Humorous Anecdote

     Last week, I was in personal finance and reviewing video lessons with the rest of the class.  The lights were out and Mrs. Lynch wasn't watching, and one of my friends fell asleep.  I checked by discreetly waving my hand in front of his face and getting no response.  This continued for what seemed like a minute until he woke up.  Luckily, this didn't alert Mrs. Lynch.  I whispered to him that he had fallen asleep, which he did again quickly.  Once again, I amused myself by waving my hand.  He then woke up, I told him that he had fallen asleep, and he soon zonked out again.  I didn't want him to get in trouble, but I was also hoping for Mrs. Lynch to wake him up in a way that I could get a laugh out of.  She saw him and looked at me.  I pointed at him and rested my head on my hands to show that he was sleeping.  She smiled, looked in her cup, walked over and poured out a couple drops of water on the back of his neck.  After a two-second delayed reaction, he sat up and said, "That was cold," a few times.  All eyes were on him, and snickers and chuckles resonated through the classroom.  However, he was a good sport and fine with it.

     What lessons are to be learned here?  Be careful, "third time's a charm" works for teachers, too.  Remember, though, that you shouldn't be sleeping in class in the first place.  Last but not least, pay attention and sit up in class.  However, if you are planning on sleeping, then make sure that the teacher isn't drinking anything.

"Humorous Text"

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in the following lawyer joke are not necessarily the same ones that I have regarding the attorney profession.

     There was a truck driver who enjoyed running over lawyers that were walking on the side of the road, and hearing the "thump" sound that they made on impact.  One day, he saw a priest standing on the side of the road.  He stopped and asked the priest if he needed a ride, and he did.
     While driving, the truck driver spotted a lawyer walking on the side of the road, and instinctively swerved to hit him.  Remembering that there was a priest in his truck, he swerved away from the lawyer, but still heard a thump.  "I'm sorry, Father," said the truck driver, "I almost hit that lawyer."
     "Don't worry," said the priest, "I got him with the door."

Repartee Dialogue

Joe is blocking Bob's path.

Bob: Will you just mooove already?
Joe: No, I won't.  I like bawking your way.
Bob: That is very funny.  You quack me up.
Joe: I know it is.  I make myself laugh hard enough to crack a ribbit.
Bob: Will you just move roar-self out of the way?
Joe: I was gnat planning on it.
Bob: I guess that owl have to make you move.

Bob then acted like he was going to punch Joe, who quickly ran away.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner: Kim Dae-Jung

Kim Dae-Jung

Born: December 3, 1925

Died: August 18, 2009

Country: South Korea

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for: "his work for domocracy and human rights in South Korea and East Asia in general, and for peace and reconcilation with North Korea in particular."

Work and Specific Contributions: He was arrested many times while trying to bring South Korea out of the abusive rule of President Park Hung-Hee, which he finally did when he was elected President of South Korea in 1997.  In 2000, he signed a declaration with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, bringing the two Koreas closer together.

What issues caused this person to take action?
Kim Dae-Jung wanted to get rid of Park Hung-Hee's dictatorship and make peace with North Korea.

Was the issue local or global?  Explain.
Park Hung-Hee was a national issue because he ruled South Korea with a dictatorship and Kim wanted to stop it.  Wanting to make peace with North Korea was a global issue because it involved two countries and an old, international dispute between capitalism and communism.

How did the person take action?
Kim Dae-Jung ran against Park Hung-Hee many times and was finally elected in 1997.  He then began talks with Kim Jong-Il, the leader of North Korea, and went there and signed a declaration in 2000.

What media channels did he or she use to take action? How did he or she use each?
Considering that Kim Dae-Jung is a political figure who would make speeches, he would most likely have broadcast them on TV and the radio in order to get his message to the rest of South Korea.  Also, important things concerning him would be put in a newspaper.  He could use this to his advantage by doing things that would get what he would want in the papers.

Answers to my questions:

1. What was his life like during WWII?
His parents falsified his birth date so that Kim wouldn't have to serve in the Japanese military ( Japan occupied Korea at the time ).  He then moved so that he could go to high school.  He then worked in a Japanese shipping company until the end of the war.

2. What was his life like during the Korean War?
At the time, Kim was living in Mokpo, which was taken over by the North Koreans.  He was then arrested as a capitalist.

3. What was his life like throughout the Cold War?
During the Cold War after the Korean War, Kim Dae-Jung simply continued his political career, which began in the mid 1950s, and his attempts to overthrow Park Hung-Hee's rule, with heavy opposition, of course.

4. Were tensions high when Kim Dae-Jung signed the declaration with Kim Jong-Il?
According to my research, tensions did not appear to be strained.

5. How was Kim Dae-Jung treated in prison?
South Korean political prisoners are only given a little extra food, and they are put under psychological pressure.

How does this person inspire you?
I did get some inspiration, but it wasn't an epiphany.  Kim Dae-Jung's story is another example of the advice never to give up.  Kim spent many years trying to get into office, and after a couple decades of trying, in1997, he was elected president of South Korea.  He also reminded me that i have to take action about what I want to change and not just sit around and hope for the best.

Sources:
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2000/dae-jung.html
www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/kim-dae-jung-52.php
news.bbc.co.uk./2/hi/asia-pacific/788861.stm
www.asian-affairs.com/biographies/kimdaejungcv.html

Bullying Survey Results

Here are the results of the bullying survey:

1.Have you been the victim of bullying at some time during this school year?
   Yes-35%     No-65%

2.Have you bullied someone during this school year?
   Yes-9%      No-91%

3.Have you witnessed someone else being bullied this school year?
   Yes-57%   No-43%

4.What do witnesses or bystanders usually do when they see someone being bullied?
     Unfortunately, the most common answer is that they would do nothing.

5.Do you think that bullying is a problem in out school?
   Yes-48%    No-52%

Not many people in our school are bullies, but over 1/3 of them have been bullied.  Over one half of students in our school have been bystanders to bullying.  About half say that bullying is a problem in out school, so we need to do something about it.  Of course, even the smallest instance of bullying is too much and it needs to be wiped out.

My quote:
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your counrty can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country.  My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
                                                                              - John F. Kennedy

This quote relates to bullying because you, as a bystander, shouldn't sit around and wait for your school to stop bullying, but go and help to eliminate it yourself.  A country can't accomplish anything without its people, just like a school can't accomplish anything without students. 

Bullying Survey

Please do me a big favor and take this survey for me.  Your response will be appreciated.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HFR5HB5

9/11 Survey

I am conducting a survey on Sept. 11, 2001 and would appreciate it if you would take some time to answer the questions.  Here is the link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T35VX8M

Modern Warfare 3

I pre-ordered Modern Warfare 3 and am looking forward to when it comes out in about 23 days.  Please comment if you are a Call of Duty fan.  I don't have anything against Battlefield, which is very realistic, but I prefer Call of Duty.  Call of Duty, remembering the fact that it is a video game, not a training simulator, does an excellent job of wowing the player.  The death of the world's most annoying perk, last stand, is definately the most anticipated change to multiplayer.  I'm especially looking forward to the new survival mode.  I saw a gameplay video on Youtube, and the player took out a helicopter with an mp5 smg, which was pretty dang cool.

Holocaust Quote

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -George Santayana, philosopher and critic

I completely agree with this and it is demonstrated by the genocide in Africa.  Many people, especially in that area, don't remember or never knew about the suffering that was brought on by the Holocaust.  This lack of knowledge resulted in the genocide in places like Rwanda, and, more recently, Sudan.  Even the old saying "learn from your mistakes" proves it.  I don't think that I have ever seen or heard anything that even comes close to proving it wrong.  Personally I think that it is a saying that everybody should know, especially political leaders.  In my opinion, some wars are neseccary, but genocide is not.

Intro

Welcome to the Patriot's Post,
     I will probably not post too many things on this blog, but feel free to read it.  If you have something against the United States of America and/or God, then you might not be too interested in this.  That is all for now.
                                                       Your fellow American, Uncle Sam