Chris The Milk Manshake

Chris The Milk Manshake

By Chris Whitacre

I really enjoyed doing blogs this semester.  It has been my first time doing one and I find it to be very interesting.  After making a couple entries after the first couple weeks of the semester, I had an idea to make my very own blog.  I have been toying around an idea to start a food critic blog.  Since I love milkshakes more than anything in the world, my plan is to go around town and critique all of the milkshakes that are available to me.  There have been a few titles that have popped up in my mind.  One that pops up most often is Chris The Milk Manshake.  And that was created with the help of my sister. 

            So my plan is, that hopefully this summer I put some time in creating a very nice looking blog and start going around and judging milkshakes.  I would probably rate them on a new scale that I would create myself.  Possibly called the Chris Scale.  And I would eat the entire milkshake and make my decision.  I would probably post pictures and videos on the blog too.  Right now I feel like some of the best milkshakes in town come from places like Steak n Shake and Potbelly’s.  The unfortunate thing is that I will need to critique that bad milkshakes too.  Like McDonalds and Burger King milkshakes.  But since I am in love with milkshakes it wont be that hard. 

            Please give me some feedback.  If you think this is a good or bad idea let me know.  Would you read something like this?  And if you know of any places close to, or around town that has killer milkshakes, please tell me.  Thank you for reading my English blog this week. 

Word Count 301 

When I Drink Coffee, Nothing Can Stop Me

When I Drink Coffee, Nothing Can Stop Me

Or can it?  I never really grew up drinking coffee.  I did not like the taste.  Whenever I had the chance to drink coffee, I always loaded it with so much sugar.  But as I felt the need to drink coffee in my first year of college, I started to get used to the taste.  And I only cut down to two packets of sugar.  Recently I have been drinking coffee everyday before class.  And the whole day I have stayed awake.  But last Sunday when I was finishing up my 4-page paper I had too much coffee.  I woke up and went to Einstein’s in the bone student center.  I worked on some homework and had a blended coffee drink.  Later in the day I purchased a tall cup of coffee.  After one cup immediately I refilled it and started drinking the other.  As the day progress I started to feel really sick.  My stomach was hurting and I just felt ‘weird.’  I tried laying in bed to get over the feeling, but I never had a chance to take a nap.  My body wouldn’t let me sleep.  I felt very miserable, but I had to finish the paper.  Eventually I toughed it out and went to the library to work on it.  My sickness was starting to die down.  And I was starting to feel better. 

            From this experience I have learned not to drink two giant cups of coffee in a row.  My body can’t handle it.  It was a terrible feeling.  And since then I haven’t drank any coffee.  But I can see myself having coffee every once in a while.  I will have to limit myself to one cup a day.  So I will have to start saying goodbye to the delicious blend of beans, mixed with cream and sugar. 

word count 313 

Procrastination Is Just My Situation

Procrastination Is Just My Situation

Like Rodriguez I had trouble reading and writing papers when I first started.  But she was right.  The talent is gained over time.  You will understand what you need to do when you write papers.  When its writing on sticky notes or just sitting and thinking for a while, you will get it done your way. 

                When writing papers or blogs I usually procrastinate.  I feel like that is my style.  The rush of having to get it done really helps me think.  At the end of the night when I’m lying in bed I feel very relieved to have gotten everything done.  I have done some of my best papers the night before they were due.  Procrastination is just my situation.

                And everybody has their own “situation.”  Some people like doing their work when it is first assigned.  A lot of people like taking their time and doing the work gradually.  And probably many people end up doing it at the last minute. 

                I know of some examples where people study better when they study the very same day as the test.  They would get up early before their classes start and study.  Even though they have a test that same day.  I for one cannot do this.  Not at all!  I like studying for tests the night before.  I also like going to study sessions that are being held.

                But also I dealing with my procrastination situation, I rarely get A’s on tests.  It is hard for me to enjoy school sometimes, so my mind always thinks of better things.  It is so easy for me to focus on things that I’d rather do.   Sitting at my desk in my dorm with Microsoft Word open, with a new document, and I’m paying attention to the world going on outside of my window.   I don’t really care for school.

Word Count 315

Close Reading

I would say that I haven’t learned anything about close reading.  I have known for a long time how to analyze a text.  Close reading is a term I can call it now.  I have learned in high school or middle school how to read into the words the author is writing.  But if it helps, I have paid more attention to deeper meanings in things around me.  When I have been listening to music, I have started to pay more attention to the lyrics the artist is singing.  I try to imagine what the artist was going through and why he/she chooses to sing these lyrics.  And what did he/she mean by this certain phrase of lyrics. 

Literature is a very uncertain thing to close read.  Only when an author or artist truly states what he/she meant by their particular work of art or novel, then you will truly know the message they were trying to convey.  I would prefer that the creator doesn’t share their feelings or inspirations for their particular work.  Then the job is up to you to “close read” and try to understand the message behind the art. 

But sometimes if the artist or author never lets his/her admirers know what the idea behind their work is, then they will never understand it.  Without the authors conformation on the message behind the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” then we would have never know the true story.  We would not have known some of the deep messages or meanings within the details of her story. 

So close reading is important to learn.  It would be even better the earlier you learn about it.  So you can understand underline messages within everything you see.  Because a lot of art is not straightforward.  Part of art is to lay deeper messages within the art,  and close reading is how you uncover it.

Word count 314 

English Paper

So my 8 - 10 page paper that I am going to write in English is about the DIY concept versus the Music Industry.  I am going to cover all of the aspects of how DIY is separate from the Music Industry.  I will explain what the DIY concept is and how it is appealing.  And I will explain how the Music Industry is ruining music and making it all about the money.  I quote a few documentary’s that I have discovered that favor the DIY concept and explain what is put into the art and how much it takes to do it yourself.  They explain that the music industry is all about the image and putting yourself out there just for the money.  Producers, agents and managers are only looking to make money off of the artist.  And the artist is only looking to become a famous rockstar.  There are ways to play for people and become known without making money off of your art. The DIY concept is about putting forth effort and creating everything yourself. DIY is all about being creative.  I explain that there are DIY outputs all around us.  Even some can be seen in Bloomington-Normal.  There are a few DIY venues like the Fishbowl or Dawson’s Creek.  And they rarely charge money, unless there is a touring band.  But these venues are all about creating and sharing music.  No money involved.  The way music is supposed to be.          

I feel like I will be able to fill all of the pages with my knowledge.  I feel like I know a lot about the subject and can explain it.  I really enjoy the concept and hope that there still continues to be a DIY scene in the future. 

Word count 302 

Flier Review

Chris Whitacre

English 101

3/25/12

Review

I am reviewing a show flier that advertised a concert on October 2011 at Panchos. a DIY house.  This flier stands out from any other flier that I have seen.  The artwork is the most detailed and unique piece I’ve ever seen.  The artist of the flier is a bassist in a band called Spanyurd.  He makes his fliers for all of their shows.  The flier is very creative and includes all of the necessary information for any concert goer.  It includes the cost, age limit, address, date, time and all of the bands playing.  One thing that I would complain about is that the digital version I received has the bottom cut off.  The band names at the top of the flier confuse me,  it is not clear to me what exactly the band names are.  If one of the bands is called 400 Blows, or if its two bands 400 and Blows.  But other than that there was absolutely nothing else to complain about.  This flier is absolutely beautiful.

Out of any other DIY show flier I have seen doesn’t even compare to the detail and beauty of this flier.  DIY fliers usually show that there was thought and creativity put into making it.  And usually they are very random but eye-catching.  But this artist went straight to the top.  By looking at the detail of the flier you can tell that there has been a lot of work put into it. 

            I’m sure anyone that sees this flier would go to the show just on pure curiosity on what these bands are actually like.  From looking at the artists other works you can tell he has a theme.  Every flier I have looked at includes a image that represents the bands that are playing that event.  In the flier presented I have been able to pick out the band Eyes which is represented by the eyes in the jar, and I have picked out the Spanyurd which is a masked man that appears in all of the fliers.  To be honest I don’t even know what the other band names mean so they could be represented within the flier without my knowledge. 

            I have been in the DIY scene for a couple years now and I have never been blown away by any show fliers until the band Spanyurd started playing shows.  It has definitely increased my interest in listening and seeing the band. 

            Overall I would give this flier a 10 on my review scale of 10.  This flier introduced me to some great, unique and detailed art.  As well as a fast paced, technical and angry sounding band.  When I saw Spanyurd play at a show in town I was immediately a fan.  Now only is the band talented in music but they are also talented in art and graphic design.  The guys in Spanyurd are very nice and polite and I look forward to hearing more of their music as well as seeing more of their intense and interesting fliers.  

Word count 512

Amazon Customer Review 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002AMZ15K/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

I am the only review - ChrisWhitacre