Assignment 12- Rena Childers

           Well if you know me very well, you know that this prompt is particularly funny to me. I have this very bad habit of talking to inanimate objects like they are people. In fact, I have created many embarrassing moments for myself, including on dates and while meeting new potential friends. Whether it be a “get back here little shoe” or a “why are you in here, ya silly boots,” I have repetitively put myself in uncomfortable positions. So here goes..

I live a pretty good life. Rena lets me cuddle up to her at night and she introduces me to most of her friends (although not at first… I think she may be a little embarrassed of me). When I was younger I used to live with her brother but then one day he handed me to her and ever since then we’ve been best friends. Rena used to make friendship bracelets for me when she was craftier. She also used to bake me a cake every 5^th of July because that’s my birthday. I used to have a cousin named Polar Beary who lived with us, but I think she went to live with her mommy when Rena got a little older. I always know when Rena really likes someone because she tells them about my surgeries on my eye when Rose (that was our dog) got too hyper and accidentally hurt me. I overheard Rena saying she wants to go to California for college, so right now my main concern is if she’ll take me with her, but I think she will because I’ve never had a friend like her and I know she feels the same.

Brave Little Toaster- Mark O'Brien

Patty the Pillow is a small pillow that people in my family use to travel on various occasions.  Patty has ben around the world.  She was with my sister in Israel at the beginning of the crisis that broke out in 2012.  She was with me when I went snowboarding with the Warner family in 7th grade.  She was with my brother on his journey to Thailand this past year.  She went to Ireland with my parents this past May.  She traveled with my brother to Poland where they analyzed the economy and how they would improve the country's economic state.  If Patty could come to life she would be an intelligent pillow that would know a number of languages, and she would be able to fill in the gaps of every trip we have taken.  While we were asleep she would be keeping watch, and she could tell us everything that happened on the various trips we have been on after everyone had dozed off.  Patty would be full of stories, and would be an interesting inanimate object to strike up a conversation with.

Brave Little Toasters - Weiran Liu

I really need to see a chiropractor. Every day I get tangled up and knotted. Even if I’m put in neatly I find a way to tangle myself up because I get bored whenever I am not in use.  Life is a bit odd. I'm either engulfed in darkness or stuck in someone's ears. I have become pretty good friends with the rest of the clutter in her purse – especially the pencils I get twisted around every day.  Also, I am quite concerned for her hearing… she occasionally uses me to the loudest settings. She should probably get her hearing checked; my professional opinion is that she is borderline deaf. At least she doesn’t play terrible music. We spend a lot of time together but I struggle to keep up sometimes when we go on runs. I fall out and she trades me for another pair of ear buds. Right now I am snugly fit into the side pocket, it would be a shame if I fell out and tangled myself again.

Brave Little Toasters- Jamie Smith

My favorite inanimate object is my fuzzy socks. They are wonderful because they are soft and keep my feet warm, though I would hate to be a sock. It must be horrible. Imagine getting smashed against the ground all day and shoved into gross shoes. Socks probably have a constant concussion and serious brain injury, so living the life of a sock would be very painful.

The point of view of a sock would be fascinating, because it would always be below people and would move around a lot, so socks get to see a lot more of the world than most inanimate objects. That’s a pretty sweet deal, besides the whole brain injury situation.

Anyway, I think that being a fuzzy sock would be fantastic. Not only are you are warm and cuddly piece of cloth, but you also feel good about yourself for making someone’s day a lot better. Fuzzy socks are definitely the best inanimate objects.

Assignment 12- Ji-Hae Kim

Darkness. That's all the black box knew since it was put together. Then one day, out of the blue, it felt itself being moved. It heard a strange sound. Whenever it heard the sound, the container it was in moved. All of a sudden, the moving container stopped and the black box softly thumped against a flat surface. The box wondered what was going on. Silence. Nothing but silence. The box then became startled. Something picked it up and began to move it. The movement was uneven and jolted. Then the box was placed on another flat surface. Light. There was light. The box watched as cracks of light came in as something cut through the container it was in. The box saw some strange, colorful, weirdly shaped beings wearing colorful cloths in a colorful big box. Light filled the warm box. There was an opening to this strange warm box that more colorful beings came through. The colorful beings gently heaved the black box onto a strange square thing with four sides supporting it. It wasn't unpleasant. The box noticed one of the colorful beings pointing a smaller square box at it. Then the box wondered at the light pouring out from its own belly. The colorful beings sprawled on a cushy-looking rectangle and just sat watching the no-longer-black box. Light squares reflected off of the circles on the strange beings faces. The box was no longer alone in the darkness and inthe silence. Strange bubbly sounds echoed in the warm, colorful box. The box was happy.

Television.

Assignment 12-Sam Vandiver

      My shoes must have a very confusing life. Any pair of them, really, it's all the same.  Most of the time they are on top of the world, but they often are being walked on/in. And, to all appearances, their owner hates them. They must wake up from their shoe-dreams, to find me shoving my feet in their faces. 

"What has my life come to?" they must cry as I fall down the stairs, dragging their bodies with me.  "What god would allow this?" They might lament as my feet find the only pile of dog feces in the neighborhood. Then, at last, after a long day of being kicked around and trodden on, I finally take them off. Then, that terrifying beast of a 5 month old dog comes barreling towards them, picking them up and attempting to destroy their forms. Perhaps in a past life they were cruel to puppies and this is their reckoning.

 

 

Assignment 12: Brave Little Toaster: Sloan Warner

The inanimate object I choose is my hairbrush I use every morning. I am sure it has an interesting life. It gets to sit in my room and look at all the interesting and sentimental objects to me in my room.  It sits on my bookshelf next to all my books and while I am gone, I am sure it reads all of the literature sitting on that book shelf. At this point, my hairbrush must be one of the most studious brushes in the world. It must have read some salon school book on my shelf that I don't know about because it makes my hair look wonderful. Sometimes in the mornings, I hear it tell me "you have great hair!" to which I respond, "thanks! I agree!". However, I think that is because I am halucinating because I have woken up too early and have not had any coffee yet. I could be wrong though. I would say my hairbrush has a pretty good life.

Assignment 9: Sam Clay

I believe that there is a time for war. However, I think that these occasions are rare, and that the problems that could lead to war should always be dealt with in a peaceful way first. If this way of dealing with the problem is ineffective, war can become an option. An example is World War II. The problem of the Nazi invasion of much of Europe and their cruel practices towards those they considered enemies could not be dealt with without military intervention. An earlier example is the Civil War, which was necessary to keep the United States a unified country. I believe that these are rare occasions in which it is a country's responsibility to go to war. I feel that there are many alternatives to war in most cases. Talking with other nations about an issue to come up with a peaceful solution is one way in which war could be avoided. Also, avoiding trade to hurt a nation that another nation disagrees with could be an alternative. Overall, I believe that war is not usually the correct path to solving a dispute, and only sometimes becomes necessary.

Assignment 12 - Aislinn Langley

I happen to know a thing or two about homeostasis. From what I've heard discussed at the dinner table, it has to do with maintaining internal systems and temperatures. And if there is anyone who knows a little somethin' somethin' about maintaining temperature, it's me. In fact, I might even go so far as to say that homeostasis is my purpose in life.
Some people can't seem to understand this. They buy me for the purpose of maintaining this temperature, and then what do they do? They constantly leave me open and make my life difficult. And why do they keep putting Tupperware containers full of food in me? Do they think I eat it? Do they think I need to eat? I don't need food, I need them to stop leaving the freaking door open.
Maybe they constantly mess with me because it's amusing. I guess they must find it hilarious, because they seem to do it all day every day. In the morning, they let my chill escape not once, not twice, not even thrice, but at least six times before they bugger off to do whatever it is they do all day.In the evening, it's a never-ending cycle of open-close, open-close, open-close. I mean I just really don't understand the appeal.
And another thing - what is the freezer's issue? The guy needs to chill. Not literally. He does way too much of that as it is. We have the same job, but mister high and mighty just decides he's going to maintain a lower temperature like it's a freaking competition. He's always trying to go above and beyond (or rather, below and beyond) without taking into consideration the fact that we share a side, so all his frostiness just makes my job more difficult!
Honestly, some people just have no regard for temperature regulation.

Assignment 12- davidchen

My favorite inanimate object would be my glasses. I spend every day that I'm too lazy to put on contacts with them. Their point of view is most consistent with my own since they rest upon my face.  When I set them down, they'll most likely walk away when I'm not looking to go on an adventure. This gives me reason to believe my closet is actually Narnia and my glasses explore it whenever I'm not looking. The origin of my glasses begins in the Shire. Son of Bilbo Baggins, Frodo journies out in order to destroy the ring of power. Naturally, Frodo was just an alias for my glasses. When J.R.R Tolkein wrote the series he was just taking the story of my glasses and translating them into a journey of a short, hairy kid. To conclude, my glasses are the savior of the world of middle earth.It was the one that tossed the ring into the lava of Mount Doom.

Assignment 11- Sam Vandiver

     In my third hour English class, I sit next to Jacob Young. I have to admit, prior to this year I really did not know anything about him, but this year I have several classes with Jacob and I have come to form an idea of who he is.
     The earliest impression of Jacob is that he REALLY wanted to know what one modern item Mr. Junker would bring back in time with him if he could bring any item. I seem to recall that Mr. Junker did not have a prepared answer, but I admired Jacob's persistence in asking.
     I would describe Jacob as green. It's a solid color to match his unique but stable personality. Green is often associated with being a little zany, which Jacob is, in a good way, of course.
     For no particular reason, I see Jacob as a person that is very knowledgeable on a specific topic writing a column about it in a newspaper (or the equivalent of a newspaper in 2019). Maybe horses or sports. I don't know. Just a hunch.

Assignment 11: Cory Baker

I sit next to James Apo, probably the most lax dude on god's green earth. A hunk if I've ever seen one, I assure you that fellas. His hobbies (which I know by heart from our long passionate midnight talks) include skateboarding, watching TMNT 2: Secret Of The Ooze, and smashing a fat hot and ready with his pals. If I had to pick just one color to describe James Apo it would be red just like the pizza sauce he loves so dearly. In five years I imagine he will finally finish growing out his sick dreads, be blastin som hot and heavy tunes, and handing out sick cyber stunners like his hero Stone Cold Steve Austin. His aptitude for small talks and his love for Dragon Tales the hit cartoon will definitely get him far in life, best of luck to ya pal. This has been my evaluation of James Apo; the man, the myth, the legend.

Assignment 12: Brave Little Toasters

In Toy Story, the inanimate comes to life and engages in more exciting adventures than most people have. In the Brave Little Toaster, a toaster gathers together enough strength and courage to fight off the most ferocious household objects.

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

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

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 16th at 11:59 pm

Lucas Soard- Assignment 11; Do you know you're Neighbor?

I sit next to Jamie Smith. I've gone to school with Jamie since 6^th grade, but we never had any real conversations until this year. Jamie is extremely nice, and a very good sense of humor. She is very quiet, but also very clever, and always has something worthwhile to say. She is, of course, extremely smart. Jamie always makes interesting points during class discussions, and is amazingly proficient on our vocab tests.

                I know Jamie is a swimmer, and I’m also pretty sure she swims for two different teams. I know some other swimmers as well, and I know that doing that is a year-round commitment, with very little rest and long, long hours. This goes without saying, but someone needs extraordinary will to remain committed to anything for that long. If Jamie was a color, she would probably be a light blue. Very calm, but also lively and good-natured 

Neighbor - Charlie Blondell

David Chen. Oh yes, David Chen. He's one of those kids that when you call him by name, it has to be his full name. It has a ring to it like that. David Chen is an average height, Asian-American fellow with dark hair and glasses. You probably can't talk to David Chen without hearing a sarcastic or mocking remark, but always followed with a good laugh that makes you wanna laugh, too. If you take David Chen's comments seriously, you are the one in the wrong. Never is he actually attempting to make someone feel insecure or inferior (most of the time). In other words, David Chen is the biggest-hearted smartass I know. Our conversations usually stay connected to one topic: South Park. Our greatest quality in common is our love for the show and our expertise knowledge of quotes from it. Almost anything Mr. Logsdon or anyone in the class remarks, given the opportunity, David Chen and I will refer it back to an episode of South Park. This literally is the only thing we talk about. One, because it is the easiest thing to do when class is boring. And two, it is the most original, smartest, funniest, and overall best cartoon easily ever made. If you disagree, David Chen and I hate you.

Neighbor- Mark O'Brien

I have no living neighbor to write about.  Although you always give me two sheets of paper whenever you are passing things out.  For this assignment however, I will tell you the tale of my imaginary neighbor, Gerald.  Gerald is a man that is 5'3" and can dunk.  He is ridiculous at everything he does, wether it be bass fishing, bowling or physics.  He gets more girls than anybody I know.  His favorite color is green because he gets money.  Gerald is a man who you could call if you need help with anything and he is immediately by your side.  If I ever get bored in English class (which almost never happens) Gerald will tell me the most interesting story about his life.  Me man has been on the most insane spring break trips you can think of.  Have you heard about that Bud Light Cruise to the island where it is just a week long party?  Gerald has done that.  Basically Gerald is who I aspire to be in life.

Neighbor- Jamie Smith

In English I sit by Lucas Soard. We never really talked before this year, but now that we have, I’ve realized that he is a cool guy. We both went to Winburn, so we have gone to school together for over five years now. He played football for Winburn, and still plays for Henry Clay. Lucas is a funny guy and is pretty laid back. I would characterize him as a dark blue color, because he always seems calm and chill. Navy seems like a calm color, so it fits. Also, Lucas is smart, so I would see him as being successful in whatever he chooses to do in five years. I’m honestly not sure what he wants to do, but maybe some sort of sports manager type thing would be a good career for him because he likes football and athletics so much. Lucas would be really good at something like that.

Neighbor- Ji-Hae Kim

I've been going to the same school as Aislinn Langley since fourth grade. I didn't really talk to her until halfway through freshman year. I wasn't actually that close to her until sometime in sophomore year.
Some of the things Aislinn love are camp, musicals, Thomas Jefferson, and historical fiction. She easily gets anxious, rarely ever gets sick, and easily gets dehydrated.
She is always assiduous. Maybe too much so (there are times when I question how much attention she pays to her personal health). She's crazy productive. She gets things done fast and doesn't leave things alone for too long (like I do).
She's enthusiastic about gender equality. She has moral values I agree with (except for when she's trying to survive in a zombie apocalypse, but I guess I understand where she stands).
She's good at recommending books (I haven't hated any of what she's given me so far) and she's a loyal friend. She's also super dependable.
I see Aislinn as a sort of electric blue. It's bright, fun, and solidly trustworthy. There's never a dull moment when she's around.
In five years, I see Aislinn as a strong, independent woman who could really do just about anything she wants to do.
I'd say she's sort of like a hawk. Not quite sure why.

Assignment 11: Neighbor - Charlie Grimes

It all began in 1st grade at Sayre School with Walt Finch. Walt and I shared a common love of sports and became good friends, only for him to leave Sayre later in our elementary school time. We have now thankfully reconnected in high school and become friends once again (and to be honest, Walt hasn't changed that much).

Walt is known for his large physical stature, athletic ability, and sometimes aggressive nature while playing sports such as basketball and lacrosse; however, I see Walt in a different light. Walt is a gentle giant at heart - a man who is kind, calm, and benevolent towards others underneath his intimidating nature. I truly love messing with Walt, and I never cease to challenge him to fights despite my considerable disadvantage in size. Walt is also a very intelligent person, and often makes insightful comments in class.

I would say that the most applicable color to Walt is purple. Purple is a mix of red (aggressive, ambitious, competitive) and blue (easy-going, well-intentioned, sincere), which accurately describes his personality.

In 5 years, I see Walt as a graduate student and an aspiring successful businessman, maybe getting involved in sports marketing or other areas similar to that. Whatever Walt does, I believe he will be successful, and I look forward to talking to Walt more in 3rd hour. You're a good man, Walt.

Neighbor - Weiran Liu

I have the pleasure of sitting next to Samantha McGehee, I haven't really had classes with her prior to this year so its been really awesome getting to know her. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Samantha is family. There's always a fun story about them or a new saying that I learn from her that I find absolutely nonsensical but is a common saying in her household.

If I had to describe Samantha in one word it would be sweet. She's one of the most genuinely nice people that I have met - although she does jokingly pick a little on Sloan. Lavender is a color that characterizes her. Its light, refreshing, calm, soothing, yet really enjoyable.

As of now Samantha is really organized (in my opinion), outgoing, and always well-dressed. That's why in five years I see her as having her life together, on a path to a successful career, leading a happy life and discovering what dressing smart casually really means (shoutout to LLYP).

Assignment 11 - Aislinn Langley

For the third year in a row, I'm in an English class with Ji-hae. For the second year in a row, I'm sitting next to her. I was shocked it worked out that way this year, since there's usually at least one person between us alphabetically. But not this time.

How do I begin to describe Ji-hae Kim?

Well, I'll come out and say that she's not who I would want with me in the zombie apocalypse (this has been a recent point of contention). But she's the ideal person to sit next to in a class. She's not obnoxious, she pretends to appreciate my humor, and she reads a ton. Better yet, she takes my reading recommendations to heart and follows through despite the fact that I keep giving her really sad books. When will she learn?

 Despite outwardly appearing really cold and unapproachable, Ji-hae is actually incredibly nice. She's usually very rational, which thankfully offsets the crazies in the friend group. Okay, so maybe she's actually the only truly sane one. We appreciate that. And let's be real, she'd probably be the one to bail a sister out. Or help hide a body. It really depends on how you phrase a request.

What color would best characterize Ji-hae? I'm feeling a really nice lilac. Yeah, that's definitely a good Ji-hae color. Very pretty and soothing. That's another thing about Ji-hae. She's very calming to be around. I could probably spend an entire day with Ji-hae without ever saying a word. She's the master of comfortable silences.

In five years, I see Ji-hae ruling the world. I mean, I guess it might take six or seven if she wants to finish college first, but mark my words, Ji-hae will one day rule us all. And she'll be so nice about it that none of us will suspect a thing until we wake up one day in our standard-issues World-State of Ji-hae uniforms and say "now wait just a minute..."

I feel like Ji-hae is similar to a chinchilla. She's cute as heckie, but also really complex and deep. Also there's the bit about taking dust baths. What the heck, Ji-hae.

But perhaps the best thing about Ji-hae is the fact that you can call her Ji-bae. Go ahead. I dare you.

Neighbor- Sloan Warner

I have the pleasure of sitting next to Derrick Thomas in English Class; however, I consider my other neighbors to be Sam and Jacob as well because we sit at the middle table (the best seats in the class). Derrick is great athlete on the football team, and I occasionally see his name in the newspapers. He is always wearing a University of Kentucky Football sweatshirt which makes me believe he is being recruited by them. Derrick is pretty care free and funny guy throwing in the occasional remark making everyone at the middle table laugh. If I could guess Derrick’s favorite color, I would have to say royal blue because he is a cool cat without any temper and he wears the color blue quite a bit. I see Derrick in five years from now being a college graduate who has a steady job. If Derrick were an animal, he would for sure be a manatee because they are friendly and get by in life. I can’t wait to spend the rest of English class this year with Derrick! 

Assignment 11: Neighbor-david chen

In English I sit next to Charlie Blondell. He plays sports and does other extracurricular activities in his free time to build up his resume. I guess he's pretty cool and funny. I would characterize him as the color blond because its in his last name. I would most likely expect him to be in college in 5 years. I envision him to be a animal that has blonde hair as well. Most of what we talk about in class revolves around South Park. Our knowledge of the subject is actually stupidly immense. Any episode ever made could most likely be recalled in detail by us. Although English is for 60 minutes, we probably spend at least 40 of those minutes just making south park jokes while paying slight attention. Its nice to have someone around that shares a common interest in a tv show because it can bridge the gap between otherwise awkward or insurmountable differences.

Neighbor- Rena Childers

   Sam Clay is a wonderful human, liked by all. Not only is he witty, easygoing, and nice, he is also incredibly smart. Although he occasionally choices not to submit homework, his knowledge and AP scores illustrate his intellectual nature.

   I believe forest green is the color that best suits him. It has a relaxed, peaceful feel to it, it goes well with most other colors, and the perfect shade is very rarely produced. When it comes to Sam Clay’s spirit animal, I would have to say he is an otter. I did a project on otters in the 4^th grade, so I am saying this as a compliment. Otters are easygoing, eat a lot (although not candy bars like Sam Clay), and enjoy having fun.

   I am pretty sure Sam loves South Park and Family Guy and likes to pass the Frisbee. I am very glad he and I have become better friends this year and I cannot wait to see where his life takes him. (You rock Sam Clay!!!)

Assignment 3: Walt_the_salt: Vigilante, or murderer?

In the modern day court system, there are not allowances for motives, at least in the classifications of crimes.  When someone intentionally kills someone, no matter the motives, it is automatically classified as a homicide.  But there are instances where the motives for the crime must be accounted for.  You see this in  a lot of video games.  One in particular is Watchdogs.


In the game you are a modern day vigilante, and many times, in order to stop the bad guys, you are forced to kill the bad guy.  To your normal civilian, the ends completely justify the means.  You stopped whatever evil this man might have done in the future, and avenged whatever he had already done in the past.  But to the police, this does not matter... All they see is a dead man.  And a killer.  They may see the positives that came from the murder of the one bad guy, but they are required to prosecute and hunt down the killer to the full extent of the law.


There should be accommodations for the motives of crimes, not just the short sighted immediate results of the crime with respect to the victim.


Another part of pop culture where we see this conflicting grey area between good and evil is in the show White Collar.  The main character is a convicted bond forger, Neal Caffrey. Many times, Neal takes the unorthodox method to solve problems.  Some times these methods are very illegal.  For example, when his parole officer was wrongly accused of murder, he was forced to steal millions of dollars of gold coins to bribe a federal prosecutor and forge a tape proving his innocence.  His parole officer was completely innocent, but would have been wrongly convicted had it not been for Neal's actions. 


So did the ends justify the means?  Some would say no; I say yes.  There is no such thing as absolute evil and absolute good.  Sometimes people do bad things for good reasons.  And vice versa.  To tell if someone is truly good or truly evil, one must look beyond the façade of their actions, and see the motives for them.

Assignment 10: BOO

If a zombie attack were to occur, I would first find a safe place to begin planning my course of action. After finding a secluded location that provided a barrier between the zombies and me, I would find a source of water and food, those being necessities for survival. I would then return to my shelter and set it up better for protection against the zombies. This would include finding weapons. After all of this, I would begin looking for other survivors for company while trying to survive. I would try to find a constant and safe source of food and water as time went on and I began to run out of my original supply. From then on, I would try to keep my shelter safe for myself and any others who stayed there.

BOO - Charlie Grimes

For the sake of my argument, I will assume that in the event of a zombie apocalypse, the zombies will be similar to those in The Walking Dead.

First, I would assemble a group of people whom I feel confident can endure the hardships of survival. I would need people with skill in handling guns (which I have as well, but the more the merrier), people with good instincts, and people who are very resourceful. A prime example of who not to bring is Rena Childers, as she brings unnecessary morality with her that will most likely result in my death. On the contrary, a person such as Logan Cox with hunter's instinct and skill with weapons is extremely useful, and he is ruthless.

Next, our team would raid small, local grocery stores and gas stations, ready for any resistance that we might incur. We would stock up on all essentials, and be prepared for any challenges that we may face, such as shortages and sickness.

Finally, we would make our way by car to the coast, and somehow manage to steal a large boat to live out the remainder of our lives on. We would position the boat close enough to the shore so that any further resources we may need, we can go and obtain, but far enough away that there is no chance of a zombie swimming invasion. If obtaining this boat means killing others to do so, my group WILL do so. Its a dog-eat-dog world... sorry.

A World in Pics Derrick Thomas

Centuries of advances in chemistry and optics, including the invention of the camera obscura, set the stage for the world’s first photograph. In 1826, French scientist Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, took that photograph, titled View from the Window at Le Gras, at his family’s country home. Niépce produced his photo—a view of a courtyard and outbuildings seen from the house’s upstairs window—by exposing a bitumen-coated plate in a camera obscura for several hours on his windowsill. This seen in history changed the future forever. The power of a photograph allows different people to communicate like never before sharing experiences and sights from anywhere to anyone. As time has gone on cameras have become more and more advanced allowing us to share in more vivid ways, without the power of cameras the world would be a much different and probable duller place. Cameras and pictures have done great things for the advancement of people.

Good vs. Evil Derrick Thomas

Being raised in a full Pentecostal church and being the son of two preachers, good and evil have been clearly defined for me. As I've grown, however, it seems that distinguishing between good and evil has become more and trickier. The Bible has plenty of examples of good and evil and of tricks that may seem good but turnout to be evil and tips to avoid them, but in today's modern world it’s become more and more difficult to distinguish them. The bible says in revelations 3:15-16 "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." meaning there is no gray area of good and evil, pick one and don't be something you’re not. Regardless of how skewed the worlds prospective is there is still and will always be a right way and a wrong way. 

Assignment 11: Do you know your neighbor?

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

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

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

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

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

BOO- Charlie Blondell

First step in surviving a zombie apocalypse is acquiring a surplus amount of food and water. Those are the essential keys to survival. I would suggest rummaging through abandoned supermarkets and houses to start off, then pick up any items found in any locations along the way (this rule is not limited to food). Next, you must find a safe sanctuary of shelter. I would try a Dick's Sporting Goods or Wal-Mart, because these places also have access to guns and ammunition. The final rule is this: put the survival and future of mankind ahead of every other priority. You must forget about loved ones. Do what you need to do to let the most amount of people survive. Interpret that how you may. Good luck.

Assignment 10- Sam Vandiver

ZOMBIES HAVE ATTACKED. Detail your survival plan.

 

    To respond to this prompt, I am going to assume that the zombies in question are the Romero and Walking Dead type, slow and stupid zombies. In that case, zombies are only a problem if they outnumber your group and corner you. A group would be necessary of course, as would be looting the high priority places immediately (any place with a high volume or high quality of goods that are necessary: car dealerships, gun stores, etc.). The stores would likely be flocked by other would-be survivors and you would probably need to fight over the resources. If you have ever seen anything having to do with a zombie apocalypse, you know that as soon as dead people don't stay dead, you kind of have to throw your moral code straight out. Survival of the fittest and all that. 

     Once a group is established and resources are taken care of, the next thing to look for is a semi-permanent place to live. The ideal place will be easy to defend and unassuming so other people won't try to kill you for it. It would also have the beginnings of a self sustaining supply of  resources (places to farm especially). Basically, imitate the Walking Dead a couple seasons in.

BOO- Mark O'Brien

If a zombie apocalypse were to occur I have one strategy that varies depending on the type of zombie and the time period.  First, I will take my families big conversion van and head out to my friend's farm off of McCracken Pike.  We will lode our families into the van and head to Fort Knox unless it is over run.  If the zombies are World War Z zombies we will borrow a tank or two, but if they are Walking Dead zombies we will stick to the Green Machine (our van) because we can play game cube in there.  I have already notified someone that we will be tagging along on their boat, and sailing to a small island with relatively small amounts of boat and air traffic.  Together as a group we would work our asses off to obtain crucial supplies for survival.  after obtaining more than necessary I would start to have people join the empire that i would create across the world.  I would probably feel bad about the whole thing, but you gotta do what you gotta do to survive.  Then whenever I became bored and powerful I would attempt to take back land being slow and methodic.  Then I would be a hero and everyone would love me.  The End.

*Insert cheesy quote*

Assignment 8

Fears: Falling (but not high places), drowning (except this will never happen), losing people
Annoyances: Apathy, obnoxiousness, arrogance, drinking milk out of a straw
Accomplishments: I have learned things, done well in XC, put time and effort into things I like doing
Confusions: Why people are the way they are, why is America the way it is, why people can't just calm down about everything, how to use semicolons
Sorrows: Being judgmental, critical, and sometimes stubborn in my way of thinking; everything wrong in the world
Dreams: Exploring the world, doing things I like (with people I like), using Oculus Rift
Idiosyncrasies: Wanting to go to sleep, but wanting stay up; obsessions with Ultimate, Birthday Boys, and Spoils of Babylon (as of now)
Risks: Being able to drive, meeting new people, running
Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: Random things, absurdities (then); random things, absurdities, AND experiences (now)
Problems: managing time, using phone

Idiosyncrasies: Sleep is a terrible thing.  It is needed, but in it's absence, the possibilities are endless. A great dilemma I always have is when I want to sleep so that I can do things well the next day, I also can think of tons of things that I want to do this day before I go to sleep.  What is more important? Doing things in the present or preparing myself to better do things in the near future?  Sadly, I almost unfailingly choose the latter.  Now, with this smooth transition that I am currently doing by talking about it, I will move on to talking about my obsessions.  I find lots of different things entertaining, and I will frequently obsess over these things.  I have realized that these things (like TV shows, movies, video games, activities) may not necessarily be high quality, or of value even, but I enjoy them nonetheless.  I love the thrill of discovering new things, and I think this contributes to my love of things.  They might not be really good, it's just that I haven't seen them before.  So that's pretty much it.

BOO- Jamie Smith

The thing that scares me the most besides drowning and fish (and I’m tired of talking about those fears) is not having at least one person in my life I can share everything with. I believe that friends are the most important part of your life because as humans friends are necessary emotionally. Not having a best friend terrifies me because it can make a person really lonely.

I guess what I’m really scared of is living when I don’t believe anyone cares enough about me to the point where I question whether my existence is worth anything to anyone else. There are/ have been times when I question whether or not anyone would care if I wasn’t there anymore, but I always get over it, realizing that there are always people who care. The thing that scares me the most is not being able to realize that.

The other thing that terrifies me the most is having a friend, or just a person in general, who feels that way and not doing enough to help. These fears stem from having a friend who almost attempted suicide and always feeling like I could have done more for her. I don’t want that to ever happen to anyone, because no one deserves to feel that kind of loneliness or self-loathing.

BOO-Sloan Warner

Oh the things I would do if zombies attacked. First of all, I would do the normal filling your bathtubs up with water; fairly basic, yet oh so necessary. Invite all of my friends who are hunters over, and have them bring their guns too because I know for sure, I would not being going down without a fight. Next, I would probably barricade the second island because we are sort of on a peninsula, and all the zombies I have ever heard of are unable to swim. If I needed to go out to get something, I could always sail across the lake for my transportation. As for how I would spend my time while waiting for the zombies to leave or the government to do something (if the government still exists), I would probably read some nice interesting books that I have not gotten around to reading yet and my guess is there would be many games of Risk being played. If my plan works out, a zombie attack wouldn't be all that bad really.

BOO - Weiran Liu

Say you know you are the sole person who can come to the rescue for another, and fail to do so. Say you know you can save the universe, and neglect to do so. 

I'm not really sure what to call this fear, but in general it's a fear of not being able to be there for someone when I know that I can do something to help. In a sense, its a fear of the known. "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." I fear such an idea because their world could crumble at your hands. Not only does it say something about my character if I actively choose to not come to the aid of another, but it also involves the welfare of another human being. Another living soul.

I always want to listen to another person's story, problems, wonders, idiosyncrasies. From a young age on I've always thought "What if they don't have someone to talk to?" The thought of seeing my loved ones, friends, and even strangers suffering while I stand helplessly, uselessly terrifies me.We all have the capabilities to empathize, and because we have weaknesses, fears, insecurities, we can relate to the feelings of others. We can guess and sometimes even know what another person needs at certain times. To fail to do that for another when I know I can even if it means going through a great means to do so is what I'm scared of. After all, what good does it do to have the power to help if I let it go to waste?

Assignment 10- BOO- Ji-Hae Kim

"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is the fear of the unknown." -H.P. Lovecraft

If you were to venture into an unknown, uncharted, untraveled land, I highly doubt you would be at ease. You would probably be worrying about how you would get food, water, or shelter in a place you are not familiar with. You would be thinking about the things in there that could hurt you. You would be wondering about the strange animals, unknown plants, and whatnot. If you went into the wilderness with little to no knowledge, you wouldn't last very long.

I can't help but be afraid of the unknown. And the more you know, the more you realize how big the unknown is. It's such a broad and vague fear, which is why it scared me. The unknown encompasses everything that terrifies me.

When I was less knowledgeable about the world, I used to be scared of the things in my closet or under my bed at night. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night without a light on. The light was my source of comfort and reassurance when it was dark and silent out. I could know, at least within the boundaries of my room, that there was nothing there that would hurt me.

I used to be afraid by nightmares because they weren't things I could straight up understand. They plagued me with unknown monsters and questions that went unanswered.

Now I'm terrified by the choices I have to make to shape my future--another unknown that I prefer not to think about at the moment.

From supernatural to normal everyday things I have to deal with, it is the unknown that scares me. Because fearlessness comes with the reassurance that you know where you are going to end up.

Assignment 8: Samantha McGehee

Fears: falling, clowns, people in masks or completely in costume,
Annoyances: slow walkers, people who lose patience easily, when people correct how I say something ( I am from the country, forgive me)
Accomplishments: I have managed not to go completely crazy in the last few years, I have a lot of love for a lot of people
Confusions: Why do care what or how much I eat? Why people can't let other people be happy? Why as a society we hold women and men to such strict ideals of beauty?
Sorrows: Loss of loved ones, cancer, failed friendships and relationships
Dreams: For life to be better than I could ever imagine in whatever ways that entails.
Idiosyncrasies: I have a compulsive issue with smelling my hands, I say a lot of random sayings that apparently are only popular in my family, I turn my head to the right and apparently look confused when trying to focus or listen to somebody, I play with my hands when I am nervous, I am a little bit of a germophobe
Risks: I have a tendency to say whatever is on my mind, I hiked off path once and was body hugging a rock for dear life
Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: Then: My froggy blanket that my Nana made me and my doll named Katie. Now: The ring that my Opa gave me
Problems: My anxiety, my addiction to coffee (is it really a problem?)

In my family, we say a lot of weird backwoods sayings that I have come to realize are usually lost on the general public. Which is why I am accurately described as the redneck of my friends. Here's a list of some of these saying with general definitions:

• I'll be dipped in peanut butter- Used with something unfortunate has happened, equivalent to "Oh crap"
• I have to pee a river- Means exactly what you would think. I have to pee really, really bad.
• Hell's fire and damnation- Also means " Oh crap"
• Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit-  It means "Well I didn't know that"
• Meaner than a snake- If someone ever tells you this, you are pretty mean
• Too big for your britches- Took on more than you can handle
• Like a bat out of hell- you are going pretty fast

Assignment 10 - Aislinn Langley

Zombies have attacked. Figures. My personal plan goes as follows.

Step 1: Determine why there are suddenly zombies. Where did the outbreak start? It stands to reason that densely populated cities would be the first to fall to roaming hoards of bloodthirsty (or brainthirsty, in this case) zombies. If the aforementioned wave of undead killers is not literally on your doorstep, continue with the plan.

Step 2: Grab the essentials. Canned, nonperishable food items are the way to go. Hit the basement and load up all the backpacking and camping gear available. It's also advisable to grab the hunting bows, old shot gun, and anything else that could be used in the way of weaponry. Do we know if zombism is airborne? Grab a surgical mask just to be safe.

Step 3: Assemble the team. Survival's the priority; now's not the time to get sentimental. Are the folks away? Sucks for them. Is your best friend pretty hopeless at outdoor survival and combat? That's too bad. Once equipment is loaded into a sturdy vehicle, see how many open seats you have. Subtract one in allowance for more supplies. This will likely leave you with two seats. Phone ahead to your most well-equipped friends and pick them up ten minutes later. Now's not the time to play favorites. Take who is of most value to you.

Step 4: Hit the road. Zombie outbreaks are the most dangerous in cities where people are all concentrated into one area. Your best shot is to hit the hills. Knowing the route to camp like the back of your hand will come in... handy. Up in the mountains and miles away from the nearest tiny town, the summer camp at which you spent your childhood is your best bet for a defensible base.

Step 5: Further assemble allies. You left many good people to die in your city. That's sad and deplorable, but this is a matter of life and death. The only other people that will be of use to you at this point are ones that know the terrain on which you'll be living. You need people who know nature and strategy and how to keep a level head in emergencies. You need... Other camp counselors. While you drive, get the friend in the passenger seat to call the camp ranger - your former boss. She'll know what to do. Other camp staff will undoubtedly already be on the way to camp. After all, you did plan for this during staff week. Zombie apocalypse preparedness and planning had fallen right between first aid training and outdoor cooking.

Step 6: Prepare defenses and commence further planning. When you arrive on camp, figure out who else is already there, and then jump right in with constructing a perimeter barricade or tallying food supplies. No need to make a big deal of introducing your friends to their new compatriots; names can easily be exchanged in the midst of preparation. Hold a brief meeting to establish rank and leadership. The last thing you need out here is dissension. Pool all resources (weapons, tools, food, clothing, batteries) and make plans for the long run.

Step 7: Get comfy. Once initial preparations are made, chill. You'll be here a while. Make sure defenses are all get in good shape, and make sure the ropes of the climbing tower - the likely place of your hypothetical last stand - are secure. But other than that, try to squeeze some amount of joy from nature and camaraderie, because times are about to grow extremely trying. It could take weeks or months or years, but the fight will come to you. You just have to be ready.

BOO- Harrison I.

                Most Scientists and researchers agree that the issue of whether or not the human race is going to be devastated by some disease is not an "if" question, rather we should be asking "when", and if through some chance mother nature makes it a disease that turns the infected into walking killing machines that rip our guts out, having a plan is essential to surviving for as long as possible. The first order of business in the event of a zombie attack would be to gather as many supplies as we can, whether that be from out of our own homes, our from vandalizing others (they don't need them, they're dead) of course while I would do this, I would have to be very quiet and implement all the survival skills that I had acquired from watching shows and movies like "The Walking Dead" and "World War Z". After I had gathered all the supplies I needed using these skills, I would then have to hole the up in the upper story of my house and destroy the stairs to prevent the zombies from reaching me, as advised in the zombie survivalists essential "Zombie Survival Guide " by Max Brooks, which I always keep nearby for situations like these. Next I would have two choices, to either acquire an RV and live on the run in a group like "The Walking Dead", or head into the mountains and camp out with my Uncle Eddie, who is an avid arms collector. Either way survival, is assured.       

Assignment 10: boo, david

In the event of a zombie apocalypse I would leave my house. But, before leaving I would grab a knife and some type of fire starter, whether its a lighter or a piece of flint. Then I would head towards the nearest grocery or supermarket in my car that is away from the epicenter of the contagion. After collecting supplies, I would fill many tanks with gas and load them in my car. After loading up, I would then drive on the main highways to Canada, as they are wide and spacious so i can maneuver through any zombies blocking my path. Then in Canada, I would venture all the way north to the upper archipelagos that are rarely inhabited by anything. There I shall hunt and build my camp which i will live at for the rest of my life. Fires can keep me warm, a log cabin can provide a cozy home, and fish and berries collected down south could feed me. Few zombies would wander that far and if they do come I can easily lead them into traps built from ropes and tree branches. The land is difficult to move through but through years of living off the land i would master the ins and outs. Thus,  I would survive the apocalypse unless something goes horribly wrong.

Lucas Soard- Assignment 10: BOO

In case of a zombie apocalypse, I’d do my best to become a recluse. We have a fairly good supply of backup food at my house, and a workable garden. I think this would suffice us for a while. Lots of people will rush to Wal-mart and other stores. This is a huge mistake. Thousands of others will have the same thought. Even if you make it into the superstore, and manage to get supplies, you will have exposed yourself to dozens of people, raising your chance of infection exponentially. I live near a bunch of old people, so hopefully they aren’t out much, being exposed to the infection. My family is the number one priority, and our living space is entirely upstairs, and contains a plethora of escape routes. If the zombies are slow walkers, than I think my house, with a few mild fortifications, will go a long way towards repelling the zombies. We have a safe full of old hunting guns, but more importantly, bows and knives. While we have nice, factory made arrows, the trees near my house will serve as adequate substitutes.