tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961438206067303392024-03-14T00:44:35.308-06:00Adventures, Blunders and Inspiration From the Desk of a Joyful WriterBreePyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483743232438464455noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-71194885119236350432019-02-18T10:29:00.002-07:002019-02-18T10:31:43.903-07:00Exciting pieces of net art and e-lit from the 90's that are still relevant today (Digital Fiction - Blog Post 4) <br />
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I really loved Tina LaPorta’s piece, “<a href="http://turbulence.org/Works/Distance/" target="_blank">Distance</a>,” because I
felt like these are the same questions we still ask ourselves about online
relationships and connections in 2019. I mean how many memes have you seen
about kids who have a hard time with face-to-face communication because so much
of their time and education is spent attached to a screen and communicating
with a personality mediated through that screen? <o:p></o:p></div>
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One thing I found particularly interesting was the really
personal text compared with the massive variety of stranger’s pictures in the
black and white screen shots. As the faces in the pictures constantly change,
you can feel a lot of tension from the narrator, whose loneliness and need of
connection deepens with every new interaction. I love that the pictures helped
add depth to the words and convey a sense of alienation even as the voice of
the piece became so urgent. I think maybe that’s what Mark (my instructor, hi,
Mark!) means when he talks about intermedia existing in-between media. Without
the pictures, we’d still have a story, but it wouldn’t be the same story,
without the photos attached. I don’t think that is the case for a multi-media
piece. Anyway, so this one was lovely and it’s quick so definitely have a look
at it, my lovelies!</div>
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Moving on,<o:p></o:p></div>
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YHCHANG Heavy Industries: “<a href="http://www.yhchang.com/DAKOTA_V.html" target="_blank">Dakota</a>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we say fecking WEIRD? So this is just me
trying to make some sense of this thing, but we’ve got black words on a white
screen that change at different intervals of the story, and all the while we’ve
got some intense drumming in the background, and at times some tribal chanting
(which was way way distracting). Because the pace of this thing was so intense
and couldn’t be controlled by the viewer/reader, I had to watch it like three times
and wait for certain spots to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. One thing I
found really interesting about this piece was that the narrative seems to get
more fragmented and non-linear as the piece progresses. At first, it’s just a
dude and his buddies who seem to be gang-bangers obsessed with drinking and
peeing on things (and Elvis) but then the narrative gets harder and harder to
follow. Someone dies. Someone hasn’t been laid. Someone’s mom won’t leave him
alone. Etc. Even after a couple of watches and trying to pause to catch certain
screens, I still feel lost by the end, which might have been the point, to
overwhelm the reader and bring them into the narrator’s subconscious, in which
he feels increasingly overwhelmed and lost. Or something? That’s all I’ve got
for this one. <br />
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My buddy <a href="https://jlondonmfa.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">@Jen</a> covered Yael Kanarek’s: “<a href="http://www.worldofawe.net/" target="_blank">World of Awe</a>” and Judd Morrissey’s: “<a href="http://judisdaid.com/thejewsdaughter/#" target="_blank">TheJew's Daughter</a>” really extensively, so I’m going to skip those two here, but I
generally agree with her consensus and share her confusion as to why one is
considered “net art” and why one is considered “e-lit.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Olia Lialina’s: “<a href="http://www.teleportacia.org/war/" target="_blank">My Boyfriend Came Back From the War</a>” was a
very abstract piece that required a lot of thought and digging just to get some
sort of story out. The piece is a mix of interactive narrative, which the
reader/viewer has some control in, in terms of deciding where the narrative
will go next, and random pictures, some of which move, that take you to new
screens and new bits of narrative. I found this piece to be quite frustrating, because
I had no idea what to click on and had to spend a lot of time rolling my mouse
over the black screen to figure out what I needed to move to get to new parts
of the narrative, or what I needed to click. Some of the art included was
repetitive, so I found the piece to be quite boring after a while. I’m sure
others won’t share my opinion, but I was really looking forward to this one
because of the title and found myself quite grumpy at the complicated
expectation of interaction and navigation. I suppose that was the point, to
simulate what a soldier’s brain looks like when they come back from war, or to
simulate the experience of trying to put your lover’s thoughts/stories/actions
together when they come back from war. In that way, I found this to be very
representative of that fragmentation. Maybe that’s why it triggered me so much.
In any case, this is not a piece I’d recommend, if you’re trying to figure out
what net art is all about! <br />
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Finally, Mendi and Keith Obadike’s: “<a href="http://archive.rhizome.org/anthology/blacknetart/ebay.html" target="_blank">Blackness for Sale</a>” and “<a href="http://webenact.rhizome.org/keeping-up-appearances/20151029152713/http://blacknetart.com/keepingupappearances.html" target="_blank">keeping upappearances</a>” were especially interesting and fun to interact with. “<a href="http://archive.rhizome.org/anthology/blacknetart/ebay.html" target="_blank">Blacknessfor Sale</a>,” resembles an Ebay “item for sale” page, but the description is the
narrative of the author’s perception of his own blackness and the pros and cons
of bidding on the item. When I first navigated to this page, I thought I’d make
a mistake, but when I started reading through the item description, I became
more and more engrossed in the page. I was especially interested in the fact
that 12 people had bid on this item, and I wasn’t able to see who or what their
comments were, though I’d have been very interested in reading that. I wonder
if that was an intentional addition on the author’s part, or if that actually
happened. In any case, while the words tell one narrative in this piece, what
isn’t being said or can’t be clicked on I think is also a huge part of the
story. I definitely recommend you check it out! “<a href="http://webenact.rhizome.org/keeping-up-appearances/20151029152713/http://blacknetart.com/keepingupappearances.html" target="_blank">Keeping up appearances</a>” is
also an interesting piece, which also plays with invisible narratives in comparison
with visible narratives. It tells the story of a young girl who befriends a
powerful man she used to go to church with. The visible narrative, written in
black, tells the story of a nice friendship between the narrator and a powerful
man she befriends from her church. This story seems positive and uplifting, but
when you hover the text over the invisible missing pieces of the story, another
narrative emerges, much more sinister, of how the man manipulates and abuses
the narrator. I found this piece to be incredibly powerful and relevant, especially
because we are in the age of #metoo and #whyididntreport. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What I find most interesting and engaging about all these
pieces, is that we were supposed to take a look at pieces of “older’ net art
and e-lit this week, but each of the pieces we interacted with are still
incredibly relevant today. So maybe something important I learned is that it
isn’t enough to choose a technological platform that will still be accessible
to future generations, you also have to find a narrative that will remain relatable
and accessible to future audiences, and provide narrative paths that pull the
reader in and make what they are reading a little bit of their own story. Super
fascinating! <o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s about all I’ve got for now, my lovelies. Really
enjoyed the reading this week and look forward to seeing you all again when I
get back in town next week. In the meantime, hope you are all having a joyful
week! <br />
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Until next time, hope you all have the most joyful week and I'm really looking forward to seeing you when I'm back in town next week!<br />
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😼😼~Bree😼😼<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-15707000648549052942019-02-12T11:57:00.001-07:002019-02-12T12:31:56.887-07:00"Queerskins" by Illya Szilak: A presentation by Bree Pye. <div>
Sorry I couldn't make it in today, my lovelies. Here's my presentation on "<a href="http://queerskins.com/" target="_blank">Queerskins</a>" by Illya Szilak!<br />
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<iframe height="480" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bHAcZGACw1CabC_rXjrjYzc8aXE_vB5V/preview" width="640"></iframe>
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Until next time, </div>
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😼😼~Bree😼😼</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-88023132020372680962019-02-10T14:28:00.003-07:002019-02-10T14:28:59.681-07:00Get Your Read On (Digital Fiction - Blog Post 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, this week we got to explore the <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://collection.eliterature.org/" target="_blank">ElectronicLiterature Collection</a> </span>(which is about the coolest thing on the planet) and interact
with lots of different kinds of digital fictions from lots of different
decades. I’m pretty sure that site is going to take up a significant amount of
my time for the rest of my natural born life. Still, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HAVE</i> to <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://collection.eliterature.org/" target="_blank">check it out</a></span>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I started off with Caitlin Fisher’s “<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://projeqt.com.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/" target="_blank">Everyone at This Party Is Dead</a></span>,” which pretty much reaffirmed that
titles are super important, as I know <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://jlondonmfa.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jen</a></span> tried
the same one. Because the technology on that one was a bit out of date, it
required you to download an entire game file, which definitely wasn’t happening
on my satellite interwebs, so off I went in search of something else. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Next, I was drawn to a digital fiction called “<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.umbrales.mx/" target="_blank">Umbrales</a></span>,” from <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://collection.eliterature.org/3/" target="_blank">Volume III</a></span>.
The concept seemed really cool and I was stoked to get started, but alas, when
I clicked on BEGIN I discovered that the entire thing is in Spanish! And while
I’ve got some Spanish skills, they aren’t nearly sufficient enough to interpret
Spanish word art. <br />
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At last, I landed on a digital fiction novel and interactive
experience called “<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.queerskins.com/#title" target="_blank">Queerskins</a></span>” by Illya Szilak
that ended up gobbling a day and a half of my life and is probably one of the
most amazing things I’ve experienced on the internet (or in life) ever. But I’m
putting together a presentation about that, so you’ll have to wait to find out
how many boxes of tissue I went through while reading its 62 chapters. <o:p></o:p><br />
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I thought I’d finally landed on something viable when I discovered
“<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://collection.eliterature.org/2/works/wilks_fitting_the_pattern/FittingThePattern.html" target="_blank">Fitting the Pattern</a></span>” by Christine Wilks, which
is this awesome little memoir that uses adobe flash and requires you to use
tailor tools on a pattern on the screen to uncover the text fragments of memoir
underneath. As you went along, you could follow the progress of your cutouts
and see how many more pieces you had left of the pattern. This one was so much
fun and I was really excited to figure out what I was making, but right before
the last piece was completed, the tool I was using (some kind of stitch ripper)
wouldn’t go down far enough to rip the stitch I needed and thus I could not
progress in the memoir. Talk about frustrating! I’d made it to the very end and
was loving every second of the thing and then I was robbed. Like, I want to
send a strongly-worded letter full of expletives to whoever is maintaining the
site because I was madder n’ a wasp in water. In any case…<o:p></o:p></div>
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But whatever, I don’t even like baseball… so I kept on
digging. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Next, I moved on to “<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://collection.eliterature.org/1/works/waber__strings/index.html" target="_blank">Strings</a></span>”
by Dan Waber, which is a really nifty little animation that uses the concept of
human handwriting in cursive, which is represented on the screen as a single
string that spells cursive words and is animated to give the word emotions.
Okay, that was a mouth-full, I know. But here’s an example, you click on the
word “flirt” and the string forms the word “yes” and the word “yes” bounces in
and out of the frame, mostly not visible at all, flirting with the reader who
is trying to grasp the word. Pretty cool huh? There’s another one where the
string spells “Your” then “arms” then it turns into a circle that spins around,
then “me.” Self-explanatory, right? But the emotions these words and
experiences evoke are visceral because they require so many parts of me to put
them together and interact with them. So while this one was really short, I
really found myself attached to it. The piece ends with “Words are like strings
that I pull out of my mouth,” which is a final thought I can definitely relate
to. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, <br />
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I explored a lot more of these digital fictions, but I don’t
want to give too many of them away, and I’m at my word limit. So for now, I’ll
just highly encourage you in my scariest sergeant voice to go check out the
<a href="http://collection.eliterature.org/" target="_blank">Electronic Literature Collection</a>. You won’t be disappointed! <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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, my lovelies.</div>
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😼😼😼~Bree 😼😼😼<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-16062347127434977752019-01-28T11:58:00.002-07:002019-01-30T10:41:45.253-07:00Time To Dive Into Some Actual Digital Fictions! Hurray! (Digital Fiction - Blog Post 2) <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">Digital Fictions</span></b>:</div>
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Stuart Moulthrop: “<a href="https://www.cddc.vt.edu/journals/newriver/moulthrop/HGS2/Hegirascope.html" target="_blank">Hegirascope</a>”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shelley Jackson: “<a href="https://www.altx.com/thebody/" target="_blank">My Body</a>”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Caitlin Fisher: “<a href="http://www.yorku.ca/caitlin/waves/navigate.html" target="_blank">These Waves of Girls</a>”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Adrienne Eisen: “<a href="http://www.altx.com/hyperx/sss/index2.html" target="_blank">Six Sex Scenes</a>”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mark Z. Danielewski: <b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">House of Leaves</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">Questions for
Consideration</span></b>: <o:p></o:p></div>
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Write about the compositional style of House of Leaves and
how the author visualizes the narrative. For this particular
"reading," try and view the novel as a work of art - in fact, don't
read it, unless you can't help yourself. Instead, write about its structure and
design i.e. it's compositional status as a work of visual fiction but also the
way it refers back to older forms of postmodern writing like meta-fiction while
utilizing some of the narrative tricks associated with hypertext fiction.What
is the conceptual framework of a particular work or works? How does the
narrative "structure" of a story like Jackson's <a href="https://www.altx.com/thebody/" target="_blank">My Body</a> or Patchwork
Girl differ from traditional print-based writing? What happens to text when it
goes digital? (Opening screen of <a href="https://www.cddc.vt.edu/journals/newriver/moulthrop/HGS2/Hegirascope.html" target="_blank">Hegirascope</a>: "What if the word will not
be still?") Can images be read as texts and texts be read as images? How
does the meaning or the "reading" change shape when the visual and
the textual collide in ways that break convention? Digital technology moves
fast. Whereas the material difference between holding a book published fifty
years ago in your hands and one published last year is relatively
insignificant, the digital works linked to above must be taken in their
techno-historical context. The 90s floppy disk / CD / web-based fictions are
different than the 00s web which are way different than the VR experiments of
today. What associated risks must a digital artist / writer take into account
when creating their digital-dependent works for today and into the future?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">A Penny for My
Thoughts</span>?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, this week’s reading/viewing/interacting was quite the adventure!
If you want to jump in a rabbit hole, I highly recommend you start with “<a href="http://www.yorku.ca/caitlin/waves/navigate.html" target="_blank">TheseWaves of Girls,</a>” by Caitlin Fisher!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But first things first: I’ve been assigned Danielewski’s “House
of Leaves” multiple times since I’ve been in grad school, but have only ever
made it to page 42 because that thing gives me the heebie-jeebies of doom! It
was really interesting to open it back up and look at is as a work of art,
rather than a work of literature. Because structurally, it really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> a work of art, isn’t it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The text often mirrors the thing it’s talking
about, like the font being typewriter font for the report, and Times New Roman for
the narrative. Additionally, the text itself is written in different colors,
the page numbers are different sizes, the structure morphs from a normal page
of text to actually having to physically turn the book to read the words in the
right order. And speaking of order, that must be why we’re studying this thing
as digital fiction—it’s got more footnotes than text on the page and the
footnotes are full of footnotes and you almost have to have a strategy to read
the book as a whole because each footnote is a potential rabbit hole! I’ve
already mentioned how the book is a work of visual fiction, but it’s also meta
in that we’re given different angles of the story from different perspectives. The
footnotes make it like hypertext fiction because you have to stop reading the narrative
and physically change the pages to go read a bit of information before you can
return to the main narrative. Really interesting to think of it that way! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moving on to the digital fictions we read for today. I’m not
really sure I know what the conceptual framework of these works is, other than
to force the reader to interact with the author’s stories in a way that we normally
wouldn’t, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">couldn’t</i> even. The
narrative structure of these digital fictions differs from more traditional
sorts in that they are not linear. That is to say, they don’t have a beginning,
middle and end the way a normal story would. Rather, the intent of them is to
offer the reader fragments and allow the reader to do the work of piecing them
together in more interesting ways. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
It’s interesting that when you add the digital factor to
text, the text itself can become part of the story, like in Fisher’s “<a href="http://www.yorku.ca/caitlin/waves/navigate.html" target="_blank">TheseWaves of Girls</a>,” where the text changes as you hover your mouse over it (which
was really cool, by the way). Because we’re able to interact with the images or
with the text, we’re also forced to think of it beyond its basic function,
which is to impart information. Instead, we have to consider the story of how
these moving bits of text were created, and why they were programmed to behave a
certain way when interacted with. And isn’t that an odd that to consider, that
text now has behavior? That’s also the case with Moulthrop’s “<a href="https://www.cddc.vt.edu/journals/newriver/moulthrop/HGS2/Hegirascope.html" target="_blank">Hegirascope</a>,”
though I have to admit, I could only stand that one for about 20 minutes before
I wanted to punch my computer. When considering WHY I wanted to punch my
computer, it occurred to me that in dictating the amount of time the text remains
on the screen before changing, the author has taken away a bit of my agency, as
a reader. And in not providing some index or direction in which to read the
text fragments, the text itself left me feeling confused and fragmented, which
is something I think traditional literature can’t do on the same scale. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The obvious risk a digital artist must take into account
when creating digital-dependent works is choosing the medium of technology in
which the work will be constructed and distributed. As we discussed in class,
there are many original internet platforms and plugins that are no longer supported
as our technological advances have surpassed their viability for use. And with
new technologies being developed at a break-neck pace these days, that’s a lot
of work to put into a piece of art that is only viewable or readable as long as
its technology is functional. Another risk includes trying to figure out how to
keep the work relevant for future readers. So many things to consider when
making digital art! <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that all the question answering stuffs is out of the
way, (I’ve skipped the article questions for the sake of the word count) I just
wanted to give my general reaction to the pieces I read for today. Of them, my absolute
favorite was “<a href="https://www.altx.com/thebody/" target="_blank">My Body</a>” by Shelley Jackson. Not only was it visually stunning,
but I loved the depth of the digital fiction itself, in that the writing was
about Jackson’s drawing, but also about her life. And can we talk about her
gorgeous prose? *SwOOn* I also loved the main page, which is a picture of a
body, and you can click on any body part to go to a new text fragment in
addition to being able to simply click on links within the text itself. In this
way, I felt her work was the most intuitive, accessible and agreeable to work
with! What I disliked about it, was that it trapped me in a loop more than once,
and I had to click on the original link to get back on track. That might have
been cleverness on the author’s part though, because it trapped me in her body
of work, as she describes being trapped in her body! Ohhh. Fascinating! <br />
<br />
Least favorite? Moulthrop’s “<a href="https://www.cddc.vt.edu/journals/newriver/moulthrop/HGS2/Hegirascope.html" target="_blank">Hegirascope</a>.” Talk about a hot mess! Not only was I
confused about how I was supposed to interact with that text, but I also had no
grasp of what the narrative was supposed to be, so I lost interest quickly. Additionally,
the background colors made that one a little hard to read at times, and the
moving text made me pull my trashcan a little closer, just in case I lost my
cookies trying to read the damn thing. I think I’d better leave it at that!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eisen’s “<a href="http://www.altx.com/hyperx/sss/index2.html" target="_blank">Six Sex Scenes</a>” was probably the briefest and easiest
to navigate, but the experience as a whole was sort of “meh.” I don’t think I’m
supposed to enjoy reading about child molestation, but that made the pink
background an interesting choice on behalf of the author. I wonder if it was
supposed to balance out the material or somehow make it easier to digest? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In terms of story, Fisher’s: “<a href="http://www.yorku.ca/caitlin/waves/navigate.html" target="_blank">These Waves of Girls</a>” was my
favorite, because I got to follow some sort of narrative arc in addition to
getting to know the character, her conflict, and her growth, which is what a
story is <i>supposed</i> to give me! And I
know my fellow writers are going to double take at this remark, but I love how
poetic her language was in that piece. The cadence of the words added a whole
different level to the experience of interacting with the work as a whole and I
found myself not minding at all when I had to re-read bits I’d already clicked
on. I’m now madly jealous of her prose <i>and</i>
her art skills! <br />
<br />
That’s all I’ve got for this week. My post would have been longer and a bit
more involved, but I’ve been without power for a couple of days now and I just
wanted to get something up while I had a shot at it. <br />
<br />
Looking forward to seeing you in class, my lovelies! Until next time, <br />
<br />
😼😼😼 ~Bree 😼😼😼<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">Disclaimer</span>:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of these questions and links were first posed by Dr. Mark America in his Digital Fiction class, Spring, 2019, at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Links and questions have been posted with his gracious permission.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
!!!(Huzzah to you, Mark, for getting the brain noodles juiced)!!!</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-59772996547433985522019-01-19T11:55:00.000-07:002019-01-19T12:07:01.227-07:00The Future is an Interactive Hologram Bree Who Reads Her Own Work (Digital Fiction, Blog Post 1, Part 3)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Disclaimer: </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of these questions and links were first posed by Dr.
Mark America in his Digital Fiction class, Spring, 2019, at the University of
Colorado at Boulder. Links and questions have been posted with his gracious
permission. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
!!!(Huzzah to you, Mark, for getting the brain noodles
juiced)!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Articles</b>: </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ted Nelson: "<a href="http://xanadu.com.au/general/future.html" target="_blank">The Xanadu Project (An Overview on"The Future of Information)</a>" - first conceived in 1960<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Natilee Herren: "<a href="http://walkerart.org/collections/publications/art-expanded/crux-of-fluxus/" target="_blank">The Crux of Fluxus: Intermedia,Rear-Garde</a>"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dick Higgins: "<a href="http://www.primaryinformation.org/oldsite/SEP/Something-Else-Press_Newsletter_V1N1.pdf" target="_blank">Intermedia</a>" (February 1966, Something
Else Press)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dick Higgins with an Appendix by Hannah Higgins:
"<a href="http://www.altx.com/ic/higgins.pdf" target="_blank">Intermedia</a>" (1965, 1981 and 2001)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Questions for
Consideration</b>:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How can some of the ideas developed by Higgins over 50 years
ago be translated into 21<sup>st</sup> century digital art and writing practices?
To what degree do you operate as an intermedia artist and/or writers and/or
performer? Does the advent of new media technologies make it easier to work “in
between” media? What are the advantages and/or disadvantages to working as an
intermedia practitioner or, to put a slightly different spin on the same
question, what are the advantages and/or disadvantages to composing new work
from an interdisciplinary versus discipline-specific practice?<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
Finally, how can we look at these initial
readings as intellectual triggers to further develop our own creative
investigation of digital fiction?<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><span style="color: #990000;"><b>
Penny for My Thoughts? (I read them to you this time) Click on the sound file below!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></span>
<br />
<center>
<iframe height="480" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mJgpJTbd1y_9GUTb0a7gvxTKK0iz6EKx/preview" width="640"></iframe></center>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Thanks for reading and listening along, my lovelies! </span><br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
😼😼 ~Bree 😼😼Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-88688811795782940092019-01-19T11:20:00.001-07:002019-01-20T09:47:08.072-07:00Who Needs a Magic 8-Ball When You Have Vannevar Bush? (Digital Fiction, Blog Post 1, Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">Disclaimer: </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of these questions and links were first posed by Dr.
Mark America in his Digital Fiction class, Spring, 2019, at the University of
Colorado at Boulder. Links and questions have been posted with his gracious
permission. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
!!!(Huzzah to you, Mark, for getting the brain noodles
juiced)!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">Article</span></b>: Vannevar
Bush—“<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/07/as-we-may-think/303881/" target="_blank">As We May Think</a>” (July, 1945 Issue of The Atlantic)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Questions for
Consideration</b>:</span> What are some specific sections or phrases that Bush uses
that remind you of something we experience in our “always connected” lives
today? Bush is writing as a scientist over 70 years ago, but you are encouraged
to try and decode his language into today’s techno-jargon by pointing out
things we know exist in the world today but that he was only projecting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Penny for My
Thoughts?</b>:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay. This Bush guy? He is like a 20 on a creepy scale that
only goes 1-10. We’re talking like, Nostradamus creepy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7aTwPv6KZM/XENn002VZ2I/AAAAAAAAA00/9kX7ugxNsk0FW-Sd57fj5UlO1Yl-5BtQwCLcBGAs/s1600/Nostradamus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="764" height="376" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7aTwPv6KZM/XENn002VZ2I/AAAAAAAAA00/9kX7ugxNsk0FW-Sd57fj5UlO1Yl-5BtQwCLcBGAs/s640/Nostradamus.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rather than type out all the creepy digital-age things he
predicted (Bush, not the guy with the Bush on his chin), here’s some screen
shots of my notes: (BRACE YOURSELF)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #990000;">1.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYnRkJ3h7sE/XENoZuC9F3I/AAAAAAAAA08/CGruikEHEy45tj1EPGG8zCmmKNPOyndyQCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYnRkJ3h7sE/XENoZuC9F3I/AAAAAAAAA08/CGruikEHEy45tj1EPGG8zCmmKNPOyndyQCLcBGAs/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #990000;">2.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpTzKGHziSc/XENoakpzUjI/AAAAAAAAA1I/UOOMzn1D4vABwBzoTxdwc26ymwlR4hqrwCEwYBhgL/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpTzKGHziSc/XENoakpzUjI/AAAAAAAAA1I/UOOMzn1D4vABwBzoTxdwc26ymwlR4hqrwCEwYBhgL/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">3. </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIPyXMzsYMQ/XENobCZDJRI/AAAAAAAAA1M/G02VGn64WAsZOwmmUdcCAPpBpUShkXaZwCEwYBhgL/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIPyXMzsYMQ/XENobCZDJRI/AAAAAAAAA1M/G02VGn64WAsZOwmmUdcCAPpBpUShkXaZwCEwYBhgL/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #990000;">4.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jFNSwtNFhs/XENobfIsULI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/NL8oHoQnGqEKcv7grFI9blxM2MqZ0dLaACEwYBhgL/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jFNSwtNFhs/XENobfIsULI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/NL8oHoQnGqEKcv7grFI9blxM2MqZ0dLaACEwYBhgL/s640/4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>5. </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4a-pKZ3IawI/XENocCs-ZUI/AAAAAAAAA1U/4ZMmex32lTY5b5c4U90vhW_Bxu8J9kJXQCEwYBhgL/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4a-pKZ3IawI/XENocCs-ZUI/AAAAAAAAA1U/4ZMmex32lTY5b5c4U90vhW_Bxu8J9kJXQCEwYBhgL/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>6. </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VLMjgvPLi84/XENoc5SPooI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/KYkKFwT4ugYzkG9uNZG9npU5vi3bPRkKgCEwYBhgL/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VLMjgvPLi84/XENoc5SPooI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/KYkKFwT4ugYzkG9uNZG9npU5vi3bPRkKgCEwYBhgL/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>7. </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRiMML32N7o/XENocyjbqoI/AAAAAAAAA1c/XH8v4-EvmK8l2RRezpRhvXlx8MgQAEXyQCEwYBhgL/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRiMML32N7o/XENocyjbqoI/AAAAAAAAA1c/XH8v4-EvmK8l2RRezpRhvXlx8MgQAEXyQCEwYBhgL/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>8. </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-msMQHM3H4Ak/XENodr7ixBI/AAAAAAAAA1g/xZjaF2Cp_x0xVGmGeVVpVqKUJ-AYGK0SgCEwYBhgL/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-msMQHM3H4Ak/XENodr7ixBI/AAAAAAAAA1g/xZjaF2Cp_x0xVGmGeVVpVqKUJ-AYGK0SgCEwYBhgL/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>9. </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AO8ozYhFHKQ/XENoeETMwkI/AAAAAAAAA1k/m7yiIwXYS_QFKQaZfkoCmArEYlB8lV61wCEwYBhgL/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AO8ozYhFHKQ/XENoeETMwkI/AAAAAAAAA1k/m7yiIwXYS_QFKQaZfkoCmArEYlB8lV61wCEwYBhgL/s640/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>10. </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4veTTzzCP-k/XENoZ-No5GI/AAAAAAAAA1A/Eb-ZeEMb8lsQ76X7vo1LCanrrfCH4jEqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4veTTzzCP-k/XENoZ-No5GI/AAAAAAAAA1A/Eb-ZeEMb8lsQ76X7vo1LCanrrfCH4jEqQCEwYBhgL/s640/10.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>11.</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYey2tC8ZzY/XENoaI5-eXI/AAAAAAAAA1E/AjmrlK3H-8IzLCmHv0pVJjR6wwazbaUwQCEwYBhgL/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYey2tC8ZzY/XENoaI5-eXI/AAAAAAAAA1E/AjmrlK3H-8IzLCmHv0pVJjR6wwazbaUwQCEwYBhgL/s640/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Okay. Take a look at those. Creeped out yet? If you aren’t,
I need to check you for a pulse.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ll admit, dude lost me on all
the math stuff. My eyes roll when I even READ the word math, but it’s really
interesting that a dude from 1945 was able to foresee our current digital age
when the rest of world still had their eyes on Hitler’s bunker and the images
coming out of places like Auschwitz and Dachau… right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll leave it at that. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Thanks for reading, my lovelies!<br />
<br />
Until next time, <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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😼😼 ~Bree 😼😼<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-3257267248019087592019-01-19T10:56:00.001-07:002019-01-20T09:48:28.961-07:00Decay in the Age of Pokémon Go (Digital Fiction Blog Post 1, Part 1)<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">Disclaimer: </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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All of these questions and links were first posed by Dr. Mark
America in his Digital Fiction class, Spring, 2019, at the University of
Colorado at Boulder. Links and questions have been posted with his gracious
permission. <o:p></o:p><br />
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!!!(Huzzah to you, Mark, for getting the brain noodles
juiced)!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Article</b>: </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Walter Benjamin—“<a href="https://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm" target="_blank">The Work of Art in the Age of MechanicalReproduction</a>” (1936)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Questions for Consideration</b>:
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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How is digital work composed? What is it made of? How does
it get distributed? How is it received over the global net? What happens to the
“aura” of art works distributed over the net? How does the digital apparatus at
our disposal today alter the way we locate and engage with audiences? What
about issues of remix, copyright, appropriation and so-called originality?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">A Penny for My
Thoughts?</span></b></div>
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You didn't really think I'd write about Pokémon Go, did you? Talk about decay ;) </div>
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I suppose if we’re going the literal route, digital art is
composed with fingers and brains, the same way it’s been composed for
centuries. The difference being that digital art uses a completely different set
of tools than painting, photography, film or architecture. So, it’s made of
ideas and pixels and networks. It has to navigate firewalls and viruses and
search filers before it ever finds an audience, and even then, it’s in
competition with an increasingly flooded market of other folks’ art and ideas.
It’s distributed through emails and ads and lists and search engines until it
finally catches a consumer’s attention, and then it continues working to keep
that attention. I think because of that, the “decay” Benjamin details happens
infinity-fold for works of digital art. The aura attached to these works is
created in a certain time and space, but isn’t limited to one time or one
space, so the intent of the author or artist is always morphing, always changing—thus
further removing the final project from one definite time or one definite
space. Additionally, once the audience or viewer gets involved, those times and
spaces of consumption are multiplied, causing further distance from the artist
and the audience. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mediation of a work’s meaning also further deludes a digital
fiction’s “aura,” or uniqueness, because the method of delivery will
automatically alter a viewer/audience’s perception. I mean, if I’m getting some
multi-media story emailed to me by a professor, I’m already going to be worried
that it’s going to be boring or over my head or … things. You know how it goes.
But if my good buddy is like “Yo, Bree, check out this dope Vimeo essay” I’m
going to be like “Hell yeah!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because my
buddy knows me, knows what I’m into and what I’ll toss in the trash bin, so
when I open that email, I’m already more excited and engaged with my buddy’s
email. This means that now, more than ever, the platforms through which digital
art is mediated matter more than ever. Feel me? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In terms of remix, copyright, appropriation and originality,
my first thought is to take a look at the very first few lines of the link to
this article. Especially the line that reads “Translated: by Harry Zohn.” Before
I ever get into the beans and bullets of this article, I’m already being told
that it’s been appropriated by an academic other than the one who wrote it, because
it’s being translated, right? Which means that for every word that doesn’t
translate from the original language into the translated language, the author’s
original meaning is being appropriated by a translator. So already I’m like,
huh. This is smart stuff. But is it this Walter dude’s smart stuff? Or is it
someone translator’s smart stuff and he’s using Walter’s name to give himself a
quick boost in the world. And what does it mean if something was lost in
translation (as happens in all forms of translations, which is why language
itself is an “aura”). And how does the fact that this article is 83 years old
change the seriousness with which I critique it? How do I make relevance out of
an artifact? And how does the fact that this is an article, which scholars
normally write to engage and inform other scholars, change the way I feel about
reproducing it, or sharing it, or remixing it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The fact that it was shared with me digitally, and I printed it out and
marked it up and made notes on it and am writing this blog post ABOUT it is
evidence that it already exists in many times and places, which Benjamin would
argue has decayed its originality and value to the point of uselessness.
Interesting idea to try to wrap my noggin around! <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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These are all considerations for our lightning-paced digital
age, and things I hope to dive further into as I navigate this class!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks for reading, my lovelies!<br />
<br />
Until next time, <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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😼😼 ~Bree 😼😼</div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-14363196972954423672019-01-17T17:24:00.001-07:002019-01-17T17:29:28.883-07:00Dusting off the Ol' Blog for a New and Exciting Chapter! Hi all,
Just a quick note to let you know I'm dusting off this old blog to use for my <a href="https://readingdigitalfiction.com/about/what-is-digital-fiction/">Digital Fiction</a> class in grad school! We've got some exciting stuff coming down the pipeline so be sure to stay tuned for <i>all</i> the things (including my very own attempts at digital fiction)!<br />
<br />
Oh! And here's a recent photo of yours truly, because I just noticed I haven't posted in this thang since 2016!
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KDWdrVAi5uY/XEEbRgQItqI/AAAAAAAAGEs/E5r2jp8U3dYzLnTjxGOUZyveNULgXfm4ACLcBGAs/s1600/49322411_10156687836421224_8868317780668055552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KDWdrVAi5uY/XEEbRgQItqI/AAAAAAAAGEs/E5r2jp8U3dYzLnTjxGOUZyveNULgXfm4ACLcBGAs/s640/49322411_10156687836421224_8868317780668055552_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
While you're dying to read the next post, be sure to check out the <a href="https://readingdigitalfiction.com/about/what-is-digital-fiction/">Digital Fiction</a> link so you can see what this hot mess is all about!<br />
<br />
Can't wait to hear your thoughts. <br />
<br />
TTFN!<br />
<br />
😼~ Bree ~😼BreePyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483743232438464455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-90102310547044473862016-06-29T11:12:00.000-06:002017-06-01T23:18:55.458-06:00Advice for Millennials - from an Old, Army Salt<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Put
your cell phone down. Look at the world around you – it’s 365 degrees of
screaming color, without a pixel count. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Talk
to strangers – the stranger the better. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Get to know your neighbors, it will expand
your community and help you find solid ground to stand on when the ground
you’re standing on is shakier than you’d like. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Interview your family members – their
stories are already running through your veins so creating deeper ways of
knowing them will only help you to know yourself better.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Hold the door for the
person coming in behind you. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Drink from a garden hose. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Say “yes” instead of
“yeah.” </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Go out to eat by yourself once in a while– you’ll find moments of quiet
introspection and peace when you’re not always trying to be the you that you
are in the presence of others. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Practice random acts of kindness. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Take your
shoes off now and then and experience the world barefoot. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Make sure the folks
you love hear you say “I love you.” </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Get lost on purpose – you’ll be amazed at
the perspective you gain from walking or driving around someone else’s
neighborhood. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Read a book – a <i>real</i>
book – with the sort of pages you have to flip with a little bit of manual
labor. In fact, read a book out loud to yourself or with friends – the art of
storytelling takes on a life of its own when it isn’t restricted to a blinking
cursor. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ask lots of questions. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Chase down every last thing you’re curious
about. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Travel. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Remember to say “thank you.” </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Drive with the windows down now and
then – a little fresh air goes a long way and who knows how much fresh air
we’ve got left. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Don’t be afraid of me, the old salt – we’re really not as
different as you might think. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Try everything once. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Okay – try everything <i>legal</i> once. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On second thought, break a
rule or two – it will help you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">After
you’ve taken a drink out of that garden hose, drink lots more – much of what
ails us can be cured by staying properly-hydrated (once a sergeant, always a
sergeant). </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Memorize important numbers in case that cell phone of yours runs out
of juice or gets dropped in a toilet. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Be kind to animals. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Put more joy into the
world that you borrow from it. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And above all – practice kindness in everything
you do – there’s enough misery floating around the world, so a little love,
laughter and joy goes a long way. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And please, <i>please</i> put your cell phones, laptops, iPods, headphones, video
games, and social media <i>everything</i>
away long enough to look at the world around you. Humanity is holding your
place in line – all you have to do is step up and join us. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-8313153676841691992013-05-17T16:07:00.001-06:002013-05-17T16:07:26.382-06:00Loaded twice-baked potatoes with garlic-herb-butter, pesto and avocado.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVkRSS9Goeg/UZap8T2FHkI/AAAAAAAAAGo/kt_dOQpXWRQ/s1600/20130517_142254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVkRSS9Goeg/UZap8T2FHkI/AAAAAAAAAGo/kt_dOQpXWRQ/s1600/20130517_142254.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ingredients
for 8 servings: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4
medium-sized russet potatoes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">½<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stick Kerrygold garlic and herb butter (found
at Safeway, Albertsons etc…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">½ stick salted butter</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">½ cup Philadelphia
cream cheese <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OR</b> 3/4 cup sour cream</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 tbsp of your
preferred store-bought pesto. (A table spoon is just your ordinary sized spoon
for eating)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 avocado.. 2 if you
REALLY like avocado</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 bundle green onions</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8 strips of thick-cut
bacon <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Alt: One portabella mushroom, halved,
then cut into thin strips)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 package of Colby-jack
or Monterey-jack cheese (Tillamook is my favorite; cheese will be to taste… I
like a dump-truck load)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Extra virgin olive oil</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SPICES (and herbs):
Salt, Pepper, Garlic-powder, Cumin, Thyme</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Directions:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pre-heat
oven to 375 degrees.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Put
a layer of aluminum foil over a baking / cookie sheet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Clean
the potatoes then pierce with a fork about 6 times on each side of the potato.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lightly
coat the skin of each potato with extra-virgin olive oil</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sprinkle
both sides of the potato with sea-salt, pepper and garlic powder)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Place
potatoes on your covered baking sheet and bake in the oven for 120 min. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
the potatoes are half-way done, cut the slices of bacon into inch-sized squares
and then cook on medium/high heat until crispy. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ALT: Sautee the portabella strips with a bit of butter or olive oil
until tender).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Crumble
up bacon and put on a paper towel to de-grease. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ALT: Put portabella strips on a paper towel to de-grease.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
the potatoes are done baking for 120 min, pull out of the oven and let stand
until cool enough to touch<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. LEAVE OVEN
ON</b>… Then slice the potatoes in half.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scoop potato flesh out of potato skins into a
mixing bowl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you’ve scooped the potato flesh in a
mixing bowl, combine cream cheese <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(sour
cream)</i>, avocado, pesto, garlic-herb butter, salted-butter, herbs and spices
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(to taste)</i> until well blended and
creamy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using a table spoon, scoop mix evenly into the
potato skins.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VbiyqW6Qgfk/UZapQtv8HyI/AAAAAAAAAGY/1blYfs4XTqc/s1600/20130517_140839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VbiyqW6Qgfk/UZapQtv8HyI/AAAAAAAAAGY/1blYfs4XTqc/s1600/20130517_140839.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Place
potatoes back in the oven at 375 degrees and bake for an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>additional 20 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take potatoes out of oven, then top with
cheese, green onions and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">EITHER</b>
bacon, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OR</b> portabella strips <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TO TASTE</b>. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ej7TouzttYo/UZapqVwbI3I/AAAAAAAAAGg/YZEyEH7J9as/s1600/20130517_141354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ej7TouzttYo/UZapqVwbI3I/AAAAAAAAAGg/YZEyEH7J9as/s1600/20130517_141354.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Place back in the oven for an additional 5
minutes. If you would like the cheese to be a bit browned, BROIL for an
additional 45 seconds) </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ENJOY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SALIVATE! DEVOUR! ENJOY! </b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-4781356855200183682013-03-06T10:09:00.000-07:002013-03-06T10:09:36.796-07:00Dachau Concentration Camp... a Photo Blog.A re-post. Of all the blogs I lost on my old myspace, this was, by far, the most important.<br /><br />Originally posted on July 18th, 2007<br /><br />__________________________________________________________________________<br /><br /><br />As many of you may or may not know, I have spent the last 2 and 1/2 weeks in Germany. For the record, I had an absolutely amazing time, and plan on posting blogs with plenty of pictures and stories concerning those times. There was one experience, however, which affected me much too deeply to clump it in with all the other stories and experiences. <br /> <br />I took so many pictures in Germany, it was hard to figure out which I should use for blogs, and which I should store for future remembrances. <br /> <br />In the end, I decided to tell the most important story first, and so it is that Dachau Concentration Camp gets its own blog... <br /> <br />A blog to be shared before all the others, that you all might take a small moment out of your day to reflect, and to mourn. To recognize and be thankful for all the freedoms we have today because so many people before us suffered unimaginable horrors. <br /> <br />My trip to Dachau Concentration Camp will haunt me for the rest of my life. <br /> <br />In memory of the thousands who died within the camp, as well as the thousands who died on their way there, this is Dachau, through my eyes. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/entrancemarker.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/historyplaque.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Arrival <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/2arrival.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/2arrivalpic.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/3prisonercamp.jpg" /> <br /> <br />This is the gate every single prisoner walked through to begin their imprisonment. The inscription on the door was a popular saying among the SS. It reads "Work sets you free" The same inscription mounts the entrance gate to Auschwitz concentration camp. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/5entrancegate.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Roll call grounds were a big open space of hard, rocky ground, between the prisoners barracks and the Jourhaus. The roll-call area was bordered by the maintenance building; to mock the prisoners its roof carried the following inscription: "There is one path to freedom. Its milestones are obedience, diligence, honesty, orderliness, cleanliness, sobriety, truthfulness, sacrifice and love of the fatherland." The prisoners were forced to look at this saying at every roll call. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/6rollcallgrounds.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/6rollcallgroundspic.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Life in Dachau <br /> <br />Each prisoner was given a badge according to their offense or heritage, homosexual prisoners were marked with a pink triangle. If a prisoner was both homosexual AND Jewish, he would receive a badge that consisted of a pink triangle with an upside-down yellow triangle behind it, the two triangles forming the Jewish star. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/6badgeofshame.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/7homosexuals.jpg" /> <br /> <br />This photo came out extreemly eerie, as the uniform in the locker deplicts a homosexual prisoner, and Tina is reflected in the window. A German boi reflects... <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/8agermanmourns.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Punishment <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/9whippintext.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/9whippingtablepic.jpg" /> <br /> <br />The result: <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/9whippingoldpic.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Cruelty and Murder <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/10murderescapetext.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/10escapemurderpic.jpg" /> <br /> <br />The Toll <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/12thetoll.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/11starvingpic.jpg" /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The barracks. <br />There were a total of 34 barracks buildings when Dachau was operational. Today, all that remains are 2 reconstructed barracks, and 32 numbered foundations. <br /> <br />Old photo of the barrack grounds, notice the road going through the middle of the barracks and the trees lining that road. <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/20barrackspicold.jpg" /> <br /> <br />The same view of the tree-lined road as it stands today, with nothing more than numbered foundations behind it. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/20barracksgroundnew.jpg" /> <br />A numbered foundation of an old barracks building <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/21singlebarracknumber.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Inside <br /> <br />Bunks: Toward the end of Dachau..s operation, the camp was so crowded that they often forced up to 5 grown men to sleep in one tiny bunk <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/14thebunks.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/14breeinbunk.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/114bunkstext.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/14tinabunk.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/14tinainbunk.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/15reflectingbybunk.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Changing Room <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/16changingroom.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Tina in front of a locker <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/18tinabylocker.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Toilets <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/19toilets.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Murder in the camp <br /> <br />In the course of the war, the Dachau concentration camp increasingly became a site of mass murder: From October 1941 many thousands of Soviet prisoners of war were brought to Dachau and shot. Other prisoners, condemned for execution on Gestapo oders, were transported to Dachau and executed. <br /> <br />A large number of prisoners were abused by SS doctors for medical experiments; an unknown number of prisoners suffered agonizing deaths in the course of atmospheric pressure, hypothermia, malaria and many other experiments. <br /> <br />Beginning in January 1942, more than 3,000 prisoners were sent to the mental home at Hartheim Castle near Linz on the so-called invalid transports and murdered with poison gas. <br /> <br />Besides the 30,000 recorded dead, thousands of prisoners who were not registered lost their life at the Dachau concentration. They died of starvation, disease, exhaustion, degradation, from blows, and by torture. They were shot, hung and killed by injections and other experiments. <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmt6LWdlZGVua3N0YWV0dGUtZGFjaGF1LmRlL2VuZ2xpc2NoL2ZyYW1lL2dlc2NoaWNodGUuaHRt"> reference</a> <br /> <br />Crematoriums <br /> <br />The original, built in 1940 <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/22crematoriumoriginal.jpg" /> <br /> <br />The crematoriums in "barracks X" otherwise known as the death chamber, build in 1942/1943 <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/22crematoriumsnew.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Barracks X, "The Final Solution" <br /> <br />The gas chamber was to be the final solution for prisoners at Dachau. It is widely beleived that the gas chamber (constructed in 1942/1943) was never put to use, but was instead, used as a model for other death camps, such as Auschwitz. There are, however, prisoner accounts which state that small, select groups of prisoners were , in fact, escorted to the "bathhouse" and executed with gas. <br /> <br />Prisoners never questioned the construction of Barracks X, as they were told that the new facility was an additional bath house for the increasing population of Dachau. The gas chamber is a series of 3 rooms. You enter the building from the left, and soon find yourself in a small, tidy waiting room, where SS soldiers were to explain to you the process for using the new "bubble showers" <br /> <br />A small door in the middle of the wall leads to the next room, which is the preperation room. Here, you were to remove all your clothing and await your turn for the "bubble bath" <br /> <br />The next room is the actual gas chamber. You would enter the gas chamber through another small door with the inscription "BRAUSEBAD" (bubble shower). The first thing you see when you enter the gas chamber are the numberous shower heads in the ceiling. Shower heads that will never spout running water. Shower heads with no other purpose other than to fool prisoners into herding themselves to death quietly. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/24bubblebathdoor.jpg" /> <br /> <br />GAS CHAMBER DIAGRAM AND EXPLINATION <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/23gaschamberdiagram.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/23diagramexplination.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/23gaschambertext.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Inside the chamber, errily enough, most of the pictures taken of me in the actual gas chamber came out blurry. Appropriate, all things considered. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/25inchamber.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Tina in the chamber <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/26tinainchamber.jpg" /> <br /> <br />On the other side of the gas chamber there is another door. It is much bigger than the first two, as it leads into a large storage room which is connected to the cremetorium. After the mass murder in the gas chamber, prisoners were to be dragged out through that door, and thrown in one mass lump to await their cremation and anonymous burial. <br /> <br />Outside of "Barracks X" , there is a path that leads you through the tree line, to sites of mass execution, thousands of unknown graves, and memorials that leave you aching and raw. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/27pathofrememberance.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/28fullgraveofunknown.jpg" /> <br /> <br />above inscription <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/28graveofunknown.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Tina, kneeling over an execution mound with a blood ditch beneath her. The point of this picture was to demonstrate what thousands of men had to face every day. A prisoner was forced to kneel over the ditch, with his hands behind his back, so an SS officer could stand behind him, point a gun at his head, and pull the trigger. The prisoners were forced to kneel with their heads down so that they would fall forward, into the blood ditch. Convenient. Of all the photos I took at Dachau, I beleive this one haunts me the most. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/29tinakneelexecutionditch.jpg" /> <br /> <br />A boi mourns <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/30breemourn.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Liberation <br /> <br />On April 26, 1945, as American forces approached, there were 67,665 registered prisoners in Dachau and its subcamps; more than half of this number were in the main camp. Of these, 43,350 were categorized as political prisoners, while 22,100 were Jews, with the remainder falling into various other categories. Starting that day, the Germans forced more than 7,000 prisoners, mostly Jews, on a death march from Dachau to Tegernsee far to the south. During the death march, the Germans shot anyone who could no longer continue; many also died of hunger, cold, or exhaustion. On April 29, 1945, American forces liberated Dachau. As they neared the camp, they found more than 30 railroad cars filled with bodies brought to Dachau, all in an advanced state of decomposition. In early May 1945, American forces liberated the prisoners who had been sent on the death march. <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnVzaG1tLm9yZy93bGMvYXJ0aWNsZS5waHA/bGFuZz1lbiZhbXA7TW9kdWxlSWQ9MTAwMDUyMTQ="> reference</a> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/xliberation.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Memorial Sculpture at Dachau <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/31dachaumemorial.jpg" /> <br /> <br />Memorial plaque for U.S. Troops, who gave thousands back their freedom. <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/4memorialoftroops.jpg" /> <br /> <br />6 million people died during the Holocaust... all we have left are the shells of their prisons, and their ashes. Millions of unidentified ashes, that will forever serve as a reminder... NEVER AGAIN. <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/32tinaneveragain.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/AmbivalentBoi/GERMANY/32breeneveragain.jpg" /> <br /> <br /><em> This photo blog was made in memory of those who lost their lives in Dachau, and those who survived, to share their stories with us, that we might never know their torment.</em> <br /> <br />~BreeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-52388619171755485282013-02-08T12:02:00.002-07:002013-02-08T12:02:32.716-07:00I am a Success Story: Personal Statement for a college application<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am a success
story. As far as teachers go, their influence in the way my life has played out
in the last three decades is one of the main reasons I am so incredibly
passionate about education. I could sum it up simply and say it’s all about
paying it forward, but I supposed a personal statement is all about digging
into the personal details.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I grew up in an
oil field town called Vernal, Utah, where kids were taught at an early age that
girls should learn homemaking skills to prepare for motherhood and boys were
groomed to take over the family farm or business. And if either sex had other
ideas, well… the oil field was always looming in the background, ready to consume
any hopes and dreams that managed to escape expectation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As in any
seemingly impossible odds story, there’s always the X factor, and I’m not
talking about the TV show. In my story, that X factor was my father. Of the
many hats he wore in order to provide for our family, high school history
teacher was his obvious favorite. It didn’t matter how many hours in a day he
had to work to make ends meet, because his great escape was standing in front
of a classroom every day and inspiring an entire community’s children to dream
beyond the limitations of our small town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seeing the
effect my father’s passion and dedication had on my classmates and even his
fellow teachers was my first great epiphany. They believed him. They believed
IN him and they became empowered in a way that changed lives forever. It didn’t
matter that they had almost nothing. It didn’t matter that not much was expected
of them. What mattered was their teacher believed that each of them was capable
of greatness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I didn’t know
it back then, but while my father was teaching high school history and working
as the sports editor for the local newspaper, he was also equipping me with all
the tools I would need to be capable of greatness.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I could be cute
and say those tools included Huckleberry Finn and Jean Louise “Scout” Finch,
but what I really mean is that my dad gave me examples of adversity and an old
leather-bound journal to compare my own adventures and missteps. He gave me a
way to sort through the chaos of being an American teenager.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As it would
turn out, I needed every tool in the book, and then some. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Attending a predominantly
Mormon school as one of just a handful of non-Mormons was challenging enough. Being
the only gay kid in school was downright torture… in every sense of the word.
It didn’t take long to become an expert at survival and evasion techniques. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But you can’t
escape destiny. And for me, destiny came in the form of my high school math
teacher. Fresh off the boat from college, she came to my high school with a fiery
determination to reach every troubled kid in her path. There’s no escaping that
kind of fire… there’s only minimizing its potential to burn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And boy, did it
burn. At the time, I was pretty proud of my ability to fly under the radar with
a solid C average, minus the occasional F in math. But a C wasn’t going to cut
it for my math teacher and an F was just scandalous. So she requested me as her
student assistant for one hour a day… for three years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For three years
during the hour she was supposed to have to prep and grade papers, she grilled
me on addition, subtraction, multiplication and other forms and figures I
couldn’t pronounce if I tried. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A funny thing
started to happen after that first year. My solid Cs turned into solid Bs… and
the occasional F in math turned into the occasional C. Even odder… I was
starting to believe I might actually get accepted into college. Talk about scandalous. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I could go on
for 1,000 more words about how that math teacher changed my life. But I’ll just
sum it up by saying she was responsible for the beginning of me believing in
myself… and my continued life-long loathing of numbers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I did go on to
attend college, where my professors nurtured my intense passion for reading and
writing and developed it into hopes of a career. During that time, I never
forgot that math teacher, or my father, who both put a tremendous amount of
time into cultivating my capability to be great. </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know I
started this whole story by stating I could sum all of this up with saying I
have a deep desire to pay it forward. That started in college, where I tutored
my fellow classmates in English and writing, and spent my spare time
volunteering as a counselor and tutor for my community’s gay youth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That passion
for service turned into a six year stint in the United States Army, the
majority of which I spent as a combat journalist. The opportunity to serve as a
squad leader and supervisor for young Soldiers just starting out their career
as journalists is one of the main reasons I have now decided to become a high
school English teacher.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There’s no
greater responsibility than being in charge of 17 and 18 year old young men in
the middle of a war zone. But there is no greater reward, than watching those
young men come home safe and develop into highly successful and absolutely
delightful human beings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each of the
people I’ve had the pleasure to work with over the years, from the teachers who
inspired me, to the Soldiers who’ve looked up to me, really deserve their own essays.
Each of them have given me the tools I need to reach the next generation of
youth who are capable of greatness. Each of them gave me a reason to always
strive to pay it forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">For now, they’ll all have to share this essay,
where hopefully, they will help me begin my next exciting chapter, as a student
of education, at the University of Colorado at Boulder. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-20812006428551029592012-11-07T11:00:00.001-07:002012-11-07T11:17:09.974-07:00A message of tolerance and love.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Here’s where I stand with all the drama flying around Social
media today after such an intense election battle. </div>
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The message of love and tolerance we all defend so fiercely
applies to our own actions. Instead of attacking someone for a mistake they’ve
made, or something they’ve said, why not be tolerant and forgiving? Why not
educate and lead by example? As individuals, we each possess different
abilities in articulating our thoughts. Some folks have a much harder time
using their written or verbal voice to express emotion, whether it is love,
anger, frustration or joy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have said
some incredibly ignorant things over social media. It took patient,
understanding friends to point out my mistakes and talk to me about how to
better express my thoughts, for me to grow and make progress with my own
communication skills. If those same people had attacked me for the mistakes I
made, what would I have learned?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if
they didn’t give me a chance to express what I was really thinking or feeling, how
much progress could I have made?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My own opinions and emotions frequently conflict with those
of my friends. What I love, is that every time one of THEM shares their
opinion, I learn a little more about them. I learn a little more about what is
important to them and how they relate to other people. It’s a joyful experience
to grow a little closer to my friends, even through our vast differences.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love that as intelligent, progressive human beings, we are
an impressively DIVERSE society. If we didn’t all have different morals,
values, opinions, fascinations and expectations we would never learn from each other.
We would never grow. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am getting much better, as I grow, learn and mature, at
choosing to love, forgive, learn and educate. I am inspired by the ferocity
with which my diverse friends express their emotions and desires. It gives me
hope to see such passion, even that passion takes a different form than my own. There is room in
this world for ALL of us, and it will take EVERY one of us to be a successful, joyful
collective society.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I challenge each and every one of you to think on this: The
next time someone says, or writes something which you find extremely offensive,
take a moment to get to know them a little better. Care enough to try to
discover the root of that emotion or desire they expressed in a way which
offended you. Love them enough to value their opinion. Sometimes, something as
simple as listening to one person can start a chain reaction of love and
positivity that will ultimately bond thousands of people together… people who
may not have had any outlet for their thoughts and feelings before you decided
to love, and lead by example.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hope you are all having a joyful day, my lovelies! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HECyPxTMng/UJqhcWtpCWI/AAAAAAAAAFo/9v-ks77ZfXw/s1600/BreeOrange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HECyPxTMng/UJqhcWtpCWI/AAAAAAAAAFo/9v-ks77ZfXw/s400/BreeOrange.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
~Bree </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-48749434972357193682012-10-05T22:09:00.000-06:002012-10-05T22:09:38.653-06:00The Break-up...<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I should have known better than to watch an episode of Glee called: "The Break-up". </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I strongly dislike break-ups... especially the musical sort. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Positive spin: All this crying has unclogged nostrils which were NOT ready for winter. FACT.</blockquote>
<br />
~Bree Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-43162133754353876852012-10-03T11:42:00.001-06:002012-10-03T11:52:44.945-06:00Future prince of my castle, aka cabin in the woods!!!After months and months of researching American Brittany (Spaniel) kennels all over the United States, I FINALLY found the absolutely perfect place to get my future companion from!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.annabellakennels.com/" target="_blank">Annabella Brittany Kennels</a>, an outfit run out of Richfield, UT, has the PERFECT environment. They raise the pups for eight weeks, exposing them to multiple environments and training materials. The dogs are held and played with daily by the family's seven children. They are exposed to water, cats, birds and other wildlife and are also introduced to gunfire very early on, so they won't be afraid of it. They spend time training with leashes, grooming, crates and even car rides, etc.. so the pups will be ready for whatever their futures hold.<br />
<br />
Most importantly, they are socialized, socialized and socialized some more in order to develop friendly, confident personalities!<br />
<br />
Now comes the hard part. WAITING! I put my deposit down to have the first choice of a male pup from a littler planned for next March! MARCH 2013... I know, it's FOREVER away. But my little prince has a gorgeous mom and pop... just LOOK at these faces!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mBIRc4OtYF0/UGx17bEdJ0I/AAAAAAAAAFA/lo21-e3Ubzg/s1600/SisFirstPlace1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mBIRc4OtYF0/UGx17bEdJ0I/AAAAAAAAAFA/lo21-e3Ubzg/s320/SisFirstPlace1.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R1Lwp9uE70w/UGx17-KZkuI/AAAAAAAAAFI/XUejKs5Yb7E/s1600/SisPointingHeadHigh-600x405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R1Lwp9uE70w/UGx17-KZkuI/AAAAAAAAAFI/XUejKs5Yb7E/s1600/SisPointingHeadHigh-600x405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R1Lwp9uE70w/UGx17-KZkuI/AAAAAAAAAFI/XUejKs5Yb7E/s320/SisPointingHeadHigh-600x405.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<br />
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<br />
This is the dam (or mom) of the litter I am waiting for! Her name is Sis (short for Sister Suzy) Most folks have American Brittanys for hunting purposes. I just love them because they are playful, protective, friendly and adventurous!<br />
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<br />
<br />
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<br />
Sis, in her very first field trial! Isn't she gorgeous?!!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm8v1Bv2cCE/UGx19DpYkeI/AAAAAAAAAFY/4X4LVdlf5eY/s1600/TyFall09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm8v1Bv2cCE/UGx19DpYkeI/AAAAAAAAAFY/4X4LVdlf5eY/s1600/TyFall09.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wvWDfjUoObo/UGx18bKhWPI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/hyXKtdP-ZrQ/s1600/TyFace8wks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wvWDfjUoObo/UGx18bKhWPI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/hyXKtdP-ZrQ/s1600/TyFace8wks.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the sire (or pop) of the litter I am waiting for! His name is Ty (his registered name is FireStarter's Crossed the Line) You can read more about Ty on <a href="http://www.firestarterkennels.com/ty.html" target="_blank">his very own website! </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ty when he was eight weeks old... which is how old his son will be when I bring him home! With any luck, he'll look just like his poppa!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, Sis and Ty's litter should be born next March, and I'll get to take home their son by MAY! I have NO idea how I'm going to wait that long! For more information on this litter, please visit the Annabella Brittany Kennel's<a href="http://www.annabellakennels.com/planned-litters/spring-planned-litters" target="_blank"> planned litter page for Spring - 2013.</a><br />
<br />
SOOOOO EXCITED! I hope you all enjoy this journey with me, as I continue to post information, photos and stories about my experience!<br />
<br />
And as always, I hope this post finds you JOYFUL! <br />
<br />
~Bree <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-85631866488118485672012-09-29T18:28:00.001-06:002012-09-29T18:28:20.507-06:00It doesn't matter the shape of the light...<h2>
<i>... only that the light illuminate the path.</i></h2>
<br />
<h5 class="title">
<span style="font-size: small;">September, 2012 - St. Catherine's Church, Estes Park, CO (Photo by Breanne Pye)</span></h5>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qv1Ecg_YVcI/UGeKEpW1QHI/AAAAAAAAAEk/aROEtbCqrlY/s1600/_MG_2218-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qv1Ecg_YVcI/UGeKEpW1QHI/AAAAAAAAAEk/aROEtbCqrlY/s640/_MG_2218-2.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I often struggle with the difference between religion and spirituality. The distinction between the two is defined, debated and demonstrated with ferocity everywhere I look. It is debated by politicians on news channels I am required to monitor for my job. It is discussed amongst friends even in the most serene locations and situations. It is demonstrated with both absolute love and absolute hate in every country on earth.<br />
<br />
But the biggest debate is between my own heart and my own head. As a Soldier... I know faith. I know my heavenly father is up there lighting a path for me to follow when I stray a little too far toward the shadow. I know he has kept me safe in impossibly dangerous situations. I know he watches over my fellow Soldiers and instills an unmatchable courage within their hearts as they follow paths few others will ever retrace.<br />
<br />
I struggle to put that faith in context. I wasn't raised to be any particular religion. My father and mother were both incredibly vague in their instruction on faith and religion. They encouraged me to find my own path and to always follow my heart.<br />
<br />
In high school, that path led me to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. All the strength, courage and discipline I possessed at the time came from my desire to follow the teachings of my church, which I believed with all my heart.<br />
<br />
Without a doubt, the church was a light which illuminated a path FAR different than the path I would have taken. I know with absolute certainty, that light saved my life back then.<br />
<br />
And then I started feeling things even the church couldn't explain... and worse... strongly condemned. <br />
<br />
I didn't choose to be gay. I know that's a whole other debate in some folks' heads... but in my head, it's just a fact. At the height of my piousness, I fought with the heart of a lion to make my heart and my body fall in line with my religious beliefs. I prayed furiously to be scourged of such confusing and terrifying thoughts and feelings. I asked for blessings from my elders without ever explaining my struggle in hopes their healing hands could rid me of my demons.<br />
<br />
In the long run, I suppose I figured out that, demons or no, my thoughts and feelings weren't going anywhere... a realization that demanded I step aside from my religion and begin the journey of learning how to be the most loving, joyful, spiritual soul I can manage in one lifetime. <br />
<br />
These days, I try my best to always pay kindness forward. To always try to be the best ME possible even when I think no one is looking. To be a good leader and a positive role model to my Soldiers, who I identify so closely with as I watch them confront demons and struggles of their own.<br />
<br />
I am always looking for the light. Walking straight toward the light. Praying the light will come when I am fumbling blind in the dark.<br />
<br />
I fumble much more than I would like.<br />
<br />
It still confuses me greatly... when I am alone in a quiet place and I think of the people who have had the strongest influence and impact on my life. A majority of them are strong in their LDS faith, which I continue to admire even though my light has led in a different direction.<br />
<br />
What are your thoughts on this matter, friends? What do you think is the biggest difference between religion and spirituality? Do you struggle with finding a balance? Or... are you happy with following whatever path your faith illuminates? <br />
<br />
Today, for me at least... the light fell on my keyboard so that I could empty my doubt with aching fingers on a sharp white screen before all of you.<br />
<br />
Hope this post finds each of you joyful, if nothing else.<br />
<br />
~Bree<br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-31105845341108568512012-09-27T14:20:00.003-06:002012-09-27T14:20:40.350-06:00WildThunder and lightening is making me feel WILD today ;)<br />
<br />
What are YOU doing with the gifts the universe has given you today, friends?<br />
<br />
~BreeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-34328953167138262912012-09-26T11:10:00.001-06:002012-09-26T11:12:47.309-06:00Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Scotch Eggs with Hollandaise and Asparagus<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Check out additional photos and the amazing original recipe on <a href="http://peaceloveandlowcarb.blogspot.com/2012/03/bacon-wrapped-scotch-eggs-with.html#.UGMz21EoF2c" target="_blank">Peace + Love + Low Carb</a>'s blog!<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bCfDcbJX16o/UGM1GbtWSwI/AAAAAAAAAEI/6j3nVfJGLlQ/s1600/326899_10151243281671224_1629962263_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bCfDcbJX16o/UGM1GbtWSwI/AAAAAAAAAEI/6j3nVfJGLlQ/s640/326899_10151243281671224_1629962263_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>INGREDIENTS:</u></b><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>**For the scotch eggs**</u></b><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 lb. Ground Sausage - (I used jimmy dean's ground sage or Italian sausage)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
6 Slices of Thick Cut Bacon</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
6 Eggs</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese - Shredded</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
***Optional***</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 Bunch of Asparagus - about 20 pieces</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3 Green Onions<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>DIRECTIONS</u></b><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Preheat oven to 400*</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Boil eggs in salted water - I like my eggs soft boiled. I wait until the
water is at a full rolling boil and then boil to eggs for 4-5 minutes.
This gives them enough time for the eggs to be firm enough to wrap the
sausage around. Let cool and peel.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Divide the sausage into six even portions and flatten them into patties</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Layer cheese on top of each of the sausage patties. Press down in the center to make a dip to hold the egg</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Place an egg on top of each sausage patty and form the sausage around the egg until it completely covered</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Place a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet and line your strips of
bacon on it. Place the eggs on the rack also. Bake for 20 Minutes</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Remove from oven and take the cooling rack off, place the asparagus down
in the bacon drippings and replace the cooling rack on top. Bake an
additional 10-15 minutes</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
While your eggs and asparagus are in the oven the second time, prepare
your hollandaise according to package directions or whichever recipe you
are using. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>INGREDIENTS and DIRECTION for preparing the HOLLANDAISE SAUCE</u></b></div>
<u><b></b></u>
<br />
<h3>
Ingredients:</h3>
<ul>
<li class="ingredient">3 egg yolks<a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_separate_eggs/"><br /></a></li>
<li class="ingredient">1 tablespoon lemon juice</li>
<li class="ingredient">1/2 teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="ingredient">1/8 teaspoon cayenne (optional)</li>
<li class="ingredient">10 tablespoons unsalted butter (if using salted butter, skip the added salt)</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Directions:</h3>
<b>1</b> Melt the butter slowly in a small pot. Try not to
let it boil – you want the moisture in the butter to remain there and
not steam away.<br />
<b>2</b> Add the egg yolks, lemon juice, salt and cayenne (if using)
into your blender. Blend the egg yolk mixture at a medium to medium high
speed until it lightens in color, about 20-30 seconds. The friction
generated by the blender blades will heat the yolks a bit. The blending
action will also introduce a little air into them, making your
hollandaise a bit lighter.<br />
<b>3</b> Once the yolks have lightened in color, turn the blender
down to its lowest setting (if you only have one speed on your blender
it will still work), and drizzle in the melted butter slowly, while the
blender is going. Continue to buzz for another couple seconds after the
butter is all incorporated.<br />
<b>4</b> Turn off the blender and taste the sauce. It should be
buttery, lemony and just lightly salty. If it is not salty or lemony
enough, you can add a little lemon juice or salt to taste. If you want a
thinner consistency, add a little warm water. Pulse briefly to
incorporate the ingredients one more time.<br />
Store until needed in a warm spot, like on or next to the stove-top. Use within an hour or so.<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<h2>
<b><u>FINAL STEP! </u></b></h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<h3>
<i>Serve each scotch egg with 5 pieces of asparagus. When the eggs come out, wrap
them with bacon, top them with the hollandaise, garnish with green
onions. </i></h3>
<h3>
<i>SERVE AND ENJOY!!</i></h3>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-72103974840275628272012-09-26T10:55:00.000-06:002012-09-26T11:57:32.482-06:00Recipe: Chicken enchiladas with green chili sour cream sauce Check out the ORIGINAL and DELICIOUS recipe on <a href="http://joyful-mommas-kitchen.blogspot.com/2011/12/ive-gone-viral.html" target="_blank">Joyful Momma's Kitchen</a> Blog! <br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
</h2>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TYwZXb-VpqU/UGMxe_XpUcI/AAAAAAAAADs/0gBRqDvNR3c/s1600/20120918_155432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TYwZXb-VpqU/UGMxe_XpUcI/AAAAAAAAADs/0gBRqDvNR3c/s640/20120918_155432.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>INGREDIENTS: </b><br />
<br />
<b>10 soft taco shells <br />
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (I bought a rotisserie chicken from Safeway and shredded only the white meat.. which made exactly two cups!)</b><br />
<b>1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese<br />
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese <br />
1 stick of unsalted butter</b><br />
<b>1 stick of garlic herb butter<br />
3 1/2 Tbsp. flour <br />
2 cups chicken broth <br />
1 cup sour cream <br />
1 (4 oz) can diced green chillies (you can get hot OR mild chilies) </b><br />
<b>2 ripe, medium avocados</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b>INSTRUCTIONS: <br />
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan <br />
2. Mix chicken and 1 cup mixed cheese. Roll up in tortillas and place in pan. <br />
3. In a sauce pan, melt butter, stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add
broth and whisk until smooth. Heat over medium heat until thick and
bubbly. <br />
4. Stir in sour cream and chilies. Do not bring to boil, you don't want curdled sour cream. <br />
5. Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese. <br />
6. Bake 22 min and then under high broil for 3 min to brown the cheese. </b><br />
<b>7. Cut avocado into thin slices to place on top of finished enchiladas <br />
<br />
JOYFUL MOMMA'S ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS: </b><br />
<b><br />
1. If you would like, you can substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream in the recipe. It is a 1 for 1 substitute.<br />
2. If you cook your chicken first (rather than using
a rotisserie chicken), you may wan to add some spices to give it extra
flavor. I like the chicken to have good flavor. I tend to cook my
chicken in the crock pot with some ground cumin, garlic powder, and
ground black pepper.<br />
3. You can make this ahead and keep it in the fridge up to 24 hours.
Just put it in the oven and increase the time a bit. You will want to
make sure they are heated through.<br />
4. This sauce does not freeze well. Then enchiladas themselves freeze
really well. I freeze a few pans of them double wrapped in foil and
then I just make the sauce the day of. Thaw them first, add the sauce,
cook according to original instructions.</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-80695144625879385192012-09-26T10:43:00.000-06:002012-09-26T11:57:56.038-06:00Recipe: Clam and Shrimp Boil! <div class="post-header">
</div>
Taken from bits and pieces of several other clam or shrimp boil recipes! Best ingredients are fresh, of course, but living in a land-locked state takes that option right out of the running! Instead, try finding your seafood from your local grocery store like Safeway, Albertsons, etc. They put out fresh seafood ingredients every day and get rid of the old stuff.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PrsR7BlP7c4/UGMvdXGEvfI/AAAAAAAAADk/bsOlcim3d18/s1600/326887_10151245633651224_1603831301_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PrsR7BlP7c4/UGMvdXGEvfI/AAAAAAAAADk/bsOlcim3d18/s640/326887_10151245633651224_1603831301_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5CSdu3zV6nw/UAR-TIyC7nI/AAAAAAAAAH4/JTcxbYGy5aI/s1600/IMG_1327.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Recipe: (serves 4)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
About 15 peeled, uncooked shrimp</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
About 15 small steamer clams</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Two ears of corn (cut each ear into three little pieces) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One bottle/can of a lager beer (I actually used Becks)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Handful of colorful little potatoes (cut in half or quarters according to size)</div>
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1lb of smoked kielbasa (cut in one inch or so pieces)</div>
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3/4 cup of old bay seasoning (more or less to taste)</div>
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Brave pinch of cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)</div>
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3 cloves of freshly minced garlic (more or less to taste) </div>
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Sea-salt and fresh ground to taste</div>
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</div>
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INSTRUCTIONS:</div>
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<br /></div>
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1. Bring a large pot of water to boil with the bottle of beer, old bay
seasoning, cayenne pepper, fresh minced garlic, salt and pepper. </div>
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<br /></div>
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2. Put the potatoes and corn
in the pot and boil about 10 minutes. </div>
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<br /></div>
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3. Next place the kielbasa in the
pot and boil another 7-8 minutes. </div>
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<br /></div>
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4. Place the clams in and boil another 5
minutes.</div>
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5. Finally place the shrimp in the pot and boil until the shrimp
is pink and potatoes and corn should be tender. </div>
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6. READY TO ENJOY! </div>
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When serving add more seasoning (old bay, salt/pepper to taste) serve with toasted garlic
bread and melted butter. (I used one stick of unsalted butter and one stick of garlic herb butter to dip my seafood into)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-896143820606730339.post-81957128059413340972012-09-26T08:44:00.000-06:002012-10-01T07:24:04.705-06:00The end of a volume... but not the end.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAXuvks-wqg/UGMSeA6ze8I/AAAAAAAAACI/N7l4sZXTNmo/s1600/000MountainDewPye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAXuvks-wqg/UGMSeA6ze8I/AAAAAAAAACI/N7l4sZXTNmo/s640/000MountainDewPye.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i>(U.S. Army photo illustration by Sgt. Breanne Pye)</i><br />
<br />
<h2>
<u><b>March 27, 2012:</b></u></h2>
I didn't know what to think this morning when my Brigade Surgeon called an impromptu meeting with me.<br />
<br />
"I'll see you at 1300, kiddo," he said.<br />
<br />
That should have been my first clue. Since when does a U.S. Army Major call a 32 yr. old Sergeant 'kiddo'?<br />
<br />
I
didn't take a lunch today. Too much weighing on my mind. What was this
about? My first thought was that I was caught trying to care about
someone again. In the Army, a specific meeting time generally mean's
you've seriously fucked up. And for me, that usually means I had a hard
time keeping my mouth shut when something is weighing on my mind.<br />
<br />
I looked at the clock constantly. I texted my friends furiously to keep my mind off the looming appointment.<br />
<br />
12:30 came and went.<br />
<br />
12:45 came and went.<br />
<br />
12:50 came and went.<br />
<br />
Lots
of time to think about all the things that make me love my job, this
lifestyle, and the uniform I wear with pride every day.<br />
<br />
12:55 came and went. I had a feeling I should brace myself.<br />
<br />
1300.<br />
<br />
I
walked down the hallway of my Brigade toward Doc's office... the same
hallway I've walked down hundreds of times every day since the day I
came to 1st Brigade Combat Team... "Raider" Brigade, more than 3 years
ago.<br />
<br />
As I walk down the hallway, I see my passion
everywhere. Large, poster sized pictures of Soldiers working on M2A2
Bradley Fighting Vehicles, pictures I've taken of my comrades and their
friends, enjoying a cool lunch break in the Camp Nathan Smith Dining
Facility in Afghanistan... Pictures of combat patrols, award ceremonies,
brigade-sized formations, fundraisers, military balls, homecomings,
MAT-Vs speeding across the unforgiving landscape of Afghanistan,
helicopters sending one of our wounded Soldiers to the only shot they
have at surviving.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJbAp9mZXJE/UGMSXZdUX9I/AAAAAAAAACA/vDpLjdm6cOM/s1600/Farewell+372nd+MPs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJbAp9mZXJE/UGMSXZdUX9I/AAAAAAAAACA/vDpLjdm6cOM/s640/Farewell+372nd+MPs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i> (U.S. Army photo illustration by Sgt. Breanne Pye)</i><br />
<br />
Pictures of too many flags draped
across too many metal caskets of men I loved fiercely... on their way
home for the last time. The last snap shot their families, friends and
fellow Soldiers would ever see.<br />
<br />
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMui5By1Qwo/UGMR3YPf5EI/AAAAAAAAABs/qkzwW49WXgs/s1600/MemorialRaiderPhoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMui5By1Qwo/UGMR3YPf5EI/AAAAAAAAABs/qkzwW49WXgs/s640/MemorialRaiderPhoto.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i>(U.S. Army photo illustration by Sgt. Breanne Pye)</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pictures of young American men and women in uniform training young Afghan men to defend and protect their country.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvcyGGPKLN4/UGMSP3O8uyI/AAAAAAAAAB4/Tj-UflE88OI/s1600/0131-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvcyGGPKLN4/UGMSP3O8uyI/AAAAAAAAAB4/Tj-UflE88OI/s640/0131-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i>(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Breanne Pye)</i><br />
<br />
<br />
I walk a few more steps.<br />
<br />
<br />
My
news articles are framed on the walls of every Battalion in this
Brigade. Nearly every section has an article I've written or a photo
I've taken of one of their amazing Soldiers. Proudly tacked to cubicle
walls, or tactfully displayed as a screen saver on their work computers.<br />
<br />
It
feels like history. My history. OUR history. Something important that
I've dedicated my life to. People I love that I have cried with, laughed
with, FOUGHT with, thrived with.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YTqi51r3MrQ/UGMRl_PtHaI/AAAAAAAAABY/fTiLnF_t6sg/s1600/_Y4T0097.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YTqi51r3MrQ/UGMRl_PtHaI/AAAAAAAAABY/fTiLnF_t6sg/s640/_Y4T0097.1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i>(Photo by David Bowering) </i><br />
<br />
Doc is waiting for me at the door to his office. He smiles at me, opens the door, and motions for me to come in and have a seat.<br />
<br />
When I walk in, my breath catches.<br />
<br />
More pictures.<br />
<br />
Pictures of broken feet, broken fingers, broken legs, a broken arm, and a broken nose...<br />
<br />
Pictures of my back.<br />
<br />
A kaleidoscope of electromagnetic radiation photos that document another part of my history.<br />
<br />
I
breathe out, and look at Doc. He smiles at me... his eyes are watery.
We've been through hell together. He's fought valiantly for my right to
continue to wear this uniform. He's always been on my side. He's always
believed in me when I told him I can still do this.<br />
<br />
"I know you're not one for beating around the bush," he says. "But I need you to hear me out."<br />
<br />
For
over an hour he talks to me about my history. He meticulously documents
every broken bone, every ER visit and every bizarre illness I've had in
the 4 and a half years I've been back in this uniform. He spells out
every detail. He compares each individual injury to a case that resulted
in the end of a Soldier's career.<br />
<br />
"I have to spell it out
for you because I know you," he says. "For months, I've been waiting
for you to realize that if you continue to push through all of this,
there won't be anything left of you to push with."<br />
<br />
There
is a moment of silence. My face gets hot. I feel the tears coming from
somewhere I thought they would be safe, and distant.<br />
<br />
"I
know you well enough to realize that you're never going to admit it's
time to tap out," he said. "Because I care about you, I'm tapping out
for you."<br />
<br />
I wait for the hammer to fall.<br />
<br />
"Tomorrow, at 1300, I'm starting the paperwork for your medical discharge," he says.<br />
<br />
There's
no stopping the tears now. I think about the pictures I passed in the
hallway. I think about the faces of all the people I love and respect,
staring at me from the walls on my way to this devastating meeting.<br />
<br />
"You can't do it anymore," he tells me. "If you keeps this up, your back is just going to snap someday."<br />
<br />
I sink, heavily, into a chair that appears beside me.<br />
<br />
"You're
32 years old, Sergeant Pye," he says. "If I send you to a medical board
now, you get out of the Army at the pinnacle of your success."<br />
<br />
"You're a big deal right now," he says. "You are going to have people knocking down your door for a shot at hiring you."<br />
<br />
He
tells me he knows I can tough it out for a year, or two or five... but
in the long run, I'm going to come out the other side of this so broken I
won't be able to lift a camera.<br />
<br />
I know he's right, so I
don't say anything. Every moment that passes, I just feel more and more
embarrassed because the tears will NOT stop.<br />
<br />
Silence, and then I find my words again.<br />
<br />
"I hiked over 13 miles this weekend, Sir."<br />
<br />
I don't know what else to say.<br />
<br />
"If you trust me, you'll hike a thousand times that in years to come," he says, then hugs me.<br />
<br />
It's
over now, and I know I literally don't have a leg to stand on. He
explains what is going to happen in the days and months to come. He
tells me all the reasons he MUST do this, as my doctor. He tells me
about all the benefits I'm going to get, as a condition of my medical
discharge.<br />
<br />
"This is only the end of one volume, Sergeant
Pye," he says. "But it's not the end. I can't wait to see your pictures
in National Geographic."<br />
<br />
I smile on the outside, but on the inside, that only makes it worse.<br />
<br />
"You're going to be a big deal," he says as he shows me to the door. "I have absolutely no doubt about that."<br />
<br />
On
my way out, I walk a little slower. Most of my fellow Soldiers have
never seen me cry. The pictures on the wall are glaring at me now.
Because now, they really are history.<br />
<br />
"At least I've left my mark," I think<br />
to myself. "At least they won't forget my name."<br />
<br />
<i>(Photos by David Bowering)</i><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Po-q6NiysU/UGMRib888FI/AAAAAAAAABQ/Al7UHgZ9cwU/s1600/_Y4T0062.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Po-q6NiysU/UGMRib888FI/AAAAAAAAABQ/Al7UHgZ9cwU/s640/_Y4T0062.1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvc2V5NKtj4/UGMRng6nQiI/AAAAAAAAABg/E6mPszzlqLA/s1600/_Y4T0107.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvc2V5NKtj4/UGMRng6nQiI/AAAAAAAAABg/E6mPszzlqLA/s640/_Y4T0107.1.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6