As U.S. troops finally leave Iraq, people remember and commemorate those that were lost in the eight years that soldiers were at war in Iraq. This article, written by Don Babwin and Tom Breen on Sunday, and found on Yahoo News, was titled "NC soldier, 23, was last US troop killed in Iraq". David Hickman, of Greensboro, North Carolina was the last of the war casualties in Iraq. He was killed in November by an improvised bomb because of which many soldiers died in Iraq. Hickman was known as an enthusiastic, kind, and funny. He was a physical fitness fanatic, who jokingly called himself "Zeus" because even the gods would be jealous of his body. His funeral took place in Greensboro, where the church was packed with friends and family.
As Hickman's funeral took place, many other families remembered the loss of their loved ones throughout the various stages of the war. Vicky Langley's son, Jonathan Lee Gifford was one of the first casualties of the war, killed just two days into the war. She still feels the pain of his loss. Many other families feel the same way. Most wish to believe that the loss of their loved ones was for a good cause. This article is important, because it is our duty to commemorate the brave soldiers that laid their lives down for our country. We must honor their actions and their lives.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
" The Fall of the House of Usher"
Edgar Allan Poe is known for writing dark, Gothic literature. One of his most famous works was "The Fall of the House of Usher". This story follows the frightening events that happen to the narrator, Roderick Usher, and Madeline Usher in the Usher house. As Roderick Usher is dying, he sends a letter to his friend, the narrator, asking him to keep him company in the final weeks of his life. The narrator accepts this request, not quite fully knowing what he is getting himself into. He finds himself in a dark, dreary, frightening house. The characteristics of the house, as well as the mental instability of Roderick Usher add to the suspense and Gothic elements of the story. Usher is extremely superstitious, and also psychologically tormented. Usher's state of mind, including how he feels about the house and what is happening to himself also add to the Gothic aspect of the literature.
As the story progresses, the events taking place become more and more mysterious and frightening. Madeline dies with no clear explanation as to what the cause was. Usher mentally and physically continues to degrade. He also becomes more psychologically tortured. Then one night, a terrible storm hits. Usher and the narrator are discomforted by the storm, so the narrator begins reading Usher a novel. In this novel, the main character has to dig himself out of a grave after being buried alive. As this is happening in the story, the narrator begins hearing noises from beneath them where Madeline is buried. The two men soon realize that they had buried Madeline alive. As she finally comes up the stairs and collapses on Usher, the narrator flees from the house just as it crumbles above the Usher siblings.
As the story progresses, the events taking place become more and more mysterious and frightening. Madeline dies with no clear explanation as to what the cause was. Usher mentally and physically continues to degrade. He also becomes more psychologically tortured. Then one night, a terrible storm hits. Usher and the narrator are discomforted by the storm, so the narrator begins reading Usher a novel. In this novel, the main character has to dig himself out of a grave after being buried alive. As this is happening in the story, the narrator begins hearing noises from beneath them where Madeline is buried. The two men soon realize that they had buried Madeline alive. As she finally comes up the stairs and collapses on Usher, the narrator flees from the house just as it crumbles above the Usher siblings.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
"Tiniest babies are growing up healthy despite odds"
On December 11, an article was posted on Yahoo written by Lindsey Tanner, titled "Tiniest babies are growing up healthy despite odds". This article was written as a followup to what happened to two of the tiniest babies ever born in the world. Both babies survived despite all odds and are now in healthy conditions. At the time, Madeline Mann was the tiniest baby, who was born in 1989 weighing only 9.9 ounces. The world record now, is Rumaisa Rahman, who is now seven years old, weighing only 9.2 ounces. In order to be considered a "tiny baby", the newborn must weigh less than an ounce. In most cases, the babies do not survive. In the latest report, it showed that about 7,500 babies are born each year in the United States which weigh less than a pound, and only ten percent of them survive. The cases of Madeline and Rumaisa are extremely unique, and doctors know not to set them as examples, but as miracles.
There have been about one hundred twenty four listed babies born less than one pound since 1936. Doctors usually try to resuscitate babies born around twenty four weeks of pregnancy, although even at that age chances of survival are still slim. Many newborns weighing that little can become blind, or have mental retardation issues. When reporters checked back in with Madeline Mann, she was in college studying psychology, weighing just sixty five pounds, with a height four foot eight. However, her only health issue is asthma, and she is healthy in all other aspects. It is important to know about this, because it is always intriguing to learn about the miracles that can take place in hospital, and the lengths which some people may go through to save a life.
There have been about one hundred twenty four listed babies born less than one pound since 1936. Doctors usually try to resuscitate babies born around twenty four weeks of pregnancy, although even at that age chances of survival are still slim. Many newborns weighing that little can become blind, or have mental retardation issues. When reporters checked back in with Madeline Mann, she was in college studying psychology, weighing just sixty five pounds, with a height four foot eight. However, her only health issue is asthma, and she is healthy in all other aspects. It is important to know about this, because it is always intriguing to learn about the miracles that can take place in hospital, and the lengths which some people may go through to save a life.
"The Raven"
This week we read the poem "The Raven" written by Edgar Allan Poe. "The Raven" is one of Poe's most famous works. It is about the conversation a man has with himself as well as a raven perched on top of his door. The man is slightly psychotic, and believes the bird is talking to him and is bringing back memories of his lost love, Lenore. The man has become hopeless, thinking that the bird will leave him just like everything else in his life has abandoned him. However, this bird stays with him forever as a constant reminder of his disappointments, losses, and especially Lenore.
Edgar Allan Poe was known for writing gothic, dark, and somewhat discomforting literature. This fits in perfectly with the theme of Gothic Romanticism. In gothic literature, the setting is somewhere bleak and depressing. This poem takes place in a dark, scary, remote place. Another characteristic of gothic literature is that macabre or violent events happen. The loss of Lenore can be associated with this. The man is tormented by the loss of Lenore, and believes the raven is talking to him, which connects to the psychological aspect of gothic literature. Finally, when considering the supernatural aspect, the raven talking or the room getting stuffy because of the presence of a ghost can be thought of. Edgar Allan Poe and gothic literature were made for each other.
Edgar Allan Poe was known for writing gothic, dark, and somewhat discomforting literature. This fits in perfectly with the theme of Gothic Romanticism. In gothic literature, the setting is somewhere bleak and depressing. This poem takes place in a dark, scary, remote place. Another characteristic of gothic literature is that macabre or violent events happen. The loss of Lenore can be associated with this. The man is tormented by the loss of Lenore, and believes the raven is talking to him, which connects to the psychological aspect of gothic literature. Finally, when considering the supernatural aspect, the raven talking or the room getting stuffy because of the presence of a ghost can be thought of. Edgar Allan Poe and gothic literature were made for each other.
Monday, December 5, 2011
"Southern California Braces For More Dangerous Winds, Red Flag Warning Issued"
This past week, Southern California has been experiencing some of the strongest winds it has had in a very long time. This article, found on KTLA's website, states that the windstorms are not over just yet. The worst of the winds started on Wednesday and reached up to a hundred miles per hour. Wednesday's windstorm caused thousands of people to lose electricity and power in their homes. Up to forty thousand people still had no power until late Sunday night when LADWP finally restored power for all their customers.
Weather reports show that strong winds will probably start up late Sunday night and continue all the way until Tuesday, including temperature drops into the low thirties.This article is important, because it is crucial for people to know about what is going on around them, especially when dealing with safety issues. Natural disasters can cause devastating damages if precautions are not taken. Many people were concerned with the possibility of spread of wildfires because of the unusually strong and dangerous winds that are uncharacteristic of Southern California. Los Angeles County issued a Red Flag warning from Sunday through Tuesday warning people that live in brush areas to be careful especially while outdoors and to report fires immediately.
Weather reports show that strong winds will probably start up late Sunday night and continue all the way until Tuesday, including temperature drops into the low thirties.This article is important, because it is crucial for people to know about what is going on around them, especially when dealing with safety issues. Natural disasters can cause devastating damages if precautions are not taken. Many people were concerned with the possibility of spread of wildfires because of the unusually strong and dangerous winds that are uncharacteristic of Southern California. Los Angeles County issued a Red Flag warning from Sunday through Tuesday warning people that live in brush areas to be careful especially while outdoors and to report fires immediately.
My Favorite Part
The Scarlet Letter is the first novel we read this year for our English class. It was about a woman, Hester Prynne, who has an affair with the town's minister, Arthur Dimmesdale, while her husband, Roger Chillingworth, is far away in London. This secret affair leaves Hester with a child, who she names Pearl, who becomes her one and only treasure after she is forced to wear the letter "A" to mark her as an adulteress. The novel displays the various emotional, moral, and physical effects the affair has on these characters. Hester eventually comes to lead a life of helping others, Chillingworth makes it his life's passion to seek revenge on the man Hester slept with, and Dimmesdale's guilt eats him up for so long, that it slowly and painfully kills him. The novel gave a very interesting point of view to what happened to adulterers back then, and how differently or in some cases similarly they would be treated nowadays.
The novel had many twists and turns, as well as surprises in store for readers with the turn of every page. I think one of my favorite parts was when Roger Chillingworth finally discovers that Arthur Dimmesdale had branded himself with the same letter "A" that Hester had been forced to wear for the rest of her life. By that point, I think readers already suspect that Dimmesdale is the father of the child, but what Chillingworth discovers confirms those suspicions. It is also interesting to finally be able to connect why Dimmesdale constantly had his hand on his chest, and to know why he is doing that while some of the other characters, such as Hester do not even think twice about it. This part was my favorite part because although we realize that Dimmesdale was feeling guilty about what he had done and not taken the blame for, we did not realize the extent to which his guilt had tortured him, that he had to inflict physical pain on himself as some form of comfort or admittance.
The novel had many twists and turns, as well as surprises in store for readers with the turn of every page. I think one of my favorite parts was when Roger Chillingworth finally discovers that Arthur Dimmesdale had branded himself with the same letter "A" that Hester had been forced to wear for the rest of her life. By that point, I think readers already suspect that Dimmesdale is the father of the child, but what Chillingworth discovers confirms those suspicions. It is also interesting to finally be able to connect why Dimmesdale constantly had his hand on his chest, and to know why he is doing that while some of the other characters, such as Hester do not even think twice about it. This part was my favorite part because although we realize that Dimmesdale was feeling guilty about what he had done and not taken the blame for, we did not realize the extent to which his guilt had tortured him, that he had to inflict physical pain on himself as some form of comfort or admittance.
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