Final Blog Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iWCcFa5Hn0 

Why I Need Wild

      The past few days I have been extremely sick and unable to spend much time outside. Due to this, I have realized what I miss out on when I can’t experience the wild. The first thing I’ve noticed is that I find my attention span lowering when I spend more time inside and on my phone. I try to combat this with reading, but nothing will beat my runs through the park.  

         Another reason I need wild is because it adds to my appreciation of life. I’ve seen this show up most in my ROTC experience. I used to absolutely hate going to the field, sleeping outside, and dealing with the weather. One day I decided to start finding ways to enjoy being outside. I started small by enjoying less screen time and finding ways to appreciate the wilderness. By starting small, I have found a genuine appreciation for going to the field now. I started packing less gear and making an effort to fully immerse myself in nature when I am out there. This newfound appreciation has improved my quality of life with the Army drastically and made me happier overall.  

The wilderness has always been a pivotal part of my life. Some of my most fond memories with my family were spent in the Hoh Rainforest, at Deception Pass, or at Kopachuck State Park. I do not think I would be who I am today without my experiences in nature.  

 

Ten Best Photos and My Best Photo

 

Reflecting on my top 10 photos, I found that a lot of them are landscape focused. While I love animals, I enjoy landscape photos because I feel it captures the feeling I have when I took the picture. It allows others to see what I see and feel what I feel. While pictures of animals can do the same thing, landscape pictures allow others to value and focus on whichever aspect most speaks to them. 

My Best Photo

This picture is my favorite one that I took this semester. This was taken at the botanic gardens in Highlands, North Carolina. I find the reflection of the sky on the water truly amazing. I also love how the closer trees frame the further tree. 

Extended Outdoor Experience

This week, we had the opportunity to go to the Fort Worth Zoo as a class. I decided to count this as my extended outdoor experience. I had only been to the zoo one time before this, but I didn't stay for long. Compared to other zoos, I think the Fort Worth Zoo does an amazing job of making guests feel like they are truly immersed in nature. I value the shade the trees provide over all of the walkways. I appreciate how intentional the zoo is with their landscaping and design.  

Last time I went, the amphibian and reptile enclosure was closed. I was really excited to have the opportunity to explore that this time, it is now one of my favorite parts of the zoo. That being said, I was greatly disappointed when I did not see a horned frog. I am sure they have one somewhere, but I did not see it during our entire zoo visit.  

The Texas Wild exhibit was probably my favorite part of the visit. I liked seeing animals that live in this state because it made me think about the wildlife I can’t see back home and how unique Texas is. The coyotes were up and walking around when my group walked by. They seem much bigger than the ones I see in Washington. I also spent some time at the bald eagle exhibit. While I see plenty of these in Washington, it was amazing to see one up close.  

Paddling Adventure

 This weekend I had the opportunity to join Dr. Williams and his daughter on the water at the Fort Worth Nature Preserve. I had the pleasure of taking out one of his kayaks. Growing up, I raced kayaks for a few years in the Puget Sound, but it has been quite a long time since I last went out. As of late, I have primarily used stand up paddle boards (SUPs).  

    Heading to the Nature Center, I had fairly low expectations to be honest. I imagined it would be like paddling on the trinity by campus. While this still would've been great, I had this picture in my head. I could not have been more wrong. 

    We started out by moving through a marshy like area where the river was filled with lily pads. It felt like I was in Florida or some sort of tropical area. I found it really unique how the water beaded on the lily pads when they were splashed. As we continued on, we saw a plethora of large birds and a surprising number of turtles. While this was great, the highlight was the amount of allegators we saw! I think we saw over 4 and I had never seen one before. 

    This trip unlocked the memory of paddling for me. I grew up going on trips quite a bit but I have since forgot how much I enjoyed it. I feel like most people jump to hike over paddle, but it is arguably more enjoyable with a similar nature experience. With my upcoming training in Missouri, I plan to incorporate paddling more into my nature expeditions

. 

Field Training Exercise

    Recently, Army ROTC conducted a Field Training Exercise (FTX) in Fort Wolters, Texas. We conduct these twice a year, one each semester. The spring FTX is always much more intense as we partner with around 3 other schools. This is the final chance for the juniors to run tactical lanes before their month-long assessment this summer. As a "Battle Captain" my job was to help the platoons stay on track while they run missions. While I was told I needed to stay inside the Tactical Operations Center (TOC), I took that as more of a suggestion and walked with them all day.

    It was supposed to be hot that weekend but ended up being overcast and windy, really great weather for running missions. I enjoyed hiking through the woods and the dry creek beds. Unfortunately, we had many cadets fall into cacti fields and get covered in thorns. The coolest thing I saw was a live rattlesnake, I had never seen one before! I then took the time to explain the Abbey story to some of my fellow cadets, they actually found it pretty cool. 

    Something weird I have noticed at many Army bases is a substance informally called "moondust". This is sand or dry dirt that has been driven on so many times by heavy vehicles that it turns into this powder-like substance. It coats absolutely everything and gets kicked up easily when it is windy. 

    Overall, FTXs are some of my favorite parts of being in ROTC. It gives me the chance to spend time outside and analyze the terrine for a purpose. I like that we usually have little to no cell service so I can fully invest into the activities I am taking part in outside. 

Spring Break

 Over spring break, I had the opportunity to participate in an Ironman 70.3 triathlon and visit Highlands, North Carolina.

    Before the Ironman, I was pretty scared of the swim, and I was not looking forward to not having headphones. The field was 70% beginners, and the water temp was projected to be cold. I was scared of people freaking out near me because of this and lack of experience. On race day, a different issue was presented. The wind in Little Elm was gusting up to 50 mph and the swim was canceled. The bike was extremely difficult because I had to fight the wind and prevent myself from falling off. While initially I was dreading not having headphones, it was better for me. I was much more locked in and could actually appreciate what I was doing and where I was. The best parts of the race occurred when I was in green areas. On the bike this looked like back country roads with rolling hills that were beautiful. On the run, about half of it was on a trail through the park. I noticed that, while on the trail, my heart rate dropped and I didn't feel like I was struggling as much. Overall, this was a difficult race, but I feel blessed that I could be tested with the elements and come out the other side. 

    Highlands, North Carolina was much more peaceful. When we arrived, there was heavy snow falling. This only lasted the evening as the temperature progressively warmed over the week. While the ice melted, crazy icicles remained for days. Highlands sits in the Nantahala National Forest. I did not realize that the U.S. Department of Agriculture sits over the National Forest service and covers national forests. I found it amazing how the roads curved and switched back while you drove up them. Overall, I enjoyed the hiking. One hike, the Sunset Rock hike, allowed cars to drive on it which I did not like at all. A unique aspect of Highlands is the abundance of minerals. It feels like you are walking on a disco ball because there are so many small shiny rocks/minerals. I found a really nice piece of what I think is pegmatite. Another part of town I loved was the Highlands Nature center Nature Center - Highlands Biological Station. This area was truly amazing and well maintained. There are scenic trails that flow around a small lake as well as a plethora of environmental education resources. In reflection, this is a really great town. Their commitment to history, preservation, and accessibility is impressive. While I did not like seeing the car on our hike, the thought that somebody else can experience what I can makes up for it. 

Civil War Trip

 The weekend of March 4th I had the opportunity to attend a Staff Ride in Washington D.C., Gettysburg, and Antietam to study the civil war. We discussed key leaders and how their actions, or inactions, shaped the war. 

    The first observation I had was at Arlington National Cemetery during the changing of the guard. I noticed that all of the roads were fairly difficult to see and were covered by trees or other foliage. I thought this enhanced my experience because I was not distracted by tour busses driving by. 

    At both Gettysburg and Antietam, we had a guide take us around on a walking tour (true Abbey style). I think this enhanced our experience because it allowed us to put ourselves in the soldier's shoes. We understood the impressiveness of little round top because we actually climbed it as well. The tour walking tour also helped me understand how decisions were made. They were making maps as they went and did not have any imagery. Our tour guide also told us that they recently moved all powerlines underground so the land could be better observed, which I appreciated. After our tour, I got up early and went for a run though the park. I found the fog and rolling hills eerie and it felt like an experience I will never have again.  

    In D.C. I was extremely excited to visit the Botanical Garden. While everything outside was dead, the inside plant exhibit was one of the coolest I had ever seen. Every room was something different, ranging from a cacti exhibit to tropical plants. I am not sure where this falls on the "nature scale" because it is an engineered exhibit. That being said, I think if more people had access to these crazy plants they may care more about protecting them. It is easy to ignore an issue when it is far away, but when you see an endangered plant right in front of you, it hits harder. 

Cowtown 2026

 My blog post for today will cover my experience with the Cowtown Ultramarathon in two parts. The first will be what I expect to experience and how I think I will see nature show up. The second will be what I actually experience. 

Part 1: I think my favorite part of the Cowtown race will be running through Overton Park. This is consistently my favorite place to run because it actually feels like I am out in nature. I love reaching the duck pond at the end of the park, as well as how clean it remains. I believe this will be the final third of the race. That being said, I will probably be struggling a lot. I expect this to help rejuvenate me for the final few miles. On the other hand, I think running on the Trinity Trails will be the hardest for me. While I do enjoy these trails, it is hard for me to run on them. Being able to see a half mile in front of me, or more, makes it feel much longer than it is. Also, we do switchbacks near the end. This is especially brutal because we basically stay in the same spot for a long time. Overall, this is not even close to a "nature run" but I look forward to the pockets of nature that I will experience. 

Part 2: Overall, the race was really great. My previous predictions were profoundly perfect. The brief stint in Overton Park quickly gave me back a bunch of energy. While the Trinity was hard, knowing the race was almost over made it much better. This class has helped inspire me to check out some trail runs near TCU and my home in Seattle. Unsurprisingly, Seattle has a massive amount. My goal is to start incorporating these runs into my race schedule.  

A Walk to Remember

Lately, I have been taking walks without my AirPods or phone in order to fully immerse myself in the surroundings.  During this change, I have felt that walks are more head-clearing and relaxing. I spend my time thinking about my day, planning for the week ahead, and taking notice of my surroundings. While I don’t live near any “wilderness” areas, I have enjoyed walking through Overton Park. I usually walk either early in the morning or in the evening, and I tend to notice more animals out. I see a ton of bunnies in the mornings but never at night. I’ve also seen an armadillo and a possum, which I found strange. This drop in technology has truly changed my life. Before, I was so focused on the podcast that I was listening to that I rarely noticed anything besides the sidewalk in front of me. I had also planned to visit the Fort Worth Nature Preserve, but my car broke down, and I could not drive there. Thankfully, I have a bike that has allowed me to travel to most places without issue. I originally purchased this bike for a race, but it has quickly become a vital part of my daily routine. Instead of driving everywhere, I am now able to bike to the rec center and almost everywhere else. While it is brutal to ride when it is cold, the warm evenings coming in make up for it. I enjoy biking with the warm breeze, hearing the birds wind down, and observing people out walking their dogs. While I didn’t have any true wilderness experiences this last week, I am thankful for the small bites of nature I get to see every day. The attached picture is a sunset over my house.  

Turtle Tour

This weekend, I took the time to see how the rainstorm had affected the Trinity Trails. The trails themselves were clean in the main areas, but the river crossings were covered in dirt and debris. In addition, the trails were filthy once I got past the trailhead. Since I was on my bike, I had to slow down significantly to avoid falling. During this ride, I thought about Abbey’s anti-car talks within the Industrial Tourism Chapter. On my entire 4-hour ride, I was never on a trail or in an area for a significant amount of time that didn’t have a view of a road for cars. While I understand this is extremely hard in such a large metroplex like DFW, it would be nice to fully immerse in nature while biking. I don’t think that is easily possible while on a road bike, but some paved trails away from main roads would be nice. That being said, I noticed an extensive trail network for horseback riding over by Benbrook Lake. They had a map of a few different routes people could take alongside a rural road. Due to this, I became convinced that Benbrook Lake is a good example of Industrial Tourism done well. They have plenty of roads, so people who may have a hard time walking can easily access the lake or camp sites. On top of this, they have more secluded trails for horseback riding and hiking. While this isn’t exactly something that would please Abbey, I think it is impressive that we can accomplish things like this right next to one of the largest metroplexes in the county. I noticed wild turkey, turtles, hawks, and deer, so they have not been driven away...yet? 

 

 

Turkey Trot

This weekend, I had an amazing 67-mile bike ride past Benbrook Lake and back. While on the Trinity Trails I kept thinking how thankful I was for such a long-paved route that allowed me to use my road bike and stay in nature. I prefer to start on the trail by HG Supply, and I get off briefly at Trinity Trails Southwest 183 Trailhead. This is my least favorite part of the trinity because it doesn't feel like you are actually experiencing nature. That being said, the sun rise over the river is consistently impressive. Once I get off the trailhead, I briefly ride on a main road then join back on the trail. My ride from this point on is really great. I particularly enjoy the windy trail and all the native Texas plants alongside the trail.  

Something I noticed was the increase in developments along this route. When I reached Bear Creek, I noticed new developments and construction that I had not noticed when I did this ride in September. In terms of nature, I made a lot of observations. First, I saw a flock (rafter?) of wild turkeys. I was super pumped about this because I saw them in September and was hoping to encounter them again. Secondly, I noticed that nearly every sign and post by Benbrook Lake had a bird house on it. This led me to start noticing the birds in my environment. I saw quite a few vultures, but I cannot remember if they were Turkey or Black vultures. I also noticed quite a few birds of prey circling above me. While I could not figure out their specific species due to distance, I concluded they were birds of prey due to their behaviors. Lastly, I noticed so many Cardinals. I am not sure if this was a Baader–Meinhof phenomenon (frequency illusion) or if there were just a surplus. I point this out because I see them all the time. When I started seeing Cardinals, I tried to look for Blue Jays, but I did not see a single one. 

I finished my weekend by walking my friend's dogs at the South z Boaz park. During our walk, I headed down to the creek bed to do some fossil hunting. While some rocks were promising, I was unfortunately unsuccessful. I noticed a lot of grass lying flat a few feet above the current water level which caused me to admire how much this creek fluctuates in water level. 

 

 

S(no)w class

 I had an extremely jam-packed snow week. I started off weary of the snow due to my planned long run on the Saturday before snow week. I decided to move my long run to Friday instead and had a great 24 mile run with my girlfriend.  The snow did not affect me much besides the fact that my car couldn't handle it and I couldn't drive anywhere. The people who live above me had lost hot water, which was sad. 

 I believe the snow also helped my dog walking business take off. Before this week, I had zero bookings and I started to lose hope. Then, out of nowhere, I received 3 bookings! One of them was to walk two dogs twice in one day, another was to dog sit over the weekend, and the last starts 2/4 and is to watch two Irish setters for two weeks. I was extremely excited about all of this because I love dogs and it has been fun to meet new dogs. 

Lastly, I had the chance to see Zootopia 2. I thought this was a great movie and I think I liked it more than the first one. I had the option to pick between Housemaid and Zootopia, overjoyed that I picked Zootopia. 

Overall, it wasn't too bad of a week. The worst part was the overcrowded rec center. I hope I live in an area with no snow in the future. 

Nature observations

After our class today, I decided to walk part of the TCU tree walk and visit the pollinator garden. I have observed these areas and enjoyed them since my freshman year. I appreciate that they are deliberate conservation and nature space efforts.

The environment has always been a passion of mine. Because of this, I’ve tried to take steps to make a tangible difference, and I’ve experienced environmental issues firsthand.

The first that comes to mind occurred during my time as my high school’s environmental club president. The club was mainly focused on building air gardens, recycling, and other small projects. My goal was to educate our members on real issues and expose the hard topics. Unfortunately, this led to a decline in membership that only came back when we did “fun” things. Here, I realized that it’s hard to get people to change their habits and focus on real, difficult issues.

A more recent example has come to me in the last few days. I just started reading “The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America.” This book has opened my mind to the history of conservation efforts and the backlash they have faced. I think a large issue with protecting the environment is that it often becomes political, which can cloud people’s judgment. I believe this is one of the largest issues facing conservation movements, as it restricts them from making progress.

This is a class I’ve looked forward to since sophomore year, and I am looking forward to the semester.

Student Survey

 

Here are the results from our on-campus survey. I found this to be fun and interesting. My favorite part was talking to people about the conspiracies that they believed. While I only recorded the ones we talked about as a class, I entertained people's opinions. I think a lot of people tend to say they believe in a conspiracy, but they don't with their full heart. People tend to say "well it just makes sense" and don't necessarily have the facts to back it up. I would love to do a survey like this again with short answers to see what people truly believe or to hear their rational. A survey like this is difficult because people have differing definitions of things like cheating, so it is hard to standardize answers. I would also like to see what wild conspiracies people truly "believe" in or will talk about when given the opportunity. 

If I were to do this again, I would try to find a way to send this to people completely anonymously.  People may feel a bit awkward saying the truth to a stranger on campus. While I didn't include them in this survey, I took the time to talk to some of my family and friends about these questions. I seemed to get more "realistic" results as I had less people say "Not sure" or related answers. I also got exposure to some crazy and funny conspiracy theories because I think they felt more comfortable sharing with me. 

Wristful Thinking

 Our final discussion over swindlers reminds me of a time that I was tricked as a kid. 

While attending a race expo for a nearby marathon, I came across a Power Balance Bracelet booth. This silicone wristband with a small hologram claimed it could “improve balance, strength, and flexibility” by interacting with the body’s natural energy field. As a 6-year-old, this blew my mind. I walked on balance beams, jumped on one foot, and did other balance exercises to prove that the bracelet worked. I will never forget falling off the beam then putting the bracelet on and successfully navigating it. After, I turned to the salesperson and told him that it really worked. He gave me a look like I was a complete idiot. I have never forgotten this because it seems like he would be ecstatic that he claimed another victim, but maybe his conscious caught up with him. My mom laughed the company off and we moved on, much to my dismay.

This ended up becoming extremely popular, with celebrities and athletes endorsing it. This hype only lasted a couple years before independent studies showed zero performance difference between the bracelet and a plain rubber band. In 2011, the Australian government forced Power Balance to admit publicly that there was no credible scientific evidence behind any of their claims. The company faced multiple lawsuits for false advertising and eventually filed for bankruptcy. What I didn't know until just now is that their famous “balance tests” were revealed to be done using subtle shifts in pressure by the demonstrator. 

I think this is such a funny example because they were forcing results in these tests! Thousands of people took these balance tests and felt the "real" improvement. Looking back, this is extremely dumb, and I cannot believe I fell for it. I think this experience shows that if something is too good to be true, it probably is. 

Link to their site: About Us - Power Balance

You Cannot Have Your Diamonds and Wear Them Too

 This week in class we discussed "famous" swindlers and their effect on history. In this blog post, I wanted to talk about a swindle that we didn't hit on. I find this to be one of the most insane swindles I have ever heard due to the money involved and due to the fame of the people involved.   

This is... The Affair of the Diamond Necklace!

    The Affair of the Diamond Necklace was a major political scandal in 1785 centered on a diamond necklace worth about 2 million livres, or roughly $15–20 million in modern U.S. dollars. The incident involved Jeanne de la Motte, who manipulated Cardinal de Rohan into believing that Queen Marie Antoinette secretly wanted to purchase the necklace. Using forged letters and staged encounters (with a Marie Antoinette look alike), Jeanne convinced Rohan to obtain the necklace. In forged letters, Jeanne told Rohan that he needed to take out lines of credit and purchase the necklace. Jeanne then took the necklace explaining that as the Queens best friend she would give it to her, in order to avoid suspicion from the King. Jeanne then dismantles it to sell the diamonds. After sending hundreds of thousands of dollars in modern USD and through pressure from aggressive creditors, Rohan became suspicious and eager for repayment from the Queen.  When payment was demanded, the court discovered that the queen had never ordered it. Better yet, the Queen hadn't talked to Rohan in over a decade! What gave Jeanne away? She signed the letters as Marie Antoinette de France! Any half-educated noble knows the Queen would NEVER say "de France", it is obvious who she is!  The resulting investigation led to public trials, the humiliation of Rohan, and Jeanne’s conviction. During her conviction and whipping, people wept and yelled their support to Jeanne. After she was convicted, branded, and sentenced to life in the Salpêtrière prison, she escaped within two years. She reportedly accomplished this by disguising herself as a boy and slipping out a window using a rope of knotted bedsheets. This was done through the aid of a sympathetic guard who was a loyal admirer of hers. She then fled to London, where she published memoirs attacking Marie Antoinette and portraying herself as the target of a royal conspiracy. Though the scam was exposed, the queen’s reputation suffered the most. The scandal reinforced existing public resentment toward the monarchy and contributed to the erosion of trust that preceded the French Revolution. 

    I think this story is so interesting and there is so much more to it. I encourage you all to look deeper into this. In terms of takeaways, first of all, this necklace is extremely ugly. I think this also shows the power of swindlers using famous people for their gain. It also reinforces the idea that we must question everything that we come across. Why did Rohan trust this random girl? Why would the Queen want anything to do with him if they haven't talked in a decade? This shows how taking advantage of greed and lust is a way swindlers achieve their twisted goals. I also find it interesting that people instantly trusted Jeanne because the Queen had become such a hated figure. 

Area 52

 In the nearly 200 hours I have spent running this year, a solid amount of time has been spent listening to conspiracy theories. They always keep me engaged because more often than not, they are quite interesting. I have always enjoyed listening to deep research and cherry-picked facts that supports theorists' ideas. While most of these are laughable, some of them have great backing and could genuinely be true. Today, I want to explore my favorite conspiracy on top of one o the most popular ones I could find. 

The Gate Program

What is believed: The GATE program, intended for gifted children, was not just an enrichment program. It was used by U.S. Intel communities and other covert programs to identify and train children for special operations or remote-viewing programs. Some children claim that they were given strange prompts such as code breaking, cryptography, or foreign language studies. 

How it evolved: The GATE program has been publicly visible for decades as an ordinary gifted education track. In the 2020s this theory gained traction online after many people who were apart of this program in the 90s-00s started to discuss odd assignments or tasks. This was picked up by podcasts and broadcasted at a larger level. 

Who believes it: Mainly adults who attended elementary school in the 90s-00s. They reflect on their time in this program and express that they feel like they were given weird tasks. Those who did well on these tasks felt that their schooling experience was heightened from that point, with the opposite also being true. People well versed in other programs such as stargate, remote-viewing, and MK-Ultra see this as a continued effort by the government to find "psychic" children.

How it is spread: This has primarily been spread through videos and discussions on platforms such as Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. Once the theory gained traction, podcasts started to pick it up. Lastly, word of mouth through GATE members. This is the podcast I listened to:

Episode 161 : The Gate Program – Theories of the Third Kind

John F. Kennedy assassination

What is believed: The Warren Commission produced a rushed and faked report that identified Lee Harvey Oswald as the lone shooter in the JFK assassination. Many believe that possibly the CIA, Mafia, anti-Castro Cubans, or the KGB organized the murder. Claims include there were multiple shooters, evidence was suppressed or tampered with, the motive may involve Kennedy’s policy on Cuba/Vietnam/Cold War, the CIA or other agencies felt betrayed by Kennedy and orchestrated his death.

How it evolved: The speculation occurred immediately after the assassination due to the fact of how public and horrible it was. Around this time the Cold War and Bay of Pigs had occurred, which left many Americans skeptical of the government. The Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone but many critics found issues in their claims and conclusions. In the following decades, this speculation has only grown through released documents, declassified CIA files, and audio recordings. 

Who believes it: While sources differ, many claim that a majority of Americans believe that JFK's assassination involved a conspiracy. Many researchers focus on discrepancies from the Warren report while others just distrust the government and think there is more going on. 

How it is spread: This theory has been picked up by countless books, documentaries, and podcasts making it one of the most popular conspiracy theories today. Recent government files were released which stirred up new interest on social media and internet forums. The mystery behind this event leaves so many unanswered questions that popular TV and semi-academic papers will likely continue to cover this event.

Overall, I find both of these theories interesting. I am not quite sure if I believe either, but they make for quality entertainment.  

Save The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus!

 The presentation on hoaxes reminded me of one of my favorite books as a child, Weird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets.

While this book isn't necessarily centered around hoaxes, it does cover many urban legends in Washington State. Outside of that it covers hauntings, mysterious occurrences, and general oddities. While it was never stated as an influence, this book also reminds me of the Disney Channel show Gravity Falls which is set in Oregon.  

For this post, I want to shed some light on some of my favorite lesser known "legends" based in WA. 

J. Z. Knight - Wikipedia

J. Z. Knight is a spiritual leader known for claiming to channel a 35,000-year-old warrior spirit named Ramtha. She founded the Ramtha School of Enlightenment in Yelm, Washington, which teaches followers about consciousness and creating reality through thought. Critics have called her teachings pseudoscientific and the organization a cult. Supporters, on the other hand, praise it as a path to personal empowerment. This path to empowerment comes at the fair price of thousands of dollars and a yearly retreat to Yelm. Knight appeared on The Merv Griffin Show in the 1980s, bringing “Ramtha” into mainstream pop culture.

Maury Island incident - Wikipedia

The Maury Island Incident happened in 1947, when two men near Tacoma, Washington, claimed to have seen six flying saucers and recovered strange metal debris. They reported the event to the Air Force, but it was quickly dismissed as a hoax after investigators found inconsistencies and the "interstellar debris" turned out to be industrial waste. The case gained new life when “men in black” allegedly visited the witnesses, one of the first times that concept appeared in UFO lore. It’s now seen as one of the earliest examples of UFO conspiracy myths blending mystery with fabrication.

Pacific Northwest tree octopus - Wikipedia

Save The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus may be one of my favorite internet hoaxes. It is a famous internet hoax created in 1998 by Lyle Zapato, describing a fictional amphibious octopus living in the rainforests near Mount Rainier. The site detailed the “endangered” creature’s habits and threats from logging and climate change, citing photoshopped pictures. It became a viral tool for teaching digital literacy as many students believed it was real until learning it was satire. The site still runs today, and teachers use it to demonstrate the importance of verifying online sources.

Washington State has a rich? interesting? laughable? history of odd events and weird occurrences. While some of them are obvious hoxes, like The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus, some are serious and unsolved mysteries,
like D.B Cooper. 

I accessed this book via: Weird Washington : your travel guide to Washington's local legends and best kept secrets : Davis, Jeff, 1962- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive if you would like to read it you can make an account and borrow the book for free. I highly recommend doing so!

Wacko Waco

First time U.S. citizens had a view of something crazy on live TV.

• Alex Jones was talking about Waco on his podcast and how he built his initial following.
• Makeshift fort built 7 miles outside of Waco — referred to as a cult or real, honest Christians.
• They used buckets for bathrooms.
• They were taught Koresh was the Lamb.
• Branch off of the Millerite Movement.
• Waco was the cheapest land in the U.S.
• Registered themselves as a church to avoid the draft.
• Became Branch Davidians.
• Believed that God picks individuals to be His prophets and they will be able to teach new biblical truths.
• Things revealed to Koresh: He is the reincarnation of Cyrus; he is the Lamb in the Book of Revelation. As the Lamb, he must take his followers, and they must fight to the death with Babylon (he believes this is the U.S. government), but Jesus will raise them and they will be appointed the new worldly leaders.
• They started buying semi-automatic guns and converting them to automatic before Clinton was elected.
• Did paramilitary training.
• ATF started to put together a case.
• They never once tried to figure out their religious beliefs.
• Branch Davidians knew about the raid; ATF showed up unprepared.
• FBI came in; CNN covered it the entire time.
• Had the birth of American militias.
• Alex Jones gained popularity.
• Demagogues discussion:
• Things these cult leaders say (how Koresh related to Jim Jones and Manson) “Just listen to me,” attempts to isolate followers. “If you disagree, then you just don’t understand. I’m doing this because I love you, and nobody else does.”
• Fire theories: CS gas started the fire? followers started fire as a Mass Suicide? Koresh started fire to protect them.

Here are the notes I took when Jeff Guinn came to speak to our class. I think this was a great discussion and I learned a lot about the Waco incident. He gave me a signed copy of his book which I am happy about. Looking back, I think it was valuable that we discussed the Millerite Movement as it showed the connections and parallels that provided a deeper understanding.