completely would leave just a body and no person.
Dillard p. 704
“When I walk with a camera, I walk from shot to shot, reading the light on a calibrated meter. When I walk without a camera, my own shutter opens, and the moment’s light prints on my own silver gut.”
I really like this quote because it is comparable to many people today. Many people are not connected to where they are. They use cell phones, i-pods, and all kinds of other electronic devices. These things pull people away from where they are, and put them somewhere else. They are not able to observe their surroundings. Dillard has a similar situation. When she has a camera she is only worried about how good a picture is, so misses the small things that can be the most important.
Dillard p. 705
“The world’s spiritual geniuses seem to discover universally that the mind’s muddy river, this ceaseless flow of trivia and trash, cannot be dammed, and that trying to dam it is a waste of effort that might lead to madness.”
I thought this quote was great because I love the idea of the mind’s ideas and thoughts as a muddy river. There is a pure and impure thought, and they mix together to create a muddy river. I was not sure if when Dillard said, “dammed” she meant to stop it or just to slow it, and purify it. I think that she meant to try and purify because stopping the flow of thoughts completely would leave just a body and no person.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Seeing 1
Seeing 1
Dillard p. 695
“When at last I picked out the frog, I saw what painters are up against: the thing wasn’t green at all, but the color of wet hickory bark.”
This quote stuck out o me case it shows how everyone sees things differently. Even things as concrete as color are interpreted. Different people see different things completely differently. This is just part of Dillard’s observation on seeing.
Dillard p. 698
“Nobody on the planet seems aware of this strange, powerful taboo, that we all walk around carefully averting our face, this way and that, lest our eyes be blasted forever.”
I really liked this quote. This quote observes something that is very true and very obvious, yet no one ever thinks about it. People go to huge efforts not to look at the sun. it is like there is some unwritten rule that we are not allowed to
Dillard p. 695
“When at last I picked out the frog, I saw what painters are up against: the thing wasn’t green at all, but the color of wet hickory bark.”
This quote stuck out o me case it shows how everyone sees things differently. Even things as concrete as color are interpreted. Different people see different things completely differently. This is just part of Dillard’s observation on seeing.
Dillard p. 698
“Nobody on the planet seems aware of this strange, powerful taboo, that we all walk around carefully averting our face, this way and that, lest our eyes be blasted forever.”
I really liked this quote. This quote observes something that is very true and very obvious, yet no one ever thinks about it. People go to huge efforts not to look at the sun. it is like there is some unwritten rule that we are not allowed to
Friday, April 27, 2007
dbums 10
Dbums 10
p.224
“One thing about Japhy, though, wherever he’ll be all the resta his life, I don’t care how old he gets, he’ll always have a good time.”
This quote reassured me about how Japhy is living his life. He always has fun and that to me is what life is really about. He will never be a sad old man like many people, but will always enjoy life and live it till the fullest until the day he dies.
p. 239
“Oh gnashing teeth of earth, where would it all lead to but some sweet golden eternity, to prove that we’ve all been wrong, to prove that proving itself was nil…”
When I read this I felt like it was the final statement if the book. After all this working trying to live his life a certain ay realizes that it is probably all for nothing. There is no way of knowing what comes after life, so you should just live it how you want. I fell like this is the lesson of the book.
p.224
“One thing about Japhy, though, wherever he’ll be all the resta his life, I don’t care how old he gets, he’ll always have a good time.”
This quote reassured me about how Japhy is living his life. He always has fun and that to me is what life is really about. He will never be a sad old man like many people, but will always enjoy life and live it till the fullest until the day he dies.
p. 239
“Oh gnashing teeth of earth, where would it all lead to but some sweet golden eternity, to prove that we’ve all been wrong, to prove that proving itself was nil…”
When I read this I felt like it was the final statement if the book. After all this working trying to live his life a certain ay realizes that it is probably all for nothing. There is no way of knowing what comes after life, so you should just live it how you want. I fell like this is the lesson of the book.
dbums 9
Dbums 9
Kerouac
p.202
“Life’s already shoved an iron foot down my mouth.”
Despite how happy Ray usually says that he is, here he says that he has had a bad life. This really surprised me, since he always seems so happy and carefree. It seems that he has not had that many bad things happen to him, and he has dealt with then easily.
Kerouac
p.210
“ ‘I know something good’s gonna come out of all this!’ ‘All what?’ ‘I dunno--- out of the way we fell about life.’”
In this quote, Japhy seems to doubt their way of life. He is trying to reassure himself that he has not been living like this for nothing. It is kind of like a midlife crisis. He is about to go to Japan, and is trying to reassure himself that this is the right way of life.
Kerouac
p.202
“Life’s already shoved an iron foot down my mouth.”
Despite how happy Ray usually says that he is, here he says that he has had a bad life. This really surprised me, since he always seems so happy and carefree. It seems that he has not had that many bad things happen to him, and he has dealt with then easily.
Kerouac
p.210
“ ‘I know something good’s gonna come out of all this!’ ‘All what?’ ‘I dunno--- out of the way we fell about life.’”
In this quote, Japhy seems to doubt their way of life. He is trying to reassure himself that he has not been living like this for nothing. It is kind of like a midlife crisis. He is about to go to Japan, and is trying to reassure himself that this is the right way of life.
Monday, April 23, 2007
dbums 8
D bums 8
Kerouac p.196
“ ‘What are you doing?’
‘Oh, we just decided to take our clothes off.’”
I love how in this quote, when Ray asks Alvah and George what they are doing, they answer him so nonchalantly that they just took their clothes off. They speak of it as it were nothing, yet Ray is asking them seriously. This really shows how Ray has still not become totally comfortable with nudity. Ever since that first time with the orgy Japhy’s, Ray has felt a little uncomfortable around naked people, although he tries to hide it, and does quite well.
Kerouac p. 188
“One night I was mediating in such perfect stillness that two mosquitoes came and sat on each of my cheekbones and stayed there a long time without biting and then went away without biting.”
This quote really spoke to me about how far Ray has come. At the begging of the book he was lost, but now he is such a good Buddhist, the when he meditates, he is completely one with nature. He was able to meditate in such stillness that not only did the mosquitoes not notice him and bite him, but also they did not spook and fly away. Both of these actions of the mosquitoes really show how far Ray has come.
Kerouac p.196
“ ‘What are you doing?’
‘Oh, we just decided to take our clothes off.’”
I love how in this quote, when Ray asks Alvah and George what they are doing, they answer him so nonchalantly that they just took their clothes off. They speak of it as it were nothing, yet Ray is asking them seriously. This really shows how Ray has still not become totally comfortable with nudity. Ever since that first time with the orgy Japhy’s, Ray has felt a little uncomfortable around naked people, although he tries to hide it, and does quite well.
Kerouac p. 188
“One night I was mediating in such perfect stillness that two mosquitoes came and sat on each of my cheekbones and stayed there a long time without biting and then went away without biting.”
This quote really spoke to me about how far Ray has come. At the begging of the book he was lost, but now he is such a good Buddhist, the when he meditates, he is completely one with nature. He was able to meditate in such stillness that not only did the mosquitoes not notice him and bite him, but also they did not spook and fly away. Both of these actions of the mosquitoes really show how far Ray has come.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
dbums7
Dbums 7
Kerouac. P. 170
“ ‘Aw maybe I'm getting tired of that. After I come back from the monastery in Japan I’ll probably have my fill of it anyhow. Maybe I’ll be rich and work and make a lot of money and live in a big house.’ But a minute later: ‘ and who wants to enslave himself to a lot of all that, though?’”
This is the first place where we have seen Japhy as weak, divided, and not completely sure that Buddhism is the only way to happiness. He even goes as far to say that he will make a lot of money. This is like blasphemy to Buddhists. He goes back to hating money though in just a few minutes. This unstable Japhy is one that we do not know.
Kerouac p. 157
“The silence is so intense that you can hear your own blood roar in your ears but louder than that by far is the mysterious roar which always identify with the roaring of the diamond of wisdom, the mysterious roar of silence itself, which is a great Shhhh reminding you of something you’ve seemed to have forgotten in the stress of your days since birth.”
This quote tells about how silence can be louder than actual noise. This noise can tell much more than actual noises. It is the sound of everything. Because it is the sound of nothing.
Kerouac. P. 170
“ ‘Aw maybe I'm getting tired of that. After I come back from the monastery in Japan I’ll probably have my fill of it anyhow. Maybe I’ll be rich and work and make a lot of money and live in a big house.’ But a minute later: ‘ and who wants to enslave himself to a lot of all that, though?’”
This is the first place where we have seen Japhy as weak, divided, and not completely sure that Buddhism is the only way to happiness. He even goes as far to say that he will make a lot of money. This is like blasphemy to Buddhists. He goes back to hating money though in just a few minutes. This unstable Japhy is one that we do not know.
Kerouac p. 157
“The silence is so intense that you can hear your own blood roar in your ears but louder than that by far is the mysterious roar which always identify with the roaring of the diamond of wisdom, the mysterious roar of silence itself, which is a great Shhhh reminding you of something you’ve seemed to have forgotten in the stress of your days since birth.”
This quote tells about how silence can be louder than actual noise. This noise can tell much more than actual noises. It is the sound of everything. Because it is the sound of nothing.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
notes
• Continuous footpath from Mount Katadin, Maine to Springer Mountain, Georgia.
• 2160 miles long
• Traced back to 1921
• Passes through 14 states
• Shelters to rest at which are less than a days hike apart
• Trail towns used to accommodating AT hikers
• Hikers who hike the entire trail in one season are called thru-hikers
• People wwho take separate trips: Section hikers
• Takes 5 to 7 months
• Very few people actually make the whole trail
• “yellow blazers” hitch hike
• Part of AT subculture: People make colorful entreis in log books at trail shelters along with their own special trail name.
• 2160 miles long
• Traced back to 1921
• Passes through 14 states
• Shelters to rest at which are less than a days hike apart
• Trail towns used to accommodating AT hikers
• Hikers who hike the entire trail in one season are called thru-hikers
• People wwho take separate trips: Section hikers
• Takes 5 to 7 months
• Very few people actually make the whole trail
• “yellow blazers” hitch hike
• Part of AT subculture: People make colorful entreis in log books at trail shelters along with their own special trail name.
dbums 6
Dbums 6
Kerouac p. 123
“ ‘Better to sleep in an uncomfortable bed and be free, than sleep in a comfortable unfree.’”
This quote shows why Ray lives his life the way he does. He sleeps in the cold, and never had comfortable bed. Most people would think this is stupid, but they are all unfree. They are all slaves to society. Ray has given up this comfort in order to live life free.
Kerouac p. 125
“Either side of the border, either way you slice the boloney, a homeless man was in hot water.”
This quote made me think a lot about homeless people. No matter what country you are in, homeless people are all the same. Unlike the well off people of different countries, who are all different and act different and spend their money on different things. All hobos live the same the same lifestyle and face the same problems.
Kerouac p. 123
“ ‘Better to sleep in an uncomfortable bed and be free, than sleep in a comfortable unfree.’”
This quote shows why Ray lives his life the way he does. He sleeps in the cold, and never had comfortable bed. Most people would think this is stupid, but they are all unfree. They are all slaves to society. Ray has given up this comfort in order to live life free.
Kerouac p. 125
“Either side of the border, either way you slice the boloney, a homeless man was in hot water.”
This quote made me think a lot about homeless people. No matter what country you are in, homeless people are all the same. Unlike the well off people of different countries, who are all different and act different and spend their money on different things. All hobos live the same the same lifestyle and face the same problems.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
dbums 5
Dbums 5
Kerouac p. 96
“Pain love or danger makes you real again, ain’t that right Ray like when you were on that ledge?”
This quote shows how Ray felt when he was on the mountain. It made him feel alive again. All the people down in suburbia who just sit around and watch TV all day get to really feel alive like Ray does. They do not experience real danger, since everything is “perfect” for them.
Kerouac p. 102
“I’ve got no use for the kulak with his barn and pasture . . . he just sets up a prison for himself, once in, he cant get out, think it over, it might happen to you.”
This quote of Han Shan’s poem is telling exactly how it is in life today. Al of the people in suburbia have built prisons for themselves. They have created a lifestyle that they cannot not escape from. Japhy and Ray on the other hand are more like Han Shan. They do not build prisons for themselves. They live freely, and go and do what they please. Although it would seem that a person with a house and car and family would be more happy, this is not so, since they are actually imprisoned in this life.
Kerouac p. 96
“Pain love or danger makes you real again, ain’t that right Ray like when you were on that ledge?”
This quote shows how Ray felt when he was on the mountain. It made him feel alive again. All the people down in suburbia who just sit around and watch TV all day get to really feel alive like Ray does. They do not experience real danger, since everything is “perfect” for them.
Kerouac p. 102
“I’ve got no use for the kulak with his barn and pasture . . . he just sets up a prison for himself, once in, he cant get out, think it over, it might happen to you.”
This quote of Han Shan’s poem is telling exactly how it is in life today. Al of the people in suburbia have built prisons for themselves. They have created a lifestyle that they cannot not escape from. Japhy and Ray on the other hand are more like Han Shan. They do not build prisons for themselves. They live freely, and go and do what they please. Although it would seem that a person with a house and car and family would be more happy, this is not so, since they are actually imprisoned in this life.
Monday, April 16, 2007
links to appalation trail hiker websites
http://www.fred.net/kathy/at.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Trail
http://www.aldha.org/
http://www.trailjournals.com/journals.cfm
http://www.trailstories.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Trail
http://www.aldha.org/
http://www.trailjournals.com/journals.cfm
http://www.trailstories.com/
dbums 4
Dbums 4
Kerouac p.77
“All he needs is his rucksack with all of those little plastic bags of dries food and a good pair of shoes and off he goes and enjoys the privileges of a millionaire in surroundings like this.”
This quote really tells how happy Japhy is with his life. He has almost nothing to his name, yet he is as happy and probably happier that people who have lots of money and don’t have to worry about anything. He doesn’t worry about anything, but he does it without having lots of money.
Kerouac p.84
“ ‘Now there’s the Karma of theses three men here: Japhy Rhyder gets to his triumph mountaintop and makes it, I almost make it and have to give up and huddle in a bloody cave, but the smartest of the them all is that poet’s poet lying down there with his knees crossed to the sky chewing on a flower dreaming by a gurgling plage, goddammit they’ll never get me up here again.’”
As Ray looks down from the mountain, he realizes that he has lost on this hike. Japhy has reached the top of the mountain, and gets the triumph of success. He has reached the goal that they went on this hike for. But Morely he realizes is the smartest. He stayed down below, and did not have to work hard for nothing, like Ray.
Kerouac p.77
“All he needs is his rucksack with all of those little plastic bags of dries food and a good pair of shoes and off he goes and enjoys the privileges of a millionaire in surroundings like this.”
This quote really tells how happy Japhy is with his life. He has almost nothing to his name, yet he is as happy and probably happier that people who have lots of money and don’t have to worry about anything. He doesn’t worry about anything, but he does it without having lots of money.
Kerouac p.84
“ ‘Now there’s the Karma of theses three men here: Japhy Rhyder gets to his triumph mountaintop and makes it, I almost make it and have to give up and huddle in a bloody cave, but the smartest of the them all is that poet’s poet lying down there with his knees crossed to the sky chewing on a flower dreaming by a gurgling plage, goddammit they’ll never get me up here again.’”
As Ray looks down from the mountain, he realizes that he has lost on this hike. Japhy has reached the top of the mountain, and gets the triumph of success. He has reached the goal that they went on this hike for. But Morely he realizes is the smartest. He stayed down below, and did not have to work hard for nothing, like Ray.
Friday, April 13, 2007
dbums 3
Dbums 3
Kerouac p.50
“The cheese was sharp Cheddar. But it didn’t satisfy me much and when we go out into country with no houses and anything I began to yearn for a good old hot breakfast…”
This quote puzzled me. Did Jack not travel around as a bum for many years? Was he not living off almost knighting, and riding around on trains? Why did he crave this hot breakfast if he believes that life was not about material things? I thought that he would be used to not having much to eat, and what little he had not being very good.
Kerouac p. 52
“’That’s what I like, hitchhiking around, feeling free, imagine though being an Indian and doing all that’”
This quote also puzzled me. Why would it many difference if you were an Indian bum or not? It seems that the life of a bum would not be any different what race you were, yet Japhy speaks of it as if it were a great hardship. He of all people I would think would not notice the hobo for being an Indian, and make such a big deal out of it
Kerouac p.50
“The cheese was sharp Cheddar. But it didn’t satisfy me much and when we go out into country with no houses and anything I began to yearn for a good old hot breakfast…”
This quote puzzled me. Did Jack not travel around as a bum for many years? Was he not living off almost knighting, and riding around on trains? Why did he crave this hot breakfast if he believes that life was not about material things? I thought that he would be used to not having much to eat, and what little he had not being very good.
Kerouac p. 52
“’That’s what I like, hitchhiking around, feeling free, imagine though being an Indian and doing all that’”
This quote also puzzled me. Why would it many difference if you were an Indian bum or not? It seems that the life of a bum would not be any different what race you were, yet Japhy speaks of it as if it were a great hardship. He of all people I would think would not notice the hobo for being an Indian, and make such a big deal out of it
Thursday, April 12, 2007
dbum 2
Kerouac p. 32
“I think he’ll end up like Han Shan living alone in the mountains and writing poems on the walls of cliffs, or chanting them to crowds outside his cave.”
Although Japhy is an amazing poet, and well respected among the poetic community, people still predict that he will be al alone. He chooses to live his life in solitude, instead of with others. He will be seen as a lunatic and maybe not a poetic genius until he long gone.
Kerouac p. 38
“’In the summers I was always a government fire lookout- that’s what you oughta do next summer, Smith-‘“
This quote seemed insignificant at first, but as I looked at it more, I really liked it. Spending the summer as a government fire lookout would give you lots of time by yourself to think. It is very much like Han Shan living in the mountains by himself. This may be one of the reasons that Japhy loves to be solitary.
“I think he’ll end up like Han Shan living alone in the mountains and writing poems on the walls of cliffs, or chanting them to crowds outside his cave.”
Although Japhy is an amazing poet, and well respected among the poetic community, people still predict that he will be al alone. He chooses to live his life in solitude, instead of with others. He will be seen as a lunatic and maybe not a poetic genius until he long gone.
Kerouac p. 38
“’In the summers I was always a government fire lookout- that’s what you oughta do next summer, Smith-‘“
This quote seemed insignificant at first, but as I looked at it more, I really liked it. Spending the summer as a government fire lookout would give you lots of time by yourself to think. It is very much like Han Shan living in the mountains by himself. This may be one of the reasons that Japhy loves to be solitary.
d bums 1
D-Bums #1
Kerouac p. 11
“But as they stood and sat around I saw that he was the only one who didn’t look like a poet, though poet he was indeed.”
Japhy did not look like a poet because he too his dharma bummism to an extreme. Al of the other poets dressed like a poet is “supposed” to. They all had similar styles, and looked and acted like they should be there. This is how they let other people know who they were and how important they were because of there work. Japhy on the other hand was humble, and did not like to show off whom he was. This was his was of life.
Kerouac p. 5
“’Practice charity without holding in mind any conception of charity, for charity after all is just a word’”
This quote tells a lot about how Japhy lives his life. He is not concerned with looking good in the eyes of other people, but doing the right thing. Other people only do charity to look good, but he does not eve think about charity. He thinks about doing good things for other people
Kerouac p. 11
“But as they stood and sat around I saw that he was the only one who didn’t look like a poet, though poet he was indeed.”
Japhy did not look like a poet because he too his dharma bummism to an extreme. Al of the other poets dressed like a poet is “supposed” to. They all had similar styles, and looked and acted like they should be there. This is how they let other people know who they were and how important they were because of there work. Japhy on the other hand was humble, and did not like to show off whom he was. This was his was of life.
Kerouac p. 5
“’Practice charity without holding in mind any conception of charity, for charity after all is just a word’”
This quote tells a lot about how Japhy lives his life. He is not concerned with looking good in the eyes of other people, but doing the right thing. Other people only do charity to look good, but he does not eve think about charity. He thinks about doing good things for other people
Sunday, April 1, 2007
are these actual miles?
Raymond Carver, Are These Actual Miles?
Page. 586
“Food was one of the big items. They gorged on food. He figures thousands on luxury items alone. Toni would go to the grocery store and put in everything she saw.”
This quote reveals how Toni and Leo thought they could live life. When they first started out. They had plenty of money. When they started spending money on everything they wanted though, the money started disappearing. Toni wanted to get everything for the kids that she could not have when she was a child. They want to have the normal things that people have life fancy washers and dryers. This lifestyle though drained their money. Before they knew it, they were knee deep in debt.
Raymond Carver, Are These Actual Miles?
Page. 586
“He pours Scotch, adds water, carries the drink to the living room. He sits on the couch but finds his shoulders so stiff they wont let him lean back. He stares at the screen and sips, and soon he goes for another drink.”
This quote shows how similar this story is to the other stories that we have read. Leo uses alcohol to deal with his problems. He trying to live a normal life, but things are not going right for him. Because of this, Leo drinks. It has shown to be a popular way for people to deal with their problems.
Page. 586
“Food was one of the big items. They gorged on food. He figures thousands on luxury items alone. Toni would go to the grocery store and put in everything she saw.”
This quote reveals how Toni and Leo thought they could live life. When they first started out. They had plenty of money. When they started spending money on everything they wanted though, the money started disappearing. Toni wanted to get everything for the kids that she could not have when she was a child. They want to have the normal things that people have life fancy washers and dryers. This lifestyle though drained their money. Before they knew it, they were knee deep in debt.
Raymond Carver, Are These Actual Miles?
Page. 586
“He pours Scotch, adds water, carries the drink to the living room. He sits on the couch but finds his shoulders so stiff they wont let him lean back. He stares at the screen and sips, and soon he goes for another drink.”
This quote shows how similar this story is to the other stories that we have read. Leo uses alcohol to deal with his problems. He trying to live a normal life, but things are not going right for him. Because of this, Leo drinks. It has shown to be a popular way for people to deal with their problems.
Friday, March 30, 2007
The Persistence of Desire
Updike, The Persistence of Desire
Page 570.
“He tucked the note back into his shirt pocket and its stiffness there made a shield for his heart.”
In this quote, the narrator is not talking about the piece of paper being an actual shield for his heart. It is a shield from the world. It keeps his heart strongly in love with Janet, no matter what. The interesting part about this is that he cannot even read the note, but just seeing the handwriting makes his love for Janet all the more deep and strong.
Updike, The Persistence of Desire
Page 561.
“ On the sidewalk. Haltered girls identical in all but name with girls he had known strolled by in twos and threes”
In this quote, Clyde is observing people out the window of the eye-doctors. He says that all of the girls look identical, meaning that there is a certain way that girls are supposed to look. None of then has any personal style or class. The only thing that separates then is there names.
Page 570.
“He tucked the note back into his shirt pocket and its stiffness there made a shield for his heart.”
In this quote, the narrator is not talking about the piece of paper being an actual shield for his heart. It is a shield from the world. It keeps his heart strongly in love with Janet, no matter what. The interesting part about this is that he cannot even read the note, but just seeing the handwriting makes his love for Janet all the more deep and strong.
Updike, The Persistence of Desire
Page 561.
“ On the sidewalk. Haltered girls identical in all but name with girls he had known strolled by in twos and threes”
In this quote, Clyde is observing people out the window of the eye-doctors. He says that all of the girls look identical, meaning that there is a certain way that girls are supposed to look. None of then has any personal style or class. The only thing that separates then is there names.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
MCARTHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY and the 2nd red scare
THATS WHAT IM DOING!!!! My partner is Nikki. Our to topic is the McCarthy hearings AND the 2nd red scare....COMBINED!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The Swimmerrrrrrr
Cleaver, The Swimmer
Page 1492.
“He was disappointed and mystified. It was common enough to go away for the summer but no one ever drained his pool. The Welchers had definitely gone away.”
In this quote, Ned is confused because the Welchers are out of the norm. The normal family never drains their pool, not even when they leave for the summer. This is so out of the ordinary that Ned is not only disappointed, but also mystified. He can’t think of why someone would do this, even though it not really that big of a deal. The backyard pool in suburbia is a necessity, and having drained it is almost like a crime to Ned.
Cleaver, The Swimmer
Page 1489.
“It was one of those midsummer Sundays when everyone sits around saying, ‘I drank too much last night.’ You might have heard it whispered by the parishioners leaving the church, heard it from the priest himself, struggling with his cassock in the vestiarium, heard it from the golf links and the tennis courts, heard it form the wildlife preserve where the leader of the Audubon group was suffering from a terrible hangover.”
In this passage the narrator reveals how everyone does the exact same thing on Saturday night. Everyone drinks. The narrator tells that absolutely everyone drinks, but mentioning athletes, environmentalists, and even the priest. This emphasizes how similar everyone is in the county.
TOM MORGAN ROCKS MAD HARD!!!!!!
Page 1492.
“He was disappointed and mystified. It was common enough to go away for the summer but no one ever drained his pool. The Welchers had definitely gone away.”
In this quote, Ned is confused because the Welchers are out of the norm. The normal family never drains their pool, not even when they leave for the summer. This is so out of the ordinary that Ned is not only disappointed, but also mystified. He can’t think of why someone would do this, even though it not really that big of a deal. The backyard pool in suburbia is a necessity, and having drained it is almost like a crime to Ned.
Cleaver, The Swimmer
Page 1489.
“It was one of those midsummer Sundays when everyone sits around saying, ‘I drank too much last night.’ You might have heard it whispered by the parishioners leaving the church, heard it from the priest himself, struggling with his cassock in the vestiarium, heard it from the golf links and the tennis courts, heard it form the wildlife preserve where the leader of the Audubon group was suffering from a terrible hangover.”
In this passage the narrator reveals how everyone does the exact same thing on Saturday night. Everyone drinks. The narrator tells that absolutely everyone drinks, but mentioning athletes, environmentalists, and even the priest. This emphasizes how similar everyone is in the county.
TOM MORGAN ROCKS MAD HARD!!!!!!
The Death of Justina
Cheever, The Death of Justina
Page 542.
“When I abstain from sin it is more often a fear of scandal than a private resolve to improve the purity of my heart, but here was a call for abstinence without the worldly enforcement of society, and death is not the threat that scandal is.”
This quote reveals that in this society, it is worse to die than to be caught doing something wrong. Moses does not give up drinking and smoking, although his doctor tells him to, because society is not telling him that it is wrong. He does not care about pride in himself, if he does not get the same recognition from society, so he continues to sin. He would only stop this sin, if it were thought of as bad by society.
Cheever, The Death of Justina
Page 544.
“I must pretend, I must, like an actor, study to improve on my pretension, to have nothing to do with his triumphs and I must bow my head gracefully in shame when we have both failed. I am forced to appear grateful for injuries, to lie, to smile falsely and to play out a role as asinine and as unrelated to the facts as a minor prince at the operetta, but if I speak the truth it will be my wife and children who will pay in hardships for my outspokenness.”
In this passage, the narrator tells us how he must put on a fake personality when at his job. He has to act like a perfect employee, and be a complete suck up in order to keep his job. He must not tell anyone how he really feels about his job. This is not only true for his job, but also for his life. He must act just like society says he should act, have just what society says he should have, and do just what society says he should do. If not, he will be an outcast from society and his whole family will pay the price. He must act like he is always happy and satisfied with his life, or else he will not fit in with society. It is not necessarily that all of society is truly like this, but everyone believes that everyone else is, so they must be like this too.
tom morgan rocks wicked hard!!!!!
Page 542.
“When I abstain from sin it is more often a fear of scandal than a private resolve to improve the purity of my heart, but here was a call for abstinence without the worldly enforcement of society, and death is not the threat that scandal is.”
This quote reveals that in this society, it is worse to die than to be caught doing something wrong. Moses does not give up drinking and smoking, although his doctor tells him to, because society is not telling him that it is wrong. He does not care about pride in himself, if he does not get the same recognition from society, so he continues to sin. He would only stop this sin, if it were thought of as bad by society.
Cheever, The Death of Justina
Page 544.
“I must pretend, I must, like an actor, study to improve on my pretension, to have nothing to do with his triumphs and I must bow my head gracefully in shame when we have both failed. I am forced to appear grateful for injuries, to lie, to smile falsely and to play out a role as asinine and as unrelated to the facts as a minor prince at the operetta, but if I speak the truth it will be my wife and children who will pay in hardships for my outspokenness.”
In this passage, the narrator tells us how he must put on a fake personality when at his job. He has to act like a perfect employee, and be a complete suck up in order to keep his job. He must not tell anyone how he really feels about his job. This is not only true for his job, but also for his life. He must act just like society says he should act, have just what society says he should have, and do just what society says he should do. If not, he will be an outcast from society and his whole family will pay the price. He must act like he is always happy and satisfied with his life, or else he will not fit in with society. It is not necessarily that all of society is truly like this, but everyone believes that everyone else is, so they must be like this too.
tom morgan rocks wicked hard!!!!!
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