Dr. McGonigal on Gaming - Response

At the beginning of Dr. Jane McGonigal's speech, she immediately introduces herself as a game designer who is affiliated with the Research Institute of the Future.  Showing an image of a young gentleman playing a video game, it seemed to just cause the audience to not take it seriously; but when she dove deeper into the face of the player, she explained the "epic win", and the feeling of surprise and optimism on the boys face in the photo.  She then contrasted it with what she called an, "I'm not good at life face".  Right then, Dr. McGonigal created a highly compelling argument dealing with how people in society should play more video games.  Using logos, she described how currently 3 billion hours a week are spent playing games when 21 billion hours of gameplay a week is ideal for the future.  She goes on to explain using pathos how in the "game world", an individual can feel more hope and motivation - a higher sense of bliss and willingness to aid in saving a world.  Although the logic may be deemed as questionable, she encouraged her statements by making a relation to how gamers feel a higher sense of belonging socially and mentally in a video game world, as opposed to the real world.  She explains how games have possibly saved a culture 2,500 years ago playing a game with dice made of sheep's knuckles.  The mentioned game is known as the first game ever created, and the culture survived for eighteen years eating and playing games.  Years later, DNA evidence had shown the Atruscans had some similar genetics to the other 'culture' that died.  She used her career as a game designer as a credible source, which is ethos, and she also referenced books from credible authors and studies along with the game World of Warcraft to make an example.

Personally, I would assume that video games saving mankind is a bit too far fetched, but not impossible.  I have noticed that when people play games such as the aforementioned, "World of Warcraft", they are very ecstatic in terms of how they view that virtual world.  They are determined to reach a goal that is made possible for them, so when they do reach their goal; they get the "epic win".  If society sets drastic goals that are possible in the real world, the world as a whole would definitely be better.  If the same people used decision making, their physical and mental abilities, and the urge to better their real world; positive changes would take effect.  Dr. McGonigal created a very plausible argument that turned out to be quite astonishing.

Kent Haruf Essay Precis

In Kent Haruf's essay, "Writers on Writing; To See Your Story Clearly, Start by Pulling the Wool Over Your Own Eyes" (2000), he claims that the many obscure methods and habits of writers are substantial to creating a unique creation and forming a special connection between the author and what they are writing.  Haruf supports his claim by giving examples of six renowned authors and methods they had used to make their creation unique and fresh, then he leads it up to his unique methods of writing; such as him using the coal room with a desk, art on the wall, and obscure objects to decorate his desk.  Haruf's purpose is to shed light on the use of unique writing methods in order to persuade the reader to better understand and accept the use of object placement and writing location; along with convincing readers to respect credible writers who have done so.  Haruf appears to be writing to a casual, curious, and open-minded audience, due to his more informal writing in the essay; just to let the reader better understand how methods people deem as "wierd" are substantial to creating a piece of a work with a certain mood or purpose.

Welcome to My Blog...

Welcome to my blog.  Throughout the time I use this blog, I will post many meaningful and substantially life changing stories, personal thoughts, and artistic, mental images through words.  I will define the meaning of the English language, and show everyone, "who is boss".  For example:

"This blog is pregnant with multitudes of blossoming ideas and I taste the knowledge as each letter tickles each tastebud as I read them.  Yum!"

See... I used an interjection, which is a very major part of speech.  I also inserted personification to make the letters exhibit human-like qualities.  'Yum!' means, "delicious - or tasty" in terms of the tickling of the tastebuds being satisfying to the sense of taste.  In addition to what was previously mentioned, the idea of the blog being pregnant portrays the sense of the blog being "full; lively with the seed of blossoming ideas" - a fetus that is developing into a blossoming idea - or ideas, if there are twins, triplets, quadruplets, and so on.

I highly look forward to communicating with the fine, young people who inhabit my classroom.  This blog is the beginning - the seed which has been planted into the womb.  Throughout the period of the class, the fetus will grow until it reaches the point of completion; and a beautiful birth will be given.  I'm not too sure if my idea will be an carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore.  I'm also not sure about how many limbs it will contain; but what I do know, is that I will have unconditional love for my idea.

"What is an idea?" You ask... according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

idea noun \ī-ˈdē-ə, ˈīd-(ˌ)ē-ə\ -an entity (as a thought, concept, sensation, or image) actually or potentially present to consciousness.

My blog will definitely feel sensation when the idea is born... if you get my drift.

Please do communicate with me.  I will gladly speak to you. I will also leave updates on the gradual evolution of my idea in the blog's womb.

                                                            Thank you for reading,
                                                                       Daniel Vasquez