5 Synth Modules

     Hello! My name is Marcos Cirino and I will give a brief explanation of the 5 most important modules of a synthesizer.
     The first module is called the Oscillator. The Oscillator generates a sound. Its task is to create a waveform which will produce a different sound depending on the shape of the waveform. The oscillator does this continuously. The rate at which it generates each cycle of the waveform is what we hear as pitch. The most common waveforms are: sawtooth wave, square wave, sine wave, noise, etc...
    Next, we have the filter. The filter is a module that allows only certain frequencies it receives to pass through, and at the same time is a barrier to others. In this way a filter is used to screen, or filter out, unwanted frequencies from the waveform so as to alter the timbre. The filters can be labeled VCF (Voltage Controlled Filter) or DCF (Digitally Controlled Filter) in our synthesizer.





The most common filters are:


1. Lowpass filter: Low frequencies are passed; high frequencies are attenuated.


2. Highpass filter: High frequencies are passed; low frequencies are attenuated.


3. Bandpass filter: Only frequencies within a frequency band are passed.


4. Band Reject filter: Only frequencies within a frequency band are attenuated.


5. Allpass filter: All frequencies in the spectrum are passed, but the phase of the output is modified.



With filtering, a sharp sounding wave can become smooth and better for listening.

     Next, we have the amplifier. The amplifier is the module that outputs sound to a sound card or a digital file. It amplifies the signal before the output and it does it with the Envelope.



The envelope, also known as ADSR, is what controls the way the oscillator ‘plays’ the notes. ADSR stands for:


Attack time – how fast the note hits or swells,


Decay time – how fast the note goes from the full attack level to the sustained level,

Sustain level – the level at which the note is held while the key is still pressed,


Release time – how fast the note fades away after the key is released.

     Lastly, we have the LFO. The LFO, or low frequency oscillator, is called as such because it’s frequency is below the human hearing range. The oscillator is used to modulate other aspects of the synthesizer to add a more player-like sound. We can adjust several settings to produce different effects. It’s great if we want to  sweep similar to tremolo, vibrato or wah-wah. It acts below 20Hz and creates a pitch variation. It’s not a creator of sounds itself, it works when is connected with the oscillator or amplifiers.

Sources:

http://www.romicha.ru/coursera/production/lesson6

     

Algorithmic Reverb v. Convolution Reverb

     Hello! My name is Marcos Cirino and I will be talking about the two basic reverbs in most DAWs. I am from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and am currently using what I have learned from this class to improve my band's performance and sound. Enjoy!
     There are two basic types of electronic reverbs in your DAW: convolution reverbs and algorithmic reverbs. Convolution reverbs use real sound samples, recorded from real rooms (or modified but based on real recordings in some cases) known as “Impulse Responses”.  They produce these in magical ways, and all you really need to know is that they use multiple microphones to capture the acoustics of a room and produce an IR file for you, so you don’t need to do any of that.
The reverb plug-in then filters your sound through this impulse response to generate a “believable organic tail” based on the characteristics of a real room.
     Since the effect process for these types of reverbs involves running filters over your signal and mixing that with another signal, they often have a larger impact on CPU (this is not always the case, but in general is true).  The CPU hit is similar to another audio track in your project.  So two tracks, each with a convolution reverb as an insert effect will make your DAW behave like it has roughly four tracks playing simultaneously. One common problem with reverb in general is the amount of bass build up they can cause.  Physics lesson: Lower frequencies tend to penetrate surfaces, and higher frequencies tend to bounce of surfaces (the effect we’re trying to produce).  Reverbs tend to just apply their tail to everything. Convolution reverbs, using their impulse response files, tend to exaggerate… you guessed it, the impulse response from your sound.  This is the initial collision between a sound and the surrounding material.  If this is not set up correctly, it can cause your bass to build up much faster than algorithmic reverbs. The good part about convolution reverbs is that they sound very realistic.
     We also have algorithmic reverbs. This is your standard reverb plug-in. They get the job done, but don’t sound amazing.  This is because a basic reverb is pretty easy to create, but very hard to master.
Algorithmic reverbs generate your reverb sound strictly based on parameters you set in the DAW, they try to generate the same thing as convolution reverbs but because they are simulating the impulse responses (as opposed to the convolution case) they can tend to sound fake especially when isolated in a solo instrument case.  Unless you have a very good reverb plug-in, I recommend not using algorithmic reverb on your solo instruments. The good thing about algorithmic reverbs is that they have less impact on your CPU.
Sources:

http://brian-doyle.com/2011/10/28/convolution-vs-algorithmic-reverbs/

Dynamic Processors

Hello! My name is Marcos Cirino, and I am going to be explaining the basic dynamic processors. I am from Puerto Rico and I am part of a band called 23rd street. I hope this post is helpful, and I look forward to your feedback!

A dynamic processor is something that outputs a signal, where the level of the outgoing signal is based on the level of the incoming signal. In other words, a loud signal coming in will come out differently than a quiet signal coming in. There are four basic types of dynamic processors: compressors, gates, expanders, and limiters. The most common of these three is the compressor.

First of all, we have compressors. What happens when a compressor is set? The louder a signal is coming in, the less level it provides going out. In a compressor, a target level is set — called the “threshold” — and any signal coming in that exceeds that level will be reduced. The higher the level above that threshold, the more reduction will occur.

Next, we have limiters. Limiters are like super compressors. The idea is to ensure that the level does not exceed the threshold. Because this amount of compression is extreme, a limiter relies on certain functions and design that regular compressors do not have.

Next, we have expanders. The quieter the signal is coming in, the less level an expander. provides going out. In other words — it makes quiet signals even quieter. Much like a compressor, the threshold is set at a certain level. Any signal that does NOT exceed that threshold is reduced, and the quieter the signal, the more reduction is done.

Lastly, we have gates. Gates are like super expanders. Anything that does not exceed the threshold is reduced to inaudible. Again, because gates are extreme, they often require a slightly different design than a regular expander.

Now, we have talked about a "threshold". The threshold control adjusts the level where the dynamic processor will start to work. In a compressor or limiter when the loud passages at the input exceed the threshold level set, the unit will turn down these loud passages. In an expander or gate, the unit will turn down any incoming signals that are below the threshold level.   The threshold is usually adjustable by a control marked "threshold."  Reducing the threshold level means that more peaks of the signal will trigger the compressor to turn down the gain; increasing the threshold level means that an expander or gate will turn down more low-level signals.  The attack time is how fast the dynamics processor will react to a signal crossing the threshold level, going up.  In a compressor it is the time it takes the compressor to reduce gain on a high-level passage.  On an expander, it is the time that the expander takes to restore full gain after the audio level comes up after a low level passage. The release time is how fast the dynamics processor will react to a signal crossing the threshold level, going down.  In a compressor, it is the time it takes the unit to restore gain after the high-level passage is over with.  In an expander, it is the time the expander takes to turn down a low level passage (below the threshold level). 

There also exists the attack and release times.

In conclusion, I would like to explain the ratio. The ratio control determines how much the signals that are being compressed or expanded will be turned down. If a compressor has a 2:1 ratio, the compressor will turn down the gain so that if the input signal is 2dB above the threshold level, the output increases only one dB. If the input signal is 4 dB above the threshold, the gain will be turned down so that the output only rises 2 dB above the threshold (a 2 to 1 ratio).   At a 4:1 ratio the input signal has to be 4 dB above the threshold for the output to increase 1 dB. When the ratio control is set to 10:1 or more, the compressor is called a limiter because the unit is effectively preventing the peak levels from increasing any significant degree above the threshold level.

References:

http://www.recordinginstitute.com/da154/ARP/chap3Sig/asp2.html
http://theproaudiofiles.com/dynamics-processing/

Submix Concept

Hello! My name is Marcos Cirino and I am taking this class in order to further my understanding of music. I have an alternate rock band called 23rd street and we are current,y recording original songs, so I am also taking the course to help in the production process. I will be talking here about the submix concept.

One function of a Bus is to provide a way in which you can combine multiple audio tracks and send to a single location. This is known as creating a submix.

Let's say for example, that you have recorded drums using multiple microphones (Kick, Snare, Hi Tom, Floor Tom, Overheads , etc.) and you’d like to combine them all into one stereo track. 

The idea of using submixes, in general, is to group things that belong together. So, you can submix background vocals, doubled acoustic guitar parts, or in an orchestral setting you might want to create a different submix for brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, etc.

The benefits of using the Bus system in your DAW for submixing as described above are many. It gives you the ability to simplify extensive track counts into fewer faders for a more manageable and easier mixing process. 

Naming each bus (or submix) is encouraged in order to avoid issues caused by unintentionally routing different tracks to the same Bus.

The basic steps to creating a submix are as follows:

1. Create an Aux Input Channel and name it.

2. Choose the input to the Aux input.

3. Make the outputs of the channels match the input of the Aux input channel. 

Sources:

http://mixcoach.com/mixing-tools-bus-part-1-submix/

The Analog to Digital conversion process

Hello! My name is Marcos Cirino, and I am from Puerto Rico. I currently play in an alternate rock-band called 23rd Street. I am taking this class to further my knowledge of the music creation process. Here I will talk about the analog to digital conversion process.

The device responsible for changing an analog signal into a series of numbers is the analog-to-digital converter (or A/D converter). It samples the strength of the changing voltage at regular intervals, generating a steady stream of numbers. Two parameters directly affect the quality of the resulting audio: sample rate and bit depth.

The converter's sample rate dictates how often it measures the signal to generate a new value. The more frequently the converter measures the signal, the more accurate the resulting data. Sample rate corresponds directly to frequency response; the highest frequency a digital system will capture is exactly one-half the sample rate. To capture the full audio spectrum up to around 20,000 cycles (or 20kHz), a sample rate of 44.1kHz is common. Higher sample rates make for increased treble response and a more "hi-fi" sound. Low sample rates sound duller and darker.

Bit depth affects how many bits the converter uses for each numerical measurement of the signal. More bits equal a more accurate measurement, which explains why 16-bit CD audio sounds so much better than an 8-bit multimedia sound file. A low bit depth is like forcing the converter to measure the sound with a yardstick marked only in inches. A higher bit depth allows the converter much greater accuracy (a yardstick marked in 1/8th-inch increments, for example).

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to your feedback!

Sources: 

http://www.videomaker.com/article/3258-audio-advice-analog-to-digital-conversion

Microphone Polar Patterns

When setting up a home studio, it is important to choose the right type of microphone or microphones. You see, each microphone has its own polar pattern. A polar pattern is a graphic representation of a microphone's sensitivity to sound relative to the direction or angle from which the sound arrives. There are four basic types of polar patterns for microphones: Cardiod, Super Cardiod, omnidirectional and bidirectional; each serves a different purpose.

A Cardiod microphone is a microphone that is most sensitive to sound from the front and least sensitive to sound from the back. Their unidirectional pickup makes for affective isolation of unwanted ambient sound and high resistance to feedback when compared to omnidirectional alternatives. A cardiod microphone are probably the best option for a live performance.

Supercardioid microphones offer a narrower pickup than cardioids and a greater rejection of ambient sound. However, they also pick up a small amount of sound from directly behind. For this reason, it is particularly important to place monitor speakers to the side facing the 'dead spots'. Supercardioids are highly suited to very loud stage environments as they are very directional with high gain before feedback. 

Omnidirectional microphones are equally sensitive to sound arriving from all angles. Therefore, the microphone does not need to be aimed in any particular direction. This can be particularly useful when using a lapel mic to capture a speaker’s voice, as the individual can move their head without affecting the sound. The disadvantage is that an omni mic cannot be aimed away from undesired sources, such as PA speakers, which may cause feedback.

A bidirectional microphone (also called a figure-8 microphone) picks up sound from the front and rear of the microphone, but not from the sides. Microphones with this patterns are usually ribbon or large diaphragm condenser microphones. These microphones are very sensitive and therefore should be kept away from monitors.

Sources:
http://www.shure.co.uk/support_download/educational_content/microphones-basics/microphone_polar_patterns

My Blog Experience

I have to be honest: writing this blog was not easy for me, and at first I just couldn't keep up. I usually live with my head in the clouds, and some assignments I just completely forget about. Nonetheless, I was able to complete my blog with fifteen entries, including this one.
If I had to pick my favorite entry, it would be the journal reflection. You see, in that entry I got to write about who I really am. I didn't hold anything back. It was a relief finally telling the world, or at least my English group, what I believe to be my identity. The journal was my favorite part about this class precisely because I had to be honest with myself, and so the Journal reflection entry was my absolute favorite.
I kept my blog entries short (but not too short) and sweet. All except for my writing reflection. In there I got to express how I've improved as a writer. Although, I did not do all my entries at the time they were assigned, I feel like I really put my heart into them.
Another thing I liked about this blog was the videos and pictures i got to put up. They show things that I love and things I can identify myself with. To be honest, the blog was very confusing at times. We had to do fifteen entries, but near the end there weren't enough topics to write about. Nevertheless, I got my act together and I came out victorious. I successfully wrote fifteen entries, and this is my very blog! This blog, the journal, the skit, and other works have all contributed to my writing skills, and I have Professor Pittman to thank for that.

Skit Experience

For our skit project, me and the group made a skit called "Students take a Stand". It was centered around a young man that bullied a Latino boy in his school. Later in the skit, it is revealed that the bully was being physically and verbally abused in his household, and so his bullying was a consequence of his problems at home.
The skit was a good experience for me to see what my group mates had gone through in their high school life. Some of them had been bullied, and this opened my eyes to what life can be like for others. You see, I was never really bullied in my life; at least, not in a serious manner. This skit helped become closer with those who were members of my group.
It was a fun experience, we laughed a lot during the process. Hearing each other's ideas was a great team building exercise.
The first time we performed the skit was not so great. We had a member missing and so we had someone fill in for him. The second time though, was great. We had rehearsed it and it went great. We performed it at a seminar, and we also got to watch the other groups perform their skits. All in all, it wasn't easy to complete the task, but it was fun in the end.

Writing Competition Experience

My poem "In the Dark" was part of an English class assignment. The assignment consisted of taking thoughts form  my journal, composing them into a bigger idea, and then write a poem with what I had salvaged. After this, I had to turn in the poem to the General Studies department, so it could be entered into a writing competition.
I must admit I had some fun with this whole experience. I love writing poems, because I am a songwriter. Even though I didn't win, I got to explore who I really am through the poem. Some deep seated feelings are projected in that poem. It was not easy to put the poem online, since it was somewhat intimate. Nonetheless, I have learned this semester that art comes form what is real. Real feelings make real poems. For that, I am grateful to the teacher; for making me "go for the jugular" as her journal rules stated. I might just enter the competition again next year and see maybe I win. Until then, I will keep writing.

My Writing Experience

As a young boy I always thought about writing a journal. I saw all the movies in which people’s lives were told through the memoirs they had left behind. I also saw that it was a place to write down secrets you could not share with anyone. When my Advanced English class professor told us, the class, to write a journal, I thought it was simply to give us another assignment. I later found out that the journal was a way to get us to write better. Thanks to this journal, I have learned what I like to write about, and the way that I like writing it.

            In high school, I was not into the essay writing part of my English class. For my SAT, I practiced writing a bunch of essays, and I still only got a six out of twelve. The hardest part was starting the essay, and it still is, but back then it was a lot harder. My new English professor said that this was because we were being told to write about something, and that it didn’t come from the heart; most of the time it was insincere too. I struggled with developing my skills as a writer. The idea of the class journal was to write for 10 minutes a day about anything that was on my mind. This means that I was writing about the things that were floating through my head. This made writing so much easier. I wrote quickly and the writing flowed. I learned a couple of things about my writing along the way, too.

            First of all, I learned that I love writing about having a passion and following one’s dreams. When it comes to writing about what I actually want in life, my hand zooms through the page, filling it with heartfelt thoughts and experiences. Since my passion in life is music, I have had a hard time finding my place in the future. It is often hard to explain to people what I really wish to achieve. It is impractical and most of the time it is not taken seriously. So, when I write about my goals, a large part of it is actually me letting out some bottled up feelings. Writing about these things makes has also helped me in the pursuit of my dreams.

Secondly, I learned that I like to be dramatic, or maybe theatrical, with the way that I say things in my writing. I like quoting poems and proverbs. I have always loved characters that are old and wise, and speak in riddles or, as I mentioned, proverbs. I especially like integrating Biblical teachings into my writings; they apply to everything.

In addition, I like to pour my heart out in my writing. Apart from class essays, I also write songs that are meant to be played with my band. I find that when I speak of what is truly in my heart, the words take life. When something is very intimate, but I want to put it into a song, I use metaphors and figurative language so as not to reveal too much, but still get the essence of the message. Since my time in high school, I have started to take a liking to poetry. I love the figurative language and the creativeness behind it all. One of the poems that I love most is William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus”. The way he expresses himself in the poem is both incredibly powerful and beautiful:

“It matters not how straight the gate,

How charged with punishment the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.”

This, the last stanza of the poem, has captured my imagination time and time again. The authority with which he speaks, his choice of words, and the ancient proverbial style, are all things that have guided me in my writing; especially in my songwriting.  I also love Rick Riordan’s writing. He is the bestselling author of the “Percy Jackson” book series, and many more. His humorous writing is something I never get tired of. I enjoy it when a writer can insert humor in his writing, yet not lose the seriousness and heart of the work in question. This is a skill that impresses me, always.

            In conclusion, my writing has grown to new levels in this last semester. The journal obviously helped me the most. I have used these skills to keep improving my songwriting. It is not often that I use some of what I learn in a classroom for my hobbies. Usually, what I learn in classrooms is abstract and is of no real use to me, other than small talk. I have improved as a writer thanks to this class, and I have learned just what kind of writer I am. I like to write about what is real, and then give it life so as to create art. I find that I write best when I am being honest with myself. I have learned many things about being a writer, and I hope to keep learning, so as to never stop improving.

References

·         William Ernest Henley, “Invictus”, Poetry Foundation, http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/182194

·         Rick Riordan, Gray Digital Group, “Biography”, Welcome to the online world of Rick Riordan, http://www.rickriordan.com/home

·         Prof. Cynthia Pittman, “5 Essential tips for Burgeoning Writer”, Oasis Writing Link http://oasiswritinglink.blogspot.com/

Serving in Silence

What's your reaction to this story? Do you think she should have kept her secret? Explain why.

This question is referring to the movie "Serving in Silence". In which a woman named Margarethe, admits to her friends and family that she is a lesbian. I don't know how to react to this story. I have mixed feelings.
 First of all, I don't particularly enjoy the whole homosexuality topic. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate or look down upon the homosexual community, I just don't agree with homosexual ideals. I believe they should have rights; all except for the right to marry in the church.
Nonetheless, I found Margarethe's honesty to be admirable. She knew she couldn't lie to the army, and while most would have lied, she held her ground and told it like it was. As a person of faith, I don't believe she should have kept her secret as it would be a huge lie. It was very mature of her to admit this to her friends ad family, unlike her partner whom did not wish for anyone to know.
Also, I don't think the army has any right to meddle in these affairs as it is something that wouldn't affect her performance or loyalty. She even told them she didn't engage in the activities she was being accused of; she just claimed that she was a homosexual.
Before I conclude, I want to address what Margarethe said about homosexuality being a part of her identity. I don't believe this to hold up. Why? Because Margarethe had had a long marriage to a man. If being a lesbian was truly a part of her, she would have never married a man, let alone engage in sexual activities with him continually, which is proven by the fact that she had four children. Also, Margarethe had identity issues. This is proven when we see how she let the army become such an important part of who she was, almost as if she depended on the army. Her whole world falls apart when she is faced with being discharged. She put all her faith in the army, she even says: "The army takes care of their own", only to find herself being honorably discharged.
In the end, the movie is good for all of those who enjoy that topic.

In the Dark

In the Dark

Man, I'm lost in music,

I lose myself up on that stage,

It's bliss.

I'm kept up thinking of ways to be better,

I have a fire burning inside,

I have to make it.

Pieces of myself have been lost since that day,

You made me break my own rules, 

You made me care too much,

I don't know how this ends.

They said I wanted too much attention,

That really paralyzed me.

Maybe the stage is just a desperate ploy for happiness,

Maybe I'm broken,

But aren't we all?

A Room with a View

Love is an unpredictable thing. It baffles scientists because love is not quantifiable, yet it is the greatest force that drives humans. Marriage is supposed to be the greatest manifestation of love between a man and a woman, yet humans have found a way to poison this sacred bond. People have come as far as thinking of marriage as a financial decision.
In the movie "A Room With a View", we are presented with Lucy, a woman ready to marry a man she does not love, all because he is of the right social class. This is something that used to happen, and still does happen very often: two people marry because it is what seems correct in the eyes of society. Lucy is engaged to a man she does not love.
Before all this, when Lucy goes on a visit to Florence, Italy, she meets and starts becoming attracted to another man: George, a man of  a lower social class. George shows an unreserved passion for Lucy as he kisses her without any questions. She then falls in love with him, but is convinced by her cousin Charlotte to repress those feelings, all because Charlotte believes George is not a worthy man. Lucy then accepts a proposal from a man named Cecil. He is a man of the upper class, and marrying him seems like the politically correct thing to do. Nonetheless, as I said before, love is the greatest force driving humans.
Lucy, unable to go through with marrying a man she does not love, breaks the engagement and tries a trip to Greece. Later, she realizes that the only reason she plans the trip is to try and escape her feelings for George.
In the end, Lucy marries George, and does not give in to what society expects of her. This, I believe, is a true example of bravery and independence.

The 60s Part 2

In the second part of the movie "The 60s" we are presented with different characters, all going through great difficulties. We have Katie, whom has just given birth to a child whilst away from her family. We have Josh protesting the ludicrous Vietnam war; Brian, a soldier returned from the war who is suffering of the post traumatic stress disorder; and we have Emmet, facing the fact that he was, in part, responsible for the death of his father.
These characters, are each facing a brutal reality. In the latter half of this movie, we see how these characters adjust themselves in order to deal with what life has dealt them. Josh sees what the war did to his brother, and is driven with even more passion to protest the Vietnam war, Emmet becomes part of a charity that feeds children living in poverty, Katie does her best to raise her child, named Rainbow, under the circumstances. Brian, on the other hand, is haunted by memories of the battlefield, and he even comes to attack a man in the Woodstock festival, thinking that he is still at war. Josh also battles for the woman he loves, a fellow protester.
In the final moments of this movie, we see Katie, Josh, and Brian return home. Josh and Katie make amends with their father, whom has finally accepted the people his children have become. Here we see how the Liberal (Katie and Josh) come to an understanding with the Conservative (their father). The woman Josh loves finally realizes she loves Josh too, and that she is meant to be with him.
Lastly, we see Emmet finally gather the strength to visit his father's grave looking for forgiveness and a fresh start. The movie ends with the Herlihy family (Josh, Brian, etc.) playing football out on the front yard, a true depiction of the American dream.

the 60s part 1

"The 60s" is a movie about the life of several people during the years of the Vietnam War, segregation, and the "hippie" movement. We are presented with a family of three children facing different paths and a black family involved in the black rights movement being led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The father of the first family, Bill Herlihy, is a conservative army veteran whom is also a Republican. His daughter, Katie becomes pregnant at a very young age, This angers him to the point that she is driven out of her house, and she moves to San Francisco to live freely with the hippies. His eldest son, Brian, after failing to obtain a football scholarship for college, enrolls himself in the army to follow in his father's footsteps. The youngest son, Josh, is a pacifist who becomes a part of the antiwar movement. In this family we see a manifestation of the events of the 60s. We see a young man fighting in the Vietnam war, another who stands against this unjustified war, and another who decides to raise her child in the free, unprejudiced, yet imperfect environment created by the hippies. The father of the second family is Baptist man who teaches his family of the power of a pacific revolution. He, along with his son, Emmet, participates in the marches led by Dr. King. He teaches his son that no matter how much discrimination they face, they should never give in to the anger. Instead, they should stand up for the rights they deserve in a pacific way, like Ghandi. By the end of this first part, we see Brian in Vietnam scared while watching his fellow soldiers die, Katie giving birth far away from her family, Josh protesting the war, and Emmet holding dead his father, whom has been shot as a result of police brutality, in his arms

In summary, we are presented with war, racism, liberal thinking, conservative thinking, pacifism, and murky politics, all things that made up this pivotal decade in American history. 

Trifles

"Trifles", by Susan Glaspell, is a one act play about a murder investigation. In the play, we are presented with a murder scene, which the main characters are investigating. To be more specific, two men are investigating the house where the murder took place, and they have brought their wives with them. The victim's wife was the only person present in the house when the murder took place.
Whilst the men are investigating the house, the women are looking for things to take to the victim's wife, who is being held in the county jail. In their search, the women start finding odd things like a quilt's sewing pattern, the way the kitchen looks, and a box with a dead bird inside. The men regard the women's search as meaningless. They think the women worry about thing of little importance. Their biased views of men and women prevent them from even suspecting the victim's wife of commiting the murder. Throughout the story they make fun of what the women are doing by saying things like: "Women worry about such trifles", meaning that the women are not capable of finding anything of use in the crime. It may seem very primitive, but these were the views of the times. Men were regarded as the only ones capable of this type of work; the women were regarded merely as housewives. In the end, the women realize that the person responsible for the murder was the victim's wife, but the men in their arrogant state of minds never stop to consider this.

My journal

Growing up I always thought about writing a journal. I saw people on TV doing it all the time, and it looked pretty cool. For my Advanced English class I was given the opportunity to take up journal writing. I Think it is safe to say that it was not what I expected. You see, the rules of the journal made it clear that I had to write whatever was on my mind, and I couldn't stop writing for ten minutes. These rules made me learn a lot about myself, so here I give you my journal story.

I am a very whiny kid during college time. There is page after page in my journal of me complaining about schoolwork. I love music more than almost anything else in the world, and i cannot concentrate on college work if I have something band related going on. I am not a saint, as much as I wish that I was. God helps me to be better than myself. This, above all, is what keeps me going.

The journal helped me by letting write down my problems; it really is a  relief when problems can be somewhere other than just in my head. My songwriting got better thanks to the journal. Also, as I wrote about my band, I got new ideas and motivations. I thank the professor for giving us the opportunity to go beyond our daily routines and be a little more spontaneous. My writing skills and my creative mind certainly improved thanks to this exercise. 

Lastly, I would like to encourage anyone who reads this to start his or her own journal. Writing is a beautiful thing, and the mind is a terrible thing to waste.

The Way You See the Wolrd

When you look at music store, does it draw you? Are you anxious to go into it and explore what's inside? Maybe it doesn't, but it draws me into it. Some people get very excited when they see a dog in the street; they feel it is their duty to save the dog. Some people pay no attention to the dog, and just continue on with their day. Some people see a church and see something that is against what they think is right. I see a group of people trying to honor their beliefs.
Our situations in life, our age, what we know, and what we like and don't like, these all play a special role in the way we see things. One may see something on the street that isn't necessarily interesting to oneself, but maybe it's something great for another person. For example, I might see a building that hasn't been painted for a while and I won't really care, but when my grandmother sees it, she goes crazy saying how people don't take care of things the way they should. I see a piano and I am immediately compelled to play it, other might just go as far as taking a glance at it. We go around every day taking care of our agenda or whatever it is we have to do. We don't stop as often as we should to take a look at the sky, or the trees or nature in general. If we stopped to look, we might see that we are incredibly small compared to what the world is. Then again, others might just see the sky without really thinking about it, and they would go on with their day.
There are people who see a canvas and see a place to let their imaginations run wild with beautiful results, but I just think about how terrible I am at painting. Some see war as death, others see it as money and land gained; but of course, these are the people who wage the wars.
What I am trying to say, reader, is that the world is full of things that we don't necessarily see; things that exist in the eyes of some, but not all. That, I believe, is something that makes this world even more complex and awe inspiring; but of course, that is the way I see it.

Running Brave

The first week of our advanced English course, we watched the movie "Running Brave". This movie is about the true story of Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills. We got to see how this man, Mills, overcame various obstacles during the pursuit of his dream: becoming a great runner.
Now, before he became an Olympic gold medalist, Mills went through various hardships in his life. Mills is a Native American, this means that he was often discriminated in places outside the reservation he grew up in. As I watched how Mills often felt out of place in the college he went to, I felt upset at how people treated him differently; he was even told he couldn't join a certain fraternity because of his ethnicity. Nevertheless, Billy kept on improving in his running.
Billy's passion was running. the movie shows how he felt free when he was running, he loved doing it. This to me is very inspirational, and I can identify myself with him because I also have a passion: music. When I play, I feel free like Billy did when he was running; nothing else really matters when I'm playing.
I think this story is a special one because it shows how if we really work hard, we can overcome the hardships that stand in the way of our dreams. At one point, Billy did quit running because he could never please the coach; the coach always wanted more and this made Billy's love for running fade. Nonetheless, after Billy's best friend took his own life (because he felt he lacked a purpose), Billy went back to running with a great fire burning inside him.
In the end, Billy marries the woman he loves, he joins the navy, trains harder than ever before, and wins the Olympic gold medal in the ten thousand meter race.
Before the movie ends, we see a tribal chief silently congratulating Billy. This is a symbol of Billy's roots. Even though Billy was racially discriminated more often than not, he never forgot his roots.
I learned that giving up is not an option, that our heritage is a part of us that we cannot be ashamed of, and that passion is something that should not be taken lightly.

Identity

It's weird describing who I am. I don't think I've ever written it down. Oh well, here we go. The first thing you should know about me is that I talk a lot. If you make conversation with me, we'll have a great conversation. I like to think I'm a funny guy. I have toned it down a bit lately, but my life is an open book. Even someone hasn't been my friend for too long, I can still share most of my experiences with that person. I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus is the way to eternal life. Now that's something I think is beautiful.

I am a hopeless romantic. I asked my girlfriend to go to the prom with me by writing the question in the sand when we were together one day in the beach on a class activity. Music is my passion. I am part of a band called "23rd Street". I love playing up on a stage. I love hearing people singing along with us. I have played the piano since I was eleven years old, and I have been passionate for music ever since. I am a person with some beliefs that modern society might deem medieval or just plain wrong. I'm am somewhat of an old fashioned person. I love writing music and listening to it. If someone I know is going through a tough situation, I listen to them and try to help them out. Ever since I was a young boy, I was good at befriending people; even those who didn't speak with anyone. I like getting to know people. I, like my father, am very punctual, and it drives me nuts when other people aren't. It's just rude. Movies and good TV shows are some of my favorite activities. I love astronomy, our universe is endlessly beautiful.

I believe that is a pretty accurate overview on who I am. There may be a lot of other things I'm not writing down, but we are all too special to describe ourselves in one page.
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Machiavellian

Gray areas. These have caused an enormous impact on human history. Machiavellian methods have been a great source of controversy for centuries: "the ends justify the means". In the short story "The Use of Force" we are presented with a situation that can be the cause of a heated debate. Was it acceptable for the doctor to force a medical examination on the young girl?
The argument arises because in the end, the doctor finds that the child has a terminal sickness that can also be spread to others. This means that he prevented potential collateral damage from ever taking place. So, was it okay for him to harm the girl in the manner that he did? The answer is no. there are several reasons why what he did was wrong.
 First of all, we are told in the story that he kept on doing the procedure even though she had hurt herself. This girl was bleeding and still the doctor kept on trying to open her mouth to investigate; he even had her father restraining her even though the father was near the point of fainting.
Second of all, the pain he caused this little girl was not only physical, but also emotional. This girl was receiving an experience that she would not soon forget. This man probably tarnished this child's view of men. He had recorded a memory of a violent man in this girl's mind. This would most likely amplify trust issues as she got older.
Lastly, we are told that this man was enjoying causing the child pain. He thought he could rip her apart and have no problem with it. This undeniably confirms the wrongness of his actions. He might have prevented other problems from arising, but he still hurt the child's soul, and that is a terrile thing for a man to do.