I just red "Kid's Stuff" by Michael Chabon and I really enjoyed what he had to say on the history and development of comic books. As a kid growing up I used to collect comics as well. The author speaks about how story telling does not really change and you don't have to have big actions scenes to tell a great story.
He spoke about how less people are reading comics but the quality of comics are allot better. The first thing that came to my mind is not just with comics but much of story telling is going away from hard copies of stories. You can find most stories online, on audio or in a movie format.
I really liked the way this author wrote and it had an amazing quote even though taken out of context is great. It goes "when you get proof that everything is connected to everything else, that everything you know is wrong, that you are both the center of the universe and a tiny speck sailing off its nethermost edge". When I read things like that it speaks to me or when I see people get an idea across that completely makes sense but it the least complicated way it makes me wish I could always express my ideas the same. In fact if I could improve one writing or even verbal skill it would be the ability to express myself clearly and profoundly.
Jacob Hollar
Monday, March 30, 2015
Tattoo guy
After
reading “Drawn to a Larger Scale” by Alex Williams I was surprised how many
celebrity names were dropped. I thought the story was a little pretentious and
had a hard time caring about the subject but I pressed on and read the whole
thing.
I
suppose I find the main character interesting in that he was able to work himself
up into the “in crowd” with mostly nothing separating him from other artist but
his mentioned personality. The main character had a colorful history from gang
infested streets to my poo don’t stink sophistication.
I
guess the moral of the story Is to do what you like and enjoy doing. Eventually
if you do it well enough you might find a way to make a living from it. Scott Cambell was able to do this and expressed
this view by saying even if the celebrities did not like his art he would still
be able to make a living giving tattoos.
Jacob Hollar
Baca
I
recently read a short story called “ Jimmy Santiago Baca: Poetry as Lifesaver”
by Rob Baker. I thought the story was inspirational and like the bit about Baca
being born with rattle snake venom in his blood. It’s inspirational that someone can change so
much from such a negative influence to such a positive influence on society.
Art
is rarely rewarded especially on a professional level or being able to make a
living at it. The right brained people of this world often suffer and mediocre
jobs because there is not much of a market for creativity. I like how Baca
found a way not only to receive recognition for his talents but he used them as
a way to therapeutically help himself deal with issues in his past and how he
can fit into society.
I
myself play a wooden fief. I also play to help me deal with stress and
difficult situations. Especially going outside on a nice day and playing my
fief and watching my kids play.
I
am always amazed at the human ability to find ways to release stress or to
express themselves’. It’s not always released in a healthy way but one way or
another the steam finds its way to the surface either in an explosion with some
or a piece of poetry for another.
http://www.unm.edu/~joglesby/Baca.pdf
Jacob Hollar
Us and them Reflection
I
read a short story for homework called "Us and them" by David
Sedaris. I hated the kid telling the stroy. He was a complete selfish brat. The
story touched on how culture is learned through things like TV. I will stay
though like the Tomkey Family in this story I don't watch alot of TV.
Especially live TV so I'm not up to date on the lastest shows. I have not even
had live TV in my house sense all broadcast went digital in 2009 and possibly
before that. The only TV I watched is on Netflix and I can’t tell you the last
time I saw a commercial.
I
admit I do this with news as well and the only news I get is from the radio. It
is the rule of media to push fear in almost every story. I have found the less
I news I watch the less stressed I am. That is not to say that avoiding all
news is good but it’s good to limit how much negativity you’re exposed to.
Social
media like face book can have a negative impact as well. I personally can’t
stand it. I really don’t even like being forced to create a blog. Some people
just don’t have a lot to say and should not be forced to voice opinions they don’t
care to for the sake of a grade. There is a quote from Abraham Lincoln that
goes “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and
remove all doubt”.
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2004/jun/sedaris/usandthem.html
Jacob Hollar
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Southern Neighbors
Another
assignment about immigration found here http://static1.squarespace.com/static/52eec360e4b0c81c80749630/t/53f5507de4b0a7a51b04cf9b/1408586169565/AoW+1415_01+Border+Crisis.pdf.
Reading the this report about the
living conditions in Hounduras is heart breaking, especially involving
children. As I read the paper and the more I reflect about the United States
role I came to realize what place the US has in the world. The US has their hand
in the affairs of many foreign countries. Granted that the United States causes
problems and has problems of their own; the US seems to be asked frequently to
clean up messes of other countries.
You can’t blame anyone from wanting to
get away from threat of death or worse loss of human dignity. Anyone in the US
would feel the same about saving themselves or their family if situations in
the United States were as bad. Any US citizen would consider leaving and going
to a new less corrupt place. The United States has fought for its freedom
though, taxation without representation
in the revolutionary war, Abolishment of slavery in the civil war and the right
to maintain a United Nation and Even the resistance of communism. Not every
conflict was through military action though. Gangs ruled for a while in the US
, the “mobsters” and gangs during the 20th century but where
suppressed to a less overt means of conducting affairs though government
action.
Where do you draw the line at cleaning
up other counties messes? Is it up to our government to create comittees and government
gran organizations to deal with the problems of other countries for
humanitarian purposes? Or perhaps it should be left to grass root organizations
like the red cross, religious organization relief efforts or non-profits
organizations?
Illegal immigration is a complex issue.
In my opinion I don’t think the answer will come easy and I don’t think the answer
is turning your back on refugees especial children. I do think in the long run
it will not be the United States that solves the issue of illegal immigration
but countries like Hounduras. When those countries work-out their growing pains,
who knows what the future will hold. Perhaps one day the stability and security
of the United States will collapse and we will be looking to our southern neighbors
for sanctuary from whatever corruption ruined our nation.
In the end it nature and heart of
mankind that must change. Fear, greed, hate, intolerance and the need to
control your environment and others to create security for yourself. But the
heart or instincts of man if you will has not changed sense recorded history.
People still kill, rape, steal and impose their own will onto others. For now
we will have to work with the broken heart of man by making laws and policies
that shabbily work.
Jacob
Hollar
Immigration
As
an assignment for class I read a story about found here http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/opinion/the-heartache-of-an-immigrant-family.html?_r=0
Written by Sonia Nazario . The story was about the poverty in Hounduras and the
difficulties imposed on immigrants by United States policies on illegal immigration.
No one can blame anyone for wanted to move somewhere where there are better opportunities.
I
will say though I can’t relate even on a common sense level to the main character
of focus Enrique. If you’re willing to attempt crossing the United States boarder and being
stopped or even worse going through the process of deportation why not do it
the right way. You might save time and most likely money. Plus you wont risk
deportation. I aware that it is hard to obtain a visa but it just makes sense
to me to go this route.
Another
thing that did not did not endear me to Enrique is that fact he was arrested
for partying in a hotel. Why would you do this if you were trying to keep a low
profile? Where was his wife and child while he was partying? He doesn’t seem
like he was contributing to society or his family.
Personally I’m all for open
immigration but the right way. If you let people who won’t contribute to the
societies greater good freely into the country they will only drain Social security
type programs paid for by tax payers. If you let people willing to stay out of
jail, work and look after their own children then I say welcome to America with
no limitations on the number of those types of applicants. Everyone in this country had an ancestor at
one time who came here from another land even the native Americans. No one
should turn their nose up at new immigrants. The true work is determining who
would be a drain on society or a contributer.
Jacob
Hollar
Organs
In English class a stroy by Joanna Mackay found here http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/backtothelake3/msp/Argument_MacKay.pdf
was discussed briefly by our instructor. I read the story and found many touchy
issues from religious to legal. Is it legal to sell body parts? Is it moral to
sell body parts? Is it right to keep someone from doing with their body what
they want to? To be honest none of that interest me. I view the body as a
machine with parts. Parts that sometimes need to be replaced.
I have a special needs son and I know what it’s like to have a
family member you care deeply about life hanging in the balance. You would do anything to save
them but where would you draw a line. For me I think the answers are not from
buying other peoples organs but in producing them. Growing them. I have seen
first-hand what modern medicine can do. This article http://www.smithsonianmag.com/40th-anniversary/organs-made-to-order-863675/?no-ist
By Gretchen Vogel reveals new and exciting research and even production of producing
organs. Genetics has also came along way. I hope in the future organs will be
grown for people and life spans increased.
My wife works with the elderly and they too are often victims of
their bodies failing parts, especially in the brain. In the end its not just
about living longer but quality of life be it constantly chained to a dialysis
machine or looseing the sense of who you are along with your memories as old
age strikes. I love medicine and I don’t think others should ever have to give
up there given parts but research into stem Cells or even growing new organs
should be in my opinion completely fair game.
Jacob Hollar
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