The Raven (an exerpt) by Edgar Allan Poe

Since, Halloween is right around the corner (really it is). I decided to post an excerpt of one Edgar Allan Poe's famous poems, "The Raven," With no further ado:

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you" — here I opened wide the door; —— Darkness there, and nothing more.    

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore!"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"
                                                Merely this, and nothing more.    


Then into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon I heard again a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore —
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
                                    'Tis the wind, and nothing more!"    

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door —
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door —
                                         Perched, and sat, and nothing more.    

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore —
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
                                             Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."    


Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning — little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no sublunary being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door —
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
                                               With such name as "Nevermore."    

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered — not a feather then he fluttered —
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "Other friends have flown before —
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
                                               Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."    


Wondering at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster — so, when Hope he would adjure,
Stern Despair returned, instead of the sweet Hope he dared adjure —
                                               That sad answer, "Nevermore!"

(If you wish to read more, click here to read the whole poem)

Lady Mechanika (a comic book review)

Yesterday a few friends and I went to Comic Book Jones to catch up on some comics. It was my first time there so I was very interested in the array of comic series they had on display. I got two comics called Lady Mechanika and Mercy Sparx. Both had awesome punky and grungy themes through their female characters. In Lady Mechanika you there is more of a SteamPunk theme in the artwork, which I frankly find amazing because it actually takes place in the 1800's. The main character is just awesome and kick ass. For the beginning of the comic it has a basic plot to follow. There isn't really that much of a mystery to get into in the beginning. Although, if you are into comics with kick-ass female main characters that curse like a sailor and a dark color scheme to go along with it, I recommend Lady Mechanika.

Is Feminism Gone Wrong?

Recently, I had an interesting conversation with someone on feminist ideals and we both arrived at the idea or rather the question: Is Feminism today gone wrong? Of course, he said yes and I didn't know if I wanted to answer back.  In the 1960's feminism was a big movement in which many women who participated wanted to stop being constricted exorcising their rights (i.e certain job positions, etc). The feminists who protested fought for what most of us females today have. However, at the end of that movement things seem to have gone out of control. The common view that women are superior than men has become a shared aspect of feminists today. More people have gone against the feminist's views(Susan Pinker) and others have decided to believe in it like a religion. I personally am not saying every feminist or non-femenist thinks this way; but majority goes to either extreme. I would like to have a nice conversation on the rights of a female with someone, whether they are male or female,without having to worry if being a feminist is wrong or misunderstood. When I say I am feminist, I mean that women should have equal opportunity as men to get equal paying jobs, or that it shouldn't be reprimanded or looked down upon if a woman decides not to have children. Women shouldn't be seen as some sort of animal or a goddess. They should be seen as human beings. I am not asking to bring the moon to me. I am just asking not be judged for having an opinion despite me having a vagina. Is this wrong?

Moment for Some Hair! (mostly for girls)

I was able to get a little time for myself and make something new with my hair and ended up using this book you see here. The steps explained are easy to follow. And the beginning of the book gives you basic steps for prepping your hair and curling your hair. Pictures are included for most hairdo's so you can keep track of what you are doing. At the end of the book there is also a small section on cosmetics (lipstick, eyeliner makeup,and blush). I recommend this book if you need a hairstyle for when performing at your school play, Halloween, or just want to dress up that hair with something new.Everything else, you use your creativity (I was about to type MasterCard but it figures it has no context.)

Teachers Vs. Professor (The Confusion That Seems To Be Acceptable)

 Lately, I have been thinking of my word choices and how other people use theirs. English isn't my native language and it always confuses me how people tend to use words as synonyms when the words don't really follow the same defenition. One perfect example is the Teacher vs. Professor debacle. College Freshmen tend to call their professors "teacher" because they are used to that since they just came out of high school. But as they enter classes their teaching instructors(for lack of a better word), tell them "don't call me a teacher, call me professor(insert last name here)" or even "Dr. (Insert Last Name here)." I used to think "why is that?" But now I realize why. High School, whether private or public, still is a part of the state educational system. Private high schools still have to comply with the same certain laws as public high schools. They still have to have standardized tests and/or exams. Whereas for college, it isn't really part of the state educational system. As a matter a fact, college is its own business. Students have to pay tuition, room & board, their own books, even their own matters of transportation. It becomes an environment in which students are set upon a bigger responsibility than when they are in the state educational system. So in that sense, when you go to college the person that is lecturing you the class deserves to be called "Dr." or "professor" because they are giving you, the student, the responsibility of not only looking after your grades, but your future career. Because when you finish college, no matter the amount of years taken in them, you will end up having a career with the help of mostly your college degree and, believe it or not, your professors. Why? Because most of the time the professors are actually half-time professors and working half-time in a career. For example, one of my professors teaches 3 classes a week and she works at a newspaper. And not only that, professors are given a lot more money than a teacher. They are looked upon more in even helping students individually on finding careerpaths. Whether it is being a journalist, technician, business marketer it doesn't matter, your professors/(s) become your connection to the career world. So if you are going to college soon, remember this: although they do the same job, there is still a difference between a "teacher" and a "professor."

My First Ever Award!

Thank you all for following and reading my blog. I just got this award and I am amazed. It's my first ever award. And so I am passing this award to other bloggers who really deserve an award. Thank you all for reading and commenting, I greatly appreciate it and I will try to make your following this blog worthwhile. Here are the awardees:
The Blogger Formerly Known As...
Jodie-Ann
Kelly Milligan

Kelly
Kaykiie
benjyismyname
Fire Lyte
Fiona
Oliver
Eemah

Halloween Is on the Next Block!!! (a look into the holiday and more!)

Seeing as how today is the 30th and October will start tomorrow, I thought maybe to talk about one of my favorite times of year: HALLOWEEN! Halloween has become one of those highly commercialized holidays with buying costumes and goody-bags and etc. But people really haven't considered the reason behind Halloween. Many people go trick or treating with their children or families door to door not knowing what the real origins of Halloween are. There have been studies that Halloween originated as part of a Celtic tradition*. Of course, if you all don't know this or you might have heard that Halloween's name actually goes back to "All Hallows Eve" which in 16th Century Scotland that meant the night before Hallows Day. (By the way most of what I am writing here is from wikipedia, it isn't my own ideas)**. Supposedly, it was part of a festival call Samhain. And the day of Halloween it was heard that it was the night in which the dead, both bad and good, can travel into the normal realm. Most of the reason of why people tell ghost stories and do all sorts of fun but "creepy" stuff is because of that. I can't wait until Halloween because I enjoy Halloween and the tradition behind it. I have recently discovered my pagan connection and this year will be my first year celebrating Samhain. I enjoy dressing up and glittering up and parading through the streets. (BTW, costumes was also a way to copy and/throw off spirits back then). So this October I will be posting weekly or bi-weekly (if that is a word.lol) stories and pictures sent by YOU, the readers, that is related to Samhain or Halloween. They can be pranks, costumes, a local festival, local urban legends you have heard, freaky accidents, or some funny story that happened on Halloween. You can send it to my gmail : elysha45@gmail.com with the subject "Halloween". Hope you have a good All Hallows Eve! ^ ^

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain