This benefit

“is a poignant memorial, a powerful tool for use in preventing new HIV infections, and it’s the largest ongoing community arts project in the world. Each of the more than 44,000 colorful pannels that make up the quilt memorialize the life of a person lost to AIDS.”

As soon as I entered the room, I was aware of the atmosphere – and its change from a place of lecture to a memorial setting. Quilts of all different colors were hung from the walls. Soft, gentle music was played in the backgroung – it set the mood – which was calming. Candles illuminated the room, as well as the lights above. Kind people were seated behind desks at the entrance offering information and words to those who attended.

Each blanket was unique – some had flags of the different nationalities, others had things that each individual liked - such as music notes, sports, and favorite teams. Different words and phrases were on the quilts, as well. One said, “Forever Young” and another, “Thanks for being our friend.” There was an actual dress sewn onto one quilt.

What I enjoyed most was the individuality of the quilts. The dedication it took by those who created them. The time and effort. The everlasting love sybolized by the creations. Those who passed remain in the hearts of others and are forever remembered. I am glad you mentioned this memorial because I was so happy to be present. It was a wonderful opportunity and one that will not be forgotten.

Cowboys Coach Claims Rat in Salad

DALLAS— Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Todd Haley is suing a suburban McDonald’s, claiming his wife and the family’s live-in baby sitter found a dead rat in a salad they took home and began to eat. The discovered rat was approximated to be 6 inches long – it was classified as a juvenile roof rat. According to Scott Casterline, a spokesman for the family, Haley found the rat on its back with its mouth opened. This information was then reported to The Associated Press. The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site that the law suit seeks $1.7 million in damages! Holy crap! Details of the lawsuit: “Christine Haley and Kelley had eaten part of the salad purchased June 5 at a McDonald’s in Southlake before the rat was discovered. The women became violently ill and endured long-lasting physical injuries, the lawsuit said.” According to Haley, McDonald’s did not ‘follow through’ and live up to their promise of “making things right.”

First of all, I was unaware that McDonald’s is classified as a ‘restaurant.’ Fast food, in my opinion, whether it be hamburgers, salads, ice cream, etc. in no way, shape, or form qualify as ‘restaurant foods.’ There was an incident near my home involving McDonalds and a salad. A woman found a razor blade in her salad! I don’t recall the amount of the lawsuit, but perhaps it is not as bad as this current event. This article, once again, informs us to be aware of what we are eating. Skip the salad next time..

For me, the first sentence did not tie in with everything until I read the piece a second time. The writing was very personal and descriptive. In a sense, I think that I got ‘inside’ Rodriguez’s head – his words were strong and believable. I liked that he made reference to his younger self in the first paragraph – by using the fourteen year old girl as an example. Although he is only forty, Rodriguez has come to many conclusions about his life thus far. I believe, in the end of the piece, he is educating us about his resentment, or rather his past mistakes (if I may?). He frequently mentions the word “nostalgia.” He conveys his thoughts and emotions, saying “I yearned for a time when I had not been so alone. I became impatient with books.” It seems as though he has made one HUGE mistake – growing apart from those who matter most: his family. If only he could have had a blance between education and family. “I told myself that I wanted a more passionate life. And a life less thoughtful. And above all, I wanted to be less alone.” These lines are so sad – although he does not indicate in these three lines any sense of regret, he is hoping for something that is not currently there.

As I read this piece, I found I was able to relate to Rodriguez on several occasions. Some descriptions and lines seemed to really ‘hit home.’ For example, in high school “[t]o pass an examination, I copied down exactly what my teachers told me.” This line could not be more true. Sometimes, in subjects I am not so good in – such as History – I borrow ideas. “All his ideas are clearly borrowed.” Also, “books brought me academic success as I hoped that they would.”

I disagree with one of Rodriguez’s passages, however. He states that William Saroyan’s The Human Comedy was “so enjoyable to read” thus “it couldn’t be very important.”" How can this be true? Every book is unique. The reason one gets pleasure from reading is because it is enjoyable to him or her. What makes a book “important”? This is obviously Rodriguez’s own personal opinion. What do you think?

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Woman Finds Black Widow Spider in Grapes

HARTFORD, CONN. —
Price Chopper removed a brand of black seedless grapes from the shelves
at its Newington supermarket Thursday after a woman said she found a
poisonous black widow spider.

Price Chopper is the name of the Super Market involved in this incident; this is specifically why the article stuck out to me. At school, unless students have cars and desire to drive a greater distance, Price Chopper is their only option. This story takes place in Hartford, Connecticut, however. The woman’s name is Sheryl Rosen and she resides in Rocky Hill. The grapes she chose were sa bag of seedless black Autum Royal. She purchases them on a Tuesday but did not discover the the black widow spider until Thursday when she decided to eat them at work. Rosen works at the Connecticut Poison Control Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center – the spider was taken there upon discovery.

Price Chopper supermarket spokeswoman, Mona Golub, commented on this incident saying it was “rare.” It is a chain that has had only few cases over the last 20 years. As a precaution, the grocery chain removed the grapes that were from California. Director of health for the Central Connecticut Health District, Paul Hutcheon, “cautioned customers to stay alert.” The spider is recognizable because of its distinctive red hourglass shape on its abdomen. Currently, the spider is “in a jar and we will wait until we hear if anyone is investigating it further about the source” – Bernard Sangalli, toxicologist and administrative director of the C.T. Poison Control Center.

This article can relate to the previous ones that I have chosen. I enjoy writing about health issues they keep me informed about what is going on in the world – and my own health. It has taught me to be alert and aware of what I am putting into my body at all times.

Chef Makes Wedding Gown With Cream Puffs

“UZHHOROD, UKRAINE — Valentyn Shtefano’s pastries were known for
attracting stares and giggles as well as lip-smacking murmurs. But even
his fiancee was surprised when Shtefano told her he was making her
wedding dress — out of flour, eggs, sugar and caramel.”

I saw this article and was immediately drawn to read further. Go to the site above for a picture of the dress! It is definitely interesting!! According to the source, the dress was made of 1,500 cream puffs and weighed approximately 20 pounds! It took two months to make and was truly liked by the bride – she did not want to take it off!

In addition to the dress, Viktoriya (Shtefano’s wife) wore boquet and necklace made from carmelized sugar. At first she admits, “..it was even a little embarassing.” This is in relation to the cameras and interviews.

This was not the first ‘taste’ of Shtefano’s creative work, however (haha, made that one up myself). He began baking six years ago but last year took a three month baking course in Paris. It was here that he and his sister entered an international baking compertition and placed third. Their creation: a 2-foot-long 1920’s era Cadillac made of cream puffs and carmel! How cool!

    Taking A.P. U.S. History in eleventh grade provided me with background information on Frederick Douglas’ life. Obviously what I learned about him was minsicule in comparison to the excerpts I have just read. This piece was honest, yet graphic. The clear descriptions allowed me to paint a picture in my mind.

    I found the introduction of several characters at once to be extremely confusing. I tried to remember each and every individual but it was impossible by the end. It is also difficult to “jump around” from chapter to chapter – but if we did not do so, we would be reading novel upon novel.

    I was unaware that Douglas’ mother was African American and his father was white. It was sad to read that Douglas did not have a relationship with his mother or his sibblings. I was also unaware of his journies – being passed on from master to master. The hardships he faced are unexplainable and unfathomable. It is disgusting to read about the pleasure that some slave owners got from whipping their slaves. I could NEVER imagine living through anything like this.

    My favorite part of the piece was at the end with Douglas and his friend, Sandy Jenkins. To me, the concept of the ‘root’ and it’s ‘magical powers’ had no validity — in the beginning. But as Douglas went on to describe how he had not  been whipped since, I was forced to question myself: coincidence or truth? I can only assume, since I will never know for sure. I enjoyed the ending.

Idaho Toddler Dies From Tainted Spinach

BOISE, IDAHO– “A 2-year-old boy
who died from kidney failure last month had been infected with the same
strain of E. coli bacteria that prompted a nationwide consumer warning
on fresh spinach, health officials said Thursday.”

I figured this would be a good follow up on the previous article (I believe it was 2 current event blogs ago). I was shocked to read this because I thought the first and ONLY death occured in Wisconsin. It’s hard to believe the spinach that caused the death was grown in California.

According to the article, E. coli was the primary cause of death for the young boy; it caused him to develop a type of kidney failure. Genetic testing was done to prove that the illness was directly from the spinach.

In just this last week, the Food and Drug Administration lifted the two-week consumer warning on fresh spinach. I remained scared and worried to eat it, however, until two days ago. I went out to dinner with my roommate on wednesday night to the Steivesant Plaza to a little restaurant. They told us they could not make certain meals because they could not use the type of salad until about a week longer. I still cannot believe this epidemic!..

    This was one of the most interesting pieces of literature I read this school year. I believe the main point of the article was to establish the concept of language, itself, and its many possibilities. I give the author, Megan Foss, credit for writing about her life, in great detail. It is hard to believe someone can come out of such a bad position (prostitution and jail) and become so successful in the future (a freshman composition teacher).

    If it wasn’t for Megan’s influential professor, I wonder, would this story be published today? A lot of credit goes to this professor; she is the one who encouraged Megan to write “the way she spoke it.” She took time to get to know her situation and Megan was able to trust her.

    One of my favorite lines is on page 19, the second paragraph from the bottom. It is an extremely strong paragraph, although it is only comprised of three sentences.

                “There was less at stake with the rape. That was in the past. That happened to                         Mickey—not Megan.”

    This passage voices Megan’s true feelings. As she states in the next paragraph, she is “healing.” I despise what her first professor told her: that her past did not matter and that no one would believe it. Everyones’ pasts are important; they establish who we become in the future.

    Two more quotes I enjoyed:

    “It didn’t matter anymore if the whole world found out that I was trailer park trash because I’d discovered something. I can say “gonna” and “hermeneutics” in the same sentence and if it doesn’t sound authentic, the problem is with the way the world listens and not thr way I speak” (page 20).

    “I wrote to discover and I wrote to heal and I wrote to decide. I wrote to make meaning in a world that held none” (17).

    These quotes are significant to me because they come from Megan’s heart. It is hard to believe she has come so far. I must wonder, however, if she had some previous talent with the language beforehand. Obviously, jail and college strengthened her writing. Perhaps her never-ending desire to write, even when she was a prositute, makes her a good writer.