21 Steps

“21 Steps” is a unique and modern story, different from anything I have read previously. The story uses google earth to follow one relatively unknown character to a variety of destinations, as he flees many life-threatening situations. The story contains many literary and visual components that should interest the common reader.
While most stories force you to imagine the setting, “21 Steps” is narrated like a movie and puts the reader into the main character's (Rick) footsteps. Even though Cummings describes few characteristics about Rick, the reader has a camera like presence and sees Rick's every move. The “blue line” in the story is a good indicator to the pacing of the story. When Rick is fleeing from the cops, the blue line moves fast, as opposed to when he is walking around corners. This effect allows you to read at a pace that correlates with Rick's actions. The stories point of view blends 3rd person objective and 1st person singular together. This unique narration allows the reader to get familiar with the thoughts and actions of the main character, but also allows for the overall picture to be seen. Another interesting effect was the visual shift from satellite imagery to a plain map that occurred between chapters 5 and 6. In chapter 5, Rick is fleeing in a taxi from three strangers, unsure about the situation he is in. Cummings may have chosen to switch to a map in chapter 6 to put the reader in the taxi with Rick, and make it easier to visualize what was going through his mind as he fled through the city streets.
I recommend this story because it is the first well- done online text accompanied by visual maps that I have read. At first glance, the maps overpower the literary text, however upon reading the story a second time the text is quite powerful and significant. The maps serve as an aid to bring life to the story and make it easier to comprehend.

Nippers Facebook

In Herman Melville's, "Bartleby the Scrivener" the narrator introduces Nippers as a young, ambitious worker who has one major flaw. While working to his ability in the afternoon, Nippers is unproductive in the morning, suffering major distractions and stomach problems.
Nippers Facebook account would capture a wide spectrum of personalities and emotions. By looking at his profile picture, one sees an unusual nervousness and uneasiness. Nippers profile picture appearance would most likely depend on what time of day it was. If the picture was taken in the morning, Nippers would have bags under his eyes, and look nervous and frightened. However, if the picture was taken after "noon" one would see a new person, one who is motivated and alert. In Nippers "interests" section, he would write that he loves sleeping into the afternoon when he can. He would also write that he is addicted to Tums, due to the stomach aches he has daily. Nippers favorite novel would be the "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". While Nippers does not display an evilness about himself, he and Dr. Jekyll both have somewhat split personalities. In the "about me" section Nippers says that he is an educated man in his twenties, working for a well respected lawyer on Wall Street. Furthermore, he states that he has trouble sleeping at night due to the large amount of caffeine he consumes, causing him to be drowsy and weary at work in the mornings. Nippers often posts status's at "3:45 am" saying that he cannot sleep. Nippers favorite meal of the day is lunch because after he consumes it, he is a changed man. He would have many game applications to get him through his long nights and disastrous mornings. If Nippers wrote on your wall, you would be able to tell if it was "posted" in the morning or afternoon, without looking at the time. At the bottom of the page, Nippers writes in bold letters that he is looking for a new job that does not require his services in the morning.

pic source: http://armswideopen.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/garfield-i_dont_do_mornings.gif