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 13 weeks and only 5 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 3rd at 11:59 pm.

Assignment 10- Julian Perry

You know what's scary? I mean really scary. It's terrifying. This thing, it defines fear. This thing is the unknown. 

Assuming that the point of life is to survive, it's easy enough to understand that knowledge is a natural desire. The more you know about your environment, the better. You'll survive longer with that attitude. Whether YOUR greatest fear is clowns, twins, psychopaths, or just the dark, MY fear is still superior. My fear creates your fear. My fear is every fear. 

That psycho killer in the movies never talks. He's silent, mysterious, unknowable. The twins just stare into your soul, saying a single ominous phrase. No emotion is shown. You know nothing about these children, these clowns, and these crazy people waiting for you in the dark. You just don't know, and that is what scares you. It scares me, at least. 

I get scared in a boat on the ocean, because I don't know in which direction is the land. I get scared jumping into the water, having no idea what ravenous creature is waiting below the deepest reach of sunshine. When it becomes night, I start looking over my shoulder. After all, who knows what's behind me? I don't. That's what worries me. 

In all these situations, I don't know enough to be comfortable. This fear of the unknown follows me everywhere. My future is unknown, so it scares me just as much as whoever's tapping on the pipe in my closet right now. Or did he leave already? Was he ever even there? Well, what I don't know can't hurt me... Right?

Assignment 10- Megan Woodrum

Let's face it, if there was actually a zombie apocalypse, everyone, including me, is completely screwed. But if i actually decided i wanted to try and survive, my best bet would probably be going to cousin's house. My dad's side of the family is from Elizabeth town and therefore pretty country, my cousin just takes it to the redneck extreme. With all of his guns and hunting experience, I'm going to be hanging around, and mooching off of him as much as possible. Also i think that in the face of the zombie apocalypse, seclusion is key for survival, and hey we're already halfway there if I meet him at his place. I realize that this isn't some heroic and well thought out plan possible, but it is realistic, well realistic after you put aside the whole zombie apocalypse part.

Assignment 10-Gibbs

I like to think that in the case of a zombie apocalypse I would be well prepared. I've read a few zombie books. I've never gotten into and of the tv shows but I know the basics, such as never being alone and not going out at night. But truthfully I am so scared of the idea of zombies I probably wouldn't be acting rationally at all. Which would not turn out well. The one zombie book I ever read (The Forest of Handa and Teeth) freaked me out so much that zombies are the only supernatural creature that I feel afraid of. So a zombie apocalypse, of all the different apocalypses, would be my worst fear. I'd like to think that I would be same enough to find a safe house or a military base to stay at but who knows-panic can take away a lot of your reason. In theory I would take my bike-everyone knows the people that get stuck in traffic die-and get as far out of the city as possible, because the virus would be spreading the most in the cities where people have close contact often. I would find a house in the middle of nowhere where the people aren't infected and tell them what was occurring. Hopefully we would be able to barricade the house sufficiently before the zombies made it out that far. So basically I would die. 

Assignment 10- Genghis Goodman

                 I don't know much about zombies. A very long time ago I watched a season of "The Walking Dead" because a season marathon was on TV during a lazy sunday, and I've watched bits and pieces of the movie "I am Legend" but that is about as extensive as my zombie knowledge gets. However, despite my lack of zombie knowledge, I still feel I have come up with a fairly solid Zombie Apocalypse Survival Strategy. At first the thought of staying in a tall building came to mind, very few entrances and a lot of space, however that would mean very few exits and a lot of space for zombies to hide. Then I thought of camping out in a Walmart or department store, plenty of supplies, however there could be too many possibly entrances. Finally, it occurred to me, zombies can't swim right? They're made out of rotting flesh so I would assume extended periods of time in water would basically cause them to fall apart. Moreover usually people have to be taught to swim, and a zombie's brain only knows to eat.
                   So my survival guide is formulated under the assumption zombies can't swim. It's a fairly simply strategy. First, I would hijack an airplane (I couldn't risk staying on land, or having to spend the night unguarded) and fly to a town that's infamous for exorbitantly wealthy people and that's close to water. Then, I would take a very large yacht containing plenty of rations, and about 50 of my closest friends out about 200 yards from shore. Whenever we would run out of food or water we could just momentarily come to shore and make a supply run. If somehow, a zombie does learn to swim, he surely wouldn't be able to swim faster then a yacht, plus if the worst possible situation occurs, I could always get out and swim. As a conclusion I would basically have a huge yacht party for the rest of forever, or until the zombies die out.

Assignment 10- Andy

Most people watch horror movies and go other scary things to give themselves a thrill. Unfortunately, I have never been able to enjoy anything "horror". During a horror movie the average viewer knows that the purpose is to scare them. They expect the feeling but are unprepared anyway when it happens. When I see a horror I get scared for a whole different reason. Just the thought of seeing a horror movie or going to a haunted house is enough to make me feel sick. I start worrying incessantly about whatever it is and more often than not just give up on whatever it is altogether. When I find myself unable to weasel out of whatever "horror" event I am attending my mind automatically enters "Cynical Defense Mode", when I just scoff at everything and say things like "Pfft. That would never happen." and "Who comes up with this stuff?". For this reason I often ruin the tension of the horror atmosphere and make people angry. All in all, its just easier for me to avoid anything scary than put myself and others through the torment of me trying to cope with it.

Assignment 10-Eliot Smith

     The red awning that hovers over the entrance to the Kroger on Romany is in my sight at least once a week.  Today, I have come for the regular grocery trip with my mother.  I take a quick glance at my list to remind myself what I need; the words lunch meat, corn, and fruit are sloppily scribbled in red ink.  Easy enough.
     As I pass through the familiar automatic door, I am greeted by the usual rush of cool air and the crisp smell of overly-fertilized produce.  Nothing here is new to me.  The same employee as always is manning the lottery station.  He takes a good ten seconds to look around to ensure that no one sees him quickly insert his finger into his nostril to erase that pesky dangler from it's cavity and quickly wipe it on the desk labeled "POWERBALL."  Yes, that's what the mysterious green thing on your lottery ticket is.
     I am greeted by the same cashier that always greets me this time of night.  He utters, "Hiii, welcome to Krogerrr," in a high-pitched southern accent that causes him to hold the pronunciation of his words to a duration where it starts to become weird.  I've wondered if he was gay since my early years...I think he is.
     After the tired and likely high butcher slaps a half-pound of roast beef on the scale and groans the price, I walk to the produce section.  The bundles of fruit and vegetables are displayed in straw baskets to emulate a farmers market, although the stench of pesticides emanating from the orange in my hand quickly puts the visage to rest.
     I locate the basket of corn and start peeling back the husk to check for a healthy stalk.  My inspection is rudely interrupted by the advertisement rising from the bundle: a woman staring into my soul, bearing a freaky smile and awkwardly holding corn on the cob.  The advertisement quickly reminds me of my hate for Kroger's marketing.  The commercials almost always feature the common housewife biting into the meal they've prepared for their family and just maintaining this stupidly fake smile as they check for the approval of their husband and kids.  As a teen who subscribes more to the realist perspective of life, these ads infuriate me way more than they should.  The superficiality of the whole scenario is just mind-boggling to me, and the designer of the commercial, the one who thought that woman eating a plant that she threw into a pot of water would inspire a grin paralleled only by the news of their children getting into Harvard, needed to be fired.
     My angered state was negated when I returned to my basket to find that my mom had placed a box of chicken stock in the basket that read "Free Range Chicken Stock."  My mind conjured the image of bowls of chicken stock running in an open field--I grinned, and was no longer distressed.
     We finally make our way to the check out line.  Our items slide across the conveyor belt to be met by the very unhurried woman cashier who at the end of the process murmurs, "Dyoo have your krogrpluscard."  My mom retrieves her worn-out plastic card, swipes it through the machine, and we start on our way out the door.  I hear the usual "Goooodnighhtt" and turn around to see the male cashier bid us farewell.  I think he winked at me.  Yeah, definitely, I thought, as I confirmed my suspicion.

Assignment 10 - Katy

A few years ago there was news reports of odd wind patterns during the spring. The wind would pick up and it would rain and then go completely silent with no wind. I, a sixth grader thinking she knew everything, had just done a report on tornadoes and was convinced that I knew all the signs for tornadoes and knew exactly what to do in an emergency.
It was an average spring day, not too chilly, and I was walking with my friend. We were trying to walk through our neighborhood to see our friend Hunter. As we walked I looked at the sky and noticed it had a sudden green tint to it. "Does that look weird to you?" I asked my friend Tori.
"Nah, it's fine." She said. I believed her and we continued to walk.
Within moments the weather had changed. It had started raining and the wind had picked up considerably. "Do you think we should head back?" I asked warily.
"No, we're almost there." She convinced me to keep walking.
By the time we got close to 188 Masterson Station Dr. it was hailing and the wind was nearly knocking over my small body. "I really think we need to get inside," Tori shouted over the wind.
When suddenly, the emergency weather alarm went off over head. Our eyes grew wide and our hearts pounded. There was going to be a tornado.
The lady speaking on the alarm was saying to "get inside and to the lowest, most center part of the structure," and we were outside.
We started to run towards Hunter's house, finally seeing it. We rang the doorbell and prayed desperately that he answered quickly.
But he didn't. He didn't answer at all.
He wasn't home.
And we were stranded outside in the middle of a tornado. We both shook with fear and panic as the hail fell harder and the temperature dropped.


So... like any reasonable person would do, I called my dad and he picked me up in two minutes.
THE END. :)

Assignment 10- Garrett Uebelhor

As soon as I heard about the dead rising, I would first fill up all the sinks, bathtubs, buckets, anything in my house that I could with water. Then I would get busy using furniture to provide an adequate blockade at all windows and doors. I would under no circumstance leave my house in the beginning. For one you don’t know who’s a zombie and who’s a human so shooting the zombies is difficult, and two the beginning is where most of the world is going to be turned in a short period of time.  So you want to do your best to avoid all this chaos. Eventually once I started to get low on food and water I would have to start gathering food. At this point I would try to take over a highly defensive place, probably some brick building on the outside of town with roof access in case zombies overrun the place.  Once I had got a food and water stock built up, I would then move onto setting up some kind of energy probably some solar panels and car batteries.  Overall my strategy would be to just avoid the zombies.  However, if the zombies have a keen sense of smell or something this plan wouldn’t work.  Another part of my plan would be to get a vehicle that was big and could drive through things and what not.  That way when I had to go on supply runs I wouldn’t get stuck in situations where there was something in my way.  My main plan is not going to be running around stock piling weapons but to avoid the zombies and situations where I might get turned at all costs.

week 10: Hannah Pulley

(a somewhat-a-ghost story that has nothing to do with me)

It’s night time again. Again.

Again.

Halloween has come and long passed. The decorations are collecting dust in the basement, and the playful mysticism of ghosts and spirits has been forgotten. Outside, ice covers the ground, sparkling and reflecting the light from street lamps, making it match up with scenes from a dream. For some reason, it seems like the nights go on forever. In summer, the periods of darkness were brief enough to wait out, but now in winter, there really is nothing worth doing, other than curling up with something warm and trying to block out the sound of the wind, the smoky smell of coming snowfall in the air. On your way to bed, you pass by the window. A bay window, facing the street, slightly obscured from the condensation produced by the humidifier that hums on the floor. You stop, eyes scanning the yard. Nothing has changed. You are still lying on the ground outside, your hands are still cold, and your eyes are still wide open. You turn and walk to the bathroom, and as you stare at the reflection of red, tired eyes, you watch as they blink. Just once. And then again. Open your eyes, and there you are, back in your bed. 

Good morning. 

(I hate winter, if you can't tell.)

(boo.)

Assignment 10- Taylore Jordan

There are two things that come to mind when I think of things that scare me; balloons and cats. Weird, and rather uninteresting, I know, but there's something about the unpredictability and spontaneity of them that I fear. It's super easy to love dogs... they're family animals and you can touch them without fear of them clawing you. Cats, however, don't appear to be as friendly and will scratch you. I'm not sure if there was an experience I had as a child, or if I'm just a normal person who doesn't want to feel victimied in reciprocation for my love, but I prefer dogs to cats so much as to say that I fear cats. Cats seem to be pretty skiddish in nature, but I seem to be the one running from them instead of the other way around. Balloons aren't that dangerous. They're just comprised of stretchy material filled with air. But please, oh please, not too much air because, heaven forbid, these balloons can only hold so much air and will spontaneously pop when they are overfilled, resulting in me screaming. I can't stand them! As the pressure in the balloons is increasing, the stress and anxiety I feel increases proportionally. I try to cover my ears and close my eyes, but my anxious self is just waiting for that balloon to pop. It scares me like no other, but the relief of the pressure being let out is rewarding. Woo wee.

Assignment 10

Outlining a plan for a zombie apocalypse is something I often do to pass the time when I'm attempting to fall asleep, particularly around the time of the whole 2012 apocalypse thing. I don't even think that apocalypse was supposed to involve zombies, but I didn't want to be caught off guard if it did. Originally, I always planned to go to a mall, as depicted in the film Dawn of the Dead. I soon came to realize, however, that that was a horrible idea. Because of that movie, it's where everybody would go, so it would just turn into an overcrowded sea of panicking citizens, which is never good in a zombie situation. Instead, I think I'd go to that really tacky castle on Versailles Road. It's probably not very well-fortified, seeing as though it's completely fake, but still, it'd be pretty cool. You could even go all out and use trebuchets and maces and such. Also, I think it's set up as a resort now, so it would be sure to haves supplies that would last for quite a while for just me and my select survival team. An added perk of all of this would also be that, after all the zombie stuff sort of fizzled out, you'd have a castle to live in, and you could be the king of the post-apocalyptic landscape. I can't think of a better place to be in such a situation. This is unrelated, but here's some quality zombie-related songs that I wanted to share (And rest assured, none of them are that godawful Cranberries song):

Assignment 10 Siobhan

I was sitting on my living room couch staring at a blank wall, recounting the images of the Friday the 13th movie I had just seen. "Why did I watch a scary movie when I'm home alone?" I thought. "It's dark outside too. I'm so done for." Paralyzed with fear, I sat in silence, listening to every noise my house made as it breathed and creaked. My imagination was wild with assumptions as I paired different cereal killers with the noises I heard. The soft, distant noises came from a tall skinny man with a bald head. The gradual thumps came from a 6'5 man, 300 pounds hiding in the shadows of my house. All I could do was wait until my parents came home.
There was a knock on the door and my heart sunk. My family doesn't ever knock. They both have keys, and I wasn't expecting anyone. My mind scrambled with escape plans. I settled on grabbing a frying pan from my kitchen, sprinting up the stairs to my guest bed room, and calling my mom.
No answer.
The knock returned except this time at my back door. My heart pounded, like a crazed animal trying to escape a cage. Thoughts of my name appearing on the news raced through my head. I slipped out of the bedroom and stood on the top of my steps. My mail slot opened and peering at me were a pair of eyes just staring at me. Terrified I called my mom over and over. No answer.
I heard a muffled voice coming from downstairs. I slowly creeped into ear shot and discovered the voice was familiar. Way too familiar.
"Hey sweetie! Why didn't you answer the door? I lost my house key." My dad called up to me.
"Of course you did." I thought to myself.

Zombie Plan of Survival-Margaret Cashman

I’d like to think that if zombies attacked I’d fight them off with a lamp and protect my family until we could get to safety, where I would then become hero for saving a baby. If I’m being realistic, though I’d probably get eaten. It’s not that I wouldn’t try to survive, it’s just that I have no boy scout training and eating bugs is not in my repertoire. But if I had to try and plan out how I would survive, I would go and raid my neighbors houses and take anything that could be useful, i.e. candles, food, the mercedes-benz they left behind. I would then barricade my house to the best of my abilities, using trees and furniture and scrap metal. Next I would fill up all of the bathtubs, sinks, and buckets with clean water to drink and use. After that though I’m not sure what I’d so. Turn on CNN to watch the world crumble? Watch The Walking Dead to refresh my survival tactics? Hopefully by this point someone somewhere would have started a resistance or found a cure for zombie-itis, so I wouldn’t have to worry about staying safe and alive anymore. Though I would have to explain to my neighbors why stealing their mercedes would have saved us from zombies.

Assignment 10 Catherine Curtright

I am the most scared of heights that I cannot control.  For example, I love roller coasters and ziplines because once I am on them, there is nothing I can do.  I just have to sit back and try to enjoy it.  However, I hate high ropes courses.  When I did a high ropes course at camp this summer, I was had to across, as there was no other way to get down, but I had to force myself.  There was no machine controlling me.  I had to do everything myself.  It's actually a pretty bizarre fear.  Only some heights scare me.  I am not even sure if my explanation of my very specific fear made sense...

Assignment 9 Catherine Curtright

When it a country comes to a place where they are considering war, I think that they should do everything in their power to avoid it.  War, though at times necessary, is very damaging for all involved.  It costs lives and money.  However, I think there are times when it is unavoidable.  If another country is dealing with an great injustice, they sometimes need other countries to come along side and help or to be able to fight for themselves.  Sometimes, the devastation of war is the only way to get a point across.  However, wars must be taken seriously and major thought must be put in before a decision to start or participate in a war is made.

Assignment 10- Isaac

As a huge dork and a big fan of zombie movies from Romero's classics to "Zombieland", I'm only a little ashamed to admit that I have some semblance of a zombie plan. There a two pocketknives on my bedside table, blankets and a backpack in my closet, and if I can't make it to my kitchen to get food I can always climb out of my window, where a tree branch is conveniently located within grabbing distance. Once out of the house, I'm following the "Prime Directive" of zombie attacks: find shelter, find friends, and avoid conflict. I'm going to need guns at some point, or at least a longer hand-to-hand weapon, but if I'm smart those come with shelter, friends or both.Avoiding conflict extends beyond avoiding the undead horde- it also means I can't piss off anyone I come across. Finding friends will be difficult, because apocalyptic situations tend to upset people. If I can get a car I'll certainly drive it... but not on the main roads. I don't know if you've read World War Z (if you haven't I highly recommend it), but it truly shows the kind of traffic jam flesh-eating monster can cause. I'll stick to rural roads or none at all, and hit every gas station I come across for more fuel. I'm going to try and avoid cities or heavily populated areas and probably head to the mountains, where there won't be many undead but there should be enough plants and wild game to last me a while. Mountains also serve as a natural sort of fortress- they're basically nature's castles. My other option, which is much more difficult but also potentially safer, is to find an actual castle.

But odds are I'll be dead before I find a suitable weapon.

Assignment 10 Kaylyn Torkelson

Zombies have attacked. Logically, my first thought process would be to find some sort of weapon, find a defensible position (preferably some place high off the ground that lacks breakable windows and doors), and then begin stockpiling the basic essentials (food, medical supplies, etc). However, by the time I get that done, I'd probably be dead already. Or worse, zombified. Let's be honest here- this is me we're talking about. I'm completely incapable of defending myself against a spider, how am I going to survive the zombie apocalypse? Within the first five minutes of this zombie outbreak, one of them would probably break into my house, I'd run outside in an attempt to get away, trip on some minuscule crack in the sidewalk (probably sit there, frozen in fear, like every dumb girl in every horror movie I've ever seen) and then be eaten. So my plan for the zombie apocalypse doesn't exactly involve me surviving. It involves me turning into a zombie, in which case I will proceed to rip the flesh from every living person that I once knew (and maybe loved a little bit). Or I die, and then I don't have to deal with living in some sort of poorly defended human compound, trying to survive on small amounts of food that expired in 2017. Optimistic, right?

Assignment 10- Thomas Ueland

If zombies attacked, I probably wouldn’t be the best suited for survival. I never got into the Walking Dead and the only movie with zombies in it that I’ve seen is Shaun of the Dead, which makes fun of a zombie apocalypse.  I would just find one of those guys that built a shelter for the end of the world last year and hang out there. There are probably some guns, food, and armor to last a long enough time until we kill all the zombies. I have faith that within a week, Sarah Palin will kill 90% of them by herself and then the common public can take out the other 10%. If you want to survive, though, you have to find a group of people (at least according to the 3 episodes of the walking dead that I have seen). Honestly, I would go find a military base or George Bush’s house because I’d be safe there for sure. The key would just be to wait it out and let all the stupid people run out in the streets and try and kill the zombies. 

Assignment 10 - Jonathan Tungate

Zombies have attacked. But it's no biggie, we all knew it was going to happen anyways, right? There are several possible plans of action that would end in my survival. However to add some fun into the mix, I'd get myself to the nearest Wal-Mart. If you think about it, Wal-Mart has everything anybody would need to survive for pretty much forever. They've got inordinate amounts of food, clothing, guns, and toys, what else would you need? All I do rush over there quickly, and board the place up and completely fortify it before any other survivors can start looting, and before the zombies come. It goes without saying, the first rule of living in the mall is that I'm not going to let any people in, because every zombie movie ever has shown me that it's not the zombies that get you killed, it's the people you thought you were doing the right thing by helping. Granted, I would be living on my own in a Wal-Mart for the rest of my days, or maybe it would be just a long time, because eventually a cure would be found, and I'd be able to leave without the threat of zombies, if I even wanted to, because Wal-mart of pretty awesome.

Assignment 10 - Jacquelyn Engel

As a little kid, I used to dig for worms which I’m sure everyone did when they were little. I guess you could say I enjoyed playing with the little creatures, but not for long. It was like it happened overnight; I was completely grossed and creeped out by them. It wasn’t just worms but any creepy, crawly, slimy thing. This small mindless creature frightens me so much that I can barely say, write, or read the worm without chills running through me. I think my fear and hatred arose from watching too many Animal Planet and Discovery shows; I don’t remember what it was called, but it scarred me. I distinctly remember watching an episode where this one girl woke up and a tape worm was on her bed because it crawled out of her nose when she was sleeping. Needless to say, I was pretty affected by that, and my hatred and horror of these animals arose. In fact, I’m not even sure I would be willing to touch a worm with the bottom of my foot with a shoe on for money.

Assignment 9-Garrett Uebelhor

Well first off let me just say if you’re a pacifist like Mennonites, you often don’t really understand why you can take that anti-violence stance. The whole reason you can live in a country and be a pacifist is because that country is most certainly not completely against violence and will protect you if anything happens. So with that said in this day and era yes going to war is sometimes necessary, hopefully one day we will rise above violence but as of now-not going to happen.  We live in a very imperialistic type of world; you seize a territory and hold on to it. If you don’t hold on tight to what’s yours someone surely will take that loosely gripped object. In response to the second question, is it morally right? Well in my mind murder is never right but in the right cases it can be justifiable and admissible.  It is definitely a evil, but a necessary one in certain situations. I think to a certain extent war is a responsibility for a country. A country has an obligation to protect its citizens, so if those citizens are being harassed and hurt by other countries then yes, was might be  a justified solution. War, however, should never be plan A. Diplomacy, compromise, and every other method of preventing violence while protecting the citizens’ rights should first be exhausted, but once these things have been tried and have failed, one must fall back to the last case scenario-war. This is when I believe war is acceptable, only after all other methods have been tried and have failed.

Assignment 9 - Jacquelyn Engel

For the most part, I don't believe there is a time for war. It's killing people primarily over different perspectives, and I don't think it's appropriate and necessary. Most of the time the US goes to war is to fight for immoral issues such aw terrorism, right to liberty, etc which is imperative to protect, but the needyo go to war is unnecessary. Talking, discussing, and compromising issues can go a long way, but a lot of people don't resort to this solution. Discussing issues can save a lot of time, money, and lives, but I guess people don't have the patience or want to take the time to discuss their problems. In the case of 9/11 though. I believe that was an appropriate time for war. It may be wrong to kill, but I think it's also wrong to be a bystander to an immoral issue. I believe it was important to go to war in order to convey that we are stronger so another event like that wouldn't happen again. There are many factors that go into war, and I think most people are unaware of that. Going to war may be the quickest way, to some people, to solve something, but it only has a short term effect. What is proving strength going to do?

Assignment 10: BOO - UPDATED

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, October 27th at 11:59 pm

Assignment 9- Julian Perry

In a perfect world, everyone would get along. In a perfect world, we wouldn't need war. We don't live in a perfect world. When a world such as ours grows at such an immense rate, conflicting interests arise. The ideal response to this unideal situation would be to negotiate and come to an agreement of mutual understanding, but things aren't always ideal in this imperfect world. Never meaning to say war is a "need," I now beg the question of whether or not war is avoidable. Certainly, two intelligent human beings can come to a nonviolent solution to a conflict... Right? We've lived and died for thousands of years believing that strength is one of the most important values, and so today when two nations disagree, war is the solution. It is the wrong solution, but it is still a solution. In Nazi Germany, the poor citizens needed help. Hitler started a war trying to bring his country out of poverty, but helped no one in the end. World War I had a very similar end: one of zero accomplishment. War never really solves anything, it's just a quick fix. Desperate times do call for desperate measures, as they say. In a desperate situation, when someone is in need of assistance, sure a nation might wage war to provide. It won't, however, bring salvation. Peace breeds betterment, war welcomes destruction. A formal discussion over any matter can bring out mutual interest in the end, but hey, war is just easier for some people. 

Assignment 9 Siobhan

I've been putting a considerable amount of thought into morals as they seem to be a present issue in my life right now, more than ever. Morals are the source of controversy. They split people into groups and factions and when you believe so greatly in something, it's frustrating and confusing why others can think differently.
In regards to war, morals play a significant part. I can see both sides of the arguments of war. For example, the argument that evil forces threatening the lives of innocent people needs to be contained by military actions. For example the hate Hitler instilled in millions of people as well as the intiative to act on this hate. The opposing argument for this would be humans shouldn't kill their fellow specie. We should all be looking out for each other. I have to say I find myself leaning more towards the second argument but it's so far from ever happening that I'm incredibly discouraged by the unlikeness. We live in a world where genuine care for others is over run by selfishness and greed. Unfortunately, power is the the greatest contributed to this selfishness and greed, and it is those in power who make the important decisions in this world. It's an interesting thought that human nature could destructing our world.
Killing another person is wrong. But passion, anger, or fear, all of which are natural instincts, can over shadow common sense.

Assignment 9- Megan Woodrum

War is a touchy topic for many people , and everyone seems to have a different option on the matter. I personally haven't spent much time contemplating it. To be quite straightforward nowadays countries use war for morally unjust and selfish means, but there can be just means for war. I hardly think that I am qualified to list the justified reasons, but I could try and explain what I believe. Countries should only go to war if they are directly involved in a conflict or if the conditions of a country have deteriorated to the point that their government is lacking and its citizens needed assistance. Wars for the soul purpose of power and money can only have negative outcomes.

Assignment 9- Taylore Jordan

I do think there is a time for war; there always has been. It's hard to approach issues on a global scale between nations of people with so many differing ideas. The voice of the people is powerful- when there are issues at hand, many will push towards starting war. It may be to harm the other side, or simply to just come to a solution. I would argue that "drastic times cause for drastic measures".

 

While war, to me, would appear to be inevitable and even unavoidable, I do not think it is morally just. When would the slaughtering of thousands of people ever be morally just? When I think of war, I think of all of the bombing and killing and bloodshed that takes place. So many people see our world as a place of unity and cohesion, but we mustn't forget that in this same world, God's children are killing one another. I don't need reasoning or justification for the cause of the war, murder on such a large scale will never be justifiable to me.

 

All countries have a right to go to war, but to say that a country would ever have a "responsibility" seems a bit of a stretch to me. "You choose your own battles", so I've heard. I do feel, however, that countries will feel responsible for entering in conflict. After the Revolutionary War (in which French aided the U.S.), the U.S. felt obliged to enter in the conflicts going on during the French Revolution (as an attempt to "give back", perhaps feeling like we owed them something for the victory). The U.S., with George Washington in office as president at the time, knew that our country was too young and lacking to enter any more battles. Many felt it was a responsibility, but clearly it was a matter of choice.

 

There are definitely alternatives to going to war; ones that don't cause bloodshed or millions of dollars or people to be unhappy. They may take more time and they may seem tedious, but I promise you... there still are patient people left in this world who have faith in our system. What ever happened to a little compromising? Coming to a consensus? Pleasing both sides? Going to war is the impatient route. I'm not saying we should all hold hands around the fire and sing Kumbayah after we've hugged out our issues, but can we not come to some compromise, at least over most issues? If the compromise would work and settle the issue, it would be so much more effective. Each side could get a piece of what they want without lives lost or hatred to follow.

Assignment 9- Andy

Violence is almost never necessary. Violence is caused by simple conflicts that escalate over time. If these conflicts can solved as soon as they begin there would be little violence in the world. This phenomenon can be seen all around the world. In the Middle East past conflicts have led to war and strife. It comes to our generation to stop the cycle of hate and violence. Every time one side strikes out they reform the same grudge, resulting in more violence than ever before. To solve these seated conflicts often requires another player. Though many are opposed to others interfering in wars it often the only way to end cyclical violence.

Though it is not very often, there are times when violence is necessary. Sometimes, in the face imminent violence, preemptive action is necessary. If one or a few lives can be taken as an alternative to genocide violence is not only acceptable. but the best course of options. Sending thousands of people from either side of a conflict to die is pointless, and in the end only shows which side was more willing to throw away lives. Violence and war is just a waste of life no matter the justification.

Assignment 9

Like most people, I grew up being strongly against war. I thought this because of the obvious; war has killed countless individuals. However as I grew older I realized that war can be very necessary. Originally I thought that a war would put the country further in debt and hurt the economy because of the increase in spending on weapons, however I have learned that a war actually improves the economy, and has pulled many countries out of recessions/depressions at times. There have also been times in which the lives that were sacrificed in war have been for the greater good, in WW2 if America didn't step in Germany could have taken Europe and Japan would have dominated the pacific. However, although wars can be a strong economic stimulus, and prevent very negative situations, I still think they should only be a last minute resort, something we shouldn't do unless we absolutely have to.

Assignment 9- Margaret Cashman

In my opinion, yes, there is a time for war. I don’t think war should be used unless it is a last resort, though. When the Germans, more specifically Hitler, were exterminating the Jews in WWII, was it not America’s responsibility to step in a stop the genocide? Now I’m not saying saving the Jews was the main reason we entered WWII, but I do think it was America’s moral obligation to do everything in its power to save them from quite literally their hell on earth. While war caused people to commit evil crimes, I do not think it is evil in itself. War essentially comes from a conflict between two entities that has been terribly exaggerated, and conflict in itself is not evil. Conflict is a difference in wants, and just because I may want gay-marriage to be legal and you may not, the difference itself is not evil. How we act on those differences is where the evil stems from. There are a multitude of different ways to solve conflicts, but when it gets to the point where both parties are pointing guns at each other, it seems those other ways didn’t quite get the job done. Yes, examining why each party wants different things and how to compromise on those in theory is a great idea, sometimes people are so blinded by what they think is the right idea or way to act that their stubbornness prevents them from reaching a middle ground. These are the times where war can be effective, but it should only be an absolute last resort option. So yes I think there is a time and place for war, but war should not be treated casually because it can revolutionize the world we live in. 

Assignment 9- Brittany

I do not think that war should be used as a solution. War leaves destruction and many more problems in its wake. It may resolve one problem, but at what cost? The ends do not justify the means. That being said, I feel that in some instances war is a necessary evil. Some things must be fought for. Some things cannot be discussed calmly at a table. Does that make war morally right though? No, it does not. With all the death and devastation that follow war, such an act could never be morally right. No reason on earth could possibly make what occurs during a war okay. However, it seems that at times it is necessary. I think that if a country is attacked or threatened, they have a responsibility to protect the citizens of their country and go to war. In order to protect the whole, they must make some sacrifices. In other instances, though, war can be avoided. If we could get ourselves out of the habit of attacking people when we don’t like something then much pain and tragedy could be avoided. If we could just learn to be more open-minded, then many conflicts could be resolved through peaceful means. As horrific and devastating as it is, in some situations war is necessary, but in other situations it is not. 

week 9: Hannah Pulley

No, I don’t think that there is a time for war. 

Often, the first question that comes to mind is “why does it seem like the countries of the world constantly at war against each other?" I’m pretty sure it comes down to territory and power, whether it’s politically or religiously motivated. One group attempts to move beyond what physical or figurative territory they already have, conflict ensues on a small or large scale, and so on. In the grand scheme of things, what is actually accomplished? While one generation may reap the benefits of a war won, the environment and the people are often left with consequences that long outlast the benefits of war. This kind of legacy is what makes war unethical, and should be considered by the leaders of the world.

So inequality, in one form or another, is usually the cause of war. If one nation has the means to intervene in an ongoing conflict, with positive effects, while remaining neutral, they should. However, I disagree with parts of United States policy because it often seeks to impose a new form of government or societal structure on a nation with a complex underlying culture and history which affects almost every aspect of life. This is the responsibility of the home country, not a nation which has come to be seen as the overseer of the world in some people’s eyes. I admit I do not know everything about the political states of every country, but I think that in general, a less interventionist type of thought needs to be considered by our nation.

Or still yet, think about this: mutually assured destruction, a military policy adopted in the Cold War, advocates to nations to keep enough firepower to ensure the destruction of a country that fires at them. This was considered a peacekeeping strategy, for neither side would reasonably fire first, for fear of complete destruction. There has to be an alternative to this policy: not just operation, but an existence based in fear. 

Assignment 9- Katy

War is usually a controversial topic because people have such extreme opposing opinions. Some people say "Yes, war is okay" and "No, war is not okay" at all times. I, on the other time, think that war is very circumstantial.
Is there a time for war? Is there really any justification to send out our relatives into combat to fight against men with one goal of killing them? Or is there any way to deny war when fighting for the "undeniable truths" granted to men? Either way you look at it, you're stuck.
I believe that in times, there is reason to go to war. When the rights and/ or lives of people are being taken away by a nation, it is time for someone to step in and make it right. If the nation can't make it right, then it'll never get better by the rest of the world sitting by and watching it happen. The leaders of that nation obviously want to pursue what they're doing (taking away rights/ killing citizens for whatever reason) so why would they ever change it on their own? Sometimes it takes a bigger nation, with the right morals in mind to fight for the rights of every person on this earth. I don't think that presents an evil, pursuing the rights of others, I think that presents courage. I think it presents the good defeating the evil.
Responsibility implies that you are expected to do the task and it is your duty to do so. I feel the only time a nation SHOULD be responsible to go to war is if a threat is being presented to that nation (ex: terrorism). I feel each country has their own sense of responsibility to guard themselves.
However, if a country is abusing their responsibility of protection by using it against the citizens, someone else should step in. They shouldn't be necessarily held responsible for another country's problems, but they should want to help others in need.

Of course I believe in alternatives. Treaties, agreements, peacemaking, contracts... they're all perfect alternatives to war. I don't think every situation needs to come down to killing other people to defend an argument. I think some cases can be settled easily by sitting people down and compromising.

Assignment 9-Eliot Smith

Is there a time for war?
If there is a time, is it morally right and just or is it the lesser of two evils?
If there isn't a time, why not?
Are there certain times when a country has a responsibility to go to war?
Are there any alternatives? Could they be more effective or less effective?

     Right now, I am at war with two different entities.  My dog has set out to replace the computer sitting on my lap with himself, and I am resisting.  He is barking at me, and I am constantly silencing him.  At the same time, the already chilly temperature continues to drop, forcing me to put my blogging on pause and go fetch a blanket.  The idea may sound ridiculous: I am currently engaged in war with a 18-pound jack-russell and Mother Nature, but it's true.  War can be defined as a prolonged state of conflict between two or more parties, something that is undoubtedly occuring between Buddy (my dog) , the weather, and me.
     Humans are innately warring creatures.  We enter a state of war every day, maybe even multiple times per hour.  From the underlying human competition of natural selection to the everyday soccer game, it is evident that war is programmed into our systems, and, at times, we even enjoy it.  Given this, and given the fact that a slightly annoying noise can provoke us to declare a constant state of struggle on its creator, it makes sense that human-specific warfare is a frequent, guaranteed occurence.
     War is not right.  It is not good, and, depending on who you ask, it might not even be bad.  Maybe it's just part of human genetics--a necessity, such as eating or drinking.  When just "talking it out" doesn't satisfy each party's needs, war is arguably needed.  Whoever comes out on top experiences a sense of honor, and the war's champions even receive awards.  The concept has been incorporated into our society, and we have yet to grow out of it.

Assignment 9

The concept of war is something I have always struggled to wrap my head around. Is it really necessary?  I see both sides of the argument. For thousands of years humans have engaged in wars for various reasons. In no way do I think war is something that should be taken lightly. It should be something that should only even be considered if NOTHING else has worked and humanity as at risk. Sometimes it might be necessary... What would have happened if no one declared war on Germany during World War II? There were still however, major consequences. War is a major source of discontent in America and has been since the beginning. Should we get involved in other people problems? This was a question even during the day of the Federalist and Jeffersonian Republicans. Should we have gotten involved in Britain and France's confrontations? We have many of our own issues in America. It is important for us to support what we feel is right but might not always be smart to enter a war, especially one we have no fight in. War should be avoided at all cost and discussed thoroughly. It is something that comes with many tragic consequences, that majority of the time are not worth it.

Assignment 9- Saba

I do not believe that war is ever the answer. The key to ending injustice is for mankind to out aside their indifferences. The cause of most injustice is usually power. Humans seem to have a this desire with power, because with power comes fame. Scientist have actually begun to experiment on fame and its effects on the human brain. Nowadays, people do anything to become famous- including eating feminie products(ewww). So if it takes political figure to threaten a world power with nuclear weapons, to gain some attention and power, some people aren't afraid to do so. For all to be able to coexist, people have to be able to discuss open mindedly, which is much easier said than done, but we can all at least ty to keep in mind where others are coming from and try to listen. If leaders of countries could meet and try to work out problems, threats would decrease, and countries would have better relationships overall.

Assignment 9

War is very complex issue that I have a hard time really making my mind up about about. Of course, war is never a good thing. Nothing that results in so much loss of life can be. But is it ever necessary? That is debatable. When people want freedom, which I'm sure we can all agree is a virtue, it often results in war, so the outcome of war is typically good. It can, however, often be reached in a different way. For example, I'm sure we can all agree that the outcome of the Civil War was a good thing. Slaves needed to be freed. Slavery had been debated for a long time before this, though, and an agreement could've been reached peacefully if James Buchanan hadn't have been a huge idiot and just sat around while threats of secession lingered. War can have a good outcome, but it is almost always avoidable. I think America has certainly become a war-hungry country. We involved ourselves in other country's business when we should just stay out. It's made us many more enemies than allies, and in the end, has accomplished very little. Is Afghanistan really any better now than when we first entered it? Not really. America has declared itself world police, and since then, war has become almost entirely unnecessary, at least to our country.

Assignment 8

Fears: Losing my loved ones, regret, loneliness, writing on chalk boards (It's a weird texture thing), animals doing people things, mirrors at night, and Udo Kier, even though he's one of my favorite actors.
Annoyances: Deadheads, Sting's voice, posers, manufactured outrages over relatively minor things (Paula Deen controversy, etc.), people who think they're better than everyone else, when people have to put a label on everything, people who are stuck in the past, too many more to name.
Confusions: Why we still have a two-party system when it has proved to be so ineffective so many times, which one is Bill Paxton and which one is Bill Pullman.
Accomplishments: Won some journalism award for newspaper last year, finished writing a screenplay, lost 50 pounds over the summer before sophomore year and didn't gain any back.
Sorrows: In general, I live with too much fear of regretting things I do, so I neglect to do many things that probably would have had positive outcomes in the end. This has lead to numerous sorrows in my life.
Idiosyncrasies: Pretty much infinite, including, but not limited to, my random and sometimes semi-ironic obsessions with assorted, usually D-list, pop-culture figures, my addiction to TaB diet cola and gum, touching my hair pretty much all of the time (My apologies to everyone that annoys, by the way), not finishing a lot of things I start, and many more.
Risks: Due to my fear of regret, I don't take as many risks as I should, and most that I have taken, I prefer not to list.
Beloved Possessions: My grandfather's old high school letterman jacket, this stuffed bear my grandmother gave me, a signed DVD of The Lost Boys given to me by Corey Feldman, my vinyl copy of the soundtrack for the film Hausu.
Problems: Time management, not being able to sleep, never being able to make up my mind.

     Due to my many idiosyncrasies, I am often referred to by friends and acquaintances as "eccentric." I am unsure of how I should feel about this classification. For every Crispin Glover and Salvador Dali, theres always a Howard Hughes, or even a Jeffery Dahmer. When people throw out the word "eccentric," are they leaning more towards quirky or towards "it's only a matter of time until this guy loses it?' I certainly hope it's the former. Another word that is often thrown in my direction is "hipster." This one bothers me a bit more, not only because it has a fairly negative connotation, but because it really has no meaning at all. What exactly is a hipster? I've been called one for listening to a variety of different artists, as diverse as Serge Gainsbourg and the Wu-Tang Clan, and for liking a variety of different films, from those of Werner Herzog to those of Russ Meyer. I've even been called one for superficial reasons, like my style of dress and my hair. Is a hipster just anyone who isn't incredibly dull? If so, I know very few people who couldn't be considered one. I guess I'd rather be called a hipster than most other things, as most so-called "hipsters" seem to be alright people, but I just wish people would decide what in tarnation it meant in the first place.

Assignment 9 Kaylyn Torkelson

Is there a time for war? Personally, I'm never going to straight out say that yes, there is a time for war. I don't like war. I don't support unnecessary war. But I also can't reasonably say that there isn't a time for war in certain situations. War is never truly black and white; there's a lot of moral grey area to work around. I don't want people to die at the hands of armies from foreign countries, but I also don't want people to die at the hands of members of their own countries or corrupt governments or militant terroristic groups. War is the lesser of two evils in my opinion. As kids we were taught that there is right and there is wrong, but as we grow older we learn that everything doesn't neatly fit into those two categories. Right will always be found in wrong, and wrong will always be found in right. Some countries do feel obligated to go to war to help the people of other countries- we always feel responsible for helping people that need it. But sometimes war hurts more than it helps, and that's something that countries should keep in mind before declaring war. Diplomatic alternatives always exist, but often times they aren't plausible in certain situations, and war is the only option. War should always be the last option, after all diplomatic routes have been exhausted. Honestly, war is complicated. And it's never going to be any less so.

Assignment 9-Thomas

I have always thought of war as a last resort, only used when people have tried all other alternatives to solve an issue. It’s sad that we have to resort to mass murder for a solution, but I believe there are some times when it is necessary. For example, how did America gain independence? Though it was a brutal war with many casualties on both sides, it paved the way for the formation of the greatest country in the world and gave countless people in the future an opportunity to make a living. Without the war, we would have remained British and might still be today, and so it’s hard to say that the fighting wasn’t worth it (for me, at least, because I just reaped the benefits without doing any of the work). I never think it is a moral decision to go to war, because everyone would rather get what they want and still keep the lives of thousands or millions of soldiers. But, when there is a disagreement and one side feels passionate enough to make that sacrifice, then they forgo the moral choices in hopes of improving the future for the country. Personally, I am not a fan of the United States interfering in other country’s wars. We have too much to focus on in our country (economy!!!) to be spending billions of dollars (that we don’t have) on a cause that hardly affects us directly.