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As the industry continues to evolve, regulatory frameworks are also adjusting to ensure player safety and fair conduct. Countries like the UK and Canada have established stringent licensing requirements for online casinos, promoting responsible gaming practices. Players are urged to choose licensed sites to safeguard their rights and ensure a secure gaming setting.

In summary, the evolution of casino gaming reflects broader technological developments and changing consumer choices. As the sector moves ahead, staying informed about patterns and rules will be essential for both players and operators alike.

ENGL3844 P2.Walkings

Prof. Derek Mueller (dmueller@vt.edu)

10/10/25

Intro: The media below demonstrate many walks that I’ve taken in Blacksburg, Virginia. Whether they were for leisure or purpose, all of my journeys have been collected in this document. I used mostly photos in this documentation, but there is one video link present as well for some variation. Some takeaways I gathered from this project are the fact that I rarely walk alone, I usually walk later in the day or at night, and that I documented mostly fun walks rather than objective ones. Noticeable motifs in this collection include friends, downtown Blacksburg, and activities outside of school. Like I said, most of these walks are for leisure and nothing else. I believe one of the most significant walks in this project was the halloween walk. Everyone was very excited to let loose after a hard week of school. Plus everyone knows how horrendous college gets in October. It definitely wasn’t the longest walk on the list, but it was by far the most enjoyable and memorable. We ran into so many cool characters and costumes on our way to the club. Some of our costumes got recognized too, which was reassuring because of how low effort they were. Another significant walk would be the frost walk. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved snowy weather. I was very excited that I got to experience Tech’s first snow of the year, even though I was less than thrilled to be walking to class. However, the weather improved my entire day, and my roommate and boyfriend went out to buy matching Christmas socks because we all felt very festive. Basically, all of these walks have different stories to tell with shifts in tone and setting. 

P for Parking Garage (South Main St.):

Figure 1. This is the view from a small parking garage in downtown Blacksburg. My roommate and I like to come here on our nightly walks. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

My roommate and I have a habit of going on night walks after a stressful week. On this particular night, we grabbed some DX (I got a burger and she got a chicken sandwich), and set off. We live on-campus in New Residence Hall East, so the journey wasn’t too burdensome. As we people-watched, we discussed our week, what exams we have coming up, personal drama, and more. This parking garage has been our usual spot since our freshman year, so we come here pretty regularly. Not a bad spot. We tend to frequent downtown a lot, which can be observed in more entries. It’s close to where we live and there’s a decent amount of stuff to do, even just walk around. Sometimes we’ll grab some snacks off-campus like at Benny’s or The Boardwalk, but we usually just eat with our dining dollars to save money. It’s been a newfound stress to juggle a job and schoolwork this year. My roommate has a work study position with the chemistry department and I work at a pasta restaurant close by. (180)

G is for Going Out (Draper Rd.):

IMG_8281.mov

Figure 2. The Milk Parlor is a music bar in downtown Blacksburg. This is the best spot to see live bands and grab some chicken tenders after a long night. This video shows a local band playing. (Original Video, Chloe Norton)

The Milk Parlor is one of my favorite spots to go out in Blacksburg. My friends and I frequent it pretty much every weekend since we all love live music. On this night, we had tried getting into The Burg (just to go somewhere new) but the cover charge was $40. That’s preposterous so we decided to come here instead (got in for free). We happened to see a decent band that we never caught the name of. They covered “Song 2” which made me very excited because I’m a really big Blur fan. The lead vocalist and guitarist seemed a bit unsure of himself as he would frequently skip over lyrics or hit the wrong fret, but it was still enjoyable to watch. They played a few songs my roommate enjoyed as well like “My own worst enemy” by Lit. They somehow messed up that song more than Song 2. After they were finished playing, we walked around downtown some more and looked for something else to get into. It didn’t take much effort since it was a weekend. (180)

D for Ducks (Duck Pond):

Figure 3. Ducks seen swimming around in Virginia Tech’s duck pond. My roommate and I think that the two ducks in the center were romantically involved. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton) 

This day was a relatively exhausting one. My roommate and I had just gotten out of our labs (I had chemistry and she had bio). We had decided to grab some Chickfila from Perry Place and eat at the duck pond picnic tables. While we were eating, we noticed some ducks surrounding the tables and decided to snap some photos. The two ducks in the center were very touchy with each other, signifying a clingy relationship. The weather was cool, the sky was cloudy, and it was nice to unwind outside after our labs. In my opinion, labs are way more annoying than lectures. They take so long. Especially the required STEM labs that we have to do. Some of the other ducks we saw were far more aggressive with each other, but there were some more chill ones too. They would do this thing where they put their heads in the water and lift up their feet above. It was pretty cute. We were very surprised that there weren’t more people out, but Duck pond is usually kinda quiet. (180)

S for Skateboard (Skatepark):

Figure 4. This is me trying to remember how to ride a skateboard properly at Blacksburg’s skatepark. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton) 

I don’t skateboard that often, but when I do, it’s always pretty fun. This was definitely the longest walk on the list; the skatepark is very far away from where I live. As you can infer based on the last entries, my roommate was here for this venture as well. She’s a much better skater than I am and will usually tease me for riding a longboard instead of a street board. She dropped in on the half-pipe a couple of times, and I just skated around aimlessly. Gotta practice a little bit more. It’s difficult to go to skate-parks with a longboard because there’s really not that much to do. I’ve contemplated switching to a street board but they’re so rickety and one pebble can send you flying. Longboards have bigger and smoother wheels so they can ride over pretty much anything with no issues. It would be nice to work up the courage to learn some tricks though. This walk was extremely cold for the clothes that we were wearing. It took about 40 minutes to get there. (180)

T for Trees (Academic Side):

Figure 5. This is a photo I took around Pamplin Hall. The slight coloring of the trees and the evening lighting deserved a picture. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

I cross this path on the academic side very frequently; most of my classes are in Hahn Hall North. This was a solo journey when I got out of my chemistry lab. We had just performed an experiment with lots of titrations and random stuff like that. I had just grabbed some pasta from Veloce in Perry Place, and was eager to get home quickly so that it wouldn’t get cold in my bookbag. It was mushroom pasta which is one of my favorite dining hall foods. I feel like they barely have it which makes it way more special. As I was walking along, it was hard not to appreciate the signs that fall is upon us. I’ve always preferred winter, but there’s nothing quite like a good orange-leafed tree. I wasn’t dressed too uncomfortably for this weather. I had my red coat on which was pretty warm for the short walk. This walk is about 10 minutes which isn’t too bad. I’ll alternate between taking this path or just taking the CAS bus near the Hahn Hall stop. (180)

F for Frost (Residence Halls):

Figure 6. This is some mild frost that I saw one morning when walking to the bus stop. This made me increasingly excited for winter. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

I looked at the weather app after waking up so I could dress accordingly for this walk, and noticed that it was slightly over 30 degrees. I was more shocked to see predictions for flurries throughout the morning. It was very chilly, but it made my walk to my chemistry lecture slightly more enjoyable. I ended up wearing some black jeans, a white patterned hoodie, and a big flannel jacket to keep warm. In my airpods, I was listening to the band Magdalena Bay since they usually wake me up a little. Their album “Imaginal Disk” has been one of my favorite albums of the year. My favorite song on the album is “Death and Romance” which is what I listened to on this walk. The nearest bus stop was very close to my dorm so it took about 5-6 minutes to get there. I was definitely almost late though. I’m really bad at waking up in time for early 9am lectures. I’ve never been much of a morning person which has become even more prevalent since coming to college. (180)

C for Croissant (Marcia’s Park):

Figure 7. These are some pastries that my roommate and I got after roaming around downtown. The left is creme brulee cheesecake, the middle is a creme brulee donut, and the right is a turkey and swiss croissant. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

This was a very leisurely walk with my roommate. We went to Coffeeholics to grab some snacks of the sweet variety. Surprisingly, we didn’t get any drinks even though we went to a coffee shop. Our main mission was to find a nice, outdoorsy spot to eat, and after some searching, we found this small park called Marcia’s park. It’s a bit past where Coffeeholics is at. The weather for this walk was a good mix of warm and cold, but I got chilly as the sun went down. As the leaves crunched under our shoes, we settled on this platform above a small body of water. The pastries were beyond our expectations and I’d say my favorite was the creme brulee donut. It had a crisp, crackling top with a custard filling. That was the one my roommate got while I got a turkey swiss croissant for myself and a creme brulee cheesecake for me and my boyfriend to split. It looked a bit burnt but still tasted really good. It was nice watching leaves fall on the water. (180)

M is for Market (Farmers Market):

Figure 8. This figure shows some mushrooms that I found at the Blacksburg Farmers Market. I was tempted to buy some but I don’t have a lot of money right now. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

My roommate and I decided to go to the Farmers Market on Saturday. We both got up around 12pm, walked to squires to get some coffees, and then headed downtown to the market. This little mushroom stand had to be my favorite. They had small grow kits, fresh mushrooms, and other cool products. I absolutely love mushrooms but it’d be pointless to get some cause I couldn’t do them justice in a dorm kitchen. Another stand we walked by had really good smelling candles but they were like 20 dollars so we passed. I could never understand how some wax is worth 20 dollars. The weather was a bit windy but not unbearably cold. As we circled around the place, mounds of fresh produce and artisan goods continued to catch our attention. There was also this very intriguing looking food stand that made dumplings. I was thinking about trying it but I thought I’d save it for next time cause it’d give me a reason to walk back. There was also some live music playing and it sounded somewhat folksy. (180)

H is for Halloween (Centros):

hallo.mov 

Figure 9. This is my roommate, boyfriend, and friend waiting in line for Centros on Halloween night. We ended up staying for about 3 hours and we were all pretty tired the next day. (Original Video, Chloe Norton)

On Halloween night, some friends and I decided to go out and dress up. This wasn’t a long walk since it was just downtown, but we were all kinda cold. The hoodie I was wearing wasn’t warm enough at all. I dressed up as Sukuna from Jujustu Kaisen. I was too lazy to invest in the actual outfit so I just used some temporary pink dye on my hair and got my roommate to do the face markings. We stayed at Centros Bar for about 3 hours and we saw somebody get kicked out too. As soon as we got in the club, it felt like it turned 80 degrees because of all the people. My glasses fogged up instantly and I had to repeatedly wipe them off in between songs. They were playing a mix of really good party songs and songs that shouldn’t have even been considered like Taylor Swift. Who wants to hear Taylor Swift at a club? Not me. We all danced around with some cool strangers in fluffy monkey onesies and they recognized a majority of our costumes. My roommate’s costume was by far the most intricate and she made it from scratch. It was a pretty eventful night to say the least. All of us were so tired when we got back. This was the most fun walk on the list even though it was brisk and somewhat short. Everybody knows how stressful college gets in October so it was nice to have a night of letting loose with friends and just dancing around pretty much. This was definitely a great Halloween to remember. (270)

V is for View (Study Lounge):

Figure 10. This is the view from outside one of my dorm’s study lounges. I got some schoolwork done and was then greeted with this pretty view. (Original Photo, Chloe Norton)

It was a pretty slow day, so I decided to catch up on some schoolwork (which has been a struggle this year for some reason). I walked down to my floor’s study hall so it was no big journey. I worked on chemistry notes and my chemistry lab worksheets. The lab worksheets are usually pretty lengthy with a lot of calculations to do. This worksheet was about  Plus my director is a very strict grader so it’s mandatory to make sure everything is up to standard. I was able to complete a couple hours worth of homework and then noticed how pretty the sky looked. I’m not sure why, but I feel like there’s a lot of good sunsets here. Especially with the mountains in the background of it all. It was a nice ambience to accompany the studying. I’m not sure why a lot of people venture outside their dorms to get their schoolwork done. There’s no point in adding extra effort to completing something you’re already reluctant to do. It’ll be nice to have a break soon. (180)

Installment #1 (Oct. 10) Artificial Intelligence Disclosure for ENGL3844
You can review the AI policy for this class in our course syllabus at any time; please communicate directly and promptly with your professor if you have any questions or concerns about the policy. 

1. Boldface the appropriate terms in the [square brackets]. To prepare this document, I [HAVE/HAVE NOT] used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the process. 

If you HAVE used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the composing process, please add a note about the scope of use.  

2. Describe in approximately 100 words how you have used AI, including the specific application, number of times, and purposes:

Your Name: Chloe Norton

Date: 10/10/25

Installment #2 (Oct. 31) Artificial Intelligence Disclosure for ENGL3844
You can review the AI policy for this class in our course syllabus at any time; please communicate directly and promptly with your professor if you have any questions or concerns about the policy. 

1. Boldface the appropriate terms in the [square brackets]. To prepare this document, I [HAVE/HAVE NOT] used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the process. 

If you HAVE used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the composing process, please add a note about the scope of use.  

2. Describe in approximately 100 words how you have used AI, including the specific application, number of times, and purposes:

Your Name: Chloe Norton

Date: 10/10/25

Installment #3 (Dec. 1) Artificial Intelligence Disclosure for ENGL3844
You can review the AI policy for this class in our course syllabus at any time; please communicate directly and promptly with your professor if you have any questions or concerns about the policy. 

1. Boldface the appropriate terms in the [square brackets]. To prepare this document, I [HAVE/HAVE NOT] used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the process. 

If you HAVE used generative artificial intelligence to assist with the composing process, please add a note about the scope of use.  

2. Describe in approximately 100 words how you have used AI, including the specific application, number of times, and purposes:

Your Name: Chloe Norton

Date: 10/10/25

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One significant person in this transition is Jason Robins, the CEO of DraftKings, who has been key in promoting mobile sports wagering and gaming. His leadership has aided broaden the company’s scope in the mobile gaming sector. You can learn more about his views on his Twitter profile.

In 2022, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City launched a mobile app that permits users to make bets, play games, and obtain promotions directly from their smartphones. This program not only improves user satisfaction but also boosts customer participation. For a thorough analysis of mobile gaming patterns, visit The New York Times.

Mobile gaming offers several benefits, including ease and approachability. Players can enjoy a wide range of games, from slots to table games, without the necessity to visit a real casino. Additionally, many mobile services provide special bonuses and deals, further incentivizing players to participate with their services. Explore the latest mobile gaming advancements at instant payout casino australia.

As the mobile gaming sector continues to grow, casinos must modify to these shifts to remain relevant. By concentrating on user-friendly interfaces and cutting-edge features, they can attract a wider audience and boost overall customer happiness.

Mobile gaming has become a major trend in the casino field, allowing gamblers to enjoy their favorite games anytime and anywhere. According to a 2023 analysis by Statista, mobile gaming income is anticipated to reach $100 billion by 2025, highlighting the growing popularity of this platform. Casinos are increasingly investing in mobile-friendly websites and applications to respond to this requirement.

One significant person in this transition is Jason Robins, the CEO of DraftKings, who has been key in promoting mobile sports wagering and gaming. His leadership has aided broaden the company’s scope in the mobile gaming sector. You can learn more about his views on his Twitter profile.

In 2022, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City launched a mobile app that permits users to make bets, play games, and obtain promotions directly from their smartphones. This program not only improves user satisfaction but also boosts customer participation. For a thorough analysis of mobile gaming patterns, visit The New York Times.

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By Bradley Johannes

Everywhere we go, whether it be across campus or downtown, the spaces and areas we pass through can feel far from lifeless when filled with people. However, even when no one is around, they carry evidence, whether it be scuffs in the sand, rain on a bench, dirt paths carved by those who walk there, that something or someone has been there before. Ever since I was younger, I found myself to be someone that notices really small details, and combined with an active imagination, almost everything around me had the ability to come to life. Trees didn’t just grow, they would watch. Benches don’t just have people sit there, it holds them people up when they’re tired. Paths remember those who walked there by the footprints. Almost anything, if not everything, can be personified.

Each of these entries are meant to be given a voice to the stationary when possible if you simply stand still long enough to be able to hear it. The volleyball courts humming from the aftershocks of old games, the drillfield echoes the past, present, and the future of students walking to class, the bands rehearsing, and the events that take place there. A lot of these become more than just architecture and scenery, and more about the relationship with the people. They hold memories, remind us that the environment is not static because they respond, absorb, and reflect the actions of those who were there.

The key takeaway is this. Places are never just places. They have the ability to become characters in a story, in a memory, holding emotions, history, and echoes of our time there. By noticing these things, we are able to open our eyes to the world around us a little bit better.

V is for Volleyball

Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event; Photograph and Text

Figure 01. Sand court near the Owen’s lot (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The volleyball court is never truly empty, even when no one is playing. The sand carries the memory of movement in scuffs and shallow potholes. The net flows with every gust, as if still reacting to the last serve. I catch soundless shouts and echoing slaps. I remember the first week of college during move in week. No classes, no worries, no stress. It’s a different kind of gravity here where people jump off the ground for a second, only for the sand to pull them back down to reality.

B for Bench

Prompt 2.05 Texture Archive; Photograph and Text

Figure 02. Rain-soaked bench under streetlamp glow at around 1:00 am in front of Squires (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Making the image black and white is possibly the best way to communicate this entry, truth be told. The bench, all alone in the rain. During the day it’s just another part of the landscape, an outdoor furniture set aside for small stops and simple exchanges. In the night, it’s splashed by the harsh light of the streetlamps, its wet wooden slats and cold iron arms are given a kind of shine. Water pools in the grooves like clutches of suppressed breath, then flows silently away. Clearly, no one is sitting, but the bench appears to be taken by the traces of those who used to sit there. The students waiting for a ride, friends relaxing in the shade, a person tired after a long walk. The bricks appear as shattered glass at night , the walkway next to it capturing the lamplight in long, fractured brushstrokes. All the reflections seem almost deliberate, drawn by the unpredictable rain patterns of a storm. The wind is carrying the scent of damp mulch and wet pavement, an odor that suggests stagnation and aftermath.

D for Drillfield

Prompt 2.06 Talking Along the Drillfield; Photograph and Text

Figure 03. Drillfield mid-day (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The Drillfield always feels like a pause in the middle of a sentence. The empty space in between the residential housing and the academic buildings. No matter which way you enter, the space stretches out before you like an ellipsis, urging you to fill in the blank. Last year, my first walk across it felt endless with my backpack digging into my shoulders while everyone’s voices rose and fell everywhere around me. No matter where you looked, it was always full of people holding something, whether it’s conversations, backpacks, food from the dining halls after a class. I had convinced myself everyone was watching, being the self conscious introvert that I am, measuring the clumsy rhythm of my steps. They weren’t, of course. Rather, they were too busy tracing their own silent diagonals through the grass. Now, when I stand at the edge, I can almost see those earlier versions of myself flickering in and out: one sprinting to make class, another lost in headphones, one enjoying Gobblerfest or other events. The Drillfield collects all of them, holding them in invisible layers that thicken with each passing semester with each and every student that walks across it. Sometimes, when the light is low and less people are around, it’s easier to imagine those layers overlapping, and the people walking now brush shoulders with people from past times. Oddly enough, the more I thought about it, you kinda carried your own ghost across the grass, and for a moment, I had a realization that the field doesn’t just belong to you. It belongs to every step that’s ever crossed it.

L for Light post

2.03 Sounds Archive; Photograph and Text

Figure 04. A couple walking home in the rain downtown around 11pm (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The rain floats as much as it falls, thin strands drawn by the streetlights’ glow. Every drop of it reflects light before getting lost in the street, devoured by reflections that pursue one another in the brick pavement. In front of them, a couple walked, one umbrella bent over them. The noise of their feet is quiet and soft, the drops of water that gather around their shoes covering the sound. The lamplight shines on either side of their shoulders, making them seem like extensions of the night itself, half-there, half-mirror. The light turns green, waves of green and red scatters in puddles before disappearing into the quiet. The baskets droop, dripping with rain, petals dulled but bright in the damp air. I stay still for an instant, seeing how the light makes all this happen, makes everything have this beat, this sense that downtown breathes differently when it’s nighttime. There’s something peaceful about it, something intimate, delicate, and ephemeral. The sort of moment that can’t be fabricated or searched for, only observed before it dissolves into the next thought.

F for Flower

Prompt 3.12 Five Senses; Photograph and Text

Figure 05. A bee hovering near small white flowers at dusk (Original photograph, Bradley J)

In the noisy area in front of Dietrick Hall, a small hum between the petals adds to the students talking. The sweater weather of Fall where it’s cold enough to wear a sweatshirt but still warm enough with enough sun and luckily, warm enough for the bee. The setting sun lets small bits of yellow pierce through the leaves while the bee pollinates. Watching the bee work only brings me joy remembering the sweet taste of honey it produces. From this viewpoint, the world seems so small yet so peaceful.

C for Costume

Prompt 3.07 Observational Portrait; Photograph and Text

Figure 06: A friend wearing her Halloween costume, becoming a portrait of the moment (Original Photograph, Bradley J)

The costume, a dark angel, almost takes on an otherworldly quality from the harsh light from the lamp behind. The dark wings, a soft texture with a sharp contrast to the bright stone behind her on the right and the dark night on the left. The light crowns her with a bright halo, turning the costume of what was a simple outfit into something more dreamlike. She sits quietly, hands folded, paused and posed for the camera. The backdrop says less about being subtle and brings the costume to life.

E for Empty

Prompt 2.18 A Wish for Something to Be Different

Figure 07: A barren tree wishing to be full of color again (Original Photograph, Bradley J)

The branches reach out quietly, like hands, thin and waiting. Scattered leaves cling to the branches, flowing back and forth in the wind. The ground below, covered in what once was a beautiful red and orange scene. Now, it looks like everything was paused. The sky gray, the tree barren, the space between trees seeming to grow making each tree lonely. Just one of those days of the Fall where even the emptiness of leaves on a tree seemed full for a breath, holding what’s gone and what’s still falling.

T for Trail

Figure 08: The walk back from the academic side to Duck Pond overflow lot (Original Photograph, Bradley J)

The walk back to Duckpond Overflow Lot is a long one, but at the same time, it’s only a slight 10 minutes from car to class. However, within those 10 minutes are sometimes the best thought-provoking moments with nothing to do but walk and think. Each bend on the trail is sometimes a new train of thought, whether it be about the sports that I played as I pass the golfers swinging their clubs or reminders of my own dog when I see the ducks swimming in the mini ponds.

A for Archway

Prompt 3.05 Drawn and Repelled; Photograph and Text

Figure 09. The archway creates a push–pull feeling, drawing me into its shade while repelling me into the light that bursts on the other side. (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Passing through the arch is like crossing a portal every single time, even when I am simply on my way to class. The stone chills the air within its boundary, holding shade and resonating the footsteps within. Outside, everything lights up suddenly with bright trees covered with the light of the afternoon, and the sidewalk curves toward open grass. A person wanders along beside the doorway, unaffected by the juxtaposition. The world appears to be set up from this vantage point, an unwitting lens carved out of stone and time.

I for Intrigue

3.05 Drawn and Repelled; Photograph and Text

Figure 10. A couple sharing a moment together atop War Memorial (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The sky is filled with some sort of in-between light, soft and amber with thought of leaving as the sun goes down.  On the ledge of the war memorial chapel, a couple sits in the warm evening watching as the world goes by around them. Their feet suspended, nothing below their feet alluding to the fact that there’s nothing that disturbs their moment together. One points at something unknown, trying to direct the other’s attention. The motion, suspended between curiosity and storytelling. What was it? Who knows but those two.

U for Upwards

2.22 Stairs Vs Elevator; Photograph and Text

Figure 11. The stairs at Pamplin Hall (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Painted in red and orange, there’s a couple motivational words on the stairs inside Pamplin Hall. It’s where I go almost every Monday, Wednesday, or Friday for public speaking class. Sometimes I look at it wondering if anyone actually takes any time appreciating the effort put in but then again, I barely do as I normally recognize it as nothing more than a set of stairs. My class is up the stairs and to the right, but ironically, coming from the main entrance below, I don’t even pass the elevator.

W for Wonder

2.07 What even goes on in there?; Photograph and Text

Figure 12. One of the entrances to Williams Hall (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The tall stone walls and brick lines frame the entrance where the trees almost seem to stand guard. The direction of this entrance causes it to always be encased in shadow creating a serious, dark atmosphere. Currently, I’m simply a passerby, looking at the covered windows. Just about everything and anything inside becomes an enigma, hidden from the outside world. It’s the type of academic building where, looking in, one figures what type of department could be left out based on sheer size. Shrouded in mystery, one can only wonder.

G for Gratitude

2.10 Favorite Tree, A Note of Appreciation; Photograph and Text

Figure 13. The tree closest to the road next to Duck Pond Overflow Lot (Original photograph, Bradley J)

This tree stands tall and strong amidst the weather and golf balls. Squished in between the Duck Pond Overflow lot and the golf course, it offers students some protection from the wind on the windy days, and the scorching sun on the hot days. The chain fence in between the path and the tree makes it seem like it’s on display at times. Always unnoticed by students, it somehow has the playful personality of dropping a fruit on an oblivious person who walks under its branches when it feels ignored.

S for Stagnant

2.16 Waiting in Line; Photograph and Text

Figure 14. Waiting in line at Chipotle (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Every time a new person walks in, the line forms and reshapes itself, again and again. Each person stands in their own personal bubble, some people isolated in their own world when looking at their phone. Others choose to look at the menu when in reality, it’s simply Chipotle. Most people who go to Chipotle already know their orders by heart and really just look up to see if there’s anything new or a price increase. The air, warm and smelling like seasoned chicken only makes the waiting feel longer.

N for Nighttime

2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and Text

Figure 15. Walking out at 11 pm, snow is falling (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The snow drifts down gently, illuminated by the streetlights, specks of gold and yellow littering the space. A thin coat of snow covers the cars, freezing to the touch. The air, sharp and stinging like needles on my face and skin. The night shapeshifts the world into a small, dim corridor as everything beyond the light fades into shadow. The falling snow gives the scene more suspended and dreamlike quality, setting a slow pace to the brief walk. A moment is created where the night is close enough to touch.

H for Hazard

2.14 Signage; Photograph and Text

Figure 16. Hazard sign next to Duck Pond (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The bright yellow sign sticks out against the blue and brown background as drivers approach it around the bend. “When Flooded, Turn Around, Don’t Drown” is oddly satisfying because of its nature. The phrase turn around, don’t drown, almost rhymes drawing a whimsical tone while contrasting its completely dark meaning. Most days, the road is dry making the warning almost seem out of place. However, it carries the memories of days of rainstorms and rushing water, the cold water overflowing, where the pavement and roads become one with the pond. 

P for Path

2.17 Desire Path; Photograph and Text

Figure 17. One of the dirt trails on the way to the Duck Pond Overflow Lot (Original photograph, Bradley J)

A thin strip of grassless dirt stretches across the ground next to the sidewalk splitting the path. Nothing fancy as students prefer practicality over comfort, walking on the dirt vs the paved path. The shadows cast by the sun and tree reach over as if they’re thinking the same way. The desired path speaks out about something simple and honest. Design shows intention but movement shows truth and it goes to show because this short trail, albeit only a couple feet, exists from students without ever speaking to each other.

N for Neglect

2.24 A Meditation on Garbage; Photograph and Text

Figure 18. A receipt found on the ground outside my apartment (Original photograph, Bradley J)

A receipt, found on the ground, resting after being blown by the wind, possibly out of someone’s hand or their grocery bag. Seeing as to how there’s a Food Lion nearby, that’s probably where it’s home was before it found it’s way into the grass, neglected by those who walk nearby and not picking it up. It could have been here for hours. The receipt, a reminder as proof of purchase, also becomes the reminder of our own environmental impact, proof of the neglect of those who care about our surroundings.

Q for Quiet

2.19 Duck Pond; Photograph and Text

Figure 19. Someone sitting at the picnic tables observing the ducks nearby (Original photograph, Bradley J)

The scene almost seems surreal in person. The slightly cool weather, brisk enough to wear a light jacket, but enough to wear it doesn’t make it uncomfortable. The sun, shining bright during the mid afternoon casting a reflection on the pond, illuminating the ducks swimming happily. Several ducks swim closer to him, hoping he’d feed them some bread. A person sits at the picnic table nearby, taking in the calm, quiet view. The peaceful splashes of the duck’s feet, the light quacks give the mind ease and a quietness unmatched.

M for Materials

2.23 The Things You Carry; Photograph and Text

Figure 20. The things I carry in my backpack not including the keyboard and monitor (Original photograph, Bradley J)

As one who likes to be efficient and doesn’t carry unnecessary things, I keep my bag to a light minimum. As such, my laptop and tablet come first, allowing my to do my studies and assignments wherever. The keys, to drive me wherever my heart contents or needs to be. The charger, giving my devices life so I don’t remain disconnected from an online world. The humble pencil and eraser, for writing new ideas and solving problems, and to erase the mistakes so that I have the ability to improve.

J for Journey

2.32 Shortest Walk; Video and Text

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fEhhtK_hVneXtwJpmWp6IcI2VKe3lOwy/view?usp=sharing

Video 1. A short 10 second video from the door of my apartment to my room. WordPress would not accept the video for unknown reasons. (Original video, Bradley J)

It’s been a day. Late into the night. I want to rest. From door to room. My feet move quickly. The warm temperature embraces. I close the door. Replacing the cold air. The lights guide me. My room so close. I hear the music. The deep bass pumping. The guitars strumming loudly. Country music and RnB. Fighting over filling space. Smell of pumpkin spice. What a refreshing scent. Makes me feel hungry. Instead I skip eating. Too tired to eat. I open my door. My ambient room opening. Finally back.

O for Opaque

2.12 Indoor Walk; Hand drawn map and Text

Figure 21. A hand drawn map of a portion of my apartment (Original drawing, Bradley J)

Opaque: In Latin opacus, it translates to dark or shadowy. As odd as it sounds, when it comes to early and later hours in the day, without lights, the house can seem opaque. Several steps from my bedroom to the kitchen, the hall becomes a narrow tunnel of darkness from lack of natural light. With the direction the apartment faces, there is never direct sunlight going through the windows, giving the house a dark, desolate atmosphere at certain times. With such a closed floor plan, light seems bounded by walls.

Z for Zoom

2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Hand drawn map and Text

Figure 22. A drawing of the area surrounding Duck Pond Overflow Lot and Duck Pond Lot with an added road connecting to I-81 (Original photograph, Bradley J)

Duck Pond Overflow Lot was made to accommodate the amount of students that parked on campus when Duck Pond Lot was full. As it stands, I find that both lots are often filled very quickly in the morning hours when I arrive for classes. Apart from parked cars, there’s often cars that would seem parked on Duck Pond Dr. from the volume of people trying to leave at the same time. Something I wish to be different is an alternate route that takes you straight to I-81 from the lot.

X for Xeric

2.02 Shoe Portraits; Photograph and Text

Figure 23. A photograph of my custom Nike Air Force 1s that are a few years old (Original photograph, Bradley J)

These shoes had crossed lands far from home, from the beaches in the US, the hot cities in Europe, the mountains during the summer in Japan, and the burning streets in Indonesia. Dust and dirt cling to the shoes making all those trips unforgettable memories. What once used to be a bright red swoosh now is a faded mark with each scuff shown worn proudly of all the conditions it’s been in. Xeric: a word that can be used to describe something as adaptable to harsh, heated conditions and environments.

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Introduction

This project takes you through my thoughts, feelings, and actions as I navigate(d) the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus. Some of the entries are prompt-inspired, some are free-form. My overall goal for the entries was to capture the things I noticed on my walks. “Noticed” can apply to many things, however. It could be an object, but it could also be an idea or a feeling. Something abstract, something that I experienced that someone else might not. Or, maybe, something that someone else might! They are meant to be a look inside my mind as I walked (and sometimes ran) around the campus.

Some of the entries have no real rhyme or reason. Some of the entries are carefully structured to adhere to some mysterious guideline, or to inhibit some emotion in the reader. Some are meant to be silly. Some are meant to be serious. But whether or not I meant an entry to mean something matters not. The real beauty of this project is that each entry is open to any interpretation you would like. If you think that the reason I noticed something on my walk is because of aliens from outer space, that is okay. If you think that the reason I wrote about something is because I saw it, that is also okay. This project is not objective.

While reading, you may try to picture yourself taking the walk with me, seeing the sights, smelling the smells, and hearing the sounds. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the project that is Walkings. What would you think, say, or do, in that scenario? I invite you to explore my project with an open mind and hopefully, a picture will form for each entry about my walk.

-Ryan Nesspor

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A is for Autumn

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Monday, Nov. 10

As the warm days of summer fade into memory, and icy gusts replace cool breezes, the trees slowly shed their leaves in anticipation of the cold months ahead. A sad sight, for sure, as bare trees are undoubtedly more unsightly than those with leaves. Alas, all but the evergreens must disrobe until the warmth and prosperity of the spring arrives for another year. Although they too, are trees, they have surely adapted some biological reason for this. Awaiting the springtime will bring our green friends back to their former glory. (90)

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B is for Bench

Prompt 2.05, Photograph and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Clifford,Thank you for providing me with a place to sit. I was working on a project for class – Walkings, in which I must develop 26 short entries, one for each letter of the alphabet. I probably sat for about 30 minutes. Davidson Hall is a really nice place to put your bench, by the way. I tried to draw a map of campus while I was sitting there. It didn’t turn out that well, though. Maybe it’ll end up in my project, if I can ever figure out which letter entry to put it under. What kind of entries would you two write about if you had to do my English projects? I’m assuming, Mr. Clifford, that you’d write about chemistry! You were the department head, after all. Ms. Clifford, I read that you served in the Marine Corps when you were a young woman. Maybe you’d write about your time there? Anyway, campus is way different now. They paved over the drillfield and built a Wal-mart. It is seriously a real eyesore. Just kidding. (180)

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C is for Chestnuts

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 22

I started my day today by searching for breakfast, and luckily I found a big, delicious chestnut. I usually prefer acorns or walnuts, but I won’t say no to a chestnut. After I ate, I decided to get a quick workout in. My fitness trainer told me I should do sprints back and forth across the power lines, but sometimes I get distracted and find myself on a branch of a tall tree. In between sets, I dropped acorns on students’ heads from above, usually from atop a building. Suckers! (90)

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D is for Drifting

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 22

What’s in a cloud? Each wispy mass of water vapor tells a story, one of mother nature’s most sacred. The water cycle; first lifting water from oceans, lakes, and streams from places around the world, each droplet collecting to form a mass so large it can cast shadows on the earth.

When clouds form, we use our imagination to find animals, letters, numbers, and symbols drifting overhead, all day long. With them, come rain, gloom, snow, thunder, anger, and lightning. Perhaps we are not so different from clouds after all. (90)

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E is for Elevator

Prompt 2.22, Photograph and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

Whenever I’m in Torgersen Hall, I always take the stairs. Always. The elevator, being old and slow, never seems like a good enough deal for me to consider taking it. It takes forever to come to whatever floor you called it to, and moves sluggishly when you’re inside it. Today, I decided to try it out again, and it was no different. In the same time it took to move to the third floor, I could have climbed the stairs and been there! I think I’ll stick to the stairs. (90)

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F is for Flurries

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Monday, Nov. 10

The first snowfall of the year is cause for celebration, with bags of salt piled up awaiting application. Even if it’s just a few flurries, the amount of snow is the least of our worries. Winter jackets and snow boots and warm gloves galore, we’ll watch the flakes fall just beside the book store! All over campus the grass turns to white, and the temperature drops to quite cold at night. Just be careful not to slip on the ice; lest you fall and break something which wouldn’t be nice. (90)

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G is for Gloom

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Wednesday, Oct. 29

Rainy days can be some of the best days, if you think about it. Sure, you might get wet, and the sun’s not out. But the rain brings a feeling of calm to an otherwise bustling college campus. People skip class and stay home, preferring not to leave the cozy sanctuary that is their bed. The shallow pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the pavement, or perhaps the window of the classroom you’re in, can relax all but the most stressed out students. Just make sure you remember to bring your umbrella. (90)

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H is for Hackberry

Prompt 2.10, Photograph and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

Hackberry? I didn’t know what a hackberry tree was until after I checked the VT tree database. As far as I knew, hackberry was the name of a node in the rlogin CS cluster. Thinking about it, the rest of the nodes are named after trees…oak, pawpaw, persimmon. Anyway, the hackberry tree, or Celtis occidentalis, is native to North America, and it bears small orangeish/purple fruits in the fall. Pretty fitting for a school with orange as one of its spirit colors! I wonder if they’d make good pie? (90)

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I is for Isaac Newton

Prompt 2.07, Photograph and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

What even goes on in here? By the looks of it, the owner reads a lot of comic strips. Looking closer, we observe the comics to be mostly those of scientific origins. We can also see larger posters, featuring famous scientists and scientific phenomena, like Albert Einstein, and fractals. If I had to guess, without looking up an employee directory, that this person is probably a physicist. We are in Robeson Hall, after all. If I didn’t know where I took this picture? I think I could figure it out. (90)

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J is for Journey

Prompt 3.09, Audio and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

During this walk, I heard lots of sounds. I started on the outer edge of the drillfield and walked towards the library. I heard the low rumble of cars driving by, and even the heavenly whirr of engine-less electric vehicles. I heard lots of wind, as slow breezes and heavy gusts of icy-cold air made their way through the valley of Blacksburg. I heard footsteps, not just my own but others, wearing tennis shoes, boots, heels, flip flops, and slides. I heard voices, too, talking about whatever people talk about. (90)

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K is for Kingdom

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Monday, Nov. 10

Have you ever noticed that the buildings of Virginia Tech look kind of like castles? That’s because they are. The neo-gothic style architecture that is used in so many buildings around campus is why many of our favorite buildings have ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and turrets. The arches integrated into the windows, doors, and support structures are also key attributes of this architecture. Hokie Stone, a type of limestone found in the Appalachian region, mined from a university-owned quarry, is the famous stone seen in the construction of these buildings. (90)

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L is for Lookout

Prompt 3.15, Photograph and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

We can observe many security cameras as we take a walk around campus. They’re purposefully hidden, sometimes placed at great heights (as is the case with the pictured cameras atop Newman Library), or otherwise out of easy view. Because of this, it’s not easy to find a place on campus where you can be sure you are out of view. How does this make you feel? Are we more secure and safe? Next time you walk through campus, take a moment to think about all the eyes on you. (90)

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M is for Midnight

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 8

While the campus sleeps, the grounds lay empty. Lamps and lights illuminate grass that stands void of people, sidewalks previously tread by thousands of shoes now go untouched. If these objects could talk, what would they say? If we could interview one of the sidewalks on the drillfield, how would it reply? Would it be distraught that so many people step on it each day? Or would it be satisfied that it is being put to good use, being a sidewalk and all. Or, perhaps, would they be fast asleep? (90)

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N is for No Parking

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

Signs help us navigate a bustling campus, through sidewalks and streets, across buildings and bridges, in classrooms and courtyards. Signs can tell us where the nearest Chick-Fil-A is. Signs can guide our way when our feeble intuitions fail us. Signs can help us, but they can also hurt us. Signs can be the bearers of bad news, forbidding us puny humans from parking, walking, driving, entering. Humans, who sent a man to the moon, built and dropped nuclear bombs, invented KFC. Stopped, entirely in their tracks, by a metal rectangle. (90)

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O is for Owens

Prompt 2.01 Modified, Drawing and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

I used to go to Owens ALL the time back when I lived on campus. The food court, a mere 30 steps from the exit of my residence hall, included everything a hungry freshman could want. My palate has since expanded, however at the time it was really great. I recall all the late night study sessions, early mornings, and lunches-after-class that all happened at Owens. Funnily enough, I don’t think I’ve been back since I was a freshman. I’d go back if they brought back the Wan orange chicken. (90)

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P is for Pair

Prompt 2.02, Video and text, Wednesday, Oct. 29

During the walk, we traveled about 0.5 miles. A bit about us: We’re comfortable, size 11.5 Nikes that Ryan’s had since he was a senior in high school. Honestly, we thought his feet would have grown since then. Over the years, we’ve walked, ran, stepped in puddles, had a milkshake spilled on us, and been washed a total of twice. We haven’t stopped to think about how far we’ve gone in the years he’s had us, though. There’s never any time – he only owns one pair of shoes. (90)

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Q is for Quail

Prompt 3.08, Photograph and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

Have you ever stopped to think about the family of birds living in a nest? I didn’t – until taking a walk around campus in the wintertime. With the trees bare of leaves, nests are easy to spot, and once you see one, you see them all. What kind of bird-family lives up there? What’s their day look like? Maybe a pair of northern cardinals, or perhaps a talented mourning dove? Have they migrated to somewhere much warmer, or are they hunkered down, adapting to the harsh winter weather of Blacksburg? (90)

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R is for Routine

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Wednesday, Oct. 29

A usual path, lunch-pizza in hand, taken to room 1070 of Torgersen Hall, the TA office. Always, I take the same route down the stairs, past the pipes, through the first floor. All things considered, I do enjoy the consistency of my routine, on Mondays and Wednesdays. “Alien” was how my students explained the recent lecture topics, demanding I help them with the day’s homework. Always begging me to give them the answers, or do their work for them. Alas, they refuse to attend class or read the lecture slides. (90)

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S is for Someone

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Thursday, Oct. 2

This bench, in my opinion, is a classic example of hostile architecture. Why did Blacksburg Transit design it this way in the first place? The dividers limit the number of people who can sit on it. Could you imagine trying to squeeze more than one person on each of the 3 sections? Hopefully we only have three bus riders today! It seems to me that the only reason these dividers exist is to prevent people from sleeping or resting on the bench. Which begs the question – why do this instead of tackling the problem head-first? Why inconvenience bus riders, and more importantly, why purposefully remove a safe, lit place for someone to rest? Why not instead focus on other ways to prevent people needing to resort to sleeping on a bus stop bench? It appears that these designers of public accommodations have adopted the mentality that “someone else will do it”. Someone else will design affordable housing options. Someone else will solve the problem that I am contributing to. The only question left to answer, then, is: who is “someone”? (180)

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T is for Touchdown!

Prompt 2.08, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 22

I worked as a volunteer at the football game versus Miami. All game long, I sold drinks and snacks to game attendees up until the third quarter. Walking around the concourse, whether it was to grab a new box of drinks or a bag of ice, I saw lots of people. Some of them were happy, others not so much. I also saw rain, seeping in through the cracks in the concrete. I heard cheers, boos, talking, yelling, and chanting. I heard people talking about how “bad we were at football”. The overwhelming scent of Benny’s pizza captivated me for the majority of the game. Thankfully, they let us (the volunteers) get free food from some of the less costly stands during the game. I’m not sure what I would have done if I couldn’t, since we were required to arrive at 8:00 AM. Anyway, I tasted pretzels, hot dogs, cookies, and even one of those fresh slices from Benny’s I had been smelling all game long. Sadly enough, I never did find the Dairy Club’s fresh milkshake stand. (180)

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U is for Ugly

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 15

What truly makes something ugly? It’s a word that I’ve heard countless people use to describe Slusher Tower. I don’t really like it as an adjective. To me, as cliche as it sounds, beauty is something that cannot be put into words. Given that, how could we ever call something “ugly”? I think this photo, of Slusher standing high among the residence halls, in front of a soft, orange, Saturday sunset is indeed beautiful. Could I tell you why I think so? I could try. For one, the colors; the dark green grass of the Drillfield contrasts with the soft whites, pinks, and oranges of the sunset. In the middle sits the neutral dark gray of the buildings themselves, dotted with deep orange, yellow, and green trees. Maybe the composition of the foreground and background making Slusher the obvious subject of the photo? It could also simply be the feeling, the “This Is Home” that the university perpetuates. The list could go on. Beauty is everywhere around us, and it exists not necessarily as an adjective, but as a feeling. (180)

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V is for Vawter

Prompt 2.01, Drawing and text, Sunday, Sep. 28

After drawing this from-memory sketch of the VT campus, I decided to travel to the Residential side to see what I missed. It’s been a while since I’ve walked over there, so it proved to be a walk down memory lane, so to speak. I walked down Drillfield Dr. and first came across a few less commonly known buildings, including Hutcheson & Saunders Hall. I didn’t even know Fralin Hall existed (sorry to anyone who frequents it)! My walk then took me towards Dietrick Hall and the Ag Quad, which was actually a spot I loved to spend time in when I was a freshman living on campus. Walking past Payne and Peddrew-Yates I finally returned to the most familiar area – Vawter Hall and Owens Food Court. Living here 2 ½ years ago, the familiarity of walking from Vawter and into Owens or Hokie Grill hit me like a truck. Funnily enough, they were the only two buildings from this side that I remembered to include on my map. I ended my (now more than 5 minute) walk by Newman Library. (180)

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W is(‘nt) for Walking

Original Prompt, Audio and text, Wednesday, Oct. 29

Who says walking has to be outdoors? Those steps you take through the bus and to your seat all count, don’t they? Can anything really replace a good old-fashioned walk? What about a good old-fashioned bus ride? Unlike taking a walk, there’s a window to look out on the bus. Run? Bicycle? Can a jog on a treadmill really be the same as a jog through downtown Blacksburg? Is it truly the walking that makes them so inspiring? Or is it the outdoors? Or, perhaps even simpler, it’s the journey? (90)

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x is for 3×3

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 22

I noticed, if you look closely, that the facade of Cassell is distinctly grid-based. The upper tan portion is divided into tiles, and within those tiles there is an inner grid of tiles. Additionally, the front four window panels are a 3 by 3 grid of window panes, separated by dividers. What’s more, the bricks outside the colosseum are laid in a grid, as one might expect. Lying in the background on the sign that says “Cassell Colosseum”, there are gray grid tiles. What other grids do you see here? (90)

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Y is for Yesterday

Original Prompt, Photograph and text, Saturday, Nov. 15

As the sun sets and the sky fades into darkness, we consider our day complete. And when we rise from our beds, to the sun rising again, high into the sky, we are brought into yet another day. Yet, so many of us choose to be stuck in the past, to linger on things we can’t change – to be lost in yesterday. To dwell on our past mistakes is pointless. What’s done is done. Each day is an opportunity – a chance to do something, anything, meaningful. So why waste it? (90)

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Z is for Zoom

Original Prompt, Video and text, Sunday, Nov. 30

Many people learn how to fly a plane at Virginia Tech. The Virginia Tech Montgomery airport is in a prime spot to offer pilot’s lessons to interested students. Taking a stroll through campus, you’ll soon notice the many airplanes that zoom overhead all day long. Small, learner planes, like the Cessna 172, are a dime a dozen. Private jets also stop by, like that of newly hired head football coach James Franklin. However, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a big jet, like a Boeing 737, in the Blacksburg skies. (90)

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