Monday, October 20, 2008

No Place Like Home (click heels three times)

When Guterson says Green Valley is as much a verb as a noun, i think he is referring to the fact that not only is Green Valley a place, or home to many people, but is also a place of being. It has standards it must live up to according to many people's thoughts of what a gated community should be. On page 187, Guterson lists many rules of a gated community in order to "protect property values" this list includes the number of animals a resident may own, the exterior of the house, "plants in your yard, the angle of your flagpole, the size of your address numbers, the placement of mirrored glass balls and birdbaths." To many people, this may seem like an extreme exaggeration, but I know better. I have lived in such communities, and you have to pay thousands of dollars a year so a panel of rich snobs can tell you what you may or may not do with the house you paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for.
The tone of no place like home is extremely sarcastic. Guterson is literally shredding to pieces all people having to do with gated communities, from the builders to the owners. When he is interviewing home owners for example, he makes fun of the fact that they are deathly afraid of people finding out they said the things they did. He makes them seem extremely superficial. Another example is when he is talking about how gated communities really aren't that safe.
I believe that crime will be wherever humans reside. Simple metal structures will not keep out the hatred, jealous, ambitious species we have become, though they try. I live outside of Memphis, which has one of the highest crime rates in the country. My suburb has its stalkers, rapists, and robberies, but it is at a far less rate.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Home

1. i have 2 little sisters i would die for, they can be annoying little shits but they are growing into amazing girls and I would like to think that i had a lot to do with that.
2. a mother and father who would do anything for us
3. I have been with my boyfriend for two and a half years and am proud to say we have the most amazing relationship of anyone I know, adults included.
4. My family, boyfriend included, are all very close. We have been through our share of fights and pain but in the end, we pull eachother out.
5. My vain father is going bald.. haha

A different house every four years
Different cities, different states
Different rooms, colors, designs
A burned down tree fort
Nothing to hold on to,
Except family.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

What Makes A Guy Hot

I do not care how attractive you are, if you can't hold a conversation I will not find you remotely attractive. I am very into intellectual guys and this is evident by my past relationships and the guy I have been with for two years and some change. I like personality with a whole lot of sarcasm and I like to laugh, so if you can make me laugh I will fall in love. When it comes to looks, I am not too picky. I used to be obsessed with blue eyes until I started dating blake (my 2 and a half yearer) who has brown eyes that can only be described as soulful. I prefer tall strong guys but I am not too picky.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Context Video

You have to know who these people are, their backrounds, what they believe in. You have to know what tina fay glasses are, even though I didn't so I kind of missed out on that one, everyone else thought it was funny though. You have to know that the vice presidents take over if the president dies in order to get her "I am a heartbeat away from the whitehouse" joke. You have to understand dry humor in general and also what has been going on in the presidential election thus far. You also have to understand the media in America, and how American people in general are reacting to having women running mates for the first time in history.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Justin?

If I woke up to find myself in a man's body, I would definately freak out for a good hour or so. Then I would probably go find a hot girl and see how the physical aspect of a relationship feels for a guy. Then I would probably go do manly things such as play football or soccor or go to a bar and hit on chicks, I bet I would be a stud considering how many times I have been tactlessly hit on as a girl. I would walk around and see how things look from a males perspective and I would definatley try to compare them to how I see the world as a girl. Then after about 2 days I would wish to be a girl again.

Monday, September 8, 2008

UT MAKE ORANGE GREEN


This image portrays University of Tennesse's new found attempts at being "green". All over the campus, the above signs are posted. The signs are telling everyone who sees them, whether they are student, teacher, parent, or vol fan that they can help to make this school environmentally friendly. The sign is written horizontally which automatically makes the reader turn their heads to the side and read it. Because reading it requires more effort, the message sinks in and the reader remembers it. The colors of the writing is extremely significant. "UT MAKE ORANGE" is written in orange and grabs the attention of any vol fan and green is written in green, which makes sense. There is also a green leaf which adds to the environmental part of the sign. The trees in the backround and the beautiful blue sky also contribute to this message. The center of this picture is the sign, more importantly the leaf. It appeals to the audiences pathos because it is telling them that if we don't start being more environmentally aware, we will ruin our planet.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Dear Kelsey

This weekend, as you know, was labor day weekend. 3 days off yay!! Well On Friday I came home (I can't believe I am calling the dorm room home) and did some homework, I feel like that is all I ever do around this place. I studied for a couple hours and then went and worked out in the "gym" downstairs. Considering how I haven't worked out in about 2 years, I felt pretty good about myself. I have actually been getting into it lately, I go down and do about 15 minutes on the stairmaster, do some ab workouts, and use the free weights. You should be proud of me, always begging me to workout with you and I never would. Well anyway then I went and took a shower and got ready for the night. I walked to Blake's and we tried to go out and party but we were both too tired and there wasnt really anything going on so we hungout on his balcony and talked for a couple hours, which was amazing. I feel like we havent done that in a long time. We woke up the next morning and he brought me breakfast in bed. We hung around the apartment for a good couple of hours until 4 when he had to go and work. I went back to the dorm, did homework for awhile longer, worked out and when i came back up florence had a bunch of people over and we all got ready and went to a couple frat parties. Sunday was the exact same as friday and monday was a recovery day. Hope you had a good weekend too!!


Dear Grandma,
This weekend was a three day weekend and was a lot of fun. I got some homework done, hungout with Blake a ton, worked out, ate gross cafeteria food, went to a few parties, ran from cops... you know the drill. I love you and hope you had a good weekend too!!