Fahrenheit 451 Analysis

10. Follow Montag's ideological progression. Where does it truly begin and what are the most important instances that spur its growth? Use specific examples from the text in your argument.

I think that Montag's ideological progression truly begins when he meets Clarisse. Clarisse makes Montag really think about things he hadn't considered in a while, like there being "dew on the grass in the morning," or there being "a man in the moon." (pg. 9) Without Clarisse, Montag might not have begun questioning, noticing, and truly considering things, like how "he was not happy". (pg. 12) As the story moved on, I think that when Montag was sent to burn the books at a woman's house, and the woman who was still there made Montag think. Montag hadn't previously considered his work as hurting people, he just saw it as "hurting only things" before. (pg 36) Also, while at the womans house, Montag's hand "had turned thief" and he took a book. (pg 37) After those instances, Montag begins to question things more and more, like when he asked Mildred when was "the first time we ever met?" (pg 43)

TU Tuesday- Local

   The article I read was all about antiques that are reproduced and about "identifying fake antiques". Bill Johns, the owner of an antique center says that when something becomes popular " people will find a way to reproduce it". He says that skepticism is needed to help tell a fake from the real thing and that "most of the evidence of something being counterfeit is right in front of you". Some items that are commonly reproduced are made of cast iron because "the heavy metal is valued for its durability and old-fashioned qualities that make it attractive for home decor".

link: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Save-the-Date-His-job-is-to-spot-genuine-fakes-3596217.php

50.Should women be allowed in the military?

I think that women should be allowed in the military for a few reasons. Women should be able to defend the country they live in. I mean, men can, so why not women. Women can be just as brave as men, and just as fierce. Women may not always be as physically strong as men, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed in the military.

What is Crippling us?

In John Taylor Gatto's article he argues that both the teachers and students are the cause of the boredom students feel. He says that the actual purpose of school is to "establish fixed habits of reaction to authority", "make children as alike as possible", "determine each student's proper social role", "children are to be sorted by role and trained only so far as their destination in the social machine merits", to choose the best students and have them accept "lesser" students as unfit, and to have a small group of those students trained to manage the "continuing project." In Ray Bradbury's book, he talks about how the majority of the people are the same in the way that they ask how instead of why. In the book he talks aout how the children there "kill each other" how it's because "they believed in responsibility" but do not anymore (pg. 30).

Tried and True

 link: http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/post/17477297690/my-28-most-tried-and-true-writing-prompts


     All I see is white. The whiteness surrounds me and holds me tight, making me gasp for air. And then, suddenly, light. I see a clear, blue sky. I sigh with relief and quickly glance around. I see a table with cute little party hats everywhere, with placemats set down for where people will sit. This all seems so familiar to me, but the words to come to me until I see the cake. Birthday party. I've heard about this; Horror stories were told about what happened once you left the comfort of the store. I never believed it, any of it. I should have believed. I'm hanging from a tree now, up high enough to view the first of the guests walk through the gate, high enough to see that my end is near.

TU Tuesday - Commencement Speech

I think that when someone is giving a commencement speech that they should try to make it sound like themselves and not like other people. I think commencement speechs should be entertaining and possibly contain humor, like in James Franco's when he said " Looking up on stage, at a man with deep brown eyes, a flawless head of hair, chiseled good looks, staring right back at you. And I'm just talking about Arlington U president James D. Spaniolo!!!," or when he said "If I'm being completely honest, I'm already starting to get a contact high off it." I think that humor can be a great way to gain and keep people's attention. I also like it when the person can relate, like when James Franco talked about how he thought that there was "no better feeling than the sense of accomplishment that comes with graduating,"
or when he talked about how he has a "BA, a few Masters, and (is) currently pursuing a PhD." I also think that it's important when the people talking give advice, like when Conan said "So, that's what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over."
links:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-franco/on-commencement-speeches_b_1521338.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HP%2FEntertainment+(Entertainment+on+The+Huffington+Post

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1898670_1898671_1898649,00.html

10 Somebody Has to Say It

I think that everyone should have a friend that is honest with them and tell them what no one else will. There has to be someone there to fill you in on something and be honest with you, or else you might never learn the truth about something. I think an honest friend is important, since, without them, no one else might give you constructive criticism on a piece of work, or tell you if you actually look good or not.