Why? Because man will always be man.

Now we are at the end of this semester (and my first year at Seton Hill U.). I am pretty excited for break, but I'm excited for other things as well. I believe working less while going to school has helped me with my problem of turning assignments in late. A few entries were late, but they were lower in the hierarchy of my other assignments at the time, i.e. my 350-point, 9-page research paper for STW. Anyway, I think my work this time around was my best.

-Coverage
These blogs include a direct quote from the assigned reading, identify the source of the quote, and links back to the course web page devoted to that reading (all of my blogs contain this, so I'll just list blogs that don't fit into any of the following lists):
Free verse does not necessarily equal freedom

-Timeliness
This blog I posted on time (agenda items need to be posted 24 hours before the class discussion):
Ruthless Tone
The emphasis and the meaning...
Fluff and stuff

-Interaction
In this blog, I wrote a blank verse poem about a Sunn amp, which Professor Jerz commented on, and I replied:
It's a Sunny Day
Anti-Authoritarian inspired Greta's reflection in her blog Being in charge is risky business
I left a comment on Greta Carroll's blog "Meaning-of-life" Garbage, to which she replied in my blog Code Blue for Humanity

-Depth
Very simply, these blogs show my ability to write in depth:
Ruthless Tone
City folk and people...
Because man will always be tools
Anti-Authoritarian
The Savior
Things are always better in pairs

-Extra blogs
These blogs were not for an assignment; they were just on my own accord:
To a Friend who sent me some Records
Poetry Portfolio

Hooray.

"Free verse (from the French 'vers libre'), also called open form verse, is distinguished from traditional versification in that its RHYTHMS are not organized into the regularity of METER; most free verse also lacks RHYME."
(Hamilton p.239)

So this sounds like an open ball game, right? Well, not necessarily so. Sure, you can write pretty much anything and say, "Here, this is a poem." In fact:

Here is a poem.

There, a free verse poem. Too bad it is pretty much a thoughtless nothing and therefore awful. It may be free from rhyme and meter, but a poet must still apply imagery and other such poetic devices to make up for the lack of rhyme and meter. Essentially, the free verse poem has to be either so good that it does not need to be confined by rhyme and meter, or it needs to be too good  to be confined by rhyme and meter.

Either is pretty challenging.

"A couplet is a pair of rhymed lines of the same length and METER. This example, from Ben Johnson's short lyric 'Still to Be Neat,' is an IAMBIC TETRAMETER couplet:

Give me a look, give me a face
That makes simplicity a grace."
(Hamilton p.226)

I am a big fan of couplets, especially when they deliver a big bang at the end. Good examples are the sonnets that we have read in class: Shakespeare's Sonnet CXXX - My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun, and Donne's Holy Sonnets - Death, be not proud.

Shakespeare, after realistically viewing the shortcomings his mistress has, he ends his disparaging sonnet with the couplet "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare/As any she belied with false compare.," and Donne concludes tearing Death a new one with the couplet "One short sleep past, we wake eternally, /And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die." These couplets wrap the whole meaning together and drive the point home, and I love that aspect of them. In my own poetry writing process, I try to do the same; I try to get that dramatic effect at the end that brings the point strongly.

Go back home.

"And always Ender carried with him a dry white cocoon, looking for the world where th hive-queen could awaken and thrive in peace. He looked a long time."
(Ender's Game p.324)

After conquering the buggers' world and finding the place that the buggers left their queen, Ender finally became a savior instead of a killer. He learned about them, about their mistake and the knowledge they gained from it, and he learned that they wanted forgiveness. Ender got the chance to give them their forgiveness (even though he completely annihilated them, but it's cool). I really liked this role-reversal that Ender is given. He goes from mass murderer to savior for this alien race. Essentially it is a switch from ruthless military commander to open-minded, diplomatic negotiator. Maybe Card is showing that learning, forgiving, and accepting through talking is better than complete subjugation through force?

That's the way I see it.

Susie: (Pushing them away from the bed) Patient is no code. Get away from her!
Code Team Head: (Reading) Do Not Resuscitate. Kelekian. Shit
Jason: (Whispering) Oh, God.
Code Team Head: Order was put in yesterday.
Code Team:
-It's a doctor fuck-up.
-What is he, a resident?
-Got us up here on a DNR.
-Called a code on a no-code.
Jason: Oh, God.
(Wit p.85)

Alright, so in this scene we're introduced to the Code Team for the first and only time in the play, and their totally simplistic level of dialogue shows the lack of depth to their characters, and a lack of humanity as well. We also witness Jason, the brilliant med student, burn in flames after messing up the code. This shows how much he focused on the research and not on the patient. Susie, who was just a nurse and was definitely put on a much lower level than the others, was the only one who paid attention to the patient's wishes and brought the mistake to everyone's attention. And all throughout this ordeal, Vivian was never referred to by name. So much for her hard-earned respect and prestige as a leading John Donne scholar.

I've never read any bit of dialogue packed with so much internal meaning as this one.

"Even as he cried from the pain, Ender could not help but take vengeful pleasure in the murmurs he heard rising through the barracks. You fool, Bonzo. You aren't enforcing discipline, you're destroying it. They know I turned defeat into a draw. And now they see how you repay me. You made yourself look stupid in front of everyone. What is your discipline worth now?"
(Ender's Game p.95)

Sometimes, authority is completely wrong. Sometimes those in authority think that what they do is right and they're actually completely wrong, and they deserve to be disobeyed. I think it's safe to say that we've all dealt with such an experience, or at least we all will. The Ender-Bonzo conflict was a great example of this. I'm glad that Ender finally disobeyed Bonzo and proved his strategy wrong (although it was completely expected for Ender to be the hero). I'm interested in seeing how this will effect Bonzo's leadership in future games. I'm also interested in seeing Ender battle against Bonzo, because he noted the inefficiencies of Bonzo's battle strategies. He'll probably annihilate the Salamanders next time around.

And Bonzo will be dejected (How do you like that use of one of our vocab words?).

"'No. Of course not. So I'll put it bluntly. Human beings are free except when humanity needs them. Maybe humanity needs you. To do something. Maybe humanity needs me - to find out what you're good for. We might both do despicable things, Ender, but if humankind survives, then we were good tools.'
'Is that all? Just tools?'
'Individual human beings are all tools, that the others use to help us all survive.'
'That's a lie.'
'No. It's just a half truth. You can worry about the other half after we win this war.'"
(Ender's Game p. 35)

I keep forgetting that Ender is a six-year-old child. He might as well be 26. This is such a deep and serious conversation to have with a kid. It makes you think about how serious life must be in the setting of this book.

I like this conversation because it foreshadows a lot. "We might both do despicable things" sounds to me a lot like foreshadowing. It makes me wonder what sort of dilemma Ender and Graff might get into. It also enforces the motif that Ender is a tool to be used by these people - whoever they are - that talk at the beginning of each chapter. I think that's an effective tool in itself to establish this whole "tool" or "puppet" idea.

It's a very interesting read so far.

"Sally's focused revision (right) makes specific reference to a particular source, and uses a quote to introduce a point.  Sally still injects her own opinion, but she is offering specific comments on complex issues, not bumper-sticker slogans and sweeping generalizations, such as those given on the left."
(Short Research Papers)

I think I tend to get somewhat righteous and focus more on my opinions and beliefs as opposed to focusing on using specific references to sources. I'm good at bumper-sticker slogans. In writing these research papers for various classes (I'm currently writing an 8+ page research paper for STW), I try to focus on these sources, but I may inject too much of my own beliefs into it as well. My research paper for STW is about banning hate groups like the KKK from having First Amendment protections. It is very easy for me to get righteous against the KKK and other racists, homophobes, etc., but for this assignment it is more important to use sources to support my argument and not just appeals to reason and emotion. I try to keep this in mind and shoot for that A.

I can't wait to come home tonight and attempt to double the length of my current draft.
I can't wait for this research project to be over.

I like writing poetry.
Would you tell me if you like mine?
Any criticism is welcome. Respect is optional.

1.

 

Knock, knock, knocking on

Heaven’s door; I find that there

Is nobody here.

 

I find Heaven an

Abandoned house vandalized                                                    5

By societies.

 

There are no pearly

Gates or white angels, just spray-

Paint obscenities.

 

The tattered curtains,                                                                10

Like robes of fallen heroes,

Shivers the light beams.

 

Broken needles lie;

Among many broken things

Are my broken dreams.                                                            15

 

Specifics: Haiku format, house being a metaphor for Heaven, Heaven as a synecdoche to represent religion, Rhyme scheme for last lines - ABBCC

 

2. “To a Friend who sent me some Records”

 

As late I rambled through the record fields,   

What time the punk kid shakes the tremulous dew   

From her patch’d denim jacket;—when anew

Adventurous knights take up their dinted shields:

I saw the sweetest vinyl wild thrashing yields,                                       5   

A jet-black wax-disc; ’twas the first that threw   

Its sweets below the tone arm: graceful it grew

As is the wand that queen Titania wields.

And, as I feasted on its fragrancy,  

I thought the compact-disc it far excell’d:                                              10

But when, O Wells! thy records came to me   

My sense with their punk-rock thrash was spell’d:

Intense screams had they, that with tender plea   

Shouted of peace, and truth, and friendliness unquell’d

 

Specifics: Sonnet, parody of John Keats “To a Friend who sent me some Flowers,” Rhyme scheme - ABBA/ABBA/CDCDCD

 

3.

 

Sarcastic, short, and activist as well,

With screams of power ‘nough for mighty Thor,

Ideas that confront what we abhor,

Insatiable desire to rebel.

To march with her, to walk these streets with her,                      5

To spend late nights and weekends with this girl

In cities bathed in colored neon swirl,

I wish more oft would nights like these occur.

Companion? That would mean to understate!

This bond beyond what most could ever dream,                        10

Beyond the physical, our souls in seam,

A kind which few are able to relate.

In love, I’m bound to little Emily.

Together, we will scream in harmony.

 

Specifics: Sonnet, Rhyme scheme - ABBA/CDDC/EFFE/GG

 

4.

 

The march through Oakland made those people see.

Those people that, through use of violence seek

To force a peace and calm out there; this weak

And poorly-planned idea leads to tragedy.

Is this the future of democracy?                                     5

To send out loved ones overseas to bleed,

To force our will, was this our country’s need?

Is this our future, imperialist country?

These people - War Hawks! - saw no vote from me!

I never wanted to strike there first!                                            10

Entangled in their feud - with this, we’re cursed,

And maybe those with thirst for blood will see

Why we, to put an end to greed and hate,

Will organize and smash the state!

 

Specifics: Sonnet, Rhyme scheme - ABBA/ACCA/ADDA/EE, Line 4 too long to represent the feeling that this war has gone on too long, Line 8 switches from iamb to trochee to bring attention to the “imperialist country” claim, Line 14 too short to represent impatience with the government’s policy.

5.

People are like seashells.

There are two kinds:

One kind has a hermit crab living in them-

They shelter and protect a living, breathing thing;

They have a purpose to exist.

The other kind hold nothing within them,

And when you listen to them,

You can only hear a vast ocean of nothing.

 

Specifics: Free verse, imagery to represent the difference between authentic, caring ("shelter" and "protect") people and shallow, apathetic ("holding nothing within them") people. Spontaneous; thought up and written down several months ago while at work.

#1. Americunt:

1) A way of distinguishing the USA from the rest of the Western Hemisphere. A play on the way the far more ambiguous "America" sounds.
2) What british people sometimes refer to people from the USA as.

The band American Head Charge has a song called "Americunt Evolving into Useless Psychic Garbage." This could be the word's origin.

Example:
-Americunts, (also known as Amerifags) are Quite possibly like, totally the dumbest breed on Earth. Also note that they live in the best country on earth which is further proof that God hates you. Americans are the indigenous people a bunch of squatters sack of hammers who call America (pronounced "murka") home. A veritable melting pot of races, creeds and colours, this species has been rendered practically brain dead by being force-fed vast quantities of "stuff" and relentlessly beaten about the head with the Stupid Stick.
(From Encyclopedia Dramatica)

I chose "Americunt" because...hmmm, mainly because I like to refer to stereotypical Americans in this way. Fat, ignorant, bigoted, self-centered stupid - a stereotype like this deserves such a name. I think it's pretty witty, and I also like how the sound of the word itself is as harsh as its meaning

Note: Encyclopedia Dramatica is like a very crass Wikipedia and not to be taken seriously, so laugh a little.


#2. Power-violence:

A loosely defined sub-style of hardcore which almost completely eschews traditional song structure in favor of an all-out blitz-speed musical attack. More well-known power violence bands include Infest, Spazz, and Scholastic Deth.

It was first mentioned by name in the song "Hispanic Small Man Power (H.S.M.P.)" by genre pioneer Man Is the Bastard.

Example:

Screwdriver in the Urethra of Hardcore

• Story by Anthony Bartkewicz

An oral history of powerviolence

Annoying autobio: Late last year outside a Radio Birdman show, I met a zinester who had been the subject of a song by Black Army Jacket, one of NYC’s few contributions to the mostly regional sorta-subgenre known as powerviolence. I told him that I was planning to write this article. “Really?” he responded. “Who still cares?”

(From Decibel Magazine)

I chose "Power-Violence" because I love this style of music. It is so raw and intense; the structure and the lo-fi quality of the songs are entertaining enough. I'm in a Power-Violence band named Masochrist. My other band Shrike Beats Bee has power-violence tendencies. Whether the term is hyphenated or note is beyond my knowledge, but I think it seems more proper with a hyphen.

If anyone is curious to hear some power-violence, look up Crossed Out and Dropdead on Myspace. Pretty standard PV.

#3. Skram:

Skram is a corruption of the word screamo, first coined in 2004 by Alex Bigman, a.k.a. thebigmin, on the messageboard Cross My Heart With A Knife as a joke. Over time, people took it somewhat seriously, and has now come to be used as a less-commercially co-optable term for screamo, since that word has been bastardized into oblivion, used to describe any shitty whine-fest bands on MTV and the Warped Tour that incorporate maybe 30 seconds of screaming per song.

Typically, true skram records are pressed only on vinyl, with handmade covers, and in quantities of far less than 1,000.

Previous and less successful attempts to create a term that the mainstream media and major record companies would deem "too stupid" to steal and repackage included kittencore, and the more appropriate, kitten violence.

Superlatives:
-ultimate skram : literal meaning
-epic skram : skram that usually contains abrupt and extreme tempo and volume/distortion changes, nontraditional rock instrumentation (cellos, violins, trumpets, various other orchestral instruments), and other effects to heighten the "epic" feel of the song, these songs tend to be longer in length
-1337 skram : more obscure and elitist skram
-OOP skram : used for skram records that have gone out of print, but are still in demand, and hence, command a princely sum on eBay or board.vivalavinyl.org

Variations:
-skramo
-SKR##M)
-teh screamies
-skramz0rz (or further variations, ex: skramzei0rz0ers, the more ridiculous and over the top, the better)
-amo the little-mentioned counterpart to skramo, if screamo:emo::skramo:amo, get it?

"Yo his skramz are of high skramality....he seems influenced by early Spirit of Versailles." - SKRAM KID

Example:

k1ckthecat

12-05-2005, 08:43 PM

"in a movement against the errors of catagorization, i've heard a lot of people (in the midwest at least) rename emo/screamo bands to "skramz." it kind of sounds stupid i know, but people got sick of mentioning the terms "emo" or "screamo" and having the uneducated blurt out MCR and Senses Fail.

not only the stupid name, the devoted emo fans around here complain that doing this "abandons the name of what we love." i'm undecided, anyone care to discuss?"
(From skramz[Archive] forum on sputnikmusic.com)

I chose "Skram" because real screamo is another one of my favorite genres of music (I like some intense music). Also, I'm in a Skram band named Liberate Me! - yes, I'm in three bands. I generally refer to real screamo as Skram so people aren't like, "You listen to screamo, like My Chemical Romance?" Real screamo is different from the  popular concept of screamo, which is so loosely defined that if a band has screaming in it, someone will call it screamo.

#4. Soylent Shitfest:

A show where everybody gets together and throws shit and eats soybeans

Dude, that soylent shitfest last night was terrible.

Actually, I only wanted to throw that one in there because this is the name of the first song by my band, Shrike Beats Bee (don't ask me what exactly the song is about; it's long, complicated, and odd). Some random person apparently decided to put this into Urban Dictionary. We don't know who did it, and chances are we don't know the person, cause if it was someone we knew, they'd be like, "Dudes, I put "Soylent Shitfest" in Urban Dictionary," and we'd be like, "Why?" But it's cool nonetheless that someone we don't know knows us.

The title of my blog is from another Shrike Beats Bee song, "City Folk and People."
Say that fast with a bit of a slur.