Woodstock, Illinois

It’s a rainy cold New England day in the beginning of March. Common in New England the weather is unpredictable and often a logistical consideration for the Co- Operative I was interviewing today. Rain snow, or ice Pedal People an eighteen person Cooperative based out of Northampton Ma collects and transfers trash to local facilities. Today I sat down with fellow Pedal People staff Clarissa Lyon to talk about the mission statement and goal Pedal People operates under. The topic was operations conditions, labor, gender, race, equality and access to resources while joking, “We hope we go out of business. ” I go over my questions at the counter sipping on a cup of coffee, waiting for Clarissa to enter. We did not exchange phone numbers, only emails and a time of 10:30. I watch the door as patrons came waiting for that one looking investigative eye scoping out the room. 10:37 and this out of place glance becomes the initial contact of observation and greeting from afar. Me: “Clarissa”? Clarrisa: “CD”? She walks towards me and I to her and shake her hand, gesturing over to the counter where I had chosen to sit. I welcome her and offer her a cup of coffee and thank her for coming out to meet with me. The regular waitress I was friendly with came and offered Clarissa a cup. Clarissa began asking me about what the interview was for and what was happening. I explained I was hoping to capture a story and narrative of Pedal People, their mission and what it means to Clarissa…

No one had known that on August 4th, 1961, an individual was born that would one day inspire the world. Barack Hussein Obama Jr. was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to parents Ann Dunham, an elementary teacher whom later on received her PhD in anthropology, and Barack Hussein Obama Sr., an economist in the Kenyan government. Mr. Obama Jr. is a descendent of a line of strong, independent people. His grandfather, Stanly Dunham, was a World War II veteran and his grandmother worked to become the first…

“Oh Captain! My Captain!” is about a son who is attempting to inform his father about good news, unaware that his father has just passed away in a battle. Walt Whitman, the author of “Oh Captain! My Captain!” laments over the loss of his hero, Abraham Lincoln and viewed him as the greatest president in United States History. Whitman saw a “grand tragedy that promised ultimate purgation and unification for America” in the death of Lincoln (Reynolds). Because of this view on President Lincoln,…

Dorothea Dix was at a young age relatively in charge of keeping house and taking care of her younger siblings due to her mother’s crippling depression and likely other mental illnesses and her father’s abusive achollisim. While her mother likely being her first and most formative experience with mental illness, she was in no way her last. Having always had a fascination with the mentally ill Dorothea took a teaching position at the East Cambridge Women’s prison where she was shocked to see the…

No matter your stance on President Obama or his administration, many would agree that he can passionately deliver a great speech. With 2016 being the finale of his 8-year term, the upcoming State of the Union address will be the last one of Obama’s presidency. As he prepares to address the country on Tuesday, January 12 at 9 p.m. ET, many Americans from all sides of the political spectrum are preparing to watch the President’s final formal speech online. The word on the White House streets is…

In this case presentation it focuses on research on stem cells to find possible ways to cure many disease. A group of scientists created a line of stem cells out of human embryos that could be used for genetic engineering research in November 1998. When George W. Bush became president he received immense pressure to ban the funding and research for stem cell research, and it led him to ban the proposed funding for the research. To support his actions Bush argued that the stem cells found by the…

The comment that draws the most partisan response is when the President states, “how we secured the freedom in every state to marry the person we love.” Republicans are conservative and thus, most refused to cheer for this, unlike the Democrats. How is the President’s presentation? President Obama seems to be cool and collected throughout the whole address. He does not seem to be nervous or scared about what he is addressing, as shown by his body language. His body language emphasizes the…

Prior to 19th century, mental illness was viewed as a criminal act rather than an involuntary affliction, until one woman’s persistence changed the world’s perception of mental health. Dorothea Dix was an author, teacher, and reformer renowned for her strides in the improvement of treatment for the mentally insane. In her early years, she indulged her passion for learning through a career in teaching and encouraged women to pursue an education. In her later years, the hints of rebellious…

Nils Aardahl FWIS Word Magic Dr. Belik 16 November, 2015 Political Language The language used in politics features many linguistic devices that deliberately confuse the audience. George Orwell describes these devices and their use by politicians in his essay “Politics and the English Language.” In this work, Orwell shows how the power of language can be used to convince people of the value of ideas even if there is little actual truth or value to them. While to most the importance of…

In 1832, ongoing tension in Illinois between American settlers and Native American tribes ignited into a summer of conflict where the participants failed to recognize opportunities to deescalate hostilities. This paper will begin by providing historical information relevant to understanding the conflict’s root causes. The paper will further explain that misunderstandings among both combatants regarding the root causes created an atmosphere that fostered an environment conducive for conflict.…