Historical Reflection

I must object to the prospect of inviting a historical figure to attend college with me. For one, this person would obviously be many years older than I am, and so they would not be in the college in the first place. For two, if they were a professor, they would have countless other students to take care of and I could not form a meaningful relationship with them. For three, if I were to somehow pull this person from the timeline into present-day, not only would it mess up the timeline by keeping them from being in a place to do something important that they will inevitably end up doing, but it will also attract the media, and people will suddenly be swarming around me, asking me to revive all sorts of people. Death would become a slap on the wrist (until I died, that is) and I would be drowned by people who I don't know, not to mention that there would suddenly be over-population and the world's resources would be gone faster than we can use them.

If you hadn't gathered, I would not like to have a historical figure be in the same college that I will someday go to, unless said historical figure is alive today and I could meet him or her without the above listed reasons happening. There are no historical figures that present enough interest to me to actually want to bring them to college with me. I could say I'd bring the people in charge of planning the bombing of Dresden, and say that it's because I want to know why they did it, but not only would I be lying, I'd have no purpose for them once I had somehow managed to get the information out of them. I could also say that I wanted to bring some ex-president with me, but for one I don't know which one I'd bring, and for two, I don't have any reason to want to bring them.

My final reason for not wanting to bring someone from the past is because of just that- they're from the past. The things they did are in the past. The things they would talk about would be from the past. As much as it would be fun to have one as a history teacher, their knowledge would only extend up to the point in which they died, and... well, how can I put this without being rude? The past is in the past. Sure, we can look back on it to see where we made mistakes, but I'd rather not have whatever figure I had with me in college constantly talking about the successes he or she had while in some now-famous event. I'd like to just read or hear about a past event, and move on to the present and the future.

The past is in the past. Let's keep it that way so we don't have to repeat history.

Literary Reflection...

When college comes around, it is natural that one would want company in their travels around the world, country, city, wherever they happen to be attending college. Upon being asked this question, I considered a few options of what character from the books we have read in class I would take with me on my journey to the land of the college student. I could pick Billy Pilgrim and ask him to give me the answers for future tests so I could easily pass my College classes. I could pick Jim Casy and have him distract people by talking so I'd have time to take all my notes. But, in the end, there was only one person that I could pick with all my heart... and she wasn't even a person.

Princess.

You see, nothing beats the company and companionship of a canine companion. (too many c's.) I decided to pick Princess, the dog that the German Soldiers in Slaughterhouse Five borrowed from the farmer, because I'd have something to look forward to when I came back from my classes each day, and someone to keep me company when whatever roommate I had (if I had one) was out of the dorm (since, knowing me, I'd never leave it). I pick Princess over other dogs in the series, because she is young, adorable and sweet, and I imagine her as a cute doggie who is cuddle-able and well behaved, which means she would be able to stay in the dorms as my pet and companion. I believe she's well behaved because she obeyed the command of the Germans who borrowed her without complaint, whereas some dogs don't obey orders, even from the people who own them. Princess would make a great companion during my college days, so long as she doesn't poop in the dorm room. ;D

Post Trial Reflection

According to the prosecution, Arizona was violating the constitution, specifically the 4th, 5th, 6th and 14th amendments. Two of the founding fathers were called up (James Madison and John Adams), to explain exactly what they meant in the amendments, and a representative of Arizona was called up to explain why he (she) thought that the bills Arizona had passed were wrong.

According to the defense, Arizona was not in the wrong, but only doing their job to keep their citizens safe from the illegal aliens. They called forth the Arizona Governor, a police chief (if I am not mistaken...), and a policeman who had been shot by two 'illegal' immigrants. They pointed out that the country was not doing their job and they only wished to help it keep the people who shouldn't be there out.

I think the most significant pieces of evidence came when the prosecution cross-examined the defense's witnesses- they basically got them to contradict everything that the defense had said up to that point in time. They also got them to admit they were wrong on many occasions - not directly, but still - and if you admit that you're wrong, that seriously ruins your credibility as a lawmaker or police enforcer and so on.

The most significant argument was the prosecution hammering into place that the bill(s) were against the constitution and that states did NOT have the power that the defense was saying they should have if the country wasn't doing its job.

The verdict was guilty - which I fully support. I was on the jury, after all... anyway, it's my own personal opinion, but I did my best not to let that affect my choice and I made it based on the evidence both sides had presented, and the organization, or lack thereof, that they had. I just really felt like the prosecution did an amazing job of hammering their point into place.

-

I think I deserve a 35 out of 50 points because being a juror is not very hard. I just watched (which I didn't fully do...) and helped make the final decision. I was good at the deliberations because I felt like I had a real opinion and say in the matter and it was easy for me to get my pint across, even if I did stumble across my words a bit I knew what I was trying to say. I could have done better at actually watching the trial by drawing less... I'm not very good at maintaining focus and I was constantly drawing throughout the trial, which I feel like was a bad idea (but I did get the gist of what was going on - I just feel like I should have taken more notes on names and positions and such is all).

WW2 Letter Info

I am probably going to pick a position as a working woman in America, simply because it will be easier for me to put myself in the position of a woman - however, I might end up picking a soldier because it might be fun to get into a soldier's shoes to see what they would think.

As a woman I would look up information on working conditions and probably look into a specific factory that I would be working at.

As a soldier, I think I'd pick a specific battle to be in - maybe even be a soldier on the opposing side?

As for the letter itself, I'd like to handwrite it as a semi-illiterate person, so it'd have spelling errors and backwards letters and stuff, but the message would still get across... It might be fun.

Honors History Blog #2

The wars held importance in the sense that they were so devastating that it's unlikely that anyone would ever want to be involved in such a large-scale conflict again. They also held importance in the sense that they helped countries do a lot of developing- quite a bit of technology developed during that time is still used today. Weaponry, planes... heck, even nuclear weaponry came about because of the second world war. Not that it wouldn't have if it weren't for the war, but during times of crisis people become desperate and tend to work faster than they normally do on such things so that it can help them overcome said crisis.

The wars were incredible in the sense that they brought about development that would not have ordinarily been brought around. Yes, nuclear fusion/fission did exist before World War 2... but that was in the sun and not in a way that we could harness. If it hadn't been for the need to build nuclear weaponry then we would have never even considered that it could be harnessed, and we would probably still be using some ridiculous form of power like hamsters on treadmills. A lot of the weaponry that we use today appeared in the second world war as well - I'm probably wrong on this, but if I remember right, I heard that AK-47s were invented during WW2, and a lot of aerial technology came to be in the second world war. Plus, a lot of planes that could carry more than just one person (a person plus a bomb/weapon) started to be invented in the first world war - before that, soaring with the birds was something that could only be done for a few moments (just ask the Wright brothers). They also created a lot of alliances and a system of checks and balances on other countries that had the possibility to go renegade on us all. (Not that they would. We have nukes.)

Blog #15

Instead of picking something off of the provided list that Randy has given us, I decided to choose something that I was particularly interested in - that is, the combat strategies and what sort of information and misinformation was used to win the war.

During the war, both sides had many different battle strategies. Due to my nature as a writer, and my recent fascination with the kinds of tactics that are used in war-like battles, I wish to know all that I can about the combat tactics in the war and what kinds of things were done to give the other side misinformation. I recall reading somewhere that American and Brittish troops had spies working for them, sometimes even double-agents, who would talk about what the German forces were up to, and deliver information about squadrons that were nonexistent. I also recall reading that America and Brittan broadcasted radio messages that purposely spoke about plans, attacks and squadrons that did not exist to falsely prepare their enemies for an attack that was not coming and distract them from the real attack. I'd like to know a lot more about these strategies and these spies and the way that the battles were fought during the war; which I could probably do by researching accounts of soldiers on the battlefield or looking up battleplans. And, chances are, a lot of our combat strategies are the same as they were back then.

Blog #14

1. What are the most interesting aspects of World Wars 1 and 2?
In my opinion, the most interesting aspect of World Wars 1 and 2 is that they were so close together. The world had just been devastated by the first World War (or, as it was known then, The Great War), and yet the instability caused by it provoked the second one to erupt and begin. I also find it interesting that the wars both had similar causes - that is, instability among alliances and countries, as well as chaos involved in the relationships between them, albeit for different reasons for either war.

2. What do you hope to learn about these wars?
Well, to be completely honest, I don't really hope to learn much, since I learned a lot about World Wars 1 and 2 last year in Lori's class. Something I would like to learn, though, are the kinds of tactics that were used on the battlefields, and how things like spy operations were done, and what sort of honor soldiers had regarding the other side. (I heard somewhere that soldiers would give people on the other side funerals and things out of respect.)

3. How/Why are these wars important today? How do they impact and/or inform our world today?
The wars held importance in the sense that they were so devastating that it's unlikely that anyone would ever want to be involved in such a large-scale conflict again. They also held importance in the sense that they helped countries do a lot of developing- quite a bit of technology developed during that time is still used today. Weaponry, planes... heck, even nuclear weaponry came about because of the second world war. Not that it wouldn't have if it weren't for the war, but during times of crisis people become desperate and tend to work faster than they normally do on such things so that it can help them overcome said crisis.

Honors Novel #2

In the early chapters of The Grapes of Wrath, we are introduced to Jim Casy, an ex-preacher who is pondering thoughts about his own faith. He speaks to Tom as a friend, confiding in him a revelation that he has recently had. Casy expresses belief that there is no God, and there is no Jesus. He only believes in the Holy Spirit, and he believes it to be in every being, every man and woman. He also believes that there's no sin and virtue - just stuff people do. And who's to say it's right or wrong?

Once Casy is introduced, it becomes clear that the novel is not about the Joads or random, one-shot scenes of the bigger picture. Instead, the novel is communicating Casy's message of a spiritual union, a world without sin and virtue. Constantly, migrant families stick together and stay together, feeling a connection hrough their similar situations. But is it just the situation that brings them together, or is it the connection brought about by a unified spirit - the one in every man and woman - that pulls them together and gives them the will to help each other, despite not having much themselves? The spirit that Casy talks about is everywhere - in the migrant families struggling to make a better life for themselves, in the Joad family despite members having to break away, in the turtle that was striving to get to the other side of the highway.

Perhaps Casy's message is best delivered after his death, when Tom and Ma Joad are talking about Tom having to leave. Tom comments that it's like Casy's been saying - he's just a little part of the bigger spirit, and so if Ma misses him, she can look to other people - the happy and sad, the laughing and crying, and he'll be there. Not in person, but in spirit - because in a way, everyone's just one part of a worldwide spirit, a worldwide message that Steinbeck strives to deliver throughout the entirety of the novel.

"I says, 'Maybe it ain't a sin. Maybe it's just the way folks is. Maybe we been whippin' the hell out of ourselves for nothin'.' An' I thought how some sisters took to beatin' theirselves with a three-foot shag of bobwire. An' I thought how maybe they liked to hurt themselves, an' maybe I liked to hurt myself. Well, I was laying under a tree when I figured that out, and I went to sleep. And it come night, an' it was dark when I come to. They was a coyote squakin' near by. Before I knowed it, I was sayin' out loud, 'The hell with it! There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do. It's all part of the same thing. And some of the things folks do is nice, and some ain't nice, but that's as far as any man got a right to say.'" -Jim Casy

Honors Novel Blog #1

What would you do if you could see the dead?

Odd Thomas is an ordinary person, aside from one minor detail - he can see dead people. Just as spirits, nothing more, and they lack the ability to speak, but that doesn't change the fact that he can see them. He interacts with them as if they were real people, and sometimes he'll even do what he can to figure out how they died, which often leads him on a wild chase to solve murder cases.

But what does his gift, or curse, translate into? As a device in the story about someone whose drive to solve murders comes from his ability to see the dead, one would think that it is simply a device used to get the protagonist from point A to point B. But throughout my reading of Forever Odd by Dean Koontz, I have come to suspect that Odd's ability to see the dead may represent something more than simply a device to push the story along.

Odd himself is a strange individual, having characters such as Elvis act as spiritual guides. It is strange to look at the phenomenon Odd's abilities bring about and say that they can simply be coincidental - perhaps some sort of higher force placed them there, knowing that Odd was a strong-willed individual who would do the right thing with his strange ability. In this case, his power would represent trust and fate, the idea that some force is driving us to do what we do and simply giving us the tools to do it.

However, his ability might represent something far more sinister. It might represent the insanity that comes from living a life like the one that Odd has. He lived without a father since he was only a year old, and his mother was very trigger-happy and often holding a gun in her hands. Living such a life may have driven him beyond the brink of insanity, and led him to believe that he can see ghosts - we cannot be certain, since the story is told from his perspective. But Odd's behavior throughout the book only serves to support the idea that his gift might represent insanity - after all, most people would grow afraid and run away when dealing with the situations that he has.

Whether Odd's ability is a gift or a curse is uncertain, but it is certain that it symbolizes something more than simply what it appears to be. Odd's insanity may have driven him to think he sees the dead, or it may be an honest-to-god gift given to him by the strings of fate. Odd uses his gift to guide himself through the pains that other people feel every single day, and through the chaos that carries him through his life. But in the life he lives... is it guiding him, or is he guiding it?

Blog #11

Please note that this is simply a copy-paste of the honors blog entry that had us do the exact same thing. I see no reason to do the same work two times over, thus I am simply going to do this.

Dear Mr. President,

As the financial crisis continues to wear down our nation, tearing us apart at the seams and pitting us against each other in an endless struggle against our ideals, our laws, and our morals, we must look to the past for a way to save ourselves in the future. We have struggled through a financial crisis of a much higher degree than this one in the past, and it is because of this that I say we must learn from our mistakes in order to make our way to a brighter future. Mr. President, I speak not for me but for the entire nation when I say that I am tired of hearing words said but nothing being acted upon. You must gather your strength to bring people together, for only as a whole nation will we be able to push through this time of crisis and become a prosperous land once again.

During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt stepped into governmental affairs to make sure that the banks were held accountable for mishandling money, stepped in to make sure that people were getting jobs, and stepped in to make sure that the people of America knew that he understood their problems and he was going to do everything in his power to help them. In order to pull us out of this mess, Mr. President, you need to do the same. You must hold the banks accountable for their mistakes and stop giving them money that could be put into other resources. By giving them this money, you are only encouraging them to do the same things that they have been doing before, and we are not making any forward progress. Instead, put the money that you are giving to them into other resources – like jobs for construction of hospitals, or schools, which would create jobs for construction workers, teachers, doctors and nurses, and allow people to take those jobs, thus being paid for said jobs and allowing them to pay back the banks for the money that they owe. In the end, the banks still get the money – but this way, other people have a chance to pay off their loans, and have an opportunity to receive health care, or an education, or a job, thus helping stabilize the economy more than simply giving money to banks could ever do. Mr. President, you also need to hold congress responsible for their childish behavior. You must tell them that a massive financial recession – or, as it has been nicknamed, the ‘Great Recession’, is no time to be arguing simply based on what side of the political ballpark they are on. I know you are officially a democrat, but you must hold both sides responsible and tell them that, if we don’t work together, we are not going to be able to get this country out of the financial crisis that we’re in. You must tell them that we have to work together, that we have to pass bills and laws in order to make sure we don’t wind up in a repeat of history, and once we have we can go right back to arguing if that’s what they prefer (although I can’t see why – it would make much more sense to argue based on what is morally right instead of what is politically right).

Mr. President, I ask you not as a single citizen, but as one of many, that you tell people this is not the time to be arguing, and that we must work together to get out of this crisis. I ask that you yourself revise your methods of going about things – because the way you are operating now is clearly not working. I ask this for the sake of our 50 states, I ask this for the sake of our population – I ask that you adjust the way you are approaching the financial crisis to something more firm. It does not have to make you the most popular person in the world, it simply has to help us out of this crisis - and I am sure, after all, that if you are able to help us out of this crisis, that people will look back and say 'You know, I didn't think it was a good idea at the time, but looking at it now, I'm glad that it was done.'

Many Regards, and Thank You for Reading,
Miss Nikita Atrash

Blog #10

I know it sounds terrible, but I do not have any feelings for these people. Perhaps it is because I am a selfish bastard who only cares about herself, perhaps it is simply the way the book is written. These people just don't have any place in my heart. In part, I think it's because they don't really seem to be suffering. I mean, I know they are, but the way this is written just doesn't give off the air of suffering to me.

Blog #9

Freedoms
One could argue that the freedoms involved in the production of Ampersand are not at all necessary and that we should have a strict schedule involved in its production, with something that needs to be accomplished each and every day.

One could argue that this is a completely stupid idea.

The freedoms that have been given to us with Ampersand have been something that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Give me a lot of due dates and I will freak out, wondering when I'll ever have time to work on that with everything else that's going on in my life. Give me a rough outline and say 'Okay, you should have this done by then, do what you want to get to this point' and I'll say "Okay, sounds good" and get right on doing that. I work better with very lose guidelines and when I can make my own work schedule, and when I can govern what I do when.

Structures
Structure, though... I would like more time to work on it in class instead of all this historical and Grapes of Wrath stuff we're getting into. It's like... "Okay, we're talking, we're talking, can I please do work on other things now?" I really don't like that we don't have much time to do work on it during class, when really we should have a lot of time... and as an editor I feel like there's not really much of a specific time when I'm supposed to go up to the people whose articles I'm editing and say "Hey, how are you doing? Anything I can help you with?" etcetera...

Honors History Blog #1

Dear Mr. President,

As the financial crisis continues to wear down our nation, tearing us apart at the seams and pitting us against each other in an endless struggle against our ideals, our laws, and our morals, we must look to the past for a way to save ourselves in the future. We have struggled through a financial crisis of a much higher degree than this one in the past, and it is because of this that I say we must learn from our mistakes in order to make our way to a brighter future. Mr. President, I speak not for me but for the entire nation when I say that I am tired of hearing words said but nothing being acted upon. You must gather your strength to bring people together, for only as a whole nation will we be able to push through this time of crisis and become a prosperous land once again.

During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt stepped into governmental affairs to make sure that the banks were held accountable for mishandling money, stepped in to make sure that people were getting jobs, and stepped in to make sure that the people of America knew that he understood their problems and he was going to do everything in his power to help them. In order to pull us out of this mess, Mr. President, you need to do the same. You must hold the banks accountable for their mistakes and stop giving them money that could be put into other resources. By giving them this money, you are only encouraging them to do the same things that they have been doing before, and we are not making any forward progress. Instead, put the money that you are giving to them into other resources – like jobs for construction of hospitals, or schools, which would create jobs for construction workers, teachers, doctors and nurses, and allow people to take those jobs, thus being paid for said jobs and allowing them to pay back the banks for the money that they owe. In the end, the banks still get the money – but this way, other people have a chance to pay off their loans, and have an opportunity to receive health care, or an education, or a job, thus helping stabilize the economy more than simply giving money to banks could ever do. Mr. President, you also need to hold congress responsible for their childish behavior. You must tell them that a massive financial recession – or, as it has been nicknamed, the ‘Great Recession’, is no time to be arguing simply based on what side of the political ballpark they are on. I know you are officially a democrat, but you must hold both sides responsible and tell them that, if we don’t work together, we are not going to be able to get this country out of the financial crisis that we’re in. You must tell them that we have to work together, that we have to pass bills and laws in order to make sure we don’t wind up in a repeat of history, and once we have we can go right back to arguing if that’s what they prefer (although I can’t see why – it would make much more sense to argue based on what is morally right instead of what is politically right).

Mr. President, I ask you not as a single citizen, but as one of many, that you tell people this is not the time to be arguing, and that we must work together to get out of this crisis. I ask that you yourself revise your methods of going about things – because the way you are operating now is clearly not working. I ask this for the sake of our 50 states, I ask this for the sake of our population – I ask that you adjust the way you are approaching the financial crisis to something more firm. It does not have to make you the most popular person in the world, it simply has to help us out of this crisis - and I am sure, after all, that if you are able to help us out of this crisis, that people will look back and say 'You know, I didn't think it was a good idea at the time, but looking at it now, I'm glad that it was done.'

Many Regards, and Thank You for Reading,
Miss Nikita Atrash

Sources:
The Two Emailed New Yorker Articles
Knowledge based on news that I have seen
This article, used for information on Obama's term so far in office

Blog #8

The current President and FDR have many things in common - they are/were both highly popular among the people of the United States, both are/were constantly proposing bills and ideas to try and fix the state of the union that their opponents are/were dismissing as Un-American and something that would completely destroy our ways of life as we know it, and they are/were President during the time of a massive financial crisis.

One would think we'd have learned by now, but...

As far as differences go (besides the obvious race thing), well... not much really comes to mind, aside from the fact that FDR had practically unanimous support while Obama has every single Republican in the history of ever (that's currently alive) going up against him, keeping anything he tries to do from actually being implemented.

Blog #7

I think veterinary clinics would have failed during the great depression, if only because people, while they did love their pets, did not have the money (or time, really) to take their pet to the vet to check if something was wrong with it. If the pet was sick, then... well... the pet was sick, big deal, moving on... makeshift remedies would be made, I guess, if the family really loved the dog, but otherwise there wouldn't be enough resources for a veterinary clinic to survive in those times.

Blog #6- Preacher Man

CHARACTER NAME: Jim Casy

QUOTES OF NOTE:
1. "I was a preacher. Reverend Jim Casy--was a Burning Busher. Used to howl out the name of Jesus to glory. And used to get an irrigation ditch so squirmin' full of repented sinners half of 'em like to drownded. But not no more. Just Jim Casy now. Ain't got the call no more. Got a lot of sinful idears--but they seem kinda sensible."
This quote not only introduces Jim Casy, but gives a little insight as far as who he is. It tells you his name, what he used to be, and why he used to be it. His name, Jim Casy, that he used to be a preacher, and that he stopped because he has sinful ideas that honestly don't seem like they should be sins at all.
2. "I says, 'Maybe it ain't a sin. Maybe it's just the way folks is. Maybe we been whippin' the hell out of ourselves for nothin'.' An' I thought how some sisters took to beatin' theirselves with a three-foot shag of bobwire. An' I thought how maybe they liked to hurt themselves, an' maybe I liked to hurt myself. Well, I was laying under a tree when I figured that out, and I went to sleep. And it come night, an' it was dark when I come to. They was a coyote squakin' near by. Before I knowed it, I was sayin' out loud, 'The hell with it! There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do. It's all part of the same thing. And some of the things folks do is nice, and some ain't nice, but that's as far as any man got a right to say.'"
This quote gives you a feel for what Jim Casy believes. As an ex-preacher, it seems like something ridiculous to think - but he's human. He's just like anyone else, and he's come to realize that in his own right. People do good and people do bad, and he as a preacher had trouble comprehending that he was the same, and so he believed that he couldn't sin - so when he did something bad, he beat himself up over it - but it never helped and he just did it again, and couldn't figure out why until he had this epiphany, as we'll call it.
3. "I says, 'What's this call, this sperit?' An' I says, 'It's love. I love people so much I'm fit to bust, sometimes.' An' I says, 'Don't you love Jesus?' Well, I thought an thought, an' finally I says, 'No, I don't know nobody name' Jesus. I know a bunch of stories, but I only love people. An' sometimes I love 'em to fit to bust, an' I want to make 'em happy, so I been preachin' somepin I thought would make 'em happy.' An' then--I been talkin' a hell of a lot. Maybe you wonder about me using bad words. Well, they ain't bad to me no more. They're jus' words folks use, an' they don't mean nothing bad with 'em."
This quote makes you realize what Jim Cody's thinking is - the reason he believes what he believes now - it makes you realize that he's not really crazy - he's only human. He has beliefs, and he cares about people, but he wonders if this thing that's supposed to be out there really is out there, whether it's really such a big deal that he has to feel love for something that might not even be there... (at least that's what I think)
4. "I figgered about the Holy Sperit and the Jesus road. I figgered, 'Why do we got to hang it on God or Jesus? Maybe,' I figgered, 'maybe it's all men an' all women we love; maybe that's the Holy Sperit--the human sperit--the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever'body's a part of.' Now I sat there thinkin' it, an' all of a suddent--I knew it. I knew it so deep down that it was true, and I still know it."
This quote is more on the above quote - it makes you realize that Jim Casy's lost his faith in Jesus and the lord, and has just started to believe in people as a whole - not in the things that are written in the bible, or the things that he's meant to preach. He believes that people are people, no matter what some holy being would classify as sin or virtue or right or wrong or holy or unholy. He believes in the spirit he sees in other people, not in the way that a book says to see other people.

Blog #5- Work Examples

Work Example #1- Lynn Le's Interview

I absolutely love the long and elaborate introduction for her interview - I feel like it really sets the scene and gives you a good idea of what kind of a person her mentor is. I will admit that I felt like it was a little bit long (and sometimes I found myself mentally screaming to get on with it), but at the same time, if it were to be cut down, I feel like it would lose some of its impact. I also like how the interview is ended- on a more casual note, rather than some awkward ending.

Work Example #2- Emilie Colwell's Interview

I like how Emilie included the actions of her mentor in the interview by putting them in brackets, like so - [pauses to pick up and take a bite out of some bread]. It gives a feel for what the mentor is doing and how they react to the questions, or how they feel while they're being interviewed. Although, I probably would have written it more like [she paused to take a bite out of some bread] instead of just saying what I did earlier, so that it's more evident that this is an action.

Work Example #3- Audrey Le's Photo Essay

I like the way that Audrey works through her photo essay (it does bug me that she swaps from third to first person midway through the first paragraph though). She links everything through the underlying theme of what needs what to work, and what ends up coming from that work. She links water to power, to the energy needed for her laptop, etcetera... everything is brought together by this theme of what is brought about by other things, and how everything just falls into place together.

Photo Essay

Silent and empty. That is the atmosphere that echoes throughout the room. It is quiet, aside from the slight mew of the patient we are about to work with. I stare silently at the cat in the cage; as lonely as we both are, at least we have the other there to keep each other company. Gently, I stick a finger through one of the holes in the bars, and stroke the top of the cat's head. I remove my finger from the cage again, and stare silently at the cat, lonely, and I wish that I could do more to help it in its time of need. There is a certain compassion I feel for it, one that is hard to describe, that allows me to take a role of ownership, a role to make the pet feel comfortable and at home, to the best of my ability. I look over at the events that happen in the rest of the room, and notice one of the nurses is headed in this direction, so I take the opportunity to move to another part of the room so I am not in the way of the things that the nurse is about to do.
Once I reach the main area of the room, I stop and turn around to observe the two operation tables - one through the door to the room in front of me, and the one to my right, where a dental is being done on a dog. I turn to my left and look at the shelf beside me - everything from medical tools to tissues line the shelf, and I mentally run my hand over the objects that I see. A box of tissues, a jar of dog treats, a can of air freshener (this is probably the most useful tool there is), a red box that holds sanitary tools, some sticky-tape rollers used to get loose fur off of you or an animal, and a box that holds thermometers with some Vaseline to dip them in so they go into their... desired destination more easily. I briefly eye the next shelf, looking over things such as scissors, boxes and more cans relating to freshening and cleaning things, then turn my attention to the other side of the room again, where the nurse from before is carrying the cat into the other room.
I quietly follow her, and take a place at the side of the table so I can watch what is going on. Towels cover the table, so the cat does not have to sit on cold steel for what is about to happen. The nurse puts the cat on the table and holds it in place, and I stroke the top of its head, and its back, eventually full-on stroking the cat while we wait for another nurse to come into the room. The nurse in the room calls for another, and the called nurse comes in, restraining the cat from behind and lifting its head up so the first nurse can work with the cat more easily. Using a red squirt bottle, the nurse squirts some alcohol onto the cat's fur, then parts the fur as she feels around for a vein. With fluid motion, she pokes a needle through the skin, and draws a syringe's worth of blood from the cat. The moment she pulls the needle out, the other nurse applies pressure to where the needle was poked, and the first nurse fills two empty containers with the blood she drew, then takes them into another room.
I follow her into the lab, a room filled with intricate devices used for testing various levels about the blood - white blood cell count, things like that. She took the cap of one of the containers off and placed it in a device, and placed the other atop a shelf for later testing. I watched as a panel on the machine she'd placed the first container in flipped around, taking the container out of sight. She gave a quick 'Excuse me' as she passed me to leave the room, and I remained, staring at my surroundings and the machinery in the room silently.
The room was clustered, filled with papers, documents, machines, bottles, a chair, and a desk with everything from a computer to a cup of pens. I did not sit in the chair, as I felt I did not have permission to sit there. It is a silly thing to assume, yes, but I am silly like that- the chair was not mine, and it belonged to the nurses and doctors who worked there. I had no right - no responsibility - just like everything else there. I was a wanderer, doing nothing but watching and giving the most minor of aid to those who needed it. I was too shy to step up, too timid to really do anything... and it took all my courage and all my heart to tell myself to offer to help, to do whatever I could to make sure I was being helpful and contributing to the workplace - if not for me, if not for them, then for the animals who needed my help.

Blog #4

AMPERSAND IS COMING, AMPERSAND IS COMING!

Let's just hope it's not like the British!

My goals for Ampersand are to create a meaningful article that really strikes people as amazing and touches their hearts, and also to create a graphic (I hope to draw mine instead of use a photograph) that conveys what is going on in my writing very, very well. I also hope to help all I can when it comes to editing, since I ever do love to edit things so. It would also be cool if we could create something that's epically more epic than anything epic that has ever epically come to be epic. Yeah... just make it amazing.

Blog #3- Final Interview

Well, without further ado, here is my final interview.

You can click the image to see a bigger version of it, which should help you read the text.

Blog #2- Interview Opening

So here's what I've drafted out for the opening of my interview...

The room's temperature was hot, enough so that my jacket was tied around my waist, but this was most likely due to the bright lights that shone down on the operation table. Waiting patiently, I briefly reviewed the questions I was going to ask in my head. I did not have a paper to write it down with, nor did my mentor have the time to sit down and deal with my amateurish attempts to conduct a successful interview. So I had mentally come up with a compromise- casually ask him things I was curious about anyway while we were working, and then write down the answers I got when I had a little free time. Luckily for me, I have a good memory, so I was able to remember the answers that my mentor gave to me, and make a note of them to write them down later.

My mentor walked into the room; a tall man, hair covered by a blue cap he wore for sanitary purposes. A blue doctor's mask covering his mouth and nose, but you could still see his eyes through the glasses he wore. His body was covered by an aqua-green jacket, also for sanitary purposes, and his hands were covered by sterile gloves. He and I were accompanied by one of the nurses from the clinic, and I rested my hands on the side of the table, watching as he started work on the animal in front of him.

"So," I began, "What's the most interesting thing that you've encountered?"

SEMESTER 2, Blog #1

Interview #1- with Bill Watterson

Interview #2- with the President

I believe that a good interview is made by the mannerisms of the people involved. If either party is reluctant to carry out the interview, then the questions and answers will be improperly asked and answered, tones of voice will indicate irritation toward the other party, and generally things will not proceed well. It also helps to have someone you are comfortable with and who is comfortable with you, if at all possible. If you do, then things are a lot more casual and neither party will be nervous or stumble over their words, or fumble out an answer they didn't mean to say.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #THE FINAL

GUESS WHO'S RE-USING IMAGES!

But in all seriousness...

Doggies...
Kitties...

And this, a flier I made for the people of Bay Park Pet Clinic based on knowledge I gained while I was working at the clinic.

Reflection:
I would have to say the best learning experience I had was group experience. After all, work and school both revolve around working in a group, no matter where you are or what you're doing. To be a part of a group and learn the functions of group dynamics was definitely a positive experience for me, and it was certainly a lot of fun once I got the hang of speaking to everyone and being able to help out with everything. I also learned that I'm the type of person who likes to take an active role, as evidenced by the fact that I felt blank and useless when I was unable to do anything to help out around the clinic. I also felt at my best when I was actually doing things, and it made me feel happy and special that I was able to do something to help the people of the clinic, and in a way, help myself to feel good.

And with that, I bid you farewell from the world of internship. It seems like now we're going into the world of schooling again. Won't that be a fun experience?

INTERNSHIP BLOG #LATE AGAIN

So once again, I am restrained by my lack of ability to take photos. So, I decided to do something a little different...

This is a kind of short-comic illustration of things that happen every day I've gone to internship. Panel 1 is arrival, greeting the people at the front when I come in through the front door. After I clock in and put my stuff down, we reach panel 2, in which I've entered the back room and look up at the list of what animals are in house or what animals will be coming in, and what's going on with those animals (there was at least one dental every day, though). Panel 3 illustrates me keeping the (normally) sedated dogs company while they wait for whatever they're there for to start. Since I can't restrain the dogs while they're being pricked, I figure the least I can do is keep them company while everyone else is doing things like that. Panel 4 is actually not random - it's Rocko's Tacos! Rocket, or Rocko, is a parrot that lives in the clinic, and who we will interact with on a daily basis. He often tries to sneak into the room while we're working, too, even though he's not allowed to. Also, he mimics noises that happen around the office... so we'll randomly hear the phone ringing and it'll be him. And finally, panel 5 is what happens at the end... I say my goodbyes, clock out, and head on home.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP YESTERDAY

The Important Things...
#1- Observation
There is nothing more important than observing the people at the clinic do what they do. It is a way to learn without hindering the abilities of others, and if questions are asked the experience becomes all the more worthwhile. By observing, I am able to reach basic conclusions and understand what is going on without asking unnecessary questions that would get irritating and repetitive if I were to keep asking them whenever I wanted to know something I could learn just by watching.

#2- Conversation
When it comes to a workplace, conversation is key. It is needed to communicate what is going on from place to place, and it also helps for everyone to get to know each other. As someone who has trouble working in groups, I am finding the need for conversation to be something that has stimulated my mind and caused me to start adjusting to working with other people, as well as listen better and find appropriate times to make comments and react to situations.

#3- Assisting
The final, and my favorite, part is to be able to help. Whether it's just holding something in place for the doctor or getting supplies for people, it always makes me feel good when I can do something to help, and flat-out useless when I can't. To be able to help, to do something, for me, is the biggest accomplishment that I can make, and it makes me realize that you have to do something in order to be able to feel proud of yourself for it.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #INTERVIEW

Dr. Crosby Roper, V.M.D. C.V.A.

Bay Park Pet Clinic
1102 Morena Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92110-3809

Mentor Interview
Me: Why did you decide to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?
Dr. Roper: I had an epiphany when I was in 10th grade. I was walking home from school, and it just came to me. It may have to do with my having a friend who lived on a farm, and seeing a vet who came out there and did all kinds of cool things.
Me: Why did you decide to pursue veterinary acupuncture?
Dr. Roper: I was tired of throwing medicine at old dogs and it just not working. I would recommend that the owners take the dogs to see a vet who specialized in acupuncture up in Kengsington, and the people just loved it.
Me: Where did you work before you purchased Bay Park Pet Clinic?
Dr. Roper: I worked at the Cabrillo vet clinic, and I also did some on-call jobs before I bought Bay Park Pet Clinic.
Me: What is the most interesting thing you've encountered?
Dr. Roper: It just depends on what you're doing. Endoscopies are always interesting, since you never know what you'll find. One time, we had a kitten who had been chronically vomiting for six months, and we were about to put him down, but we decided to do an endoscopy, and we found a toy mouse caught in his small intestine.

INTERNSHIP BLOG THE WHATEVERTH

I'm seriously getting tired of titling these things.

My week was a lot of fun. There was a lot that happened; lump removals, x-rays, lots of animals, dentals... many things happened, but I think the greatest part of my week was being able to help. I got to hold doggie limbs in place for two lump removals, and I got to help get biopsies for a cat's endoscopy. It made me feel really special, like I had an active role, and it just made me really happy, like I was actually able to do something. Also, Darren stopped in on Friday, and it was nice to see him after being 'away' from school for so long. Here's to hoping I still remember how to do work once I go back...

...But definitely, the best part was helping. Definitely. =D

INTERNSHIP BLOG the 5622nd or something

Here's an image for you.
The clinic really is like a chaos field. There's so much going on... and yet, so little. It seems like one moment everyone's busy and the next we're chatting about movies and ex-boyfriends. Internship has really given me a feel for the way that people act around each other and their non-human companions. It has inspired me to try and spend a little more time with my own K-9 companion (when I am not busy with school!) and to put more effort into what I do - take a more active role, ask more questions, and generally ask if I can do anything to help. When I ask more questions and offer more help, I am generally a bigger help, and I learn more, as I have noticed with what has been going on. The first few days I was quiet and timid, and only kind of watched things, but lately I have been offering my help and people have been asking for it as well - I just need to work on being out of the way when people are trying to pass through an area and I should be fine!

A few possible questions I can ask Dr. Roper are...
->Why did you decide to pursue acupuncture?
->What inspired you to pursue a career in the veterinary field?
->Where did you work before you purchased Bay Park Pet Clinic?
->What has your most interesting experience working as a vet been?
And, as cheesy of a question as it may be...
->If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would that advice be?

I have also been casually asking him about other things, like his experience in vet school and what training was like, which gives me a bigger insight about what the field is like, since I myself have taken an interest in the field from working around the clinic. We also talk about other things, like the animals and how my own bighead is doing, and my family, too, since Dr. Roper is friends with my family.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #9001

This blog will be edited. The information is rough and needs more to be added. In other words, I was watching UP with my parents and totally forgot about this.

Some basic background information about Dr. Roper can actually be found here, on the Bay Park Pet Clinic website. To debrief what it says - Roper graduated in 1985 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He was a part of the Phi Zeta Honor Society. He moved to San Diego in 1989 and purchased Bay Park Pet Clinic in 1993. He got a certification for veterinary acupuncture in 1997.

Some information not on there- Roper is a kind individual who likes to make things personal. Cards are written when dogs pass away, letters are sent out informing people of special times of month (dental specials in January and February!), and he treats the owners of his patients as if they were friends, speaking to them from both a medical viewpoint and his own 'what would I do as an owner' viewpoint.

-More information will come later. For now, we can go with what's on here. I suppose some askable questions are things like 'What inspired you to move to San Diego?' or 'Why did you decide to pursue acupuncture?' Things like that.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #...5, I think

Project Description
Internship Site: Bay Park Pet Clinic
Department: Veterenary
Project Title: Observational Knowledge
General Description: Student will learn about the regular procedures, supplies, terms and knowledge surrounding the operations of a veterenary clinic.
Learning Objectives: Expand knowledge of regular operations and medical terms, as well as get a feel for the atmospheric pressure and general basis of applying knowledge of systematic terms to a real situation. Also, implementation of basic social communication skills, and ability to recognize the required processes of working in a medical enviornment.
Organizational Benifits: Another helping hand around the area; due to insurance and safety reasons this is limited to the retrieval of supplies, relaying of information, etc. I am not allowed to hold the animals while they are being poked with needles and the like in case they attack me.
Schedule: ...? While I'm there?
Academic Skills: Thinking and processing, the ability to retain knowledge and apply it to a real-world situation. Biology must be known in order to understand the basic workings of the workplace.
Technical Skills: ...?
Collab. Skills: Communication is a must! You have to be able to talk to the people there about different things, lest you lose track of important information.
Exhibition Plans: Display a presentation of what I know and have learned. Show pictures when applicable (privacy means not many).
Schedule/Timelines: ---

Week in Review
Monday/Tuesday: Absent; ill
The week itself was interesting. I saw everything from a doggie getting his back sewn up to a kitty with lupis to a doggie with diabetes to a K-9 root canal to doggie neuters and spays to an oral endoscopy! The oral endoscopy was probably the best part though; the dog had eaten a paper towel and some sort of round ball toy that we actually pulled out of his stomach! As the week progressed I started to become more useful, fetching supplies and getting things for nurses and doctors as they needed them. Working with others is really no problem for me, since the people there are very nice and friendly. I think the worst part, though, was having an old doggie move on to the other side... It was just very sad, and everyone was just... silent for a while, not really saying anything... Then we had to pick ourselves up and carry on with the day and the animals that were coming in. Today (yes, I worked on MLK day to make up for being sick on Monday and Tuesday) was also pretty interesting, and I got to see a kitten neuter (and the first pet freak out after anaesthetics), as well as the removal of a growth of fat under a dog's skin. Things were kinda slow today though, probably because of the rain.

Sorry this is late, I wanted to take today's events into consideration while writing it.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #4

In the interview I eventually have with my mentor or coworker, I would like to learn what caused him or her to pursue his/her field of work. I would also like to know what his/her most interesting experience working in their field is, and what the most challenging thing that he's had to do is. I'd also like to know about his/her past work life; whether he just opened the vet clinic or where he worked before he did, and how long he's been operating this clinic, etc.

Naturally, veterinary hours are hectic. You never know when there's going to be something going on - there are a lot of call-ins, and a lot of pets who have scheduled appointments. It would be best to speak to my mentor about what times he is available or not currently occupied, and if needs be, allow him to go back to whatever he was doing with his patients should the need arise. (after all, the pets are more important than my work.)

INTERNSHIP BLOG #3

Before I begin, I would like to formally apologize for not posting blog entries yesterday and the day before. I can assure you, though, that this has nothing to do with a lack of interest in posting them, or a lack of wanting to post them. I was unwell yesterday and the day before, unable to attend internship due to a doctor's appointment and a general state of unbeing. Thus, there was no way for me to gather sufficient information relating to any sort of material that would be presented in blog format. I will try to make up for it in any way I can, though.

(Tonight's entry is being done at 9:55 pm because I didn't get home until 6 and then was trying to relax after a long day, if you're wondering.)

Project ideas have been bounced around the workplace experimentally; but nothing has officially been settled on as of yet due to this only being my third day of working around the clinic. Our ideas mostly revolve around me watching the proceedures and getting a feel for how things work- naturally, however, this does not advance the needs of the workplace, as my ability to tell you that an ultrasound machine is used to collect urine samples, or that, when under effects of the anaesthetic, animals may need assistance breathing, or that a dog or cat's normal temperature is around 100 degrees farenheight does not at all benefit the workplace, except maybe by saving them a question in the future that I wouldn't be able to ask if I weren't interning there. Although, musing about these random facts I've learned has given me an idea- some sort of flyer that I could make, that would be at the clinic, and feature some things you should know when treating your pet at home. It could feature information I've learned, utilize design skills I've developed over the years, and potentially save the doctors and nurses a lot of stupid questions.

As far as materials go... A pencil, paper, a way to keep notes on what I learn (which I've found is quite easy to do on the iPod touch my brother gave me- no worries, I don't bring my headphones with me), and a computer- which I can work on mine at home for. I can make drafts of possible fliers and show them to the doctors and nurses and see what they think, then make the necessary revisions. It may not be effective for the current store, but they are probably going to be moving or opening a new shop soon, and it would definitely be helpful to new clients and new pet owners.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #2

Work at Bay Park Pet Clinic has definitely been an interesting experience so far. I am having a lot of fun, be it from watching the procedures and playing with the animals to chatting to the nurses and asking them and the doctors about how things work around the office. I have had a lot of interesting experiences there, including watching a dog get spayed! I am not allowed to take part in the procedures and I have to be extra-careful around the animals, though, since if I get hurt then I'm in for a lot of trouble. I have had plenty of fun just being around the area, though. I've also been able to retrieve things for some of the nurses when they need them, so hopefully I'll be able to help them when it comes to that regard in the future. I also feel like I get along well with the nurses, and while I do feel left out of their conversations about adult life sometimes, I can get a word in here and there and have a good laugh with them, which certainly makes it easier to be around the workplace (especially since I was nervous about interacting with the employees). When pets are brought in I tend to ask what they're in for unless it's already been asked by someone else, and I'll often wander around and watch things that are going on, and the doctors and nurses will explain what's going on upon being prompted, and sometimes on their own too. While I feel like my job isn't a big one, I do feel like I've had a lot of fun and if I make more of an effort I'll be able to do more to help out around the workplace.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #1

So far, internship has proved to be an exciting and wonderful experience. I have only had one day at my workplace, but I am already interested and involved in what is happening at the workplace. I will record a log of what happened throughout the day to provide better insight about my first day at internship.

Rising from bed was not a problem, as I woke up at 7 am, if only to go to the bathroom. The next few hours were spent interacting with my parents and getting ready for the day, gathering papers I would need and packing the camera in a bag which I decided to bring along, and also grabbing a notebook which I could use to take notes, not to mention a lunch. We set out for Bay Park Pet Clinic at around 9:40 am, since my work hours will be from 10 - 4, as that is when everything tends to happen around the clinic, according to my mentor.

We arrived at the clinic a little after 10, and my dad saw it fit to take a picture of me outside the clinic.
As you can see, I was relatively overdressed... I personally blame our teachers, as they told us to overdress for the occasion. The entry to the clinic is behind that white fence you see me in front of, through glass doors that only human hands are able to open (fortunately). The doors are mostly window, so you can also see what kind of critters are inside the office before you bring your shy, timid pet that hides at the sight of another animal into the office.

My father and I entered the building, and I greeted Amber the receptionist. She brought me back and let me put my things down, then led me to the back room where the examinations and operations are done. The room itself looked something like this from the back corner.

The door on the left is how you enter and exit the room; the shelf contains some medications and some other random supplies, like tissues and febreeze (the most important supply). Calendars, pictures, and drinks also decorated this wall, as well as a few muzzles and other doggie and kitty supplies.
There were also a few... interesting things around the area, which were quite hilarious to look at. I got the feeling that I would fit right in with these crazy people, especially if they're messing with each other in ways like this. Everyone was very friendly, and helped me get into the flow of things, and didn't mind when I asked questions about what was going on.
I was also given knowledge I had at that point already gathered - my attire was not very appropriate for veterinary work. Jeans and a tee shirt would work fine. I laughed and told them that I had figured as much, and I would dress better when I returned on Friday. Most of the people wore scrubs but they said it was okay if I didn't wear one - after all, I wasn't actually a doctor or a nurse there, and wearing them might confuse the people around me.

The day mostly consisted of me shadowing people, following them around and getting a feel for the kinds of things that would be happening around the clinic. I saw all sorts of things, from X-Rays to Cyst removal to dental cleanings, to even seeing a poor doggie who had been bitten getting stitches. I was not allowed to take pictures of the animals but I was allowed to take pictures of the scenery, so I took some pictures of the area where some of these tasks are done, and one of the cages that the smaller animals are held in (when not being worked on).

The top image is one of the operational rooms - the main room also has a table that is worked on, and a lot of work is done on the floor for bigger dogs, but little mister 'I got bitten' got stitches on that table. There's all sorts of medical supplies in this room, and through the glass is the X-Ray room, where x-rays of the animals are taken to get a better look at their insides. The above cage is where one of the kitties there for dental was being kept, while he was getting his dental cleaning done. There's a paper litterbox and a water bowl, as well as a towel for the kitty or doggie to lay on to keep comfy.

The pictures above are from the blood sampling room, and a computer with pet records is also in this room - then again, there seems to be one of those in every room! The walls were lined with papers and more often than not, someone was in here doing something important. I got lucky and was able to sneak in and take a few pictures during a slow point in the day. It seemed like there were either a bunch of pets that needed to be taken care of at once, or there was nothing to go around and everyone was free to just converse with one another.

Most of these conversations are about either the ladies' lives or the events going on. One of the conversations slipped into money matters, and listening in helped me understand how economics and the recession has affected the clinic. They're a popular clinic, so it seems at first as if they wouldn't be affected, but there were some animals who were brought in a few days after something happened- one dog was brought in three days after he ate a flea soap bar! Prices of medication also tend to go up, at least on a yearly basis. One patient was complaining that the price of medication had gone up since the last payment, which is understandable, especially in a business involving medicine, which has been affected by the recession and economic crisis.

Lunch was a little confusing. It's not so much 'Lunch' so much as 'Okay, so take a break sometime and eat something.' I ended up eating when there were no pets that needed work so I wouldn't be caught off guard by some animal who wanted my lunch. Naturally, I'll have to bring my lunch each day due to dietary needs, but at least I'll constantly be around if I'm needed for something. I also didn't mind eating late, even if it was about two or so hours after I'm used to eating and I was getting awfully hungry.

The day was eventful, but mellow at the same time. I must say that I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of my time working there.

And remember...

WALL MOUSE PLUSHIE IS WATCHING YOU.