Kids Stuff

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

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.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/fashion/15Close.html?_r=0

                                                                                                                                    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

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 20^th 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 

Cultural Diversity

I read a small personal stroy by Tanya Maria called Se Habla Espanol found here http://genius.com/Tanya-maria-barrientos-se-habla-espanol-annotated#note-4157724. I found the story very well written and easy to read. There wasn't a point were I had to re-read something. Her style of writing flowed and was to the point. 

I could not relate to her having lost her first culture but I do love to learn about other cultures and I have always tried to pick up other languages when given the chance. She touched on how America has changed and is becoming more tolerant of other cultures and I agree. I think a smart person should embrace other cultures and especially languages. Being able to speak multiple languages could never be a bag thing and I have never understood the resistance to Spanish especially when I was younger. I always heard “if you’re are going to live here learn to speak English”. I completely disagreed with these and always thought to view it as free Spanish lesions. When I was younger I worked jobs with Spanish speaking people and always annoyed them by attempting to speak to them in Spanish. It was learning and I know far more Spanish than an ignorant xenophobe.

I guess if I had an aversion to any culture or religion it would be one that imposed their belief on other or devalued the lives of others because they did not share the same belief. Perhaps a culture that thought they were owed because who they were, what rich or poor family they were born into, the color of their skin or religion they were part of.

                             Jacob Hollar

World Hunger

           I have just read a story by Peter Singer called "the Singer Solution to World Poverty". http://www.unc.edu/courses/2009spring/plcy/240/001/The_Solution_to_World_Poverty1.pdf. The stories is full of annoying hypothetical situations desgined to make the reader re-evaluate there morality. I find that the author tries to take a very complex problem and give it a simple answer; which reinforces my belief that the Educated (a professor in this case) are not always intelligent.

The story is about poverty and wealth allocation and this "problem" has bent wrestled with sense the beginning of recorded history. The reason why this issue hasn't been solved is not because there is not enough wealth or resources but who controls them and that the few that have wealth don't want to give it away. Most of the wealth is controlled by the few or as I have heard the term 1%.

Even if we could provide free energy and infinite food to everyone there would still be opposition to that. For the wealthy to remain wealthy, wealth has to say unbalanced. This is the reason are world still runs on oil. Think of all the power companies and oil companies that would shut down and all the jobs lost if he had free energy. You can't solve the problem of world hunger while we are still using "money" to allocate wealth. Man has to change what motivates them and honestly that wont change any time soon.

As far as the children used in this story I find it irritating that the author never puts blame where it is due. Where are the parents of these children. Where are the families which in my opinion is where many break downs happen. Local community and family support. I think it is each persons responsibility to deal with there own choices. To help or not to  help. Is it wrong to spend money to further your education? No. Is it wrong to work money to purchase comforts? No. I do think society has a responsibilty to the children who are in need but systems that are funded through taxation for this purpose are abused.

I think instinctivly people don't give in some cases because they know they can't solve the world hunger problem because humanity does not change. The world hunger problem exist because humanity through individual complacency says it does not mind that it exists. In the end as with everything else its about choice.                    
                                                                    Jacob Hollar

A short story review

Hello, I recently read a short story by Rick Bragg called "All Over but the Shoutin". It can be bought here http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-over-but-the-shoutin-rick-bragg/1100619483?ean=9780679774020.  I thought the story was bitter sweet and highlighted the authors troubled origins. Many emotions are presented, Regret, Pity, hatred and Love. The author successfully paints a visual image in the readers mind about the environment, culture, time and emotional conflict. 

Both characters resonate with me because I of personal experiences that I have had. The author who is telling the story through his eyes,  clearly torn between the reality and abuses from his past and the current pitiable state of his estranged father. The father oblivious to the pain he caused his loved ones.  The father also proabably knows he doesn’t have much time left. My mind goes to cerosis of the liver due to the mention of alcoholism and descriptions the fatherss physical appearance.

What I have taken most from this story is that all actions have consequenes. Learning to deal with difficult situations and choosing a coping method that does not harm others. The actions we take in this life really do echo down through time one person effecting the next in a chain reaction of life. Seeing time through this lens puts smaller issues in their place and puts important  consequential issues at the forefront of the mind where they belong.

                                                                        Jacob Hollar

Welcome

Welcome to this blog. I have created this blog for my confusing class. I hope you find it informative.