A sentence starts out like...

a baby starts out into the world. It's vulnerable. It's bare. It's sometimes kicking and crying, and other times peaceful and sleepy. It's the writer's thought, the writer's child. It's passion displayed in a physical form. As the sentence grows, it becomes more refined. More gets added to it, and it will go through different attitudes and changes. The writer will pour his or her heart into it, working it and reworking it, striving to make it the best it can be. Sometimes a struggle, sometimes a joy, the simple starting sentence grows into a paragraph, and from there into a complete thought. Taking great care the whole way, the writer watches it grow, makes sure it stays healthy and headed in the right direction, until finally the writer is ready to let the complete, grown thought head out into the world, sure that it can stand independently.

Sound v. Vision

     I don't think it's weird that the cell phone as a telephone has adapted to display texts and whatnot. While it's extremely convenient to get in touch with people over the phone, a visual display makes it that much easier. Another thing is that with texting, the person isn't committed to any specific conversation. They can be texting whenever they feel they want to. I think that it is just another technological advancement, and something that can be appreciated.
     The way I view texting is it's great when trying to find a place to meet up or just saying what's up, but if two people are talking about a serious subject, rather than texting each other about it, they should call each other. And isn't that why the cell phone was invented? To allow people to make longer distance calls wherever they are, so they don't need to wait until they reach a pay phone or home? I think that principle of calling for an important subject still stands, but now texting has added a whole new casual aspect to the phone.
     I think that texting has been something that companies have been developing over time. As society changes and as societal needs grow, the various technological advancements need to be able to keep up with it. As people began to realize that they could just as easily type out words on a cell phone, the ideas of visual communication between two people started to take root and thrive.

That whole essay thing...

So there are two essays we have to read and then give reasons why they were moving and not moving. Because alphabetical order is cool, let's start with sample G! That's always exciting.

SAMPLE G
Why it moves me: 
-The range of people that are said to drink it is impressive, and pretty accurate. I've seen a lot of people, who all have different occupations and lead different lifestyles, drinking Red Bull for that extra boost of energy. 
-The feeling of immediate energy is in a way comforting. Americans definitely are used to getting things done quickly, or having things done for them quickly. This is just another example. 
-The various claims that Red Bull makes, for example to stimulate metabolism or increase concentration, seems like it would be nothing but positive for a society that can be very easily distracted by the various activities done each day. 


Why I remain unmoved:
-While it may seem like a quick solution to fatigue or over work, Red Bull is still an artificial drink can be more detrimental to the body than anything else. 
-It continues to make society more impatient, as if the internet, fast food restaurants, and cell phones didn't do that already 
-It encourages people to push their natural limits. By drinking Red Bull people may think that they are immune to fatigue, but in reality they will end up crashing twice as hard unless they drink another, and another...


SAMPLE H
Why it moves me:
-The convenience of being able to carry so much data on something so small. One can put it anywhere, whether it be in a pocket or in a purse. 
-The amount of different things that can be done with iTouches is astounding. Especially with the newest model, the consumer can do virtually anything on it.
-It has changed the way we look at technology, and has reshaped handheld listening devices forever. 


Why I'm unmoved:
-IPods encourage society to become even more detached from the world than it already is. 
-It does not address the consequences should an iPod happen to erase itself 
-IPods are not very affordable, with some prices going up to $200. 

So I saw an ad for a flip camera on the LIRR last night...

It reminded me of the interview with Luke, and I had a hearty chuckle.

It is 48 degrees today and...

...I am absolutely loving it. I can't say I hate cold weather, since I usually enjoy it, but after a while the same old routine of bundling up to face the chill and wind gets old. I really hope that it stays this warm for a little while, at least for this weekend anyway. 

     It's funny though, because I'm not used to waking up and saying, "Oh, I can throw on a t-shirt and jeans and go". For me, the process is usually a lot longer with a lot more layers than that. I can wear sneakers instead of boots, and I can wear a sweatshirt instead of a heavy coat. 

     It's ironic, really, the thought of how excited many of the students here are by this weather. It's only 48 degrees, and we're all ready to whip out shorts and sun dresses, yet there are other places right now where it's anywhere between 70-100 degrees. It's cool to see how just this little bit affects our moods and thoughts. 

     The warmth really does put people in a better mood. As I walked around campus for the past couple of days not only did I notice people putting and effort into what they were wearing but also they were smiling and laughing with each other, talking and appreciating the weather and sunshine. 

Questions for Collins

1. How did you choose to divide the metaphors the way you did between you and your lover?
2. How did you feel comparing yourself to your lover?
3. How accurate are all of those metaphors in relation to your lover?
4. Why did you decide to talk about yourself so confidently in your metaphors?
5. Were all of these metaphors inspired by one specific event in your life, or gathered over a period of time?
6. When did you feel all of these different feelings toward your lover?

Notes

     If I could choose to present it in any way, I would choose to copy the whole thing onto a larger, digital "iPhone" that could be pulled up onto a computer screen and read in the "Notes" application. I feel like this would help to emphasize the dependance and attachment that iPhone users have on their devices. One thing that would be different with my paper would be the spacing and font. It would be in a fun, almost hand- written looking font, and there would be no double space, single space option. Unless one physically went through and double spaced it personally, it would always stay in single space. 

     To have that amount of content squished onto one small application may not seem like the most effective way to present something, but in reality, how many times are iPhones pulled out of a pocket or purse, and the user browsing the internet or checking for an incoming text? Throughout the course of a day, that person would probably read or take in as much information as that of a five page paper.

     Interestingly enough, most people think of a formal paper as plain black ink on white paper, Times New Roman font, double spaced. But if one were to put something like a paper onto a technological device, would the formality of the assignment drop, or would their grade drop for the way it was presented? Possibly. Yet, at the same time, millions of people type things into their phone daily, whether it be texts, quick notes, search items, and the like. Would it not make it easier for someone to sit and write a paper if it was on something that they were used to, instead of having such a formal and somewhat intimidating air about it? 

Speaking of the Kuaka...

     In "Flight of the Kuaka", Don Stap uses rhetorical strategy in a variety of different ways. He use definition to describe the different types of birds and what they look like, as well as to describe the different technology used to track them. He use narration to describe the experience of different researchers and workers, such as Bob Gill, who got to enjoy warmer weather and a break away from Alaska. He used comparison to talk of the different species of birds. He writes about how both the godwits and the curlews are part of a group called the Numeniini, but how they are different in many ways, and even those two species break up into smaller classifications, such as the black- tailed godwit verses the Hudsonian godwit, the bristle- thighed curlew and the long- billed curlew.
     These strategies really helped me grasp the concept and meaning of Stap's essay. I am by no means knowledgable of birds in any way, nor am I familiar with the friendly tracking devices used on them. I don't know the proportion of the weight of the device against the bird's weight, nor do I know where the most desirable grazing patches for the migrating birds. Yet, I had no problem reading this essay, because when he used the various rhetoric strategies, he ended up clarifying all of the procedures and methods for me, so I felt like I had been learning and researching it along with them. It made me enjoy reading about it, and I didn't feel like it was above me due to my lack of knowledge.

The Kind of Reader I Am

4. East Indians described the Africans as "impulsive hedonists who were always living for the moment and never thought of the future" while the Africans described the East Indians as people who "didn't know how to live and would stuff money in their mattress and never enjoy themselves" (51).

Interactionism- if a child is teased by a peer, he will become aggressive 

Strategic allocation of attention- instead of becoming obsessed with the "hot stimulus", the subject instead finds a way to distract his or herself until the prize is forgotten. 

Metacognition- thinking about thinking; what allows people to outsmart their shortcomings 

Working Memory- the relatively limited amount of information that we are able to consciously consider at any given moment 

Self Control- an ability to direct the spotlight of attention so that our decisions aren't determined by the wrong thoughts 

Frontal Cortex- the overhang of brain between the eyes

Dopamine Passageways- neurotransmitters believed to regulate both motivation and attention

These definitions vary from shorter and less detailed to longer and more specific. It depends on the context in which the definition is found. For a few of them I had to use the context clues around the words, while for others it stated the definition directly after the words. The descriptions of the Africans and East Indians were actually a quote spoken by Mischel. In aggregate this sequence shows the various scientific and anatomical approaches that researchers are taking toward the concept of self-control and delayed gratification.


5. I definitely have found metaphors in this text, and I'm not surprised that they were there. While scientific writing is obviously different from poetry or romantic writing, it still incorporates some of the same elements, such as metaphor. 

Meanings Communicated

In thinking about a certain idea, many sentences and ideas can be drawn by using detailed words within this idea.


     The first time that I read this, the first thing that jumped out at me was the amount of times the word "idea" was used in that one simple sentence. But, as I reread it, I came to understand what the writer was getting at, and why he or she may have chosen to use that small, simple word so many times. First of all, the sentence is focused on ideas, but along with that, it talks about inspiring thought, and, to be honest, this sentence did just that. It started with me thinking of the repetitiveness of the sentence, and from there I went off completely on my on tangent, thinking about various typos and errors I've made. To me, at least, while the sentence is poorly structured, it fulfilled its purpose in the fact that it made me think. 
     That being said, I think that the concept behind this sentence is a good one. The fact that the writer wants the reader to know that by thinking, one can not only put something in perspective, but also branch out a singular thought. It encourages the reader to take an idea and run with it, panning it out and really elaborating on it. It encourages the reader to be inspired. 
     
     

The Process of Inkshedding

START

THE INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS


"Intelligence is largely at the mercy of self control...".

The ability to delay satisfaction or gratification is and of itself a kind of intelligence. There were "tricks" that could be taught to the kids so that they would be able to resist the desire to eat the marshmallow right away. For example, imagining it was just an image of a marshmallow. Skills like these have to be practiced and learned. 

For example, being distracted by a television show that is on an you're doing homework. Concentrate on doing homework. 

This quote means that you need self- control to not be side-lined by TV, videogames, or whatever in order to achieve "intelligence". If you can't sit and do work, read a book, or write a paper for an hour, it's going to be tough at school or workplace. Your intelligence is in the "mercy" of self control because this paper argues that with a lack or self control, learning becomes very difficult. 

In order to control yourself you need intelligence to know how to. You need to come up with ways in order to control yourself. For example, a way to delay yourself is to imagine the prize as something disgusting or undesirable. 

One can intellectually know not to do something, and still be unable to resist the temptation. The knowledge of right and wrong, or of delayed gratification isn't always enough to prevent one from being tempted. People often lose control when faced with a prospect they can't resist, even when they know it would be in their best interest to hold out. 




PIECING IT TOGETHER
"Intelligence is largely at the mercy of self control...". This quote means that you need self- control to not be side-lined by TV, videogames, or whatever in order to achieve "intelligence". One can intellectually know not to do something, and still be unable to resist the temptation. The knowledge of right and wrong, or of delayed gratification isn't always enough to prevent one from being tempted. In order to control yourself you need intelligence to know how to. Skills like these have to be practiced and learned. For example, being distracted by a television show that is on an you're doing homework. Concentrate on doing homework. You need to come up with ways in order to control yourself. People often lose control when faced with a prospect they can't resist, even when they know it would be in their best interest to hold out. For example, a way to delay yourself is to imagine the prize as something disgusting or undesirable. The ability to delay satisfaction or gratification is and of itself a kind of intelligence. There were "tricks" that could be taught to the kids so that they would be able to resist the desire to eat the marshmallow right away. If you can't sit and do work, read a book, or write a paper for an hour, it's going to be tough at school or workplace. 


ADDITION
 "Intelligence is largely at the mercy of self control...". One could argue that this quote means that one would need self- control to not be side-lined by TV, videogames, or other forms of distraction in order to achieve "intelligence". This can be challenging, though, because while one can intellectually know not to do something, he or she can still be unable to resist the temptation. The knowledge of right and wrong, or of delayed gratification isn't always enough to prevent one from being tempted. In order to control yourself you need intelligence and knowledge of yourself. Skills like these have to be practiced and learned. For example, if you're doing homework and your favorite television show is on. Concentrate on doing homework. You need to come up with ways in order to control yourself. If concentration proves difficult, another way to delay yourself is to imagine the prize as something disgusting or undesirable. It has been found that people often lose control when faced with a prospect they can't resist, even when they know it would be in their best interest to hold out. The ability to delay satisfaction or gratification is in itself a kind of intelligence. There were "tricks" that could be taught to the kids so that they would be able to resist the desire to eat the marshmallow right away, and along with that, there are certain "tricks" that one could train his or her mind to do and think of when faced with other such challenges. If you can't sit and do work, read a book, or write a paper for an hour, it's going to be tough at school or workplace. 


FINISHED PARAGRAPH

"Intelligence is largely at the mercy of self control...". One could argue that this quote means that one would need self- control to not be side-lined by TV, videogames, or other forms of distraction in order to achieve "intelligence". This can be challenging, though, because while one can intellectually know not to do something, he or she can still be unable to resist the temptation. The knowledge of right and wrong, or of delayed gratification isn't always enough to prevent one from being tempted. In order to control yourself you need intelligence and knowledge of yourself. Skills like these have to be practiced and learned. For example, if you're doing homework and your favorite television show is on. Concentrate on doing homework. You need to come up with ways in order to control yourself. If concentration proves difficult, another way to delay yourself is to imagine the prize as something disgusting or undesirable. It has been found that people often lose control when faced with a prospect they can't resist, even when they know it would be in their best interest to hold out. The ability to delay satisfaction or gratification is in itself a kind of intelligence. There were "tricks" that could be taught to the kids so that they would be able to resist the desire to eat the marshmallow right away, and along with that, there are certain "tricks" that one could train his or her mind to do and think of when faced with other such challenges. If you can't sit and do work, read a book, or write a paper for an hour, it's going to be tough at school or workplace. With self control, one may find his or herself advancing in their pursuits, and more easily attentive and responsible.

small object, LARGE SUBJECT

     Music is a big part of peoples' lives. At one point music was just a live experience. Then, it started being recorded so people could listen at home, and records, ATRACs, and eventually cassette tapes became a phenomenon. Skipping ahead to present day, music is merely a file that can be transferred from one device to another with ease. If one were to take a look around, he or she would notice that a large amount of people carry iPods or other mp3's around with them, listening to their favorite bands and songs. By having iPods, we are able to listen to music wherever we are, whether we're on the go or at home. It makes listening to music, for whatever reason, extremely convenient for anyone, especially with its easy-to-use design and sturdy build.
    While many people may be skeptical as to how useful the iPod actually is, I can definitely vouch and say that it is one of my important belongings. I am a huge fan of music, no matter what the genre, and I love being able to listen to whatever I want whenever I want to. Call me spoiled, but it just makes everything so much easier, not to mention the fact that when I'm walking in Manhattan with ear buds in I feel at least 20% cooler. I enjoy listening to music when I write, when I'm traveling, or even when I just need to calm down and take a moment to breath. Those "stupid music players", as some people call them, help me even out my mood, get me pumped up for events, and just plain help me through the day sometimes.
     According to Apple's website, the iPod is a "take everything everywhere" sort of device. It promotes the sleekness of the design, the new and improved sturdiness and stronger glass used for the face, and it boasts of the large amount of space on such a small device. It emphasizes the varieties of iPod that one might choose from, and now also comes in a charming array of colors. It features the hundreds of apps that one could potentially download, as well as other exciting features, such as cameras, internet, and interactive applications where the general public can play one another from their iPods. IPods definitely have their share of flaws; iPhones get debatably good service, for one, and sometimes iPod classics will wipe themselves, and you'd have to put all the music back on again. Yet, by shielding the public from these flaws and instead pushing the positive images and pretty colors, they attract not only the eye, but several million customers a year.
     The general public is very easy to manipulate. Especially on TV and in large cities such as Manhattan, the media is everywhere, tempting you with this, or urging you to buy the best of this product. With so much to take in, one might wonder what the best techniques would be for a company such as Apple to sell their products. One of their advantages is that the public sells to itself. By seeing so many people with iPods, iTouches, iPhones, and the like, it is easy to be tempted to get one for oneself, especially if that person is a music lover. Producers of such products know that consumers go into Apple with at least some interest in their product. By making their stores look as sleek and inviting as their actual product, it seems to dazzle the public into thinking that iPods are the "thing to buy this year". Oh silly consumers. Either way, the production staff of Apple definitely did something right with designing their stores the way they did, as well as letting their products sell themselves.

The original iPod

Today's iPod