The Conflict of Love and Time

“Let me not to the marriage of two minds admit impediment,” starts Shakespeare’s famous love sonnet. Through symbolism and personification, this sonnet dives into the very essence of what love is and what it is not to give us insight on how to conduct relations of any kind. While Shakespeare uses the symbolism of a lighthouse to portray the strand of guidance to define love, the personification of Love and Time is much more interesting because it utilizes the binary of eternity and temporary, along with the strand of destiny, to reveal the differences between love and infatuation and the question whether we are authoritative or victimized by predestination.

The strand of guidance which supports the symbolism of how love is like a lighthouse reveals the hope that love is truly something that’s unshakable. For example, certain words the poet uses in the passage [“Ever fixed”(5), “Tempest”(6)] paired up with the line, “It is the star to every wandering bark”(7) and, “the edge of doom”(12) creates not only a description of a lighthouse, but also a feel of being at sea and relying on the light from the shore to guide one’s way. This might imply that true love is not blind, but actually a guiding light, which is interesting because the poet seems to be writing a warning at the beginning of the poem of what love is not, changing, bending, and then goes into how love is a guiding, solid force. So, is it true love or infatuation that is really blind? The personal implications to this idea are interesting because they seem to not only lay down what love is not, but also sets a standard for what love actually is.

Through the personification of time, the binary of eternity and temporary reveals the distinction of love and infatuation, which is fascinating because when the strand of eternity is paired with the strand of destiny, it seems like it is making an argument for predestinated love. For example, the writer uses key phrases like, “Bares out” (12), “Ever fixed mark” (5), and “not Time’s fool” (9), to illustrate the idea of eternity. To support the idea of the temporary, the writer also uses the phrases, “Alters” (3), “Bends with the remover to remove” (4), and “[Time’s] bending sickle comes” (10). Additionally, the idea of destiny is directly supported by the strand of eternity as well as the phrase, “the star to every wandering bark” (7) and “not Time’s fool” (9). What is interesting about the strand of destiny is the evidence is indirectly laced through the poem; this strand relies on the idea of eternity to provide for its platform. When personification of Time and Love is used, the phrase, “Love is not Time’s fool” (9), it gives the impression that Love is older than Time. This use of personification could mean that love is the final product of the trials of Time, or that Love cannot be touched by Time and has always meant to last. The question is, should we discriminate between what we feel is true love and seek relationships that will last, or should we put investment into the things we have now and make them last? This passage could support the idea of predestinated love, or it could be a challenge and a warning to hold onto what we have and make our lives resilient against Time’s bending sickle.  

Through the literary techniques of symbolism and personification, the poet seems to be arguing for a deeper analysis of the source of love, which critiques the simplistic, polarized view that love is either predestined or a product of time. On one side, the view that love is a product of time is supported by the personification of Time as a reaper of beauty and shallow attractions. On the other side, the idea of predestined love is supported by the personification of Love, as being an elder, wiser companion of Time. The poem supports both sides of the origin of love; however, one has to assume that both ideas are truly separate and not halves of the same idea.

(Note to my readers: This is one of my college papers, which was turned in on www.turnitin.com. If you find yourself in need of a paper for your English II class, please do not use this particular paper, you WILL be caught and WILL be expelled from school. If you'd like to get in touch with me about YOUR paper, I would be more than happy to talk with you. Please email me at lflames570@yahoo.com!)

A Collection of Apologies, Rants, Obsessions and News

To my poor, deprived readers,
My apologies to you for the lack of posts that have decorated this blog.
I'm a terrible blogger, as we all know, and especially with school going on, my life has sailed off the end of the earth and into the abyss, along with my creative writing.
However, that not to say that I haven't been writing.
I have been writing and reading a great deal lately.
I just haven't been sharing.

My Obsession has been this: Analysis.
I love analysis!
I thank my wonderful college for requiring me to take this class for my degree because I have found great joy and meaning in everything I do now!
I will post one of my papers that I wrote on Shakespeare's 119th sonnet next week.
But it is so much fun to analysis poems, pictures, speeches and stories!
My current project is studying the rhetoric of Hitler, Nat "King" Cole, King George VI and Gertrude Kolmar to determine the more successful voices in WWII, and how they effected their world.

This moves us into my Rant: The elections.
Oh Mah Gawd!!!
People have gotten themselves wrapped up into such a pretzel over these political bouts of fury!
I mean, it's not like Jesus will continue to be our king if so-and-so becomes president.
Or if what's-his-face gets in the White House, the Apocalypse will happen and God will damn us all to Hell! 
Come on people!
The president doesn't even have that much power in the first place.
He doesn't have the power to keep God from being with us.
He doesn't have the power to keep us from worshiping Jesus and allowing His light shine through us.
Jesus was able to work wonders in Rome! Rome of all places! You dont think that we can still thrive, make history and live meaningful lives in America?! Oh, ye of little faith.

As far as news goes, I have been accepted to attend Liberty University!!!
I'm super excited to attend such a creative, Christian university.
I was able to visit the campus last month, it was so much fun!
Honestly, I left a piece of my heart back in Virginia, and I have to go back to retrieve it.
I hope that y'all aren't too terribly cross with me for my lack of posts, I shall try to push forward and continue to fulfill my obligation to you!

My Rant on the Wonderful World of Dubstep

Womp womp womp womp!
eeeeeeeeeererereeeeeeeeeeee!
vaaaaaavavavavoooom!
Yes, you've probably heard this before.
One of the current fad's that are sweeping across the world right now as we speak.
Dubstep is basically what you get when you put an electric piano, a laptop and an acid tripping robot in the same room and tell him to recreate classical music.
Don't be hating, this is just what it sounds like to me!
Now, before you get your panties in a wad, I would like to express that I really do like dubstep and several other break off genres. In fact, I would venture to guess that I knew what dubstep was while you were still listening to pop music! This is why I hate it when people tell me I'm not a true dubstep fan because I'm not obsessed with Skrillex or have hear this song or that song. Come on people! This totally drives me cracray, and I've compiled a list of a couple key points that make me just a fan or more so than you people!
1) What separates me from the crowd of you "lovers" is the fact that I'm SUPER picky on my dubs.
I dont like the screeching or the one's that sound like a chainsaw and the electric screwdriver are duking it out back. I actually have to listen to music.
2) Another thing that separates me from you, is the fact that my itunes has more than just Skrillex, Deadmou5 and Daft Punk. I'm not saying that they are bad! On the contrary, I like them all a whole lot! But I also listen to other Dj's who's music is just a good or better!

But dont fret my pretties! Down below I will post a couple of amazing DJ's that deserve more recognition for their work!

Beautiful People Aniversary Edition

Borris and Ren

Well, hellloooo!
As you may have noticed, I have been doing this wonderful thing called Beautiful People for the past couple of months. And turns out, this month is it's first birthday!
HAPPYBIRTHDAYYYY!!!!!!
Well, this go around, is all about a relationship between two characters of mine.
Now, I'm going to go with a friendship, because my FMC is still on the drawing board for my next book, but I know enough about my two MMC to do this on.
So, here we go!

1. Do they believe in anything that most people think is impossible?
Yes, they both believe in an after life, and second chances.
2. Are they strong, or the "damsel/knight in distress" sort?
They operate more on a, "You help me, I'll help you" ordeal. Even to call it a "Friendship" would be pushing it.  
3. Do they have a special place? (e.g. a corner in his/her bedroom, under a tree...)
Borris' apartment is where they hide out from the Reapers.
4. What occupation do they have, or plan on having?
Ren was an engineer on the Darwinist ship, Nightwing. But, he was murdered before he was able to depart. This is where Borris' job, a Reaper, comes in, and this is how they met.
5. Describe their current place of residence.
Right now they are on the plane between existences. Not on Earth, Heaven or Hell.  
6. Explain their last crisis. How had they changed when they came out of it?
Right now, I am planning their current crisis, so this will be determined.
7. If they could drive any kind of car they wanted, what would it be?
Definitally a Corvette. All my characters like Corvettes.
8. How do they deal with change?
Borris is very accepting of it. Ren, on the other hand, handles it very poorly.
9. If they had to amputate one body part, which one would they choose?
Borris would take away his tail. Ren, probably an ear or a finger.
10. What would their favorite be at the local coffee shop?
Borris would have an Americano, while Ren would have a French Vanilla Latte.

PART 2:
1. How did they meet?
After Ren had died, Borris had come down to take him to Judgement.
2. How do these two deal with conflict?
They usually just try and shout it out. Because Ren cant hurt Borris or vice versa.
3. Do they have a special song, phrase, item, or place?
Nope.
4. What kind of things do they like to do together?
They save people from witches.
5. Describe their relationship as a whole in 3 words, or less.
Useful, shallow and bitter.

Hope ya'll enjoyed that!
As usual, these pictures dont belong to me. I just found them off Deviant Art.
Happy Hunger Games!
May the odds ever be in your favour!
-Didymus

Bulimic Barbie (A College Paper)

Hello everyone!

I thought it would be neat if I posted one of the papers I've written for my college English class.

I have yet to get a grade back on this, but I thought I would be neat to share anyway!

Bulimia is a serious problem in America and around the world where anyone has the media at the tips of their fingers. If you are bulimic or anorexic, please go get help, because all your doing is slowly killing yourself to reach perfection that doesn't exist.

God made you beautiful just the way you are; never forget that.

-Didymus

Bulimic Barbie

            It’s Christmas Eve and your eight year old daughter is sitting, wide eyed on the floor by the Christmas tree. The fire is crackling in the fireplace and the scent of ham is floating around the room. You’re visiting with your parents on the couch as your little girl is rolling around on the floor with her beloved dog opening her presents.  

            The little girl lets out a scream of delight, “Its Kim!” She jumps off the ground and shows you her new Kim Kardashian Barbie doll.

            “It sure is,” you smile down at the girl and realize that the only reason she knows who Kim Kardashian is is because she’s seen you watch her show.

            Let’s fast forward a few years. Your little girl is now eighteen and you are sitting in a hospital waiting room. You stare up at the clock on the wall; It’s been two hours. It shouldn’t be taking this long, so why isn’t anybody out here telling you what’s going on? Why is it taking so long, what could be wrong?

            “Excuse me, ma’am?” a young doctor calls you from the desk. You jump out of your seat and join him within seconds. “What’s going on? When can I see my daughter? Is she alright?” you attack him with questions.

            “I’m so sorry to inform you, but your daughter has passed away.” You feel the floor fall out from underneath you. “Wha-what?” you stutter. “She passed away from malnourishment; we have reason to believe that she was bulimic.”

            For some people, this scenario seems a bit extreme. However this is a reality for the twenty-four million people who suffer from eating disorders in the US (2003). Anorexia, depriving one’s self of food, and Bulimia, A habitual circle of gorging and purging, are two of the most common eating disorders that plague our lives and country today. They are the byproducts of dissatisfaction for one’s figure. This dissatisfaction takes it roots in the media. This is why I believe that Barbie should not support the media by modeling their dolls off of celebrities.

            Even from an early age, children are exposed to all the media has to offer. Levine and Smolak refer to “the glorification of slenderness” where television programs feature actresses that are below average weight and whose characters are seen as happier and more desirable than the average weight characters (1996). Our children are taught the key to happiness is being skinny.

            You may be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with Barbie?” It is no big secret that Mattel has been partnering with several actors and actresses to make “Barbie’s friends”. These are very lucrative sales strategies for both parties. Mattel reels the fans of the actors and actresses into their bankroll by modeling their products after prominent media figures such as, Cher, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. The producers get to benefit by bringing in the Barbie fans as an audience. This is a very good example of a “win-win” situation that clouds the judgment of Mattel’s marketing advisors as they begin to pay more attention to sales and less attention to the psychological damage that they are making on the very kids they are trying to reach.

            However, what happens to these young people when they get addicted to certain shows? They watch more TV. In a study conducted by Clark and Tiggermann, the results showed that girls that watched more than eight hours of television a week, showed greater signs of body dissatisfaction than girls who watched less (2007). That’s only two or three shows a day!

            Things could also get worse if Mattel chooses less than moral celebrities to model for them. A few weeks ago there was some controversy about the Kardashian Barbie. If Mattel were to have gone through with its plans to create Kim, Kloe and Kourtney, think of the audience that would be eventually sucked into their program. Do you want your little sister to feel like her body is less than adequate and that she needs to change herself to look like Kim?

            Some people will say that the real problem with Barbie is her unrealistic body. They will say that once Barbie is built to realistic proportions and an accurate body weight, it will fix the problem. This simply isn’t the case. Galia Slayen, an active voice in the “Get Real Barbie” campaign and previous anorexic, is quoted saying, “I’m not blaming Barbie [for my illness] — she’s one small factor, an environmental factor” (2011). Barbie is more like a doorway into the world of media “beauty” and self-hatred. What she advertises has a greater impact on young girls than her proportions ever did.

            Barbie is an iconic symbol around the world, and she has done a lot of good and given many people hope for their futures. She expresses the values of individuality, such as “follow your dreams” and inward beauty. To take away Barbie is to take away the childhood of millions of people around the world. But Mattel needs to have better control over their choices for models for theirs celebrity dolls. Barbie should not support shows that promote a dissatisfaction of body image to girls in the most vulnerable time of their lives. Don’t let this situation become a reality for your daughters, sisters, and nieces, but give them support to stand above the crowd with their confidence and their own beauty. Let their example be a light to those who are desperately trying to be “perfect”.

The Evils of Weight Loss

Weight Loss.
Yup, that's pretty much the New Year's Resolution that everyone sets on themselves.
And they usually fail measurably, only to turn around and reset that resolution for next year.
There are a few people out there who can actually accomplish this task, but most don't.
It's like a carousel of cellulite doom.
You get on the ride, AND YOU NEVER GET OFF!
This is one of the reasons why I think America is fat.
Because we have set this impossible expectation of beauty and attractiveness on ourselves and resolve to reach it. But, because it's impossible to reach, we ultimately fail.
I cant help but laugh at this amazing parallel this makes with our Christian walk!
"All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God."
#And the elderly readers close their eyes and say, 'Amen'.
I think that like being a Christan, our resolve shouldn't be to become "Perfect", but to become the best person we can be. To follow the wisdom of a healthy lifestyle and to steer clear of the foods that are just going to do horrible things to us.
IE: Soda, fried foods, breads, butter (Cough, cough, Paula Deen, cough), high fat content and manufactured foods.

If you stop killing yourself with a diet or eating fast food, get your "Ideal body weight" out of your mind, drop the "Thinspiration" and just live!
Eat right!
Exercise!
I promise that good works wont go unrewarded!
Love yourself and yourself will start to love you too!
-Didymus

Lint and Beautiful People

Haha, this is the problem with waiting so long to post in a Blog.
THINGS START TO BUILD UP!!!!
I would like to talk about Lint for the first half of this post. And then for the second half, answer the Beautiful People questions!!!
Alrighty, here we go:
Lint.
I usually dont celebrate lint.
My family isn't Catholic, and we aren't that active in the church.
Needless to say, this time of year, really hasn't been very signifigant in the past.
But, this year I thought that I would like to give up something for God.
Something I can live without, that will make my life better and honnor my Best Friend and Father for the good desicion.
I desided to give up soda and fried food.
By doing this, I plan to help get me more focust on the body God gave me, as well as, start breaking the "American" mold of a fast food junky. When I'm a work, I dont want to look like I eat there too.
I want a body that reflects my soul and my attitude for life.
Anything ya'll are giving up?

Beautiful People!!!
I will be answering as Taryn in my current story, Iz: Part Two.

1. If your character could be played by any actor, who would it be?
Emma Stone
2. Does your character have a specific theme song?
Set Fire to the Rain~ Adele
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri7-vnrJD3k&ob=av2n
3. What’s their worst childhood memory?
Probably when she was seperated from her older brother, Lythar.
4. If your character had a superpower, what would it be?
She actually is an Undine, so she can control water and ice.
5. If your character crashed on an island with a bunch of other people, how would your character help the group survive?
She would probably kill them all, freeze the bodies together to make a raft and then sail actross the ocean...
6. Are they married? If not, do they someday wish to be?
She can only marry another Undine or a Fairy. And not many of those are swarming around, so she's given up hope. This might make a good sequel story.
7. What is a cause they would die for?
To protect here family, friends or business.
8. Would they rather die fighting valiantly, or quietly at home?
Fighting Valiantly!!! Although she would never let somebody best her. #Whinkyface
9. If someone walked up to them and told them they were the child of the prophecy, would they believe them?
Nope. She's a very logical; cut and dry; black and white, kinda person.
10. Do they prefer the country or the city?
City.

Beautiful People! A new year

Why hello my little Internetsys!
Here is another round of everyone's favorite game:
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!!!!!
This month I have decided to use one of my new characters from my current Nanonovel, Nasctha.
Just a little background, she is the goblin princess who is currently trying to help my MFC, Lorilli, escape her father's prison.
Alrighty, here we go!

1. If your character’s house burned down, and they were left with nothing but the clothes on their back, what would they do? Where would they go?
She would probably go to her summer home. Being royal and all, she has her own private castle.

2. Are they happy with where they are in life, or would they like to move on?
No, currently they are at the mercy of the Dragon Bane. Her father is just a figure head to the people, and their life is at risk everyday.

3. Are they well-paid?
She's a princess, duh!

4. Can they read?
Yup!

5. What languages do they speak?
For my ease of writing, currently English. However, I've being thinking about writing a language for her people. Their culture is so different than the gnomes and the Fae.

6. What is their biggest mistake?
Not, leaving the castle sooner.

7. What did they play with most as a child?
Diamond!!!! And dolls.

8. What are their thoughts on politics?
Politics are her life. She is constantly having to keep up with where the people stand on issues and where the nobles stand. Her father is constantly trying to find a happy medium with everyone, and at the same time, pushing the dragon's legislation.

9. What is their expected life time?
Goblins can live over 100 years.

10. If they were falsely accused of murder, what would they do? How would they react?

Well.... I cant release this information yet ;)

(Photo of Jeanette Lewis, my Grandmother)

Viral Videos!!!

Ahh YouTube, what would we do without you???
In honor of this milestone of websites, I thought I would post some of my favorite videos.

My First Hardcore Song

Cute little girl+stuffed animals on a trampoline+crazy rock music=Most Recent Viral Video

United States of Pop 2011

What do you get when you mix the top 25 songs of 2011???

Unicorn After Wisdom Teeth

No words are necessary for this classic

Crazy Japanese Street Dance

Ever wondered what the Japanese do with time on their hands?

CAUTION: Some super uncomfortable dance, prepare the feel awkward and squirm

What is this place???

Woaaah! This place still exists! I totally forgot about it! :O
Haha! I'm just kidding!
Kinda...
I'm so sorry about the lack of posting this month!
I did write a blog post about different things in fashion that I really liked, but, there was too much gay in that to post.
SO! I thought I would blog about my super awesome Half-Priced Books trip!
So, if you have never heard of this store of amazingness, it's kind of like an old library that sells pretty much every book you can think of for super cheap! Basically what people do is, when they want to sell away some books, they take them to half-price. Where people, like me, can then buy those books from the store for super cheap!
It's a beautiful circle of life.
Well, for Christmas this past year my grandmother gave me $75 to spend instead of an actual present.
Well I took it to Half-Price!
And here is the list of books that I picked up for $78!
Gnomes
Japanese Mythology
Beowulf
The Great Comedies and Tragedies of William Shakespeare
Obsessed
Mythology
The Complete Encyclopedia of Elves, Goblins and Other Little Creatures
And then two books on Japanese Writing and one book on how to speak Polish!
I really want to go back and get some more books!
I really want the rest of the Hunger Games, Percy Jackson and I really really need the Mortal Instruments series. Maybe when I get done paying for all the college fees/books/ classes for this year I'll go on another trip!
Be Genki,
Didy

HAPPY NEW YEAR! [A look back at 2011]

Happy New Year!!!
2012 is finally here!!!
But, what would 2012 be without 2011?
NOTHING!
Which is why today I thought I would share with you some of the most amazing books, movies, hobbies and event that happened to me, that made 2011 worth wild!
MOVIES:
These movies were super amazing and totally made an impact on my life this year.
Toy Story 3
Inception
Sweeney Todd
Mao's Last Dancer
Spirited Away
Howl's Moving Castle
Star Dust
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

BOOKS:
Inheritance by Paolini
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Collins
The Mortal Instruments Series by Clare
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Riordan
The Bride Collector by Dekker
The Hiding Place: Tenn Boon
Pride and Prejudice (With and without zombies) by Austin
The Chronicles of Narnia by Lewis

Hobbies:
Shane Dawson TV
Japanese Lessons
Buttons and Suspenders
Americano
Arnold Palmers
5-Finger Shoes

Events:
February- Started my Blog, went to a Homeschool Dance in Turkey, Texas
March- Got my driver's licence and moved out of South Bend and into Weatherford!!!
April- Got a job at the lovely Sonic
May- Trip to the Beach and San Antonio
July- Eagle Scout Project
August- Received my Eagle Scout and Started College
September- 18th Birthday
November- Nanowrimo
December- GRADUATION!!!

The Lord has blessed me this passed year like no other year before.
Its been absolutely crazy and exciting and I couldn't ask for a better adventure!
This year by resolution will be to dive back into the Word of God,
Read 50 books
Write 12 Short Stories
Finish my Nanowrimo
Finish editing my 2010 Nanowrimo
Write another book
Try my hand at Nano again this year
And write at least one blog post a week.

May you all have a Happy New Year and my God bless you in your resolutions!
-Didymus