A Literature Exercise

Thinking About It...

2008-06-07T18:32:00.001-04:00

As time goes on the pressure increases.
I confront it and adjust my actions as I grow older.
We need to study and conquer these obstacles of life,
before everything falls with the weight of a boulder.

Because I won't accept things as they are,
My life is filled with uncertainty.
I want to change this situation,
I have the intelligence to drive into the direction that will take me far.

You have to be rough and tough to survive these days.
Respect and humbleness is not enough to be strong, maybe I'm wrong.
Before I can let myself give in,
They need to show me their mind's are strong.

I can never give up. Life has me confused and amused.
Nothing will stop me again.
I doubt it will be easy again,
Yet I'm still waiting for my day to come.
Ain't it a shame?

Short Story Essay - To Build A Fire

2008-02-21T04:32:00.001-05:00

In the wilderness, every move is critical. Survival can only be achieved by making rational decisions

and using every instinct as an advantage. In Jack London's To Build a Fire, the environment is harsh and

unforgiving. About thirty percent of the story is devoted to describing the setting, which acts as an

antagonist, along with the freezing temperature. The sky in the Yukon is gray and dim. Sunlight is non-

existent and clouds are nowhere to be found. The detail that is most memorable is when London repeats the

phrase "day had broken cold and gray". He makes the reader feel the sharp, blistering wind against their

skin.
The setting has almost total control over what happens in the story. A rugged landscape combined

with underground springs made the man's trek an arduous task. His stamina was greatly depleted and the

land had made him paranoid, because he thought every step led to an underground spring. Even though he

is on guard, he is ignoring the fact that he should stop to build a fire before his hands freeze so much that

they are useless. This fatal mistake comes back to haunt him in the conclusion.

Jack London's story is told in the third person point of view. The narrator expresses all of the man's

thoughts, as well as the dog's instincts. Because the narrator describes the man as being independent and

shunning the old-timer's advice, the man is seen as being arrogant. He ignores the warnings from people

who are more experienced, because he doesn't think that the situation is serious.

London adds a mysterious aura to the man, because he has no name. Since he is nameless, he is

seen as a character who does not have a personal life. He seems unimportant and all alone in the world, as

if no one cares. Ironically, he listens to no one but himself and lives life the way that he chooses. The man

is nonchalant about the danger that he is in and has confidence in his own perspective.

Jack London gives the stages of freezing to death in great detail. He describes the man as being in

a state of uncertainty, which makes him think that he can run and somehow make it back safely to the

campsite. After being exhausted from running, the man collapses and begins to feel a warm sensation

throughout his body. He then proceeds to think thoughts about his own death and how it will be nice to

sleep. In this state of mind, he realizes that he made a mistake by not listening to the old-

timer.

As the man comes closer to death, the story gains a sense of meaning and solutions to the man's

problems are now evident. The man's death is a turning point that reveals the moral of the story: a man who

ignores advice that may save his life is a person headed for trouble. Death makes the man realize that he

needs others to survive in this cold and bitter world. Foolishness is his downfall and when he figures this

out it is too late.

The most serious mistakes that the man makes is going into the wilderness alone and not being

more prepared. If he had taken a partner, then he would have had some assistance in building a fire and

finding the right location to set up. If he had been better prepared, then he would have more clothing to keep

him warm. Both of these mistakes combined and led to his destruction.

Nothin' Like A Good Ole Haircut!

2007-11-09T18:26:00.000-05:00

Every time I get a great new haircut, I feel refreshed. I feel as if there is a new part of me that is revitalized, and my whole appearance is cleaner. Haircuts can describe what type of person you are and how you carry yourself. I do my best to make sure mine says that I am an intelligent and great-looking guy.

Grey Skies

2007-11-07T19:52:00.000-05:00

There is something about grey skies that just puts my mind on another level. Don't get me wrong, I love sunny days, but the somewhat gloomy atmosphere encompasses my innermost feelings.

Mysterious Inspiration

2007-11-07T18:45:00.001-05:00

Have you ever met someone, but never actually meet them? Have you ever gained inspiration from a feeling that is not realistic? Well, This past week I have experienced a strange encounter that won't leave my mind. At times, I find myself daydreaming about the possibilities of what could happen between us. I wish some of my dreams would not be totally unrealistic. I know that it will never manifest, yet I become inspired when I think of what is on her agenda. I use my fantasies as motivation to succeed, even though we will never be....

American Gangster

2007-11-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

I purchased the new album American Gangster today, and it was a purchase I didn't regret. If it's not a classic, then it is close to classic as you can get. I highly recommend purchasing this great body of conceptual work.

I Got a Job!!!

2007-10-31T20:23:00.000-04:00

Today I was officially hired! I start Wednesday and I am looking forward to learning lots of new skills. I see bright days ahead of me and maybe college will be a bit more enjoyable.

Closer to a Goal

2007-10-29T17:36:00.000-04:00

Today I received a phone call. The call was from a local sports store called Hibbett Sports. The manager (I presume) told me that he would like to ask me a few questions and gave me his business hours. I'm so hyped right now! I'm looking forward to an interview and hopefully I'll finally have a job. Also, a discount on my shoes and clothing would really be an added bonus. Hope this helps my tenure of being a broke college student....

Nike Dunks

2007-10-24T19:44:00.001-04:00

Just purchased these Nike Dunk Highs today. I've become obsessed with Dunks, I love the fresh, clean, classic look that they possess. I'm currently looking for a job to make some cash to feed my habit....

Can't Keep Up...

2007-10-01T19:02:00.000-04:00

Life is the tortoise, and I'm the hare...

I Got a Craving!

2007-09-20T12:50:00.000-04:00

My mind can't seem to focus on anything else at the moment. When you constantly see the commercials on TV, it's pretty hard to ignore. So, sooner or later, I'll fall victim to the McDonald's trap. I haven't eaten at the restaurant in a few weeks, so I'm overdue for a fix. I know the food is the last thing a person should be eating if he wants to maintain his health, but the feeling is too strong. Trust, later this afternoon I will indulge.

Test

2007-09-19T19:12:00.001-04:00

I had a test today in my business class. I was only minimally prepared, so I can only hope for the best. I'll prepare myself better next time. It's been a rough and tough week.....

Job Searchin'

2007-09-18T20:26:00.000-04:00

Since I left home for college, I've been an unemployed, broke, and ambitious college student. Today I ventured into the wonderful adventure that is job searching. The temperature outside was a steamy ninety degrees, and my gas hand was low. I quickly made my way to the first destination, which was a video game shop whose name I don't remember. I walked in, and nicely asked the worker if there were any job openings, only to be told that they aren't hiring until December. Next, I went to Hibbett Sports, a sporting goods store. I walked in and asked the question that I had previously asked and was told I need to speak to the manager. As the manager walked in, he told me that there should be an opening in about two weeks and then handed me an application. I'll return the application tomorrow and courageously continue my quest.

Stream of Consciousness

2007-09-17T14:53:00.000-04:00

Crazy, confused women door trash went to the store. Building we all McDonald's cheese food light car. Professors in all the classes. I wore a Du-rag in the darkness with all black. Lonely, waiting for a chick to bone me. Stairs room card papers and long lines. Frustration, money in big bundles. Rain wanting more out of life. My family I miss. Business class drugs intoxicated, high. Late night Internet. I don't hang out streetlights classrooms. Keep to myself.

That is my stream. I've been interested in the subject for quite a while, so I decided to try it out. I plan to study deeper and read up on it more.

Procrastination - Enemy Of Mine

2007-09-16T14:23:00.000-04:00

Procrastination is a strange word. The sound that comes from it seems as if it is jumbled up and unorganized. This is true of the literal meaning of the word also. If a person falls victim to the dangers of procrastination, then he is headed for a world full of chaos.

If we as a people would not put off what we could do today, then we would be living in a better environment; a better world. I've continually postponed things that were very important for my success because of my laziness or unwillingness to do them. Therefore, I have failed at things that I hoped to succeed at, all because of this "disease".

Not to worry though, we all can be easily cured. One just has to focus on the task at hand and conquer it step-by-step. If your task is great, then you should divide it into small pieces so that you can trick your mind into thinking small. Visualize the grand feeling of accomplishment that you will endure after your chore is completed.

The College Life

2007-09-13T21:30:00.000-04:00

After being in college for about a month, I'm convinced that this place is only for a certain type of person. You're basically given freedom that could bring about many troubles. The choice is yours whether or not you indulge deeply into your freedom. Abuse of this comes in the form of staying out late-night and disregarding any homework or classes the next morning.
The dorms are a place of never ending possibilities. You can choose to sleep all day or get lost surfing the Internet, skipping classes in the process. Exploring the dorms are also an option. There's nothing like visiting a friend or two for some fun. A level head is required in order to avoid dorm disaster drama.
I feel that I am in control of my situation. My priorities are in a place that is not of this world; abstract. Don't get me wrong, I love fun and excitement as much as the next man, but on in moderation. My motivation is success, and I'm not trying to do anything that might hinder my progress. Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is defined.

A Part Time Job

2007-04-29T19:05:00.000-04:00

When a person gets a job and he doesn't plan on doing that job forever, problems can become prevalent. Many hip-hop artists start off working in places such as supermarkets, restaurants, and department stores. These experiences can humble a person and they teach you things about everyday people.

The "hunger" of wanting more enhances artistic abilities. Dealing with aggravating customers will make think thoughts you have probably never thought before. But only when this frustration is held in, will it come out on paper and become a story of inspiration for many who need guidance.

Every aspiring artist many never reach his goal and therefore he may end up living a life of chaos. Those people capitalize off of the person who has experienced what they have, but made it out.

If my manager insults me again/I will be assaulting him/After I fuck the manager up/then I'm gonna shorten the register up/Let's go back/back to the Gap/Look at my check/wasn't no scratch ---Kanye West ("Spaceship" off of College Dropout)

Everyday I "punch" the clock, I feel this way. Of course I'll never do it, but It's nice to hear it coming from a person who has made it out the struggle. The good thing about it is that I'm only working part-time(even though I work five days of week most months) right now. Years from now I won't be checking for a story of inspiration, but instead I'll be living one.

Recommended listening for the aspiring worker:

Last Day - Phonte

Spaceship - Kanye West

A Normal Anomaly

2007-04-28T19:59:00.000-04:00

Hello people! I go by the alias of Mr. Nonchalant and I'm just your your normal anomaly. I Possess loads of intelligence, but you couldn't tell by my high school grades. Maybe I wasn't challenged enough or maybe I just had to many things to do and so little time. Anyway, I specialize in finding things that interest me so that I may take my mind off of the everyday stress. When its all said and done, I hope to have a successful career that allows me to continue doing this.

Speaking of interests, I'm currently indulged in music. Music takes me "away". I prefer Hip-Hop, but I have an open mind and I enjoy everything from R&B to Jazz. Currently in my CD player are the following:

Joe Budden - Mood Music 2
Nas - Illmatic
Jay-z - The Blueprint
Ice Cube - Amerikkka's Most Wanted

This changes daily, because I listen to music according to my mood. In the process, my day goes by a little easier and I highly recommend it this method of music listening. Ok, I gotta go now because its hard to write and listen at same time, hit me up.