[Kelly Langer]

“The paratext crafted by white prefacers and editors, however, reduces fugitive author to fugitive reporter, a construction that accommodates Thomas Jefferson’s distasteful declaration that ‘never yet could I find a black had uttered a thought above the level of plain narration,” (McCoy, 201).  This serves to show that it definitely can be taken advantage of or misused when white prefacers are indeed writing the preface because they can make the slave narrative more believable or less believable depending on what they write. This believability in turn makes the book more likely to be bought by a white audience, which is also a misuse of the text because why is it so hard for a white audience to believe the words of a freed slave? Why do they need a white male to make their narrative more legitimate? There was a wide-held belief that slaves were lying in an attempt to make themselves look better and to strengthen the cause of the abolitionists, but in order to “correct” this they needed a white prefacer to make their story appear and sound more believable. However, when the preface was deleted or written by an African-American did this make their narrative less believable?

[Kelly Langer]

This may have been mentioned before, but the first sentence of the last paragraph has the most impact on the impact and rhythm of the text. In the Hay version it is, “It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished which they who fought here, have, so nobly carried on,” while the Nicolay version states, “It is for us, the living,to stand herewe be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion–that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation,shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth,” and lastly the Bliss version, “It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here, have thus far,so nobly advanced.” The Hay and Nicolay versions sound choppy while the Bliss version has fluidity to it. To replace the words “carried on” with “nobly” makes those fighting the Civil War sound more regal and valiant, while the words “carried on” makes the soldiers sound as if it is an arduous task, which is most certainly is. The word nobly has more of an appealing sound to it than carried on does. The fluidity is effected by the replacements and additions of other words between the versions, which makes the last paragraph itself have a better rhythm to it. By separating the Nicolay version in several sentences rather than one sentence it also helps with the flow and rhythm because it makes it sound less rushed and more attention is given to what is said.

[Kelly Langer]

I agree with Melissa and Alexa, Thoreau’s use of technology when measuring the pond is primitive, but when he uses and axe, as Allison has noted, he is making use of new technology. Technology appears to be the use of any sort of tool that helps to make the work of man less laborious in nature. It could certainly be argued that Thoreau admires and applauds the use of technology, while contradicting himself and abhorring the use of technology in other instances, like the iron horse, as Allison has also noted. He seems to applaud the use of technology if it is innovative and is efficient, but dislikes technology when it destroys nature- like the railroad and post office because the railroad thrusts smoke into the air and the post office adds to the waste of paper. The waste of paper may not seem like much, but as Beth Witherall pointed out to us, Thoreau reused the same piece of paper several times that was still useable to him.

[Kelly Langer]

Through social mobility, as Darby mentioned, more people have gained access to others opinions, thoughts, and ideas, which does indeed allow them room to change their minds. However, such access has allowed people to express their thoughts, ideas, etc. to a wider array of people and though that does not sound like an awful thing at first it allows people to hide behind their technology. Such hiding can lead people to believe that they can spout their hate-filled thoughts and ideas, which include cyberbullying. Also to some the use of technology may be unnecessary to some because their lives do not require the use of it nor do they wish their lives to require the use of it. For example there is a movie entitled The Gods Must be Crazy in which an African tribe in accidentally introduced to a form of technology, a glass Coke bottle, and it is used for useful things like in the preparation of food, but ultimately the tribesman who discovered the bottle wishes it to go back from where it came from. He wishes this because people in the tribe are fighting over the bottle, this new technology, when before the bottle appeared there was no fighting. Perhaps Thoreau is also arguing that with technology comes fighting and wars that would not have been created if it were not for technology. This brings about the argument that the presence of technology creates fighting where fighting would not have originally existed, the same could be argued about colonialism, but that is another discussion. However, one thing is certain is that with technology comes great responsibility, but some people abuse technology and use it to harm others rather using it to help others.

[Kelly Langer]

Brief summaries of books are found within the jacket, as mentioned by both Emilys, but that summary is often attempting to sell the book to the reader and it is attempting to entice them. This summary is not necessarily a lie, but like most advertisements it is not the full truth because why would someone want to read a book if they already know what happens? Much like why would someone want to watch a movie if they already know what happens? In both cases there should always be an aura of mystery to them and with those longer titles they would tell exactly what was going to happen within the text. Those titles were also so ridiculously long that I’m surprised that anyone read the full title- 40 words long is just that, long. Yes they were meant to be summaries of the text, but I feel like more is left to the imagination by having the summary in the jacket of the text rather than in the title.

[Kelly Langer]

WakeUpNow is noted as possibly being a pyramid scheme by the podcast and after looking at their website the whole operation seems very sketchy. People are paid money when they get people to join the company, but if people can’t recruit others to join the company then they are losing money. WakeUpNow has its own brand of energy drink that is member’s only and can only be bought by members. There are benefits to being member like their fitness program and vacation club, but I can’t find anywhere that says how much it costs to be a member. I know that in the podcast they mentioned Damien having to pay $100 every so often, but is this like a gym membership where the members have to pay a certain amount every month or every year or what? The company only generates money for a select few in the company, only about 4% of people, but the other members suffer a great loss of money. They mention that their results of earning large sums of money isn’t typical, but it sounds like they draw people in and once they’re members they’re stuck. They’re drawn in like moths to a flame or like the members of Jim Jones’ cult. Hopefully their energy drink isn’t like the Koolaid that Jim Jones had his members drink. Anyway, WakeUpNow promises a lot of things to its members, but with very little reward in return for their membership. Though are ‘up front’ about how people making that much money is unlikely they are still drawing people in with their supposed products that will help people live a better lifestyle—manage their money, live their dreams, and learn new things, “You can go on your dream vacations and stay in luxurious hotels at incredible prices. You can learn a new language from the comfort of your computer. You can manage your money and work to become financially independent. WakeUpNow provides the tools to help you live life better. ” I call foul!

[Author]

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