Summer Assignment help - again

[Warthog]

I know I did this already in June, but the thread was somehow lost. I saved it in my favorites, clicked on the link a few days ago, and found it wouldn't work. I tried searching for it but to no avail. FYI, it was called, "Summer Assignment - SUGGESTIONS".

Anyhew...I just do this again...

I need all of you guys' opinion.

I'm supposed to collect items that represent America and put them in a box.
In the box, you should place items you feel are indicative of American culture. Try to go beyond the predictable - mini-American flag and McDonald's wrapper - to find artifacts that represent our country's strengths, weaknesses, obsessions, history and moods.

I need about 12 items or so. Any and all ideas are appreciated!! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks. You guys are the best - I don't know what'd I do without Sysopt members in this case. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[Dputiger]

I'd say you want a COUPLE 'standard' items in there. Here's a few ideas:

1) The Constitution, Bill of Rights, or even the Articles of Confederation. While they are not the law of the land, the DO represent a powerful pattern of thought in this country.

2) A copy of the Federalist papers--these are the articles written by the Framers supporting the Constitution of 1789.

3) A UN flag--or somethign else that represents the UN, which was a key American idea of the 20th century.

4) A baseball. What's more American than baseball? (and you can't put apple pie in a time capsule. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

5) Cafeteria food. Millions of us have eaten it, we all hated it, and unlike apple pie, it WILL be recognizable a billion years from now.

6) Something to represent the republican and democratic parties--use your imagination. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

7) Something religious--a Bible or cross. Love it or hate it, religion has played a very unique role in America

8) Something to represent a car. Cars are also unique in American culture. We are just about the only country in the world which is so in love with the automobile and so dependent on it for private transportation.

9) Something representing mass production--maybe a picture of a factory line. Mass production was invented right here in the good ol' USA by Henry Ford.

10) Something representing atomic energy. Once again, it's one of those 'love it or hate it's' but we did develop the first working nuclear power plant as well as the first bomb.

11) Something to do with the Apollo moon landings. We werent' first in space, but we were the first to put a man on the big pretty light in the sky. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

12) A microchip. The first computer, the Mark II, was built in 1945 in the USA. Unfortunately, it was the size of a house, and so can't be easily put in a box, but an 8086 chip should make the point.

I've tried to name some things that point to American thought and inventions that span a wide variety of places and times. Hopefully it'll be useful.

[Warthog]

Yikes!! Wow!!

I didn't expect anyone to name fully 12 items!! Thank you very, very much!!! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

I am in great debt to you, Dputiger. Anything you need, just ask me http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif.

Anyone else, if you have suggestions, please state them!

BTW, I meant to put this in the Sysopt.Community forum. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[This message has been edited by Warthog (edited 08-07-2000).]

[BFlurie]

Dputiger, that's impressive. Warthog, maybe a bowl of elementary-school stewed tomatoes or processed turkey w/green gravy? Ummmmm-ummm.

[geekgrl]

Wow, those were all great suggestions, and I'm afraid I can't top that!

[socalgal]

Warthog, I remember your thread, and I did an intensive search for it and I'm sorry to say I can't find it either. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

I don't know what happened, but I'll see if there's anything else I can do.

If you still have the URL from it, c&p it and email it to me: socalgal@sysopt.com and I'll see if I can get it back.

[M_Six]

If this is supposed to represent modern American culture, how about:

1) One US dollar (Strength)
2) One stained blue dress (Weakness)
3) An SUV (Obsession)
4) A service ribbon from each war we've fought. (History)
5) A Viagra (Mood)

or maybe:
1) A computer (Strength)
2) A computer (Weakness)
3) A computer (Obsession)
4) A computer (History -Use an old one)
5) A computer (Mood-Good or bad, take your pick)

[Warthog]

Thanks, M_Six. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
I like the Viagra an SUV suggestions the most. lol, just imagine what my teacher would think if I did your second list http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Socalgal, thanks for your help. I'm very suprised you remembered my thread from 2 months ago. I hate to say this, but: "You've Got Mail"
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

Warthog

[Snuffy!]

How bout shoving a bald tailed eagle in the box? I can't think of anyting that represents a more american image than that.

[U-96]

a partially burned Stars and Stripes, to represent Freedom of Speech (don't let your neighbours see you do this though http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif). Or just paint a peace sign on it.

a crew or squad photo of some war Veterans, or a roll of honour to show sacrifice and honour

a phrasebook in a language of an important non-English population in the States, such as Chinese, Polish, Yiddish, Irish, etc

Dputiger's ideas about the car and computer (among others) are genius http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

a handful of earth, or a rock, or branch for the native American population

a greenback

[dgardner]

What is it with you american's no offence I dont dislike you but please get your facts right The first computer ever created was made over here in Britian in WW2 it was called BABY I bleaive and it was made to crack codes. So err Yaa boo sucks, why do you Americans always have to change everything so you look better e.g. U571!!! Americans retrieving the Enigma machine errr no I don't think so.

Take note Viagra although made my Pfizer and American company it was created and developed in Sandwich Kent England!!! They make it and own the patient.

Regarding your box, I would say a set of elastic top jeans and a set of broken scales as America is also one of the worlds fattest nations!!!
Also make a piece of moon rock as you were the first to land on the moon!

Sorry to Bit*h but I really get on my nerves when people take creadit for things they didn't do.

~Dave~

[This message has been edited by dgardner (edited 08-08-2000).]

[Dputiger]

Well since I claimed the computer example, I'll respond to that:

If you want to get REALLY technical, the first computer was invented by Pascal in the 1600's, though the actual date escapes me.

So, technically, we both lose.

Notice, though, I didn't claim Henry Ford invented the car or the internal combustion engine, which is a common misbelief. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif So give us Yankees some credit.

I also like U-96's idea to put a picture of some veterans in the box. That's a great one.

Do we get co-author credit on this one? http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[dgardner]

Fair play on the computer, I'll go with the Pascal thing, of course you do realise the race is now on for the first computer to have fully flex AI, you know the one that can fool us into thinking it is human. Personally i'd rather we all fail to win that one, the thought of a computer that can think for itself is rather worrying, I'm sure it will soon realise how inferiour its inventers actually are!!!

~Dave~

I still stand on my elastic top jeans and broken scales idea though!
BTW you guys get the easiest assignments ever!!

[Dputiger]

Well, Dgardner, I like to think America represents a little more than just a bunch of fat people--especially since personally I'm in pretty good shape. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

But I do agree that Americans have a very bad tendency to be very ethnocentric--though, honestly, there's also a similar tendency in the Britain/Europe relationship, and all over the world.

And believe me, the American universities aren't nearly as easy as some high schools can be. In fact, (and I'm not trying to be snobbish or make a crack at Britain or anywhere else) every one of my friend's who's traveled abroad and every foreign exchange student I've ever spoken too says that my University is FAR more difficult than the one they traveled too/from.

[Warthog]

why do you Americans always have to change everything so you look better

I think it was a simple case of not knowing....we are not all arrogant, fat people who try to make themselves look superior. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

And thanks for the even more suggestions, guys. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog