PYONGYANG, North Korea, Feb. 27 -- It felt historic inside the concert hall. American musicians got goose bumps and wept when North Koreans leapt to their feet to cheer. But will the first-of-its-kind performance of the New York Philharmonic here this week help unlock this hermit state? Signals are maddeningly mixed.
North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, did not attend the concert Tuesday evening, but he did allow it to be broadcast live on state television and radio.
Tuesday's evening news on state television did cover the visit of the U.S. orchestra, but only after six tedious reports on such events as an undated tour by Kim to a wire factory, children viewing Kim's drawings and fish swimming in an aquarium.
North Korea's main daily newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, covered the concert that made front pages around the world. But it did so on Wednesday, with a brief article on Page 4.
And so it goes, with North Korea taking a step or two toward engagement with the outside world and then taking a step or two toward inscrutability, fist-shaking at the West, and repression of its own people.
In 2006, Kim's government stunned the United States by detonating a small nuclear bomb. But since last fall, it has made what the Bush administration characterizes as genuine progress in backing away from a nuclear confrontation.
It has partially disabled its nuclear facility at Yongbyon, allowing U.S. experts to observe and take part in the work. Last Friday, for the first time ever, it invited a Western television news team to shoot video showing the progress it has made in complying with a disarmament agreement with the United States and four other countries.
Still, North Korea has failed to honor its promise to produce a comprehensive list of its nuclear programs, and it declines to discuss any past transfers of nuclear material or technology to other countries.
The United States, in response, has delayed lifting diplomatic sanctions that isolate North Korea. As a result, the disarmament process that was a source of widespread optimism three months ago has become gummed up, infuriating the North Koreans and worrying the United States.
In Japan on Wednesday, a day after the spirit-lifting orchestral performance in Pyongyang, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice detailed her concerns.
"Whenever you have a nuclear program that is as advanced as the North Korean nuclear program in a country that is as opaque and has had very little contact with the outside world, you need to worry about proliferation as a near-term and a long-term concern," Rice said.
North Korea's overriding problem now and for the foreseeable future is a collapsed communist economy.The central government's ability to deliver food, medicine and other services has disappeared in much of the country in the past decade, according to a number of analysts.
The U.N. World Food Program said last week that about a third of North Korea's children and mothers are malnourished, while only 10 to 20 percent of the population always has enough to eat.
The well-fed minority includes the Communist Party elite in Pyongyang, as well as the military, which is the fourth-largest in the world, with about 1.21 million men and women under arms, according to the State Department.
Food shortages could soon become much worse because of severe flooding last year that destroyed much of the rice and corn crop, the World Food Program said. The nutrition gap this year will amount to a quarter of the food needed to feed the country's 23 million people -- about 1.8 million metric tons, the group said.
Amid these grim numbers, there's strong evidence that Kim's government -- in a major break from its defiant tradition of isolation -- is opening up the country's long-neglected deposits of coal, minerals and precious metals to investors from China, South Korea and other countries.
But as in nearly all of the North's dealings with the outside world, there is an alternating pattern of outreach and paranoia. Chinese and South Korean businessmen say mining operations in the North have been delayed and sometimes halted by government officials, who enthusiastically recruit outside investment but insist on complete management control over resulting operations.
Perhaps it will be different in music.
The New York Philharmonic flew to South Korea on Wednesday afternoon, following a 48-hour visit that is without precedent in the North.
Before leaving, musical director Lorin Maazel led a rousing rehearsal performance by the North Korean State Symphony Orchestra, an experience he described as "amazing, totally amazing."
Maazel conducted as the orchestra played Richard Wagner's "Die Meistersinger": Prelude to Act One, and Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet" Overture-Fantasy. Nearly every musician in the orchestra was male, and they all wore suits with lapel pins bearing pictures of Kim or his father, Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea.
"They were very focused, very well prepared and very emotional," Maazel said. "We know so little about music in the country. This was a revelation to all of us."
The artful professionalism of North Korea's elite orchestra may soon become much better known.
In what would be its first trip to Western Europe, it has accepted an invitation to perform this fall in Britain, according to David Heather, a British businessmen who is helping organize that trip.
Heather told reporters here that North Korean officials have told him they are also open to allowing the orchestra to perform in the United States.
"I think there is willingness to do it on both sides," he said, referring to the governments of North Korea and the United States. "It is a question of funding."
URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022700700_2.html?sid=ST2008022700988
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Vocabulary Week 6
This poor deer looks very starved and emaciated. It's so sad to think that this animal cannot eat enough to even cover its ribs!The emaciated child collapsed on the ground from exhaustion and stared up at me with blank eyes.
Sometimes my mom tells me about how she used to use a type writer in college, but now because of new technology (computers), type writers have become obsolete.When Cameron stepped out of the time machine in 2,246, her first thought was that she wanted some food. However, when she stopped at what looked like a restaurant, she realized that her dollar bills were obsolete.
Looking at this picture almost makes you feel the tension of the string, because it is so taut, it is about to break!He pulled the string until it was taut, then tied it to the knob on the door.
This bridge looks so fragile and tenuous. It makes me wonder if both of those riders made it across without falling in.The dea was tenuous, and none of us were sure that it would work.
The baby in this painting is showing great tenacity, especially since the fence looks like it's falling down!The dog's tenacity finally won him the bone and the cave.
1. Embezzle-v.-- to take (money, for example) for one's own use in violation of a trust.
2. Emaciate-v.-- to make or become extremely thin, esp. as a result of starvation.
3. Obsolete-adj.-- no longer in general use; fall into disuse.
4. Obviate-v.-- to anticipate and prevent or eliminate by effective measures; render unnecessary.
5. Penchant-n.-- a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something.
6. Paucity-n.-- smallness of quantity, scarcity.
7. Sycophant-n.-- a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage.
8. Taut-adj.-- tightly drawn; tense; not slack.
9. Tenuous-adj.-- thin or slender in form; lacking a sound basis, as reasoning.
10. Tenacity-n.-- the quality or property of holding fast, keeping a firm hold, being persistent.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Current Event 5
Missile Hits Dying US Spy Satellite
WASHINGTON -- A missile launched from a Navy cruiser soared 130 miles above the Pacific and smashed a dying and potentially deadly U.S. spy satellite Wednesday, the Pentagon said. Several defense officials said it apparently achieved the main aim of destroying an onboard tank of toxic fuel.
Officials had expressed cautious optimism that the missile would hit the satellite, which was the size of a school bus. But they were less certain of hitting the smaller, more worrisome fuel tank, whose contents posed what Bush administration officials deemed a potential health hazard to humans if it landed intact.
In a statement announcing that the attack on the satellite, the Pentagon said, "Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours." It made no mention of early indications, but several defense officials close to the situation said later that all indications point to the destruction of the fuel tank. One explained that observers saw what appeared to be an explosion, indicating that the tank was hit.
Because the satellite was orbiting at a relatively low altitude at the time it was hit by the missile, debris will begin to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere immediately, the Pentagon statement said.
"Nearly all of the debris will burn up on re-entry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days," it said.
The USS Lake Erie, armed with an SM-3 missile designed to knock down incoming missiles _ not orbiting satellites _ launched the attack at 10:26 p.m. EST, according to the Pentagon. It hit the satellite about three minutes later as the spacecraft traveled in polar orbit at more than 17,000 mph.
The Lake Erie and two other Navy warships, as well as the SM-3 missile and other components, were modified in a hurry-up project headed by the Navy in January. The missile alone cost nearly $10 million, and officials estimated that the total cost of the project was at least $30 million.
The launch of the Navy missile amounted to an unprecedented use of components of the Pentagon's missile defense system, designed to shoot down hostile ballistic missiles in flight _ not kill satellites.
The operation was so extraordinary, with such intense international publicity and political ramifications, that Defense Secretary Robert Gates _ not a military commander _ made the decision to pull the trigger.
Gates had arrived in Hawaii a few hours before the missile was launched. He was there to begin a round-the-world trip, not to monitor the missile operation. His press secretary, Geoff Morrell, told reporters traveling with Gates that the defense chief gave the go-ahead at 1:40 p.m. EST while en route from Washington.
Morrell said Gates had a conference call during the flight with Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of Strategic Command, and Marine Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They told him that "the conditions were ripe for an attempt, and that is when the secretary gave the go-ahead to take the shot, and wished them good luck," Morrell said.
At 10:35 p.m. EST, Gates spoke to both generals again and "was informed that the mission was a success, that the missile had intercepted the decaying satellite, and the secretary was obviously very pleased to learn that," said Morrell
The government organized hazardous materials teams, under the code name "Burnt Frost," to be flown to the site of any dangerous or otherwise sensitive debris that might land in the United States or elsewhere.
Also, six federal response groups that are positioned across the country by the Federal Emergency Management Agency were alerted but had not been activated Wednesday, FEMA spokesman James McIntyre said before the missile launch. "These are purely precautionary and preparedness actions only," he said.
President Bush gave his approval last week to attempt the satellite shootdown on grounds that it was worth trying to destroy the toxic fuel on board the satellite before it could possibly land in a populated area.
The three-stage Navy missile, designated the SM-3, has chalked up a high rate of success in a series of tests since 2002, in each case targeting a short- or medium-range ballistic missile, never a satellite. A hurry-up program to adapt the missile for this anti-satellite mission was completed in a matter of weeks; Navy officials said the changes would be reversed once this satellite was down.
The government issued notices to aviators and mariners to remain clear of a section of the Pacific Ocean beginning at 10:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, indicating the first window of opportunity to launch the missile.
Having lost power shortly after it reached orbit in late 2006, the satellite was out of control and well below the altitude of a normal satellite. The Pentagon determined it should hit it with an SM-3 missile just before it re-entered Earth's atmosphere, in that way minimizing the amount of debris that would remain in space.
Left alone, the satellite would have been expected to hit Earth during the first week of March. About half of the 5,000-pound spacecraft would have been expected to survive its blazing descent through the atmosphere and would have scattered debris over several hundred miles.
URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/20/AR2008022002323.html?referrer=email
WASHINGTON -- A missile launched from a Navy cruiser soared 130 miles above the Pacific and smashed a dying and potentially deadly U.S. spy satellite Wednesday, the Pentagon said. Several defense officials said it apparently achieved the main aim of destroying an onboard tank of toxic fuel.
Officials had expressed cautious optimism that the missile would hit the satellite, which was the size of a school bus. But they were less certain of hitting the smaller, more worrisome fuel tank, whose contents posed what Bush administration officials deemed a potential health hazard to humans if it landed intact.
In a statement announcing that the attack on the satellite, the Pentagon said, "Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours." It made no mention of early indications, but several defense officials close to the situation said later that all indications point to the destruction of the fuel tank. One explained that observers saw what appeared to be an explosion, indicating that the tank was hit.
Because the satellite was orbiting at a relatively low altitude at the time it was hit by the missile, debris will begin to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere immediately, the Pentagon statement said.
"Nearly all of the debris will burn up on re-entry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days," it said.
The USS Lake Erie, armed with an SM-3 missile designed to knock down incoming missiles _ not orbiting satellites _ launched the attack at 10:26 p.m. EST, according to the Pentagon. It hit the satellite about three minutes later as the spacecraft traveled in polar orbit at more than 17,000 mph.
The Lake Erie and two other Navy warships, as well as the SM-3 missile and other components, were modified in a hurry-up project headed by the Navy in January. The missile alone cost nearly $10 million, and officials estimated that the total cost of the project was at least $30 million.
The launch of the Navy missile amounted to an unprecedented use of components of the Pentagon's missile defense system, designed to shoot down hostile ballistic missiles in flight _ not kill satellites.
The operation was so extraordinary, with such intense international publicity and political ramifications, that Defense Secretary Robert Gates _ not a military commander _ made the decision to pull the trigger.
Gates had arrived in Hawaii a few hours before the missile was launched. He was there to begin a round-the-world trip, not to monitor the missile operation. His press secretary, Geoff Morrell, told reporters traveling with Gates that the defense chief gave the go-ahead at 1:40 p.m. EST while en route from Washington.
Morrell said Gates had a conference call during the flight with Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of Strategic Command, and Marine Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They told him that "the conditions were ripe for an attempt, and that is when the secretary gave the go-ahead to take the shot, and wished them good luck," Morrell said.
At 10:35 p.m. EST, Gates spoke to both generals again and "was informed that the mission was a success, that the missile had intercepted the decaying satellite, and the secretary was obviously very pleased to learn that," said Morrell
The government organized hazardous materials teams, under the code name "Burnt Frost," to be flown to the site of any dangerous or otherwise sensitive debris that might land in the United States or elsewhere.
Also, six federal response groups that are positioned across the country by the Federal Emergency Management Agency were alerted but had not been activated Wednesday, FEMA spokesman James McIntyre said before the missile launch. "These are purely precautionary and preparedness actions only," he said.
President Bush gave his approval last week to attempt the satellite shootdown on grounds that it was worth trying to destroy the toxic fuel on board the satellite before it could possibly land in a populated area.
The three-stage Navy missile, designated the SM-3, has chalked up a high rate of success in a series of tests since 2002, in each case targeting a short- or medium-range ballistic missile, never a satellite. A hurry-up program to adapt the missile for this anti-satellite mission was completed in a matter of weeks; Navy officials said the changes would be reversed once this satellite was down.
The government issued notices to aviators and mariners to remain clear of a section of the Pacific Ocean beginning at 10:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, indicating the first window of opportunity to launch the missile.
Having lost power shortly after it reached orbit in late 2006, the satellite was out of control and well below the altitude of a normal satellite. The Pentagon determined it should hit it with an SM-3 missile just before it re-entered Earth's atmosphere, in that way minimizing the amount of debris that would remain in space.
Left alone, the satellite would have been expected to hit Earth during the first week of March. About half of the 5,000-pound spacecraft would have been expected to survive its blazing descent through the atmosphere and would have scattered debris over several hundred miles.
URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/20/AR2008022002323.html?referrer=email
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Vocabulary Week 5
Because this water is so clear, it is easy to see the sandy bottom. There is nothing clouding the lucidity and beauty of it.Karla spoke with lucidity and we all understood what the plan of attack was.
This eagle's acumen helps it to spot and catch its prey from high in the sky. It has to both have very good sight, and be shrewd so as not to miss its prey as it flies.With her acumen, the teacher never missed a note that was passed in her class.
This painting of a Polish insurrection clearly shows the chaos that usually ensues when such an event occurs. Although it is a bit harder to see, there are military figures wearing green and red, and there are citizens who are wearing regular clothes.The slaves began planning an insurrection in the barn a mile from the farm.
Many ships probably relied on this steadfast lighthouse to help guide them near the cliff. The clouds in the background also remind me that a lighthouse usually must survive very forbidding storms.Even so, Laura remained steadfast in her belief that she could do it alone.
Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation his work to free the southern slave is probably the most famous emancipation in history.William Seward pushed hard for the emancipation of the slaves, even before Lincoln did.
1. lucidity-n.-- easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible.
2. conciliatory-adj.-- tending to overcome distrust or animousity of; appease.
3. countermand-v.-- to revoke or cancel a command or order, etc.
4. acumen-n.-- keen sight; shrewdness.
5. insurrection-n.-- an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion or resistance against civil authority or an established government.
6. fidelity-n.-- strict observance of promises, duties, etc.; loyalty.
7. complicit-adj.-- choosing to be involved in an illegal or questionable act, especially with others.
8. steadfast-adj.-- fixed in direction; firm in purpose, resolution, faith, etc.
9. emancipation-n.-- freeing someone from the control of another.
10. bolster-v.-- to support or prop up as if with a long narrow pillow.
2. conciliatory-adj.-- tending to overcome distrust or animousity of; appease.
3. countermand-v.-- to revoke or cancel a command or order, etc.
4. acumen-n.-- keen sight; shrewdness.
5. insurrection-n.-- an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion or resistance against civil authority or an established government.
6. fidelity-n.-- strict observance of promises, duties, etc.; loyalty.
7. complicit-adj.-- choosing to be involved in an illegal or questionable act, especially with others.
8. steadfast-adj.-- fixed in direction; firm in purpose, resolution, faith, etc.
9. emancipation-n.-- freeing someone from the control of another.
10. bolster-v.-- to support or prop up as if with a long narrow pillow.
Ken Burns' Civil War Documentary Reflection
The documentary was 5 discs ( 9 episodes) long, with each episode about an hour. Since we did not have 9 hours on our hands, we were not able the whole thing. We actually only watch half of it (4 hours).
I love the way Ken Burns produces his documentaries for KPBS. It was definitely too long for our purposes, but it was still very helpful and I really like the format. Because the American Civil War was the first really photographed war, he used many pictures of the soldiers, commanders and battles. These images were suplimented with video recordings of the battle fields as they look today, a few paintings and interviews, especially with a particular writer. For the most part, the information was narration, but there were also many quotes from Abraham Lincoln, to the wives of officers, to soldiers who had kept a diary. Burns also utilized music from the time as background. He played songs such as Batter Cy of Freedom, Dixie, Shanandoh, and Yankee Doodle.
In our documentary, I hope to use some of these styles. I'm pretty sure we're going to use the photogrphs from the war, and of the people. I would also like to play some of those songs. I think the narration should be similar (informational and engaging), and it probably will be, since I'm the writer.
I love the way Ken Burns produces his documentaries for KPBS. It was definitely too long for our purposes, but it was still very helpful and I really like the format. Because the American Civil War was the first really photographed war, he used many pictures of the soldiers, commanders and battles. These images were suplimented with video recordings of the battle fields as they look today, a few paintings and interviews, especially with a particular writer. For the most part, the information was narration, but there were also many quotes from Abraham Lincoln, to the wives of officers, to soldiers who had kept a diary. Burns also utilized music from the time as background. He played songs such as Batter Cy of Freedom, Dixie, Shanandoh, and Yankee Doodle.
In our documentary, I hope to use some of these styles. I'm pretty sure we're going to use the photogrphs from the war, and of the people. I would also like to play some of those songs. I think the narration should be similar (informational and engaging), and it probably will be, since I'm the writer.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Current Event 4
Walking Generate Energy With Knee Brace
A new energy-capturing knee brace can generate enough electricity from walking to operate a portable GPS locator, a cell phone, a motorized prosthetic joint or an implanted neurotransmitter, research involving the University of Michigan shows. A report on the device is published in the Feb. 8 issue of the journal Science. Authors include researchers from Simon Fraser University in Canada and the University of Pittsburgh, in addition to U-M. The wearable mechanism works much like regenerative braking charges a battery in some hybrid vehicles, said Arthur Kuo, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at U-M and an author of the paper. Regenerative brakes collect the kinetic energy that would otherwise be dissipated as heat when a car slows down. This knee brace harvests the energy lost when a human brakes the knee after swinging the leg forward to take a step. Kuo, who called the device "a cocktail-napkin idea," says knee joints are uniquely suited for this endeavor. "There is power to be harvested from various places in the body, and you can use that to generate electricity. The knee is probably the best place," he said. "During walking, you dissipate energy in various places, when your foot hits the ground, for example. You have to make up for this by performing work with your muscles. "The body is clever," Kuo said. "In a lot of places where it could be dissipating energy, it may actually be storing it and getting it back elastically. Your tendons act like springs. In many places, we're not sure whether the energy is really being dissipated or you're just storing it temporarily. We believe that when you're slowing down the knee at the end of swinging the leg, most of that energy normally is just wasted." The scientists tested the knee brace on six men walking leisurely on a treadmill at 1.5 meters per second, or 2.2 miles per hour. They measured the subjects' respiration to determine how hard they were working. A control group wore the brace with the generator disengaged to measure how the weight of the 3.5-pound brace affected the wearer. In the mode in which the brace is only activated while the knee is braking, the subjects required less than one watt of extra metabolic power for each watt of electricity they generated. A typical hand-crank generator, for comparison, takes an average of 6.4 watts of metabolic power to generate one watt of electricity because of inefficiencies of muscles and generators. "We've demonstrated proof of concept," Kuo said. "The prototype device is bulky and heavy, and it does affect the wearer just to carry. But the energy generation part itself has very little effect on the wearer, whether it is turned on or not. We hope to improve the device so that it is easier to carry, and to retain the energy-harvesting capabilities." A lighter version would be helpful to hikers or soldiers who don't have easy access to electricity. And the scientists say similar mechanisms could be built into prosthetic knees other implantable devices such as pacemakers or neurotransmitters that today require a battery, and periodic surgery to replace that battery. "A future energy harvester might be implanted along with such a device and generate its own power from walking," Kuo said.
URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96822.php
A new energy-capturing knee brace can generate enough electricity from walking to operate a portable GPS locator, a cell phone, a motorized prosthetic joint or an implanted neurotransmitter, research involving the University of Michigan shows. A report on the device is published in the Feb. 8 issue of the journal Science. Authors include researchers from Simon Fraser University in Canada and the University of Pittsburgh, in addition to U-M. The wearable mechanism works much like regenerative braking charges a battery in some hybrid vehicles, said Arthur Kuo, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at U-M and an author of the paper. Regenerative brakes collect the kinetic energy that would otherwise be dissipated as heat when a car slows down. This knee brace harvests the energy lost when a human brakes the knee after swinging the leg forward to take a step. Kuo, who called the device "a cocktail-napkin idea," says knee joints are uniquely suited for this endeavor. "There is power to be harvested from various places in the body, and you can use that to generate electricity. The knee is probably the best place," he said. "During walking, you dissipate energy in various places, when your foot hits the ground, for example. You have to make up for this by performing work with your muscles. "The body is clever," Kuo said. "In a lot of places where it could be dissipating energy, it may actually be storing it and getting it back elastically. Your tendons act like springs. In many places, we're not sure whether the energy is really being dissipated or you're just storing it temporarily. We believe that when you're slowing down the knee at the end of swinging the leg, most of that energy normally is just wasted." The scientists tested the knee brace on six men walking leisurely on a treadmill at 1.5 meters per second, or 2.2 miles per hour. They measured the subjects' respiration to determine how hard they were working. A control group wore the brace with the generator disengaged to measure how the weight of the 3.5-pound brace affected the wearer. In the mode in which the brace is only activated while the knee is braking, the subjects required less than one watt of extra metabolic power for each watt of electricity they generated. A typical hand-crank generator, for comparison, takes an average of 6.4 watts of metabolic power to generate one watt of electricity because of inefficiencies of muscles and generators. "We've demonstrated proof of concept," Kuo said. "The prototype device is bulky and heavy, and it does affect the wearer just to carry. But the energy generation part itself has very little effect on the wearer, whether it is turned on or not. We hope to improve the device so that it is easier to carry, and to retain the energy-harvesting capabilities." A lighter version would be helpful to hikers or soldiers who don't have easy access to electricity. And the scientists say similar mechanisms could be built into prosthetic knees other implantable devices such as pacemakers or neurotransmitters that today require a battery, and periodic surgery to replace that battery. "A future energy harvester might be implanted along with such a device and generate its own power from walking," Kuo said.
URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96822.php
Sunday, February 10, 2008
History Is A Weapon
Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom
Questions:
1. What does the author mean by "Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom"?
2. Was being literate the key to slaves overcoming their servitude?
3. Why were blacks slaves?
4. How can something inside America that requires more standing military than a threat outside be beneficial to her?
Questions:
1. What does the author mean by "Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom"?
2. Was being literate the key to slaves overcoming their servitude?
3. Why were blacks slaves?
4. How can something inside America that requires more standing military than a threat outside be beneficial to her?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
American Pie
American Song Project: American Pie
The concept of ‘sound’ is a familiar one. As humans, however, we have the ability to differentiate between sound, or noise, and music. Why do we distinguish the two? What is it about certain sounds that make us say “that is a song”? A song, according to the Webster’s Dictionary, is “a short musical composition of words and music”. Words we understand to be the spoken and written language, but what is music? Music can be explained as simply as sound that is agreeable to the ear. However, it is also a complicated concept of pitches, tones, and harmonies. Throughout the millennia that Man has been playing music, we have pinpointed certain tones and pitches that we deem to be “true”. In other words, there is a whole spectrum of sound waves, like light waves, and in Eurocentric music, 12 of those sound waves have been identified as “in pitch”. The reason they were chosen has to do with the fact that they are harmonious, they are agreeable to the human ear. Over the centuries, different types of music have been formed by the different cultures around the world. These types are called genres, such as folk, rock, classical and jazz. One of the folk-rock songs that Americans have become familiar with is American Pie by Don McLean, which he first recorded in 1971. Its catchy tune and words captured the feeling of the nation in the 1950’s and especially the 60’s.
Don McLean structured American Pie like many rock songs with a set tune for the verses, each separated by the refrain. There are many interpretations of McLean’s lyrics, though none by him. All that he has said about the song is that it started when he was thinking about Buddy Holly’s death and that it is a combination of how he perceived America and what he imagined it would become. He also said that he was attempting to mix his political views with a musical composition. Many people have described as an abstract autobiography of his life from the mid 50’s to the end of the 60’s. The general message explains the change in America from the happy 50’s to the dark 60’s with the death of J.F. Kennedy and the Vietnam War. The first verse would suggest that he it all started with the death of three iconic singers: Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper.
Here is a break down of the song’s lyrics and some of the possible translations:
American Pie by Don McLean
Verse 1
A long, long time ago
By the time American Pie was published in 1971, is had been over a decade since the incidences that he is referring to. In that time, many other changes had happened that made that time seem far away.
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
McLean is referring to the upbeat and happy rock and roll music of the 50’s.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
The general purpose of music in the 50’s was for dancing.
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
McLean wanted to make people happy.
But February made me shiver
On February 3rd, 1959, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash in Iowa. McLean was especially devastated because Holly was his hero.
With every paper I'd deliver
At the time, McLean was a paper boy.
Bad news on the doorstep
The plane crash was in the headlines.
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
When Buddy Holly died, his wife was pregnant and shortly after, she had a miscarriage.
But something touched me deep inside
T he day the music died
McLean is referring to February 3rd, 1959 as the day the music died.
Refrain
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
There are many ideas about why McLean said “Miss American Pie.” He could have been describing the death of Marilyn Monroe (Miss American Pie). American Pie can also refer to the American Dream, especially since America was falling into a darker time.
Drove my Chevy to the levee
At the time, Chevy was the American car, and thus represents America. The Levee was a bar that McLean and his friends used to go to in his hometown in New York.
But the levee was dry
This could refer to when the Levee shut down, or it could be referencing the way that America and its music were ‘drying up’.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
This could possibly be a play on words, because there was a city in New York called Rye not far from where McLean grew up, and after the Levee shut down, he and his friends might have driven there for a drink.
Singin' “this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die”
The quoted song lyrics come from one of Buddy Holly’s hits called “That’ll Be the Day” whose chorus includes the line “That’ll be the day that I die.”
Verse 2
Did you write the Book of Love?
“The Book of Love” was a hit in 1958 by the Monotones.
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
In 1955, Don Cornell wrote a hit called “The Bible Tells Me So,” and it is also a line in a children’s hymn called “Jesus Loves Me”.
Do you believe in rock n' roll?
This line is most likely referencing the 1965 hit “Do You Believe In Magic?” by Lovin’ Spoonful with lines like “I'll tell you about the magic, and it'll free your soul, but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll.”
Can music save your mortal soul
Given the lines above, McLean is questioning if music can actually save you.
And can you teach me how to dance real slow
Slow dancing was prominent in the 50’s and suggested a commitment between the partners, but that began to decline in the 60’s as psychedelic guitar solos took over.
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
Again, dancing with someone meant more than it does today.You both kicked off your shoes
This line is referencing a sock hop.
Man, I dig those rhythm & blues
These events probably began to weight on McLean, and the rhythm and blues would have expressed that feeling.
I was a lonely, teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
The pickup truck was a symbol of sexual freedom, but McLean is also referencing Marty Robbins 1957 hit “A White Port Coat (And A Pink Carnation).”
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music diedI started singin'
Refrain
Verse 3
Now for ten years we've been on our own
McLean probably started writing American Pie in 1969, 10 years after Buddy Holly died.
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
In this line, McLean reverses the adage “a rolling stone gathers no moss,” showing that things were becoming stale. Also, Bob Dylan’s first major hit was called “Like a Rolling Stone” in 1965.
But that's not how it used to be
McLean preferred Bob Dylan’s folk songs to his folk-rock songs following “Like a Rolling Stone.”
When the Jester sang for the King and Queen
In this line, the Jester is most likely Bob Dylan. The King and Queen however can be disputed. They could possibly refer to Peter Seger and Joan Baez, who were two of the biggest names in folk music at the time and who Dylan collaborated with on the song “Blowin’ In the Wind.” However, Elvis Presley is much more often referred to as the King. Also, Dylan once sang for the queen of England, and was not properly dressed, thus, a jester.
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
In the movie “Rebel Without A Cause,” James Dean wears a red coat that Bob Dylan then makes a point of wearing on the cover of his album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.” Also, the cover shot resembles a famous picture of James Dean.
In a voice that came from you and me
This could be referencing the folk style of music that Bob Dylan sang.
Oh, and while the King was looking down
The Jester stole his thorny crown
If “King” in the line above represents Elvis, then he this could be talking about how Dylan became more popular as Elvis began to decline, and how he took over the price of fame, the thorny crown, which is also a direct reference to Jesus Christ on the cross.
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
These last two lines talk about the Kennedy assassination, and how there was never any official verdict.
And while Lennon read a book on Marx
This line is also a play on words. John Lennon did read about Karl Marx and believed his philosophy, but so did Lenin, the soviet dictator.
The quartet practiced in the park
The quartet is The Beatles, but the park could refer to England, when they were still ‘practicing’, or it could be Candlestick Park, where they held their last concert.
And we sang dirges in the dark
Since a dirge is a funeral song, McLean is probably talking about Kennedy’s death, and also Martin Luther King Jr.
The day the music died We were singin'
Refrain
Verse 4
Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
“Helter Skelter” is a Beatles song that was the inspiration for several murders by a man named Charles Mason in the summer.
The Byrd’s flew off with a fallout shelter
The Byrd’s were a folk-rock group. One of its members was arrested for possession of marijuana and admitted to a rehab program, for which another name is a fallout shelter.
Eight miles high and falling fast
“Eight Miles High” was a psychedelic song by The Byrd.
It landed foul on the grass
Foul grass is again referring to the marijuana.
The players tried for a forward pass
This football metaphor could be talking about anyone who was trying to get to a goal.
With the Jester on the sidelines in a cast
Bob Dylan is the Jester again, and this time McLean is talking about the time that Dylan crashed his motorcycle and afterwards did not leave his house for nine months, hence the ‘cast’.
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
The sweet perfumes here are the drugs in the half-time, or mid-60’s.
While the Sergeants played a marching tune
The Beatles’ album “Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” was released in 1967 and it changed rock ‘n roll forever. It was the first to have printed lyrics on the back, and the first to use synthetic sounds, and it did not have a hit single.
We all got up to dance
Oh but we never got the chance
By the late 60’s the Beatles had transformed rock ‘n roll from dance music to music that was just meant to be listened to.
'Cause the players tried to take the field
In 1968 at the Chicago Democratic Convention, some protestors of the Vietnam War rioted and were beaten down by the police. There were also many other incidence and riots that this could refer to.
The marching band refused to yield
The marching band most likely refers to The Beatles and their anti-war songs.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died
We started singing
Refrain
Verse 5
Oh, and there we were, all in one place
The “place” was the Woodstock Performing Arts Festival in 1969. About 400,000 people were present.
A generation lost in space
This line refers to several things. First, the first landing on the moon was in 1969. Also, there was a TV show called “Lost in Space,” and the phrase “lost in space” refers to people who are high on drugs.
With no time left to start again
McLean thought that his generation was wasting its time on drugs.
So come on, Jack, be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
This is a reference to The Rolling Stone’s hit “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and also shows Jack’s failure to “jump over” the candlestick.
'Cause fire is the devils only friend
The Rolling Stones responded to “Sgt. Pepper” with the album “Their Satanic Majesties Request,” which turned out to not hold up to the Beatles at all. They also wrote a song called “Sympathy for the Devil.”
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
In December of 1969, an attempted to put on another Woodstock at Altamont Speedway was made and The Rolling Stones participated.
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
The “angels born in Hell” were the Hell’s Angels who were appointed to be the security at the Altamont Speedway. However, after downing their payment of beer and LSD, they proceeded to beat a black man to death and other members of the congregation.
Could break that Satan's spell
And as flames climbed high into the night
The Rolling Stones left the scene at Altamont Speedway in a helicopter, hence the “climbing high into the night.” According to McLean, they started the “hell,” and then left in the middle of the destruction.
To light the sacrificial rite
The sacrifice could possibly be the man’s life who was killed.
I saw Satan laughing with delight
At this point, McLean believes that Satan is winning, because the youth are no longer just fighting the police and authorities, but also among themselves.
The day the music died
He was singing
Refrain
Verse 6
I met a girl who sang the blues
The girl is Janis Joplin.
And I asked her for some happy news
McLean is still looking for the peace and happiness of the 50’s.
But she just smiled and turned away
Janis Joplin died of an accidental heroin overdose in 1970.
I went down to the sacred store
The “sacred store” is the record store that sold 50’s albums.
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
By the 70’s, the 50’s music was no longer played and no one paid any attention to it.
And in the streets the children screamed
The youth were being beaten in the streets by the police, especially near the end of the decade.
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
This is a reference to psychedelic age.
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
Because McLean is a religious man, this line probably speaks about his belief that people had turned away from God.
And the three men I admire most
Although in the next line McLean states the “three men”, he has also referred the three singers who died in the plane crash so often that could also be referring to them.
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
In either case about the “three men,” they were both gone for McLean. God was dying and so was rock ‘n roll as McLean loved it.
The day the music died
And they were singin'
Refrain X2
Don McLean first recorded American Pie in 1971 as a vinyl record. Since then, there have been many versions and recordings of the song. It was incorporated into the movie The Next Best Thing, and Madonna sang a pop version of it in the soundtrack. She later changed it into a dance-pop song and made her own music video, which was released in February of 2000. There have also been many parodies made of the song, including “American Pie Guy” on That’s 70’s Show, “Parable Guy” by the band ApologetiX in 1998 and possibly most well known, “The Saga Begins” by Weird Al Yankovic, as song about Star Wars.
American Pie by Don McLean certainly gives us a lot of information about events in the 1950’s and 60’s, especially what songs were popular at the time. The general message was one of a country sliding down a slope and losing its grip on what was once good and pure. The new generation was being thrust into a horrific war, but they were essentially powerless to stop it and resorted to distorting their reality with drugs. Not only was the original rock ‘n roll leaving, or being forgotten, but so, in McLean’s eyes, was God.
The concept of ‘sound’ is a familiar one. As humans, however, we have the ability to differentiate between sound, or noise, and music. Why do we distinguish the two? What is it about certain sounds that make us say “that is a song”? A song, according to the Webster’s Dictionary, is “a short musical composition of words and music”. Words we understand to be the spoken and written language, but what is music? Music can be explained as simply as sound that is agreeable to the ear. However, it is also a complicated concept of pitches, tones, and harmonies. Throughout the millennia that Man has been playing music, we have pinpointed certain tones and pitches that we deem to be “true”. In other words, there is a whole spectrum of sound waves, like light waves, and in Eurocentric music, 12 of those sound waves have been identified as “in pitch”. The reason they were chosen has to do with the fact that they are harmonious, they are agreeable to the human ear. Over the centuries, different types of music have been formed by the different cultures around the world. These types are called genres, such as folk, rock, classical and jazz. One of the folk-rock songs that Americans have become familiar with is American Pie by Don McLean, which he first recorded in 1971. Its catchy tune and words captured the feeling of the nation in the 1950’s and especially the 60’s.
Don McLean structured American Pie like many rock songs with a set tune for the verses, each separated by the refrain. There are many interpretations of McLean’s lyrics, though none by him. All that he has said about the song is that it started when he was thinking about Buddy Holly’s death and that it is a combination of how he perceived America and what he imagined it would become. He also said that he was attempting to mix his political views with a musical composition. Many people have described as an abstract autobiography of his life from the mid 50’s to the end of the 60’s. The general message explains the change in America from the happy 50’s to the dark 60’s with the death of J.F. Kennedy and the Vietnam War. The first verse would suggest that he it all started with the death of three iconic singers: Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper.
Here is a break down of the song’s lyrics and some of the possible translations:
American Pie by Don McLean
Verse 1
A long, long time ago
By the time American Pie was published in 1971, is had been over a decade since the incidences that he is referring to. In that time, many other changes had happened that made that time seem far away.
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
McLean is referring to the upbeat and happy rock and roll music of the 50’s.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
The general purpose of music in the 50’s was for dancing.
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
McLean wanted to make people happy.
But February made me shiver
On February 3rd, 1959, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash in Iowa. McLean was especially devastated because Holly was his hero.
With every paper I'd deliver
At the time, McLean was a paper boy.
Bad news on the doorstep
The plane crash was in the headlines.
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
When Buddy Holly died, his wife was pregnant and shortly after, she had a miscarriage.
But something touched me deep inside
T he day the music died
McLean is referring to February 3rd, 1959 as the day the music died.
Refrain
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
There are many ideas about why McLean said “Miss American Pie.” He could have been describing the death of Marilyn Monroe (Miss American Pie). American Pie can also refer to the American Dream, especially since America was falling into a darker time.
Drove my Chevy to the levee
At the time, Chevy was the American car, and thus represents America. The Levee was a bar that McLean and his friends used to go to in his hometown in New York.
But the levee was dry
This could refer to when the Levee shut down, or it could be referencing the way that America and its music were ‘drying up’.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
This could possibly be a play on words, because there was a city in New York called Rye not far from where McLean grew up, and after the Levee shut down, he and his friends might have driven there for a drink.
Singin' “this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die”
The quoted song lyrics come from one of Buddy Holly’s hits called “That’ll Be the Day” whose chorus includes the line “That’ll be the day that I die.”
Verse 2
Did you write the Book of Love?
“The Book of Love” was a hit in 1958 by the Monotones.
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
In 1955, Don Cornell wrote a hit called “The Bible Tells Me So,” and it is also a line in a children’s hymn called “Jesus Loves Me”.
Do you believe in rock n' roll?
This line is most likely referencing the 1965 hit “Do You Believe In Magic?” by Lovin’ Spoonful with lines like “I'll tell you about the magic, and it'll free your soul, but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll.”
Can music save your mortal soul
Given the lines above, McLean is questioning if music can actually save you.
And can you teach me how to dance real slow
Slow dancing was prominent in the 50’s and suggested a commitment between the partners, but that began to decline in the 60’s as psychedelic guitar solos took over.
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
Again, dancing with someone meant more than it does today.You both kicked off your shoes
This line is referencing a sock hop.
Man, I dig those rhythm & blues
These events probably began to weight on McLean, and the rhythm and blues would have expressed that feeling.
I was a lonely, teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
The pickup truck was a symbol of sexual freedom, but McLean is also referencing Marty Robbins 1957 hit “A White Port Coat (And A Pink Carnation).”
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music diedI started singin'
Refrain
Verse 3
Now for ten years we've been on our own
McLean probably started writing American Pie in 1969, 10 years after Buddy Holly died.
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
In this line, McLean reverses the adage “a rolling stone gathers no moss,” showing that things were becoming stale. Also, Bob Dylan’s first major hit was called “Like a Rolling Stone” in 1965.
But that's not how it used to be
McLean preferred Bob Dylan’s folk songs to his folk-rock songs following “Like a Rolling Stone.”
When the Jester sang for the King and Queen
In this line, the Jester is most likely Bob Dylan. The King and Queen however can be disputed. They could possibly refer to Peter Seger and Joan Baez, who were two of the biggest names in folk music at the time and who Dylan collaborated with on the song “Blowin’ In the Wind.” However, Elvis Presley is much more often referred to as the King. Also, Dylan once sang for the queen of England, and was not properly dressed, thus, a jester.
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
In the movie “Rebel Without A Cause,” James Dean wears a red coat that Bob Dylan then makes a point of wearing on the cover of his album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.” Also, the cover shot resembles a famous picture of James Dean.
In a voice that came from you and me
This could be referencing the folk style of music that Bob Dylan sang.
Oh, and while the King was looking down
The Jester stole his thorny crown
If “King” in the line above represents Elvis, then he this could be talking about how Dylan became more popular as Elvis began to decline, and how he took over the price of fame, the thorny crown, which is also a direct reference to Jesus Christ on the cross.
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
These last two lines talk about the Kennedy assassination, and how there was never any official verdict.
And while Lennon read a book on Marx
This line is also a play on words. John Lennon did read about Karl Marx and believed his philosophy, but so did Lenin, the soviet dictator.
The quartet practiced in the park
The quartet is The Beatles, but the park could refer to England, when they were still ‘practicing’, or it could be Candlestick Park, where they held their last concert.
And we sang dirges in the dark
Since a dirge is a funeral song, McLean is probably talking about Kennedy’s death, and also Martin Luther King Jr.
The day the music died We were singin'
Refrain
Verse 4
Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
“Helter Skelter” is a Beatles song that was the inspiration for several murders by a man named Charles Mason in the summer.
The Byrd’s flew off with a fallout shelter
The Byrd’s were a folk-rock group. One of its members was arrested for possession of marijuana and admitted to a rehab program, for which another name is a fallout shelter.
Eight miles high and falling fast
“Eight Miles High” was a psychedelic song by The Byrd.
It landed foul on the grass
Foul grass is again referring to the marijuana.
The players tried for a forward pass
This football metaphor could be talking about anyone who was trying to get to a goal.
With the Jester on the sidelines in a cast
Bob Dylan is the Jester again, and this time McLean is talking about the time that Dylan crashed his motorcycle and afterwards did not leave his house for nine months, hence the ‘cast’.
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
The sweet perfumes here are the drugs in the half-time, or mid-60’s.
While the Sergeants played a marching tune
The Beatles’ album “Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” was released in 1967 and it changed rock ‘n roll forever. It was the first to have printed lyrics on the back, and the first to use synthetic sounds, and it did not have a hit single.
We all got up to dance
Oh but we never got the chance
By the late 60’s the Beatles had transformed rock ‘n roll from dance music to music that was just meant to be listened to.
'Cause the players tried to take the field
In 1968 at the Chicago Democratic Convention, some protestors of the Vietnam War rioted and were beaten down by the police. There were also many other incidence and riots that this could refer to.
The marching band refused to yield
The marching band most likely refers to The Beatles and their anti-war songs.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died
We started singing
Refrain
Verse 5
Oh, and there we were, all in one place
The “place” was the Woodstock Performing Arts Festival in 1969. About 400,000 people were present.
A generation lost in space
This line refers to several things. First, the first landing on the moon was in 1969. Also, there was a TV show called “Lost in Space,” and the phrase “lost in space” refers to people who are high on drugs.
With no time left to start again
McLean thought that his generation was wasting its time on drugs.
So come on, Jack, be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
This is a reference to The Rolling Stone’s hit “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and also shows Jack’s failure to “jump over” the candlestick.
'Cause fire is the devils only friend
The Rolling Stones responded to “Sgt. Pepper” with the album “Their Satanic Majesties Request,” which turned out to not hold up to the Beatles at all. They also wrote a song called “Sympathy for the Devil.”
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
In December of 1969, an attempted to put on another Woodstock at Altamont Speedway was made and The Rolling Stones participated.
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
The “angels born in Hell” were the Hell’s Angels who were appointed to be the security at the Altamont Speedway. However, after downing their payment of beer and LSD, they proceeded to beat a black man to death and other members of the congregation.
Could break that Satan's spell
And as flames climbed high into the night
The Rolling Stones left the scene at Altamont Speedway in a helicopter, hence the “climbing high into the night.” According to McLean, they started the “hell,” and then left in the middle of the destruction.
To light the sacrificial rite
The sacrifice could possibly be the man’s life who was killed.
I saw Satan laughing with delight
At this point, McLean believes that Satan is winning, because the youth are no longer just fighting the police and authorities, but also among themselves.
The day the music died
He was singing
Refrain
Verse 6
I met a girl who sang the blues
The girl is Janis Joplin.
And I asked her for some happy news
McLean is still looking for the peace and happiness of the 50’s.
But she just smiled and turned away
Janis Joplin died of an accidental heroin overdose in 1970.
I went down to the sacred store
The “sacred store” is the record store that sold 50’s albums.
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
By the 70’s, the 50’s music was no longer played and no one paid any attention to it.
And in the streets the children screamed
The youth were being beaten in the streets by the police, especially near the end of the decade.
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
This is a reference to psychedelic age.
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
Because McLean is a religious man, this line probably speaks about his belief that people had turned away from God.
And the three men I admire most
Although in the next line McLean states the “three men”, he has also referred the three singers who died in the plane crash so often that could also be referring to them.
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
In either case about the “three men,” they were both gone for McLean. God was dying and so was rock ‘n roll as McLean loved it.
The day the music died
And they were singin'
Refrain X2
Don McLean first recorded American Pie in 1971 as a vinyl record. Since then, there have been many versions and recordings of the song. It was incorporated into the movie The Next Best Thing, and Madonna sang a pop version of it in the soundtrack. She later changed it into a dance-pop song and made her own music video, which was released in February of 2000. There have also been many parodies made of the song, including “American Pie Guy” on That’s 70’s Show, “Parable Guy” by the band ApologetiX in 1998 and possibly most well known, “The Saga Begins” by Weird Al Yankovic, as song about Star Wars.
American Pie by Don McLean certainly gives us a lot of information about events in the 1950’s and 60’s, especially what songs were popular at the time. The general message was one of a country sliding down a slope and losing its grip on what was once good and pure. The new generation was being thrust into a horrific war, but they were essentially powerless to stop it and resorted to distorting their reality with drugs. Not only was the original rock ‘n roll leaving, or being forgotten, but so, in McLean’s eyes, was God.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
How To Breathe Underwater
Orringer, Julie. How To Breathe Underwater. New York, 2003.
I began reading this book when I switched English classes in December, 2007 while I was still at Bishop's. I had nothing to do the first couple days of Ms. Rettaliata's class because they were finishing up a project, so she handed me this book and assigned me a few of the stories to read. It is a collection of fictional short stories, all of them about girls or young women. All of the stories are set in recent times, but each is in a different state in America, and one is in Greece.
Each of the stories is unique, but some of my favorites were The Isabel Fish, Note to Sixth-Grade Self, Stars of Motown Shining Bright and Stations of the Cross. The Isabel Fish is a story about a 14 year old girl named Maddy who attempts to conquer her fear of swimming after she almost drowns in a sinking car that her older brother's girlfriend had accidentally driven into a lake. Her brother's girlfriend, Isabel, is not so lucky. However, the fear of swimming, though ironically Maddy loves water, is not the only thing she struggles with in the story. Since the accident, her brother had been treating her like it was her fault, and she suffers from the loss of his friendship and love.
Note to Sixth-Grade Self was a fascinating story to read because it is entirely in 2nd person. The speaker speaks to the main character as though she is in her head, saying "Do this," or "Don't do that." The voice constantly reminds her of what she should do next and how she should behave and act. It reads very much as though she is talking to herself. Throughout the story, the girl attempts to gain the attention of the most popular boy in the dance class with her good dancing skills. It is a struggle, because she has to compete with the popular girls, who exercise their power to make fun of her. However, she prevails in the end when the boy stops by her house and they go ride bikes together.
Stars of Motown Shining Bright is one of the more mature stories. It is set in Michigan and the gist of the plot is that two girls who were friends meet up to go drive to a young man's house, who they both like. The main character, Lucy, had recently had sex with him, but before she gets a chance to brag about it to her friend Melissa, she finds out that Melissa and the boy, Jack, are engaged and planning to go live in California. They both spend the night at Jack's during which time Lucy sees that all he cares about is the sex, and she finally has to resort to dragging Melissa out with a gun in her hand to get them away.
Stations of the Cross is a story about a Jewish girl, Lila, who has moved to a small Catholic town. She luckily befriends one of the most popular and girls in the school, Carney, and therefore is saved from much of the descrimination and isolation she would have felt otherwise. The town members, including Carney, are still fairly racists. When Carney's half-black cousin Dale visits with her aunt for Carney's first Communion, she ends up tieing him to a constructed crucifix and beating him during a reenactment of the Stations of the Cross. Lila, who was part of the reenactment, then realizes how vulnerable she really is as a Jew.
The girls in each story have a unique realism to them in the way that they perceive and respond to the event in the story based on their background. One of the more vividly described characters is Carney from Stations of the Cross. She is Catholic and loves drama. The more heroic or dramatic, the better. She is not affraid to be in charge and frequently conducts 'games' or reenactment scenes and generally what she says goes. On a couple of occasions, Lila talks about how lucky she is be to friends with Carney, because otherwise her life would be so much harder. In some ways, Carney represents the antagonist, because she holds the values that both Lila and Dale have to fight against. Initially, the author describes her as a nice girl, and a friend of the main character, but by the end, it is clear that she lacks some compassion for people that are different from her, mostly blacks.
I enjoyed the book very much. Each of the stories holds a lesson about the challenges that young girls and women all over face. Not all of them end with the girl triumphing over the antagonist, but each girl does learn a valuable lesson from her experiences during the story. Campared to most of the main characters, my life has been very sheltered. The backgrounds and experiences of each girl vary so much and each responds to the events uniquely. Some of the stories even describe situations, thoughts and feelings that I am not at all aware of. I think that it is a great book for young women to read, but i would not necessarily recommend it to all boys.
Julie Orringer is the Helen Hertzog Zell Professor of Creative Writing at the university of Michigan. Other books she has written include Short Stories for Students and Silver Rose Anthology, both also collections of short stories. This is the first time I have read a collection of short stories like this. I would certainly consider reading her other books if I ever came aross them, but I probably will not go out and buy them.
I began reading this book when I switched English classes in December, 2007 while I was still at Bishop's. I had nothing to do the first couple days of Ms. Rettaliata's class because they were finishing up a project, so she handed me this book and assigned me a few of the stories to read. It is a collection of fictional short stories, all of them about girls or young women. All of the stories are set in recent times, but each is in a different state in America, and one is in Greece.
Each of the stories is unique, but some of my favorites were The Isabel Fish, Note to Sixth-Grade Self, Stars of Motown Shining Bright and Stations of the Cross. The Isabel Fish is a story about a 14 year old girl named Maddy who attempts to conquer her fear of swimming after she almost drowns in a sinking car that her older brother's girlfriend had accidentally driven into a lake. Her brother's girlfriend, Isabel, is not so lucky. However, the fear of swimming, though ironically Maddy loves water, is not the only thing she struggles with in the story. Since the accident, her brother had been treating her like it was her fault, and she suffers from the loss of his friendship and love.
Note to Sixth-Grade Self was a fascinating story to read because it is entirely in 2nd person. The speaker speaks to the main character as though she is in her head, saying "Do this," or "Don't do that." The voice constantly reminds her of what she should do next and how she should behave and act. It reads very much as though she is talking to herself. Throughout the story, the girl attempts to gain the attention of the most popular boy in the dance class with her good dancing skills. It is a struggle, because she has to compete with the popular girls, who exercise their power to make fun of her. However, she prevails in the end when the boy stops by her house and they go ride bikes together.
Stars of Motown Shining Bright is one of the more mature stories. It is set in Michigan and the gist of the plot is that two girls who were friends meet up to go drive to a young man's house, who they both like. The main character, Lucy, had recently had sex with him, but before she gets a chance to brag about it to her friend Melissa, she finds out that Melissa and the boy, Jack, are engaged and planning to go live in California. They both spend the night at Jack's during which time Lucy sees that all he cares about is the sex, and she finally has to resort to dragging Melissa out with a gun in her hand to get them away.
Stations of the Cross is a story about a Jewish girl, Lila, who has moved to a small Catholic town. She luckily befriends one of the most popular and girls in the school, Carney, and therefore is saved from much of the descrimination and isolation she would have felt otherwise. The town members, including Carney, are still fairly racists. When Carney's half-black cousin Dale visits with her aunt for Carney's first Communion, she ends up tieing him to a constructed crucifix and beating him during a reenactment of the Stations of the Cross. Lila, who was part of the reenactment, then realizes how vulnerable she really is as a Jew.
The girls in each story have a unique realism to them in the way that they perceive and respond to the event in the story based on their background. One of the more vividly described characters is Carney from Stations of the Cross. She is Catholic and loves drama. The more heroic or dramatic, the better. She is not affraid to be in charge and frequently conducts 'games' or reenactment scenes and generally what she says goes. On a couple of occasions, Lila talks about how lucky she is be to friends with Carney, because otherwise her life would be so much harder. In some ways, Carney represents the antagonist, because she holds the values that both Lila and Dale have to fight against. Initially, the author describes her as a nice girl, and a friend of the main character, but by the end, it is clear that she lacks some compassion for people that are different from her, mostly blacks.
I enjoyed the book very much. Each of the stories holds a lesson about the challenges that young girls and women all over face. Not all of them end with the girl triumphing over the antagonist, but each girl does learn a valuable lesson from her experiences during the story. Campared to most of the main characters, my life has been very sheltered. The backgrounds and experiences of each girl vary so much and each responds to the events uniquely. Some of the stories even describe situations, thoughts and feelings that I am not at all aware of. I think that it is a great book for young women to read, but i would not necessarily recommend it to all boys.
Julie Orringer is the Helen Hertzog Zell Professor of Creative Writing at the university of Michigan. Other books she has written include Short Stories for Students and Silver Rose Anthology, both also collections of short stories. This is the first time I have read a collection of short stories like this. I would certainly consider reading her other books if I ever came aross them, but I probably will not go out and buy them.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Vocabulary Week 3
These stars seem to have been disseminated in the sky. When it is studied for a few seconds, you can see that not only are the stars at random distances from each other, but they are also at different depths from the place the picture was taken. I looked up at the sky and thoughtin awe, 'Those stars have been disseminated by the hand of God!'
In this picture, the mother obviously wants the boy to be quite, but he is being baleful, and instead is yelling at her!I hated her, but instead of responding, I just gave her a silent, baleful look.
Although all of these flowers are dying, they are still showing a bit of resilience and standing tall. Also, resilience is often more successful in numbers!Andy's resilience after his sickness amazed his teachers
The bright colors of this butterfly and flowers remind me of the vibrant, cheerful and good natured characteristics of people with a sanguine temperament.Marissa's sanguine nature began to spill out as she joked with her friends and left the troubles at home behind.
The little bit of wall that can be seen on the right side of the picture looks as though there used to be a wall attatched to it and it was knocked out. The little space that is now exposed is obviously in the process of being renovated. It looks like it will be a bathroom, but I certainly would not want to use it as such in that state!Mary and Michael planned to renovate their new house, since the roof was leeking and some of the wood was rotting.
1. disseminate-v.-- to scatter or spread widely, as though sewing seeds.
2. eloquence-n.-- the practice or art of using language with fluency and aptness.
3. austere-adj.-- severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding.
4. baleful-adj. -- full of menacing or malign influences; pernious.
5. bigot-n.-- a prejudice person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own.
6. relapse-n. and v.-- to fall or slip back into a former state, practice, etc.
7. repudiate-v.-- to reject as having no authority or binding force.
8. resilience-n.-- the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity; ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy.
9. sanguine-adj.-- cheerfully optomistic, hopeful or confident; bloody.
10. renovate-v.-- to restore to good condition; make new or as if new; repair.
2. eloquence-n.-- the practice or art of using language with fluency and aptness.
3. austere-adj.-- severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding.
4. baleful-adj. -- full of menacing or malign influences; pernious.
5. bigot-n.-- a prejudice person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own.
6. relapse-n. and v.-- to fall or slip back into a former state, practice, etc.
7. repudiate-v.-- to reject as having no authority or binding force.
8. resilience-n.-- the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity; ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy.
9. sanguine-adj.-- cheerfully optomistic, hopeful or confident; bloody.
10. renovate-v.-- to restore to good condition; make new or as if new; repair.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
