Scarlet Letter

“Ah, but,” interposed, more softly, a young wife, holding a child by the hand, “let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart. “ (Hawthorne 36)

As Hester Prynne is shown to the public as some form of monster and evil sinner, many people are gossiping, cursing and shaming Hester Prynne. As part of her punishment, she was to endure public embarrassment, and many people are savagely speaking against her. What shines from the rest is a group of women. Many of them are saying that since Hester has committed a sin against their religion, it means that she has also broken the law. Due to this these women believe that she must be killed, in order to show others not to follow her acts. One women believes some thing else. This woman said the quote above, being the only one that does not want Hester dead. What the woman said is extremely true and extremely smart. She said that Hester should do whatever she wants, she can cover it, hide it, or keep it from sight, but it does not matter. She says that the mark will always be with her, not physically, but mentally and psychologically. Hester will always know that she has sinned, and her child, which is the result of that very sin, will be a daily reminder. The scarlet letter on Hester's chest will not be the thing that reminds her of her sin, but her very child will.

Savanna Harris Todd, American Girl Kidnapped By Mom, Found In Australia After 19-Year Search

"Savanna Harris Todd, American Girl Kidnapped By Mom, Found In Australia After 19-Year Search"
From: The Huffington Post
By: The Huffington Post

Savanna Harris Todd, was Southern Carolina Girl who was kidnapped by her own mother when she was only ten months old. Following her kidnapping was a nineteen year manhunt for the mother. All hope was presumably lost until she was found on the other side of the globe in Australia. She had appeared in court on Wednesday nest to her mothers side, holding a sign saying "We love you, Mom". Savannah was living under the name of Samantha Goldenhuys. Savannah was said to have been living a "safe and healthy and life in a good environment" at Queensdale. If Savannah mother was not a unfit parent, why kidnap your child and take them to a separate country. Savannah's mother is now being determined to being bipolar and is one of the reasons why Savanna is being sent to he fathers home. Barnett, Savannah's mother, has been jumping from New Zealand, South Africa, and finally Australia. Barnett is currently being extradited to the United States of America in order to face her charges in a court of America. One cannot imagine the risks this women took in order to raise her child on her own. To kidnap her from a home is one thing, but to travel the globe in search of a viable place to live incognito, is another obstacle conquered by Barnett.

Research Blog

Boston in the sixteen hundreds was not somewhere a young woman would want to be. Known for the infamous Salem Witch Trials, Boston in the sixteen hundreds was filled with puritans, who constantly hung innocent women on accusations of them being witches. The accusations were without proof of course, and many women were either sent to the scaffolds, stocks, prison, or the gallows, although many of them were sentenced to death by hanging and/or burning. The scaffolds, gallows and stocks were very prominent in Boston during the sixteen hundreds, being the "go-to" torture methods for criminals and sinners. The stocks were mostly for public humiliation, where as the gallows and the scaffolds are mostly for injuring and killing people. Adulterers, thieves, murderers and criminals in general are examples of who would be put through these cruel and awful torture methods. At the least, people would hope for public humiliation or prison instead of death. Present day Boston has many tourist attractions based on the city's dark history of death and torture. Events such as " Galloween" and roads being closed to celebrate the streets being haunted by the souls of the victims of the many unjustified hangings. It is amazing to see how dark events in a towns history, are later shown in ways of entertainment.

Examples of the Stock torture method

Gallows Hill Salem



http://www.celebrateboston.com/ghost/boston-neck-executions.htm

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/brief-salem.html

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/asal_de.htm

http://www.boudillion.com/gallowshill/gallowshill.htm

Illinois Tornado Wreaks Havoc Near Peoria

"Illinois Tornado Wreaks Havoc Near Peoria"
From: The Huffington Post
By: James B. Kelleher

On November seventeen, a fast moving storm system triggered a series of freak tornadoes near Illinois and Indiana. These tornadoes killed at least two people and injured about forty, if not more. The tornadoes flattened a large part of Washington city. The storm interrupted sports games, with many viewers rushing to find shelter. Families far from their homes had to find refuge from the destructive storms in unfamiliar places. Homes were demolished, schools lifted from place, cars were launched and people were injured. The results of the tornadoes are complete wreckage, piles of wood, metal, stone and what seem to be family belongings are scattered along the roads. At least seventy homes were destroyed, leaving families without a place to sleep. Many reported seeing trees being uprooted and launched into surroundings. According to Bill Bunting, a forecast chief, "This storm system has some similarities to the fast-moving "derecho" storm that knocked out power to more than 4.2 million people and killed 22 in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions in June 2012". Others are also saying that the tornadoes are not fully matured and if the storms return, the results will be more devastating than what has occurred now. All of our hopes and prayers are with the victims and families of the people in Illinois. 

SOAPST

Ralph Waldo Emerson's Education addresses matters in the 1820's to 1830s, that are still coming up today. The Speaker of the piece is Ralph Waldo Emerson, an influential writer and thinker during the 1800s. The Occasion is the 1820's to 1830's. The Audience is everyone, especially future educators and students. The Purpose of the piece is to call out the problems, and inform people of them, some of the main problems being the education system. The Subject of the piece, is the education system, how students are being taught, educational reform, and how to effectively teach students. Emerson says that teachers must not only teach writing and math, but also include, wit, thought, creativity, and imagination. The Tone of the piece is very confident, friendly, informative, and educative. The use of diction in the piece allows for students now to be able to read and understand the piece without struggle, which is impressive for an essay written in the 1800s. Emerson is able to present his ideas, and worries formally and simply, speaking about the "genius" one can find in himself. He brings in the fact that enthusiasm to learn is declining, and will continue to decline due to how the educational system works and is composed. Even now, the education system seems to not teach a true education. This is one of the many reasons that the education system must change, not for a few, but for everyone.

China Releasing Badly Forged Photos

"Chinese officials produce a lot of badly forged photos, but this might be the worst"
From: The Washington Post
By: Max Fisher

Throughout the years, governments of countries have lied and deceived their citizens, along with other countries. Examples are false promises, untrue claims, and corrupt actions. As far as whether a country has released a forget photo, the photos have most probably had a good amount of work put into them. This is not the case for China. China is a country that has many problems, going from pollution, to population problems. Their government officials have reached such a desperate situation, that they must release forged photos, which are almost near quality to work done by a kindergartner. Photos show government officials walking through roads and talking with villagers, or more likely try to show these images. The result of the photoshops shows people floating over roads, speaking to people who seem to be six inches tall, or seem to be walking in an area that does not match the way they look. People have no shadows in sunny areas, are blurry in clear and focused backgrounds, or are seem to have all the light from the sun on them, and none on the environment. For a country to go to lengths of forgery and photoshop, one would believe a above average job would be done, not the half finished products that half finished products that have constantly been published. Why must a country lie to its citizens and neighbors? If a power such as China is going to attempt to forge pictures, the pictures must look at least half believable.