Assignment 8

Fears: Death
Annoyances: Bad drivers, disrespectful people
Accomplishments: Good grades, success in swimming
confusions: Miley Cyrus
Sorrows: No free time
Dreams: Go to a good college, get a good job
Idiosyncrasies: Fairly quiet
Risks: cliff diving/ sky diving (want)
Beloved possessions: Friends, Phone, car, laptop, etc.
Problems: Constantly getting distracted.

The reason my dreams are so generic is because I still haven't decided exactly what I want to do with my life. Of course I've limited it down to my top career choices: Actuary, Anesthesiologist, Pharmacist, Stocks broker, Investment banker, Financial manager/advisor, economist. However as you can see I probably need to limit my choices down a little bit more, at least to the point of a common college major, so I can better decide my college. If I decided to go into pharmacy, the obvious choice would be to go to UK, however if I wanted to do one of the investment/business jobs listed above I may want to go to a more business oriented school. One decision I actually have been able to make is to trade stocks regardless of if its my actual job or not. Investing is simply such a worthwhile use of money that honestly doesn't take that much time in order to earn a pretty penny, plus I consider it pretty fun, and have been doing it since 7th grade. In conclusion I've limited my choices down to fairly "good" jobs that I know will require "good" schools, however I cannot decide which one is best for me.

Assignment 8 Schuler Ravencraft

Fear: Failure, being lonely, small spaces
Annoyance: Entitlement, hypocrisy
Accomplishments: State tennis qualifier, EAP Leader
Confusions: how does everything work, what is beyond Earth
Sorrows: Stress, anxiety
Dreams: Being successful, making a difference in the world, being able to see the world
Risks: I take very few (not good)
Beloved Possessions: Great Grandmothers jewelry
Problems: Constantly worrying, overthink everything


I worry all the time, with big problems such as what am I going to do with my life, where am I going to go, am I going to be alone; to little things like what if I fail this quiz or what if I back into a car? If I let myself I would let my mind wander and worry probably all day long. I stay up for hours constantly thinking about life and all the problems of the world. My worrisome nature has a huge impact on my life. My friends find it funny. Oh come into the ocean, they say it's warm they say. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love the beach and the ocean but my mind automatically jumps to a million things; what if there is a shark or a jellyfish? It stinks worrying so much. I feel like I miss out on a lot of opportunities and fun experiences and even when I do finally make myself do something out of the box it takes a lot of power and caused me great amounts of stress. I feel however it has caused me to make some pretty good decisions and has shaped who I am today.

Assignment 8-Eliot Smith

Fears: Spiders, ratchets
Annoyances: Political ignorance, loud people
Accomplishments: Won an essay contest, accepted to Yale Global Scholars
Confusions: The general public
Sorrows: Lack of motivation
Dreams: Attending a good college, being a good father
Idiosyncrasies: Correcting EVERYBODY'S grammar, touching my face all the time
Risks: Trading stocks
Beloved Possessions: Family, my computer
Problems: Work ethic

     David, my friend from tennis, and I are standing at the entrance to the Henry Clay tennis courts.  I look to my left and see former congressman Ben Chandler, recently replaced by Andy Barr as the 6th district of Kentucky's House member.  I point him out to David.  "David, do you know who that is?"  "No, some tennis guy?"  Are you serious?  "That's Ben Chandler, our former House representative."  He shrugs.  "Ok."  I stare at him in a bewildered manner.  "Do you even know who our current representative is?"  He replies, ever so intelligently, "Some republican guy I think.  I know his last name starts with an H."  At this point, I am utterly amazed.  "His name doesn't start with an H, his name is ANDY BARR."  I yelled the last part at him to ensure that he remembers.  "Don't you read the paper?  Don't you have a news app installed on your phone or something?"  He shrugs again.  Wow.

     Do people really not care about the power-wielding individuals that, literally, govern our way of life?  To me, this seems to be the case.  From the example above, to the sounds of  "OBAMA IS ONLY WINNING BECAUSE HE'S BLACK OH MY GOD" and "wow all we need to do to make the national debt go away is stop spending money" I get the feeling that this is the age of mass political ignorance.

     To me, someone that takes the actions of those running our nation very seriously, this is awfully frustrating.  I just do not understand how people can live without caring at all about their own nation's politics.  This political ignorance can be compared to a plague infecting anyone who fails to observe and receive with importance the actions of our leaders.  Friends, family, tennis partners, anyone who cannot see past their immediate lives to witness those who control America.

Assignment 8 - Drew

Fears: Umm, probably my biggest fear is having to attend the funeral of someone close to me who died young and there having been something I could've done to prevent their death, some little sign I missed or some little sacrifice I didn't make.
Annoyances: Disruptions of most kinds tend to annoy me, especially in class (although by this point in my education most of those have gone away), and people doing other people's jobs in some collaborative activity (and within that I'll put people getting a big head due to some accolade or recognition).
Accomplishments: Other than getting into the Academy (which at this point doesn't seem a big achievement) and my two fives on the two AP exams I have taken, all of my other accomplishments have something to do with band.
Confusions: I'm often confused by the actions and beliefs of the radical political right, but let's not get into that.
Sorrows: I can't say I have many of those...I wish I had been slightly more diligent about classwork and homework Freshman year and during parts of last year, but that's about it.
Dreams: I guess the biggest dream of mine is to find out what I want to do when I grow up, specifically in the career area.
Idiosyncrasies: There are many. Enough said.
Risks: I don't know that I am in any way a risk taker; the most risky thing I've done to this point in my life is ride the Vortex at King's Island. I'm not that hardcore.
Beloved Possessions: My stuffed panda bear Fuzzy and my green blanket (then); my stuffed panda bear Fuzzy, my green blanket, and my concert clarinet (now).
Problems: Probably not worth listing, as they are minute and not worth complaining about.

So, I'd like to elaborate on the whole, "people doing other people's jobs in some collaborative activity (and within that I'll put people getting a big head due to some accolade or recognition)" thing. Those of you who don't want to hear a spiel on marching band should stop reading at this point. Basically, this is referring to marching band exclusively. There is a pretty clear leadership structure in marching band: the directors are first, the drum majors are second, section leaders are third, seniors are third and a half, and then is everyone else is there (juniors have a slightly elevated position among the everyone else, but not really, unless of course they or any other member of this category of "everyone else" happens to fall into one of the previous categories). In previous years and during this year, various people have taken it upon themselves to go above and beyond their leadership position, and while that is an admirable sentiment, it not only makes them look bossy but also hurts the group morale and cohesion. It really ticks me off when people exceed their bounds, and at this point I'm going to stop because I feel like I'm doing a poor example of demonstrating my particular frustration regarding this topic.

Assignment 8-Garrett Uebelhor

Fears: Not being happy in life, choosing a job/career which I don’t like.

Annoyances: People who breathe heavily during tests, the amount of homework I get.

Accomplishments: Having a decent GPA

Confusions: How some people can say they don’t understand things and be confident that it’s the teacher’s fault, when they don’t do the assigned homework.

Sorrows: The almost non-existent free time I have, having to leave behind things you care about.

Dreams: Be happy in life and have good friends and relationships.

Idiosyncrasies: Loving to argue so much I constantly argue the opposite of what I even believe.

Risk: Jumping off 20-30 foot cliffs into water, doing high ropes courses, repelling

Beloved Possessions: car, my last 20 dollars

Problems: Sitting down to study

So out of the so called “territories” the easiest one for me to write about is how annoying loud breathing is. 

 First of let me just say it definitely impairs my learning and test taking success.  Some people can focus with the TV on and music blaring let me just say I am not one of these people. As a result of this any little thing may set my mind of on a time wasteful tangent. When I’m taking a test, studying, etcetera. When someone is breathing loudly not only can I not focus, the sound just annoys me. It makes part of me want to stand up yell some cuss words and throw things. I would consider it a educated guess to say my blood pressure goes up a good 20 points in these situations.  I am really not trying to sound mean because I know everyone gets stuffy noses and such, but seriously the sound they make is about the most annoying thing I have ever heard. Nails on a chalk board…not a problem.  Loud breathing, you are now on my short list of people I hate.

Assignment 8- Siobhan

Fears- Being forgotten, dying, being insignificant to others
Annoyances- Self-appointed superiority
Accomplishments- Hard-working in school, maturity
Confusions- pre-cal
Sorrows- having my trust be taken advantage of
Dreams- becoming prominent in the fashion industry, living in New York
Idiosyncrasies- I can't do my homework in a messy room
Risks- going into fashion industry, choosing the right college
Beloved Passions- reading, finding someone who thinks about life the same way as I do, making friends
Problems- Over-thinking, worrying


I find fears easiest for me to write about because I think about them all the time. It's a subject that interests me. Fears are biologically based but can also be acquired through learning and conditioning. My fear of dying, I'm sure, is something everyone experiences in one way or another. I would consider this biological. Humans are naturally afraid of the unknown. Of change. My fears of being forgotten and being insignificant to others is something I've acquired through experience. Nothing hurts more than realizing you didn't mean as much to a person as they meant to you. Eventually you no longer enter their stream of consciousness. You didn't have an impact on them. Not only is this thought sad to me, but it's terrifying to think that you could go your whole life without having an impact on a single person.

Assingment 8 - Jacquelyn Engel

Fears: worms, paranormal activity Annoyances: people who don’t understand personal space, nosy people, disorganization Accomplishments: made it over half way through school Confusions: math, family members (1st cousin, 3rd cousin twice removed, etc) Sorrows: keeping grades up Dreams: get a job, work in the Peace Corps Idiosyncrasies: reading Risks: eat seafood Beloved Possessions: my stuffed animal, my dog Problems: Procrastination Fall is a great time of the year; it’s full of fun events and holidays, and everything is really pretty. I love fall, but at the same time, I’m a bit apprehensive for it. The only reason I don’t like fall is because of Halloween. Now, I still love Halloween, but all the endless scary events that occur really put me on edge. I’m not a fan of any scary things which includes; ghosts, demons, murders, and any other paranormal activity. Unfortunately, Halloween encompasses all of those. Each year around Halloween, every single channel shows some sort of Halloween-scary type related program. Not all channels shows super scary shows, but channels such as Discovery, FX, TBS, and even ABC sometimes shows life-scarring shows. ABC aired IT: The Scary Clown, and I watched the entire movie. I wasn’t able to take a shower or brush my teeth without staring at the drains in horror for a good month. I love fall, but all these frightening and creepy events, shows, and what not really hampers my enjoyment for this season.

Assignment 8- Thomas

Fears- heights, sharks, snakes

Annoyances- people chewing loudly, terrible drivers, tardiness

Accomplishments- good GPA, success in soccer

Confusions- people’s interest in Mad Men

Sorrows- lack of free time this year, impatience

Dreams- play D1 soccer in college, get a medical degree

Idiosyncrasies- sports fanatic

Risks- climbing a mountain in CO and running out of water

Beloved Possessions- friends, family, soccer gear, laptop, phone, etc.

Problems- staying on task for extended periods of time, organization

I am going to elaborate on the risks section. Every summer, our family goes to Colorado and meets up with my mom’s extended family at a cabin that they have been going to for 40 years. This cabin gives us a great view of Mount Sopris and its 13000-foot peak. Two summers ago, we decided we were going to climb it (we really just walked it- no climbing gear was necessary). The plan was to go halfway up, stay the night and fish, and then make the final trek the next morning. Well, being the amateur climbers/hikers that we are, we ended up not packing enough water for the trip; midway through the morning journey to the summit, there was maybe one or two water bottles left for the four of us. Realizing we had to make it halfway up the mountain and then all of the way down it, we started conserving water. I felt like Bear Grylls eating the dirty ice at the top of the mountain to stay hydrated. While the view at the peak was gorgeous, the next few hours were far from anything resembling gorgeous. Walking down a mountain with no water in midday of a Colorado summer (it is easily hotter than KY) is not my idea of vacation, but that is how I spent one of my freshmen summer days. We got through it in the end, but not without a few obscenities directed toward the mountain and family arguments. Guess we could learn a few things from the boy scouts and come prepared next time.

Assignment 7 -Siobhan

On October 3, 1915, Nevada experienced an earthquake scoring a 7.1 on the richter scale. Although this earthquake's score was considerably high, the town of Pleasant Valley only received minimal damage. In my eyes, this is considered a good historical event because it's the after math of the earthquake was uncharacteristically non-damaging. This event did not have much influence on the world, but it may have caught the attention of the U.S. because it's aftershocks were felt in Oregon, California, and Utah. For the city of Pleasant Valley, the earthquake had a huge influence. The city had to make adjustments for the adobe houses destroyed and the mines that had collapsed. This event did not affect my existence. I appreciate this event because it allowed for the town of Pleasant Valley to become more prepared to earthquakes to come, but it did not heavily destroy the town.

Assignment 8- Saba

Fears- dying(occasionally have mental break-downs because of this)
Annoyance- When I tell someone not to do something but they do it anyway
Accomplishments- current seat in CKYO, junior class president, Y-club VP, and featured on the radio
Confusions- bullying, physical fighting
Sorrows- Leaving our backyard unattended for so long(still a work in progress- but it's getting there)
Dreams- To actually make a name for myself, someone others look up to.
Idiosyncrasies-Can't stop, and won't stop laughing.
Risks- Not really that adventurous- gave up on the shark bite dream.
Beloved Passions- Meeting new people and really getting to know them (now AND then)
Problems- I get attached too easily.

I know, you probably read about me giving up on the shark dream and thought "what??" The decision wasn't just because of my parents eternally reprimanding me about it, but it was also brought about by my fear of dying. I've actually thought about becoming Voldemort and splitting my soul into six horcruxes- the only feasible solution to becoming immortal. Or to become a vampire- but blood sucking usn't very appealing nor does it boost my appetite. I could also become a werewolf, but I would rather be a vampire because of how attractive they are in Twilight- You can't say you were never into Twilight so stop judging me. All I need is to find Edward Cullen to turn me into a vampire, and who knows, I could eventually be the leader of my own vampire clan.

Assignment 8- Isaac

Fears: Death, not knowing something important, fear itself
Annoyances: Watching someone not know the controls to a game even though it's the tutorial and it's showing them how to do stuff but they ignore the instructions, things that are "original flavor" (other than bubble gum)
Accomplishments: Stumping an NRA lobbyist who gets paid over 110k a year just to answer questions. Also one time I won a ribbon for participation in something
Confusions: People, dating
Sorrows: stress, anxiety
Dreams: Being a games journalist, living in a city
Idiosyncrasies:Very good but selective memory, tapping the side of a plane twice before I get on it because then it "can't crash), nerd
Risks: Trying to self-teach free-running, following my ambitions
Beloved Possessions (now and then): A note from a dear friend who loves in Jersey, Hitchhiker's Guide (now), a plethora of Hot Wheels (then)
Problems: Organization, bonding w/ people

Let me be clear- I LOVE strange flavors of food. They're interesting to think about (who comes up with root beer flavored gum?) and sometimes delicious (again, root beer flavored gum). Plus, living in a house with three other people who ruthlessly take your snacks isn't easy, so if I can find a flavor that turns everyone off on sight but I adore, then it's all mine. But one thing about flavors really irks me: The"original" flavor. Bubble gum gets a pass because there's no other name for what that flavor is, but you know exactly what gum labelled with "original" will taste like. The problem is, if I hand you an "original" flavor lollipop, you have no idea what that means. The same is true for coffee creamer, Cheese-its, and Powerade, all of which have "original" flavors. I've got news for you, Coffee-Mate: JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 19-WHATEVER DOESN'T MEAN ANYONE KNOWS WHAT YOUR ORIGINAL CREAMER TASTED LIKE. CALL IT VANILLA, OR CREAM, OR SOMETHING THAT GIVES ME ANY INDICATION OF WHAT YOUR CREAMER WILL TASTE LIKE. The practice of calling a product "original" flavor is asinine, lazy, unhelpful, and flat-out rude to the consumer, and I can't stand it.

Assignment 8- Jonathan

Writing Territories:
Fears: Locked In Syndrome- Basically, you can't control and part of your body, but are still conscious like normal. So you can watch the world go by, but you can't move and nobody knows you're still conscious.
Annoyances: Loud people.
Accomplishments: I'm still in the Academy so far, so that's pretty good.
Confusions: Why people still use social networking sites.
Sorrows: Heelys never caught on.
Dreams: Move out, live on my own.
Idiosyncrasies: I'm quiet
Risks: I'm boring, haven't done, and haven't had the opportunity for much risky behavior.
Beloved possessions, now and then: Then- My mentalist dvd collection. Now- My portable Reddit machine (Phone).
Problems: Balancing school and fun is a struggle.

My greatest fear is Locked-in Syndrome. This is when you appear to be in some sort of coma, you're eyes can be open, but you can't move at all. Some cases you can move your eyes, come you can't. This is so frightening to me. Your family members and friends thinking you are a vegetable, thinking you're gone, but your still their fully aware, and you can't speak. You could be put down, thinking you're gone. While your still inside trying to tell someone that you're still alive. Recovery is almost unheard of, except for two cases of full recovery. There's no knowing how many people have has this, and nobody knew about it. Some people have been able to retain some sort of facial function, and can communicate threw blinks, or cheek movement. Another similar problem is sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is much more common, and while can be linked to other sleeping disorders, can happen to anybody. This is when in the transitions from sleep to wakefulness, or the other way, you lose all motor function temporarily, and this is usually accompanied by disturbing hallucinations. Imagine waking up to your deepest scariest nightmare monster, and not being able to move, or make it go away.

Assignment 8- Kaylyn Torkelson

Writing Territories

Fears: Failure, being alone, being a disappointment
Annoyances: Being late, inconsiderate people, people that talk too much
Accomplishments: I can breathe pretty well. One time in elementary school I was the line leader for two consecutive weeks, does that count?
Confusions: People. All of them.
Dreams: TRAVELTRAVELTRAVELTRAVEL
Idiosyncrasies: AS YOU CAN TELL, I REALLY LIKE ALL CAPS
Risks: I don't do anything interesting or risky enough to put here
Beloved Possessions: Stuffed animal (then), my friends (now)
Problems: I'm socially awkward most of the time, does that count?

I was born in Edmonton, Alberta. I lived in Sarnia, Ontario for awhile. Then, Swedesboro, New Jersey. Now, Lexington, Kentucky. I've lived in more places than a lot of people, but I've never been very far from the nest, so to speak. After all, I've never actually left the North American continent, and certainly not by myself. That's why I'd love to travel- all over the place. I want to go EVERYWHERE, and I want to be able to do it on my own. I want to pay my own way throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. I'd like to meet new people with interesting stories, because I feel like that's something I lack. Traveling to new places by myself is not only about discovering new things, but also about discovering myself. (As cliché as that sounds. I imagine you've heard that phrase a few million times.) This summer, my parents are paying for me to go on the Europe trip with Mr. Junker. Even though I'm not doing it independently, I still think it's a step in the right direction. I can't wait.

Assignment 7-Gibbs

Antisemitism was long-developed feeling, one that restricted Jews of many countries for years in every aspect of their lives. On October 2nd, 1853, another step was taken in the process of constricting the Jewish people in Austria. A law was passed saying that no Jew in Austria was legally aloud to own land. This is a huge deal because Jews were now at even more of a disadvantage. Land owning was a huge part of life in those times, much more so than now. The few Jewish people that had a high standing in society, or at least enough land to defend themselves, were now lowered close to the bottom. This prejudice against a certain religion and people reflects many cultures actions against a certain group and displays the general human capacity for prejudice. Overall is was just a large step in the wrong direction of unfairly making life a lot harder for Jewish people. 

Assignment 7

     This week, on October 3rd, 1968, a man was born who would change culture as we know it. That man is Tommy Wiseau, the director, writer, and star of the 2003 film The Room. Wiseau is without a doubt one of the most intriguing pop culture figures of our generation. He has an untraceable accent, looks like a melting wax figure of Glenn Danzig, and somehow, against all odds, had his film completed and distributed, despite complete lack of talent or even basic understanding of what a movie is. Without Wiseau, this decade would have been a void for lovers of unbelievably ill-conceived cinema. I once had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wiseau at a showing of his film. He had to ask me how to spell my name four times, despite it only having three letters, and tried to challenge an audience member to a fight. It was certainly a surreal experience, as was to be expected. Tommy Wiseau is a true media titan, and his birth is probably my favorite event of this week in history.

Space Race

On October 4th, 1957, Sputnik 1 was the first man-made satellite in space. The Soviet Union building this added onto the already tense conflict internal between America and the Soviet Union in the Cold War, but more specifically it started the Space Race. The first nation in orbit, the first man in orbit, and eventually the first man to the moon. All of this stems from this particular date in history, when the Soviets successfully got something into space. No matter what side you were on, it was unmistakable how big of a step for humanity this feat was. It was a culmination of technology at the time working toward one specific goal, and it worked. The final frontier had been reached.
This day in history directed the world's attention to the stars, as the idea of a man in space was no longer a science fiction story. It was real life. NASA's push to the sky and the moon was no doubt because the Soviet Union simply couldn't be superior at anything, what with their "communism" and all. The 60s and 70s would've seen advances in other areas than space technology and its use to everyday citizens. We may still not have been to the moon today if it weren't for Sputnik 1. The significance of this event is something worth appreciating because of how rare it is to live in the aftermath of an advancement like this. This was a first for everyone, and now there aren't too many other places to explore. An accomplishment as significant as Sputnik 1's launch hadn't happened since "Columbus sailed the ocean blue." The discovery of the Americas, however, was not more than a step in humanity's journey through life, and as we all know, Sputnik 1 was one small step for the Soviet Union, and one giant leap for mankind. There is more to come, and there always will be until the universe ends, because humans are curious creatures. We have 40 year wars over a difference in ideology, and we dump billions of dollars into programs just to one-up our enemies. We are a people defined by our actions, and on October 4th, 1957, our action changed the way we view the world.

Assignment 7- Margaret Cashman

What would you do if you found a delirious man in gutter? Leave him? Now, what would you do if you found a famous delirious man in a gutter? I bet you wouldn't leave him now would you. This is precisely how Edgar Allen Poe was found on October 3 in 1849, delirious in the streets of Baltimore, Maryland. No one is quite sure how Poe landed himself in such a situation, but these events did lead to his death four days later. October 7, 1849, marked the death of one of the greatest authors of all time. However, there is great mystery obscuring his death, seeing as Poe never became coherent enough to explain how he came to be in the gutter. On this date, America lost one of its most distinct poets, one whose work influenced the detective/mystery genre of literature. Without Poe, American authors might not have ever broken into the European literary culture. Even though Poe's death was a loss to America, his works still live on, forever doomed to a life of over analysis in high school English classes. 

Assignment 7 Megan Woodrum

October 6, 1683
This date is pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things I suppose the timing didn't make some grand ripple effect that reached all corners of the globe, it was merely the date of the establishment of Germantown, Philadelphia. This was the first German colony that was established in the United States. A group of only 33 Germans finished their journey across the Atlantic and started this colony on this day. This is only significant to me because my family immigrated to America from Germany around two hundred years later in the 1890s. Being of German decent has effected my family's culture a lot, but another big part of our culture is that we've grown as Americans over the generations. This spectacular day was the beginning of the Germans coming to America and so it marks the beginning of my heritage and my family's culture.

Assignment 7- Garrett Uebelhor

First off, let me just say how disappointed I am I cannot write about probably one of the top 3 drummers of all time. If John Bonham (Led Zeppelins drummer) had lived for just a little bit longer, I could write with the enthusiasm English teachers want you too.  But since that is now impossible I will do my best to be intriguing about another topic.  On Oct 3, 1789 Washington did the most significant thing of the whole revolutionary era. He gave me a day off school. Well actually more than one day, for his proclamation for a day of thanksgiving and prayer now gives us at least 2 days off.  This was extremely positive as it allowed us to group together and further our sense of national unity…just kidding.  What it really did and remains to do is give us much needed time to dismiss the stress of work/school.  So yes it does influence the nation, the city, and more importantly me.  It gives American citizens time to see their families and to really remember how one should treat life.  In the whole spirit of thanksgiving I do give thanks for the holiday, I very much appreciate it. It is probably about the fourth chief happiness in my life, behind summer, spring, and winter break of course.  With this all said, it is clear that from Sep 29 - Oct 5 this is the historical event with the utmost significance. 

Assignment 7 - Drew

Without a doubt, World War II (1939-1945) is the most important world event in the last several centuries, perhaps in the entire history of the modern world. On September 30th, 1944, German troops in Calais, France, surrendered to Canadian troops following the resoundingly successful Allied Operation Overlord (commonly called D-Day, the Allied invasion of continental Europe). For those lacking a keen interest in military history, this event will seem small, insignificant, and to be quite honest, boring. But I'm going to attempt to explain it anyway. Calais is one of the major French ports on the English Channel; after the fall of France in the early stages of WWII, Allied planners began thinking about a counter-invasion of continental Europe to expel the Germans. In order for such an invasion to happen, Allied forces would first have to succeed in landing, establish a temporary base of operations, and then capture a more permanent jumping off point, like an established port, through which would travel the needed volume of supplies and troops. A long story short, in 1944 when the Allies did invade Europe, Calais would play a major role in the advance following the successful landing at Normandy. Allied planners optimistically called for Calais to fall to Allied forces weeks after the Normandy invasion, perhaps a month. But Calais would prove a major obstacle, and would hold out for several months until September 30th, 1944, when the Germans holding out there finally surrendered, giving the Allies the port they needed to guarantee the success of the invasion of the Nazi's fortress Europe.

Assignment 7-Eliot Smith

     On October 5th, 1962, British men, women, boys, and girls heard for the first time the now familiar voices of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, also known as The Beatles.  Their single "Love Me Do" debuted in the United Kingdom and was an instant sensation, reaching number seventeen on the charts, and reaching number one on the American charts in 1964.  This single was the starting point of the extreme popularity experienced by the Beatles that existed from the debut of "Love Me Do" to their dissociation in 1970.
     The Beatles had an immense effect on the popular culture of wherever their music was played.  Where the Beatles went, their style followed.  When the group of four ventured to the States, commonly known as the British Invasion, the American citizens quickly adapted to all parts of the British rock star nature.  The Americans changed their hair, their clothes, even their diction to match that of their favorite band. Quickly, American bands started to recognize the Beatles as a threat, and even tried to tweak their genres to match the pop-rock trademark of the Brits.
     The legacy of Paul, John, Ringo, and George continues to live on today, which is something that I am rather thankful for.  As a teenager who doesn't particularly care for current music, I am frequently saved from this elongated stream of profanity by turning on classic rock stations on the radio, a place where the Beatles receive much air time.  The Beatles often appear in my memories, whether it is my 8th grade music class recital where I played lead guitar for the song "I Feel Fine" or whether it is watching home videos of my father singing "Blackbird" as my infant self repeatedly tries to crawl on top of his guitar and pick at the strings, they have always been a band that I can nonchalantly listen to and reflect on my day whilst remembering my past accomplishments.

Assignment 7

On October 4, 1957, Russia launched the first man-made satellite into space, sputnik 1. This was a fairly large accomplishment for Russia, however the largest impact this placed onto mankind was the start of the space age/ space race. The space race resulted in some of the greatest accomplishments in human engineering, making it, in my opinion, a very positive thing. The start of the space race caused the united states and Russia to compete for dominance in space exploration, dramatically increasing spending in education, research, technology, etc. Without this kind of competition to motivate an increase in space technology we possibly wouldn't have created the Hubble telescope (producing incredible pictures of our universe), pioneer 10 (increasing our knowledge of the outer planets), the international space station (living in space! increasing our ability to explore further into space). All of these accomplishments have stemmed from the beginning of the space race, and have helped us further our knowledge of our universe.

Assignment 7- Taylore

On October 6, 1954, while not the most interesting,E.L. Lyon became the first male nurse for the U.S. Army. I believe that this event was a good one. Anyone who serves our country in any way should be highly revered for their service, bravery, and commitment. E.L. Lyon influenced the world by offering a new perspective to the "gender role" of a woman fulfilling the role of the nurse. He pushed aside all of the doubts and negative feedback from the people, and pursued a position that had previously not been acquired by a man. This impacted our nation in that more men became involved with the army, and it set a precedent for other gender-role confusions in careers. While it may not have a direct influence on my existence, it helps me to realize that you can do anything you set your mind to, and you shouldn't let societal boundaries and stereotypes hold you back; be the unique individual that you are. I absolutely appreciate this event, I think that people can get a lot out of knowing this fact in history and learning to appreciate it.

Andy- Assignment 7

Very little is know about the Giant Squid. They were once depicted as monsters of deep, big enough to destroy and sink a ship. Even to this day only one has ever been caught alive, and that by accident, but until September 30th, 2004, we had never even seen in its natural habitat. Prior to this time all we knew about the Giant Squid was from carcasses that occasionally washed up on beaches. The problem lies in the depth at which the Giant Squid lives. Very few cameras or submarines have made it 3,000 under the surface of the ocean, and very few have encountered this rare creature. The Giant Squid cannot be kept in captivity for the same reason, the change in (and lack of) pressure when one is brought to the surface usually kills it within hours. On September 30th, 2004 researchers from The National Science Museum of Japan and the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association used a camera on a baited line 3,000 deep to take the first photographs of a Giant Squid in its natural habitat. This was a monumental step for marine biology as the Giant Squid is the only mega fauna we have little knowledge of. From these 500+ pictures we scientists deduced that the Giant Squid is actually a predator, rather than the previous theory that it ate what floated in the water towards it. This event, along with other developments in Giant Squid research are changing everything we thought we knew about these organisms. I appreciate the importance of this event in our understanding of the inhabitants and ecosystems of the Earth's oceans.

 One Picture from the 3,000 foot sighting

One of the only living specimen ever found. It washed up on

 the coast of Japan and died over night while tied to a dock.

Assignment 7: Hannah Pulley

On October 4th 1999, English rock band Muse released their debut album, Showbiz 1957, what was then the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, which was the world's first artificial satellite. Not only was it a large accomplishment for the Soviet Union, but for the international scientific community as well. In that time, it was seen as an effort for the Soviet Union to get ahead in the ongoing Cold War; the United States as well was racing to develop technology needed in case of an attack, nuclear or otherwise. When news of the launch reached the rest of the world, there was a huge reaction. Not only was it proved that such a feat was possible, Sputnik served to collect data about the upper atmosphere and exactly how the earth’s gravity caused satellites to orbit the earth.  In the United States, the launch of Sputnik marked the early days of the space race that would lead to the founding of NASA in 1958, humans sent into orbit and landing on the moon within 15 years, and an increased interest in science, astronomy, and engineering that continues to this day. While the last moon landing was in the early 70’s, nations have launched countless orbiting satellites and probes, such as Voyager 1 and 2, for the purpose of exploration, research on the possibility of other habitable planets, investigation of the origins of the universe and so much more. Space exploration might not have become a priority if it weren't for a small metal sphere in low orbit, sending off radio signals that were audible on shortwave radio, as if to bring the people closer to the sky.

Assignment 7- sepehr piltan

October 3rd, does that date ring a bell? Well, In 1964, the first buffalo wings were made at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. This was one of the greatest events that ever happened, at least thats what I think. Buffalo wings one of the most delicious foods ever created, i mean what else are you supposed to eat on super bowl sunday? On super bowl sunday, about 90 million chicken wings are consumed. Obviously this a major impact on our nation because most of us have ate at least one chicken wing in our life times. I appreciate this event very much, because without this  date occurring, Buffalo Wild Wings(my favorite place to eat) would have never existed and without that, i wouldn't exist. okay, maybe that second part might be false but I love buffalo wings, as I am writing this, I'm watching basketball and eating buffalo wings.

Assignment 7: Catherine Curtright

On this day, 124 years ago, the tradition of the motion picture began, thanks to the efforts of Thomas Edison.  This has had an unbelievable impact on my life. I watch movies for entertainment, for a chance to socialize with friends, for family time, and even for educational purposes. There are dramas, actions flicks, romances, comedies, films about science and history.  I love movies! I love to cuddle up in a blanket and chow on popcorn. I love to get sucked into a plot and scream at the tv when something doesn't go the way I wanted for my favorite character. Imagine if we didn't have movies. What would we do for an awkward first date?

Assignment 7 Schuler Ravencraft

On October 5th 1962 the Beatles released their first single Love Me Do. This marks an important time in the rise of the revolutionizing band. The years following, the Beatles went on to release 13 studio records. Not only did The Beatles influence society and music at their prime, they still are major influences today. They were key components in transforming the beliefs of society around the globe. Many of the Beatles songs touched on the belief in peace and unity, instilling it into the mind of listeners. The Beatles are still loved by many, including my self, today. You are still able to see their imprint on the industry and society.

Assignment 7 - Katy

October 6, 2013. Not only is this day one of my best friend's birthday, this happens to be a fairly important date in history. On October 6, 1979, Jimmy Carter received Pope John Paul the second. This was the first pope to visit the white house.
Although I am not catholic, the meeting of the president and the Pope should been seen as a very important date in history. The two men met privately for an hour in the oval office, discussing how the Pope dealt with being in charge of the 1.1 billion Catholics around the world. The pope replied with that he prayed about it more than anything.
This date/ meeting is important because the president and the Pope agreed that efforts to improve human rights around the world as well as at home remained as the key idea of their (and our) times. Because of this, Jimmy Carter upheld a Human Rights policy and kept it strong. Human Rights is important because it ensures the rights to other humans in other countries with tyrant leaders. By projecting the hopeful messages of the Pope and Jimmy Carter, they were able to keep a policy of Human Rights very important to our nation that still exists today.

Assignment 7- Isaac

Many of my colleagues are writing about topics ranging from Iraq gaining independence to the invention of buffalo wings to the debut of PBS. And all of these things are very important, as are many other events that happened between the 29th of September and the 6th of October. But I want to talk about something a little more recent, and while it may not go down in the history books I know it affects me and many other nerds around the world. I want to talk about THIS: http://vimeo.com/76176358

If that link won't work for you, that is the trailer for the up-and-coming Godzilla 2014 movie. Again, while this won't be entered in any history books, it is an event that myself and many fellow nerds consider important. The trailer was also leaked on October fourth, so the time frame fits. Now, on with the explanation!

As of now, this event should be marked as good. The visuals, the cinematography, that scream- all good. This also marks the return of Godzilla since the atrocious remake starring Matthew Broderick, and this time his return is Toho-approved, so Godzilla fans can expect a good show. [*Toho is the original company behind Godzilla].
Certainly this event had an effect on my existence- I'm on board the hype train for this movie for sure. As it circulated, and continues to circulate the internet, it seems to be having an effect on geekdom as a whole. Fans of Pacific Rim who know nothing about Godzilla are eager to see the famous kaiju in action, while Godzilla fans like myself are itching to see the newest iteration of the king of the monsters- especially one that doesn't stare alongside Broderick and a pile of fish. Some are even hopeful that the whole franchise will reboot, and we'll get to see King Gidorah in his three-headed glory on the big screen with a huge budget and beautiful special effects to back the kaiju up.

And if that scream didn't give you chills, then you should see a doctor.

Assignment 6(late)- Isaac

Prompt 1- How would you fare in a post-apocalyptic world?
Prompt 2- What makes people so fearful of change?
Prompt 3- What does your background on your phone say about you? Why is it your background?

Prompts 1 and 2 are heavy, and I'm feeling in a light mood so I'll go with #3.

Let's cut to the chase. The background on my phone is a sign that says "SIDEWALK CLOSED."  This requires some explanation before I get into what it says about me. I saw this sign on my walk home from school, which I do rather frequently (approximately every day after school).On that particular autumn noon, there was construction work occurring next to the sidewalk on my route to home. Not ON the sidewalk. NEXT TO it.This sign happened to be place on the sidewalk several feet in front of the construction, which in actuality was just digging to put some pipes in the ground. The only conceivable effect any of this had on the sidewalk, other than the sign, was a bit of dirt and mud. Feeling I was Arthur Dent in a microcosm of a Hitchhiker's Guide type situation, I was highly amused and took the photo. I immediately made it my background and it has remained as such for almost a year now.

So what does this say about me? I like to think of the photo of a reminder of how utterly ridiculous humanity might be. I also am enamored with the feeling the picture gives me. It is the same feeling I get when I read the Guide for the 50th time, or when I saw the leaked Godzilla 2014 trailer- almost pure giddiness, be it from excitement, amusement, or some combination of the two. Although it may just mean I'm afraid of change. Or that I'm too sluggish and apathetic to swap photos. But I'd rather it not be that, which probably says just as much about me as the picture itself. In any case, the picture will remain. If I get a new phone, I may even go through the trouble of transferring it. When I really think about it, the picture is there because I don't know what could replace it.

Assignment 4(late)- Isaac

While it may not look it, this picture is in fact the most viewed in the world. EVER. Already the significance is clear. You've probably seen it too. It was WIndows XP's default wallpaper for their "Luna" theme. It connects people from all over. The photographer said this of his masterpiece: "If it were shown to a villager in rural China, for example, good chance they would recognize it. If it were shown to astronauts on the ISS, good bet they would know it, too." But this picture symbolizes more than just people connecting. It symbolizes the globalization of technology and its ever-growing presence in our culture. More people have seen this picture than the Mona Lisa. THE MONA LISA. But this picture isn't in the Louvre, or any other art gallery. It was free on millions of computers across the globe. It has been seen by billions of people the world over. This photo is a representation of the spread of information across the world, and the change in our culture that is brought about by the ability to share information with anyone in a microsecond. Charles O'Rear's "Bliss" is the new Mona Lisa.

Assignment 3(late)- Isaac

Certainly, acts exist which are unequivocally evil: Genocide, mass murder, taking candy from someone with dangerously low blood sugar. And pure acts of good exist as well- saving a life, returning a lost item to its rightful owner, and taking time out of your day to help someone study are all good. But moral greys are much more common (and much more fun to talk about).
Have you heard of the alignment system? In case you haven't, here's the short version. There are nine "alignments": Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good, Lawful Neutral, True Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil, and Chaotic Evil. Categories with a "lawful" prefix are usually "by the book" about what they do (the evil ones feel they are doing what they do for the right reason). "Neutral" prefixes are often apathetic, but when they act it is within good or evil parameters- True neutral is entirely apathetic. "Chaotic" prefixes follow their whims, again within the parameters of good and evil. Just as quick examples for the far ends of spectrum, Lawful Good would be Superman and Chaotic Evil would be the Joker. Most acts involving a moral grey fall somewhere between Chaotic Good and Lawful Evil. This means we are, on some level, always acting in self-interest. It also means we may be attempting to do good but hurt someone in the process, or something bad resulting in aiding someone. Absolute good and evil do exist, but are rarely present.
An example may be in order to eliminate confusion. In "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, there is a running joke where demons will do something horrible in an attempt to further evil, but the real cause of their actions brings more good into the world. In one chapter, a demon kills a room of people- now their friends and families will be distraught and horrified, and there is more evil in the world. But Pratchett (or Gaiman) explains that the people killed were telemarketers, and with their deaths less people are being bothered. The lack of another minor annoyance in their lives makes them nicer to people around them, who are nicer to everyone, and so on. I would argue, therefore, that not only do good and evil exist, but need one another to function.

Assignment 7- Thomas

On October 3^rd, 1932, Iraq gained independence from Great Britain. It wasn’t a bloody war or dramatic overthrow of the previous government, but it is still a significant event because of its recent relevance. Americans should care about Iraqi history because in the past decade we have been heavily involved in Middle Eastern affairs. We don’t exactly get along with Iraq because we fought a war in their country for the past 10 years and left it worse than it already was. This country’s influence on the world has been mostly negative (at least in the eyes of Americans) with the Saddam Hussein hunt and lack of cooperation between our government and theirs. They have been one of the focal points in the news for the past ten years and are responsible for the lives lost of many brave American soldiers. I wouldn’t say I loathe the independence of Iraq because I am sure there are many people living in Iraq that are great people and have no qualms with America. But, I can’t say I appreciate it because they have caused our country (and our budget) many problems that still are being solved today. Maybe if they had remained a British territory we would be 1 billion less dollars into debt today, have fewer soldiers in graveyards, and have a manageable relationship with Middle Eastern governments.

Assignment 7: Jonathan Tungate

Many events occurred in this week, in history, that are very important, and worth noting. But one of the more interesting while still important one occurred on September 30th, 1947. This was the televising of the first world series game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees. This event was huge for baseball, because before televised baseball was popular, there were extreme differences in the sport then there is today. Baseball games would now be pushed to later time, so one could come home from work, and watch the game on the television, and not have to attend the game. Another big change is advertising. Television made advertising threw it take off, now baseball because a big focus for advertisers because they knew so many people would be tuning in to watch the big game.

For most people, this is a good thing. It's easier for the everyday person to get the watch the games they want to, without as much hassle. However, this might not be a good thing for everyone, because it provides a different experience for people that actually go to the games. This influenced our nation because now, in the future, things would be done that way, with events being scheduled around the television, not the other way around.

Assigment 7- Saba

• October 3, 1955- Mickey Mouse Club debuts on ABC.                                                                                 

The show that brought us Brittany Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Ryan Gosling and many more "mousketeers". Our parents watched it, and so did most of us. It all started on October 3rd, 58 years ago. Now this might not seem like a big deal to some, but if you ask anyone older than 17, there's a high chance they grew up watching Mickey Mouse Club. This show had a big influence on lots of people as it was a major part of growing up. The show was both entertaining and educational. 

• October 3, 1964- First buffalo wings are made in Buffalo, NY.

I really felt that this date should be recognized. I know these events are not as significant or important as ones others might be doing, but imagine how many people have eaten Buffalo wings since then. It's almost an American tradition. Sunday night football and buffalo wings are synonyms. 

Assignment 7 - Jacquelyn Engel

Over 60 events that date back more than 1,000 years ago, and it all occurred on one day.... Ocotober 1st. From wars to amusement park openings, the events range from about anything. On this day in 1890, Congress established Yosemite National Park. This park contains a various amount of plants, animals, streams, and geysers. Not only are these located here, but they are also preserved and protected. Yosemite also brought tourism to America. Many people far and near come to view and appreciate the natural beauty Yosemite has to offer. Ironically, Yosemite is closed currently closed. In fact, all national parks are closed due to the US Government shut down. This event occurred just a few days ago on October 1, 2013. Because of the Obamacare/Affordable healthcare, the government has cut their budget. In this case, most government funded businesses should be closed, but only national parks are. This event completely cuts off the tourism. While I would love to visit Yosemite, I'm glad it will be another time because none of the tourists are able to see it. These two events clash; one event is beneficial and appreciated by all while another is just an annoyance.

Assignment 7 Kaylyn Torkelson

Over the recorded history of the world, many events have occurred on October 5th. In 1953, the first documented meeting of Narcotics Anonymous was held. In 1910, Portugal proclaimed itself a republic and overthrew the monarchy. In 1796, Spain proclaimed war on England. However, there are two events that occurred on October 5th that have the greatest impact on me, personally; my grandmother was born on October 5th, and PBS became a network on October 5th of 1970.

Of course my grandmother's birth was important to me. It directly affects my existence. Without her, I wouldn't have my mother, and without her, I wouldn't exist. I find this event to be positive, considering I enjoy existing quite a bit.

Almost as important to me was the creation of the Public Broadcasting Service. Without PBS in the 1970s, we wouldn't have had PBS Kids in the 1990s and early 2000s. A large chunk of my childhood would be missing. (Caillou, Arthur, Bob the Builder, Barney, Between the Lions, Angelina Ballerina, Dragon Tales, Clifford, Reading Rainbow, Teletubbies, and Zoboomafoo are all shows that aired on PBS Kids when I was little. I was a fan of almost all of them.) Without PBS Kids, I don't think I'd have developed my love of reading (Reading Rainbow and Between the Lions) or my imagination (Dragon Tales and Teletubbies). PBS made being a little kid fun. They allowed me to explore different worlds on rainy days without even having to go outside. These shows helped raise me, and I think that's true for a lot of people my age across the nation. PBS had a stake in creating the nation's future. So, thank you, PBS, for all you've done to make us who we are today. We appreciate it.

Assignment 6 -Garrett Uebelhor

1)      If you could pick one futuristic- science fiction type device which doesn’t currently exist what would it be, and why?

2)      What is your favorite type of automobile (SUVs, Trucks, crossovers, etc.). If were able to pick any vehicle in existence and get it for free what would it be? (You cannot just sell the vehicle to make a profit.)

3)      If you could make a single wish, which could be anything, what would this wish be and why would you choose that specific wish?

Question 2) Giving a single answer for what type of vehicle is very difficult, personally SUVs and cars tie for my favorite.  I love how high up off the ground you can sit in a SUV, with a car I feel like I can never tell exactly where my front end is. However cars have a major redeeming factor… some are just flat out cool. Although I do like the looks of some SUVs I like the “cool cars” in existence more. So with this in mind (plus the fact I already have a SUV) if I was to get any car in existence I would have to pick a dodge challenger. Some people would probably argue why I don’t pick a Lamborghini or an extremely expensive car versus a challenger which starts around 25,000.  Well my answer is simple; I just couldn’t enjoy a Lamborghini. I would constantly be worried about getting a scratch on it, and it would just cause too much stress.  I would much rather own a cheaper car which I could actually enjoy fully.