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My Reflection of Learning

      English 101 has definitely been a different experience for me. It was the most challenging class I had this semester, but I appreciate how it was organized. At the beginning of the semester when I got the syllabus it was not misleading. Everything was well organized, and I was prepared for the oncoming workload.     The blog page was a huge adjustment for me. I enjoyed the weekly writing and reading all of the articles that were provided. I feel like where I was writing so much, my ability to just sit down and write improved. My typing skills were very boosted, I taught myself how to type without looking at my keyboard which I thought was a huge flex. My abilities to research and turn my research into a well-formed essay were tested many times and I realized it was an area I needed to improve in, but the multitude of assignments gave me plenty of practice. I hope to continue to better my writing, I know there is always room for improvement. This course rea...
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Souls in Paintings

       An article by James Lucas called “The Unreal Details of Mind-Bending Paintings” is about how the fine details of older paintings are commonly overlooked. Those small seemingly unimportant details are what give the paintings their soul. It is how the artist breathe life into the paint through quick brushstrokes or a simple small dot. This article explains the illusions created by the artists through small details that give their artwork life.     Many artworks are used in this article as examples to the details included in these masterful works. When you truly stare at these paintings and analyze them the details truly stand out. They give the painting more depth than ever thought possible. It also makes you start thinking about the time spent on this painting. I have always been curious about the process of these paintings; such detail has to be ruminated right? Or does the artists just include them as they paint their original idea. Are they inspi...
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Simple Term for a Broad Category.

        An article by Valeria Li called “Cuteness I: How Feeling Fuzzy Helps Your Mind” is about how humans perceive cuteness. While the term is commonly used for something that is visually pleasing it has a deeper meaning. Something that is "cute" has a greater effect on the human mind than some might realize.     This article discusses the psychological happenings of when a person sees something cute. Li states, " Cuteness, in general, is connected to the release of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of elation and satisfaction. Additionally, cuteness triggers activation of brain areas related to reward processing, which are also triggered during other rewarding events such as receiving food (Stavropoulos & Alba, 2018)." Meaning that the brain releases these hormones and that in turn affects how the person acts. Another study showed then when seeing something cute a person's motor skills increase. Babies are used a...
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Ornamental Dogs

        An article by H.M.A. Leow called “The Surprising Imperial History of the Pekinese Dog” is about how Pekinese dogs became an accessory to British women because of their small, feminine like appearance. The small lap dogs do not share much history with other dogs, because most dogs today have a history of being used in hunting, but not these toy-sized lap ornaments.     Back in 1905 a British association called the Ladies Kennel Association was holding a dog show when a Chinese man was invited to be a judge. The Chinese man started to argue with one of the women over a perfect dog breed. The British held the dogs in a high standard. Leow states, " Within this realm of nostalgia, the dogs functioned as potent souvenirs, linking metropolis and colony through close connections between colonial conquest, sentimental pet rearing, and domestic spaces,” writes Cheang, noting that owning and breeding the Pekingese dog had become “an important expression ...
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Keep Going Keep Growing.

       An article on the Longreads website called “How to Run 314 Miles After a Traumatic Brain Injury” is about a couple that have faced life altering challenges but have kept going with their lives. The Barcelona's are a family that picked up running as a hobby and continued with it even through their life's struggles they have faced.     After a car accident in 1994 Todd Barcelona suffered a traumatic brain injury. Todd being a family man had a wife, Allison, a daughter Ashleigh, and a son waiting for him at home when they got the call that he was involved in a car accident. Even though the event shook their family the Barcelona's did not give up on life, they took the challenge in stride. Todd and Allison started running as a hobby, even after the accident Todd kept going. They entered  the 2023 Last Annual Volunteer State Road Race together which is a race that is 314 miles long. The author states "Chatting with two other runners, the Barcelona's...
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The Bond of Poetry to Music

       An article by Ira Fader called "Robert Johnson, Delta Poet" is about the bond that music and poetry share. The article explains that throughout history they have always been connected, and the stories they convey are nothing short of attractive to listeners.       The lyrics of a song are a lot like poetry Fader states, "Johnson had no training in poetry, nor was he trying to write it. The poetry in his lyrics had to have happened intuitively, brought forward by his sense for the right words and images, and then marrying these to the music." The words themselves told a story; they were an unintentional poem. But then the lyrics were paired with music, and it only added emotion and soul to it making it even more poetic. The majority of music was inspired by the time period it was composed in. For example, most music in the great depression was sorrowful or bluesy. It conveyed the story of struggling families in the nation at the time. Anothe...
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Self-Made Leader

      An article by Ryan Dulaney called "Napoleon the Unlikely Emperor" is about how a man born in Corsica to a position of poverty became the French Emperor, and well-known war general.     Napoleon had a natural talent when it came to strategy. He spent his entire life working to climb the ranks in the French army. The economy at the time was opening doors to the opportunities and chances he needed to succeed. After the French Revolution the new monarch had murdered over 40,000 people with no good reason for the killings. Then the monarch himself was beheaded, so the nation was indeed hurting. Napoleon saw his chance and the young military leader took it to start climbing. While he was in power Napoleon changed many in place customs, for example the class-based customs. This meant young men born from money were naturally accepted into the military. By doing away with this old tradition he increased the size of the military and organized it so it could reach it...
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