Monday, December 17, 2012
A Guide Through Hell
I would choose Albert Einstein to lead me through Hell. He probably sinned atleast once in his life, and was a very sensibly guy who would be wise enough to teach me his ways. Albert Einstein would be a perfect guide to lead me through the Inferno and hopefully guide me to Heaven.
Anglo-Saxon Riddle
I am everchanging,
Ever growing. I am
the voice and the symbol
of a generation. The world
tends to follow me, as I set
the rules. I do not only
produce, but I innovate.
You can buy from me in
many different forms. My
logo, my icon, the icon of
a million things is a fruit
from Nature. I am everywhere,
from your desk to your mall.
Who am I?
The 13th Picture in My Phone
I was walking through the local Winn-Dixie, strolling under the fluorescent lights stuck to the ceiling, when I saw it. I never knew an average day would turn so special. I had woken up that Sunday morning, the bright sun painting my face through my open window. The sounds of lawn-mowers growling and leaf-blowers buzzing rung in my ears. The scent of fresh-cut grass swiftly flew in and tickled my nose. I got up out of bed, just like any normal day. After a short journey to my kitchen, I realized there was no food in sight.
"Mom, why don't we ever have food?" I whined.
"Are you kidding me? We always have food!" My mom's voice drowned out as my mind drifted away. I was so hungry, I could smell the Winn-Dixie, it's freshly-baked breads and sandwiches drifting out and almost screaming my name.
I found myself walking into Winn-Dixie fifiteen minutes later. I started loading my cart with every food in sight. Then I saw it.
I did a double-take. Then another one. I could not believe my eyes. Losing my breath, I quickly pulled out my phone in excitement as my brain registered what sat before me. Snapping a picture, I quickly sent it to my friend Brittany. Only she would understand. Within seconds, she replied: "OMG WTH WHERE ARE YOU?!?". I promptly responded, "Winn-Dixie."
Standing back, I gazed longingly at the red and blue treasure in front of me. I had searched low and high for these babies for months, in every store known to man. What sat in front of me was the epitome of my childhood. Kool-aid bursts.
"Mom, why don't we ever have food?" I whined.
"Are you kidding me? We always have food!" My mom's voice drowned out as my mind drifted away. I was so hungry, I could smell the Winn-Dixie, it's freshly-baked breads and sandwiches drifting out and almost screaming my name.
I found myself walking into Winn-Dixie fifiteen minutes later. I started loading my cart with every food in sight. Then I saw it.
I did a double-take. Then another one. I could not believe my eyes. Losing my breath, I quickly pulled out my phone in excitement as my brain registered what sat before me. Snapping a picture, I quickly sent it to my friend Brittany. Only she would understand. Within seconds, she replied: "OMG WTH WHERE ARE YOU?!?". I promptly responded, "Winn-Dixie."
Standing back, I gazed longingly at the red and blue treasure in front of me. I had searched low and high for these babies for months, in every store known to man. What sat in front of me was the epitome of my childhood. Kool-aid bursts.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Earth Without People Reaction Paper
Leah Mancuso
“Earth Without People” Reaction Paper
It is obvious from reading Alan Weisman’s “Earth Without People”, that he is passionate about the environment, and writes in a way where he is able to reach every one of the reader’s senses. Weisman proposes a question he intends to answer with his essay: what would the world be like without people? He answers this question mostly with many allusions to history, and examples of “worlds within this world” that already mimic a possible “Earth without people”. In these allusions, Weisman uses imagery to connect with the reader in many different ways, and through words can invoke every sense.
When Weisman asks the important questions, he uses many forms of imagery in them. He asks, “Would our concrete cities crumble to dust from the force of tree roots, water, and weeds?”. This sentence can especially resonate with the reader with use of the words “concrete” and “crumble” in the same sentence. The fact that he is putting two things that so rarely happen with each other together, captures the readers attention. People trust solid buildings to never collapse, so Weisman bringing this up as a form of imagery can very much connect with the reader.
Weisman also alludes to the so-called “Demilitarized Zone” in Korea to answer his questions. This strip of land is completely desolate, and could very well imitate an Earth without people. Weisman uses imagery like “...barely discernible, transformed into pockets of marsh...” to paint a picture of a barren land in the reader’s mind. He also goes into great detail to describe the animals of the “sans-human” world, for example: “...red-crowned cranes that glide over the bulrushes in perfect formation, touching down so lightly that they detonate no land mines.” The animals are able to try and not disrupt their land without having to worry about the distraction of humans. The imagery of a cautious crane will stick with the reader, and make them realize the difference between a world with humans and a world without.
The author also presents another idea and way to see how the world would be without people. He explains the “Mannahatta Project”, a real experiment to see how Manhattan was pre-Dutch arrival. According to history, there were many streams in the city before the Europeans landed. The author goes into what the city would be like if humans were to suddenly disappear, again with great imagery. He writes things like, “As lightning rods rusted away, roof fires would leap among buildings into paneled offices filled with paper.” Words like “rusted away”, and giving the roof fires personification by making them “leap”, Weisman makes the image in the reader’s mind even more real.
A story without imagery is nothing, especially one that asks such deep questions like “Earth Without People”. The ability for words and phrases to paint pictures in your mind is incredibly important when an author asks such significant questions, especially ones surrounding an entirely different world. Weisman presents his ideas well with his great uses of imagery to invoke the five senses.
“Earth Without People” Reaction Paper
It is obvious from reading Alan Weisman’s “Earth Without People”, that he is passionate about the environment, and writes in a way where he is able to reach every one of the reader’s senses. Weisman proposes a question he intends to answer with his essay: what would the world be like without people? He answers this question mostly with many allusions to history, and examples of “worlds within this world” that already mimic a possible “Earth without people”. In these allusions, Weisman uses imagery to connect with the reader in many different ways, and through words can invoke every sense.
When Weisman asks the important questions, he uses many forms of imagery in them. He asks, “Would our concrete cities crumble to dust from the force of tree roots, water, and weeds?”. This sentence can especially resonate with the reader with use of the words “concrete” and “crumble” in the same sentence. The fact that he is putting two things that so rarely happen with each other together, captures the readers attention. People trust solid buildings to never collapse, so Weisman bringing this up as a form of imagery can very much connect with the reader.
Weisman also alludes to the so-called “Demilitarized Zone” in Korea to answer his questions. This strip of land is completely desolate, and could very well imitate an Earth without people. Weisman uses imagery like “...barely discernible, transformed into pockets of marsh...” to paint a picture of a barren land in the reader’s mind. He also goes into great detail to describe the animals of the “sans-human” world, for example: “...red-crowned cranes that glide over the bulrushes in perfect formation, touching down so lightly that they detonate no land mines.” The animals are able to try and not disrupt their land without having to worry about the distraction of humans. The imagery of a cautious crane will stick with the reader, and make them realize the difference between a world with humans and a world without.
The author also presents another idea and way to see how the world would be without people. He explains the “Mannahatta Project”, a real experiment to see how Manhattan was pre-Dutch arrival. According to history, there were many streams in the city before the Europeans landed. The author goes into what the city would be like if humans were to suddenly disappear, again with great imagery. He writes things like, “As lightning rods rusted away, roof fires would leap among buildings into paneled offices filled with paper.” Words like “rusted away”, and giving the roof fires personification by making them “leap”, Weisman makes the image in the reader’s mind even more real.
A story without imagery is nothing, especially one that asks such deep questions like “Earth Without People”. The ability for words and phrases to paint pictures in your mind is incredibly important when an author asks such significant questions, especially ones surrounding an entirely different world. Weisman presents his ideas well with his great uses of imagery to invoke the five senses.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Canterbury Tales Casting
The Knight
For the knight character in the Canterbury Tales movie, I would choose the actor Viggo Mortenson. In the tales, the knight is described as the most noble of the pilgrims. He has traveled the world and fought for his people, as Chaucer writes, “...when in Prussia, in Lithuania he had ridden, and Russia....When, in Granada...” (74). The way the knight is described calls for an actor who has rugged, yet handsome looks like he has been in war. The actor should not be played by some young “stud” but more of an older man but not too old. An older guy would be able to play someone who is labeled as “....though so much distinguished, he was wise...” (75) and “He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight.” (75) by Chaucer, like Viggo Mortenson. Mortenson has also proved he can nail accents and Medieval-inspired roles such as his biggest role, Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
The Squire
For the squire character, the Knight’s son, I would choose the actor Liam Hemsworth. The Squire is a young, handsome man who can talk any lady into bed. He’s described by Chaucer as “A lover and cadet, a lad of fire...He was some twenty years of age, I guessed...wonderful agility and strength” (75) among many other things. The actor to play the Squire would have to be very handsome and very young. The squire character in the Canterbury Tales movie would be the sole reason for any young-female demographic attendance. Liam Hemsworth would be perfect for this role because he is handsome, strong, and growing in popularity in Hollywood. He’s played roles such as Gale in the Hunger Games that shows his strength and the ability to play a knight-like role, and also romantic roles such as Will in The Last Song. The squire would be a very versatile character, so an actor who can play many different roles, such as Hemsworth, would be a perfect choice. Plus, he’s got a killer Australian accent that could be slightly tweaked to sound British; add a wig and you’ve got a squire.
The Wife of Bath
The Wife of Bath, one of the most prominent and unforgettable characters of the Canterbury Tales, would no doubt need to be played by a naturally-born British woman. Chaucer writes her as, “Bold was her face, handsome, and red in hue. A worthy woman all her life, what’s more.” (81). This creates an image in my mind of a curvy woman with strong cheekbones with a crazy prevalent cockney-British accent. For this actress, I would no doubt cast Kate Winslet. She has proven herself as capable of playing almost anything. She has also played many roles native to her British roots, such as Princess Sarah in A Kid in King Arthur’s Court and Ophelia in Hamlet. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, she played Clementine, who was crazy and seductive like the Wife of Bath. Kate Winslet is an easy choice for this one because I know that she has the British-woman characteristics and the ability to play any role she wanted.
For the knight character in the Canterbury Tales movie, I would choose the actor Viggo Mortenson. In the tales, the knight is described as the most noble of the pilgrims. He has traveled the world and fought for his people, as Chaucer writes, “...when in Prussia, in Lithuania he had ridden, and Russia....When, in Granada...” (74). The way the knight is described calls for an actor who has rugged, yet handsome looks like he has been in war. The actor should not be played by some young “stud” but more of an older man but not too old. An older guy would be able to play someone who is labeled as “....though so much distinguished, he was wise...” (75) and “He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight.” (75) by Chaucer, like Viggo Mortenson. Mortenson has also proved he can nail accents and Medieval-inspired roles such as his biggest role, Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
The Squire
For the squire character, the Knight’s son, I would choose the actor Liam Hemsworth. The Squire is a young, handsome man who can talk any lady into bed. He’s described by Chaucer as “A lover and cadet, a lad of fire...He was some twenty years of age, I guessed...wonderful agility and strength” (75) among many other things. The actor to play the Squire would have to be very handsome and very young. The squire character in the Canterbury Tales movie would be the sole reason for any young-female demographic attendance. Liam Hemsworth would be perfect for this role because he is handsome, strong, and growing in popularity in Hollywood. He’s played roles such as Gale in the Hunger Games that shows his strength and the ability to play a knight-like role, and also romantic roles such as Will in The Last Song. The squire would be a very versatile character, so an actor who can play many different roles, such as Hemsworth, would be a perfect choice. Plus, he’s got a killer Australian accent that could be slightly tweaked to sound British; add a wig and you’ve got a squire.
The Wife of Bath
The Wife of Bath, one of the most prominent and unforgettable characters of the Canterbury Tales, would no doubt need to be played by a naturally-born British woman. Chaucer writes her as, “Bold was her face, handsome, and red in hue. A worthy woman all her life, what’s more.” (81). This creates an image in my mind of a curvy woman with strong cheekbones with a crazy prevalent cockney-British accent. For this actress, I would no doubt cast Kate Winslet. She has proven herself as capable of playing almost anything. She has also played many roles native to her British roots, such as Princess Sarah in A Kid in King Arthur’s Court and Ophelia in Hamlet. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, she played Clementine, who was crazy and seductive like the Wife of Bath. Kate Winslet is an easy choice for this one because I know that she has the British-woman characteristics and the ability to play any role she wanted.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Canterbury Tales Prologue Addition
Leah Mancuso
Canterbury Tales Prologue Addition
There was a young boy who had lots of charm,
He had a “believe” tattoo on his arm,
He goes by Justin or maybe “JB”,
His most famous song is known as “Baby”,
The moment that he sings the girls go wild,
His biggest fan is probably a child,
Although his voice used to be very high,
No longer does it make the boys go “why?”,
A few weeks ago he threw up on stage,
But no girls cared no they were not enraged,
It does not matter what he ever does,
He will always be the nation’s buzz.
Canterbury Tales Prologue Addition
There was a young boy who had lots of charm,
He had a “believe” tattoo on his arm,
He goes by Justin or maybe “JB”,
His most famous song is known as “Baby”,
The moment that he sings the girls go wild,
His biggest fan is probably a child,
Although his voice used to be very high,
No longer does it make the boys go “why?”,
A few weeks ago he threw up on stage,
But no girls cared no they were not enraged,
It does not matter what he ever does,
He will always be the nation’s buzz.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Heorot High
Leah Mancuso
Beowulf and the City Story
Heorot High
“Now class, please tell me you remember the story of King Shield...” Mr. Hroth said in exasperation. He had taught this story over and over, but nothing seemed to register with the kids.
“He was the first king to rule Denmark. He led the Danes to great peace, and no kings could ever live up to his glory.” Beau spoke out. He was the “Mr. Popular” of Heorot High School. Funny, smart, flirty, and handsome to top it off.
“Finally! Thank you Beau!” Mr Hroth sighed in relief. “Why can’t you all be like Beau?” He couldn’t help but ask aloud.
Grundy groaned from the back of the class. Perfect Beau. He could do no wrong. Rolling his eyes, Grundy felt his glasses down his face. He pushed them back up and glanced around the room, trying to ease his everlasting boredom that presented itself everyday in this history class. His mind suddenly thought back to the 7th grade. He was walking aimlessly around the gym at the middle school dance, looking for someone to talk to. He noticed that everyone was crowded around Beau in a tight circle, watching him do his signature break dance. He even remembered the stupid name his fanbase gave it: “The Hrunting”. Grundy remembered snorting. How stupid. Grundy specifically could remember Freya, his long-time crush, laughing and clapping along to the music while she watched. Grundy had liked her since grade school, but he vividly remembered at that moment realizing he had no chance with her.
The bell rang, interrupting Grundy’s flashback. The class shot up and ran out; finally, it was lunch. Grundy sighed and packed up his belongings, but not before looking up and seeing Beau laughing and joking with Mr. Hroth. He even had Freya’s father’s friendship.
Grundy stalked out in anger. He had a bad feeling that maybe Beau would be asking Freya to prom today. Not a chance. Grundy suddenly growled to himself. He wouldn’t let it happen. It had been nearly 12 years he spent in school liking Freya, and he wasn’t going to waste his last year watching Beau have her yet again. He would make Freya see that she belonged with him. Even if it meant facing off with Beau.
He quickened his pace to the cafeteria. He felt himself full of rage, and fueling it were the memories he had throughout his life of Beau tearing him apart through his words and actions. Grundy could feel his face flush as he realized that Beau was the reason he had such a tortured soul; that he was so alone. He wasn’t going to stand by and let Beau beat him down anymore.
Grundy threw open the cafeteria doors. He felt the lunchroom grow quiet and all of the student’s stares crept up on him.
“Beau!” Grundy yelled out, not even sure where Beau was. He looked around in every direction, until he finally laid eyes on his prey. Beau looked up, his eyes big, and a smile crept up on his face.
“Grundy.” Beau said simply with his smirk growing bigger. “You finally about to crack?”
Grundy lost control. He felt himself grab Beau by the shoulders and toss him to the ground like he was nothing. If there was one thing Grundy was, it was physically strong. The lunchroom gasped. Nothing like this had ever happened at HHS.
Beau was only startled for a minute, and soon regained himself. Picking himself off the floor, he managed to throw a punch at the fuming Grundy.
“Give it up Grundy! I know you want Freya, the whole school does. You couldn’t make it more obvious. But guess what Grundy? I have her. I have everything. I have everything you’ve ever wanted, and now you’re taking it out on me. I know your pathetic game.” Beau spit in Grundy’s face. Grundy could take punches, but Beau’s words sliced right through him. Slinking back, Grundy fell to the floor and looked around in embarrassment. Heat rushed through him. Everybody knew. He jumped up and ran out as soon as he could, before the laughter shaking the cafeteria reached him.
Grundy ran and ran until he couldn’t anymore. He couldn’t get Beau’s words out of his head. He shook his skull until he felt like his brain was rattling against it. Dropping to his knees in front of his swamp house, he cried. He realized Beau was right, about everything. Beau had exactly everything Grundy wanted. He unleashed everything he had held in for his whole life. He felt his heart so ready to explode of sadness. He had finally got the courage to stand up for himself, and he was crushed and smashed like a stupid little bug.
After a minute or so of tears, he pulled himself together. He turned around and stared at the school in the distance. A thought came to his mind, and this time it was going to work. This wasn’t about Freya. This wasn’t even about Beau, or their so-called fight. This was about revenge.
Beowulf and the City Story
Heorot High
“Now class, please tell me you remember the story of King Shield...” Mr. Hroth said in exasperation. He had taught this story over and over, but nothing seemed to register with the kids.
“He was the first king to rule Denmark. He led the Danes to great peace, and no kings could ever live up to his glory.” Beau spoke out. He was the “Mr. Popular” of Heorot High School. Funny, smart, flirty, and handsome to top it off.
“Finally! Thank you Beau!” Mr Hroth sighed in relief. “Why can’t you all be like Beau?” He couldn’t help but ask aloud.
Grundy groaned from the back of the class. Perfect Beau. He could do no wrong. Rolling his eyes, Grundy felt his glasses down his face. He pushed them back up and glanced around the room, trying to ease his everlasting boredom that presented itself everyday in this history class. His mind suddenly thought back to the 7th grade. He was walking aimlessly around the gym at the middle school dance, looking for someone to talk to. He noticed that everyone was crowded around Beau in a tight circle, watching him do his signature break dance. He even remembered the stupid name his fanbase gave it: “The Hrunting”. Grundy remembered snorting. How stupid. Grundy specifically could remember Freya, his long-time crush, laughing and clapping along to the music while she watched. Grundy had liked her since grade school, but he vividly remembered at that moment realizing he had no chance with her.
The bell rang, interrupting Grundy’s flashback. The class shot up and ran out; finally, it was lunch. Grundy sighed and packed up his belongings, but not before looking up and seeing Beau laughing and joking with Mr. Hroth. He even had Freya’s father’s friendship.
Grundy stalked out in anger. He had a bad feeling that maybe Beau would be asking Freya to prom today. Not a chance. Grundy suddenly growled to himself. He wouldn’t let it happen. It had been nearly 12 years he spent in school liking Freya, and he wasn’t going to waste his last year watching Beau have her yet again. He would make Freya see that she belonged with him. Even if it meant facing off with Beau.
He quickened his pace to the cafeteria. He felt himself full of rage, and fueling it were the memories he had throughout his life of Beau tearing him apart through his words and actions. Grundy could feel his face flush as he realized that Beau was the reason he had such a tortured soul; that he was so alone. He wasn’t going to stand by and let Beau beat him down anymore.
Grundy threw open the cafeteria doors. He felt the lunchroom grow quiet and all of the student’s stares crept up on him.
“Beau!” Grundy yelled out, not even sure where Beau was. He looked around in every direction, until he finally laid eyes on his prey. Beau looked up, his eyes big, and a smile crept up on his face.
“Grundy.” Beau said simply with his smirk growing bigger. “You finally about to crack?”
Grundy lost control. He felt himself grab Beau by the shoulders and toss him to the ground like he was nothing. If there was one thing Grundy was, it was physically strong. The lunchroom gasped. Nothing like this had ever happened at HHS.
Beau was only startled for a minute, and soon regained himself. Picking himself off the floor, he managed to throw a punch at the fuming Grundy.
“Give it up Grundy! I know you want Freya, the whole school does. You couldn’t make it more obvious. But guess what Grundy? I have her. I have everything. I have everything you’ve ever wanted, and now you’re taking it out on me. I know your pathetic game.” Beau spit in Grundy’s face. Grundy could take punches, but Beau’s words sliced right through him. Slinking back, Grundy fell to the floor and looked around in embarrassment. Heat rushed through him. Everybody knew. He jumped up and ran out as soon as he could, before the laughter shaking the cafeteria reached him.
Grundy ran and ran until he couldn’t anymore. He couldn’t get Beau’s words out of his head. He shook his skull until he felt like his brain was rattling against it. Dropping to his knees in front of his swamp house, he cried. He realized Beau was right, about everything. Beau had exactly everything Grundy wanted. He unleashed everything he had held in for his whole life. He felt his heart so ready to explode of sadness. He had finally got the courage to stand up for himself, and he was crushed and smashed like a stupid little bug.
After a minute or so of tears, he pulled himself together. He turned around and stared at the school in the distance. A thought came to his mind, and this time it was going to work. This wasn’t about Freya. This wasn’t even about Beau, or their so-called fight. This was about revenge.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
College Essay - Final Draft
Leah Mancuso
College Essay
When the typical person thinks of Mickey Mouse, various words may come to mind. A few popular ones might be cartoon, children, or just simply, Disney. To me, however, a rush of words flow in. Inspirational, influential, imaginative and so much more. To me, Mickey is symbolic of the life and dream of one man, and the the whole world that he affected. This man, Walt Disney, created more than he most likely ever dreamed of when he drew his first sketch of Mickey Mouse. This sketch led to the start of one of the world’s biggest companies of all time, and one that influences almost every industry on Earth.
All my life, I have been a dreamer. When I started off in high school, I lived off of my fantasies and dreams of someday being happy and having a life people could only dream up. After a while, it was hard not to believe that they weren’t reality, as they were so vivid in my mind. As I grew older and I matured, I realized that I couldn’t sit around and wait for these dreams to just “come true”. While I used to almost live by the quote, “Good things come to those who wait”, I realized that although patience is a virtue, some things did not come from simply waiting. While Disney movies are notorious for their prominent happily ever afters, in real life they do not come without work. Walt Disney showed this with his creation of the Walt Disney Company, which in no way was produced overnight.
The biggest thing about Mickey that has had an influence on me and my life, is not actually Mickey himself but a quote about him said by Disney. The quote, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing -- that it was all started by a mouse,” is simple, but can go much deeper. The idea is that any small thought, even one such as tiny and insignificant as a mouse, can lead to something much, much bigger, like the Walt Disney Company. As far as my life, that quote and the idea behind it is something that can speak to me on many levels and something that I try to apply to my life everyday. When I think of my future in college, and the always infamous post-college job searches, I try to keep this idea in my head: to be big, you must start small. This is to also never be discouraged when you feel you have close to nothing, because every big thing had to start somewhere. So in my life I plan on never giving up when it seems my dreams are impossible. I’ll do it for Mickey Mouse, and of course, Walt Disney.
College Essay
When the typical person thinks of Mickey Mouse, various words may come to mind. A few popular ones might be cartoon, children, or just simply, Disney. To me, however, a rush of words flow in. Inspirational, influential, imaginative and so much more. To me, Mickey is symbolic of the life and dream of one man, and the the whole world that he affected. This man, Walt Disney, created more than he most likely ever dreamed of when he drew his first sketch of Mickey Mouse. This sketch led to the start of one of the world’s biggest companies of all time, and one that influences almost every industry on Earth.
All my life, I have been a dreamer. When I started off in high school, I lived off of my fantasies and dreams of someday being happy and having a life people could only dream up. After a while, it was hard not to believe that they weren’t reality, as they were so vivid in my mind. As I grew older and I matured, I realized that I couldn’t sit around and wait for these dreams to just “come true”. While I used to almost live by the quote, “Good things come to those who wait”, I realized that although patience is a virtue, some things did not come from simply waiting. While Disney movies are notorious for their prominent happily ever afters, in real life they do not come without work. Walt Disney showed this with his creation of the Walt Disney Company, which in no way was produced overnight.
The biggest thing about Mickey that has had an influence on me and my life, is not actually Mickey himself but a quote about him said by Disney. The quote, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing -- that it was all started by a mouse,” is simple, but can go much deeper. The idea is that any small thought, even one such as tiny and insignificant as a mouse, can lead to something much, much bigger, like the Walt Disney Company. As far as my life, that quote and the idea behind it is something that can speak to me on many levels and something that I try to apply to my life everyday. When I think of my future in college, and the always infamous post-college job searches, I try to keep this idea in my head: to be big, you must start small. This is to also never be discouraged when you feel you have close to nothing, because every big thing had to start somewhere. So in my life I plan on never giving up when it seems my dreams are impossible. I’ll do it for Mickey Mouse, and of course, Walt Disney.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Feminist Criticism Paper
Leah Mancuso
Feminist Paper
Period 3
1/22/12
Art Spiegelman’s two books; Maus I and Maus II, are both very bold writings of
his father’s survival in the Holocaust. After their publications, they opened up many criticisms
from people around the world. Most readers thought they were great representations, but
others thought Spiegelman exploited his father, and even some feminists believed the books
were sexist to women due to the incredibly “weak” women characters. Spiegelman’s portrayal,
however, of women in Maus I and Maus II, is merely based off of his father’s accounts, and is
neither negative or positive.
One way that his books were not a negative representation of women, is that the
main female characters were split by different time periods. Lucia and Anja were written mostly
in a WWII and post-WWII setting, where things were much different. At the time, the world was
in a state of war-panic and paranoia. It’s understandable that even little things would worry
someone more in this time period then the current one. Francoise, on the other hand, lives in
more of a present-day time and in America where freedom isn’t questioned like it was in Europe
in WWII. Mala, who also lives at this time, is considered weak, but this could be from the affects
of WWII, which she was alive for.
With different time periods comes different viewpoints, specifically of women.
The women’s rights movement, a going movement from the 18th century, was still working
on making much progress in the 1930s/40s, when WWII was happening. The movement still
had not reached it’s current status until much later in the 20th century. This shows that there
was still a much more negative view of women at the time, making Lucia and Anja’s struggles
more emphasized. In the late 20th century, where Francoise’s story took place, the feminist
movement was at it’s high point. Women were top leaders of their industries, and had the right
to stand up for what they believed in, like Francoise often does. The completely different overall
view of women at the time more then likely affected their strength and how they were perceived
to us now.
Another reason Spiegelman’s writings were not meant to be negative on
women, is that the women all went through very different situations that would affect how strong
they are. For example, Anja went through the Holocaust, and Francoise did not. Of course
their experiences are very different, so to belittle Anja for her “lack of strength” is unfair. Lucia,
who may or may not have went through the Holocaust, is more debatable as far as if she has
a “right” to be weak, but it all goes back to the time period. Mala went through the Holocaust as
well, and it could be argued is the reason for her weakness in the present-day.
Maus I and Maus II are just Spiegelman’s written accounts of his father’s
experiences in the Holocaust, and should not be up for debate, especially on feminist grounds.
To even try and compare any of the women’s situations to each other is like comparing apples
to oranges. Spiegelman’s portrayal of women are only based off of what his father, Vladek, told
him, and is neither negative or positive.
Feminist Paper
Period 3
1/22/12
Art Spiegelman’s two books; Maus I and Maus II, are both very bold writings of
his father’s survival in the Holocaust. After their publications, they opened up many criticisms
from people around the world. Most readers thought they were great representations, but
others thought Spiegelman exploited his father, and even some feminists believed the books
were sexist to women due to the incredibly “weak” women characters. Spiegelman’s portrayal,
however, of women in Maus I and Maus II, is merely based off of his father’s accounts, and is
neither negative or positive.
One way that his books were not a negative representation of women, is that the
main female characters were split by different time periods. Lucia and Anja were written mostly
in a WWII and post-WWII setting, where things were much different. At the time, the world was
in a state of war-panic and paranoia. It’s understandable that even little things would worry
someone more in this time period then the current one. Francoise, on the other hand, lives in
more of a present-day time and in America where freedom isn’t questioned like it was in Europe
in WWII. Mala, who also lives at this time, is considered weak, but this could be from the affects
of WWII, which she was alive for.
With different time periods comes different viewpoints, specifically of women.
The women’s rights movement, a going movement from the 18th century, was still working
on making much progress in the 1930s/40s, when WWII was happening. The movement still
had not reached it’s current status until much later in the 20th century. This shows that there
was still a much more negative view of women at the time, making Lucia and Anja’s struggles
more emphasized. In the late 20th century, where Francoise’s story took place, the feminist
movement was at it’s high point. Women were top leaders of their industries, and had the right
to stand up for what they believed in, like Francoise often does. The completely different overall
view of women at the time more then likely affected their strength and how they were perceived
to us now.
Another reason Spiegelman’s writings were not meant to be negative on
women, is that the women all went through very different situations that would affect how strong
they are. For example, Anja went through the Holocaust, and Francoise did not. Of course
their experiences are very different, so to belittle Anja for her “lack of strength” is unfair. Lucia,
who may or may not have went through the Holocaust, is more debatable as far as if she has
a “right” to be weak, but it all goes back to the time period. Mala went through the Holocaust as
well, and it could be argued is the reason for her weakness in the present-day.
Maus I and Maus II are just Spiegelman’s written accounts of his father’s
experiences in the Holocaust, and should not be up for debate, especially on feminist grounds.
To even try and compare any of the women’s situations to each other is like comparing apples
to oranges. Spiegelman’s portrayal of women are only based off of what his father, Vladek, told
him, and is neither negative or positive.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Anja's POV Journal
Leah Mancuso
1/11/12
November 17th, 1936
Today I recieved a letter about Vladek, the man I’m engaged to. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read it. In it, someone, a woman presumably, said the most hateful things about Vladek that really made me think. By the end of the letter, my eyes were so full of tears I could barely make out the faint “L” that was signed. Who “L” was was barely a thought that crossed my mind. All I could think was how could Vladek betray me like this? The man I loved, the man who I would be married to in a very short amount of time. How could he keep this from me? The letter said he had many girlfriends back at home. Well I’m sure that’s true, I’m nobody special. I bet a girlfriend wrote this very letter. He’s probably run back to her already. And he is just marrying me for my money? Well I bet that’s true as well. I’m not beautiful, or clever. All that I’m worth it my money. But...I love Vladek and I was so sure he loved me too.
-Anja
November 19th, 1936
Vladek came to visit me yesterday. He still loves me! How did I doubt him? I cried when I saw him and he comforted me so well. I can’t wait to marry him in just three short months. How did I get so lucky?
-Anja
1/11/12
November 17th, 1936
Today I recieved a letter about Vladek, the man I’m engaged to. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read it. In it, someone, a woman presumably, said the most hateful things about Vladek that really made me think. By the end of the letter, my eyes were so full of tears I could barely make out the faint “L” that was signed. Who “L” was was barely a thought that crossed my mind. All I could think was how could Vladek betray me like this? The man I loved, the man who I would be married to in a very short amount of time. How could he keep this from me? The letter said he had many girlfriends back at home. Well I’m sure that’s true, I’m nobody special. I bet a girlfriend wrote this very letter. He’s probably run back to her already. And he is just marrying me for my money? Well I bet that’s true as well. I’m not beautiful, or clever. All that I’m worth it my money. But...I love Vladek and I was so sure he loved me too.
-Anja
November 19th, 1936
Vladek came to visit me yesterday. He still loves me! How did I doubt him? I cried when I saw him and he comforted me so well. I can’t wait to marry him in just three short months. How did I get so lucky?
-Anja
Maus 2 Reaction Paper
Leah Mancuso
1/11/12
How would you evaluate...how the Holocaust affected Artie and Vladek’s lives together? While Vladek was the one who had to physically go through the Holocaust, it’s apparent that it had strong effects on even Artie as he grew up. It’s debatable who felt the effects worse, however. Some could argue that Vladek had to actually go through the horrors of the POW and concentration camps, while Art just had to hear about it. On the other hand, just hearing about it could be as bad or even worse for a child growing up. Two ways we can evaluate how it had an effect on their lives is in Art’s writing and Art and Vladek’s relationship and personalities.
You can see a strong connection with growing up as a “child of the Holocaust” and the way Art writes and draws. His drawings, black and white cartoons of mice, have often dark and graphic undertones. This is most prominent in Maus 2, Chapter 2, where it starts off with Artie undergoing the weight of the media and it’s pressures. The way he draws himself shrinking and shrinking, and then eventually to himself on a pile of dead bodies, really shows the dark side of his mind. The fact that he had to endure his parent’s pain and suffering over the Holocaust throughout his whole life, really shows in his dark writings and the way he so accurately represented succumbing to pressure. The effects of the Holocaust on Artie are obvious in this sense.
Another way you can see how the Holocaust affected their lives together was in their relationship and personalities in the last years of Vladek’s life. Throughout the books, the story switches from a “present-day” Vladek and Artie to Vladek telling Artie the stories of the Holocaust. In the parts where you can see Vladek and Art together, their relationship shows. They bicker a lot and over almost everything. Vladek’s personality is also a big indictor of how the Holocaust affected him overall because he is rather grumpy, needy, and articulate. He is constantly trying to “run away”, in a way, and is very particular about quantity. These qualities show how experiences in the Holocaust remained in Vladek throughout his life. Art gets easily frustrated with Vladek, which also shows a connection to growing up under the influence of Holocaust survivors. He talks about living under Richieu’s shadow, which can show why he, in Maus 2, finds himself crumbling under all of the pressure. All of these traits that Vladek and Art carry in their lives and their relationship show a vivid connection between the Holocaust and it’s later effects.
After evaluating different ways the Holocaust and it’s horrible events has a connection to the way Vladek and Art’s relationship was, you can see that it is a good argument for who “had it worse”. The answer is really, it’s hard to tell, because they both went through very different situations, but in the end, they were essentially the same.
1/11/12
How would you evaluate...how the Holocaust affected Artie and Vladek’s lives together? While Vladek was the one who had to physically go through the Holocaust, it’s apparent that it had strong effects on even Artie as he grew up. It’s debatable who felt the effects worse, however. Some could argue that Vladek had to actually go through the horrors of the POW and concentration camps, while Art just had to hear about it. On the other hand, just hearing about it could be as bad or even worse for a child growing up. Two ways we can evaluate how it had an effect on their lives is in Art’s writing and Art and Vladek’s relationship and personalities.
You can see a strong connection with growing up as a “child of the Holocaust” and the way Art writes and draws. His drawings, black and white cartoons of mice, have often dark and graphic undertones. This is most prominent in Maus 2, Chapter 2, where it starts off with Artie undergoing the weight of the media and it’s pressures. The way he draws himself shrinking and shrinking, and then eventually to himself on a pile of dead bodies, really shows the dark side of his mind. The fact that he had to endure his parent’s pain and suffering over the Holocaust throughout his whole life, really shows in his dark writings and the way he so accurately represented succumbing to pressure. The effects of the Holocaust on Artie are obvious in this sense.
Another way you can see how the Holocaust affected their lives together was in their relationship and personalities in the last years of Vladek’s life. Throughout the books, the story switches from a “present-day” Vladek and Artie to Vladek telling Artie the stories of the Holocaust. In the parts where you can see Vladek and Art together, their relationship shows. They bicker a lot and over almost everything. Vladek’s personality is also a big indictor of how the Holocaust affected him overall because he is rather grumpy, needy, and articulate. He is constantly trying to “run away”, in a way, and is very particular about quantity. These qualities show how experiences in the Holocaust remained in Vladek throughout his life. Art gets easily frustrated with Vladek, which also shows a connection to growing up under the influence of Holocaust survivors. He talks about living under Richieu’s shadow, which can show why he, in Maus 2, finds himself crumbling under all of the pressure. All of these traits that Vladek and Art carry in their lives and their relationship show a vivid connection between the Holocaust and it’s later effects.
After evaluating different ways the Holocaust and it’s horrible events has a connection to the way Vladek and Art’s relationship was, you can see that it is a good argument for who “had it worse”. The answer is really, it’s hard to tell, because they both went through very different situations, but in the end, they were essentially the same.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
"Hitler Killed My Father"
A tragedy is an event that greatly affects someone’s life in a negative way. Tragedy can be a death, or any kind of loss of a loved one. The Holocaust, for it’s survivors, was a tragedy in itself due to all the losses and deaths witnessed. Tragedy is remembered in a variety of ways. For most people, there is a process of grief that must be gone through, with the five stages of Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. In each stage, tragedy is remembered differently. In the beginning, people may look at a tragedy in an extremely painful way, often blocking out memories. By the end, people are generally “healed” from a tragedy, and while it is still painful and sad, they are able to remember good times or even look at the tragedy in a positive way, for example, as something that made them stronger. A lot of the time a tragedy will always hurt, and people try not to think about it because it still hurts so bad. For example, in the article, the author’s father “…lived and breathed being a Holocaust survivor…” throughout his life. But however, his parents were able to live normal lives, as in the quote, “I marveled at my parents’ ability to live normal lives”.
I believe there can be a happy medium with tragedy. I believe once people get the closure they need, it’s easier to move on but still remember it. I think people try and force themselves to remember more then they should, because if it is something worth being remembered, they will absolutely never forget it. If someone blocks out a memory, that may be the only way for them to cope. In all, people deal with tragedies in different ways and there is no right or wrong way to deal with it.
I believe there can be a happy medium with tragedy. I believe once people get the closure they need, it’s easier to move on but still remember it. I think people try and force themselves to remember more then they should, because if it is something worth being remembered, they will absolutely never forget it. If someone blocks out a memory, that may be the only way for them to cope. In all, people deal with tragedies in different ways and there is no right or wrong way to deal with it.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Scarlet Letter Reaction Paper
Leah Mancuso
11/20/11
English 3
I predict...that Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl, Hester’s
daughter. His attachment to Hester and her baby is evident from the
beginning of the book. In Chapter 3, when Hester is on the scaffold facing
public humilition, Dimmesdale is asked to speak as minister of the town how
he feels about Hester. You can tell he needs a little prodding by Wilson,
and he eventually tells her to live her sin openly, as stated in the quote:
““Hester Prynne,” said he, leaning over the balcony, and looking down
steadfastly into her eyes, “thou hearest what this good man says, and seest
the accountability under which I labor. If thou feelest it to be for thy
soul’s peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more
effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-
sinner and fellow-sufferer!...’”. There is a tremble in his voice and you
can tell that it was hard for him to say. This shows already some
attachment to Hester.
In Chapter 8, there is more evidence of Dimmesdale being the one
who committed adultery with Hester. He stands up for Hester when she is
close to getting Pearl taken away from her. He states, “‘There is truth in
what Hester says, and in the feeling that inspires her! God gave the child
to her, and He gave her an instinctive knowledge of the child’s nature and
needs. No other person could understand such a peculiar child. And doesn’t
a sacred relationship exist between this mother and her child?’” and shows
that Pearl was sent from God to help Hester live
Mancuso 1
her sin and teach against it to Pearl. By going against the grain and
standing up for Hester, Dimmesdale proved again he felt something for her
and Pearl. When Chillingworth questions Dimmesdale about his “spirtuality”
in Chapter 10, he gets all of a sudden very defensive and refuses to speak
and says his secrets are between him and God. This sudden jump to defending
himself is more proof that Dimmesdale is hiding something, which could very
well be his affair with Hester.
* I believe I deserve an A- on this assignment. I believe that I
backed up my main idea with enough support in specific examples and quotes.
However, I feel that I could have went into more detail.
Mancuso 2
11/20/11
English 3
I predict...that Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl, Hester’s
daughter. His attachment to Hester and her baby is evident from the
beginning of the book. In Chapter 3, when Hester is on the scaffold facing
public humilition, Dimmesdale is asked to speak as minister of the town how
he feels about Hester. You can tell he needs a little prodding by Wilson,
and he eventually tells her to live her sin openly, as stated in the quote:
““Hester Prynne,” said he, leaning over the balcony, and looking down
steadfastly into her eyes, “thou hearest what this good man says, and seest
the accountability under which I labor. If thou feelest it to be for thy
soul’s peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more
effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-
sinner and fellow-sufferer!...’”. There is a tremble in his voice and you
can tell that it was hard for him to say. This shows already some
attachment to Hester.
In Chapter 8, there is more evidence of Dimmesdale being the one
who committed adultery with Hester. He stands up for Hester when she is
close to getting Pearl taken away from her. He states, “‘There is truth in
what Hester says, and in the feeling that inspires her! God gave the child
to her, and He gave her an instinctive knowledge of the child’s nature and
needs. No other person could understand such a peculiar child. And doesn’t
a sacred relationship exist between this mother and her child?’” and shows
that Pearl was sent from God to help Hester live
Mancuso 1
her sin and teach against it to Pearl. By going against the grain and
standing up for Hester, Dimmesdale proved again he felt something for her
and Pearl. When Chillingworth questions Dimmesdale about his “spirtuality”
in Chapter 10, he gets all of a sudden very defensive and refuses to speak
and says his secrets are between him and God. This sudden jump to defending
himself is more proof that Dimmesdale is hiding something, which could very
well be his affair with Hester.
* I believe I deserve an A- on this assignment. I believe that I
backed up my main idea with enough support in specific examples and quotes.
However, I feel that I could have went into more detail.
Mancuso 2
Friday, November 11, 2011
Stuck in Target
11/11/11
I was sitting in the small cafe located near the entrance inside of Target one night. The store was nearly empty, with only 20 other people dispersed throughout various aisles. I was taking a final bite of my soft pretzel, getting ready to head out for the night, when suddenly all of the store lights shut off. I heard a girl's scream and a few gasps in the distance. In the pitch black, I plunged my hand into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I quickly slid to unlock it, and looking through all of my apps through my cracked screen (haha), finally found my flashlight app. The bright light shined suddenly, and onto the face of a young, white unicorn. Startled, I jumped back in surprise, and a hit a large solid object.
Screaming, I instinctively shone my light on the object, which turned out to be a person. Staring more closely, I noticed the person's facial features one by one. His eyes were wide open and pale blue, his nose sharp like a witch, and the corners of his mouth pointed down. I jumped back when I noticed the last thing: he was covered in blood.
Letting out the most high-pitched scream I could muster, I made a run for it. I sprinted through Target, crashing into displays one right after the other, with my light pointed constantly in front of me. I finally made it to the bathroom, after nearly running into almost 10 more zombies. I flew into the bathroom, and just as I did, my unicorn "friend" was clopping out of a stall, walking on two feet like absolutely nothing was wrong.
"What's going on??" I asked him frantically.
"Um, do I look like I can talk?" he said in a snooty tone.
"Well...um..." I started, confused.
"Oh, well dang...guess I screwed that one up." the unicorn sighed and rolled his eyes as he washed his hooves at the sink. "Basically what's going on is there's some sort of crazy computer glitch in the system. It shuts down the store and turns everyone to zombies. And then, somewhere in that I come in. Oh yeah, and you're not affected if you eat one of those pretzels within an hour before. Something in the cooking I guess. Kind of like a glitch within a glitch." the unicorn said nonchalantly as he fixed his mane in the mirror. "So is that you?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess so. I just ate one." I said nervously.
"Well then I guess you're the chosen one."
"The Chosen One?"
"Yep. Let's go to the kitchen." the unicorn sighed again and led me out the bathroom. I followed him all the way out and back to the cafe. I admired the way he socked every zombie in the face we saw like there was nothing wrong.
Finally we made it to the cafe and we snuck into the back of the kitchen, where my unicorn friend taught me how to whip up a few pretzels for the zombies. He explained how as they prevented me from turning into one, they would restore the zombies to full health, and hopefully save some innocent people's brains. We finally herded the zombies into the cafe, where they all ate pretzels and made great transformations back into confused humans. And that, is the story of what happened to me last time I went to Target.
I was sitting in the small cafe located near the entrance inside of Target one night. The store was nearly empty, with only 20 other people dispersed throughout various aisles. I was taking a final bite of my soft pretzel, getting ready to head out for the night, when suddenly all of the store lights shut off. I heard a girl's scream and a few gasps in the distance. In the pitch black, I plunged my hand into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I quickly slid to unlock it, and looking through all of my apps through my cracked screen (haha), finally found my flashlight app. The bright light shined suddenly, and onto the face of a young, white unicorn. Startled, I jumped back in surprise, and a hit a large solid object.
Screaming, I instinctively shone my light on the object, which turned out to be a person. Staring more closely, I noticed the person's facial features one by one. His eyes were wide open and pale blue, his nose sharp like a witch, and the corners of his mouth pointed down. I jumped back when I noticed the last thing: he was covered in blood.
Letting out the most high-pitched scream I could muster, I made a run for it. I sprinted through Target, crashing into displays one right after the other, with my light pointed constantly in front of me. I finally made it to the bathroom, after nearly running into almost 10 more zombies. I flew into the bathroom, and just as I did, my unicorn "friend" was clopping out of a stall, walking on two feet like absolutely nothing was wrong.
"What's going on??" I asked him frantically.
"Um, do I look like I can talk?" he said in a snooty tone.
"Well...um..." I started, confused.
"Oh, well dang...guess I screwed that one up." the unicorn sighed and rolled his eyes as he washed his hooves at the sink. "Basically what's going on is there's some sort of crazy computer glitch in the system. It shuts down the store and turns everyone to zombies. And then, somewhere in that I come in. Oh yeah, and you're not affected if you eat one of those pretzels within an hour before. Something in the cooking I guess. Kind of like a glitch within a glitch." the unicorn said nonchalantly as he fixed his mane in the mirror. "So is that you?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess so. I just ate one." I said nervously.
"Well then I guess you're the chosen one."
"The Chosen One?"
"Yep. Let's go to the kitchen." the unicorn sighed again and led me out the bathroom. I followed him all the way out and back to the cafe. I admired the way he socked every zombie in the face we saw like there was nothing wrong.
Finally we made it to the cafe and we snuck into the back of the kitchen, where my unicorn friend taught me how to whip up a few pretzels for the zombies. He explained how as they prevented me from turning into one, they would restore the zombies to full health, and hopefully save some innocent people's brains. We finally herded the zombies into the cafe, where they all ate pretzels and made great transformations back into confused humans. And that, is the story of what happened to me last time I went to Target.
There was once a chance I didn't take...
10/16/11
There was once a chance I didn't take. It was sometime last fall/winter, when stores were preparing to stock up on Christmas supplies and get ready for the rush of holiday shoppers. It was common sense that these stores would be more open to hiring at the time. Even if it was just a seasonal job, I could've used the extra cash. Maybe I could even impress them enough as a worker they would hire me full time after the holidays. That would be so perfect! I would finally have money to buy the things I wanted. A new phone, a Universal pass, I could even get a car. All I had to do was apply to every store in the mall, surely one would hire me! Okay, first I just have to go up to each register and ask them for an application. That shouldn't be hard...right?
But as the time actually came, it wasn't so easy to actually go up and ask. What if they were busy? What if they looked at me stupid? What if there was just some obvious way to apply that didn't require all this and I was going to look like an idiot? In the end, I only ended up applying to two places, and it was over the computer. Needless to say, I didn't get a job. It's not as easy as it looks, but maybe if I took the chance and presented myself well in each store, I would have a job. I got a car, but I do find myself broke often. The holiday season is approaching, and I think now that I learned my lesson, I would be more open to doing it. I think I'll try again!
There was once a chance I didn't take. It was sometime last fall/winter, when stores were preparing to stock up on Christmas supplies and get ready for the rush of holiday shoppers. It was common sense that these stores would be more open to hiring at the time. Even if it was just a seasonal job, I could've used the extra cash. Maybe I could even impress them enough as a worker they would hire me full time after the holidays. That would be so perfect! I would finally have money to buy the things I wanted. A new phone, a Universal pass, I could even get a car. All I had to do was apply to every store in the mall, surely one would hire me! Okay, first I just have to go up to each register and ask them for an application. That shouldn't be hard...right?
But as the time actually came, it wasn't so easy to actually go up and ask. What if they were busy? What if they looked at me stupid? What if there was just some obvious way to apply that didn't require all this and I was going to look like an idiot? In the end, I only ended up applying to two places, and it was over the computer. Needless to say, I didn't get a job. It's not as easy as it looks, but maybe if I took the chance and presented myself well in each store, I would have a job. I got a car, but I do find myself broke often. The holiday season is approaching, and I think now that I learned my lesson, I would be more open to doing it. I think I'll try again!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Introduction
Hi, my name is Leah! I'm 16 and I like to play piano and guitar...and that's about it! haha. :)
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