Done!

I finished my portfolio and it's looking pretty good. Should have my grade in a little over three hours. Then, I can sleep.

Schindler Analysis

Schindler’s List is pretty high on my all time favorite movies list. There is something special about this movie among all of my other favorites. While other movies have spectacular special effects, this one isn’t even in color. There are no major action sequences with guns blazing, but there is are scenes with quite enough death. What makes this movie so enjoyable to watch? This movie is built completely around the development and evolution of the main character, Oskar Schindler. The man that we meet at the beginning of the film is not the man that we leave at the end.
At the beginning of the film, Schindler is nothing but a typical businessman. He tries to cut all of the corners he can in order to make a few more dollars. He bribes others so that he can do what he wants and get away with it. However, as the film progresses he begins to change. He starts bribing not so that he can get away with things, but so that he can save lives. He starts a campaign to save as many Jews from the Nazis as possible. By the end, the same greedy businessman is crying over not saving as many people as he possibly could have. Although he has saved hundreds by letting them work in his factory, he is not satisfied.
One has to ask the question, “How true to the real Oskar Schindler was Liam Neeson’s character?” From the Crowe readings, I can see some similarities, but also some differences. For example, the real man truly did save a lot of Jews from death in the Nazi work camp. But did he really care about them enough to cry because he didn’t save them all. I don’t think so. I think his motivations in the real world were more for own self-appeasement. He did not like the Nazi SS at all, and what would make them more mad than saving a few Jews. He also saved a lot of money through employing the Jewish population because they would work for much cheaper.
The movie falters in a few other areas as well, such as when it makes up scenes such as when Schindler watches Jews being murdered from the hilltop. There are no records to ever indicate that such an event happened, and even if it had, I don’t think that the true Oskar Schindler would have been effected. No matter what his true motivations were, his actions did save the lives of hundreds of Jews, and for that he deserves to be honored.

Tiger

As anyone who has been anywhere near a TV, magazine, computer, another person, etc. knows, Tiger Woods is in some trouble. As more and more women come out and say that they had been with him at some point, more and more stories are run through the news. I am really getting tired of hearing about it. I do not agree at all with what Tiger did, but I think that the whole situation is getting carried away. There has to be at least one other news story that has some actual influence on the world.

Elie Weisel

Elie Wiesel has become the face of Holocaust remembrance, and rightfully so. He lived through some of the worst that the Holocaust had to offer. What sets him apart from other survivors, is the amount of dedication he has given in his life towards Holocaust awareness. He has a great passion towards the entire tragedy and this is obvious in the speeches that he has given and the books that he has written. In Night, he gives so much detail and paints such a vivid picture when he writes and speaks that he stirs emotions up inside his audience. "Our line now had only fifteen paces to cover. I bit my lips so that my father would not hear my teeth chattering." By giving details such as this, Wiesel shows the sense of fear that came over everyone in the situation. In his speech "Universal Lessons of the Holocaust" he is absolutely right in the fact that we have to remember the victims of the Holocaust. If we don't remember, a tragedy similar to this might occur again. We must not let history repeat itself.

Red Wings

So, a few weeks ago I had to go to DMC for a check up and when I was there a social worker of some kind came up to me while I was waiting in the office and asked if I was a Red Wings fan. Of course I am, you can't live this close to Hockeytown and not be. So she said she might be able to get me some tickets for one of the home games. Well, natually I was excited when I found out that I had gotten tickets for free for last night's game. However, it wasn't just free tickets. Before the game we had go to the suite holders entrance where we were meeted by the PR rep of the Wings. She then led us down the hall to the Red Wing's locker room where we got to meet Coach Babcock and sit in his office and talk for a little while. Although intense, he seemed like a really nice and down to earth guy. He signed a few pictures for us and gave me a bag full of Red Wings stuff, which also had a puck signed by Johan Franzen. Then, we took the elevators up to the game and thoroughly enjoyed a 4-1 wings victory. All in all, it was a really cool experience.

I'll have to post some pictures later.

Advice about Black Friday:


DON'T GO!!!!

Actually though, I headed to Best Buy this morning to get a few deals, nothing big but just a few little things. The line there at 5:30 really moved fairly quickly. Then, I made the mistake of going to Target... WOW! That's the only word to describe the amount of people there. The line went all the way from the front of the store to the back of the store and weaved back and forth multiple times. It was like a maze made out of people. Needless to say, I didn't need anything that badly from Target.

Thanksgiving

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone and once again I feel like I have eaten enough food for the next whole year. The amount of food that both sides of my family prepares is pretty ridiculous, so much so that we get the opportunity to eat the leftovers for the next week. And if this year is anything like the years leading up to it, I'll be tired of turkey by tomorrow.

Another thing:

It's amazing how much attention you can get if you let your hair grow a little bit. Both sides of my family made a huge deal out of my medium length hair because up until recently it was short for the entire first 18 years of my life. Yeah, my mom didn't want me to change too much through the years... But now it is a little longer and I had to hear about it all day. So if you want some attention, change your hair. lol