Tony's prompt!

Hi everyone:
I hope, since almost everyone started school this week, that things have been going well. In the spirit of continuing our little project, Tony (who has just recently joined!) submitted a prompt for this week, and it follows. But, before I go, I wanted to submit another call for volunteers for next week's prompt (and the weeks after that). Help us keep the dream alive! :)
Tor

Here's Tony's prompt:

"I was reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being today on my roof. I'm at the end of the book, in Part Seven, Karenin's Smile. The section is ostensibly about the death of Tomas and Tereza's dog, Karenin. Sorry if I ruined the book for you. In any event, Tomas and Tereza are living in the communized countryside of Czechoslovakia, when they find out Karenin has aggressive cancer. He has little time left. When Tereza is asked why Karenin is not with her on her daily walk to the local bakery, she starts to cry. The baker says, "Good heavens! Don't tell me you're going to bawl your head off over a dog!" Kundera goes on to explain that the woman's reaction was that of someone forced by the Communist regime to de-love dogs; animals of all types, really. It's more complicated than that, obviously, but I didn't study literature. Nonetheless, I need to frame my question with this little bit of the story because I want to ask:

Have you ever loved something you felt foolish for loving? That's not the real question, but this passage made me think about burying my dog, and I wanted to write about it. Why was it so traumatic? After all, maybe we're simply the animals' administrators as ordained by God. Maybe we're not, but why can't we simply turn off our impulse to love something: a place, time, or pet, despite our minds' ability to understand the logic behind death and decay? I guess I'm asking people to write about that. Just pick something you had to give up, by choice or by the slow movement of time. That is all."

And he's already posted! You can find Tony's blog on our blogroll - it's called "Morumnida - But I'm Trying".

Geez

I go on vacay and everything goes to pot. Sorry guys! Here is Lisa's prompt:)

In the last week, the olympics for me have been like watching a train wreck--i just can't pull my eyes away. before the games began i said i wasn't going to watch, but i have inevitably been sucked in and find myself watching every night. are you watching the olympic games? why or why not? do you really believe that we are motivated more by the spirit of competition or is it really more about nationalism (as evidenced by NBC's persistence in showing sports that the USA primarily has an opportunity to medal in) and the perceived competition between USA and China as dominant world powers?

Welcome Lisa!

Lisa Anderson is joining us! Smooth recruiting, Sanchez! You can find Lisa's blog on the blog roll (entitled "What's Your Explanation?"). She'll also be taking the prompt for the 15th. Anyone interested in the 22nd?

Rachel very kindly supplied us with a prompt for tomorrow, which I will be sure to post tomorrow at some point.

Happy blogging!
tor

Sarah's Prompt

Here's my suggested prompt for this week:


Stolen from McSweeney's (but not really, because I'm citing my source): Write an open letter to someone or some entity unlikely to respond.

Check the link for examples: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/openletters/ (I recommend the open letter to orcas).


(From Toria: Thanks again Sarah! Any takers for next week? Let me know!)

Save the Whales

...and the bloggers!

We don't have anyone to do a prompt for this Friday. Will someone volunteer? (Imagine I'm making my most pathetic, pitiful, sad face while I'm asking this.)

All I'm Saying

...is that if Paul doesn't write a post for his own prompt (see below), we are going to be in a big fight.

How do you feel a three-toed box turtle (http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/ctriungis.html) works best as a metaphor in a film?

Rachel's prompt

I heard the term "fanboy" frequently last semester and i think, as
funny as it was to single people out, that everybody is a fanboy of
something. So this is your mission, if you dare to expose yourself.
you're a fanboy, admit it, right here and now. You can describe of
what and how and why - or you can be a bit more creative. The choice
is yours.