The political article I chose to write about is "Biden: "Do I regret not being president? Yes" The link to the article is listed at the bottom of this blog. The author refers to a speaking engagement former Vice President Joe Biden had at Colgate University. Biden was basically asked if he regretted not running for president. Biden replied basically that he regrets that he is not the president but that he did not run because his son, Beau, had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Biden knew this would keep him from focusing fully on the campaign to run for president. Biden is basically saying in this article that he thinks he could have won the democratic primary and then could have beaten Trump. Although he does not say this in the article I believe it implies it.
I chose this article because I was looking on the computer about things related to the recent presidential campaign that were different than the usual stuff I've heard. There is still much discussion about how Trump won the presidency. Many people are still very surprised Trump won. This article answers the question about why Biden didn't run. I had not heard this before so I thought it was very interesting. In my opinion Biden may be right, but of course we will never know.
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/03/26/biden-do-i-regret-not-being-president-yes/22012319/
Monday, March 27, 2017
Monday, March 20, 2017
Free Post - Weddings and Funerals
The past few weeks have been really interesting and contrasting. Last weekend I went to New Orleans for the weekend to be part of a wedding. My cousin got married to a chap from Australia. There were people at the wedding from five different continents; North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The bride and groom will honeymoon in Africa. That's a lot of ground to cover. And it was really interesting being around people from so many different places. It was great to be around so many people who were so happy.
I also went to a funeral of a man who was kind of like a grandfather to me. He was my aunt's father-in-law and he was at all of our family holiday celebrations. He always lead the prayers before our meals. I called him PawPaw. He was married for almost 70 years and his travel was either when he fought in World War II or when he went to visit his family in Kentucky. Oh yeah, and he traveled sometimes to LSU games. We celebrated his life and it was both sad and happy to remember him.
Funerals and weddings are very different for obvious reasons. But they are also the same. They are a celebration of life.
Learning Reflection
Over the first three quarters I have learned that as a student I am pretty good at getting my work done on time when I have a plan and when I know my assignments in advance. It is helpful to me to know that every week I have certain things I have to do in English class. As a reader I am learning that I like to read books that don't keep my interest without causing me to get stressed. As a writer I have learned I do much better at writing when I use a late keyboard at home and I am chilled out. I do not write my best on tests or when I am nervous and feel in a hurry.
In the last quarter I am going to work hard to continue to get my work done on time. I will keep doing all of my homework to help keep my grades up. I will choose books that interest me and make me feel good when I read them. I will try to get all the work I can done over the weekends when I don't have games and practice. I am trying to become a better writer and one way I can do this is to try and chill out more and the thoughts flow.
In the last quarter I am going to work hard to continue to get my work done on time. I will keep doing all of my homework to help keep my grades up. I will choose books that interest me and make me feel good when I read them. I will try to get all the work I can done over the weekends when I don't have games and practice. I am trying to become a better writer and one way I can do this is to try and chill out more and the thoughts flow.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Monday, March 6, 2017
Song
"Movin Out (Anthony's Song)" by Billy Joel is an interesting song. One of the techniques Joel uses to make his point in the song is that the tempo of the music changes with the mood I think Joel is trying to create. The song's message is basically that it isn't worth being a workaholic just to buy things. He is saying if that is what it means to be "movin' up" then he is "movin' out". In other words Joel is telling us that he doesn't want to be someone who gives into society's pressure to work for material things while making yourself miserable.
Joel uses cacophony when he sings, "Workin' to hard can give me a heart attack ack ack ack ack ack". He uses this technique numerous times and it feels irritating, just like working too hard and having a heart attack would be irritating. Then the music tempo changes to a more melodic sound and Joel sings, "It seems such a waste of time, if that's what its all about, if that's movin' up then I'm moving out." He sings the words, "movin' out" more harshly, like he means it. I think he is using a hyperbole when he says, "He's tradin' in his Chevy for a Cadillac ac ac ac ac ac you oughta know by now, and if he can't drive with a broken back at least he can polish the fenders". He doesn't really mean he would have an actual broken back, he means he has worked to hard and now can't do the things he saved up to do. I also think the title and chorus "movin' up" is an oxymoron and that is the point of the song. "Movin' up" isn't really moving in a positive or good direction. Also Billy Joel changes the stanzas to change mood along with his meaning so when he is moving out he is singing pleasantly and more chilled and when he is singing about the rat race he is move hurried. It is an interesting song.
Lyrics - https://www.billyjoel.com/song/movin-out-anthonys-song-5/
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8buJ2-oD02E
Thursday, March 2, 2017
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