Dialectic Journal (Final) Gates of Fire

Journal 1 book 7 

Part of text:  Directly above rose a copse of oak, lit by-iron cressets howling in the gale, and beyond, past a single picket line of Egyptian marines, could be glimpsed the pennanted kingposts of a pavillion so vast it looked like it housed a battalion.  "That's it."  Rooster pointed.  "That's Xerxes' tent."  

Response:  First of all it was nice how the Pressfield describes the place to almost exagerate it.  Also it was nice how it left the chapter in suspense to make the reader want to keep on reading.  

Journal 2 book 7

Part of text:  The warrior's thoughts at the brink of action, my master had often observed (as the student of fear he ever declared himself to be), follow a pattern unvarying and ineluctable.  There appears always an interval, often brief as a heartbeat, wherein the inward eye summons the following tripartite vision, often in the selfsame order: 

Response:  This kind of brings in the element of Spartan training that they do early on in life that is somewhat explained in the contents of the book (primarily in the beggining) but it kind of explains how they get in the zone before they strike at their enemies.  

Journal 1 book 8 

Part of text:  As when a hailstorm descends unseasonably from the mountains and hurls from the sky its icy pellets upon the husbandman's newly sprouted crop, so did the bolts of the Persians in their myriads thunder down upon the Spartans and Thespians.  Now the farmers assumes his anxious station in the doorway, hearing the deluge upon the titles of the roof, watching its bullets of ice clatter and rebound upon the stones of the walk.  How fare the sprouts of spring barley?  One here and there survives, as if by miracle, and holds yet its head aloft.  But the planter knows this state of clemency cannot endure.  He turns his face away, in obedience to the laws of god, while without, beneath the storm, the final shaft breaks and falls, overwhelmed by the insuperable onslaught of heaven 

Response:  This is another example of building suspense it leaves kind of a gap in the story.  The simile in the text is also nice as they compare the arrows that supposedly "block out the sun", as they compare it to hail.  Also describing the arrows hitting sheilds.  

Journal 2 book 8:  Such was the end of Leonidas and the defenders of the pass at Thermopyle, as it related by the Greek Xeones and complied in transcription by his Majesty's historaian Gobartes the son of Artabazos and completed the fourth day of Arahsamnu, year five of his majesty's accension.  

Response:  This seems like a very nice semi-emotinal way to start the ending the book.  The way they even start in with just this paragrph with simple words like "such" when put in context like this make the story come to epic proportions.  

What I'm thankful for

I am very thankful that my parents still have a job considering the trashy economy 

I am thankful for still having a house and Internet access 

I am thankful for still being alive and having my health 

and finally I am thankful for being me

Dialectical journal (End of book 1 GOF)

Chapter four phrase:  I will append the observation only, from the horror-benumbed apprehension of a boy shorn at one blow of mother and father, family, clan, tribe and city, that this was the first time my eyes had beheld those sights which experiences teaches are common to all battles and all slaughters

Response:  This just reminded me of the fact that even though he was born a Spartan and admitted into thier ranks at birth, this makes me think he is experincing some of the mental and spiritual conditining that the rest of the spartans have to go through.  Even though the training is a little different I personally think that this is not the same thing but again I feel this is kind of the gist of it.   

Chapter 5 phrase: I had made myself an infantryman's spear, stout ash and fire hardened, no longer a boy's toy but a weapon meant to kill.  Visions of revenge fed my heart.  I would live among the spartans.  I would slay Argives one day.  

Response:  Just like I have stated in the previous response he can almost feel himself reverting to primal instinct.  When having to live out in the wild (just like the spartans) the only thing he can think of at that moment is the thought of vengance.  This at the same time brought up the question of "How long has it been since his home was razed?" and somthing earlier in the chapter which might seem irrelevant but what does "agrotera" mean?

Chapter 6 phrase:  I blinked and tried with all my failing power to focus .(irrelevant entry for about a paragrph).  His eyes met mine with a gentle, amused kindness.  "  I have always found the spear to be," he spoke with a quiet majesty that could be nothing other than the voice of a god "a rather inelegant weapon"  

Response:  The part I wanted to respond too was about a page long and I will try to make due without it.

Text like this part always sparks my interest.  When he knows he can't use a spear it basically crushes his dream of ever being in a spartan phalanx.  But during this supposed dream he has a dream in which he is told to use a bow.  I have read this part before so there is not much to say 

but it always catches my attention.  

The question this brought up was:

I know this is Historical fiction but what could make you see like that besides a dream?

Election 2008 blog

Well politics so far have been not what they used to be. They have become insulting and harsh towards people's opponents. This year's presidential election has not been about what candidates are going to do. But instead focus on what the other candidate might not do. It is all attacks on the other person (as was pointed out in the latest debate).

As far as I can tell this year's election will be a close one. There is no obvious winner. Not only have the meaning of "politics" changed over the years but some people have voted but the people that vote are not always paying close attention. All people can agree we want a good president that actually keeps thier promises to the people. But what some people look for is a different president and just hope to get a good president elected. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/presidentialdebates/3091056/Presidential-debate-verdict-No-clear-winner-between-John-McCain-and-Barack-Obama.html

Overall elections have changed completly since this system of goverment was established in the United States. For the most part, not in a good way. Pointing out that the downsides of your opponent does not make you a good president but only make you look better than the other person.

Blog 2/2

The man on the left is my father. He is the hero I wrote about. Right here is an example of how even when we do something wrong he always manages to teach a life lesson for a positive reason. All it ends up taking is a little understanding on his part.

Blog Post 1/2 (Picture veiwing)

I really like this photo becuase it Antonio Gates is my favorite player (the one catching the ball).  I think this says a lot about him.  First of all when you have that much room to catch the ball most people to show off will for somthing fancy like jump and try and reel it in with one out streched arm.  But showing how he went for a simple catch shows that he is a very modest person.  Secondly you can see this was not an easy catch since it came from a diagnol angle from his body.  Every football player has a little celbration after every touchdown, but this man right here has very few.  So point is he is not big on showing of what masssive talent he has.  Also he is using his hands in a very tucked in position and not making the play look huge by stretching them out and making the play look big.  

P.P.C The secret life of bees

Part 3 code
1. How accurate where your predictions?
2. Which predictions were very accurate
3. Which predictions were less accurate? What were the differences between what you predicted and what actually happened?

Very few of my predictions where even close to being accurate. When I first looked at the book I thought that the book would actually center around bees (like bee movie) so I guess I was wrong about that. After looking through some parts in the book I thought she would end up living with her real mother (Debohra) but I was wrong about that because I thought that would be the happy ending in this story. But evedently I had it wrong becasue she stays with August at the end. One of the ones that was accurate was that I had predicted that T-Ray would die and would hold August at gun point becuase he is extremly cruel and needs Lily at the house in sense of that she is treated almost like a slave and would go to the upmost extremes to get her back. But this was only after reading the back and the first few pages. So I thought of this once I read enough to get an idea of T-Ray's personality. So all in all most of my predictions where pretty off.

In my predictions I thought there my might be a little more action (since it was turned into a movie) but I guess becuase of thinking like that my predictions where off. So I guess I was of pretty badly.

Alliteratopn, Assonance, and alliterations

Saturday morning I woke up waiting for my legs to regain feeling in them while watching T.V. It took a bit of time but I finally felt awake enough to start walking again. While making my bed I look down at the floor at the mess there was there.  So before breakfast it seemed like it would benefit everyone.  My parents went to buy some groceries which at that time left me kind of with nothing to do.  After lunch I also did nothing just sleep and check out what I had for home work.  But then I thought "I have a whole Sunday to do it" so I decided to put off until then, how hard could it be? When I found there was nothing to do I went on the On-Demand channel.  That ate up most of my day.  While I watched the movie I thought about the game on the following day.  All together it was not a pretty thought.  Sure the Dolphins where not the best but they beat a team that went 16-0.  A few minutes later my brother's and I got together and just played video games the rest of the day.  The only unfortunate part of going to sleep was the horrible medicnce I had to hold in my hand and drink, however the going to sleep afterwards is nice.  

Sunday morning I woke up not wanting to wake up.  My little brother turns on the T.V "Hey turn it off im tired" I told my brother.  All he did was lower the volume but at least he met me half way.  After I ate breakfast I went to take a bath.  After I got out I went to the couch and heard the NFL theme on CBS which meant the game was on.  Chargers vs Dolphins,  I do not know the outcome becuase I wrote this blog on half time.   

Key

Assonce = Green

Alliteration = Blue 

Consance = Red (even though I did not undertand this one) 

L.D.W similies, metaphors, and cliches

Cliches

In first grade is was dumb as dirt

In fourth grade I was slow as a rock

In sixth grade I was slow as a duck (on land)

Methaphors (cliche)

In 3rd grade I was such a pig

In my MUCH younger years I was easily scared to death

Right now I have the attention span of a rodent

Similes(cliche)

When I'm angry I am as quiet as a mouse

When I don't stretch im a slow as a turtle

I am as lazy as a sloth

Metaphors 

When I'm tired I am such a sloth

When I'm asleep I am a boulder

During the summer I am a stuborn mule

Similie 

During the summer I am as lazy as a elephant is big 

I am as athletic as the sky is blue

I short as falcons are fast 

My Epic

Righteousness is lost
Vengeance is the ruler
Stubbornly set on revenge to the scourge
Unfortunately it's his downfall
Hopefulness wanes as Shadow reigns above Humanity
what shadow drove the devout
prince to the pinnacle of evil
once driven to save humanity
now strives to destroy them
In the adventure to find omnipotent energy
He found him self on the other side
"No Arthas don't go to Northerend" Jaina begged
No he wished death,shadow and darkness to reign the world
On his quest to save his people through extreme measures he realized
that he and his opponents where not so different


Note: Dear Charlotte,
I'm not sure if I did this post correctly (we where so supposed to write an epic?) please tell me at some point if I did it incorrectly so I can re-do it
Thank you
Your Student
Anthony :)

Personal hero blog

Thrall

Thrall is considered to be by many a hero. In his life (in the World of warcraft) he has preformed many herioc deeds when his race was under constant opression. While he himself was a slave in a place called Durnholde before he himself fully escaped and got away from any possible human capture he freed more of his people including his older brother Grom Hellscream. He was told by a man who had freed a demoinc race (otherwise known as the burning legion) that Thrall was meant to save his people from being wiped out. He listined to the man and lead him and his small group to to another contienint. When he got there he finally learned of a blood curse that afflicted his race. The curse came from a demon called Manethoth (or somthing like that). So on the other continet Thrall and his brother decided to go after him, despite the fact the demon was twice the size of an elephant, and when the demon is brought down he will self destruct. In the end Grom was the one to take the fall. His most herioc thing ever done is defending MT. Hyjal from the burning legion and building a city as a sancturay for his people. His biggest achivement was unting the Orc clans into one large group as before they where all at war.

By some people he is considered a hero however there are a some that think of him as a blood thirsty fiend. Simply to get to his position he killed many people in order to save his race from total anhilation. This long line of deaths earned him many different reputations, Compeltelty revered with the horde and hated by the alliance. The alliance hates him also becasue of his affiliation with the other races they are at war against, which makes him and his people thier enimies too.

30 things you don't know about me

1. My favorite color is blue
   
2. I have a friend that is related to Tom Brady ( New Engelnd Patriots quarterback)
3. I say "m'kay" a lot at home
   
4. My least favorite color is dark green
5. My favorite book is "gates of fire'
6. My favorite T.V show is south park
7. My favorite movie is "the longest yard"
8. My least favorite movie is "The butterfly effect"
   
9. My least favorite sport is tennis
   
10. My favorite sport is football
    
11. I hate the Miami dolphins (football)
    
12. I like sour more than sweet
13. I have really soft hands
14. I don't like dark colored fruit or vegtables
15. My favorite song is "welcome to the jungle" by guns and roses
16. I don't like certain genres of music i like specific songs
17. Robles and/or Roblitos is/are my nickname(s)
18. post it notes are scary
19. I am horrible with computers and other bits of technology
20. I am really bad with spelling
21. I have a horribble short term memory
22. I have 2 brothers
23. My dad is manager of a restaurant
24. I am horrible at public speaking
25. I ask a lot of favors
26. My least favorite T.V show is "The fairly odd parents"
27. My least favorite number is 27
28. my favorite number is 85
29. I think the war on terrorism is a very vauge term
30. I hate things that arent straight (circles, ovals other non symetrical things)