Jon Krakaeur

Jon Krakaeur was born in Oregon, and was first introduced to hiking and camping by his father. He is the author of many popular books like, Into the Wild and countless others. He was very outdoor oriented throughout his life, contributing to the theme of the outdoors in his books. This is shown through him writing his book, Climbing Mount Everest. This is a book about his hard climb to the top of one of the highest peaks in the world. Krakaeur wrote for a outdoor magazine at one point and now lives with his wife in Seattle, Washington.

Week 3 Blog 2

Grace Leung

2/8/11

Western Civilization

Give several examples of monuments in Maryland / DC / PA that might be familiar to folks who live here but which would not be understood by outsiders without an explanation. Please include your own or public domain photos.

            There are many monuments in Maryland, the DC and PA areas that people who do not live here would understand. One is the White House. This could defiantly throw people off because if they are not familiar with the United States or are foreign, then this not very powerful name could seem to them as odd. The White House is one of the nation’s greatest monuments. To describe this to someone who would not know about it is, The White House is where the leader of our country lives. He is the president and almost like a “king”. Another monument that may not be familiar for people who are not from this area or even the U.S. is Edgar Allen Poe’s memorial grave. This may be unfamiliar to people who don’t live in Baltimore because Poe is a famous poet from Baltimore. A way to explain this to someone is the memorial grave marks the death of Edgar Allen Poe who wrote some of the most famous poems in the world. 

Week 3 Blog 1

Grace Leung

2/7/11

Western Civilization

1.     What is the oldest human-created artifact that has mattered to you? Why/how does it matter?

The oldest human- created artifact that has mattered to me is the Declaration of Independence, because it is a big part of our history as Americans. The Declaration of hand written and crafted by several of the United States leading delegates. This simple piece of paper or document formed our country to what it is today. This little piece of paper signed by fifty-seven people caused an enormous change in our rights today. It gave us freedom of speech and so many other independences. The Declaration of Independence took about a year to write and publish, which was in 1776. This Declaration was the foundation of the American Government system today. The different branches of government are formed from this. The United States government is known as one of the most successful in the world. Because of the fairness of the foundations of our constitutions we therefore have the benefit of true freedom. The Declaration is not the oldest artifact of this world, but it is a treasured one. Without this we could possibly live in a Communist world and the turn of the Revolutionary War could have been changed. 

Week 2 Blog 4

1.     You accidentally discover an invention that can immediately help millions of people; but only if you act immediately. On the other hand, if you just wait three months, you can secure a patent and get rich. Which do you choose and why?

These are two very hard decisions, but if I had to choose it would be to release the invention to the people. This is because, by doing this I could start a revolution. The invention could help people that need it the most. By doing this I could possibly help the economy. If the product or invention sells, this could be world-wide causing different countries to buy and use it. If other countries do, it will increase the United States as a world power. This could even possibly bring different nations together. The industrial revolution could boost the economy, to create more jobs. This could in turn cause lower rates of people without jobs. Communications between countries will help all of those other countries in need of an economy boost a chance. If I keep this invention to myself then I could allow the world to go on as it is and if another country somehow gets their hands on it, before the U.S they could become stronger. By letting this invention to be released to the country, it could save the economy, help other countries and improve our world. 

Week 2 Blog 3

Our Language

Gsv hfm iveloevh zilfmw gsv vzigs.  Rg xlnkovgvh lmv ivelofgrlm vevib 563 wzbh.  Vzigs’h liyrg rh rm gsv hszkv lu zm voorkhv.  Gsv vzigs ilgzgvh lmxv vevib 32 slfih zmw 65 nrmfgvh.  Gsv vzigs ilgzgvh dvhg gl vzhg.  Gsv ilgzgrlm lu gsv vzigs xzfhvh gsv xszmtv lu hvzhlmh.

The sun revolves around the earth.  It completes one revolution every 365 days.  Earth’s orbit is in the shape of an ellipse. The earth rotates once every 23 hours and 56 minutes.  The earth rotates west to east. The rotation of the earth causes the change of seasons.

A = z                               

B= y

C= x

D= w

E= v

F= u

G= t

H= s

I=r

J=q

K= p

L=o

M= n

N= m

O=l

P= k

Q=j

R=i

S=h

T=g

U=f

V=e

W=d

X=c

Y=b

Z=a

Week 2 Blog 2

Grace Leung
Week 2 Blog 2

Which do you think is a better roadmap of history artifacts of the humanities (art, music, dance, theatre, literature, philosophy, architecture, etc) or political/military conflicts? Why?

            

Out of these different roadmaps to history, art is the most important and informative. Art does not only describe history it gives a personal insight to history that can’t always be accomplished by these other artifacts of the humanities. Each piece of artwork tells an individual story that leads to another. Art is visual and easy to understand, while music is hard to read and possibly confusing. When something is drawn it creates a visual that allows you to see and understand the picture or painting. Art is also something you can use your senses, you can touch the artwork to feel the painting to maybe distinguish the time it was dated in, or the texture could be part of the message pertaining to the painting. Paintings are also preserved well if put in the right temperature, they can last for centuries. An example of a famous painting that tells history is the Last Supper, which was done by Leonardo DaVinci. This painting has lasted centuries with care and protection. The painting is a very valuable part of history because it shows the son of God, at the last supper in perfect correspondents to what the bible describes is happening. Art is the most resourceful artifact that tells us about all kinds of history, making it clear and easy to understand. 

Week 2 Blog 1

Grace Leung

1/31/11

Honors Western Civilization

Describe the importance of water in the ancient world.

          There are many different ways water is useful important and greatly needed in the ancient world. Water was the basis of almost every food or drink. Irrigation was the way food was made during this time and for irrigation. The water used for this is not used gradually, but in huge amounts because in the ancient world people are dependent on the water and the crops it produces. Also water in the ancient world could be used for cooking, like boiling food or steaming it. Another use for water in the ancient world is to help rid the many diseases. Water can be put into mixtures to create paints used to draw or write communications or the tribe’s native language. Paintings are very important because it tells us about different things that occurred in the ancient world. Paintings translate important events of how the earth changed over centuries. Water is very important to the ancient world, it is even so sacred to certain parts of the ancient world there is a God for water. In Mesopotamia the water God is very important to the people’s religion. This varies in different religion’s on how important water is. Water’s importance to the ancient world is very clear, as it is used for many different things that help the survival of these people.