Question of the Week, Oct. 1, 2008 (reversed with last week's question)

Sorry, this is the answer to last week's question because I accidentally did this week's question last week!
Anyways, I haven't heard too many urban legends. I have heard a couple through watching MythBusters in Physics class last year, though. I heard the one about the microwaved insides from tanning, industrial lift catapult, and several others. I also have heard about Poseidon being screened as the Titanic was sinking, bad images and words in Disney films, Mr. Ed was really a zebra, the $1000 forwarding emails where you get money from AOL or Bill Gates, and also several cryptozoology legends.
I never totally believed any urban legends that when I found out that they weren't true I wasn't surprised. I just wasn't exposed to too many urban legends to believe any. Of course, there are a ton of superstition and wives tales such as different wedding traditions, throwing salt over your left shoulder, and good luck legends that I have heard but I don't think they fall into the "Urban Legends" category as we are defining it.
As a result, I never really spread any urban legends just because I didn't hear them.

Question of the Week, Sept. 22, 2008

There are a few generally accepted ways of investigating urban myths and legends. Most all investigations start with some background, bare-bones research to get the basic background information on the myth and different variations of it that might be circulating. The next steps might involve conducting an experiment (such as the MythBusters TV show and the scuba diver in a forest fire myth), talking to experts in myths or the subject at hand (again, in the tv show they spoke to folklorists and helicopter equipment experts), or digging deeper to find more information about the myth (such as in the Broiled Again! myth when both Abigail van Buren and Brunvant called hospitals to see if they had ever treated a certain condition/patient). In our case, when we are researching the myths that we have chosen, we will just research other peoples' research when it comes to the investigation.

Question of the Week, Sept. 15, 2008

WOW! It's incredible how much the web impacts our lives. I find it somewhat scary how large of a role computers and their applications have in our everyday interactions. It is very convenient, some of the time, to use computers and digital text instead of handwriting something, but it loses personal characteristics. It's kind of an oxymoron; the more personal information we are sharing with people, we are doing it in such an impersonal way! I would much rather receive written messages from family and friends than e-mailed or typed messages, but e-mail does travel faster. I am a very traditional person, so I have a hard time trying to justify myself using all of this technology when I don't need it, per se. The video was VERY interesting. I didn't ever realize, or understand, the difference between the content and applications in website design. The flexibility and possible applications for the web and digital text are endless and will continue to change and expand due to rapidly developing technology.

Question of the Week, Sept. 10, 2008

I have done numerous different types of writing; from poems, journal entries, and short stories to academic papers and lab reports. The longest paper I have ever written is a 20 page report on WWI. It was tedious and took an immense amount of research, but was quite interesting. Of all the types of writing, I enjoy journaling about personal experiences the most. Research papers are also interesting, depending on the subject. I love writing about travel destinations, historical events, and biographical reports on interesting historical figures. I love history, especially that of the United States from 1700-present. However, I hate writing lab reports and research papers with boring topics. Poems are also quite difficult for me to write, especially when they have to be structured in a certain way (sonnet, haiku, etc.) or have a rhyme scheme. I find it challenging to write about myself and my personal experiences when I know that it is going to be read by others outside of my immediate circle of family and friends. However, I find it relieving to write about myself when I am writing a journal or diary entry or a letter to friends or family. I get very self concsious when I know that others will read about me and it almost makes me feel vulnerable.

Question of Week, Sept. 1, 2008

I always like to be prepared, so I carry lots of various things, both physical and intangible, with me. Coming to college really showed me how much I do like to carry and how I often overpack. The list of what I brought goes on and on, from basics like a toothbrush and shampoo to a favorite stuffed animal, posters of my favorite hockey players, pictures of my family, friends, and home area, clothes, food, and even a pair of handweights to help me stay in shape. I don't like to be bored, so I try to carry a pen and some paper wherever I go. I like to be able to write down my experiences, thoughts, dreams, or even just to-do lists. The soldiers also carried personal items, though not to the extent that I have! They were much more lacking in space and had to bring only the smallest most important objects with them. However, we both brought comfort items; things that remind us of the people and the places that we left behind on our journeys. Just a glance at a picture of a smiling face or the scenery that comprises "home" can make a day brighter. We both brought hygeine products to prolong our lives, food for when our "overseers" (the Army and the college) don't provide, and also memories of a past life and experiences. In a scaled down and twisted way, I can feel the similar feelings of separation from friends and loved ones. I also carry the hope that I will see them again soon, hope for the safety of us all, worry about what the next day will bring, and anticipation of reunions. The soldiers were in a much more dangerous situation than I am, so their emotions were even more difficult, but pretty much of the same nature. As humans, we have the same basic needs of survival and the same driving factors in our lives. One can observe this by studying what we all carry with us both on a daily basis and when journeying.