Reflection #10 The Blogging Experience

As the world keeps on having technological advances with medicine,engineering and science everything else with it evolves.We've gone a long way from writting on a piece of parchment with ink to Blogging.Blogging is the newest way to express yourself,sharing ideas with the world with your point of view and other people can come and leave comments.This has been my first blogging experience and I must say it's the best way to express yourself and specially if it's for a class.You can modify your website by adding pictures,bakcgrounds and the longer you use it the easier it becomes.I prefer blogging over journals any day of the year its unique and interesting,and what i liked overall was that it kept me motivated to keep on doing the other blogs.I think professors in every university should atleast give the blogging expirience one semester and try and see if their class is into it or if their not.The whole point of blogging is to be more interesting and it opens many doors for us,people get more acquainted with the internet and they loosen up to other peoples comments on their work without feeling offended or weird.So big up to Blogging i'm lookin to open an account after the class is over!
Peace
nOLO
HapPy BloGgiNg~!!!!!!!

Reflection #9 Maus

Comic:A comic book is a magazine or book containing the sequential art form of comics. Comic books are often called comics, especially in the U.K.. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, nor does it refer to short comic strips (like Peanuts or Dilbert). In fact, the seriousness of the medium varies widely.
Holocaust:the killing of five to seven million of European Jews by the Nazi government during World War II. Sometimes used to refer to the total Nazi extermination program, which included Jews, Roma (aka Gypsies), Russians, Poles, other Slavs, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. totaling ten to fourteen million humans.
Maus is a very well known comic that talks about the holocaust and all the madness after it.It calls our attention not only because the holocaust was an important part in history,but the way they clasify the different types of people,for example the Jews were known as the maus,The Polish were known as the pigs,The Germans as the cats and the Americans as the dogs.In the novel Artie(one of the main characters)is writting about the holocaust and after it.Artie didn't have to suffer the holocaust,but his parents did and survived it.After the war,his mother suicide her self because she couldn't deal with the pain all the jews were put through during that time,Vladek having his son and wife dead burned all her memories which made Artie evry mad,because he wanted to understand what she was going through.But I guess his dad had also gone mad with the war and what not,loosing everything because of the war.
I have been studying the Holocaust for years and I'm very much interested in it,but I never though there was a comic about it.The way the jews are shown as mice called my attention at first.I had already known about the jewish peoples struggle to survive,which wasn't a new thing to me,but every story is different,every struggle is different as well and that's what MAUS is all about.

Reflection #8 M. Butterfly-

To understand the Drama "M Butterfly" written by Henry Hwang we mus t ask ourselves what is a Drama?if we looked for an answer in dictionaries they would say that a drama is a prose or verse composition, especially one telling a serious story, that is intended for representation by actors impersonating the characters and performing the dialogue and action.Theatrical plays of a particular kind or period and a situation or succession of events in real life having the dramatic progression or emotional effect characteristic of a play,but to me it's just another interpretation of life.

The drama beggins in a cell where Gallimard(the main character)is showing of his celebrity status in jail.He beggins by saying that Madam butterfly is his favorite plays and starts acting it out as Pintkerton,the character which he identified with.To summarize this this drama Gallimard who is native to France falls in love with an open minded Opera singer from China named Song.Gallimard marries Song and had a 20 year run with her not knowing that she was a man.She decieved him for 20 years and turns out she was working for the Chinese goverment as a spy,retrieving much information from Gallimard.To all of this Gallimard was arrested and charged with treason to France,but how can a person be married for twenty years and not know that his wife was man?some scenes let us know that he wasn't a sexually active guy or didn't like having sex.To me it's bogus ,because every human being has an animal waiting to be unleashed and as a man I know for a fact that Gallimard didn't have good experiences with girls in his younger years.The themes that predominate in this play are clearly Deceptions with a taste of Racism.

P.I
I deeply think Gallimards relationship with Song is no different from todays relation in the world,setting aside the fact that she was a man,many couples are unfaithful and live their lives with lies and deceptions.M Butterly speaks out to us, making us undertsand the type of problems they dealed in the past which are no different from ours know a day.I think plays should be seen not read,I think they would help us understand with visuals.
Keep it Real
Nolo

reflection #7 The Realist Ever

It was all a dream
I used to read Word Up magazine
Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine
Hangin' pictures on my wall
Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl
I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped
Smokin' weed and bamboo, sippin' on private stock
Way back, when I had the red and black lumberjack
With the hat to match
Remember Rappin' Duke, duh-ha, duh-ha
You never thought that hip hop would take it this far
Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight
Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade
Born sinner, the opposite of a winner
Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner
Peace to Ron G, Brucey B, Kid Capri
Funkmaster Flex, Lovebug Starsky
I'm blowin' up like you thought I would
Call the crib, same number same hood
It's all good

Uh, and if you don't know, now you know, nigga, uh

[Chorus:]

You know very well who you are
Don't let em hold you down, reach for the stars
You had a goal, but not that many
'cause you're the only one I'll give you good and plenty

[Verse Two:]

I made the change from a common thief
To up close and personal with Robin Leach
And I'm far from cheap, I smoke skunk with my peeps all day
Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
The Moet and Alize keep me pissy
Girls used to diss me
Now they write letters 'cause they miss me
I never thought it could happen, this rappin' stuff
I was too used to packin' gats and stuff
Now honies play me close like butter played toast
From the Mississippi down to the east coast
Condos in Queens, indo for weeks
Sold out seats to hear Biggie Smalls speak
Livin' life without fear
Puttin' 5 karats in my baby girl's ears
Lunches, brunches, interviews by the pool
Considered a fool 'cause I dropped out of high school
Stereotypes of a black male misunderstood
And it's still all good

Uh...and if you don't know, now you know, nigga

[Verse Three:]

Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis
When I was dead broke, man I couldn't picture this
50 inch screen, money green leather sofa
Got two rides, a limousine with a chauffeur
Phone bill about two G's flat
No need to worry, my accountant handles that
And my whole crew is loungin'
Celebratin' every day, no more public housin'
Thinkin' back on my one-room shack
Now my mom pimps a Ac' with minks on her back
And she loves to show me off, of course
Smiles every time my face is up in The Source
We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us
No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us
Birthdays was the worst days
Now we sip champagne when we thirst-ay
Uh, damn right I like the life I live
'Cause I went from negative to positive
And it's all...

(It's all good)

...and if you don't know, now you know, nigga, uh
Uh, uh...and if you don't know, now you know, nigga
Uh...and if you don't know, now you know, nigga, uh

Representin' B-Town in the house, Junior Mafia, mad flavor, uh
Uh, yeah, a-ight

P.I
To me Hip hop is Poetry,like RUN from "RUNDMC" said we take the beat from the streets and put it on cd.Hip hop is way of living, it's so much more than dope beats and crazy rhymes.For me Hip hop has been like a father in away,it has helped me grow,it has seen me grow.I can't decide on who my all time favorite rapper is Tupac or Biggie,both have made an impact on the hip hop society in huge way.So when ever I hear the word poetry I think Biggie and Pac.This is one of my favorite songs ever,it's called "Juicy" by Notorious B.I.G(Rest in peace),it's just so real him talking about how he made it and they way he is living.Check out my favorite rhyme of this song:
"Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis
When I was dead broke, man I couldn't picture this"
You can see how this song takes you back when hes talking about nintendos and sega genesis,So once again this is my poetry and if you haven't heard any BIG songs check out hypnotize,big poppa,me & my bitch or sky is the limit you won't be disappointed!
Nolo
Peace
R.I.P
BIG,2PAC,PUN,JMJ,LEFT EYE,ALIYAH!!

reflection#6 What I said by Norman Stock

After the terror I
went home and cried and
said how could this happen and
how could such a thing be and
why why I mean how could
anyhting so horrible and how could
anyone do such a thing to us and what
will happen next and how can we live now
it's impossible to understand it's impossible
to do anything after this and what will any of us do now and how will
we live and how can we expect to go on after this
I said and I said this is too much to take no one can take a thing like this
after the terror yes and the I said let's kill them

So judging by the year this poem was wrote(2002)I can tell he is talking about the acts done by alqueda September 11,2001 on the World Trade center.You can really feel his pain and the pain of the nation reflects on how he was thinking.When he says after the terror he main after the events that happend he was still in shock of what had happend.
At the end he says "after the terror yes and the I said let's kill them"
His pain and anger led him to approve of the war in Iraq.Once again I'm not a poet,so maybe you might not understand my interpretation so good luck
P.I
To understand Poetry one must read over and over again, so good luck.
Nolo

Reflection #5 Poetry in Motion

Hyperboles,Similes,Metaphors are some of the figures of speech found in Poetry. Poetry is an intense way to see the world,it's a world on it's own if you get to understand it.It's a different way to show the world to others though your own eyes.Many people avoid poetry simply because they don't understand it and refuse to try and work with it.This week we started to work with poetry in class,which made a lpt of people nervous with all the rhyme patterns and schemes one can handle.To be frank with you guys I didn't like any of the poems given in class,but I will talk about them.Let's start with "The Being Brand" which is poem that works with alot of metaphors if you read calmly you'll understand that he is talking about the virginity of a young lady and comparing it to a brand new care.This man takes care of his car and lets the reader know that the only thing hard is to get the car started afterwards it's not so difficult driving it.Once again good metaphors help us understand better what we are reading,such as the brand new car to the virgin.Moving on to "Latin night @ the Pawnshop" with has a sad tone,it all starts when the author sees these music instruments in a pawnshop window display with the tags dangling and compares them to tags dangling of a dead mans body in the morgue.The author remembers his beautiful Island and the music that could be played with those instruments(salsa) while starring @ the window display in Massachusetts on Christmas season.Some poems are easy o understand and others are abstract.Some times all we need is a little time and patience to understand what we are reading.I'm not going to lie I have wiritten a poem or two,but I dont consider myself to be poet,I consider myself to understand a different language.

Personal Opinion
Poetry is not for everybody,instead of avoiding it we should try and work with it.Personally I like to use similes and metaphors and will continue using them,i'm just glad to know that I will learn more.Poetry was understood since the beggining of times why should it be any harder @ the end of them???

Nolo

reflcetion #4 Decisions

So I couldn't asist class this week like I would've liked,but I did read the short stories,so I'm going to emphasize on what I learned about them.Lets start with The Storm,typical story about an affair which is obvious in the story.The whole plot takes place when a storm comes up and M'sieur Alcee seeks refuge in Calixta's Gallery. Seems like they both had a little history in the past and had a clash between the storm. I think the story is called The Storm,because that's what the lovers where feeling inside of them when they were doing their dirt.So,the Storm ends and M'sieur Alcee rides away Calixta's family returns to the gallery telling her all about the storm and how they spent it in a store.I guess the main characters are Calixta and Alcee and the whole plot is the affair they're having together.What did we learn?That in older times people use to cheat and still cheat.That sacret vow we take when we get married always gets broken in our society and it's good to know that in older times people were just as screwed up as they are now,only thing they get to ride away in a horse, we leave in a corrolla.There's some humor in the story if you read carefully.

Ok, Eveline is a young girl who sees her life passing by.She's a person afraid to take risk and make decisions.The story gets twisted when she has to make a choice whether to stay with her family or flee to another country with a sailor.At the end she is to afraid to make that decision and decides to stay with her family.Eveline was abused by her dad when she was small,her mom and brother died,so you can say she had a bad childhood and that's what made her so afraid of life.Now a day there's people who live behind their own shadow and are terrified to make a stand for themselves. Eveline is just another story telling us to stand up and learn from her mistakes.

Personal Opinion
Liars,cheaters have always been in our society since the begging of times,I think people have to learn how to be loyal.Start over, because no one can win with the purple properties,everyone wants the blue ones(joke=nothing to do with the stories.
Stand up and Shout,everyone is entitled to freedom of speech and we have to use it.
I've always been a loud mouth,but in a good way, I think everybody should learn how to defend themselves verbally.What I'm saying is to get educated,learn about the world and not be satisfied with you have and always look for more.That's just the way I think and encourage others to do the same.
U Dig?>
Nolo

Reflection #3 Wake me Up!!

Ok, so this weeks two stories that we covered had to do with lies and deceptions,I think everybody can agree with that.On one side we have Goodman Brown,typical person who's curious about new things and gives them a try,but aren't we all.Goodman Brown has a normal life and decided to take a chance with curiosity, on his way to the forest he finds out that everyone he knew was living a lie and decides he doesn't want to be part of whatever the whole town was doing.Thing is the story tells us that it was a merely a dream, but was it?.I think this story had to do with your religion and faith.At the end he lost his beliefs and religion,because of his illusion or was it? I guess ones beliefs have to go beyond just changing them because you had a weird dream or wahtever.

The Cask of Amontillado is a really good short story,I liked it just because it gets to the point.It all begins in a sort of carnival where this man called Montresor invites his friend Fortunato to his chambers to try some Sherry Amontillado(Which is some kind of Wine).The whole plot of the story is that Montresor wants to get revenge on Fortunato,because he insulted him.On the way to get the Amontillado he takes him to his Families Catacombs and chains him to all.After that Montresor made a wall of bricks to lock him up and so he got his revenge.Moral of the story?Choose your friends wisely and choose your words even wiser.This story only shows how peoples pride overcomes anything even friendship.Sometimes I just like to cruise alone,I mean I have my family and my friends,but at the moment of truth I roll alone because I can count on me to do anything.So,I guess That you should treat people the way you want them to treat you(The Golden Rule).

P.I
If you believe in something so sacred like your religion I don't a dream should change the way you live your life, that just means that your faith wasn't real.As for friends I have small circle apart from my family,and I think people have very little friends,although they know a lot of people.Times haven't changed much since half a century ago or ages back.
One
Nolo's

Reflection #2 Dying to Live?or Living to die?

Strange week I've had, but nevertheless another reflection to do.I'll start by saying that times have changed,I took the liberty this weekend & spoke with grandmother about her yesteryears and indeed she said people use ti have manners and moral in those days.She kept on reminiscing and told people use to be kind and grateful.So what's wrong with our society?It's called survivol of the fittest, people would do anything to survive,even if it means pushing you down on the floor to be first in line."A good man is hard to find" is a good story, what caught my attention about was the way the grandma tried to talk the Misfit out of killing her,just then you could see how she sold her soul to survive and the way no one faught for their lives even when they knew they were going to die.So next time you plan a trip keep to the schedule.

So have people gone crazy?all of the sudden I'm getting updated with what sick minds do all over the world.From husbands killing their wives & driving around town in their car to people keeping there husbands 4 years with them after they died.Yes,shocking, but true and you don't have to go to Ripley's believe it or not Museum."A rose for Emily" was weird, no doubt about that and in some way hard to understand, but if you read with patience you'd understand that she was locked up all her life,not only in her older years.Sometimes it's hard to let go someone you love and one must move one, but this crazy b#tch was insane.I don't know if I can give her the benefit of the doubt on this one, but I can say this story is not far away from reality and what people are willing to do for a couple of minutes with the person they love,etc...

Personal Opinion
The World has gone Mad!!!!desperate times,desperate measures & desperate people. Everyday there's a struggle to survive and personally I think we can do it without violence or war.Do I think times have changed? Yes,people aren't how they use to be,they would do anything to be on top and won't stop at any cause, you can even call a food chain,because that's what we've become animals.In all this mist of crazyness what the hell happend to the Cat!!he didn't get any punishement or get killed!!jejej just kidding I don't want the Animal Rights people on my back!So please have your both eyes wide opened.
PEACE
NOLO

Who Am I?

What up Bloggers!!!Hope You Dig my site and everything in it. My name is Emmanuel Lopez Cruz everyone calls me Manolo/Nolo, I live in A-town baby!! thats Aguada for all those outdates. I'm currently in my first year @ CAAM studying bussiness administration and my concentration is Marketing. I'm the Ceo/President of my 2 Companies "Nolo's Productions"
which is my promotion/oraganizing parties and special events in the west side of Puerto Rico. "STAY FRESH,INC." is my sneaker/gear upcoming company.So next time you greet me respect the Swagger!!U dig????????

Refelction 1 Patriotism vs. Abortions?

Hi Bloggers as my weekly routine of posting my reactions or opinion of this weeks short stories/ topics on my Blog, I will start by saying that everyone is entitled to have freedom of speech. People all around the world have different beliefs and lifestyles, from small children to aged people have a right to live and speak their mind anyway they want to. Abraham's case was a little controversial, because you can feel the discrimination in the atmosphere(The teachers vs. Abrahams beliefs), but many great leaders have felt and suffered the consequences of discrimination such as Martin Luther king or John F. Kennedy.Education is something very important for our society,the way Abraham dedicated to reading should be an inspiration for everyone.I think Abraham was a little to mature for his age, many kids are only playing cowboy when he was writting plays.I also think that the fatherly role has to do alot with how anyone grows up and his dad wasn't there for him when he need it him, so he emerged himself in to books,plays,autobiographies to try and find that fatherly role in those readings. Some people are use to living the quiet life with never saying a word to stand up for their beliefs or religions, etc...Abraham was brave and in a kind of way nobel and always stook to his ideal with out ever worrying about the consecuences.In conclusion I think everyone should raise their voice and shout and not just shout for shouting, shout to be heard,to make a difference.Abrahams good in my book.

Abortions are getting popular everyday, some people take it as hobby, some don't care.Now a day people aren't responsible, but if you are for a cheap $200 anyone can get their problems solved. Sarcasm?hum,maybe, but that's how people think. In the story what kept on calling my attention was the way the man(the American man)talked to her,the way he tried to manipulate her into getting the operation.He would say words of seduction like"it's not even an operation" or "they just let a little air in".The way he played with her mind made me think she was underage or maybe he was just a slick guy. Normal scenario, older guy,younger girl couple of hits of absenth and there you go perfect combination for a new baby boy.Getting to what's real, girls all over the world are being man handled, and most of the time they're the ones who feel bad after they get it and have to live with it for the rest of their lives.I mean it's hard enough the cost of living imagine having that in the back of your mind for the rest of your life.My uncle has aborted twice, he told me about, says he thinks about it everyday.Not a day goes by without him thinking of were his kids would be if they were alive.He also told me God has a big punishment for him when he gets to heaven,never told what it might be,but I have a pretty good idea(True Story).

My personal opinion is speak your mind,doesn't matter if people feel it or not, if it makes you happy and gets you by your day say it/do it/Whatever. No one has the right to boss you around or tell you what to do, unless your like me and still live with your parents(joke/ for all of those who didn't understand it).OHH and protect yourself not just because you can cause an unwanted pregnancy,because there is all kind of diseases.......... Keep it real and keep your head up,there is still alot of walking to do!
YOU DIG?

Reflection 1
Patriotism vs. abortions
Emmanuel Lopez