Introductions By Jessica Troncoso

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?


My favorite course of study in school was Economics, the moment I was introduced to the course things just clicked. I knew that I would major in it in college.


2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?


The longest paper I've writen was roughly 13 pages including endnotes and a bibliography. It was an authors study in my enlglish class last year.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.


One of my favorite papers was one where I made a claim that the legalization of organs such as kidney's should be made. I like the paper because I got to argue a contriversial side with facts and evidence. Plus I got to apply my economical background into the paper.


4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?
I like techincal writing. Argumentive pieces are my favorite.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.
Over the summer I read a few books, Super-Freakonomics, Atonement and Exit Here, which I have unfortunately not been able to finish. Its a great book I would definately recommend it for anyone who is looking for an intense story.
6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?
Artist whose works reflect something bigger than themselves. I love Rise Against and Lupe Fiasco because they work carries so much meaning.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?
I love anatomy and physiology. The way our bodies work is facinating to me.





8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.


I saw an article about a week ago which stated that women in China were growing in intellence, basically that the gender gap was closing. The article stated that the change had to do with the one child rule in china. Since families would have girls, and only be aloud that child in order to receive significant tax breaks they were sending her to school and investing in her, as they would if they had had a son.


9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).
I was recently impressed by the the taste of Colorado. The beauty of Denver never seizes to impress me, and the food was great.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.
Yes, I was deeply moved by the news of a fellow CU Student dying "after a night of drinking". My heart goes out to his family and friends, and hope that everyone learns a valuable lesson from his passing.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.
"There is no such thing as a free lunch", my economics teacher, Mr. Matthews widened my intellectual horizon with simple concepts, some that caused me to change my opinion on subjects that I thought I had already made up my mind as. He cause me to question current legislations and there relivance in our culture. Thank you Matthews. :)
(Questions courtesy Nancy Hightower, and Kira Van Lil, modified by Frances Charteris)

Introductions Sean Patrick Faling

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

While I have enjoyed many of my studies, I most likely would say painting courses have been my favorite. Because I am visual person, I think I recieve the kind of feedback I need from creating something.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

My longest assigned paper was a 10 page paper on genetic mutation in human melanin receptors. It was written with the AAA writing style guide, which was completly new to me. It included an annotated bibliography.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

The paper that I enjoyed writing the most so far was on the evolution of military technology. It summarized the impact of Sputnik, and the creation of micro technology. The main point was how efficiency and minimalization of devices were originally designed for strategic weapons use. I presented the fact that consumer electronics were actually aged military devices, programs, or experiments.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

I particularly enjoy writing in freeverse, or short stories. I also enjoy reporting and journalism.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

Lately I have read the Tao Te Ching, The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts, and Octopus and Squid: The Soft Intelligence by Jaques Cousteau.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

I have always been a big fan Charles Bukowski, I appreciate his work for it's honesty and brutal examinations of life. For art I appreciate many but for now am into Joe Coleman. His work is very intense and visual, and the fact that he paints with a four-haired brush and a magnifying glass is impressive.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

My other interest than the humanities, would be psychology.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

I just re-read an interview with Edgar Froese regarding the 1970's and his band, Tangerine Dream. I play a similiar style of music, and to me this is the man who invented it, so I try and read everything I can find published, and from time to time I come across something new. In this article he described their early concerts where he would call out what key to be in for each song and just play. I also do this and was excited to read that we both used this method for improvisational electronic music.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

Sometime in July I attended a Concert in Denver, it was a bar we play at regularly and is an open stage for experimental music. This night featured a synthesizer player from Ohio called Radio People. I was told I would like his music and I did, so much that I bought his double LP and two Tapes he was selling. Now he and I are sharing music and networking. I had hesitated to go out that night but it proved to be a very good idea.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

Two weekends ago I saw an ad for a electronics garage sale near my house. I typically will go to these but am often disappointed at all the solid state junk thats being offered. However, this trip promised to be unique. The gentleman who was hosting the sale was a retired electrical engineer and electronics repairman. I went to the address provided, and when I arrived I saw rows upon rows of the coolest vintage electronics! I immediatly found something I had to have and wanting to make an offer I found the gentleman who was hosting the sale. He was in his 80's, hard of hearing and quite shaky. I introduced myself to him, and as we made eye contact I realized that we had on the same make of shirt - I also collect 50's clothing. I remarked about how much our shirts were alike and he agreed and smiled. I then told him what I was looking for. He heard my descriptions and a little more life glowed from him. He then took interest in me and proceded to describe just about everything he had, how to experiment with it, frequency ranges, tube amplification etc. I told him that I would be back, that I could have spent the whole day picking his brain. He told me if he didn't see me he would have another sale and to look for it. As I waved goodbye, his daughter said to me that he might not be here for another season as his health was deteriorating rapidly. I really felt bad, as I saw a bit of myself in this man, and how everytime we lose an individual such as he, it's a huge impact on our society. People as creative as this gentleman is who have such an incredible knowlege of "things" and how they work are becoming very hard to find.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.

Alan Watts' Lecture on "nothing" describes how everything exists because of nothing and that nothing is a background for something. Therefore it is almost impossible to describe nothing as indeed nothing, as without nothing you would never have something. This really got me thinking as minimalism is something I have always been interested in.

Introduction - Joe Stanek

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

My favorite thing to study has been anything to do with medicine and the human body. I just really want to help save lives.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

My longest paper was in high school English III. It was a 14 page "word" paper. The assignment was a detailed analysis of a single word along with our own personal feelings about the word. It did have endnotes and a bibliography.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

I wrote a research paper on the Korean War. The paper was put on display and I was asked by the family of a Korean War veteran if they could have a copy. I was honored by their request. Plus, I learned more about the war while writing this paper than I did in any of my history classes.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

Analytic writing. I learn the most from it.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

Outside of school I read almost exclusively non-fiction books.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

I don't know if musical artists count, but Maynard James Keenan is an incredible songwriter/lyricist and vocalist. I don't agree with everything he has to say, but his use of the english language in music is pretty impressive.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

My favorite is biology. I also like psychology, philosophy and history.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

I've been reading about the protests in Chilean Patagonia over a proposed hydroelectric dam. It's really amazing to see what lengths some people will go to to protect their land and livelihood.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

Honestly, I thought it was interesting and kind of funny how crazy Canadians got after Vancouver lost to Boston in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. Hockey is clearly a very large and important part of Canadian culture.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

Before I left for college, I was given some advice. The person that gave the advice said, "Never forget where you came from". This is something I will not soon forget.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.

This may seem like a strange answer but, what got me thinking the most is the idea that things can always be much worse. This idea forces me to remember not to take anything for granted, and it helps me strive to do my best. There isn't really a source for this.

Introduction - Drew Dugan

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

Anything and everything related to music is my main passion and is therefore my favorite course of study. Specifically, I play the drums and compose music (production), but love to try new things and experience new venues of expression. Having played in numerous bands both in and out of the classroom, I have decided that music is the ultimate form of expression and release for myself. Plus, there is always more material to discover and manipulate.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

At age 13, I wrote a short story that ended up to be about 20 - 25 pages long. I wrote it out of pure enjoyment rather than for a class. It did not include endnotes, nor a bibliography.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

My favorite paper covered Jack London and his works/life. Although the topic started out broad, I narrowed the thesis down to how Jack London and his writings affected the view of nature and the naturalistic movement in general. In the process of writing the paper, I not only learned much about Jack London, but also a thing or two about myself and my personal views concerning the subject.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

I enjoy writing short stories that cover a wide range of topics. Usually, I do these outside of school.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

Currently, I am reading a book by Bill O'Reilly titled A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity. I love how controversial the topics in the book are, as well as O'Reilly himself; it creates an interesting read. Also, Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote is on the top of the list for books I recommend, especially if you are a dog lover such as myself.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

Malcom Gladwell, the author of numerous self-help/psychological books, has caught my immediate attention throughout the past few months. Not only does he write for the sole reason to help the reader, but the amount of information and research required to do so concerning his unique topics is truly incredible.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

I love to ski and enjoy participating in other outdoor activities, such as backpacking or walking my dog.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

This morning I read a plethora of information regarding Hurricane Irene. I began to realize that I would be interested in furthering my knowledge of weather and climate during my time at CU Boulder, if at all possible. Also, I realized that I should call my cousins who live in Manhattan.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

I attended an Atmosphere concert at Red Rocks this past weekend and it was amazing. It was my second time seeing them and the fact that it was at Red Rocks made it that much more enjoyable.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

Hurricane Irene has sparked some interest in me lately, especially since I have a large amount of friends that currently reside on the east coast.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go

There is no free lunch! Basically, one could have bought or done something different than what he/she did/is doing. The basic idea is relatively simple, but the implications are endless.

Introduction- Caitlin Vassallo

1. I have always loved creative writing courses, because they provide me with the opportunity to express myself freely. I also enjoy history, because I like learning about the past and why things are the way they are today.

2. My final paper for A.P. Lit last year was about 9 pages long. It wasn't a research or factual paper, so there were no footnotes or endnotes or bibliography.

3. My favorite papers are the ones I get to write about myself. Not because I'm into talking about myself, but because my own mind is a topic that I know best, and it's easy for me to express my feelings through writing.

4. I used to be really into poetry, but since about junior year I prefer anecdotal pieces.

5. I prefer novels and read them frequently, so over the summer I decided to read a few plays instead. They were both by Shakespeare, and they were difficult to read but I enjoyed them both.

6. My favorite author is Arthur Golden. His attention to detail makes the story come alive on the page and just makes his work that much more interesting to read. My favorite book of all time is Memoirs of a Geisha, and the elaborate detail he uses throughout the book catches my attention and never lets go. I love it.

7. I've been doing pottery since I was about 8 or 9 years old, but unfortunately I was unable to take any studio art classes this semester. Besides that, I love to snowboard in the winter and play soccer every other season.

8. I don't typically read newspapers, I pay more attention to the puzzles in the back. Some articles that always seem to capture my attention, however, are those that describe heroic acts. I read one a few days ago about a fireman that was trying to resuscitate a kitten by giving it CPR, and accidentally inhaled it and swallowed it whole. Even though the kitten didn't make it, his attempt was heroic and pretty admirable.

9. The Women's World Cup last month really impressed me. Not so much the soccer, but the fact that people of all nationalities seemed to really bond over it. So many millions of people came together to watch the women preform, and it's amazing to see cultural differences pushed aside in order to connect over a sport.

10. Emotionally and mentally, there haven't been many major events that have effected me. However, monetarily, the poor economy effects me and my family every day. Who knew school was this expensive?

11. Reading the Shakespearean plays really broadened my love for literature. Being able to master the complex language and difficult structure was really sort of enlightening and gave me a great sense of accomplishment.

Introductions - Kirsten Jaqua

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

My favorite course of study in my last two years of high school was history. I particularly enjoy studying specific events or characters.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

The longest paper I have written was about seven double spaced pages including a short bibliography.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

My favorite paper was an encomium I wrote on a political leader in South Africa: Nelson Mandela. Mandela dedicated his life to eliminating not only the apartheid regime, but also the prejudices that remained in his country after its fall.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

I like writing research papers on history or literature. As I’ve said before, I like to do in depth study of particular events and characters.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

Most recently I The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara, Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian (I love historical fiction J ), Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens, and Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

I have always been impressed by the Russian authors Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky. I love the way they get into the minds of their characters, follow their thoughts, and often twist the world inside the book to fit the character’s beliefs and moods.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

I am planning to declare a minor in math. Math has never been my forte, but this makes it all the more satisfying for me when I finally conquer a difficult concept.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

I suppose it’s not really an article in a newspaper/magazine, bu I found C.S. Lewis’s speech The Inner Ring a fantastic read. He describes the phenomenon of what we might today call a ‘clique’ and the actions and reactions to this unofficial hierarchy which forms in communities of all kinds.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

My siblings and I were recently able to go and see the King Tut exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. Each artifact had a detailed description of its role in the pharaoh’s burial, and I am certain I could learn just as much again as I did that day if I went again.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply?

Hurricane Irene will be making landfall this Saturday near Virginia. My older brother and many family friends live there near or on the coast. I have seen other hurricanes on the news rolling over the coasts, but this is the first major hurricane in my memory that has hit the coast near so many people that I know.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.

One of my favorite places to go during vacation times is a women’s monastery in Arizona. I love the monastery for many reasons, but most of all because it is so peaceful—free of bright lights, loud machinery, advertisement, and electronics. It creates a stark contrast with the world I am used to. While I do greatly appreciate phones, cars, and computers, it makes me realize how much calmer and quieter life would be without them, and how much peace there is to be found in living simply.

Introductions - Sean Chapman

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

My favorite course of study would probably be literature. I enjoy reading and then discussing books, especially looking at things like context and how it affected the world which doesn't always occur to you when reading alone.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography? The longest paper I've written would probably be a 8 page research paper (with bibliography), though I've written a 12-page short story, if that counts.

 

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

My favorite paper was an essay in an english class about the value (or lack thereof) of grades in the educational system.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

I particularly enjoy writing short stories, occasionally sci-fi or Lovecraftian style horror. My favorite part is creating characters.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments  are welcome.

Most recently I re-read The Hobbit, which was my favorite book as a kid. (I remember it being a lot more dense). Other than that I read Dangerous Visions a sci-fi short story compilation and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

I've always found J.R.R. Tolkein to be particularly impressive because of the intricacy of the fantasy world he created. I would also put Stanley Kubrick on here because he's my favorite director and every movie he made impresses me in a different way.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

I like keeping up with and studying science, especially crazy theories, like parallel universes and super string theory.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

I recently read a scientific article (it's actually a few months old) that suggests that the universe started as a single dimensional point and that the 2nd and then 3rd dimensions were created as the universe expanded from the Big Bang. If that theory is true then additional dimensions could theoretically be "created" as the universe expands more.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

I don't know if it counts as a "cultural event" but just in case I'm combining questions 9 and 10. I think the most significant thing to happen recently was all the revolution happening in the middle east. If the revolutionary trend continues it might eventually contribute to the further globalization of the world if the west decides to support more democracy. Of course that's all dozens to hundreds of years in the future, but something really big is building up now.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

See question 9.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.

Recently I watched an interview with astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and he said something I find very interesting. The most common elements found in the universe are Hydrogen, Helium,  Oxygen, and Carbon. The most common elements in the human body are Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon (Helium is chemically inert and therefore useless to a life form.) Thus Human beings have the same relative elemental makeup as the rest of the universe. That seems pretty cool to me. 

Introductions - Becca Burd

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

My favorite course so far in school was Physics, but that was due more to the fact that I had a fantastic, very likeable teacher, more than the class itself.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

The longest paper I ever wrote for school was a 66 page paper without endnotes and a bibliography, for a Western Civilizations class.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

My favorite paper to date was one I wrote on the judicial systems around the world, for a world history class, that included socialist, capitalist, and communist countries, as well as brief histories on the development of the systems. It included a lot of detail when it came to getting females onto judicial boards and into positions of power.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

I love writing fantasy and fiction, where anything can happen and often does.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

I love reading fantasy, some sci-fi, teen stories about friends and love, realistic fiction, and historical fiction, particularly novels by Phillipa Gregory, because they are very well researched.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

I love to read anything by Tamora Pierce or Phillipa Gregory, I like the research behind the works that they do (writing), it shows a great deal of in depth knowledge.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

My other main interests include sports, DIY art, and architectural design.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

I like most of the Time magazine articles, but rather than read I enjoy looking at brief stories. I think the economic and political stories are the most informative to read.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

I think the 2010 World Cup was a fantastic event, it really garners the attentions of the world, even in America where soccer isn’t a big sport, and gets everyone rooting for a team, getting into the spirit whether they follow soccer the next two years or not.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

Not really.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go

Nothing in particular has sparked my interest, but you can always find creative ideas on stumbleupon.com =)