"I Never had to choose my subject- my subject chose me" Ben Edition

Fears- Disease, chronic fatigue

Annoyances- slow things, foul smells

Accomplishments- Superior Cadet (JROTC)

Confusions- math

Sorrows- math

Dreams- going to VMI, going active duty

Idiosyncrasies- talking to fast about passionate things

Risks- procrastinating everything

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then- now: My JROTC uniform; then: Gameboy Advanced

Problems- procrastinating

my biggest fear is contracting or being born with some sort of incurable disease. the reason goes along with my fear of constantly being tired; there's nothing I can do to prevent it. when I have nightmares, it usually goes along the lines of running from something, and growing too tired to continue running. I often use this fear as motivation when I workout. I'm not quite sure what it comes from but it is my greatest fear.

Blog 1 Robert (I can't believe I didn't do the first one) Hancock

Howdy! Seriously the fact that I forgot to do this one is mind boggling but since my grade in Mr. Logsdon's class is abysmal now its probably best that I just get it out of the way. Well obviously my name is Robert and you all pretty much know me at this point. My Academic goals are to get through the year with solid A's and B's so yeah there's that. (I am really starting to thing i did this but for some reason it is a ZERO) My most meaning full moment this summer, (remember when it was still warm?) was the visit to mexico where I got to visit some ruins and overall had a pretty good time with my family.( I am now positive I did this) what geeks me out is games, video games( this is NOT the same thing from the last blog but what eves) 

and here is a stupid link to YouTube because I waste most of my time here anyways-

https://www.youtube.com/

Blog 4 Robert Hancock

The Armenian Genocide is rarely talked about despite being comparable to a Christian Holocaust(second of course to Stalin's genocide in Soviet Russia). The Genocide took place in modern Turkey where 1.5 million Armenian Christians where killed in a bloody Genocide by Ottoman Muslims. They where taken from their homes and cruelly murdered often being decapitated or crucified or hung. Their bodies dumped into mass graves never to be spoken of again. It saddens me that this tragedy is not spoken of as much as it should be. Turkey denies this mass murder and attempts to discredit the deaths, but the absence of an entire ethnic group is a hard thing to do. The uncovering of the mass graves and other historical photos makes denying this atrocity that much harder. Almost all countries recognize this genocide except for Turkey and oddly enough Israel.

Blog 5 Robert Hancock

I do not watch T.V. that often if at all. I spend most of my time on the computer. The computer offers all the same as Television minus the commercials and while still offering up other means of entertainment. I hardly ever keep up with most television shows though as I really just don't care. If it seems interesting i'm more than content waiting till it is inevitably posted online for free. with so much things like Netflix and online streaming, the idea of waiting around for your favorite show to come on is more and more impractical. Why should people sit in front of the boob tube all day when they can do more productive things like sit in front of a computer in the dark..... you know now that I type that out.... maybe I should go outside..... maybe tomorrow......

Blog 7 Robert Hancock

October 1st, 1908 marked the beginning of the personal car for the masses. Ford's Model T began rolling off the assembly lines and began to rapidly change not only the nation but the world. The creation of an assembly line allowed for the Model T to be purchased by those who had previously been bared from the owning of the horseless carriage due to the sheer price of them but now they where cheap and easily accessible to many and kicked off the beginning of the automobile as a popular form of transportation. This date is the beginning of a transportation revolution that would forever change America and the world. Many parts of our culture revolve around the car and would not have been possible if not for Ford's Model T and assembly line.

Blog 9 Robert Hancock

Is war justified? Some times yes, it is necessary. A nation should go to war when it's own safety is at risk. The nation is more than justified in defending it's self from any threats that would see it's nation and people destroyed. There are times though that war is done merely to further the interests of a particular group or people, for instance many activities in the middle east (outside of the invasion of Afghanistan which was justified) being influenced by Israel and other war profiteers in our own nation. I believe that America should stay the leader in military strength though, we need to protect our nation as best we can but i don't agree with wars that don't affect us. Tragedy and death happens all over the world all through time. the world began with suffering and will end with suffering. We just need to stick it out and worry about our people first. Americans will worry about Americans and the everyone else will look out for themselves. As Americans we are blessed to have a military that can hold out without the aid of others, against our enemies. We should practice a military isolationism but as I said we need to keep our military as powerful as possible to secure our nation and peoples.

Blog Post #11 YKK

Often in other classes it’s easy to not speak a word to your seat partner but I find that Holden is a very chill and honest person - I can talk to him without feeling awkward, even with the most mundane of things. Holden is willing to hold conversations with my scatterbrained, slightly hyper self and for that he has a rather lofty position in my regard for him. He is a melon green color: melon because that’s a very laid back sort of feel. Holden likes art, is good at math, and also lets me call him Hufflepuff (which only increases my respect for him as a person who could not tolerate a “YKK” a couple years ago.) As an animal, I could see Holden as a cat, or a sloth. He is okay with going slow, and nothing seems to ruffle his demeanor. In a couple years, I could see him in college, playing basketball and possibly surfing. He’s a good seat partner - I hope I did him justice in this post.

Blog Post #10 YKK

A lot of things scare me: the feeling of hollow, beautiful closure right after you finish a masterpiece of a book, the idea of my life never really amounting to anything, any sort of horror movie, because I’m an utter scaredy-cat (why do people like scaring themselves??).

Also, not being loved back. It goes for a lot of human beings and a lot of other organisms - to stay in the herd, to fit in, to be loved for nothing else but who you are. And that’s where insecurity comes from, and worry. Often I forget this fear, often I assure it and hide it and smuggle it away on a ship and pay the captain to never let it come back again. It's never far away, though. And when it finds me then I become unreasonable and have my worst moments, not to mention use enough tissues to feel like I owe my parents money for using so much of them.

I don’t think utter loneliness like the middle of a forest would be as bad because then you can at least somewhat attest the lack of love to the lack of other sentient human beings to communicate with. And even then you would have animals, hopefully, who are usually pretty darn good at unconditional love.

But when you’re surrounded by hundreds of people, it’s harder to make that excuse. It’s scary because the results don’t really rely on your effort - how much you pour into a person, it’s never a guarantee of anything back. And so the solution is to never expect anything back, and to be free in your caring. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t terrifying in some way.

But then there's always some sort of Asian food, or some sort of wings or salad with Asian sauce that always manage to cheer everything up, or a picture of a really really cute kitten. And then I question my emotional stability (which if it is affected by food, it's really not much). Even rereading my post, I wonder why I would ever think those thoughts. Meh.

YKK Blog Post #9

There is a time for war. It comes, because people (whether they are in control or not) mess things up and become messed up too with all the hate, and the only solution seems to come from the violence of force. It seems to be inevitable - there are those who will never be willing to stop at peaceful compromises, who believe they will get their way if they push hard enough. They have to hash it out the hard way, and utterly selfishly too. When it does come, at some point in some form or another, it’s never ever ever morally right - how can robbing someone of life ever be a moral thing to do? the right thing to do, ever? But if sacrificing lives is what is necessary to prevent more lives from being snuffed out as well, then in a way it’s the lesser of the two evils. If willingly sacrificing one to keep another dozen safe, isn’t there some meaning there? Countries have a responsibility to go to war if their citizens are at imminent risk and otherwise face destruction. But there are more ways in which war leads to extreme destruction… People contain wells of bitterness because of war, which leads to more war. Alternatives, you ask? Negotiations and civil disobedience have proved so many victories, and as the human race materialistically progresses hopefully it’s nature will too. There will be more peaceful resolutions like there were Civil Rights Movements and Vietnam war protests. That’s hope.

Ramblings YKK #8

Fears: loneliness, heights, random malicious strangers in house during the night, failure, not being good enough in terms of things I can’t change (stupid but fear is irrational)
Annoyances: (the things I see in myself) people not being themselves, pride, prejudices, hypocrisy
Accomplishments: debate, family, not giving up on my book, not being a shriveled up piece of tree bark mauled by squirrels in heart
Confusions: HUMAN BEINGS and why life turns out the way it does
Sorrows: never having “enough time”
Dreams: publishing books, enjoying my job, enjoying life, traveling everywhere, living by the beach, enjoying relationships
Idiosyncrasies: terrible posture, ever changing handwriting,
Risks: existing, drowning in extracurriculars, caring
Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: Then: Smallville. Now: Owl collection, computer, relationships
Problems: time management

A lot of times I try to figure out why other people do the things that they do. I’m not sure why; maybe I think I’ll be able to understand their behavior better? Not judging is something that I always try to do and fail. I make up excuses for almost everybody and everything that I see that I don’t like. Maybe that’s just their personality that's coming out interestingly, or maybe the person speeding on the highway just really needs to get home to go to the bathroom. If the person whacked me with their backpack and walked away or didn’t see me when I waved at them, maybe they were preoccupied with thoughts of brownie bacon at home or their mom just told them that they had to come home early because the fridge is heating everything up. And these are lame excuses and honestly don’t solve anything but I also can’t be like, WHY DID YOU DO THAT? because often I don’t know when I do things myself.

And Smallville is a village made up of small toys that had their own lives - and I was an eight-year-old God over them. (wow. that sounds like an early symptom of control-freak-ness. I promise I’m not as much of a control freak anymore?) They opened restaurants when I told them to, went on vacation in dragon infested lands because I told them to, and rebelled against their parents and became pirates when I told them to. They got in petty fights, tried to enslave fellow citizens, and introduced new members; they fussed whenever I put them into dingy apartments after a month of silky and studded stardom traveling the world. I always knew how it ended, and there was plenty of drama. This was the TV of my earlier years.

A Tragic Love Story by Allie Gregory

         

          Tonight is one of the bad nights. Most days are good. Most days I don't have to worry, because in the day, I'm never alone. But the night is never certain. The night could go either way, so it seems, and I am therefore left all day to wonder just what kind of night it will be. Many nights I find myself relieved, overjoyed even, but not tonight. As I said, tonight is a bad night. And I've never felt more alone.
          I wait silently in the darkness, lamenting my lonesome state. I am angry with the human girl, upset with her. But I am not angry and I am not upset because she left me on the floor of the bedroom -- it's carpet, exactly what I am used to. I'm not even angry or upset because she left me lying on my side -- its not the most comfortable position, but I'm resilient and I can handle it. I am only angry because I'm left here without her. I am upset because I miss her, and don't know what to do without her. She's my life, my everything. My best friend. And she's gone.

          We were kicked off this evening in the usual manner. Side by side to start, the human girl removed me first, then her. We were no longer directly beside one another, but we were close, close enough that I could feel her presence and I could see her beauty. It feels vain to call her beautiful, because she is the mirror image of myself, and yet, I just know I pale in comparison to her. Her dark navy fabric is blemished, with dirt and a long pencil mark that she can't remember how she got. Her white sole is scuffed and worn, but in every way she is perfect. Her flaws suit her in a manner I find absolutely superb. We don't always get along, of course. She is right and I am left, so obviously we clash politically. But I would have it no other way. So I watched on in absolute insatiable horror as the little human runs in and kicks her... and she rolls... and she disappears under the bed. I spent the next few hours hoping, praying really, that when the human girl went to bed, she would find her under the bed, and put the two of us away in the closet. But she didn't. She climbed into bed, dragging up the bed skirt just enough in the process that I could see her under there, all alone.
          So now I lay here by myself, and I want nothing more than to call out to her. We spend day after day, chasing each other down hallways -- I'm in front, she's in front, I'm in front -- and it's only at night in the closet when we finally get to be really truly together. Like I said, tonight is a very bad night. I wait. And I wait. And I hope that the sun will come soon, because the sooner the human girl has to get up, the sooner she finds her under the bed, and the sooner we can be reunited. I need her. By myself, I'm just a left shoe without  right shoe, and how then could I ever feel complete? She's my sole mate... I just hope the night passes quickly.

Thomas Winterton- Post 12

Honestly my favorite inanimate object in the whole world is any sort of pillow, I care not for the softness or color of the pillow that I might find myself resting  my head on. Only that it allows me to relax and to drift into sleep in a peaceful manner. One could only imagine what a pillow would say if it was alive...

Phil could always sleep, any where, any time. Not because he was an active individual or enjoyed sleeping, but because Phil was indeed, a pillow.  Phil belonged to an individual named Thomas who was in his junior year of high school. Our story is not about Thomas though, but about Phil and the adventures that occurred when Thomas was away at school.

"Is he gone?" said Jerry, the T.V. remote who was lying on the nightstand next to Thomas' bed, "of course he's gone you fools." Said Dan, who was just a flip flop with a bad attitude. "Your just mad you don't get worn anymore since its November Dan." said Felecia who was indeed an old iPhone 4 case. "At least i'll be used again in a few months, you probably sit in the same drawer you just hopped out of for the rest of time, at least until Thomas throws you away." said Dan angrily. "Might be worth it if it means I don't have to listen to you complain all day." Felecia said neutrally. "Enough!" Roared Phil the pillow who had stirred and was awoken by the childish banter from the two trouble makers. "You all argue like children all the time, if this keeps up we are going to lock you two in the attic until y'all can get along." The flip flop and the iPhone case apologized to each other and the room fell quiet once more. Thomas' belongings viewed Phil as their leader for reasons unknown, but Phil naturally slid into the role as leader because he was soft enough for his friends to like and bond with, but was firm enough to ensure no one got their feelings hurt. Never too soft nor too firm, Phil was perfect for his fellow house object and Thomas alike.

Thomas Werner Post 12

A day in the life of my phone:

1011 101 100 100010110 10101010101 01010100010111111 10010101 100101010 1011110100010101 101001001010100101010 10111110 1000100101 101110101010 101010101 1001111011 101010111 1011111 001 11 101010101 1011111000101  11001111 010101010001 010000111 011110101 1010001111 1001010 10110 1011101 10110 11101 10001 101010 1 100101101 1010001 1 11111001 10101001 101111 1010011 101110 11010 1101010 1001 1001010 1010110 10 1010101 01 01010 101010111 101110 101010001 01101 101010 101010 01001 010101011 011 011010 01010 101 101101 011 101 100 100010110 10101010101 01010100010111111 10010101 100101010 1011110100010101 101001001010100101010 10111110 1000100101 101110101010 101010101 1001111011 101010111 1011111 001 11 101010101 1011111000101  11001111 010101010001 010000111 011110101 1010001111 1001010 10110 1011101 10110 11101 10001 101010 1 100101101 1010001 1 11111001 10101001 101111 1010011 101110 11010 1101010 1001 1001010 1010110 10 1010101 01 01010 101010111 101110 101010001 01101 101010 101010 01001 010101011 011 011010 01010 101 101101 111111001 1010001 001011 011011 101010 1 1011 111001 1001 111 01001 10111 1010001 111 101011 111000 101001 010101 01 100 00000.

Post 12- Tori

Her small fingers are gentle on my worn pages. Her wide eyes sweep my ink over and over, as if she’s afraid she'll forget my words. As if she's memorizing them. My spine is well used, and bent out of its original shape. The corners of my pages are bent, and some are never straightened- these are her favourite pages. She marks them, and on days when she is sad, she flips through them. And she smiles even though the tears roll down her cheeks. On days like these, I wish I could comfort her, tell her that things would be alright. In the dark of the night, when she awakes screaming, scrambling to grip my pages, I wish I could scare away the terrors that hide in the corners of her mind, wish that I could calm the tremors in her hands.

 

Sometimes she goes months without turning my pages, and I can feel the dust weighing me down onto the table next to her bed. Sometimes she falls asleep with her hand on my cover, as if I can somehow keep the bads at bay. I wish I could. Oh how I wish I could protect her and her fragile mind. I suppose in some ways I do, I am the comfort she reaches for when the bads become too much, I am the extra happiness on sunny days. I am all of these, for her.

Hannah Price- Assignment 12

Being a doll seems boring and it is. But when the house is vacant there is so much freedom at hand.  I always wake up about 9:00 am. That's when all the kids and adults are either at work or school. I usually take a walk with some other dolls from the neighborhood. We all get together to talk. These days I usually don’t get played with because the kids are older now. With the very dolls from the neighborhood at least I have someone to talk to. I get my exercise in by walking laps and laps around the house. I’m really scared for what will happen next for me. I’m so tired of doing the same thing everyday. Us dolls have been plotting for a way to get out of this neighorhood for months now. At night we all sneak out of our houses and we plot for an escape. It wouldn’t be like anyone would miss us anyway.

Nate Assignment 12

My owner is evil. He doesn't care about me at all and constantly abuses me. For many hours I sit in a dark room until my owner finally rescues me, or so I think. Instead of cuddling with me and softly petting me like I've always wanted, he proceeds to physically abuse me. He takes me on a 15 minute journey in a strange moving room to some kind of horrible torture chamber. As we enter I hear the horrible noises of others like me being beaten. Then it begins. He repeatedly pounds me against the ground. Over and over again. My only respite is when he throws me at some sort of strange metal ring with string attached. Then it gets truly disgusting. Him and his terrible friends proceed to throw me around and take turns throwing me at the strange object. Those animals, they think it's some sort of sick game. This will repeat until I wear out. Then he just finds his next victim, as I sit forever in his basement.

Holden Huffman Blog post #12

Me and Holden are best friends.  Wherever he goes, I go.  He hardly ever leaves me behind because he loves me so much.  Whenever he doesn't know something, I tell him the answer because I have ALL the answers......  I help him when he is bored or gets into an awkward situation.  I help him with homework when he doesn't quite know how to do it.  I give him games to play, articles to read, pictures to look at, etc....  I take pictures for him, I am his connection to his friends and family when he is not with them.  If you haven't figured out already, I'm Holden's phone, and he and I have a great relationship.  I have heard rumors though that he is thinking about replacing me for Christmas, but I don't think he would ever do that to me.  We have known each other for almost 2 years and I hope that we continue on as friends for many years to come.

Aditi Lohe Blog Post 12

Currently, I am zipped up in a dark room, surrounded by others. All of us are waiting for the moment when the girl opens up the pocket and chooses one of us. I've been picked the most, because of my handy eraser and never ending supply of lead. However, my friend Pen is sometimes picked when the girl gets too lazy to hunt for me. Light shines in on me when the zip is undone. I am picked up and dropped onto a table. Here we go, I think. She picks me up and puts me up against the paper. The race begins. I am running as fast as her hand can write, moving across the page, line after line as she tries to keep up with her physics notes. I'm so tired but there is no time for rest; she has to have ALL the notes. I run over the whole page until I'm out of room. Gosh, that was a lot. Wait... what is she doing? No! There's a back to the page? Oh god. I begin to run again, faster then ever. When she's finished writing, the girl drops me again. I am about to die. I can't breathe. That was exhausting. I hate school. I am put back into the bag, until I am needed next time.

I'd better rest up.

In the Spirit of the Holidays- Annie Deitz (Blog post 12)

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. And Christmas Day. And the day before Christmas Eve when they pull me out of the attic. Okay, you've caught me, I have a lot of favorite days. Can you really blame me though? I spend 361 days tucked away in a cold, empty, dark attic.

Anyways, Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. I just love how Mr. comes running down the stairs each morning, belching out carols at the top of his lungs. I love how Mrs. bakes those wonderful smelling cookies. I love how the little one skips around excitedly, shaking the perfectly wrapped gifts that sit under my branches. I love how the carolers ring on the doorbell and inevitably are invited in for warm cocoa. I love how they light a fire and sit on the couch, reading tales of Christmas' past.

I remember the first year I met my family, eight years ago. I lived inside of a market, alone and friendless. Surrounded by my fellow peers, yet ostracized because of my small stature and puny décor. When I saw Mr. and Mrs. enter the store, I knew that they were special. I knew that they were going to be my friends, my family. "That one," Mrs. said. "I want that one."

"That one?" Mr. responded. "It's so small. How could it possibly hold my ornaments and your Mother's ornaments."

"But it's so cute. And, look at the price."

"The price doesn't matter. We don't need to worry about money, right?"

Mrs. glanced nervously down at her stomach. "There's no problem with saving money now. You know, just in case."

"Come on Em, let's just get the bigger one."

"But those cost too much money."

They stared at each other in silence. Mr. raised his eyebrows slightly. "Matt... We need to save money because... Because we're having a baby."

Mr. picks Mrs. up and spins her around. They then pick me up and take me to their home, and I've been a part of their family ever since.

I can already sense something different about this year, though. The sun has risen to the top of the sky before Mr. trudges down the stairs. He walks into the kitchen and attempts to make a cup of coffee. After about five minutes, he gives up, and stumbles into the living room. He grabs a bottle from the shelf and pours the dark brown liquid into his coffee mug. He sits down on the couch, sighing. "It's five o'clock somewhere," he mutters to himself.

Over the course of the next few hours, he refills his glass until all of the gross stuff disappears. He slowly becomes more and more incoherent, crying, cursing. "Why do people always leave? Am I not good enough? Am I? Where are you, God? What?"

Eventually, he falls asleep, his limbs sprawled across the couch. He slumbers until late afternoon, when he is woken by a knock on the door. I pray that the mysterious party is the carolers. Just one routine thing will make the whole day worth it. Perhaps it will even cheer up Mr.

It isn't the carolers. It's the priest from Mr. and Mrs.'s church. Mr. reluctantly welcomes him in, embarrassed by the glass bottles littering the floor. The priest tells Mr. how he never saw him anymore, and asking him to come to a Christmas service that night. Mr. politely refuses, but the priest is persistent. Eventually Mr. agrees. The priest also insists that he drives, considering Mr.'s current state. Mr. agrees again.

The sun sets. Christmas Eve is almost over. I don't understand. Where are the carolers? Mrs.? Their little one? This Christmas has been a strange and confusing one. By the time Mr. returns, the fire has reduced to embers, and a chill envelops the room. The aroma of alcohol follows Mr., clearly his time at church had turned into time somewhere else. He seems angry, I wish he wouldn't, it's Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is amazing.

He stumbles into the living room, snot and tears drench his face and shirt. "How dare she. The audacity.. I... I shdahdh. I should... My church, they come to my church. Sh- she brings her to this town. They don't even want to see me... They don't...."

He picks up one of the glass bottles and slams it onto the table. It shatters, cutting Mr. My lights continue to twinkle, their glow refracting off of the shards, lighting up the room. The fire has completely died, and the darkness strangles the two of us in a lonely, cold feeling of despair.

Mr. starts yelling at the sky. "Where are you? Why- what did I DO? I don't deserve. WHY would you let them leave? WHY WOULD YOU LET HER LEAVE ME? I've been loyal! I HAVE TRIED SO HARD. YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME. WHERE IS YOUR MERCY? WHERE IS THAT ALL LOVING POWER THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE?"

He spends the next ten or so minutes breaking everything in the room. I'm scared. I've never seen him like this. After almost everything is broken, he collapses on the ground in a heaving, drunken mess. I stop twinkling. I'm so confused. I guess Mrs. and the little one left, and I guess Mr. didn't want them to. I guess that's why he's so sad. After a depressingly long time spent cradling himself on the floor, Mr. looks up, at me. He stares at a while. If only I could communicate with him, if I could remind him of all of those happy years we had spent together. His gaze is too strong, and I redirect my focus to the window. Outside, snow is falling. It's beautiful, but I can feel the frigid desolation created by those beautiful flake from within the room. I think that Mr. is remembering. I think he's recalling all of those happy memories, the night they first bought me, the years he spent carefully wrapping presents and placing them under me, the nights in which my twinkling lights welcomed them home from church.

But it seems to be making him angry. He picks me up and drags me outside. Outside, where the harsh, ruthless snow chills my plastic branches. I'm thrown into the grass. Mr. goes inside, and returns moments later with a small cardboard box. Inside this box are little sticks. I've seen them before, they start the fire that lights up the house, our house. He sticks the stick against the box, and a little flame appears. In this flame I see hope, happiness, and warmth. He throws it on the ground, right next to me. The fire begins to spread. It spreads to me. At first, it's warm. It lifts my spirit. I dream of a better Christmas, one in which we are all together, we are all happy.

That dream dissipates as soon as it appears. As the fire spreads, it starts to hurt. Then it the pain becomes unbearable. It's something that I have never experienced before. I'm falling apart. I never knew how similar fire and snow were. They're so beautiful, so peaceful looking. But the pain is worse than anything, and before I know it, I've become the host of the biggest, brightest fire that I have ever seen. My body has become the fire and the fire has become me. Mr. stands over me, with a slight smile on his face. I have no idea why he would do that to me, why he would do that to his family. But I can't be angry at him because he seems to be happy now. The world starts to go dark and I waste away into nothing.
------------------------------------------------
The end. A little weird, I know, but I kind of like it. I'd advise against reading it if possible, it's too long. Anyways, enjoy your Sunday!
ALSO this is not a true story. Just a story. Well it may be true, but I've never heard of it before.

Blog Post 12: Isabel Bandoroff

My life is a roller coster, I never know when 120 pounds (give or take) is going to fling itself onto me. I'm primarily used at night; however, Isabel likes to burrow up inside me on lazy Sundays or after a hard day at school as well. I'm made of dark brown stained wood and am sturdy. I'm comprised of green and blue covers and comforters and pillows and mattresses. During the night I am kicked and slobbered on, sat on by dogs and humans, and my sheets are flung off of me, leaving me naked and cold. I'm very warm when Isabel is here, she's good at cuddling and keeps me company. The days are very lonely though, I yearn for those hard days at school, or when the dogs sneak upstairs and jump on me (even though they aren't allowed). I did not however appreciate the time when the furry white creature peed on me, that was unpleasant. Every week or so my sheets are torn off of me and come back smelling nice and fresh, or have a completely different color and pattern all together. Isabel never likes to make me, but sometimes the older lady comes in and tucks in my sheets and fixes my pillows. That feels really nice, it's like I'm being hugged and squeezed even when Isabel isn't here. I wish she would make me more, but I know she's busy. I really don't want her to go off to college, I know we will miss each other and I will lay cold and empty for months on end. What if they throw me away? I'm just glad I have another year and a half with her and the dogs to come lay and cuddle with me.

Post 11: My Little Racecar (Gloria Pulley)

So this post is a little late because I lack the motivation to accomplish basic human tasks like eating or sleeping at the moment.  This, however, does not diminish the love and appreciation I have for my seat buddy, Rachel Racecar Roberts.  Four score and four years ago I first met Rachel through the other Rachael, no not that Rachel the other one. 

Rachel is one of those friends who always makes you feel better about yourself.  Why? Because in addition to being a great armrest, she is comforting to talk to.  It took me a solid four years to figure this out, which is kinda embarrassing, and I’m sorry Rachel. I underestimated you. 

I would love to write something truly poetic such as images of Rachel frolicking through bucolic meadows all graceful and like.  But all that comes to mind is Rachel rampaging through Disneyland and tripping over logs and sidewalks.  Again, I’m sorry Rachel.  If you were an animal you would probably be a raccoon, and before anyone gets offended by this let me explain…  Raccoons in my book are actually really adorable; if my parents would let me I would probably have twenty raccoons roaming around my house.  In the same way, this world needs about nineteen more Rachels.   She’s kinda shy when you first meet her, but offer food (in this case gluten free, dairy free, soy free….. food) and she’ll warm up to you.  She still has the ability to rip off your face if you wrong her, which I can respect.  And like that raccoon lurking in the woods while you camp, she is always there.  These are attributes that I value in a friend and I love her. 

http://giphy.com/gifs/cat-raccoon-snuggle-WSNjZ7iqwQI92

http://giphy.com/gifs/cat-scared-crmE8XHYW84IE

http://giphy.com/gifs/rolling-raccoon-DZS7d4ibCEMFi

In ten years I can see Rachel in one of three places:

1.      At Disney working as a fairy.  Her home is a shrine to her animation overlord.  She refuses to eat anything that isn’t in the shape of mickey mouse’s head.  Her wardrobe consists of princess dresses. Scratch that, she lives in Cinderella’s castle because she actually is a princess and deserves to be treated as such. 

2.      The CEO of a multibillion dollar company because I feel like she may be kinda quiet and unassuming but she will actually rule us all one day.

3.      A very successful, superstar, piano playing musician who will still rule us all. 

 And now for one of my personal favorite stories about Rachel… once Rachel had an adverse reaction to some anesthesia that the doctor gave her.  Unfortunately she got very sick as a result of this, but this is also where we get her interesting nickname.  Rachel was fully convinced she was a racecar.  If that’s not adorable, then I don’t know what is.

To conclude, I would like to thank you for having a last name close to mine.  I would also like to thank you for all the loveliness that you bring to my life.  Keep doing you because it will take you to great places girly.  Love ya!   

Aditi Lohe Blog Post 11

I sit next to my great friend Tori. Our friendship started sophomore year in 3rd hour chemistry class so I'm really glad her last name starts with L. Overall, I must say that Tori is a very intense person. She puts forth all her effort into what ever she is doing. Also, she does not have any patience when it comes stupidity. When that happens, she gets really sassy. Tori is super involved, social, and outgoing. If I ever need to rant about something, then she is there for me, talking about anything to everything. I love how she has so much confidence and doesn't really care about others judging her. If I had to describe Tori with a color, I would go with a burning orange: Outgoing, bright, intense, like a fire. I'm so glad we're seat partners this year and thanks for being a great friend.

I might have learned something from world! Or not. #7 YKK

October 1st. A ton of things happened on this date. Mao Zedong declared that China was a communist state, Yosemite was established as a national park, Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union.

(I’m relishing the idea that I remember Gorbachev - and the fact that a grueling year of World was worth it somehow.)

But before Gorbachev opened the Soviet Union to the world, Mao Zedong defeated Chiang Kai-Shek and successfully created a country that is communist to this day. A lot of people would say that this is bad because it’s communist, but it’s more the fact that all forms of government have their flaws and communism proved that perhaps it had more detrimental ones. (Clarification: I would much rather live in a democracy than a communist country.) The fact that the country was so big and that a single decision could affect billions within that country for years onward is more intimidating. The Cultural Revolution had a terrible cost on its citizens and the authoritarian rule that is exerted by the Communist Party of China today affects almost everyone in the world to some extent - it’s a very influential country. I imagine that my life would have been affected by it somehow…in the Korean War that it waged with the US? In the mass consumer goods that it produces today? 

But then if you think about it, every significant event has some effect everywhere on the globe. That’s globalization (World history! Thank you Mr. Wise). Was it good or bad? Every sort of government system seems to cause some horrifying damage to its constituents or the people and the environment around them (*cough, cough Jackson and Indians and slavery). But then again, China hasn't exactly done better environmentally or otherwise, and it doesn't give as many rights to its people. Trying to figure out which system is worse or better is extremely time-consuming research. Thinking through all the events that might not have happened if China had not become a communist country could have produced terrible outcomes in society. Or it could have made the world that much closer to utopia. But seeing the examples around me of countries that have done well as democracies and the countries that have not, it makes me wonder. Is it a struggle between the theories of constant improvement and profit, or the preservation of culture and community? Are they ever achievable? Which one is more important? Which system fully appreciates what needs to be appreciated? I appreciate this event for its impact, but not for the practice of communism, which historically seems to have produced more bad than good. And this blog post has definitely produced more questions than answers.

Why did I, a politically ignorant person, even try to editorialize this topic? I would ask people not to judge me, but the fact that I did write about it gives me no excuse. So take it as you will, I guess. Maybe Yosemite was the right way to go.

Assignment 13: Changes!

Think of all of the things and ideas that exist in the world.

Which one bothers you the most?

Think on Jonathan Swift's "Proposal" and write your own satiric solution to your troublesome issue.

First I would spend some time watching and or reading a great deal of satire to get into in the mental mode satire requires.

To Be Absolutely Clear - 

You are writing your own satire, not discussing satire.  Read lots and lots and lots of The Onion before you start!

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 22rd at 11:59 pm

Assignment 12: Brave Little Toasters

In Toy Story, (and yes they are making a Toy Story 4 - a romantic comedy with Woody and Bo Peep) the inanimate comes to life and engages in more exciting adventures than most people have. In the Brave Little Toaster, a toaster gathers together enough strength and courage to fight off the most ferocious household objects.

And Marcel...well Marcel the Shell can't do much at all, but he attempts to make the most out of his small world.

This week, choose your favorite inanimate item and describe a day/moment/adventure in their life. Imagine their point of view and how they would see the world.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 15th at 11:59 pm

Allie Gregory's Post 11

          I sit next to Emily Guildford. In two classes, actually. And I can't say that we've become best friends over the last 13 weeks, but I have gotten to know her to an extent. It helps that, despite not knowing me very well, she's had no reservations when it comes to talking to me. I appreciate that in a person. And from this openness to share what's on her mind, I've gathered that she's confident. She's bold and outgoing, both of which I can see being helpful in soccer, which she's told me she plays. She danced for a while, but doesn't anymore. As far as other details she's mentioned, she doesn't think she's good at English. She tells me so at least twice a week, though I keep assuring her that she's better than she thinks.

          I don't know what Emily's favorite color is, but if I had to chose one to personify her, I'd say purple. Purple -- the right purple -- is strong without being excessively bubbly which I think fits her. As far as animal, I'm going to go Cheetah. She seems athletic enough to be a Cheetah... 

          Emily, I'm sorry if you think I've gotten the wrong impression of you. Definitely feel free to correct me.

Nate Assignment 11

Alright...because I suck at socializing with just about everyone, this is going to be a more difficult post. But, I will do my best, and I'm sorry if this is a horrible misunderstanding of who you are Annie. I would like to first say that she definitely seems like a bro. She lets me borrow pens, which I always forget (in fact I should probably get some pens right now before I forget), and from our couple of conversations seems like a generally cool and kind person. I know she runs cross country and Isabel told me she is a big fan of T Swift (definitely cool.) Now comes the hard part, choosing a color and spirit animal She is definitely a capybara. Just kidding, no one is a capybara. If I had to choose I would say she is a deer: quiet but extremely kind and friendly. For the color, I would have to say periwinkle for no explainable reason. So once again Annie, my apologies if this blog was a disaster and I really hope you don't hate me after reading this.

The zombies have attacked...
Zombies are a major component to today's pop culture. We often image what it would be like to be in one of the scenarios played on TV or video games. If Abi Peck were to survive the undead apocalypse, here's how she'd do it...

A major issue I have come to notice in zombie media is the use of loud and over powered weaponry. A 22LR cartridge could just as easily bust your brain bucket as a 50 cal rifle. That being said, I would opt more for a low powered rifle that was accurate from afar rather than a cumbersome gun of a higher power. A light weight sword such as Michonne of The Walking Dead's  katana would be most effective in  up close encounters, allowing for quick dispatching of foes while keeping them at arms length.

As for my intial plan, I would head for the plains or a body of water with a boat. With great visibility on both counts both would be adequate. As far as I know zombies don't swim so maybe the boat would be better. If I were in a group, I would like to establish a fort on a hill in the plains as soon as possible. I've always been defense minded.

Thomas Werner Blog Post 11

I sit next to my good buddy Thomas Winterton. So much can be said about this man, but I'm gonna try and limit it to an acceptable blog post. What first brought us together is the uncanny resemblance of our names, with us both being Thomas W's. That was the beginning. Then Halo 4 came out. Both being adamant fans of the series, we decided to do the impossible together: beat the campaign on the legendary difficulty.

And we did it.

Going through something like that creates a bond like no other. Since then we've been through a lot together, from lacrosse games to late night adventures. Some of the best memories of life I have are with that man by my side. I know he'll always be there as my good bud, as I will for him.

Tori post 11

So the chickees I sit next to are great.

On my right she's kind of quiet, and reserved, but really funny when she does talk. Definitely a light blue, not in your face and just very pleasant. And I think she's a bird. I see her working with kids, she's good with people.

On my left, she's still kind of reserved, and funny. Has great fashion sense. I feel like she's a dark red very passionate about things, but also not crazy. A jaguar maybe. I see her doing something hands on, she's energetic, from what I can tell.

Both of them are great and I'm glad I get to sit by them. They make me laugh, and are always there to help. I like them, I hope they like me lol.

Yeah, okay that's all folks.

Hannah Price- Assignment 11

The only person I sit next to in class is Abi. I know that she's a sophomore in an all junior’s class, which means she's very smart.  From talking to her at lunch one time I remember that she moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky because most or all of her family lives down here. I think she said she had a few siblings as well. When were having class discussions she’s not afraid to speak up and state her opinion. She strikes me as a very outgoing person. I can tell she likes drawing because sometimes I look over and see her sketchbook. One time I saw a really realistic self-portrait she was working on. While we were in Arts and Humanities drawing pictures of people when I looked around hers was the one that looked pretty much just like the picture on the screen. I would see her being a artist of some sort. I would say she's the color yellow because she always seems really happy and yellow seems like a  bright and happy color to me.

The Embarrasing Results of My Issues with Social Interaction, by Annie Deitz (Blog 11)

0
That figure represents the number of classes (outside of this one) that I have shared with Nate Dutch.
3
That figure represents the number of facts Isabel Bandoroff told me about Nate Dutch this morning.
1.) He loves Michigan State.
2.) He plays basketball for fun.
3.) He is good at Spanish.
While I am extremely grateful for these useful and true facts about my seat partner, I still don't really know him well enough to categorize him as an animal or color. He seems like a fox and a spruce, but for all I know he could be terrified of foxes and a complete periwinkle.
So rather than answer those parts of the prompt, I'm going to create a list of assumptions- as well as the proof that led me to them.

1.) He might actually be the smartest person in this class. Sorry (but I'm not)
- I think out of all of the vocab quizzes we have taken this semester he has answered two incorrectly. I'm not joking. Two. Maybe even one. Who does that? No one.
- He's good at Spanish. Isabel told me. And he's in AP Spanish. Advanced Placement Spanish. Why would you do that if you weren't really good at Spanish.
-He takes Calculus Two. Correct me if I'm wrong Nate, but I know you're not in Calculus One anymore because Mrs. Dewees has your star up on her wall. What does this star resemble? THAT HE SCORED A FIVE ON THE AP CALCULUS EXAM. AS A SOPHMORE.
Honestly, that alone completely supports my claim.

2.) He is a reserved person.
-He isn't shy. He talks to me, to us (us being those in the corner where we sit), sometimes. But he normally refrains from speaking. Possibly he hates us, rather than him not talking to us because of an aspect of his personality he doesn't talk to us because we bother him. Both likely reasons.

3.) He needs pens.
-He typically borrows my pens when we grade vocabulary quizzes. It's not a problem, I love lending him my pens. It's just an observation.

Wow Nate, I'm sorry, I've let you down. Not only have I apparently ignored most of your existence, I have had extreme difficulties hypothesizing anything about you that wasn't directly given to me. I'm hoping that you will have the same difficulties writing about me, and knowing my inability to conduct ordinary social interaction you might. Goodnight Nate. Goodnight Mr. Logsdon. Goodnight Mr. Logsdon's fourth hour English class. Goodnight Isabel, thanks for helping me. Goodnight any other random person who for some reason read my unnecessarily long and unfortunate train wreck. Have a wonderful week.

Holden Huffman Blog Post #11

In class, I sit next to Young Kyung.  I had only had first hour chemistry with her before this year and she didn't go to Henry Clay freshman year, so I am just now getting to know her.  She is very nice and smart, having to help me in fizix on multiple occasions.  I know that she likes to read a lot, but I don't really know what else she likes.  She gets 20s on almost all of the vocab quizzes and awesome scores on her practice ap tests.  I'm pretty sure she gets A's on everything, but is very humble about it, and I applaud her for that.  She seems like a great person overall and I'm glad that I have the privilege of getting to know her this year.

Blog Post 11: Isabel Bandoroff

Kirby Beard. When I first walked into 4th period English that first day of school and saw who I would be sitting with, I had no idea what to expect... and so far I have been pleasantly surprised by the tall, skinny boy that sits next to me. I knew very little about him, we'd never had a class together but I still knew his name and that he was in band, but that's it. Little did I know that as English class went on, he would prove to be a pretty good friend.. at least I like to think so. Kirby and I have an odd and often confusing friendship, we make fun of each other and are sometimes genuinely very nice to each other, everyday I walk in and I have no idea what to expect from him. The days range from him buying me chocolate and me giving him advice to him literally moving seats because he is mad at me (which is sometimes jokingly mad and sometimes genuine). Kirby is easy to talk to and he can still help me, with English and Physics, without being condescending or making me feel stupid. We share a love for candy, and let me tell you this kid ALWAYS has candy. He's very nice and shares with me, and one day I promise I'm going to buy you a lot of candy to make up for all I've consumed, Kirby. While I do know a lot about Kirby, he's still very mysterious and I like that. I feel like he just does the most crazy and sketchy stuff in his free time.. and while I disagree with some of his life choices... he is overall a smart and careful person. I know that I can always count on him to help me solve an impossible physics problem, cheer me up, be an awesome ball-room dance partner (because we both killed that ish), or share his chocolate with me. And I hope he knows that he can always find these things in me as well, except maybe the physics problem. So all in all, thank you for being a friend in such an unexpected place, and I've never been so glad that I wasn't allowed to choose where I sit.

Also I forgot this earlier but Kirby would probably be a midnight blue - pretty and cool but dark and mysterious.

Assignment 6 YKK

1) Story tropes: an effective/good thing or bad thing to have repeat stories, characters, plots, etc.? Is total originality possible in terms of story elements?

2) If you could be any animal in the world, which one? Why?

3) Which genre of book is the best? Why?

1) Even as I was trying to think up prompts for this blog post I couldn’t really think of much. (As you might be able to notice in 2. and 3.) Even when I’m trying to finish my own book it’s easy to start off typing with a high to only slam into the first roadblock a couple minutes later. Am I good enough? Am I creative enough? The motivation to write mostly comes from the books you couldn’t pull your head out of even when your mother called you to dinner. It's natural to try and emulate them exactly - because they work and they're true.

I also feel like that's why a lot of these latest dystopians sound so flat. How come they sound like the last three books we’ve read? Because there's a tried and true formula the authors used. There's nothing wrong with that. The existence of real originality in creating stories is impossible. You can’t really think of a totally new main character - the main character has to fulfill a certain thirst in the reader, and if he’s not relatable or likable to most of the target audience, it’s also probable that story won’t become a bestseller. So he or she has to, in the end, become a certain person within a certain storyline. The chosen hero. The confused person stuck in the midst of a magical world. The total stranger or a familiar nobody. Then how do people create "original" stories? If complete originality is impossible, then there is bound to be part of a trope everywhere. Part of the secret to it is twisting it into a broadly familiar but different form, a more real form.

I often rant to my friends or my parents about a book I’d recently read, often saying how disappointed with it I was, how similar and dull and banal and hackneyed and trite (I know there are other vocab words eluding me right now) it was to some other piece I'd read earlier. But yet I enjoy those books to a certain level - they’ll elicit emotion, they’ll have me thinking about that story for days. It could be that I’m just too gullible of a person. Still, like me, there are audiences who will gobble up the similar candy in a different wrapper (snickers, milky ways, etc..can't really tell the difference between them all). Some will buy the same kind again and again. They are the ones that are the first and best of their kind, the ones that touch more than they don't, like chocolate.

Although it's also probably impossible to fulfill the imagination, will the reservoir of "original" ideas or forms shrink? I don't know.

Assignment 5 YKK: an ignorant opinion

It’s not hard to have an opinion about something that you haven’t experienced: whether I’ll be able to make an accurate one is uncertain. My dad cut the cable when I was pretty young, so all I really remember are random game shows where people tried to earn ridiculous amounts of money by accurately throwing pies into their family member’s face and one that involved going through a “haunted house” by swinging across ropes and climbing out of claustrophobic box-rooms. Yep. Let’s not forget my brother’s favorites - Teletubbies, or the Standard Deviants: Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1. You could say I have minimal experience with any real masterpieces of television.

I think if I could watch TV shows nowadays, I’d get really quickly attached (it’s already been proved with Korean dramas) but my parents don’t allow that to happen. A good thing, probably, but leads to a lot of blank staring when the conversation over lunch is about Sherlock (which I have watched one episode of due to Mr. Wise's foresight last year and despite my scaredycat-ness (and yes, sherlock scared me a teensy bit) I already adore).

If it weren’t for all the ads, TV would be a much better place. Although mostly stuff I wouldn’t watch in my entire life, it has a couple gems. It’s not worth wading through all the channels to find anything, though. Inane use of time? Very much. I don’t watch sports or the news channels (partly because I can’t), so my conclusion: Netflix makes a better entertainment system. I don't have it either, but the idea behind it is better.

I think the fact that big screen achievements are far more publicized than the Nobel Prizes is a bad choice of prioritization on the part of the masses. What will affect us more in the future? I'm not saying that movies don't have a great impact, but the discovery of radioactivity was pretty important. Considering the fact that I know of approximately three Nobel Laureates, perhaps I can’t really say anything. Then again, I don’t know a single Emmys winner.

Robert Hancock Blog 11

Well I have the good fortune of sitting next to both of my best friends so I guess I'll have choose which one to go with. I suppose I'll go with Ahmed because he sits at the actual same table as me. Ahmed has a very interesting character, sometimes he can kinda get on my nerves but other times he can demonstrate a surprising amount of maturity. Ahmed has a personality that you will either click with him or probably hate him. Luckily most people seem click with him. He is very talkative outgoing so he seems to pick up friends like pennies in a parking lot. I sometimes wish that I was as outgoing  and personable as him. If  I had to pick a colour to describe Ahmed I would say a bright verdant colour that bring a spark into every room he's in. He's hard to ignore but not always in a bad way. Also he is most like a dog. Most of the time he's great company, sure sometimes he chews up a slipper and your annoyed with him but it's soon forgotten. Also just about everyone loves dogs, and the ones that don't aren't really the kind of people you should want to hang aroundanyways

Thomas Winterton post 10

My greatest fear in life is not being good enough, that the task at hand overcomes me rather than me overcoming it. I've been raised to never shy from a difficult task, academic or otherwise, so naturally accepting a challenge is in my nature, and as such I enjoy bathing in success after completing that trial, my greatest character weakness arises from this joy of victory that I commonly find myself in. that in the rare occasion I'm  not able to dominate the event that restrains me from my goal. This loss will make me physically tremble, my eyes start to get sore, my heart begins to pound, my hands become numb, and that is only the beginning though. A viscous pressure begins to writhe in my chest as if my emotions were manifesting themselves in my thorax, my anger builds as my own thoughts turn inwards, whispering doubt and resentment for my own failure, clawing at the inside of my skull, reminding me of a much crueler, younger time in my life. I cannot live with myself if I fail. Perhaps this is my subconscious' way of telling me I can do better, perhaps I've cracked somewhere along the way, perhaps this is an awful inspiration to better myself and to never experience the harrowing feelings that are paired with failure. Perhaps I'll never know.

Robert Hancock Blog 10

I am afraid of heights. They terrify me the most in this world. I can't stand being high in the air and I especially detest being close to the edge of a tall building knowing that a gust of wind could send me screaming through the air to slam into the hard ground turning my insides to jelly. You can't stop it once it's happening, all you can do is white for the bone crunching end. God didn't intend for man to be hundreds of feet in the air. We ain't birds. We belong on nice solid ground, where tripping won't result in your immediate death. Seriously though heights are terrifying when you can see the ground, which may be why I don't have a problem with planes because at least I can't see the ground. You know maybe I don't have a fear of the HEIGHT but instead I have a fear of slamming into the ground at hundreds of meters per second. Regardless heights and me don't mix.

Assignment 11: Do you know your neighbor?

You are juniors. You are in the Academy. You sit next to each other in Mr. Logsdon's class. You've been here for 13ish weeks and only 5ish to go until the end of the semester.

I think it is safe to say that you know at least a little about each other. Your understanding of each other may include extra curriculars, favorite TV shows, hobbies, but your level of familiarity may also extend into knowing each other's personality. Are they intimidating, carefree, honest?

This week, write about the person you sit next to in English class. What do they do? What are they like? What color would you characterize them as and why? Where do you see them in five years? What type of animal are they like?

I know you're in a seating chart, but you are writing about your peers. Getting to know for the past few months, I have seen you as genuinely nice people and so I expect genuinely nice things in your posts. It doesn't have to be all puppies and ice cream cones, but your entries shouldn't cut anyone down.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 8th at 11:59 pm.

How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse: An Instructional Manual by Allie Gregory

Step 1: Be prepared. There's a goat in the movie Hoodwinked who sings an entire song about it, so it's got to be true: one must be prepared for every possible eventuality. Zombie Apocalypses are a particularly important example. In the process of making a zombie-preparedness survival kit, you must first consider weapons. Seeing as very few encounters have actually been had with zombies, and all the shows have conflicting theories about what works, it is good to have a variety. I suggest a baseball bat, a machete, and some form a gun with both salt and silver projectiles to try. Next, you will need to protect yourself from becoming a zombie, so find your best armor, though preferably something you can move in. I personally would go for a padded football gear as there is a plethora of that in my household. Cover all skin. You don't want to become a zombie.
          The other three things to include in your preparation are fairly basic. Food, water, and medical supplies. If you account for the likely full shut down of society, it will be important to have basic means of keeping yourself and others alive. You can't fight zombies very effectively if you're dying of starvation, so all three of these items need to be stocked in plenty.

Step 2: Now that the apocalypse has begun, you have to analyze the situation and figure out how best to overcome it. Zombie's are congregating in urban areas where the most humans are. That being said, you need to find some place with minimal zombies that is easily defensible. Ideas include prisons (I know that's what they do on the Walking Dead even though I've never watched the show -- it sounds pretty brilliant), ships (I don't like to assume the zombies can't do things, but I find their ability to swim or operate boats questionable -- discard this idea should I be proved wrong), or maybe a blimp. This last idea is my personal favorite as you could potentially survive in a blimp with numerous people for a good deal of time. If society falls apart quickly enough, I'm sure you'll be able to find one. If you do your research ahead of time (as you really should after reading my guide), you might even know exactly where to find one near you and how to operate it. The situation certainly depends on the capabilities of the zombies, which as I've discussed are to be determined, but if you lay out your options ahead of time, it shouldn't take long to figure out which will work best.

Step 3: Save as many people as possible. Now this step is optional. I can't stop you from taking your family and running. I can't even stop you from leaving your family to die and saving yourself. But I can remind you that such actions would cause me to harshly judge your strength of character and or lack thereof and kindly request that you don't do them. If you can take people with you, please try. I would save my family and friends if possible, maybe the odd stranger, if they looked like they needed help. If you find children whose parents have become zombies, I must stress the judgement on leaving them behind. Please don't.

Step 4: Look for an end game. You've fought to a stronghold and fought to defend it. You've had to overcome anarchy and survive on limited resources. But you don't want to keep fighting your whole life. Instead, look for a cure. I really really hope you saved some scientists because you'd really love to save all those innocent people who have become zombies. But if you can't... If you determine that it is 110% absolutely impossible to save them... You must find a way to get rid of them. Again a scientist might be helpful or possible a chemist who's good at bombs. Find out what kills them. Make a plan. Enact this plan.

Step 5: Take over the world that rises from the ashes. Become supreme overlord.

Thanks for reading! Good luck surviving the apocalypse!
 

Post 10- Tori

I was going to write about what I would do if I was in a zombie apocalypse, but I honestly couldn't think of anything other than find some badass people and try not to get bit.

So i suppose I'll write about what scares me the most. I'm severely terrified of making people angry, which is sometimes a problem because I'm a very passive aggressive person, and very aggressive about certain things. And I don't mean make people angry like people in the grocery store rolling their eyes at me, and sometimes I don't even care if I make my best friend mad. But there are certain people that can look at me the wrong way and I'll have this severe panic restrict my breathing. I'm not afraid of them and the fact that theyre angry, but because I'm increasingly afraid of everyone leaving me. I'm afraid of being alone, and not having anyone to talk to. Not because I need everyone to listen to my problems, although that is nice, but sometimes I just see something funny and I want to share it with people.

I guess I should end this post here, it got a lot more personal than I would've liked, but I don't have anything else to write about, and it's already lame that I'm afraid of making people angry, yeah alright. Okay, I'm done, bye guys.

Blog post 10 Thomas Werner

Zombies have attacked. 

First I would go to Switzerland because they have the best healthcare, so that would probably be the safest place to be since they would probably take the best care of their living dead. Maybe they would have invented some sort of artificial brains feed to quench their hunger. 

But there would still be the problem of the rouge ones out of control. My weapon of choice would be some type of sword, for the obvious reason that it has no ammo, so that will never be a problem. I would also like to have a bow, so I can reuse ammo and look like a total boss while killing zombies. Some type of gun as a third weapon wouldn't be so bad as well. 

I would of course also need some sort of stronghold to stay in, so since I'm in Switzerland I would commandeer an actual castle or fortress. No zombie would be getting into one of those. 

With a few more additions here and there, I feel like this is a pretty solid plan. 

Assignment 4: YKK

This is a picture of the college student Han Yul Lee during the June Democratic Uprising in 1987. While participating in the demonstration, he was shot in the head by a police riot gun and died in the arms of a fellow student. The entire demonstration, involving thousands of college students, was a protest demanding the right to vote directly for president. Back then, the dominant political party had kept a de-facto dictator in the presidency of South Korea’s “democracy.” Random disappearances and jailings, as well as regular brutality and corruption, were common in this military regime. Fear was a cold piece of ice constantly running down one’s back. But once news of the student’s death spread across the country, the people were inflamed - how could you shoot a kid to kill, when you could simply stun? It was a turning point that resulted in the institution of popular election of the president and ensured the establishment of a real democracy in South Korea. The story of this man is a story of a whole people’s courage and conviction that led to real change. It is a story of hope - despite the overwhelming numbers of anonymous deaths, people were still hopeful and willing to accept the possibility of death to create a change they thought was necessary. Sometimes, in this world of safety, I can't see past worries that I wouldn't think twice about next week. Seeing this picture reminds me of how grateful I should be, but it also inspires me to dream and understand what real courage is - sure, attending a new school and putting yourself out there takes courage, but being willing to die for something requires a whole other level of understanding and character.

Assignment 3 YKK: Black and White?

Evil things and good things are usually a choice - a choice to go towards the good or towards the evil side. The more you make choices in a direction the more accustomed and the easier it is to continue in that direction, and that’s where the idea of “good” people and “evil” people come from. As people, I think we’re never “good” or “evil” - we just make choices that are defined as one or the other. God is good - choices we make that please Him are good and choices that do not are usually not. There is an absolute good and an absolute evil: in God and Satan. Often for us the line is drawn at being selfish and being selfless - we can make a choice between either, but there’s never a clear-cut good and bad. How can anyone be totally selfless or totally selfish? It’s impossible. A good villain’s evilness is blurred and confusing. As for if either good or evil can eliminate the other - not as long as this world exists, no.

Aditi Lohe Blog Post #10

When the zombie apocalypse happens, I already have a pretty solid plan in place. First I would cry and panic for a few minutes. Then I would take my family and we would go make camp on top of Costco. We would barricade the doors from the inside and then we would make a whole in the roof. The doors would be barricaded and locked so that we could have all the supplies in the store but if any zombie were to get in, then using the hole in the roof  and a rope ladder we would hide on the roof. This is because zombies can not climb so staying at an elevated surface guarantees a larger chance at survival. Not to mention,we would be right on top of a huge warehouse. Along with this we would have a few guns, flame throwers, and some swords.... you know, just in case.

Nate Assignment 10

I will give you an honest as well as an unrealistic response to a zombie apocalypse. If we're being honest here I, just like everyone else , would really sit in my house and cry like a little fruitcake. Be true to yourself, if your dead friends were trying to eat you, you would not ride around gathering up ammunition and fortifying a prison like the Walking Dead. But, since this assignment is supposed to be fun, I'll give you a fun answer. I would gather the squad and magically find an armored SUV and a tank to drive around the city collecting all of the weapons. We would create an small village inside of champs so we could all play laser tag all day. We would eventually expand the village to include all of Lexington making a small country with a democratic government. Things would be going well, we would slowly eradicate the zombie population an continue to expand the size of the country. Then suddenly, Obama would federally mandate that all guns should stop working because he is now a military dictator. All of our guns would cease to function and our small country would become overrun and we would all die horribly. Thanks Obama.

Nate Assignment 9

I'm going to start by telling you that world peace is the most ridiculous goal I have ever heard. You're probably more likely to develop a new fuel source from cheese. Yes, war is bad. No, there is nothing you can do to stop it. If you think you can end war by being nice to everyone, you're sadly mistaken. Treating ISIS with respect will not do anything because they are irrational and will hate Americans no matter how nice we are to them. At heart, humans are animals and animals will do anything or kill anyone to defend their tribe. Animals don't understand compromise because they're dumb, and so are most humans. ISIS knows one language, violence. So as a powerful nation it's not our job to create war for any reason except for the defense of our people. If we're in danger than it's time to get our Rambo on. So instead of trying to make everyone happy, let's just prepare ourselves for when others get mad.

Holden Huffman Blog Post #10

If there was a zombie apocalypse, I'm not really sure what I would do.  I probably would get together with the rest of my family first, because I would want to make sure that they were all okay.  Then, I would go with them to get a ton of food, because starving and escaping zombies at the same time would be double the trouble.  While out getting food, we would get weapons.  Avoiding the zombies at all costs would be the main plan, but if we were to encounter some, I would want to be prepared to defend myself and my family.  After this, we would find a place that was very safe and secure.  We would settle down here and try to hold out for as long as we could.  We would spend this time planning for if we got attacked and helping people who are alone or in need of some assistance.  In reality though, none of this would happen because I would most likely be scarred and disturbed by some of the things I have seen to the point where I couldn't even function.  I would probably just get together with my family and follow someone who knew exactly what they were doing, like Bear Grylls.

Blog Post 10: Isabel Bandoroff - Zombie Apocalypse

If zombies took over the planet I would climb to the roof of Walmart or Sam's Club (assuming zombies can't climb) and live there. You would have all the food and supplies you needed in the store and you would just have to kill the few zombies that were in it. You can use supplies to build bridges or paths from one roof to another and you can have fun in the store with all the toys and food. If you ever ran out of supplies, you would just have to move onto the next super store, and live safely on the roof. You would kill the zombies with knifes or a sword because it is much more quiet. If you had a friend to live with then life wouldn't be so bad. Also you can't view the zombies as people or have a conscious really because they want to kill you and if you're weak then you will die.

Aditi Lohe Blog post #8

Fears: being kidnapped or hurt, not living up to peoples expectations, failure, standardized testing
Annoyances: lying, rudeness, repetitiveness, hypocrisy, close-mindedness, when someone acts like they are above others, arrogance and ignorance, immaturity, judging people based on appearance
Accomplishments: running cross country, being in the academy
Confusions: physics, why people pressure others to do something that doesn't even affect them
Sorrows: procrastination, self-motivation
Dreams: to move to a city, to be independent, travel the world, have a happy family, have a job I love, experience life to the fullest
Idiosyncrasies: I bite on my lips a lot when I'm nervous or anxious, love-hate (mostly hate) relationships with roller coasters, obsession with reading
Risks: Angel's landing hike in Zion national Park in Utah, snowboarding, river hiking, kayaking
Beloved Possessions, now and then: my books, my ring I never take off, my camera, my family, my unicorn stuffed animal (then)
Problems: motivation, procrastination, doubting myself, dealing with frustration

I am going to expand on annoyances and problems.

Annoyances: I honestly just hate drama. All the lying people do sickens me. If you have a problem with someone, you should just tell them instead of acting like  nothing is wrong to their face and then gossiping about them behind their back. Nothing can get better unless you confront the problem. Quite frankly, I'm tired of it. All the hypocrisy and the competition and the arrogance disgusts me. Why people feel the need to put others down is something I will never understand. Instead of being two-faced, people might be happier if they just be honest, to themselves and to others.

Problems: I have lots of trouble finding motivation to do well in life. I don't know where I am headed. I am unsure about what I like, where I want to go for college, what I want to study, etc. and it is making it difficult for me to find a reason to work hard. I also have a problem with not being able to talk to people. First off people judge me and already have certain opinions and assumptions on what kind of person I am before we have ever even talked. and secondly, I grew up in a pretty reserved household so I am not the most confident and outgoing person when it comes to new people.

Blog Post #10: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! (Gloria Pulley)

(So this is going to be a very long post, sorry.)

Have you ever had a crazy person try to bite you?  This sounds like a strange question to most.  But you are also not my doctor or unfortunate nurse.  And you have never tried to stick a needle in me.  That’s right I’m one of those people, universally hated by medical staff.  And I will fight you. 

I’m not really sure why I hate needles…medical equipment…hospitals…yeah don’t let me near any of those.  Baby Gloria has memories of going to the hospital in Versailles to see Dr. Laurie. I got plenty of shots and of course I would cry when I got them.  But it was all ok because I got stickers.  Right? Apparently it wasn’t actually ok.

Flash forward about 8 years when I finally lost my last tooth in seventh grade.  For some reason it was lodged in my gum and the dentist said he could take it out for me at a routine checkup.  I agreed because it was being a pain in my bum, and he left the room for a minute promising he would be right back. Two minutes he returned, syringe in hand, partially filled and ready to stab me in the face.  You could say I went a little crazy…

I bolted.  Almost knocking over the tray of dentist tools, scurried to the corner, acting like any other cornered animal, hissing, fangs bared, claws ready to take out an eye if needed.  Hands up, the dentist approached slowly whispering soothing nothings to calm me, and that’s what they were- nothing. I did not trust him.  I wanted to rip his face off and get out of there as quickly as possible.  He was able to eventually coax me out of the corner with the promise of a potent mixture of laughing gas and oragel, and the tooth was removed.  But the animal inside continued to dwell, building in ferocity.

Since then, I have a few other “minor” incidents.  I tried kicking…all four nurses… holding me down…under an exam table… which I had tried to flip and use as a barricade (this was eighth grade, when I went to get my booster shots).  On several occasions freshman year I had to excuse myself so I didn’t pass out from looking at 1) blood 2) civil war era surgical equipment 3) a trash can full of dissected worms (which I had to stick my hand into to fish out the dissection mat I had dropped 4) people taking their pulse in a biology lab… I somehow managed to fling both of my shoes at a nurse while higher than a kite from the laughing gas they gave me before they could knock me out for my wisdom teeth surgery. 

Then there was earlier today when I went to get an MRI of my leg.  I knew that they might have to use contrast dye on me (special thanks to Rachel Roberts, who had me freaked out because she said it burns like hell).  So when the MRI tech came in during the MRI and started tinkering with something on the other side of the machine, I suspected the worst.  I quickly took note of the exits, one about six feet away and one through the observing room.  I figured I wouldn’t do too much more damage to my fractured tibia by making a break for it.  The lobby was just down the hall and around the corner, then out the door to the parking lot.  Even when injured, I can run a lot faster than they can.  Turns out I was all good though and I left about twenty minutes later, tibia still mostly intact and void of needle marks.

            

            Ok so this fear is a little bit more personal

I’m afraid of friendship.        

            My parents got a particularly nasty, five year long divorce when I was seven.  Since then, I’ve moved several times and had to make all new friends several times (this is actually the longest I’ve ever stayed somewhere).  Because of this and several unpleasant experiences, I came up with my own philosophy on friendship: everyone leaves.  This sounds really depressing, but it seems like all friendships have ended this way, whether you leave them, or they leave you. 

Until now, I thought moving constantly was hard on friendships.  But knowing someone for five years, three years, two years… that’s worst. You run countless miles with them by your side.  You steal each other’s clothes.  You plan the rest of your life with them, clinging to a promise that they’ll always be right there with you.  They’re the person you call when you’re high off your ass on laughing gas or flat on your ass crying.  They’ve seen you at your worst, sweaty, bawling, bloodied, wounded, despondent.  They always put you back together. 

But then something snaps, likes a cable, and you plunge into the void, while they’re still standing atop the cliff.  Just another stranger.    

Assignment 10-Hannah Price

Explain what scares you the most and why.

What scares me the most is bugs/insects. The only bugs that don't scare me are gnats, ants, and flies. If you see one of them you can be sure there are plenty more. They aren't just in one place they can be anywhere. The bugs that scare me the most are ones with stingers (bees, wasps, etc.). The feeling when they're there and they have the ability to decide weather they want too is so terrifying to me in the moment.