The Beginning of Improvement?

We've decided on a project to complete: the "stairwell job." It's not that complicated, we've started already, and if we don't finish the job my home will look like the underneath of a highway bridge. Here's what we have done so far: We've already removed the wooden paneling (still waiting for removal to the city dump), and on Saturday Dac (the Mr.) patched all the holes that came into being from ripping the panelling off the walls. The next few steps in the process will be:

• Sand all new patches and old glue blobs that still appear on the walls;


• Purchase a nice, neutral nonwhite paint. My options are from the Ralph Lauren
  collection: Cream stone, Sailor's Knot, Modern Studio, and another sample I just lost;


• Prime and paint the stairwell, which extends up at least 16-17 feet in places. This might make us use some tricky ladder combinations to get that done; and


• Sit back and enjoy a nongraffitied stairwell.

About that graffiti'ed wall: Apparently there were at least two men
living in this house in the 70s; one is named Bruce. The other, interestingly,
is Manino Jr. Maybe it's Bruce Manino Jr., but the handwriting is different. You see, we found inscriptions on the wall from those responsible for the fake wooden panelling, and so I'm dedicating this job to Brucie, wherever he might be now.

Costs
1. One can Ralph Lauren paint: $26
2. Sander from Home Depot: approx. $20
3. Patching adhesive: $5

Full cost of project: about $50.

Timeline
1. Sand down spots Friday, April 4
2. Purchase paint Friday, April 4
3. Paint: Hopefully by April 15

Let's see if I can now stick to the schedule!

Examples of Summary, Synthesis, Analysis: The Matrix

Summary: “In the near future, a computer hacker named Neo (Keanu Reeves) discovers that all life on Earth may be nothing more than an elaborate facade created by a malevolent cyber-intelligence, for the purpose of placating us while our life essence is ‘farmed’ to fuel the Matrix’s campaign of domination in the ‘real’ world. He joins like-minded Rebel warriors Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie Ann Moss) in their struggle to overthrow the Matrix” (Gittes, 2006).

Considerations of Synthesis: Think about how the Matrix was filmed (there is a short on the DVD called “bullet time” in which the Wachowski brothers explain this new filming technology). Now consider how this bullet-time technology has been manipulated, in both music entertainment (music videos from Rascal Flatts) and parody (think the Scary Movie franchise). These entertainment venues are taking an idea that became quite popular from The Matrix movies and expanding it out to other genres. This keeps The Matrix in the news and shows how this particular technology evolves in mainstream media. Ways for us to synthesize “bullet time” (see “Bullet Time … Sort Of” on YouTube).

Think of ways to combine ideas from multiple sources to further your position on any topic imaginable. Using multiple sources to come up with new ideas is the main goal of “synthesis.” Could we now write an article on how technology (specifically “bullet time”) has allowed for new conceptions of the use of special effects in entertainment, using as sources not only The Matrix but Scary Movie and music videos?

Analysis: James L. Ford’s article “Buddhism, Christianity, and The Matrix: The Dialectic of Myth-Making in Contemporary Cinema” in The Journal of Religion and Film, Vol 4. #2, 2000.


References cited

Ford, James L. (2000). Buddhism, Christianity, and The Matrix: The Dialectic of Myth-Making in Contemporary Cinema. Journal of Religion and Film, 4(2), 2000. <<http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/thematrix.htm>>

Gittes, Jake. (2006). The Matrix—Plot Summary. Retrieved October 25, 2006, from http://imdb.com/title/tt0133093/plotsummary

Home Improvement

Ok, so I have chosen my topic for the next eight weeks: home improvement. I can hear you saying it now, "that's a boring subject." Well, it isn't as exciting as my last forray into blogging, in which I carped on and on about my dissertation topic. That was an experience I thought would be good for me and it ended up confusing me even more. I have learned in blogging about various topics (politics, finance, composition theory, and now home improvement) that I need variety in writing, that I need to learn to use power tools, that I need to explore avenues that interest me (like making my house livable), and I think this blog can be a great catalyst for that.

So. Here I am. We're in the middle of a house project right now (removing horrid wooden panneling from our stairwell), and it's been at the ready for about 3 weeks. Another reason I think this blog will be good for me is that it will motivate me to make some positive changes in the house. We have done a lot so far: torn down an ugly overhang, put on new siding, added new lights downstairs, almost-completed the half-bath, painted the deck and fences, fixed masonry, installed a new kitchen, even. But there is so much more to do: scrape the glue off the walls (the glue that held the disgusing panneling in place), install new floors downstairs (the vinyl tiles and carpet have been abused by my dogs); change light fixtures upstairs, remodel the 1973 bathroom, down to the lovely flowery vinyl tiles, move the water heater (long story), fix closets, paint rooms, repaint deck (wrong stuff!), resod front lawn, build out small decks in front of house, and so on!

I know for a fact that all of this can't be done during this course, but here is what I can do: learn to use power tools; investigate do-it-yourself vs. expert work on all the projects left to go; attempt a job on my own, like finishing the half-bath (24 months and counting!); interview a friend who is a jack-of-all trades carpenter/plummer/electrician; and plan a budget that will let me know if these things are doable or if I'm just smoking somthing. Finally, if this isn't enough territory to cover, I can provide commentary and review on some of my favorite HGTV shows (House Hunters, anyone?). I think there's plenty of material to work from.

So now I actually have to get off my backside and do something. This is what enrages me about blogs like mine...action is required!

So, until Thursday...