An incident that will hopefully NOT take place tomorrow- Annie Deitz, blog post #10

(Although I do not watch this show or know who this character is, this blog post is in honor of Glenn from The Walking Dead. RIP man)

Imagine:
I'm in school, walking down the hallway with my friend Zaynab.* Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream pierces through the sound of shuffling feet and unnecessarily shouted expletives. Both mildly concerned and amused, Zaynab and I (along with a majority of the student population currently commuting to their classes) follow the scream in attempt to find it's owner. The trail leads the curious students to the downstairs girl's bathroom. Here, on the floor, stiff as a board, lays a young girl. Next to her crouches her murderer, another young girl, feasting on her brains. By the girl's complexion and rotting appendages, we can tell that she is a zombie. And the first of many to come. The zombie girl's attention snaps towards the audience she has attracted. She stares for a second. Then she lunges towards the nearest bystander. All hell breaks loose.

Due to the convenient fact that we were standing further away from the brain eating monster, Zaynab and I were able to escape the massacre. But that won't suffice. Soon the whole school will have been turned. We need an escape plan,

Step 1: Get out of the school- fast
Obvious enough. In order to avoid the zombies, we need to leave the place with the zombies.
But once we get out of the building, where do we go?
The outbreak probably is not occurring solely in our school, so who knows where others are lurking, waiting to devour us.
A car. We need a car.
That's our first goal. We run out to the student parking lot, high off of the hope that someone else yet to be zombiefied will help us in our escape. We have no such luck.
Fortunately, our good friend Rachel** runs out behind us. Her hands hold our salvation- the shiny silver pieces of metal which will open her sister's car and allow it to drive off into safety. We hop into the greenish blue Mazda, unaware of what our future holds in store.

Step 2: Find out what on earth has happened.
Zaynab drives, she's the tallest, naturally she's the best driver. Rachel turns on the radio. All stations still in operation (so two, maybe) are talking about the catastrophe. A secret nuclear power plant has exploded in Kansas. The plant harbored dangerous, untested chemicals. When released into the air, the chemical reacted with global bacteria and created an new super virus, contagious by blood, which ate away at the hosts brain until they became a mindless killing machine, only concerned with eating and spreading the infection. Half of the population had been contaminated since the outbreak, and although infection rates were decreasing, scientists  predicted that the entire race would be contaminated/dead within the week. That is, except for the three of us.

Step 3: Contact anyone with whom we have relations with.
After discovering what happened, Rachel and I give ourselves the responsibility of contacting any loved ones. Or rather, anyone we knew that could be a useful asset to our survival team.
Few calls go through, and no one answers.

Step 4: Supplies run.
After a few hours, the car runs low on gas, and all of us whine for food. We stop at a seemingly abandoned gas station to refuel, but we go about it cautiously. The mood is very Red Dawn-esque, and we all know that in a split second, three of us could become dead or infected.
Armed with an umbrella, a Swiss army knife, and a Gardner Art History book, we storm the gas station. I fill the tank while Rachel and Zaynab steal literally anything edible in the store, and then we take turns using the restroom.

After our supplies run, we head back out on the road, driving into the slowly setting sun.

Step 5: Get to Canada.
Until Zaynab almost drives off of a cliff, we never thought about any need to change drivers, or even decide where to go. When she does, however, we take a little break. She sleeps in the back while Rachel and I contemplate where to go.
Obviously we need to be somewhere accessible by car.
And Latin America- not an option. Being chased by zombies in the rainforest or up a mountain would be terrifying.
We eventually decide to go as far north into Canada as we can. Human life up there is sparse, and the likelihood of zombie encounters is sparse.
I take over the driving while Rachel creates a schedule for shifts.
We reach Canada after four days, seven rotations, and four more gas station raids.

Step 6: Find a cure.
Although very unlikely, this step is fairly self explanatory.

*For those of you who do not know Zaynab Khan, first of all, I highly suggest that you meet her. Odds are you will be slightly intimidating as well as extremely entertained. In order to really be able to imagine the scene the way I would like you to, I guess I have to describe her. So listed below are adjectives that describe her:
-Tall
-Pretty
-Great dancer
- Extremely sociable
- Awkward on occasion
**Although against the advice of dearest Col. Brown, I will make the assumption that you already know(ish) Rachel BRAGG

Blog Post 9 (creative title, I'm aware), by Annie Deitz

Last week, I wrote in my blog about this lady that I found annoying. Now I'm supposed to discuss the morality of war? I was not expected that rapid dive into deep water, but I can hold my breath for a while, I'll see what I can do.
Transitions are difficult. Specifically when you have the song "War" stuck in your head. Not even the original version, the one that Jack Black sung in the movie adaptation of Gulliver's Travels. War, huh, yeah. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing... unless Hitler threatens to take over all of Europe in order to create the "perfect" society and race while bringing glory to his poverty stricken country, while simultaneously committing genocide.

But seriously, why is war a thing?

Honestly, I don't know exactly what I think about war. Killing counters every religious text I've ever seen, so if we take that as our morality guide, clearly war can't pass? Right?
Wrong. The Bible frequently glorifies wars.

I do not agree with war. I think it should be avoided at all costs. However, there are times when it cannot be avoided, and I have difficulty deciding what those times should consist of. In preparation for this blog, I have created a three point scale to assist in deciding whether or not war is necessary.

1.) Will the predicted outcome of the war result in more or less destruction than dealing with the situation?
Ex. Although the fail safe system was ultimately effective, had it been triggered, the result would lead to the end of the world. I understand that the complete annialation of a country the size of the USSR/US and the death of all of its citizens would be horrific, a nuclear war would have had even more disturbing effects.

2.) Is it among popular opinion? Do a lot of OTHER people (not of whom have similar opinions on other matters) agree?
Ex. People generally are right on subjects such as this. If a lot of people disagree with a war, like in Vietnam, ODDS ARE IT WAS A BAD IDEA.

3.) Do you have a legitimate reason to fight?
Ex. If you and the rest of your friends make up the majority of the population as slaves in a sugar plantation colony, fighting is not completely illogical. However, if you and your rich, privileged, literate, powdered wig wearing friends decide that although your mother country may be trying to pay off a war that they just fought to protect you from enemies, you are above paying a few extra dollars in taxes, then oh do I have some news for you, Tommy J, about our taxes rates in comparison to yours. ( I do want to thank my homie G Wash though, if it weren't for you, I may be drinking tea rather than coffee right now).

I personally believe that the answer to all three of these questions should be yes, but 2/3 isn't bad, especially during desperate times. War is an abstract concept, and it's difficult to set exact limitations. I do not think that any conflict is worth the life of a human being, but sometimes the destruction caused by not going to war outweighs any casualties of war.

I've skirted around all of the questions asked, mainly because I have no direct answer for them. So here is my last thought on the matter:
Everyone should calm down and stop bringing out the big guns (literally) every time the need for communication arises.

Assignment 10: BOO

ZOMBIES HAVE ATTACKED. Detail your survival plan.

OR

Explain what scares you the most and why.

OR

Describe a moment in which you were fraught with peril. Tell it as a ghost story.

OR

In the vein of David Sedaris write an observational humorist piece related to your daily life: school, home, social, etc.  (don't be mean)

Happy Halloween!

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 1st at 11:59 pm

Thomas Werner Post 9: War

 War is innate. War is in nature. Wolves mark and fight for territory, deer clash over mates, even different groups of primates of the same species are known to have full on battles of there own.

But what about us humans? In nature, the weak die. That's nature though, and civilized people know we can't let nature take its course in this aspect. We help out the weak. No matter what political mumbo jumbo agenda people have, there is always some sort of help for those who can't help themselves. But should we apply this same bypass of the natural world to war? Is it our not only right, but duty as humans to save ourselves from the satiation of nature? 

But say this moral dilemma is decided on, and say we decide war is not ok. What if a rouge country decides to use violent force anyway? Or start arming themselves and refuse to cooperate? We would need to defend ourselves, or take action so we won't have to. 

As you can see, this 'ritual' of war and discussion of it raises more questions than it answers. It's gonna take quite some time to figure it all out. 

Allie Gregory Post 9

          There is definitely a time for war. By all means, it's something to avoid if at all possible. War is terrible. People die, and when people die, does anyone really win? (I don't think they do). However, sometimes it is just unavoidable. People, as a general rule, don't listen very well. They also have a tendency to be stubborn, pig-headed, greedy, etc, etc, and because of this will do anything to get there way (And this is coming from someone who largely identifies as an optimist). The same way a small child (or my teenage brother) will make demands for everything under the sun with no attempt to keep within the constraints of what is fair or realistic, countries push each other around. In both situations, the only solution is sometimes a show of force. Sure, sometimes you buy the kid an ice cream. Sometimes you let my brother have a pair of stupidly expensive shoes. And other times you make a deal, come to an agreement. "You can have ice cream if you clean your room." "Who needs more than six pairs of custom Nike tennis shoes?" But sometimes, an ever so reluctant parent has to put their foot down. Sometimes they have to say no, send the kid to timeout, ground him, because that is the only way the kid will ever learn who's boss. It's the only way to avoid shoe-related bankruptcy. In the case of international affairs, it takes on a much more important role of being the only way to avoid being pushed around or oppressed. When it comes down war being the only way to protect people, then absolutely, countries have an obligation to go to war.

Blog #9- Tori

War. I don't quite know how I feel about war, honestly. War is a part of our lives, always has been; we hear everyday about countries constantly at war, with a new tragedy everyday. I don't agree with war, especially how quick everyone is to jump to that conclusion. There may be times when war is inevitable, if there is a threat, that endangers a country or even a group of people, then yes, we should defend them. But I think war should be the absolute last resort. The last. Theres always something that can push us over the edge, and its the same for a government. There is always going to be something that can't be ignored, and has to be handled with extreme measures. 9/11 for example. I don't necessarily agree with the way the war is conducted, but I acknowledge that something needed to be done.

To close out this horribly written blog post, for which I sincerely apologise, I acknowledge that war is a thing even though I would rather it not be. BUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE IN NO WAY NECESSARY. ITS JUST OVERKILL. It's like shooting a deer with a semi-automatic. It's uncalled for. And they shouldve never even been brought to the table.

Assignment 9-Hannah Price

I don't think there's ever a time for war. There's always a non-violent solution that could be in place of war. There isn't a time for war because violence shouldn't always be the solution to every problem a country faces. There may be certain times a country has to go to war because maybe the other country will resort to violence no matter what and that's when the other country chooses to defend itself. I think just talking it out and trying to come to an agreement could be effective. Both countries have to see that war/violence can't be an option for it to be effective.

Blog Post #9: War – Gloria Pulley

Sometimes I watch the news. 

“Hmm… I could just become an old order Mennonite and not even watch tv and see all this and oppose all the violence (insert meme here).”

Then I remember I’m content with atheism.

I make the connection to religion because I find war in the name of religion to be absurd.  In fact, I find all war to be absurd.  Last year I took European history, and I can recall many times when I just wanted to chuck my textbook at a wall because of all the wars Europe had in the name of God.  I got to age of absolutism and about burned that stupid thing because all the monarchs decided to bicker over claims to the throne and stupid territories named after cows (that’s right Holstein, I’m looking at you). Then, we got to colonialism and the world wars and I was so tired, much done, such exhausted (wow) with reading the same thing over and over.  Someone did a thing that someone else didn’t like, and so they decided to kill them and anyone else they felt needed to go. Great. And where did this lead us, another war some time later.  It never ends.     

               

So no, war and violence is not acceptable.  Honestly, if you can kill each other over something stupid, then you can at least negotiate over something stupid first? Talk it out. It’s that simple.  Ok maybe it isn’t that simple.  There are communication and language barriers, nuclear weapons (hmmm I wonder why we have those???? Could it be from previous WAR???), differing political ideologies, economic stakes, alliances, etc. But imagine, what if instead of marching into a country with guns blazing, we just sat down and had a civil talk between leaders?  What if we didn’t automatically assume that everyone is a threat to us? What if we got the full story first?  I know there are a lot of what ifs, and I could sit here all day asking them, but we would still wake up tomorrow, and people would still kill each other for their cause. 

Holden Huffman Blog Post #9

        The topic of war is a very popular one that has many opinions built around it.  Some say that it is never okay, others say that its always okay, and some have more of a grey area view on it.  I have one of the grey area views on the topic of war.  I think that peace would be the best alternative and the best way to go about settling an issue between countries, but a lot the of time there is no way possible for peace to fix the issue.  At this point, I think that war is necessary.  While I think it's necessary many times, I do not believe that it is morally correct.  Killing someone is NEVER okay, but in certain circumstances it does become necessary.  In some cases, peace could lead to one country using another due to poor construction of relations.  This could promote the start of war, which would not be good.  Overall, while peaceful, fair negotiations would be a nice way to handle things, war becomes necessary a lot of times, even if it may not be morally right.

Blog Post 9: Isabel Bandoroff

War is circumstantial, in some cases I think it's morally just, in some it's the lesser of two evils, and in some it is a complete waste of human life and resources... and accomplishes nothing. Let's look at some examples. When a country is abusing or severely oppressing its people, I think it's our duty as humans to step in and lend a hand. For example, during World War II, when the US stumbled upon the concentration camps and alienation of Jews, we sent troops to resolve the situation and attempted to liberate the prisoners. I believe that this is a just reason for military involvement in World War II, as well as Pearl Harbor. Self Defense is an important role in a nation's appearance, and had we not responded we would've been viewed as a weak nation who can be walked all over. Despite all of this, war should be avoided at all costs. If there is a peaceful alternative or no US action is necessary, then we should stay out of it.

Assignment 9: What is it good for?

Genocide in Sudan

North Korea testing nuclear weapons

Iran creating nuclear weapons
Egypt
Syria

Terrorism

Injustices and threats surround so many lives in this world. When injustices or threats progress to dangerous and harmful levels though, it seems logical for war to come into play as a way to combat the situation. . .or is it?  The conservative Christian group known as the Mennonites believes that war (violence) is never appropriate.

Is there a time for war?

If there is a time, is it morally right and just or is is it the lesser of two evils?

If there isn't a time, why not?

Are there certain times when countries have a responsibility to go to war?

Are there any alternatives? Could they be more effective or less effective?

Due Sunday, October 25th at 11:59 pm

Post 8 - Allie Gregory

Fears: Disappointing others, uncomfortable with heights but not to the point that I cannot function around them

Annoyances: Misunderstandings, close-mindedness, reality TV, politics, the Percy Jackson movies

Accomplishments: Straight As, helping my friends through rough times

Confusions: Society

Sorrows: Homework, people being petty

Dreams: Get published, make movies, build cool things, get married, have family, live exciting life, be happy, have lake house (if I ever have the money) and a boat, see the world, go to Universal wearing Minnie Mouse ears, get asked to prom (least likely thing on this list), help people

Idiosyncrasies: I get way too into fictional stories, I like things to be really organized and clean (though I'm not actually all that good at keeping them that way), I can't sleep if I haven't brushed my teeth, my handwriting "looks like it came out of a printer" (so I've been told), I tend to ramble on assignments like this one (have you noticed?)

Risks: (Done) Scuba Diving, repelling, zip-lining, eating my brothers cooking, riding in the car with my mom driving, riding dirt bikes/ATVs, white-water rafting, flying a plane, (Want) going into the film industry

Beloved Possessions: (Then) Bear blanket, lots of stuffed animals, all of the Nancy Drew books, (Now) My grandmother's necklace, my phone, homemade presents from my friends

Problems: not bold enough, constantly apologizing even when I haven't done anything, not good at talking about myself, sucky self-confidence, sort of insecure about my friendships (I'm worried that they secretly find me annoying)

          I am now going to talk about my dreams, but in doing so I want to touch on a particular annoyance. The Percy Jackson movies. I saw the first movie when it came out and, at the time, had not yet read the books. I thought it was decent. I didn't love it, but I enjoyed it. It was fine. Then I read the books. And I no longer understood. The Percy Jackson books are absolutely amazing. They have a wonderful, witty, sarcastic voice and they're just the right amount of quirky -- weird to make you love them but not too weird. They're unique and enthralling and, as a series, absolutely brilliant. So why was the movie just okay? What annoys me about the movie is not that it is bad. It just missed out on incredible potential, and that's what upsets me. I loved the series and I want movies. And that brings me to my point, because the characters and plot both that I fell in love with... aren't in the movies.

          This brings me to my dreams. I mentioned that I want to make movies and I do. I love movies and have a very critical eye and think that as a whole it would be an exciting job I'd be decent at. And I know it's quite a long shot, but if I ever got the chance, the Percy Jackson series is a place I'd love to start. I've started writing the screenplay, as ridiculous as that may sound (hey, I think it's good to be ambitious), and I'm hoping that the disgruntled fan base will be enough to convince author Rick Riordan that remakes are in order. I certainly have the passion and the vision to make it happen.

          Beyond just Percy Jackson, I'd love to make movie adaptions of other books as well. I love books. I love movies. It would honestly be the perfect job for me, and I get really excited about it. But even if I change my mind in ten years and never have any part in the Percy Jackson remakes, they still need to happen, because the current ones are just obnoxious. Anyone who may know Rick Riordan is welcome to let him know I have some thoughts on the subject.

Thomas Winterton post 8

Fears: My life ending with regrets, I know all too well that any moment could be your last, and so a constant fear of mine is that if I do bite the dust early (God forbid) that I will feel that there are things in my life I could've done better and so on.

Annoyances: I'm a pretty mellow guy, not a lot bothers me except for moral/ social injustice, it bothers me so bad that if in about eight years or so you hear about some vigilante doing vigilante stuff, probably me.

Accomplishments: Don't really like to toot my own horn, fervent  believer that people should lay low and stick with the crowd until the moment best suites them to reveal their true aptitude for what ever skill is at question. Life is a competition, and the essence of surprise is a great tool.

Confusions: Why Hillary Clinton is not in jail.

Sorrows: My body failing me, I've had two knee surgeries in the past year and I will attempt to come back to sports this spring, with the amount of damage that has been wrought on my leg, I have a great insecurity about whether or not I will ever reach my potential.

Dreams: Get married, start a family, ACQUIRE VAST AMOUNTS OF CURRENCY.

Idiosyncrasies: YouTube, Halo, leaving the gym feeling like I need an ambulance.

Risks: Risks are a part of life. I accept that fact with open arms, they give us great experiences, they also give us bad ones... But how do we have great experiences with out having the bad ones first.

Beloved possessions, now and then: Batman related comics, wallet, cell phone, car keys.

(99) Problems: I want money, too busy to have a job, parents are tightwads. Physical therapy sucks like you wouldn't believe, A female ain't one

Sorrows: I was tired, sweat on my brow, muscles aching, vision blurry, heart pounding, breathe short, my legs screaming in protest as a scarlet pain shoots through my hamstrings and quadriceps, launching myself from a side-ways run into a forward sprint , I feel the cool wind caress my hot skin as I continued to accelerate towards my target. My body dumps adrenaline into my system for the coming contact, it felt as if I was going to explode from the energy that was manifesting it self in my limbs. The aches and pains were gone now, replaced by pure exhilaration. I feel invincible. Every muscle in my body tenses for the incoming collision. No collision came. The routine conflict was derailed by the most excruciating pain I've ever felt in my life. A nightmarish crunch rattles my being as an inferno of pain erupts from my knee, I tried to scream at first, all I heard was an extinguished breath from my mouth before my exhausted body was slammed into the ground by the enormous momentum generated from my sprint. Little did I know this was the beginning of a tribulation I still battle to this day.

Thomas Werner Post 8

Fears: Ohio
Annoyances: Politics
Accomplishments: Not living in Ohio
Confusions: Love
Sorrows: cannot be identified, too excessively drowned
Dreams: Just to be content
Idiosyncrasies: Good hygiene
Risks: Public school
Beloved Possessions: Money
Problems: Ohio

The sour smell of industry leaks into the air. It's a dark rainy day, so there's just a grey sheet of color everywhere you look. Then you're greeted by the dumbest, strangest mascot you've ever seen: a grimacing baseball with a mustache. What kind of idiots would think of that? How stupid and boring must a team be to have that as there mascot?? Oh... Oh no......... You now just realized where you are. The stupidity of the mascot required all your brain power to comprehend it, so you had no room in there to think about where you were. Fear clutches your body, you are pinned by the chill of fear -and cold- as reality sets in. You try to turn around, but it's too late. The job at the factory is was the only one you could actually land after a nine month job search.
At least you have 15 more years until retirement, halfway there!

Robert Hancock Blog #8

Fears: Not fulfilling my duties to God and my family.
Annoyances: Political correctness, people talking to loud in public spaces.
Accomplishments: I've done well enough for my self so far in regards of grades and work.
Confusions: Peoples need to be overly politically correct, and when people put their trust in systems and movements that have been proven to be ineffective.
Sorrows: I have not always been diligent in following through with my duties.
Dreams: I want to have a respectable job, wife and family.
Idiosyncrasies: Pushing on my nails b/c else wise I feel they will come off, I enjoy playing video games with my friends.
Risks: Travel with friends for long distances( trip to mexico and upcoming road trip west)
Beloved possessions, now and then: Blanket(then) computer and bible(now)
Problems: Procrastinator

I'm going to go with  "Confusions", my confusion arises with people who always ride the progressive P/C train and can't stand to take a joke. These people are more than willing to dish out a joke to the less publicly accepted stand points but anytime someone insults beliefs in line with(or what they believe to be in line with) their political stand point they cry racism, misogyny or whatever new word they're using to discredit opposing views. For example you could make fun of Conservative Christians all day long and no one would challenge you as it is the hip thing to do, but if I were to say ANYTHING about Islam or Homosexuals, I would instantly be  labeled as a racist and homophobe. My second point is people who point trust in movements and ideals that have been proven to be ineffective. The people who follow along with the more left leaning ideals confuse me, because these ideals are contrary to what I grew up with. To me they seem backwards and wrong(as I assume my ideals seem to them) they seem to run counter intuitive to freedom as they seem to line up in masses to push and cheer on the creation of some Orwellian society.

Post 8- Tori

fears- not being good enough, not even just with my studies, I just have this underlying fear that one day everyone is going to wake up and wonder why they're still here. I'm also terrified of failing, disappointing people.


annoyances- repetitiveness. my brothers like to knock relentlessly until I can actually get to the door, or they continually call my name until I'm standing in front of them because my voice doesn't carry through the house. people doing something and not returning the object to its original state: LIKE LEAVING THE CABINET DOORS OPEN.


accomplishments- keeping promises, even if they are a little late sometimes. being there for people when they ask me to be.


confusions- why do people do things they know will hurt others?


sorrows- I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and I cry at everything. motivation, sometimes the only motivation to leave my room is food.


dreams- to make people happy. I want to do something and make someone's life better


idiosyncrasies- music, Chuck Taylors, harry potter


risks- I don't really have any?


beloved possessions- my books, music, my collections of stuffed animals...


problems- again with the cant control emotions thing..


"I got your love letters, corrected the grammar and sent them back." (Fall Out Boy lyric if you were wondering).. I love finding little phrases like this in music, just one liners that either make me smile, or scream hell yeah! because if you think about it, one person, or a few persons, wrote a song that lasts, on average, about five minutes. and people from all over the world hear it, and it resonates differently with each one of them. DO YOU KNOW HOW FREAKING COOL THAT IS??? anyways, so yeah. music is kind of my favorite, and sometimes I just spend entire days on YouTube finding new bands and new songs I like (again with the I don't like to leave my room thing...). but this also connects with my I want to make something that makes someone happy, cause I know no matter what I'm feeling there's always that one song I can listen to and I just smile and relax. so yes. music.

Nate Dutch Assginment 8

Fears-wasting my life, failing
Annoyances-arrogant people, childish people, people who care to much what others think, people who eat gluten free for absolutely no reason, Michigan fans
Accomplishments-schoolwork, standardized testing
Confusions-why do people do the things that they do?
Sorrows-seeing people waste their lives doing nothing, seeing people be selfish
Dreams-leave Lexington, move to the West coast, be a positive influence on others
Idiosyncrasies-making weird noises at my dogs to see how they react, excessive hand washing
Risks-stupid betting on random things
Beloved possessions, now and then-My stuffed animal dog named Cutie(then), my 2 real dogs Penny and Scout(now)
Problems-being sensitive to others feelings

I'll go in depth about my fears. The difference between the two I wrote down is simple, one of them is something which I wish to avoid and the other is something I need to face and embrace. I need to fail. Everyone needs to fail. If you aren't failing you probably aren't successful in avoiding the first fear I listed. To really live your life you need to take chances, risks. But the reason it's called "taking a chance" is because there is a chance; a chance of failure. No one likes to fail. True failure hurts, it makes you want to lay down and give up on life sometimes. But it's necessary, because if you never have failed than you never have taken a chance, never have seen what you're capable of. Just like you can never truly be happy until you've been sad, you can never truly be successful until you've failed. But true success, the kind you've failed over and over for, that you've given everything for, is one of the most fulfilling experiences in existence. So to wrap up I'll give you the cliche MJ quote, but this time actually listen to it, "I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed."

Holden Huffman Blog Post #8

Fears: Loved ones dying, failing in school/life, gaining a bad reputation.
Annoyances: Hypocrisy,  people who try too hard for attention, arrogance, people never hear my name right the first time I tell it to them (ex. Hayden, Hogan, Nolan, etc...)
Accomplishments: Being in the academy, having all A's and B's throughout all of school.
Confusions: What is the point of high school once your schedule is all AP classes?
Sorrows: The idea that a lot of people don't get the opportunities that we do here in America.
Dreams: To live a successful life, have a wife and kids, achieve most of, if not all, of my goals in life.
Idiosyncrasies: Biting my nails, taking my socks off before I go to bed, I love mints and mint gum.
Risk: I'm not really much of a risk taker unless I'm playing Don't Spill the Beans
Beloved possessions (now and then): Then: Sailboat Blanket, Family; Now: Family, friends, Xbox One, cellphone, basketball hoop.
Problems: Anxiety issues, organization, eat too much, procrastination, don't take change easily.

The topic I am going to go in-depth about is my beloved possessions.  To start off, when I was about 6, I used a blanket with sailboats on it when I went to bed every night.  I'm the kind of person who doesn't really like change, so whenever I had to sleep with a different blanket, I got really upset, to the point of crying.  One day, I figured out that my parents had bought me a new blanket, and I just wasn't having it.  I was upset for a while.  To this day, I don't know what happened to that blanket, but it was dearly missed by my 6 year old self.  On the topic of family, I have always LOVED my family.  I thank God every day for blessing me with such a wonderful family.  They are there for me whenever I need them, they entertain me, help me, etc.. Nowadays, besides my family, I love my friends, Xbox, my cellphone, and my basketball hoop.  Whenever I am bored, I can either pop in any game I have and whoooooooooooooop my little brother, Kyree, or Robby H. every time, I can play games/watch videos on my phone, or I can go right out front and ball.  I really, really love all of the things I mentioned above and couldn't imagine life without any of them, especially my family.

Blog Post #8: Come Play With Me - Gloria Pulley

Fear: snakes, needles, being alone, emotions, failure
Annoyances: ignorance, exclusion
Accomplishments: half marathoning, artwork, grades
Confusion: other people, my idealistic worldview
Sorrows: grades, cross country races, my parents
Dreams: a successful marriage, run a marathon, have matching silverware and towels (I know that one is a little weird), spend my life doing something that makes me happy
Idiosyncrasies: cute (idk I’m told I’m cute a lot and I’m not really sure why because most days I feel like a nasty kraken beast)
Risks: my own stubbornness
Beloved Possessions: Mr. and Mrs. Kitty, my photo albums, my music collection, half marathon metals, letters from my friends and family
Problems: dealing with sadness and frustration, talking when I should
                                                                                                                                                                   
I can relate to horror movies.  while messing around in the attic a little girl finds a doll tucked in the corner behind a stack of boxes and other junk.  Faded and tattered, the light blue dress makes the cracked porcelain face glow in the dim lighting.  Black, beady eyes and scraggly hair complete the eerie package, yet the little girl just giggles and decides to introduce the abomination to the rest of her toys at the next tea party.  Afraid her parents will take away her new friend, she tucks it away under her bed. Her secret is safe, but she isn’t.  Incessant beckoning from the doll begins to consume the girl…
“Play with me. Play with me. Play with me. I’m the only one who loves you. PLAY WITH ME!! PLAY WITH ME!!”
Sitting on the couch with the rest of your friends you’re all screaming and throwing popcorn at the tv.  “STOP DON’T DO IT! IT’S GOING TO KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID??!!!NOOOOOOOOO!!!”
But now you’re on a different couch. There’s a bunch of diplomas on the wall and tacky knickknacks for the littler kids to play with because they don’t know how to use their words.  But neither do you.  The stench of Yankee candles and unused psychology books permeates the air, making it virtually useless to your lungs.  The guy, who your parents pay seventy five bucks an hour for you to stare at, drones on and on about emotions, and how it’s okay to cry, and it’s important to focus on stuff that makes you happy. But you just want dolly. “Come play with me”, it beckons. Your family and friends are your sane audience, screaming at you to stop because they don’t want to see the bad that happens.
  For two years I’ve gone back and forth. While I devote my free time to my art, running, music, planning a future for myself... the metaphorical dolly under the bed calls my name.  Eerie.  Both strange and frightening, but increasingly familiar.  Is it familiarity that makes it so terrifying?  Or is it because I still don’t know how this movie ends?

Blog Post 8: Isabel Bandoroff

Fears- burning alive, drowning, being kidnapped, my loved ones dying

Annoyances- when people pretend they don't care what happens to them, girls who try too hard to get noticed, when my parents (usually my mom) bother me about school, 9/11 and holocaust jokes

Accomplishments- my grades, my soccer career, my singing, I don't know.. I don't like this topic

Confusions- why do all my friends and I live in nice houses while many people around the world don't have access to clean water?- diffusion of resources.  

Sorrows- Freshman year I lost two friends: Tanner Duke and Jalen Byrd, last year I lost my best friend (she is still alive but we aren't friends anymore), and next year a lot of people I love are going to college. 

Dreams- become a psychologist then teacher, adopt a baby (and have a couple of my own), travel the world, go back to Haiti and hug all of my friends there, See Mednightson go to college.

Idiosyncrasies- I mess with my nails when I'm anxious or upset, my sneezes, unusual love for sour foods.

Risks- I want to skydive, going to Haiti and surfing in Costa Rica I guess ://

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then- blankey (then), music, friends, family (now)

Problems- anxiety, uncertainty, insecurity 

I am going to expand upon my annoyances, so here they are:

1. My first annoyance applies mostly to boys because they often think they're above rules and they can't get in trouble, that they're invincible and it doesn't matter what happens to them. WRONG. THIS IS YOUR LIFE, IT MATTERS. Here is an example of a reckless teenage boy who thinks he can do whatever the hell he wants, last weekend one of my friends got a DUI, and that will likely haunt him for the rest of his life. So does it matter? absolutely. You can still have so much fun in high school, but be smart, and care about what happens to you and your future. 

2. I realize that number 2 is probably a result of girls' insecurity, some women feel the need to wear lots of make up and be really flirty to get with guys. And in their defense, I get that flirting is fun and sometimes it's nice to feel pretty.... but I think you have a much better chance if you don't act like a bimbo and are just yourself. You don't have to wear make up every day and boys thinking you're pretty is not the one thing that this world depends on. 

3. Somehow, my mom knows absolutely everything about my school work. She knows about my tests and quizzes and assignments before I even know about them. At one time it had reached the point to where 90% of our conversations were about school, which if you don't know, is excruciatingly boring. To her credit, she has gotten a lot better, I think she is finally beginning to realize that if I had good grades, it was okay for us to not talk about school every waking hour. 

4. Lastly, number 4. This is one of the things that, as Hannah Freibert would say, really grinds my gears. I think there are plenty of funny, appropriate and inappropriate things people can joke about - 9/11 and the Holocaust are not one of them. I don't think people realize how unbelievably insulting it is to the people who died and their families. My dad is Jewish so the Holocaust jokes I take on a personal level, both events were horribly tragedies that should make us sick, not make us laugh. 

Assignment 8- Hannah Price

Fears: Not getting the score I need on ACT

Annoyances: Fluctuations in my grades, Braces, 

Accomplishments: My GPA

Confusions: Spanish, Physics, ACT Science Section

Sorrows: Not getting my license until December

Dreams: Living in NYC, Graduating med-school

Idiosyncrasies: Reading when my life gets too boring

Risks: Traveling alone

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: Shoes, Clothes, Computer, My Car

Problems: Stress

 

I'm very scared of not getting the score I need on the ACT. I know that I will get in to the school I want, but I really want a specific scholarship that's basically a full-ride. The Act is really a make-it or break-it for me. I think I can get the score, but I find it really hard carving time out of my day to study for it. I want to get the point where I'm studying 1 hour per day, but when I have free time I always feel I should be studying for school or relaxing. The Science and Math are hard for me. I think I'm pretty good at math, but now I have to re-learn stuff. I'll learn the math that I need and then forget about it after the test. I've always struggled with Science, but I think I just have enough confidence in that subject. Basically, I'm scared that I'll be so absorbed in school and extracurriculars that I'll keep putting it off until the last minute. I think when make the score I feel like the burden and stress surrounding it will just go away.

A Long Rant That No One Wants to Read AKA Annie Deitz's 8th blog post

Fears: failure, not being good enough (vague, but I think/hope you understand what that means), drowning, my brother's allergies, that some creepy pale person with long finger nails and a horrible posture will sneak into my room at night

Annoyances: having to repeat myself, most people, repeated grammatical infractions, the fact that I wasn't allowed to run the "throwing ball game" at this carnival I volunteered at because I am a girl and girls don't like sports

Accomplishment: I get out of my bed most mornings

Confusions: physics

Sorrows: if this means things I need to work on in my life- procrastination, awkwardness, "talking to people," motivation, so many other things that I cannot write without seeming like an angst filled teenager

Dreams: MEETING TAYLOR SWIFT (WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY HAPPEN TUESDAY)

Idiosyncrasies: rain boots, my teddy bear named Austin who lives on my bed, this whole obsession I've had with llamas

Risks: not sure what this means...

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: Taylor's autograph (Taylor as in Swift), my cd's, my Harry Potter books, Richard the Llama Homeslice (long story), my coffee cup

Problems: I'm not even going to start.

 

I guess my "annoyances will be the easiest to elaborate on, so, here we go:

Repeating Myself: Yes, I am perfectly aware that I speak quietly. Yes, I am perfectly aware that sometimes I speak quickly. BUT IT BOTHERS THE DEEPEST PART OF MY SOUL THAT YOU COULD NOT CARE ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT I WAS SAYING TO ACTIVELY LISTEN THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAID IT. I have a difficult time as it is with speaking aloud. When someone asks me to repeat myself, not because they tried but couldn't understand me, but because they the could not force themselves to listen to a single word that I was saying, IT UNLEASHES THE KRAKEN. Not actually. Krakens haven't existed in the United States in years. How does one even spell Kraken..? I missed it, most likely. Sorry, things distract me easily.

But yeah. I don't think anyone wants to hear what I say, so I don't speak frequently. And someone not paying attention to me in the rare instances I do speak lowers the likelihood that I will speak again in the future.

The next two items on the list of annoyances appear pretty self explanatory. If not, I again apologize, but I need to spend the rest of this blog post ranting about something that happened to me last night, or Friday night for those of you not reading this until later.

 

Every year, I volunteer at the ACE fall carnival. I love ACE, I went there as a young elementary school Annie and my brother goes there now. The staff and I are friends and walking on the campus reminds me of my childhood- when I wasn't stressed and slept a sufficient amount every night.

Anyways, I volunteer at this carnival all of the time. It's run by the PTA (which, BTW, my mother has been on up until this year) and again, I know many of the people in the PTA. I don't need anymore community service hours, but I really like to work there, so I signed up to work with my sister and her friend. When we arrived, we signed in and wrote our names on fancy, decorated name tags. We walked over to another table where we received our assignments, and they told me to go out back and run a game called "When Pigs Fly." I had no idea what this game was, and when I went out back, it hadn't even been set up. So, naturally I spent the next twenty minutes setting it up and figuring out the rules. Right before the carnival began, this lady came up to me. She said "You're a girl?"

Thinking this fact was obvious, I stared at her. She shook her head, and left. Five-ish minutes later, she came back with four 12 year old boys. "They're going to run this station now," she told me. "You won't be as good at it. You're a girl. We'll send you over to the face painting station, because girls are good at that. We'll leave sports games for the boys."

 

WHAT
THE
HECK
?
?
?

 

In that instant, I swore there were an infinite amount of names she needed to be called. But, because I am such a nice girl, I told her "Just because I happen to have two x chromosomes does not mean I am artistic. Your children will walk around with garbage painted on their faces if you send me there."

 

She giggles. "Okay sweetheart, you can go to the hair painting station. Girls love hair too. We have some nice ladies who work at a spa over there, maybe they could give you some tips!"

 

WHAT

HAPPENED

TO

YOU

TO

TURN

YOU

INTO

THIS

SEXIST

LITTLE

SHIa labeouf

?

 

"I really hate to complain, I know that I volunteered for this, but I just spent twenty minutes setting this up. I think I'll just get in the professional's way, or accidentally spray paint in some poor kid's eye. Maybe I could help those boys instead, they look a little rowdy already."

 

I pointed towards the children, who had, in the minute and a half that since they arrived, knocked over the stand that the carnival goers were to throw the ball into.

 

"No, it;s okay. They are boys, they'll be better with the throwing games than you will."

 

I shrugged, and thanked her. She smiled and showed me to the spray painting station, which was already surrounded by seven or eight girls who clearly did not have enough testosterone to tell children to throw something on something else.

 

I thanked her again, and she told me it was her pleasure. She flounced away, fortunately unable to see multiple plans for her murder in my head.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now you can decide- and hopefully tell me, it might help me refrain from enacting those murder plans. Am I crazy for being offended? Was she rude? Was that sexist? Can a woman be sexist towards other females? Of course, I was paraphrasing my own responses; but was I too insulting? Was I overreacting?
Personally, I believe that my responses were extremely controlled. I'm proud of myself for not murdering her.

Here I go again, writing really long, useless, boring rants that no one will finish reading. Please forgive me, I have  a bad habit of rambling. Maybe I needed to include that in my list. Oh well. I need to wrap it up, but all of the endings I have written so far sound incredibly awkward, so I'm ending it in the middl-

Assignment 8: "I never had to choose my subject- my subject rather chose me"

Writing territories are a range of ideas that one generates to spark their writing. In general, it is just one of the many ways one can brainstorm for different types of writing.

This week's blog is more undefined than others because it depends so much on your unique personal experiences. Below, is a list of 10 writing territories and you'll begin by answering them. Your answers do not have to be lengthy, they only need to be definitive enough so that you, the writer, could look back at it weeks from now and it could trigger what you were thinking about.

Writing Territories

Fears

Annoyances

Accomplishments

Confusions

Sorrows

Dreams

Idiosyncrasies

Risks

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then

Problems

For instance, my list looks like:

Fears: drowning, loosing family in catastrophe

Annoyances: rudeness, expecting fairness in this world

Accomplishments: still being married, being a dad my children want to be around

Confusions: inequity (different than fairness)

Sorrows: anger management, weight, (totally working on both but to be honest "weight" is harder than "anger" 'cause food is goooooooood)

Dreams: retirement, travel,

Idiosyncrasies: nerd, paper/pencil RPG (redundant?)

Risks: pilot's license (want), jumped out of an airplain (did)

Beloved Possessions: comic books (then), friendships (now- i know, cheesy)

Problems: Organization

Simple, right?

Now, once you have your list, choose one topic to expand upon in-depth (or at least 150 words). This may be as simple as an explanation of this topic (e.g. I discovered I had an anger management problem when I realized that I was taking out my frustrations on my family. . . .). It may turn into to a short-story or a beginning of a short story. It may turn into a narrative of a memory. It may turn into a  social commentary. It may turn into 150 words of freewrite. It may turn into something all together different and weird and delightful. Whatever you wrote down in your list, reflect upon it and allow it to guide your entry for the week.

"There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges." -Ernest Hemingway

Due Sunday, October 18th at 11:59 pm

Allie Gregory - Blog #7

          On September 15, 1935, the Nazis enacted the Nuremburg laws, which deprived German Jews their rights of citizenship. This was obviously not a good thing. It had serious negative effects on the Jewish community, both social and economic. People were imprisoned for marrying Jews, and when the Jews finished their sentence they were sent to concentration camps. Non-Jews stopped shopping in Jewish-owned stores and much social interaction between the two groups halted. Jews were denied all government-regulated jobs, such as those in the fields of medicine and education. 
          Four years before the start of World War II, this event was a serious stepping stone. It was the beginning of Jewish isolation and the start of a path that would prove to be catastrophic. Six million Jews died in WWII, a fact in itself which is inherently devastating, and this was a major event leading up to such terrible results. I certainly resent these laws having been placed. They embody a part of human history and essentially a piece of humanity which I would rather pretend didn't exist. It's horrifying to think that we can single out a group of people and hate them the way people hated Jews, ostracize them the way the Jewish people were ostracized.

Thomas Werner Assignment 7

On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower departed for America.

On this day, the ship deported from England with 102 passengers and a small crew. They would soon be the iconic symbol of European colonization of that land. It was good in the sense that it would be seen as the beginning of a nation, but there was a bad aspect with the whole Native American business. But nevertheless, it was significant. It influenced an entire nation, symbolizing the European settlement. Without it, I wouldn't be able to live in this great country.
I appreciate this event greatly, in that it has such a direct link to where I live today and the society I live in. It was the beginning of our democracy with the soon to be written Mayflower Compact. It was the start of the colonization of European America with the bravery of the Pilgrims. It was the start of greatness.

Aditi Lohe Blog Post #7

Edson Arantes do Nacsimento, known as Pelé, was a profesional soccer player from Brazil. He retired on October 1, 1977, at the age of 36. During his entire soccer career, Pelé made 1,281 goals out of the 1,363 games he played in. Pelé was, and still is, known as the greatest soccer player the world has ever seen. I don't really know what influence his retirement had on the world, other than finalizing his legacy, but it is definitely an event that I hold appreciation for. My twin brother was obsessed with Pelé, and after i while, i too became interested. Pelé was such an extraordinary soccer player that after a while, the opposing teams attempted to injure him rather than block him. If you have never seen a game played by him, I recommend you go look one up; it was impossible for the other teams defenders to keep up with him. I think that Pelé's retirement was a great event in soccer history, and that he will forever be the king of football.

post 6- Annie Deitz

First of all, I just want to apologize. I didn't want to skip the week five and six blog posts. It was my friend, Procrastination. Sometimes he just randomly comes to my house and wants to color with me or watch Netflix or randomly reorganize my closet. I can't help it, I'll tell him "I need to be doing things for Mr. Logdson right now." He just doesn't care, he forces me to do those things- completely against my will! Also, none of the things I say in the rest of my blog post refer to you, Mr. Logsdon, you happen to be one of the few bright spots in the darkness that I call school.

Back to last week's prompt. My three questions:
1.) Why do people become so attached to fictional characters? They aren't real. Why do we want them to get together? Why do we cry when they die? Why do we think that they are "my literal son" when they are 30 year old men from a completely fictional universe?
2.) Describe why the American education system sucks.
3.) If you could create one new AP class (it can be over ANYTHING AT ALL), what would it be? Why?

On my list of the most problematic things in America, the education system is third, beaten only by homophobia and the fact that because we do not operate under the Articles of Confederation, Canada cannot become a state whenever it wants.

On the list of things I like to complain about most, the American education system is the first seventeen.

Not all schools in American suck at everything they try to do. Some actually sound really awesome and succeed in teaching their students. The Fayette County Public School System has no schools that can even be considered to be included with those. FCPS is the pistachio ice cream of the school world. The crocs of the school world. The Dolores Umbridge (you shut your mouth, the situation has surpassed that level of seriousness. I am right and you know it).

Where do I even begin? With the fact that my mom comes home from her SBDM meetings wordlessly frustrated over the idiots that think they can rezone the school districts to segregate people of different socioeconomic statuses? Or maybe the problem with peanut butter, and that despite the fact that SEVERAL students could DIE, we still feel that no problem exists with selling peanut butter in the schools, where the students will eat them, next to their classmate who is not near a teacher who knows anything about an epi pen because few are required to? OR MAYBE, should I rant about the teachers scared of losing their jobs and teaching toward some dumb state test that will test a limited amount of the knowledge necessary for being a functioning member of society?

So much of that bothers me, but the worst of all of the horrors subjected to the students and teachers of Fayette County School System, is the MAP test.

Or should I say, was.

I cannot bring myself to understand why anyone would use something that Satan had come up from Hell to poop onto some dumb council member's bedside table- but apparently many people thought this would be a good course of action. I guess Lucifer looks like an angel, maybe they were confused. Not only did it do an average job at best testing over unimportant knowledge, but it was incredibly not useful and stressed children out for no apparent reason.

My younger sister is brilliant, she absorbs anything taught to her and has an incredible amount of common sense. So naturally, everyone expected her to pass the MAP tests with flying colors. But she never did. Something about the way those tests were set up hindered her ability to show off her knowledge. And that terrified her. She would stay up all night for days prior to the exam, crying and freaking out about how horrible she thought she would do. As an already anxious person, this practically burned the rest of her self confidence and threw the ashes into the sea. I have never been able to see why that was necessary, why she had to go through that, and it has always made me really mad.

So you can imagine my elation to discover that MAP testing was over, forever.

HA. HA. HA.

The school board never had a sudden realizations to the stupidity and horribleness of those tests. THEY WERE JUST TOO CHEAP TO PAY FOR THEM. SO THEY BOUGHT A LESS EXPENSIVE VERSION OF THE SAME EXACT THING.

I'm going to apologize again. By now I've realized that this never needed to be this long, and I'm wasting your time. Also, my friend Procrastination just showed up, he wants me to quit this and not study physics so that we can play some pancake game on the internet. Yay.

Bog Post 7: Isabel Bandoroff

On October 3rd, ASAP Rocky was born (which is either good or bad depending on your taste), The U.S accidentally bombed a Doctors without Borders hospital - obviously bad, and how that happens I have no idea, and in 1942- the first manmade object reached space from Germany. Any day you google, thousands of things come up in Wikipedia: deaths, births, events, and holidays. Every day of our lives, and every day that came before and will come after us, possesses good and bad things. People die and people are born. While ASAP rocky being born on October 3rd probably didn't affect the world very much that day, a bombing and a space launch sure did. October 3rd, 1942 paved the way for future space travel - in 100 years when people live on Mars, we will look back and remember that October 3rd is where it all began. While these events did not affect me or my city, that does not make them any less important. Everyone, despite what some people may believe, has someone who cares about and loves them, someone who would notice if they died and who would be saddened by it.

Events on October 11th- Gloria Pulley

(Sooooo fun event that happened on October 11^th, 2015, I ran a half marathon, and I’m tired so I apologize if this blog post is kinda eh because I am very out of it.)

#throwbacksunday to September 26^th, 2006 to an event with little historical importance in the grand scheme of things.  On this day, the band Mutemath released their first album, Mutemath (I know what a creative name for an album).  Is this event a pivotal point in the nation’s history? The world’s history?  Nope.

But this event is not entirely one to be ignored, at least for me anyway.  Being one of those people that don’t particularly enjoy silence, music helps me.  While having some previous knowledge of them, winter of freshman year I decided to sit down and listen to all the Mutemath albums until I knew them backwards and forwards.  This one happened to be my favorite of their three albums. Maybe it was the soothing drone of instrumentals, or the flawless transitions, or the lyrics that seemed to speak to me.  Whatever it was, it was perfect. 

This is my go to album when I’m running and need inspiration from “Typical” or some hardcore motivation from “Break the Same.” “Chaos” when the world seems to be piling it on.  “You are Mine” when I’m lying in bed and need something to lull me to sleep.  At the end of it all, I can just “Reset,”  with a feeling of empowerment, tranquility, or reassurance in something so familiar that it could be a best friend.     

Holden Huffman Blog Post #7

October 1st, 1908 was a very significant day in not only our country, but the world.  On this day, Henry Ford's Model T car, designed for the masses, went on sale for the first time.  This would forever change transportation throughout the world.  You no longer had to walk or ride horses for long distance travel, you could just hop in your car and go.  This new invention made traveling easier, less of a hassle, and quicker.  This moment in history was VERY significant as it was the first time that cars became available to the masses.  In terms of how this event has effected me, it has had a pretty strong impact.  While I like walking places and taking in nature, I cannot even fathom how tiring it was to walk or ride horses for the very long amounts of time that people had to back then.  I love knowing that if I want to go to someone's house or go eat somewhere, I can be there in minutes.  This sale of cars to the public began what would lead to various brands and lines of cars being sold to millions of people publicly today.

Hannah Price-Assignment 7

On September 15, 1963 was the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Alabama, which was a significant location for civil rights. The bomb was set on Sunday at the church by the Klu Klux Klan. Four black schoolgirls were killed as a result of this bombing. September 15 marks a significant date in history because it showed all the senseless cruelty Black people underwent at this time. It showed white people how serious discrimination was getting on their part that 4 innocent girls were killed. This event shows to me how evil and inhumane people can be sometimes. This also reminded me of a similar event that took place recently. June 17 of this year there was Charleston church shooting carried out by a young man named Dylann Roof. This shooting was at another significant historical black civil rights site. This showed that racism and discrimination is still alive today like is was in September 15, 1963. Although I loathe that this event even took place, I do think it is an important part of American and Black History.

Nate Assignment 7

On October 5, 1947, the first presidential speech was televised. President Harry Truman called for Americans to cut down on their use of grain in order to aid starving Europeans. The speech contributed to ongoing relief for European refugees of World War II. But this was not where it had its greatest impact. This speech would revolutionize the relationship between the President and the American people. While the revolution may have started in 1947, its effects wouldn't be seen on a large scale until much later. Most people of the time couldn't afford such advanced technology. Today, we couldn't imagine a relationship with the White House that doesn't run through our TV screens. While there were some negative effects like the presence now of annoying political ads, I generally believe this was a positive event because it broadened the communication between the top of our government and the rest of us.

Assignment 7: On This Date

September 12th through October 11th. Those are the dates for your blog entry this week.

Pick one of the dates from the past four weeks and look up historical events happened on that date. Choose the event of your liking and answer the following:

What happened? Was this good or bad?

What influence did this have on the world? A nation? A city? Your existence?

Do you appreciate this event? Do you loathe it?

Continue to editorialize as you see fit.

Due Sunday, October 11th at 11:59 pm

Thomas Winterton post 6

Prompt 1: Define what it means to have a good childhood, some people view an exciting youth as one filled with adventure and maybe some illicit debauchery, others consider a fulfilled youth to be studious and well mannered experiences. How to you think your youth should be spent?

Prompt 2: Screaming children, we all have experienced it at some point, at the grocery store, at the mall, maybe at your own house if you have younger siblings. Put yourself in a parents shoes, How do you handle a screaming child? Are you stern and unfaltering? Or do give in and do what ever you can to please the child at any expense to end the unpleasant situation?

Prompt 3: Arguing with your parents... We all have done it before, why do we do it? Because we didn't get our way? Because we feel we were wronged? For what reasons have you argued with your parents and in what situations is it appropriate to argue with your parents?

Prompt 1: My definition of what it means to have a good childhood has changed over the past year, my view on living life is to live without regret, to not look back and think about what I could have done better. I want to look back on my youth and be happy with any and all experiences I had. I'm not saying I want to go crazy in highschool, But rather I want to fulfill my potential, and have alot of fun while I do it. If that means taking a risk here and there, then so be it. Speaking from personal experience, you could have your life nearly end in the blink of an eye, so live wholly, but fulfill my potential.

Allie Gregory Post #5

1. Every time I see "based on a true story" before a movie, I wonder what changes were made from what really happened to make the movie interesting enough. If your life were going to be made into a movie, what changes would probably be made?
2. If you were going to write a book, what genre would it be? Romance? Sci-fi? Fantasy? Action-adventure? What type of character would your story highlight, and if your book were to be made into a movie, what actors would you want to star? (If you wouldn't want your book made into a movie, tell why.)
3. Imagine that you were given ten minutes to choose any year you wanted to go to. You could bring anyone with you that wanted to come and you'd be guaranteed a seamless transition into the new society, but you would be stuck in your chosen time period. There would be no coming back. If you would go at all, tell when and why. If you would refuse, tell why. 

          I'm going to respond to the second prompt. For almost four years now, I've been working on a book series with a friend of mine. It's a fantasy series, about a world with dragons and magic. It's about four strong female leads. Elizabeth is quick-tempered and a bit high-strung. Masha is overbearing and empathetic. Dawn is a spoiled brat, to put it mildly, though she gets better. And Alex is very stoic -- compassionate but aloof. We also have two antagonists. Sargon is full of hatred. As I have previously expressed an opposition to the idea of someone who is completely evil, Sargon has a good heart. But he has been twisted and broken by his past. Damian is essentially his henchman/adopted son and has a very similar disposition. Truthfully, he's just compassion-starved and following his father figure, but these circumstances drive him in a not-so-good direction.
          These characters have been developed and redeveloped innumerable times since the eighth grade afternoon I typed up the very first page. Every detail has changed and been tweaked and then changed again as we've redone and redone the story. This being said, it's very possible that my finished project won't have any of the same names even (Damian didn't exist until two years ago and he's pivotal). However, one thing that I don't expect will ever change, we decided very early on in the process: Sargon has to be played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The character was written for him; it is absolutely necessary. And yes, I might be getting my hopes a little high, because the chances of anything going how I picture them are ridiculously low, but I will always stand by my conviction: Benedict Cumberbatch is the perfect Sargon.

Thomas Werner 6th Assignment

-Don't get me started on...
-What makes a good movie a good movie?
-What's the oldest trick in the book?

Don't get me started on politics. Even discussing politics and different views doesn't yield intellectual furthering of ideas by comparing different perspectives anymore. What happens now, even on the highest level (such as presidential debates) has turned into embedding the debaters further into their already existent ideas. I could go on and on, expanding on this argument with its application to political parties and other aspects of what's gone (and going) wrong. There's a reason the prompt is called 'don't get me started'.

Aditi Lohe Blog Post #6

Writing Prompts:
1. If you could live in any city in the U.S., where would you choose?
2. What is a favorite hobby you like to do in your free time?
3. What is something you wish to achieve this school year?

Writing Prompt 1:

If I had the option of living in any city in the U.S., I would choose New York City. Now I know this is a very common answer but mine might be a for a couple of different reasons than others. Many people say they love New York City because of all the shops it has and the city life. Even though that is part of why I like it, it is not even close to the full reason of why I would want to live there. I definitely do love the city life - all the constant action, busy streets, vendors and boutiques, and just daily life in general. Everyone is always doing something; there is never a chance for boredom.
The culture in New York City is full of diversity. People of many different nationalities come to this city; you could walk down 8th Street and find over a dozen different foreign restaurants. My family and I visit our relatives in New York usually every year, and every time I am captivated by its beauty. Beauty in the towering skyscrapers, narrow alleys, boutiques lined up and down the streets, and rain.

I love the rain. I know that many people dream of moving somewhere in the west like Los Angeles or San Francisco where they don't have to worry about gloomy weather, but I am the opposite. I enjoy the dark, rainy days everyone else is so against. New York City is still full of life despite the wet atmosphere on these cloudy days; as we all know: a little rain never hurt anybody!

Assignment 6-Hannah Price

What scares you the most about the future? Why?
What do you like/dislike about reading? What books do you like/dislike?
Whats your favorite way to travel (bus, train, car, plane, etc.)? Why?

Prompt #3:

My favorite way to travel would probably be by train/Amtrak. I love when I'm waiting for the train anticipation. In the train you always have something to look at. Your going through different states and sceneries, there is always something to see. I love people watching of the train. Looking at the people that come on and off at different stops, I wonder where their going and what for. Sitting back and reading as different parts of the country pass me by is peaceful and what I love most.

Robert Hancock 6

1. What do you like to do in your free time?
2. What is your favorite genre of music and why?
3. What do you expect the future you to be like?

I am going to go with number 2. because music is something I have a deep connection with and I believe that choices in music reflect a lot on that individuals personality. For me, I don't know if I can nail down a particular genre, I like to listen to music that has a duel feeling to it. It's really hard to put it to words as it is more of a feeling. It makes you feel at peace and yet there is a tinge of sadness. The music I listen to spans across many genres and to limit it to some name as arbitrary as "indie" feels wrong. Music, to me at least, should be about how it connects with you. Some people like the heavy rhythm associated with pop and dance, some enjoy the lyrical that comes with rap, and some are masochists who enjoy unintelligible gargling and concussions brought about by headbanging in metal. But honestly music really does speak volumes about the person and how they view themselves. I found the music that speaks to me through a friend who has similar temperaments to me. The music felt right to me, it wasn't a matter of enjoyment but instead like the sounds coming into my ears was plugging into my psyche like it was meant for it. The music matched me and it made me feel a myriad of feelings and it was that reaction that I craved out of music. That feeling of melancholy that I will relate to my good times with that friend who introduced me to his music and that connected in with my psyche far more than i would have anticipated.

Nate Dutch Assignment 6

1. What is the first childhood memory you can recollect? Describe it.
2. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Why?
3. If you could live anywhere, where would you live and why?

I'll answer number 3.
Based on my current experiences, I would select the Bay Area as a permanent destination. For those of you who have not made the trip to the Greater San Fransisco-Oakland area, go. Go now (if possible). If you have ever heard that Los Angeles is the greatest, you have been lied to because San Fransisco makes L.A. look like a dump. The weather is perfect. 60-70 degrees year round. The city is beautiful and unique. Artsy skyscrapers cover the city which happens to be constructed on rolling hills leading to roller coaster like streets. The surrounding landscape is dreamlike. The great redwoods of Muir Woods tower to the north and the northern California coastline to the south presents it finest treasures like Monterey Bay. I can talk all I want about the visuals but the best part of the city is definitely the chill people. They never hurry around unlike Easterners and they tend to be very friendly unlike Easterners. The city has a very highly educated population as well as a very ethnically diverse population (largest Chinatown in the U.S.) I fell in love with the city upon first sight and I don't know if I ever will like anywhere else quite as much as the Bay Area.

post 6: create your own prompt (gloria)

1.       What do you think of when you imagine your favorite places?

2.      How do you unwind over a long weekend (since it’s fall break)?  Please be appropriate. No drugs and stuff.

3.      What is one talent that you wish you had?  Is there anyone you know who has this talent?  To what extent would you go to acquire this talent? (Example: you wish you could play the flute.  Your grandmother plays the flute.  You would totally battle your grandmother to acquire her flute playing ability. It is an epic battle.)

Okkkkaaayy.  So I pick prompt numero uno because I’m currently experiencing the cabin fever, but I got some quality Netflix time, so it’s not all bad.  Glass half full.  Anyway, for the sake of actually wanting to read this I will keep my list of favorite places to three;

1. My bedroom at my dad’s house

2. Half Moon Bay, CA

3. Midway, KY

     With my parents I try to stay pretty neutral; however, not all bedrooms are created equal.  My room is like most, walls, closet, bed, chair, etc. But I do enjoy the orange walls which go from a soft creamy orange in the daytime to a golden orange in the evening.  My bedroom furniture is black and based around my piano, which I’ve had since I was four and still barely know how to play (I would totally battle an old lady for epic piano playing skills).  My favorite part of my room though is my bed.  One of my favorite activities on a Saturday afternoon after a cross country meet is to curl up in my bed and marathon Netflix.  Also, I attached a bunch of yellow Christmas lights to my bed, and I turn those on in the evening, and everything looks like a magical fairy wonderland, and if you think I’m cheesy and Pinteresty I will fight you.  It’s so peaceful.   

     Half Moon Bay is a tiny town north of San Francisco that we found while driving around one day (my dad used to live outside of San Francisco and I would spend half the summer there).  The town had a main street with a few art studios and antique shops.  Once you left the main street though, there wasn’t much except for a few shacks along the beach.  Most of the inhabitants were probably hardcore surfers.  Past the surfer shacks and artsy shops there was just you and the road, meandering along the coast.  This is the fun part though.  Climbing along the jet black cliffs and rocks while the dark grey waters crash in the caverns below.  Scuttling crabs and starfish in the tide pools.  The spray of the salt water hitting you and mixing with the cool drizzle.  It was pretty awesome. 

    The majority of my life has been spent centered around one house in Midway.  It was always known as the big white next to the church (but which church???).  It’s the house my parents bought when they first moved to Kentucky from Hawaii in 98.  It’s the house they rented to the lovely elder couple that baby sat me when we moved to Georgetown.  It’s the house where my gram grams and aunt live now.  It’s home.  My favorite pastime was romping around the backyard, climbing the pine trees, making flower chains, and listening to the hourly church bells chime next door.  Whenever I walk down to the college in the spring I like to walk through the flooded grass with bare feet, and in the fall I drop leaves off the stone bridge and run to other side in time to watch them disappear down the creek.  Every fall midway has a fall festival, which I used to call the fall vegetable because I was a little child with a large lisp.             

Post Six- Tori

Okay, three writing prompts.

 

-the world ends, who/what do you take with you (and why), and where do you go? (Excluding family and people you would obviously want to survive)

 

-pick a song, and write out a music video idea for it

 

-write about something you’re really passionate about, for 150 words just rant about your favorite thing.

 

Okay, I’ll write about the first prompt. The world has ended, maybe its zombies, or a nuclear thing, but one way or another, it ended and for some reason I’m alive. I don't know where I would go; I’d probably just find a car and drive. I can’t stay in one place for too long, much less if there aren't people around to entertain me. I’d probably want my best friends with me, or people I worked well with. Cause how am I going to survive after the apocalypse if I can’t even get along with my companions. My first stop would be a music store; I’d have to stock up on my favorite CD’s if I’m driving for a long time. Then I’d go to a small mom and pop shop to stock up on food (smaller store, less chance of zombies eating me).

Blog Post 6: Isabel Bandoroff

Writing prompts:
1. What scares you the most? Dying? Failing?
2. What is the most effective way to help developing nations and impoverished people? Is it financial aid? Mission work? Care packages? Governmental reform? What is the best way to help? - or should we even help at all?
3. Do you think the college process is fair, or are we held to standards and expectations that are way too high?

I will admit that I am choosing the easiest of my questions to answer, I'm on a time budget and questions 2 and 3 I could write about for days and it wouldn't be fair to short them. So what scares me the most? While for some people it is dying themselves or not being successful or being raped or attack by spiders - not me. The sole thing on this earth that terrifies me to my core is the people I love dying. Losing my mom, my dad, my sister, my brother, my boyfriend, my best friends. I think if any of those people left the earth forever then I would suffocate, each of them keep me sane and I need and love all of them. Im not afraid of dying because it's out of my control. But having experienced losing a friend, your mind begins to wonder if it was your fault, if you could've helped or saved them. Just thinking about one of the people I love leaving me forever makes my stomach drop and my muscles lose all strength. I have nightmares and anxiety attacks about this, it is definitely my greatest fear and if I had an evil arch nemeses, it's about the only thing they could use against me.

Holden Huffman Blog Post #6

Writing Prompts:
1. What do you do during your free time?  Do you feel like you get enough free time?
2. What are your opinions on homework?
3. How has the school year gone so far for you?  What do you like or dislike about it?

Response to prompt #1:  Free time is amazing! Whenever I have a day with no homework and no other responsibilities, it's the best feeling in the world.  When I have this free time, there are a select few things I do.  One of the things I like to do is play sports with my family.  Whether it's throwing football out back or playing basketball in the driveway, it's always fun.  Another thing I like to do with this time is play video games.  I love most any type of video game and will gladly play them when I have the chance.  The last main thing I love to do when I have free time is to just sit back and relax.  I may go out onto the back porch or just sit inside, watching T.V.  In either situation, it feels so good to sit down without worrying about anything.  Now, on the topic of if I, along with my fellow classmates, get enough free time.  In my personal opinion, I do not believe that we do.  In many of our Academy classes, we have daily homework, and it seems like everyday we have a quiz or test in one class or another.  This work takes up a decent amount of our time, especially for those who have extracurricular activities on top of it.  Even on the nights where we don't have much homework, there's some sort of studying that we have to do, inducing unnecessary stress in our already stressful teenage years.   I know this may sound like another student complaining about excessive amounts of homework, but we are going to be working and dealing with stress our whole lives, so this addition of high amounts of stress and work does not help us out in any way.  But anyways, free time is the best and I love whenever I have it.