Challenge #5 pg. 293

Well in the past five years I have seen a lot of films, some of which have been really good and others not so great. When I think about the best film I have seen in the past five years, the first one that comes into my mind is Radio. Why is this film one of the best ones that I have seen? First of all this move has a great message behind it that teaches us a valuable lesson on how we should treat others. It also is a very inspiring film that makes you want to be a better person. I remember when I left the theater after watching this film feeling very satisfied and uplifted. There are some certain aspects that make a film a good film. Some of these would have to be the over all message and story of the film, acting also plays a very important part, and the plot helps to determine the final outcome of the film. The acting in this film is phenomenal, Cuba Gooding Jr. plays the main character who is mentally challenged and he does a fantastic job portraying this character called Radio. What also makes this film even more appealing is the fact that it is based on a true story of a football coach who befriends a student in need. It is one of those films that will bring tears to your eyes as you see how the main character Radio makes an overwhelming positive impact on a little community. This is a movie that you can see over and over and never get tired of it, that is why it is one of the best films I have seen in the last five years and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that hasn't seen it yet.

consider #2 pg. 277

In the world today there are many images that affect us on a daily basis. With the war in Iraq and the struggle to bring terrorism to an end our minds have been cluttered with many images of violence, war, and death. Perhaps we as humans have become a costumed with war and the vivid images of violence that we see on the news or in newspapers. Personally I feel that we have become somewhat desensitized with these images of war. In fact everyday we hear more and more about the war in Iraq and how American soldiers are being killed. Even though we care about our country and the war in Iraq, in a way I think that we have put this situation on the back burner not knowing that we have become desensitized. If we were to restrict these images of war and violence I think that we would gain a sensitivity and more of a concern of the war and our country.

Consider #1 pg. 263

When it comes to film and breaking movies down into frames, you can study them and begin to get a different outlook and view about the film. I feel it is very successful to break movies down into frames because you have to focus a lot more and really study it to get the overall idea of the film. Although it can be successful to study frames, it also depends on what frames you select. With some frames they may lack the depth and detail in order to gain an understanding of the film. You also miss out on the sounds and movements that make the frames come to life. Overall I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. When studying a frame you begin to realize how important details are and how facial expressions, lighting, and the background help paint a picture in your mind of the film itself.

Compose #3 pg. 221

List of ten places that have been important in my life.

1.Spain
2.Idaho Falls Temple
3.House
4.Alaska
5.Snake River
6.Ross Park
7.Camp Little Lemhi
8.Pebble Creek
9.Tree Fort
10.Dirt trails by my house

When I think of Spain, I think of great food. The aroma of fresh baked bread and the sight of all the bakeries with their desserts on display in the front windows. I have many memories of Spain and all of the wonderful people that I meet there. I also recall the struggle that I had at first to speak Spanish and how hard I worked at it. Deep down I have a great love for Spain and its people, it is like my second home and I can't wait until I can go back and visit this amazing country.

The Idaho Falls temple is a great place to find peace and comfort. Whenever I am down or need help spiritually I seem to find myself in the temple. I love going to the temple and it is a very sacred place and everything that goes on there is very important. There is nothing but spiritual vibes that come from this sacred place.

My house has been a very important place in my life. There are so many memories that at times I wish I could remember them all. At my house is where I get to spend quality time with my family and at times with my friends. My family is very important to me and we have grown very strong together and have become very attached. I know someday I will move out and when that day comes I will be sad because so much of my life has been spent here.

To me Alaska is paradise. I love to fish and love the outdoors and Alaska encompasses both of these. Many events have taken place in Alaska, I still remember the great struggle I had when I caught my first Halibut and how exhausted I was afterwards. I also remember all of the great times I have spent there with my family, but especially with my Grandpa who taught me to love the outdoors and fishing. This place will always exist even if I am not there I will still have the memories to remind me of this great paradise.

I love the thrill of rafting huge rapids and the rush of not knowing what lies ahead. The Snake River is a beautiful place and I have many memories of my first rafting trip and canoe trip. I will never forget the infamous part of the river called the "big kahuna" (i think that it is spelled that way) and how it almost swallowed the raft that I was riding in, but luckily we made it out alive. This place has somewhat disappeared from my life because it has been a long time since I have been there. Hopefully I will be able to go and revisit it sometime in the near future.

Ross Park will always be a great place to go to. Whether you are swimming, going to the zoo, or just having a picnic with your family and friends its a great place to kick back and relax. I still remember when I was a little kid and my baseball team would always practice there at the park. My father was the assistant coach and even though I wasn't the greatest baseball player, he still supported me and helped me become better.

When I was younger I absolutely love boy scouts, and could hardly wait until summertime when we would go to Camp Little Lemhi. I will never forget how cold the lake was and the shocking surprise I would receive when ever I would jump into it. I also remember the struggle I had when I attempted to complete the mile swim. It took along time to achieve my goal, but after and hour or so I finished it. I was so excited to tell everyone about it, but especially my parents.

Pebble Creek is a place that I will always go to. I love to ski and Pebble Creek is a beautiful mountain and a nice little ski resort. The first day that I attempted to ski was a very long day, and I think that I spent at least half of that day sprawled out on the snow. It is a very peaceful place and I love spending time up there.

When I was a young boy, we had a tree fort in my backyard. This place was awesome! I remember playing Cowboys and Indians with my little brother and friends and how much fun we would have. It was a great place to retreat to, and a great hiding place. Unfortunately my father and I had to demolish the fort because it was about to fall and it was becoming a hazard. Even though it doesn't exist anymore, I will always remember the great times that I had in it.

There used to be a lot of bike trails by my house when I was younger. My friends and I would build little forts for shelter, and we would also race our mountain bikes on them. I can't even remember the number of times that I crashed but I know for sure that it happened often. A memory that I would like to forget is when my brother and I walked right through a patch of poison ivy and how that ruined our whole summer. With time these trails have disappeared because of construction and new roads, but I will always remember the great times that I had on them.

Consider #1 pg. 195

The picture that accompanies Cathleen McGuigan's essay is a picture of a very nice house. I imagine that this house is the ideal American home. At a first glance you can tell that this is a very expensive house and that it is very detailed. Even the yard is perfect and everything seems to be in the right place. It seems to me that this picture is to perfect. The average American house is far from this picture. Sure some people have good taste and can design well, but not all of us are like that and we all have our own ways of doing things. That is what makes us different from everyone else. I somewhat agree with McGuigan's essay that the average American house needs a makeover. I know for a fact that my parents house could use one, and perhaps everyone that lives on my street. It would be nice to be able to see houses that were well designed and decorated, but it is a very difficult task and a lot of people do not have the time or money to do a home makeover.

Beyond Words pg. 177 #1

The picture taken by Stephen Shore is a very interesting picture and is filled with a lot of detail. This picture is titled El Paso Street and besides the details that were already mentioned in the book there are a lot more that stand out. The book already pointed out the figure of the lonely man standing at the corner and all of the colors from the surrounding buildings. If you look closely you can actually see what the buildings are. For instance there is a drug store on one corner and next to it is a theater that looks fairly old. You can see that there are some movies playing but I can't read exactly what they say. Across the street from the theater is a liquor store. Now you can't see the whole entire building but at the corner of it you can catch a glimpse of the sign. Next to the theater are a couple of buildings that really stand out and are twice the size of the theater. Perhaps these buildings are apartments or hotels. I also notice that the street is a one way street and that it doesn't seem to be very busy at this time of day. Finding and analyzing these details help my understanding of the picture and makes me feel like I am actually there in person.

The ISU mens basketball game (descriptive blog #2)

This week I went to both of the basketball games that ISU held at the holt arena. I figured it would be the perfect location to observe people and my surrounding for an hour. The truth is it was very entertaining and there was a lot of activity going on that kept me busy. As I walked to go into the Holt Arena I thought I was going to freeze to death because I forgot my coat and with the wind blowing carrying a cold chill didn't help at all. The night sky was beautiful and I could see the stars shining in the sky along with the moon. Outside of the Holt Arena there were a lot of people waiting to get in to see the game. I noticed that some students forgot their activity cards and were trying to sweet talk one of the workers into giving them a break. Beleive it or not but it actually worked for them and they entered without any troubles. Upon walking in it was amazing to feel the difference in temperature as I was hit with a big rush of heat that instantly warmed my cold body. The Holt Arena was filled with a lot of fans who were dressed up in all of their Bengal gear. As I made my way to the student section I said hi to the super Bengal fan Ross. He was yelling, chanting, and taunting at the top of his lungs and getting all of the fans fired up. Sitting in the student section I had a great view of the game. Taking my first glance at the Basketball court I couldn't help but notice that one of the players on the opposing team was sweating like crazy. It was only five minutes into the first half and the back of his jersey was completely soaked with his sweat. I felt bad for the person that had to guard him. A person sitting next to me had some popcorn and it smelled wonderful. You could actually smell the butter and taste it in your mouth. I finally gave into the temptation and bought some popcorn. The officiating in this game was not the greatest. I saw a lot of the older fans across the court yelling and screaming at the officials. A few times I could hear the words that they said and lets just say that they shouldn't be repeated. During the timeouts the cheerleaders would run out onto the court and they were giving away a lot of free stuff, like shirts and water bottles. I actually saw some poor innocent lady get hit in the face with a water bottle and blood starting rushing out of her nose. I felt bad for her and you could definitely see that she was uncomfortable and in pain. After about a minute everything was under control. The game was a very close game and it was some what humorous to see our coach get mad and stomp his feet in frustration. Unfortunately we ended up losing the game in overtime by one point. It was a fun night and it was also entertaining to look at all of the people at the game and see how much activity it going on around the court.