Pyongyang

Now that I have read Nightmare Studio I wish I would have looked at both first. The images in this comic strip manage to stay very detailed in the photos with out making it seem creepy or dark. I actually like the animations. However, upon reading the title of the article I had no idea what the piece would be about, let along how to properly pronounce the title. For reader who were unaware of the situation in North Korea (though I can't understand why you wouldn't know) the comic may have gone over their head at first. There are not that many pieces that genuinely talk about the countries situation so because of that I like this piece even more. 

Nightmare Studio

This comic was different from other we had previously seen, one reason for sure being how detailed the pictures were. Though full of details the pictures seem very dark and scary. Of the comic strips we have read this is not my favorite, not sure it was even top 3. The comic strip lost me several times wile reading through it. The one thing I did appreciate that was because the pictures were so detailed you could attain information from there and that hasn't really been an option with the previous comics. 

Big Red

Big Red wasn't really that big at all, actually he was pretty small. We lived in a condo at the time and my mom wouldn't let us get a dog so I begged for a fish. After weeks my mom took me to PetCo and I got a Japanese Fighting fish. 


The fish tank was fully loaded with a small bubble machine and blue rocks. It was my fish and no one else, a the youngest of 5 there was barely anything that was just yours. I fed Big Red more than the instructions directed because I knew how much he loved the freeze dried blood worms. For an 8 year old taking care of him felt like a big responsibility and I was happy to have it. 


My mom cleaned his tank for me one weekend and after she was done cleaning it she decided to wash dishes. When the dishes were done and my mom was running the garbage disposal and Big Red leaped from his tank and into the swirling stainless steel blades. I cried for days and didn't want to replace him either. I wasn't sure to be angry at my mom or Big Red. I asked my mom to throw the tank away. I haven't had a pet fish ever since. 

"Caring For Your Introvert"

Though I would characterize myself as a very extroverted person, I really did like this piece. It actually made me think of people in my life who would fit into this category. The funny thing is that these people who are so introverted I like to think of them as silent killers because though they are quiet normally the words they do share speak volumes. Some of the most brilliant people in this world were not extroverts. Its great because really we could not live in a world full of extroverts because who would listen to each other? 

"June: Circle K Recipes"

Its crazy how rice can be tied in and related to so many different cultures and persons that the author was writing to. A food that is often time over looked is tied into many different parts in this passage. I guess rice is one of those basic foods that most countries and/or cultures share. 

"Cancer Made Me A Shallow Person"

Upon reading the title of this comic strip I have to admit this wasn't the direction I had imagine that Engelberg was heading it. I actually didn't see that many "shallow" aspects. While meant to light on an intense situation I found that the comic a some sad undertones. The comic allowed the reader to see things from a perspective different than their own. When Engelberg says "Don't look at her breat area." after she says she is a breast cancer survivor only made me reflect on the times in my life where I have been in the same situation only I am the person avoiding eye-contact. Though a serious matter Engelberg did a great job a portraying situations she dealt with as a cancer surviour and allowed the reader a chance to see how dealing with breast cancer as opposed to another type of cancer is a more sensitive matter.

Also, I thought her t-shirt idea was clever and cute.

[I tried to make the font color a light pink in honor of breast cancer awareness.]

This Day In History

AUGUST 21 1991

"Latvia declare its inedpendance from the Soviet Union."

Despite the fact that I had already known this information prior to researching this day in history, I don't find it too interesting so to say. So I decided to look up August 21 in previous years. On August 21 1959 Hawaii had been added as the 50th state in the United States. With postcards and pictures so remarkable I can't wait to visit one day!

On a more random note: Whenever I think of my birthday and things associated with it I normally think of when Hurrican Andrew hit on the night after my 1st birthday party. Crazy how much of an impact a hurricane could have when it was not intended to be so large.

"Candy Freak"

I really didn't know what to expect when reading this story. Instantly the title drew me in though, partially because I love candy so much and was curious was it was going to be about. I thought it was a great idea to pick it as the title actually. The stories were really cute and something I would definitely read more about. 

Chapter 9 - "Interviewing"

Honestly, I don't know how useful this chapter on interviewing was. A lot of it seemed like common sense to be but then again it did provide some points that was helpful. All of the tips were only to enhance your skills or provide insight for why interviewers have certain tactics. For example, instead of asking a list of questions an interviewer will have a specific things they need to know. "This blueprint helps them to keep more or less on track and to feel comfortable and relaxed during the interview."

What Hellen Keller Saw

Before I even flipped to page 623 and began to read Cynthia Ozick's article the title itself made my thoughts run wild. Anyone that knows anything about the story of Helen Keller's life knows that this title is so clever. Keller never saw anything but because of what she did "see" or experience others in similar situations have been allowed to progress. I found it amazing that Mark Twain said she was "fellow to Caesar, Alexander, Napoleon, Homer, Shakespeare and the rest of the immortals", to be compared to such outstanding individuals is remarkable.  Her life story so inspiring and only makes me realize that though faced with obstacles anything is possible. 

The Only Chocolate Chip

I wouldn't call interviewing my mom an interview, rather a look into her life. She never fails to leave out details. So when I started asking her questions about her childhood, honestly I probably only got 2 questions in, and she was more than excited to share details. I knew my mom grew up in a predominately white neighborhood but it never accord to me that it had a huge impact on her. In every class photo from when she was in kindergarden to 8th grade she was the only "brown" girl. And if by some small chance there was another "brown" girl in her class it didn't count because it was my aunt. My mother, a product of an interracial marriage, and her children the same, I never thought color was ever an issue. She had always embraced her colored and was happy she was the "color of the sweetest chocolate" and taught my siblings and I that we should too embrace our shade. But growing up she had always wished that she was never the only chocolate chip in sugar cookie.

"Between Art and Architecture"

Creating a war memorial for veterans is a very emotional and selfless this on her part. The fact that she did it regardless of how you felt about the the war, she just wanted people to be moved by it. Memorials often times don't get the same attention as other amazing structures but they serve such a great purpose for not only the veterans but for the loved ones of those lost. I would love to be able to be able to see the memorial, even though those things often times make me cry. 

"Consider the Lobster"

Wallace's style of writing was quiet enjoyable. He managed to get the information across but at the same time  it wasn't boring to read. Prior to reading this I knew very little about these crustaceans; despite the fact that they are tasty. I thought it was amazing how lobster had ridden in there hierarchy of food. LOL After learning so much made me a little sad for these guys. Definitely a cute piece and I enjoyed reading it.

"Written Sources"

I never thought there was much to creative writing. I figured it was just a talent you had and present your story the best you could to appeal to audiences. After reading this I learned there was more to behind the scene work. All the rules that were presented about the creative writing are helpful especially to assist in writing creative non-fiction work. 

Babies Come From Strawberries

She's been to been to every continent on the planet and traveled many countries. But there are just a few stories or memories she likes to tell at every dinner party or family event. Each time the details more elaborate than the last time. Her favorite is when I at age 5 so kindly enlightened my kindergarden class about where babies comes from during lunch. Once Ashley had lead the class to believe that "babies come from strawberries" because her mom had been having crazings for strawberries during her pregnancy with Ashley's litter brother. I stood up at lunch and let the entire class know that I was "more knowledge then Ashley on babies and where they come from" and gave them a semi-graphic account of how babies were made and how our parents "made love". She rants about how embarrassing it was for her to get a call from the principal, a nun, of my roman catholic elementary school asking her to pick me up from school about because I was talking about sex at lunch. She asks me every time ,"You remember how you saw nothing wrong with the whole situation?", I normally chuckle and ask her to stop. But really I don't remember, I have no recollection of the thing at all. What I can recall I'm not sure is even my own memory to recall. I wonder if the version I know is because of the few details that go unaltered each time she tells the story, or is the memory my mom recalls is the memory the principal recalled when she spoke to my mom, or is the memory the principal recalled the story the teacher told her, the teacher who heard from another kindergardener who may have over heard from a conversation at lunch. How well can a 5 year old accurately retell details of an event? I've looked over my kindergarden class photo, all 15 kids are in three rows and blow the photo has each persons name listed accordingly, there was no "Ashley" in my class.