blog post#16

For the most part I enjoyed blogging. It was a whole new experience to me and I enjoyed blogging when I had the time to do so, however it felt like a drag at the end of the day when I didn’t have so much time for it in my day. I don’t think I’ll continue blogging because it’s not something I can really do just for fun. In addition, I enjoyed many blogs throughout the semester, too many to just name one. Finally I would like to tell all my fellow classmates that it has been a long semester but the end of it is almost here.

3 important people

My mother has definitely been one of the most important people in my life. She has really light brown hair, green eyes and a light skin complexion. She has had a lot of influence in my life. She’s also one of the most well- organized persons I know, and she has a lot of wisdom to teach. I’ve learned many things from her; too many to even begin to list them all. However, one of the most important things I’ve learned from her is to have patience.

            Another important person in my life whom I’ve gained much wisdom from is my grandfather. He also had green eyes, gray hair, and had a really light skin complexion. He has also had a lot of influence on my actions. I remember him always telling jokes and he was always laughing. I’d say one of the most important things in life I was able to learn from him was to always look at the bright side of things.

            Finally, another important person in my life would have to be my father. He has really big brown eyes, with a dark skin complexion. He’s always taught me that you have to work hard in order to gain something that you truly desire. In addition, he is a really handy man and has taught me to do a lot of the maintenance work around the house and our cars.

blog#13

I recommend everyone who likes BBQ to go and checkout “Just BBQ” in Ventura. It’s a really great place to eat and I’m sure you’ll be more than satisfied with it. They have a really great selection of BBQ, such as hot links, tri-tip, and chicken. Usually every time I go and eat at this place I order a tri-tip sandwich. I can never get tired of ordering that. However, they also have really good hot links, and chicken. In my opinion, the fresh meat they have available makes their restaurant different from fast food restaurants. The fact that you can see the meat roasting in the background gives you a sense of comfort knowing that the meat you’re about to order is truly fresh. In, addition, the sauce from this place is truly tasty and will surely meet the expectations of anyone’s taste buds. In my opinion, this place gets a 5/5 stars rating from me. Finally, this place usually has a pretty big line, especially during lunch time, but the wait is worth the food you’ll be receiving. You can find this place across from the old 16^th century theater in Ventura, just take the Johnson exit off the 101 north bound freeway.   

summary thoughts on Fast Food Nation

I think Fast Food Nation was a great book to read. It was well written out and very easy to understand. The author did a great job painting the picture of what he was trying to get across. This book made me think of many of the mistreated workers at the meat packing houses and the horrible working conditions they must endure everyday just to make a living. Another thing this book made me think about was the quality of the meat most people eat at fast food joints. Personally I don’t like to eat out at fast food restaurants simply because the food there is gross, but this book reassured me to avoid eating at fast food places at all costs. After reading this book I became aware of the marketing of fast food to children through television. I knew there were many advertisements on television for fast food places, but never looked at it from a kid’s point of view. It’s crazy how much the media can influence a child to bug their parents to take them to eat at a fast food place just from watching a couple of commercials on television. This book has opened my eyes to realize just how much fast food franchises have power over the lives of many other workers, not just their own.

5 lies 1 truth

1)  I have a dog as a pet

2) I am currently 21 years old

3) I can’t swim

4) I’ve broken 2 bones in the past

5) I have 3 siblings

6) My favorite color is green

The Raven

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" -
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never - nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore:
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting -
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

 

Interview with a student

I recently had the opportunity to interview Oscar Preciado during English class, and got to know a little more about him. Oscar was born and grew up in the beautiful city of Jalisco in Mexico. He came to the United States at the age of fifteen and attended Chanel Islands High School. Now 26 years old he attends Oxnard College. He is motivated to succeed in college for a better future. Oscar works full time Monday through Friday and attends two evening classes. Oscar’s motto towards succeeding in college is simple “Hard work.” Within a five year span he sees himself graduating from Cal State University of Channel Islands. Oscar likes the environment at Oxnard College and is surprised at how well he has done academically. He currently stands strong with a total of 52 units.