An Unacceptable Practice for an Unacceptable World

I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men coughing out their gassed lungs. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed. I have seen two hundred limping exhausted men come out of line-the survivors of a regiment of one thousand that went forward forty-eight hours before. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war.

~Franklin Delano Roosevelt

War is not and never will be acceptable.

War is not and never will be a productive manner of eliminating one's enemies, nor aiding one's friends.

But take a look at the world around you. How many unacceptable occurrences do you see or hear about on a daily basis? How many more must there be that go unmentioned in our insulated living rooms? How many of us understand the rabid anger and hate that put the bullet in Moammar Gadhafi's head, or the despair that plagues Darfur day and night?

We don't. So how must we as out-of-touch onlookers react? Which wars do we condone and in which do we intervene?
Right now that is a question of the utmost subjectivity. So to speak in absolutes would be ignorant and disrespectful. I have to make clear that from here on out, I will only state my opinion, and I don't want to insult anyone directly.

The world is painfully progressing through a transition that began centuries ago, when the first common people shook the wool from their eyes and began demanding rights and respect. Of this kind of upheaval we are all well aware; after repeatedly bubbling from the depths of the European population, it manifested in America as the Revolutionary War. Before and since then, millions have died in the name of this political crown jewel: democracy.

Democracy is something worth fighting for. Because the conditions preceding democracy often dwarf the losses in the ensuing war for freedom. Because many prefer enduring a bloody war than living another day under totalitarian domination. Consider the conditions in Iraq before Saddam Hussein's expulsion. Though millions have died since then, the numbers pail in comparison to Saddam's organized extermination of entire races of people, very much similar to the Nazis' but with all the efficiency of 21st century technology.

The struggle for democracy is a war I condone. A country like the United States should enter and exit these conflicts as cleanly and efficiently as possible, as NATO did in Libya. Find the despot, destroy his regime, and make sure a stable government replaces him.

But consider all the wars that occur for reasons outside that realm. At first it seems overwhelming to try to categorize them, with all their disparate parties and ideals. But when you look at the core of the conflict, there is always a common theme. They either result from cultures clashing over religious or ethnic differences (Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Congolese genocide, Sunnis vs. Shiites in Iraq) or from economic/political rivalries and alliances (WWI, most of WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War.)

I definitely can't condone these wars. So what should the United States do to help prevent them, and end those already happening? Can the U.S. afford to help, and should it even if it can?

No entangling alliances should propel us into a war. Therefore, we should not make alliances.

No preference for a certain ethnicity or religion should propel us into a war. Instead we should offer refuge to any people, and offer it as close to their home as possible.

No war should be fought for economic purposes. We, an economic superpower, should instead use our and the U.N.'s power to boycott, embargo, and overpower economic practices we find disagreeable.

I believe our policy should be simple and all-inclusive:

The United States should only engage in military action if there is an imminent threat to our survival as a nation, or a threat to the survival of a people struggling for democracy under a totalitarian regime. If we do seek to aid another country, we must have the support of other countries in the United Nations.

"War does not determine who is right, only who is left."

~Bertrand Russell


Never should there be an instance where war is the only option. Never should we resort to expressing malevolence through organized murder. But as we all know, we cannot always rectify situations peacefully.

There is only a time for war when:

a. There is something worth fighting for, and
b. When the opposing force is unwilling to negotiate.

When placed into a situation in which immediate action must be taken (i.e. genocide, terrorist attacks) what can be made of peaceful diplomacy? Not much. It simply wouldn’t be effective. To halt such a ruthless, cataclysmic upheaval of order and security, a threatening response is the only option.

Two members of the same species slaughtering one another for power, wealth, religion, or material gain is not, and never will be, morally correct. However, it could very well be the right thing to do when the consequences would have otherwise been catastrophic. “War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children.”(Jimmy Carter- 2002)

Nations have the responsibility to go to war only when they bind themselves to entangling alliances, or when they must defend those struggling nations that are fighting for the very same thing another nation endorses. Obviously, the latter can have both positive and negative consequences. A nation staging a revolutionary move for independence, for example, deserves help (by any means necessary) from other democratic nations. On the other hand, despotic regimes with intentions to preserve communism may fight in opposition to save their government. This is still their obligation.

A nation might also undertake the occupation of war when they are in times of inconceivable suffering. Sometimes the only way to survive is through violence.

There are always alternatives to mindless bloodshed. However, as previously stated, a passive response may not always thwart violence of immense proportions. The most effective tactic would be to use large, powerful nations as leverage to intimidate smaller unruly governments. Established power seems to be the one of the few ways to snuff out international tensions.

"As Long as There Are Two People Left on the Earth, Somebody is Gonna Want Somebody Dead"

War is, simply put, two sides fighting for what they want to achieve. Whether we think of Hitler's planting of Nazi flags over the greater half of Europe or Bush ordering a chorus of $300,000 missiles into a cave full of Muslim extremists in the Middle East, war is war. The question is, of the many wars fought throughout this centuries of human history, was every one needed?

Where would each of the sides have been if they hadn't been pumping resources into killing each other? If that money had been spent on their own country, what advancements would we have and what problems would we solve by loading soup kitchens with food instead of Chinooks with armed troops? Who would have been alive if they weren't sent to die for their country, and what would he/she have done with his life if it didn't end fighting in a war? These are all questions we can ask, but never answer.
War is a way of life and has been as long as the pen and paper can stretch back. We were throwing sticks and rocks and arrows at each other when all we had were sticks and rocks and arrows, and now we're throwing bombs the size of a Volkswagon into caves because two countries disagree. Wars have stretched over the world and consumed the innocent and young alike, the Earth under bustling cities lacerated by the things we throw and launch and shoot at people we don't like.
Still, we have to remember that not all wars are as simple as "I don't like you and you don't like me". Genocidal fiends rise to power, as not every government is as benevolent and fair as ours. All these evils and unfairnesses in mind, we can't just label war as killing and thus assume it can be done without as killing can be done without. People die and new ones replace them, reigns end, and conflicts smooth over as a war progresses. Does that mean every military victory is a step closer to world peace? No. However, we have to appreciate the value of force in some scenarios. Unless you plan on personally reasoning with the people we're sending helicopters full of troops to pacify, it would be best for you, as a constituent of the country the warmongers keep secure, to not devalue the necessity of war. Remember, if we didn't enter a war 50 years ago, "Nazi" might still be a household word, and if we didn't start one 250 years ago, we'd probably still be British.

WAR!!!

Yes, there is a time for war, but only a specific time. It is not morally just to go and kill people in honor of your country. We are all human beings and should not be killing each other at all. There ARE certain times when a country has a responsibility of fighting in a war and that is only when another country or nation declares war with that nation. The country shouldn't jump into it immediately, but rather try to propose some rationale ideas such as trying to fix problems in a passive manner. If the nation then threatens the country and its innocent citizens and refuses all other solution ideas, the country should protect its innocent citizens by fighting with the other country by means of war. I believe that talking in a passive way would be more effective and more morally just, but that brilliant method does not always work out and appeal to all parties of the pending problem.

No to war

I believe there is no time for war, but I do believe in self defense. There are not many circumstances that can not be mediated peacefully. I do not believing in taking lives of soldiers; the politicians that declare war do not suffer many consequences of the battle field. Young men go over seas and are forced to kill opposing soldiers that may not necessarily believe in the "bad" cause. By killing these men, relatives such as mothers, wives and children are left in mourning. Going to war does not just have economical and death side effects within a country, but it hurts the entire world. The global economy is interdependent, and a bombing on a car manufacturing plant in China has the potential to sky rocket the cost of cars. High costs are not taken well in many economies.
Diplomacy and agreements are more respectable than war. If the other country does not wish to be peaceful, then our country should astrange the opponent in ways such as embargo. The country may initiate aggressive attacks. Ofcourse, there is a need for defense. An enemy should be fought off and high security measures should be put in place, but there is no need to stage acts of retaliation. As a Christian nation, The US believes in forgiveness. We should not have the eye for an eye mentality. It is only a country's responsibility to protect the lives of its own citizens, so war is negative in any case. Not going to war could make a country look week, but would uphold moral standards, so it is the better alternative.

Yes to War

I believe in war and think that it is necessary but I go towards the path of the George Washington Isolation no entangling alliences. I don't think that we should be looking for trouble, but if we are attacked ie Pearl Harbor and nine eleven. We should and will fight back. An eye for an eye. I don't believe that war is the lesser of the two evils. I think that War is a mature way of telling a country we don't like you for an extraneous reason and were not going to do something sneaky about it were going to declare war. This is what the US did after nine eleven. I would have supported but not necessarily liked it if we hit them with a cheap shot back. Instead we declared war, which is what we had to do. The fact of the matter is men have fought for years. It has become more sophisticated as we have progressed through the years and will continue to do so but there has always been war and there always will be and I agree with it.

Fears- The dark and scary movies

Annoyances- Ignorance

Accomplishments- Soccer Stuff

Confusions- Women

Sorrows- My dog that died this summer

Dreams- My dreams are CRAZY

Idiosyncrasies- Procrastination

Risks-I like to gamble

Beloved Possessions Now: My car

Then: My stuffed animal named Happy Bear

Problems: I try to keep them to my self. No one wants to hear other peoples problems

One of my life style choices or idiosyncrasies is procrastination. There are pros and cons to this lifestyle, but it is a lifestyle that I have chosen and take responsibility for. For me procrastination is a good thing. I would be lost with out it. One thing you need to know about me is I thrive in pressure situations where my backs against the wall and it's do or die. This embodies the procrastination experience. For me Studying at the last minute or only for ten minutes gives me a sense of urgency that I can't get at any other time. For me my brain clicks this way. Yes I might lose some sleep over it cause I usually drink cafine like mountain dew which is my fuel for a long night of procrastination, but for me the living on the edge as to where you might tip off keeps me on my toes. If I had to much time or did things in advance I would become complacent. The ideal night for me is busy I have a soccer game and too much homework. This is when I am the most motivated to do my work. There has only been one time where procrastination has failed me and that will be a one time deal.

Writing Territories

Fears: All insects, Being buried alive

Annoyances: People drinking from my glass/eating off my plate, People from the North telling me that I pronounce Louisville and Versailles wrong

Accomplishments: Making it to Junior year of high school.

Confusions: English class

Sorrows: When the OC ended

Dreams: Skydiving

Idiosyncrasies: My food can't touch

Risks: Swimming with Sharks

Beloved Possessions: My kitten, Buddha

Problems: Spelling, Procrastination

A few years ago my friend Anya and I were in the Bahamas over Winter Break. It was a rainy day so we decided to stay indoors and watch The 100 Worst Ways to Die. Being buried alive was top 10 if I remember correctly. The show told a story of a girl around my age being kidnapped and buried alive in a grave yard. Not only do you suffocate, but it crushes you and is extremely claustrophobic. Ever since I watched this, being buried alive has always been one of my greatest fears.

Fears...Due 9 hours ago

Fears
the dark
snakes
spiders
heights
the bottom of murky lakes
car wrecks
clowns
doctors
my mom
forgetting homework

Have you ever swam in a shallow, dark lake? Well, I live on a lake so I do quite often. The dark, foggy nights evoke memories of my grandfather's stories about mysterious creatures. Lake Cumberland is rumored to hold 200 lb catfish and alligators. I only fear what I do not know, so the bottom of a murky lake is a logical fear for me. When I swim, I avoid touching the bottom so i do not get eaten by an alligator. I am afraid of what I do not know.

Assignment 9: What is it good for?

Genocide in Sudan

North Korea testing nuclear weapons

Iran creating nuclear weapons

Terrorism

Injustices and threats surround so many lives in this world. When injustices or threats progress to dangerous and harmful levels though, it seems logical for war to come into play as a way to combat the situation....maybe.

Is there a time for war?

If there is a time, is it morally right and just or is is it the lesser of two evils?

If there isn't a time, why not?

Are there certain times when countries have a responsibility to go to war?

Are there any alternatives? Could they be more effective or less effective?

Due Sunday, October 23 at 11:59 pm

My Own Personal Writing Territories....

Writing Territories:

Heights

Sagging pants

State JCL Officer

Politics

AP Classes

Medical school

Left-handedness

Driving

Pocketwatch (given to me by my grandfather)

Completing all hmwk assignments (only sometimes!)

#9 (beloved possessions):

On the Christmas of 2004, when I was nine years old, I got something that I hold near and dear to my heart even now. Some would say it's silly, but one of my prized possessions is a golden pocket watch that I got from my grandfather as a late Christmas present when I was nine years old.

Think about it: you're not even in the double-digit age group yet. You go to your grandparents' house for Christmas and you expect the generic "clothes and money" routine. But when you open one of the packages, handed to you specially by your grandfather, you find a beautiful, golden pocket watch inside. Quite unusual but meaningful all the same.

He had gotten this unique present for me as a result of him showing me his own. He had gotten his pocket watch (a much more "loved" silver one) from his father, who had received it as a reward from his father for taking his medicine. Seems silly, huh? Not to me.

This pocket watch, in fact, means so much to me that this week, from the 20th to the 23rd of October, I will be using it in the Henry Clay Theater Department's Production of "Six Characters in Search of an Author". How's that for unique?

Territories

Writing Territories

Fears

Annoyances

Accomplishments

Confusions

Sorrows

Dreams

Idiosyncrasies

Risks

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then

Problems

My List:

Spiders

Hypocrisy

Caught 'em all

Rude people

Failures

Success

Collector

Procrastination

Figuarts / Stuffed dog

Procrastination 

In life, i believe that logic is one of the more important things. It's what allows us to be effective and do things well. Hypocrisy is just against all logic. Screaming at someone for doing something, and turning around and doing it is horrid. There's no reason to it, it just reeks of idiocy, and idiocy is bad. One should always focus on making sense and doing the right thing, hypocrisy flies in the face of both of those ideals.

Sucking Sucks

Writing Territories

Fears- Spiders

Annoyances- Stupid people

Accomplishments- I can play the drums

Confusions- Nickelback and Kid Rock’s success

Sorrows- Not doing the best that I can in some activity

Dreams- Marching DCI on snare drum

Idiosyncrasies- I get stir crazy often, cannot take naps

Risks- poker

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then- my drumset

Problems- Procrastination

The feeling that accompanies underachievement is bad enough, but when you chose not to try your best, that feeling is turned up to eleven. I am talking about any time in my life where I feel that I was either unprepared or just lazy; whether it is in a school project, musical performance, or any other individual work. This feeling stems from my constant desire to not suck at things, and when I do, I get frustrated with myself. This also goes hand in hand with my listed idiosyncrasy; I don’t like to sit still when there is work to be done. I am too afraid of failing to take a long period of time off of practicing.

*Get home at 11:00* Oh crap, the blog is due.

Fears: Forgetting something I was supposed to remember (probably one of my worst qualities).

Annoyances: People who act overly dramatic/romantic on Facebook.

Accomplishments: Being Mr. Holloway's favorite student of all years last year (Go Rick!)

Confusions: When teachers use words like idiosyncrasy (Time to Google it!)

Sorrows: That I didn't try harder in chemistry last year...

Dreams: To become an engineer or computer programmer.

Idiosyncrasies: I'm left handed and eyed, but write with my right.

Risks: When I procrastinate too long (which is all the time)

Beloved possessions, now: My car

Beloved possessions, then: My favorite jacket

Idiosyncrasies (cont): I've always been weird with my hands, because I throw, catch, arm wrestle, shoot, push/pull, throw darts, and almost anything else left handed, but I can't write with my left hand any better than other people can. It's kind of funny because I get asked a lot about it when I write if its someone I've ever thrown ball with, etc.

One problem I had up until about a year ago was that when tying my shoe, I'd do the first loopy part before you make the bow the way a left handed person would, but then tie the bow regularly (or maybe it was the other way around). This would make my shoelaces lopsided and pretty much vertical to my shoe, whether it was tennis shoes, dress shoes, etc. One day, I thought to try it by starting the bow the opposite way, and I got a perfect knot.

If you don't believe me, try tying you're shoes normally, except first with the first under-over being in the opposite direction. Take a good look at that knot, and that's the sad, upside-down knot that was on both of my shoes for the past decade until a few weeks ago.

I have calluses from card shuffling.

Writing Territories
Fears – My grandmother’s health
Annoyances – Computer Illiteracy
Accomplishments – Schoolwork (?)
Confusions – Where all my time goes
Sorrows – Mistakes (Hello, conformity)
Dreams – Becoming a Polymath, getting a 100% on the physics web homework
Idiosyncrasies – Fidgeting with things in my hands, popping joints
Risks – Straws and pointy objects near my eyes
Beloved Possessions, Now and Then – My computer, a stuffed shark
Problems – trying to focus on learning one subject at once

Right now, as I’m typing this, I’m also shuffling a deck of cards. I don’t know why, but it’s one of the various things that I do with my hands constantly. It’s not something that I do whenever I feel like it, I just do it randomly. It started a few months ago, when I learned how to shuffle cards (yes, I know, it’s a bit late). Since then, it had essentially devolved from practicing to a bad habit. On a scale of one to ten on the annoyance factor, my family has pretty much agreed that it’s about an eight or nine. Even without any decks of cards to shuffle, anything that happens to be in my hand – a pencil, calculator, or phone – I’m either constantly messing with it or just spinning it around in my hands.

I also compulsively “pop” my joints. It originally started with popping the right side of my jaw, but that was bad for my teeth’s alignment, so I stopped that while getting braces. It’s not as annoying as card shuffling, but some people are less tolerant of the sounds that popping joints make. I don’t know why, but popping joints relieves the stiffness in my body. It was almost a process, starting from popping my fingers to popping my sternum. I know there are studies showing that it’s potentially harmful in the long run, but I’ll just have to deal with it later.

…I really should stop shuffling these cards.

Fears - jelly fish

Annoyances - commonly misused words

Accomplishments - Philmont

Confusions - religion

Sorrows - getting a call or a text four hours after it was sent

Dreams - Jamming with a famous musician

Idiosyncrasies - re-checking the clock because i didn't actually read it *EVERY SINGLE TIME*

Risks - via ferrada

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then - my guitar

Problems - forget sleep. I'm going to stay up all night on the internet again.

No matter whom it is that I tell, they don't get it, at least initially. "They're just so cute," they tell me, "most of them don't even sting." They ask if I had some sort of bad experience; I haven't. What I tell them about instead is one of my worst nightmares:

Imagine that you're a perfectly healthy fish, just swimming around, or maybe you're just a homunculus out to the beach in his tiny swimsuit or something, I don't care. As you submerge and the sea water clouds your eyes, you catch a vaguely shaped mass out of the corner of your eye. Seconds pass before you realize that you are entangled in the limp and fleshy tendrils of a jelly fish. You struggle but to no avail. Of course the jelly fish doesn't care, it can't even think, and that's the horrible beauty of the "animal." Since the beginning of multicellular life, the medusa has been a mindless eating machine. That's all it does. It cant think or feel or care. It has only the capacity to blindly consume all that it touches, and it excels at and one which you seem to be caught up in. As you are drawn into it's translucent digestive cavities, your last view is that of a claustrophobia inducing flesh pouch with no hope of escape. Then you die.

Although I know that will never happen to me, the fact that it happens at all is enough to give me the willies. That's my only real irrational fear, but it's a fairly pathetic one.

My Writing Territories

Fears: Being kidnapped (I blame the movie Taken)

Annoyances: People who constantly change

Accomplishments: Hiking the Blueberry Trail

Confusions: Toddlers and Tiaras

Sorrows: This past summer

Dreams: Travel around country & world

Idiosyncrasies: Procrastination

Risks: Breaking the rules

Beloved possessions, now and then: Family photo albums, harbor seal

Problems: Playing piano

Even though I have been playing piano since the age of four, I am still not very good at it. It frustrates me on pretty much a weekly basis because no matter how hard I try, I never seem to get any better at it. You would think that by now I would have quit, but this is one of those things that I’m determined to learn. I know if I quit now, I will be disappointed with myself later. My grandfather used to play with me when I was really young, but when I was six, he passed away and some part of me felt like I had to continue playing to keep the tradition going. Even though that was 10 years ago this month, it still is very important to me to continue improving my skills. Here is the problem: something with the whole right and left hands working independently at different speeds and melodies has never really come easy for me. I am right-handed, but my teacher claims I play like a left-handed player. However, the worst part of this problem is when you see a kid half your age play something you’ve been working on with no problems. Normally, I would say that it’s my teacher’s fault for not pushing me to improve (which is partially true), but the majority of the problem has come from my lack of real commitment to practicing. I just get so busy during the week that practicing piano takes a back seat to other priorities. The one saving quality of my piano lessons is the amount of music theory and history that I know. I would probably be a better composer than performer. Also, my knowledge of the piano has helped me immensely in orchestra when playing the violin. I’m thankful that my parents have encouraged me to keep playing over the years; I just wish I was better at it than I am.

Writing Territories

Fears: Really deep water

Annoyances: Twitter spam

Accomplishments: State championship

Confusions: NBA and NFL Lockouts

Sorrows: Losing

Dreams: Have enough money that buying stuff becomes a second thought

Idiosyncrasies: Checking the time

Risks: White water rafting

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: my laptop

Problems: Forgetting small things

Fears: I didn't figure out this fear until this last summer when I was in the florida keys on vacation. My family and I are decided to mix things up and go snuba diving- a mix between snorkeling and scuba diving. We werent experienced enough to go scuba diving so we settled for this which we though would be the next best thing. I however had no experience in the open ocean and didn't know what to expect. So it was something completely new to me to get in the water and look down and not be able to see the bottom. I dont think anything has unnerved me quit as much as that moment of jumping in the water and looking down. Im not sure what it was, maybe it was the fact that im not the best swimmer or maybe it was my imagination that was telling me something bigger then me is probably swimming just beyond my vision. Either way it scared me and made my self promise never to get out of the boat again unless i could see the bottom.

Memories

Writing Territories
Fears: dieing alone
Annoyances: chipped nail polish
Accomplishments: recovery from ACL surgery
Confusions: 2012
Sorrows: grandfather
Dreams: cliché but to change the world
Idiosyncrasies: painting my nails
Risks: swimming with sharks
Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: keep-sake boxes
Problems: being forgetful

As soon as I was born my mother began collecting cards and other objects for me to remind me of my childhood. She then put these items ins box. As I got older the box became fuller and fuller; however, I was able to fill mu first box with about 10 years worth of memories. When I turned about 4 or 5 my mom allowed me to take charge of my keep-sake boxes and ensuring that the items I wanted in there made it safely to the box. About once a month or so I would sit down on my bedroom floor and empty out the box and thoroughly go through it. I read every card and looked at every picture. I was able to see and remember people that I hadn't seen in years. Looking through this silly box brought me so much joy and made me feel very grown up. However, after those ten years I had to start a new box. Thia actually really upset me. I wasn't happy to leave those memories and begin filling a different box with new ones: but I did of course. This box is filling slower than the first one but that is because my extended family send less cards and now all of my pictures are documented and kept safe online or on my computer. There is no need for me to print out these pictures when they are electronically saved.in multiple locations. Even though looking threw my keep-sake boxes.m aren't as big of a deal as they used to be it still is something I like to have and hold onto for many years to come.

Writing Territories

Writing Territories

Fears- Spiders, falling from immeasurable height with no parachute

Annoyances- Unfounded criticism, vocal auto-tuning

Accomplishments- Top 20 tennis ranking in Kentucky

Confusions- literary merit of Charles Dickinson (his excessive description debases his effectiveness)

Sorrows- Homework (yes this goes under sorrows, not annoyances)

Dreams- Successful Rock Band

Idiosyncrasies- Scratching my head, table tapping

Risks- Snowboarding

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then- my guitar

Problems- Procrastination

I have never really had any beloved possesions. I never had a favorite toy, stuffed animal, or whatever. However, about four years ago I received my Fender Stratocaster. This is the only item I would consider beloved, because I play it almost every day. Before my guitar I had no beloved possessions. I would go through ephemeral phases in which maybe my gameboy was a beloved possession. But I have moved past those mindless enterprises. My guitar is a standard fender strat, 1965 specs, tremolo system, sunburst body, u shaped neck, white pick guard, truss rod adjustment, two tone knobs, one volume knob, five way pick up system, 1/4 inch jack, 21 frets, maple neck, no rosewood fingerboard, sleek gloss finish, slight wear from playing above the pick guard and 11 guage strings. I think that my thorough description has demonstrated why my guitar is my beloved possession. I couldn'y tell you all that about a gameboy.

Writing Territories

Fear: Death

Annoyance: Cocky people

Accomplishment: Good driver

Confusion: Stupid people

Sorrow: Looking up the word Idiosyncrasies

Dream: Become a lawyer

Idiosyncrasy: Taking naps

Risk: swam level 5 (highest) rapids

Beloved Possession, Now and Then: Lacrosse stick "Nicole"

Problem: Procrastination

I have a terrible case of procrastination, even this blog post proves that it is true, because I waited until the last day to do a simple assignment. Now this may be something that all high school teenagers do, but still I feel like I have this problem way too much. Almost every large project that I am assigned ends up being down the day before or if I am feeling like a good student then two days before it is due. One example of this would be my AP US History binder, now this doesn't seem like a huge deal, but saving all of the work he gives us over time starts to add up and really become a pain. I know that if I could possibly get better and start doing homework and projects on time my life would be much better, and my grades would increase significantly; however, that is only a hope.

Writting Territories

Fear-Those white pedo-vans that sell ice cream in my neighborhood.

Annoyances-Socks

Accomplishments- I am the funniest yet not really funny just kind of weird person I know.

Confusions-Grilled cheese with grape jelly ( so gross, yet so good)

Sorrows-UK Football 2011

Dreams-Live in New Zealand

Idiosyncrasies-Wearing a toboggan regardless of the weather

Risk-Forgetting what is microwaveable

Beloved Possesions-My blanket ( I am so ashamed.)

Problems-Knowing when to let something go.

In fourth grade I got pretty sick. To cut a long story short, we need certain bacteria in our stomach and I didn't have that. As a result, I missed quite a bit of school. On one such day, I was laying on a couch in my basement. It was about eight- twentish and I was definitely not going to school because I had been up all night. I was in the awful situation of being exhausted yet not being able to fall asleep. At this point my mom brings down this cover. It was a thick, sprawling mass of white cloth with periwinkle stripes. And the best part, she had just run it through the dryer so when she put it on me, every muscle in my body left my control and moved to curl up in it. Within twenty seconds I was asleep. When I awoke that evening, I felt completely rejuvenated.

From that point on, that was my primary cover. Every night, no matter what is happening or where I live, this cover is with me. It sound silly to me as I write this, but this cover is one of the only things that has constantly been with me for the past seven years. I think that sometimes we take for granted those things that are important to us because they are always there. But nothing is forever and I am quite aware looking at it now that it doesn't have much left to it. When it does finally become unusable, I think I'll be kind of sad. Don't get me wrong, I wont be devastated to the point of a lost loved one, but it will be strange. I have used it through five houses, three schools, two presidents, basically a long freaking time. I find it funny that something so seemingly unimportant makes me feel so much, but I guess that is in a way applicable to all facets of our lives.

I chose the subject

Fears- cockroaches

Annoyances- disrespect

Accomplishments- being a decent musician

Confusions- why NASCAR is exciting

Sorrows- always breaking music playing devices or earphones

Dreams- makin' the money

Idiosyncrasies- constantly adjusting my body positioning to get comfortable

Risks- does ziplining around Jamaican rivers count?

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then- soap, keeps me clean

Problems- a lot

When I see one of these little buggers I flip out. Whether it's on TV or I actually see one cockroaches are the one thing on the planet I wish I could destroy. Although I have not seen one in years I absolutely despise cockroaches. Why? Because they usually come in numbers and scuttle around trying to confuse people by dashing in circles or no particular direction. If I was in the third harry potter movie my worst nightmare would come out of that closet as thousands of cockroaches. If I was offered to either step on a cockroach or hit it with a newspaper I would shoot it with a gun; that is how much I hate them. Other bugs/pests don't nearly bother me as much as cockroaches. Put me near a bunch of spiders or a cannibalistic rats or a man eating cheetah before putting me near these little bugs. All cockroaches do is screw up your living environment. Another thing that irks me is their horrible hiding capabilities. They hide in shadows and think they're all sneaky and hot stuff but we're not idiots. If they didn't have like 500 babies in a week or so they'd just all die out. Lastly before I stop this rant, remember the little cockroach that was Wall-E's little buddy? I really hope there was an alternate ending where he dies a painful, miserable life.

If you're a human then chances are I don't like you

Fears: Cicadas

Annoyances: Most people

Accomplishments: Being alive?? I can't think of a good one

Confusions: why my computer spontaneously decides to break; what makes cheese its so addicting

Sorrows: not as many people in texas wore cowboy hats as i thought

Dreams: live some where exotic for at least a year

Idiosyncrasies: brushing my teeth in the shower, taking 2 showers a day, taking naps

Risks: going to spain for over a month by myself

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: my phone, my yamakah (sp?) from my bar mitzvah, my watch from my bar mitzvah

Problems: over-scheduling myself, being nice/polite to people i really dislike

Okay the title's a little extreme, but although I may not show it, I am way too over-critical of almost everyone and that in turn really affects my opinion of people. Everything from the way someone dresses to the way they carry themself I over analyze everything to the point that I make implications about one's personality from simple/stupid observations such as the way they say "hello." For instance, if you were to pronounce the beginning "he" a lot more heavily than the "ello" I would say that you are outgoing, confident, almost to the point of arrogance, and had a somewhat high opinion of yourself that often times would draw people to want to be your friend. You are less insecure than most of your peers, however that would be more of an image that you wanted people to see than an actual mindset. It's stuff like this that has become such a problem for me that I see people in a different, often times worse, light and therefore judge them based off of it. So don't take it personal if i say i don't like you, it's probably more my problem than yours anyways

Germany United: October 3rd; Better Late than Never

On the morning of October 2nd, 1990 East Germany and West Germany woke as separate countries for the final time. Tomorrow they would be united. The Berlin Wall would fall to mark the event, and Germans would come together to commence a new future of peace and prosperity together. This day taught us a lot; regardless of differences, politically, economically, and judicially, country men were always country men and they would always share that between each other. They would always be German, born and raised, and it didn't matter if they came from the West side of Berlin or the East, they would always have a common nationality and history to bond them to each other.

Furthermore, this event marked the beginning of the end for Russian spheres of influence across the globe. Good, the democracy, had finally triumphed over the bad, oppressive regimes the communist Soviets had created. It was the light at the end of the tunnel that signaled a new era of peace for millions of people across the globe. This single event reunited families; brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, fathers and sons, and therefore laid the foundation for a prosperous future as a democratic nation that would lead all of Europe through good times and bad.

Numero Ocho

Fear- getting too close to wild animals (i.e. bears and mountain lions)

Annoyances- when people never mow their lawns

Accomplishments- reading a whole dictionary once (not that i remember any of it)

Confusions- why people are so mean to each other

Sorrows- when i waste time watching television

Dreams- to become a astrophysicist

Idiosyncrasies- picking at my fingers and counting things (somewhat obsessively)

Risks- skydiving

Beloved possessions, Now and then- a stuffed mouse

Problems- procrastinating too much, and being a hypocrite

ever since a was a little boy i wanted to be a gastroenterologist just like my family (thats a gut doctor). my mom and uncle are gastroenterologists, and when they scope people it seemed like they were playing video games, which is amusing to small children. recently though i have been reading articles by stephen hawking about black holes and dark matter. it really caught my attention. another factor that has influenced me to want to be an astrophysicist is the fact that i find chemistry to be just so dang interesting. i am fascinated by how the elements combine to form different compounds. but the single largest thing that blows my mind is that stars created all of the elements 1-28. thats mind boggling to think of. even though im not a huge fan of physics (maybe because ive learned nothing yet) i think that i will try to learn physics and someday hopefully soon i will become a famous astronomer.

Why ice

Fears - Bugs, heights (ironic that a tall person...)

Annoyances - Little kids on the internet

Accomplishments - Not having to look up the word "Idiosyncrasy"

Confusions - Amount of ice people put in beverages

Sorrows - GPA

Dreams - Travel around the world

Idiosyncrasies - Pencil spinning

Risks - Tall places

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then - A stuffed dog

Problems - Next week's blog, How To

You know what I'm talking about, how people fill up their whole cup with ice before adding in the drink. It's just that, whenever I go to a restaurant or a fast food chain, it always happens, and I can't figure out for the life of me why people would intentionally sabotage their own drinks.

It makes sense to put ice in water, because when ice melts, it'll just blend in with the water. But why, why would anyone put that much ice in their cokes or what not? First of all, they're getting less drinks for the buck, because ice is taking up valuable coke space. And that's the whole reason restaurants add so much ice in their drinks, to save money.

But more importantly, they're ruining their own drink. I'm fine with adding two or three blocks of ice to make the drink cool, but when people fit in as much ice as they can into that 32 McDonald oz cup, what are they left with after 5 minutes? A drink that's 20% coke and 80% water. And if that's their thing, that's cool, but I prefer my coke to be pure coke.

I'm not trying to say that no one should put ice in their drinks, nor am I suggesting that I'm right and they're wrong. I don't mean for this to be condescending, it's just that I sincerely don't understand why people put so much ice in their drinks.

These People Try to Fade Me

My Writing Territories:

Fears- Failure; enclosed spaces
Annoyances- Squandered intelligence/potential
Accomplishments- Guts and Mr. Burns
Confusions- A mission
Sorrows- Fake Plastic Trees and wasted time
Dreams- The Fighting Pines
Idiosyncrasies- Nail biting, cedar wood, bourbon balls, hands
Risks- a very sketchy Moon Pie
Beloved Possessions, Now and Then- “Ginny” [gin-e], Mickey, and the “Other Blanket”
Problems- Standardized tests, Great Expectations


Ever since I was a wee tot, I would gnaw my fingers to bits. I have no idea how I managed to develop that nasty habit, because honestly, my fingers were covered with paint or mud most of the time. Regardless, they ended up in my mouth one day and an irreversible, cataclysmic chain reaction was set into motion. My mother eventually came down on me in the 4th grade. She doused my fingers in lemon juice. That didn’t stop me. She put little latex caps over my fingers. I took them off and proceeded to chew. Every day, I was scheming of ways to put my fingers in my mouth without her knowing. About three years later, I unknowingly broke the habit. Unfortunately, that only lasted for about another three years. Now I’m back at it—a finger-chewing maniac.

And now time for a short anecdote: “Olivia and the Mystery of the Wooden Chest”: My mother owns this grand, wooden trunk that she uses to store her bulky, winter-time sweaters. It’s not often when she wears them. However, one day she decided to wear one of her old-folksy snowman sweaters. This, obviously being a seasonal garment, was tucked away in that chest. She put in on, and went off to work. When she returned that evening, I greeted her with a hug and resumed my evening of AFV. About 10 minutes later, I resembled a mildly mutated heirloom tomato. It’s difficult to put a visual into words. So I have generously provided one here for you:




With this in mind, you can probably imagine why I was promptly rushed to the ER, and put on some antihistamine and steroids. At the time, we had no idea what triggered the reaction. It was later identified that I am terribly allergic to cedar wood. And my mother’s chest is, in fact, made of cedar. This wouldn’t make a very good Nancy Drew Mystery Story, because I totally gave away the ending in the title. But nevertheless, a mystery it was.

Why cedar? I DON’T KNOW.


Lastly, I have rather small hands. I cannot open things. This is really all there is to it. There are a number of other idiosyncrasies and mannerisms about me, but this is all I am willing to share with you today.