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

Talk of the Town Piece: Frats and Sors

     I scrunched two scraps of paper into a ball. Then I shook it around in my dilapidated hat. I picked out one. It contained the words, "Fraternity or Sorority." That is one idea in which I might be lured into doing, to discover what is the main purpose and meaning of the importance that fraternities/sororities have on campus. Perhaps that means rolling up my sleeves and getting a little bit dirty. It might detail in me pledging, undertaking surreptitious reconnaissance, or go undercover wearing makeup to investigate. Failure is not an option.

Best,
Phai

The Forever War: Behind Enemy Lines

     War divides us. In the perpetual chaos, lines are blurred between what is morally correct and incorrect. Enemies--who would've been best of friends under different circumstances-- are entangled in bitter turmoil.
    This is the main theme that was echoed in the beginning stages of the story. A simple slight, a minor difference of idealogies, and a unprecedented hatred of one another. These are the ingredients which continue to fuel the on going conflict with America and Islamic fanaticism. As such, author Dexter Filkins gives us a telling glimpse from the enemy's perspective.

Talk soon,
Phai

The Forever War: Prelude

     "War, huh, yeah, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing."

     These are the opening lyrics to "War" by Edwinn Starr. Indeed, war is not good for anything. War is a drug. Consume by it, and you lose all virtuous facets which separate modern human beings from primitive barbarians. However, without war, there would be no peace. Thus, that is the dilemma portrayed in The Forever War by Dexter Filkins.
     Through the eyes of the author, I obtained a small window as to what it must've been like for the military officers overseas. Soldiers my age, leaving their love ones behind, combating an impervious enemy which only seem to multiply with each kill. It could've been me out there. I could only envision in my wildest imagination the courage--with equal levels of fear--bottled within each serviceman. I'm most certain that if the dead could speak, they would advise us to stop the fighting and live life. Undoubtedly, we will join the decease among their ranks one day. Such is the fate of all people.

Love and Peace,
Phai

The Clutter of Profiling

       Clutter is the enemy to good profiling. Too often we obsess in trying to include every minute fact in our writing that it consequently becomes murky.  To counteract this predicament, give up your need for perfection. Here's one thing about perfectionist: they don't get anything done. Instead, focus on details.
       I realize from the reading on pgs. 204-06 of "Featured Writing" is that it is far more essential to concentrate on the details of the piece rather than the miscellaneous items. To help illustrate this idea: think of profiling as a safe. You wouldn't put every piece of useless junk you could find into a safe (I hope); therefore, don't do the same to profiling. I wouldn't. Then again, that is easier said than done. Ultimately, the mutual goal of the writer, as well as the viewer, is to better understand the subject at hand. Along this common ground, the writer's responsibility is to act as a bridge which connects the audience to the story.

All the best,
Phai