Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain

            In Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain, Jessica Mitford explains the ins and outs of the embalming procedure. She makes up an imaginary Mr. Jones as the person that is getting embalmed. She describes the very complicated procedure of embalming by describing the types of fillers instruments that are used.

            She describes how people used to stay by the embalmer’s side to watch the procedure and how today we are persuaded to avoid witnessing this procedure. She first explains the dermasurgeon’s tools. He or she will use scalpels, scissors, clamps, augers, bowls, basins, needles, pumps, tubes, and forceps. He or she then uses their large array of pastes, oils, powders, creams, fluids, and sprays to soften tissue and to restore moisture. For the less fortunate Mr. Jones subjects, plaster will be used to replace any missing limbs. A slight incision is made to remove the blood. Once that step is done, the embalming fluid is chosen. Then the skin tone must be applied. These come in tints such as Regular Cosmetic Tint, Suntan, and Special Cosmetic Tint. Gallons of solution of formaldehyde are then put into Mr. Jones body. His mouth is sewn shut with a needle and his teeth are coated with colorless nail polish. If Mr. Jones’ head had been missing, they would have trimmed the edges and sewn the head on with wires and sutures. They remove tissue from swollen parts of the body. Once that is all done, Mr. Jones is washed, shaved, and given a manicure. Once he is dressed, he is positioned at a slight angle in the casket.

            This passage was very disturbing. I don’t think there is any reason the embalmer’s wouldn’t want people to watch the procedure. I just believe that people do not want to witness it. I certainly would not. I learned a lot of behind the scenes information in this passage. It has opened my eyes about the embalming process and Jessica Mitford has definitely informed me about what’s behind the formaldehyde curtain.

That's How I Roll

     In the essay entitled That's How I Roll written by Ginney Donaldson (December 3, 2009), Donaldson explores the origen of the phrase "that's how I roll" and that many of us use cliche phrases without ever knowing how or when the phrases came about.  Donaldson searches sites such as Google and the Urban Dictionary Online to discover not only when this phrase first began, but also it's meaning.  I believe Donaldson was not only satisfying her own curiosity by her investigations, but also causing an awareness in each of us, young or old, of how often we say silly phrases without ever knowing how they came about. 
     I liked the way Donaldson showed persistence in her quest for finding the meaning of the phrase"that's how I roll" and didn't give up her search for her answer until she was satisfied with her results.  I experienced something similar to this situation, but, the other way around.  A few years ago, while reading Oedipus At Colonus which was written by Sophocles,  I came upon a familiar sounding question in which Theseus asked Creon in a conversation, "Dost thou take my drift?"  I was amazed that this phrase was used so long ago even though it has evolved over time to,"do you catch my drift".
   I believe Donaldson writes this article in a way to relate to other students because she begins her essay by stating that she was in class.  She also references the Urban Dictionary which is a current resource which relates to a younger and hipper crowd.   She says that slang is "shorter words or phrases [used] to be more understandable", which shows that she sees an importance to using slang.  This puts her on the same level as the students who are reading her essay.

Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall

In the story Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall by Diane Ackerman, she briefly explain the process of how leaves change in the season of Fall. First she starts off by talking about how the leaves get their color. Sunlight is the key answer to this process. Ackerman also mention the best range of fall foliage in the United States and China. The pigment Anthocyanin plays a part in the leaves color. Not all leaves turn the same color though. Towards the end Ackerman describes how the leaves fall. As the leaf age, the growth hormone, auxin, fades, and the cells at the base of the petiole divide. Before the leaves leave they turn color and as Ackerman say you can hear them crackle underneath your feet.

While reading this story, the words and comparisons Ackerman used to describe this whole process caught my attention. I could almost visualize the way the whole process happens. One interesting fact that caught my attention was when Ackerman told where the word fall originated from. It originated from the Old English word feallan and it means to fall. The season Fall is beautiful and peaceful. Reading this story reminds me of a great thing about Fall. Overall, the story was great.

Spanglish

     Spanglish by Janice Castro, Dan Cook, and Cristina Garcia, is a passage about the merge of Spanish as a language into the English language. The result is the new age way of speaking in Spanish-speaking areas. It is Spanglish. It is the combination of English words and Spanish words. It has become ingrained into the culture of Spanish-speaking communities and is vital to the advertisement industry.
     Spanish-speaking Americans hold an estimated 134 billion dollars worth of spending power. The power is being tapped by advertisers by incorporating Spanglish into their scripts. Spanglish represents English and Spanish influences and reflects where Spanish-speaking Americans are located. Spanglish is digging its way into American culture by appearing on billboards and by being presented on the radio. Los Angeles and Miami are both hot spots for this clash of culture. Taxi drivers and pedestrians alike can both be found speaking this blend of culture. Essentially, moving to those cities are like signing up for Spanish 101. You eventually learn some Spanish words by living in highly Hispanic populated areas. The same goes for a Spanish-speaking person moving to Miami or Los Angeles. Their course list would have English 101 included some where on the list. Spanglish is useful when trying to shorten lengthy Spanish phrases. These shorten Spanglish phrases only encourage the use of Spanish to the 19 million Hispanics in America.
     I think Spanglish is a big part of the proof that America is a melting pot. It shows our ability to accept and incorporate other cultures. It's a learning experience for anyone moving near Hispanic communities. It's good for us to acknowledge other languages and to support strictly Spanish-speaking Americans by creating a mixed language. It's also really smart of advertisers to incorporate this mixed language in their ads to tap into this multi-billion dollar spending power. They are unknowingly teaching people a little bit of Spanish and English which is important to the expansion of our nation. Our incorporation of Spanish into our society shows how supportive Americans are of Hispanic influences.

This Battle Will Not Be Lost

     In the short story,"This Battle Will Not Be Lost" written by Sandi Millwood,"Sept. 8, "2008 the author recalls her ordeal with her three year old's battle with cancer that strengthened her faith and changed her outlook on life and how she viewed time with her loved ones.
   The mother in this story recalls the first day that she found out her daughter had cancer.  The doctor told her that her daughter had a grapefruit sized tumor on her lung.  At that moment the mother decided that she would never give up this fight.  For the next four years, her beloved little girl had to undergo treatment and take medications that made her sick.  This story was touching as it reminded me of one of my best friends and her two year battle with cancer that she unfortunatly lost.  Through-out her battle she continued to inspire others with her bravery and determination.  She fought til the end.  I remember getting a text from her that said that she was still in the hospital.  My friend Donna and I immediatly drove to see her.  She looked like a little girl laying in the bed.  It was hard for me to fight back the tears because I knew when I saw her that she was dying. Two days later I received a phone call from her husband.  She had passed away.  So I could relate to what the author was writing.
     I thinks the author shared her experience with us because she wants us to realize that the time we have with our loved ones is very precious.  We should never take the time we have with our family and loved ones for granted. I also believe that the author realized that almost all of her readers have been affected by cancer whether it is personally or through someone we know and love, and that we should never give up.

A Man in the Woods

A Man in the Woods was written by Andre White. This short story was written about a small community known as “Bankhead Village.” Eight homeless men live within this community. The men are very sharing, respectful and friendly to all who come near their community. The author and his sister are familiar with the area and decide to bring food to the men that will last them for a couple of days.

            The main character in the story was James. James was a short man who always smiled, wore a dark purple coat and baggy pants. As soon as the author called his name, he remembered who he was and also noticed he cut his hair. James yelled to let the others know that the author had bought food for them. He lived in a hut that was full of trash bags and old garbage. The condition James and the other men lived in was harsh. Overall, James was a generous man who made sure everyone in his community was taking care of without expecting anything in return.

            Andrew White wants the reader to be drawn in and visualize the observation he made while visiting the men in the camp. To me this was a great story. While reading, I stayed attentive and I could picture the things he talked about. I felt the character James was so sweet. He appreciated the author for coming down. To see how strong he was for his community showed a lot about him.