Final Porfolio

Essay 3(Magazine Piece) and Essay 4(Newspaper commentary) is uploaded.

It's been one hell of a semester, peace out ENGL 280!

http://phai.weebly.com/index.html

Ideas for Essay #4

     The end of the semester is dwindling down which signifies that the workload is increasing. Among the given assignments is the upcoming piece: Essay #4. This next feature will encompass the newspaper style of writing. In terms of the overall delivery of the paper, I will heavily concentrate on 3 critical factors:

1. Style
2. Content
3. Target Audience

     You might be curious and ask, "Well then, what will you write about?" Guess you'll just have to wait for the surprise and the final product like everyone else. 

Stay tuned,
Phai

The Forever War: Near the Deep End

     The story now shifts away from the action, gearing towards the emotional aspects of war. The streets are littered with broken homes, abandoned families, rotting carcasses, and clandestine human trafficking. The casual dealings of people's lives are played out as if it was some sort of game show and with the right price, you can buy back your kidnapped sons, daughters, friends, or love ones. However, there is a small catch to the game: nobody ever really wins, you simply get back what was already yours in the first place. Even if you execute each plan and strategy to perfection in order win the game; there are no gaurantees that your prize will be in one piece, perhaps several. But the distressing dilemma of this occurrence is that nobody cares except the afflicted victims involved. Life goes on.

Talk soon,
Phai

Feature Newspaper Piece

     I was cleaning my room recently and happen to stumbled upon my old, worn-out high school yearbook. I took a short break from the tiring labor and briskly skimped over the various pictures and comments of my old acquaintances. Some wanted to be lawyers, others wanted to be doctors; I'm still utterly confused as to what I want to do with my life. I began to feel depressed and I decided to take out my frustation by savagely devouring a delicious, unctuous cheeseburger.
     Suddenly, it dawned on me that my despondency can be transformed for the better by writing about it. To elaborate upon why I, and many of my contemporaries are in college and what we hope to gain out of this experience. Why we are so adament and willing to endure these trying tribulations of late-minute cram sessions, sleepless nights, and burdensome workloads. I'm only in the infant stages of this thought; therefore, the idea needs time for muturation in order to conceptualize.
     Ultimately, I'm not quite sure if this helped or hindered others who are in my same predicament, but I can definitely go for another divine cheeseburger at the moment.

Best,
Phai

The Forever War: Time is Running Out

       Gunshots clamor thunderously throughout the broken-down city. Bullets viciously charging the human flesh. The stench of gun powder and rotting corpses saturate the hot air. The seed of doubt and confusion set foot on the weary mind. I see your sides are advancing; mine are left behind.
       As we progressed further into the story, the dire situation is emphasized in the miserable conditions that the U.S. servicemen are enduring. The foul odor of piss and sweat waft in the dark environs. Adversary snipers are licking their chops for whoever is dumb enough to dare to leave the fortified walls. The enemy are circling the troops like a pack of hungry wolves enclosing on a lonely sheep. There's no turning back. No more hiding. Only survival. Or death. SOS.

Godspeed,
Phai


P.S. The website listed below is an interview with Dexter Filkins discussing the various aspects regarding the book and the author's thoughts on the Iraq war itself.
http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm?author_number=1610


P.P.S. Here's a video of the author lecturing about the book. Quite a handsome guy, isn't he?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa-oXcft0RY

Portfolio Website

The long awaited website is up and running.

http://phai.weebly.com/

The Forever War: Double Agent

     It's interesting to note the various combatants that are involved in the Iraq war. As I delved deeper into the body of the book, a new phenomenom is occuring. One day, two fighters are foaming at the mouth trying to exterminate the other on the opposing side and the next day act as if they are the best friends by being on the same fraction. It is remarkable to witness secondhand the animosity of human beings one day and then the salvation and brotherhood the next. Indeed, I believe it was Optimus Prime who quote it best when he said, "There is more than meets the eye."

Take care,
Phai