How to Survive the Snake Revised Essay #5

In Alabama, and in many other areas of the United States, the presence of a snake causes fear in the minds of those who come in contact with him. A look back into our history reveals that the snake was the evil creature that beguiled Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. As we read in Genesis, the snake was sentenced to crawl on his belly because of the evil way he influenced Adam and Eve. Whether it be a real snake crawling on the ground that you can see, or a demon that you hear about in church that you can not see, Bible Belt Alabamians fear this evil serpent. This paper will deal only with the snakes you can see.

Snakes show up everywhere in Alabama. They can be lurking in your shrubbery, in your barn, on your walking path, around your pond, in your canoe, in trees, and even in your house! I remember a story about a shopper in a fabric store. She was plundering through a deep box of fabric (sold by the pound) and was bitten by a rattlesnake hiding in the bottom of the box. To make matters worse, it is a common belief that when you see one snake you know others are close by. It is the accepted way of life in Alabama to kill any poisonous snake you see. You can shoot him, mow over him, run over him with your car, cut his head off with a hoe, or throw rocks at him. ( These methods of death are the most common in Alabama). The tactics you use depend on the time and place you see the snake. I recommend all of them.

On a hot summer’s day, two of my friends and I headed out to beautiful Lake Martin for some fun and sun. The day haunts me still. Little did I know that a serpent would be waiting to join our picnic. As we eagerly unpacked our car, the crystal blue water beckoned us to jump in. Lunchtime came, and we decided to lounge on the shoreline with our feet in the water, while we enjoyed a variety of sandwiches, chips, ice tea and coke. As I eagerly ate my meal, I felt a vibrating sensation under my “booty”. Little did I know that “johnny no-shoulder” was waiting to crawl from under the rock I was comfortably resting on. As quickly as the blink of an eye, a large cottonmouth moccasin slithered by my leg that was dangling in the water. It felt like a hosepipe touching my leg. My eyes caught sight of this venomous monster, and I screamed loud enough to awaken my dead ancestors that fought in the Civil War. Mr. Cottonmouth turned and looked me square in the eye. It was as if he wanted me to know that I had escaped a deadly bite only because he chose to allow me to live another day. As this monster gave me one last look, I can still imagine the frenzy that my friends and I would have been in when trying to save my life from a monster already carrying out the sentence of God’s wrath. Why did I survive? A divine intervention from a higher being could have delivered me from the sting of the viper’s fangs, or maybe it was just luck.

That was the day I realized that I must know how to survive the bite of a poisonous serpent if I were an unfortunate victim. As I studied the ways to react, I came to the following conclusions on how to survive the bite of a snake. First, always respect the creature that God has cast a spell on. If you are respectful and still get bitten by the viper, you should remain calm and get yourself to the nearest medical treatment facility. Remaining calm is easy to say, but hard to do. As your heartbeat races, the poison of the viper will travel throughout your body at a very fast pace. The calmer you are the better your chances of survival. Haste in getting to the Doctor is most important. Don’t wait, go immediately. The trip will be much easier if you have someone to drive you there. To prevent a snake bite death, do not go camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, or any other outdoor activity during the warm months when the snake is still active, unless you have a partner that can give adequate care to you in case of an emergency. The snake is a cold-blooded creature that will hibernate when the temperature drops below the point where he can survive. This will allow you to participate in outdoor activities in the winter months in Alabama and not be afraid of encounters with Mr. Snake. When you arrive at the medical center after being bitten by a snake you will need to be able to identify the type of snake that bit you. It is of utmost importance that everyone becomes familiar with the snakes of the area. There are several snakes found in Alabama that posses hemo-toxic poison. This poison will attack your blood cells and could result in death if not treated. Snakes that posses hemo-toxic poison in Alabama are rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water moccasins ( a form of cottonmouth). One should also be able to identify the coral snake. The coral snake venom will break down and paralyze your nervous system. A rule of thumb to remember in identifying this small, but deadly snake is “red touching yellow will kill a fellow”. This refers to the markings on a coral snake.

Look up the snakes just mentioned and study their coloring and markings. You will need to be able to inform the Doctor of the type of snake that bit you. Guess work can lead to death. When you arrive at the hospital or medical center, you can be given anti-venom that will kill the poison of the snake bite . This anti- venom has been grown within the blood of horses, and it can bring on allergic reactions, but hopefully not.

Where the snake bites you also makes a difference. If an artery is pierced by the snake’s fangs death is a strong possibility even if you get medical treatment. Other things not to do include: never cut your body in an effort to drain the poison, never place restricting bands or tourniquets above the wound, never drink alcohol, never put ice on the bite, and again, never panic.
In order to survive the bite of a snake you should follow the steps presented in this paper. Be prepared, and you can survive----to fear the reckless and ruthless guile of the serpent as he waits to destroy your world.

How to Dress Up as a Common Farmer

Essay 5 Revised


Throughout history, Alabama has been the home to many farms. The state’s products rely on crops and food grown by these farms. From cotton fields to corn fields, farming is a known characteristic and trait of the state of Alabama. It is our state’s contribution to the nation’s crops. Farms are built on vast areas of land where homes are separated by miles. The city is a complete opposite environment with its high skyscrapers, business men, and crowded homes. The countryside is very open, not crowded, and contains no signs of skyscrapers. Farmers live in the countryside, so their experience with the city is very limited. They have little connection to trends in fashion, technology, or high amounts of civilization. A farmer’s attire is very different from that of a person living in the city. If someone were to dress up as a farmer, maybe for Halloween, they would need to learn the basic outfit pieces that would make a perfect common farmer. One should not expect it to be a high fashion style or expect it to be something worn for everyday use, because farmers like to keep it simple and dress to work in the fields. The following essay addresses a few pieces of clothing and items that are important in achieving the perfect look for a common farmer of the south.

One key piece of clothing would be a plain, denim set of overalls. The overalls should be equipped with two back pockets, two front pockets located on either side of the hip, and one larger pocket on the chest. These pockets are important to the farmers when dealing with supplies needed to deposit crops and other various plants into the earth. Farmers use the multiple pockets to store tools, seeds, and gloves for when they deal with dirt. All these items are necessary in planting the perfect crop. If one wants to include accessory pieces in their outfit, then they could carry a packet of seeds, a small shovel, and gardening gloves in each of the pockets. Overalls are denim, because denim is a fabric that is very durable. It is easily washed, yet it can withstand a beating from the dirt and heavy movement farmers perform.

A second key piece of clothing would be a red, plaid, long-sleeved, flannel shirt. The flannel shirt should be a button down in the front for easy removal. Farmers like the buttons, so they are able to remove their shirt just in case it gets too hot outside. A flannel shirt is thick, but it is necessary for the shirt to contain warmth for the initiation of planting. Planting usually begins in mid-February, early March. During this time of the year the weather is mild and slightly on the cold side, so farmers need a little extra warmth. Long-sleeves also add to the warmth, but in addition to that the sleeves they protect the farmer from the UV rays. It protects the skin from receiving sun burn. The red plaid characteristic of the shirt adds to the countryside theme, since most farmers live in the open areas of the country. It is not a very fashionable pattern, but this demonstrates the farmer’s lack of knowledge of the fashion world. The flannel shirt and overalls are the two key elements in achieving the perfect imitation of a farmer, so do not avoid these articles of clothing.

A third key piece of clothing would be footwear. Farmers wear the typical brown cowboy boots (no fancy designer boots are necessary to spice up the outfit, because common farmers like to keep it simple). The cowboy boots, though, are the perfect boot in protecting their feet. The boots protect their feet not only from getting dirty, but also from the dangers of the machinery. Tractors are the main machines used by farmers, and when using them the farmers have to be conscience of where their feet are to avoid injury. These cowboy boots are made of leather, so the durability and thickness of the boot help the farmers out in keeping their feet safe.

The accessory to make the perfect common farmer outfit would be a hat. Not just any old hat can be worn, though. It has to be a straw, large brimmed hat. Hats are worn by the farmers to shade their eyes and face. Hats allow the farmers to keep their hands free and provide the most protection from the sun. A hat is highly recommended for a male who is dressing up as a farmer, but if the dresser is a female there is a second option. Instead of wearing a hat, the female can braid her hair in two pigtails, and wear a bandana. The pigtails keep the hair out of her face, and her head protected from the sun.

Now that all the clothing has been addressed, next is getting into character. Farmers after a hard day’s work do not smell very nice, and to achieve this perfect body odor, one needs to rub onions in their underarms and carry and good handful of manure in their back pocket. Adding the body odor effect guarantees the failure in winning any dates, but it does guarantee winning the costume contest. If one wants to go for the hill-billy farmer look, one needs to paint nontoxic, black paint to one of their front teeth. This creates the illusion of a missing tooth; maybe a tooth lost during working out in the field.

Including all these articles of clothing and extra character building items achieves the common farmer outfit. There are more items that could be worn to make the outfit more advanced, so if one is interested in progressing to the next level of farming attire, there are some things to look into. For instance, one could carry a sack full of picked cotton to achieve the look of the past farming days, or one could carry around stuffed animals like a cow, chicken, or horse to achieve the storybook look of a farmer. If one is just looking to dress up as a common farmer then the overalls, flannel shirt, cowboy boots, straw hat, and manure achieve this look.

Paper Five- Rush Revised

When entering into any college or university, one question asked of students is how he or she is going to get involved. One of the most popular organizations attached to multiple colleges and universities is Greek life. Each fall, the week before school starts, the University of Alabama has a weeklong event of something called Rush. Rush is the process of how a girl enters into a sorority. There are a few main steps in order to survive rush and it begins the spring before your rush week.

In the spring semester each sorority hosts rush parties. These parties consist of day and night get-togethers that current sorority members hold for girls who will be rushing in the fall, also known as future pledges. During the day the girls attend cookouts and luncheons; while the night parties consist of guys and girls getting together to branch out and meet new people. Through these parties future pledges are able to meet girls also attending Alabama in the fall. They are also able to get to know the girls currently in the sorority. By getting to know the girls in the sorority, the future pledges are able to develop an idea of what the sorority life is like, and if they would be able to fit in with the girls.

After attending the rush parties in the spring, a girl is then able to have an idea of whether she really wants to rush or not. If the girl decides yes, then there are a few steps she must take in order to prepare herself for rush week. First, the girl must go to the Panhellenic website and sign up for recruitment. Panhellenic is the organization in charge of all of the sororities and fraternities. By signing up on this website, the girl is letting all of the sororities that she will be participating in the upcoming rush. Once she has signed up on this website she must create a resume for herself. The resume consists of everything she has completed in high school. This would be made up of extracurricular activities, awards, community service, jobs, internships, test scores, GPA, and a picture of herself. The importance of the resume is to give the sororities an opportunity to get to know her. The resume is also given to many women who are alumnus of sororities. With this resume, alumni write a letter or a recommendation to their sorority as to why that sorority should consider this girl. A letter is written to the sororities that the girl is mostly interested in by an alumna who will speak about the great qualities of the girl and why she would be an important asset to the pledge class. A recommendation is usually a sheet of paper that consists of the important basic information of the girl. It is important that a girl has both the recommendation and resume, because it shows the sorority that she is extremely interested in becoming a member. It also gives the sorority a good idea of how important she is to have in the sorority by the number of people who care for her to be added to the sorority. Once the alumni have written the letters of recommendations, they are then sent to each of the sororities the girl is interested in.

A week before school starts the girl moves to school to start rush that week. There are four chances of narrowing down sorority choices. First every girl is divided into groups alphabetically. Monday and Tuesday of this week are based on each girl going to every sorority house with her group where she will wear sundresses. At each of these houses the sorority opens with a door song. This is a song that promotes their sorority that girls sing at the door while all the pledges are lined up outside of the house. After the song is over each pledge enters into the room and is escorted by a center member to an area of the house where they create small talk. This is when it is good to think of conversation starters. Each girl is at each of the houses for fifteen minutes. Sometimes the girl is with the same member the whole time but usually more members come up to speak to her. On Wednesday morning the girl goes to the computer lab with her group. She logs onto the computer that will show her which sororities would like her to come back to the house and spend more time with her. The girl can choose up to twelve houses to return to on Wednesday and Thursday. If a girl is not asked back by any houses she will be notified and rush will be over for her. If a girl is nervous about a house dropping her it is important that an alumnae calls the house to speak about how important it is to have that girl in the pledge class. This way the girl will have a better chance of getting into that sorority. When the girl returns to those houses on Wednesday and Thursday she must wear a t-shirt, that is provided by Panhellenic, and shorts. This is because at the houses during these two days the girl will learn about each of the houses philanthropy through creating an arts-n-craft that has to due with their philanthropy. On Thursday, the girl returns to the computer lab where she will once again see who has invited her back and narrow her list down to at most seven. During this day the girl goes to the houses that she has left to watch a skit. Each house performs a skit so the girl can see what the girls personalities are like inside the house. This is one of the most important days for a girl to attend because it is suppose to help the girl see if she would be able to fit in the house. On Saturday, the student heads back to the computer lab where she will narrow her list down to three. Today is “Preference Day”. This means that the girl attends the houses that she likes the most. At each house someone goes and speaks to the girl one on one. Some houses like to speak about their experiences about being a member of a sorority while others like to just speak to the girls normally trying to allow them to feel comfortable with them. At the end of the day every girl lines up and returns to the computer lab where she will put her “Pref Day” houses in order of the one she wants to join first. Sometimes a girl knows what sorority she wants to be in but most times a girl must weigh out the pros and cons of sororities to help her choice her pref. After this point the girl is to return to the dorm where she will wait until Sunday afternoon to receive her bid.

On Sunday afternoon, every girl goes into the stadium and sits in their groups. The group leaders pass out an envelope to each girl that has their name on it. When a leader says go every girl in the stadium opens their letter that has a bid on it from a sorority. At Alabama eighty-nine percent of girls get their first choice of sorority, but if not a girl must still act excited because most time a girl ends up loving her sorority. After opening their letters, every girl then runs out of the stadium area where members of each sorority will be holding the sorority letters. Then the girls will sprint with each other to the house. At the house, jerseys with the sororities’ letters will be given out and pictures with the sorority will be taken. From this point, the girl meets new friends she will keep for the rest of her life.

Paper 5 revised

When the temperature first drops below 70 degrees, we claim gumbo weather. It is a Cajun mark of the start of winter even if we know the next week will be in the upper 80’s. Making gumbo is all part of the change in weather and is much more than making any other food, it’s an experience; you can not just follow a recipe. Every family makes it differently both in ingredients and in the way they use each ingredient. It is necessary to set aside an entire day if you are to actually lead this cooking adventure.

In actually cooking the gumbo it is necessary to decide which type of gumbo you will make: duck, chicken and sausage, or seafood, to name a few. Next you have to decide to begin with a roux or make your own. For the sake of this paper and because it is my own favorite we will make chicken and sausage, as well as our own roux. The ingredients used in the roux are simple oil or butter, and flour. Both should be added in equal parts for example: one cup of oil or butter means you add one cup of flour. It is best to use white flour as it gives you the desired copper penny color. You want to heat the two ingredients stirring constantly until your desired color is reached; at least the color of the copper penny but you can go darker as well. It is best to work on this step as a family or around company because you cannot rush the roux and its preparation may take hours. Some people may argue that a roux will come out just as well if you pop it into the microwave for about seven minutes but by doing this you do not only loose flavor but a feeling of tradition as well. It should be a fairly thick, nearly toothpaste-like texture when it has finished cooking down. A darker roux seems to be more popular in the Cajun areas, usually a chocolate milk color. And a lighter Peanut butter colored roux is more popular in the New Orleans area. Really the only differences are the color and thickness; it is truly a personal choice.

Gumbo brings people together before they eat it; it is not a dish to make in a little amount of time by one person. Gumbo requires an almost team effort sharing the cutting and stirring since after only making the roux we have already been working for over an hour. This could get very lonely.

Now to begin with the actual gumbo you will want to remove the roux and add water until the roux reaches the desired thickness. The ingredients to the actual gumbo are far more complicated. A typical chicken and sausage gumbo may include the following:
• large onions, chopped
• bell peppers, chopped
• ribs of celery, chopped
• cloves garlic, minced
• quarts chicken stock
• bay leaves
• teaspoons Creole seasoning, or to taste
• teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• Earls seasoning to taste
• large chicken (young hen preferred), cut into pieces
• Pound of andouille or smoked sausage, cut into pieces
• bunch scallions (green onions), tops only, chopped
• cup fresh chopped parsley
• Filé powder to taste
The amount of each ingredient has not been included because it is the least important part of this recipe. It’s always been something just done by feel. Exact measurements will not help you in making a good gumbo.
Before adding any ingredients you must season the chicken; it is always more satisfying to use the whole chicken and is my family’s own tradition. Seasoning is another place where family comes into play; some may use salt and pepper, or “Tony Chachere’s”; my family uses “Earl’s” a seasoning only available at a small family owned meat shop in Lafayette. While this is marinating everyone should pick an ingredient and begin to chop. Everything needs to be diced by hand down to nearly unrecognizable pieces; you do not want to have a strange mix in textures. The sausage also needs to be cut into pieces usually between1/2 inch and 2/3 inch thick. In a very large pot, should be at least a foot tall; the kind that seems like a small child could be cooked inside. Mix the ingredients slowly allowing each flavor to be released into the stew. The entire time ingredients are being added you must keep stirring as to not allow a skin to form on the top. The chicken and sausage should be added last and then brought to a boil. Allow for it to cook at least an hour then remove the fat layer that has formed from the top of the gumbo. A good sign to tell if the chicken is cooked enough is it should be almost in strings and have fallen of the bone. Now it is time to go fishing, use a ladle with holes in the bottom to begin fishing out the bones, the last thing you want is someone getting a bone lodged in their throat. It may be necessary to have more than one person check for bones. Everything should now be in the gumbo. Now just wait for it to cook down; the longer you can resist the more flavorful it will be.

Eating gumbo is a completely different experience and everyone does it different ways but if you are sure to serve it over good Cajun rice and with plenty of French bread no one is bound to complain. The conversation of gumbo always seems to be more relaxed than any other meal, perhaps it is that there is often a little bit being spilt on the table or on laps perhaps even running down someone’s face. Whatever it is when the weather gets “cold” it is sure to be a good way to get family together to make it and friends together to eat it. The only way serving size can be restricted is by the size of the pot.

Animal Crackers revised

I do not understand why animal crackers are still around. These sweet crackers need to be taken off the market and never thought of again. No one in the world likes animal crackers. So why are they still around? Here is my story on why I strongly dislike them. When I hear the world animal crackers I cringe. I do not think I could describe to you how much I despise this certain crackers. I bet your wondering why did I decided to pick a food that I hate, but I think my relationship with animal crackers really does tell a lot about who I am and my strong feelings against them. It all started back in 2nd grade when everyone was eating animal crackers during snack time. My mom never bought them for me so I never ate them until snack time came. Snack time was like a fashion show; we all stood around and opened our snack bags together to see what everyone else had and to compare what we had with the newest coolest snacks. Of course I never had the coolest snack so I would try others. When I had my first animal cracker I did not particularly like it, but I thought I could learn to get to like them. That didn’t take long to change because after school one day I had a whole bag, and pretty much I got really sick, very sick and from then on I have hated them with a passion. This incident has affected me in a way that if someone near me is eating an animal cracker, I have to walk away for the fear I might vomit. If you have never had an animal cracker let me describe it to you the way I see it. It is a simple cracker in the shape of different animals ie elephant, lion, horse and it comes in a circus bag. The thing I find very unappealing about this infamous snack is that it is a sweet cracker. I think that crackers should not be sweet, but plain and not filling. They are made out of tons of sugar and graham flower. That is what makes them sweet. You would think that it should be made into a cookie but even a cookie is not that sweet.
I do not want you to think that I hate food but in fact I love food. Food is a very important thing for me. The process of selecting the meal when you are going out to eat is a very vital task and should not be taken lightly. I would be very disappointed if I went to a restaurant and I did not like the food I ordered. You are paying to eat and if you do not like what you get it can be upsetting. If you think about it food is a very big part of our culture, we even have a TV program decided to food and all the different ways you can prepare and the unique foods that are out there. It is pretty incredible how strong food is in our society.
The reason I chose to do this assignment in a negative way is because it shows a lot about me and my creativity. It’s not that I am a pessimistic person I am just very true and I know what I want. I will tell you how it is and I really appreciate people that carry that same character trait. I knew the first time I ate that animal cracker I didn’t like it but I just sucked it up and ate it anyway. Then I continued to eat them and that’s when I got sick. A first impression is extremely important to me as well and I think that tells a lot about a person if they give off a good first impression. The animal cracker I ate did not give me a good first impression. I don’t think that animal crackers explain who I am but it is my experience with these crackers that tells a story and explains a little about me. It is funny how just a taste of something can bring back very vivid memories of the incidents you have had with it. That is my dilemma with these animal crackers, everyone who knows me knows not the come near me if they are eating animal crackers . They actually have been around since 1902 and they have become a multimillion dollar industry. It was first marked as a seasonal item and now it is on every supermarket shelf. The question I ask myself is what about this cracker do I hate and how come I am one of the only ones who hate them. I want people to realize how horrible this snack is so they can discontinue them so no one else will go through that pain. My experience with animal crackers was bad but I did learn something about myself from that.

Formal Revision by Aaron Hupp

My dad was constantly moving from one place to the other because he was in the United States Air Force. That would have been fine, but with two little kids it became a heavy burden for the family to bear. At this point, we were currently stationed in Coral Springs, Florida but only for six months. Due to the short amount of time we would be spending there, my toys were locked away in storage. Little children require constant attention, especially when they have no toys, and that can drive parents to the point of breaking down. With no toys anywhere to be found, I began to search desperately for a playmate, my little sister, who was four, did not meet my much older and exceedingly more mature playing style. Furthermore, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, rather than Barbie and Ken, allowed me to rough house and to run around with my spherical cardboard weapon. Even Miss Cleo, the fortune teller, could see six months of adolescent depression in my future unless something was done immediately.
After shopping one day, we miraculously stumbled inside of a McDonalds. The previous five hours had been mortifying and full of torture because my mother forced my sister and me to endure a painful shopping trip. Upon arriving at McDonalds, I was ready to escape the ball-and-chain of my stroller. Shopping had not been the only terrifying incident: the sky was dark, and a thunderstorm, my biggest fear at the time, was brewing. So at first, I was reluctant to enter because I found comfort at home, not in a random McDonalds in Florida.
Sizzling, greasy burgers were carelessly tossed onto the grill, while large amounts of golden, crispy fries were dumped into a steaming fryer. Other fryers were pulled out and covered with salt. The outside sign read “Over one million served,” and cars swarmed the parking lot. Opening the doors of the restaurant, the long line of anticipating customers leading to the counter astounded my young blue eyes.
The term fast food seemed an oxymoron. Standing there in the long line holding mother’s hand, I would try not to step on the cracks of the little white tile floor because I believed that they were made of lava; however, as reigning lava champion of my family, I turned my attention to the large black countertop and the humongous menu that loomed over my head. “Kids cheeseburger, Mom,” I would tell her. Sadly, my special order of no onions would likely go unheeded by the uncaring employees. To be honest, those pieces of saturated fat called cheeseburgers were decent at best. Yet, my mother was ensnared by the thought of fast, inexpensive food, so we went for as long as I can remember. The arch king of the world was our dining resting place, often several times a week, and I loved McDonalds because it was more than just a restaurant. It was a place of family bonding and fun.
While this was not my first McDonalds trip, it was more than likely the most memorable, because I stumbled on a hidden treasure, a plastic bag that contained my happy meal toy. A toy! The customers received little plastic toys in their happy meals. The mastermind behind this idea was indeed a genius. He deserved a medal or even a commemorative plaque. Either way, he had a special place in my heart; my toy dilemma had been resolved. Yet, a new dilemma arose. To obtain my newly acquired prize, I had to consume my entire happy meal. Unfortunately, patience was a virtue that I lacked. Chewing was soon forgotten, and, in my great haste, I swallowed big mouthfuls of fries and cheeseburger. Forcing salty fries and an onion-filled cheeseburger down my throat disgusted and embarrassed my mother. She watched in dismay; finally, she caved. My mother unleashed my new toy car from its plastic bag, and food became an after thought. Vrooooooooom Vroooooom.. I raced my car everywhere over counters, tables, chairs, and even my little sister’s head. Happily exiting the facility with my new toy in hand, I could not wait to return to the restaurant that provided me so much joy and I think my parents had discovered a solution to our perpetual boredom.
Realizing the great deal of pleasure our trip to McDonalds provided, my parents decided it would be the perfect place to keep me fed and to supply me with a small, relatively inexpensive form of entertainment. On our next visit, the lack of a catastrophic storm allowed me further investigation into this new place of wonder. By far, this was the biggest McDonalds I had ever seen—even to this day. My mom, not willing to deal with more car noises in the restaurant, ushered me outside to play in the undiscovered playground.
Walking out, I was blinded by the large jungle gym that lay before me and was overwhelmed with the amount of kids my age; I had walked into little kid heaven. Making sure to remove my power ranger shoes and to stash them safely into one of the fifty small cubby holes, I ran and plunged into the ball pit and buried myself completely. Containing more than twenty rambunctious kids, the ball pit was enormous. From the ball pit, a large pirate net extended upward into a system of inter-webbed tubes. Multi-colored with large windows on the side, the tubes allowed me to wave to my mom before descending down the spiraling blue slide. Eventually, I found a playmate and spent the afternoon playing with him in the playground or crashing our new happy meal cars. The McDonalds happy meal had evolved from a source of nourishment to a meeting place of hyper little kids. From the toy surprises to loads of fun at the playground, McDonalds transformed my Coral Springs stay from utter loneliness to exciting adventures with the ball pit of doom.
Now a poor college student, my friends and I often journey to McDonalds to explore the dollar menu. It presents me an opportunity to reminisce and to enjoy the social atmosphere that the greasy cheeseburgers, crispy fries, and inviting play place create. I now realize that fast food restaurants provide a more social environment that almost all other foods lack. It seems ironic that a big corporation trying to make money can become a place of family bonding. That’s really all McDonalds is; it offers time to squeeze in a quick meal and even an opportunity to socialize with your family.

Paper #6

Rock N' Roll Jesus

Kid Rock’s “Rock N Roll Jesus” tells the story of a “savior” that has returned to save everyone from the devil by converting their views on music to Rock and Roll. The speaker in this song tells of a man who has come to spread the good news about this music and preach the gospel on the revival of Rock and Roll. He attempts to play off of the audience’s emotions as well as their knowledge of his credibility as an artist. This song has a religious overtone to it that can be seen as both effective and ineffective. The speaker is attempting to use Jesus and a religious theme to sway peoples’ opinions on how they should feel about the song. By the speaker referring to himself as “Rock N Roll Jesus”, he attempts to gain credibility with the audience by making them think that his movement for Rock and Roll is as credible as Jesus’ movement to spread Christianity. Although Kid Rock’s “Rock N Roll Jesus” may offend some because of its religious overtones, the song successfully conveys its intended message and is thematically consistent throughout.

“Rock N Roll Jesus” paints a clear picture for its entire audience when telling the intended message of the song. This song refers to the speaker as “Rock and Roll Jesus”, a savior for the music genre of Rock and Roll; he is back to “save” everyone that he can and convert them to Rock and Roll fans. He tells of how he is here to enlighten everyone about the Rock and Roll revival that he has started and how if he cannot gain their allegiance in time, the devil will get them.

Sittin’ high on a mountain top holdin’ shop spreadin’ the good news
Been alotta false prophets and quick hits
And a lot of un-American bullshit
But the time has come to settle and the devil’s gonna make you choose.

These lines show the religious overtone that is present throughout the song. The first line in this quote shows the speaker’s belief that he above anyone else is capable of “spreadin’ the good news” of Rock and Roll. This line also plays into the religious theme as Moses first sat on a mountain and preached his Sermon on the Mount to his followers. The next two lines tell of the speaker’s disapproval of the previous attempts to revive the genre of Rock and Roll as he speaks of “false prophets and quick hits”, or artists that have come along feeling that their songs will turn around Rock and Roll for the better. The last line tells of the speaker’s belief that if he does not save his audience and convert them to the life of Rock and Roll, the devil will make them choose. His threat of “the devil’s gonna make you choose” is a play on Kid Rock as the devil and him scaring you into choosing between a life that eventually leads to heaven, or one that leads to hell. In this case, if the speaker cannot save you to Rock and Roll, the devil will send you to hell, or a place where the life of a Rock and Roller is not present. These four lines virtually speak for the entire song in that they show the message that this song attempts to convey; that “Rock N Roll Jesus” is back to revive Rock and Roll, spread the good news about this music, and convert people to the genre.

Kid Rocks straightforward, in-your-face approach to “converting” listeners to Rock and Roll is ineffective. The speaker’s targeted audience is not as likely to respond to this type of approach, especially when dealing with religion in such a straightforward manner. The artist almost loses some of the credibility that he has as a major recording artist when he attempts to attract listeners by forcing certain beliefs on them.

It’s all sex, drugs, rock n roll
A soul sensation that you can’t control
And you can see I practice what I preach
I’m your rock n roll Jesus

These four lines show the negatives of the approach that the artist takes in delivering his message. Once hearing these lines, every bit of credibility that the speaker had is nullified. He speaks of his use of sex and drugs and the popularity that these things have in the world of Rock and Roll. The third line shows that he uses the afore mentioned when he says, “I practice what I preach.” When he follows that line with “I’m your rock n roll Jesus”, he loses any bit of trust that the audience had instilled in him as an artist. While the two things mentioned previously are growing more and more common these days, especially among younger men and women, they are not condoned by most. The speaker’s acceptance of these two controversial subjects goes a long way to turning many listeners away from this genre of music. The speaker’s repetitive mention of being “Rock N Roll Jesus” along with his stated use of sex and drugs proves that his method of attracting listeners to the Rock and Roll genre is ineffective.

The speaker in this song constructs his argument and approach to getting his message across in a risky, straightforward style. He tells his audience exactly what he wants to them to hear and/or do and does not shift around his words to make his message sound less controversial. This approach plays on both the audience’s emotions as well as their trust in the credibility of the speaker. By relying on the religious theme of the song to gain him credibility, the speaker is playing on the audience’s emotions. He is hoping that by playing on a religious theme people will feel okay about joining a cause that supports sex and drugs and is not widely accepted.

The speaker’s argument and attempt at attracting listeners to the Rock and Roll genre of music is very much ineffective. His claim that he is the “Jesus” of Rock and Roll completely denies his attempt at drawing in a new audience. His head-on approach to bringing people to his side of music is gone about in a negative way, pushing most listeners farther away from the genre than when he began his argument. He does this by not only claiming to be “Jesus” but also by speaking of his use of sex and drugs and making it apparent to the listeners that those things come with being a fan of Rock and Roll. If not already a fan, I would be completely turned off from the Rock and Roll genre after hearing this song and the argument behind it. The speaker, while staying consistent in his approach to sway listeners to Rock and Roll, does a pitiful job attempting to change the view of his audience on this particular genre because of the examples he chooses to show of the life of a Rock and Roll fan.

The Pretender

Formal Revision

Every day people have to deal with inner emotions, which can cause great strain on an individual. They stare at themselves in mirrors forced to face their own judgment. They are their worst critics. Some people cannot handle their own criticism and choose instead to hide behind a facade. They mold themselves into the person they want to be, not the person they truly are. When people transform, it affects their demeanor immensely. They feel alone and feel they are always hiding a secret. The lyrics of “The Pretender”, by Foo Fighters, address this issue by presenting an individual who is experiencing these inner emotions. The effectiveness of this song is shown through ethos and the determination of the speaker to find his true identity, and its representation of those people in the real world that have to deal with inner hardships.

“The Pretender” uses bold words like “skeletons”, “bones”, “dark”, and “enemy” to tell a story of a man who goes through life every day wearing a facade; the type of front that pleases everyone. He is sick of hiding behind this mask, and finally wants to reveal his true self. He wants to be defined as a genuine individual. The lyrics read as a motivational speech. The speaker’s goal is to encourage himself to stop pretending to be something he is not. He does not want to hide any more secrets. He cannot emotionally deal with the fact that he is living a lie. By thinking in a positive light, he motivates himself to inspire himself to be that genuine individual he dreams to be.

In “The Pretender”, the man is speaking to himself in an annoyed way because he is irritated of being something he is not. The lyrics read, “Send in your skeletons/…The secrets that you keep are at the ready/ Are you ready?/ I’m finished making sense/ Done pleading ignorance/ That whole defense” (ll. 5-12). He is admitting that he is finished with his mask and is tired of hiding behind secrets. He does not want to pretend anymore. This internal conflict he is dealing with can also be seen in lines 39 through 42. It reads, “I’m the voice inside your head/ You refuse to hear/ I’m the face that you have to face/ Mirrored in your stare.” These lines reveal that the character is experiencing emotional hardships. He is explaining to himself how he is the only person he has to deal with every day. When he looks into the mirror, he is the one starring back; the one who stares back and judges. He is his own enemy. The one person that can destroy his soul and bring him to his knees is himself. He wants all his internal problems to settle, so he can face himself and not experience a feeling of judgment. The chorus reads, “What if I say I’m not like the others?/ What if I say I’m not just another one of your plays/ You’re the pretender/ What if I say that I’ll never surrender?” These words create a picture of a man looking in the mirror talking as if he were two people. He proclaims he will never surrender to the pretender. The pretender is the man’s fake self; the mask he has worn all his life. The man wants to get rid of this fake self and will destroy the mask until he reaches his true identity.

“The Pretender” uses the technique of ethos and presents a solid argument referencing inner hardships. This is displayed in the lyrics by presenting a male character who refers to his credibility as a person. The speaker continually says “What if I say I’m not like the others?/ What if I say I’m not just another one of your plays”. These are strong lines directed to his struggle within his double self; the one hiding behind the mask and the one searching to find his true identity. The man tries to prove his credibility by describing his determination to his audience, which is himself. He says he is a strong person who will never surrender to the facade he used to hide behind. In lines 25 through 27, it says, “In time our soul untold/ I’m just another soul for sale… oh, well/ The page is out of print.” These lines justify the man’s annoyance of being a “soul for sale,” revealing that he was not living the life he wanted. He is done going through life pleasing everyone around him. The man continues to motivate himself, so he does not get thrown off the course of finding his true identity. He repeatedly says, “So who are you?/ Yeah, who are you?” This is the question that lingers on his mind. He wants to be able to answer that question, and he will not stop searching until it is answered. All these intricate details and key phrases add to the effectiveness of ethos in “The Pretender”. The man is credible because he is determined to prove to himself that he is capable of growing as a person. The argument of inner struggles is strong because the lyrics provide an example of a man going through these inner fights. The pretender no longer has to be the pretender.

“The Pretender” presents an interesting story of a man’s inner struggle with himself. The song uses ethos to add to the credibility of its main character, and its credibility to the listener. This is shown through the lines, which portray the man looking into a mirror fighting to find his true identity. The image created through the lyrics may reach out to some listeners to come out from behind their mask. It is a deep, well-written song that addresses the inner struggles of people. So for those who are not being their genuine selves, it is time to stop pretending.

Essay 6 -Formal Revision

When a truly great thing enters your life, you don’t always take notice. Maybe you don’t notice the entrance because the importance gradually grows, or maybe you don’t realize its importance until that great thing has become rare or even gone. I can’t remember the first time I ate Bojangles, or even the first time I heard of it. I can’t remember how it tasted or smelled the first time. But I can remember the many times I’ve conversed with friends, held Bible study, watched a game, tailgated, even made monumental decisions with a plate of Bojangles in front of me.

If you are not from North Carolina or a bordering state, chances are you have never experienced the culinary wonder that is Bojangles. It’s fairly simple, with the focus of the chain on their “Famous Chicken and Biscuits”. Bojangles’ chicken can be ordered either Cajun style or Southern, as tenders, pieces, or on a biscuit. It’s juicy and flavorful, and is perfectly complemented by the white, rectangular packs of honey mustard. By the way, this isn’t just any honey mustard. The only honey mustard you can have with Bojangles’ chicken is Bojangles’ honey mustard – nothing else works. Bojangles’ honey mustard has a sweetness that manages to dull the Cajun spices of the chicken to the point that your mouth doesn’t catch on fire without completely drowning the taste out. Instead of the typical “side items”, Bojangles has aptly named Southern “fixin’s”, such as mashed potatoes, dirty rice, corn on the cob, and, my personal favorite, seasoned fries. The fries are rectangular and flat, seasoned with a judicious amount of salts and spices, crispy on the outside, and warm and soft on the inside. They are perfectly complemented by the afore-mentioned honey mustard. It’s only been a matter of weeks since I last had my fix, but it seems like years since I’ve opened one of Bojangles’ steaming yellow boxes of chicken and fries.

Now, as good as the chicken and fixin’s are, Bojangles’ two claims to fame in the Carolinas are the biscuits and the sweet tea. The biscuits are fluffy and warm with a slightly crunchy, buttery outer crust. Bojangles’ biscuits serve as a sort of ‘rite of passage’ at my high school, as a highlight of getting my driver’s license was that I could go to Bojangles before school and parade the white, grease-stained bag to class. As hard as I have tried, I haven’t been able to find sweet tea in Alabama that begins to compare to Bojangles’. There really aren’t words to describe Bojangles’ sweet tea that do it justice – of course it’s sweet and cold and refreshing. But it’s fresh-brewed and never tastes like on of those nasty mixes. The tea settles the spicy Cajun flavors that linger just under the crust of the chicken.

Bojangles stands out in my memories of high school because it marked little, seemingly insignificant moments. When I go to Bojangles, I always save the last few bites of biscuit in the flimsy paper fry sack to take to my horse, Gamble. Gamble is distantly related to the great racehorse Seabiscuit, and his affinity for Bojangles has earned him the nickname “Bo-biscuit”. It seems fitting that my horse’s favorite food is the same as mine, as he taught me by snuffling an empty box I left too close to his stall. One bite, and Gamble, as I had, became hooked. On crisp fall nights, my friends and I would crowd onto the football practice fields, clad in Green Machine shirts and with Bojangles in hand, to tailgate before home football games.

There are two Bojangles locations that I frequented back home. The road from my home to Waxhaw must have had my tire marks burned in its memory from my many trips. Every Sunday during the fall, I’d leave church at 11 and hop into my old car, a little blue Jetta, and trek down Providence to pick up my game day meal. My sister and I would speed home to catch the pre-game show and enjoy our chicken with Steve Smith, Julius Peppers, and the rest of the team. Bojangles is the official tailgater of the Carolina Panthers, so it was a natural way to support them. The second location was on Highway 51 in South Carolina, a four or five minute drive from the Morrison Family YMCA, and I’d swing by on my way home from work a little too often.

Aside from the tasty food, Bojangles also has an amazing ability rarely found in the genre of fast food. It is, in fact, a cure-all for whatever is ailing me. I was an after school counselor at the YMCA, which backs up to a very nice patch of woods. As one can imagine, this is a favorite place for runaway kids to flee. After a particularly frustrating incident with a disillusioned 7 year old who sulked in the woods for 15 minutes, a 32 ounce, 77 cent sweet tea chased my headache away in a flash. When I bombed (another) Calculus test and watched my GPA sink into oblivion, a kid’s Chicken Supremes with fries and honey mustard momentarily made me forget my recent academic atrocities. A headache or heartbreak can be cured by a simple stop at the drive-through window, and it’s a medicine I’ve sorely missed since my arrival in Tuscaloosa.

Remember that part in the beginning where I said that sometimes you don’t realize how truly great something is until it’s gone? It comes into play here. I was all set on coming to Tuscaloosa, when I realized a slight problem. There is exactly one, okay, maybe two, Bojangles in the entire state of Alabama. I know for a fact there is one in some city that starts with D, and despite my limited grasp of Alabama geography, I know it is nowhere near Tuscaloosa. I grappled with this truth for quite sometime, but I couldn’t honestly not attend the University because my favorite restaurant isn’t nearby, or so I reckoned. My parents came to visit, promising a box of biscuits and a jug of sweet tea, but arrived empty-handed, having missed the last opportunity in Georgia. It will be another month before I return to Charlotte, but I can already detect the faint scent of a biscuit, the seasoning on the fries, and taste that sweet tea waiting for me across the Alabama state line.

"Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth" paper 6

“Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth,” written by Willie Nelson is a song protesting Bush’s decision to send troops to Iraq. This song primarily uses pathos, although logos has been incorporated as well. Nelson’s message is that America was unwittingly sent in to fight a war in Iraq; he points this out by articulating the issues many people have stated in the four years since we entered the war. His arguments are weakened by the fact that his political leanings are already well known to most, and ultimately those that agree with him will feel very in tune with this song, and those that do not will dismiss this as more liberal music from Willie Nelson.

The message is clearly anti-war. Nelson believes there are so “many things going on in the world” today, such as poverty, abuse, and crimes, that we should be focusing on these instead of sending soldiers to Iraq, a place that was not a significant threat to the United States before we invaded. The government tells us to “believe everything that they tell us” on the news and in the papers; therefore, Bush announces that “they [are] [going to] kill us;” we automatically assume “we [need to] kill them first,” due to what we have been previously told. Therefore we have thousands of innocent men and women serving our country in Iraq because a group of political citizens thought it was the best thing to do at the time.

Nelson continues giving references from his strong Christian belief with examples of Commandments written in the Bible. Do the Christian citizens of our country really follow their values of faith? Christianity is the largest religion in the United States, yet we are still in a country killing innocent Iraqi’s because we are afraid that they might invade our country first. Is it really ethical to be in that country violating “a commandment, thou shall not kill,” because we are afraid? This is a clear attempt by Nelson to take the religious beliefs of those he assumes are supporting the war and use those beliefs to strengthen his own argument. Applying principles of Christianity to the war in Iraq drives a powerful wedge between supporters’ favor of President Bush’s policies and their Christian beliefs. This wedge could crack the dam of support for the war and increase support for anti-war legislation and candidates.

Nelson’s goal is to get the citizens of the United States, his audience, to understand his view that the invasion of Iraq was wrong. He is persuasive in this song through the use of logos by applying his audience’s religious principles to the war. He in effect says if these are the rules of your belief system, then why is the war an exception to those principles. If you truly believe that these are the essential tenets of your faith then you must apply them to the war. For example, in verse two line four, he states, “But I remember a commandment; Thou shall not kill,” referencing a Commandment from the Bible to make the anti-war case.

Pathos is the hypotenuse of his triangular approach; he really tries to inspire his audience to feel the devastation of the war in Iraq. In the first verse lines one through three, he states, “There's so many things going on in the world; Babies dying; Mothers crying.” Nelson really begins to move his audience to feel the pain and suffering in the first verse. This messaging is in an effort to have his audience feel the pain and suffering so that they are motivated to push for change. Relying on the logic of applying religious principles and sympathy for the pain and suffering of the war, is designed to stir his audience to action or at least a reevaluation of its current support for the war.

The chorus, “And the bewildered herd is still believing; Everything we've been told from our birth; Hell they won't lie to me; Not on my own damn TV; But how much is a liar's word worth; And whatever happened to peace on earth,” He uses symbolism such as “the bewildered herd,” calling us confused Americans, making biblical references to indicate that his audience is following the herd and not applying the principles of its faith. The government’s message is a lie and that everyone is following it without question. Nelson is challenging members of his audience to think for themselves and apply their religious beliefs and moral beliefs to the war.

The song is well constructed, as it takes a traditionally right wing pro war vehicle like the Bible and uses it to support anti-war sentiments. Unfortunately, it was sung by Willie Nelson, whose credibility among the pro-war Republicans is extremely low. In asking ourselves if this song effectively laid out an anti-war argument, the answer is yes. Nelson used a blend of biblical principles combined with the pain and suffering of war to drive his message through to the religious right. However, if a political song’s success is measured by the changes that occur as a result of the song, then the answer would be that the song did not achieve its purpose. We are a nation so divided that it is unlikely anyone who does not already agree with Nelson would even listen to the message in the song.

Quoted material from song lyrics, "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth"

Essay # 6 ANNA BANANA THE REAL DEAL

Times change. Things and people come and go in our lives, yet in our hearts what really matters stays the same. A real, lasting joy for me, comes from those gatherings of family and friends to mark special occasions. The highlight of these gatherings is always food. From birth to twilight, memories at our house are built around food. My mother has a collection of wonderful recipes and we enjoy them time and time again. My favorite is the banana pudding. The banana pudding is so spectacular that we cannot have a family gathering without it!

There is nothing “instant” about the banana pudding at our house. My mother’s recipe is old and authentic. She got it from the Blue Moon Cookbook. The Blue Moon Inn was an old restaurant located in downtown Montgomery, and like all the old famous restaurants in Montgomery, it has ceased to exist. As for this recipe, I am sure it is the best one to be found anywhere. My mother has a massive cookbook collection and she makes a habit of trying out recipes from many cookbooks before she finds the “right one.” Such is the history of this banana pudding.

The recipe is not complicated but the ingredients and procedure must be very precise. It may take some time to create but the end results are worth it. I think it is safe to say that a good banana pudding is welcomed anywhere. Because my grade in this class is dependent on this essay I am going to share this treasure with my readers.
Banana Pudding

½ cup sugar (Dixie Crystals brand is best to use)
2 Tablespoons flour (White Lily all purpose)
Pinch of salt (Kosher preferred)
2 cups milk (we use half and half)
3 egg yolks (extra large size eggs)
1 teaspoon vanilla (we use a bit more vanilla than called for and always pure vanilla )
Box of vanilla wafers (actually Murray’s or Bud’s are better for this than Nilla Vanilla wafers and cheaper too)
4 to 6 ripe bananas ( judge by size)
1 cup real cream, whipped (can use more if a thicker topping is desired)

The ingredients are basic, but they are of high quality. The same procedure is followed each time the pudding is made. Begin by making a custard of sugar, flour, salt, milk and egg yolks. To be honest, we actually double the custard recipe. That is one of the secrets of this dish. Mom puts twice the amount of the custard ingredients in a mid-size pot on the stovetop. She beats the egg yolks with a fork before adding them—she gives the egg whites to the cats but you could use them for another purpose. Turn the stove on medium and stir constantly to blend the ingredients and make sure it doesn’t scorch on the bottom. She uses a wooden spoon for stirring. This takes what seems like an eternity. There is no set time for it to cook-- just until it gets thick and gets to that pudding consistency. Many times Mom goes on to make another dish while I watch and stir the custard. Along with cooking the custard, the first layer of vanilla wafers can be put in the serving dish. Line one layer along the bottom of the dish. Do this and watch the custard at the same time. You don’t need to cut the bananas at this point because they will turn dark once they are cut. After the pudding is as thick as desired on the stovetop it needs to be removed from the heat and let cool. We put it under the ceiling fan on the kitchen counter. It does not have to be very cool—just warm when you add the vanilla and stir. Now, it is time to put the pudding together. Cover the layer of vanilla wafers with sliced bananas. Pour over this, ½ the custard, repeat with another layer of wafers and bananas. Cover with remaining custard. The custard prevents the bananas from turning dark. By doubling the custard recipe there is plenty of rich custard to cover the wafers and bananas. There should be no skimping on the custard! Plus, there will be spoonful or so left in the pot to savor and eat right on the spot. If the custard is good, you know the pudding will be too. The last step is to beat the whip cream with a mixer until it is firm and stands up in the bowl. At this point we add two or three tablespoons of regular sugar to sweeten the cream (you must taste to know how much to add) and add some vanilla. Then, top the pudding with this rich stuff—don’t skimp on the topping either! Refrigerate until ready to serve—if there is no time to chill it then serve it warm.

Another very important part of this banana pudding is it’s presentation. It is always put together in a large- footed, crystal, trifle bowl. The bowl, along with its twelve- inch pedestal stands about eighteen inches in height. The banana pudding always stands out among the other selections on the dessert table. On it’s pedestal, it appears to be the “king” dessert and the other desserts are its subjects.

Regardless of the occasion, we serve the banana pudding in the same crystal trifle bowl. My sisters and I insist on it—even if it is a picnic at the lake. We don’t even complain when one of us has to gingerly coddle it in her lap in the car until it reaches its destination. So you can see, it is not just the soothing, rich taste of the pudding that makes it so spectacular—it is the presentation as well. Who would think a plain, country, southern dessert could look so elegant?

This well-rounded dessert brings comfort and joy to all who savor it. It is the perfect compliment to life’s celebrations: Christmas, Easter, funerals, homecomings, graduations, and other milestones.

As I review the assets of my banana pudding, I can honestly say that my pudding is a real treat for anyone fortunate enough to sample its fabulous taste. Please just put yourself at the end of the spoon as my banana pudding goes down soft and creamy, with a taste that will make any meal fit for a king. I can now say that the writing of this paper has made my taste buds crave some of my banana pudding. I can’t wait until Christmas day when I will taste it again. If I am what I eat then I should be one sweet, desirable woman that brings smiles and is welcomed everywhere.

Essay 6-Revision of Conquering Racism

Conquering Racism

Trying to get out of the rain I entered the art gallery in Woods Hall and noticed that the room was very open with plenty of space in between each piece of art to give them their own little viewing area. As I was walking through, the first piece of art to catch my eye was a very simple picture that seemed only to be taped to the wall. The picture was of an aged African American man wearing a dark flat bill hat that had the words “World War II Veteran” stitched onto the front. This picture labeled “Rufus Davis” was taken by a man named Jonathon Purvis of the SynArts Cotillion. I am not completely sure what it was about this simple black and white picture that caught my eye but as I stood there and looked at the picture I began to realize that it was the simplicity of the picture that brought such a powerful message to me. At first glance the old man’s face looked stern and hard for a man with a scruffy mustache and wrinkled skin, but when I looked a little closer and into his eyes I noticed the old man’s apparent sadness. As I noticed his heartbroken face, I felt a tingling rise up my spine. I wondered if this man had really fought to defend our country or if this was just some guy wearing a hat. I realized this tingling sensation was the feeling of patriotism and respect for the people who have sacrificed so much for our country. In my opinion, the old man’s face has the look of a man that has been deeply scarred and had experienced a lot throughout his long life. However, despite his pains and suffering brought from the war and the racism of old times the old man wears his veteran’s hat proudly demanding respect from whomever he comes in contact with.

The next piece of art I chose to write about from the exhibit was an untitled picture with the initials L.B.M. 07 written into the bottom of the picture depicting Muhammad Ali. This framed drawing at first seemed to be of the famous fight between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston in which Ali knocked out Liston, but as I looked at it I noticed that in place of Liston is a robot gorilla whose body has been dismembered with his head knocked off. In this black and white picture, Ali stands swaggering in the boxing ring over his defeated opponent tensing his muscles after delivering his final blow to the gorilla robot. When I first saw this drawing I could not help but notice that the audience in the background was largely made up of white males, which added to the large amount of racial details among this piece of art. After seeing this it made me think of all the struggles and grief Muhammad had to fight that through to get to where he was in his boxing career, everything from his difficulties with the government draft and his fight with racism.

Both of the pieces I have written about deal strongly with our older black generation defeating racism. In the “Rufus Davis” picture the war veteran has apparently fought in a war for a country of whites who were degrading and disrespectful to this man’s entire race. Despite his treatment this man fights for the country that he calls home and fights for the hope that one day he can be treated equally with the white race. The same applies for the picture of Muhammad Ali in that he lived in a time full of racism and violence and fought to become champion of a sport that had been for centuries a white man’s sport. Through Muhammad’s fighting he became a champion and a hero to many people pushing for change in the times of which racism and hatred was at its strongest. Both of these men are fighting against racism but they are both fighting it in their own different ways. This is a great accomplishment for these African American men whom during these times must have constantly been strong to achieve their goals and overcome the animosity of racism.

In contrast both of these people in the artwork are at a different point in their lives. Muhammad is shown fighting in his prime where his career is at an apex, whereas the picture of Rufus was taken far past his prime towards the probable end of his life. Ali’s life was probably a bit more luxurious and less along the lines of just making ends meat compared to Rufus’s life in which he was probably constantly doing hard labor and barely getting by to support his family or even just himself up until he joined the military.

Each piece of art from Muhammad Ali to Rufus Davis and the many other pieces in the art exhibit each have their own meeting and story behind it. By attending the SynArts Cotillion art exhibit I have been able to expand my ability to write beyond sitting in the classroom and into the real world of writing about things out in the world. I also learned by attending the exhibit that there is more to art galleries than wealthy people walking around sipping their wines, but that art is for everyone willing to expand their creativity and inspire thought in people.

Formal Revision Paper #4

Tool is a band with several albums and many side projects but the song Vicarious seemed to scream out to me as one with a clear-cut message. You could go so far as to say that the even the title “bares all” for the song just by the definition of the word vicarious. The song’s message is that of an eye-opener to today’s generation of people drowning in self-denial over terms like “politically correct” the belief we must please everyone. The song’s message also seems to appeal to people who are more content to stay at home and watch TV or stare into a computer screen than actually go outside and do something themselves. Using such phrases as “devour to survive”, “stare like a junkie into the TV”, and “blood to a vampire” Vicarious is able to paint a clear picture of the way our society today feeds off the misfortune or prosperity of others.
My definition of vicarious is experiencing something secondhand or “through something else” such as the television. The song preys on the audience’s emotions, calling forth disturbing images from the artist in the mind’s eye to create a logical argument about the state of people’s lives. The song claims that we all “live vicariously” through the TV shows, movies, and news of today. I believe the song actually holds water in this respect, especially with the onset of the internet and the many technological innovations of our society. The natural adrenal and endorphin responses we receive just from watching someone do something exciting or even dying are what the song picks at. Can you deny the fact that there is a severe mental dependency bordering addiction in many people concerning obsession with the lives of others? Some may say obsession is too strong of a term to be used when describing their own experiences and if that applies to you, then consider the word curiosity instead. The song’s mission seems to be to talk about these characteristics of the human psyche openly, unlike many songs. The juicier the drama or the more horrible the tragedy the more people are inclined to watch and investigate.
If you take a good hard look at our major media they cover many topics such as the war in the Middle East, the current state of the world, and the day to day lives of the stars or other “important” people in the public’s eyes. The news also emphasizes murders, murderers and any other form of criminal activity. Some of the lyrics greatly enforce the idea that we as people are mesmerized by the troubles of others and the plight of criminals, like:
"Killed by the husband/Drowned by the ocean/Shot by his own son/She used a poison in his tea and kissed him goodbye/that’s my kind of story”. It's no fun 'til someone dies.” The artist not only uses samplings of our day to day media in this news-ticker like way to portray “us” as a vicarious creature but himself as well. “Cause I need to watch things die
from a distance Vicariously, I Live while the whole world dies you all need it too - don't lie.” These lyrics are used to relate to the human populace as a whole by depending on the credibility of the artist as a fellow human being. The stark imagery that these particular lyrics portray is very useful in persuading a reader/listener to identify with the artist. The artist portrays himself as being able to say something that is usually kept secret, out loud and to everyone.
The argument of the artist is well constructed and is well suited for convincing its audience. The song uses the theory of survival of the fittest and appeals to the more primitive and instinctual aspects of the human psyche. These primal needs are explained with the lines, “The universe is hostile So impersonal Devour to survive So it is, so it's always been ...” The argument may not cause everyone who listens to the song to realize how reliant they are on the experiences of others but I believe a good portion of people could easily relate to the thoughts that are expressed in Vicarious. I think the best phrase that could describe this song is “misery loves company” and the misfortune of others makes people feel better about any bad experiences in their own lives. Despite the song’s cryptic messages I believe that it accomplishes its goal of giving, if only a few people, a new perspective on their feelings. I also believe the song allows people to identify with a whole world full of people, even if they are in denial of what they feel.

Gumbo Days (formal revision)

The gigantic silver pot that housed the tastiest meal even a king could fathom, sat dominating our white kitchen stove. To my young six year old eyes, the pot was intimidating as hot steam billowed out of the sides, cascading slowly across the counter. My nose tickled and wrinkled as I smelled the "spicy air." I glanced across the kitchen to the clock; it was only 2:00. There were still three agonizing hours to endure until dinner would be ready. I watched and watched the clock hoping that it might possibly speed up, bypassing time, and allowing dinner to be ready sooner. However, I was not lucky enough for time to warp. The clock still ticked slowly away as it always did. The highly anticipated meal inched by as I had expected.

I can remember the first time I ever tasted Gumbo. I was six years old and just old enough to want to try new things. The thought of Chicken Nuggets or PB&J no longer excited me. I wanted to try what my entire family was eating, what they raved about, and what they had been slaving over all day. I wanted to eat gumbo! I can remember sitting at the table and looking down at the seemingly giant bowl filled with the brown liquid. The steam made my face warm as a I peered at my anticipated dinner. I dipped my saltine cracker in the gumbo as I waited for it to cool. My lips burned as I held a spoonful of gumbo next to them. As the vegetables, rice, and seafood entered my mouth, I new I was in love.

I wonder now if I actually wanted to eat it, or if I wanted to experience it. It may sound odd, experiencing a food; but to me, gumbo is an experience. It is far more than the mere taste; it’s the anticipation, the actual process of cooking it, and more importantly the family. Gumbo is something unique. It is not like spaghetti, mac and cheese, or that odd chicken casserole my mom tends to make quite frequently. Gumbo is rare and we do not have it for dinner often. It did not matter what the plans were, if my grandmother announced that we were cooking gumbo, all plans were temporarily canceled. My uncle canceled his dates; my parents appointments were canceled; and my brother and I would skip practice or an event we had planned.

When family friends have the honor of joining my family for a gumbo dinner they always ask for the recipe. But they never receive it. Among other things, the recipe for my grandmother's gumbo is a family secret. It is not written down in a cookbook or on a note card. Instead, it is locked away in the mind of my grandmother, mother, and now me. I have watched my grandmother make it many times and she never makes it the same way twice. “It’s still a work in progress,” she always says. Regardless, I always watch with meticulous attention. Even though I know the recipe and secret ingredients, I have not yet mastered the art of gumbo. I do however have high hopes that I might one day be able to craft such a delectable dish.

On a typical “Gumbo Day” the day starts off early. When I say early, I don’t mean a late lunch early, I mean before the rooster crows early. We all start by dragging our exhausted bodies out of the beds and begin chopping the bags and bags of okra, tomatoes, bell-peppers, onions, and celery. Since I have the advantage of living in Mobile, Alabama, which is on the Gulf Coast, our seafood is fresh. To prepare for the gumbo, the crab traps must be re-baited early in an effort to collect the treasured Gulf Coast Blue Crabs. The shrimp, if we did not catch them ourselves, must be bought as soon as they arrive at Skinners Seafood on Dauphin Island. A few hours later the crab traps must be emptied, the crabs must be washed, boiled and cleaned. The claws are dismembered from the bodies and the gills which are called “devil fingers” are removed. The pounds and pounds of shrimp must be individually peeled and de-headed, then washed. All the while, more vegetables are being chopped and the numerous spices are added to the roux. The perfect roux, consisting of a delectable combination of flour and butter, browned to just the right consistency and shade, is what sets our gumbo apart from the others. Anyone can add vegetables, but only the gumbo veterans can make a perfect roux. For the next several hours, the big silver pot must be constantly stirred over and over with a gigantic wooden spoon. All the while, the addicting aroma fills the house like a fog.

No one person can successfully make a pot of gumbo. To make a successful pot it takes a fleet. Delegation must take place to accomplish the daring task. It takes some to diligently chop the veggies, someone to handle the sometimes dangerous crabs, and several to peel the shrimp. Typically when my family makes gumbo, everyone helps, whether they want to or not. Even my brother, who despises cooking, drags himself away from his love of fishing and helps.

Since there are so many people in the kitchen, jokes and stories are always exchanged. Given my family, more jokes are told than stories. Maybe this is one reason why I love the gumbo experience. I love making it with everyone. Sitting at the counter and meticulously chopping greens does not seem as bad when your sides are ripping with laughter. It is also amazing to have my family all together at one time, especially at the beach. Usually, my brother and I are on the boat, my mom is lying out, and my dad is fishing. But, when it is a gumbo day everyone is in the kitchen. It might be because my grandmother demands extra hands or maybe it is because they love the sense of family as well.

Some of my favorite memories of my grandfather, Poppy are during gumbo days. He would beg and plead my grandmother to make it, but she would agree only if he helped in the process. I can remember him dragging himself sluggishly to the counter. He shuffled his feet across the hardwood floor and always grumbled something incomprehensible underneath his breath. He acted like he hated it, but he knew it was worth it at the end. I can distinctly remember sitting at the counter and hearing him tell his hilarious and sometimes inappropriate jokes. Now that he is gone, making gumbo always reminds me of him.

Gumbo is, without a doubt, a family meal. A pot of gumbo does not make one or two servings. It makes about thirty. That alone implies that it is a meal cooked for the masses. For my graduation party, we cooked gumbo for the guests. For the workers who helped after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ivan, we cooked gumbo for them. And for family and friends, we make gumbo. Whenever we cook it you can expect a crowd. Like I said, gumbo is more than the mere taste, it is an experience in its own.

essay 6

Jim McKenzie 4

Most people would agree that the American society is based largely off of the pride of our country. Usually when there is a national tragedy the American public needs some sort of coming together to help coupe with the tragedy. After the terrorists attacks on 9/11 Americans needed something that would help ease the pain of our fallen brothers and sisters. When Toby Keith wrote the song Courtesy of the Red, White, and the Blue, also known as the Angry American song, many people thought that it brought our nation closer together and helped deal with our tragedy. Even though this song helped unite many citizens of the United States, what does this song actually mean?

The first step of understand the song is knowing who the speaking is talking to. The song first starts off with the lines “American girls and American guys”. This immediately lets us know who the speaker is talking to. In the second line he says the word “we”. This lets us know that he is also part of the audience. The reader now knows that they have something in common and this will let them relate to each other better. This lets the audience know he is also an American who loves his country. The speaker says in the beginning of the song “My daddy served in the army when he lost his right eye but flew a flag out in our yard until the day that he died”. We now know much more about who the audience is when he says these lines. The speaker is talking to people who have served in the army or have a very close friend or relative that has served. The speaker can relate to this audience because he had a father who was in the military. These lines also let us know that even though his father lost an eye in the war he still flew his flag until he died. Even though he was affected by the war in a negative way his father never stopped loving his country. The next step in analyzing this song is to figure out what it is about.

In the first line of the third stanza the speaker says “Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack. A mighty sucker punch came flyin in from somewhere in the back”. This immediately lets his audience now that this song is going to be some sort of retaliation to the fact that some sort of enemy has attacked America without warning. The speaker then goes on to talk about as “Soon as we see clearly through our big black eye man, we lit up your world like the 4th of July”. The speaker is talking about retaliation in these lines. This means that once America has recovered from this tragedy and pulled together as one nation that they are going to attack with full force and pride. He then goes on to say how American icons are angered by the situation and are going to come at the enemy head on. He says “Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list and the statue of Liberty started shakin her fist”. Obviously these are two of the main American icons. They both represent freedom and that is what America is all about. The speaker also says “And the eagle will fly man, its going to be hell when you hear mother freedom start ringin her bell and it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you brought to you courtesy of the red white and blue”. This is without a doubt a very bold statement saying that the American army is going to retaliate. When they do retaliate the enemy is going to wish that they had never attacked the USA. When the speaker says that “Justice will be served and the battle will rage this big dog will fight when you rattle his cage and youll be sorry that you messed with the u.s. of a. cause well put a boot in your ass it’s the American way”. This stanza is probably the most popular and meaningful stanza to many people. This shows our enemies that no matter who attacks our country they will not get away with it without a fight. These lines touch the most audiences because it lets them know that we will not just let someone take away our freedom. We have to fight so we can have freedom. And then you will be sorry that you ever even thought about picking a fight with our country. This song comes right out and tells you in the lyrics that America is a country based on freedom and our citizens are going to do everything in their power to make sure our freedom is protected even if it means going to war.

The song without a doubt uses pathos. Pathos is where the speaker uses emotions to affect his audience. In the song the speaker obviously uses pathos when he talks about America being sucker punched in the back. Anytime someone’s country is attacked it is obviously going to leave unwanted pain. The speaker knows this and uses people’s emotions to get a rise out of people and to make people hopefully support retaliating back. He also uses pathos when he talks about how his father lost his right eye in a war. Whenever a friend or family member is affected in a negative way from war it is always going to leave scars on other people too. The speaker knows this because he has experienced it and knows other people have also experienced it. The song is purely about American Pride, something that our country has and will always have.
In the end I know Toby Keith’s song had a huge effect on the American people. People over the United States pushed to go to war. They wanted to make sure people knew America would not just give up and let someone attack them. Obviously this song not only had an effect on the American people, but also on the Government because we ended up going to war.

formal revision

Jeff Aycock 4

September 11, 2001 was one of the greatest tragedies that America has ever experienced. After that tragedy many artiest tried to write songs to explain what happened, what we should do, or just to help people realize what happened. Right after the attack there were a lot of emotions going through everyone’s head and I believe that the music industry tried to do their best to use their music to calm the American Citizens minds. One of the greatest songs that was written after September 11 was a song by Alan Jackson called “Where Were You When the World stopped turning.” The song made you think about what you were feeling, and thinking when the attack happed; Have you ever heard the song and thought about it real hard to what it is trying to convey to you. In this song Alan Jackson is talking directly to the American Citizens about what happened on September 11, and how they feel about the war that is going on. He starts the song out by asking questions. For example the first stanza says, “Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day Out in the yard with your wife and children Working on some stage in LA Did you stand there in shock at the site of That black smoke rising against that blue sky Did you shout out in anger In fear for your neighbor Or did you just sit down and cry.”
He wants you to think about what you were doing, feeling, and thinking at the time of the attack and reflect on how you feel about the war that is going on right now. You will definitely realize this in the first stanza of the song. In the first stanza he wants you to think where you were when the attack actually happened.
In the first stanza he uses the logos, which is difined by argument based on logic or reason giving specific examples of where people might have been. For example the second and third lines of the song state “Out in the yard with your wife and children working on a stage in LA.” Those first two lines of the song could definitely be places where an American citizen could have been. Then he goes on for four more lines to give a couple more possibilities of where people might have been. When you hear the first stanza it makes you stop to think about where you actually were when the towers fall.
In the second and third stanza he uses ethos, which is defined by appeal based on the character of the speaker, by singing about the emotion that you might have had felt. For example in the first line of the second stanza states “Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones,” which is talking about the families that had lost their families or closest friends in the attack. Then in the third stanza he changes the emotion from weeping, crying, and sad to being proud. He was able to do this by saying “Did you burst out in pride for the red white and blue.” Now the mood of the song changed and instead of being sad now he wants you to feel proud to be an American.
In the fourth stanza he uses logos and pathos by giving examples about himself and how he’s a leader. He is trying to convey to the reader or the listener that he is not the most intelligent man but he knows what is right and what is wrong. In the second line of the fourth stanza it say “I’m not a real political man I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran But I know Jesus and I talked to God.” Then the last two lines of that stanza states “And I remember this from when I was young faith hope and love are some good things he gave us but the greatest is love.” Throughout those lines he is trying to tell us that he is not sure of all the details but as long as we believe in God he will help us though this rough time in country. When he is telling us this I think he is absolutely correct in saying this. I agree with him that as long as we believe in God it will be ok Even though we do not know all the answers. The fifth stanza resembles the first stanza in the use of logos again and asks the reader questions about where were you and what were you doing. The only difference in this stanza is that he gives a lot more places and things that people could have been doing. He does this to reiterate the fact that he wants you to remember exactly where you where and what you were feeling so that you will not forget about what a terrible tragedy it really was, and so you will not lose pride in our country. The idea of pride comes out in this song when he is asking us what we think about the firemen that risk their lives by going in to the burning building to say live. He wants you to feel proud of your country that no matter what happens There are people in your country there to help you at all cost.
In the last couple stanzas which I believe are the most important is just like the fourth stanza word for word and the only this that changes is three lines at the end of the song. He definitely uses pathos again; I say this because he is trying to lead the reader or listener to believe that as long as you believe in God he is going to get us through the down fall that the country has taken because he loves us . How I know this is because the second to last stanza talks about what God has given us and in the last stanza all it says is “The greatest is love The greatest is love.” He again just wants to make sure that you know that God loves you and loves is his GREATEST gift.
He ends the song with one line and that line is the title of the song “Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day.” This is the most powerful line in the song because when the song ends it leaves you hanging and stunned and makes you think about what really happened to our country that day and how it affected you. In the last line of the song it makes you go back and think about the entire song over again in your head.

Essat 6

Jeff Hurn

Mom's Perfect Mixture

Rodman passes in the ball to Pippen. Five….. Four…. Pippen passes the ball to Jordan. Three…. Two…. Jordan fakes the shot and dribbles past the defender. One…. Jordan shoots the fade away from the three point line. EEEEEERRRGGGHH. The buzzer sounds just as the ball rolls off the tips of my fingers. The ball rolls around the old, bent, and rusty rim for an eternity before it eventually descends through the net. Whoooo!!! Bulls Win!!

About the time that I start celebrating the game winning shot of Game 7 of the NBA championship game that I had just made, my mom slings the side door open and calls me in for supper. “JEFFREY, the food is about ready!” I pick-up my old worn out basketball off of the naked spot in my yard. There is not a lot of grass around my basketball goal because the ground was worn out from the many imaginary championship games played there.

It is another typical hot, humid north Alabama summer day. Sweat pours from my smaller eleven year old frame like water rushing over a windshield covered with rain-x during a rain storm. The temperature is probably around 92 degrees but it feels like 110 degrees. I walk in through the side door of my house and my father greets me with, “So did Jordan make the game winning shot for the Bulls today?” I chuckle a little bit, nod my head, and reply, “of course I made the shot.” My mother forces me to get a quick shower before supper because I am covered with a gross mixture of grass, dirt, and sweat. After my five minute shower, I meet my family at the dinner table just in time to hear my father ask the blessing.

After the highly anticipated “Amen”, my mother did one of my favorite things that she does for me. She fills my glass half-full of ice from the ice trays in our freezer that I had filled with water earlier that day. Then she did it; the most amazing thing she could have done for me after a hot summer day. She grabbed the gallon pitcher of her home made sweet tea and started pouring it into my glass of ice. The golden brown sugar filled tea rolled over the ice like water in a stream rolls over and through the rocks on the bottom. As soon as the tea hit the ice filled glass, steam rushed out of my glass. It was the most pleasing fog my eyes have ever seen. She hands me the angelic thirst quencher and I quickly devour two gulps. The chilling ice cold tea goes down into my esophagus and into every vein in my body refreshing my hot worn out figure from the hot summer day. I did not know as a child how much my mother's sweet tea meant to me.

Everyone has some type of meal, dessert, or drink that means something to them. These special recipes represent their family or heritage. They can be anything from "grandma's apple pie", to "Uncle Pete's Belgium waffles." These are the servings that even when you are not hungry or thirsty you can still make room for them. Mine happens to be my mother's sweet tea. I did not realize how important her sweet tea is to me until a pregame dinner during my senior year in high school. It was like an epiphany to me.

Around forty starving and thirsty teenage boys were gathered together for a weekly pregame meal that our parents have prepared. I was near the front of the line because seniors have seniority over the underclassmen. I picked-up my paper plate, a napkin, fork, and steak knife. The first thing on the buffet was grilled t-bone steaks. At this point I was glad that I was in front of the offensive linemen so I was sure of getting a steak. Next in line to go on my plate was a smoldering hot baked potato wrapped in a heat blanket of aluminum foil. To make sure I got the full effect of a baked potato, I grabbed some butter and sour cream. Last in the buffet style line were the desserts. There was anything from brownies to cupcakes. I am not a big fan of sweet stuff but just for good measure I grabbed a cupcake that had “Go Bears” written in purple icing. Some of my teammates had a seat saved for me so I went and placed my plate of food down at our table. It was now time for me to get something to drink. Each parent brought a different drink. We had a large variety to choose from. We had the dark caffeinated drinks such as Coke, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper. Then we had the light caffeinated drinks such as Mt. Dew, Sprite, and Sierra Mist. Then there were a couple parents who had brought diet drinks or tea. We had two coolers of sweet tea: one my mother had made, and one from some lady who had apparently never made sweet tea before. I grabbed a Styrofoam cup and filled my cup with tea from the first cooler. Well, it was supposed to be tea. It tasted nothing like the tea that my mother makes and to be honest it was disgusting. It tasted like it had been made with seven tea bags and a half a cup of sugar. Needless to say, I poured the nasty tea out because obviously I did not get it from my mother’s cooler. My mother makes a gallon of Louisiana tea by boiling one tea bag for about ten minutes, and then adding one and a half cups of sugar; the perfect mixture. I refilled my cup with my mother’s tea and finally sat down to eat.

After graduating high school and moving away from home, I do not have the opportunity to have my mom’s tea anytime I want. Moving to a large city was a big change for me coming from one of the smallest communities in Alabama to one of the largest. I have been in Tuscaloosa for about a month and have already eaten more varieties of food than I ever have back home. There are so many great places to eat down here. None of these places have sweet tea that is even worthy of being at the same table as my mom’s tea. The tea down here is either too sweet or not sweet enough. The one thing I miss the most is my mother’s tea. I plan on going home for the weekend back to my hometown of LA (Lexington, AL). My mother called a couple days ago and asked what I wanted for supper Saturday night. I told her that it did not matter what she cooked as long as she had some sweet tea made. My mother's recipe will stay in my family even when she is gone. My wife will learn how to mix up that Louisiana sweet tea with one tea bag and one and a half cups of sugar.