Blogging Around

I read Daniel's blog entry about how King Lear connected with his grandma and her situation. Reading his entry brought so much perspective to the whole book. I thought he did an amazing job at connecting his life with a problem that would have worried people hundreds of years ago.
Daniel-
I think you found the precise reason why King Lear is so powerful to some, and why it (along with all other Shakespeare plays) is so universal... crossing time, genders, ages, and cultures. Your view on the situation brought a more personal level to the play (for me at least). Thinking about it in a more straightforward and practical way, as one would if they were caught in this situation, was illuminating. I sympathize more than ever for King Lear in his insanity, but also for Goneril and Regan, the misunderstood family. Even though, like you said, there may have been some not so honorable intentions mixed in, I believe there always is... its human nature. I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother, and I hope your family can, or has, found an alternative that works for everyone involved.
Thanks,
Tessa

In Mitchell's blog, he talked about the question of whether something can come from nothing (Best of Week). I agreed and disagreed with it, but it definitely made me think and place my stance, because we never really had a real discussion about it in class.
Mitchell,
Although I agree with much of what you said, I have to disagree that the total answer to the question can something come from nothing is no. Can't human 'somethings' come from nothing? Something doesn't have to be something tangible, like matter... or quarks. Like a friendship. A friendship, or any relationship, cannot be measured in how many atoms it's made up of, or how much 'stuff' it contains, but it is still something isn't it? When you meet a person there was nothing there, nothing connecting the two of you, nothing. But, the second you meet them, something starts. It could be a very little something, but its there isn't it? It's not something you can grab onto and hold, but it stays. I'll agree with you that according to the laws of physics no physical something can come out of nothing, it was always something before. The question though, is not can something you can touch come from nothing? That would be (as far as we know) a resounding no. 'Something', is a gray area. None the less, I really liked your blog entry, it made me think.
Thanks,
Tessa

Metacognition: Poem

While working on the poem, or any kind of writing, I have to get into a certain sense of mind... where the ideas flow. It helps to be a little tired or just relaxed because then the ideas come easier. It seems strange how random my thoughts are... at least for this poem. The stanzas or lines that I was really happy with seemed to come from nowhere and there were still a couple things that I wanted to change but could not decide how to. Sometimes I guess thats how my brain works. Not necissarily with or against me, just there. Usually my mind is pretty effective, especially during writing; ideas and words just coming so that I am writing almost constantly. The night I was writing my poem was a bit strange though, but I'll just blame that on being distracted. I like my thinking while writing (usually) because its not difficult, confusing, or hard. Writing is hard work, but I do not have to think too hard to write. Writing is calming, but if I can't get into it, if my thougths have no time to start culminating and coming together, it becomes an unwanted task, homework. In Sophie's World, Sophie is taught that insight comes from the inside, and that true learning must come from the inside as well. Writing is like that (at least for me). Whatever it is that produces those moments of insight in class or in life; the same place must produce my thoughts. Wouldn't it be nice if we could somehow bolt open that door in our mind all the time, to have sudden and instantanious insight about... everything all the time? That would be too easy though, wouldn't it...