Angelos Final.

“ A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” By Dave Eggers

It’s a mouth full to read the title, so I just refer to it as “genius” because, that is exactly what it is.

“This was uncalled for” that’s how the book starts.
I guess, his situation was uncalled for.

This book is 400 and something pages literary greatness. Ok, maybe it hasn’t quite been discovered as that, but you can just take my word for it and read for yourself. But you really get that 90’s feel from it- surely we all remember the 90’s

Eggers does a brief introduction on his middle American/suburban household. His upbringing was normal, he has a sister, he has a brother. A very young brother.

And, he had his parents. Both who mysteriously die of cancer within months of each other.

Because he was now considered to be the man of the house, he was left to take care of his little brother. And, he does. They pack up- move to California, and begin a new life.

While Eggers struggles, to raise his brother, he becomes neurotic, cynical, angry, and I guess a father too.

Although this book seems to be full of heartbreaking work, Eggers leaves no room for anyone to start feeling sorry for him. No, eggers takes rough situations and gives a mundanely response as to how he has handled it; and he admits, that maybe he is a tad bit paranoid. Well, he doesn’t… but I totally get the vibe.

He loves his brother, and aside from his sister, that’s the only person he has left. He does not want to lose him. I get it.

I don’t really understand Eggers; and I guess that is exactly why I consider this to be great literature. I hate reading, and being able to figure everything out. I like mystery, and there is something very attractive about not figuring a person out completely. Eggers is an artist; he does not hide it.

I guess I feel like writing this doesn’t give the book justice; and I feel like I’m giving a boring summary on the book that changed my life.

But, I fell in love.

I love the writing, I love the words, I love the story, I love all the awkward moments… but mostly, I love that this book was the book that re-assured me that I wanted to me a witty- sarcastic writer too.

Banner Final.

The article that I am most proud of is my last article. It is for issue 12, and although I don’t know if it is going to make it in, I think that it is something that I consider valuable.

The article was a struggle.

I thought that doing an old/new perspective was going to be easy. You know, read an old Banner issue and a current one. Find a similar concept in both. Do some research, and voila! I have an article.

Well, this is exactly how I did it, only the issue I did it on was on Christians being martyred because of their faith.

Not easy.

As someone who doesn’t know too much about the issue that goes on, I was torn. I knew I had to produce a good article, and I knew it had to be honest.

I was surprised to see that not only are Christians being Martyred in international countries, but it is happening in OUR country as well.

This broke my heart. The concept does not make any sense to me. I don’t understand why people would want to punish someone for believing in something so good.

I don’t understand how these issues are being kept in the dark. I don’t understand why we turn our back on something like this…. And I guess, I don’t know how I have turned my back on something like this.

But, what do we do?
I don’t really know.
But I have prayed, and I was blessed to do an article like this. Although I didn’t want to write about something so serious, it was an eye opener. And I am thankful.

I didn’t realize how luck I am to be able to freely talk about Christianity. Or how lucky I am to be just be able to call myself a Christian.

And in the future, as I continue writing for The Banner, I hope to be able to break away from my entertainment comfort zone , and write about issues that will teach me something. Anything.

Angelos mid-term

It seems like now-a days the names Rihanna and Chris Brown have to be together.
So many questions were EVERYWHERE.
Did Chris Brown really beat Rihanna? Where is the proof? Have they made a statement yet?
And then, their PR people finally released very vague statements, but it was enough to know the rumors were true and that Rihanna was definitely a victim of Chris Browns assault.
The internet then had dozens of reenacted pictures that showed Rihanna with faux beatings and marks.
But finally, all questions came to an end when an officer leaked out a horrific picture of a battered Rihanna. And then, that picture was EVERYWHERE.
I understand the media, and I understand concerned fans. Everyone wanted to know if something like that actually happened to two people who were never in the media for anything so controversial. And we expect the media to be ruthless and we expect the media to disregard other peoples feelings just so they can get their story. So we expect pictures. Right?
But when someone needs help, and pictures of domestic abuse are taken in confidentiality by a police department that is suppose to be trusted, it is sickening to think that no one is safe. And that information can be leaked if the dollar amount is right. I am completely appalled that something like this would happen from a department that is suppose to be respected. How awful.
I will not make any excuses though, I think that the picture of Rihanna is something that people need to see. There are so many women going through the same thing, and it is always kept hush- hush. And I think that women need to embrace something like this and know that it is okay to say its not okay. I think that women need to know that this happens to a lot of people, celebrities included. But, it is a scary thought to think that many women will think that the lack of confidentiality has been broken, and that nothing they do is going to assure them that their information will not be released. Maybe this could have been done in a more consensual manner. But, is there a consensual manner for something like this?
I don’t think so.
So, I guess we do nothing about it.
And that is sad.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/20/rihanna.photo/index.html?iref=newssearch

Octo-Mom

I’m so tired of hearing about the Octo-Mom.
Really.
The media has handled this issue exactly the way they handle everything else; by making a big deal.
No, I don’t agree with her choices, and I really think that the families issues need to be resolved without a camera recording every minute of it. I think because they are being over exposed, the family is being torn apart. The issue’s that need to be resolved need to be done in a private matter.

Whatever choices she makes should be her decision. But I don’t think that my tax dollars need to provide for a family that she cant provide for herself.
If she wants to go have 10 other kids, by all means go and do it. But, I think that she needs to have the means to do so. I don’t think its fair to he children, herself or any of us that are contributing to the family. I don’t understand why anyone would think its ok to bring a life( let alone 8) into this world if the child can not be financially taken care of. I think its was an irresponsible decision oh her part as well as the doctor that did it.
Have they even questioned the crazy doctor?
The number of children she has is insane. I don’t think anyone in their right mind could possible take care and give their full attention to children when there are that many of them.

And I think about how they don’t have a father figure around. And surely the older children must be seeing their grandmother and mother fighting on public television, and I wonder how that makes them feel. And I wonder if they’re going to end up just as bad as their mother, and I wonder if when they get older, theyre going to be embarrassed for everything their mother is doing. And, I feel sorry for the children, because none of this is their fault. And all they can do, is nothing.

But I don’t think that this has anything to do with Christianity. I have not heard anything about her faith, so I can’t say, but I think that in her mind she is doing the right thing.

And I guess, really she isn’t committing a sin. Whatever it is, I hope that she can take care of the babies the way that babies are suppose to be taken care of. And if she can show them love, then I guess that is all that matters.

A difference in my life- The Banner

I was 16 and as I stuck my hand out to meet him, he put his Pepsi can down and took my hand. We exchanged awkward hellos and started a small conversation. As we talked he kept taking glances at his soda can; because I didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable I told him I was fine with him continuing his drinking. To my surprise, he replied with, “ I don’t drink soda in front of girls because they’re going to think I’m un-healthy”. Ever since then, I knew that we would be amazing friends. My feelings for him are so much more than I have ever felt for another male friend before. I don’t exactly think that the words I use are going to give his character justice. His witty, over-the-top, loud personality mixed with compassion for literature and art make for one great person. Our bond was instant- our mundane trips to anywhere and everywhere, going out to eat , grabbing a quick coffee, and our amazing late-night conversations that I have yet to experience with anyone else. Those were the things I was grateful for, because I knew that we could mix all these personalities and put them into one, and BAM! You have this amazing person. But, as seasons change, so do people, and as many friends do, we started growing apart. I don’t think that this is something either or us wanted but we had different things going for us. And our friendship became questionable. College was starting for him and it was his time to move and meet new faces, new friends and experience a home away from home. And then, after several months of trying to keep our friendship solid, we just couldn’t and it was hard. And although we had our differences, he was still the person that I considered my best friend- the same best friend who I knew still cared for me the way I cared for him. After time, our friendship picked back up again, it was something unavoidable because of all the mutual friends we had in common. So, here we are now two people that have known each other for a little over five years- someone that I knew better than any other friend I’ve had before. I’ve never really put much thought as to why I care about him so much, or how hes really made a difference in my life, but I think its because our friendship has never been consistent. I’ve never been a fan of change, I’m so scared of it, but with him, our friendship was constantly inconsistent , so it made me realize that inconsistency only makes me stronger. And, even though now we are no where near as close as we used to be , I think that its ok because that’s the way its suppose to be- I have to accept him the way he is now because that’s what friendship is about. Id like to think that no matter where we are 10 or 20 years from now, that if we needed each other, we would be there.

Assignment 1- Personal Testimony

My personal testimony. I don’t really know what to say. I guess, I have to say that the faith I’ve found I’ve never really experienced before. I’m new to CBU and although I’ve only been here a little over a week, I’ve noticed that most students are Christian or come from a Christian background.
I wasn’t exactly brought up that way.
My Mother ( a catholic) taught me to believe that there was a God and to be a believer.
My Father ( a former Baptist) knows the bible from the very first page to the very last- taught me to believe whatever I found right in my heart.
Although, both my parents are believers, my household was never the kind to get ready for church on Sunday. And, to be honest I’m thankful for that. My parents both taught me the meaning of God and what it meant to them. I didn’t learn what someone wanted me to believe, I learned what my parents thought was right- which I thought was right.
I was never baptized as a child. I used to think that it was a bad thing, especially when all the kids my age would share their religious beliefs and talk about their meetings. But I remember going to church once and I didn’t understand any of it, and I didn’t go back for years. But now that I’m older, Church is something I enjoy, and look forward to. I know that I’m going to be O.K regardless because God has given me the opportunity to believe. So now I’m thankful that I wasn’t- baptized . I am now free to explore different aspects of Christianity.
Although, I have always been a believer, it is now that I’m in my early twenties and getting older that my faith keeps developing and getting stronger and stronger; that I have realized that I am, walking, talking, breathing not because I can do it on my own like many believe but because God is so graciously allowing me and everyone else to do so. God has always been part of my life- my parents made sure of it, but I don’t exactly know when I fully accepted Him into my life on my own. I never really had that moment or that epiphany where I realized that I was changed. But you know what? I don’t think that really matters, the only thing that matters is that I’m a believer.
First time blog, is this ok?