Sarah's blog

Okay everybody, mark your calendars because the day has been saved–Friday, November 25th, 2011 aka BLACK FRIDAY. To many non-early-risers this is just another Friday (with the exception of weighing 7Ibs more.) However, for me and my family this is the Friday where we buy a majority of Christmas gifts for our family members, friends, and sometimes ourselves. Preparing for such an event takes time and days of scouting-out stores (parking, store entrances/exits, cart location, possible item locations, and interviewing store employees about product quantities); not to mention the amount of patience required when looking through coupon books and store flyers. It is vital that everything is planned out ahead of time and that everyone sticks to the plan, or else it becomes nearly impossible to get what you want for such a steal.

Some people may think that Black Friday Shoppers are insane, but tell me, is it really insane to pass up the opportunity of purchasing a brand new, Nook Color for $60? Now, I know that Black Friday has a bad reputation for stampedes, deaths, being animalistic, and also for exposing a person for their true selfishness (shall we remember “Jingle All the Way”?).  I mean, last year I was even held at knife-point until I forfeited a Kodak digital camera, no joke! Sometimes it is easy to forget the humanity when consumed by poison.

However, in all honesty, I’m not in on Black Friday for the prices (sometimes), but rather I’m in on it because of the family bonding aspect. Okay, I know, it does not really sound like “family fun time,” but in order for Black Friday to work, my family must unite and cooperate as a team. Black Friday provides my family with an opportunity to put effort into our relationships under the circumstances of: sleep deprivation, hunger, stress, and not to mention, a time constraint. I know it might sound rather strange, but it is true. I guess you could say that Black Friday is my family’s way of getting ready for the Holiday season; the less time we have to spend worrying about getting gifts for people, the more time we have to enjoy one anothers company.

After reviewing my previous posts, I have come to the conclusion that “modes of communication” seams to be a reoccurring theme. We all understand that communication is potent in today’s society, but do we understand that there is more than one way to communicate? For instance, in the reading regarding callignosia readers were introduced to the idea of communication using our five senses (primarily sight). Where as in Cicero, readers were introduced to communication through the eloquence of oratory. On the other hand, Kurt Vonnegut, Junior introduced readers to communicating through sarcasm in oratory. (In other words, Vonnegut and Cicero focus on the presentation of communication.) Furthermore, readers were allowed to witness communication  through our physical actions, while watching the sports video clips linked to the sports readings. In closing, the Fractals documentary explains how the use of language can be used to communicate with others. Language can be expressed mathematically, artistically, musically, literarily, physically, and orally.

Summary: After reading Kurt Vonnegut, Junior’s first speech, many readers may be slightly confused. However, after following the complex structure and countless stories of his speech, Vonnegut clearly states that it is not our responsibility to save the world, but rather we should help our elders do so. Similar to his first speech, Vonnegut, Junior‘s last speech repeats same content with the exception that he utilizes more sarcasm and incorporates more Biblical references.

Response: Well, considering the fact that I am a complete optimist, I was almost brought to tears after reading Kurt Vonnegut, Junior’s first speech. I mean, at your graduation would you really like to be told that you are “much too young to save the wold and that, after after they (you)  got their (your) diplomas, they (you) should go swimming and sailing and walking, and  just fool around?” In addition to “You don’t have the money and the power. You don’t have the appearance of grave maturity–even though you may be gravely mature. You don’t even now how to handle dynamite.” Honestly, I would not. Furthermore, I find these two speeches to be very similar in structure and content with the main difference being that Vonnegut has gained more of a sarcastic-comedic relief since his first speech. Personally, I found the overall structure of his speech to be rather confusing. He would jump around from one topic to the next, for what reasons were not answered until the end of his speeches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ9BWndKEgs