Crazy Black Friday Shoppers

     In the Los Angeles Times newspaper, there is an article about a woman who attacked almost twenty people at a Porter Ranch Wal-Mart with pepper spray titled, "Suspect in Wal-Mart pepper spray attack refuses to talk with LAPD" written by Bob Pool and Andrew Blankstein. Just last Friday, a woman used pepper spray against twenty shoppers, and ran away after doing so. The police have not yet found the woman who did this. An unidentified woman came to an LAPD station on Saturday, but did not answer any questions about the incident from the day before. The police say they know who it is, but have not yet arrested the woman. Luckily, none of the injuries from that Friday were serious, just minor scratches, soar throats, and itchy eyes.
     Black Friday is the one day of the year where stores offer ridiculous prices on many items. Who would have thought this would lead to ridiculous attacks of pepper spray? Pepper spray is meant for self defense, and to control a group of people, mainly used by the authorities, and can cause tearing, itching, and temporary blindness. Authorities do not know if she used the pepper spray for self defense, or to save a few bucks on a great deal. Either way, the woman should not have reacted with pepper spray.

Chillingworth or Dimmsdale?

     If I had to choose who I sympathize with more, it would have to be Roger Chillingworth. When Chillingworth arrived from overseas to meet with his wife, he sees his wife raised on a scaffolding, and the town's attention at her. "...who is this woman? - and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?" (Hawthorne 53) said Roger Chillingworth. Here, he has to ask a townsman why his wife is put to shame in the public, as soon as he arrives to Boston. When I read this, I sympathized with Chillingworth, what he must have felt. A small incident has now kept their marriage a secret.

The Scarlet Letter

     In The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are many examples of American Romanticism. This topic covers the use of imagination, and one of those examples from the novel is the detailed description of the prison door. The prison door is described when the narrator introduces the readers to Hester Prynne, the main character of the story, and a sinner. "The rust on the ponderous iron-work of its oaken door looked more antique than any thing else in the new world" (Hawthorne 41). This describes a gothic aspect of the door. The door is described as old, dark, and worn out. The reader can make a connection from this part of the novel, to romanticism gothic literature.
     Because there is such a deep connection between romanticism and gothic ideas, another perfect example of romanticism in the novel is "The penalty therefore is death. But in their great mercy and tenderness of heart, they have doomed Mistress Prynne to stand only at a space of three hours on the platform of pillory, and then and therefore, for the remainder of her natural life, to wear a mark of shame upon her bosom" (Hawthorne 54). Because Hester Prynne committed a sin, she was punished by being branded and wearing the letter "A" for adultery on her chest. This is a sign of shame. They want her to realize her mistake and never forget it. This can be connected to the idea of romanticism in novels (which is not similar to romance, in today's terms). These are two examples of the American Romantic era that are discussed in The Scarlet Letter.

Million Mile Joe!

     In the Los Angeles Times newspaper, there is an article about a man who was awarded with a new Honda, after driving his old '90 Honda for million miles titled, "Maine man given new Honda after driving old one for million miles" written by Geraldine Baum. Joe LoCicero of Saco, Maine was able to keep his 1990 Honda Accord on the road for 21 years. Shouldn't it be time for a new one? After reaching his one millionth mile, LoCicero drove into downtown with his old Honda, and drove out with his new Honda. LoCicero drove on average 62,000 miles a year. The average driver hits about 14,000 miles a year. Many were surprised how he still got his car to run after all those miles he put on it!
     He was greeted in downtown with a marching band, planes, and a huge parade, and to top it all off with his brand new car! A nearby middle school provided the marching band. The most interesting part of the parade included a giant "odometer" which had six number slots, that kept moving from numbers zero to nine. People were inside a life sized hamster wheel, turning the numbers, making the "odometer" seem as if it was actually real! Aside from that, there were cheerleaders with a picture of Joe's face on their shirt! A lot was done for Million Mile Joe, and his new car! Watch the video to see the parade!

Pride - One of the Seven Deadly Sins

     Pride is one of the Seven Deadliest Sins. If I had to relate one of the seven deadly sins to me, it would have to be pride. I am very much proud of who I am, and what I have accomplished. I did not realize, how being egotistical can lead to the desire of being very important, and wanting to be the best at everything. A lot of something is never good for anyone. This applies to any of the Seven Deadly Sins. A lot of self confidence and proudness, is not good.
     I would feel very bad, if I was branded like the main character of The Scarlet Letter. If I did something wrong, I would not want to have the public know I committed a sin. I would try my hardest not to commit a sin, but as human natures does not favor for one to do so, it is not uncommon for someone to commit a sin. This does not mean one does not have control over how much of the sin they commit. I would try my hardest to prevent any sin at a drastic level, and try my hardest not to be branded, like the main character of The Scarlet Letter.

Love in Colonial America

     Anne Bradstreet, the writer of "To My Dear and Loving Husband", writes about her unlimited amount of love towards her husband. She is directly writing to her husband, making the audience is her husband. This was around colonial/Puritan times. In Puritan literature, it is not common to see love as a topic, such as it is shown in this poem. She explains her love and relationship through metaphors. She also mentions how she will not give up her love for any amount of gold, or riches.

     Anne Bradstreet writes about her love towards her husband. Poetry, at this time, was not supposed to have emotional appeals. The way Anne Bradstreet writes her poem, shows love and affection for her husband, making it an emotional topic. This was very out of the ordinary. That did not stop Bradstreet from writing this poem. She was very much in love, and showed it through her writing.