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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:18:55 GMT -6
This is my personal collection of essays written from 2002 to the present. I have included these essays in the hope of furthering Natopia's culture in the arts and literature. ======================================== Nathan Shepard February 17, 2005 Mrs. Robinson - English III Challenge 2nd Block Transcendentalism Transcendentalism, at its fundamental core, is a great philosophy that teaches individualism and self-determination. It is very similar to the Oriental philosophy/religion of Taoism. In Taoism, you follow your own Tao (path) and you decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong. However, take this philosophy to an extreme and you have anarchy, that is why no ancient Far Eastern civilization was based on Taoism, and that is why transcendentalism can be abused or misunderstood as a tool for chaos. Mankind invented society to spread new ideas and to protect himself. The more structured the society the more easily ideas can be spread and the more it can protect. However, as society increases in structure, it requires its members to conform to increasingly complex rules so that it may protect them and so that society itself is maintained. In a society that demands conformity, it is difficult to abide by transcendentalist ideals. In fact, it is impossible to truly be independent. When you are born into society, you conform to its use of language, clothing, and morals. Even Thoreau conformed to the basics of American society while living in the woods. He wrote his journals in English, wore clothes, and still possessed basic morals, such as the idea that murder is wrong. We are constantly allowing other’s thoughts and ideas to enter our minds and influence us, whether we realize it or not. By reading my words on this paper you are allowing my thoughts to influence your mind. Maybe my thoughts are in conflict with yours, this presents a compromise to the ideas that maybe you have thought of yourself. As long as you don’t forget these words, they will always be influencing you. In conclusion: moderation. We must accept the fact that society is there for our greater benefit. We must acknowledge that others inadvertently influence us. However, using other’s ideas and using our own amazing brains, we ARE able to think for ourselves. Regardless if the idea has been thought before, we can abide by it if we believe it to be true.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:21:14 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard October 21, 2004 Mrs. Robinson - English III - C Block 2 Culture Clash Exterminate, oppress, relocate, and assimilate. These are words that the Native Americans of the 19th century may have used to describe the US Government’s impact on their tribes, nations, and cultures. The white’s culture impacted the Native Americans profoundly and changed their society forever. The Native American’s culture can be compared and contrasted to the white’s culture. They valued simplicity and oneness with nature among other values. In other words, mankind exists as merely a single part in the world. This contrasts with the Western ideology of dominion over the Earth with God allowing His chosen people to control and own whatever they wish. The closeness of family has similarities in both societies. However, Native American families grouped together and became interdependent. Similar to a large, extended family. The unity of the Western family was limited to the immediate family. Families in the white culture had members that married away and started their own family. This leads Western families to be independent entities and to care less about other families, compared to the Native American families. Upon the first contact with Native Americans and English settlers cultural differences have been prominent and plagued attempts for peace. Since the establishment of the colonies, through their independence, into their early national period, and through and after the Civil War, the Native American and Western forces continually fought. Each side interpreted the other side’s actions as acts of war, sometimes accurately, and sometimes inaccurately. The great difference in cultures blinded both sides from seeing the other side’s true intentions. The white’s culture, demonstrated by the US Army reinforcements in the movie, Dances with Wolves, promoted an aura of superiority, and therefore was particularly inflexible to facilitate peace with the Native Americans. Aside from cultural reasons the US Government pursued the conflict with Native Americans for political, territorial, and military gain. The US leaders wanted the country to grow into the bountiful lands of the Louisiana Purchase, regardless of those already living there. Leaders also had to please the US citizens, who were filled with propaganda against the Natives and full of patriotism and wanted the US to expand to the Pacific. Religion, while usually defined as a peaceful idea, helped fuel the conflicts. The Native American’s religion emphasized unity with nature, wholeness and openness of oneself, and respect for all things, as all things have spirits. A strict moral code is thus implied and followed by the Natives. As the Native Americans have no written language, oral traditions formed the foundation of this moral code. To break with the code would result in being cast out of the tribe, the highest punishment for the interdependent Native Americans. Christianity, the primary religion of the whites in contact with the Natives, also set forth a moral code. However the Bible and other written doctrine established this code. The punishment for breaking this code is not just being shunned by the religiously minded American society, but being eternally damned. The similarities end there. Christianity requires that all obey the doctrines; otherwise they will not receive salvation from hell. The spiritualism of the Native Americans allows for openness and respect of all religions as ways to worship their Great Spirit, sometimes said to be the Christian God as well. The differences between the white and native cultures changed the history of the Americas forever. While each side had several similarities, these cannot balance the cultural intolerance of the whites and the inability of the natives to understand land ownership.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:23:11 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard November 18, 2004 English III-C - Mrs. Robinson Block 2 The Lesser Known Battles of the Civil War War is hell. Many authors and storytellers use this simple phrase to describe armed conflict. More often than not, they parallel the mental anguish of war to the assumed physical torment of hell. Stephen Crane chronicles the experiences of Henry Fleming, a young Union soldier in the Civil War, in The Red Badge of Courage. Crane had never been in battle before writing what war veterans would laud as an accurate account of war and the thoughts and feelings of participants. His book influences the treatment of war literature forever. Crane employs the literary technique of characterization to convey the themes of courage, manhood, and self-preservation. The Red Badge of Courage presents courage in two differing ways through characterization. Henry Fleming characterizes one way throughout the first half of the book. The idealistic and romantic notions of courage and war fill his imagination. War, he believes, is “of heavy crowns and high castles,” and that that time “had disappeared forever,” (Crane 3). However, Fleming’s mother characterizes the opposing idea of courage. She advises him to fulfill his responsibilities to the army, even at the cost of his own life. Notably, she advises Fleming to demonstrate courage by following orders and to not “go a-thinkin’ you can lick the hull rebel army at the start, because yeh can’t,” (4). Fleming eventually realizes what courage actually is and characterizes it when he returns to battle and feels like a part of the army and fights for the whole, and not for his personal glory. As well as courage, Henry Fleming struggles internally with understanding the concept of manhood. He feels that courage and manhood are complementary; and therefore, returns to battle after fleeing only to preserve his manhood. This idea of entwined manhood and romantic courage stems from the belief that “secular and religious education had effaced the throat-grappling instinct” and stripped man of his natural savagery (3). Because man is no longer savage, he must prove his manhood on the battlefield by a characteristic display of brazen courage. The idea of self-preservation involuntarily forces Henry Fleming to flee his second engagement. Upon reflection of his desertion, he justifies his actions as self-preservation and believes he has done a service to the Union cause and the army itself. He rationalizes that since he has fled from a losing skirmish, he has survived to fight another battle for the Union army, thus doing the Union a great service. Still lost in contemplation, he “[throws] a pinecone at a jovial squirrel, and he [runs] with chattering fear,” (34). This proves to Fleming that fleeing is a universal response to fear. While walking, Fleming comes across the body of a dead soldier and this shatters his theory. The decaying body shows him the universe’s disregard for a single human life. How can his theory justify fleeing if the universe, or to a lesser extent the Union army, sees his life as inconsequential? It cannot. Therefore, this epiphany leads Fleming to rejoin the army and to fight as an essential piece of the army, not as an individual entity. Fleming’s reactions to war, the squirrel, and the soldier’s body characterize the theme of self-preservation. Henry Fleming’s idea of courage shifts from the romantic, fairy-tale idea to the real-life idea of fulfilling one’s duties, despite personal injury. His idea of manhood alters as well. No longer do men have to prove their manhood in battle, now it is simply a stage in life that one must mature into. The presentation of the dead soldier throws Fleming’s theory of self-preservation into chaos and forces him to think of his insignificance as a singular person. Henry Fleming characterizes the themes of courage, manhood, and self-preservation.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:24:37 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard February 13, 2005 Mrs. Robinson - English III-C Block 2 Nature Essay As I left my car in the Sylvan Springs parking lot, I walked past a group of skateboarders. They paid no attention to me and continued to clackity-clack their boards against the cement. I noticed an older couple walking their dog and younger kids playing in the swings making the slight scree sound of an old rusty swing set. I walked passed them to the Beverage Garden, the old stone structure in the middle of the park. I had played here many times as a kid, it was more fun than the more modern playground next to it. As I walked up to the wall surrounding it… …I was suddenly fascinated with the mossy stream running through the garden. I splashed around and ran over the stone bridges. I was in a fort, or a castle! I recruited the other kids and we all went exploring the nearby bushes or the far side of the garden. There was no staircase I didn’t climb, no nook left undiscovered, no wall I didn’t scale. Then, I looked for the biggest rock I could find (I had to have Dad help me) and dropped it in the small pool where the stream began. It made the loudest plop I ever heard! I had to find another… …Angle for the pictures I was taking. Then I sat on the stonewall. The wall was cold, even for the warm day it was, but the sun was going down. I watched the younger kids play around, just as I used to. When they left, the park got quieter. Now I could hear the road, and cars made sure to announce their passage. Blocking out the cars and jets, I realized that everything was dead and decaying. The only natural sounds I heard were birds tweet-twee-tweeting and a duck or goose honking. My butt was cold. So, after having enough of cars, jets, and geese, I packed up my things and walked past the skaters, clakity-clacking away.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:25:39 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard Mrs. Robinson English III - Block 2 18 May 2005 No Cat, No Cradle Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was born on Armistice Day, November 11, 1922. His birthdate would prove to be an indicator of his future pacifistic views. Vonnegut began writting in his high school paper, the Shortridge Daily Echo, the first daily high school paper in the country (Berggoetz). He pursued a career in science in college, yet continued to write for news papers and other publications. To avoid being flunked for bad grades he dropped out of Cornell in 1943 and enlisted in the army. As a prisoner of war in Dresden he survived the Allied firebombing of the city, which killed some 135,000 Dresden residents (Berggoetz). After being rescued, he attended college and began writting again. His first works were published in the 1950's and he was successful enough to quit his publicist job at General Electric and sustain his family on with his writing (Berggoetz). Cat's Cradle introduces a fictitious religion, Bokononism, which brings comfort to people by openly lieing to them. This religion based on lies represents Vonnegut's cynical view of all religions and satirizes human stupidity. Bokononism is nothing but foma, harmless lies. It was invented by Lionel Boyd Johnson upon his arrival on San Lorenzo in order to help build a Utopia. The natives pronounced Johnson as Bokonon in their native English dialect, and thus the name of the religion was born. After it became clear that Bokonon's friend, McCabe, could not improve the standard of living through economic and governmental reforms, they both turned to Bokoniosm to provide comfort for the San Lorenzans (Vonnegut 118). The religion was intended to make the impoverished natives happy through telling them lies, the natives would be part of an island-wide play, with McCabe as the epitome of an evil dictator and symbol of oppression, and Bokonon as the object of prayer and goodness. The very principles of Bokononism show Vonnegut's disregard for the so-called truths of religion. Vonnegut only believes that religions are artificial creations of man, creations that bring him comfort in letting him think he knows God's truth, which Vonnegut believes is impossible for a human to know, let alone comprehend (Price). The game, cat's cradle, is a representation of this belief. A cat's cradle has neither a cat, or a cradle, yet it is called a cat's cradle. This mirrors the fallacy of religions that promise a certain thing that isn't there. Cat's Cradle is also a history of human stupidity. The seemingly innocent Felix Hoenikker is the principle father of the atomic bomb and his work killed hundreds of thousands of people. However, his mannerisms, not caring about pride and recognition and going about his experiments with the intent of a young child, earn him the description of being innocent and "practically a Jesus" (Vonnegut 53). Comparing the father of the atomic bomb to Jesus is stark at first, but both have caused death. Felix with his atomic bomb, and Jesus with Christianty, a religion that has caused more wars and death than any other dispute in history (Price). Felix's children, Angela, Newt, and Frank, also show a sense of innocense that will kill millions. Felix's last invention was the ice-nine, an isotope of water that is solid at room temperature. This invention was, of course, intended for military use to freeze mud to allow soldiers to trudge through marshy areas. Upon Felix's death, the three children use the ice-nine to make themselves happy. Newt's affair with the Soviet midget spy allows the USSR to attain ice-nine, Angela 'bought' her US defense contractor husband by selling him ice- nine, and Frank became the second-in-command of San Lorenzo by using ice-nine as a bargaining chip. In the end, Felix's innocent invention destroys the world and kills every living creature by turning all water, all moisture, in lakes and in human bodies, to ice (Ward). A popular idea in the mid-twentieth century was that mankind had matured behind its childish wars and was making technological advances to benefit makinf (Ward). Cat's Cradle shows that human stupidity is still prevalent and has armed itself with the technology we believe to be our aid. Vonnegut's personal experiences and thoughts certainly show through in Cat's Cradle. All religions are simply there to make the adherents happy, there is no truth to them. Bokononists know this, Christians do not, and that is why Christians are willing to kill for their truth and Bokononists are content to let things play out as God wants it. (sorry about formatting... dont know what happened there...)
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:31:46 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard 1/6/04 Mr. Gulath - English II-C 3rd Block
Three summers ago I went on the best trip I’ve been on thus far. My family went to Australia for three weeks to visit my aunt and uncle. We took off out of Lambert Airport to Los Angeles where a several hour layover awaited us. From L.A. we boarded a Qantas airplane and began the flight over the Pacific Ocean. During the flight I was treated to showings of 5 year-old movies and a previously recorded radio show that repeated the same 6 songs over and over. At the end of the 14-hour flight I set foot on Australian soil. Looking out the windows of the terminal on my way to Customs I thought it was very early on a summer morning. The sun had not yet come up and it was very dark. Actually, back in St. Louis it was an early summer morning before the sun came up. Since I could not sleep on the plane I was exhausted from a 30 plus hour day. It took me a few minutes, and a helpful fellow passenger, for me to realize that it was 8 P.M. the next day in the dead of winter. We went through Customs and got our rental car and set out on the wrong side of the road for our hotel. I finally fell asleep on the car ride. Arriving in the downtown Sydney hotel I wanted nothing but sleep, despite the panoramic view of Sydney’s skyline just beyond my window and the many other amenities of the hotel. There was a pool on the roof of our hotel and I braved the cold and jumped into the freezing water like a penguin diving for fish. After about a minute I got just too cold and scrambled back inside of the top floor and into a very welcoming hot tub. We spent a week in Sydney, visited the Opera House and other attractions. We then went south, starting off our cross-country, multi-city tour of the south east of Australia. Our first major stop was the capital of Canberra, where my aunt and uncle live several kilometers beyond city lines, but still within the Australian Capital Territory. They live in the secluded township of Burra Creek but mostly go to Queenbeyan for their shopping and entertainment. During our stay we went to stay in a bush hut my uncle and aunt bought in an even more secluded section of the country. The stay in the bush hut was an interesting and fun experience, but I’d only recommend it for one night. The walls were made of packed mud and not very insulated, and it was the middle of Australian winter, which can be bitterly cold in certain parts of the country. We slept upstairs, which consisted of thin planks suspended by the mud walls. The previous owner of the hut was somehow able to place a grand piano on the second floor, so the whole floor drooped towards the middle of the hut like a sink. There were only two mattresses, one for my parents and one for my aunt and uncle, so my mattress was a piece of foam and my blankets were a thin sleeping bag and 4 layers of clothes. Despite these uncomfortable circumstances, however, I was rewarded with a magnificent, unspoiled view of the Southern night sky. The Milky Way that is never visible from St. Louis was lit up as bright as the moon. I immediately picked out the only Southern constellation I knew of, the Southern Cross. The moon and stars were so brilliant there it almost seemed as if it were an eclipse. After a week at my aunt and uncle’s house we used our remaining days to visit other states and major cities. We drove south from Canberra to the state of Victoria and the city of Melbourne. From there, the road we traveled on hugged the Indian Ocean coastline to Adelaide, South Australia, where we got a jacket for my grandma, whose name is Adelaide. Then we drove across the Outback to Broken Hill, crossed the Darling River, and then went on to Dubbo. The last major stop on our trip was in Brisbane and Gold Coast, in Queensland. Brisbane and Gold Coast were the most beautiful places on our trip, but unfortunately we only ate lunch at the Hard Rock Café there. Then we drove down the east coast back to Sydney, where another 14-hour flight full of old movies and repetitive music awaited me.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:35:18 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard Mr. Gulath - English II-C January 9, 2004 Romance, the Classic Archetype Romantic archetypes date back to ancient Mesopotamia, making them the oldest known literature archetype. The romantic archetype in literature shows the hero, who possesses special talents or abilities, going on a quest to find treasure or to fight evil. Pern is a futuristic space colony cut off from communication with Earth that begins to flourish despite losing technologies over the course of thousands of years. The first colonists on the planet Pern genetically engineer dragons to defend themselves from the deadly space organisms, Thread, which fall mindlessly on the planet. The novels of the Dragonriders of Pern fall under the romantic archetype. All romances contain a hero character. All romantic heroes have a talent or ability that sets them apart from any ordinary character. Pern finds its heroes in the Dragonriders; they have above average reflexes and empathic powers that enable them to effectively control their dragons. The dragons themselves have the ability to teleport between two places, or even two times, with their riders. Some romantic heroes have uncertain origins or unusual backgrounds. The Dragonriders discover the gigantic dragons they defend Pern with descended from small, flying lizards through genetic engineering. They also discover they themselves descended from an ancient space colony after thousands of years of losing that knowledge. The Dragonriders fit the description of romantic heroes. In all romantic stories the hero goes on a quest. The ancient colonists go on a quest to colonize Pern and create a perfect society. The colonists travel from Earth in three colony ships, cryogenically frozen, for fourteen years until reaching Pern. Once settled, the colonists experience First Fall, the first encounter they will have with Thread. The scientists search for a way to protect themselves and end up developing the dragons. In order to protect the original colonists’ dream the Dragonriders go on an endless quest to protect Pern from the Thread. For thousands of years the Dragonriders defend Pern until they rediscover the ancient Landing Site of the colonists and activate a computer. This computer, AIVAS, has been developing a plan to permanently stop Thread for the thousands of years humans have been away from the Landing Site. With AIVAS’s help, the Dragonriders finally succeed in their quest to stop Thread. This book series contains a romantic quest. The companions in a romance aid the hero throughout his or her quest. Due to the fact that dragons have a high level of intelligence, both the dragon and Dragonrider consider each other equal. They telepathically bind to each other at the dragon’s birth so they become very close companions. The Dragonriders play a key role in AIVAS’s plan, but they cannot succeed with out the aid of their dragons. The Dragonriders live most of their lives with other Dragonriders in buildings called weyrs. This allows the Dragonriders to form close companionships. This closeness between Dragonriders enables them to smoothly carry out AIVAS’s plan as well as the Thread protection service they have provided for thousands of years. Companionship prevails in the Dragonriders of Pern series. The theme of all romances comes down to good versus evil. The Dragonriders set the standard of goodness for ordinary people. Conversely, Thread personify pure evil. Casting someone into a Threadfall as an execution is considered inhumane and horrible and never done, no matter the severity of the crime. In fact, the mere sight of Thread anywhere near a settlement causes extreme panic and fear. The good Dragonriders constantly fight the evil Thread. The Dragonriders of Pern book series by Anne McCafferey demonstrates all the elements of a romantic story archetype. Typical romances have the hero questing with companions to fight evil. The heroic Dragonriders quest for millennia to stop the evil Thread. The deeds of the Dragonriders permanently save Pern from destruction.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:47:38 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard Mrs. Gorsuch - English I-C Memoirs Every year I visit my grandparents on Long Island in New York. Each trip holds a specific memory that I will never forget. A journey into the city, a pleasant walk through a park, or unexpectedly finding a treasure at a Saturday morning garage sale take place on a trip to Long Island. The most recent trip held an even more unexpected adventure. Usually my family goes into New York City for a day trip from my grandparents’ home. One time, however, we went upstate, through the Shawangunk Mountains, to Lake Minnewaska. My father had visited the lake in his youth and longed to see it again because of its natural beauty. The lake was a naturally beautiful hue of blue surrounded by wind-worn cliffs and tall evergreens. We began to hike a short, one-mile, trail that would take us around the entire lake. The trail began on a flat, green, picnic area that, as it descended slowly to a cliff, exposed smooth, flat patches of rock. As we ventured onwards to the left we crossed a wooden footbridge crossing a shallow chasm. The trail then worked its way gently upward through the tall evergreens with the lake peeking through between the branches and pine needles. After several minutes, the evergreens gave way to another flat, green, picnic area with patches of rock exposed and trees randomly dispersed throughout the area. We sat on the edge of the nearby cliff for several minutes. The cliff was the highest point around the lake and offered a panoramic view of the entire lake, surrounding Shawangunks, and the distant Catskill Mountains. The wind relentlessly whirled around and against us. The wind was so fierce even sitting down did not prevent it from pushing me down on my back. We left the cliff and went steadily downhill to the artificial dam of the lake. While walking we saw the trail below us and cut through the trees and rocks to make a short cut. A few more minutes saw us to the dam. A drainpipe was fixed to the dam and through it the entire lake was funneled into a pathetic, dripping stream. We passed over the dam and saw large piles of icy, dirty, snow lying on the ground. After the snow piles, there was a steep portion of the side of the mountain that partially enclosed the lake. The trail ran along this mountainside until it was level enough to go up mountainside. I saw a shortcut to the top, through fallen trees, steep inclines, and other obstacles found on the side of a mountain. I broke away from my family and proceeded to work my way up the mountainside. There were many unseen holes that grabbed my feet as low branches grabbed my shirt. Eventually I climbed over a short, stonewall and sat, waiting for my family to catch up. After this short but exciting detour, the trail followed the cliffs of the lake again and eventually took us down to one of two shores of the lake. A woman was letting her dogs rest by the lapping lake water while we passed the shore to go upward yet again to the first flat, green picnic area. As my father had longed to revisit this area I, too, long to visit it again and share its beauty with my family.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:49:18 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard Mrs. Gorsuch - English I-C “Too Many Beavers Topple a Dam” Last Spring a beaver decided to build a dam at a quite bend in the river. The beaver first drew up the plans for a one-room dam, just enough room for him. As he started building another beaver approached him. “Hello there! I see you’re building a dam.” I am a master at dam building. May I help you?” shouted the Master Beaver from the far shore. “Yes, it is too hard for one beaver to carry all these logs into the river,” replied the First Beaver. So the two beavers worked into the night. The Master Builder and First Beaver were taking a break when two beaver brothers strolled by. “We are excellent at chewing down the best wood for a sturdy dam. May we help you?” said the Beaver Brothers. Both the Master Beaver and the First Beaver agreed that they needed the best wood and gratefully accepted the Beaver Brother’s offer. So all four beavers worked to dam up the river. Finally, after the river had been dammed, the Master builder and the Beaver Brothers approached the First Beaver. “We have helped you build this dam and I think it is only fair that we be allowed to stay in this dam. It is the best dam I have ever made!” said the Master Beaver. “Yes, we have no place to live either,” cried the Brother Beavers. “Well, OK. You three have helped me so much I can’t refuse. So the four beavers began to construct their new home. However, soon after they started, the Master Builder had some different plans. “My family had been dam less for awhile now and I’m sure this dam could support more then just us four,” said the Master Beaver. “And our sisters have always wanted a dam to call their own,” said the Beaver Brothers. The First Beaver was at first hesitant but was reassured the dam was big enough by the Master Beaver. So all of the Master Builder’s family and the Beaver Brother’s sisters moved in. However, each of the newcomers required a new level to the dam. Finally the Master Builder’s great aunt, twice removed, moved into the fiftieth story of the First Beaver’s dam. “Did you feel that rumble?” asked the Great Aunt. “Yes, it feels like an earthquake!” yelled the Master Beaver. And the whole fifty story beaver dam came crashing down when a blue jay made its nest on the top. Moral: Too many beavers and a blue jay topple a fifty-one story beaver dam.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:50:33 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard Mrs. Gorsuch - English I-C Julius Ceasar Authors often write books and plays about similar topics. Plutarch and Shakespeare both wrote about the same topic, Julius Caesar. Plutarch wrote of the decline of the Roman Republic. He also wrote about Pompey, Cicero, Brutus, and Antony. Shakespeare wrote many plays at the end of the Renaissance. Many consider him the best playwright of all time. Shakespeare bases his play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, on Plutarch’s biography, The Life of Caesar; therefore, they both share similarities. In the biography and the play about Julius Caesar several similarities appear apparent. First, the soothsayer warns Caesar of the Ides of March in the biography, The Life of Caesar. During Lupercalia the soothsayer “warn Caesar to be on his guard against great danger on the day of the month of March the Romans call the Ides” (Plutarch 234). The soothsayer warns Caesar of the Ides of March. The soothsayer also warns of danger in the play. The soothsayer says to “beware the ides of March” (Shakespeare I.ii.18). The soothsayer warns of a danger to Caesar on the Ides of March. Then, Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife, dreamt a dream containing bad omens in the biography by Plutarch. Calpurnia’s dream for told of death to Caesar so she asks him to “postpone the meeting of the Senate” (Plutarch 234). Calpurnia, Caesar’s worried wife, feels that her dream predicts death if Caesar goes to the Senate and she asks him to stay home. Calpurnia also has a dream with troubling omens in the play by Shakespeare. After telling Caesar of her dream, Calpurnia asks him to “not go forth today. Call it my fear / That keeps you in the house, and not your own” (Shakespeare II.ii.50-51). Calpurnia asks Caesar to stay home, and she tells him to blame her so the senators do not think Caesar is a coward. Finally, in the biography of Julius Caesar, Artemidorus warns Caesar of the conspiracy in a letter. Artemidorus approaches Caesar “with a small document ... and said: ‘Read this one, Caesar, and read it quickly and by yourself’” (Plutarch 235). He told Caesar to read it himself so Caesar would know of the conspiracy without letting the conspirators know Caesar knows. In the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Artemidorus also writes a warning letter to Caesar. Artemidorus also intends to give Caesar a letter detailing the conspiracy in the play (Shakespeare II.iii.1-5). Artemidorus tells Caesar of the assassin’s plot because he wishes Caesar to live. Many people redundantly warn Caesar in the biography as well as in the play.
The inauspicious assassination that kills Caesar occurs in both the biography and play and includes several similarities. First, in The Life of Caesar, Cassius plans the assassination. Cassius wants Caesar removed from power due to jealousy and “reasons of his own for hating Caesar” (Plutarch 233). Cassius enlists other Romans in the conspiracy to reduce the blame on him and increase support. Cassius also plans the conspiracy in the play. After becoming jealous of Caesar, Cassius plans the conspiracy as he did in the biography (Shakespeare I.iii.103-115). Cassius enlists other Romans in the conspiracy as in the play. Then, in the biography Casca stabs first, then the conspirators, and finally Brutus. All the conspirators stab Caesar because “it [is] ... agreed that they must all take part in this sacrifice” (Plutarch 236). While planning the conspiracy, the conspirators agree to all stabs Caesar so no one can back out. Casca stabs first, preceding the rest, and Brutus stabs last in the play, as in the biography. The conspirators also agreed in the play to all attack Caesar (Shakespeare II.i.67). This decision was also decided while planning the conspiracy, as in the biography. Finally, Brutus speaks at Caesar’s funeral in the biography. Brutus speaks at the funeral to convince the public that the assassination benefits Rome (Plutarch 236). The citizens, when Brutus finishes his speech, decide the assassination against Caesar benefits Rome. Brutus also speaks at Caesar’s funeral in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Brutus convinces the citizens of the conspiracy by asking “had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, then Caesar were dead / to live all freemen?” (Shakespeare III.ii.19-20). The speech also convinces the citizens that the assassination of Caesar benefits them. Each version of Caesar’s inevitable assassination contains similarities.
Several similarities appear in the suicide of Brutus in both the biography and play about Julius Caesar. First, in The Life of Caesar, the ghost of Caesar visits Brutus. The ghost warns Brutus that “[you] shall see me at Philippi” (Plutarch 240). Brutus will face the ghost of Caesar when he encounters Antony’s army at Philippi. The ghost of Caesar also visits Brutus in the play. The ghost appears in Brutus’s tent “To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi” (Shakespeare IV.iii.282). As in the biography the ghost meets Brutus when he fights Antony at Philippi. Then, in the biography, Brutus goes to war against Antony. At Philippi, Brutus’ army attacks Antony’s as the ghost predicts (Plutarch 240). Realizing he lost, Brutus tries to die in the battle. Brutus also goes to war against Antony at Philippi in the play. Brutus and Antony meet and talk before the battle (Shakespeare V.i.27). Brutus also tries to die in the perilous battle in the play. Finally, in the biography, Brutus commits suicide with the help of a friend. Before Antony and Octavius can capture him, Brutus “put his naked sword to his breast” (Plutarch 240). Brutus prefers suicide to the humiliation of defeat. Brutus also commits suicide in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Brutus asks Strato to “[hold] then my sword, and turn away thy face / While I do run upon it” (Shakespeare V.v.47-48). Brutus asks Strato to hold a sword so he can kill himself because the capturing of him would bring humiliation. Both renditions of Brutus’s suicide contain many similarities.
Plutarch and Shakespeare’s works on Caesar share similarities. The Life of Caesar and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar both contain the warning of Caesar and show similarities between the versions. The assassination of Caesar in both versions shows similarities. Both versions also contain the suicide of Brutus.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:53:31 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard Mrs. Gorsuch - English I-C
Benjamin Banneker contributed to the early development of this country by using his mathematical and astronomical knowledge. Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Throughout his life, Banneker’s many accomplishments helped change the idea that black people were not as intelligent as white people. Banneker became respected as a scientist and mathematician, helped survey Washington D.C., and wrote the first almanac by a black person.
Benjamin Banneker’s scientific achievements helped earn him the place in history as the first Negro Man of Science. Around 1754 Banneker borrowed a pocket watch from a friend, Josef Levi. Banneker studied this watch, took the watch apart, sketched the gears, put the watch back together, and then returned the watch in perfect condition (Litwin 32). After returning the watch, Banneker enlarged the sketched watch gears and carved new gears out of wood (Litwin 32). From these pieces “Banneker designed and built his own clock, possibly the first ever made in the United States” (Aaseng X). Banneker self taught himself almost everything he learned. For two years Banneker used borrowed astronomy books and a borrowed telescope to teach himself astronomy (About.com). Feeling confident in his abilities, Banneker “calculated the occurrence of an eclipse” (Litwin 53). Due to the fame generated by his almanac, Banneker felt the need to write a letter to Thomas Jefferson, at the time Secretary of State under Washington. The letter from Banneker implored Jefferson to rethink his statements that blacks possess less intelligence then whites (Williams internet). Jefferson’s reply states that “no body wishes more than I do to see such proofs as you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colours of men” (Williams internet). The accomplishments of Benjamin Banneker proved that black people did not have inferior abilities.
Benjamin Banneker knew mathematics and science, making him a prime choice to help survey the District of Columbia. Major Andrew Ellicott asked Banneker to accompany him on the survey mission. Realizing his cousin, Andrew, needed assistance, George Ellicott suggested Banneker to help him. Due to George Ellicott’s suggestion, Banneker “was appointed, by President George Washington, to a three man team of surveyors” (Williams internet). Banneker spent three months working with the survey team. He worked hard and became a valuable member of the team (Litwin 12). Banneker’s “careful note taking and skill with scientific instruments helped” to move the project along quickly (Litwin 12). Nearing completion, the project experienced trouble. The main architect of the new city, Pierre Charles L’Enfant, unexpectedly left the country, taking his city plans with him (Aaseng X). Using the skill of memory and attention to detail he demonstrated in building his clock, “Banneker achieved fame by reproducing L’Enfant’s entire city plan from memory” (Aaseng X). The reproduction of the plans by Banneker saved the young nation time and money (Aaseng X). Banneker’s self-taught knowledge of science and mathematics helped him and America during the survey mission.
Due to his love of astronomy, Benjamin Banneker attempted to write an almanac. After his successful prediction of the solar eclipse, Banneker felt that he could calculate an ephemeris for an almanac. Almanacs in Colonial America were read second in popularity only to the Bible, and an almanac writer would gain a degree of fame (Litwin 55). Banneker, however, desired to write a “farmer’s almanac...that differ from others by giving more focus to agricultural issues” (Litwin 57). Calculating an almanac occupied most of Banneker’s time. Despite the exhaustive work, Banneker did not give up (About.com). Since he owned a tobacco farm, he worked all day and “every night for almost a year” (Litwin 57). After the long year of calculations, Benjamin Banneker had to find a publisher. Without his knowledge, the ephemeris was sent to an abolitionist who helped to get Banneker’s almanac published in Philadelphia (Litwin 62). The abolitionist, James Pemberton, hoped that an accurate almanac by a black man distributed in a large city like Philadelphia would prove that black people did not have inferior mental abilities (Litwin 67). Banneker sent his almanac to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson with a letter asking him to retract his white supremacist statement (Williams internet). Banneker’s almanac aided the abolitionist movement of the late 1700’s.
Banneker’s achievements in education, surveying and astronomy earned him respect as a scientist and local celebrity. On October 9, 1806, Benjamin Banneker died hours after returning from a daily walk. His many accomplishments helped to break the stereotypes of an inferior black race. Benjamin Banneker certainly deserves to be called the first Negro Man of Science. Works Cited Aaseng, Nathan. Black Inventors. New York: Facts on File, 1997. Benjamin Banneker 1731-1806. Dr. Scott W. Williams. Apr. 2002. U. of New York at Buffalo. May 18 2003 <http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/special/banneker-benjamin.html> Benjamin Banneker: An American Pioneer. About.com. 22 May 2003. <http://afroamhistory.about.com/library/ weekly/aa012201a.htm?once=true&> Litwin, Laura Baskes. Benjamin Banneker. New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 1999.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 1, 2005 19:55:15 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard Mrs. Gorsuch - English I-C Anthem The elements of literature are used in many books to enhance the enjoyment of the reader. Three of the most noticeable elements in Anthem include characterization, foreshadowing, and symbolism. To show how characters act, appear, or think is characterization. Foreshadowing provides suggestions of upcoming events in the story. The final element, symbolism, gives objects or ideas multiple meanings. Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, contains several examples of these elements of literature. The first literary element, characterization that is used to describe the characters, is used in Anthem. Physical description of a character shows the reader the physical attributes of the character. Due to the fact that mirrors are forbidden in the City, Equality only knows that he is “six feet tall” (18 Rand). After Equality runs into the Uncharted Forest, he finds a stream and describes himself,“’[my] face and [my] body [are] beautiful ... [my] limbs [are] straight and thin and hard and strong’” (80). What other characters say to the main character or how they react to the main character can provide information about the main character. While Equality is talking to Liberty in the fields, she calls him “the Unconquered” (56). This name characterizes Equality as an individual by showing that he will not allow the Councils or laws to stop him. What a character says, acts, or thinks also provides information about that character. After the Council of Scholars rejects Equality’s glass box, he yells, “’you fools ... [you] thrice damned fools!’” (75). This excerpt shows how the ignorance of the Scholars agitates Equality to running away from the City. Anthem contains many examples of how to describe a character in a story. Ayn Rand uses the element of foreshadowing in Anthem. Equality is working on the new power of electricity in the ancient subway under the City. While Equality is working in the subway he tells himself that he will “forget all men, all laws and all things save [my] metals and [my] wires” (54 Rand). This suggests that he will make a drastic endeavor for the sake of his new discovery. Equality eventually leaves the City, which has always been his home, to protect his new invention and goes into the perilous Uncharted Forest. Equality also begins to wonder what his society forgets since the end of the Unmentionable Times. He repeatedly asks himself, ”’what are the words which we have lost?’” (44). This suggests that Equality may try to find those words. After finding the house in the Forest he discovers the words that men has lost. After Equality ran away, he spends his first days in the Forest ambling and, he spends it appreciating his newfound independence. Walking in the woods, Equality hears what sounds like “footsteps behind [him]” (81). This suggests that someone from the City is trying to find him. Liberty follows Equality into the Forest and inevitably catches up with him. Anthem contains several examples of the element of foreshadowing. Anthem also contains several examples of symbolism. Equality’s glass box represents man’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Equality feels that the Scholars will appreciate his invention and, the common men of the City “[will] not understand it, nor would they believe [me]” (61 Rand). The common men never wonder or think and will feel threatened and afraid by what Equality has invented. The house that Equality and Liberty discover in the Uncharted Forest symbolizes the final stage of individuality. After fortuitously finding the house Equality declares, “’this is ... the end of our journey’” (91). The house represents the end of their symbolic journey to individualism because the books contained in the house reveal the Unspeakable Word. The Unspeakable Word, ”I,” symbolizes man’s independence. Equality describes the joys of independence as “my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must obey” (94). The word “I” symbolizes independence because both “I” and the word independence refer to the choices and will of one individual. Anthem contains several examples of symbolism. The three elements of literature are contained in Ayn Rand’s book, Anthem. The elements of characterization, foreshadowing, and symbolism each enhances Anthem.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 8, 2005 22:20:26 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard September 8, 2005 Mrs. Robinson - College Composition Block 2
A Crime of Compassion Freewrite
Huttman’s essay, “A Crime of Compassion,” presents her side of the story very matter-of-factly and is an easy, yet emotional read. She tells us her beliefs by way of story and description, making us feel the compassion felt by her towards her terminally ill patient and his constant suffering. This is an emotionally charged piece, and it should be for such a sensitive issue. To decide for oneself if Huttman was justified in her actions, one must also look at how they feel about suicide. Suicide is usually an action taken by severely depressed individuals. Depression is classified as a disease, albeit a mental one. Should one be allowed to commit suicide to free oneself of the pain of depression? Modern science has cures for depression, so the answer to me is no. However, what is that depression is chronic, or very serious and medication is not enough? What then? Is mental anguish able to cause as much pain and suffering as a debilitating physical disease like cancer? Surely it can. Yet we simply institutionalize chronically depressed or other terminally mentally ill people. We allow them to suffer within their minds. I suppose the difference is that in most physical disease cases, like terminal cancer, the patient is more or less mentally sound and can make an intelligible request to die, while a mental patient may be disregarded as “crazy talk.” This is a tricky issue. I personally believe suicide is a sin, assisted or not, and that God alone should control live and death. Although who’s to say that God did not set events in motion to cause one to want to commit suicide? That makes God out to be an evil, uncaring being though, and that contrasts with my beliefs. However, to allow someone to go through such excruciating pain is simply inhuman. But, humanity is sin, as some fundamentalists will tell you. So to euthanize someone may seem the humane thing to do, such as putting a dog to sleep. It all comes down to whether you believe your soul belongs to you, or God. But, God loves us; He wouldn’t want us to suffer terrible pain. Right? I honestly don’t know what to believe in this issue. From a strictly secular stand point; the patient should have the ultimate right over his life. No doctor or relative may infringe this right. From a strictly religious point; life must be preserved until God acts to sustain it or take it away. Right now in my life, I can take neither stand point totally and cannot answer this question fully.
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Post by Nathan on Sept 17, 2005 16:58:22 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard January 10, 2005 Mr Rushing - College American History Block 8 Significant Character In my opinion Thomas J. Jackson is the most significant character in the book, Gods and Generals. Jackson was born on January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia. He graduated from West Point in 1846 and served with the artillery in Mexico before accepting a professorship at the Virginia Military Institute. Jackson quickly rose through the ranks during the Civil War, going from his initial commission of colonel to lt. general in October 1862. A major facet of Jackson’s character was his strict adherence to religion. Religion was first seriously brought to his attention in the City of Mexico while serving under Colonel Francis Taylor. After some time Jackson joined the Presbyterian Church. Jackson gained his nickname, “Stonewall,” at the battle of First Manassas when his brigade remained steady in the face of the Federal forces. While riding out to inspect the situation during the Battle of Chancellorsville he was fired upon by Confederate troops, mistaking him for the enemy. His left arm was amputated, however he died from pneumonia on May 10, 1863. Jackson’s crowning achievement was his campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. Many European war historians and strategists, who have placed him among the likes of Marlborough, Washington, Wellington, and Lee, revered the success of his strategy. Jackson brought glory to the Confederacy during his last battle, the battle of Chancellorsville, when he successfully flanked the Federal army and ended in a Confederate victory. These two actions contributed to the major Confederate victories in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War prior to Gettysburg. The victories secured by Jackson prolonged the South’s chances for victory and kept morale high. Minor Character Joshua L. Chamberlain is often neglected in history books, and unrightfully so. Born on September 8, 1828, in Brewer, Maine. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1852 and married Francis Adams in 1855. Chamberlain was chosen by Grant to formally receive the weapons and colors of Lee’s army on April 12, 1865. After his distinguished military career, Chamberlain was so popular in Maine he was elected four times to the governor’s office. He participated in politics in order to aid the state’s failing economy and was not a part of his party’s inner circle. He then returned to education and was made president of Bowdoin College. Chamberlain represented the United States at the Paris Exposition pf 1878 and resigned from his presidency in 1883 due to an old war wound. In 1893 he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Gettysburg. Chamberlain died in Portland in 1914 where he was serving as Surveyor. Perhaps Chamberlain’s greatest contribution to the war was during the Battle of Gettysburg when his regiment defended the extreme left flank from repeated Confederate assaults. Should his regiment had broken the Confederate army would have been able to flank the Union army and may have won the battle, and perhaps the war. Critical Passages Three moments of the Civil War described in the book strike me as significant to the outcome of the war. A somewhat obvious, yet still important event of the Civil War was Robert E. Lee declining the US Secretary of War’s offer for Lee to be promoted to General of the Army. Lee’s leadership skills would have been an asset to either army. Lee once wrote to his sister that he loved the Union and that he only resigned his commission so that he would not have to take up arms against his family in Virginia. Therefore, Virginia seceding from the Union is also a critical moment. Without Virginia and the experienced military leaders who sided with it the Confederacy would have been greatly underpowered. The refusal of General Burnside to allow General Hancock’s brigade to cross the Rappahannock River above Fredericksburg has a significant effect on the battle there. Hancock insists on taking his brigade upriver to cross the shallows to take and control Fredericksburg and the high grounds behind the town. General Burnside orders Hancock to remain where he is until the platoons arrive to bridge the river at Fredericksburg so the entire army may cross at once. The platoons arrive much later than anticipated the Confederates move into the high ground above Fredericksburg and entrench there. Once the Federal army moves entirely across the river, they must fight uphill against the entrenched enemy and are eventually slaughtered in the Battle of Fredericksburg. Jackson’s death places Ewell in charge of his division, who is less aggressive than Jackson and this results in Ewell’s failure to capture the high grounds in the Battle of Gettysburg, which leads to a Confederate defeat, and a turning point in the Civil War. Had Jackson lived, his leadership may have been the key to a Confederate victory at Gettysburg, allowing the Confederate army to move north and force a Federal surrender. Sources www.curtislibrary.com/pejepscot/joshbiog.htm www.civilwarhome.com/leebio.htmwww.civilwarhome.com/jackbio.htm
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Post by Nathan on Sept 17, 2005 17:04:37 GMT -6
Nathan Shepard 11/17/03 Ms. Scheer - Emerging Europe 4th Block
Bolognius Maximus or The Mystical Journey to the Mysterious Far East
“Bolognius, Bolognius, please come in!” said the Roman Emperor, “we are feasting!” “I was not aware today was a holiday, emperor,” said our gallant hero Bolognius Maximus. “You are a funny man Bolognius, we feast because we are Roman! We feast to celebrate our greatness!” said the emperor. “Of course, how silly of me. We are Roman,” replied Bolognius, “if I may inquire, why did you send for me?” he asked the emperor. “Ah yes, I did send for you, didn’t I? Well, you see Bolognius, despite the awesome power and greatness of the Roman Empire, there is another empire that may threaten us, if provoked,” said the emperor, “ and I need someone to go to this place called, China, to offer gifts of appeasement.” Bolognius gasped, was this the chance he had waited for his entire life? The chance to leave the wretched despotic tyranny of the Roman emperor? It was too good to be true; the emperor was about to send him on a peace mission to China! He’d go, but he would not go back. “That is a very good idea,” Bolognius said, trying to disguise his joy. “I knew you’d think so,” said the emperor, oblivious to Bolognius’ obvious delight, “ that is why I am sending you...” “Oh thank you, thank you sire,” blurted Bolognius, “I will make sure the Chinese to do not attack, I will represent Rome to the highest of my ability, I will...” “What the heck are you talking about,” stammered the emperor, “I’m sending you to get the great explorer and diplomat, Biggus Buttius.” “Oh... then... um... I will make sure Biggus Buttius does receive this message,” said Bolognius, “and I will represent your wishes to the highest of my ability, I will...” The emperor rolled his eyes at Bolognius’ disgusting zeal and brown nosing.
Later that day, our gallant and dejected hero, Bolognius Maximus, approached the house of the Noble, Biggus Buttius, explorer and diplomat extraordinaire. However, for the sake of an interesting storyline, he had an idea. “If I were to kill Biggus, the Emperor would have no choice but to send me on the trip to the Orient,” conspired Bolognius. And so he walked into Biggus’ house, quite unexpected and very unwelcome, to kill him while Biggus was drinking wine, as the stereotypical Roman does. Fortunatly for Bolognius’ conscience Biggus had already been assassinated by a disgruntled commoner just minutes before Bolognius entered the house. Feeling satisfied about his accomplishment, and uncomfortable about being framed for Biggus’ murder, Bolognius ran back to the palace. “Emperor!” cried Bolognius, “Biggus Buttius has been assassinated! Obviously he cannot make the trip to the Orient now.” “Silly Bolognius, of course he can,” said the stupid emperor, “although his stench may upset the Chinese.” The emperor thought hard for several long minutes before he said, “Then we have no other option! We must wage war on the Chinese!” “No you fool!” yelled Bolognius, “I mean, no you too cool to wage war on China, let me go in Biggus’ place.” The emperor was truly confused at this prospect. To make sure the emperor understood his proposal, Bolognius drew a diagram. Seeing that he was still confused Bolognius explained using pictures, then puppets, then a full-scale theater production called “The Emperor is a Stupid Man.” Finally, the emperor understood and fully stocked Bolognius Maximus for his mystical journey. The emperor was also kind enough to give Bolognius a full escort, 20 centurions and a juggler. Before they set out, Bolognius was addressing his escorts; “on our journey you must always address me as the High and Most Grand Bolognius, Lord and Master of All He Surveys, if you don’t mind.”
Many days later, Bolognius, our gallant hero came across a humble mountain trader. “Good day, humble mountain trader,” said Bolognius, “have you any advise for the road ahead? Any shortcuts, perhaps?” Unfortunately, the mountain trader spoke in Latin, and everybody knows Latin is impossibly hard to learn. Therefore, the trader spoke with such horrible grammar; Bolognius ended the trader’s life to ensure the end of his suffering. A month into their mystical journey, the group began to run low on food. Bolognius’ answer to this problem wasn’t well received. “You can’t eat me!” cried the juggler, “Romans are the most civilized people on earth! How can you suggest we resort to barbaric customs?” “Hey, if this is a mystical journey, as the title states, shouldn’t we be able to command some sort of magical power to replenish our foodstuffs?” offered one of the more intelligent centurions. After hearing this blatant insult to his intelligence, Bolognius mumbled something in Greek, so his escort could not hear his cursing. “Hey, that’s not very nice to say about someone,” said one of the other centurions, who happened to be Greek. “Okay, let’s get some magic going... how do we do that?” asked Bolognius. “I doubt there is any magic involved at all in this story, the author just added some flashy words to give the illusion of an interesting story,” said the juggler.
Another month into the journey and our unheroic hero, Bolognius Maximus, is faced with another problem: land pirates! Also known as raiders to some people. “Oh no! Here come the land pirates!” yelled a centurion. Long story short, the land pirates stole what was left of the escort’s food supply: only two vessels of wine and killed the entire escort, excluding Bolognius and the juggler, of course. “Wow, that was a horrific, one sided battle. But at least we still have the peace offering for the Chinese,” said the juggler. “Hmm, if this is a mystical journey then perhaps there is some sort of magic in this peace offering,” said Bolognius, “I mean, look at it!” The peace offering was a giant floating orb, glowing with blues and greens, giving off a pleasant hum as it caused surrounding dead plant life to come back to life. “I can’t believe we didn’t notice that before,” said the juggler. “Well, the emperor did say it was a gift from Zeus himself,” replied Bolognius. “Don’t you mean Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Zeus?” asked the juggler. “No, I don’t. Now, I’m gonna leave you here while I take this orb thingy to the Chinese, because most glowing orbs have the ability to transport matter, and I’m gonna stay there, forever. And I guess you’ll just die out here in the wilderness of the Middle East,” gloated Bolognius. “Wilderness of the Middle East? We’re almost to the city of Venice! Your horrible expeditionary skills allowed 20 centurions to be killed by land pirates, in the heart of Roman territory!” screamed the poor juggler. “Oh well,” said Bolognius, and with that he vanished, glowing orb and all. “Your name is a lunch meat!” shouted the juggler in an angry tone as he walked towards Venice, suddenly craving bologna.
Two years after appearing out of thin air in the middle of the Chinese Emperor’s court, Bolognius Maximus was allowed to stay in China, and was able to make a comfortable living, selling draperies and throw rugs at a caravanserai in Xian. He was able to hear all the interesting stories that real travelers who traversed the whole mystical journey had to tell. Most of them experienced land pirates, although the politically correct term in China was raiders, and food shortages, just as Bolognius had experienced on his two-month journey from Rome to Venice. Even though Bolognius Maximus never even set foot on what history will christen the Silk Road, he learned one moral from his journey: The Silk Road is a dangerous route, and should be bypassed at all costs by way of Glowing Orb Airlines, the quickest way from point A to B, and sometimes C.
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