Video Essay

 

What are the two most influential  ideas you learned from your research?  Why did these ideas impact you so much?  Be specific.

That not all action is good action. That is such a hard thing to learn because the tendency of most people is to react to every possible and incoming situation. And with that revelation that inaction might be good, because sometimes people have a tendency to worsen the situations they’re in especially when the tools are not available. There’s a reason when a crime happens we let the police take care of it, or when building a neighborhood, we let the people living there decide the guidelines and aesthetics of that place otherwise people can’t get what they want. In my research the biggest problems with the missionaries is their insistence to impose their will to reform these communities, it always ended poorly, and that’s because their knowledge of those communities was lacking leading to much heartache and wasted efforts as they never did what the indigenous people wanted. And from this a lot of the pains of these missions came from the inability to adapt which is the next lesson I learned: adaptation. Many of these problems were caused because many of these missionaries couldn’t let go of their preconception about the world, which I can attribute to their absurd zealotry. Had they made an effort to learn about the people and integrate themselves into the very environment they were in, many of these communities would find themselves in a much better place.  

 

What do you hope people will learn from your project?

Know one’s limits and don’t attempt to dilute oneself. Many of these missionaries diluted themselves that they were always in the right and never thought anything about their surroundings and what the bigger picture was. Don’t get tunnel vision and end up blind. I wish I could have learned to see through this thick helmet of mine too.

 

What is the most important thing you learned about yourself, your community, and your world during your time at NNHS?

What I the, the crusader, learned about myself is that I don’t really have a definitive goal. I feel kinda lost to be honest, crusading without a vision. For as strong the first semester was for me, I don’t know why, but I’m not really feeling the second semester. What I need to learn is goal setting. I didn’t really have any aspirations this semester. No goals I really wanted to achieve were heavily associated with academics. I can achieve it. When I lift, I always have a goal: I want more strength, more power, I want to be able to be rid of anything in my path with pure muscle,  as crusader must be strong. My mission for this summer’s crusade should be to find an academic goal, because when there is no vision of achievement, I’ll fall down and slip, but that’s what’s great about the NNHS community, they’ll be there to catch you as long as you’re a huskie, that there’s always help around the corner. For as far we’ll go we’ll alway share that time and huskie pride.

What advice would you give future NNHS seniors?

Find a goal and don’t slack on assignments. Unexpected things can happen and when you lose the momentum, it’s really hard to build it back up, That’s a lesson I learned when I fell off my high horse. It’s really easy to get addicted now with the availability of distractions and push off the work; I know I did. I built up really bad habits, so don’t be me, build up good habits too. 

It’s been a ride y’all. Crusader out.

‘Ello buds! I’ve come back from my crusade temporarily ‘cuz the cogs in my hollow skull have been turning again so hence I must churn out this sludge of storytelling that may be all too familiar to y’all. I have pitch. I ain’t blind to what kind of audience I have: a bunch of teens that take AP Lit and need to make a comment on something, but you know it might irk y’all to hear what I have to say since we’re involved in this anyways, but I have an idea to adapt Hamlet and make an adaptation that ain’t so faithful to the source material. What is? Well, what if Hamlet took place in a gym with a bunch of gym bros? To your minds, it might sound absurd, but I’ll use this opportunity to create a set-up for this story!

 

So we all know how Hamlet starts: King Hamlet is dead, the uncle has seized control, land has been taken over recently, there’s a pissed off kid who wants to reclaim the land, yada yada yada, you get the jist though my description be a bit amiss, so how does one adapt such a political environment into the ever so testosterone filled energy of the gym? Here’s how I do: 

 

King hamlet:

I’ll make King Hamlet into a big Gym owner Hamlet and recently he’s been outperforming the competitor to his gym with good service for a good price. But as of late he’s been feeling sick and sore and shaken to the core, so during a benching exercise he moves a weight, a weight he would normally be comfortable, that he could do without a spot was the end of Mr. Hamlet as he valued his pride over self preservation. 

 

Now I’ve adapted the previous king, but how am I gonna portray the ghost? I ain’t. I’m gonna replace the ghost with something a touch modern, more believable. Forensics. But ain’t forensics a solid science that it catches the most criminals and you would be right, so it would take a very intricate plot intertwined with how Mr. Hamlet dies and possibly create a race against time as forensics before Hamlet’s suspicions and rage overtake him through his impulsive behavior and a sprinkle of clues. Continuing on we have to create the characters of Hamlet and the uncle:

 

Hamlet:

If it wasn’t made clear by the setting, I’ll continue on with the modern gym bro theme and make him a buff as heck bodybuilder. Having been primed on inheriting the gym chain, already working, well known by the staff might I add, and very inspired by his father, he finds the circumstances absolutely suspicious when his “uncle” happens to take control of the franchise and makes bigger purchases, taking over the business even though he has a medical degree, happens to be caring for his mother.

 

The Uncle:

As foreshadowed, this uncle ain’t gonna be your typical uncle. He’s actually a family friend who likes to dip his toes too deep into their lives. He will also be made out as a kind of a scam doctor to create a motive and also a business partner to incite opportunity for gains. And to make him even more suspicious, he’s been getting to know Hamlet’s mom a little too well.

 

We have our characters, but we can’t have them sitting in a void, so they’ll exist in the suburbs, interactions will take place inside a big and well equipped gym. Currently business in the main gym will be closed off to the public for people to mourn and for the investigation to continue. During this time Hamlet will now get suspicious of his “uncle” who’s living a little too comfortably with them. We will keep the good ‘ol characters of Ophelia and Gertrude with some tweaks.

 

Now why a gym? Why adapt Hamlet into a sweaty gym environment… because the world needs to see a bunch of buff dudes spout soliloquies while throwing weights around in rage. It could be an experience of a lifetime. But this is just pitch of an idea y’all, and I want to put an image of a really buff Hamlet enraged repping a 50lb dumbbell spouting, “to be or not to be” or a weirdly jacked Ophilia trying to break up with the hunk of meat. But now I’ve put that into your mind, y’all should have your imaginations running wild in the testosterone filled gym world of my ideas for Hamlet. But that’s enough entertainment for y’all, I’m off to do other things, Capiche?

‘Ello again me faithful buds, y’all ‘bout to bloom this spring, so ya know what that means: It’s time to corrupt y’all with another rant from me! I know y’all awaiting and eager to see what spills from my brain and onto this page, so your unwarranted delivery shall arrive! But for what topic could I possibly perceive? Movies? Games? Books? More random Fiction? What could it be, what could it be… Oh, I know! How ‘bout I give y’all some media recommendations over this spring break! It would be a treat! Well, there’s no time to waste, so let’s make haste!

Oh… um, quick note, if you really want to avoid spoilers for these movies you’ll be able to tell what I’ve recommended through the images that will be posted. This will not be a review, but a preview of the stories, and I recommend you watch all of them. That will be all and have fun reading!

 

Looking for an intense and serious movie? A movie of a lifetime? About revenge? A movie that’ll keep you in your seat until you reach the intermission and take a stretch break then sit ya booty back down to feel weak in the knees from all the sitting you just did? Well do I have the film for you! It’s a story that takes place within the same time Jesus was alive. It’s a wondrously old movie that has three different versions and the one I recommend is Ben-Hur from 1959. What is it about? Well there’s going to be spoilers from here on out, but I ‘ave to do a little convincing so hold your horses if thou ain’t desiring to be spoiled. It’s about a Jewish man called Ben-Hur and it starts off with him reuniting with an old friend of his, but unluckily his allegiance and commitment to Rome conflicts with Ben-Hur’s interest and due to his lineage. This causes the friend to plot behind his back and takes away his wealth and security and makes him a slave. From that point on Ben-Hur uses his work ethic and his drive for revenge to make it back to Israel and reunite with his imprisoned family. Now, what I will say about this movie is that it’s very hard to sit still and watch due to the length and I’m the kind of dude that likes to move. It’s a great movie to watch and I would do so if it weren’t for the darn length! So if you have nothing better to do, gather some friends and watch this epic tale together because it’s quite the tre

 

at and there’s nothing like it out there!

 

Now I know not many of you will saddle yourselves with the monumental task of paralyzing yourself for more than 3 hours, so let’s give y’all something more digestible, more akin to ya youthful tastes. It’s about a man who gets turned into a machine. More specifically a cop named Alex Murphy. It’s time to introduce you to an iconic movie: Robocop(1987). What is Robocop? One of the best eighties movies. I’ll have you know that this movie is about Alex Murphy, a family man and cop, who gets killed on the job in a crime ridden city. The pull of this movie is that Alex Murphy gets revived and as all seems well, Alex starts to uncover a dark truth about his creation and the company that made him. It’s a very simple movie that won’t demand much from the audience and will still provide good entertainment.

 

Do you hanker for over the top violence based very very loosely on a “true story”? Well, I got the movie for you. Bloodsport has no story and it’s fight after fight after fight, so there’s really nothing to spoil. Its short runtime will leave you hyped and ready to fight, so get your balls ready y’all ‘bout to be pumped with testosterone once you leave your seat!

 

 

Well, with my due diligence out of the way, it’s time to say goodbye to y’all and laddies and lassies, prepare to vacate highschool soon. Vale!

 

What a fine day it is, my fellows! Y’all lookin’ lil’ parched for some crusader content, amirite? Well you’re in luck, because I’ve got something up my sleeve to keep you folks entertained for a week or two. Maybe I should give y’all access to a special list. List of entertainment in the making. Nah who am I kidding, what y’all need is new content and I’ll give to ya for free. Feast your eyes on my creative endeavor and savor the moments we have together because the end of year is approaching fast, so let’s make haste so you can have sweet taste of the delectable nectar that is my waste that protrudes from my ever shriveling mind!

 

It was a jungle out there. There’s so much rubble surrounding me I can’t remember this city ever being clean… Is what the strong man thought as he lunged great distances almost like a graceful sprint.

As explosions spewed about, flakes of burning flesh and sprays of blood danced about him as hulking figures that would normally be blurry to the naked were slow and visible for the man, he continued to think to himself. For all the destruction that goes on it appears to be unfathomable that there are still buildings standing tall, operational schools with legitimately good education, and functional utilities. 

A corpse fell right in front of him, yet he didn’t even bat an eye. Before it hit the ground he extended his and made a slapping motion in the air creating a gust that blew it out his way.

There’s always iron in the air that I can taste. This city from what I’ve seen on the web is known as the red city. For as many social media stars that come in to only find themselves gone, we all somehow know the rules as we don’t dare engage in combat on the route that delivers food to us. In fact, the only full videos online all come from these truckers. What’s more amazing are the people that inhabit this jungle of crimson disorder. They’re complete freaks of nature, though I’m not any better myself. Some of them are evolved to fit this rough environment. Actually some would be a lie in relation to the city’s population. ALL of them are made for this. Those who didn’t were either transported out of the city after age eighteen or died. But I’ve been going strong for ten years since graduation. I won’t perish now-

For a guy that had evaded incoming from every direction just so he could travel around in this artificial apocalypse, his head was collapsing inwards as the flesh scrunched up and tore, as the skull fragments started to pop out of his face as a knee was driven further and further into face. For as swift as this act was, the nerves and durability have developed thanks to this land of conflict, for the man was no normal man, his eyes watered up the nanosecond this unforgiving knee had flattened it. His brain was no normal brain as even the high velocity skull fragments of his skull that were piercing his brain didn’t surrender him to death as it attempted to mend itself even as he prayed for the gods for death as the constant shocks of pain, the rumbling of his skull wouldn’t till-

Clack!

All that was left in place of the head was a very peculiar U shape. As for the knee, it belonged to a small man and he scrunched over in sheer pleasure and let out a hearty laugh. Thank goodness that there was a city made for this as the citizen’s insatiable lust for strength has produced a variety of people. It was the definition of complete chaos.

Off in the distance sat a man who was studying the very environment. Disgusted with this very place. Someone who wanted to end this very city, regardless that each and every individual was here with full knowledge of the rules; complete understanding of the consequences. He couldn’t stand it because for every battle that happened it was another moment his claim to the strongest could be challenged. He trained his eyes on the psychotic man and moved towards his prey…

 

Welp, I’ve started a new story line. I hope it’s to your liking, it’s gonna be strange and violent but that’s what you should expect from a story I call combat city. Cya later my fellows and next post will be quite a gamble with what to expect!

Havin’ weathered the cold, I’ve returned with all me might to tell ya sheltered kiddos tale – or much rather resume the story that I’ve started. I do believe y’all are hankering for more ‘cuz ya fellas seemingly can’t seem to divert your ears from the very plot that spews from my mouth, and in turn, I will work your memories to ensure your pleasant story experience through this recap.

Romeo and Juliet, having run away from the crumbled tower after ruffling the feathers of a certain group of bad fellas, have taken refuge in an inn, but little do they know their efforts to run and hide only entrapped them further.

Romeo, cleaned up and ready for the trek to a new life – and possibly a cure- attempted to lift the knapsack sitting by the door, but his O’ so frail body wouldn’t let, brittle and trembling from the nasty toxin that darn wolf had inflicted upon him.

“Let me get that for ya” Juliet whispered, with disappointment as realizing that the man she fell in love with was no longer a man, but a nurtured birdie, wings plucked and beaten. He ain’t a pretty sight to behold no more and she realized what Romeo was all along: a weakling, unable to defend himself, always groomin’ himself yet never making any changes that could possibly strengthen the relationship. The only thing she found attractive was his inventive genius and previously good looks before his state of decay. She realized that the only commonality they had was their desire to use the very product that had gotten them into such a deep mess, but her thoughts wouldn’t let her abandon him. Even through these rationalizations, it was like a fairy tale: it’s as if their bond could never be broken, as she always felt happiness with him around, almost like the the storyteller had no concept of what relationship would really contain-

 

*Hack*! *Cough* *cough*.

Sorry guys, something just came out of me. It’s like an inexplicable force made me sick. Must be an act of god for neglecting my crusade. Ah, now where was I?

 

But her brain train had come to a screeching halt. 

Strange, I thought I heard someone in my head.

She brushed it off, and grabbed the knapsacks and made their way down the stairs, Romeo nearly tumbling everywhere. As they neared the stairs they came to a daunting realization for there was a Tavern downstairs: This place be too darn quiet. They went down, with caution for when they arrived, they realized the owner ain’t selling rum, in fact he was gone. The band that always played music twenty four seven. *Poof*, they ain’t there, curiously with their instruments suspended in the air. The drinkers that had nothing better to do on this Saturday afternoon? All that was left was beer glasses with some of them suspended in the air, clearly supposed to be pouring the golden liquid into a mouth, even with the liquid being stopped midair. Where was everyone? This put a shiver up Romeo’s and Juliet’s spines. They inched towards the door with increasing distress over time, but they reached the limit and they knew there were no other options as their morals prevented them from enacting property damage. Open the door they did. The crashing of rain from the dark cloud wet them, it did. But what shocked their systems the most, was the wall of wolves, with a dark tan muscle man in front of them.

“Hello sleeping beauties!” he jeered, then adjusting his vision to absorb more detail he changed his statement. “Gosh darn are y’all goddamn disgusting freaks!” noticing the unnaturally bulky bodybuilder physique of Juliet that was bulging with veins that peeked through her extra large dress that looked too small on her, and Romeo afflicted with ailments and crumbling at the sight of wolves. 

“Who are you and whaddya want!” gasped Romeo.

“To send a message to any that disrespect my gang.”

Romeo and Juliet widened their eyes as they realized for the first time from who they were getting their funny stuff from.

The boy that cries for wolves shot his hand up with the pinky and index shooting protruding from his fist as his attempt to hide his intent transformed into a grin crooked knowing what was going to happen to them as he hadn’t gotten to use his special unit in quite a long time and that someone like Juliet would be quite the adversary to use it on.

Something boxy with a tube protruding from the top appeared behind the boy. As he stood there, a wolf came to the side of the device and started to crank.

Juliet in her desperation disappeared in front of Romeo for his eyes couldn’t capture the light reflecting off her movement as it was too fast to even absorb as the knapsacks she was carrying plunged to the mud ground where her massive physique and quick speed left a small crater on the ground.

*Kaboom!*

The windows around the whole entire town shattered, as the some of the wolves in  close proximity had blood coming out their ears, but what was more astounding was that the mighty fist of Juliet that had gained her notoriety throughout the underground fighting scene in the olden days was blocked by the headbutt of the boy that cried for wolves not even giving an inch from his original position. She contorted her face into one filled with pain as she retracted her fist, her knuckles indented and split had disabled her right fist, almost as if a shotgun had burst out of those two knuckles.

“That’s all you got?” As his head tilted down and his eyes filled with joy, with his grin becoming even more crooked as the blood Juliet trickled down his face, realizing his entertainment would last quite a while.

Dark clouds started to exit the tube of the device as they reached the sky. Soon there was a lighting flashing from above. Wolves from the pack jumped out, wearing black rubber outfits taking giant metal stakes from their rubber casings. 

Their trajectory was clearly targeted at Juliet who was discombobulated till one of the stakes was plunged through back and into the ground as the wolf jumped back to the pack. She snapped back to reality from the pain, though a normal person wouldn’t survive such an attack, Juliet wasn’t normal. She flexed her abdomen and broke the rod in two and removed herself from the metal. She willed her muscles to bind together on the wound, closing it as the dress also followed the muscles and binded their fibers around the hole as Romeo had crafted the battle dress with magic just for her. More rubberized wolves jumped up and attempted to copy what his brother had done. Though the wolf was in the air, out of the range of Juliet’s massive arms she made a slapping motion towards him with the damaged hand. *Woosh*! A gust of wind had repelled the wolf away as the high velocity spatter from Juliet’s wound pierced his ear, but it didn’t matter, the wolves had gained up on her, nailing her to the ground by forcing them on her hands and feet, though still alive, she was hanging on by a hair.

Romeo looked in horror, realizing what was actually going to happen slid down the crater made by Juliet, ruffled through the knapsacks, retrieving a metal hand held invention, made of his volition to be able to defend himself, and a potion of recovery he made on the fly. His adrenaline allowed him to ignore the begging of his body to stop as he climbed out and threw a potion at her, as the glass cracked splashed the liquid onto her, allowing her to survive a few more fatal attacks and she used this moment to try to get up.

*Crackle* *crackle* *crackle*.

*Boom!*

Lightning crashed onto Juliet, though she was still visibly breathing, the lightning was more than she could handle and was on the ground not even struggling and blackened from the heat.

The boy that cries for wolves looked on with amusement at Romeo’s inventions, but didn’t stop as he saw the weakling as no threat and signaled to his wolves to do nothing with a quick relaxed hand gesture. Romeo walked over to the boy that cries for wolves and pointed the metal barrel of the device at the boss.

“Let her g-g-go.”

Only silence answered Romeo.

Romeo pointed the thing at his foot and pulled a little lever on the device.

*Bam*.

There was a hole in his foot as squinted in pain. 

“Is that what you want!?” As he grew increasingly desperate as the adrenaline started to flow through his body more.

No answer.

Romeo took aim at the eye and activated the mechanism again, realizing that there was no negotiation.

*Bam*.

It didn’t matter what Romeo would do as the boy caught the little metal pellet with his eyelid. Not even a trace amount of blood. The boy dropped the bullet into his hand with the tip of the pellet dented leaving Romeo in shock.

“You would’ve died had I not caught it” knowingly thinking to himself that today was the best day of his life. Finding out that he’d been dealing to an inventor and one of the buffest people the whole time, and if it weren’t for these people trying to escape he wouldn’t be this entertained at watching a couple struggle.

*Crackle* *crackle* *crackle*.

*Boom!*

Another bolt struck Juliet. She was motionless and blackened, but her back was still rising and lowering as she was still breathing: a sign that there was a chance to survive.

Then Romeo blurted out, “We’ll sign our souls to you.”

The boy titled his head curiosity. “Offering up your soul is no light matter, you do know that, and what could you possibly have to offer me?”

“We have s-s-specialized skills that would be beneficial to your empire! We’ve p-p-proven ourselves in this scuffle right?”

“But you killed one of my wolves.”

“But you’ll get two new bodies for the price of one.”

“I already know your lover over there can offer me a lot of value, but what can you do?”

“I can in-in-invent.”

“If you can in-in-invent so well then why haven’ t you cured your ailments?” He mocked.

“Because I d-d-didn’t have the time or resources to.”

“See, you’re useless and I need to send a message to all my competitors. So what would make you valuable to the establishment of my empire?”

Romeo, running out of time, scraped together his thoughts. “Excuse me for a m-m-moment.” He ran back to the knapsacks with his decaying body almost breaking down and kneeling on the ground when he came back. “Can you call your injured wolves over?”

“You do anything funky, You’ll regret it.” He signaled the wolves with bloodied ears over along with the one of the rubberized ones that had a hole in his.

“Watch this.” Romeo pulled out a vial with blue translucent liquid and smashed it on the ground. A mist spread around him creating a cloud enveloping the injured wolves. Once it cleared, the rubberized wolf no longer had a hole. He was no longer injured. As for the ones with no longer destroyed ear drums, were howling in amazement that they realized they could hear their brothers again.

The boy realized the potential of taking their souls. “Get this man an antidote for the decay and stop that rainmaker machine.” reached his hand out. “You’ve got yourself a deal.” 

Romeo knowing it was the only way out shook him. “P-p-pleasure doing business” he croaked not knowing what adventures would come ahead then blacked out in relief.

 

Wow, just wow. What twists this story took. I’ve got a whack brain. Well mis amigos, I’ve got places to and I can’t sit and tell stories forever because as a crusader I must attend to my mission to get them grades. My time has come for me to tap out. It’s a me, Allen, and have a good day y’all!

“The Indifferent” by Johne Donne

I can love both fair and brown,

Her whom abundance melts, and her whom want betrays,

Her who loves loneness best, and her who masks and plays,

Her whom the country formed, and whom the town,

Her who believes, and her who tries,

Her who still weeps with spongy eyes,

And her who is dry cork, and never cries;

I can love her, and her, and you, and you,

I can love any, so she be not true.

 

Will no other vice content you?

Will it not serve your turn to do as did your mothers?

Or have you all old vices spent, and now would find out others?

Or doth a fear that men are true torment you?

O we are not, be not you so;

Let me, and do you, twenty know.

Rob me, but bind me not, and let me go.

Must I, who came to travail thorough you,

Grow your fixed subject, because you are true?

 

Venus heard me sigh this song,

And by love’s sweetest part, variety, she swore,

She heard not this till now; and that it should be so no more.

She went, examined, and returned ere long,

And said, Alas! some two or three

Poor heretics in love there be,

Which think to ’stablish dangerous constancy.

But I have told them, Since you will be true,

You shall be true to them who are false to you.

 

As the name suggests, I am indifferent to this poem. Well that would actually be a darn lie. I actually enjoyed this poem as the crusader I am, I like me self a bit poetry if you can believe, though it is not often I find myself enjoying a piece of literature that I can’t fully explain myself. For the content of this poem is difficult for me to grasp, if this poem had a beating heart it would attempt to move itself away from me analysis for the me fissure infested brain will produce something that could possibly enrage it, but enough with the stallin’ ‘cuz we gonna get down to business by punching away at this wall of text.

To understand where my disassociation with Mr. Donne’s work come’s we must absorb the content so we shall dig into the meat of “Indifferent”: the words. John first starts of the first stanza clearly describing what I could possibly assume is the love of his life as he starts the first lines and the last two with “I can love”, but each time it ends with something different with line one stating “both fair and brown,” in reference to a description of what is presumably a person, later solidified on lines 2-6 putting emphasis on this indeed is female, but it is the contrast between each line with positive connotations such as “abundance melts”(Donne 2) and “want betrays”(Donne 2). For what abundance does she exude that would melt. I can only assume that beauty for this poem is clearly from the viewpoint of a probably love struck narrator. And what could “want betrays”(Donne 2) possibly mean. From what I have fathomed, her impulses are ultimately her down fall as it uses “want” as a noun rather than a verb, so hence I put together both sides of this one line, I can only presume that her beauty allows her to achieve precarious desires as implied through “betrays”(Donne 2). This duality is continued throughout Lines 3-5. “Loneness best”(Donne 3) and “who masks and plays”(Donne 3) pushes this idea of how her self interests conflict with with masking as playing, as there would be no need to mask one’s self when alone. Line 4 goes from  “country” to “town” explaining how a whole population would bend to her whim and even a small community would do so too. Lastly, “believes”(Donne 5) and “tires” (Donne 5) emphasizing how her ideal can’t come to fruition in this reality you see. The next lines, 6 and 7 are opposites as in the narrator envisions a woman who cries, then contradicts his own words by describing a woman who is hardened and has no tears. Lastly, his lines about loving any, which also includes the reader as I might add made apparent by “you”(Donne) as to emphasize he can love complete strangers, yet makes the ending apparent that a woman with these personality traits can’t exist, so what was the point of describing the intangible. I could possibly interpret this a poem to express what his ideal woman is, and is yet a slow and painful realization that no woman can fit his resume. But if that were that, then why purposely choose contradictory aspects that no human can possibly achieve lest they be damned liars? What could “fair and brown”(Donne 1) possibly mean. I know that I can interpret this by many uncharitable means! I’ll assume for now that it’s meant to describe the physical aspects of a woman, but worst of all how does this very stanza fit into it all? We spent ‘nough time on this advent and dissecting the second stanza we go!

This second stanza, though rich in content, is like opening another puzzle pack. So what is my consensus on this? It appears to be about an abuse of a woman as there are a lot of underlying negative connotations and it starts out with the word “vice”(Donne 10). Vice never has a good connotation as it refers to bad habits, flawed personalities, and products associated with the underworld. With this word as the starter, it sets up the mood, a possible victim. The narrator has put forth inquiries about the woman’s future actions and pressing them questions that only a person with a certain history could possibly answer. For further exploration take a gander at this narration:

“Will no other vice content you?

Will it not serve your turn to do as did your mothers?

Or have you all old vices spent, and now would find out others?

Or doth a fear that men are true torment you?” (Donne 10-13)

This part of the stanza seems to express as it appears a woman has turned to these “vices” (Donne 12) have as she doesn’t want to be a victim as her mother did as the narrator knows enough to ask whether men scare her. But what could this service possibly be that would drive her to want blind herself from the flaws of others as she is finding out others rather than her being found out. Is it a constant that the female lineage of this woman has struck a fear as they all have experienced it too? This all fits well, but this vagueness also allows for the narrative of the fear of bearing a child as it makes it clear that this service is exclusive to mothers. Her realization that she will have to be stuck as mother and uncertainty is grabbing control of her and fear of being shunned if there is refusal. It fits too. It could represent the promiscuous nature of a previous job. She possibly could be a prostitute as vices could refer to her trauma being trafficked for sex. Possibly, possibly, but let’s consider the rest of the stanza while anchoring the ideas to the mind. The second half of this stanza is like a red herring, it keeps the assumptions coming, but never do we get closer and also quite strange in that it’s almost like the narrator is speaking for our possible victim.  I could spend hours trying to rip this poem apart, but to keep this dense let’s go over the lines that make the most sense! “Rob me, bind me not, let me go”(Donne 16)  would imply someone is pleading for their, valuing it over their possessions especially in a precarious situation. “Must I, who came to travail you through” would suggest something laborious either in reference to activity or pregnancy which upholds the narratives we established in the past as it refer to being abused or motherhood. “Grow your fixed subject , because you are true?” This line throws me for a loop. What could be growing, and what does it mean to be true? To break it down, this fixed subject might be something she is focused on, so that leads to many possibilities, but one thing that comes to mind is maybe there’s an unspoken history as the narrator implies that this woman has been tormented before and without her vices she would have to face the truth. But growth could also imply pregnancy and maybe she is starting to embrace the role, become more caring as she is fixated and is becoming true to herself. Becoming a mother? There is no definitive way to tell, but all these interpretations in particular fit with the theme, but complete our understanding to the third stanza we must journey.

When I first came across this stanza, I was stunned. It seems so disconnected from what I established previously. Possible fears. The burden of motherhood. But this stanza takes a tonal shift as it’s far more uplifting, like a last hoorah, yet it doesn’t provide clarity. At first I thought it was possibly about art as it mentioned Venus and as we all know, there are many depictions of her, so could this narrator be in love with art? The fair and brown… Venus? There are many depictions of her, but all of them are of a blond and pale woman as it is representative of the European, and more specifically Greek beauty standards that  were perceived. The only other sensical option is possibly the planet and is to set up the hopeless romantic as the narrator sighs under Venus as his misfortune with love, almost as plead to let the narrator find the one. This is further established by the constant focus on love stating that “Poor heretic in love there be”(Donne 24) as the pursuit of love will drive one mad. Then finally it ends with “But I have told them, Since you will be true, You shall be true to them who are false to you.”(Donne 26-27) as to establish that this “she” the narrator has been making constant reference to has come to terms with herself even when she faces falsehoods.

It’s the infinite possibilities of this poem that is confusing to me from the constant mentions of truths and falsehoods that throw a wrench in my understanding. Though there is flow, the topics within the stanzas themselves seem very loosely connected. The only thing consistent is the progression of being from false to true of the “she” in this poem. Though I couldn’t fully grasp the depth that is “Indifferent” maybe that’s the point John was attempting to portray: you should be indifferent to your history and what matters is that you stay true. Throughout this journey I’ve been seeing many things, but one thing that has stayed true was the woman as she was asked difficult questions she had to grow indifferent to her experiences to answer them. Now, is that the purpose of the poem, to show the benefits of indifference? Who’s to say? I enjoyed interpreting every detail of this poem, but I still feel indifferent to it, as after this it’ll leave my consciousness, not with me. Not understanding is okay, and for as challenging it was fun. Though, I, the crusader of grades mayhaps failed, grasping at straws, I implore you to explore to take the time to find what every piece of this poem could mean as it’s the journey that holds the most weight. 

My time with this poem and come, as for I must continue my journey. ‘Till we meet again!

Hello again my fellows. I have come heralding me thoughts on a movie that left such distaste in me mouth I made the effort to warn y’all of a movie that shouldn’t exist. A movie so bland you’d wish you’d never sat ya booty down to even pay any mind to this empty experience! It is the epitome of pathetic especially from a studio with so much prestige; so much talent, it’s a shame something so narratively empty came from the minds of Disney. Heed my words I foretell the sins of this time waster called “Encanto” so you can experience the blandness of this movie.

So what is “Encanto” and it’s premise as per usual so I can get it through ya thick skulls what a travesty this is to watch. As the name surmises, “Encanto” revolves around a charm and ya wanna know what this charm does? This charm grants specialties to each family member if successful. After about three generations I presume, the power of the candle is waning and causing great distress to the family and in the center of this conflict is the failure, the main character, Mirabel, though I ain’t feeling any inclination to mention her name as she is one of the failing factors of this movie, but to keep tops of your heads screwed to your neck, I will do so for your sake for her name is already slipping my mind as we delve deeper into this muck filled trench.

 

As we wade through this muck, I’ll tear apart into pieces for y’all who have joy of not experiencing this mess and what pops right into me mind is the very setting Encanto takes place in and how replaceable it is. To further your understanding, where Encanto starts is in  some valley during a violent civil war in Colombia. To many of ya younglings that might peak your over active minds because even my scarred brain gave a little attention to the very beginning of the movie, but ya know what these hack writers do with that curiosity. They crush it. And how do they do it? Never does the civil war ever have any precedence in the plot except for setting up minor plot points because they fast forward into a peaceful future like it never happened and furthermore any hopes of seeing anymore of this world is destroyed because it all takes place in a magical house. There was potential in having a grand house to explore with very unique properties, but they take the magic out of it by making it a very ordinary house that can do magical things such as move it’s tiles or move a chair and steals a page out of Moana by pretending to have consciousness like the water, but unlike the water, it overstays its welcome by being a constant on screen raising the same questions just like Moana and losing its novelty as a companion unlike Moana. Though there are magical rooms that are tailored towards the personalities and powers of the characters, it’s nearly irrelevant due to a lack of exploration of those rooms and the role they play in the story. Now the very problem with this setting is that it completely nullifies the purpose of having a story like this take place in Colombia, with the only thing to come out of is the vibrant and colorful nature and architecture and an excuse to mix Spanish into the dub. To understand how much of a waste this is, let’s look back at what Disney’s Coco did well. One of the most vital things about Coco is the setting, almost like a living organism throughout the story that not only motivates, but also hinders. The premise of Coco was that a kid wants to play music, but the burden of family prevents his crusades upon the arts, and the setting was so vital because it plays into the world of the dead very nicely as the very environment he lived in drew him towards music and without that exposure there would be no plot line. Without that connection to the setting, the characters have to bear the weight, but it’s a shame to say, the characters are a failure in this aspect too. 

 

So what do the characters offer? Nothing! That is what they have to offer. How can such colorful looking characters have nothing to offer? Because the writers wrote too many side characters that their relationship to the main character ends up being pointless. It’s like these characters were written by children because their powers are their personalities with no depth behind these sorry facades. For example, there’s a buff girl character, and guess her personality? It’s all about being strong, and they try to build depth through a song about how she needs to be strong for others, yet never does she exhibit anything else besides strength. So when the magic is weakening, guess what her concern is? Having trouble carrying some sheep acting like a big baby, mind you this is a supposed be a teen. It’s repulsive how infantilizing the personalities, though it’s played for laughs, the audience’s ability to empathize with the characters greatly reduced as it’s more so dumb that she cries over challenges, challenges that we all faced in our youth, so seeing someone cry over challenge makes ‘em gosh darn pathetic. And it’s not just these characters, these childish personalities carry over to all the side characters. There’s another family member with the ability to control plants and ya know what her conflict be!? It’s trying to be perfect all the time, and this is reflected, and rightfully so, at the main character for being a useless klutz. Though there could’ve been intrigue by elevating the conflict between the two characters and each one proving their value, but instead years of jealousy and constant disdain are subsided after a conversation because what the flower power girl really wants is freedom to be careless like her sister. It’s barely any better than the previous example and this plot line has been played out way too many times to garner any attention. You might not believe me when I say this problem is a constant throughout this story, so let’s pull out one of their slightly better written characters that is a bit of an outlier. Bruno is the main comic relief character in this movie, though there’s so many comically bad jokes that detract from the skinny skeleton of this movie that comedy might as well not exist. One of the good things about Bruno is this build up of having betrayed the family and done something unspeakable, but guess what his sin is? His prophecies coming true, and the idea of his ostracization is interesting, as people believe that his fortune telling is the cause of all this bad fortune and putting him at fault causing him to hide within the walls of the house. You know what the problem is with this? They never come back to it. Well that would be a lie, but the fact that the ostracization is never touched upon outside of an apology makes it seem contrived, and this character was such a missed opportunity. Bruno could’ve been made an antagonist instead. What the writers could’ve done was made him irresponsible or evil as access to abilities beyond one’s wildest dreams could have made for a unique plot line, but instead we’re stuck with another character exuding lameness which extends to the main character. The worst aspect of this movie is the not magical Mirabel as she offers nothing of interest in this movie. She’s a klutz, she’s jealous, and is constantly on screen. Mirabel goes through this whole entire movie without change. She doesn’t find a way to make herself useful. She is unable to save the miracle. She is only driven to save and correct the family. Never does she have to extend herself and though she tries, it never goes anywhere because she’s slow and stubborn. Never does she have to make use of her wits. It’s insufferable to watch and guess what her failure to save the candle leads to? Nothing! They become a tighter community and rebuilding the house makes the miracle come back. There was no long lasting impact and no self reflection. It just starts and ends in the same place much like how the music has nothing to offer.

 

Though there is much more to be said about the writing quality of this story, I will give it credit as this movie is beautifully animated with amazing set pieces and details with music that compliments it very well, but all this pizzazz doesn’t make for a good movie as the heart of this movie is the story and the characters, and when the fall flat, like I will eventually do, it becomes a burden for the mind to tolerate. To me old bones, this is like watching an episode of family guy: it’s an experience that leaves me feeling hollow. Though there was much potential to be conceived from this endeavor, it’s not an something worth your time me fellows so save yourselves the trouble and watch something better. 

This was De La Serna. Allen De La Serna, and I’m out of here to continue me quest and inform you of me travels!

Me senior flashed before me eyes, now I be telling you the story of me year so that ya younglings can learn a little something. I be rambling soon so, if ya wanna desert me this time, better do so now, but those who want a little insight to what moves these old bones better listen up and listen well.

Along our great circles of stories, ramblings, jokes, and whatnot I realized something along the way on my crusade. I learned I like to make the future generation smile whether it be through my corniness, ideas that would never cross the mind of another man, or it be advising others to lead their own crusade. I probably never would have shared my thoughts onto paper format if it wasn’t fated that I be on a crusade for grades. Though I stumbled on my quest for the A’s, I’ll continue to learn from my mistakes and continue my crusade till the day I leave the earth, but there is something you must learn before you take after me a go on a crusade for grades too.

If thou were to start a crusade for grades, thou must aspire to chase after the elusive A. I, on my journey have tried to sneak up upon a grade and happen upon a B, and though it is a tragedy, if y’all were make an entrapment to only capture A’s, then in the words of a fellow wise man:

  “It’s about drive, it’s about power

We stay hungry, we devour

Put in the work, put in the hours and take what’s ours” (Tech N9ne)

To hear these words ring throughout your cranium you soon understand what it takes to get an A so one must think their the best around if they’re to make through the trudge of classes that’ll break their backs, and once they be broken, they must push it to the limit as only then they will able to achieve what they set out for, but there is no shame in failure to catch A’s. It’s what you learned and can apply to become an individual that can set out on a real crusade outside the classroom – outside academics – in the real world which will make ya shine. Though not capturing those A’s now will sting now, just set out on another crusade, because as long you be crusading, you got another chance to win this game of life.

Through these last six months of my life, I haven’t budged on my views, my values, the only that has changed is my fortitude in my beliefs as I’ve traveled along on my crusade. Though others may not see what you see it’s ‘bout mutual feelings of connection and respect. As I am a senior, my friends may leave me and the only I got left is myself and you too will put in a place similar to mine, but it’s the lessons you learn from those individuals that matter the most. How to interact with others, how to uplift them, how to do work, how to organize, it’s these things that can’t be learned from teachers, but from very friends that hang around you. Though they won’t always be good, there are lessons to be learned from every individual as you solidify your world view.

Lessons that I’ll carry with me is to do goddamn work. The moment you slack, a whole mountain of work is gonna drown y’all and I definitely don’t want that. It takes a lot of effort to build yourself back up, but there is always help around the corner if you need hand getting up: teachers, parents, friends, online lessons. If there’s a struggle in a certain class there is no excuse to pity thyself and whine. If thou chose a high mountain to climb, then one cannot whine about not having the strength or the equipment when there were months to prepare. There is also no shame to ask for help when struggling with a task, but understand putting in the effort is what counts otherwise there will be no progress made.

Whelp my younglings, thank ya for listening to the ramblings of an old man, but my time has come to gather my things and leave y’all. I hope to come across y’all in my journey. 再见!

Aye there kiddos! I got a nursery rhyme for y’all!

Gather ‘round and boost my ego

Sit your booty and listen to my tune!

 

I’m a man with a plan

I’ve got jam in my pants

Take it out and spreading it on my hand

Get a plain piece of bread

Spread it on there

peeps yelling “That’s an unsanitary fool!”

Too bad I don’t give a darn!

 

I open my mouth

Sink my teeth

Hold my bladder while thinking of water

Uh-oh, it looks like I made a mess

Good thing I brought an extra pair of pants

 

“No sir. Yes sir. Excuse me ma’am.”

I rush to bathroom, bread in hand

scarfing it down as fast as I can

Uh-oh, looks like I’m on the ground choking now

 

Looks to me I just passed away

Nobody came to save the day

Don’t matter no more ‘cuz I’m a ghost

I’m gonna haunt from coast to coast

Gonna find me self a hardy host

Time to execute more exquisite plans!

 

I hope you kiddos enjoyed this nursery rhyme.

My time has come. I must take off.

You can come back again for some more boggling times!

Fairy Chronicles

Hello lads! Ya lookin’ bit wrinkled over there. Has that much time passed since I’ve last told the tale? Lemme take a moment to recollect and I’ll refresh ya on the events of the story.

So far we began the tale off from an Romeo nearly about to be annihilated to Juliet arriving and annihilating the wolf, catching the attention of the a certain character known as “The boy that cries for wolves”, but we can’t dwell too long on the past because we must progress further into this tale that comes from my excuse for a brain.

Scoff scoff.

Puff puff.

Now that me throat be clear,  me mouth be moist, I shall spit out the next part of this tall tale.

Romeo awoke in cold sweat. Actually it was quite warm. It wasn’t a pool of sweat at all. Disgusted by his excuse bladder, he hopped out forgetting that he was sleeping in on the top of a bunk of a tavern inn.

Crash!

Romeo, bruised and eerily warm, wet, and stinky, had caused a rude awakening for no other than the joy of his life: Juliet.

Juliet sat up in confusion until she finally absorbed her musty surroundings. She saw a sprawled out Romeo, curled up and squirming in pain. Juliet in frenzy boosted her way out of the bottom bunk, narrowly avoiding a self induced concussion.

She rushed her way to Romeo, then backed away after getting a whiff of his stench.

“What in the darn happened to ya?!”

“B-b-bad dr-dr-dream” he exasperated while his rotting brain attempted to recollect itself as his eyes became heavier.

“What it ‘bout?”

“I c-couldn’t describe i-it, but there be something else on me mind. Ever since that collector at-t-tacked me, I f-feel myself getting simpler as I start losin’ me hair” he whimpered. “I also don’t believe were s-safe f-for long. I should never have dealt w-with that g-g-gang.”

Juliet inched closer stifling her instinct to repel herself from his recent lack of hygiene. “There, there. If your idea worked darling, we should be fine for a good while.” She stroked his now short white hair. She could feel the brittleness in her hands. She tensed for a bit, which a usually aware Romeo didn’t take notice of. “Let’s first fix you.”

 

Bristle bristle.

Within the bushes of the unnamed forest, two – no – four? Eight? My goodness a whopping twenty triangular furry ears. In the cover of the bushes, the heads of wolves were putting their snouts to the ground. They were avidly attempting to pick up a scent, yet they were confused by the exponential decrease of visible shoe prints not having scent to latch onto had slowed down their search. They knew something was up yet-

“Yow yow youch!”

All wolves arose onto their hind legs, something that was very common among their kind. They all looked to see that one of them happened upon glass shards. They knew what they had to do from there. They gathered the glass from the ground as a shadow encroached them.

“Hand it over.”

The wolf didn’t flinch and did as instructed and plopped the remains of the glass into the hands of the boy that cried for wolves. The boy eyed the glass shards until he came to a realization.

“Is this Polo Ralph Lauren nature’s call? Damn turds! What do they take me for!? A fool!” He fumed. “No matter, masking their scent won’t help.” 

Then a smile curled onto his face as he guessed what trajectory the diminishing steps went. 

 

“Bois, I think we deserve a little drink, Dontcha say?”

He howled with laughter and the wolves followed suit with howling of their own.

“Prepare the unit, we’ve got a lightning storm incoming! This is going to be fun!” as dark clouds slowly covered the sky.

 

Welp, my time ran out, so till we meet again, I will have to close the cover on this story in the making. It’s me, the crusader, and I’m taking off for another quest.