Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Critique.
The Bad Beginning
Who are the Baudelaire's? Lemony Snicket has written a series of novels that are quite depressing and he warns the readers that if you do not like reading books that sad and mean things happen put the book down. In this series entitled 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' Violet, Klaus and Sunny will stay with a series of odd people with one very despicable person known as Count Olaf that seems to be always in the wind. Book one titled 'The Bad Beginning' the Baudelaire children learn about the disaster that took their parents' lives and put their children in the care of others, and each child has a specific talent that helps gets them these unfortunate events one way or another. At the end of each book Lemony Snicket writes a letter as an introduction to the next volume. All the illustrations are drawn as pencil sketches but are well-defined and describes some of the actions of the story.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Welcome Back, Kotter
Here is another old situation comedy for the mid-1970's named 'Welcome Back. Kotter'. This was a show set in an urban high school named Buchanon High School. The main character of Gabe Kotter, a social studies teacher and a graduate of this high school is hired to teach the students known as the 'Sweathogs' who are smarter than they think from Vinnie Barberino to Arnold Horshack to Juan Epstein to Boom Boom Washington these were the main Sweathogs. Gabe is a married man to Julie and these students pay visits in some very importune times. This show and its' stars did all move on from the show to bigger things. John Travolta and his many movies, Robert Hegyes went on to Cagney and Lacey, Lawrence Hilton Jacobs I believe made a few movies as well and Ron Palillo also did a few other projects. This is also a show that was famous for a much overdone phrase 'Up your nose with a rubber hose.' I remember hearing that a lot when I was in elementary and junior high when someone did not like something or someone.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Chico and the Man
There was a situation comedy about in the mid-1970's called 'Chico and the Man'. This was a show where a young Chicano and an old man lived and worked in a garage. The young Chicano lived in a van parked in the back and the old man lived upstairs. This show starred Freddie Prinz and Jack Albertson as Chico and the Man. This was a show even back then that tried to describe society and solve various problems and issues. The first episode if I remember was mainly helping Chico find a job and a place to live, since Chico was a mechanic looking for a job and the old man did need help. Before the show went off the air and the guy who played Chico died in real they tried to replace him with a kid to try and help the old cope with losing a friend and partner. For the mid-1970's this was a funny show even when they covered a few serious issues of the time.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Mother vs Mirror
In 2015, a group of six blindfolded children ranging from the ages of three to nine years old must identify their mother from a line-up of women. Fortunately, even without their sight, every single child finds their caretaker. According to the concept of Maternal-Newborn Bonding, “The connection made after birth directly affects both the mother and child physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally,” and even influences the child’s romantic and platonic attachment styles later in life (Barker, para.2). This, combined with the experiment above, seems to prove that the Maternal-Newborn bond is indestructible. Yet, Lacan claims that this connection is already destroyed, at around six to eight months old. This essay will argue that Jessika Kenney and Eyvind Kang’s piece uses vocals and instrumentation to explore the factors that motivate the infant to separate from their mother and the consequences of that choice, prompting listeners to question whether adulthood is worth the agony.
By Wen Xiaosheng2 years ago in Critique
Butterflies and Leaves
Here is another of my coloring pages that I entitled 'Butterflies and Leaves'. The colors I used were blue, purple, red, orange, red-orange and pink. This could also be used as a counting activity for preschool. Count the butterflies? Count the red leaves? Count the purple leaves? Count the orange leaves? If you do not want to call these butterflies, they could be pretty moths too.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Just Flowers
'Just Flowers' is my imaginary garden. I used my favorite color of blues in various shades along with orange, pink, and reds. I used green yellow color crayon for the leaves. The little bushes in between the flowers could be pussy willows, but I was not sure, so I used purple, blue, tan, red, and orange color to make them stand out. I did notice I missed one at the bottom. I should have colored the white space with light blue.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
LadyBugs
Here is another color art I entitled 'LadyBugs' using crayons. Also, preschool teachers could use it as a math activity for counting. How many ladybugs in all? How many red ones? How many blues ones? How many flowers are there all together? I guess the things with a leaf are flowers of some kind. I was going to color the white area with a sky-blue color but I just saw a worksheet that teachers could maybe use.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Microsoft Azure Globally Down
On July 30, 2024, at approximately 13:13 UTC, Microsoft Azure & Microsoft 365 reported a global outage affecting a subset of its services. The issue resulted in timeouts and difficulties connecting to various Azure services worldwide. Multiple engineering teams at Microsoft were promptly engaged to diagnose and resolve the issue. The company acknowledged the problem and provided updates on the Azure status page.
By Shine b john2 years ago in Critique
Timmy and Lassie
How many out there remember watching the old series about a little boy and his dog known as 'Timmy and Lassie'? I do not remember watching the original series that was known as 'Jeff's Collie', but the only time that I watched this show was early in the morning before going off to catch the school bus. I am a dog person and really liked watching any program with a dog. 'Timmy and Lassie' had a famous mother by the name of Ruth Martin portrayed by June Lockhardt and Timmy Martin was played by Jon Provost for how I remember that bit of information they did a reboot in the 1990's entitled 'The New Lassie' and Jon portrayed a grown Timmy now Steven for he changed his name for he thought Ruth and the father deserted him and he was sad. The original 'Timmy and Lassie' always had some impending crisis from someone falling down somehow and Lassie going and getting help and in the long run a social issue of the time was settled. If I remember right the last episode had Timmy taking Lassie to the home the Ranger. Also, I think that is when I really started watching the Lassie shows for Lassie and Ranger had many an adventure.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Night Smoke
'Night Smoke' is another story in the 'Night Tales' series by Nora Robert's. 'Night Smoke' is a story of a firefighter inspector by the name of Ryan Piasecki and how he meets Natalie Fletcher. Natalie owns and runs a fashion corporation that owns many warehouses that seem to be the target for an arsonist. Natalie is a woman who can take care of herself in many ways but one it seems, and Ryan may be the Inspector for her. Will Natalie see that Ryan just wants the best for her and that he is true in other ways as well.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Nightshade
Nora Robert's has written a novel entitled 'Nightshade' which is a part of a series of stories 'Night Tales' a series of four books. (Just a note: Not sure if 'Nightshade' is the first one, but I do not think it really matters which you read first.) 'Nightshade' is the story of a man who is a private investigator by the name of Colt Nightshade and how he meets Althea Grayson a lieutenant in the police force. Nightshade is on a case where he is helping a family find someone and Althea is working on case that is related to his. In true Nora Robert's fashion there are issues that each will have to work through and solve the cases required.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
