Last Week of Freedom

Hello everyone. So, I was right, I got another A. So far my GPA for my pursuit of a Masters degree is remaining a steadfast 4.0. Let's hope I can keep it that way in the upcoming semesters. Doubtful. In a week I'll be returning to the vicious grind and I feel like I've been cheated out of my summer. Since two months were stolen from me for classes I did not get to do a lot of what I would have wanted. C'est la vie, right?

My limited time hasn't gone to naught, though. I spent a few days down at the beach (thankfully I didn't get burnt at all), and I've been attending the Renaissance Faire around here as regularly as possible. It's definitely been a lot of fun. I've met quite a deal of new people and am enjoying their company with every passing day. People always ask me why I go and it's simply because of the people. You'll never find a more diverse group. Besides, you get to dress up!! This past weekend was great fun. Three Pints Shy came back to play their sets for the weekend and I was excited to see them, plus it rained profusely on Sunday and it's always a different experience in the rain! I plan on continuing my visits there for the upcoming weekends until it ends at the close of September, and then I plan to go down to the PA one a few times in October. Let's hope that all works out with all the crazy business that's about to ensue!

In other news, twice this month I was told by two people that some of the work I'm producing with my little point-and-shoot camera is better than some of the work they are seeing DSLR users produce. I really couldn't have asked for a better compliment. My jaw hit the floor several times. These two people are timseydell and dennissnider. They are wonderful photographers and great people. For them to say that to me is an ultimate experience. I can't thank them enough for being the people they are and the friends they have become.

As school takes over I'll probably become spotty again but I'm always here for my almost always daily submission and notes are probably the easiest way of getting in contact if there's some kind of dire emergency.

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: Jaws by: Peter Benchley - Whether it's the Great White Shark or the Great White Whale, our fascination and terror for the ocean has permeated throughout the ages. We are awful swimmers, we are not able to hold our breath for more than, at best, a few minutes, we cannot see well underwater and we certainly can't dive very deep for fear of our bodies collapsing upon themselves. Yet, time and again, we are defied by what we consider lower forms of life. The creatures that we consider have nothing but pure instinct and drive. Peter Benchley's novel contradicts and destroys our pretenses with fear. We are introduced to the small town of Amity and all of it's problems, especially their most recent addition: a giant Great White shark that decides on only killing swimmers from Amity's shoreline and is terrorizing the hearts and minds of its inhabitants.

Marin Brody, chief of police, is our main character but we get the perspective of many other characters as well to give us a feel for the life that Amity provides, or doesn't. We understand the desperation with which they live off of other people's temporary money during the summers. We also understand their apprehension for themselves rather than for other people. Keep the beaches open, they cry, even if there is a killer shark waiting to be sated of human flesh. This becomes the integral theme of the story. Greed and power manifested in the waiting fish, waiting to show the world its dues. It's main target is Larry Vaughan, mayor and also part of a mafia run scandal that ruins him in the end. Greed for sex and knowledge in Matt Hooper. Greed and obsession over catching and revenging nothing but one's own pride in the Ahab-inspired Quint. This is not to say that making a living is full of pride and greed but to send a message that the world is full of simplicities, full of small victories that should be savored and cherished and loved because one never knows when something as unfeeling and uncaring as a shark could come along and snatch it away. It's an old testament God, which ties into the beliefs of the elderly post master Minnie.

The book is easy to read, full of riveting scenes that keep you trudging through the rather unsophisticated writing style. Despite this the fear that the story invokes and requests without pause from the reader is phenomenal. It's similar to the movie in many ways, which will please the lovers of the film. At the same time it is profoundly different and well addressed to a reading style. The main thing I did not like about it, and perhaps I am bias because I watched the film when I was younger and has become a favorite of mine, was that the books is much more political. I may have to reread it and take the idea of greed with me along for the ride next time since the best instances of greed can be found in the politics of a human being and of a town. To me, however, it was too stressed and a bit too forced. Other than that it was a great read and worth every moment.  

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"Confutatis Maledictus
Confutatis Maledictus
Tragedy storms him when demons spare her life
And all discovers she has a Demonheart."
-Demonherat by: Luca Turilli