What I Have Learned

American Literary Experience

January 16, 2005

First Block

What I Have Learned

            The Academic Resume Project in which I have gone through has forced me to learn a great deal about writing.  Along with improving my writing skills I have learned how to write the essays on time and how to use my personal knowledge in my writing.

            After each essay was handed in, it was later returned to me with edit marks for grammatical improvements.  I have used these revisions to learn where I am making mistakes in my writing and to prevent them from happening again.  Many of my mistakes have been in my word choice and I now realize that I need to expand my vocabulary, as an expanded vocabulary would greatly help me write better in college.  Along with needing a larger vocabulary I have learned how to use my imagination in my writing and to differ my sentence styles.  My knowledge of a variety of aspects also helps my writing ability.

            I feel that what I know is my strongpoint in my writing, as I either know a lot about a subject or I don’t.  I have gained a lot of information about many different aspects of life over the last several years, as it is the time when I am constantly trying to learn more about the environment around me.  I consider I know the most information about Cedar Point Amusement Park, as I have grown up going to the park for many years and spend my summers there.  I also know quite a lot about computers and how to fix many common problems people face each day.  Photography is also a hobby of mine in which I am still learning information about but one day I hope to know a great deal about it.

            This information that I have been able to put into my essays and made me realize how much I know about what I care for.  I believe this information will only help me as my academic career will only increase and become more challenging.

What Best Describes Me

American Literary Experience

September 6, 2004

First Block

What Best Describes Me

            Every person in the world has a personality.  Some people’s personalities change throughout their life, while others remain the same.  It is a difficult task to try to give insight as to what kind of person I am, however I believe a computer, digital camera, and my Top Thrill Dragster hat represent me the best.

            A computer represents me very well, as virtually everything I do can be involved with a computer.  I use my home computer, which is a Dell Dimension 4600C with a 19” Dell Flat Screen Monitor, for practically everything.  From searching the web to designing websites, I have the power to influence the information people around the world can access.  Computers are one of my biggest hobbies and I have learned how to maintain, improve, and fix computers running on the Windows XP operating system.  With this knowledge, I have found myself at the mercy of my friends who are in the need of computer advice.  I have spent countless hours repairing friends’ computers without compensation, as I would never ask for any monetary value for doing something I love.  By continuing to help others with their computer problems, I am constantly learning more about computers and how they operate.

            Photography also plays a major part in my life.  Using a Fujifilm FinePix S5000 digital camera I can capture any moment I wish, whenever I want.  Primarily I photograph Cedar Point Amusement Park, as I am attempting to create a database of pictures for future reference.  I also am interested in becoming a yearbook photographer to help with our excellent yearbook at Bay High School.  Cedar Point is my most photographed place, and it also represents who I am.

            One of my most prized possessions is my Top Thrill Dragster baseball hat.  I do not really know why it is so special to me, but I never leave home without it.  It represents my passion for Cedar Point and the magic that makes people smile there.  I love to make people happy and at my job at Cedar Point, I do it all the time.  As a Games Host, I work the midway games in the park and award prizes to guests if they can pass a challenge.  Kid’s faces light up whenever they see one of their parents win a giant Elmo or a Scooby-Doo. By wearing my Top Thrill Dragster hat, I am constantly reminded of the fun I can put into others lives at Cedar Point.

            A computer, digital camera, and Top Thrill Dragster hat all give insight into my character.  Character is a trait everyone has, but not everyone knows what kind of character he has.  By looking at these three objects, I have been given insight into my character.

Cedar Point Timeline

 Timeline



1823:

"Cedar Point" is mentioned for the first time.



1831:

The name "Cedar Point" first appears in legal documents.



1836:

Alexander Porter sells the northwest half of the Cedar Point peninsula to Theodore Shelton for $55,000. Alexander Porter then buys back the land after it was repossessed for $292.80.



1838:

Alexander Porter sells the southwest section of the peninsula to Stephen Hills, Jr. and Ebenezzer Jessup.



1839:

The Cedar Point lighthouse is built.



1849:

Alexander Porter requires everyone fishing at Cedar Point to pay him 1/8 of their daily catch.



1862:

George Arthur Boeckling is born (future owner of Cedar Point).



1865:

Rush Sloane buys Cedar Point.



1867:

A small railroad is constructed from the Sandusky Bay to the other side of the peninsula to Lake Erie.



1870:

Said to be Cedar Point's first official season.

Louis Zistel builds a beer garden and a bathhouse.  He also provided children's entertainment.

Louis Zistel brings guests to the Cedar Point beach.



1878:

A group of bathhouses opens near the beach.



1888:

Grand Pavilion is built.



1889:

Ladies pavilion opens.



1891:

Electricity is first brought to Cedar Point.



1892:

Cedar Point's first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, opens.



1897:

George Boeckling, president of Cedar Point Pleasure and Resort Company, buys Cedar Point for $256,000.  He turns it into a place much better than it was before.



1899:

The Bay Shore Hotel is built as Cedar Point's first hotel.



1900:

Kinodrome opens.



1901:

White House hotel is built.

Bay Shore Hotel becomes boarding house.



1902:

Three Way Figure-Eight Toboggan opens.

Pony Track opens.

Water Swing built.



1903:

Opera House opens.  Shows cost 2 cents a day.

White House Hotel expanded.

The Ohio State University lake laboratory is constructed.



1904:

The Crystal Rock Castle opens.

Sea Wing opens.

Use of the Cedar Point Lighthouse stops.



1905:

Hotel Breakers is built, and opens on July 12.

Lagoons are dug out.

Expansion of Boardwalk



1906:

Coliseum is built.  The top floor was used as a dance floor.

The "Amusement Circle" opens.  The Amusement Circle featured the Circle Swing, Chateau Alphonse, Auto Tour, a miniature railway, a skating rink, House of Mirth, Shooting Gallery, Cascades, and Box Ball.



1907:

A new dock is constructed that allows ships to come straight to Cedar Point without having to stop in Sandusky first.

Skating rink closes at the end of the season.



1908:

The Scenic Railway opens.

Mundy's Trained Wild Animal show debuts.

A steamship opens servicing passengers from Detroit and Toledo.



1909:

First year for the famed steamship, the "G.A. Boeckling."



1910:

The Figure-Eight Roller Toboggan is moved, rebuilt, and renamed the Racer.

A new bathhouse opens, as the largest in the world.



1912:

The Leap the Dips Scenic Railway opens.



1913:

Knute Rockne, a Notre Dame student working as a lifeguard at Cedar Point, perfected the forward pass on the Cedar Point beach.



1914:

Boeckling announces that he will connect a large AC generator to extend the lighting across the Chaussee.

The 7-mile Chaussee is constructed as the first roadway to Cedar Point.

Water Tower is built.



1915:

White Hotel hotel becomes Cedars Hotel.

George Boeckling retires.



1917:

The G.A. Boeckling steamship hits the north end of the pier, but there were no injuries and the boat was docked safely.



1918:

The Scenic Railway is rebuilt and renamed Leap Frog Railway.



1920:

The Bon-Air wing of the Hotel Breakers opens.



1924:

The first Kiddieland opens

The Caterpillar opens.

A tornado destroys a Cedar Point boat dock in downtown Sandusky.



1925:

Noah's Ark opens.

Helen Keller visits Cedar Point, and speaks to the Lion Club on June 30.  To read here speech, click here:

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_history_hkspeech.shtml



1928:

Last year for the Racer.



1929:

The Cyclone is built.



1931:

G.A. Boeckling dies at the age of 69 on July 24.



1934:

The Leap Frog is rebuilt and renamed High Frolics.

The Tumble Bug opens.



1935:

Final season for the Leap the Dips Scenic Railway.



1939:

The second floor of the Coliseum is renovated into an Art Deco Ballroom.

Final season for High Frolics.



1942:

The first French Fry stand is opened by the Berardi Family.



1946:

The Midway Carousel opens.

The Moon Rocket opens.



1950:

The first road to the Hotel Breakers is built.



1951:

Final season for the Cyclone.

Last year for G.A. Boeckling steamship.



1952:

A new Kiddieland opens, with 10 rides.



1955:

Fascination opens.



1956:

George Roose and Emile Legros buy Cedar Point, and plan to turn it into a residential development.



1957:

Causeway is built.  The Causeway is a much quicker way to get to the peninsula from the mainland.



1958:

Roose and Legros switch gears, and continue running Cedar Point as an amusement park.

Cadillac Cars open.



1959:

Cedar Point Marina opens.

Last year for Noah's Ark.

Wild Mouse opens, after 30 without a new roller coaster.

Monorail opens.



1960:

Midway paving begins.



1961:

Final season for Wild Mouse.

Rotor opens.

Sky Wheel opens.

Super Satellite Jets opens

Cedar Classic Miniature Golf opens.



1962:

Scamper opens.

Skyride opens.

Western Cruise opens.  It is now known as Paddlewheel Excursions.



1963:

Mill Race opens.

Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad opens.



1964:

Blue Streak is built, and is currently the oldest standing roller coaster at Cedar Point.

Calypso opens.

Final season for the Rotor.



1965:

Jungle Larry's Safari Island opens.

Space Spiral opens.

San Francisco Earthquake opens.



1966:

Pirate Ride opens.

Fun House opens.

Final season for Monorail.



1967:

Frontiertown opens.

Cedar Downs opens.

Shoot-the-Rapids opens.



1968:

Golden Palace Theatre opens.

Frontier Lift opens.

Kiddieland Carousel opens (Now known as Kiddy Kingdom Carousel)



1969:

Cedar Creek Mine Ride opens.

Antique Cars open.

Final Season for Scamper.



1970:

Cedar Point's 100th season, opened on May 23.

Centennial Theatre opens.

Wildcat opens.

Tiki Twirl opens.

Bayern Kurve opens.

Dodgem opens.

Schwabinchen opens.

Super Himalaya opens.

Monster opens.

Hofbrau opens.

"Million Dollar Midway" opens.

Kiddieland is redesigned and reopened.

First year for "all-day-ride" tickets.



1971:

Frontier Trail opens.

Camper Village opens.



1972:

Giant Wheel opens.

Jumbo Jet opens.

Frontier Carousel opens.



1975:

Robert Munger, Jr. takes over Cedar Point.

Cedar Point Cinema opens.



1976:

Corkscrew opens as the first roller coaster with 3 inversions.

Troika opens.



1977:

A tornado hits Cedar Point, and damages several rides.



1978:

Gemini opens as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world.  The Gemini Midway was first built, and connected the Corkscrew to Frontiertown.

Cedar Point buys Valley Fair.



1979:

Jr. Gemini opens.

Wave Swinger opens.



1980:

Oceana opens.

Final season for Sky Wheel.



1981:

Ocean Motion opens.



1982:

White Water Landing opens.



1983:

Demon Drop opens.

Cedar Fair, L.P. is formed.  Robert Munger is the first CEO.



1985:

Avalanche Run opens.

Berenstain Bear Country opens.

Final season for Frontier Lift.



1986:

Thunder Canyon opens.



1987:

Iron Dragon opens.

Western Cruise relocated to near current location and renamed Paddlewheel Excursions.



1988:

Soak City opens.



1989:

Magnum XL-200 opens as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world.



1990:

Avalanche Run is enclosed and renamed Disaster Transport.

Sandcastle Suites opens.



1991:

Meanstreak opens, the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster.



1992:

Challenge Park opens.

Cedar Point switch soda providers from Coke to Pepsi.



1993:

Snake River Falls opens.



1994:

Raptor opens as the tallest and fastest inverted coaster.

"Christmas in the Park" is held for the only time.



1995:

Summer Spectacular begins.

Cedar Point announces "Banshee," the tallest, fastest, and steepest stand up roller coaster.  However, they had to rename it "Mantis" due to complaints from people about the word "Banshee."



1996:

Mantis opens.

Ripcord opens.



1997:

Quarterdeck Arcade opens.

Midway Market opens.

Swan Boats open.

Chaos opens.

First season for HalloWeekends.



1998:

Power Tower opens.

Frog Hopper opens.



1999:

Breakers Tower opens.

Camp Snoopy opens.  Most Berenstain Bears-themed rides and attractions are re-themed and renamed.

Woodstock Express opens.

Kiddy Kingdom adds several new rides.

Cedar Point announces Millennium Force in July.



2000:

Millennium Force opens as the tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coaster.

Giant Wheel is relocated to the Oceana Midway.



2001:

Lighthouse Point opens.

Vertigo opens in Challenge Park.

Johnny Rockets opens.



2002:

Part of Vertigo collapses during the Offseason.  The ride did not open for the 2002 season.

Good Time Theatre replaces the IMAX Theatre, and features "Snoopy Rocks! On Ice."

Wicked Twister opens as the tallest, fastest, and only double-twisting impulse coaster.

Track for Top Thrill Dragster is spotted in August.

Wildcat receives a new color scheme at the end of the season.



2003:

Top Thrill Dragster opens as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world on May 4.

Speed Zone replaces Power Station.

Speed Freaks replaces Hats N' Such.

Chaos and Troika relocated to Oceana Midway.

Gemini celebrates 25th year anniversary.

A power outage hits Cedar Point (as well as a large part of the rest of the country), and causes the park to close for the first time due to a power outage.

Cedar Point announces Castaway Bay, an indoor water park located inside the Radisson Harbour Inn.



2004:

Donut Time opens.

Famous Dave's BBQ opens.

Game Day Grille opens.

Swan Boats are moved to Michigan's Adventure.

Iron Dragon receives a new color scheme, with orange supports.

The Skyride Station in the front of the park is painted dark blue.

Fighting for Freedom

February 8, 2006

Literature of the Western World

Fighting for Freedom

            In a time of civil unrest and uncertainty, people looked up to those trying to make a change.  When the United States of America was young, people looked up to the Founding Fathers for hope and guidance.  Movies, such as The Patriot, portray a hero figure that is compatible with Joseph Campbell’s hero.  Joseph Campbell has spent countless years in his life studying and writing about the character of a hero.  In the movie The Patriot, Benjamin Martin fights to ensure freedom for his country and family.

            According to Joseph Campbell’s hero, a hero must have a call to adventure, supernatural aid, and cross the threshold into heroics.  Benjamin Martin receives a call to adventure when he must rescue his eldest son, otherwise he will be put to death.  Martin rescues his son with the help of two of his youngest sons and starts his contribution to the American Revolution.  God gives supernatural aid to Martin, which comes in the form of bravery and courage to continue his fight.  This helps him lead his militia better and keeps him focused on his tasks.  Benjamin crosses the threshold into a different world when he runs into his burning house to get his weapons, including his tomahawk.  He carries this tomahawk throughout all of his battles and fights, which symbolizes his braveness and strength.  This tomahawk helps Martin prove his worthiness of a hero.

            Benjamin Martin takes the initiation to prove his hero status by entering the belly of the whale, a sacred marriage, and by abduction.  Martin’s militia starts using guerrilla warfare against supply lines for the British, causing panic in the British.  Soon the commanders of the British catch on to the attacks and soon they set a trap.  The British capture many of Martin’s men, forcing him to respond.  Martin secures a prisoner exchange to release his men by entering the belly of the whale, which is one of the British forts and talks directly to a British Officer.  Later, Gabriel enters into a sacred marriage with a girl he has fallen for.  This marriage motivates Benjamin to continue his fight to protect his family and for freedom.  The marriage also makes Gabriel and Benjamin closer together, as Gabriel understands better the experience of having a family feels like.  Unfortunately, the British start to use unethical tactics against the militia’s families and Gabriel must face the killing of his wife.  Benjamin realizes the extent of damage caused by the killings and gives his men two weeks off, but then will continue the fight.  After Benjamin Martin’s battles and events, he must return to his home.

            After many events, Benjamin Martin must return home, but still faces some of his biggest challenges by a rescue from without, crossing the return threshold, and having a freedom to live.  In the biggest battle of the movie, Martin is in a fight with a British Officer when a soldier from the Continental Army helps protect Martin from other British soldiers.  This protection allows Martin to kill his opponent, who was a great threat against his militia.  Benjamin crosses the return threshold when he returns to get the rest of his family out of hiding.  He returns to find his youngest daughter waiting for him and not understanding why he left.  In addition, Benjamin falls in love with his wife sister, since he wife died years earlier.  Martin has a freedom to live when he returns to his plantation to find his house being rebuilt after it was burnt down.  The men who fought with him during the war help to rebuild the house to pay thanks for his great leadership and heroics during the war.

            Joseph Campbell was an expert on the character of the hero and studied the different elements of hero’s.    Benjamin Martin displays the characteristics of a hero in the movie The Patriot.  Throughout the movie, Martine is given many challenges in a time of war and overcomes them with his militia.  He becomes a highly respectable man and a leader in a troubling time.

Smaller Portions

Smaller Portions

            I believe that food and beverage makers are taking a step in the right direction by selling their products in smaller portions.  These smaller portions appeal to more people who are watching their diet and therefore could not risk eating so much of a ‘snack food’.  Also by selling products in smaller serving sizes promotes the brand even more, which I believe is a fantastic was to promote a product.  The best way to promote a product is have a real person eating or drinking that product out in public, which is something that having small sizes allows.  Although the prices are usually higher for the smaller products, the value of them is more because they can be carried around easier by the consumer.