Blog 10: Fish Out of Water

The event that I attended was a regular Sunday service at a Christian Science church. As I am quite passionately anti-religious and have not attended church for many years, I was certainly a fish out of water at this event. Arriving at the church about 15 minutes before the service was due to begin, I took the opportunity to introduce myself and talk to some of the more senior members of the church. There was certainly an apprehension on my part about disclosing that I was not a follower of their faith, however, I was greeted favorably. The woman who was handing out the service programs handed me some more information pamphlets about the religion, their particular church, and details of upcoming events. While she was very pleasant and welcoming, there was also a definite sense, as expected, that she was trying to convert me into become a regular visitor to the church. 

As the service began I took my seat off to the side of the altar as the pleasant organ music began. When the music died down a middle-aged man with a beard came forward to the altar and began reading from the Bible. The twenty or so members of the congregation, who were sat in rows of simple metallic chairs, watched the man intently as he read. I did the same and tried to garner what the message was from the particular section of text being read. However, my interest waned as the reading went on and my attention starting switching more and more to my surroundings. The service was situated in a small but aesthetically sound room that was dominated by the altar at front and center to which all the chairs and indeed eyes in the room were focused. To the right of the altar was a large organ, which provided the musical interlude between the readings and sermons throughout the hour-long service.

The second reading of the service came from the text entitled “Science and Health,” which I discovered beforehand was the other text, in addition to the Bible, that was used by practitioners of Christian Science. This reading dealt with the idea of healing through prayer, a central tenant of this particular branch of Christianity. After another reading had been and gone, a woman, who appeared to be in her early 50s, came forward and, after the organ played her in, began to sing. As soon as the organ music started this time everyone in the congregation rose to their feet in the knowledge of the song that was to follow. I followed suit and stood on listening to this woman, with a most enchanting voice, sing for about three minutes. I struggled, largely in vein, to understand the significance of the hymn, and my appreciation of it was almost solely from a musical stand-point.

After a final prayer was uttered, the organ closed out the service as it had begun. I bade my farewells to the individuals I had spoken to before the service; telling them that I had enjoyed it and would consider returning in the future. Although, I had in no way changed my views about the overall merits of religion in general, I was warmed by the attitudes of those I encountered at the church. Taking away their religious beliefs, the people there were extremely welcoming and created a real feel-good aura. While it is unlikely that I will return to the church in the future, I feel that I have a greater understanding of what people get of attending these events. Aside from the aspect of faith, there is a definite comfort and sense of belonging to be found, which I am sure is very attractive to many people, especially in times of distress.

Targetting Audiences

Instantly upon gazing upon this advertisement, it is apparent that the primary audience characteristic targeted is concern for the environment. The slogan, "innovation for the planet," clearly states that this is a car that aims to be environmentally friendly and is for like-minded readers. The blue background, overflowing from the color of the car, is also a deliberate implication of nature, specifically the ocean. Continuing on the theme of color, the change in text color to put "the planet" in yellow implores the reader to think of the sun, another key symbol of the natural environment.

The advertisement also has a secondary target group, however. For those in the audience who are not motivated by being green, the ad tries to draw-in those who are attracted to the latest technology. The word "innovation" is used in both the main slogan and in the smaller-print text at the bottom of the ad. "Innovation for all," in particular, is clearly there to imply that this vehicle is not only a positive step forward for the environment, but will also be a positive advance in enhancing the life of anyone who owns the car. The image of the car is also a deliberate attempt to suggest innovation. The front-on view of the automobile lets the reader focus in on the futuristic looking front of the car. Furthermore, the image makes it appear that the vehicle is coming toward the reader, almost as if the future is coming.


While the advertisement does not explicitly target particular standard audience demographics, it is implied, by the nature of the vehicle and the popularity of electric vehicles among certain groups, that the ad is primarily aimed at people with families, or those with a well-paying job who can afford to pay more to be environmentally friendly.

Word #10

Word: Priggish (adjective)

Original sentence: "Even to wonder these days whether a foray into baldly profit-making, politically loaded entertainment reflects on a public figure’s worthiness for office is to risk being seen as, and feeling, priggish and prunish." (from New Yorker online article "Mush! Sarah Palin Takes Us for a Ride"

Merriam-Webster dictionary definition: (for "prig") "1. (archaic) fop. 2. (archaic) fellow, person. 3. one who offends or irritates by observance of proprieties (as of speech or manners) in a pointed manner or to an obnoxious degree"

My sentence: Although she is my wife's best friend and I have to be nice to her, I have to say, I find Claire awfully priggish. 

Word #9

Word: cadging (verb)

Original sentence: "P.P.S. The Lib Dem MP Charles Kennedy recently showed up at a big speech without a poppy, and attempted to remedy his error by cadging one from a more junior party member." From The New Yorker, 'View From Abroad: The poppy Index.'

Merriam-Webster dictionary definition: (for "cadge") Beg, sponge.

My sentence: Jimmy was so desperate for cash, he was cadging it off his own family.

Copy Edit the World #3

1. From Metro San Jose online: "That was my original idea. Branch was on board, but we needed another guitar player, because we were a little thin." Fraser says."

There should be a comma, rather than a period at the end of the quote.

2. From Metro San Jose online: "It's not until the end of the movie that she's back to her old self, a walking tackle-box-worth of piercings, dressed like Cher during her brief Mohican era and wearing the ornery, put-upon expression that has brought worldwide fame."

A colon would be much more appropriate here, especially given the number of commas in the sentence.

3.  From Metro San Jose online: "We meet a too-earnest Matt Damon as George Lonegan, reluctant San Francisco psychic who is working at a factory to avoid using his gift."

The writer should either make it "a reluctant" or change the comma to a semicolon.

4. From Metro San Jose online: "Yael Hersonski's A Film Unfinished salvages and gives context to the soundless, abandoned footage shot by the Nazis."

Here the title of the movie has been italicized, yet in the rest of the article and in other articles, movie titles are not italicized.

5. From Metro San Jose online: "Lucetta (Milla Jovovich, very improved, if Oscar-stalking)."

Should be "much improved.

6. From Metro San Jose online: "Let's don't change his status on the grounds of a movie that certainly thinks it's a play."



Should be "not," rather than "don't."

Blog #8: IMHO

How Latin America has Shown-Up the Hypocrisy of U.S. Democracy

Following Dilma Rousseff’s election as president, Brazil has joined its South American neighbors Chile and Argentina in recently electing a woman into the most powerful position in their respective countries. In the cases of Rousseff and Chile’s recently deposed President Michelle Bachelet, their stories provide an interesting historical and current insight into the differing ideas and policies of democracy in Latin America and the United States. Specifically, the U.S. has made interventions in both Brazil and Chile that dented the cause of democracy in the countries and Rousseff and Bachelet’s own campaign for it, while, in the last 60-plus years, having a consistent policy to spread their “democracy” around the globe.

Rousseff follows in the footsteps of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who became the country’s first leftist leader since Brazil came under military rule in the 1960s. In what will come as little surprise to those with knowledge of the history of Latin America, the U.S. is known to have supported the military coup, overthrowing a democratically elected government in 1964 [see declassified audio tapes of Lyndon Johnson’s presidency]. In an even more poignant twist, Rousseff was imprisoned and tortured by the same military dictatorship in 1970 [New York Times profile of Rousseff].

Michelle Bachelet, who led Chile from 2006 until earlier this year, too, has a very personal story of how the U.S. held back both her country’s and her own personal democratic rise.  Bachelet was imprisoned and tortured by the military following the coup that led to Augusto Pinochet assuming control of the country from Salvador Allende’s democratically elected government in 1973. Again, this was another military coup that had the support of the U.S. government [See New York Times profile of Bachelet]. Pinochet’s dictatorship was also characterized by human right’s violations and resulted in the death and disappearance of at least 3,000 people [see BBC News Chile profile].

These two very timely examples of U.S. interference in Latin America are simply the tip of the iceberg. The history of the region is littered with incidents of U.S. involvement that has replaced democratically elected governments with military dictatorships. These dictatorships subsequently led to years and often decades of unrest; causing an increase in poverty, while at the same time protecting U.S. economic interests in the nation [E. Galeano, Open Veins of Latin America].

The U.S. government, whichever party has been in the White House, have, on the surface, made it their mission to spread democracy around the globe; the most recent example being the invasion of Iraq in 2003. However, it should be clear to anyone with a basic historical knowledge that this is nothing more than a facade. The real intention of U.S. foreign policy is to place people in power in nations around the world who will look after a capitalist agenda that protects U.S. corporations, in the same way that the so-called democracy in this country does.

Leaders in Latin America, like Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, have been condemned in recent times by the U.S. for daring to challenge the notion that their country’s natural resources should go toward making their own rich and the rich of the U.S. richer. But, in electing female leaders like Rousseff, indigenous leaders like Bolivia’s Evo Morales, and having several democratically elected leaders who are working for the rights of the under-privileged majority, the region should be seen as a beacon of hope throughout the globe. Certainly the U.S., where there is still outrage at the idea of providing its citizens with health care, could learn a lot about the true meaning of democracy: giving an equal voice and opportunity to all sections of society.

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere

In Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, author Z. Z. Packer’s greatest accomplishment is that, in these eight short bursts of fiction, she is able to give us a deeply real sense of so many characters and allow us to truly empathize with them.  Her ability to achieve this is largely as a result of her poignant descriptions.  In Packer’s stories much of the text is taken up by first person narrative and this really allows us to get a sense not only of the personality and perspective of the narrator, but of the complexities of the world around her/him. Packer gives us an appreciation of the individual, while at the same time exposing the simplicity and irrationality of groupthink and racial and cultural stereotypes.  The author’s descriptions are also enhanced by her apt use of similes and metaphors. One of the finest examples being the narrator in “Brownies” comparing the other girls in her troop to rusty nails you would need to get tetanus shots for.

Although descriptive narrative dominates Packer’s work, her use of dialogue is perfectly chosen; instantly placing the reader right there at the heart of the action. This is seen perfectly in “Brownies” when at the tense standoff in the girl’s bathroom, the dialogue suddenly becomes more prevalent and increases the immediacy of the situation. With her dialogue, Packer also allows us to get a more rounded understanding of the character and in turn illustrates her own understanding of the individuals which she is describing.