"We felt it would be like a heavyweight championship fight," Kiffin said. "There would be huge blows dealt dealt throughout the day. We talked at length about how we had to make plays, get back to the sidelines, take a deep breath in-between rounds, go back and do it again."
     Even three 17-point deficits failed to stagger the 18th-ranked Trojans.
     "They went up big but we came back and kept fighting," running back Curtis McNeal said. "When we were down 10, we were like, 'Oh, we're really in it now." We had a shot even when we were down at the end of the game."
     Yet the failure to land three punches in the first half proved pivotal. The first opportunity came on the USC's first possession, when the Trojans had to settle for Andre Haidari's 39-yard field goal on forth-and-4 at the Ducks' 22-yard line.

     This passage from the Eugene Register-Guard describes the defeat of the Trojans to the Ducks. In this passage, the author talks a lot about the Trojans and how they were confident and felt like they were in the game the whole time. He begins with a fitting analogy of a boxing match, describing it as a fight. This description was not far off. The Ducks vs. the Trojans could be described as an intense battle with an obvious victor. He continues the analogy later on by saying, "the failure to land three punches in the first half...."
     The author also talked to some of the players on the losing team. They all had the same idea of how the game went. They all seemed to think they had a chance, even when behind the entire game. It just seemed sad that the team would allow themselves to think that they ever could have won the game. The worst part of it, is that the coach led them to believe this fallacy. Now, I understand the coaches position, having to keep the teams spirit up. However, they all knew they would never win, so it just seemed pointless to get their hopes up.

The concern about concealed carry has increased among the gun-uncomfortable public since the Trayvon Martin shooting. Everyone seems worried that people with permits to carry concealed weapons are all George Zimmerman types — itching for a fight, having questionable judgment, not obeying directions from a 911 dispatcher, and unconcerned about the legal liability of using a handgun in self-defense.

None of that could be further from the truth.

One-hundred percent of concealed carry permit holders are keenly aware of all the legal and ethical issues involved. It comes as part of the training process they go through to obtain the permit.

Of course, they are all unique individuals and come from all walks of life. But people who carry concealed weapons take their responsibility seriously. Most do not have the “hero” fantasy. Most have read “In the Gravest Extreme” by Massad Ayoob and most carry their weapons carefully and responsibly.

If the permit holder is doing it right, no one else will know he or she is carrying a weapon; it never leaves the holster or its concealment for any reason.

A person carrying a concealed weapon doesn’t brag, show off or brandish it. To do so contradicts the whole idea of concealed carry.

 

     I have to agree with this author. Not everyone who has a concealed weapon wants to use it. In fact I'm sure there are some who would rather not carry a weapon around, but do it as a percaution. They would rather live in a world where we could trust a cmplete stranger with our lives without a second thought. That, unfortunatly, is not the case. Ordinary poeple are afraid of poeple they have never met, because for they know the person walking down the street toward them could be a mugger or murderer. Some people just need that extra sense of security. After all, the old saying goes "There is never a cop around when you need."

     Another frustrating trend that continued early in this game is the opponents' refusal to kick the ball to the Oregon returners, especially Thomas. In fact, the fumbled punt return by Thomas came from a kick that went end over end, and he just tried to make a play off of it. I must admit that it is a good strategy to kick the ball away from him and out of bounds so that there is no return, and then you force the offense to have to go a little bit further to get into the end zone. This kind of strategy however, is frustrating for the fans because it doesn't afford many exciting plays on special teams, which can really give life to a game if you ask me.

     As frustrating as it may be for a team to continuously kick the ball to the outside and out of bounds, it is necessary for a team that is so out matched. It was probably the only good strategy that Tennessee could come with to get around DeAnthony Thomas' speed and agility. With the on side kicks Tennessee was really trying to avoid as much humiliation as possible by denying Oregon the possible points that Thomas could have scored on the returns. After all the final score was 63 to 14, in favor of Oregon. And as for the kicks making the game boring, it was not big deal because Oregon, with their skill, can make a special play even if it's not on a return. Oregon doesn't need returns to make an entertaining game.

     Horace glanced at him, then understanding dawned and he moved away from the knight, taking a seat by the edge of the fire. There was absolute silence in the room now. The townspeople gazed at the two men confronting each other, wondering where this impasse was going to end. Only two people in the room, Halt and Deparnieux, knew that the knight was trying to gauge his chances of drawing his sword and cutting down the archer before he could fire. As Deparnieux hesitated, he met the unwavering gaze of the Ranger.

     I chose this paragraph because it shows how Horace has adapted to Halts subtle gestures and attitude, as well as introducing a new and dangerous enemy. Horace is a battleschool cadet who simply follows orders and has a natural ability with weapons. Halt is a seasoned veteran Ranger whose grim demeanor is often taken more seriously. After a short time Horace has grown accustomed to Halt who had known only on occasion and never spent any amount of time with the grizzled Ranger. The fact that Horace has adjusted so quickly is a marvel. As for the new character, Deparnieux, he is a black clad, underhanded thief, who calls himself a knight. The fact that he did not pursue a confrontation is a hint that he will play a bigger part to come.

     Strangely, he found that the prospect didn't disturb him nearly as much as it might have a few months ago. It was not that he looked forward to renewing the the fight with Horace, but he found he could face the idea with a certain amount of equanimity. He felt a deep satisfaction when he recalled that good, solid punch he had landed on Horace's nose. He also realized, with a slight sense of surprise, that the memory of the incident was made more enjoyable by the fact that had happened in the presence of Jenny and- this was where the surprise lay- Alyss. Inconclusive as the event might have been, there was still a lot about it to set Will thinking and remembering.

     The reason I chose this paragraph is because it explains the growth shown in the character of Will. At the beginning of the book Will and Horace where always fighting and Will always ended up running away to avoid getting beaten up. But after spending just a few months as a Rangers Apprentice, he had already started to learn his size dis-advantage to his gain. It is at this point in the book that Will begins to realize that being small can help in more ways than being big. This is the turning point of the book and the characters.

"Now that it pleased the gods to crush the power of Asia
and Priam's innocent people, now proud Troy had fallen-
Neptune's city a total ruin smoking on the ground-
sings from the high gods drive us on, exiles now,
searching earth for a home in some neglected land.
We labor to build a fleet-hard by Antandros,
under the heights of Phrygian Ida-knowing nothing.
Where would destiny take us? Where are we to settle?
We muster men for crews. Summer has just begun
when father commands us: 'Hoist the sails to Fate!'
And I launch out in tears and desert our native land,
the old safe haven, the plains where Troy once stood.

     I chose this passage because it is the first place in this weeks reading that shows some type of poetry. It may not sound like the normal poems one would hear as kid, where every line rhymed with the last. That is because it is an epic poem. Epic poems rarely rhyme like that, though sometimes two sentences do rhyme. Epic poems use a more complicated and less obvious strategy. For example when Aeneas says "I launch out in tears and desert our native land...." This is poetic because it paints a mental picture by exaggerating his sorrow. That what poetry is, painting a picture that the reader can easily understand. Whether it be with a rhyme or an exaggeration it all does the same thing.

No rays from the holy Heaven come down
On the long night-time of that town;
But light from out the lurid sea
Streams up the turrets silently—
Gleams up the pinnacles far and free—
Up domes—up spires—up kingly halls—
Up fanes—up Babylon-like walls—
Up shadowy long-forgotten bowers
Of sculptured ivy and stone flowers—
Up many and many a marvellous shrine
Whose wreathed friezes intertwine
The viol, the violet, and the vine

     This is the poem, The City in the Sea, by Edgar Allen Poe. This is the second stanza of the poem and in my opinion the most striking with the devices of poetry. In the sense of basic poetry it follows the simple AA BB CC form of ryme. This gives it an easy flowing read that helps the reader to follow the story and not become bored or frustraded. As well as this technique, Poe also begins to use alliteration at the end of this stanza. This also helps the flow of the poem and gives a more refined feel of poerty. Though it gives the poem a mature feel, it does leave the less poetic in the dust.

     Item 1. Inform the master of the College that it is not necessary to send me ten to fifteen of these reports a day. A single summary report of the previous day's observations is sufficient.
     Item 2. Select from the reports of the last four days three signally favorable and three unfavorable auspices. I may require them in the Senate today.

     This passage may be from the beginning of the book, but that is not why I chose it. I chose it because I found humorous. It's not often that a literature book has humor at the beginning, or at all. So I thought I would point it out and give it some credit. So LOL, and if you don't get it, read the book.

     Eragon ran as soon as Horst was out of sight. His legs burned as he pounded down an alley and back to the trees. He slipped between the tree trunks, then turned to see if he was being pursued. No one was there. Relieved, he let out his breath and reached into the tree for the leather. It was gone.

     The tone of this passage seems to be paranoia. It exemplifies this by giving a description like "His legs burned as he pounded down the alley...," it would take some determination to run through so much pain. Another example is "...then turned to see if he was being pursued." He was relieved that no one was there.This all seem like he was being a little paranoid.

     Snow fell softly and silently on the track ahead of them, floating

down from a loaded grey sky above like cherry blossom. On

either side of the forest trail tall thick evergreens sported fulsome

white skirts that weighed their burdened branches down low.

     Sir Geoffrey Rainault tugged at the cloak slipping down his

shoulders, begrudging the body warmth that escaped with the

movement. Between saddle-sore legs his mount – his favourite,

Edith – plodded relentlessly and wearily: a beast that had carried

him across too many countries to remember. Nine months across

the sun-baked deserts of the Holy Land, across the spring

meadows of endless principalities and dukedoms . . . and now

at last home, England, north of London and en route to the

remote wilderness of Scotland.

     The reason I chose this passage is because of the description. The first paragraph depicts the snow. Normally when a person writes about snow, they just say it was cold and snowing. This, though it is a short generic description, gives an idea of the environment. This author (Alex Scarrow) takes the time to give a full description of the snow and what it is doing. The next paragraph tells about the character Sir Geoffrey Rainault. The ,Sir, before his name indicates that he is someone of importance. It also tells us that this story probably takes place in the Renaissance era. Some other indicators about the time period is the places he had traveled and the time it took. Such as the Holy Land and dukedoms. It also says he was riding a horse for nine months. This all screams Europe of Old.
     This passage is from Time Riders: The Omega Code. This book is the third in a series of nine? I have yet to read it but I can't wait to get a hold of it!(FYI, the fifth book comes on February 2.)

To One Departed

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Seraph! thy memory is to me Like some enchanted far-off isle In some tumultuous sea - Some ocean vexed as it may be With storms; but where, meanwhile, Serenest skies continually Just o'er that one bright island smile. For 'mid the earnest cares and woes That crowd around my earthly path, (Sad path, alas, where grows Not even one lonely rose!) My soul at least a solace hath In dreams of thee; and therein knows An Eden of bland repose. Edgar Allan Poe The reason I chose this poem, other than it being short, is because it is a softer look at this, otherwise dark, poet. Edgar Allan Poe normally writes short stories that captures the imagination while it rips out your soul and tears it to pieces. This poem shows more of a longing for the lost. It gives a small description of the hard, unforgiving life that Poe had. It does this without drawing attention to to the hardships. It focuses more on the longing and not pains.

Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.

But he grew old-
This night so bold-
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow-
"Shadow," said he,
"Where cam it be-
This land of Eldorado?"

"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied-
"If you seek for Eldorado!"

     This is the poem Eldorado, by Edgar Allan Poe. The reason I chose this poem, is because of the hidden darker side. It starts off so joyously and bright, with "Gaily bedight," but then takes a dark turn with the knights death comes near. The hidden darkness is the shadow. This is because the shadow represents the reaper come to collect his soul. The words of the shadow crush an already broken knight. The shadow tells him to get to Eldorado, he must take an impossible journey over the and through the realm of the damned.