Dream Theory

Why do we dream? While it’s a simple enough question there isn’t any clear answer. There are many theories but none have been proven. Then again scientists have only just figured out the purpose of sleep.

                 One theory of why we dream is that we are processing memories without making our emotions aroused and to assure we do not suffer any trauma. Another theory is that they are representations of unconscious thoughts and desires releasing. One of my favorite theories is that dreams are a sort of clean up in the brain. Getting rid of all the clutter is basically what that means.

Another interesting theory is that dreaming is a sort of psychotherapy so we can understand and process things in a safe environment away from threats. One of the newest theories is that he activation of the brain makes these weird connection and then it is led by the dreamer’s emotions.

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I tote my heart around,

In my big black bag.

It bumps, thuds, pounding.

I tore it out so I wouldn’t feel the ache.

I kept it away,

So that it wouldn’t break.

What is Cleverbot?

            So, have you heard of cleverbot? It’s something that has been spreading in popularity at Cab Calloway. Especially with Comm. students. What is cleverbot? Well, it’s a sort of “robot” that answers anything you write correctly.  Apparently, you can have long interesting conversations with the computer that looks back on everything you have written.  Kelsey Dennison said that “It’s really cool how it takes what people said before and uses it as its answer, but it is sort of creepy.”

            Okay, then. To the students it’s an amazing entertainment that can be extremely fun, but what about teachers? What do they think? Well, Mr. Mayo, our middle school Comm. Arts teacher, probably sees the most use of it by students, since students have access to the computers in his class. He says, “I know that students are getting on there when they should be working.” That will probably be the reaction from most of the teachers.

            What is cleverbot? Is it a harmless, but entertaining program or is it distracting students from what needs to be done? You decide.

Fairy Tale Adaption

  We’ve all seen Disney movies. Snow White, The Little Mermaid, and all the rest. But, did you know that so many of those beloved fairy tales you think you know are completely inaccurate. Disney seems to edit out some important stuff from stories. I do understand it though. Some of the material is a little gruesome for a Disney movie.

  For example, did you know that in the original version of Pinocchio our favorite little cricket gets murdered by Pinocchio himself? Or that in the real version of The Little Mermaid she has get her tongue cut out in exchange for her legs. That and that the prince chooses to marry another girl and our main character dies and turns into sea foam.  In Snow White the Wicked Queen attempts to strangle her (with body lace), poison her (with a comb), and (as we all know) with an enchanted apple. Then at the end of the story the Queen gets forced into red- hot metal shoes, so she dances until she drops dead. Pleasant, isn’t it?

  The real versions of the fairy tales we think we know are completely incorrect. There are many movies that I haven’t covered. This isn’t just limited to Disney movies though. Almost every fairy tale you’ve ever heard is inaccurate as well. In the Three Little Pigs the last pig resists the temptation to leave his house for three days. Then the wolf attempts to go down the chimney and lands in a boiling kettle. The third pig eats the wolf along with his brothers who are still in the wolf’s stomach. So, in conclusion the third pig is actually a cannibal. In Rumplestiltskin he rips himself in half! Rapunzel gets sent off to a desert and her prince gets thorns in his eyes and becomes blind.

  So, I guess that these fairy tales are changed for good reasons. I mean you don’t want to scar young children. But, I personally prefer the original tales. What do you think?