Transformation 2009 Ahoy!

Who hasn't done it?  You know, make up that new year's resolution.  Do you have a plan in place?  How many times have you made those "weight-loss" resolutions after the big holidays?  There are quiet a few of us out there that have and don't usually stick with the plan.  Do you think if there were some $$$$$ involved it would help motivate you?  Well check out this site.  The start date is 2009.  If you aren't ready to make the commitment to yourself to improve your life.  Jump on board anyhow and see how it all works.  Laws of reciprocation of good spirit shall take it's place.  There is no cost to join the site, so check it out.   Go to www.transformation.com  and sign up for free.  Good luck!  Whoever happens to be reading this, Best wishes for you in the New Year 2009 and many more!  Happy New Year! ~Jineil

It's Hot! 2009 Movie Trailer. X-Men Origins

A new creation by J. J. Hayes

Dr. Jineil and Ms. Haze:  The Discovery.

 It was a cold winter day when Dr. Jineil had driven into her office.  Everything seemed to be going well and calm.  The good Dr. was a mother of three beautiful children who were all attending Private Catholic Colleges outside of the area.  Dr. Jineil happend to be married to a crazy genius Philanthropist named name Barbwire Haze.

Barbwire was blind.  He had made a discovery one day while out running around out on the countryside when he still had full vision.  He had come across several engineers who were in progress of an excavation project while out on his run.  Something was not normal in the meeting of the men that Barbwire witnessed.  They seemed to have something heavy on their minds. “ Oh, good thing I am not a civil engineering type.” Barbwire had thought, as he continued to run past the gentlemen keeping him hidden out of sight.

The men in their heavy sweaters and long coats and their fancy leather gloves all drove rather practical vehicles out in the countryside.  Mostly four wheel drive sport utility type vehicles.  They started to raise their voices and this brought on more curiosity to Barbwire.  He stopped his run and gently walked managing to keep himself out of their sight.  The seven men started to yell and then one of them shoved the other.  “Now, now, I don’t think all this is necessary do you?” asked one of the engineers.  Marco the youngest of the bunch spoke with calmness, “I don’t’ think that is enough money to… we’ll need more for this plutonium.  I think China would be willing to pay much more.  The man with the most money will get the deal.”  A big burly old looking man grunted in a Russian accent, “I think I have talked about this enough let’s meet later at the Nautilus there we can play our cards better.”

“Oh, dear oh my.  These men are talking about making some serious gun powder.”  Barbwire had thought as he once worked with the Special Forces there at Little Creek Naval Base. “ Boy would they like to get a hold of these fellows.”  I have got to tell my buddies at the CIA office.  If I can sneak away from here unnoticed.  What have I gotten myself into?”  Barbwire tried to slowly walk backwards when a little Asian boy started to holler, “Joe! Joe!  The seven men scramble to the vehicles and start their engines and high tailed it out of there leaving the little boy. 

“Joe! Joe!” the boy screamed, “help me!”  Barbwire had already ran a good ways with the boy following him at the speed of light. Barbwire nervously looked around to see if the men were anywhere in view.  The coast was clear and the China boy approached Barbwire saying,” You can help me, those men are very bad.  They killed my mother and father a long time ago and make me their boy.  “Who, what?  Those men?”  “ I know they are bad men we have to get out of here fast, before they come back.”  (Years later.)

Dr. Jineil is at her office with her last patient for the day.  Short day for her today.  As her last patient leaves for the morning she finds herself pondering about her husband.  Wondering if he’s okay.  She drives straight home as her husband does not like to talk on the phone and often will not answer.  He has a slight case of paranoia, ever since seeing those men out in the country.  The men did come back as Barbwire and the China boy approached the Haze’s home. They had no mercy on the boy and drove right over him while knocking the car door swiftly to Barbwire’s face leaving the both for dead.  Fortunately Barbwire came out alive with everything intact, but his vision.  The boy, dead like the rest of his family.  Dr. Jineil knew how much this tragedy haunted her husband and was very understanding almost all to consumed about his condition. Barbwire had become a functioning paranoid schizophrenic that needed constant supervision from time to time.  It was almost as if Dr. Jineil had a new child at times.

 The CIA had been informed all those many years ago as Barbwire still had full recollection of the seven men.  He was able to describe the men down to their crow’s feet.  His memory had been photographic and was very instrumental at the time the Secret Agents came to interview with him.  Barbwire and Dr. Jineil had been awarded Ten Million dollars for the information that they had given the CIA.  Their willingness to cooperate after what took place, proved to be very instrumental in the capture of the engineers and architects that were plotting to sell their discovery of plutonium to foreign countries, which could very well have jeopardize our Nations Safety and Security.  All the while, the Haze family felt with the death of the China boy and Barbwire loosing his vision, Ten Million dollars was nothing.  It could not bring back the dead boy nor was it instrumental in bringing back Barbwire’s vision.

To the public Dr. Jineil was a respectable Psychologist in the State of Washington.  The family had been relocated and had their identities changed and was under a special witness protection program.  The family was once known as the Diaz family.  A very Catholic Spaniard family that had come to the United States in the early 90’s.  Their way of life totally changed after Barbwire’s discovery of the plutonium ploy.  Their lives were very quiet.  The three children excelled in their schools and would fly home to visit with their mother and father every weekend.  Of course they could do this as the three children all attending the same Private College and had access to the family jet.

On what is known as the normal rainy, cold typical day in Seattle the whole family is present for their weekend gathering.  It is generally the only time that Barbwire will leave their home along the hillside of Seattle with the nice lake view he can’t even see. “Honey, Crystal, Summer and Edward all want to go to Space Needle for lunch.” the Dr. says.  “What?  The kids are home again already.  That’s nice. But, I have been working on this special computer program that will help the blind use all the computer software better.  I have really got to get this done or at least make some progress,” says Barbwire. “Dear, dear, Daddy, progress is good, but you don’t have to be a perfectionist,” says, Crystal. 

“Oh, humbug, Daddy,” says Edward.  “I brought home a friend that I would like the family to meet.  She’s not here right just yet as she thought she’d go shopping and pick a warmer outfit.  She is very excited to meet you Pa.”  “Edward, you brought home a girl?” “Is she your girlfriend?”  “No, Daddy, no,” says Summer.  “She’s one of those mystery gypsy types that have super healing powers. Edward seems to thing that they are real and that she could restore your vision.”  “Really, what did you tell this girl Edward?” Barbwire asks.  “Nothing, really.  Just that you could probably use some super healing powers and I would pay her some big bucks if she could do it.  I gave her a thousand dollars in cash to prove that I was serious if she was serious.” “Edward! Are you out of your mind!  Haven’t we taught you about people?  We are not to trust anyone outside of the family!  Do you understand!!!  Everyone who sets foot into our home must be checked out first by security without their knowing.  It’s just the way it has to be dear.  I am sorry.  But we have to be very cautious.  There is so much more that you really don’t know and we can’t afford to become associated with just anyone.  Having them stay in our home.  You just don’t understand.  There are too many secrets that I just can’t explain right now to you.  It’s too dangerous.” Ms. Haze says to her son Edward.  “Okay Dr. Mom,” says Edward.  “Okay, love enough of the sarcasm you know I get enough of that listening to my patients everyday.  When I am at home the Dr. hat comes off and the Ms. Haze hat or Mother hat is dawned dear son, “says Ms. Haze.

“Barbwire love, I think it is time that we told the children,” says Ms. Haze.

The children gather around.  Barbwire takes the two daughters by the hand and starts to walk toward one of the walls in their study. While Ms. Haze holds Edward closely.  Barbwire, “Children and mother come here and walk with me.”  Barbwire pulls a book from the library shelf reaches his hand to the back of the shelf and a scanner scans his hand making a very quiet high-toned whistle. “ Come follow me, we have only ten seconds, which really is enough.  Now follow my in my footsteps, carefully.  Keep your eyes on the little blue lights and keep walking forward,” says Barbwire.

The Children follow their parents into a secret passageway where the door closes behind them leaving only darkness and bright little blue LED light to follow.  They then feel weightless and they are taken away in a tubular underwater sub railway.  The doors open Ms. Haze, Barbwire and the children all stand.

Barbwire, “Here children this is why we must be so guarded.”  All three children, “Daddy you can see?”  “Yes, my lovely children I can see with this special optical chamber that we have created under the lake where all of Seattle is clueless to our movements under these waters.”

“This is the beginning of something more than what your young minds are able to handle at this time, but soon will learn all that is needed,” Barbwire and Ms. Haze.

 

Comming up Next....  "The Secret of the Haze"

  

*This concludes the revision of my Diagnostic Essay.  The following essay title "Super Powers" was the very original creation.  Which do you like better?  I think writing is an art and can only get better with practice and time.

"JJ's" original "Super-Powers" essay :1 0f 2

 “Super-powers”

It had been a very beautiful day.  Filled with family, friends and fun.  We were at a wedding vow renewal ceremony for one of my friends.  Everything seemed rather delightful up until the point I found myself sitting in an emergency room where I was the patient.  What had happened?  My temperature had shot up to about 102 degrees.  I thought I would be okay.  Take a pill and I will be okay.  I felt safe at my home before I drove myself here.  My vision became blurred.  I started to have chest pains.  My throat started to throb.  My sides, ached, my muscles started to feel weird, painful.  Sounds like maybe a virus?  Very well possible.

I had gone through the usual uncomfortable ness that everyone goes through I think when they are asked or told to get undressed and put on a Roman Style hospital robe. Who ever knows which way to put those hospital fashions?  Tie in the front or back? Too much thinking for a patient who’s sick, I’d say.  I don’t want this medical bill.  Oh, my. …Oh, how grateful I am once more for the wonders of health insurance.  Ah, the politics behind that issue is another story in itself.  I haven’t even begun really to tell you of the discovery that I had made. So, lend me your ear.

After leaving the hospital with no real answers, a prescription to cure what ever it was that was ailing me…no name or title at this point.  These Doctors must have Superpowers or something I really don’t know.  It’s some type of mystical phenomenon that takes place in those hospitals. 

It’s going to be a chilly day tomorrow I bet.   Tonight it is about 57 degrees.  Off I go in my awesome Hydro fuel automobile.  My husband helped design the hydro-fuel cars, homes, ECT…  I invite you to visit our home.  I want you to see our humble abode.  He’s got his own Science lab right at home.  Sometimes I think he’s been experimenting on me somehow.  Yes, I dare say this.

That morning I felt refreshed alive, alert, and renewed as if I was fit more than I had ever felt in my life.    Not having a complaint regarding aches or pains.  My life outside of the bodily aches and pains were always perfect in my eyes.  Wow, even more so now.  I believe my “Higher Power” has blessed me.  I looked in the mirror and nothing less than a miracle.  Every sign of ageing from all my days of swimming outdoors in the sunlight were vanished.  Vanity you may be thinking.  But, no, truly a blessing had been bestowed upon me and I can feel the power.  I had been blessed with what I call a super human super power.  That of SUPERHEALING powers, Questions- tons of questions raced through my head.  How many others have this power?  It is really a Superpower of super-natural explanations of sort.  It is real!  It all started that morning when I touched my face and imagined in my mind that of a healed face with no signs of stress. That is when the power came to light.  I had to test this power further.  I thought it possibly could be nothing more than a dream.  Since some strange things have been happening.  Now, I am convinced.  You’ll only believe it if you see it you may be thinking.  Have some faith and let go, just believe.  You’ll soon realize the truth. 

My eldest daughter and my husband practically blind at birth were both restored with perfect vision as God intended all people to be perfect at one time.  I had placed my hands over my eldest daughter’s eyes and imagined her functioning with bliss having full use of her eyes with no visual impairments.  I then did the same with my husband and he too was blessed with complete restoration of full and complete vision in both eyes.  Amazing!

What it was I had learned about myself being able to turn back time as in healing the skin, the vision, I continued healing, my mind, heart, my spirit and whole self.  I had been sick and now have been blessed with super healing powers.  The cure all to what exactly, is still to be learned.

Having felt so powerless within my own ailments I began to think.  What virtuous things can I do with this blessing? Do others posses this “Super human power”?  With my super healing powers I would reach high, do the best in all my means to help those just for the asking.

I will start with the Cure- healing power to cure what we know as AIDS, CANCER, DIABETES, ALCHOLISM, ALL THE DISEASES that have been affecting the lives of many with no cure in sight.  Keeping the power on the “down low”, as an anonymous philanthropist disguised with no distinguishing attributes that call for any sort of recognition.  Make a plan.

This is going to take a while, but I must do something.  I find myself drowned with Godly desires to help others now.

I need some real answers.  Did the Doctor know something more? Does my husband have this same power?  Any power?  He sure does spend hours on hours with his inventions in that lab.  Who do I tell?   I really need to talk with someone.  Something bigger than I am most definitely happening, and now I am learning my role. 

To be continued…

The End.

 (The art work is that of "DC comics" from an undisclosed online site.)

Down to the wire.

As it gets down to the wire here in reflecting what this class has been like.  I would like to say that as a student, we really need to be mindful of how we budget our time.  This has been a wonderful class and I know I will pass.  Although, I will say taking an eight -week English course has proven to be very challenging for me as I have been out of the academic world for some time.

 You all should be so lucky to have an instructor such as Paul Gasparo.  He has proven to be very creative and original yet, maintaining a discipline that is to be expected of someone in his position.  This has been a very good experience and I hope that future students can appreciate what our instructor has to offer.  I have yet to meet a teacher that has such zest for his art in such a way to encompass his own personality and making it become a reality for everyone in the class in creating real works of art.

            As the semester comes to a close I feel that I can tackle any project that comes my way so long as I take my time.  As I do have a tendency to be hasty at times and as the old’ adage says “Haste makes waste” and I will try my best to make best use of my time in reviewing any materials that I may have in question.  If something I have done is incorrect I have only myself to blame, but feedback is very important in the learning process, and maybe it is just my personality, but I need feedback whether it be good or bad.  I would hope that all feedback be constructive.  So, I am looking forward in reviewing what it is that I finalized in turning in for our last assignment.  The class in this sense has yet to end.  And I will have to remember to keep a portfolio or journal of what it is that I need to work on.  Yes, this is something I will be working on doing.  Taking things one day at a time.

            Why is it that many students wait till the last minute to get things done?  I don’t think this was the case for me.  I could use a bit of turbo or something.  Having to return to a college campus after so many years of being in various lines of work has proven to be a challenge.  One of the things that I never really like about the educational systems is that they are general very institutional like, unless you are in a school for the arts where they want you to be expressive and well, it really is all the same.  Actually with the internet and new learning mediums it seems to have made some expansion from the ridged way it was years ago pre-online classes.  Yes, it sure has been a while.  I am a life long learner.

            So, I say this.  What made this class stand out from any other schools that I have attended was the instructors originality, I’d say his youth, but I can almost bet you all some money that he’ll be just as unique in his teaching ten years from now.  What new comic books have you read lately?

 

 Thank you.

FAHRENHEIT 451 by: Ray Bradbury. Reviewed by: "JJ"

Fahrenheit  451, was indeed a pleasure to read.  I'll admit I hadn't read any fictional books this winter.  I am glad that I choose this book to read as part of an English assignment.  Otherwise, I may never have come across this mind-provoking piece of literature.  

The story takes place in a suburb area very similar to that of Waukegan, Illinois.  It reminded me of when I lived and worked in Waukegan. We would ride the "Metro" or train transit into the city of Chicago, as Mr. Bradbury describes his characters in Fahrenheit 451, riding the train to work. 

 The Protagonist in this book is a fireman named Guy Montage.   Montage and a young girl named Clarisse McClellan, quickly get to know each other as they ride the train to work every morning.  Clarisse, as a young curious girl would likely do, approaches Montage in his uniform and engages him in conversation about his job.  It so happens they are neighbors and start to walk towards home together.  Clarisse; “You know, I’m not afraid of you at all.”  He was surprised.  Montage; ”Why should you be?”  Clarisse; “So many people are.  Afraid of firemen, I mean.  But you’re just a man, after all…” (Bradbury, 7)

Montage soon starts to reflect as the young girl’s free spirit and curious questions get him thinking about why do the firemen burn the books.  Clarisse had asked Montage if he had ever read any of the books that he burned.  His mind starts to wonder and has a sort of hunger for knowledge to know what it would be like to read a book that is considered to be against their societies law.  (Bradbury)

  I am able to see how the author pulled some of his real life experiences, views and feelings into this story. In reading I got a sense for his style as the author himself was a lover of books and this was made apparent in his story Fahrenheit 451.  During the time that this book was originally published 1953 Mr. Bradbury was around the age of 33 years. Mr. Bradbury was born, August 22, 1920.

 Back in history: “ May 1933, Nazi sympathizers in Berlin burned 20,000 “degenerate” books, many of them written by Jews and anti-fascists such as Albert Einstein, Bertolt Brecht and Franz Kafka.  Here at home, slaveholders were so frightened by the power of the word that throughout the antebellum South legislatures made it a crime to teach slaves to read and write”. (21^st Century Book-Burning, Ross)

In Fahreninheit 451, the fireman’s job was that of authority.  They had the authority to burn all books.  That was their job description.  Only the opposite of our present view on firemen as our “hero” who is there for us in time of need when we need a fire rescue and “not a book burning.”  If it had to be done it makes perfect sense to have a fireman be the burner.

Montage the “burner” fireman burns books daily.  He is a dedicated fireman having started at the age of 20, that was 10 years ago. (Bradbury, 8) Guy Montage, having never read any of the books for 10 years being in the “burning” business, after meeting with the young free spirit Clarisse.  He finds himself slowly changing.  He starts stealing a book at a time to read and stashes them away in his home.  The suppression of knowledge is apparent as books are filled with knowledge.  Without knowledge we are ignorant.  With the burning of the books the society in Fahrenheit 451, the firemen are not completely successful in preventing the spread of knowledge and free speech as an there is an underground society of outlaws.  Mildred, the homemaker of Montage is a good example in the story of loosing a sense of free speech as she finds herself submersed in a scripted dialog daily in the parlor with the “televisors” (Bradbury)

            The “outlaws” memorize the books to protect them so that one-day possibly they would be able to put them down on paper once again.  With their own “War” starting, outside of their efforts to preserve the book stories, there lies hope for a positive change through the purging of the current governing body.

Watching the "X-men" from a student's angle.

We had a fun assignment to watch modern day film of the "X-men".  If you have never seen the "X-men" film 2000 release, I'd recommend it.  It can get a little gross or rather freaky when you actually see the visual "human" change their forms into their mutations throughout the movie.   The image projected marked my brain as something dark and evil.  They are strange mutants. The director uses pathos in the film in the very beginning with a young boy, was taken from his family during a conflicting time in history. Seeing the young boy being ripped away from his family we are left with the impression that he was to never see them again  sadness and grief is dramatized a moment in time.   Which seems to be a key note in the film as I was drawn to believe that the young having survived one day would seek to avenge his family; either as  a good character or evil character all depending on how the child allowed the effects of what it was that happened in his life effect him and how he was able to cope, actually however the writer wanted the story line to read.  

Through out the film there were several suspense filled conflicts.  One of the interesting dynamical conflicts I found somewhat appealing was the relationship with two main characters.  The two main characters being that of "Rogue" also known as Mary and that of "Wolverine"also known as Logan.  These two seemed to have a very taboo relationship to begin with as Rogue tries to runaway from society and the realities of her mutation.  On her venture to run away from her recent tragic experience where she was the main instrument to destruction of her first boyfriend.  (This story is to be continued as it is part of my reflection in class.) -Thank you.

*The artwork is that of the CD/Film cover slip for X-men downloaded from undisclosed online source.

Rhetorical readiness/ Classroom presentations

The class gave their rhetorical presentation analysis in class last week. I was fortunate that I did not have to go first or last. My presentation was somewhere in the middle. Let's just say I was excited and nervous at the same time. It's crucial to make sure that you are prepared for class and that your presentation will work correctly. I say this because I will admit that this was my very first power point presentation and I used my "Mac" computer book to create my presentation. Funny thing, my rhetorical analysis presentation was "David Letterman, PC vs. Mac" I really can relate to some of the challenges of compatibility those computers have. It is and can be very frustrating when the we speak many different languages.

I was rather impressed with many of the powerpoint presentations as they did look very professional. But, that was not really the main goal of this class at this time. That will be something that I will myself focus on for our final argumentive presentation.

In reflection the presentations that stood out in my mind were not the ones that were done in class, but the class before where our instructor was showing us slides and examples of rhetorical analysis of his own choosing. The image that stands out in my mind is that of what appeared to be a homeless person holding up a sign not wanting coins, but change.  Apparently these images can be seen in many areas where there are the homeless.  Check out this article where I found this image.  -Creative Urban Furniture: Convertible, Inflatable & Portable Homeless Shelters

Okay, back to the class presentations. I keep jumping around in my thoughts as I am actually doing this blog in a classromm setting as a group. The first and last time I think we will be doing this as a class.

Their was a photo rhetorical anaysis presented by one of my classmates that was a photo text.

It was of a boy in what appeared to be in a third world country. He was pissing on a wall.

It was a photo with very little color, it was black and white somewhat dreary in appearance and to the right side of the photo there was a red logo splashed very commercial looking which stated "just do it". This photo in my opionion was a good example of pathos in use. My classmate giving his presentation did a pretty good job. Pointing out that the boy was doing exactley what the logo was saying to do. As everyone has their own opinion as to what "Just do it" means. If you don't know it was the fortune 500 company "Nike".

"Franz Kafka is one of the most influential writers of the 20th century."--unidentified

Photo of Franz Kafka that was put on public display to mark the 125th anniversary of the birth of one of the world's greatest writers.

Let's go frantic about KAFKA!

One of our reading assignments we had in our "English" class was to read Kafka-"Metamorphosis".    An ebook version  is available just by clicking on the highlighted title.  Read this for yourself.  You may agree with me as the first time that I read this science fiction writing of Kafka it was a very painful read.  What I meant by painful was it was rather long and drawn out.  I found it to be rather wordy and descriptive and somewhat too slow for my attention span at times.  But, I was able to lighten things up by supplementing the reading with a visual interpretation that I had looked up using YouTube.  

You will find that with the reading and the visual that I used as a supplement that there were a few details that may have been changed.  I think the person that did the visual version is "Carlos Atanes", an independent filmmaker.  He did a pretty good job in his interpretation I feel.  You may agree or not.

The purpose in reading Kafka-"The metamorphosis" was so that we could go over it in class and do a literary analysis and rhetorical analysis of his work, actually a synthesis of Metamorphosis and the film X-men.  The focus in the class seemed to have been distracted by life during this assignmnet.  "Life on life's terms".  Our countries "Presidential Election" hit home for everyone in our class as it was a historical time and it seemed as if politics and life views encapsulated our brains for days.  By the time our class actually got around to reviewing Kafka's work, it was as if the flame was barely there in the class, what happened?  Our instructor had to break it down for the class.  I think I was expecting something different from the class.  A group analysis that would bring to light something of a deeper interpretation of the book.  It's always so much more fun to learn when everyone is participating.  Not to have any sort of expectation would be a good policy.  

What it seemed that I got out of the book was that the Protagonist named Gregor found himself changing into something other than human.  Over time it was not only his personality that changed, but his whole being.  Why this was happening could be the fact that his family was at one time a very well to do family and fell under hard times.  This caused the family dynamics to shift from Gregor's father being the bread winner to Gregor manning the reins in becomming the bread winner and sole supporter of the family until one day he becomes sick.  The sickness that he becomes infested with is recognized by his family, but they show very little compassion for his situation as he was expected to perform and deliver services to provide for the family that of his mother, father, sister and various housekeeping help.

When outsiders of the family become aware of Gregor's handicap the father is shameful of his son or it could be that he is ashamed even of himself for allowing such atrosity to happen.  The father then takes out his anger and frustrations on Gregor who has become powerless and in need of help which none other than his sister seem to provide.  The family manages to make their own wages all the while Gregor remains confined to the home mainly in his small room where his sister would deliver scraps of foods and tidy up through Gregor slow path to death from his sickness.  All the while his sister slowly become resentful as each day passes on.  As she herself is transforming from a young girl to that of a young fruitful woman who chooses not to cary on the burden of caretaker for her older brother who has become fully dependent on her and the family at this time.  

All the while    

Author/Ethos:  Mr. Franz Kafka  "Everybody knows the face of Franz Kafka, whether they have read any of his works or not.  And that brooding face carries instant images: bleak and threatening visions of an inescapable bureaucracy, nightmarish transformations uncanny prediction of the Holocaust  But while Kafka's genius is beyond question, the image of a mysterious, sickly, shadowy figure who was scarcely known in his own lifetime bears no resemblance to the historical reality.  Franz Kafka was a popular and well-connected millionaire's son who enjoyed good-time girls, brothels, and expensive porn, who landed a highly desirable state job that pulled in at least $90,000 a year in today's dollars for a six hour day, who remained a loyal member of Prague's German-speaking Imperial elite right to the end, and who's work was backed by a powerful literary clique.  " - James Hawes a novelist and Kafka scholar with a PH. D. in German literature.  *The photo above is a book Jacket design and lettering by Steve Snider with illustration by Douglas Smith.

A really good site to view regarding Kafka-"The Kafka Project". by Mauro Nervi