Another one bites the dust...

Being a second semester student, freshman, I don't have that much experience with the whole college concept quite yet, but I can say that one of my most interesting and beneficial classes has been Engl. 1020 sec. 1. Since I can remember I have always enjoyed writing, so every chance I get to improve my writing I take it. When I walked into this class I though I had it made, but little did I know, my writing would drastically change as I found my self in depth with the topics. Through each essay that was assigned I found new ways to incorporate my self so that I would try my best in each subject, this is also due to the methods of teaching.

I often loose track of details as I find my self focusing on writing the essay portion rather than taking my time and seeing things as they are. My previous observational essays were mostly on set topics rather then free range. In this class essay topics were very easy to come upon, as almost everything was free range. Gathering skill and ideas from class and the assigned readings allowed me to practically check list my ideas and provide clean and vibrant observations on things that I wouldn’t normally even glance at. In my Observational Essay I described the security guards at the entrance of a building, focusing on the factors that I normally would just state rather than describe. “Each guard is dressed in the typical generic looking uniform, a blue or white collared shirt with a black or blue over jacket and black slacks. A cheesy-chromed badge covers their lower left chest and wobbles back and forth as they walk around.”
The assigned readings showed me how to encounter each situation and observe everything that was or would be relevant to my essay and take note of it, like mindless ramblings of what ever I saw. With these simple techniques I am now able to use description in my essays in a fluid manner with out over or under doing it. This makes writing easy to read and very fluid as it does not obstruct the reader and bombard them with too many visuals, which is something that I used to do.

A thesis is what makes or breaks a piece of writing no matter the skill of a writer. From my very first post to my last, it is clearly visible that my writing skills have almost completely changed, but I think I have become most proficient in coming up with an elaborate thesis that leads to a good paper. In my very First Post I was asked to find a subject and a site in which I could relate to and write about. I did so but in a such a bad fashion that it is extremely choppy to read. “Skatboarding is a sport that is to soon be reckoned with as it is up and coming.”
Although a thesis is something that can be revised and revised until it is perfect, then revised some more. Over the coarse of this semester I have become accustomed to asking that all important question, “SO WHAT???” and by doing so I have been able to write and add more context to my thesis’s in each paper.
In my Rhetorical Analysis I used that all important “so what” factor and came up with a thesis that couldn’t be defined in one sentence as it linked the argument of a picture to one of my own. “Police have been around since laws have been established. They have the sworn duty to “protect and uphold” justice, but what happens when the term justice is taken out of context and bent to where it hardly resembles justice at all. Further more how will this corruption deceive to the younger generations views on Justice?”
Although this in its self is not nearly as developed as it should be, it is a complete turn around compared to the way I used blatantly state my thesis. Developing good thesis skills will come in handy through out the rest of my life, especially in my writings, as I will be able to connect with my readers on an intelligent level with out losing their attention.

Using the information I have gained from this coarse I feel confident that my writing skills have returned and have grown. I hope to encounter more interesting and fruitful classes, which will better my writing, but now I can walk confidently and write just as bold.

Rhetorical Analysis...

Well first of all I would like to say sorry because I don't know how I did it... but I managed to loose my book that I was going to reference... so if I find it... I will edit this blog entry, but until then... sorry for the inconvenience.

Police have been around since laws have been established. They have the sworn duty to “protect and uphold” justice, but what happens when the term justice is taken out of context and bent to where it hardly resembles justice at all. Further more how will this corruption deceive to the younger generations views on Justice?

This image uses the illustration of a police officer wearing riot gear and holding a baton in the air as if he was preparing to swing. The image and the text correlate with each other between the image of a riot geared police officer above the text, “Too many cops Too little Justice” which hints at the fact that not all cops are just. The plain black and white colors of both the text and image provide a straightforward message, but the text progressively grows in font size from a small font on top to a larger at the bottom. This provides further emphasis that justice is not being fairly distributed and practiced by the law. The text, “Too many cops Too little Justice”, argues that even though there are so numerous cops, only a portion of the time accurate justice is served.
This can be proven through out history, where there is true justice, there is also a share of corrupt judgments.

With in this image certain rhetorical strategies are used to give a deeper description of the point that is made by the cartoon. The words play off the image by giving an example of what “Too little Justice” may take the form of; in this case it is a police officer in riot gear ready to get violent. By personifying the words with an image of violence, the simple message is brought to the viewer. When referring to the text alone a cause and effect example is brought to the reader’s attention. There are “Too many cops” that have everything under control to where they begin to have a “power trip” seeking their own justice, which refers to the term “Too little Justice”.


The Image uses its distinct layout and lack of color to emphasize logos (based on logic or reason) and the imagery of a fierce riot geared police officer to emphasize pathos (based on emotion). When referring to the logos the choice of color and layout of this cartoon gives it a serious factor. The seriousness also gives the image of the officer a sense of harshness seeing as a colorful uniform would not strike fear in the eyes of the reader. The logos also can be connected to today’s youth through their basic logic when looking at the law. This is shown through the cartoon as there being “Too Little Justice”, illustrated by the officer in riot gear, which is/should rarely be used except for intense and violent situations. But more often it is used just to keep a protesting crowd in complete control. The pathos of the cartoon reflects a sort of sadness as it is related to the lack of respect given by those who enforce the law. Police are supposed to be respectable and given the right circumstances heroes, but with more and more honorable officers displaying violence, we are only left to feel fear. This image conveys fear in its fullest. The sight of a fully dressed riot gear police officer with a baton raised is a site that most hope to never see.

Situations like these are seen by today’s youth, giving them reasons to conspire against the law and or rebel as they see that our justice system is not as truly just as it appears. With reoccurring events based towards our youth, youth crime has begun to spurt upwards deteriorating their views on how to conduct their behaviors.

The youth are becoming accustomed to “being in the wrong place at the wrong time” and suffering for others mistakes. On Wednesday, October 4, 2006 there was an incident at our very own campus in which a white male was breaking and entering into a black male student’s car. The black student was stabbed in the leg while the white male fled the scene. Upon the arrival of the Auraria Campus Police Department, the wounded black male was taken into custody as the police assumed he was the suspect mentioned by the caller. With today’s growing police force and limitless laws, one is left to think about just how far justice can be taken or lessened. Police officers are becoming less restricted and getting away with unjustifiable acts, while knowing that they can get away with it. More than often police who commit accidental killings are left uncharged and faultless, placed back on the work force and are allowed to continue their jobs.

Police run over, kill sunbather in Calif.

"Two police officers patrolling the beach in an SUV on Monday ran over and killed a sunbather, authorities said.
The officers did not immediately realize they ran over the woman and continued driving, police Cmdr. Tom Chronister said in a statement.
The officers have been placed on paid leave pending an investigation."

On August 30th, 2004…

"The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has launched a harsh crackdown against anti-Bush protesters, arresting between 1,500 and 2,000 since demonstrations against the Republican National Convention began last Friday… …cops beat teenagers, threw an elderly man to the ground and tackled women on concrete sidewalks…"

A non-violent protest turned violent after scenes such as this erupted throughout the city, and these people were coined, “New York’s Finest”, yet they displayed such actions that only add to our youth’s out look. If our youth is constantly bombarded with such acts of degenerative violence, what will our future hold?

Not as Good as I Once Was...

The human body, it is a miraculous thing if you actually think about it. Both male and female, both with very distinct features. The human body has the ability to mend itself, grow, and adapt to situations when needed. All of the functions that are capable by ones body meets no bounds and no limits, but when is it too much? When I speak about too much, I am referring to ones ability heal. This can be taken both mentally and physically, but in this respect I am going to keep it physical.

Through out one's young years they put their bodies through what can basically be described as torcher. Or at least I did. If I saw a challenge in front of me, I never hesitated. Jumping into a situation with out thinking allows one to step in with out fear. With no fear, one can give it one's all in the selected situation.

Although this technique seems to fade as one ages, when the fear tends to overcome the spontaneous ness. This is when most take it (their life) down a notch and begin to settle down, but what is this age and why do we surcum to it?

The body can over come circumstances when there is little to no chance. I have been told that if I continue with my sports career (not much... basically skating) then there is a chance that my legs may fail when I get really old, considering I live that long hahaha!!! Recently I hurt my hip, some how skating I don't really know, but I had thought that it was healed but after skating on it for a while I think I tore it again or something, it hurts... Between both of my shredded ankles and useless wrists I don't think I can take much more. This is the point when I am supposed to give in to the fear, but I can't just give in... give up like that. Skating is my life, my everything, with out that I wouldn't be me... so I guess this is where I leave my answer... I will overcome the fear, the pain, and the helmet preaching doctors and I will stay true to myself...


(I have this on both ankles... done multiple times)(my left ankle is so bad that if I bend it towards my shin... it basically sprains... but I am so used to it that I get over it in about 5 minutes or so.)


(type 3 all the way...!!!)

Pressure...

Pressure (symbol: p) is the force per unit area applied on a surface in a direction perpendicular to that surface.



Now apply that to skating... add a little bit of competition... and a whole lot of coordination... and you get what skateboarding is today. As great as skating is, it is turning into a huge competition... hardly even fun...

You can roll into a park, which you have never been to before, just looking for a new park to skate and have fun, but as soon as you enter... all you get is a set of stair downs and evil looks. The pressure to be/get good in sports is almost insane when it comes to the amount of comitment needed. In skating I have friends that have skated for nine years... friends that have skated all there lives and done nothing in life, never gotten good, never been in the skating bussiness. Those people are just in it for fun, and the fruits of there labor paid off after a while...

These days if you arn't good at something you are made fun of just for trying, so it is that much harder to even have fun with simple tasks. Skating is just the same. Almost everyone that I run into, they all think they could pick up a board and go out and tear it up, yet when they try... they can't... like others I find this very amusing so I am also with guilt!!! But I also admire those who are willing to put them selves out there and try something new, whether they are good or not.

No Where... But Down the Stairs.

So I was digging around through some of my super old files... from like 6th grade through high school and I found a poem I wrote for some class... and since lately I have been really feeling down I thought I would blog about it.

Basically I was a straight up nerd for super long... green pants, blue shoes, red shirt hahaha!!! Nerd all the way!!! Then I got into skateboarding, it did something for me that nothing had ever before. It provoked me to go out there and step out side my comfort zone, I mean if you can throw your self down some stairs and take a good beating, you can do just about anything. Recently, for a while now, things have pretty much gone to... and skating... which is the joy of my life, been there for me when ever and so forth, has always had my back but now it is making me more made than happy. So right now I am pretty much evaluating my self, my tactics, and my life in general... taking it apart piece by piece and putting it back together...

And this cheezy poem gives me the that extra something that makes me remember why I love skating.

(And I am still a nerd all the way... but my definition has changed.)

(The poem was aligned to a skateboard picture but it won't up load right so ya.)

"FLOAT"

You begin to run, a Slight jog.
The wind whipping your hair, shirt, and sKin.
With A flick of your wrist and a leap into mid air, you set your feet in place.
Now The wind blows fiercely against your face, a face of confident anxiousness.
You look stEadily at your feet to position them perfectly.
One last breath.
You Begin to see the edge.
YOu begin to bend down in anticipation.
Pop! The tAil cracks against the ground.
Your foot slides eveR so gently against the grip.
Now your in the air, the slightest wrong move and your scraping the grounD with your body
Your eyes black out as you close your lIds for a single blink, everything slows down, feels like your floating for hours.
The Next thing you know your eyes catch the vivid colors of light as you open your lids.
Still your in the air, how is this possible? It seems so amazinG!
You check your feet to make sure there on the bolts.
Bend your legs, absorb the impact, and the next thing you know your trying something else to fulfill your adrenaline rush.


As I figure everything out I know skating will be there when I need it most, that and it kicks @$$!!! hahaha!!!

You Tube... Video...

Spoof Add.

The image I Chose is a parody on alcohol consumption. This is an image of a bottle of Absolut Vodka that is withering down due to its lack of performance. This is what is meant by the bold text at the bottom "ABSOLUT IMPOTENCE". Below that there is another phrase, "Drink provokes the desire but takes away the performance" -William Shakespeare, which describes the add at its best. Alcohol is the leading cause in most automobile accidents, which is a fact brought up by the section of spoof alcohol adds at the Adbusters website, and this image emphasizes how strongly it impairs one's abilities. I think this image relies on both word and image for its appeals because with out one another they wouldn't make sense. The shriveled bottle with the spilt alcohol visually gives the reader what the bold letter print can't and visa versa. The spoof add is not so much selling a straight forward idea (that alcohol is bad) as it is giving an idea to the reader, the idea that alcohol needs to be taken with responsibility.

Calvin Klien Add.

This image is based solely on sex appeal. At first glance a viewer tends to look at the face at the right upper or the very slightly shown underwear at the lower left and continue on to the opposite end. The female figure dominates the picture while barely representing the underwear which the add is based on. Her figure is striking as it allures to both females and males, especially because of the position of the model. The Name of the company is rather small and the underwear the add is selling is hardly shown, leaving only the model's sex appeal to represent for the add. This image uses Pathos to appeal through one's lust, intriguing one to buy the clothing. This add is very inappropriate as it is selling solely sex appeal with a name, but then again with out it, (in today's society) the clothing would never sell.

picture...Analysis...

This is yet another image from the Foley gallery, by LAURA WULF. The image is composed of three sets of orange squares mixed with blue squares, each set on loose white threads on a green rectangular background. In the first set the orange square is first while the blue is second. In the second set the blue square is first and the orange second. The third set is the same as the first. The positioning and size of the items is not symetrical, they are kind of just cut and placed on the background. This image represents change and diversity, most likely pertaining to todays ever changing society. The squares are all cut to similar but different shapes and sizes, like people. The squares are mis matched in the pattern and mixed together for diversity and the loose strands represent life and our paths. Diversity must be taught so that our generations can prosper, this is what this image is "selling" to the reader.

Picture... Reflection...

For my refection I chose a different picture from the same artist because it stood out the most as far as reflection purposes. This is another piece from the Foley gallery, this being simpler with its characteristics. This image brings me back to when I was about six years old. I had just been taken from my legit parents and placed into a foster home. I was too young to understand the circumstances at the time so everything that happend felt wrong. I was there for two days while my relatives were contacted so that I could be placed with them. The only relatives that responded were my grandparents, which brings us to this image. The image is an older woman standing of the side of the street on a side walk gazing off at something. Behind here are a set of huge wings slightly spread taking up most of the picture. The image brings back my memories of how my grandparents basically gave me a second chance at life because with out them I wouldn't have made it as far as I have.

Picture... Observational...

This is an image from the Foley gallery under ALEXANDRE ORION. This picture is of what appears to be a mother and her son on a stroll back from a grocery store or market. The image is in a old fasioned coloring with a worn image look. There is an assortment of bags and items in the mother's kart as she pulls it along. The two are dressed for a warm spring or summer day wearing casual clothes. The mother is gazing towards her son as he steps off his scooter. The boy is holding a flower, cartooned into the picture, which was picked from the gathering across the side of the computer. After doing some research I believe the script on the wall, "TUDO POR COMPUTADOR," is portuguese which translates, "COMPLETELY FOR THE COMPUTER," probably refering to the cartooned flowers.

THE FEAR... Its Self...

Way back when I was sixteen years old I took part in a youth pre-college program that would further my skills and give me a college experience before the real thing. Through the course of my life I have been a very shy person, one who holds back and doesn't do more than I ever had to. I lived like this for the first fifteen years of my life, until I participated in the Pre-Collegiate Development Program summer program in 10th grade. That summer I decided to change my life, for better or for worse. What happened that summer changed my attitude and overall perception of life. That summer I was given many opportunities to change, but because I held back so much, I didn’t take any, until the end and with this last chance I knew I had to change and no time was better.

When I started the two-week summer program in the summer of 2004 I was the shy blonde white kid that always sat in the back and never spoke out for anything. There were always so many new people and so many new faces because of the vast number of students participating. I wanted to make friends, but like usual I kept to my self, which meant hardly talking to anyone. As time went on, slowly but surely, I made it. By the end of the first week, which seemed like an eternity, I thought it was smooth sailing, but little did I know what was in store for me later on. The second week of the program all of the teachers gave assignments that required each student to give oral speeches so that the students would interact with one another. I couldn't bear to even think about how bad I was going to choke when it was my turn, so I decided to do anything that I could to get out of participating. When it came time for me to read, I pretended I had a cold and that morning I had allergies so my nose was already runny. It was probably the stupidest thing I ever did to get out of an assignment, but it worked and all the teachers believed every last sniffle and sneeze! I continued to perfect my acting for the next week, right under the teacher's noses! As time progressed I mastered the art of illusion and schemed my way through many interactions. Finally the last day of the program was almost in grasp. I anticipated it to be the worst, but this day was different. I woke up feeling refreshed and very talkative almost as if I had a new view on life. I felt like a whole new person as my day progressed although my time of judgment was soon at hand. I casually had conversations with people I never even glanced at, I ate lunch with people I had never even seen, I even threw my self into random discussions with out any worries. Not knowing what was in store for later, I continued in my new up beat mood.

It was the last few days of the Pre-Collegiate Development Program before it came to an end and I made my way to school as usual. Once again when I got there I felt like a totally different person. Even my friends noticed that I was becoming more energetic and talkative as I participated in various activities that I would normally distance myself at any cost. I found my way to the Tivoli Turn Hall where the whole sophomore class was to meet. That day the TA's planned a "day of fun" as they would call it for all the sophomores in the program. All the second year students were separated into groups and then we played a few games to lighten the mood. Then the TA's, Teacher Assistants, announced a new activity. They said that all the groups were to perform a play about something that happened during the summer program. It could have been about anything, as long as it was appropriate. One TA that our group knew the best also seemed to be the best candidate to make fun of, his name was Son. Son was a really cool guy and a nice TA. He helped everyone out when ever he could with what ever they needed. There was one characteristic of Son's that stood out the most and made him very distinguishable. He had an extremely high pitch voice which could be heard from just about anywhere. My group decided that I should play the part of Son and as soon as they said that, a sharp fear shot through my bones sending a heavy chill down my spine. My group did no planning or anything of that sort. We were just going to “wing it” and get up there just to get it over with as soon as we could. The very moment that I was given the microphone, I had a flash back of my life.

I was tired of keeping to myself, hiding, and just tired of being who I was, so right then and there I decided to overcome my fear by speaking in front of the whole sophomore class. The TA's told us to begin our skit and I started talking, but instead of just regularly talking I spoke in the highest pitch voice that I could so I could mimic Son. After I got a few lines out I heard laughter from the crowd. I gazed out and all my friends were wide-eyed in misbelieve of what I was doing. After a while more and more people began to laugh and the more laughter I heard, the more I was compelled to change. Before long it was all over and everyone was bright red from laughing so hard. I had never felt so joyous in my entire life because I knew that I just changed who I was, I broke out of my shell and exposed who I really was.

I became the person who I am today because of the summer of 2004. I changed my life, my views, everything I knew and everything I was.(Small survey BE HONEST.) Tabula Rasa, as it is called, a word meaning a cleaned slate, a chance for new beginnings. I re-invented myself that day and it was for the best. Now I am not afraid to go and talk to new people, make new friends, or speak in front of people, well I do get really RED but that is it! I am not afraid to be my self and I am becoming the person that I should have been the first fifteen years of my life.

Cookies Vs. Life... durr...

This is kind of a challenge... especially when you are tired... and your mind is off... hahahaha!!!

Cooking Vs. Life...

So similar that it is scary. If you think about it, when you are cooking you half to be prepared, have things all set up, and then jump into the action. Basically parents control everything up to the "all set up" phase leaving one to jump in to the action themselves.

Ingredients: standard cooking supplies, varying on what your cooking, and if your really into it then you throw in some of your own influence. (to personalize a recipe.)

Ingredients For Life: start off with some family then throw in some friends, varying on your style or taste, then let them influence you, but not your decisions. Finally throw in a lil' bit of your self so you can put it all together SO YOU ARE YOU!!!

Cook Time: now the size and type of meal comes into play here so it will also vary.

Cook Time: around 18-27 years ought to do it. I think between this time a person becomes who they will be for the rest of their lives. Although frequent turn-overs will occur for satisfaction. (SECOND CHANCES!!! AND THERE ARE SO SO SO MANY!!! SO NEVER GIVE UP!!!)

Serve: hopefully everything came out good, and tastes delicious!!!

Serve: hopefully everything came out good, with you being you... now once the prime age is hit... it is time to settle down... and repeat the recipe... but don't expect similar results cause... IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!!! HAHAHA!!!

This free write was brought to you buy a box of those home made brownie things... and they are FREAKIN' GOOD!!!

There is some wackness going on... and my hyperlink's aint working so here is a place for brownie recipes!!!

Accomplishments are > Then Fame...

I analyzed The City Page's Corpus Obscurum which basically is giving praise to a few whom have had their accomplishments exceed their fame. This site uses many conventions, but mainly hyperlinks, WHICH LEAD TO POP-UPS... MANY POP-UPS.... The site is organized into different small blogs that give a brief description to the person's accomplishments and what they are famous for. The small blogs are specific and strait to the point giving causes of death first and then jumping into a small life story. The People chosen for the blog seem like they should have been famous, but apparently not. All of the blogs were posted by Corey Anderson. There are pictures relating to the deceased person in some form or another. Although the pictures themselves are not hyper linked to other information that would related to the subjects. The set up of the page is relatively normal as it is nice and neat, BUT... on the right side of the page there are a series of adds that almost constitute for have the page. There are also adds on the top of the page. The adds almost distract the reader with flashing avatars and changing text proving to be difficult to read if easily distracted. Each blog is posted individually usually days after the one before. Corey clearly sites his sources for each blog assuring the reader that time was spent on each subject and that it is all correct. The blogs are more factual based rather then opinion and feelings which, after a while, tend bore the reader. The blogs are all comment-less but one. The last blog, which is really catching, is about a Vietnam War conscientious objector who had flown for the air force for eleven years and was asked by the military to train pilots for the Vietnam War, and when he legally objected through courts he was punished by the military and was placed in prison for one year. This is the only blog that was commented because it was related to by the reader. This is what makes a good blog, something that people can relate to so that it is a fun read and not just some wack post. This blog is very un-similar to my blogs being that it is so factual but I think if I incorporate more facts and hyperlinks into my blogs they will be a better read. Although I hope to never blog on a site that consists of half adds half blogs because it is just annoying and ridiculous. Over all I think that the reader is number one because with out them a blog is nothing, so style and tone is number two.

Image and der Caption...

This picture actually came up while I was looking for another subject which i was going to use for this project but after some though the other image would work for these standards, so I chose the next thing that caught my fansy....

This is an image of a ficticious cartoon bunny after a gas station robbery has occured, he's throwing up a peace sign with one hand and a gun in the other.

The rabbit is standing infront of a gas station acting as psychotic as possible to scare the clerk into fullfilling his demands. With no local police for a good five miles the rabbit had plenty of time to leasurly do as he saw fit. Although because of the location he was also likely to be victimized by another creature of sorts whom needs the supplies and money just as bad if not worse. His attempt at a get-away would have to be flawless and quick if he were to make it out with the lute. His attaire and accessories where patched up and referbished from various sources. He hadn't even really tested his gun to see wheter or not it would pack the punch that he was looking for, which is why he is relying on sure insanity to pull off this crime. Around his neck sits a "good-luck" generic rabbits foot picked up by his wife a few hours earlier in hopes that it would let the job go easier. Since the times were rough, more so then before, he had tried a few other smaller jobs, but none were succesful as he sprained his rist and cut his foot. sirens are heard off in the distance, but with the amount of crime that is commited here, he probably wasn't their first priority so yet another few minutes were spaired. Finally he gathered all the food and cash in to his duffel bag and threw it out the door while rushing out when he decides to poke back in, which is when this image was captured.

An Unlikely, Unusual, but Very Useful Friend

( on the right...)

Sitting lonely, casually taking those who request its services to their destination, we meet our friend, a local elevator at the Fiserv building 717, 17th st. Fiserv is a financial institution that manages money mostly for the wealthy or those who could afford it. The building opens around five o’clock-ish, while the gathering of workers tend to rush in around eight.

Entering the building, a set of “Rent-a-Cop” security guards evaluate each person that walks past the polished wood finished station centered in the lobby. Each guard is dressed in the typical generic looking uniform, a blue or white collared shirt with a black or blue over jacket and black slacks. A cheesy-chromed badge covers their lower left chest and wobbles back and forth as they walk around. The guards immediately questioned my intentions while entering the building, but after some persuasion they gave me background on the building rather then interrogating.

The construction, both interior and exterior, was no more unique than any other building built in the 70’s or 80’s except for the elevator lay out. It was a typical rectangle twenty-nine or thirty story building with several symmetrical horizontal windows on each floor. The interior is also straightforward. There are a series of hallways on most of the business floors, all cream in color, with entrances that break off in to large rooms with 10x5 cubicles that are shared between two people. Although rooms grew in class and size in the upper floors. The building is set up in a weird fashion to where you have to take one set of elevators, that go from the first floor to the fifteenth, which is on the left as you enter. Then the other elevators on the right go from the lobby first floor to the fifteenth and then to the twenty-ninth floor, which is on the right. There are six elevators on both sides of the guard station for “Maximum occupancy,” stated by a guard.

As I made my way towards the first set of elevators shortly after seven o’clock I thought it would be best to take refuge in the upper second set, the fifteenth to the twenty-ninth floor elevators. The elevators on the right side, second from the front.

Only the few “early birds” were up and moving around; people who always have a smile on their face no matter the time to where they almost look plastic. All of them were dressed up in various office attire. They were mostly girls but there were a few guys.

The hallways were lined with marooned marble with elevator sections in between. One large light provided a mellow tone for the hallway while smaller lights brightened up the corners. The ceiling and floor mirrored each other except the instead of a light on the floor there was a large red tight threaded carpet for both elegance and traction. The elevator was very polished from top to bottom, inside and out. The back of the elevator was sectioned full body mirror while the sides appeared like dark red wood showing each line that a tree would have if it were real. All around the sides and seams was a glittery stainless steal trim. The front of the elevator from the inside was all stainless steal, but not as shiny because of all the wear and use. The front left contained all the buttons for floors fifteen through twenty-nine, and all the emergency buttons were color coordinated and glossy to be easy distinguished. Just above all the buttons sat about a seven-inch monitor that showed the daily news, stock and marketing, and weather. The monitor had no sound and the elevator had no speakers so all you could hear was the shrieking of the cables as tension was applied and taken off. The dimmed yellow lights shining from the ceiling made the atmosphere friendly, especially since there were rushes of people gathering towards the elevators.



A group of “plastics” followed by some casual dressed people made their way in to the gleaming elevator, which grew with a musty smell of cheep colognes and sweet scented perfumes. As each person piled into the elevator as I glanced up at the metallic punched in numbers “MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 1500 LBS” and just then I found my opening question. After about twelve or thirteen people piled in all emotionlessly staring at the miniature screen at the front-top-left side of the elevator at the news channel with and eerie silence, except for a few “plastics” next to me on both sides sipping on there steaming Star Bucks coffee.

I murmured just loud enough for everyone to hear, to crack their hypnotic state, “ 17,100 people are seriously injured in elevator accidents.” Almost instantaneously all smiles ceased, every body slumped, and all wide-eyed person’s attention were at me. After about a eight second delay the elevator dinged twice and opened after climbing one floor, and a few slumped out of the elevator looking down dreading another day of slow work with large figures money that they someday hope to own. Another couple dings passed and then the doors began to merge I muttered, “Aren’t the elevators in this building going under construction as well???” Now the front and some of the mid rows were just ignoring me, but I caught the attention of those around me.

“So… how do you like the elevator? I said to the average slender woman next to me. Not realizing that I asked her, she glanced a few times, just her eyes, no motion with her face or body. After repeating myself she answered, “well I tend to enjoy the rides but… the comments that you made earlier are a bit frightening.” When she spoke her lower jaw bobbed to the lower left and then back up again, like a horse eating hey. “I was just looking for a potential candidate to ask a few questions to, would you mind?” Narrowing her eyes she replied, “ I could spare five minutes or so.”

“Did you know that elevators originated in the early 19th century, but didn’t truly evolve and modernize until 1880?” Her attitude seemed to slight as she thought I was just another student doing typical student affairs. Before she could reply I brought up the fact that the elevator was surely pushing the maximum capacity with twelve or plus more people. From the center right side of the elevator a plump bald man, really short in stature, replied, “I have noticed that since I worked her,” chuckling, “but never really thought about it till you brought up the injury statistic!” a few more deep chuckles and smiles filled the crammed space.

“Would anyone go as far as to personify an elevator as a friend? I mean it takes you were you need to go, especially when your too tired to take the stairs, it even introduces you to new people.” The elevator atmosphere completely lightened as conversations sputtered back and forth between everyone in the elevator. The woman with the awkward jaw spoke up and said, “As a friend? I don’t know if I would go that far, but I do consider it to be a very appropriate invention.” Cocking my head back and adjusting my voice, “Who here has been in an elevator alone, and just did something that you wouldn’t normally do like sing to some music, start talking, dancing, anything out of the ordinary with in the past year?” Everyone agreed that at one point or time they had done something, and while some of the people in the front stepped off they continued the conversation with each other out of the elevator. “Wouldn’t you consider that a comfort zone, something that you’d have with a friend?” At different times I could hear, “I guess so, but I never thought of it like that,” from different parts of the elevator.

What was left of the crow had gotten off between the seventeenth and twenty-sixth floor. Just one guy and me remained in the elevator. But as his floor approached he turned and said, “I understand where you are coming from, but it is such a weird idea, and I will be sure to consider the idea the next time ride!”

Riding back down to the lobby I glanced around the elevator looking at all the fine details and craftsmanship put into it, each rivet, every lCD lighting the elevator and buttons, and the even tiny TV screen displaying the news with no sound, only in subtitles, all added up to a mechanized machine that could be treated as such, or as another friend considering the give and take relationship shared between the elevator and its riders.

Randomly Selected Words

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ONE StrangE FrienD

I don’t know why but when I think of this observational essay I have so many ideas, yet I continuously come back to an elevator idea. I don’t know why but it intrigues me. So many people use them and yet no one appreciates them for their services. From the two floor elevators to the high rise building elevators, so many people use them and hardly take appreciation of their construction and their services to the hard working people who use them. I though it would be interesting to observe “The Life of an Elevator” from the single guy who rides, thinking he is alone singing or doing something regrettably embarrassing to the packed uncomfortable feeling in the office buildings. The history of elevators goes back to 1850, and that is a lot of untold info that needs to be presented.

http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/1484/floor5.htm

A little history on our not so known friend.
Elevators were in service but there was only one problem, brakes!!! Elisha Graves Otis (1811-1861) took care of this after some experiments went down. The closest elevator that resembles our modernized series was introduced in 1880 when electric elevators exploded onto the scene.

Elevators lift everything from space shuttles, people, and even cars but for my essay I want to narrow it down to human-elevator interactions.


There is even a union for elevator constructors,

http://www.iuec.org/

International Union of Elevator Constructors. There are well over 25,000 members dedicated to the construction of elevators.

I mean if you are like most people, you usually have an interest in seeing how things work, dissecting things until they are understood. This is basic human instinct to take things apart and see how they work. Elevators fascinate me in this way I suppose which is why I am going to write an essay on them.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/elevator.htm

If you think about it, elevators are a major common usage in every day life, especially since they are practically everywhere. For instance somewhere and the beginning of some workday, for fun sake, lets say an IRS employee is on his way to work. He/she woke up with an average morning, doing the same ol’ routine but know he/she can’t be late again because of anything other wise the boss is really going to crack down. Now lets say he/she makes it to work, passing up a traffic delay, with a decent attitude ready to start his/her day greeting his passing co-workers on the entry-level floor. There are a series of elevators, roughly four, but all in use. Three of the elevators just took off from his/her current floor and being so early in the day, there is no chance taking them; waiting for those would be certain confrontation because they are going to stop on practically every floor going up and down. While the last elevator sits on the 3rd floor where it has been for the past few weeks because the maintenance company hasn’t taken the time to come out and fix it. Now that employee has to walk all the way up to an upper 30’s level floor using the stairs. Which in turn causes tardiness which forces confrontation with the boss, making the employee enraged beyond belief. NOTE… IT IS EASYER TO TAKE OUT ONES ANGER ON OTHERS RATHER THEN LETTING IT SIT… and maybe you are the unlucky one who gets his/her taxes on top of the stack set in front of that employee on that day.

a whole bunch on nothing makes the world go round

WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS THE USE OF PROFANITY.






The video I chose was shown to me by a friend in the last weeks of my high school year, and yet to this day I laugh every time I see it. The video is basically a cut scene from a old G.I. JOE episode that is dubbed over with hilarious random sayings that will confuse the viewer if taken too seriously. I found the video so hilarious because the old G.I. JOE cartoons were based on typical America, being patriotic and so forth, and at the end of an episode a “moral to the story” would be given similar to one of the political commercials, just strait and blunt like, “DON’T DO DRUGS”, etc. This video has no true focal point because it is so random. If the viewer tries to correlate what is said in the video with what is going on, and what is said and done later, then only more chaos is caused. In the original episode you can see how tense the kids become when the fire is started and yet when the G.I. JOE guy enters he is tranquil and composed with his actions gesturing the children to evacuate the building. The dubbing however is insane. The kids ramble on as they stand in shock at the rising smoke, when all the sudden the G.I. JOE comes to the rescue. Still appearing calm but vocally uncontrollable. He screams at the kids and everything that he does just adds towards the comedy of the video. “….WE’RE ALL DEAD!!!” The creatures of this video basically reversed the characters vocally making them seem totally insane. This is I guess as close to a focal point as this video gets cause it is utterly pointless other then the fact that it is a parody of a classic cartoon. Things like this make the Internet interesting, including all forms of media on the Internet. When you have a craving for just about anything from humor to adventure the Internet is there and it is then and there not a at a selected time which you have to wait for. This makes the Internet a powerful tool in today’s society. Hand-held devices like Ipods, mp3’s, phones, all offer some sort of media but it is limited access while the Internet is on going and filled with everything that you could ever imagine.

Here goes a link to some of the other videos on youtube

G.I. JOE

A Site of Sites

A Site of Sites

A web site that I visit frequently is Transworld’s magazine site known as skateboarding.com. This site keeps up to date with all news pertaining to skateboarding from contests to bails and apparel. Although the site focuses around skateboarding news and media making it easy to find with large photos which are links or icons next to a brief summary. The photos tend to be vibrant or animated oriented which tends to catch one’s attention right off the bat.



Specific links are the first thing show at the upper top of the screen allowing easy access to other pages giving everything that would pertain to that general area. The page itself also does this but it uses space randomly assorted on the page with icons or gif’s giving a reader a sneak peak of new content in a category. This page, I believe, is a oberservational site because it is based on the observations of skateboarding in all aspects. The conventions that apply connect with the viewer through simplicity, mainly through visuals. Although this site might not appeal to those who do not like skateboarding, but if the viewer is open-minded with the subject then the site will grasp the viewer. In today's modern society every thing is technological, we hardly do anything with out computers, and this is also true when it comes to writing. Blogs are one of the newer forms of writing although they are imfamously popular as they are a way for a person to express one's feelings or thoughts about any subject. Blogs differ to traditional based writing mainly because of the use of technology. No longer is there a need for rough drafts because of programs like spell checker, allowing writers to basically free write with out error. Blogs often also incoorperate the writer's views and opinions in a way that it is an "at the moment" writting while traditional writing is usually planned out and drafted. All in all writing is writing, it is a way to express one's self or to document something important.

Not Yours... Mine...

Skatboarding is a sport that is to soon be reckoned with as it is up and coming. With such additions to our culture like the X-Games who could refute it? These days it is hard to find a person who hasn't been in some way affiliated with skateboarding. But even so, it is still very misunderstood, as it is classified just as skateboarding. Any one can do it, but it take time and over all skill to make it look good and it tends to fall into the the catagory in which you either have "it" or you don't, "it" being potential. The cultural contexts of Skateboarding.com can not be fully comprehended unless you take everything into considerations, if not then it is just another site sitting on the web that someone might glance over. The Who aspect: basically this site was made by skateboarders and for skateboarders and everyone between who enjoys the skating life. The What: although the site is based solely around skateboarding, it also contains other information and links to other sports, gaming, chat rooms, stories, and a buyer's guide to purchase the magazine. Because there are so many choices this site is viewed by many for all reasons. The When: Skateboarding.com keeps up to date information about everything that relates to skating from team news, sponser changes, events, chat rooms, tricks, product apparel and acceries, and video games. The Where: the site's headquarters is located in Oceanside, CA where the magazine is produced and shipped from. Although the site contains information from all over the globe like skate tours, appearences, etc. The Why: the site's creation was due to the massive growth of skateboarding in the mid to late 90's. The magazine that is produced, "Transworld Skateboarding" supplies the demand for skateboarders around the globe so that they have current info about what is happening in the world of skating. The site is based around skating but doesn't enforce it so the viewer doesn't have to fully comprehend the subject because the general atmosphere is what attracts so many. But if the site is visited the general message is surely represented and easy to understand so even if a viewer doesn't like skating there are options like their signiture Wednesday Woe (click here for some carnage... hehehehe!!!) which is skating... with pain... and falls... and OUCH... As long as interest is taken in the site whether it is for pain, the passion of skating, or just fun, the viewer is sure to be pleased.

Here is a lil' bigspin front board 270 out.