Frankentopic

For this post I want you to describe your topic. What are its origins? Who created it? How does it work? Why was it created for? Etc.... Then I want you to discuss the controversy surrounding it. Why are people for it? Why are people against it? Discuss the pros and cons in detail. Lastly I want you to discuss your interpretation of the research you've done. Has your opinion on this subject changed? Make an assertion. What do you believe? And why do you believe it? And be sure to cite your sources!

500 words, due next Thursday. Please comment on one of your classmate's posts.

Brenten and Dillons Project

NMS Experimental Film from brenten on Vimeo.

Alex's Project

Kyle's Project

David's Project

Ninah's Project

Meghan's Project

Sandi's Project

Beth's Project

Unit 3 Project

A Silent Influence

When I look at myself, I see a woman.
Independence.
Intelligence.
When you see me, you see a girl.
Your child.
Your baby.
Maybe I should look at myself
The way you see me.

I watched you make decisions.
Some wrong, some right.
Every one had a consequence,
Good or bad.
Through it all,
You stayed true to yourself,
Your beliefs.
Your ideals.

You think of others, and yourself.
Not easily persuaded
Or easily jaded.
Ethics were something
Never to be challenged.
Do what’s right.
Do what makes sense.
Do what makes you happy.

Through mere observation,
And the silly questions of a child,
I obtained these qualities.
Without direction.
Without a lesson.
A silent influence.

When you look at me,
You may see a child.
You may see your baby.
But you should also see a woman.
Independence.
Intelligence.
Your influence has made me
Embody these things.
Because of you,
I am me.


Unit 3 Project
Stephanie Boisvert

I BELIEVE!

I believe most in family, my family in particluar. I have been through so many different things in my life and when the friends have come and gone, family is still there. I believe so much in my family because no matter the circumstances they are understanding. Not all families are like mine and that's what makes me so appreciative. I have witnessed some of my friends families who are not there for them. I find that to be so horrible. I feel like if you don't have family then what do you have? I know for some individuals that's not always the case. Sometimes people look upon their friend's as family. I have never felt that way. It seems like no matter what friend I've had in the past or present has in some way let me down tremendously. It's a good feeling when that anxiety does not have to be present in a friendship/relationship. One of my friend's in the past had told me that she doesn't think I value friendships. This made me laugh, due to the fact that this was the same lady who had messed up our friendship. I simply stated to her that I cherish my friendship's, I would love to actually have a good friend one day. I just have not found one as of yet. To her that sounded preposterous, but to me that sounded just right. I just let her know my family is always there for me, so there are no worries.

..

....

I Believe in

I believe in poetry. Its more than just a bunch of words that rhyme or a way of life. It is actually life itself. Everything in life is pure poetry. Whether it be the cry of a baby or the breeze that blows across the top of a tree. It is all that is beautiful and ugly in the world, expressed in the purest form. Before their were any other types of expressions their was poetry. If you look at most ancient literature you'll see that they are writen in a poetic form. Without the inspiration of poetry many other art forms may not even exist today. Here's an example of my poetry.

I can't tell anymore

Do you look at me or do you look through me
Do you talk me or talk at me
Do you want me or what I can do for you
Do yo love me or the idea me

We use to talk for hours about whatever came to mind
and unwind in the essece that was our love.
Or at least I thought it was.
Now I'm looking for the justification to the de-syncrinization
of the utopia nation that we created with or beings.

And it's killing me too kno that u are just willing to go
when you kno my heart is tangled in
those thorns that make up your motives

You dont know my pain

the pain that is only described by million daggers
falling from the rain cloud of scorn
that you have placed on me.
It's crazy up into now I only thought God
could control a mans heart, his soul, his spirt.

Why do you do this

Why do you cast me to the side
why do you crush my ego and dismember my pride
why do I see nothing in your eyes when you look at me
why do you deny my affections rather then let them be
why do you push me away when i try to touch you
Why do you say nothing when I tell you I love you

Why?

What did I do...

Beth's Post

I believe what goes around comes around, or in other words, karma is a bitch. Everything that people do, whether it be good or bad, will in some shape or form, will come back to them. The emotions one experiences because of the actions of another person will eventually come back in the forms of emotions to the other person. It takes its time and its own course of action. There is nothing you can do to control when it comes into play in your day to day life. It is a constant circle that is never ending. A single person has karma ties with everyone they interact with, whether it is a smile at a stranger or your best friend, we are all tied together.

I Believe In World Peace

I believe in world peace. I believe in the way it taste, sounds, and looks. I believe we can change the world. I be live that as a community we can work together to achieve this goal. I believe all people want this. I believe that this world one day will have peace. I believe everyone will be along on this earth without fighting or harm. I believe that their is all good in people. I believe the hungry will get feed and the poor will be given money. I believe a place like that will not exsist. I believe President Obama will fix this problem in the near future. I believe that as counrties we need to stop the fighting and the wars. I believe we need to try and share our goods and services. I believe in letting everyone have their own beliefs. I believe in one place that everyone can call home. I believe this will be the place soon. I believe in the peace symbol that represents peace. I believe when people look at the symbol they feel peace. I believe all people want peace. I believe in a world where we have no global energy problems. I believe in a world where we have no polluted oceans. I believe that someday the animals will get their homes back and be free again. I believe their will be a home for everyone. I believe in the peoples traditions. I believe the world will come around and give us a second chance at living life. I believe that we need to fight aids in Africa as one community. I believe we need to save the sick. I believe that we should all go green to save this world. I believe this can be done but we have to do it together. I believe in the peace core and helping others. I believe in schools to learn more knowledge. I believe in educated people and uneducated people. I believe both can make a difference. I believe world peace is coming soon but we have to help push our people. I believe it's we can get their. But how can we get their? I believe it is you that can get us their. I believe we just need one new idea, one new person to have an idea and get us started. I believe this will happen!

I believe in education.

I think that without education we would be no different from any other wild animal walking the earth. I feel that with lack of education comes intolerance, stupidity and discrimination. We live in a "puritan found" America. Because of this, many of our ideas reflect "purity." Sex is the broadest topic to use as an example. We are taught at a very young age that you are only to have sex once you are married. Any sex at all before that is bad. At least that is what society tells us as a whole. Not a whole lot is even taught other than plain ol' "don't do it!" They teach you that if you have sex you will get pregnant, you will get an STD, and chances are, you will die. (I know this is an exaggeration used in Mean Girls, but it works too well to not use it.) I feel that if children were taught about sex, instead of being taught to fear it, they could make more responsible and informed decisions. My theory on education holds true with many topics. We are taught to fear what society tells us is "taboo" and this is why so many kids get in trouble. If all of the facts were laid on the table instead of being hushed, perhaps curiosity would not kill quite as many cats. The current marijuana laws, for example, were only passed in the early 1900's because of racist lies. Educate the people about weed and there would be a mad revolution. The government wants us dumb and happy to make it easier to take our money and our freedom. Anyway, I could go on many tangents on this but the moral of the story is that education is the answer. =o]

I believe in FRIENDS

I believe in friends. In having someone to lean on and be there for you through the best and worst of times. I believe in having another person that knows your secrets, likes and dislikes and loves you all the same. In knowing your past and history. I believe in the inside jokes that are created that will remain till death, the bonds created forever. I believe in staying up all night and sharing stories, gossiping and watching movies. I believe in having someone to go out with till the sun comes up on the weekends. I believe in having someone to act like a crazy retard with and still not have a care in the world because you know they accept you none the less. I believe in the memories and stories that you will be able to tell your children and grandchildren about when you were their age. I believe in sitting on the kitchen floor till 3 AM eating mac and cheese and ice cream and other forms of junk food talking about the most random and pointless things that never make sense. In having photos of the crazy drunken nights and doing things you said you never would do in a million years. In having someone who will always help you push the limits of your comfort zone and be there for you when you fall. I believe in a support system outside of your family that you can talk to and cry to. I believe in fighting with your friends and then making up and saying sorry. In learning something from someone else but still having the bond and connection you can never have with someone else. I believe in making mistakes and being forgiven. In always having a reason to smile. Even through the drama and pain that life brings your way. I believe in having someone who will watch over you and take care of you when you are too weak. In someone holding your hair back as you throw up from drinking to much and then putting you to bed. In someone who cares about you in a way that no one else will ever care about you. I believe in that unbiological brother or sister, that person God forgot to make a part of our family because we all know our parents wouldn’t have been able to take it. I believe in having the house where if you aren’t at your own place, you are there. In having someone who will get you into trouble and then bail your ass out. In having someone you know that no matter what comes between you, life, death, boys, girls, school, home, or distance, they will always be there for you when it’s all over. I believe in nights you will never remember with the people you will never forget. I believe in life, love and laughter. I believe in the friends that are the make up of who you are and who you will become.

body modification

I believe in body modification. Altering one's look through the use of piercings, tattoos, stretching, scarification, the list goes on. I believe in finding a spiritual insight through these different rituals including suspension. I believe that these acts shouldn't be shunned on and only looked as a beautiful thing, I believe that the individual doesn't need to explain themself to a potential employeer but that they should be accepted based on work ethic and personality not what's on the outside. Even broader, I believe that the individual shouldn't have to explain themself to people when asked why they do these things, it's a personal choice and the answer is simple "because I can."
People do different things to make them happy if this is one of them then so be it, it should never be wrong to do what makes you happy unless it really is harmful to your body, but when done right and by proffessionals most of these acts are completely safe. People take interest to different things they shouldn't be ridiculed because a certain thing is more abnormal than something else. It's all about self discovery. Suspension is stereotyped to crazy people and looked at as self-mutilation why would someone want to put hooks through their skin and hang above the ground from just those? No one has to understand, they don't have to watch it, but they don't have to make assumptions about it. I personally have started getting interested in suspension, it goes deeper than just what it looks like, it's an experience that only those strong enough can say they did. It's a spiritual moment, they say that the suspension teaches a person to let go of fear, not just in this situation but in life. Overall it's nothing bad, it can only be a good experience with the right mindset.
I believe that no one should put boundaries on what they want to do because of many different factors, the main one being age and proffessionalism. The number one question I hate the most is "what are you going to do when you're like 80." I believe that no one should be thinking about their near death stage. Body modifications are just a way to express oneself now and become a stronger individual. There's nothing wrong with them and I believe that if makes you happy do what you want.

Self-Therapy

A person's happiness is among the basic needs for their own survival. If a person is unhappy, they are less likely to further their lives in other areas, such as their education or personal relationships, that would also cause happiness to occur in the person's life. I believe that people create their own therapy, specially formulated to heal their wounds so that they may strive for happiness and self satisfaction. There are many forms of therapy people choose to make for themselves, but they fall under two main categories: the short-term and the long-term therapy.
Short-term therapies are more of a quick-fix for much larger problems. They include dealing with issues by way of alcohol, drug use, self-mutilation, or even prescribed medication. I thoroughly disagree with these practices as means of therapy because they are painfully unoriginal. They provide temporary relief for a person's problems by masking the problem instead of helping the person work through it. Far be it from me to judge people for what they do in their spare time, but it says a lot about a person when they prefer to reject their problems in temporary euphoria only to face it tenfold when the blissful state wears off. These therapies also cause a certain dependency on whatever therapy they may choose to practice in this group. The key to happiness is self sufficiency, so although they may feel temporary relief, they have to work much harder to rely on themselves alone to solve their problems.
Long-term therapy proves much more creative and can actually eliminate the problems people must face to achieve happiness without numbing them to the world. These therapies range from traditional psychoanalysis to doing laundry, and they are acted on by the person actually wanting to fix their troubles. I am partial to these long-term therapies because they force someone to self examine and pinpoint what they have to overcome. The people who choose to use long-term therapies cannot cloud their problems with an unnatural state. They cannot push aside their issues only to frightfully face them later because they are always facing them and constantly reasoning with why their situation upsets them. Slowly but surely, they know exactly why they feel the way they do, reducing the power their everyday stresses hold over them. These long-term therapies eliminate the need for short-term therapies, allowing the individual to move past their problems so they can focus on attaining their own happiness. Whether a person uses short-term or long-term therapy, the goal to acquire happiness remains the same. I truly believe a person's own self-produced therapy is the most important aspect to achieving their happiness because to be happy, they must want to be happy. Therapy provides the platform to which this need for personal happiness will aspire to.

This I Believe.

I believe in carpe diem. I believe in seizing each day to it's fullest potential. I believe that no matter what someone tells you, you should choose what you want to do, when you want to do it. You should do things that scare you. You should do things that are foreign. You should do things that create wonder. Fear should never stand in the way.

I believe that living by this saying, this saying that has become popular in movies, novels, and everyday conversation, has made my life  better. I have treated it as my own personal motto of achievement.  Whether that achievement was to go out even though I didn't feel like it, get extra work done, or just spend time watching movies. I did want I wanted to do, and that's all that matter. People are too preoccupied with doing what is right, and doing things for the sake of others. It's a good quality to be compassionate towards others, but I say care about yourselves first, do things that YOU like to do.

I believe in having fun most of all. I believe spending as much time as possible with the people that you love. I believe in never having regrets. I believe that the only way I can accomplish this task, no matter how selfish, is living my life the way that I want to. Who is going to care if you didn't do the work you were supposed to? Who is going to care if you forgot to do something? In the end it all becomes a worthless ball of insignificant occurrences. In the end you don't remember how scared you were that time you first skipped class freshman year, you remember how much fun it was to skip class for the first time freshman year. In the end all you remember is the good times that you had, so why not fill your entire soul with good times.  Forget worry.

I believe that life should be a journey. A journey remembered as a blur of memories created by the very moments that you have lived. The moments that at first made you terrified, but later made you feel alive. The moments that you would do anything to re-live. I believe that everyone should grow old with a mind full of wonderful stories to share. Life should be exciting. Life should be impulsive. Life should be spontaneous.

Carpe Diem.

The Chicago Bucket Boys Doc

This I Believe...

I believe in Satire, large exaggerations with papers I write, with the use of comparison to something out of the ordinary. Satire is part of my everyday life, I could almost say its incorporated in my daily routine. Whether or not it be burlesque or something ordinary or my mind juxtaposing things together to make it seem believable. I believe the pitch of voice when making a comparison can make it seem non satirical.
I believe that with satire I can make anything enjoyable, that any activity can become fun and/or every enjoyable. A little sarcasm can expose, mock, and convey my contempt towards a subject. I believe that satire is a type of art, a poetry almost, someway to express how you feel without actually showing it. May it be in a location when I can or can't I will use it to criticize peoples stupidity.
I love all types of sarcasm and satire, especially when people are gullible enough to believe and not understand the sarcasm. Sometimes it may not be humorous what so ever, but me merely expressing my feeling of anger towards something while hiding behind the truth. I do not believe there is a time and place for this, just that every time and place is adequate.
Sometimes with the use of subtext, hitting people with what is really going on, getting people to understand whats going on with out saying exactly. I believe that when ever I produce satire or sarcasm that I shall remain in humble at all times. I must not let the person realize what is going on all the time, but in some cases make them believe I am serious. While still proving a point, using my wit, cleverness, and for most of the time just regular common sense. Trying to do the impossible is usually what is attempted which helps me believe it that much more. Makes me think that even though it is thought and told to be impossible with the use of satire and sarcasm it can be done. Making anything into a joke is all I believe to steer clear of reality, but at the same time punching reality in the face. This is what I believe, this is what I do, for the reason I do it don't really matter its just more of that fact that I do it and believe it. Awesome totally awesome.

The Chicago Bucket Boys Doc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOBVfaJAzU4

No Place Like Home

I Believe there is no place like home. A home is more than just a house and the place you keep your belongings. It is a range of feelings. Family, love, safety, security. At least this is what it means to me. It is the one place where I can truly be myself, where I can hide and get away, and not feel guilty. When you spend years of your life growing up in one place, it becomes a major part of who you are. Not only the character of the house itself, but the street its on, the city its in, and all the surroundings. I spent fifteen years of my life in a big tan house on Ledgewood Road. This place was all that I knew. My family was the first to ever live in it, which gave me a feeling that it was truly ours. This house was the only definition of home I had known.
When I was eighteen, I was told we were selling the house and moving to a nearby town. I was devastated. I didn't think I could live anywhere else. Tangibly, nothing would ever be good enough, because this was my home. We moved to a small condo, and it was a big adjustment. At first I hated it and thought I had lost all sense of the feeling of home. But after a while, it came back. I realized maybe all of those feelings, love, security, may not have been held within the walls of Ledgewood Road, but in the family inside of it.
I believe that family is what makes a home. This belief has only been further proven since I came halfway across the country to go to school in Chicago. I have a "house" here called 2 E. 8th Street, but it doesn't feel like much of a home. Creating a life and home for myself was much different than the one my parent's created for me. While I have a sense of family in the context of my roomates, it doesn't compare to the real thing. I think I appreciate my family more now that I am away from them. Every day I am in Chicago, I am longing to be at home, in my own house, with my family, and with my dog. These are the simple things that truly make me happy and comfortable. I believe there is no place like home.

THIS I BELIEVE!!!!

I believe in music more than anything in the world! music is my passion, music is my life, music halps calm my spirit. I believe that when words fail music speaks. Music happens to be the one thing in the world that has never let me down. I believe that music was made for me. I love to sing and i love to listen to music. I believe that music is the most greatest things ever created in the world. Music makes me happy, music also makes me sad. But i believe that music is something that i will always have in my life and without it i don't know what i would do. I also believe in performing, i love to perform and entertain, it is what i do, it makes me happy and i feel really good doing it. I believe that it completes me, and i believe its the best thing for me, i believe that i there is nothing else in the world that could make me as happy as music and performing, i love doing those two things more than anything in the world and i believe it is what i am destined to do for the rest of my life. I also believe in myself, i feel that if i didn't believe in myself that no one else would either, i believe i can do whatever i want to do in life and i can achieve whatever it is that i want to if i work hard at it. I believe in alot of things but the one that i believe in the most is myself because i know that if i don't then i wouldn't be where i am now.

I believe

I believe that nothing is stronger than family. Friends can and sometimes will come and go, but family will always be there for you. I believe that you can be in the darkest corners of your life and family will be there to help you out of it. Sometimes we do things that even we don't fully understand but we are still excepted by our families. I believe that a parent's love for their children is the strongest kind their is. I believe that no amount of money in the world can replace a day of fishing with my dad, watching the Cubs with my grandpa, or playing some cards with my mom. I believe that an older brother, even though not told on a regular basis, is a kind of protector to his younger siblings and that they look up to him.  I believe that a brother's bond can be felt over thousands of miles. I haven't talked to my brother in a few months but i know he is safe and that we will be laughing and hanging out come this July. I believe that fights happen and feelings can get hurt but family can't fight forever; that family bond can't be broken.

This I Believe...

I believe in dance.
When I was young, it was just an activity that my parents put me in to get me out of the house. I dreaded my weekly dance classes. My parents would have to drag me out of the house insisting that I would have a better week and make a new friend. I would insist on staying in the car until my mom promised me some sort of reward if I just went to class. So then I went. The only thing I found exciting was the costumes that we got to wear at our yearly recital. Every week I would always ask "what are our costumes?" and I'm sure it annoyed the heck out of my teacher.
Once I became old enough to stand up to my parents, and slam and lock my bedroom door, I made my parents take me out of dance classes. A few years went by, and I guess you could say I became really bored. Out of nowhere, I started asking my parents to sign me up for a ballet class. Now they were hesitant, because they wanted to make sure that I would actually attend the classes.
After totally wrecking all the feelings in both of my feet, and having my feet hurt for long periods of time after I had taken off my pointe shoes, I realized that pointe was not the kind of dance for me. Unfortunately I became very angry, and then gave up dance again.
This was around middle school and early high school. During this time I went through a depression. My doctor suggested that I get involved in some physical activity. Now I have never been a sports person and I absolutely hated the schools that I attended, so I did not want to join anything at school. I thought for a while and my friend who was actually a professional ballroom dancer, and now a judge on a tv show and for many competitions suggested latin dance. She told me it changed her and brought so much more joy into her life. Now I was hesitant, at first because I had already tried the whole dancing thing, but she insisted that it would be different. So I thought I should trust the professional, and try it, and I did.
And I'm so glad I did. It just came natural for me. The dancing in the heels, the swinging of the hips, all the awkwardness. I can truly say that I have never felt so much joy in my life. I looked forward to my dance lessons twice a week, and I even took private lessons on the side. I found something that I LOVE to do and something that made me happy. I couldn't have asked for anything more in my life. So, of course, I have been dancing ever since. Which is why, I believe in dance. Dance gave me the power to become myself again.

This I Believe

For this post please update your This I Believe essay. Check out their website here. It has writing tips and many examples.

This essay must be at least 400 words and you also must comment on one of your classmates essays to receive full credit.

DUE Thursday April 9th.

p.s. I want every group to have some representation of their documentary on the blog so we can vote for which one we want to represent our class at Millefest! Please post your documentaries and vote!

Only 3 people voted for the Unit 1 projects, so there was no clear winner. If you would like you can go back and still vote in the comments of the project you choose.