5-5:10pm: How are you? What are you thinking right now, at this point in the semester? In the YEAR?
5:10-5:30pm: THIS UPCOMING ESSAY HAS NO DEMANDED PAGE LENGTH.
Why? I want you to be the one saying when it’s developed fully, when you have a strong and coherent position. I know, you could be thinking… “Sweet… three pages and I’ll be good.”
No.
“Oh my god… he wants something like 10 or twelve pages…”
No.
I am not specifying a page requirement. This is your final submission for the semester. If you want to know how long I think it should be, with three books to consider and three outside sources, text me tomorrow and I’ll tell you. DO NOT FOCUS ON PAGE LENGTH….. your mind should be in the development and LOVE of your idea.
5:30-5:50pm: What questions will you have for Mr. Foreman? Remember, you should be done with his book by next meeting. Think about what you want to know about his story and character, both outside the book and stemming from it. Think about the other authors we’ve read as well, what you noticed in their works… do you think he has a similar perspective? ASK HIM. And, don’t forget… this zoom call could be incorporated into your paper if you’d like. One of my questions for him is, quite directly, “How do you want to be read and understood one hundred years from now?”
5:50-6pm: I’m giving you some extra time to finish this paper… You have until 11:59 on December 26th to submit your paper. Not a second after. Don’t just budget your time, WRITE IT. You are in total control of everything that happens till then. You need help, text me. I’m here. I’m here to not just help but collaborate in your composition process.
For tonight’s page….. You writing should be about EVERYTHING, not just one thing. Yes, you may be writing about a common idea among the three books. But, EVERYTHING around you can be used to compose that. Nothing should be dismissed, all should be accepted in Composition.
Also….. Stop seeing time and assignments as opponents. A certain mind, the one I encourage, sees both as enabler and encouragers.
REGARDING THIS FINAL PAPER….. Love your idea. If you do, you’ll never change your mind, and you won’t do what many students do which is self-doubt and change mind over and over till you’re right against the deadline. I don’t have sympathy for those that do such, as it’s incredibly avoidable, especially with how this class is constructed and with an instructor as accessible as me.
6-6:10pm: Close….. What’s on tonight’s page?
ASSIGNMENT: Finish Foreman’s book and email me a 2-page thought, opinion. Also… have questions and comments for Mr. Foreman!
ASSIGNMENT: Prepare notes to present for next class, on your final essay for the semester.
#professormikey 
hello everyone how are ? i am doing good, what i am actually thinking right now is whats going to be in 2021. are we finally getting to the final stage of the pandemic and everything that it has been happening lately. for this semester all i want to end it with a good grade, and don’t over stress about things. and i do think about how my life and my future will look like in the future
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Hey Evelyn, thanks for being here! What else is new?
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Theres always new things with me. whats happening right now. Hospital has reopen after two long months. Still the arguments with my baby daddy that hasnt have make up his mind on what days he exacly needs and wants to see our child.
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Hey everyone! How are you all doing? I’ve just been doing homework all day. How about you?
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Just another busy day. What about you? Tell us a story!!
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When I was younger my dad used to drive me and my brother to my grandparents. They lived in Millbrae so it wasn’t a quick ride. My dad works in SF so he would drop us off before work then head back to the city. We would leave around 4:30-5 am.I would usually fall asleep and wake up by the time we hit the bridge. I loved to see the bridge. So big and bright. It made no sense as a child. How did it stay up? Why was it the Golden Gate if it was red? I didn’t know but I did not love it any less. During this time we would listen to the radio and and my dad would sing along. He had a crass yet soft voice and it always made me happy to hear it. He liked to show us the music that he would listen to, and even at 5 I knew Metallica was the shit lol. I heard so many great things in the car early in the morning. From Pantera to Ice Cube to Adam Sandlers holiday songs, it was always different. I’m glad to have some happy memories with my dad, especially since my brother slept through it. It was something special for us. I still like to listen to my dads music, he used to collect cassettes and now I have his collection. It has grown since in my possession. I even built a display case for it all. My dad definitely had a big part in music taste.
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Thank you so much for this!
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Hi nianna I am doing about the same as you with homework, I can say personally i would describe it as ‘interesting’
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Hi everyone
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hey everyone. at this point of the year i feel like i could’ve don’t better in school. I don’t wanna blame the virus I think i didn’t give my 100.
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So what are you going to do from here?
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Try to finish this semester as best as i can. can’t wait for next semester to start off onthe right foot and do my best.
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At this point in the semester I have been thinking about what and if I actually learned anything from some of my classes. I also hope to end the semester strong and continue it into the next one. I mostly have just been thinking that I want the year to be over
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Ive been kinda stressed, its the end of the semester so all my teacher are giving me their finals to study on so I’ve been working on them all day on my day off of work. Hope everyone else had a good, somewhat relaxing day though! I’m super excited for the new year, hopefully this one turns out way better than this one! This semester was definitely a interesting one, not being physically in school and miss all of the usual high school experiences
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hows everyone doing today as the year and semester is coming to an end I’m thinking about what I have due and how I”ll accomplish all of them. I’ve finished one of my finals and just need to wrap up a term paper for my business management and then focus on this classes final essay.
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Tell us about your ideas for the final essay.
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don’t dream do, I feel all the writers we’ve read are doers not just thinkers. That’s what I feel all try to convey in a sense, don’t dream do and with that you find your truth
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I really like that idea Adrian
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@ jake steal it if you want
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Hello, its nice to be back in class today. I saw the first question about what I am thinking about right now is school. I hate to say it but school has pretty much engulfed my brain recently with all the finals and papers coming up, I have been signing up for spring classes and starting to think about a serious major I want to commit to for the next three and a half years. I also am thinking about the steelers getting beat by washington last night, taking away Pittsburgh’s undefeated record till now.
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Hey y’all how is everyone. At this point in the semester I am ready for it to be over ! The year included, 2020 has been one hell of a rollercoaster
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Describe that roller coaster… Define that roller coaster!
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Well, I turned 18 this year and had to adult to pay bills such as a new car bill because my last one was stolen. Got a full time job while attending college classes. Covid hit which effected everyone in different ways that I haven’t been able to enjoy the last of my senior year. I mean the list could go on and on yet I am one of the lucky ones
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Hello everyone, sorry I am a little late. I was working and the kids wanted to say goodbye 21345172 times. So sweet.
Hope you all are doing well
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Does anybody think that something was uniquely taught about this year?
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yes, off the top of my head right now… patience. before if I had to wait in a line for every shop or restauraunt I had to go into I would go crazy.
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I’ve never had a class like this a blog discussion board type class and it’s been unique and refreshing. I’ve enjoyed this class and enjoyed how it was taught.
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Cheers Adrian. Much appreciated!
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tough question but I think this year taught me that I don’t have control of everything, nobody does. We can plan and this is exciting and most of the time we get what we want but we have to be flexible. Also taught us that Mother Nature is powerful and bigger than anything else. We humans are so fragile, how can we forget about this??? We should change the “save the planet” for “save the humanity”. Planet Earth will always be here
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Yes, and that’s patience and love for one and each of each family member. In my experience I got to stay more time with my mother (who has terminal Cancer ) we have laughed and remember how I was as a child. Every memory we have created as I grew up. And she’s very thankful with destiny for giving her the opportunity to meet her granddaughters and be part of their life’s as she wasn’t much time with my brothers and I because of work .
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I am so happy to hear that this craziness has brought something good to you and your family Evelyn! I don’t want to sound selfish about all the deaths that has been happening but seem, there is always something good! in every single thing! Thank you for sharing ❤
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Thank you for this positivity Deb!
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Thank you Debora, its been a year but i am happy i still have my fighter by myside. and i am knocking on wood that its for a maybe 10000 years more.
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As the semester closes to a close as of right now I’m done with two of my classes and I only have to focus on this class and philosophy. Definitely gonna be feeling the pressure but if I work at the finals in a timely manner I think I’ll be fine.
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hello everyone ! i’m doing well, i just started a new job at a dental office which i’m very much excited for. for new learning opportunities and experience. a good end to the year !
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congrats that’s sick!
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that is exciting! Congrats Gwen 🙂
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thank you guys ! love the support 🙂
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Hi everyone! I’m doing good tonight running a few minutes late! I’m a bit nervous for finals, but besides that I’m excited for a month off.
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Hey Shantel! How are you? Good to see you.
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the only thing I have been thinking is I missed my host family so much and I am so happy that I can’t even explain. It feel that I am complete now. At the same time I had a great time with my roommates and I am missing them already. Which brings me the thought that home is not a place, it is a feeling. I am looking forward to Christmas with them and my plans for 2021
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Heck yeah, Home is where the heart is
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I am good , I’m just worrying about passing my classes but wish me luck
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I like the no page requirement because I feel like I start repeating the same ideas over and over and makes my paper look bland
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Be careful though…
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Talk to us about the next essay… What are your strategies? What do you want the reader to walk away with? What do you want. From your essay…
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My strategies are to break each book into a paragraph and connect each paragraph with the commonalities of the books. To do this my concluding sentence will lead into my next paragraph. The hard part I’m having is finding outside sources and I lost my Sedaris book, so if anyone has free link to the book hit me.
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I think the best way to put the three books together is finding similarities between these 3 authors, they’re 3 icons expressing/sharing experiences that have shaped them into who they are today.
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My strategy for this essay is to not repeat myself a lot. I want to really solidify what I want to say. I want good examples and quotes all before I start. The more prepared I am the more I have to say, and it comes across much clearer. I want the reader to walk away with an understanding. I want them to understand that from my point of view what the best connection is. I want them to feel inspired as these three authors made me feel.
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I can say for sure that when the year started off I was feeling good about school. I had a plan with all my classes, even though it was all online and my first semester in college I was still pretty confident in being successful. For about two months I kept this going until around the beginning of october. With all the stress and frustration from the mundaness of the online schooling, It was like opening a coke bottle with a mentoz in it. This next stage for all of october was like a light switch. I would turn off all my motivation for school and turn it back on, I had a hard time concentrating on the screen for long periods of time so I thought this would be a good way to give myself a break. This didn’t work, and pretty much for the rest of the semester I have been trying to get my assignments done, though I just feel like my work is nowhere what I want it to be and I seriously find myself questioning college in the first place now. I know this was long but i just thought I’d share my experience so that it can hopefully relate to anyone else…
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You summed up exactly how i feel. I’ve been beating myself up for it all week. I just want to finish strong
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we are not alone, and I mean it!
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No I relate with this and I’m not even in college yet! I didn’t think online school would be mentally this hard because at first it was great. Just keep trying to look at the positives of things and remember where you want to end up! “Its a marathon not a race” is something I keep reminding myself and that life takes time and hard work
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With this upcoming essay I am hoping to have the reader understand what I am trying to say from my point of view. I want my thoughts and ideas to be said so descriptive that they feel like they are me as I write the essay. Does that make sense? I want them to walk in my shoes if you will
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My idea for what connects all three authors are people and love. I want the reader to know how much time and thought I put into my idea and my essay with the examples and research i did into each one of them individually, then all of them together. I want them to see that connection between them just from my essay alone and not having to read the books themselves.
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Love that!
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so far If i were to say I want something for the reader to get out of my essay it would be opposition, or agreement. I could care less what it would be either way, I want the reader to decide on their own wether they agree with what I am saying or not, and then support it with their own ideas and sources. A supported independant opinion that they can create from my argument in my essay…
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Professor Mikey, i just wanted to thank you for leaving the page length up to us and always giving us a lot of independence and freedom. It’s extremely refreshing and I appreciate it and I’m sure the rest of the class does too!
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amen
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I just respect he allows us to decide the amount of effort we want to put in our work and the indpendance to do as much or little as WE think is necessary not him…
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I will say this again… Be careful.
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yesssssssss! THANK YOU professor Mike!
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Be careful though.
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lol
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Get into the anatomy of your essay. Get into its intentions. Get into what you want the reader to feel, to know, to understand about everything.
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For my essay I want to show how we can find what people love by what they spend time doing. For far I just have been brainstorming and writing everything that comes to my mind, I haven’t thought about any strategies yet. I want to inspire my reader to be aware of what they have been doing with their time and at the same time being confident on themselves and not give up.
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I think the best way to put the three books together is finding similarities between these 3 authors, they’re 3 icons expressing/sharing experiences that have shaped them into who they are today.
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Do you care about your argument? Prove it.
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I want my reader to feel satisfied, Not happy but rewarded when they are done reading. I want them to feel like happy that they didn’t waste their time reading my words. With that satisfaction they will be able to have a more open mind when analyzing my book in my opinion.
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I like this.
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You, and Tom Foreman… What.
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whattt? no way he is much greater than me.
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No he is not. He is a human being just like you. What are you going to ask him this Thursday?
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if he could run 1,000 miles anywhere non stop. where would you start and finish?
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Dude, I love that question!
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you serious man, I thought that would be pretty generic haha
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What?
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i thought this question was not that good, that’s why when you said you liked it I was surprised because it seemed like a generic answer to me… im not sure if that is confusing or not. sorry
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You’re all good, have more belief and confidence in what you write and what you ask! You’re amazing.
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One of my questions for my would be that with such clear love and devotion to his daughter, was there ever really the thought to say no to this challenge. He weighed the pros and cons, but did he ever think, I really don’t want to do this.
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I would ask , “where were you mentally when writing this book ?” Or “ what was the hardest part writing the book?” Or “what was the hardest thing to write down? “
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All good questions!
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good questions !
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For this next I essay I want to try and more tightly structure my essay together, I sometimes feel that I don’t quite distinguish when I’m starting a new section and when I’m still continuing. Making the transition more obvious and using less filler would undoubtedly make my essay more coherent and I think it will be overall more enjoyable to read.
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One question I would have for him is looking back, does he still feel confident in the work he did. Does he wish he could have done better or is he still happy with the end result
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I would ask him what was the biggest motivation that made him take his daughter invitation to run a marathon. What was your intention with this book? Why did you decided to write it? What did you want to tell your readers?
I also want to ask him what are his passions and what is his biggest fear.
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Good job Deb! I love these questions. Make sure you ask him this Thursday!
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I really like those, especially his fears and passions
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those are great questions, i’m super curious what his biggest fear is as well. i’m excited to hear his answer lol.
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He’s a great guy, trust me. He’ll answer truthfully!
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Thats great to hear, I always sort of had the thought that authors would be boring, but this semester has surely proven that wrong
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Agree with you Nianna! I would looooveee to go in one of Sedaris and Irby reading!
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Thanks guys! I am really curious. I was kinda inspired on a documentary called Life in a day where a film producer asked people around the world to answer those questions “what do you love the most and what is your biggest fear”. I was extremely surprise to realize how much you can learn about someone when you ask them those questions
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It’s amazing, isn’t it?
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I want to know what made him write a book about his experience, like did someone tell him that it would be a good idea to write one or is writing another hobby he does?
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He IS a journalist, don’t forget.
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thats true. Somewhat answered my question for me lol
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😊
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love that! Like not just writing but publishing the book, like how was the story behind the book? Did he have the intention to publish since the beginning?
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I also want to ask if he still runs
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He does. Follow him on IG.
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That night in the dessert did he really think he wouldn’t make it back to his car?
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Lol
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for a second there I thought he was going to have to run all the way back to vegas
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I think that Mr. Foreman provides similar perspective to David Sedaris with Samantha Irby having the most differentiated point of view due to how she expresses herself. One thing they all have in common is the ability to be comedic at the right times which I think is important to deal with problems in life. Being able to take a step back off the edge of being serious and simply laugh at mistakes and accidents is a great skill I think they all have.
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I think her POV differs also because she is much younger than them, a different race, and a different gender. Her life experiences are definitely different than theirs
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not to point out the obvious lol
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True. But, there are intersections.
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Does he like to run with music or just his thoughts? If music, then what kind. Is his running music taste different than his day to day
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he said he hated running with things in his pocket so if i were to guess he probably would get annoyed with the headphones or wires while running. Who knows though thats a good question to ask him..
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Yeah… I hate running heavy. Only have the watch… I respect his thought in this.
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Thats what I was thinking. Would things getting in the way be a good enough reason for silence
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he should get (if he doesnt already) have an apple watch! Then he isn’t carrying anything around but still can get reached if needed
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I’m going through his IG, his birthday was yesterday!!!
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Yep!!
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The idea of using time and assignments of anything besides an opponent is a good idea but hard to use in reality. I’m not saying its a bad idea I would just be curious to find out how anyone else would be thinking to use this idea to their advantage.
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have a great night everyone, and i hope everything works best for each and everyone. and good luck with all the finals. you guys rock, and dont forget to smile even on hard times.
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Yes!!! Thank you, Evelyn!! 🤘🏼
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On my page: THANK YOU PROFESSOR MIKE, so much! For all you support and for all you dedication during this semester! I profoundly appreciate you and your work!
note2: it is all about love. Love your idea, love what you are writing, love what you are doing. Love will always guide you to where you want to go or where you are suppose to be.
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😊
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I think something i can take away from all three authors is a lot but I have one idea I think a lot of people can benefit. All three have been through their fair share of shitty situations and suffering. I think that they all show their fails just as much as their successes because they want you to know that it is not always going to go your way, and to maybe be happy you have to be sad first. I know this sounds counteractive, though I feel like all three have started at the bottom and worked their way up to the top in their profession so that eventually they could find something that they really loved, if that was blogging(Irby), comedy narrative(Sedaris), and running(Foreman)…
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You put it very well
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well thank you
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Have a great night you all! Looking forward for our next class!
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you have a good night as well!
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Thank you all for the consistent positive vibes. This discussion is always a treat and I really enjoy reading all of your opinions. Have a great night all
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😊
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for my page: Mike thank you, for teaching such a pleasant class. dont change oyu way of teaching, and it was a pleasure to be part of your class. and take care of your baby and enjoy as much as you can with your family.
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For my page tonight I was kind of dry on ideas to use on my final paper but I think I will try to use ideas I’ve gathered here to see if I can adapt them to the way I think. Tonight was a great class I hope you all enjoy the rest of your night.
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Thanks for the thoughts tonight yall have a good one
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