(Many of you are going to want to comment on this. That's alright--just email me. I closed the comments because I made a decision. I'm not going to write for the Setonian anymore, but if they want me to, I'll copyedit until the day I'm forced to quit SHU. If you need to know why I made this decision, just read the entry.)
I know, before anyone says anything, that the requirement for Media Lab is to work with the Setonian in some capacity. I also know that some people are going to think that this entry is because of my expressed opinions about certain things that I have decided not to name on this blog. Well it's not--fully.
This is however, a chance for me to express my opinions, to give a pointed reason of why I may quit, and to hear back from readers. I do want to point out, however, I am not trying to slam anyone or any policy. I am merely expressing the thoughts in my head.
Let's get started then, shall we?
POINTS FOR QUITTING
1.This happened towards the end of the semester last time as well, but now, we're on the verge of losing our home. Why? See #2. my bro's not home, which means my stepdad has to pay child support, which means he doesn't have enough money to pay the rent. So what happens? Our landlord threatens to kick us out until we pay the months we missed.
2.Family issues--my little brother, as I once again told a select few, is in a group home because of past problems. He comes home once a week or so for family therapy. If I wasn't writing for the Setonian, I could be at home for that instead of interviewing people.
3.Writing--If I quit the Setonian, it would give me more time to do my own personal writing. Not many know this (Dr. Jerz, Dr. Wendland, and Dr. Arnzen, among the few do) but they will now--i potentially have a publishing company looking at a few--it went from 1 to like 5--short stories that they would want me to rewrite as chapters of novels. If I were to quit the Setonian, I would have more time to do so.
POINTS FOR STAYING ON
1. Writing--I love journalism. I don't think it will be my chosen profession, but I love it enough to keep doing it.
2. Meeting people--I love to talk to new people and establish networks on campus..
Really, that's all I have for points for staying with the setonian. I would love for everyone's opinion to be posted! Like I said, this wasn't a way for me to say "im pissed at this person" or "this policy fucking sucks big *****." It was just away for me to get off of my mind thoughts that have been floating there for awhile.
Thanks
Lou
Edits: I made the post look more like I orginially intended it to look--with my most important points at #1, then so forth. Writing will always be last to me--whether it's journalism or it's creative writing. My family comes first and foremost.
As many of you who know me know I like to parade the fact that I went to good old greensburg-salem school district. One of the favorite times of the fall season was homecoming. The alumni tent set up, meeting people that went to GS..and FOOTBALL!
Now..for the first time EVER..I get to experience homecoming SHU-Style.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK DR. JERZ--NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR ALL NEWSWRITING STUDENTS. I HAD ONLY HEARD IN MY MAJOR BRITISH WRITERS I CLASS THAT THE BLOGS WERE DOWN SINCE LIKE 4:00 PM. I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR EXTENDING THE DEADLINE TO LET THOSE OF US WHO COULD DO IT, DO SOME LAST MINUTE TWEAKING. I ALSO WANT TO THANK HIM, FOR ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE NOW I GET SOMETHING SOMEWHAT DECENT IN.
Ok..so here goes..I can say with full honesty, that I do not have any timeliness OR comments. Why? I simply forgot. Plain and simple, i was lazy and forgot.
Now..as for coverage, I have a few that I think could be displayed for Coverage.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouGagliardi/011088.html This was a blog entry that explained, yeah in two sentences, why I thought the article was interesting to me, but for coverage--in my humble opinion, that's enough.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouGagliardi/011091.html
I was reading Chapter 1 before School started, but never thought of blogging it, till honestly right now. What it said makes sense to me. Sometimes, when I'm writing a news article--I can't think of the right words to use, so rather than give simple details I'll go into long-windness for example:
The above entry explain, with examples, Chapter 1 of the AP Guide to News Writing. I guess this entry could also go into the blog as a Depth entry as well.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouGagliardi/011092.html
This chapter is telling me that I as a journalist need to make sure that I have more than just information in my news articles. I need to tell a story, but to tell it informationally. I can't just use quotes from my sources, or anything like that. I need to tell the story with details, with the information, itself--not just give the information. I think that the big six questions that we need to answer as journalists can be answered with more than just the basic answers
In this entry, I explained chapter 2 of the AP Guide to NewsWriting. I gave an example, and made fun of Dr. Jerz's geekiness as well.
This goes into Coverage, as well. its a simple entry, and wasn't on time, but it still covers enough to make me smile.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouGagliardi/011095.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouGagliardi/011106.html
Journalism's first loyalty is to the citizens.
That is a direct quote from the book, the Elements of Journalism. But is that really true anymore? Does journalism's first loyalty belong to the citizens, or does journalisms first loyalty now lie with the PR machines that spew out what journalist are and arent allowed to say? I think it lies with the PR machines anymore. I mean there are alot of articles that are human interest stories, but how many of them have all the facts anymore?
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/NancyGregg/2005/09/on_and_off_the.html
The above was the only blog entry that I commented on this time around. The entry was about going on and off the record.
This is the coverpage for my American Literature 1800-1915 class...we'll let's get started...
TIMELINESS ENTRIES
These were the entries that were on time:
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouGagliardi/010399.html This was a quick blog entry discussing the poems from like the first session of class.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouGagliardi/011044.html
The narrator, whose name we learn at the end is Jane, is married to John and dominated by him. As she recuperates with neurasthenia in a room in a rented mansion, he does not allow her to do anything but rest, and especially forbids her from the creative work of writing.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouGagliardi/011045.html
What interests me about the opening..is why does the narrator say he is an "elderly man?" To show that he has experience? Or perhaps to show that he was set in his ways. He also calls lawyering an "advocation"This was an entry on the short story. Obviously, we haven't had the class on it so I haven't added too much.
The rest of my blog entries are really just simply two sentences or so, because I admittedly didn't get them done in time.
OWN BLOG ENTRY THAT HAVE COMMENTS THAT I'VE RESPONDED TOO:
This is a blog entry that I've had comments on that I, myself, have responded too:
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouGagliardi/010956.html
This was actually a responsive paper that I apparently didn't need for class. Oh, well, it made a good blog entry anyawys.
Comments I left on other people's blogs.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LeahDavis/2005/09/the_scarlett_le.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/ErinWaite/2005/09/custom_house.html
To be totally truthful..and I'm not trying to make excuses or to get pity..but what I think happened to me in the beginning of this semester..i was talking so much in class that I just said "screw it" to blogging, and then got lazy.
Chapter 3: Who Journalist Work For.
Journalism's first loyalty is to the citizens.
That is a direct quote from the book, the Elements of Journalism. But is that really true anymore? Does journalism's first loyalty belong to the citizens, or does journalisms first loyalty now lie with the PR machines that spew out what journalist are and arent allowed to say? I think so. I mean there are alot of articles that, sure, human interest stories, but how many of them have all the facts anymore?
Sure Adolph Ochs and the others may have believed they were independent in their pursuits of the truth, and in their times they were. But does that hold true for 2005? I do not believe that it does.
Chapter 4: Journalism of Verification
The essences of journalism is a discipline of verfication.
Really now? Someone mind telling that to CBS and Dan Rathers then? Last I checked they didn't verify their sources and look at what happened. They got made fools of. Maybe we should send a copy of this book to CBS.
Enough said.
Chapter 5: Independence from faction
Journalists need to be independent from those they cover.
I totally agree with the above statement. Journalists shouldn't be covering the Pittsburgh Steelers football game--for example--unless they aren't apart of the team or somehow could be bias against/for the team. Now, lately, alot of the radio shows have been asking like Hines "Moneybags" Ward, ect to come onto the radio show and do commentary--I think that's fine and dandy.
But I can understand this chapter, the journalist should have no connections whatsoever when it comes to a story.
Quotes are used for:
* Documentation and support third person statements in the lead
* Highlighting testimony in trials
They are used for those things, among the others. It's all in how the person uses the quote to write, show feelings, etc.
For example:
"Dr. Jerz is talking about poop! exclaimed Freddy King.
That would not be a very good quote, without something to back it up.
"Today, the Congress meets to discuss the Katrina Relief Aid the president has discussed," In the White House, President Bish watches as his chief advisor gives a brief speech. "We hope that congress can agree with us on an action soon."
That's a good quote because it doesn't just stand alone. It has the president watching his advisor. You just have to pick and choose your quotes.
The lead..the thing that should be the easiest to write for a newspaper. But it actually isn't. I'm not just saying that after reading this chapter either, I'm also talking about personal experience. I was an editor for my hs school paper for 1 year in GS, and for 2 in Kiski when I went to middle school there. It was hard to write a lead that was concise but gave enough information. Now I see why, after reading this chapter--it was because I, along with other journalists sometimes--try to cram too much into the lead, instead of leaving it for other paragraphs.
I also found, in part thanks to this chapter, and the discussions (read: lectures) by Dr. Jerz, that you can have more than paragraph in your leader--but maybe like 45% of your information should be in your opening paragraph.
NEWSWRITING: INFORMATION IS NOT ENOUGH
This chapter is telling me that I as a journalist need to make sure that I have more than just information in my news articles. I need to tell a story, but to tell it informationally.
I can't just use quotes from my sources, or anything like that. I need to tell the story with details, with the information, itsself--not just give the information.
I think that the big six questions that we need to answer as journalists can be answered with more than just the basic answers. For example:
The police came to the house at about midnight. Police chief, George Burns, said, "We heard a crash in the backyard and went to investigate. It turned out to be Mrs. Jerz's husband chasing away a spammer."
Instead, it could read:
The police came to the house at about midnight, because the neighbors were complaining about loud noises. Police chief, George Burns, was on the scene and watched the home of Dr. Dennis Jerz, 30, of 123 Geek Street. Suddenly a crash came from the back of the home, and as the chief went to investiage, he saw "Dr. Jerz chasing a potential theif away before he could nab Jerz's Star Trek collection."
It gives more information that the previous sentence, but also gives more details.
I was reading Chapter 1 before School started, but never thought of blogging it, till honestly right now. What it said makes sense to me. Sometimes, when I'm writing a news article--I can't think of the right words to use, so rather than give simple details I'll go into long-windness for example:
"Seton Hill's football program played the McDaniel College Green Terror at 1 in the afternoon on Saturday. This was the first meeting between the teams, but not between the coaches." (30 words)
It could be:
"Seton Hill's football program played the McDaniel College Green Terror on Saturday. This was the first meeting between the teams, but not between the coaches." (25 Words)
or
"Seton Hill's football program played the McDaniel College Green Terror on Saturday. This was the first meeting between the teams." (20 words)
or
"The Griffins played the Green Terror on Saturday, the first time the teams met". (14 words)
Sure the last example doesn't look like the first one at all--it looks like an incomplete sentence, but it does get the point across.
Also, as a journalist, I have found that I tend to use words that make the article sound more like a conversation im having with someone than a news article. I have to try and stay away from that.
In the introduction, I found it interesting that the authors said,
From the most isolated tribal societies in Africa, to the most distant lands in the Pacific, people shared essentially the same definition of what is news.My question to that--how? How would an australian aborgini know what a Zulu from African things is news?
But then later in the next paragraph, they explain it. According to Kovach and Rosensteil, the need to share, and the definition of what news is, satisfies a basic human impulse.
The story in the beginning of chapter 1 is interesting. I grew up in the middle of the tailend of communism, so to read what the new was like back then for people in Poland is interesting..but it does introduce a valid point that the press is for the people first and foremost, and any thing including governments have to take a back seat.
Journalism first priority is the truth? But what if the "truth" comes at a price--in other words defaming someone..look at what happened with President Johnson and his Secretary of Defense. The secretary says one thing to the people, then 8 years later, we find out the truth--it destroyed, in my opinion, both of their legacies.
This was from 9-20-05.
State police in Greensburg are seeking information regarding who set a fire to three modular homes early Sunday morning in Hempfield Township.
The 5:27 a.m. fire occurred at Greensburg Mobile Home Mart, Route 119 southbound.
The fire started in a modular home up for sale, spread to a second one and began to burn a third, said Kim Swan, a firefighter for Midway St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department.
She said two modular homes were destroyed. A state police fire marshal made the arson ruling yesterday. The loss was estimated at $100,000.
The state police barracks can be reached at 724-832-3288.
It's a short little article, more than likely a press-release asked by the state police for the trib-review to publish. But it's got a who (the state police), a what (looking for information), where (Hempfield Township), When (Sunday morning), why (so they can arrest an arsonist or find out if it was an accident), and how (by calling the state police). If a follow up to this were printed, it more than likely would include some reference to this. Plus, with the information given, it happened in our backyard which means it deserves extra attention.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_375897.html
t can be a stressful life, juggling a full-time job, a family and a band.
But the members of country-rock group Midnite Run say they find comfort in their music.
"We really enjoy what we do. We sacrifice a lot for it," says drummer and vocalist Art Hill. "But obviously, the benefits outweigh the sacrifices."
Hill, who has been with the band for eight years, lives in Jeannette with his wife, Kerianne, and their son, Kolton, 4.
"Last month we had 15 jobs," says Hill, whose day job keeps him busy in the IT department at the Tribune-Review. "It's a tremendous struggle to find time for yourself. We all have wives and children."
Hill says this month promises to be just as busy for the band, including a show scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday during the Hempfield Fall Festival at Hempfield Park.
Chris Lander, the band's lead vocalist for four years, says it's all about the adrenaline rush he gets when he takes center stage.
"I could be dead tired from a long week. We could have four shows in a row, but once I get up there on that stage in front of those people, it just lifts me back up again," he says.
Acting not only as the lead vocalist but also as the band's manager and Web site designer, Lander says his weekend gig has become his second full-time job, next to the time he spends each week working at a family-owned business. He says it leaves little time to spend with his wife, Carrie, and two children, Tristan, 5, and Brittany, 12.
But he, Hill and band members Dave Maxwell and Jim Blaney are working hard to reach their goal of making "the big time."
"We all believe we have a shot," Hill says. "We've been through a bunch of changes, but the band is tighter than it's ever been, with the existing members. We are going to do everything in our power to make it happen."
Besides the big crowds the band draws at local venues, the group is hoping to gain more exposure through its first CD, which members anticipate finishing by the end of the year.
The album will feature the group's signature country and classic-rock sound through songs written by Hill and Lander, including "Five Miles of Bad Road," "Half Acre Happy" and "When I'm Gone." Additionally, Lander says a few songs still in the early stages of writing also will be on the CD.
"We try to be very versatile for our audience," Lander says. "A lot of people say they didn't even like country music until they heard us. We tend to be on the heavier side of country -- almost rock 'n' roll."
It's a sound that's gaining a lot of attention, which explains why the band stepped into the recording studio.
"The CD is something to show for all the hard work we've been doing. Fans have been asking us for a CD. We want to give them something to enjoy outside of the show," Lander says. "We are doing this for us, and for those who have stuck by us all these years.
"As far as what makes us unique, I can't put my finger on it," he adds. "I don't know. But what we do works for us."
This article was interesting to me, because I think I went to school with or my parents know the members of Midnite Run. The whole article was really good and Carla DeStefano wrote really well. I hope to one day be as good as her--because who knows journalism just might become my career.
(note all the following entries are for my newswriting portfolio. Yeah, I got a late start. *shrugs* no ones fault but my own.)
Seton Hill University in Greensburg uses reading material as a way for freshmen to get together at the beginning of the year. The university gives a free book to every student and have a discussion on it early in the first semester."It's a good bonding experience, and a great introduction to the sort of literate college life we hope to foster at Seton Hill," said Dr. Michael Arnzen, an English instructor at Seton Hill.
The books are distributed to the students during orientation sessions.
I found this interesting, if not a little misleading. I thought that the books were only handed out during the summer orientation, because I never received a book to read for my orientation in January. To me, I have to ask, did Mr. Mastroianni get all of his information? Or did he simply take what Dr. A (who is by no means an idiot) said and then added his own information?
This helped me identify one of my own main problems--get all of the sources that I can.
The narrator, whose name we learn at the end is Jane, is married to John and dominated by him. As she recuperates with neurasthenia in a room in a rented mansion, he does not allow her to do anything but rest, and especially forbids her from the creative work of writing. She finds solace in her journal and, as her stay wears on, the yellow wallpaper in her room. At first the wallpaper's ugly pattern irritates her, but she later sees the figure of a woman imprisoned in the bar-like pattern. Her earlier concerns‹about not being a good wife and mother‹fade away as she exercises her creativity in decoding the wallpaper, which seems to her almost like a literary text. She soon identifies completely with the woman, who tries to break free from the domesticated prison of the wallpaper by moonlight, the time when women are free from the oppressive regularity of masculine sunshine (a motif Gilman develops throughout the story). The narrator's growing insanity‹realistically rendered by Gilman's increasingly choppy prose style‹somewhat offsets her developing awareness of feminist liberation and masculine oppression. However, the story's final image of her "creeping" around the room while she peels off the wallpaper suggests progress: while feminists may have to hide in the shadows for now, eventually they will rise up and tear down the shackles of domesticity. I find it interesting that the author wrote this story at a time that feminism wasn't really that popular yet. Here is a strong female character, though physically sick, that truimphs in not letting her husband have the last laugh.
I appauld and thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty years has brought me into more than ordinary contact with what would seem an interesting and somewhat singular set of men of whom as yet nothing that I know of has ever been written:-- I mean the law-copyists or scriveners. I have known very many of them, professionally and privately, and if I pleased, could relate divers histories, at which good-natured gentlemen might smile, and sentimental souls might weep. But I waive the biographies of all other scriveners for a few passages in the life of Bartleby, who was a scrivener the strangest I ever saw or heard of. While of other law-copyists I might write the complete life, of Bartleby nothing of that sort can be done. I believe that no materials exist for a full and satisfactory biography of this man. It is an irreparable loss to literature. Bartleby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable, except from the original sources, and in his case those are very small. What my own astonished eyes saw of Bartleby, that is all I know of him, except, indeed, one vague report which will appear in the sequel.
What interests me about the opening..is why does the narrator say he is an "elderly man?" To show that he has experience? Or perhaps to show that he was set in his ways. He also calls lawyering an "advocation":
#1. An activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment; a hobby.
#2. One's regular work or profession.
#3. Archaic. A distraction or diversion.
I highly doubt that Melville, or rather the narrator of the story, ment to saying that his job is his hobby.
Also interesting to note, sciviner was another word for a copywriter/editor/notary. I wonder why Dr. Jerz doesn't call the Setonian staff scriveners.
To Hester, the “A” is a symbol of unjust humiliation at the beginning of the novel. Chapter 2 throws light upon this:
“...when the young woman –the mother of this child- stood fully revealed before the crowd, it seemed to be her first impulse to clasp the infant closely to her bosom. Not so much by an impulse of motherly affection, as that she might thereby conceal a certain token...” [...] “She clutched the child so fiercely to her breast, that it sent forth a cry; she turned her eyes downward at the scarlet letter, and even touched it with her finger, to assure herself that the infant and the shame were real”.
Although Hester suffers enormously from the shame of her public disgrace and from the isolation of her punishment, in her inmost heart she can never accept the Puritan interpretation of her act. From her, the act is inseparable from love, love for Dimmesdale, love for Pearl. Hester does not believe she did and evil thing and so she retains her self-respect and survives her punishment with dignity and an ever-growing strength of character.
The penance imposed by the community has an ironic effect on Hester, giving her freedom of thought and a resulting independence of spirit.
As the years pass, the symbol has a “powerful and peculiar” effect upon her being; Hester escapes the Puritan world by taking the letter to herself, extending the “lawlessness” of adultery into all her habits of thought, and reshaping conventional values into her own reality. “He world’s law was no law for her mind [...] She assumed a freedom of speculation [...] which our forefathers, and they known it, would have held to be a deadlier crime than that stigmatized by the scarlet letter”
WASHINGTON - Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who became a leader of the anti-war movement following her son's death in Iraq, was arrested Monday along with dozens of others protesting outside the White House.
Sheehan, carrying a photo of her son in his Army uniform, was among hundreds of protesters who marched around the White House and then down the two-block pedestrian walkway on Pennsylvania Avenue. When they reached the front of the White House, dozens sat down — knowing they would be arrested — and began singing and chanting "Stop the war now!"
Police warned them three times that they were breaking the law by failing to move along, then began making arrests. One man climbed over the White House fence and was quickly subdued by Secret Service agents.
Sheehan, 48, was the first taken into custody. She smiled as she was carried to the curb, then stood up and walked to a police vehicle while protesters chanted, "The whole world is watching."
About 50 people were arrested in the first hour, with dozens of others waiting to be taken away. All cooperated with police.
Sgt. Scott Fear, spokesman for the U.S. Park Police, said they would be charged with demonstrating without a permit, which is a misdemeanor.
Park Police Sgt. L.J. McNally said Sheehan and the others would be taken to a processing center where they would be fingerprinted and photographed, then given a ticket and released. The process would take several hours, he said.
Sheehan's 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in an ambush in Sadr City, Iraq, last year. She attracted worldwide attention last month with her 26-day vigil outside President Bush's Texas ranch.
The demonstration is part of a broader anti-war effort on Capitol Hill organized by United for Peace and Justice, an umbrella group. Representatives from anti-war groups were meeting Monday with members of Congress to urge them to work to end the war and bring home the troops.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Bush is "very much aware" of the protesters and "recognizes that there are differences of opinion" on Iraq.
"It's the right of the American people to peacefully express their views. And that's what you're seeing here in Washington, D.C.," McClellan said. "They're well-intentioned, but the president strongly believes that withdrawing ... would make us less safe and make the world more dangerous."
The protest Monday followed a massive demonstration Saturday on the National Mall that drew a crowd of 100,000 or more, the largest such gathering in the capital since the war began in March 2003.
On Sunday, a rally supporting the war drew roughly 500 participants. Speakers included veterans of World War II and the war in Iraq, as well as family members of soldiers killed in Iraq.
"I would like to say to Cindy Sheehan and her supporters: Don't be a group of unthinking lemmings," said Mitzy Kenny of Ridgeley, W.Va., whose husband died in Iraq last year. She said the anti-war demonstrations "can affect the war in a really negative way. It gives the enemy hope."
Umm..Ms. Kenny..it's not the anti-war demonstrations that gives the enemy hope...it's the fact that we have G.W. Bush as our president that gives the enemy hope..
The article for the Chicago Tribune gave more information about the topic at hand. The Daily Egyptian talked about one specific person. I mean I could understand if the article was about one person and his dog, but it was about one person and a hoax that he fell for.
I personally think the first article covers more of the story. The Chicago Tribune's story is more about the Daily Egyptian and goes onto explain who, what where and why the story took place then the actual Daily Egyptain did. I was more impressed by their style and voice than I was with the Daily Egyptian's voice and style. I can, however, also understand why the Daily Egpytian only focused on their former editor, it was a news story that they had the most pertient and updated information to.
The one time im ready to turn in a responsive paper...and I didn't even need it!
Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death" was first published in 1842. In the orginial publication the title was given the English spelling of "mask", yet it was changed in masque. According to dictionary.com, mask comes from: French masque, from Italian maschera, from Medieval Latin masca, specter, witch, mask. Interesting..
In this macabre tale, a Prince Prospero seals himself and a thousand of his friends into the abbey of a castle in order to protect them from a deadl pestilence--The Red Death--that is ravaging the country. But when the group indulge in a lavish costume ball in order to distract themselves from the suffering and death outside their walls, the Red Death, disguised as a costumed guest, enters and claims the lives of everyone present. The story is narrated in a manner which gives it the quality of a myth, allegor, or fairy tale, exploring themes of man's fear of death, sin, madness, and the end of the world.
This tale is a prime example of Poe's Gothic horror fiction. Poe evokes a dark and eerie mood in a story that focuses on images of blood and death, while the personification of the Red Death lengs an element of the supernatural. "The Masque of the Red Death" embodies Poe's mastery of the short story; in addition, it illustrates his literary philosophy. According to Poe, a short story should be tightly focused so that every word, from beginning to end, contributes to the overall effect. In "The Masque of the Red Death," powerful imagery and an illusive narrative voice are tightly woven into a macabre tale of horror with insight into the human condition.
"Too far, too far!" exclaimed the goodman, unconsciously resuming his walk. "My father never went into the woods on such an errand, nor his father before him. We have been a race of honest men and good Christians, since the days of the martyrs. And shall I be the first of the name of Brown, that ever took this path and kept--"
"Such company, thou wouldst say," observed the elder person, interrupting his pause. "Well said, Goodman Brown! I have been as well acquainted with your family as with ever a one among the Puritans; and that's no trifle to say. I helped your grandfather, the constable, when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly through the streets of Salem. And it was I that brought your father a pitch-pine knot, kindled at my own hearth, to set fire to an Indian village, in King Philip's War. They were my good friends, both; and many a pleasant walk have we had along this path, and returned merrily after midnight. I would fain be friends with you, for their sake.
I found it interesting..that throughout the walk through the forest, Brown's, along with everyone else's soul became darker and darker..until basically everyone became sinner's in Brown's eyes. Nathaniel Hawthorne, in my eyes, is a master of short fiction rather than novel fiction.
LO! 't is a gala night
Within the lonesome latter years.
An angel throng, bewinged, bedight
In veils, and drowned in tears,
Sit in a theatre to see
A play of hopes and fears,
While the orchestra breathes fitfully
The music of the spheres.
Mimes, in the form of God on high,
Mutter and mumble low,
And hither and thither fly;
Mere puppets they, who come and go
At bidding of vast formless things
That shift the scenery to and fro,
Flapping from out their condor wings
Invisible Woe.
That motley drama—oh, be sure
It shall not be forgot!
With its Phantom chased for evermore
By a crowd that seize it not,
Through a circle that ever returneth in
To the self-same spot;
And much of Madness, and more of Sin,
And Horror the soul of the plot.
But see amid the mimic rout
A crawling shape intrude:
A blood-red thing that writhes from out
The scenic solitude!
It writhes—it writhes!—with mortal pangs
The mimes become its food,
And over each quivering form
In human gore imbued.
Out—out are the lights—out all!
And over each quivering form
The curtain, a funeral pall,
Comes down with the rush of a storm,
While the angels, all pallid and wan,
Uprising, unveiling, affirm
That the play is the tragedy, "Man,"
And its hero, the Conqueror Worm.
Dickenson's life was already hell, as was Poe's, so why would they care. Poe was a morbid little man, while people just assumed that Dickenson was "creepy".
The two authors have nothing, and everything in common. Weird, no?
This is from the very beginning of American Lit. I'm only posting these for my Portfolio.
SUCCESS is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory,
As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Break, agonized and clear.
* * *
Because I could not stop for Death --
He kindly stopped for me --
The Carriage held but just Ourselves --
And Immortality.
We slowly drove -- He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility --
We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess -- in the Ring --
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain --
We passed the Setting Sun --
Or rather -- He passed Us --
The Dews drew quivering and chill --
For only Gossamer, my Gown --
My Tippet -- only Tulle --
We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground --
The Roof was scarcely visible --
The Cornice -- in the Ground --
Since then -- 'tis Centuries -- and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity --
* * *
THERE is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
The first poem is saying that a person can not understand a total success until you have a small victory or loss first.
The second poem is saying that death is not eternal if you're remembered by your loved one.
This was done on Feburary 27, 2005. It was when my blog was The Ramblings, Rants and Thoughts of a Struggling Writer, which is still up if you want to check it out. This was basically how we were supposed to do our blog portfolios. This was also my first semester and the first time I had ever witnessed Dr. Dennis G. Jerz.
Blog Portfolio
Ok..here we go...I'm not too sure how to do this...so I'm gonna try. If anyone wants to reply and tell me where I could improve, it would be greatly appreciated. The links should work now, if your experiencing any difficulty, please let me know.
January
The very first entry I posted on one of our readings--A Good Man is Hard to Find. The entry was very wasn't very long, because I wasn't sure to what to say, but I did have a few things to say http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouisGagliardi/2005_01.html#007546
The second entry one I did on a reading, one of personal favorite stories...it was on To Build A Fire. Again, it was short. I didn't know what else to say *shrugs* Plus I'm the type of person to keep things short and sweet.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouisGagliardi/2005_01.html#007547
February
I started this on The Machine, a short story that was written in 1909. http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouisGagliardi/2005_02.html#007549
The second and third blog entry was written on the tempest by Shakespare. The classic bard himself, I am sure he would be proud to know that his works inspire and start conversations the world over. http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouisGagliardi/2005_02.html#007664 .
The third blog entry, and the second in what I call the Shakespeare Era, is about a dream I had. I had dreamt that all of the students in my Intro to Lit class were the characters of the Shakespearean play, the Tempest http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LouisGagliardi/2005_02.html#007729
That's really all I have thats prevalant.
A comment that I left on Chris's blog, I even commented before the great Dr. Jerz
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/mt/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=7504
My point in class was, before I got interrupted by an eye-rolling evan, was that China understands because their a communist country. Japan understands because until recently all the nuclear studying done by the Japanese was controlled in part by the United States since after World War 2.
Kevin McGinnis made a valid point, its called "understand by proximity" meaning that, for example, here in the United States, we don't need a long history about why Canada, Mexico or most of Western Europe did something or why one of their leaders said something--because we've done or gone through the same thing. Now when someone from China does say something or some country in Africa does something, we need the background because we don't understand an "effing" (sorry to use your word Kevin!) word or action they do/say.
So tell ya what, Mr. Eye Roller, next time you don't like what I say, let me get my point across first. If you disagree, then fine, if not, great!
(If you would like to talk to me IM me on the following: WyldeFyre316 (AIM); louis_gagliardi@hotmail.com (MSN); louisgagliardi (YIM!). Just let me know your from SHU)
I want to explain something first and foremost..I don't like SOME Republicans. The ones I hate are the extremists that think their word is law, and that's all that matters. I don't like the kind that jam their shit down your throat.
Now, if you want to come up to me and like a good new friend and fellow classmate, Jason Pugh did and talk to me and try to explain your position. That's fine. I've told many people on this blog, back when it was known as Thoughts and Ramblings of a Struggling Writer. That if you ever want to talk to me, that's fine. I'm not hard to find.
Now, this semester, I won't name names, because our dear sweet president would say, "im not a name-caller. I'm a problem solver." But people know who I refer to.
Another thing I dislike, is SOME of the things the Catholic Church says or does. Like I can understand some people's issues with gay marriage, for example, if that's how they were raised. But another thing, and I told Jason this last night, what gay marriage leads to is gay divorce, gay custody battles, etc. In other words, more money for the state/federal goverment (this was probably on a simpsons or family guy episode or something). I can understand the holy sanctitity of marriage thing..except for its should be changed to "till death do us part or I decide that your brother/cousin/the guy down the street is a much better looking guy who treats me better or i just want all of your marriage, so i wanted a quick marriage so i could just divorce you and get half."
Oh another thing I hate is "Christian Gays." How can you be something, then be the other, when the other claims that "God" hates you?
Ok..all jokes aside..I'm not for either political party. I'm not religious. I will listen to all sides and decide which one I like better. If I feel your just being an idiot, I will come and out say it, and just ignore you or blast you and make fun of you.
Later days!
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (Ch 14-21) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
Don't get me wrong here folks. I did read the Scarlet Letter. I just couldn't find anything about the other 7plus chapters we had to read. I don't really know what else to say. I mean it wasn't that I didn't enjoy reading it, it's just that..well..for me the Scarlet Letter is "blah".
I don't know if anyone else had this problem (obviously not if people are finding quotes to use) but I just couldn't get into the ending of the book. I don't know if it's because it didn't have the traditional "happy" ending or what not but I was just like looking at the of the book and was like "THAT'S IT!?"
Oh well, time to read the introductory...
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (Ch 8-13) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
This paper explains what the Scarlet Letter means to Hester, with quotes from Chapters 8-13.
To Hester, the “A” is a symbol of unjust humiliation at the beginning of the novel. Chapter 2 throws light upon this:
“...when the young woman –the mother of this child- stood fully revealed before the crowd, it seemed to be her first impulse to clasp the infant closely to her bosom. Not so much by an impulse of motherly affection, as that she might thereby conceal a certain token...” [...] “She clutched the child so fiercely to her breast, that it sent forth a cry; she turned her eyes downward at the scarlet letter, and even touched it with her finger, to assure herself that the infant and the shame were real”.
Although Hester suffers enormously from the shame of her public disgrace and from the isolation of her punishment, in her inmost heart she can never accept the Puritan interpretation of her act. From her, the act is inseparable from love, love for Dimmesdale, love for Pearl. Hester does not believe she did and evil thing and so she retains her self-respect and survives her punishment with dignity and an ever-growing strength of character.
The penance imposed by the community has an ironic effect on Hester, giving her freedom of thought and a resulting independence of spirit. As the years pass, the symbol has a “powerful and peculiar” effect upon her being; Hester escapes the Puritan world by taking the letter to herself, extending the “lawlessness” of adultery into all her habits of thought, and reshaping conventional values into her own reality. “He world’s law was no law for her mind [...] She assumed a freedom of speculation [...] which our forefathers, and they known it, would have held to be a deadlier crime than that stigmatized by the scarlet letter”
That's my paper and I'm sticking to it.
A federal judge declared the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional Wednesday, a decision that could put the divisive issue on track for another round of Supreme Court arguments.
The case was brought by the same atheist whose previous battle against the words "under God" was rejected last year by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."
Karlton said he was bound by precedent of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which in 2002 ruled in favor of Sacramento atheist Michael Newdow that the pledge is unconstitutional when recited in public schools.
The Supreme Court dismissed the case last year, saying Newdow lacked standing because he did not have custody of his elementary school daughter he sued on behalf of.
Newdow, an attorney and a medical doctor, filed an identical case on behalf of three unnamed parents and their children. Karlton said those families have the right to sue.
"Imagine every morning if the teachers had the children stand up, place their hands over their hearts, and say, 'We are one nation that denies God exists,'" Newdow said in an interview with AP Radio after the ruling.
"I think that everybody would not be sitting here saying, 'Oh, what harm is that.' They'd be furious. And that's exactly what goes on against atheists. And it shouldn't."
Karlton, ruling in Sacramento, said he would sign a restraining order preventing the recitation of the pledge at the Elk Grove Unified, Rio Linda and Elverta Joint Elementary school districts in Sacramento County, where the plaintiffs' children attend.
The order would not extend beyond those districts unless it is affirmed by the 9th Circuit, in which case it could apply to nine western states, or the Supreme Court, which would apply to all states.
The decision sets up another showdown over the pledge in schools, at a time when the makeup of the Supreme Court is in flux.
Wednesday's ruling comes as Supreme Court nominee John Roberts faces day three of his confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He would succeed the late William H. Rehnquist as chief justice.
In July, Sandra Day O'Connor announced her plans to retire when a successor is confirmed.
The Becket Fund, a religious rights group that is a party to the case, said it would immediately appeal the case to the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. If the court does not change its precedent, the group would go to the Supreme Court.
"It's a way to get this issue to the Supreme Court for a final decision to be made," said fund attorney Jared Leland.
The decisions by Karlton and the 9th Circuit conflict with an August opinion by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. That court upheld a Virginia law requiring public schools lead daily Pledge of Allegiance recitation, which is similar to the requirement in California.
A three-judge panel of that circuit ruled that the pledge is a patriotic exercise, not a religious affirmation similar to a prayer.
"Undoubtedly, the pledge contains a religious phrase, and it is demeaning to persons of any faith to assert that the words `under God' contain no religious significance," Judge Karen Williams wrote for the 4th Circuit. "The inclusion of those two words, however, does not alter the nature of the pledge as a patriotic activity."
Karlton, appointed to the Sacramento bench in 1979 by President Carter, wrote that the case concerned "the ongoing struggle as to the role of religion in the civil life of this nation" and added that his opinion "will satisfy no one involved in that debate."
Karlton dismissed claims that the 1954 Congressional legislation inserting the words "under God" was unconstitutional. If his ruling stands, he reasoned that the school children and their parents in the case would not be harmed by the phrase because they would no longer have to recite it at school.
"All it has to do is put the pledge as it was before, and say that we are one nation, indivisible, instead of dividing us on religious basis," Newdow said.
Terence Cassidy, a lawyer representing the school districts, said he was reviewing the opinion and was not immediately prepared to comment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have nothing to say about this..except for WOO-HOO!
I hated that pledge, it always made me feel unpatriotic if I didn't get it right.
I just attended catholic mass with Father Honeygosky. It was a very pleasurable experience. One that I will not soon forget. I give thanks to Sister Lois Sculco for showing me that therw was a mass tonight.
I don't know if you'd agree with this point, or not, Dee, but there are people that try to put others down, which I think is what Nathaniel Hawthorne is trying to show (in a religious) way. With Hester he is showing that you can not put someone down unless they let you.
After not blogging for nearly 2 weeks..I thought I'd make this point..but first another quote..
I think that the townspeople parade her as an epitomy of sin because they want to take the light off of themselves. I'm sure that Hester isn't the ONLY person in the town that has committed the sin of adultry. I kind of think she's a scapegoat to what other people do as well. They figure if they point the finger at her then they are less likely to be in the limelight. That could be a possible reason for her pride. It might be why she didn't seem ashamed infront of the entire town.Posted by: Liz Ludovici at 12, 2005 11:10
Now for the point. Do I disagree with Liz? No, I do not. Why? Because, well, because I simply can not step into Peabody's Wayback machine and ask Nathaniel Hawthorne what he was thinking when he wrote the Scarlet Letter.
Nor can I walk up 201 Salem Road in Boston, or to the Commons House and go "Hello Mr. Hawthorne, My name is Louis Gagliardi and I work for __________________ newspaper. I want to ask you a few questions about your book, the Scarlet Letter."
Why?
Because:
1.) Peabody's Wayback Machine was apart of the Rocky and Bullwinkle/Underdog cartoons (ah..underdog..the only cartoon character i know that got his powers from drugs..)
2.) Hawthorne's dead
3.) I think Hawthorne would be surprised that people still require a reading of his text...
My point is is that many things are open to opinion when dealing with the so-called classics.
ironically, that's 4 days after the constitution of the New Iraq is to be voted on..
But what's so important about this? The fact that his defense attorneys are bitching.
A legal adviser to Saddam's family, Abdel-Haq Alani, said that starting the trial next month would "undercut the defense capability to review the case."He was reacting to an announcement by the chief government spokesman, Laith Kubba, that Saddam and seven former henchmen would be tried on Oct. 19 in the 1982 massacre of 143 Shiite Muslims in Dujail, a town north of Baghdad.
Kubba's announcement confirmed unofficial reports that the first trial of Saddam and key lieutenants would begin just days after the Oct. 15 national referendum on Iraq's constitution.
Trying Saddam so soon after the referendum could further enflame sectarian tensions among Saddam's fellow Sunni Arabs, many of whom oppose the draft charter.
If convicted, Saddam and the others could receive the death penalty.
Alani said the defense had received no official notice about the date, but complained that if Oct. 19 was the start, it would not leave enough time to prepare.
"How can one review thousands and thousands of pages in just a matter of a few days?" he told The Associated Press by telephone from London. "This court has been deliberating with the evidence for the past year, but it has been keeping it away from the defense, which is not fair."
What is my opinion on this?
Well as a former law student for 2 1/2 years, I agree with his defense--from a legal point of view. The defense should have time for discovery. They won't get that time. The trial starts in 1 month 1 week and 4 days, or 41 days, that is not enough time for discovery for a trial of this magnitude.
The Iraqi tribunal announced July 17 that it had filed charges against Saddam in the Dujail case. Iraqi law requires the court to announce the start date for a trial within 45 days of the filing of charges.Under Iraqi law, the defendants will stand before the judge while he reads the charges against them. Defense lawyers will be given the opportunity to respond and ask for a postponement.
If the judge believes a delay is justified, he can grant an extension, usually 15 days. Further extensions can be requested.
Ok, that's the good thing that came out of this.
I wonder what President Bush's response to this is...
Seton Hill played it's first football game today.
No..not the first one in a year..or the first one in a decade..but the first one EVER.
Luckily, Urbana University was nice enough to webcast the football game. It was really close, folks. I mean REALLY close. 1 point..that was all the Griffins needed to win.
My hat off to Coach Snyder for getting this team together, my hat off to all the sophomores and freshmen that played today. Boys, you did your job, you showed Seton Hill Univeristy had a football team, and came to play. Thank you for an exciting game!
28-27, is your final score folks. SHU came to play, and we almost won!
Our next game is Sat, Sep 10 1:00 PM McDaniel College HOME
So come down to Offutt Field..the defiled field and cheer our hometown griffins on!
Now, obviously, I know that Judeo-Christian, means it has roots in Christian mainly..but..and here's what the Seton Hill FAQ says:
Seton Hill is a Catholic university rooted in Judeo-Christian values and in the tradition of Elizabeth Ann Seton which advances, through person-centered learning, the development of educated, just, participatory citizens committed to transforming the world. The Sisters of Charity, who founded Seton Hill in 1883, continue to inspire the University’s rich and inclusive Catholic heritage. While approximately 50 percent of Seton Hill students are Catholic, the Seton Hill community welcomes and respects the faith traditions of all students and provides faith-sharing opportunities as learning experiences in addition to liturgical celebrations.
Ok..so anyways..
1. If Setyon Hill is rooted in "Judeo-Christian values" then where is the synagogue next to the chapel? Where are the rabbis?
2. If Seton Hill "welcomes and respects the faith traditions of all students and provides faith-sharing opportunities" then why am i, as an athesist, required to take a religious studies class? I am bascially being forced, against my own beliefs to take this class, or not graduate. Yeah, that's really welcoming and respecting my belief..my faith..
I'm sorry folks, I don't mean to rant. I just..I saw this on the SHU website, and it ticked me off..
What to say about journalism...
That's really hard from a creative writing point of view.
umm...well..you'll like Dr. Jerz, he's a fine teacher, but he will speak in Geekness alot!
Also, according to him, he "likes shiny and flashy" things on the Internet.
Also, if you want to find out more advice on blogging, go to my June 5th entry.
If you need any help with the blog, please ask Dr. Jerz , me , or Evan!
For journalism blogging is becoming a fast way to get instant news.