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[27 Apr 2006|11:34am] Works Cited Essay A: Carol, Glatz. “Quiet as a tomb no more: Vatican hopes crowds visit sarcophagi museum.” Catholic News Service. 3 Oct. 2005 <http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0505552.htm>. "Marble," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia. 2005. 22 April 2006 <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761576512/marble.html> © 1997-2005 Microsoft Corporation. Scarre, Chris. The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome. London: Penguin Group, 1995. Ramage, Nancy H., and Andrew Ramage. Roman Art: Fourth Edition. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. ________________________________________________________________________ Essay B: “Funerals.” Funerals In Ancient Rome. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 24 April 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/funeral>. Michael Grabinski, Gregory Westbrook, and Erik Zempel. “Cremation In A Roman Port Town.” A Roman Funeral. University of Michigan Ann Arbor. 23 April 2006 <http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/exhibits/death_on_display/cremation_group/index.html>. “Mysterious Etruscans.” Etruscan Tombs. 22 April 2006 <http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/tombs.html>. Ramage, Nancy H., and Andrew Ramage. Roman Art: Fourth Edition. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. Scarre, Chris. The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome. London: Penguin Group, 1995. colorthecoast

[27 Apr 2006|11:34am] Rachel Oxhorn ARH 3150 April 26, 2006 Essay B, #2 Funerary Practices of the Ancient Romans Death was an important aspect of ancient Roman culture. The Romans focused heavily on the idea of afterlife and paid much attention to their funerary practices and traditions. From the beginning of the early Etruscans during 700 BCE to the fall of the Roman empire around 500 BC, funerary traditions and conceptions of the deceased have evolved drastically. Many funeral monuments have been discovered and they serve as helpful evidence to show how the Romans dealt with death of family, friends, and emperors. The funerary monuments hint at their views of an afterlife as well as the social hierarchy that was widespread throughout their societies. Their ideas of the afterlife relate closely to those of the Egyptians. The Villanovans, also known as the Etruscans, placed the cremated ashes of the dead in hut urns that closely resembled houses or existing structures. They were made of clay and have various types of coverings, such as thatched roofs or helmets. The Etruscans often included bronze, iron, bone, and amber items inside of the graves. The women were sometimes buried with bone hairpins and combs while the men were buried with bronze belts and helmets. During this period, the wealthy and the poor were buried next to each other. One of the earlier forms of urns is the clay canopic urn which has a lid that portrays a human head, although it is not a very precise interpretation of the human face. The urns are one of the first pieces of evidence that shows that the Etruscans believed in an afterlife because they placed the dead in urns that resemble homes. Etruscan tombs served as “homes” for the dead because they believed in an afterlife. The wealthy were often buried in the tombs of Cerveteri with many exquisite ornaments such as gold pins and fibula. The Tomb of Reliefs in Cerveteri from the early third century BC even had a bed, pillows and many intricate reliefs carved from the porous tufa stone. Rope, weapons, kitchen tools, and axes hung from the walls as if the tomb was an actual home for a living person. These tombs were big enough to live in, unlike the earlier hut urns that only resembled houses but weren’t as big as houses. The Tomb of the Shields and of the Chairs in Cerveteri has stone chairs located inside of it and has many chambers within the tumulus. Sometimes graves actually had openings where food, drink, and blood could be placed in them to “nourish” the dead. This shows that they believed in some form of afterlife because they could receive such nourishment even though they were dead and lifeless. By the sixth century, the Etruscans went from cremation of the dead to burying them in coffins. The dead person was usually portrayed as a carved figure on the lid of the sarcophagi. They were very detailed and sometimes they had personal items like drinking cups included in the figure. One excellent example of an early Etruscan sarcophagi is the coffin made of terracotta with the couple from Cerveteri. This couple had idealized looks and their features did not necessarily resemble their actual features. However, as time went on, the figures on sarcophagi began to resemble the actual dead person. Many sarcophagi were very exquisitely detailed and they represented the dead individual who was occupying the coffin. Many fresco paintings are found inside the tombs at Tarquinia which is located in southern Etruria. They represent the many myths and traditions of their society. Banquets, athletic competitions, and musical performances are often painted on these walls because they correlated to the funeral traditions that they partook in. Sometimes these paintings were symbolic because they were meant to show what the deceased accomplished throughout their lives or what they have to look forward to in their afterlife. Take for example the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing from Tarquinia. It depicts young boys fishing and shooting birds from slingshots. Nature is represented with the detail to plants, grass, and rocks and many vivid and lively colors are used. The painting represented a happy life for the person who dwelled in that tomb. Different tombs represented various things such as social status or beliefs. For the great emperor Augustus, he had his very own mausoleum built. This mausoleum was often considered a propaganda statement for the Julian family because he placed the cremated ashes of his relatives in there. It is believed that Augustus had this tomb be similar to the earlier Etruscan ones to show that he wanted to go back to the previous moral and religious values. This tomb dates back to 25 BC, is 285ft in diameter, and made of tufa, concrete, and travertine. The mausoleum was often copied, such as the most outstanding tomb along the Via Appia, the Caecilia Metella. The Caecilia Metella is an example of where prominent Romans were buried. Upper and middle class civilians had more unpretentious memorials. The common people were usually buried in a pit covered with tiles. The top of their grave had a piece of pottery where family and friends could put food and drink into. Roman Funerals were usually held at night time to keep away large crowds of those who were experiencing great sorrow. Right before the individual was about to die, a family member would breathe in the last breath of the one who is dying. Then, the dead body was washed and anointed to prepare it for its journey into the afterlife. A coin was placed in the mouth of the dead body to pay Charon (the ferryman of the dead) who transported the body across the underworld river, Styx. They believed that the dead person would be given a verdict whether they would either be sent to heaven or hell. For the wealthy people who died they were put on display for at least a week so that many people could pay their respects. However, for the poor, they were usually cremated or buried right away. After the display, a funeral procession would occur and musicians would play. Busts or statues of the deceased were usually carried through the procession. Since the dead could not be buried inside of the town, the procession ended directly outside of the town. One example of that would be the Via Appia which is outside of Rome. After that, a cremation fire would burn while a eulogy was given and a family member would place the ashes inside of the urn. Sometimes the family members would wear masks that had the images of their ancestors on them. Romans took death, afterlife, and their funerary practices very seriously. Their traditions began with the hut urns and slowly progressed into more elaborate customs. The funerals were an important process that were carefully followed by the Romans. Artistic details were incorporated into every aspect of the monuments, sarcophagi, and tomb paintings. These artistic details expressed their thoughts on an individual’s life that they already lead as well as what they have to look forward to in their afterlife. colorthecoast

[27 Apr 2006|11:33am] Rachel Oxhorn ARH 3150 April 26, 2006 Essay A, #1 Basic Aspects of Roman Sarcophagi On June 27, 2001, four Roman sarcophagi were discovered in southern Lebanon. Inside of these coffins were coins, flasks, and even human remains. These artifacts are important to the history of ancient Roman times. Sarcophagi are an significant aspect of the ancient Roman culture. They exemplified the Roman’s thoughts on death and stressed the importance of afterlife to the Romans. Contrary to modern day coffins, Roman sarcophagi were extremely elaborate in detail. The beautiful and intricate carvings on sarcophagi represented the dead. The carvings symbolized the life of the dead or what they had to look forward to in the afterlife. There are many different types of sarcophagi. One sarcophagi in particular is the Attic sarcophagi which originates from a location in Greece known as Attica. These sarcophagi are described as having a slanted lid that resembles a slanted roof covered with tiles. They are bordered by decorative tiles lining the edge of the roof, known as antefixes. Sometimes they would be adorned with a figure of the deceased person reclining on top of the sarcophagi. In general, these sarcophagi appear to look like a building, complete with lion-head rain spouts. Attic sarcophagi were found all over the place, including Rome and many other cities in the Western and Eastern empires. The Attic sarcophagi are made of Pentelic marble. Pentelic marble is “The most famous variety of statuary marble…found in the quarries of Mount Pentelikon in Attica. Pentelic marble was used by the great sculptors of ancient Greece” (Encarta.msn.com.) Asiatic sarcophagi are from Rome and Athens. However, the main site of creation took place in Asia Minor, hence the name Asiatic. They have a relief carved across the front and on the ends as well. The end carvings were particularly favored in Italy and Greece. In the eastern parts of the empire they were carved on all four sides but the back was not as detailed. Similarly to Attic sarcophagi lids, Asiatic lids also had sculptures of the dead reclining on top. Asiatic sarcophagi sides are unique because they are divided by columns around the entire portion of the sarcophagus. These sarcophagi are more detailed as well. The details show that the artists cut deep into the marble so that the artwork would jut out more. The carved figures protrude further than any of the other types of sarcophagi. A wonderful example of an Asiatic sarcophagus is the one located near a town southeast of Benevento known as Melfi. This one dates back to the middle of the second century AD. There is a carving of a woman on the lid and it resembles a house or a temple. Garland sarcophagus are decorated with garlands such as the Caffarelli Sarcophagus. The Caffarelli Sarcophagus dates back to the Augustan period. This sarcophagus has garlands tied with ribbons that hang from bulls’ skulls. The garlands purpose is to represent the real flowers that were once on the grave. This was a popular style of sarcophagi and the garland’s purpose was to embellish the sarcophagus. The industry that produced sarcophagi made sure to meet the needs of individuals while keeping the cost of shipping heavy marble coffins down. Many sarcophagi traveled far, this can be proven because they have been found in shipwrecks and also the type of marble that was used. Many sarcophagi were shipped only partly finished because the family could not afford the personalization of the sarcophagi or because it was needed as soon as possible. The coffin’s interior would be cut out before they were shipped from the quarry to save weight. The sarcophagi makers would often carve from the exterior so that the artist could use the projections to include decorative carvings. The artist who receives the coffin after shipping could carve the details for the clients preferences or for his own preference. A good example of an unfinished sarcophagus is the Bust of Commodus as Hercules from Hierapolis in AD 190. It was used in a tomb exactly how it arrived. The family of the dead person never had the carving completed. A variety of artists would work on separate stages of the carving so it is obvious that there are different artist techniques involved. Many sarcophagi are decorated with pagan symbols because the Romans predominantly worshipped pagan gods. The idea of afterlife is a pagan belief that is represented in many sarcophagi. Dionysia are ancient Greek festivals that are held seasonally in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and the celebration of fertility of nature. Many sarcophagi have dionysiac themes that illustrate an escape of everyday life, showing that the dead will soon have a better life. Cupids are another pagan symbol that are also carved onto various sarcophagi. The Velletri Sarcophagus has triangular pediments with mythological figures, such as the god of the sun, Sol, and the moon goddess, Luna. The myth of Prosperina is also included in this sarcophagi and it relates to the idea of rejuvenation. These themes were considered appropriate for these sarcophagi because pagan beliefs were acceptable before Christianity was legalized later on. The pagan and Christian themes often intertwined when it came to the motifs on sarcophagi. The idea of eternal life from both pagan and Christian points of view were combined in the motifs. For example a peacock and a sheep are located on Constantia’s sarcophagus from AD 350. Peacocks and sheep are symbols of eternity and of the congregational flock. It was intended to be pagan but soon morphed into a more Christian view once Christianity was legalized by Constantine in AD 313. The sheep can be viewed as a Christian symbol, such as relating to a shepherd. The cupids can represent angels in a Christian point of view instead of a pagan one. Christian imagery was becoming more prevalent once Christianity took the place of pagan ideas. Take for example the Christian sarcophagi of Junius Bassius. It depicts many scenes from both the Old and New Testaments such as the sacrifice of Isaac, Adam and Eve, Daniel in the lion’s den, etc. It suggests salvation by showing scenes from the bible, which is similar to the mythological pagan scenes that were on earlier sarcophagi. There are plenty of variations of ancient Roman sarcophagi. The construction and appearance of the sarcophagi were a crucial part of the funeral process. The sarcophagi incorporate beautiful artistic elements as well as evidence of how Romans lived many years ago. These coffins evolved from having pagan motifs to eventually representing biblical scenes. colorthecoast

[14 Apr 2006|02:37am] Title: The Growth of The Population of Red Flour Beetles Resulting From The Amount of Food Resources. Introduction: Red flour beetles live in grain products. These insects have a short life of about 6 months, therefore their life cycle can be easily observed in a short amount of time. They go through a relatively quick metamorphosis, they begin as larva and then the larva sheds its exoskeleton until it is adult sized. Then it turns into the pupa which is known as its resting stage and then it turns into a full grown adult. After a few days the adult has the capability to reproduce. The objective of this experiment is to observe how the beetle population grows according to the amount of flour that they live in. I had 4 grams of flour in my vial which contained the beetles. My hypothesis is that the population will grow but it will not be a very large number because other groups had as much as 12 grams of flour, which is 3 times the amount that I had. I started with 6 beetles, I believe a few of them will die but some will survive and reproduce. The population will probably be a steady number because some will die and others will reproduce and replace the dead beetles. Materials and Methods: Each group is given a vial with a piece of tape on it and labeled with our initials and lab section numbers. My vial was filled with 4 grams of flour and had 6 beetles in it. Every week we counted the beetles, we would pour the vial contents into a sifter and then sift the flour into the petri dish. The beetles would remain on the sifter and we would count how many we had. Using a funnel, we returned the flour and beetles to the vial and used a cotton ball as a stopper for the vial so that nothing would spill or crawl out of it. We had to make sure that we did not leave any flour on the table. Then, we recorded how many beetles we had on paper and on the computers. The beetles were kept in complete darkness, with a constant temperature in an incubator. Every week we would count how many adult beetles we had in our vials to observe how many died and how many new ones we had. Results: The data collected shows that the beetle population did increase by the very end. However, by the 4th week the beetle population went down. The first week I started off with 4 beetles. By January 30th there were 5 adult beetles so the population grew by only one beetle. On February 6th the population was back down to 4 beetles. On February 13th there were only 2 beetles, the rest were dead. The population increased by 5 beetles by February 20th. On February 27th and March 13th the population was 14 beetles. For the entire section, the beetle populations grew at a steady pace, much like how my beetle population grew. Discussion: I concluded from my results that the beetle population did steadily increase over time. I believe that my beetle population did not grow very large because I only had 4 grams of flour instead of 8 or 16 grams of flour. The beetle populations for the entire section related closely to the amount of flour they had. For example, the average number of beetles for those with 16 grams of flour on the last week of the experiment was 71.98, which is much higher than all of the other averages. In my hypothesis I stated that some of the beetles will die and some will survive and reproduce more to take the place of the dead ones. This experiment supported my hypothesis because the population lost a few beetles but then the population grew eventually. The results for this experiment could have varied because flour could easily fall out of the vial. I am sure that for most groups they lost at least some flour from all of the times they had sifted the flour. Also, the beetles are small creatures and if they are not handled with care they can easily die. Another factor is if the temperature was accidentally changed and it did not remain constant then the beetles could die. This experiment could be improved if we checked to make sure we had the exact amount of flour each week since we probably lost some flour by funneling and sifting. Works Cited: Hayward, Patricia and Ann Lumsden. From Cells to Salt Marshes. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2001. 8 * colorthecoast

[14 Apr 2006|02:36am] Rachel Oxhorn Paper 3: The Spitting Image AMH 2020/Witherspoon April 14, 2006 The Truth Behind Vietnam Era Relationships Between GIs and Anti-War Protestors Question #1 The Vietnam War will forever be remembered as the first war that the United States had ever lost. This war was heavily protested throughout the nation by civilians, soldiers, and veterans. In the book “The Spitting Image”, author Jerry Lembcke discusses the interactions between GIs and anti-war protestors during the Vietnam era. Lembcke argues against the belief that anti-war protestors would spit on returning Vietnam veterans. This idea is now considered to be an urban myth because there is no evidence that proves the theory to be plausible. In “The Spitting Image”, he discusses how most GIs and anti-war protestors actually had positive relationships with one another. Lembcke employed two strategies to prove that anti-war protestors did not spit on Vietnam veterans. His first way was as he described, “to make the assumption that two mutually exclusive sets of circumstances cannot coexist at the same time and space” (3 Lembcke.) What he meant by this was that anti-war protestors could not spit on the veterans and GIs and still have their support and join them in their demonstrations. They could not dislike each other and somehow still encourage each other. His other strategy was to hypothesize that the anti-war protestors did actually spit on the Vietnam veterans and find information that proves this hypothesis to be true. After much research, he discovered that there was no solid indication that the spitting ever happened. The relations between the protestors and veterans were typically pleasant. Many Vietnam veterans actually became anti-war protestors once they returned to the United States. Lembcke stated in his book that, “Veterans with whom I have spoken generally agree that the spat-upon veteran image is inaccurate” (3.) The head of Vietnam Veterans against the War when this book was written, Barry Romo, was an avid collector of historical material related to the anti-war movement and Vietnam veterans. He said in the book, “there is no news-source documentation (such as photographs) of any incidence of anti-war activists spitting on veterans” (3.) A large protest organized by the Fifth Avenue Peace Parade Committee occurred in New York City on October 15, 1965. Approximately 25,000 people participated, including World War II veterans. This protest showed that even veterans from a previous war disagreed with the Vietnam war. As a result, five of the veterans whom participated formed the Ad Hoc Committee of Veterans for Peace in Vietnam. On November 27, 1965, the Committee held a peace march in Washington D.C. The Ad Hoc Committee eventually became known as Vets for Peace, and it led numerous anti-war demonstrations throughout 1966 and 1967. On March 26, 1966, New York City, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and many other major cities witnessed rallies against the war. There was a rather large amount of veterans attending these rallies. They wore hats that said, “Veterans for Peace in Vietnam.“ This proves that anti-war protestors and veterans actually had close relations because they both opposed the war. Vietnam veterans often returned or burned their discharge papers in protest to the war. Some veterans even returned their medals they received to President Lyndon Johnson. The anti-war movement and the Vietnam-era veterans were closely connected through the group, Veterans for Peace. The anti-war protestors helped soldiers and cared for the soldiers’ needs. Lembcke stated that “those soldiers, turned veterans, viewed the anti-war movement as a credible ally for veteran-related struggles.” This movement was against the draft that was implemented during the Vietnam War. They also encouraged “in-service resistance” to the war. The group did not want the GIs to necessarily get in trouble by resisting, they just encouraged them to stand up for their beliefs against the war. There was a major case in which three GIs stationed at Fort Hood Texas resisted to be shipped to Vietnam. They became known as the “Fort Hood Three.” A group known as the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) was formed by six Vietnam Veterans. This group was a party of the anti-war movement and they spread information around the nation by holding public events, placing advertisements in the newspaper, and speaking to the public. On October 21, 1967, one hundred thousand people marched on the Pentagon to oppose the war. There are photographs of uniformed soldiers adorned with Vets for Peace hats and handing out information pamphlets to Pentagon guards. On April 5, 1969, 100,000 people marched in New York City demanding the war to be ended and for soldiers to be freed. With anti-war protestors fighting for American soldiers to be free, it shows that the anti-war protestors cared for the soldiers and did not spit on them. With so many anti-war groups being formed by Vietnam veterans how can one assume that anti-war protestors would spit on veterans when they both believed the war should end? Although there is no evidence that proves that GIs and anti-war protestors had bad relations with one another, it was a widely popular belief that they did in fact have bad relations. There are no photographs of anyone spitting on Vietnam veterans. Even the idea that people spat on Vietnam veterans was not a big concern during the Vietnam War era. This is most likely because it never happened so there was no need to call attention to it or ever report such incidences. Many Vietnam veterans claim that they were abused by anti-war protestors when they arrived back in the United States. Take for example Barry Streeter, a Vietnam veteran interviewed by newspaper columnist Bob Greene. Streeter stated “I was spat upon three times: by hippies, by a man in a leisure suit, and by a sweet little old lady who informed me I was an ‘Army Asshole’.” On the opposite side of the spectrum, a woman known as Sharon Moore from San Francisco said, “Spat-upon Vietnam veterans?…That’s an urban myth.” She explained in the book that when her friend returned from Vietnam he was treated with respect and everyone was friendly to him. Some Vietnam veterans were known to have “post-traumatic stress disorder” which is in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The disorder occurs after one deals with a major and stressful situation in their life. Many returning soldiers had to receive professional help to deal with the emotional baggage of coming home from the war. The idea of Vietnam veterans becoming emotionally unstable contributed to the growing myth that veterans were spat upon. Some veterans would exaggerate or have false memories of being on the front lines of the war when they were really not even in combat. Post traumatic stress disorder lead to veterans believing the myth that anti-war protestors did in fact spit on them when they returned home. The Nixon-Agnew administration held a propaganda campaign to have more support for the Vietnam war. They brushed aside the fact that we were in Vietnam for no good reason at all. Instead, they had the media spread stories about prisoners of war being held in Vietnam and that our reason for being over there was to rescue them. The idea that Vietnam veterans were abused and spat upon when they returned home became widely held during the Gulf War era in the early ‘90s. The Bush administration popularized this idea in order to gain support for the war. They created an image of anyone opposing the war as a bad person who mistreated soldiers. The soldiers had the “good” image and the protestors had the “bad” and “un-patriotic” image. This concept was effective for the Bush administration to move forward with the Gulf War by gaining support. The belief of anti-war protestors spitting on Vietnam veterans was also portrayed in many movies and also through the media throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It is noted in “The Spitting Image” that almost all Vietnam War films are about the veterans coming home and what they experienced. Typically the veteran returning home was portrayed as troubled because of what he had gone through during the war. In the movie Coming Home, the main character Bob is returning home from the war. During one scene in particular, it shows anti-war protestors holding a demonstration against the return of the veterans. In reality however, the anti-war protestors held demonstrations against the soldiers being shipped off to Vietnam. The viewers of the movie are supposed to pity the solider and dislike the anti-war protestors because of the way they are represented. This film also captures the widely held idea of the hostility between the anti-war protestors and the returning veterans. Many veterans joined anti-war protestors once they returned home to the United States. They witnessed the battles and most believed the U.S had no good reason to be in Vietnam, therefore they turned against the war after returning home. Anti-war protestors and Vietnam era veterans both worked together to demonstrate their opposition to the war. This illustrates that there was no hostility between the two groups because they both supported each other. There is also no convincing evidence supporting the idea that anti-war protestors spat on returning veterans. Lembcke used two useful strategies to verify the theory of the spat upon veterans as false assumption. The media, the government, and word of mouth all contributed to the spread of the popular myth that is still prevalent today. Word Count: 1542. colorthecoast

[03 Apr 2006|02:48pm] Title: Growth and flower production of Brassica Rapa plant determined by fertilizer concentration and various factors. Introduction: The Brassica rapa requires carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in order to grow. The success of the plant surviving depends on both environmental and genetic factors. Using two pellets of fertilizer for the experiment, we observe the growth of the plant every week. The objective is to see how tall the plant grows, how many leaves it grows, and how many flowers it grows each week. The results vary because it depends on what nutrients the plant receives as well as if it has good quality genes. My hypothesis is that the plant will grow somewhat tall because we used two pellets of fertilizer. I also believe that it will sprout some flowers and leaves after a few weeks. However, due to the plant being left in a classroom I think that it may not get all of the nutrients it requires. Materials/Method: One important part of this experiment is a source of light, which is from a light bank with continuous full spectrum light. Each group used 2-3 seeds of Brassica rapa. A 10 cm cotton wick is threaded into the bottom of a film canister with a small hole at the bottom. Approximately 7-8 cm extends through the hole at the bottom of the canister. The canister is filled with potting soil and two fertilizer pellets are placed inside the canister. The more of the potting soil is filled to the top so that the pellets are in between two layers of soil. The soil must be lightly packed and then 2-3 Brassica rapa seeds are inserted into the soil and pushed lightly with the tip of a pencil to have them packed into the soil. The canister is placed inside the modified 2 liter soft drink bottle. A wash bottle is used for watering the plant before it is placed under the light bank. Each week, record the height of the plant in millimeters, and count the number of leaves and flowers. Observe and record any specific data that is vital to the examination of the plant growth. Results: With the two pellets of fertilizer used, I observed that each week the Brassica rapa steadily grew taller. On January 23, 2006, the height of the plant was 35 mm, it had two leaves and no flowers. A week later, on January 30, I observed that the plant was actually shorter than before. It appeared to me that it was only 32 mm. It did however, grow five more leaves, but still no flowers. The following week, February 6, it sprouted to 60 mm, it had ten leaves, and it finally grew three flowers. On February 13, it grew another 30 mm making it stand at 90 mm. Some of the leaves fell off so it was back down to seven leaves. It did grow one more flower though, so it had four flowers instead of three. February 20, 2006 it was 95 mm with eight leaves and only two flowers. On February 27 the plant was 100 mm with eight leaves and no flowers. I observed that by the third week the Brassica rapa started growing at a faster pace. The leaves sprouted before any flowers did. My hypothesis was accurate concerning the growth of the plant. I believe the plant grew slightly tall because we used two pellets of fertilizer as opposed to none at all. It did sprout leaves and flowers but eventually some of them disappeared. I think that the plant lost some of its leaves and flowers because it was left in a classroom and if someone did not handle the plant with care then it could have easily lost some of its flowers and leaves. When I observed the plant during the second week I realized it was 3mm shorter and this could be due to people handling it as well. Discussion: I can conclude from these results that the plant I was using did grow taller than the group’s plant that did not have any fertilizer. The fertilizer is an important factor in the experiment because it helps the plant grow. Mary Robson from the Regional Garden Column from Washington State University stated, “The purpose of fertilizer is to provide necessary plant nutrients so that the plant can make its own food through photosynthesis.” By the end of the experiment, the Brassica rapa grew to 100mm with a total of eight leaves and zero flowers. The plant was able to reach 100mm not only from the fertilizer but also from the light bank and water. In my hypothesis I explained that the plant will sprout leaves and flowers. However, from time to time the plant would have less leaves and less flowers. The most flowers it grew was four. Many factors contributed to the results of this plant’s life. The plant may have been able to grow taller and kept more of its leaves and flowers if it was placed in natural sunlight instead of a light bank. It was also kept inside for over a month so the air circulating in the classroom might not have been sufficient enough to keep the plant strong and healthy. If the plant was in fresh air, it would have been healthier. I believe the experiment could be improved by having the plants more spaced out. They appeared to be packed tightly next to all of the other section’s plants. With so many students touching the plants and moving them around, the leaves and flowers fell off. Works Cited : Hayward, Patricia and Ann Lumsden. From Cells to Salt Marshes. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2001. Robson, Mary. “Plant Nutrient Needs In Early Spring.” 24 January 1999 http://www.gardening.wsu.edu/column/01-24-99.htm. colorthecoast

[24 Mar 2006|11:32am] Rachel Oxhorn Paper 2: The Good War AMH 2020/Witherspoon March 24, 2006 World War II: Watershed Event for Women Question #2 World War II is widely known as a “watershed” event for many different reasons. This war, sometimes referred to as “The Good War”, brought the United States out of The Great Depression and provided a sense of freedom to many people who were once considered minorities. Many people felt that positive changes in America occurred after the war, such as the roles that women played in society. Before World War II, women had the responsibility to take care of the household, cook meals, and clean. Once the United States became involved in the war, women had the opportunity to leave behind their household chores and work in many other fields. They were encouraged to take on jobs that used to be designated for men only and were also awarded equal pay in these job positions. In the book “The Good War”, an oral history of interviews held by author Studs Terkel, women gave their first hand accounts to what they experienced during World War II. One woman interviewed by Terkel, Peggy Terry, explains how she lived before and after the war started. She was thrilled to have a job with decent pay after the Depression. She made thirty-two dollars a week, she called her salary “just an absolute miracle” (Terkel 138). Terry worked at a shell-loading plant in Viola, Kentucky. She helped to build these large shells not even realizing that the purpose of them was to kill people. Like many other women during the beginning of World War II, Terry barely knew that the war was even going on. She was busy trying to make a living after the Depression that she did not even have the luxury to listen to the radio to know what was going on. She stated, “You won’t believe how incredibly ignorant I was. I knew vaguely that a war had started, but I had no idea what it meant” (138). Terry also explained how she and many other women she worked with knew little about human and union rights. Before the war, she lived in her own small world, just trying to make a living. She said, “the war just widened my world” and “I believe the war was the beginning of my seeing things. You just can’t stay uninvolved and not knowing when such a momentous thing is happening” (138). Many women during World War II felt that they had broadened their horizons by working in factories that related to the war. They left behind their small cookie-cutter towns and became more cultured and knowledgeable about the world. Eventually Terry moved to Michigan to work at another factory testing airplane radios. She worked with all kinds of new and interesting people. She would drink beer with them and she learned about the purpose of unions. Terry is just one example of a female during World War II who learned so much about the world in such a short period of time. Sarah Killingsworth, another woman interviewed by Terkel, is an additional example of a woman just trying to make money after the Great Depression. Talking about the women she worked with, Killingsworth stated, “They weren’t interested in the war. Most of them were only interested in the money. Most of us was young and we really didn’t know” (114). Women emerging from the Depression were especially naive because they had been busy just trying to get by and take care of the household. Referring to the total impact of the war on women she stated that “it was for a worthy cause, because it did make way for us. And we were able to really get out” (116). At the beginning of the war women were sheltered, they took any job they could to earn a living and did not pay close attention to what was going on. Their place in the world was to be a homemaker, however, World War II brought opportunity to American women. Women were no longer restricted to housekeeping. Thanks to the war, many jobs were provided and women were willing to take them. Many men were drafted overseas to serve for the United States, therefore women were desperately needed to work in factories. The desperate need for women turned out to be an advantage for the female generation of World War II. Terkel interviewed a woman named Dellie Hahne. She explained that the one good thing that came out of the gruesome war was that women were able to work outside of the home. She said, “I had friends whose mothers went to work in factories. For the first time in their lives, they worked outside of the home. They realized that they were capable of doing something more than cook a meal” (122). Women used to be so dependent on their men, but finally they felt liberated because they were free to be independent and work outside of the home. Hahne said, “I think the beginning of the women’s movement had its seeds right there in World War II” (122). Hahne was absolutely correct in her statement, women had the freedom to work outside of the home, spend the money they made, and make their own decisions. After working in war factories, women began to gain more respect and equality During World War II, women began to participate in the United States Military. The Women’s Army Corps (WAC) was established during the war and after WAC was established, The Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) was founded. This was a major watershed event for women of that time. Countless women went from being homemakers to serving in the military. Evelyn Fraser was one example of a woman who joined the WAC, she was a captain in Public Information. She lived in Germany for quite some time and then traveled to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, which was her duty station. Eventually she became a recruiting officer in Cleveland, Ohio. Before World War II it would have been absurd to hear of a woman joining the military and traveling all over the world for the military. Fraser said, “If it weren’t for the war, I’d probably have stayed in Evansville as a newspaperwoman. Maybe got a job in Indianapolis or Chicago. I wouldn’t have traveled as extensively as I did. It really changed my life” (128). It was apparent that women were delighted to be able to leave behind household chores and join the workforce. The independence was a feeling that many women back then did not feel prior to World War II. One woman in “The Good War”, Elsie Rossio, was from Seneca, a quiet town in Illinois. After the war had begun, her town’s population grew from about a thousand people to about 27,000 people. With the town growing at such a rapid pace, women had the opportunity to get jobs. Rossio explained, “Oh yes, the war changed my life. I went to work in a doctor’s office. Otherwise I would have lived my life out keeping house and washing clothes. I enjoyed the work” (310). Many new jobs available to women used to be considered jobs that men had, such as toolmakers, blacksmiths, and railroad workers. One popular advertising campaign that related to women being self-sufficient is the tough and brawny character, Rosie the Riveter. Many factories were able to recruit women because she represented strength and independence, which were qualities that women strived for during that era. Women learned new skills and earned higher pay working in factories during World War II. Numerous women became nurses for the wounded soldiers of World War II. Take for example Galina Alexeyeva, a woman from Stalingrad. As a young girl she dug antitank dugouts and trenches as obstacles for the Germans. The wounded soldiers used to have to stay in their classrooms and she and her classmates would nurse them. She said, “We young girls were carrying them to where they were making operations. It was a long way from there” (454). The young Alexeyeva and her classmates had to carry grown men to their operations, which is something that isn’t very easy for a child to do. When Alexeyeva volunteered for the combat forces, they rejected her because it was dangerous. Eventually they let her volunteer and witnessed many horrific images of wounded soldiers. One soldier she saw had his chest ripped open and could even see his heart beating. Before World War II, it was not as common to see a woman so close to the frontlines of the war, as it was considered a man’s duty. Studs Terkel has a remarkable ability to interview people of the World War II era in “The Good War.” He captures the real life stories and truth of World War II, painting a picture in one’s mind of what it was like to live back then. Because of World War II, the United States has evolved culturally and socially. This war brought a close to the Depression and implemented equality among women in society. Before the war, many women were held back from independence, freedom and equal labor. World War II provided men’s jobs to women, introducing them to new skills and a new way of life. World War II broadened the horizons of many women and expanded their views of the world. Word Count: 1567. colorthecoast

[24 Mar 2006|12:07am] Rachel Oxhorn Paper 2: The Good War AMH 2020/Witherspoon March 24, 2006 World War II: Watershed Event for Women World War II is widely known as a “watershed” event for many different reasons. This war, sometimes referred to as “The Good War”, brought the United States out of The Great Depression and provided a sense of freedom to many people who were once considered minorities. Many people felt that positive changes in America occurred after the war, such as the roles that women played in society. Before World War II, women had the responsibility to take care of the household, cook meals, and clean. Once the United States became involved in the war, women had the opportunity to leave behind their household chores and work in many other fields. They were encouraged to take on jobs that used to be designated for men only and were also awarded equal pay in these job positions. In the book “The Good War”, an oral history of interviews held by author Studs Terkel, women gave their first hand accounts to what they experienced during World War II. One woman in particular interviewed by Terkel, Peggy Terry, explains how she lived before and after the war started. She was thrilled to have a job with decent pay after the Depression. She made thirty-two dollars a week, she called her salary “just an absolute miracle” (Terkel 138). Terry worked at a shell-loading plant in Viola, Kentucky. She helped to build these large shells not even realizing that the purpose of them was to kill people. Like many other women during the beginning of World War II, Terry barely knew that the war was even going on. She was busy trying to make a living after the Depression that she did not even have the luxury to listen to the radio to know what was going on. She stated, “You won’t believe how incredibly ignorant I was. I knew vaguely that a war had started, but I had no idea what it meant” (138). Terry also explained how she and many other women she worked with knew little about human and union rights. Before the war, she lived in her own small world, just trying to make a living. She said, “the war just widened my world” and “I believe the war was the beginning of my seeing things. You just can’t stay uninvolved and not knowing when such a momentous thing is happening” (138). Many women during World War II felt that they had broadened their horizons by working in factories that related to the war. They left behind their small cookie-cutter towns and became more cultured and knowledgeable about the world. Eventually Terry moved to Michigan to work at another factory testing airplane radios. She worked with all kinds of new and interesting people. She drank beer with them and learned what unions were all about. Terry is just one example of a female during World War II who learned so much about the world in so little time. Sarah Killingsworth, another woman interviewed by Terkel, is an additional example of a woman just trying to make money after the Great Depression. Talking about the women she worked with, Killingsworth stated, “They weren’t interested in the war. Most of them were only interested in the money. Most of us was young and we really didn’t know” (114). Women emerging from the Depression were especially naive because they had been busy just trying to get by and take care of the household. Referring to the total impact of the war on women she stated that “it was for a worthy cause, because it did make way for us. And we were able to really get out” (116). After working in war factories, women began to gain more respect and equality. At the beginning of the war women were sheltered, they took jobs to earn a living, and did not pay much attention to what was going on. Their place in the world was to be a homemaker, however, World War II broadened the horizons of American women and their worlds became larger. Thanks to the war, many jobs were provided and women were willing to take them. Many men were drafted overseas to serve for the United States, therefore, women were desperately needed to work in factories. The desperate need for women turned out to be an advantage for the female generation of World War II. Terkel interviewed a woman named Dellie Hahne. She explained that the one good thing that came out of the gruesome war was that women were able to work outside of the home. She said, “I had friends whose mothers went to work in factories. For the first time in their lives, they worked outside of the home. They realized that they were capable of doing something more than cook a meal” (122). Women used to be so dependent on their men, but finally they felt liberated because they were free to be independent and work outside of the home. Hahne said, “I think the beginning of the women’s movement had its seeds right there in World War II” (122). Hahne was absolutely correct in her statement, women had the freedom to work outside of the home, spend the money they made, and make their own decisions. During World War II, women began to participate in the United States Military. The Women’s Army Corps (WAC), was established in May of 1942 and after WAC was established, The Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) was founded. This was a major watershed event for women of that time. About 200,000 women went from being homemakers to serving in the military. Evelyn Fraser was one example of a woman who joined the WAC, she was a captain in Public Information. She lived in Germany for quite some time and then traveled to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, which was her duty station. Eventually she became a recruiting officer in Cleveland, Ohio. Before World War II it would have been absurd to hear of a woman joining the military and traveling all over the place for the military. Fraser said, “If it weren’t for the war, I’d probably have stayed in Evansville as a newspaperwoman. Maybe got a job in Indianapolis or Chicago. I wouldn’t have traveled as extensively as I did. It really changed my life” (128). It was apparent that women were delighted to be able to get out of the house and have jobs. The independence was a feeling that many women back then did not feel prior to WWII. One woman in “The Good War”, Elsie Rossio, was from a quiet town in Illinois called Seneca. Once the war started, her town’s population grew from about a thousand people to about 27,000 people. With the town growing at such a rapid pace, women had the opportunity to get jobs. Rossio explained, “Oh yes, the war changed my life. I went to work in a doctor’s office. Otherwise I would have lived my life out keeping house and washing clothes. I enjoyed the work” (310). Many new jobs available to women used to be considered jobs that men had, such as toolmakers, blacksmiths, and railroad workers. One popular advertising campaign that related to women being independent is Rosie the Riveter. Many factories were able to recruit women because she represented strength and independence, which were qualities that women strived for during that era. Women learned new skills and earned higher pay working in factories during World War II. Numerous women became nurses for the wounded soldiers of World War II. Take for example Galina Alexeyeva, a woman from Stalingrad. As a young girl she dug antitank dugouts and trenches as obstacles for the Germans. The wounded soldiers used to have to stay in their classrooms and she and her classmates would nurse them. She said, “We young girls were carrying them to where they were making operations. It was a long way from there. Young girls with very thin legs and very thin fingers” (454). When Alexeyeva volunteered for the combat forces, they told her no because it was dangerous and tough. Eventually they let her volunteer and she saw with her own eyes many horrific and disturbing images of wounded soldiers. Before World War II, it was not as common to see a woman so close to the frontlines of the war, as it was considered a man’s duty. Studs Terkel has a remarkable ability to interview people of the World War II era in “The Good War.” He captures the real life stories and truth of World War II, painting a picture in one’s mind of what it was like to live back then. Because of World War II, the United States has evolved culturally and socially. This war brought a close to the Depression and implemented equality among women in society. Before the way, many women were held back from independence, freedom and equal labor. World War II provided men’s jobs to women, introducing them to new skills and a new way of life. World War II broadened the horizons of many women and expanded their views of the world. colorthecoast

[11 Oct 2005|09:17am] Oxhorn, Rachel ENC 1102.15 Samantha Levy October 10, 2005 Girl, Interrupted The movie “Girl, Interrupted” is based on the true story of Susanna Kaysen that took place in the 1960‘s. This story was originally a book written by Susanna and was later turned into a movie in 1999. Winona Ryder played Susanna Kaysen, an eighteen-year-old woman who was referred to Claymoore Hospital (a mental institution) by her doctor because she was diagnosed with having a borderline personality disorder. She had downed an entire bottle of vodka with aspirin, was sleeping around, and she slept with one of her teachers. Although she had been getting into trouble, I believe her parents took the doctor’s suggestion to the extreme when he referred her to a mental hospital. Despite the fact she drank an entire bottle of vodka, it seems to me that she is just a lost young woman in a big world. The movie becomes very interesting once she arrives at Claymoore. She feels out of place surrounded by many mentally insane women. Her roommate is a pathological liar by the name of Georgina. Eventually she is introduced to Daisy, a victim of incest, and Polly, who is a burn victim and hopelessly fearful of everything. Then, she meets the sociopath Lisa, who is played by Angelina Jolie. Lisa is charming and captivating in an odd sort of way, she definitely caught my attention when I watched the movie. Lisa was the “rebel” in the movie, she questioned authority and often tried escaping Claymoore. All of the girls in the hospital were intimidated by Lisa’s manipulative personality. She appeared to be the leader of the women in the hospital because the girls were scared of her. In one scene in the movie, the girls find their psychiatric evaluation files in one of the doctor’s offices. They realize why they are there, and most of them are there because they go against society’s standards such as engaging in lesbianism or being promiscuous. The girls create a bond together in various scenes of the movie. At night they would often sneak out of their rooms to play songs on the guitar and go bowling at midnight. Susanna became good friends with Lisa until the end of the movie when Lisa betrays her due to her sociopath tendencies. In my paper, I will focus mainly on how mental disorders are looked upon in society, especially back in the 1960’s. I will also focus on adolescence and the trouble that comes along with growing up. Many people are locked up in mental institutions for long periods of time and it appears that they become more “crazy” after living there for several years. There is something captivating about “crazy girls” because it is opposite of what girls are expected to behave like and that appeals to audiences. In the movie Susanna seems to really mature and grow. She keeps a journal and explores her innermost thoughts while living at Claymore. Girl, Interrupted is a remarkable movie that incorporates melancholy with a hint of humor. colorthecoast

[21 Sep 2005|11:14pm] Oxhorn, Rachel Enc1102.15 S. Levy 09.15.05 “My Day With the Lizard King” The sun is forcing itself through the dense clouds as I stare out of my frosty window. Out of the corner of my eye I see a strange man approaching my front door. He looks like someone who belongs in the 1960’s. He is fully clad in a “rockstar” uniform, wearing leather pants and an old tee-shirt with shaggy dark hair. All of a sudden I hear a loud knock on my door. Curious to find out who this person is, I move toward my door and slowly turn the metal door knob. I am shocked when I realize who is at my door, the Lizard King himself, Jim Morrison of The Doors. I take a few steps back thinking I am hallucinating or just going crazy. My mind is racing at the speed of light as I think to myself “Jim Morrison is at my house, do not say anything ridiculous and do not act like an idiot or crazed fan!” With a big grin on his face he introduces himself but does not explain why he is at my house. He appears to know I am a fan, but I don’t ask him any questions as to why he is here. I have a rock legend in my house and the whole situation feels so surreal. I invite him to join me at my regular hang-out, Starbucks. Once we arrive there, I order my usual beverage, a venti skim vanilla latte on ice. He gives me a puzzled look as if I am speaking in another language while I give my order to the friendly barista. Being simple and slightly confused as to ordering a Starbucks drink, he orders a regular cup of coffee. We sit down on the comfortable red velvet chairs and begin to chat. I am eager to discuss a variety of topics with him, for he is an amazing thinker and writer. “So, Jim” I say, “I heard you attended Florida State University back in 1962.” “Yes, I did. I studied art and psychology before leaving Florida for UCLA to study film,” he replied. I am eager to discuss the modern world with him and to see his views on it. I tell him I love his quote, “whoever controls the media controls the mind.” “I absolutely agree with you that the media is mind control to ignorant people” I tell him. He responds by telling me “It is true, people are too easily controlled by what is told to them. They never think for themselves, they just go along with what society wants them to believe in.” I know Jim could care less about authority and laws. Venues were hesitant to book shows with The Doors after finding out about Jim’s rebel ways. He tells me, "I like ideas about the breaking away or overthrowing the established order. I am interested in anything about revolt, disorder, chaos, especially activity that seems to have no meaning. It seems to me to be the road towards freedom- external revolt is a way to bring about internal freedom." Jim and I seem to see things eye to eye, I concur with his views on not following an established order. Jim always questioned authority and power, which seems to not take place often in our world today. It appears as if people are afraid to interrogate any authority in fear of what consequences could come about, such as being arrested. I tell Jim that he is correct, life should be about liberation and freedom instead of following along with society’s standards. Jim told me, “I was playing a concert in Miami on March 2nd, 1969 and I was arrested on stage for inappropriate conduct, I had exposed myself to the crowd. After that, I was arrested twelve other times. Eventually the band and I were banned from playing concerts in sixteen states. I guess I felt as if I could do whatever I wanted because I did not want to follow anyone else. I wanted to be controversial because I wanted people to think, really think about their rights and their freedom. I see in the world you live in today that freedom and rights are slowly dwindling away. People are having their privacy taken away from them and are being arrested and thrown in jail for the wrong reasons.” I mention to Jim that ever since 9/11, this country has been in a “terror state” thanks to the media. “In this day and age Jim, everyone is terrified of “terrorism”, our culture is so focused on war, whether they are for it or against it.” Jim tells me it’s similar to the 1960’s, but not as extreme. I explain to Jim the Patriot Act and refer back to what he said about people having their privacy and rights taken away from them. He tells me most people probably did not question the Patriot Act when it began because people wanted to feel safe and secure right after 9/11. I agree with him and say “The government knew that if they made the Patriot Act directly after 9/11, Americans would approve of it because they felt the government would keep them out of harms way.” I tell Jim that many young Americans are being shipped off to Iraq to be used by the government as their weapons to fight the “war on terrorism”, or as I’d like to call it, “the war on oil.” Although Jim’s father was an Admiral, he was always against war. Jim tells me about his song “The Unknown Solider” which was The Door’s anti-war song dedicated to all of the soldiers that had lost their lives in the Vietnam War. This song was actually very controversial back in 1969 and was not allowed to be played on many radio stations. Some of the lyrics went like this, “The unknown soldier, breakfast where the news is read, television children fed, unborn living, living, dead, bullet strikes the helmet's head, and it's all over, for the unknown soldier, It's all over, for the unknown soldier.” He tells me, “I saw a tombstone that said “The Unknown Soldier Somewhere in the U.S.A” and I felt compelled to write a song about it.” I tell him, “It is strange how our world’s collide even though you have lived in a different time than myself. We both have dealt or are dealing with war, and we both disagree with war because it is unnecessary. Many people are against the war going on now just like how they were when Vietnam was taking place.” Once Jim and I finish our coffee drinks, we hop into my car so we can venture off to another place. To show Jim more about modern culture, I take him to the nearest shopping mall. We walk through the mall looking at all of the flashy displays. Jim, wide-eyed and amused, points to a giant poster of himself outside of a music store. He was never interested in being a famous celebrity when he was a part of The Doors. Jim was passionate about writing and music, but he never considered himself a rockstar. I tell him, “You are well known today, even by people my age. You are considered a rock n’ roll legend. He just laughs as we continue to stroll through the large shopping complex. To the left of us is a variety of fast food restaurants and to the right of us are many stores packed with shoppers. I explain to him how popular shopping malls are in the world today. He is astonished to see how much people consume and purchase in just one day. “I will admit it, I am an avid shopper. Shopping and purchasing various products is a popular pastime in our culture today. Buying the latest fashions and technological gadgets is common among all ages,” I explain to him. “Let me just give you an explanation Jim, most of my culture and the youth of today want to follow trends just like in any other decade. However, it seems now that following trends has more to do with consuming than it does with listening to a certain type of music for example.” Jim tells me that he must go home now, so we leave the shopping mall. I am not sure where he came from in the first place, but I agree to take him home anyway. I follow his directions to his house as we drive down a long, winding road covered by a canopy of verdant, giant trees. He tells me to stop the car, so I begin to slow down. Jim thanks me for showing my world and culture to him and then he opens the car door and walks out. Confused and mystified, I watch him disappear down a dirt path with his long hair blowing in the wind, wondering if this was all just a bizarre dream. 1 * colorthecoast

[03 Nov 2004|11:44pm] I do not believe anything that the media is telling the Americans at this point. It is so easy to be brainwashed into thinking that voter fraud is under control and that it will not happen. Unfortunately, after researching information with my sister, I have found out just how easy it is to hack into the computer system and easily double the votes for the candidate (in this case, George W. Bush.) I believe Americans can be naieve at times like this. It's important to take into consideration how it's clearly possible to rig an election such as this one. Americans can easily be fooled into thinking that every vote will count and everything will be strictly watched over. The point is, is that votes are not necessarily strictly monitored. Take into account the fact that the exit polls were off by over five points in all counties and precincts where electronic voting machines were used. Notice that exit polls were off under 5 points in all counties and precincts not using electronic voting machines. Therefore, I encourage you to read this article on voter fraud. Maybe you will learn a thing or two. You will learn that the electronic voting machine companies are heavily funded by Republicans in Texas, and that the creators of these machines are in fact, Republicans. Election Fraud It's a shell game, with money, companies and corporate brands switching in a blur of buy-outs and bogus fronts. It's a sinkhole, where mobbed-up operators, paid-off public servants, crazed Christian fascists, CIA shadow-jobbers, war-pimping arms dealers - and presidential family members - lie down together in the slime. It's a hacker's dream, with pork-funded, half-finished, secretly-programmed computer systems installed without basic security standards by politically-partisan private firms, and protected by law from public scrutiny. It's how the United States, the "world's greatest democracy," casts its votes. And it's why George W. Bush will almost certainly be the next president of the United States - no matter what the ***people*** of the United States might want. The American vote-count is controlled by three major corporate players - Diebold, ES&S, and Sequoia - with a fourth, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), coming on strong. These companies - all of them hardwired into the Bushist Party power grid - have been given billions of dollars by the Bush Regime to complete a sweeping computerization of voting machines nationwide by the 2004 election. These glitch-riddled systems - many using "touch-screen" technology that leaves no paper trail at all - are almost laughably open to manipulation, according to corporate whistleblowers and computer scientists at Stanford, John Hopkins and other universities. The technology had a trial run in the 2002 mid-term elections. In Georgia, serviced by new Diebold systems, a popular Democratic governor and senator were both unseated in what the media called "amazing" upsets, with results showing vote swings of up to 16 percent from the last pre-ballot polls. In computerized Minnesota, former vice president Walter Mondale - a replacement for popular incumbent Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash days before the vote - was also defeated in a large last-second vote swing. Convenient "glitches" in Florida saw an untold number of votes intended for the Democratic candidate registering instead for Governor Jeb "L'il Brother" Bush. A Florida Democrat who lost a similarly "glitched" local election went to court to have the computers examined - but the case was thrown out by a judge who ruled that the innards of America's voting machines are the "trade secrets" of the private companies who make them. Who's behind these private companies? It's hard to tell: the corporate lines - even the bloodlines - of these "competitors" are so intricately mixed. For example, at Diebold - whose corporate chief, Wally O'Dell, a top Bush fundraiser, has publicly committed himself to "delivering" his home state's votes to Bush next year - the election division is run by Bob Urosevich. Bob's brother, Todd, is a top executive at "rival" ES&S. The brothers were originally staked in the vote-count business by Howard Ahmanson, a member of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing "steering group" stacked with Bushist faithful. Ahmanson is also one of the bagmen behind the extremist "Christian Reconstructionist" movement, which openly advocates a theocratic takeover of American democracy, placing the entire society under the "dominion" of "Christ the King." This "dominion" includes the death penalty for homosexuals, exclusion of citizenship for non-Christians, stoning of sinners and - we kid you not - slavery, "one of the most beneficent of Biblical laws." Ahmanson also has major holdings in ES&S, whose former CEO is Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. When Hagel ran for office, his own company counted the votes; needless to say, his initial victory was reported as "an amazing upset." Hagel still has a million-dollar stake in the parent company of ES&S. In Florida, Jeb Bush's first choice for a running mate in his 1998 gubernatorial race was ES&S lobbyist Sandra Mortham, who made a mint installing the machines that counted Jeb's votes. Sequoia also has a colorful history, most recently in Louisiana, where it was the center of a massive corruption case that sent top state officials to jail for bribery, most of it funneled through Mob-connected front firms. Sequoia executives were also indicted, but escaped trial after giving immunized testimony against state officials. The UK-owned company's corporate parent is private equity firm Madison Dearborn - a partner of the Carlyle Group, where George Bush I makes millions trolling the world for war pork, privatizations and sweetheart deals with government insiders. Meanwhile, the shadowy defense contractor SAIC has jumped into the vote-counting game, both directly and through spin-offs by its top brass, including Admiral Bill Owens - former military aide to Dick Cheney and Carlyle honcho Frank Carlucci - and ex-CIA chief Robert Gates. SAIC's history of fraud charges and security lapses in its electronic systems hasn't prevented it from becoming one of the largest contractors for the Pentagon and the CIA - and will doubtless pose little obstacle to its entrance into election engineering. The mad rush to install unverifiable computer voting is driven by the Help America Vote Act, signed by Bush last year. The chief lobbying group pushing for HAVA was a consortium of arms dealers - those disinterested corporate citizens - including Northop-Grumman and Lockheed-Martin. The bill also mandates that all states adopt the computerized "ineligible voter purge" system which Jeb used to eliminate 91,000 ***eligible*** black voters from the Florida rolls in 2000. The Republican-run private company that accomplished this electoral miracle, ChoicePoint, is bagging the lion's share of the new Bush-ordered purge contracts. The unelected Bush Regime now controls the government, the military, the judiciary - and the machinery of democracy itself. Absent some unlikely great awakening by the co-opted dullards of the corporate media, next November the last shreds of a genuine American republic will disappear - at the push of a button.Therefore, dozens of millions of votes will not be able to be checked and the regularity of results will depend on the ethics of private corporations which have, furthermore, contractually forbidden the states to examine the software used, even in the case of suspicious results. A study done by John Hopkins University of Baltimore has highlighted the total absence of guarantee of the machines sold by Diebold and the ability for hackers to falsify the results and to modify them from afar. The only answer from Diebold to this report was to accuse its authors of being "conspiracy theorists" doing their best to prevent the modernization of the US electoral system. Think about it... 3 * colorthecoast

[24 Oct 2004|12:36am] [ music | U2 ] today was a good day. this afternoon, amanda and i went to the food shack. i was craving indoroni hardcore. after that, dara and i went to starbucks to get coffee. we went to a few stores, and then i showed up to work late. we had fun looking around, dara found some hot rainboots to try on. i used to always wear my rainboots when i was little, they were so fun to wear. i always felt so damn cool. after work, dara and i went to possibly the cheesiest movie ever, "raise your voice." hillary duff was in it, so i was kind of expecting that it would be the cheese. we got those movie theater nachos that are so gross that they are good. i miss dara so much! it was really nice to see her this weekend. i'm so glad she's best friend <3. there's so many superficial people at school that really bother me. dara is so genuine and thoughtful and caring. i love youuuu, you're the best goo <3. tomorrow should be a nice day outside. i want to lay out in the sunshine. getting a tan is a hobby of mine, it's like a beauty gift from nature, haha i am so odd. homecoming is next weekend, it should be really fun since i'm going with fun people. i can't wait to go to college already, i'm really sick of high school and that whole ordeal. the end. <3 love, rachel. colorthecoast

[12 Oct 2004|07:13pm] [ music | Harry Connick Jr. ] So, I have narrowed down what colleges I am going to be applying to. I have chosen UCF, FSU, UNF, and USF. My first choice is FSU because they have a really good fashion design program there. I really wish I could go to school in CA or NYC for fashion design, but right now, that is way too expensive. Eventually I would like to transfer to the Fashion Institute of Technology or Parsons School of Design in NYC, or a fashion school located in Orange County, CA. There are so many different things I'm interested in majoring in, even though I really want to pursue a fashion career. I'd love to major in all sors of majors like Anthropology/Archaeology, Photography, Political Science, Sociology, Criminology. AHH, there are so many possibilities out there, it's tough to pick just one career. I've always wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic. Think about it, I'd get to travel the world taking pictures, and creating artwork while I'm at it. I'm really into studying about the world and different cultures. My first choice I really want is to have a career in fashion design. I don't know, I'm so indecisive, all I know is that there are tons of careers out there. I went to work right after school, and left work around five. After work I went for a run on the beach. It was surprisingly cool outside, it was the perfect condition outside for running. Tomorrow is the final presidential debate, I'm excited to watch it. I'm going to the Dwyer Homecoming with a bunch of people, I'm excited, it should be fun. I got one hot dress..it's the most vibrant hot pink color I have ever seen and short and ruffly at the bottom. The perfect cocktail dress paired with stilettos <3. I never know how to conclude my entries. Love, Rachel. 1 * colorthecoast

[10 Oct 2004|08:24pm] [ music | Jack Johnson ] So this weekend was fun. Well, except for Friday night. I had to work friday night and then go to bed early because I had SAT's the next morning. At work, I got a chance to catch most of the Debate, Kerry won of course ;). Now that Courtnee and Caitlin work next door to me, we can hang for a bit after work. They came over and they got ready to go out, while I was sad that I couldn't because I had to be responsible and go to bed early because of the SATs. I missed a party at the beach and getting chased by the cops...darn. Saturday morning I took the SAT's and I think I did well. This was my second time taking them. I'm anxious to get my scores back. After the test, I met up with everyone at the beach, and we were there all day. It was so beautiful out, I love spending the entie day at the beach and then going home all sandy and tan and sweaty/smelly, haha. I went to work at 5:00, got off at 10:00, went back to my house with Courtnee, and we got ready to go out. We went to some kid's condo on Singer Island, it was fun. We all watched "Finding Nemo", haha. This morning, Courtnee and I went to the Pier and waited for everyone else to wake their asses up and meet us. Eventually Roberta came, then Shawn and Melanie. Then Ashley and Angela showed up, etc. Everyone was there, it was fun, got a lot of sunshine. We're so lucky to be able to go to the beach this time of year, usually it's colder everywhere else. Later on, I hung out with my dad, sister, and brother. We went to some Cuban restaurant, it was deeee-lish. I'm tired and I don't want to go to school. I miss my Dara <3. Ugly Hot kid sucks. I'm really thirsty. I love sand in my hair. Goodnight. Love, Rachel. colorthecoast

[06 Oct 2004|03:47pm] Today was another one of those exciting days in West Palm Beach. I had the amazing opportunity to meet and listen to Vice-Presidential candidate John Edwards. It was interesting to see him speak the day after the debate in Cleveland. Two of my sisters, mom, and I were able to sit on the stage which he was speaking on. The crowd was really into it, it was speech, but it seemed to me like it was more of a rally. Edwards had a lot of important things to say. Never before have I been so sure of who I want running our country until I have seen these two people in person. They are intelligent, literate (unlike someone...), and completely down to earth. They also both have a ton of experience. I was on T.V and also got a lot of picture of John Edwards. After he was done speaking I got to meet him and he is so genuine and friendly. Sounds really irrelevant and stupid, but John Edwards is so good looking not only on T.V, but in person. I think I have a new crush, too bad he's 33 years my senior, what a P.I.L.F, haha. So I must say, it's been awesome to meet both Kerry and Edwards. It was an opportunity I thought I would never have to meet the future president and vice president. I have to go to work now. <3 Love, Rachel. colorthecoast

[03 Oct 2004|06:32pm] [ mood | nervous ] [ music | OAR ] This weekend was fun. I missed the Converge show Friday night, so Courtnee and I hung out with Freddy and we went to some kids party in West Palm. It was all right, we left pretty early though. Saturday I ran some errands and what not. I had to work Saturday night, but Amanda came to visit me! Work is always more interesting when you have your friends there. Today I hung out with my Dad, sister, and brother. We went to Hurricane Cafe and then the mall for a bit. I got some jeans since I always get bitched at by random teachers for wearing mini skirts, haha. I got home around 2:00 and called Courtnee. Met up with her and Caitlin and a whole bunch of people at the beach. It was super fun, we just hung out and laid on our wonderfully connected towels. A lot of people were surfing, I really should have brought my board today, I haven't been surfing in a while. I didn't get to see Dara this weekend, I work too much. :( But she'll be back soon! <3. I just finished a whole bunch of homework, since we've been out of school for a week now. Kind of suck that we have to go back, it's such a pain. One week we're in school, the next we're not. I need to go take a shower. I love having salty hair and sandy feet though. Love, Rachel. 1 * colorthecoast

That's what girls dreams are made of. [30 Sep 2004|03:40pm] [ mood | accomplished ] [ music | Taking Back Sunday ] I was going to go on over to the beach today but it started getting cloudy so I layed out at my pool for a bit. Alexandra called me so she came on over and we went to the Food Shack for a bite to eat, it was tasty of course. Then we went to pick up her pooch after it got it's hair trimmed, haha it sounds like a person or something. She had swim practice at 2:00 so I went back home and got a lot of homework out of the way. I figured it will be due when we go back to school on monday. I've been doing my homework for almost two hours straight, my hand hurts now. I have no idea what I'm doing tonight yet. Might visit Bryan at his work. I'm just glad I have the night off. The Converge show is tomorrow night and of course I'm working. I'm going to go finish a few things now. Love, Rachel. 1 * colorthecoast

[29 Sep 2004|11:16pm] [ mood | cynical ] [ music | U2 ] Having this hurricane vacation off from school is a nice little break. We only lost power for two days, we were definitely fortunate. I feel terrible for all of the people even from Charley without power still. Sure it was uncomfortable living without power in the Florida heat, but I was so sick and tired of hearing people complain about such petty things. I was in the grocery store with my mom and I hear this woman complaining about how she hates that the grocery store didn't have any perishables in stock and how horrid life is without electricity. I wish people would realize that there is a world out there other than just their own civilized area that they live in. There are human beings living in third world countries that eat next to nothing, live in terrible conditions, and drink unsanitary water. It's terrible to hear about, but it's the sad truth and reality. One day I would really like to help out with that and eventually travel to a third world country to lend a hand. I am thankful I have a roof over my head, and thankful that I had food to eat after the storm. I don't want to be a hypocrite because I sometimes catch myself complaining over something ridiculous like that and have to remind myself that I, and most of the u.s. are lucky enough to be living under much healthier conditions. Be grateful for what you have. So, to change the subject...what have I been up to? I've been busy trying to escape practically every hurricane coming in our direction. It's been stressful, and I and probably the rest of FL, are hoping we don't get anymore. Yesteray I went with Amanda to the mall. It was fun, she got cute shoes and I got silk boxer PJ's from Abercrombie. I have this new silk obsession and I have been buying silk everything lately. Today I went shopping again with my sister Kathryn because she needs some shorts for a vacation she's going on with her boyfriend next week. We went to Coldstone and got pumpkin ice cream, everyone must try it. I felt like it was Thanksgiving or something. Speaking of that, I absolutely love Fall time. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy really hot weather but it's nice for it to cool down once in a while. I used to love Autumn in Virginia because it was still warm out but slightly less humid. The leaves would turn to all of these pretty oranges and reds. It was so cozy, I miss that. Oh, and raking leaves as always fun because afterwards you get to jump in that huge pile of colorful foliage. <3 Tomorrow are the presidential debates, I'm excited to watch them. You know who I'll be routing for. It should be interesting to watch. I'm going to the beach tomorrow with Morgan, Alexandra, and hopefully Amanda! I am in desperate need of a good tan right now. I miss the sunshine, it's been so rainy lately. Dara is coming this weekend, so excited! <333 loveyou. That is all for now, goodnight my loves. 4 * colorthecoast

[22 Sep 2004|08:51pm] So today I had the opportunity to meet the next president, John Kerry. Today he spoke at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. My mom, my two sisters and I were able to get these amazing seats on the bleachers right in front of Kerry because my sister works on is campaign. I felt famous for about ten minutes because we were able to cut this mile long line of people and go through all of these secret ways and this lady from the Palm Beach Post was following us around taking pictures of us, haha. There were a lot of senior citizens there because he was there mainly to talk about social security and medicaid issues, however, he did speak about many other issues such as Iraq and the whole drafting situation, as well as college tuition. I was very impressed by everything that he spoke about and I really wish that I would be able to vote this year, but my birthday to turn 18 is in January unfortunately. Man though, some of the elderly people were getting so riled up and crazy and screaming all of these questions in the middle of him speaking, they were acting like five-year-olds. I enjoyed all of the Bush jokes. I saw Bush supporters outside protesting holding up "Baby Killer" signs, don't even get me started :) So after Kerry's speech and everyone left, my sister took my family and I backstage to this high security area with all of these secret service agents and FBI people around. It was awesome to be back there with only those people and my family while meeting John Kerry. So we waited back there for a bit until he started walking down the backstage hallway with his secret service, and he came up to us and we introduced ourselves to him and had a pretty long conversation with him. He was very genuine and friendly and happy to meet us. I know most people assume politicians are fake and everything, but he was sincere. It was so weird meeting him in person because I always see him on the television and then he's standing there infront of me talking to my family and I. He's very tall in person, and also looks way younger in person. Oh, and he had really nice teeth, weird comment I know, but I'd never noticed his teeth before, haha. It was really special to be able to meet him in such a private environment instead of in a huge crowd. It's something I'll remember forever because it's not everyday that you can meet the next president of the United States. It's actually really hard to be able to meet him these days because he's followed everywhere by his secret service agents, so I felt lucky to be able to speak with him. Okay and I'm tired. But yeah, very exciting day So Bush, Fuck you and your daddy. We don't need another four years of hell. :) 2 * colorthecoast

[16 Sep 2004|05:35pm] [ music | Rusted Root ] Tomorrow is Friday, I love Friday's. So, I survived the hurricane and had a good time while I was at it. We evacuated to Clearwater, and made it a vacation. Nothing like laying out in the sun while across the coast it's rainy and windy. I miss Dara, I wish I could see her more often, but she's at college. Hopefully she'll come back to visit soon. I wanted to see her the other week but the hurricane kind of got in the way of things. If you're reading this, I love you goo! <333. and I shall call you a.s.a.p. :) School was out today, so I went to Juno Surf Shop to help Courtnee's boyfriend find her a skateboard. Saw Austin there, he got mad because I thought his car was a civic, oops... I'm considering volunteering at either the marine life center or Safe Harbor, so if anyone has any info. on either of those places, I will...paint you a picture. ha. I just got back from running and I need to take a shower. I'm going to sign up for yoga classes at this studio across the street from me, and next to my work. That should be interesting. 10 * colorthecoast

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