GOAL: Try to find a niche to base my thesis around.
1. Religion
2. Topography
3. Race
4. Flags
5. Population
6. Climate
7. Plant life
8. Animals life
9. Ideology
10. Healthcare - Canada
11. Skyscrapers
12. Fashion
13. Language
14. Diseases
15. Festivals – mardi gras
16. Mineral resources
17. Manufacturing – Detroit
18. Scenic views
19. Character of homes – Adobe, Cape Cod Style, Mediterranean
20. Insects
21. Historical sites
22. Military
23. Reputation
24. Education
25. State slogans
26. Elevation
27. Population density
28. Time zones
29. Relationship to the equator
30. Activities of the people
31. Crime
32. Dialect
33. Traditions
34. Natural disasters - hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes
35. Immigrants
36. Public Transportation
37. Monuments- the Leaning Tower of Pisa
38. Economy
39. Libraries – NY Public Library
40. Real estate
41. Government
42. Diversity
43. Agriculture
44. Power usage – nuclear, solar, wind
45. Airports
46. Museums – the Louvre
47. Places of interest
48. Neighboring states
49. Traffic
50. Types of jobs available
51. Landmarks – Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer
52. State symbols – state bird, state flower
53. Livestock
54. Water supply
55. Sewage disposal
56. Railroads
57. Sports – NASCAR, Soccer
58. Diets of the natives
59. Styles of food
60. Novelties
61. Capitals - Trenton
62. Effectiveness of the law
63. Stadiums – Yankee Stadium
64. Bridges – Golden Gate Bridge
65. Jails - Alcatraz
66. Total Area of state or country
67. Names of the cities and towns and the cultural significance
68. How fertile the soil is
69. Breeds of pets
70. Mountain ranges
71. Proximity to another country
72. Environmentalists
73. Deserts
74. Aliens – Roswell
75. Famous people
76. Canals – Panama Canal
77. Building materials available – ice for igloos
78. Music – jazz, country
79. Footwear – havaianas, cowboy boots, moccasins
80. Wealth
81. Is the town walk able?
82. Rainfall – Seattle
83. Types of trees – bamboo, palm, oak
84. Types of fish – piranha, trout
85. Fresh water or salt water
86. Technology – Tokyo
87. Martial Arts – Jiu-jitsu. Mui Thai
88. Legal to have firearms? England vs. USA
89. Rivers – Mississippi
90. Availability of the Internet
91. Farms and ranches
92. Trade exports and imports
93. Radio personalities
94. Number of representatives in the US House of Representatives
95. Famous speeches that show the character of a nation – “Give me liberty or give me death” Patrick Henry
96. State newspapers
97. Decorative motifs
98. Drinking habits – Russia and Ireland
99. Paved roads, dirt roads, gravel roads or trails?
100. Cost of Living
101. Democrat or Republican
102. Significant writers – Shakespeare
103. Inventors – Albert Edison
104. Nuclear weapons capability
105. Unemployment
106. Value of family vs. independence
107. Safety regulations – USA vs. China
108. Oil
109. Stock market
110. Cars
111. Pollution and emissions
112. King or elected president
113. Heritage
114. Tolerance for same sex couples
115. Comfort level with sex in general
116. Acceptance of slang - Ebonics
117. Age of the country or state
118. Olympics
119. The build / body types of the natives
120. Romantic appeal
121. Parks – Yellowstone, Central Park
122. Beaches - Copacabana beach
123. Theme parks – Coney Island, Disneyworld
124. Volcanoes
125. Civil War
126. Woman’s rights or lack of
127. Dance Styles – Samba, Square dancing, Tango
128. Slavery or freedom – Union vs. Confederates
129. Shipping ports – NJ
130. Ancient artifacts – Greece
131. Hunting game – Africa
132. Crops - cotton
133. Gambling – Las Vegas
134. Taxes – NJ
135. Historical Documents – Declaration of Independence
136. Television networks – MTV, CNN
137. Style of Furniture
138. Famous Churches – Sistine Chapel
139. Famous Musicians – Springsteen
140. Ballet – Russia
141. Opera – Italy
142. Formal writing – Chinese calligraphy
143. Universities – Yale, Princeton, Harvard
144. Art movements
145. Wines
146. Palaces – Buckingham Palace, the Kremlin
147. Motion picture production – Hollywood
148. Modernity
149. Leaders – George Bush, Mikhail Gorbachav
150. Anthems – “Star-spangled banner” Francis Key
151. Textiles – Turkish prayer rug
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Border Research
GOAL: Research how borders shape a territory.
Quebec is a French-speaking province of Canada bordered by the English speaking Canadian provinces of Ontario, Newfoundland and New Brunswick. The southern border of Quebec borders the United States territories of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. In 1608 the French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City. The Treaty of 1763 ended the French and Indian War, transferred New France to Britain. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 founded the province of Quebec. The Quebec Act of 1774 was passed by the British Parliament and gave recognition to Catholic religion, French language, French civil law and French culture in general. Pressures that the colony of Quebec may side with the Thirteen Colonies to the south facilitated the passing of the Quebec Act.
In 1863 the northwestern counties of Virginia seceded from the state to form West Virginia. The branching off of a new state occurred after Virginia seceded from the Union. West Virginia then gained approval from Lincoln to enter the Union. West Virginia’s constitution freed slaves over 21 years old.
During the time of the Civil War Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri and West Virginia were referred to as the Border States. These states shared borders with both the Union and Confederacy, which tied them to the economic, political and social structures of both governments. Kentucky and Missouri even had two state governments that supported both sides. The Border States were critical in deciding the outcome of the American Civil War. Even today, the Border States draw a cultural border that delineates the north from the south.
Oregon has a history of polarizing conflicts that include loggers against environmentalists, growing cities vs. established rural areas and conservatives vs. liberals. Groups from Oregon have tried to secede to form new states such as the State of Jefferson or the sovereign state of Cascadia.
During World War II Germany and the Soviet Union, who both bordered Poland, occupied Poland simultaneously. Poland was in the unlucky spot of being of being sandwiched by these two opposing forces. The close proximity of Germany to Poland also made maintaining and defending the Nazi death camps possible. Following World War II, Poland would be controlled by the Soviets but when the communist government was overthrown, Poland was then able to govern itself.
Following World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel by the Soviet Union and the United States. The Soviets would influence what became known as North Korea. Both the United States and the Soviets pushed their opposing ideologies onto these countries that bordered each other. The tensions between North and South Korea then led to civil war (Korean War) and the creation of a demilitarized zone to separate the conflicted countries. Both countries would like to reunite Korea into a single identity but according to each of their owns ideology. North Korea is bordered by China, Russia and South Korea.
Quebec is a French-speaking province of Canada bordered by the English speaking Canadian provinces of Ontario, Newfoundland and New Brunswick. The southern border of Quebec borders the United States territories of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. In 1608 the French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City. The Treaty of 1763 ended the French and Indian War, transferred New France to Britain. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 founded the province of Quebec. The Quebec Act of 1774 was passed by the British Parliament and gave recognition to Catholic religion, French language, French civil law and French culture in general. Pressures that the colony of Quebec may side with the Thirteen Colonies to the south facilitated the passing of the Quebec Act.
In 1863 the northwestern counties of Virginia seceded from the state to form West Virginia. The branching off of a new state occurred after Virginia seceded from the Union. West Virginia then gained approval from Lincoln to enter the Union. West Virginia’s constitution freed slaves over 21 years old.
During the time of the Civil War Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri and West Virginia were referred to as the Border States. These states shared borders with both the Union and Confederacy, which tied them to the economic, political and social structures of both governments. Kentucky and Missouri even had two state governments that supported both sides. The Border States were critical in deciding the outcome of the American Civil War. Even today, the Border States draw a cultural border that delineates the north from the south.
Oregon has a history of polarizing conflicts that include loggers against environmentalists, growing cities vs. established rural areas and conservatives vs. liberals. Groups from Oregon have tried to secede to form new states such as the State of Jefferson or the sovereign state of Cascadia.
During World War II Germany and the Soviet Union, who both bordered Poland, occupied Poland simultaneously. Poland was in the unlucky spot of being of being sandwiched by these two opposing forces. The close proximity of Germany to Poland also made maintaining and defending the Nazi death camps possible. Following World War II, Poland would be controlled by the Soviets but when the communist government was overthrown, Poland was then able to govern itself.
Following World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel by the Soviet Union and the United States. The Soviets would influence what became known as North Korea. Both the United States and the Soviets pushed their opposing ideologies onto these countries that bordered each other. The tensions between North and South Korea then led to civil war (Korean War) and the creation of a demilitarized zone to separate the conflicted countries. Both countries would like to reunite Korea into a single identity but according to each of their owns ideology. North Korea is bordered by China, Russia and South Korea.
Friday, September 21, 2007
About NJ
New Jersey is a greatly under appreciated state that offers shorelines, revolutionary war history, skilled labor, access to huge markets, various means of transportation, new technology and agriculture. The challenges New Jersey faces are its population density, chemical production, environmental issues, law enforcement and degradation of its cities. New Jersey is one of the original thirteen colonies. The colony was named New Jersey to honor George Carteret, who had defended the island of Jersey during the English Civil War. New Jersey is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on its east and south, the Hudson River to its north and the Delaware River to its west. The ports along these waterways are a tremendous advantage for the state and are in close proximity to Philadelphia and New York City. Though great for the economy, the landscape of these ports is ruined with shipping containers. New Jersey is the fifth smallest state but has the ninth highest population with 9 million people. It is the most densely populated state in nation, which creates a rippling effect of problems. The states cities include Newark, Trenton, Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City and Paterson all of which have heavy crime rates that deters tourists. Tourists are mostly found on the 127-mile eastern coast of New Jersey along the Atlantic. Tourism in New Jersey is estimated at $30 billion a year. Trenton is the capital of New Jersey and is a symbol of George Washington leading the Continental Army against Great Britain for independence. New Jersey has a high industrial output and produces chemical (such as rubber, plastics, paint, detergents and perfume) and pharmaceutical products. One-sixth of New Jersey is farmland and is a leading producer of peaches, blueberries, asparagus, cranberries, bell peppers and tomatoes. The state is also a leader in the production of roses, lilies, chrysanthemums, orchids and poinsettias. More people in New Jersey commute out of state in than any other state in the nation. The New Jersey Turnpike connects Pennsylvania and Delaware to New York but doesn’t showcase the Jersey landscape. The Garden State Parkway, which connects the eastern coastal towns in the state to New York, also reduces the landscape to a monotonous series of numbered exits. Both the Turnpike and Parkway are, in terms of accidents per passenger miles, among the safest roads in the United States. New Jersey’s economy takes advantage of its proximity of Philadelphia and New York City.
Another Song About Borders
Imagine by John Lennon
Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
A Song About Borders
This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie
This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.
As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway:
I saw below me that golden valley:
This land was made for you and me.
I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And all around me a voice was sounding:
This land was made for you and me.
There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me
A sign was painted said: Private Property.
But on the back side it didn't say nothing--
This land was made for you and me.
When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
A voice was chanting, as the fog was lifting :
This land was made for you and me.
One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there wondering
Is this land made for you and me?
Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
"The anthem of unity and beauty which so many children learned in school was actually written in response to the equally reverenced 'God Bless America'. As mentioned in the biography, Woody was infuriated with the lack of realism and the message of complacency in this song which infiltrated the nation's air waves. In response, he wrote 'God Blessed America For Me' which later became 'This Land Is Your Land.'
Of the original, at least two stanzas are left out of the song as it is now sung. They are essentially Marxist and turn the celebratory anthem into an ironic attack on mainstream American Capitalist society. In the fourth stanza, the high wall and private property sign keep people out of a part of their country which is supposed to belong to all. This symbolizes the injustices of capitalism. In the sixth stanza, the line at the Relief Office symbolizes the inefficiency of capitalism in its failure to support the people in the most fundamental way. That the line is in the shadow of the steeple on a bright sunny morning suggests, perhaps, that the church is also a failed and unjust institution. Or, perhaps the church's presence next to the Relief Office is meant to emphasize the failure of the New Deal government , in contrast to the tradition of church, religion, and morality. The size, diversity, and beauty of the nation's landscape become tragic and ironic along side the accounts of poverty, homelessness, and the cruelty and failures of capitalism. Ultimately, the value and virtue of the nation, symbolized by its geography, the value and virtue of Americans, of the government, and of God himself are called into question as the persona of the song asks, as though implying a negative response, if God really had blessed America for him."
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s/RADIO/woody/ah.html
Thursday, September 20, 2007
30 More Jersey Cliches
52. Barbed-wire tattoos
53. Being SUPER tan in February
54. Acrylic finger nails
55. Diner at 3 am, and your ENTIRE graduating class is there
56. Reppin your nationality like its a full time job
57. Only dating Italians, because you are Italian
58. If you ARE from Jersey: It's the ONLY state...everywhere else is "mad stupid"
59. You are a sick hold-em player b/c you won one hand in AC when you went with your dad when you were 18
60. Your car payment is so high that you can't move out of your parents home
61. Your high school teachers also taught your parents
62. Super straight, over highlighted hair. ALL year
63. Guys that "pimp their rides"...But, it's an automatic
64. Still calling elementary school friends by their first and last names
65. Enough perfume/cologne on to smell you across the mall
66. If you're NOT from Jersey: It's all a refinery
67. South vs. North Jersey dichotomy
68. Making a day trip out of Short-Hills Mall
69. "yo girl..."
70. Jersey Shore bars
71. Thick necked Guidos
72. High insurance rates
73. Stressed out people
74. JAPS (Jewish American Princesses)
75. McGreevy homosexual scandal
76. Highest home purchase prices
77. Traffic all the time
78. Opie & Anthony radio show
79. Turnpike--ugliest road ever!
80. Asian nail salons per block
81. Tanning salons
82. Bling everywhere!
53. Being SUPER tan in February
54. Acrylic finger nails
55. Diner at 3 am, and your ENTIRE graduating class is there
56. Reppin your nationality like its a full time job
57. Only dating Italians, because you are Italian
58. If you ARE from Jersey: It's the ONLY state...everywhere else is "mad stupid"
59. You are a sick hold-em player b/c you won one hand in AC when you went with your dad when you were 18
60. Your car payment is so high that you can't move out of your parents home
61. Your high school teachers also taught your parents
62. Super straight, over highlighted hair. ALL year
63. Guys that "pimp their rides"...But, it's an automatic
64. Still calling elementary school friends by their first and last names
65. Enough perfume/cologne on to smell you across the mall
66. If you're NOT from Jersey: It's all a refinery
67. South vs. North Jersey dichotomy
68. Making a day trip out of Short-Hills Mall
69. "yo girl..."
70. Jersey Shore bars
71. Thick necked Guidos
72. High insurance rates
73. Stressed out people
74. JAPS (Jewish American Princesses)
75. McGreevy homosexual scandal
76. Highest home purchase prices
77. Traffic all the time
78. Opie & Anthony radio show
79. Turnpike--ugliest road ever!
80. Asian nail salons per block
81. Tanning salons
82. Bling everywhere!
Monday, September 10, 2007
51 Jersey Cliches
1. People from NJ use self-depreciating humor.
2. Sarcasms is a birthright.
3. There is a mall in every town.
4. The price of a traffic ticket is equal to a months rent.
5. Teenage clerks at stores say “Thank you, come again” in a sarcastic way and only cause they have to.
6. Everyone loves Springsteen.
7. We speak our mind without restraint.
8. There are no gardens in the Garden State.
9. After going to Ikea, people think they have seen NJ.
10. The beaches have medical needles.
11. The NY Jets play in NJ but use NY as their identity.
12. Fans don’t attend NJ Nets games and as a result the team in moving to NY.
13. NJ is a toxic dump.
14. Benjamin Franklin called NJ “The barrel tapped at both ends,” which referred to NY and Philadelphia.
15. The toxic Avenger originated in Jersey.
16. Everyone is Italian.
17. “Joysie girls”
18. The commute to work is out of state.
19. If you say you are going to “the city” people know you mean NYC and not Jersey City.
20. When your reason to live in NJ is to see the NY skyline.
21. You know someone in the mafia.
22. NJ is the asshole of NY and the armpit of America.
23. The architecture is dull and uninspiring.
24. You’ve never seen the stars in the sky.
25. The smell from the Turnpike and Parkway is more memorable than the landscape.
26. People who are nice to you want something from you.
27. You bitch about traffic but don’t carpool.
28. Your SUV chugs alcohol like you do beer.
29. The beach is called “The Shore.”
30. Breast implants are popular.
31. When you think of Oranges you think of poverty, crime and gangs.
32. You frequent 24-hour diners after binging with your buddies.
33. You know what a “jug handle” is.
34. You’re either a Yankees fan or a Mets fan.
35. There are no self-service gas stations.
36. Z-100 is your favorite radio station.
37. Every teenager wants a tattoo.
38. NJ can’t find a state slogan that resonates…New Jersey: Come See for yourself.
39. Summer is the time to strut your body at the beach.
40. The Statue of Liberty is perceived as part of the NY skyline when it belongs to NJ.
41. The locals are mean spirited.
42. We’ll cut you off on the highway, no matter how small the opening, causing you to crap in your pants.
43. You either get laid a lot or not at all.
44. You wiz past tollbooths chucking 35 cents from your car window into a funnel that counts your change.
45. Sign pollution
46. High taxes
47. Jay & Silent Bob’s comic book store is a tourist destination.
48. Don’t get lost driving in Newark!
49. Soprano jokes
50. Family businesses are put out of business in favor of stores belonging to a chain.
51. When people want to know where you live they ask what exit are you near.
Two possible solutions I’ve been thinking about is doing a blog for NJ that promotes destinations in NJ in an honest and real way. Second, creating a sign system along the Garden State Parkway that would lead residents and tourists to explore exits of NJ they wouldn’t otherwise take.
2. Sarcasms is a birthright.
3. There is a mall in every town.
4. The price of a traffic ticket is equal to a months rent.
5. Teenage clerks at stores say “Thank you, come again” in a sarcastic way and only cause they have to.
6. Everyone loves Springsteen.
7. We speak our mind without restraint.
8. There are no gardens in the Garden State.
9. After going to Ikea, people think they have seen NJ.
10. The beaches have medical needles.
11. The NY Jets play in NJ but use NY as their identity.
12. Fans don’t attend NJ Nets games and as a result the team in moving to NY.
13. NJ is a toxic dump.
14. Benjamin Franklin called NJ “The barrel tapped at both ends,” which referred to NY and Philadelphia.
15. The toxic Avenger originated in Jersey.
16. Everyone is Italian.
17. “Joysie girls”
18. The commute to work is out of state.
19. If you say you are going to “the city” people know you mean NYC and not Jersey City.
20. When your reason to live in NJ is to see the NY skyline.
21. You know someone in the mafia.
22. NJ is the asshole of NY and the armpit of America.
23. The architecture is dull and uninspiring.
24. You’ve never seen the stars in the sky.
25. The smell from the Turnpike and Parkway is more memorable than the landscape.
26. People who are nice to you want something from you.
27. You bitch about traffic but don’t carpool.
28. Your SUV chugs alcohol like you do beer.
29. The beach is called “The Shore.”
30. Breast implants are popular.
31. When you think of Oranges you think of poverty, crime and gangs.
32. You frequent 24-hour diners after binging with your buddies.
33. You know what a “jug handle” is.
34. You’re either a Yankees fan or a Mets fan.
35. There are no self-service gas stations.
36. Z-100 is your favorite radio station.
37. Every teenager wants a tattoo.
38. NJ can’t find a state slogan that resonates…New Jersey: Come See for yourself.
39. Summer is the time to strut your body at the beach.
40. The Statue of Liberty is perceived as part of the NY skyline when it belongs to NJ.
41. The locals are mean spirited.
42. We’ll cut you off on the highway, no matter how small the opening, causing you to crap in your pants.
43. You either get laid a lot or not at all.
44. You wiz past tollbooths chucking 35 cents from your car window into a funnel that counts your change.
45. Sign pollution
46. High taxes
47. Jay & Silent Bob’s comic book store is a tourist destination.
48. Don’t get lost driving in Newark!
49. Soprano jokes
50. Family businesses are put out of business in favor of stores belonging to a chain.
51. When people want to know where you live they ask what exit are you near.
Two possible solutions I’ve been thinking about is doing a blog for NJ that promotes destinations in NJ in an honest and real way. Second, creating a sign system along the Garden State Parkway that would lead residents and tourists to explore exits of NJ they wouldn’t otherwise take.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)