capter 3 summery schooling

Natalie

English 1101

Schooling!

  Wow! Schooling now is crazy compared to what it use to be before the “no child left behind act.” The NCLB Act is when the state sets goals for proficiency levels in reading and math, and increases them gradually until all students are preforming on grade level. In my opinion all that that act did is a big nothing for us. All that they did was attempt to fix a problem but only half ass. They made new rules and requirements but they did not change the environment. I remember as a child how easy  elementary school was. It was more of a daycare and learning to socialize. So yes it was a lot easier. I volunteer for my kids at there school. Some of the things that they are learning makes me amazed, and very proud, but I am a very involved mother. I do know what my kids are studying and I help them. But just imagine some of those kids who parents don't help them out and all they get is help from a horrible teacher. They need to offer summer school, after and before school for one on one help. To help the kids catch up or get ahead. They should offer this not just for lower income students but to all students.  The government provides the funding for the school system so they control it to much in my opinion.

  In Sizers essay he says high school is for acquiring knowledge and accept academic fundamentals. It helps develop the ability to make decisions to solve problems, reasons, independence, accepting responsibility, self-evolution and contact in self improvement. He says high school also helps prepare you for a career and economic compliance, citizenship and civil responsibility, social relation, moral and ethical values, self realization, mental and physical health, aesthetic awareness, and cultural diversity.  I think this is exactly what high school provides. I only wish I realized  this when I was in high school. But at that time of my life I was learning and living it. 

  In Lo’s essay she talks about how the school system was so controlling because of the  situation her country was in with the USA. Her school thought anyone speaking english was betraying her country. I fell lucky to live where I live to have freedom of speech and to be who I am and who I want to be. Even tho our country is pretty controlling of the school system I think it isn't even comparable to other countries. Like I said I am grateful for where I live and go to school. But I do think they didn't fix the problem for our school systems. In My opinion its the teacher student ratio. And the parent involvement. Most parents are working because of the economy. Back when I was a kid my mom was a stay at home mom and now both parents usually have to work to survive. So I think they need to figure something out that will work with this new environment.

Social Networking through Technology -Midterm

Natalie Beech

English 1101

Social Networking through Technology.

  Social Networking is our new way of life. It is a way to build and reflect on social networks or social relations among people. Social Networking is the subject that interested me to most out of unit 1, 2, and 3. You can advertise for your business, promote your self and meet people through social technology.  

 The earliest social networking website started in the form of generalized online communications such as the WELL (1985), Theglobe.com (1994), Geocities (1994) and the Tripod.com (1995). These sights brought people together to interact with each other through chat rooms, and share personal information and ideas around any topics via personal homepage publishing tools which was a precursor to the blogging phenomenon.  This lead to Frienster and than Myspace. By 2005 Myspace became the biggest of them all. Finally in 2006 Facebook opened up to the non US collage community. Facebook was launched in 2004 within the collage community.  It is the deffiniton of Social Networking. Facebook is a social networking service and website. It was founded in Cambridge , Massachusetts by Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. It serves world wide. The Revenue is US $3.71 billion as of 2011. There are over 845 million active Facebook accounts. 41% of the USA has a Facebook account. You can use Facebook for many things such as social networking, dating, making friends, sending messages, join intreats, user groups, organizations by school, workplace, or chartists. There are games people play on Facebook.  They are using Facebook to get school class reunions together. It is becoming everything. I check my Facebook account more than my hotmail account. A movie about Face book was made. Here is a link to a trailer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHkYEC-UfTo  Facebook is now starting to sell items on peoples pages. They are also starting Facebook stocks. Facebook is valued for stocks. They say its worth 100 billion. Each stock is jumped to $44.00. They may push the cost even higher when the stocks go public. Right now it is just privet trading.  Facebook is growing rapidly and will be worth much more over the years. It is a tool for everything.

  Dating online has risen the total us population in 2007 48% have tried to date online but only 17% of those people actually stay together for marriage. The dating industry has become a $1.8 billion dollar industry. It is coming more and more popular with all of the online social networking like Facebook. But who knows how long the couples stay together.

  Another type of social networking is Cregs List. This is a network that communicates free classified ads, jobs, housing, personal and for sale items, services,  community gigs, resumes, and discussion forms. In the personal ads you can find dating and more. They made a true movie about the Cregs List Killer here is a link to this trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-zMX7Lk0tE  It is about a man who looked in the personal ads on Cregs lists. He went to meet the woman and it ended badly. Its crazy how dangerous it is to date online. This movie makes me think of the 20/20 show called Predators. This show is about girls under the age 18, who are on the internet trying to socialize with men who are older men. The little girls tell them that they are younger and the older men come to there house and get caught by Chris Hansen and police.  Social dating can be fun and safe it you just take processions. 

 YouTube is also a recent social phenomena. It has given the Millennium generation the name as the,” Look At Me Generation. “ There are so many YouTube videos. People have became famous from posting there own video. Justin Bieber became famous from his YouTube post.  I has given many people lots of opportunity to be known and to prove there talents. 

  We just held an event. Usually when you have a event you advertise through the paper, word of mouth or signs. But our biggest way to advertise for our event was through Facebook. I called the paper to tell them about the event  and they said, “I saw that on Facebook.” Facebook is a free way to advertise and it defiantly gets the word out.  Social networking through technology is now the every day activity. I always look at my Facebook. I stay in touch for people birthdays and catch up with friends. Facebook keeps you always connected.

  Before all of this technology it took a long time to just mail a letter.  Now it goes straight to our Iphone. I don’t know what I would do with out technology. We relay on it so much. I can I Chat with my friends and family over Skype. I can message them from far away and they will receive it in seconds. All of the apps for my phone from map quest to Angry Birds keep me busy and provide me with all of the tools I need. I use my phone to do bills, check my email, Facebook, listen to music, a flashlight, google, reminders, watching movies, and taking pictures. It is the main thing I use to communicate. 

  Celebrities are using Twitter more and more you. It goes strait to your phone also. Celebs use this so people will follow them Sports teams also do this. It increases there popularity. Most people think that it is them tweeting but it is probably there publicist.

  Schools are using  social technology more for classes. People can get there assignments online, get your degree online and like in our class blog online. Blogger is personal journal published on the world wide web. As of February 16, 2011 there were over 156 million public blogs in existence. 

  The amount of time spent communicating online is a lot especially with the millennial generation. I would say personally I spend 3 to 4 hours a day on internet, school, work, movies, or just TV episodes. The amount of time spent on the world wide web is the majority of it. On page 63  the Pew Research did a survey on, “ How Millennial Are You?” I found this interesting. There is more information about what makes the Millennial generation on page 60. They claim we the millennial generation uses  technology the most amount of time. I agree because we use it in our daily life. It is so much easier to get information off of google. Than to get it out of a book. It takes you much more time to find it in a book that to type the key words in. At work I use the internet to communicate with all of the customers. I advertise on Facebook for the company. So of coarse we use technology more to communicate. Its in our life a lot more now than ever. It is socially acceptable and is in high demand.

  I can only imagine the future with social networking through technology. It has changed our generation so much. Just wait to see what it is going to be like in 25 years. Or even in 10 years. Crazy how fast it changes. Social networking is huge! It is the new way of life for us. If you can’t embrace it you will be lost. Because, it is the foundation of our society. With out it our fast passed life's would be like a old western still taking 3 days to receive a letter. I prefer the new way of social networking through technology. 

  

   

  

Collage recruiting video

Natalie Beech

english 1101

http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=YBP6KNy2VZU&feature=related  for the scenery

http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=S3yBwB-vBmA  lifestyle

  I picked Hawaii Manoa Collage. If I could pick any collage It would be this one just because of the location. When I was trying to find this schools recruiting video I ran into a lot of tutorials from the Manoa students. I think it's a great idea for a collage to use there own students to advertise. I looked at it as a real opinion not a paid one. I attached two different links one was the scenery of Hawaii Manoa Collage, and the other is the lifestyle. 

  In the lifestyle video it starts out with a pretty girl who is excited to be in a new environment. It make you see that she is fits in right away. This video has scuba diving scene and a party under the water. There is a night club scene that shows you its a party. Than it goes to a scene on campus with cheerleaders, sports athletes,  bunch of cheerful people, and lots of friends like a family.

  In the Scenery video it starts out with the ocean and scuba diving. Than it goes to a beautiful forest to a mountain top to studying and exploring science. My perspective on this commentarial is fun, exciting, athletic, adventure. This school is for someone who loves to be outdoor and always on the go. I would love to be able to go scuba diving, zip lining, hiking, surfing,and skateboarding every day in warm weather. I think it is important to have a good environment where you go to school. It calms and relaxes you. This gives you the opportunity to do adventurous things outdoor. That is a great stress reliever.

  In the video it has no cons just pros. But, when you research deeper the tuition, housing and living costs are extremely high. It also probably costs a lot to do the activities like zip lining and scuba diving. The school looks like a lot of fun. I rally got nothing about the collage besides the fact that there is a lot of fun and adventurous people there. I think this video is aimed toward a cretin crowd. 

Min-Zhan Lu Exploratory writting

Natalie Beech

english 1101

    

  It’s crazy how much the school system is influenced by the government. They fund it so they control it. In Lue essay she express how speaking in english was looked down  upon when spoken in school because of the way her country was in relation with the USA. They wanted to stick to the roots of there country. She was so obsessed to keep the languages separated from school and from home. That would be huge pressure for a child. Then she decided to pull back from speaking both languages. Just so she didn’t mess up speaking one language in the wrong place at the wrong time and feel foolish.  

  These days your not suppose to talk about religion, politics, and wages in a public setting. At school they don't say the pledge of allegiance because it says “GOD”. They are trying to separate religion with school. But I think its doing the complete opposite its getting to involved. I think that the schools should have there own choice of what the want to say in class from speech to a preyer. I think it is silly how certain high lever government groups can paralyze other groups forcing them to follow rules that they do not agree with.

  Its sad in Lu’s story how involved the school vs Home language was and how it was so difficult for her. Her family was set in there ways. And the school was set in there ways. I guess I can’t really grasp this story because I grew up in such a great country with my rights. We fought for our rights so we are very carful when voting to pass new laws that can take our rights away. We were raised to try to be bilingual with any language. It helps us get better jobs. Im sure it benefited Lu later on in her life knowing english. But when she was younger and in school it defiantly hindered her ability to communicate confidently.

Rebekan Nathan essay

English 1101

Natalie Beech

  In Rebekoh essay he introduces the concept of “liminality”  which means normal rules of society have lifted. The way I understood it is going from a normal life to a new environment. Such as a 18 year old going from the safety and security of his own home to a dorm room with new people. I think that can be overwhelming and give people tension. But even if you don't fit in with your roommates it seems collages have so many different groups and clubs everyone will fit in somewhere. If you strive for that in collage. Me personally I don’t. All I want to do is get a degree and move on. Liminality doesn't   causes tension for me at school. What cause my tension is having lack of sleep working full time, being a mom, able to pay bills, and still study and go to school. The tuition rate is still climbing  for collages and because of this I have to work and support my family as I go to school. Thats a heavy load.  But this sounds like a big majority of students life's. But I think I live a different life than most students. I have started later than most. So like I said I really don't care if I’m in a fraternity or a club. I’m here for one thing.  But even younger students who go here there is some club or fraternity that they will fit in to. They just need to find there selfs. And this is just one step towards being who you are.

  Collage to me is very overwhelming. I think if you go to collage you need a great support system. I am thankful for mine. It gives me that extra boost that every student needs. ISU is very supportive of there students. They have labs for every class. You can go visit a career counselor and many more things about the collage that helps every student  and not just full paying ones. They have clubs from chess to skateboarding. I think everyones tension comes from somewhere different.  It just depends on whats important to you at the time. But for the most part ISU is very friendly.

Sizer Exploratory writting

Natalie Beech

english 1101

  Sizer says high school is for acquiring knowledge and accept academic fundamentals. It helps develop the ability to make decisions to solve problems, reasons, independence, accepting responsibility, self-evolution and contact in self improvement. He says high school also helps prepare you for a career and economic compliance, citizenship and civil responsibility, social relation, moral and ethical values, self realization, mental and physical health, aesthetic awareness, and cultural diversity. 

  l think he is right in his description of high school. High school is important for many things especially  accepting responsibility, and making decisions. In high school most kids are very dramatic and are often in accward situations. Having to make friends when there are cliques, being bullied, and being aware that what you do now can effects your opportunity for collage. There is a girl that lives up the street from me. Her parents don’t work. They want her to work and go to school to help provide for her family. She eventually got a job. She is working and going to school now. Her parents  took her out of school to home school her so she could work during the day and do school at night. Once she was out of public school they didn't home school her. She eventually got a truancy and is forced back into public school and is now a grade behind. She expresses to me how embarrassed she is to be the oldest person in her grade. Her parents gave the girl no hope for her future. Recently she has been in a lot of trouble with the law and I can honestly  blame her parents. I think if she was in school she would have learned how to accept responsibly, and making decisions for her self.  She would have felt that someone cares ( her teacher).  And would have been around a different environment that would have been a better example for her.  

 In 2001 The child left behind act was passed. The NCLB supports standard-based education reform. It is based on setting hight standards and establishing measurable goals and can improve individual outcomes in education. They require this standard to all federal funded schools. Since than the funding for the school system as increased. They also are firing teachers who they claim are bad ones and are trying to getting rid of the Tenure. The Tenure is a term used to describe a policy which outlines the reasons why a teacher may be fired. I personally don’t believe that  bad teacher are not the main problem. In my opinion its the class size and the amount of time spent on subjects. If they cut the class sizes in half I bet the grades of the U.S. students will go up. I also think that they should offer study hall or a free tutor class after or before school for any student not just low income ones. In my opinion after the  2001 act school has become harder for kids.Because all they did was set higher standard for the students but in the same setting.  And maybe that is why the drop out rate is so high.  

  Most kids have to work after school because of the economical times were in. Life and times are changing. Before most woman didn't have to have a job and now most of the time both parent have to work full time jobs. This is less and less one on one time with there children to help them academically. I don't know where they get off thinking  the 2001 NCLB act will fix things in our school system. I guess only time will tell.

Project Proposal

Natalie Beech

English 1101

Social Networking ThoughTechnology

  

One thing that really interested me out of unit one, two, and three is how the times are changing in technology. Social networking is the new technology that you can advertises your self. The Millennium generation is called the “look at me generation.” I think this is true. We use social networking to meet new people, show new videos on U-Tube, and to advertise our interests, business or self’s.

  I’m going to go into detail about what and how the first social network came about. And how Facebook arrived. I’m also going to talk about how Creg’s list is a way for social networking. I’m interested in a recent movie I watched the Creg’s List Killer. I will talk a little about the dangers of self exploiting and dating people who you don't know. An example I am going to use is a show on 20/20 called “Predators.” 

  I’m going to get different survey information on stats of number of people who actually get married from these sort of sights. Facebook is starting to sell Shares and stocks. I will get the information on the numbers for that. Face book is also starting to sell items on the sight sort of like Creg’s list. You can also play games on Facebook. Social Networking is becoming a way of life. Facebook is becoming a tool for everything.

unit 2 revision

 Unit 2 

natalie beech

english 1101

  In David Sedaris essay, “Giant Dreams, Midget Abilities.” he talks about three generations and how they came together through music. David’s dad loved music and always tried to involve David and his siblings. Davids dad tried to influence his children to love jazz by only playing jazz music in the house. As a child Davids dad wasn’t allowed to listen to jazz in the house. He was forced into listening to Greek music. So when David’s dad played his jazz music, it was not only because he loved it, but I think it was out of spite.Davids dad was set in his ways and was trying to get his kids to become what he desired to be himself. Inspired from his own misfortunes he provided the kids with opportunities he didn't have as a child due to growing up underprivileged with Greek immigrant parents. Having an ear for music he aspired and assumed that the children would naturally inherit this skill.  I found it ironic that the same thing he loathed about his parents as a child is exactly what he did to his own kids.  Now David’s dad is doing this to the kids only playing jazz music in the house. David’s dad decided to buy instruments and lessons for David and his siblings. David’s dad hired a music teacher who worked at a local music store for davids gaiter lessons. Davids dad was very excited to get the family together to play in a band. He thought this was a brilliant idea. He just assumed everyone would be right on board with him. Secretly, the kids were not excited and just wanted to please there father. So Davids father took him to the music store for his first lesson. The teacher was a midget named Mr. Mancini. He was a guy who was just like David’s dad.  Mister Mancini thought anyone could play the gaiter. I thought that Mr. Mancini made lots of sexual references during the lessons.  It seemed to surprise David. He said it made him think of things that he didn't want to, like the sex of his guttier. David seemed pretty innocent coming into the class. He was at such a young age trying to understand his own sexuality, homosexual. Than his gaiter’s sexuality. 

  There are a few things in the story that led me to my assumption of David being homosexual. First was how he petitioned for a brand name vacuum cleaner.  Then how he commented about the flute, how he named his guitar “Oliver”, a guys name not a girls, and how he admitted not noticing anyone’s breast lately. I think guys notice that stuff every day. I  especially thought David being homosexual  when Mr. Mancini said ‘’I don't swing that way”. 

 One night David saw Mr. Mancini at the mall. David related himself to Mister Mancini because he saw how much of a wee outsider and a misfit Mister Mancici was. People were being mean to him telling him to go back to Oz and looking at Mister Mancici weird. David says, “We were each a man trapped inside of a boys body. Each of us was talented in his own way. And the fact how they both hated 12 year old boys”.  I think this experience helped David noticed how his personality made him the man he is. That he shouldn’t change just because some stuck up bad mannered bullies who picked on him or Mister Mancini.  It helped him realize he should be who he is.  

  David kept going to lessons and finally told Mister Mancini that he wasn't enjoying lessons and insisted wanted to write jingles. He finally came out who he was and Mister Mancini just shot him down and said he not interested he didn’t want any part of jingles he is a gaiter teacher. 

  This part of the story made me mad because Mister Mancici was made fun of at the mall and while little David pounding his heart. All Mister Mancici does is be mean about it and looking at his jingles as a stupid idea. That right there is being a bully. So after David pours his heart  out he decides to inform his father he will not be retiring to gaiter lessons again.

  I told the generational differences in this story by its electronics. David’s dad would rather listen to the radio than watch T.V.  But I’m sure that is a step up with David’s dad because when he was little they just listened to the record player.  Also it was interesting when David noticed how his personality made him the man he is today. I enjoyed how it all came together through music. 

  I think it is interesting how one subject or intreats can bring a different generation together. And the same subject or intreats separates them. At the end of Davids essay David and his siblings all go sit in with the mother and watch T.V. instead of listen music. I think that says a lot about the generational gap. The kids were tired of pleasing there father and finally just said whatever and did there own thing. It sure is crazy how it also separated them. This whole life lesson differentially helped David become the man he is today.

Johnny Depp

English 1101

Natalie Beech

Chameleon 

Johnny Depp 

  I Picked John Christopher aka “Johnny Depp.” I love his acting he gets so involved in every charter. His first major roll was a student in “Nightmare On Elm Street. He has been in many movies such as, Edward Scissorshands, Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, and many more. But my all time favorite is Benny and June. The thing I like about his acting is its so diverse. 

  Johnny Depp said,” I can remember when I finished Edward Scissorhands (1990), looking in the mirror as the girl was doing my make-up for the last time and thinking -- it was like the 90th or 89th day of shooting -- and I remember looking and going, "Wow, this is it. I'm saying goodbye to this guy, I'm saying goodbye to Edward Scissorhands". You know, it was kind of sad. But in fact, I think they're all still somehow in there.

  Johnny Depp has a great sense of humor. I found some quotes he has said and they are all pretty amusing!

-When kids hit one year old, it's like hanging out with a miniature drunk. You have to hold onto them. They bump into things. They laugh and cry. They urinate. They vomit.

-The term "serious actor" is kind of an oxymoron, isn't it? [Like] "Republican party" [or] "airplane food".

-On a film you start to get closer and closer with the people you're working with, and it becomes like this circus act or this traveling family.

-With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it's just not acting. It's lying

  Johnny Depp has defiantly been in my generation and now he is in my children's. The qualities about him from things I have read, sound to me like he is a pretty chill guy, who is just trying to live a normal life and, is very giving with his time.  

Dead Space

Dead Space

English 1101

Natalie Beech

   In Mary Williams essay on Dead Space there are 2 specific statements she makes. She says that using the “your Mom will hate it”  market tactic to market the product sales. I honestly agree and disagree. You can say “Your mom will hate it” and a 13 year old will see that and think its cool just because its something your mom will disapprove of. But tell me who will pay for this? The 13 year old is going to have to ask his parents for money and most parents will ask what for? He than show them the cover of the game that says, “Your mom will hate it!” I personally would say, no. Just because of the saying on the front. Now on the other hand, this could go over good with kids with jobs who have the money to pay for this and are really good at hiding this sort of game from the parents. I remember my brother always hid bad movies from my parents in old movie cases. That is something kids do. So even tho the game says, “ your mom will hate it” the price is still expensive they will get it. So i don't know if that sales tacit is the best. It defiantly eliminates a whole grout who would buy it. 

  The second statement she makes is that,”40% of the gaming community is women.” Which is hard to believe. But that is the age of mother who's kids are older and most likely  be involved in video games.  I do wonder tho how they preformed this study. Because even if it is 40% I’m sure most woman are not playing violent games they are probably playing girly games. So I don't think she has any evidence that can back up 40% on the subject “Dead Space.”

Dungeons and Dragons Exploratory writing

English 1101

Natalie Beech

D&D 

  In the new era even true gamers that are still playing the sophisticated altered games such as Dungeons and Dragons are still returning back to the original version games. The ones that are not on a computer with  sweet graphics. Just ones off the grid. I sure one reason why they go back to the original game is because it better. Just like moves. You know the original is going to be better than # 2. Another reason why people prefer the first original D&D game is you have to use more of your imagination. You don't have a computer in front of you creating an image for you. In the version with paper that remains off the grid, its your imagination that is in control. Parents want there kids to play the original because they have fond memories of it. They remember it helping them socialize and be confident. Your also playing with people face to face rather than over the computer. I personally have never played but I think it is a great way for people to work on there improv and story telling skills, but mostly using there imagination.

David Sedaris #2

English1101

Natalie Beech

-On My first paper I did answer the 3 story lines. How they all are connected  with music. I think I could have explained more about where Mr. Mancini worked at. But I fell there wasn't that much information on him. 

-I answered that they came together in music specifically Jazz. 

-The one thing I left out is how it has to deal with generations. 

My Reversion  

 I really enjoyed David Sedaris writing. It kept me very interested. I liked the way there was so much information on three different lives and how they all linked together at the end. The things that brought the whole story together were music and how the dad tried to influence his kids to love jazz. As a child his dad wasn’t allowed to listen to jazz in the house and forced into listening to Greek music. The David decided to get each child an instrument and lessons even though they didn't want to. He was set in his ways and was trying to get his kids to become what he desired to be himself. Inspired from his own misfortunes he provided the kids with opportunities he didn't have as a child due to growing up underprivileged with Greek immigrant parents. Having an ear for music he aspired and assumed that the children would naturally inherit this skill. I found it ironic that the same thing he loathed about his parents as a child is exactly what he did to his own kids.  Now David’s dad is doing this to the kids only playing jazz music in the house. Its not a surprise to me that the kids were not interested in playing that kind of music. Even though jazz is the music the children would rather play than there friends music. Davids dad sounds really supportive. 

 Davids dad got David a music teacher who worked at the local music store. He was a midget named Mr. Mancini. He was a guy who was just like Davids dad. Mister Mancini thought anyone could play the gaiter. I thought that Mr. Mancini made lots of sexual references during the lessons. It seemed to surprise David he said it made him think of things that he didn't want to, like the sex of his gaiter. David seemed pretty innocent coming into the class. They kept having guitar lessons even though David didn't enjoy them they were just trying to please his dad. When David saw Mr. Mancini at the mall David related himself to Mister Mancini because he saw how much of a wee outsider and a miss fit Mister Mancici was. David says, “We were each a man trapped inside of a boys body. Each of us was talented in his own way. And the fact how they both hated 12 year old boys”.

 There are a few things in the story that led me to my assumption of David being homosexual. First was how he petitioned for a brand name vacuum cleaner, how he commented about the flute, how he named his guitar “Oliver”, a guys name not a girls, and how he admitted not noticing anyone’s breast lately. I think guys notice that stuff every day. I  especially thought David being homosexual  when Mr. Mancini said ‘’I don't swing that way”.

There were three different generations in this story. There is David the small boy, davids dad, and Davids grandpa. One generational difference is how Davids dad would rater listen to the radio than watch T.V.  But I’m sure that that is a step up with Davids dad because when he was little they just listened to the record player. The electronics defiantly explain the different generations of the story.  

 The story was fun and made me think of how different each individuals lives can be. Also it was interesting when David noticed how his personality made him the man he is today. I enjoyed how it all came together through music. 

David Sedaris #1

english 1101

natalie beech

David Sedaris

#1

  I really enjoyed David Sedaris writing. It kept me very interested. I liked the way there was so much information on three different lives and how they all linked together at the end. The things that brought the whole story together were music and how the dad tried to influence his kids to love jazz. As a child his dad wasn’t allowed to listen to jazz in the house and forced into listening to Greek music. The dad decided to get each child an instrument and lessons even though they didn't want to. He was set in his ways and was trying to get his kids to become what he desired to be himself. Inspired from from his own misfortunes he provided the kids with opportunities he didn't have as a child due to growing up underprivileged with Greek immigrant parents. Having an ear for music he aspired and assumed that the boys would naturally inherit this skill. He forced them to enjoy jazz in hopes that it would grow on them and they would end up loving it. I found it ironic that the same thing he loathed about his parents as a child is exactly what he did to his own kids.  Now David’s dad is doing this to the kids only playing jazz music in the house. Its not a surprise to me that the kids were not interested in playing that kind of music. Even thogh jazz is the music the children would rather play than there friends music. Davids dad sounds really supportive. 

 When he got David a music teacher who was a midget named Mr. Mancini. He was a guy who was just like Davids dad Mister Mancini thought anyone could play the gaiter. I thought that Mr. Mancini made lots of sexual references during the lessons. It seemed to surprise david like he said it made him think of things that he didn't want to, like the sex of his gaiter. David seemed pretty innocent coming into the class. They kept having guiter lessons even though David didn't enjoy them they were just trying to please his dad. When David saw Mr. Mancini at the mall David related himself to Mister Mancini because he saw how much of a wee outsider and a miss fit Mister Mancici was. David says, “We were each a man trapped inside of a boys body. Each of us was talented in his own way. And the fact how they both hated 12 year old boys”.

 There are a few things in the story that led me to my assumption of David being homosexual. First was how he petitioned for a brand name vacuum cleaner, how he commented about the flute, how he named his guitar “Oliver”, a guys name not a girls, and how he admitted not noticing anyone’s breast lately. I think guys notice that stuff every day and especially when Mr. Mancini said ‘’I don't swing that way”.

 The story was fun and made me think of how different each individuals lives can be. Also it was interesting when David noticed how his personality made him the man he is today. I enjoyed how it all came together through music and instruments.