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CTBT Senate Vote
CTBT Failed RatificationThe Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is a treaty that, if ratified by a state, keeps them from launching nuclear weapons, whether for military or peaceful reasons. On October 13th, 1999, the CTBT was voted on by the Senate. They voted 51-48 against the ratification of the CTBT. Even still, the U.S. has not ratified it into the government. -
Birth
I was born in Elkins Park Hospital on October 19th, 1999. -
The September 11th Attacks
History of the 9/11 attacksOn September 11th, 2001, two planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, one plane crashed into the Pentagon, and one crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Not only did it kill thousands of people through the actual destruction of the buildings and planes, but it had huge ramifications on how the government viewed terrorism, such as the creation of the TSA. The stock market was closed until September 17th, hurting the U.S. economy, more than it was already hurt. -
First Day of School
On the day after Labor Day, in 2007, I had my first day of public school. Prior to that, I had been homeschooled for Preschool, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade. I started 2nd grade at Afton Elementary. -
APEC Meeting
Bush's meeting at APECThe Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum results in peace talks between President Bush and Kim-Jong Il, and discussion of decommissioning North Korea's nuclear program. These talks, evidently, don't lead to North Korea's demillitarization. -
Swine Flu detected in the US
Summary of Swine FluCDC H1N1 EstimatesThe Swine Flu (a.k.a. H1N1) was a epidemic that hit the entire world, just like it had done in 1918. It had resulted in 60.8 million cases in the US alone, and 12,469 deaths. The reason behind the outstanding number of cases and deaths was that it was a new strain, never previously seen in any animal or human. I suffered from the Swine Flu later in the year, which resulted in a hospital trip and staying home from school for a week, during the PSSAs. -
First Solo
At Groveland Elementary school, I was finally ready to come out of my self-conscious self, and sing my first vocal solo. What I thoguht was a girly voice was considered incredibly beautiful, and it's one of the major reasons I'm in the Keystone State Boychoir. -
Father remarrying
In 2008, I found out my father was engaged to another woman. There were no problems, because we weren't strangers. She had done everything she could do to make us feel happy and comfortable, because kids were just a part of my father's life. They were married on October 9th, 2009, at a wedding that I attented. Today, she has become a major shaping factor in how our household is run, and me as a person. -
BP Oil Spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil well was drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, when a gas leak caused an explosion, resulting in the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. Millions of barrels of oil were leaked into the ocean, killing at least 15,000 animals. Only about 25% of the oil was cleaned up from the Gulf, so much of the toxic waste still floats around to this day. -
Mom remarries
My mom had been sick for a very long time, and my father dealt with keeping her healthy for a long time, so much so, that she used to be a school teacher. However, there was a major collapse in health in 2006, and it was only matched by her meeting my step-father in 2009. To me, he was always the cool guy, who was a movie buff, so we bonded over movies, which we still go to today. THe most important thing was that he was nice to my mother; and he was. -
Sister born
Just a few weeks after my mother and step-father were married, my step-mother gave birth to my sister, Barbara Jane Wentz. Barbara is one of the most powerful joys in my life, seeing as she made me an authority figure, just because I was older. This embeded in me a firm definition of my authority as a young adult, and let me have fun with it alongside it. -
DOW falls 203 points
CNN Money Story
The worldwide recession cause major damage to the American economy, with almost 8.7 million jobs lost. In 2010, the DOW fell 2.1%, and while some people expected that it was because of a new quarter in the economy, employers were still cutting almost 200,000 jobs. -
NASA Layoffs
More NASA layoffsCNN of NASA layoffs
The United State Congress, in order to create a new budget, cut NASA's spending by $19 billion, resluting in the loss of around 1,200 workers. Because of the shuttle program coming to an end in June of 2011, more than 9,000 workers on the space shuttle program had to find new jobs. -
Libyan Civil War
Reuters on Libyan Civil WarBBC on Libyan Civil WarThe Libyan Civil began in February of 2011, resulting in more than 30,000 deaths, and thousands more of displacements. On October 20th, the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi died of his wounds, virtually ending the Civil War. The National Transitional Council (NTC) was now in the process of liberation the country, and setting up democratic elections. -
Moved to Abington
I had lived with my mother for the last 7 years, and decided to move in with my father, because he was moving out of his apartment and into a house. -
Attack on Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan
After outrage caused by the burning of multiple Korans inside a NY Times on attack base, an Afghan soilder and civilian fired upon the base, killing two U.S. soilders. The base in nearby the birthplace of the Taliban, the village of Sangesar, and the attackers were thought to be insurgents working with the terrorist group. -
Joined Keystone State Boychoir
In March of 2012, I had been in Abington for a month and already joined the Keystone State Boychoir, which I remain in today. I have sung from a small church in Maryland, to Mahatma Ghandi's grandson. This organization has shaped who I am as a young man, and makes me very happy when I sing beautiful pieces. -
Knee Injury
My friend has invited me to a country festival, with good food and good music. There was also a game of two-hand touch football between some of the younger kids. At that time, I was in 7th grade, and was one of the bigger kids. When the game concluded, there was some fighting between two of the siblings who participated. When one sibling pushed the other, he fell back unto my knee, putting around 80 lbs backwards on my knee. My knee is still somewhat injured today because of that encounter. -
Germanwings Flight 9525 crash
CNN on plane crashOn March 24th, Germanwings Flight 9525 crashed into the Alps, killing around 150 people. Investigation of the crash site leaves detectives to believe that the co-pilot Andreas Lubitz is responsible, locking the captain out of the cockpit, and speeding up headed towards the mountains. Details emerged involving Lubitz's depression, a possible reason for his purposeful crash. -
Grandmother's Funeral
While I didn't know a lot about my grandmother's history, I knew she was very important to my father and my aunts. Up until this date, there was a planned singer to perform Ave Maria, but she cancelled last minuite. This is when I offered up anything I might be able to do, and this was the suggestion.
