• Ingredients 
• 2 lbs fresh tuna
• 1 lb yuca, fresh or frozen
• 2 tbs sunflower oil
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• ½ red onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 8 cups of water
• 5 cilantro sprigs
• Salt to taste
• Analysis

Hamlet, this play is base around the life of a Danish noble and the struggles he encounters in his life, but most importantly it’s about revenge of someone he loves most dearly. I will be analyzing a monologue he has in the middle of the play in the palace he is staying in.

Shakespeare has created the ability to connect the characters and their problems and/or situations with common problems and people. This quote from the play Hamlet, “To be, or not to be? That is the question—Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And, by opposing, end them?” The idea of whether is it better to live or to die. The topic of suicide was frowned and shamed upon this point in time but it was a popular theme in English literature since the idea was very prevalent in the minds of the common public at the time. But I have come to the conclusion that Shakespeare himself didn’t mind the thought or the act of suicide. He talks more about how society brings misfortune more than it does fortune and that it would be okay to end it since it was indeed very frustrating and unfair. This point can be furthered in the second part of the lines.

            “To die, to sleep—No more—and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to—’tis a consummation devoutly to be wished! To die, to sleep.” My assumption about how Shakespeare views death through this play is sleep. He views death as a constant sleep in which you can never awaken from. I believe that the concept of death as a long slumber became popular through the Hamlet play. Shakespeare was very popular at the time this play was shown and passed down through out the years. He also continues the concept of suicide and how it could be an alternative to dealing with all the hardships life has to offer.

            “To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s the rub, for in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause. There’s the respect that makes calamity of so long life.” This portion of the famous Hamlet monologue is just about the concept of committing suicide or the thought of that action. But what is most fascinating about it the quote is the concept of dreaming if you’re dead. The logic of death according Shakespeare through this play is that death is just a long sleep. With sleep comes dreaming, you might know what you’re going to dream since you witness sounds, images and colors, but you can’t know what you will dream when none of those exist. This really puts a second thought in mind about suicide and is a very philosophical way of looking at the situation, what happens after death?

            I have been speaking Spanish my whole life; it is, in fact, my first language. Many people are actually surprised when they hear the Spanish come out of my mouth. I don’t blame them; I don’t look Latino, I at all actually look white. But I am indeed Latino, I have an Ecuadorian passport and My race is registered Latino in the US, so as far as the US, Ecuador, and my heritage are concerned I’m Latino. A big shocker, I know, believe me, I’ve seen the expressions of some people’s faces before. The first words to come out of my mouth were “teta,” or “baby bottle,” as it’s known in Ecuador. But in most other Spanish-speaking nations teta is “breast,” so don’t go around saying you know how to say bottle because you’ll find yourself in some awkward situations.

            Now, being a first-born Latino American who looks white and has the ability to speak Spanish has its advantages and disadvantages. With my ability to speak Spanish I can talk about people right in front of their faces without them actually knowing, without actually saying their name of course. An example of this is when I had my friend Anthony over and my mom was making fun of him. We were all in the living room and Anthony and I were headed out somewhere and I was putting on my shoes in front of the door. Anthony was sitting on the couch and my parents were standing up and my five-year-old sister seemed to be very flirtatious towards Anthony.

Mom: “Mirale a ese ignorante, no sabe nada de español, no sabe nada de lo que estamos diciendo” (Look at him being all ignorant, not knowing any Spanish or anything we’re saying about him)

Jhonas: Hahaha!!! Si ignora el ignorate! (Hahaha!!! Yes ignore the ignorant)

Mama: “Mira le coqueteando con mi hija de cinco años el no tiene nada de morales” (Look at him flirting with my five year old daughter, he has no morals)

Anthony: “I know you guys are talking about me.”

Jhonas: “Hahaha!!! No tiene, pero ya tenemos que hirnos” (Hahaha!!! No he doesn’t, but we have to go now)

(My mom whispers in my dad’s ear)

Mama: “Voy a decirle que lleva estas chocolates a su novia solo para molestarle” (I’m going to tell him to take these chocolates to his girlfriend just to piss him off)

Mama: “Jhonas estas olvidando tus chocolates para tu..” (Jhonas you’re forgetting your chocolates for your…)

Jhonas: “Te escuche decirle a papi que solo estas tratando de molestarme” (I heard yo whisper to dad that you’re just trying to piss me off)

Mama: “Hahaha!!! Adios hijo Buena suerte y dile lo mismo al ignorante” (Hahaha!!! Bye son, good luck and tell the ignorant person I said the same)

Jhonas “Okay, adios” (Okay, bye)

Anthony: “I still know you guys are talking about me, you keep looking in my general direction”

I will admit that talking about someone in there face in a different language has its flaws. But for the most part it works; Anthony seemed to have no idea what we were talking about and it was in front of his face, it was a funny moment. For the record my mom did not mean any of that, she was just being funny.

            Like I said before, being a white Latino American who knows Spanish has its disadvantages, but one disadvantage is also an advantage. When I go to neighborhoods that are Latino dominant I see people give me looks because of the fact that I look white. I feel like a mixed African American from the 50’s because at that time neither the African Americans or the whites would accept that person because they were mixed. I feel discriminated in a way; it just hurts sometimes not being accepted by your own people. But there is an advantage to this disadvantage; they speak about me in Spanish in front of my face. They have no idea about the fact that I speak Spanish. So all I do is go up to them and say “Yo se de lo que estan hablando, tambien soy Latino entonces no hablan mal de mi en frente de mi cara porque te entiendo todo de lo que estan diciendo” (I know what you guys are talking about, I’m also Latino so don’t speak about me in front of my face because I know what you guys are saying). The expressions on their faces are priceless, jaws dropped and everything, I smile and walk away and think to myself “I got them good” and I giggle to myself.

            This is just a glimpse at what goes on in my life in regards to being a white Latino who speaks Spanish. It’s actually very fun, I enjoy being able to talk in Spanish and I love Spanish, more than English as a matter of fact. But it is, indeed, a great feeling to just being able to talk to someone from another country in their native tongue and it just sounds very sexy coming out which is a plus. This essay is mierly an appitizer compared to my whole life as a Latino, which is the whole platter. 

Gold 

            It was awfully nice for you to take me out to lunch. I do enjoy the sandwiches here they’re very delightful. The taste of this sandwich reminds me of the times when my dad was actually happy, he’s changed ever since my mom died in the car accident. He’s never been the same, he’s more serious and I never see him ever since I was 10. I’ve never expressed these emotions before ad you’ve been my motherly figure for all these years, you’re the only person I can come to. I’m starting to regret coming to work here. We do so much harm to people and there is so much lying and secrecy. I don’t think I can take it anymore, so much pressure. Everything was fine when I decided to work for my dad, until the occupy protests began. I started to second-guess myself and I’m actually thinking of helping those people. My peers say that I’m actually helping them, but I don’t think that’s true. I make $9,000,000 a year, me just me that’s only helpful for me. I think I’ve been tricked by my dad into coming to work for him, it all makes since now. He’s using me so someone can take control of the company. Was this his plan from the beginning? It can’t be, he loves me. Or he did love me; this is what it seems like now. No, I’m contradicting myself, why would he hate something he created. I’ve supported him through all my years and what do I get in return, nothing. I get ignorance, hate, and now I feel fear. He started the fear but the people on the occupy protest’s escalated it to a point were I’m having doubts. Do you see how messed up I’ve become? Can’t he see he’s made me into something that I’m not? I wanted to be an astronaut or a nurse, something that is useful. I hate myself, I hate my life, I hate what I’ve become, I hate this man. Tell me what I’m going to do to fix this problem. Maria? Where’d you go?

Gold Stream

            “What! That can’t be! When did he die? What, why didn’t you call me? This is ridiculous, I’m coming home.” My mom slammed the phone onto the beige receiver. Salty wet tears began to fall down her cheeks. My six-year-old mind automatically went into worried mode. She began to slide down the white kitchen wall and onto the brown patterned floor. She began to stare at the ground; I walked over to her and stared into her eyes. They seem to be lifeless; her hazel green eyes that were once full of life and joy were empty. I was frightened and began to step backwards, very slowly and quietly. Than with what seemed liked all her strength she gently rose her head. “Jhonas, your grandfather passed away last night.” I didn’t know how to react I was close to him. But I hadn’t seen him in about a year and a half and he lived hundreds of miles away so I couldn’t seem him very often. But the thought of losing a family member made my eyes watery. My mom stood up off the kitchen floor and walked towards the living room. But every step she took she brought her sorrow with her. She slowly walked up the steps, two feet at a time. I could hear her from the kitchen; she walked towards her room at the far end of the house. She opened the closet door and took out some brief cases. I walked to the living room and I could feel all the negative energy my mom had spread through out the house. I jumped onto our Persian style couch and I could here the phone dialing upstairs. The beeping of the numbers mad me curious whom my mom was calling. Tip toed to the living room phone, which was only a few steps away. I grabbed it and pushed that treacherous on button. “My dad just died last night and I’m on the first flight out of here. I’m taking Jhonas but you can stay here with Hanna” “Seems fine to me, I’m sorry” It seemed boring so I hung up. I heard my mom slowly walking upstairs like a zombie. Back and forth between her room and mine. Than I heard the zipper close the bag and it sent a chill down my spine. I heard it hit the ground and the rolling of the wheels against the hard wood floors. I saw her and than I heard the “thump, thump, thump” of the briefcase down the steps. She looked down at me “We’re going to Ecuador to say our last good byes to grandpa before we’re never able to see him again. Now go and put on your shoes.” I did as I was told and put on my Buzz Light year light up shoes as my mom was putting on her shoes. I walked out followed by my mom and the brief case. My mom slammed the door as hard as she could. She put the key in to the lock and I heard the click and we walked off into the distance towards the train station.

            After three long blocks of what seemed liked three miles because my mom walking so fast my little legs could barley keep up. We only waited a couple minutes for the SEPTA train to come to take us to thirtieth street station. We climbed the train while my mom was hauling the luggage. We picked some seats and sat in them. The conductor cam by and my mom whipped out a 10 and said “30^th please.” The conductor took out his ticket pad like it was a gentle flower. He whole punched the ticket and handed it to my mom. He got off the train at the old thirtieth street station. We took the escalator down to go to a different station to catch the airport line over to Philadelphia Airport. We went back up a different escalator and waited for the dreadful train to come. The train finally came we packed in it like cattle being transported to a slaughterhouse. We arrived at the airport and got off the crowded train car. We went across the street to the continental airlines desk. There surprisingly was no line at all. We did the loop around the line guards have and we went straight up to a representative. “Hello welcome to continental, how may I help you?” “We need one adult and one child to Quito Ecuador.” “Okay, that shouldn’t be a problem. We have two for the next flight.” “We’ll take it.” My mom pulled out her gold sears credit card. She slid it into the credit card slot and the representative gave her to tickets. We went through the long line a security, which seemed like the last level of snake. We put our suitcases and shoes in the bins and walked through the metal detectors. We were cleared and put on our shoes and towards the boarding pad. My mom told me she had to go to the bathroom and I told her I wanted to go see what was in the store across the hall. I than proceeded to walk across the hall and towards the toy store, she told me to stay in there and not move, I agreed. As soon as I got in I was disappointed, it didn’t have legos. I went to every store in that hall and couldn’t find any. So I went back to the bathrooms to find my mom except, she wasn’t there. I lost her. I was so scared. I began to cry and a nice security guard walked up to me asked me were my mom was. I said I didn’t know so we went to some room with a bunch of cubicles. He told me to wait there and a few minutes latter my mom walked out of an office and I hugged her like I would never see her again. We left the office and towards were we would catch our plain, we got there and we sat in the chairs and waited, and waited, and waited, than finally “flight to Quito is now boarding.” We handed the nice sturdiest our tickets and moved in the hall to the plane. We went to the back and put our suitcases on top of our seats. We sat down and as soon as the last person sat down and had there seat belt on the video came up on safety. I didn’t pay attention to the video so I have no idea how it went. We went backwards, than forwards, than stopped for what seemed like hours than took off. It started off slow, than faster, than faster, than faster and before I knew it we were up in the air. I was so bored I slept through out the whole flight. My mom woke up to the sound of seat belts being unbuckled and sturdiest welcoming us to Quito Ecuador. We left the plane and into the airport building. The building was warm and welcoming. There were lots of toy stores, which I liked a lot. We latter went through a conveyer belt and in to the exit. Family usually greeted us but I latter discovered they were all in my mom’s hometown of Santa Isabel. We left the building which seemed liked the a last taste of America and I leapt into the dark night of Ecuador.

            My mom waved for a taxi and it stopped. My mom said, “bus station” and the taxi man sped off like we were being chased by the police. We arrived at the filthy bus station. It was filled with back packers and native people trying to get by. My mom walked to a booth for a ticket to Santa Isabel. She paid in cold hard green cash and we went to our bus. It was blue and had Azuay written on it in big letters. We lazily walked to our bus and sat in our seats and I immediately fell asleep. I woke up, I looked out the window and the town was empty. We got of the bus and walked across the street. We were greeted by one of my aunts that showed us to a room were we could get changed. I changed into my little dress pants and button down shirt. My mom wet my hair and combed it back. She than lead me across the house outside and down the stairs were there were a large amount of people. She told me to wait there, she left me alone, she had told me not to go anywhere because it would be dangerous or scary. I saw a line accumulate around a strange box and I wanted to see what was in that box. So I decided without a second thought to stand in the line. It didn’t take long before I was next. People went and saw what was in the box and left crying their eyes out. I went and stood on a wood box and saw a pale face of what was my grandfather. He was a wearing a jet-black suit with a silk whit shirt and silk red tie. In his left hand he was wearing his wedding ring and both hands were across his stomach. It wasn’t even a second until I slowly got off the box and waked to the door as if I had seen a ghost. My mom cam back and said “Oh my god, Jhonas, what happened” I didn’t respond.

            I learned a very valuable lesson in that span of 3 days, follow directions. Even though that was a long story all the events lead up to seeing my grandpa, dead. To this day I still have nightmares of it, I think I’ve been scared for life. There is also the part at the airport when I lost my mom because I decided to wander off and not follow directions and look where it got me. A life of mental scaring, pain, and fright.

With this hidden love comes the exploration my strengths and weaknesses in English. I can’t spell to save my life, you can even ask my English teacher Ms. Dunn. We learned new complicated fancy words that we added to our vocabulary. We learned words like brood and Malinger. I had to use spell check for both of those words I can’t spell. With weaknesses includes certain strengths. A strength I find very useful is the ability to plan out what I want to write and how I want to write it. As I write this introduction I know how I wanted this to lay out and the style I wanted to write it in. I need to work on the vocabulary words we learned. They’re good words to know but I just can’t spell them.

This portfolio holds many memories both good and bad. Going through my work I look back and I remember the time when I was writing my me magazine. It was the first benchmark I have ever done. I sat there with a blank sheet of paper and thought to myself, what will my classmates think of me? What should I write? What will they think of me if I write this? But now I feel as if I can say or ask anything from my fellow peers. A bad experience I’ve had is frustration with my Character Comparison with my Odyssey project. Frustration will always get the best of you in every situation. There are a select few though that know how to deal with that frustration a positive way. I had to compare a character from the odyssey to another character. But I decided to take on the challenge of comparing a real life historical figure Al Capone with Odysseus. I was difficult comparing those, even though it might seem that they have lots of similarities at first they always connect with one being a real person and the other fictional. I eventually connected the two in the best way I knew how.

I’ve done so much work in for this class. It was exhausting but the feeling you get at the end of each project is amazing, it’s a feeling of accomplishment. The piece I’m most proud of has to be my character comparison. It may not be the most written but I spent hours on it, finding ways the two could connect. I got an 87 as a final grade for it but I accepted the challenge and I tried my best, and to me that’s what matters the most. Thank you Ms. Dunn for teaching me the beauty of English.

11/4/10

Macbeth has changed tremendously throughout the story; he went from a war hero to a dead traitor who was killed by one of his friends. In the beginning of the play everyone liked him. He had strong connections and he was the second most powerful man in all of Scotland towards the middle of the play. Then towards the middle of the play he started to change into a new Macbeth one that was in control and wanted to keep it that way, for a long time. He killed his best friend Banquo and attempted to kill his son to ensure that his kids wouldn’t be kings. He also did the same thing to Macduff. In the end Macbeth seemed to slowly come back because he felt guilt and fear. If he were spared he would’ve returned to normal eventually. Here is proof to all my reasoning.

In Act 1 scene 2 of Macbeth, King Duncan is with the Captain. Duncan is very grateful is for what the captain did for Macbeth. Duncan was so pleased because now he is able to kill the current Thane of Cawdor and replace him with Macbeth. “This is the sergeant who like a good and hardy soldier fought ‘gainst my captivity. Hail, brave friend; say to the king the knowledge of the broil as thou didst leave it.” (Act 1, scene 2, lines 4-8) This quote reveals that Macbeth is kind and grateful for this man who has saved him. Which shows that Macbeth is a kind and gracious man, even the King respects him. He is strongly connected with his friends now in the play.

In Act 1 scene 3 of Macbeth, Macbeth is with Banquo. They are talking about the witch’s prophecy. Macbeth seems very confused with his side of the prophecy. It seems like he is iffy about what they predicted. Banquo is very pleased about what the witches have to say to him. He likes that his son’s and his son’s children will be king, that there will be a long line of kings in his family. “ If chance will have making, why, chance may crown me without my stir.” (Act 1 scene 3, lines 144-146) This quote reveals that Macbeth is starting to have thoughts about him being king. He’s starting to question the prophesy the witch’s have told him and Banquo. It’s the making of a new Macbeth and his personality changes. He’s beginning to have thoughts but doesn’t plan to take any action. It seems like he’s going to wait for the moment when he just automatically becomes king. Macbeth seems to assume that no one will find out what is going to happen and his friends will remain loyal to him.

In Act 1 scene 7 of Macbeth, Macbeth is at his house. He’s having a feast with King Duncan. Macbeth is starting to talk to himself about the plan of the assassination of Duncan. “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well if were done quickly. If the assassination could trammel up the consequence and catch with surcease success.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 1-4) This reveals that Macbeth is willing to go through with the assassination of Duncan.  He seems semi confident that this plan will actually work and Macbeth will rule Scotland as King. He seems to be turning into a new Macbeth because he’s talking to himself about an assassination, the old Macbeth would never do that. That’s why there are two sides of Macbeth arguing with one another. He’s being very secretive which is why he’s alone.

In Act 1 scene 7 of Macbeth, Macbeth is still talking to himself about the assassination attempt on Duncan. He’s debating weather he should go through with it or leave it alone. He is alone during the soliloquy and has left the room where the feast is being held. “He’s here in double trust: first, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 15-16) This is the good none treacherous half of Macbeths personality who is talking. He says Duncan trusts him and believes he will be Duncan’s right hand man.  He doesn’t want to feel like a failure and traitor to his own country. Which is why he’s currently debating the subject on weather to kill Duncan or betray his wife by not executing the plan. Macbeth doesn’t want to lose his trust in anybody close to him that includes Duncan.

In Act 2 scene 2 of Macbeth, Macbeth is at home and it’s the middle of the night. He has just killed King Duncan and his hands and cloths are bloody. He is currently talking to Lady Macbeth he’s in shock and can’t believe what he just did.  “I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’t again I dare you not.” (Act 2, scene 2, lines 55-56)  Macbeth is regretting killing King Duncan, he has no idea why he has done it and Lady Macbeth is trying to toughen him up. Lady Macbeth is doing that by sexually bring him to her and telling him to finish what he’s started. Not to back out that he will be rewarded for what he has done.

In Act 3 scene 1 of Macbeth, Macbeth is talking to the assassins about killing Banquo. He is trying to convince them that its his fault that there lives are pretty bad. “Not i’ th’ worst rank of manhood, say’t; and I will put that bosoms whose execution takes your enemy off, Grapples you to the health but sickly in his life, which I his death were perfect” (Act 3, scene 1, lines 103-108). Macbeth is convincing them that this is the time to take back their vengeance and strike back. The assassins seem to agree; Macbeth seems to reveal a very convincing side of him. He will go to any lengths to get what he wants and will even kill his best friends to get to were he wants to go.

In Act 4 scene 1 of Macbeth, Macbeth is explaining his evil plot. He’s going hire the assassins and they’re going to everyone in Macduff’s house. They’re going to go into the house and kill everyone who’s in there to stop Macduff and his family in becoming King.  “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line” (Act 4, scene 1, lines 172-174). Macbeth reveals his inner evil he had all these years.  He is going to try to shut down Macduff mentally to strike fear in others. This reveals a brand new Macbeth, one that is willing to take it a step further than he should, even if it does mean breaking the line of friendship with Macduff.

In Act 5 scene 3 of Macbeth, Macbeth is in his castle talking to himself. He has just found out from his servant that a force of ten thousand man have come to try to kill him. Macbeth is afraid but will fight to the death he has nothing to lose. “The devil, damn the black, thou cream-faced loon” (Act 5, scene 3, line 11). Macbeth reveals that his transformation from good to evil is now complete. If you observe from past scenes he would never say that to his servants or other people. But he is now showing that he is the ruler so you should fear him. Which means he wants to stay in control for a long time and will not rest until he knows his position in power is safe. At this point in the story he has no one to trust, the closets person he has to a friend is Seyton his servant.

In Act 5 scene 3 of Macbeth, Macbeth is talking to himself. He starts to reveal himself a little bit in these lines. He’s in his castle waiting for the invasion to start. He is putting on his armor and getting into his mood to fight “My way of life is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf, and that which should accompany old age” (Act 5, scene 3, lines 24-25). Macbeth reveals that he’s starting to show weakness and give up. Macbeth has never shown to ever give up. He always has the never give up never surrender attitude toward everything he’s encountered. Until now, he finally realizes that all hope is lost and will fail, but he jus won’t give up. He has nothing to lose his wife is mentally dead, he has no friends, and everyone in Scotland fears him.

In Act 5 scene 5 Macbeth, Macbeth is in his castle and has just heard a scream. The scream is from Lady Macbeth she has just committed suicide. All the women in the castle are in shock. “I have almost forgot the taste of fears”(Act 5, scene 5, line 9). Macbeth is showing weakness again and has almost shown almost no sign of it.  But only recently towards the end of the play has he started to slowly return to old Macbeth from the beginning of the play. But even though he seems to be showing no emotion in these lines he feels fear for the first time in a long time. He has nothing to lose, so there is no reason to give up.

Macbeth changes from a good person and war hero, to a traitor, to slowly coming back to the Macbeth from the beginning of the play.  But he is killed before he can completely transform to old Macbeth. In my opinion he only changed out of fear. He lost his wife to suicide and his once best friends were coming with a giant army to kill him. No one likes him anymore not even his own wife. He knew his time was over, but his personality will never give up. So he worked with what he had, he lost and died.

Red

            I can not believe it has been seven years since I was last in the Galapagos. It feels like it just happened a couple of months ago. But there are parts of that memory that have blown away like wind blowing a leaf. But I still remember the things that were most important to me on the trip. The flight to the islands from Guayaquil Airport was around an hour and a half. I did what any eight year old would do; I asked, “are we there yet?” I did that constantly throughout the whole flight to my dad. Imagine the annoyance in his face.

When we landed in the airport it was fairly small. It had a security team, metal detectors, the whole shebang. But it was as small as a motel room. Right after security you walked a couple feet and you were at the entrance of the airport to go to the islands. As soon as you walk through the door you look for the tour guide that has the name of the people that employed him and everything you need to get ready. We waited for other people to arrive and we were off.

First we took a tour of a small zoo. The people of the island let the animals roam free but these animals were found very sick or stranded. The workers of the island put them in the zoo to be cared for and watched over until they were well enough to go free. We saw plenty of tortoises. It seems kind of obvious because the island is known for its vast population of tortoises. There were also magnificent birds like red and blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and even flamingoes! My eight year old mind could not take all of the exotic colors on all the birds. When we arrived in town the tour guide let us off his “leash” to let us explore the town. My friend Alex and his parents came a long with us to the islands as well as my grandma and uncle Rob. I bought a pair of sunglasses (which I later lost, I was going through the losing everything phase). We walked back to the tour guide who was at the docks. He explained to us the amount of crewmen and the type of boat. I remember it being a yacht but I was not excited about being on a yacht then. Boats were boats and they were all the same to me. But now I think back and… wow…I was on a yacht. We walked the dock which seemed to be old but newly refurbished. The boat was pearl shiny and white as paper. The friendly captain and his crew immediately greeted us. He explained to us everything on the boat and like the sun deck the bar and so on. There were about twelve passengers on the boat.

            During dinner we had a world-class chef. Now when I say world-class chef, I mean world-class chef. This guy was the next Bobby Flay. I have never liked shrimp before but his shrimp was exquisite. It is because of this chef I love seafood so much. The great thing about the fish was that it was freshly caught daily by the crew mans spare time when they go fishing. They also had a shrimp net in the back of the boat that had shrimp. That also must have played a big role in the excellent cooking. After dinner, I was exhausted so I went to bed. My grandma offered my dad and I some pills that would prevent seasickness. My dad happily took one, but I, being as stubborn as anyone could possibly be, did not want one. When we got to our room it had a very sweet smell that clogged up your lungs. It was strange to me and my dad later told me it was diesel exhaust from the engines. I slept as well as a newborn baby, with no seasickness. The next day we woke up and immediately went upstairs to greet one of my best friends Alex. We put our feet in the water and when I first touched the clear pacific water…it was warm!!! It was even warmer than heated a pool water; it was amazing, one hundred percent natural!!! Even my dad was surprised by how warm the water was. I was getting closer and closer to my utopia.

Before breakfast my dad challenged one of the crewmembers to a diving contest. Really bad idea dad. He is an excellent swimmer and I thought that he would easily beat the crewman. But now that I look back at it, 36-year-old man who is starting to feel the affects of vs. late twenties man who has probably spent his whole life swimming in the islands. Not very good odds. I have no idea to this day what was going on through his head. My dad took his first pencil tip dive off the boat and into the water. It must have been a good minute before he came back up to the surface. When he got pulled onto the boat he proudly said, “I could make out the bottom.” The crewman smiled a smile that only bad guys in movies smile. He dove into the water in about a minute he came back up. “I touched the bottom” he said while smiling. Everyone was awed by what just happened. I do not know how deep that was but I am pretty sure no passenger on the boat would dare touch the bottom.

After that extraordinary event, breakfast was called and everyone left except for the crewman and my dad. The crewman agreed to teach my dad to the secrets of Ecuadorian diving. I had yet another exquisite meal of bacon, pancakes, and eggs magnifique!! After the last plate was cleared, our tour guide explained to us what we were going to do for the day. We were going to an island that was covered in sea lions. The reason for that is the sea lions just had their young and they were caring for them. But he assured us that there were other things to see. I was so excited, my first island! I went down as fast as a person with ADHD on red bull. I changed, brushed my teeth, and grabbed my disposable camera in a matter of minutes. I, of course, was the first person to be ready and was waiting for other people out on the deck. There were two different black boats that would take us out to shore. When we were close to shore I could make out gold figures and my dad told me they were sea lions. I was so excited, I wanted to just shout at the sea lions to come and get me. We got to shore and they were everywhere. It was like a cockroach infestation. We were told not to touch any of the animals unless they touched us first, or we would have major problems, like being mauled by the head hancho. Who was big, very big, humongous, giant, like, like 5 me’s. We’d have no chance against him. The tour guide said watch out for scorpions or their sting would sting for two to three hours. He pointed them out and I became paranoid. When we reached a cliff he pointed out to us a blue-footed boobies nest. I kind of giggled a little bit for obvious reasons but it was interesting to see. He also showed us bones from baby blue-footed boobies and told us that they were being taught to fly. The mother would take them in the sky and if the bird did not fly, it would die. The next thing we saw were frigate birds. It was mating season for them and they would puff out their bright red chest and would make a drumming noise. It was actual drumming like an African drumming circle. It was insane to see and one of the things I would never forget. The next bird we saw were albatrosses. It was matting season for them as well. When I saw them walk they automatically became my favorite bird, and still are to this day. When it takes a step, its head bends over to the side it is stepping. It is the cutest and funniest thing I have seen a bird do. Also when the male chooses a mate they walked up to the female and they put its long yellow beak next to the females and opens them and closes them very fast. The sound is like two pieces of wood clacking together really loudly. We moved on to the center of the island and we saw pink flamingoes. They were in the lake sleeping eating and caring for there young. I loved those flamingoes. Some were very troublesome, like when one tried to steal a man’s camera. It walked over to us and everyone was in their “oh-my-god-there-is-a-flamingo-walking-over-to-us” mode. The flamingo stood there for a moment, and then quickly grabbed a mans camera as if it were a berry. The man was cursing and shouting in German and it was some sight to see. It is not everyday you see a German man and his friends fighting a flamingo for his camera. The tour guide shouted while waving his arms and scared the flamingo away. We turned around and walked back the way we came to the boats. We went back to our luxurious yacht and had a wonderful meal of fish.

            The next day we woke up, ate breakfast, and went to an island with just sand. There were some trees in the middle of the island. But we only stayed on the beach part the whole time. The adults went snorkeling while Alex and I went scavenging. We found some fish bones that had apparently been regurgitated by a sea lion. I had no idea what that meant but now that I know…ewwwwww. We went back to the boat and spent the rest of the day on the boat. In the afternoon I was pretty bored. I put my feet in the magical Pacific water and moved them around. There was a small piece of rope hanging from the side of the boat. I started to wave it around the water and out popped a small sea lion. I assume it was a baby sea lion because of the small size. It grabbed onto the rope and started pulling it. Than I started pulling it, it was challenging me to a game of tug a war. He pulled on his end and I pulled on mine. He lost his grip in a matter of a few short minutes. Than I started to tease him by whipping the rope up into the air and back down, he jumped out of the water and grabbed the rope and pulled it out of my hands and I never saw him again. I hope he’s making good use of that rope because I later found out it was to tie the boat up to the dock.

            The last night on the boat, my stubbornness finally caught up to me. I got seasick during dinner. We were having shrimp and blue-footed boobie drinks which were like sunshine in a cup. I told my dad I wasn’t feeling too good. It went something like this: “Dad, I’m not feeling too good.” “Really, what seems to be the…” The next thing you know vomit is going all over my dad. I can not even begin to explain how disgusting that was so I am going to skip the description of the vomit. I could not sleep all night, this goes for anyone, take any measure to prevent seasickness. It is not the best thing to have, trust me on that.

            The last day was a very emotional one for me. I had such an unforgettable time with my friend and even to the crewmembers like when they let me play video games with them and I beat them all. You can imagine the embarrassment that they felt. I would also like to thank the sea lion spot for playing with me when I was bored. He had a big spot around his eye and so that is what I decided to call him from then on. We said our last good byes to the captain and crew and the tour guide escorted us back to the motel-sized airport. We said our good byes and thanks to him and I was crying. I did not want to leave. This is as close to a utopia as I have ever gotten, and I had to leave it. We went past security, back to our plane. We took off and I left my utopia for so far seven years.

3/8/11

            Even though Al Capone is a real life figure and Odysseus is a mythical character, their legends are both connected. Al Capone was a famous mobster for his crimes, including the Valentines Day massacre, which started the end of the North Side Gang. The way the North Side Gang was executed was very crucial. it was executed was Al Capone and his crew were disguised as policemen. They ordered the rival gang members to stand against a wall and shot them with Tommy gun till the dropped dead. Odysseus on the other hand is a famous character from many ancient Greek tales including Homer’s famous story of the Odyssey. Odysseus also fought a war against a rival. He was fighting the Trojan War and during it disguised himself and his men. But instead of them disguising themselves like Al Capone and his men, they hid away in a statue that the Trojans thought were an offer to the gods. The Trojans brought it into the city and at night they opened the gated to the city and the Greeks killed everyone. As you can see their legends have already been tied together.

            In addition both Al Capone and Odysseus both show signs of being strong men but sometimes not so intelligent as leaders. For example when Odysseus leads his men through Scylla and even though Circe told him that he would lose some men she told him to resist and to let it take some of his men. It’s better to loose a few men rather than all of them. “Scylla’s no mortal, she’s an immortal devastation, terrible, savage, wild, no fighting her, no defense just flee the creature, that’s the only way. Waste any time, arming for battle beside your rock, I fear she’ll lunge out again with all of her six hands and seize as many men” (Book 12, lines 130-134). Odysseus stubborn as he is, prepares himself for battle to fight it and Circe’s warning is forgotten as he decides to keep his pride high, rather than deny the challenge as he was told. “I donned my heroic armor, seized long spears in both my hands and marched out on the half deck.” (Book 12, lines 245-246) “Now Scylla snatched six men from our hollow ship, the toughest, strongest hands I had, and glancing backward over the decks, searching for my crew I could see their hands and feet already hoisted, wailing down at me, comrades riven in agony, shrieking out my name for on last time!” (Book 12, lines 264-270) Even though Odysseus’s adventure was mythical Al Capone had a similar thing happen to him. Al Capone had everything going for him; he was in charge of Chicago for the 1920’s till the early 1930’s. Even though he thought that his illegal activity was tax-free his tax lawyers told him it was not. He being as stubborn as Odysseus was he did not listen to them. He was then sued buy the U.S. government for failure to pay his income tax. He owed $215,080.48 in taxes, which in today’s modern dollar money is worth $2, 408,901.38.

            Furthermore Odysseus and his men was part of a famous war known as the Trojan War just like Capone was part of a gang war against the North Side gang. The Trojan War was fought by a group of ancient Greek city-states. This includes the ancient empire of Ithaca lead by King Odysseus. The way they fought their wars was way different than the gang wars. They had battle tactics and battle formations, but their motives were the same. The reason the Ithacans fought the war was to eliminate a common enemy and competition in wealth. The Trojans had a very popular trade route that would make them very wealthy. In comparison, Al Capone had competition in the same nature. Al Capone had very many rivals in the alcohol industry during the prohibition era. (1920-1933) In order to eliminate the competition and plundered all their riches he declared war with them. The end of one of the wars was the Valentines Day massacre the marked the end of the North Side gang which was smartly planned by Al Capone, just like Odysseus had planned the Trojan Horse which marked the end of the Trojan War.

            As a result Odysseus returned home after 20 years away from home to be greeted by suitors, just like Capone returned to his gang after 7 years in prison only to know that it was in the hands of a new leader. Odysseus after 20 long years away from home returned to Ithaca with nothing and had to fight for everything he had lost after those years. “These suitors are not just ten or twenty, they’re far more you count them up yourself now, take a moment…” (Book 16 Lines 276-277) Al Capone faced a similar task after he was let out of prison in 1939. He had to get to get in control of his gang once again. But just like Odysseus he had obstacles to get through before he could get it back. Odysseus had to make sure Penelope was safe and to be careful because it was Odysseus, Telemachus, and two servants against about 120 men. Al Capone had to fight off his numerous dieses that he developed in prison.

            Even though Al Capone is a real life figure and Odysseus is a mythical character, they’re legends are both connected. This statement might be true, but I’ve found a small catch to it. They have different endings to their stories.  Al Capone gave up and retired to home in Florida with his wife in 1949 and died of pneumonia, which was unrelated to any of his dieses. Odysseus on the other hand killed all the suitors and everything returned to normal. But one thing is similar about there endings. Al Capone may have died in the end but died a happy man, living happily ever after with his wife in his beautiful home in the Florida countryside. Odysseus also had a happily ever after ending with his wife and son in his giant palace in his country of Ithaca.

My environment is pretty much were I live. Its all around me and around everyone else. It develops our personality, what we look like, our influences, everything. For example someone who lives in an indigenous tribe in the Amazons will be different from someone who lives in New York City. The person in the Amazon uses basic tools and materials to help him with his everyday life but he uses man power instead of coal or gas. A person in New York City or modern society has a computer, a TV, lives in a tall apartment building, fridge, microwave, a living room things in that nature. Another example would be music. You can compare American Rap with Spanish Bachata you can see a tremendous difference. Rap is like a long poem in song form and Bachata is has different instruments like guitar and trumpets. It just depends what your introduced to and what your willing to accept in your life.

How did you feel when you encountered the word “nigger” in kindred? What are your thoughts on the word in general?                  3/18/11

When I encountered that word I didn’t really react to it at all. It’s come back in modern language as a cool word that only African-Americans are able to use. But it’s been extended to be used to all the major “minorities.” This includes African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. Also to me it’s just a word, no word can be used to offend me. I see words as informative, all words, no matter what the word is. In general, it’s just a word. No one takes it offensive to it anymore. Even though it was created and designed to insult the African-American race. It seems it’s only offensive if a person of the White race or “majority” race uses it. I think the only reason it is offensive in that context is that Whites are the originators of the word and it seems to be a way to get back at the White man. A word everyone is aloud to use except for White people. Seems like revenge to me.

What do you think is going to happen to Kevin if he’s left in 1819?    3/24/11

I think it can go in two different ways with Kevin. He will either be questioned by all the white people and beaten and would go back to 1976 just like kindred does when she gets into trouble. Or he could act dumb and play it out and people would trust him and he would be safe in 1819. I believe they both have the distinct ability to travel through time when in the face of danger. 

What are some of the expectations put up on you by others? What are your own expectations of yourself? Are these expectations different? How? 4/5/11

People expect me to be a good person in general. They expect me to be knowledgeable and to be a good student in school. People in general especially my family have high expectations for me. I have high expectations for myself. But I try my best only to help others. When I’m older I want to help people who are less fortunate and need my knowledge to help them. I expect myself to be a diligent worker in school and outside the school environment. I only pay attention in school to help others around me, my family and loved ones. For it is my knowledge the world will feed off of and depend on. Everyone in this room is the future and it is for this reason I have these high expectations.

Marijuana serves the human race in many different ways including medicine. The use of medical marijuana has been used for thousands of years, Surprisingly enough marijuana has been used in medicines dating back to 2737 BC according to the Mohamed Ben Amar who studies ethnopharmicology. According to Abel Ernest’s Marijuana: The First Twelve Thousand Years it was first used by Ancient Chinese doctors, the doctors used the plant and turned it into an oil which was used to treat wounds, eruptions, and falling of the hair. As a matter of fact Marijuana is one of the fifty different fundamental herbs used in Chinese herbal medicine. In the third century CE a physician known as Hua Tuo who was and still is respected by many physicians first used Marijuana powder as an anesthetic during surgery. In ancient Egypt the Ebers Papyrus describes medical marijuana and says to use hemp to treat hemorrhoids. According to ancient texts from India and the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Indian doctors used Marijuana to treat headaches, insomnia, and gastrointestinal disorders, to relieve the pain from childbirth. According to Haworth Press in ancient Greece they not only used Marijuana to treat human diseases but for veterinary medicine. They used marijuana treat wounds and sores that horses encountered. In humans marijuana was used to treat nosebleeds and to expel tapeworms. It was also used to treat pain for ear inflammation. In medieval Islamic society marijuana was used as a diuretic, antiemetic, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, painkiller, and as antipyretic. Some of you readers might be thinking, some of these things we already have treatments and cures for. We use Tylenol, Advil and Vicodin as painkillers, and Ignatia to treat worms why would we need marijuana anymore? These were some of the most advanced societies in the world at the time when it cam to medicine. Even in European medicines at the time were based off of all these societies. But the truth is without these ancient medicines we wouldn’t have the drugs we have today. If we approve the use of marijuana doctors can make more medicines that will prevent more diseases. Your proof is here, marijuana does more good than bad for our society, history has proven it.

2) Según la vida real yo creo que el poder de tomar acción y hacer cambios es balanceado. Pero los hombres todavía tienen el control mental. Según Almodovar y las telenovelas el poder se va mas al hombres. Pero en algunos telenovelas la mujer primaria es en control por mucho de la gente. 

3) En la película la mujer fue bien estereotípica mujer. En la telenovela Rosario Tijeras parecía en control. Pero en realidad la persona que estaba en control fue el hombre que fue el jefe de los Carteles en Colombia. 

Jhonas Dunkain                                    McDonalds

1/4/11

            Yo escogí el anuncio de McDonalds que es de Big Mac. Tiene dos Big Macs para remplazar los ceros en 100%. El anuncio dice 100% beef y muestra que la hamburguesa es tan Buena que tiene 100% carne de res. Yo escogí este anuncio porque es tan simple que es solo 100% con hamburguesas para remplazar los ceros y el símbolo de Mccdonalds. También detrás del anuncio el color es solo rojo. Es también tan convencible pero es tan simple que mi hermanita pudiera crearlo. El producto es Big Mac y la compañía que creó el anuncio es McDonalds. La compañía valora el dinero mas que nada. Pero esta compañía vende a comida estadounidense que es mayormente papas, hamburguesas, pollito frito, cosas así. Quieren que los consumidores valoran a su producto. Hay estudios que muestra que la comida rápida como McDonalds tiene un efecto sicológico mas que nada. Por eso la gente sigue comiendo. la primea comida que comes de McDonalds eres adicto a la comida y crean anuncios para hacer tu adicción mas grande.

 EL objetivo es para vender su producto a toda la gente posible. Pero los adolescentes en SLA son como cualquier otra persona. La gente ve el anuncio y dice yo creo que tengo hambre yo creo que voy a comer un Big Mac de Mccdonalds porque es 100% carne de res y a mi me gusta carne de res. El tipo de vida que muestra el anuncio es que debes comer mas carne de res porque es muy rico. El opinión del anuncio es que es garantizado que si comes el Big Mac de va a gustar porque tiene carne de res. La información crucial que no muestra en el anuncio es que la carne puede tener “ecoli” o otros infecciones adentro de la carne por como están tratados. Tampoco muestran como tratan los animales y que no tienen libertad y son tratados como propiedad en vez de un organismo que vive y tiene sentimientos. También como están matados los vacas, aveces son torturados después que les matan. Aveces también son sexualmente violados por los trabajadores por diversión.

La información que esta mostrado en mi contrapublicidad que no esta mostrado en el anuncio original es como viven las vacas, como están tratados y como mueren. Son tratados como propiedad, están torturados, y mueren miserablemente con tortura y estómagos llenos de maíz que no es su diete natural, antibióticos, y hormonas. Yo cambia los dos Big Macs en cabezas de vacas para mostrar de donde viene la comida y puse fotos debajo del aviso mostrando como viven los vacas. Que en realidad es terrible y no deben comer la comida para no soportad el abuso o mal trato. Mis valores se van en conflicto con el anuncio original porque yo no creo en el mal trato de animales. Deben ser tratados como humanos son tratados. Tienen sentimientos y son organismos vivos con todo las características humanas y mucho mas. Pero es comida no muy cara y todos pueden comprar. Comida del campo es mucho mas carro porque no usan antibióticos o hormonas para hacer el animal crecer mas grande mas rápidamente. También le dan la dieta natural del césped que cuesta mas que maíz.

Los valores de SLA toman conflicto con el anuncio original porque no te hace preguntar las cosas que deben preguntar. Por ejemplo el anuncio no te hace pensar de donde viene los ingredientes de la comida? Es seguro el proceso? También con colaboración el anuncio es tan simple que deben poner mas en el anuncio. Deben colaborar mas cosas en el anuncio para mostrar mas de lo que están vendiendo. Para la investigación el anuncio no te hace ir a la biblioteca o a la computadora para investigar el producto que te están mostrando te. El presentación es muy básico pero muy efectivo y hecho efectivamente. La problema con reflección es que no hay ningún tipo de reflección en este anuncio.

Yo creo que mi contrapubliciada será efectivo porque es exactamente con el anuncio original solo con reemplazamiento de bacas en vez de hamburguesas. También añadí fotos de vacas muertos y torturas para subir el atención del anunció al publico. Yo pusiera mi anuncio en la carretera NJ turnpike porque ahí pasa mucha gente para irse al norte y miles de personas verán el anuncio cada día convenciendo a la gente que los productos de Mccdonads en realidad no son de Buena calidad. Mi anuncio seria efectivo y bien diseñado para mostrar la gente el realidad detrás de las hamburguesas de la comida rápida.

Jhonas Dunakin                                    Tylenol

1/4/11

            Yo escogí el anuncio de Tylenol un medicamento para la gripe. Yo escogí este anuncio porque es muy relajante y es bien convensiente. Muestra una mujer y un hombre juntos en una playa envueltos en una cobija. Se parece romántico y bonito con el sol bajando y tiene su producto a lado. Quieren que los consumidores valoran el producto. Quieren que son dependientes a la medicina para hacerlos mejor y sentir bien.

            El objetivo es convencer a toda la gente que el producto vale mejor que la competición y te va a hacerse sentir bien después de tomarlo. Para los adolescentes en SLA dicen a ellos que les van a hacer sentir mejor y les van a curar de toda la enfermedad. Los estilos de vida en el anuncio es románico. Hay una chica y un chico envueltos en una cobija en una playa sin zapatos viendo el sol bajar. Para mi eso es romántico y también mucha otra gente piensen lo mismo que yo. Los opiniones que muestran el anuncio es que deben tomar la medicina para curarte. Que esta garantizado a funcionar y vas a estar en la playa con una chica sin problema porque estas currado de tu enfermedad y puedes hacer lo que quieres. Los valores representados en el anuncio es la vida. Que debes vivir la vida sin enfermedad y que Tylenol te va ayudar con esa problema.

            Lo que yo voy a mostrar en mi contrapublicidad que no esta mostrado en el anuncio es los efectos secundarias del producto. Como te puede dañar el hígado también te puede dañar el riñón. Si esto te pasa recomiendan a llamar una ambulancia o el control de veneno. Yo voy tener el anuncio original pero voy a poner fotos de hígados aruñados y también riñones dañados.

            Los cinco valores de SLA (pregunta, investigación, colaboración, presentación, reflección) están en conflicto porque no te hace preguntar las preguntas esenciales para tu salud. Por ejemplo cuando ves el anuncio no preguntas si este puede dañar mis intestinos o hígado. Solo te importa que te siente mejor. En realidad este producto no cura tu enfermedad solo cubra los sentimientos de la enfermedad.. Esta bien colaborado el anuncio, tiene hasta una broma en peligros que te ayuda curar tu enfermedad que a mi me gusta. Es muy bien diseñado y te hace tener un fantasía. Para investigación no te hace poner mas esfuerzo en saber lo que en realidad hace el producto. Con tal que te pones bien no importa lo que pasa. Para presentación esta muy bien puesto. Hay fotos románticos y hasta una broma en el anuncio que es un poco chistoso. El anuncio fue muy bien planeado y creo que costara mucho para crear lo y diseñar lo. Para reflección el anuncio te hace reflejar lo que tu vida cera sin enfermedad, seria un utopia.

            Mis valores personales se van en contra el anuncio porque yo soy contra el imprimo fino. Que algunas personas no pueden ver el daño que te puede hacer el producto. Yo creo que los fotos son mas efectivos en mostrar a la gente los efectos secundarias de algo. Compañías deben mostrar fotos de los efectos secundarias o hacer el emprimo fino mas grande.

            Yo creo que mi contrapublicidad seria efectivo porque te va hacer nauseabundo por todos los fotos de riñones y cosas en ese sentido. Le va hacer la gente pensar “ese producto me va hacer eso a mi? No debo tomar lo tanto.” Debo mostrarlo enfrente de la seda central de Tylenol para asegurar máxima atención. También será una vergüenza grave a Tylenol mostrado la realidad del producto. Mi contrapublicidad será efectivo y molesto para asegurar máxima atención a la gente que usa el producto mucho.