Substantialiscious

2009-08-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

I deserve a FAIL grade because I am FAIL.

Imagine this...

2009-07-16T16:10:00.001-07:00

One of the literary aspects of Uncle Tom's Cabin is Stowe's use of imagery. Imagery uses the sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. (CliffsAP English Language and Composition 66)

In the second paragraph of the first chapter, Stowe uses imagery to get the audience to picture the two gentlemen talking.

- "For convenience' sake, we have said, hitherto, two gentlemen.... He was a short, think-set man, with coarse, common-place features, and that swaggering air of pretension which marks a low man who is trying to elbow is way upward in the world. He was much over-dressed, in a gaudy vest of many colors, a blue neckerchief, bedropped gayly with yellow spots, and arranged with a flaunting tie, quite in keeping with the general air of the man. His hands, large and coarse, were plentifully bedecked with rings; and he wore a heavy gold watch-chain, with a bundle of seals of portentous size, and a great variety of colors, attached to it, -which, in the ardor of conversation, he was in the habit of flourishing and jingling with evident satisfaction..."

On the third page, Stowe describes Harry, the small quadroon boy.

- "Here the door opened, and a small quadroon boy, between four and five years of age, entered the room. There was something in his appearance remarkably beautiful and engaging. His black hair, fine as floss silk, hung in glossy curls about his round, dimpled face, while a pair of large dark eye, full of fire and softness, looked out from beneath the rich, long lashes, as he peered curiously into the apartment..."

Wanna VoiceThread?

2009-07-16T15:14:00.001-07:00

This is my sample presentation of VoiceThread!

Hope you enjoy!

Uncle Tom's Cabin questions

2009-07-16T02:59:00.000-07:00

Chapter 6

Question 3 - What do you think of joking? Of making fun of others? "Some jokes are less agreeable than others."

- I make fun of others a lot. Only in the spirit of fun though and they know I'm joking too. Unfortunately, not everyone understands that. Joking is a good way to bring about laughter but, it can go too far.

Chapter 7

Question 8: Can you admire the good even in people that you are not naturally drawn to?

- Yes, I actually like seeing that side of people. It lets me know that not all good is gone from the world. Especially those people that look and act "hardcore". When they do the right thing, I look at them and I start wondering where this goodness is coming from. I do admire the good in everyone.

Chapter 9

Question 7: What do you think about trusting your heart over your head?

- Isn't there a verse in the Bible that says, "The heart is a wicked thing"? Or something like that. Well I think its a nice earthly idea, but not the wisest thing to do. Trusting your heart is like trusting an emotion. Emotions are unstable. If we acted out on these emotions, the outcome would be unpredictable.

Monte Cristo Bonus!

2009-07-15T00:31:00.001-07:00

Increasing my Vocabulary with Harriet Beecher Stowe

2009-07-14T01:17:00.000-07:00

1. Earnestness: characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind

2. Pretension: an allegation of doubtful value

3. Gaudy: ostentatiously or tastelessly ornamented

4. Bedecked: to clothe with finery

5. Ardor: an often restless or transitory warmth of feeling ardors of youth>

6. Opulent: amply or plentifully provided or fashioned often to the point of ostentationopulent comfort>

7. Pious: marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship

8. Jocularly: given to jesting : habitually jolly or jocund

9. Quadroon: a person of one-quarter black ancestry

10. Rheumatism: any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissuerheumatism>

11. Imperturbable: marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness

12. Piquant: agreeably stimulating to the palate

13. Elucidations: to make lucid especially by explanation or analysis <elucidate a text>

14. Counterpoise: an equivalent power or force acting in opposition

*~*~*

1. The quadroon women like Eliza are very pretty.

2. Uncle Tom's cabin was not gaudy at all.

3. Mrs. Shelby bedecked Eliza more than any other slave.

4. Aunt Chloe's food was piquant.

5. Though Tom knew he was being sold, he was imperturbable throughout the whole affair.

Personal response.

2009-07-11T01:23:00.000-07:00

This video has better quality because I decided to use my camera this time. And again, not very entertaining, but I wanted to save time.

From my Point of View,...

2009-07-11T00:56:00.000-07:00

Dumas uses third person point of view, but he also helps the reader with added information at the beginning of some chapters.

For example, in chapter 2, "Let us leave Danglers struggling with his feeling of hatred and trying to whisper some evil insinuation against his comrade into their master's ear, and let us follow Dantes...". He provides useful and funny narrative showing the switch of characters and scenes.

Other examples:

Chapter 8, "As we have said, Villefort hastened back to the Rue du Grand Cours, and on entering the house of Madame de Saint-Meran found the guests he had left at the table seated in the salon at their coffee." Here he merely summarized the events between the ending of chatper 7 to the beginning of chapter 8.

Count of Monte Cristo questions.

2009-07-11T00:28:00.000-07:00

Ch. 1

Question 2.

What do you think of the way Dantes' reply to his boss about a co-worker?

- It's actually the way I reply when someone asks me a question about another student. I'm never sure what they want to know about the person, so I personally and formally. I like when people answer me this way. There are less questions to ask and you learn about how he is perceived while working and as a friend.

Ch. 4

Question 2.

Do you agree when Dantes' says, "I cannot help thinking it is not man's lot to attain happiness so easily.."?

- I absolutely agree. If happiness were just handed to us, no one would be appreciative to what is being given them. Also, no one would have to work hard or work at all if happiness were so easily attained.

Ch. 7

Question 1.

Do you agree with, " to the happy and prosperous man prayer is but a meaningless jumble of words until grief comes to explain to the unfortunate wretch the sublime language which our means of communication to God"?

- Not always is "the happy and prosperous man" unaware of his prayers to God. Sometimes its praying to praise God for the miraculous work he has done. But most of the time, yes, people only pray to God when they need something.

Question 2.

How long has Dantes' been trying to die by starvation?

- 3 or 4 days before he hears prisoner 27 digging, I believe.

Ch. 23

Question 2.

What do you think of boasting? Why do people boast so much?

When someone starts boasting, I think it's annoying and unnecessary. They might boast because they think their talents or efforts go unnoticed, or they want credit for something. Boasting is unnecessary because it's worthless to show off before men. God says in Matthew 6:1, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven."

I want a ThinkFree life.

2009-07-03T02:23:00.000-07:00

I found an online site to help the "stressful" student.

It's called ThinkFree Online. ThinkFree can replace Word, Excel, and Powerpoint with its suite of online apps, and they offer downloadable versions of their software as well.

Here are a few pictures of the features and options that I found when using the site.

This is after I uploaded one of my old document assignments from school. It allows you to highlight any words you want to.

It also allows you to decide whether or not to convert the document into another format like pdf.

There's also the MyOffice.

These are also the other features that come with the program.

More Bonus.

2009-07-01T02:05:00.000-07:00

Increasing my vocabulary with Alexandre Dumas

2009-06-29T21:14:00.000-07:00

1. Melancholy: an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression

2. Brail: to take in (a sail) by the brails (a rope fastened to the leech of a sail)

3. Ajar: slightly open

4. Nasturtiums: any of a genus of herbs of Central and South America with showy spurred flowers and pungent edible seeds and leaves

5. Clematis: any of a genus (Clematis) of vines or herbs of the buttercup family often having three leaflets on each leaf and usually white, red, pink, or purple flowers

6. Trellis: a frame of latticework used as a screen or as a support for climbing plants

7. Donned: to put on (an article of clothing)

8. Warily: marked by keen caution, cunning, and watchfulness especially in detecting and escaping danger

9. Commune: talk over, discuss

10. Promontory: a high point of land or rock projecting into a body of water

11. Intermarried: : to marry each other : to marry within a group

12. Coquettish: a woman who endeavors without sincere affection to gain the attention and admiration of men

13. Suffused: to spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light

14. Supplanted: to supersede (another) especially by force or treachery

15. Resplendent: shining brilliantly : characterized by a glowing splendor

*~*~*~

1. Though the door may have been ajar, that gave Danglers no right to listen to Dantes' and the former captian's conversation.

2. Because of Mercedes refusal and his jealousy of Dantes, Fernand's face was greatly suffused.

3. Upon being invited to the betrothal feast, the guests donned their best clothes.

4. The morning of the betrothal feast, the sun was resplendent in all it's glory.

5. Later on in the story, we will see how Dantes was supplanted by someone he thought close to him.

6. The ship felt a heavy air of melancholy upon learning of the captian's death.

7. Upon reaching the dock, the sailors lowered the anchor and brailed up the sails.

8. When Monsieur Morrel inquired about the letter, Danglers warily told him of his listening in.

9. At the end of the movie, Dantes and his family look out into the ocean on a promontory.

10. Edmund gave Mercedes clematis and nasturtiums to celebrate their being together again.

Pride and Prejudice Extra Credit.

2009-06-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

its 100%

Literary Aspect

2009-06-29T01:26:00.000-07:00

Pride and Prejudice. Although this maybe the title of the novel it is also the theme of the entire book.

Pride: Because of Darcy's pride, everyone finds him to be an arrogant, very disagreeable man. Also because of his pride, Darcy judges everyone so harshly and Elizabeth says this is his fault. But this is also Elizabeth's flaw as well. She usually takes such pride in reading people.

Prejudice: Darcy uses prejudice when trying to convince Mr. Bingley into falling out of love with Jane. He uses the family as an example of embarrassment and their family's low connections.

Personal response to Pride and Prejudice

2009-06-29T00:56:00.001-07:00

sorry that it's not as entertaining as my first video, I tried my best to fit in all my input.

I also watched the movie (the 5 hour one) so if anything from the movie was different from the book and I mention it in the video, I'm sorry, I tried my best to differentiate.

Pride and Prejudice questions.

2009-06-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

Chapter 1.
Question 3 - How are Mr. and Mrs. Bennett different?

- Mrs. Bennett acts as though she has no sense. All she cares about are the wealthy men who are to marry her daughters. She isn't very smart, has a loud mouth, and is only concerned with society. Mr. Bennett, on the other hand, knows he is superior in intelect to his wife. This is the reason why he openly mocks her in front of the family. He is much more reserved, and doesn't care for the balls and the parties. He only wishes the best for his daughters and favors Elizabeth.

Chapter 3
Question 2- What do you think about Darcy?

- I think when Darcy is introduced in chapter 3, he is perceived as very prideful and rude. Especially when he dubbed Elizabeth Bennett as only "tolerable". He likes to keep to himself and only his friends. I think Darcy is definitely seen as a very 'stuck-up' person.

Chapter 6
Question 2 - “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance”

- If happiness in marriage is truly a matter of chance, then that chance must be very big because I see plenty of married couples in love and happy. If this was said in reference to a arranged marriage, then yes, I would understand, but it is not. Back then, maybe happiness in marriage is was very rare because of the couples marrying only for money and estates. This is shown in a marriage mentioned and shown in Pride and Prejudice (the book) as well as Pride and Prejudice (the movie). These are the marriages of Mr. Collins to Ms. Lucas. Ms. Lucas married Mr. Collins because of his riches and connections, there is no real happiness whatsoever, just security.

Skype conversations.

2009-06-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

Even though I already did a web 2.0 tool blog, here is the skype post that replaces it. It can replace it if I don't get a chance to use Stupeflix. Oh, I'll try to use it for the personal response!

If I can stupeflix, you can to!

2009-06-24T01:07:00.001-07:00

I am unable to upload the image at the moment, but the site I wish to tell you about is Stupeflix!

It is a website that turns your pictures and videos into professional videos. I'm sorry to say that I haven't gotten the opportunity to use the site yet, but I intend to. I watched the sample video on the homepage and was impressed. The transitions between pictuctures, the audio, and the voice-overs looked good.

Again, I apologize for not using the tool before I endorse it, and also for not having a picture of the website to show you.

This is the website address:
http://www.stupeflix.com/

The Good Earth bonus.

2009-06-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

that's 80%

Increasing my Vocabulary with Jane Austen.

2009-06-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

1. Chaise: any of various light horse-drawn vehicles

2. Scrupulous: having moral integrity : acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper

3. Vexing: causing or likely to cause vexation (act of harassing)

4. Caprice: a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action

5. Solace: to give solace to : console

6. Deigned: to condescend reluctantly and with a strong sense of the affront to one's superiority that is involved

7. Circumspection: careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences

8. Emphatic: uttered with or marked by emphasis

9. Conjecturing: : to arrive at or deduce by conjecture

10. Suppositions: : something that is supposed

11. Surmises: an idea or thought of something as being possible or likely

12. Countenance: obsolete

13. Mien: air or bearing especially as expressive of attitude or personality

*~*~*~*

1. Mr. Bennet would not answer the girls questions or suppositions about Mr. Bingley.

2. Mrs. Bennet and the girls enjoy vexing Mr. Bennet.

3. Mr. Darcy was said to have a noble mien.

4. Mr. Darcy deigned when he looked at everyone in the room.

5. Jane had many surmises of Mr. Bingley.

Rhetorical Appeals.

2009-06-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

In The Good Earth, a few rhetorical appeals are used such as Pathos, Ethos, and Logos.

Ethos establishes credibility in the speaker.

In the case of The Good Earth, it establishes the reasons why Wang Lung, O-lan, and the villagers offer incense to the 'earth gods'. They believed that the 'earth gods' would bless them if they prayed to them.

Logos employs logical reasoning, combining a clear idea with a well-thought and appropriate example and details.

Pathos plays on thre reader's emotions and interests.

In The Good Earth, when Lotus does not get her way, she pouts and whines to Wang Lung. Because Wang Lung "loves" her, he gives her what she wants. Lotus knows this, and over and over again uses this "technique". This shows Lotus's logic to get what she wants by having Wang Lung pity her.

The Good Earth questions

2009-06-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

Ch. 1

Question 4. List the things that Wang Lung is impressed with in his new wife.

- Her shyness in front of other men except him, the food she made, her movement in their 'moment of marriage'.

Ch. 3

Question 3. Wang Lung gives O-lan one more piece of silver than she asks for. Why the generosity? And why is giving this money painless for the first time?

- He gives her another piece of silver so she could have extra money so the son's coat could be made of silk. Mainly because he was the first born son. After he gives her the silver, he thought about where it came from. It was painless because he saw the silver as clothes for his son and he worked hard for the silver.

Ch. 7

Question 2. What is your personal philosophy for loaning money? Why?

- My philosophy is ask why they need the money first. If it is for a need such as food, then I'll give it to them. On the other hand, if they wanted or asked for it because of something they wanted such as clothes orfbags, then I'd say no, unless I know for sure that knew they would pay me back soon afterwards. It also depends the person asking to borrow money. If they are lazy and absent-minded then, I would be hesitant.

Ch. 8

Question 2. How important are your basic needs? Sleep? Exercise? Eating well?

- All of the activities mentioned in the question are very important. Without any of these, functioning in life would be a lot harder on our bodies. Without sleep, it would be hard to focus on simply tasks such as cooking, or driving, for instance, would be life-threatening to yourself and others. Exercise is important because being in shape makes life less tiring. Eating well is important for one's well being.

Skype conversation.

2009-06-20T02:24:00.000-07:00

This is to take place of the personal response blog.

"Painting"

2009-06-17T22:36:00.000-07:00

The other web 2.0 tool that I like to use is the Paint program. I made a poster/image reflecting the attachment of Wang Lung to his land. I tried to portray him reflecting on his land while he was in the South. If you can't read it, at the top in white it says "If we were only back on our land. Ah! that fair land." - Wang Lung

I like using paint because of all the things it allows you to do. For example, in the image above, I simply took a picture that I took before and added text onto the picture. The picture below shows a few other things you can do on paint.

Vocabulary Words.

2009-06-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Dowry: The property that a bride brings to her husband's family.

Magistrate: A civil officer who administers the law.

Li: A unit of distance, the equivalent of 500 meters.

Wadding: A soft mass or sheet of short loose fibers used for stuffing or padding.

Girdle: A belt or sash.

Impudent: Marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others.

Jovial: Markedly good-humored especially as evidenced by jollity and conviviality.

Yoked: To attach a draft animal to ; also : to attach (a draft animal) to something.

Furrow: A trench in the earth made by a plow.

*~*~*

1. Most people in The Good Earth hold their money within their girdle.

2. Wang Lung yoked the ox before he began working in the fields.

3. Wang Lung and his father were jovial when they saw the beautiful moon cakes O-lan prepared.

4. O-lan had no dowry to give to Wang Lung and his family when they wed.

5. After Wang Lung had purchased the land from the House of Hwang, he definitely owned more than one li of land.

6. O-lan was handy, in the fact that she made shoes for everyone with wadding.

7. Wang Lung's children were never as impudent as his uncle's children.

Dracula Quiz!

2009-06-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

that says 76% if you couldn't see.

Video Blogggggggggg.

2009-06-15T02:30:00.000-07:00

When I start talking you'll need to turn up the volume. My mic isn't that strong. Sorry!

And I also apologize for turning in my blog late. It froze the first few times and only finished processing now.

Well anyway, I hope you enjoy it!

Increasing my Vocabulary.

2009-06-14T03:51:00.000-07:00

Physiognomy: the art of discovering temperament and character from outward appearance

Aquiline: curving like an eagle's beak

Pallor: deficiency of color especially of the face

Protuberant: thrusting out from a surrounding or adjacent surface often as a rounded mass

Patronymic: a name derived from that of the father or a paternal ancestor usually by the addition of an affix

Mirth: gladness or gaiety as shown by or accompanied with laughter

Saturnine: cold and steady in mood

Prosaic: characteristic of prose as distinguished from poetry

Acumen: keenness and depth of perception, discernment, or discrimination especially in practical matters

Semblance: outward and often specious appearance or show

Nebulous: of, relating to, or resembling a nebula

*~*~*~

1. I'm glad my nose is not aquiline like Dracula's.

2. Because she had such a pallor face, we wondered if she should go to the hospital.

3. I wonder why Victor is in such a saturnine mood today.

4. Dracula always had a semblance appearance, yet no one was very suspicious of him!

5. I wish I were skillful in the art of physiognomy.

I Wordled?

2009-06-14T03:47:00.001-07:00

I'm glad I was recently introduced to this tool. Thanks to this class. :)

What I like about wordle is the endless possibilities of wordle "creations" and the fact that I can type as many words as I like into the text. The ability to change the colors is just a wonderful plus. haha
x

Skype Meeting 1.

2009-06-14T03:45:00.000-07:00

this is to take place of the literary aspect post.

and im sorry mrs. baniaga i accidentally deleted my previous posts.

Before i deleted them, i had done the vocabulary post, and the web 2.0 post.

i will redo them, but the time stamps will be different.

sorry.

2009-06-12T02:55:00.000-07:00

Chapter 1

Why do you think Stoker spends so much time describing the people and their dress while highlighting the idea of the "old-fashioned" (Golden Krone Hotel)?

Stoker sets the setting and gives the audience a images of what Jonathan "saw/sees". Stoker wants the audience to picture the time period as what it was and what he thought the foreigners would where then.

2. What are your personal beliefs in superstitions?

I only really paid attention to the superstitions about luck. For example if I just said something like "Oh, just watch, he'll run us hard in practice just for that." In order not the jinx myself, I knock on wood. Any wood around me. And if there is no wood, I usually knock on someone's head, or my own. haha