Friday, May 27, 2011
HW 59 - SOF Prom 2011 & DSPs
Prom was kinda what I expected it to be, but not fully. I actually had fun which I didn't expect to have. People pre-gamed and were a bit drunk but not super wasted, everyone looked nice. There was lots of dancing and everyone was happy to be with everyone even if they didn't normally hang out. The only thing that surprised me was that there wasn't a slow dance, mainly because the DJ only played hype music which was more fast pace. Afteprom was also what I expected it be, but also not entirely, people got really really wasted, everyone changed and were in less formal clothing. At first it was kinda dead and boring because most people were so tired from prom, and than we got better speakers and the party of louder so people started dancing and had fun. Th partying ended at 5AM and we all hung out till 8, so we basically partied and chilled for more than 12 hours. It was chill, and I had a good time, I can say seniors next year and the years to come will enjoy it.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
HW 58 - Prom Interviews
For this assignment iI interviewed many students who are about to attend prom their ideas, and views on prom, and asked two simple questions, in order to get a bunch of peoples answers in hopes of getting different responses and answers. I asked "What do you think prom will be like?" and "What are your reasons for going or not going?".
"i dont expect much from prom, because my grade is kinda weird. i think its gonna be like a barmitsvah or a sweet sixteen with a lot more meaning i dont expect much from prom, because my grade is kinda weird. i think its gonna be like a barmitsvah or a sweet sixteen with a lot more meaning" - Sasha Z.
"its gonna be like science class but with fancy dresses I am going because my friends are going and I don't want to regret not going In all honesty though I am looking forward to the day after prom more than the actual prom itself, it has become way more stressful then it needs to be." - Sarah L.
"prom will be fun, but it wnt live up to the expectations that people hold because of the movies but i went because who doesnt go to their high school prom thats so sad." - Sarah H.
Everyones end reason as why they're going to prom is because they don't won't to regret it later on and feel bad about it.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
HW 57 - Initial Thoughts on Prom
Prom is a night high school seniors have a final moment, to be together before graduation. People dress formally at prom, the reason as to why can be a number of reasons. One can be that people like being thing they aren't, or dress like they're part of some elite, and want to stand out. Before prom people make tons of decisions and prepare months and some a year in advance, some people wait their whole lives for it. Some key factors in prom is a tux, prom dress and prom date.
In a couple of days I'll be experiencing prom, I wasn't excited and, I'm still not that excited about it. I don't have a date though, one of the reasons is because I waited last minute to even ask anyone, and when I did they were either taken or rejected me. Which didn't upset me, I personally don't see why any of this matters. My friend Matt the other told me "you don't care about not having a date now, but at prom when everyone is dancing with their dates you're going to feel bad". He's probably right, but again It's not a total life changing experience, well trchnically everything is life changing, but for me I'm not too sure.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
xc-COTD3
Six Feet Under 101: Season 1, Episode 1, June 3rd 2001: The Pilot
The first episode of Six Feet Under starts with a man named Nathaniel Fisher talking on the phone with his wife smoking a cigarette, his wife was suspicious of him smoking and told him to stop. He than after getting off the phone with her, decided to light another one, causing him to cross an intersection and get hit by a bus. Most movies when ever someone does something that can impair their driving you already get the message that something bad is going to happen, because the camera angle focuses on the window of the car to let viewers see the problem coming. When the husband was hit by the bus, his wife accidentally cut her finger; I think the director did that to symbolize something wrong. Some can argue that when the husband lied about not smoking and than promising he wasn't anymore, he had sinned which caused him to get hit, or it was a freak accident that could of been avoided if he wasn't on the phone or smoking. The other symbolic thing was when the wife cut her finger, and felt a feeling of worry, after that. Can be seen as metaphysical symbol, many believe that when our love ones die, we'll sense something because of a spiritual bond of some sort.
After that scene, you get to see the whole family and what they all do for a living. Surprisingly the fisher family works in the funeral industry. When starting this unit I assumed that funeral directors or anyone who deal with dead people, can handle death better, and live their lives a bit differently by not fearing death. But like anyone, it's hard for anyone to recover from a lost of relatives. For example one of the visitors, who came in the other say, took a 3-day break from work (funeral directing), after his mother passed away. Like most things in life, it's hard to understand how people feel, until it happens to us.
Six Feet Under 101: Season 1, Episode 2, June 10th 2001: The Will
The episode starts out with a family at a get together around a pool, people are talking and socializing etc. Chandler Swanson (the person who’s going to die in this episode) dives into the pool, and drowned, leaving behind a wife and baby daughter. The episode switches back over the Fisher family where Nathaniel Fisher's had a will left for his family read by his widowed wife to get money, stocks and insurance money. And the funeral business is passed on two his two sons Nate & David. His wild and experimental daughter received college tuition, but chooses to trade it in for cash. Nate (the eldest son) wanted to help out the widowed wife of Chandler Swanson, because of the debt her husband had left her with, and started learning a few things about the funeral business.
After watching two episodes of Six Feet Under I got pretty hooked on it, for many reasons. One of them is that it’s really well written; it deals on many different types of deaths, and family issues that are so common to many and not so much to others. It also show’s how there’s no such thing as a “normal” family, because every family has their own problems, the fishers have a lot of secrets from Mrs. Fisher cheating when her husband was alive, their second son David being gay, their eldest Nate who recently decided to come back because he sees that his family is broken up, and their youngest child and only daughter Claire who’s a confused girl and doesn’t know what she wants in life (typical young adult) who experiments with drugs. One of my worries is Claire dying; she seems really easily pressured and doesn’t handle things to well. The show also does well at showing the different reactions people get when they hear of a death of a loved one, some of the reactions were calm, but than they freaked out, some freaked out and than calm down, some kept calm, but stayed calm but in a docile manner.
xc-COTD2
Harold & Maude is one of those movies that are witty, clever and serious. It’s also has a peculiar way of making viewers have different opinions on what the message of the movie was, and it’s also one of those films that has to be watched beginning to end, and carefully watched to get it. I first watched Harold & Maude last year when I had to watch and read different literatures on existentialism, which has been a great help in this death unit. When I watched it last year my conclusion of the movie was that it showed two different age periods in life, youth and elderly. The beginning of the movie started out with the protagonist Harold faking suicides and seemed very interested in death, a bit too interested more or less obsessed, causing me to believe that he was suicidal. He than later meets a woman named Maude, at a funeral. At first when Harold & Maude spent time together talking about people, cultures, dreams, questioning, basically talking about life. I thought Maude was a mentor to Harold; as the movie progressed you saw the transition in Harold’s behavior, he was more happy around her, and embraced death, almost as if he were the same age as her (79) and soon about to die as well. He turned the Porche his parents bought him for his birthday into a hearse. Harold’s family, a wealthy one wanted Harold to choose a career to follow, they’ve attempted to have him meet generals doctors, anything that was a bit high class they wanted him to do, but he always blew them away by doing something weird, like faking a suicide, his parents tried to get him a girlfriend (young attractive women) he also blew those off as well, and only instead wanted to hang out with Maude. Those were when the tell-tell signs that Harold was very interested in Maude we’re becoming obvious. Harold later on in the movie kisses Maude after talking by a pier, and seeing she was a holocaust survivor, and slept with her. Full of joy he asks her to marry him, and than she breaks out that she poisoned herself, Harold rushes her to the hospital, but it was too late Maude wanted to die for a long time because it was “her time”. Harold panics, causing viewers to believe he was going to kill himself you see him drive his Porsche hearse towards a cliff, and than the car crashes straight down a cliff to the bottom by the water, he appears on the cliff playing the banjo, wearing colors. That was significant because it showed how Harold, decided to throw his views of death away and enjoy his life while young and get old, until that day comes.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
HW 56 - Culminating Project Comments
Sam's Blog:
Sam,
I liked your blog because you had a really clear beginning that was interesting and had good points, which made reading the rest of your blog easy to read. One thing i found interesting about jewish faith is that it's more natural than christianity, for example things such as kosher. There's also some similarities between the two, for example they both believe that the dead will resurrect. I personally believe the reason people believe that is because its a way for people to cope with a death, by believing they'll come back, but there's a contradiction with that, all the people who believed that before they died and than they're relatives when they died kept believing that, meaning that many generations are due to resurrect. Other than that you had a great blog, good work.
- Rigel
Here's a link to Sam's blog.
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Sam,
I liked your blog because you had a really clear beginning that was interesting and had good points, which made reading the rest of your blog easy to read. One thing i found interesting about jewish faith is that it's more natural than christianity, for example things such as kosher. There's also some similarities between the two, for example they both believe that the dead will resurrect. I personally believe the reason people believe that is because its a way for people to cope with a death, by believing they'll come back, but there's a contradiction with that, all the people who believed that before they died and than they're relatives when they died kept believing that, meaning that many generations are due to resurrect. Other than that you had a great blog, good work.
- Rigel
Here's a link to Sam's blog.
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Stephen's Blog:
Stephen,
Your blog had a lot of god info, facts and personal knowledge (you can think for yourself.) Which andy yesterday said is a good perk to have, and it is. The ending of your blog was good because your right funeral homes should acknowledge the fact that, they cost a huge deal of money. Like most industrialized things, once they become successful businesses it's only natural for them to lose their morals, about the customer first. Besides that Good job.
- Rigel
Here's a link to Stephen's blog.
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Matt S.'s Blog:
Matt,
I hang out with you all the time at school, but damn when it comes to your blogs, your not only on point, but are a completely different person. You go in depth, you analyze what you're talking about and you give personal insights which makes this read even more engaging. You should pursue a career in writing and giving speeches, cause you're a natural. You're blog related to my elevator speech about how we're our own person, except I didn't have enough time to go in depth in my speech, one of the examples and topics I wanted to talk about was how people believe that our loved ones spirits protect us and, from their the cycle occurs, but i believed that we are all connected and we're constant flowing energies, and if spirits and reincarnation exist, and we live on through our children, how would we know? I'm sure you feel connected with your relatives, but do you experience everything they do, and most likely the answer is no, because we are our own individuals. Again great blog, I always look forward to your next ones.
-Rigel
Here's a link to Matt's blog.
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Matt B.'s blog:
Matt,
You have that deep voice that gets peoples attentions during your speeches, and the topics you talk about, are interesting, which is another plus. I think the transition from you in the beginning questioning life and death, and you having your own ideas of life and death is what really matters in this unit, using what you learned and now know to achieve your own ideas, is the best thing anyone can do. Because like most peoples views, especially traditional ones such as ones that are made from their religion, we all have our own interpretation on everything, so i like that you have you're own say. You're blog had a lot of good facts, that i didn't now about before, and you used own personal idea to define what you believe. Good job, and i'm interested in reading your next to come.
-Rigel.
Here's a link to Matt's Blog:
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From Alix:
Rigel,
Your blog was pretty good I like how you analyzed what life and death really is by focussing on how technology plays a role at keeping someone "alive", and how we view of life and death should be updated. You had a lot of strong points, such as open heart surgery, because 100 years ago that was something a bit fictional, and now it's done only regular basis with positive results. Their's a few things about your blog I was a bit puzzled about one being, you didn't go in depth on some of the topics your brought up, also I think you had many good ideas and thoughts, but rushed them and got lazy. For your next blog you should give it your all and enjoy it so it's more engaging, proof read as well, other than that not bad.
-Alix
Your blog was pretty good I like how you analyzed what life and death really is by focussing on how technology plays a role at keeping someone "alive", and how we view of life and death should be updated. You had a lot of strong points, such as open heart surgery, because 100 years ago that was something a bit fictional, and now it's done only regular basis with positive results. Their's a few things about your blog I was a bit puzzled about one being, you didn't go in depth on some of the topics your brought up, also I think you had many good ideas and thoughts, but rushed them and got lazy. For your next blog you should give it your all and enjoy it so it's more engaging, proof read as well, other than that not bad.
-Alix
xc-COTD1
...it'd be wrong if i made a joke.
Washington Cemetery Panorama facing Bay Parkway.
Brendan on the right, me in the middle, Chris on the left and Christian on the camera.
I went on a small trip with my classmates Brendan, Chris and Christian to the cemetery to observe what we saw, and the ideas we got from our visit. I visited two cemeteries; of two different religions two compare and contrast what I noticed. I went to the Trinity church cemetery (Christian) on city hall, and the Washington cemetery (Jewish) on Bay Parkway and Ocean Parkway (it’s huge). When I went to the trinity church cemetery it was pretty peaceful but it being in city hall made it a bit annoying to be, so many tourist, cars, and tight space, it seems a bit un-peaceful for the dead. One somewhat obvious observation was that the trinity cemetery, is very old, some of the gravestones date back all the way to the 1840’s and older, Thomas Jefferson has a tombstone in the trinity, but his body isn’t buried their. The good thing about the trinity is that there is a lot of historical aspects to it, like most of lower Manhattan because its one of the earliest, parts of Manhattan and New York City when it was forming. The Washington cemetery was much, much quieter than the trinity; one of the reasons is due to the area, less people, and more rural neighborhood. Another difference is that the Washington cemetery is mainly for people of the Jewish religion, meaning that every decease person in the cemetery was buried following Jewish tradition, buried in 24 hours, no embalming, etc.
Some similarities that were interesting was that both cemeteries, uses tombstones, they can be made by however way the person’s family choose it to be so they’re not all the same, some have pictures of the decease, some are glossy (marble material) some are hard concrete, etc. The only small difference is that in trinity and most catholic cemeteries there’s a cross, and for Washington cemetery, they use the Star of David, which I thought was cool and interesting, shows each religions emblem. I my little trip to the cemetery, for a few reasons, first one being I pass cemetery’s all the time, I was never scared of them but never found them interesting, but after all this it’s a bit interesting it’s more or less like a trip to a park, but with organize concrete figures, lots and lots of them. I think everyone should go to a cemetery for two reason’s even if the people in the cemetery aren’t related to you, you’ll notice how different and how similar all dead people and their families are. They all die, grieve move on, like everyone else.
Monday, May 16, 2011
HW 55 - Culminating Project - Care of the Dead
For a long time I’ve always found life to be an interesting topic, because of the events that take place from beginning to end. I always found it interesting how when a mothers is pregnant that’s when life starts, or is it. Like any experience, everyone’s is different, causing people to have different ideas about things. One can argue that life doesn’t truly start until you can start communicating and others can say it’s the moment you’re born.
Both birth and death share similarities, because they both deal with existence. Scientifically we know that when a person is born it’s due through the process of sexual reproduction, and when one dies it depends on whether the person has a pulse, caused by the heart; or if their brain is functioning. One reason people are so focused about death is because after someone dies, many believe that there is a continuation of some sort, an afterlife. One of the reasons people believe this is because before a person was born they didn’t exist. The definition of the word existence is; a obsolete: reality as opposed to appearance ,b : reality as presented in experience. (Merriam-Webster). Basically if people knew one existed was visible than they existed, but there’s a contradiction to that. Mainly because it’s based on whether a sperm existed or an egg, which is constantly being created, so technically everyone that could have been exists or existed, if it was created. To go even deeper some of the building blocks of life are nutrients, and when someone dies, their remains break down and become nutrients. Depending on how a person is interred they’re remains naturally breaks down.
With technology playing a role in helping people survive when ill or damaged, there are ways to help people stay alive through major situations. Situations such as open heart surgery, or a coma. Remember one of the main factors that describe someone, as being alive or dead, is the state of their heart and brain. If people went with those factors than technically any person in a coma/vegetable state or are being helped by an artificial heart to stay alive is dead, which is why with every new breakthrough the definition of existence is requisitioned and gains a new definition.
I personally believe that birth and death are connected more than people think. The fact that everyone who is born will eventually die, is pretty remarkable. At the same time I think birth and death are closely connected, because of energy. Before we’re born we’re energy that is forming based on our parents our ancestors our environment (surroundings), what we eat, everything. And when we die, I don’t think we’ll consciously continue in another realm knowing the same people and will be able to see future generations to come. And when we die we become energy again, our body breaks down, becomes nutrients or is burned, and we’re constantly being used. One of the reasons I believe the idea of a afterlife such as heaven is non existent, is due to the fact of when we die and how. What if someone had Alzheimer’s when they died, would that person suddenly start remembering things again, and what about the age someone died, would they be that same age.
Citations:
John, Dinolo. Medline Plus. New York City: Medline, Web..
William, Kevin. "The NDE and Religion." Research Conclusions 2010: n. pag. Web. 16 May 2011..
Both birth and death share similarities, because they both deal with existence. Scientifically we know that when a person is born it’s due through the process of sexual reproduction, and when one dies it depends on whether the person has a pulse, caused by the heart; or if their brain is functioning. One reason people are so focused about death is because after someone dies, many believe that there is a continuation of some sort, an afterlife. One of the reasons people believe this is because before a person was born they didn’t exist. The definition of the word existence is; a obsolete: reality as opposed to appearance ,b : reality as presented in experience. (Merriam-Webster). Basically if people knew one existed was visible than they existed, but there’s a contradiction to that. Mainly because it’s based on whether a sperm existed or an egg, which is constantly being created, so technically everyone that could have been exists or existed, if it was created. To go even deeper some of the building blocks of life are nutrients, and when someone dies, their remains break down and become nutrients. Depending on how a person is interred they’re remains naturally breaks down.
With technology playing a role in helping people survive when ill or damaged, there are ways to help people stay alive through major situations. Situations such as open heart surgery, or a coma. Remember one of the main factors that describe someone, as being alive or dead, is the state of their heart and brain. If people went with those factors than technically any person in a coma/vegetable state or are being helped by an artificial heart to stay alive is dead, which is why with every new breakthrough the definition of existence is requisitioned and gains a new definition.
I personally believe that birth and death are connected more than people think. The fact that everyone who is born will eventually die, is pretty remarkable. At the same time I think birth and death are closely connected, because of energy. Before we’re born we’re energy that is forming based on our parents our ancestors our environment (surroundings), what we eat, everything. And when we die, I don’t think we’ll consciously continue in another realm knowing the same people and will be able to see future generations to come. And when we die we become energy again, our body breaks down, becomes nutrients or is burned, and we’re constantly being used. One of the reasons I believe the idea of a afterlife such as heaven is non existent, is due to the fact of when we die and how. What if someone had Alzheimer’s when they died, would that person suddenly start remembering things again, and what about the age someone died, would they be that same age.
Citations:
John, Dinolo. Medline Plus. New York City: Medline, Web.
William, Kevin. "The NDE and Religion." Research Conclusions 2010: n. pag. Web. 16 May 2011.
Monday, May 9, 2011
HW 53 - Independent Research A
With Poem, Broaching the Topic of Death
By Ben Daitz, M.D.
Many cultures all around the world have their own way of dealing with death and views. This article mainly focuses on the culture of the navajo, in their culture when one dies it's bad luck, and there's a fear that it'll bring you death. Ms. Begay, a navajo is trying to change the way most navajo's portray death and wants them to accept it as something normal.
Before reading this article i always assumed native americans were the least superstitious when it came to death, and would handle it better than dominant religions such as christianity. But reading this shows how most cultures in society are puzzled by death, and are scared to face it.
Citation:
Ben, Daitz. "With Poem, Broaching the Topic of Death." New York Times (2011): n. pag. Web. 9 May 2011.
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Dance, Laugh, Drink. Save the Date: It’s a Ghanaian Funeral.
By Sam Dolnick:
In most cultures when their is a death, we mourn in total sorrow and make the process of recovery harder for us, because of our dominant social practices. One of the things we do that make it harder for us is us worrying about being judged or our religious beliefs. We sometimes hide our emotions like laughing or crying and having conversations casually at a funeral because it's not the average "norm"/normal way.
This article counters the first article because it's showing, how some cultures accept death better than others, in fact it was the total opposite, the first one was about how in the navajo culture people don't even talk about the deceased, while in the ghanaian culture they have an actual party. When i found this article i was stunned because coincidently i was looking for something that would counter my first read and i got lucky. After reading this I was a bit inspired, because I always told people when talking about death, I always mention that I want my funeral to be happy, not the typical all dark and quiet look, i want people to talk, socialize and do fun things as much as possible, even if its hard and when they're sad and the best way i think that would be possible is if everyone releases the true emotions and says whats on their mind.
Citation:
Sam, Dolnick. "Dance, Laugh, Drink. Save the Date: It’s a Ghanaian Funeral.." New York Times (2011): n. pag. Web. 9 May 2011. "
By Ben Daitz, M.D.
Many cultures all around the world have their own way of dealing with death and views. This article mainly focuses on the culture of the navajo, in their culture when one dies it's bad luck, and there's a fear that it'll bring you death. Ms. Begay, a navajo is trying to change the way most navajo's portray death and wants them to accept it as something normal.
Before reading this article i always assumed native americans were the least superstitious when it came to death, and would handle it better than dominant religions such as christianity. But reading this shows how most cultures in society are puzzled by death, and are scared to face it.
Citation:
Ben, Daitz. "With Poem, Broaching the Topic of Death." New York Times (2011): n. pag. Web. 9 May 2011.
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Dance, Laugh, Drink. Save the Date: It’s a Ghanaian Funeral.
By Sam Dolnick:
In most cultures when their is a death, we mourn in total sorrow and make the process of recovery harder for us, because of our dominant social practices. One of the things we do that make it harder for us is us worrying about being judged or our religious beliefs. We sometimes hide our emotions like laughing or crying and having conversations casually at a funeral because it's not the average "norm"/normal way.
This article counters the first article because it's showing, how some cultures accept death better than others, in fact it was the total opposite, the first one was about how in the navajo culture people don't even talk about the deceased, while in the ghanaian culture they have an actual party. When i found this article i was stunned because coincidently i was looking for something that would counter my first read and i got lucky. After reading this I was a bit inspired, because I always told people when talking about death, I always mention that I want my funeral to be happy, not the typical all dark and quiet look, i want people to talk, socialize and do fun things as much as possible, even if its hard and when they're sad and the best way i think that would be possible is if everyone releases the true emotions and says whats on their mind.
Citation:
Sam, Dolnick. "Dance, Laugh, Drink. Save the Date: It’s a Ghanaian Funeral.." New York Times (2011): n. pag. Web. 9 May 2011. "
Sunday, May 8, 2011
HW 52 - Third Third of the COTD Book
On the middle portion of the book, I talk about other burial alternatives, one being reef balling. Reef balling is the process when a decease is cremated, tan their ashes are put in a cement ball, that is than sunken to the sea, for aquatic life to flourish on. The purpose of this is so families feel and put their body in good use, and when it's being used in a way where colonies of fish, bacteria and algae or growing on it, which are some of the early building blocks of life, so it makes a person feel like they're apart of life.
“Carrie would have preferred to inter John in one of his favorite diving sites off the Cayman Islands." (Harris, 92)
"By placing material like rock, concrete, ships, and fabricated reef balls on our part of the seabed, we're trying to create structures that will serve as aquatic nurseries where there are none" " (Harris, 97)
"No sooner has the crane begun winching up the cable hen the plank reaches its tipping point, and the two tons of concrete and five pounds of human ashes that is John V. Slowe memorial reef shoots down the wooden slide and , with a crashing sound that the boat hull, splashes into the Atlantic." (Harris,
Reef balling to me isn't a bad idea, and has a lot of environmental benefits. One thing about reef balling is that I feel that it's mainly for people who aren't that religious, because there isn't that many religious significant to reef balling. Their are some problems with reef balling to me, one of the them is the fact it uses 2 tons of concrete, that's almost more than what the average tombstone uses, which isn't that economical. My favorite part about reef balling is that to me it seems better than just spreading ashes over a body of water and it floats and spreads around. While reef balling stays in one place and will eventually home fish and sea plants. I imagine that years into the future, divers will go down and see the reef ball extract it and the ash and bring me back to life, like some sci-fi thing.
“Carrie would have preferred to inter John in one of his favorite diving sites off the Cayman Islands." (Harris, 92)
"By placing material like rock, concrete, ships, and fabricated reef balls on our part of the seabed, we're trying to create structures that will serve as aquatic nurseries where there are none" " (Harris, 97)
"No sooner has the crane begun winching up the cable hen the plank reaches its tipping point, and the two tons of concrete and five pounds of human ashes that is John V. Slowe memorial reef shoots down the wooden slide and , with a crashing sound that the boat hull, splashes into the Atlantic." (Harris,
Reef balling to me isn't a bad idea, and has a lot of environmental benefits. One thing about reef balling is that I feel that it's mainly for people who aren't that religious, because there isn't that many religious significant to reef balling. Their are some problems with reef balling to me, one of the them is the fact it uses 2 tons of concrete, that's almost more than what the average tombstone uses, which isn't that economical. My favorite part about reef balling is that to me it seems better than just spreading ashes over a body of water and it floats and spreads around. While reef balling stays in one place and will eventually home fish and sea plants. I imagine that years into the future, divers will go down and see the reef ball extract it and the ash and bring me back to life, like some sci-fi thing.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
HW 51 - Second Third of COTD Book
When our loved ones dies, depending on the deceased's culture is what was determined on what would happen to the body. A death on average can be the second most expensive thing a family will spend. In the united states many people have funerals, at cemeteries. Person dies, body is embalmed to last, than buried, and depending on a persons income, the better quality burial. The perseverance of a corpse is become a booming business, and a fad.
“Holy Savior insists that a vault be used to think the ground from sinking into the grave when the casket eventually collapses and creates a depression that mars the uniformity of the grounds and makes mowing difficult” (Harris, 32)
"Pounded out in the factories of an industrializing North, the sturdy metal coffin promised the dead greater protection from the elements" (Harris, 43)
I think it's a bit funny how people find ways to make money off people, from products as simple as food to coffins. Before reading this book, I thought the process of death was, person dies, gets put in a fridge in a morgue or something, funeral service open or closed, than buried. And I thought the coffins just stay there with no problem, and the body decays in it. It's a bit like all the other units we did before this, we think these simple things have a simple process, but it's more complicating than it seems. It's funny how like most things in life the higher quality/price of a coffin wil determine how well protected someones body is, it's like a modern day sarcophagus almost like what ancient egyptians did, so the richer/more money someone spends the more you can be buried like royalty.
“Holy Savior insists that a vault be used to think the ground from sinking into the grave when the casket eventually collapses and creates a depression that mars the uniformity of the grounds and makes mowing difficult” (Harris, 32)
"Pounded out in the factories of an industrializing North, the sturdy metal coffin promised the dead greater protection from the elements" (Harris, 43)
I think it's a bit funny how people find ways to make money off people, from products as simple as food to coffins. Before reading this book, I thought the process of death was, person dies, gets put in a fridge in a morgue or something, funeral service open or closed, than buried. And I thought the coffins just stay there with no problem, and the body decays in it. It's a bit like all the other units we did before this, we think these simple things have a simple process, but it's more complicating than it seems. It's funny how like most things in life the higher quality/price of a coffin wil determine how well protected someones body is, it's like a modern day sarcophagus almost like what ancient egyptians did, so the richer/more money someone spends the more you can be buried like royalty.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
HW 49 - Comments on Best of Your Break HW
My comments to my Thinking/Writing groups:
Sarah's blog:
Sarah,
I really liked the fact that you interview your aunt, and your friends mothers as a change of "norm", it made reading your blog more interesting to read. I found it interesting how for your aunts family (also your family) they believed in an afterlife, and that ones life continues in a different realm. The reason i said in's interesting is because, I find it interesting, that in most cultures, and majority of people on this planet, believe in an afterlife or some sort. But i wonder why we believe that, is it an unexplainable feeling? or is it a belief that's been imbedded in us? For your mom's friend I thought it was a bit heart wrenching that she had to see her own dead parent, I don't know how i would handle seeing one of my relatives, and I wouldn't know what to do with their corpse. But for your mothers friend to cremate her fathers corpse I thought it was an interesting option, because that's someone you knew and to turn their body into ash, I think is pretty bold. Before reading grave matters i had already known that funerals were expensive, so i thought that the main reasons people cremated their loves ones for two reasons, won to keep a physical part of them at their homes or wherever, and second because it's cheaper. Anyway, your blog was a smooth read, and interesting most of all, I don't have anything negative to say, except for good job, and look forward to the next to come
-Rigel
Their are a few typos, all of the times i meant to type "your" my phone put "you're", freaking auto-correct, ignore them, thank you.
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Anthony's Blog:
Anthony,
your blog was an interesting read, it had very good comparisons and stories. You interviewing a grown woman, and a child was what made reading this interesting. The first person you interviewed is obviously very dedicated to taking care of the deceased, but a question that came to mind when reading this is, is she superstitious? because you said she prays over the body, once every hour. For your next interviewee, I can tell he's like most people in our generation, we accept death because we know it affects everyone. For feedback though, your second interview (the kid) wasn't long enough, you just ended it, and i feel like you could of said more. Other than that, not bad, and i look forward to your next blog.
-Rigel
Their are a few typos, all of the times i meant to type "your" my phone put "you're", freaking auto-correct, ignore them, thank you.
---------------
Felipe's Blog:
Felipe,
first I'd like to point out, your blog page makes me keep thinking that there's a glitch, cause it looks like my blog site, but i like how your blog page is in reverse, first time seeing that so neat background. Now for you blog, very in depth, short, good topic/points. I like how your blog analyzed the process of taking care of the corpse than the care of the already embalmed. One of my favorite quotes on your blog was "The idea of the dead accepting their own death is rarely something you hear about", because people believe that the dead go to another realm/afterlife, so do they think about their own death. I just thought that was a good statement, gives people something to think about. Good blog, do more homework, so i can read your next blog.
-Rigel
Their are a few typos, all of the times i meant to type "your" my phone put "you're", freaking auto-correct, ignore them, thank you.
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Jess C's Blog:
Jessica,
your blog made me reflect a lot back to mine, the way you described how funerals go, and what they mean is the way my mother described it for my homework 48, people gather, rekindle, and go back to a home or hall and eat and etc. Not a big deal but for me it struct me because i've never been to a funeral, so i cant imagine eating at one, and to hear that food plays a role surprises me. One of the things i liked about your blog was that it was short, and went straight to the point, which are my favorite type of things to read. One feedback I'd give you is use more capital words in the beginning of each sentence, so that way it'll be more of an organize read, and will flow. Other than that good job, and look forward to reading more of your blogs to come.
-Rigel
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Comments on my blog:
My Uncles Comment:
Rigel,
your blog was a decent read, but was mostly a quoted story, rather a narrative story with your thoughts and ideas using quotes, or even an interview. One of the reasons it wasn't too bad was because your questions to your mother, got you a long story, which gave me all the info to understand her experience. Which is what made your blog good, the reason 'm a bit disappointed with it is because it lacks what your title says it would be about "your families perspective", you didn't say what your moms perspective on the care of the dead was. Other than that not bad, but i look forward to a better blog next time.
- Alix
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My little cousin's comment:
I liked your blog because it told me the story about great grandmas death, and i was amazed to read how much our family bonded and was all together, more than it is today. It's almost like most things in life, people only come together after a tragedy, I guess that's how people heal emotionally, and once we get better we go on with our lives, until the next emotional wound. The only feedback I would give you is the same as uncle Alix, so next time focus on the main topic. Good job though.
-Nick
Sarah's blog:
Sarah,
I really liked the fact that you interview your aunt, and your friends mothers as a change of "norm", it made reading your blog more interesting to read. I found it interesting how for your aunts family (also your family) they believed in an afterlife, and that ones life continues in a different realm. The reason i said in's interesting is because, I find it interesting, that in most cultures, and majority of people on this planet, believe in an afterlife or some sort. But i wonder why we believe that, is it an unexplainable feeling? or is it a belief that's been imbedded in us? For your mom's friend I thought it was a bit heart wrenching that she had to see her own dead parent, I don't know how i would handle seeing one of my relatives, and I wouldn't know what to do with their corpse. But for your mothers friend to cremate her fathers corpse I thought it was an interesting option, because that's someone you knew and to turn their body into ash, I think is pretty bold. Before reading grave matters i had already known that funerals were expensive, so i thought that the main reasons people cremated their loves ones for two reasons, won to keep a physical part of them at their homes or wherever, and second because it's cheaper. Anyway, your blog was a smooth read, and interesting most of all, I don't have anything negative to say, except for good job, and look forward to the next to come
-Rigel
Their are a few typos, all of the times i meant to type "your" my phone put "you're", freaking auto-correct, ignore them, thank you.
---------------
Anthony's Blog:
Anthony,
your blog was an interesting read, it had very good comparisons and stories. You interviewing a grown woman, and a child was what made reading this interesting. The first person you interviewed is obviously very dedicated to taking care of the deceased, but a question that came to mind when reading this is, is she superstitious? because you said she prays over the body, once every hour. For your next interviewee, I can tell he's like most people in our generation, we accept death because we know it affects everyone. For feedback though, your second interview (the kid) wasn't long enough, you just ended it, and i feel like you could of said more. Other than that, not bad, and i look forward to your next blog.
-Rigel
Their are a few typos, all of the times i meant to type "your" my phone put "you're", freaking auto-correct, ignore them, thank you.
---------------
Felipe's Blog:
Felipe,
first I'd like to point out, your blog page makes me keep thinking that there's a glitch, cause it looks like my blog site, but i like how your blog page is in reverse, first time seeing that so neat background. Now for you blog, very in depth, short, good topic/points. I like how your blog analyzed the process of taking care of the corpse than the care of the already embalmed. One of my favorite quotes on your blog was "The idea of the dead accepting their own death is rarely something you hear about", because people believe that the dead go to another realm/afterlife, so do they think about their own death. I just thought that was a good statement, gives people something to think about. Good blog, do more homework, so i can read your next blog.
-Rigel
Their are a few typos, all of the times i meant to type "your" my phone put "you're", freaking auto-correct, ignore them, thank you.
-----------------
Jess C's Blog:
Jessica,
your blog made me reflect a lot back to mine, the way you described how funerals go, and what they mean is the way my mother described it for my homework 48, people gather, rekindle, and go back to a home or hall and eat and etc. Not a big deal but for me it struct me because i've never been to a funeral, so i cant imagine eating at one, and to hear that food plays a role surprises me. One of the things i liked about your blog was that it was short, and went straight to the point, which are my favorite type of things to read. One feedback I'd give you is use more capital words in the beginning of each sentence, so that way it'll be more of an organize read, and will flow. Other than that good job, and look forward to reading more of your blogs to come.
-Rigel
---------------------------------------------------------------
Comments on my blog:
My Uncles Comment:
Rigel,
your blog was a decent read, but was mostly a quoted story, rather a narrative story with your thoughts and ideas using quotes, or even an interview. One of the reasons it wasn't too bad was because your questions to your mother, got you a long story, which gave me all the info to understand her experience. Which is what made your blog good, the reason 'm a bit disappointed with it is because it lacks what your title says it would be about "your families perspective", you didn't say what your moms perspective on the care of the dead was. Other than that not bad, but i look forward to a better blog next time.
- Alix
----------------------
My little cousin's comment:
I liked your blog because it told me the story about great grandmas death, and i was amazed to read how much our family bonded and was all together, more than it is today. It's almost like most things in life, people only come together after a tragedy, I guess that's how people heal emotionally, and once we get better we go on with our lives, until the next emotional wound. The only feedback I would give you is the same as uncle Alix, so next time focus on the main topic. Good job though.
-Nick
Saturday, April 30, 2011
HW 50 - First Third of Care-of-the-Dead Book Post
Greave Matters is a book about the embalming of peoples love ones, and goes in depth about the effects of an average burial, and gives readers insights about green burial. This book isn’t trying to change peoples minds on how to embalm themselves or their love ones when they pass away, it’s sole purpose is to inform people, and hopefully change the way people normally do things.
Grave Matters by Mark Davis is a book about the business of the embalming of the deceased. When I pre read the book at first I thought it was interesting because of the many facts it gave about funerals, the price, the materials, its affect on the environment, etc. At first I thought the first chapter would be a bit like the Omnivores Dilemma where it gave a short catchy story, than gave a lot of good facts, and points, but instead Grave Matters, gives personal stories, which is relevant to know, but to me is a bit dramatic. For example the first chapter was about this couple who lost their 18 year old daughter and all this is being explained in just three sentences, so when pre reading learning all these facts, you expect to see more interesting facts but instead, you get hit with a depressing story. This book like every other book we’ve read this year for all our units gives a “nicer” alternative to something that’s because nightmarish and creepy, or exploits people to make money.
Grave Matters by Mark Davis is a book about the business of the embalming of the deceased. When I pre read the book at first I thought it was interesting because of the many facts it gave about funerals, the price, the materials, its affect on the environment, etc. At first I thought the first chapter would be a bit like the Omnivores Dilemma where it gave a short catchy story, than gave a lot of good facts, and points, but instead Grave Matters, gives personal stories, which is relevant to know, but to me is a bit dramatic. For example the first chapter was about this couple who lost their 18 year old daughter and all this is being explained in just three sentences, so when pre reading learning all these facts, you expect to see more interesting facts but instead, you get hit with a depressing story. This book like every other book we’ve read this year for all our units gives a “nicer” alternative to something that’s because nightmarish and creepy, or exploits people to make money.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
HW 48 - Family Perspectives on the Care of the Dead (Read This One)
My interview with my mother:
“What was the first death you experienced?”
“My friend Patrick who died of leukemia, when I was 16.”
“How did his family care for his death?”
“He had converted from catholic to Islam, the day after he died there was a wake, and it was open casket. The next day was the funeral; there was no open casket, because his mother was upset about having him exposed again. His head was facing east so the casket was moved a certain direction, because of religious purposes. People said their prayers than his casket was being buried, as that was happening his mother had a horrendous scream, which gave everyone chills and everyone started crying and so did I. He was 18.”
“What was your first experience with a death in our family?”
“My grandmothers death (my great grandmother). I was a sophomore in college when my roommate had gotten a call from my mother, when I got to my dorm and my roommate told me the message I did not believe her and was upset with her. The next day I flew back to New York from D.C. When I got to home it was hectic, because family from all over were coming in, staying at different relatives houses, there was a dinner and people were crying and rekindling. I had missed the wake because it happened the day I found out. The following day (the third day) was the funeral/church service, which hundreds of people came to. My grandmothers body was in the front of the church and it was an open casket, everyone went near to say their goodbyes, I stayed in the back, and was still able to see her body, but didn't want get close to it. After all that the casket was closed, and was carried into the hearse, and was taken to the cemetery, which people drove to as well. People said their last words, and the body was being buried, which is when I and many others and I broke down. After that a lot people went back to my great grandmothers house talking about her and stuff, but because their were so many people the family ended up renting out a hall. During the time people we’re talking about my grandmother and their memories of her, I stepped outside the house, because I couldn't take listening to any of peoples conversations, and I was getting annoyed with questions such as "how do you feel?" Which I thought was a stupid to ask. While I was outside and thinking to myself I was barely able to breathe from the anger I felt. But later that day I realized how much people loved my grandmother by the amount of people in the house, which made me feel a bit better.”
My mothers experience with her grandmother’s death, and my friends experience with their parent’s death, has many similarities. Such as they hated questions like "how do you feel?" "Do you feel better?" because no one ever fully recovers from a lost of a love one. Another similarity is that, at first when they got the news they didn't believe it at first, and weren't fully affected until after the funeral. The last similarity is that the whole process occurred in a 3 day span mourning, wake & funeral.
“What was the first death you experienced?”
“My friend Patrick who died of leukemia, when I was 16.”
“How did his family care for his death?”
“He had converted from catholic to Islam, the day after he died there was a wake, and it was open casket. The next day was the funeral; there was no open casket, because his mother was upset about having him exposed again. His head was facing east so the casket was moved a certain direction, because of religious purposes. People said their prayers than his casket was being buried, as that was happening his mother had a horrendous scream, which gave everyone chills and everyone started crying and so did I. He was 18.”
“What was your first experience with a death in our family?”
“My grandmothers death (my great grandmother). I was a sophomore in college when my roommate had gotten a call from my mother, when I got to my dorm and my roommate told me the message I did not believe her and was upset with her. The next day I flew back to New York from D.C. When I got to home it was hectic, because family from all over were coming in, staying at different relatives houses, there was a dinner and people were crying and rekindling. I had missed the wake because it happened the day I found out. The following day (the third day) was the funeral/church service, which hundreds of people came to. My grandmothers body was in the front of the church and it was an open casket, everyone went near to say their goodbyes, I stayed in the back, and was still able to see her body, but didn't want get close to it. After all that the casket was closed, and was carried into the hearse, and was taken to the cemetery, which people drove to as well. People said their last words, and the body was being buried, which is when I and many others and I broke down. After that a lot people went back to my great grandmothers house talking about her and stuff, but because their were so many people the family ended up renting out a hall. During the time people we’re talking about my grandmother and their memories of her, I stepped outside the house, because I couldn't take listening to any of peoples conversations, and I was getting annoyed with questions such as "how do you feel?" Which I thought was a stupid to ask. While I was outside and thinking to myself I was barely able to breathe from the anger I felt. But later that day I realized how much people loved my grandmother by the amount of people in the house, which made me feel a bit better.”
My mothers experience with her grandmother’s death, and my friends experience with their parent’s death, has many similarities. Such as they hated questions like "how do you feel?" "Do you feel better?" because no one ever fully recovers from a lost of a love one. Another similarity is that, at first when they got the news they didn't believe it at first, and weren't fully affected until after the funeral. The last similarity is that the whole process occurred in a 3 day span mourning, wake & funeral.
Friday, April 22, 2011
HW 47 - Peer Perspectives on the Care of the Dead
For this assignment i interviewed 2 friends of mine on their prospective on death, based on their experiences. One of my main focus is the effect of one losing a really close relative, and all of my interviewees lost a parent. One of my friends dad died when she was 5, and the other died just last year when he turned 17. The first thing I asked was "how did you recover from that experience?" The answer I got from both wasn't a shock, which was "you never recover" but they basically said, you just keep doing what you normally would do, but you'll always remember that your short of a parent. My second question to them was "What was you're first reaction when you found out about your dad?" Jacey (the one who's dad passed when she was 5), said she knew her father wasn't feeling to well, and was sent to the hospital, but was being told everything would be fine, until he died of a heart attack their. But she was traumatized because "nothing went fine". But she said that over the years her trauma from that has basically recovered, because her father has been gone for most of her life, but she still wonders what life would of been like if he was still around. For my friend Chris, his father died of a kidney failure on a business trip in Brazil, but when he found out about his dads death, he didn't believe it at first, because he saw his dad two days before his death. But the fact of his fathers death, hit him the day he was suppose to come back home, and instead his body was flown in, and the funeral. Even 8 months later, he still forgets his "dad is gone, but knows he is."
My third question to them was "How long did the whole process take (funeral, burial, etc.)? Jacey's dad was buried within four days, but normally they have a funeral and burial within 2 days. For Chris's father, took 6 days, because his body was flown from brazil, than a wake took place, than a funeral.
My third question to them was "How long did the whole process take (funeral, burial, etc.)? Jacey's dad was buried within four days, but normally they have a funeral and burial within 2 days. For Chris's father, took 6 days, because his body was flown from brazil, than a wake took place, than a funeral.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
HW 46 - Initial Thoughts on the Care of the Dead
Many things come to mind when I hear the word death, or think about death. Death to me is probably the most mysterious events next to if earth is the only planet that has human beings. One of the reasons I believe people analyze death so much is because we don't know what happens when someone dies, we have many ideas. Some think that we reincarnate, some think we go places that dont exist in the real world, such as heaven or hell, and some think we become non existent and life is blank. I personally don't have a specific belief, mainly because my argument against those theories is "where were we before we were babies?". All these theories are based off the idea of existence, which basically means something that we can see or know is there means it exist, but what about the unknown existence. Every now and then we hear things such as "a new discovery" in the media or etc. But if it was discovered than that means it was all ready there, so it always existed but we just never knew.
The reason I think understanding the idea of existence is important when talking about death, is because as human beings we are so fascinated with life and don't like when things we're used to disappear or die, but if we look at history so much has changed and died, in a way death is good, and for many reasons. If people and things constantly existed than their wouldn't be room for anything new, and there'd probably be less discoveries. I always think about these type of things mainly because I haven't dealt with much death in my life, I think one if the reasons is because my family is so broken up, so I have a lot of "distant relatives". Which makes it seem like a have a small family and less news goes around, which is why when I hear such and such had a baby, or died it's like hearing a stranger had a child or died, and I feel good or bad depending on the news. If a baby is born great, a new person in the family, someone died that's tragic, then again the way someone dies makes a difference as well. For example if someone died of natural causes at an age of 97, it's sad to hear, but we make ourselves feel better, by thinking they had a long life, but if someone died at 10 or 20 we'd be devastated, because they didn't live a long life. I could go even deeper with the idea o what a good life is, but to get you (the reader) thinking what if the person who was 20 lived a life that the 97 year old wish they had and considered that a good life or vice versa? Also as we get older we forget certain things that occurred early in our lives, what if someone who died young remembered happier moments in their life, while it was still fresh in their memories? Never the less, like anyone else I think it's devastating to lose a love one, and I don't know what I'd do in that situation. But I think we should all enjoy our lives, because we never know what's to come.
The reason I think understanding the idea of existence is important when talking about death, is because as human beings we are so fascinated with life and don't like when things we're used to disappear or die, but if we look at history so much has changed and died, in a way death is good, and for many reasons. If people and things constantly existed than their wouldn't be room for anything new, and there'd probably be less discoveries. I always think about these type of things mainly because I haven't dealt with much death in my life, I think one if the reasons is because my family is so broken up, so I have a lot of "distant relatives". Which makes it seem like a have a small family and less news goes around, which is why when I hear such and such had a baby, or died it's like hearing a stranger had a child or died, and I feel good or bad depending on the news. If a baby is born great, a new person in the family, someone died that's tragic, then again the way someone dies makes a difference as well. For example if someone died of natural causes at an age of 97, it's sad to hear, but we make ourselves feel better, by thinking they had a long life, but if someone died at 10 or 20 we'd be devastated, because they didn't live a long life. I could go even deeper with the idea o what a good life is, but to get you (the reader) thinking what if the person who was 20 lived a life that the 97 year old wish they had and considered that a good life or vice versa? Also as we get older we forget certain things that occurred early in our lives, what if someone who died young remembered happier moments in their life, while it was still fresh in their memories? Never the less, like anyone else I think it's devastating to lose a love one, and I don't know what I'd do in that situation. But I think we should all enjoy our lives, because we never know what's to come.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
HW 45 - Reply to Other Peoples' Comments
My response to Matts comment:
Thanks Matt, and I completely agree with your comment about me focusing on single mothers more. When I did this blog I sort of lost tract on what I was talking about, and didn't have one main idea, because i had a few. This whole unit alone is pretty interesting to me, so i tried to cram as many things that i researched into it. Thanks so much for reading my blog, and be on the look out for more to come.
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My response to Javons comment:
Thanks Javon, you're right about that part of my blog not elaborating more about what i meant about men today lacking responsibility, and i regret that, like i told Matt I tried to cram a lot of information and my thoughts in my blog, but I also rushed it a bit. I appreciate your feedback, and have taken it to mind, and will apply your tips to my next blog. Thanks again, and I hope you read my next blog.
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My response to Jessicas comment:
Thanks Jessica, as I can see everyone who's read my blog wants me to give more personal examples on my blog. you got it. I'll elaborate more on the examples i give, because I admit that i didn't give enough detail which is a crucial part in any paper. Thanks so much for reading my blog, and I hope you read my future blogs to come.
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My response to Deans comment:
Thanks Dean, I'm glad you enjoyed my blog, and found parts of it to be interesting. Since you have such a positive comment, I hope you'll read my next blog, also if you have any feedback on what you'd like to see on my next blog that i didn't put on this one, let me know. Thanks again, and stay posted for more blogs to come.
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My response to Stephens comment:
Thanks Stephen, I re-read my blog after i had done it and thought the same thing as your feedback, but was figured "eh, it's late it's not too off topic, where it'll throw a reader off, so f-it". But trust me my next blog, i'll be on point throughout the whole thing, but I hope you read my next blog, and tell me what you think about that one to come. Thanks again for reading my blog.
Thanks Matt, and I completely agree with your comment about me focusing on single mothers more. When I did this blog I sort of lost tract on what I was talking about, and didn't have one main idea, because i had a few. This whole unit alone is pretty interesting to me, so i tried to cram as many things that i researched into it. Thanks so much for reading my blog, and be on the look out for more to come.
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My response to Javons comment:
Thanks Javon, you're right about that part of my blog not elaborating more about what i meant about men today lacking responsibility, and i regret that, like i told Matt I tried to cram a lot of information and my thoughts in my blog, but I also rushed it a bit. I appreciate your feedback, and have taken it to mind, and will apply your tips to my next blog. Thanks again, and I hope you read my next blog.
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My response to Jessicas comment:
Thanks Jessica, as I can see everyone who's read my blog wants me to give more personal examples on my blog. you got it. I'll elaborate more on the examples i give, because I admit that i didn't give enough detail which is a crucial part in any paper. Thanks so much for reading my blog, and I hope you read my future blogs to come.
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My response to Deans comment:
Thanks Dean, I'm glad you enjoyed my blog, and found parts of it to be interesting. Since you have such a positive comment, I hope you'll read my next blog, also if you have any feedback on what you'd like to see on my next blog that i didn't put on this one, let me know. Thanks again, and stay posted for more blogs to come.
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My response to Stephens comment:
Thanks Stephen, I re-read my blog after i had done it and thought the same thing as your feedback, but was figured "eh, it's late it's not too off topic, where it'll throw a reader off, so f-it". But trust me my next blog, i'll be on point throughout the whole thing, but I hope you read my next blog, and tell me what you think about that one to come. Thanks again for reading my blog.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
HW 44 - Comments on Other People's Projects
My comment on Matthew S. Blog:
Hey Matt, I'd like to start out by saying great blog. Now to your blog, I think what you did really well on your blog that most people, including myself didn't do as much is give a cultural thought process women go through, for example yours was the lack of birth knowledge Latina women have. Which I wasn't aware of, because of the many stereotypes and experiences I've seen, such as summer school as you know. Was that, because many Latina women have children at early ages they were the most knowledgable, when it came of birth. The other great point you made was the lack of birth knowledge in Americans in general, because since childhood we've been taught sex, baby shower, hospital birth. Most Americans probably think that home births, is prehistoric. You also filled in a gap I never asked myself, which was the way Latina american have children, which is basically the same way all americans have their children, the hospital. Besides that you're blog was superb, besides a few typos, and I would of liked to see you're personal conclusion about birth, all in all again, great blog.
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My comment on Jessica C. Blog:
One of the main reasons I choose to read your blog Jessica, is because your topic of choice was abortion, which we didn't talk much about in class. One of the things you did really well in your blog, is getting me to understand, and leave after reading your blog know a lot more about it. For example I thought abortions was free checkup as long as you had health insurance, the other is that I didn't know that abortion rate was so high, 25% of the world, that's about 1.8 billion women, crazy. The other good thing you did in your blog was addressing what we learned in class, to show why you're blog is an important topic. I only have two things of feedback I'd like you to take into mind, one is that before reading your blogI didn't expect much, because the first thing I noticed was the lack of uppercase letters. Which isn't a big deal, but formatting, does so much to the appearance, making readers more interested to read anything, and I feel that your blog is too important to not appear revealing. All in all great blog, and i look forward to reading more of your blogs to come.
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My comment on Chris M. blog:
What made your project unique was that it wasn't an essay throughout out the whole thing, but an interview. Which to me is more interactive, especially after reading 3 other blogs, which don't get me wrong, were good. But it was nice to see something a bit different. To start off I think you had a really lucky interviewee, to have both home and hospital birth is pretty unique, i'm surprised she even did a home birth with the lack of knowledge of home births. Based on what we've learn in class and my knowledge from research, I can see why the mother wanted to have a feel of both births. Which also doesn't surprise me that she liked the home birth more. I never wrote or said this on neither my blog or in class, but I believe that the reason many women who have hospital births don't feel automatically connected to the baby as soon as it's born is because hospital births are made to tire the mothers out. It only makes sense, because they're on the spot and are constantly being sub textually rushed. But in a home birth since it's in the comfortable familiar environment of their home, and they're not rushed, it gives the mothers more time to focus on herself and the baby than other people, and after the baby is born they're more connected, because of the focus and will power she had to deliver it. Besides that you had a superb blog, and congratulations.
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My Comment on Deans Blog:
Hey Dean, I saw you left me a comment on my blog, so I thought I should return the favor. To start off you're blog thought me a lot about OB/GYNs every time i heard that word, I always thought "What the hell is that?". You gave clear and thorough examples and statistics about OB/GYN's, and the reasons people become OB/GYN's. Another thing you did great on, were your sources, which i thought were pretty interesting. One thing I think you could of done a bit better on, was making your blog a bit longer, because you have so many good sources which could of helped expand it. Also in the beginning of your blog to stall time, you should of given and example about what an OB/GYN is and the definition, I feel like you focussed too much on statistics more than their jobs. Other than that, great blog, and I'll look out for more of your blogs, great work again.
Hey Matt, I'd like to start out by saying great blog. Now to your blog, I think what you did really well on your blog that most people, including myself didn't do as much is give a cultural thought process women go through, for example yours was the lack of birth knowledge Latina women have. Which I wasn't aware of, because of the many stereotypes and experiences I've seen, such as summer school as you know. Was that, because many Latina women have children at early ages they were the most knowledgable, when it came of birth. The other great point you made was the lack of birth knowledge in Americans in general, because since childhood we've been taught sex, baby shower, hospital birth. Most Americans probably think that home births, is prehistoric. You also filled in a gap I never asked myself, which was the way Latina american have children, which is basically the same way all americans have their children, the hospital. Besides that you're blog was superb, besides a few typos, and I would of liked to see you're personal conclusion about birth, all in all again, great blog.
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My comment on Jessica C. Blog:
One of the main reasons I choose to read your blog Jessica, is because your topic of choice was abortion, which we didn't talk much about in class. One of the things you did really well in your blog, is getting me to understand, and leave after reading your blog know a lot more about it. For example I thought abortions was free checkup as long as you had health insurance, the other is that I didn't know that abortion rate was so high, 25% of the world, that's about 1.8 billion women, crazy. The other good thing you did in your blog was addressing what we learned in class, to show why you're blog is an important topic. I only have two things of feedback I'd like you to take into mind, one is that before reading your blogI didn't expect much, because the first thing I noticed was the lack of uppercase letters. Which isn't a big deal, but formatting, does so much to the appearance, making readers more interested to read anything, and I feel that your blog is too important to not appear revealing. All in all great blog, and i look forward to reading more of your blogs to come.
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My comment on Chris M. blog:
What made your project unique was that it wasn't an essay throughout out the whole thing, but an interview. Which to me is more interactive, especially after reading 3 other blogs, which don't get me wrong, were good. But it was nice to see something a bit different. To start off I think you had a really lucky interviewee, to have both home and hospital birth is pretty unique, i'm surprised she even did a home birth with the lack of knowledge of home births. Based on what we've learn in class and my knowledge from research, I can see why the mother wanted to have a feel of both births. Which also doesn't surprise me that she liked the home birth more. I never wrote or said this on neither my blog or in class, but I believe that the reason many women who have hospital births don't feel automatically connected to the baby as soon as it's born is because hospital births are made to tire the mothers out. It only makes sense, because they're on the spot and are constantly being sub textually rushed. But in a home birth since it's in the comfortable familiar environment of their home, and they're not rushed, it gives the mothers more time to focus on herself and the baby than other people, and after the baby is born they're more connected, because of the focus and will power she had to deliver it. Besides that you had a superb blog, and congratulations.
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My Comment on Deans Blog:
Hey Dean, I saw you left me a comment on my blog, so I thought I should return the favor. To start off you're blog thought me a lot about OB/GYNs every time i heard that word, I always thought "What the hell is that?". You gave clear and thorough examples and statistics about OB/GYN's, and the reasons people become OB/GYN's. Another thing you did great on, were your sources, which i thought were pretty interesting. One thing I think you could of done a bit better on, was making your blog a bit longer, because you have so many good sources which could of helped expand it. Also in the beginning of your blog to stall time, you should of given and example about what an OB/GYN is and the definition, I feel like you focussed too much on statistics more than their jobs. Other than that, great blog, and I'll look out for more of your blogs, great work again.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
HW 42 - Pregnancy & birth culminating project
Birth and pregnancy is the act which a woman, adds another member to their family and life. Throughout the years birth and pregnancy has evolved much like the way we live. The way we celebrate birth, they way a baby is born, how the child is going to be raised all that has changed and is still changing. Because of the many cultures, and practices every woman has their own way of having a birth. When pregnant women have different experiences, and situations, such as baby showers, friends and family helping them out, working throughout their pregnancy, etc. One of the main focuses throughout this unit has been the way women give birth in the United States, such as homebirths and midwives versus hospital births and doctors. In my previous blog I did some research about the experiences the average single mother goes through, and the role the United States government plays. The other topic I was interested in was the father’s role during birth.
I was particularly curious on doing a project based on single mothers birth experience, because my mother raised me being a single mother. So i choose to go more in depth to understanding, the experiences and process single mothers go through. Years ago being a single mother was rare, and when it happened it was because of a tragedy of some sort. Today single mother parenting is very common; according to statistics 3.5 percent of women in the United States are single mothers. One of the reasons is the lack of married couples, in the past couples who were married didn’t divorce as much as couples today. Which is why in the past if a couple had children the father was in their lives. The other reason is lack of responsibility in men today, in the past men were brought up to work, get married and start a family. Today that ambition isn’t as popular; with so many distractions and new things in today’s culture it only makes sense why the value of family isn’t as high. Some single mothers have it easier than others, such as mothers who were once married, and later on got divorced, because it’s easier to have the father by law take care of the child. Another reasons in the past couples stayed together much longer than they do today, is because the amount of children they had. Today the average amount of children per household in the United States is roughly 2, compared to the early 1900’s, which was 4. One of the reasons that is because of finance, the price of living is much more than in the past, which is why less people have children. “The post-1960's expansion of college education and professional opportunities for middle-class women, and the growth of jobs (especially part-time jobs) in the new service industries and in light manufacturing for their working class sisters gradually transformed the post marriage career paths of the average woman. So did the greater effectiveness of birth control and the new, more tolerant norms surrounding its use.” – (Garland 83) Because of the cultural changes that gave women the opportunity to focus more on education and working, and not focus on getting married and having children, set new paths and views on how children would start being raised.
Every culture has their own ways of handling a birth, the most common in the past were home births, which always involved a midwife. In the beginning of the unit we had a few visitors who spoke to us about their birth and pregnancy experiences. Jeanette Plaza, one of our guest speakers spoke about how in the past traditional Puerto Rican families the woman after giving birth, would rest for 40 days while her family took care of her and the newborn letting her rest and not have to do a thing, which was common in many cultures in many parts of the world. Ms. Plaza, also spoke about how most jobs only give women 6 weeks off after giving birth, which to her felt like it wasn’t enough. I asked different women if they thought 6 weeks was very little, and if they felt that having a limit to recover a bit morally wrong, and they all said yes. Which relates back to the illness and dying unit, when we watched the film Sicko. In it a French person spoke about their illness story and explained how in France you’ll get paid for all the days you’re gone for, until you feel well again, and he said “I don’t understand how any country allow someone to have a limited amount of sick days, you can’t put a date on an illness”, which one can agree for birth as well. One of the many other things that has changed in birth is how a baby is born, the delivery. When having a natural birth there are many positions that can be used to do so lithotomy, squatting, kneeling and all fours. Almost all these positions are normally used with midwives, except for lithotomy, which is mostly common in hospitals. One of the reasons midwives, allow women to use any position is because midwives or mostly all for natural births, so they allow the mother to do anything that makes her more comfortable to deliver the baby as safely and natural as possible. In hospitals the reasons lithotomy is more common is because the doctors, want to ensure that the baby is well, so it’s easier for the doctors to see what’s going on. The other method of birth is caesarean section, which is when the baby is delivered through the woman’s stomach. One of the reasons this method is use is when the mother’s health or babies is at risk in order to safely deliver the baby. In the past caesarean was rarely used, but today it’s risen. In this unit we studied about the rise of caesarean, and tried to understand why it’s becoming more popular. One of the reasons is that it’s faster, the other is that it’s safer, according to some doctors, and women who’s had a successful caesarean. One of the other reasons is because of the nightmarish and industrial way we live, because pain is something many people in society try to avoid because of medication when a woman is giving birth, mainly at a hospital they’re asked if they want an epidural. Which is a shot that numbs the woman to feel less pain, which is injected near the spinal cord, one of the disadvantages is the fact that the woman is numb and can’t feel anything so it’s hard to push. So later their asked if they’d like pitocin, which helps the woman push the baby out, but gives them more pain, and than they’re injected with more epidural, and after too much time in later they’re asked if they’d like a caesarean, which again is rare, but in those cases a caesarean is most likely.
In the end how a woman chooses to have a child or raise it is entirely up to them, and their situation, because everyone’s life is different. Whether a parent chooses to feed their child breast milk or formula, get married or stay single, hospital birth or home birth. What really matters is the fact that they had a child, and they’re taking care of it, and as long as the decision they make is at least a safe bet than, they’re doing their job as a mother.
--------------------------------------------
Citations:
Garland, David. The culture of control: crime and social order in contemporary society. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 2001. 83. Print.
Gilbert, Virgina. "Preparing for Motherhood." Pregnancy Today 29 December 2009: n. pag. Web. 5 Apr 2011.
"The fathers role during pregnancy." The father's place in the family. mustele.com, Web..
Hughes, Pattie. "The Pregnant Single Parent." Pregnancy Advice 25 May 2007: n. pag. Web. 8 Apr 2011..
M, Jay. "Pregnancy and tradition in Kampala." n. pag. Web. 10 Apr 2010..
Deonmme, Sara. "Let's Talk About the Cultures of Childbearing." Pregnancy Advice (2007): n. pag. Web. 6 Apr 2011..
"How Many Single Mothers are in America?." answers.ask.com. N.p., 08 October 2010. Web. 6 Apr 2011..
I was particularly curious on doing a project based on single mothers birth experience, because my mother raised me being a single mother. So i choose to go more in depth to understanding, the experiences and process single mothers go through. Years ago being a single mother was rare, and when it happened it was because of a tragedy of some sort. Today single mother parenting is very common; according to statistics 3.5 percent of women in the United States are single mothers. One of the reasons is the lack of married couples, in the past couples who were married didn’t divorce as much as couples today. Which is why in the past if a couple had children the father was in their lives. The other reason is lack of responsibility in men today, in the past men were brought up to work, get married and start a family. Today that ambition isn’t as popular; with so many distractions and new things in today’s culture it only makes sense why the value of family isn’t as high. Some single mothers have it easier than others, such as mothers who were once married, and later on got divorced, because it’s easier to have the father by law take care of the child. Another reasons in the past couples stayed together much longer than they do today, is because the amount of children they had. Today the average amount of children per household in the United States is roughly 2, compared to the early 1900’s, which was 4. One of the reasons that is because of finance, the price of living is much more than in the past, which is why less people have children. “The post-1960's expansion of college education and professional opportunities for middle-class women, and the growth of jobs (especially part-time jobs) in the new service industries and in light manufacturing for their working class sisters gradually transformed the post marriage career paths of the average woman. So did the greater effectiveness of birth control and the new, more tolerant norms surrounding its use.” – (Garland 83) Because of the cultural changes that gave women the opportunity to focus more on education and working, and not focus on getting married and having children, set new paths and views on how children would start being raised.
Every culture has their own ways of handling a birth, the most common in the past were home births, which always involved a midwife. In the beginning of the unit we had a few visitors who spoke to us about their birth and pregnancy experiences. Jeanette Plaza, one of our guest speakers spoke about how in the past traditional Puerto Rican families the woman after giving birth, would rest for 40 days while her family took care of her and the newborn letting her rest and not have to do a thing, which was common in many cultures in many parts of the world. Ms. Plaza, also spoke about how most jobs only give women 6 weeks off after giving birth, which to her felt like it wasn’t enough. I asked different women if they thought 6 weeks was very little, and if they felt that having a limit to recover a bit morally wrong, and they all said yes. Which relates back to the illness and dying unit, when we watched the film Sicko. In it a French person spoke about their illness story and explained how in France you’ll get paid for all the days you’re gone for, until you feel well again, and he said “I don’t understand how any country allow someone to have a limited amount of sick days, you can’t put a date on an illness”, which one can agree for birth as well. One of the many other things that has changed in birth is how a baby is born, the delivery. When having a natural birth there are many positions that can be used to do so lithotomy, squatting, kneeling and all fours. Almost all these positions are normally used with midwives, except for lithotomy, which is mostly common in hospitals. One of the reasons midwives, allow women to use any position is because midwives or mostly all for natural births, so they allow the mother to do anything that makes her more comfortable to deliver the baby as safely and natural as possible. In hospitals the reasons lithotomy is more common is because the doctors, want to ensure that the baby is well, so it’s easier for the doctors to see what’s going on. The other method of birth is caesarean section, which is when the baby is delivered through the woman’s stomach. One of the reasons this method is use is when the mother’s health or babies is at risk in order to safely deliver the baby. In the past caesarean was rarely used, but today it’s risen. In this unit we studied about the rise of caesarean, and tried to understand why it’s becoming more popular. One of the reasons is that it’s faster, the other is that it’s safer, according to some doctors, and women who’s had a successful caesarean. One of the other reasons is because of the nightmarish and industrial way we live, because pain is something many people in society try to avoid because of medication when a woman is giving birth, mainly at a hospital they’re asked if they want an epidural. Which is a shot that numbs the woman to feel less pain, which is injected near the spinal cord, one of the disadvantages is the fact that the woman is numb and can’t feel anything so it’s hard to push. So later their asked if they’d like pitocin, which helps the woman push the baby out, but gives them more pain, and than they’re injected with more epidural, and after too much time in later they’re asked if they’d like a caesarean, which again is rare, but in those cases a caesarean is most likely.
In the end how a woman chooses to have a child or raise it is entirely up to them, and their situation, because everyone’s life is different. Whether a parent chooses to feed their child breast milk or formula, get married or stay single, hospital birth or home birth. What really matters is the fact that they had a child, and they’re taking care of it, and as long as the decision they make is at least a safe bet than, they’re doing their job as a mother.
--------------------------------------------
Citations:
Garland, David. The culture of control: crime and social order in contemporary society. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 2001. 83. Print.
Gilbert, Virgina. "Preparing for Motherhood." Pregnancy Today 29 December 2009: n. pag. Web. 5 Apr 2011.
"The fathers role during pregnancy." The father's place in the family. mustele.com, Web.
Hughes, Pattie. "The Pregnant Single Parent." Pregnancy Advice 25 May 2007: n. pag. Web. 8 Apr 2011.
M, Jay. "Pregnancy and tradition in Kampala." n. pag. Web. 10 Apr 2010.
Deonmme, Sara. "Let's Talk About the Cultures of Childbearing." Pregnancy Advice (2007): n. pag. Web. 6 Apr 2011.
"How Many Single Mothers are in America?." answers.ask.com. N.p., 08 October 2010. Web. 6 Apr 2011.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
HW 41 - Independent Research
Government support for pregnant women and mothers in poverty - if you're poor and becoming a mother in NYC what programs could help you and how would you apply?
Being a single parent anywhere is tedious, but for women it can be a lot harder or a bit easier depending on their situation. Most single parents in the United States always have the option to apply for government assistance, depending on their situation. The situations most Americans have to be in when applying for government assistance, is that they have to make a certain amount, which is normally minimum wage or below the poverty line, the other is the amount of children they have, another main one is disability. It’s great that in the United States people can get support from the government, but at the same time it barely helps everyone or make the parents situation easier. If someone has a college degree, and is a single parent, and is middle class that person may not be eligible for government assistance because of what they make, when in reality what they make barely helps them make ends meet, because of bills, school loans, taxes, etc. While someone who’s below the poverty line has a subsidized rent and pays less on their taxes, still makes ends meet because they can’t make over a certain amount or else they may lose their benefits. But why is that, why must single parents have limited opportunities in order to make just ends meet? When someone is on public assistance they’re recertified every quarter in order to keep their public assistance, until they get a job and are settled. Once someone on public assistance gets a job, they’re public assistance ends. One of the reasons the government doesn’t let anyone get public assistance is because they’re worried too many people would get comfortable and not work, and for the people who have jobs and could use the extra help because they have a job, and the policy is that when one is working they’re not allowed to be assisted than they won’t be eligible.
Sources:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4693124_government-assistance-single-mothers.html
Being a single parent anywhere is tedious, but for women it can be a lot harder or a bit easier depending on their situation. Most single parents in the United States always have the option to apply for government assistance, depending on their situation. The situations most Americans have to be in when applying for government assistance, is that they have to make a certain amount, which is normally minimum wage or below the poverty line, the other is the amount of children they have, another main one is disability. It’s great that in the United States people can get support from the government, but at the same time it barely helps everyone or make the parents situation easier. If someone has a college degree, and is a single parent, and is middle class that person may not be eligible for government assistance because of what they make, when in reality what they make barely helps them make ends meet, because of bills, school loans, taxes, etc. While someone who’s below the poverty line has a subsidized rent and pays less on their taxes, still makes ends meet because they can’t make over a certain amount or else they may lose their benefits. But why is that, why must single parents have limited opportunities in order to make just ends meet? When someone is on public assistance they’re recertified every quarter in order to keep their public assistance, until they get a job and are settled. Once someone on public assistance gets a job, they’re public assistance ends. One of the reasons the government doesn’t let anyone get public assistance is because they’re worried too many people would get comfortable and not work, and for the people who have jobs and could use the extra help because they have a job, and the policy is that when one is working they’re not allowed to be assisted than they won’t be eligible.
Sources:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4693124_government-assistance-single-mothers.html
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