response to the underground class reading.

I think he see Aum as a religion or even a salvation. He thinks that Aum saved him. He is a person that doesn’t believe in thinks that can’t be measurable. Which means that he is a very close-minded person in my opinion. I think he is trying to cover all the bad things that Aum does just by saying that he had a good experience. There is a big different between religion and terrorism. But for me terrorism and Aum is the same exact thing. Its ok if he believe all the buddhism but what is bad is bad. And if he believe in karma, he will get it. He is very different person he likes to think different about everything. He is the opposite of society. That’s why he doesn’t have any friends.

Questions Concering "Underground"

1) Do you think Murakami would ever consider doing a follow-up on each living victim pertaining to their current mental state after having to relive the moments of giving information needed to create the book the way it is?

2) Does Murakami sincerely consider those who are unwilling to answer questions pertaining to the sarin gas attacks? How?

3) In what ways does Murakami seem intruding of privacy of the interviewees? First and foremost, is Murakami even obligated to ask questions to willing participants when he is inexperienced of such disastrous events, just so that his book could come to life?

what does 9/11 mean to you?

      The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 also known as 9/11, is considered to be one of the most devestating and traumatic events in American history. I was 5 years old when it took place and In remember everyone at school being sent home. Although I was only 5, I remember being worried about my dad who worked in the World Trade Center. I also remember going home and watching the news with my mom. She told me my dad was okay and he wasn't at work at that time.

Finishing Underground

Some final questions:

• What do you know about Nostradamus? Why do you think Aum members were drawn to his predictions?
• Why do you think some of the interview subjects seem to look forward to the end of the world? What would the end of the world even look like?
• Speaking of the end of the world, why do you think end-of-the-world narratives are so popular w/ the general, non-cult public, stories like The Matrix, zombie films and TV shows, I Am Legend, etc.? What appeals to us about these stories? 
• What does Murakami think Aum says about Japanese society? 
• It's obvious how the cult members are different from mainstream society. But how are they similar? What role does a cult like Aum play in late-20th century capitalism?
• What questions do you still have?

underground 74-77

        On pages 74-77 of Underground, Soichi describes the aftermath of the attack by describing his eyes burning and not being able to see the blue sky. Someone recommended that he put a warm cloth on his eyes to hell with this situation. This helped him to regain his vision but he went to the hospital and he was given an antidote and was hospitalized for 6 days. Although he was exposed to the gas attack, he is grateful to live because many people died due to the poison.

Sarin Sarin
I still don't understand why Japanese would notice that its a sarin attack but act like it's not dangerous at all. Koichiro was on the strain when they announced that 3 people had collapsed and then he saw a middle age man pass by saying "sarin! sarin!" and still didn't take it serious. It's sad these doctors never know whats going on and they didn't even know how to test for sarin.Now this is ridiculous ain't these doctors suppose to know how to test for a Sarin? this is life or death.

resources for writing!

Short of visiting the Writing Center (which I shall do, after we bury my friend who just passed away, and I get through two exams next week) does anyone have any good or helpful suggestions for writing fiction and/or poetry?

Is there anything that you personally like to read or watch that has helped you in your process?

I think this video is pretty straightforward and short enough to keep the viewer's attention [about 17 minutes].

I hate cliches, predictable plot lines, and flat characters, but I feel like I fall into these bad habits unconsciously and when I read my writing back to myself, I'm embarrassed. "Do I really sound like that?" Highly self-conscious. I can't even read my own journal entries without feeling weird.

I don't exactly struggle with subject material, every day seems to present a new story idea (Pandemic! Billionaires thwarting the democratic process! Say we really did return the land back to Indigenous folks! Sorry, it's kind of a wasteland!) I just struggle with everything else. "What's the point of telling this story?" I think to myself.  Just having it make sense, as the man says in the video, can be a time-consuming task. Are there any easy ways to organize a coherent plot?

Also, poetry. How does that work?

Maybe we can help each other out and share some tips.