Vocab

The presidential candidate equivocated from the debate topic when he realized he hadn't thought through his response.

equivocate (verb)- to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge

I had to map out a plan to eradicate the evidence so as not to be convicted of my crime.

eradicate (verb)- to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate.

The hill was covered in small brush to prevent erosion.

erode (verb)- to eat into or away; destroy by slow consumption or disintegration.

Her erratic actions made her the laughing stock of her affluent classmates.

erratic (adjective)- deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion

The anger in the tension in the room escalated as the two sisters began dishing out all of the black mail on each other.

escalate (verb)- to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.

Vocab week 2

Pick 5. Quiz Thursday.
1) equivocate (verb)- to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge
2) eradicate (verb)- to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate
3) erode (verb)- to eat into or away; destroy by slow consumption or disintegration
4) erratic (adjective)- deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion
5) escalate (verb)- to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.
6) esoteric (adjective)- understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite
7) espouse (verb)- to make one's own; adopt or embrace, as a cause.
8) eulogy (noun)- a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, esp. a set oration in honor of a deceased person.
9) euphoria (noun)- a feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being sometimes exaggerated in pathological states as mania.
10) euthanasia (noun)- the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, esp. a painful, disease or condition.
11) epitome- a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class

Current Event- TSA issues

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/28/tsa.bombtest/index.html

TAMPA, Florida (CNN) -- Jason -- that's the name CNN was asked to call him -- slides a simulated explosive into an elastic back support. The mock bomb is as slim as a wallet; its fuse, the size of a cigarette. He wraps the support around his torso, and the bomb fits comfortably into the small of his back.
It's hard to tell he's concealing anything; harder still when he dons a black T-shirt and a maroon golf shirt.
Then, with CNN's cameras in tow, Jason heads to Tampa International Airport, where he'll try to sneak the fake explosive past security screeners.
Jason, a covert tester for the Transportation Security Administration, has been probing airport weaknesses for five years, beginning with big mock bombs before switching to ever smaller devices as the TSA adapts to evolving terrorist threats. Watch the tester slip past security »
As jobs go, this one comes with its own unique set of satisfactions and tribulations. Jason wants to succeed at his task -- and he wants to fail. Success is a measure of his stealth, hewn by 40 years in law enforcement. But failure is satisfying too, because it means airport screeners are growing more adept at detecting threats.
So Jason -- looking every bit the middle-aged man on an uneventful trip to anywhere -- shows a boarding pass and an ID to a TSA document checker, and he is directed to a checkpoint where, unbeknown to the security officer on site, the real test begins.
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He gets through, which in real life would mean a terrorist was headed toward a plane with a bomb.
To be clear, the TSA allowed CNN to see and record this test, and the agency is not concerned with CNN showing it. The TSA says techniques such as the one used in Tampa are known to terrorists and openly discussed on known terror Web sites.
Even before the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, government agencies deployed "red teams" such as this one to look for holes in airport security. The tests have resulted in a torrent of reports criticizing the government for failing to staff, train, manage and equip properly the screener work force, which numbers 43,000.
While test results are classified and rarely leak out, those that have been disclosed typically don't inspire confidence. In tests conducted in 2006 and disclosed to USA Today last year, investigators successfully smuggled 75 percent of fake bombs through checkpoints at Los Angeles International Airport, 60 percent through Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and 20 percent at San Francisco International Airport.
The TSA has disputed some test methodologies and test results. But instead of running from tests, the agency has embraced the idea that testing has a value that goes beyond measuring the performance of individual screeners.
Tests, the TSA says, can show systemwide security vulnerabilities. When used frequently -- as was the case with San Francisco in 2006 -- they can heighten screener awareness. Tests can show areas that need increased attention. And tests can be used to determine whether terrorist plots uncovered by intelligence agencies or being discussed on terrorist Web sites are lunatic rants, or are plausible.
As a result, the TSA says it believes its work force is the most tested in the federal government, with checkpoint drills of various sophistication occurring in every checkpoint at every airport daily.
Almost an hour before Jason approached the checkpoint, a fellow red team member had gone through the checkpoint. It's this member's job to make sure the test is conducted safely.
Five minutes before the test begins, he uses a cell phone to call Tampa's federal security director, the airport's top security official.
"Sir, the reason we're calling today is to tell you that we will be conducting covert testing at your airport," the red team leader says. "But I would ask that you not speak to anyone on your staff to alert them of this test."
The message is clear: Don't tell anyone. Testers say they will scratch a test if they believe anyone has been alerted. The TSA was embarrassed several years ago when word of one test leaked out, and an internal auditor is investigating other possible leaks.
But in Tampa, everything goes smoothly as Jason steps through the metal detector portal. The detector alarm goes off, as Jason expects it to, not because of the nonmetallic device strapped to his back but due to his metal knee.
It's the perfect tool for ensuring he gets to "secondary," where more extensive searches are conducted.
Soon Jason is in a posture familiar to air travelers. He is standing, legs apart, with his arms extended. A screener "wands" him with a hand-held metal detector, and it beeps as it passes his metal knee, his necklace and the rivets on his bluejeans.
The screener then pats him down, running latex-gloved hands over Jason's legs, arms and torso. And he pats down Jason's back, including the lower part where the device is concealed.
But Jason explains away the back support. He tells the screener that he has a bum back in addition to having a metal knee.
With the patdown over, the screener releases Jason. He picks up his belongings and walks freely into the airport, the fake bomb still fastened to his back.
TSA officials say the Tampa test demonstrates the type of systemic vulnerability that the agency is working to expose and address.
Screeners have cultural sensitivities toward travelers' handicaps, and they are sometimes hesitant to perform intrusive searches, officials said. Terrorists could exploit that reluctance, they said.
The TSA screener could have used other relatively unobtrusive means to check Jason's back brace. But he didn't.
After leaving the screening checkpoint, Jason returns with other members of his red team and informs the screener he has failed a test. A fake bomb has just entered their airport.
The screener appears devastated.
The reaction is common, says Jason, adding that notifying screeners of failed tests can be the toughest part of his job.
On occasions, he says, testers have appeared indifferent. In those rare instances, Jason says, he gets "nasty," stressing the importance of the tests. The stakes are too high to tolerate indifference.
Regardless of their reactions, screeners who fail to detect contraband are "pulled off the line" and retrained before being allowed back.
The test CNN witnessed was conducted by the TSA's Office of Inspection, which the agency calls the most sophisticated of its covert tests. But there are others.
For starters, every TSA X-ray machine has a Threat Image Projection system, which digitally inserts images of guns, knives and bombs into the X-rays of luggage, to keep screeners alert. This system library contains "tens of thousands" of images, said TSA spokesman Christopher White.
If screeners observe a suspicious object, they can check with the simple click of a computer mouse. If they detect a threat object, the computer congratulates them. Successes and failures are recorded for use in a screener's performance evaluation and are factors in determining pay.
Some 69,929 threat image tests are conducted on an average day, or more than 25 million tests per year. An array of other tests also are conducted to assess screeners, including the red team ones.
The TSA declines to give test results, which are classified. But it says the agency is getting better at finding bomb parts. And test scores won't demonstrate that, it says, because as success rates improve, tests are made more difficult.
"We're designing our tests not so much to indicate or to show or highlight performance," says Dave Holmes, who runs the Office of Inspection, "but we're highlighting where the vulnerabilities exist."
The elaborate test at the Tampa airport, Holmes says, is not to identify individuals performing below par. It's intended to provide data that, together with other information, will reveal the whole system's performance.
Back at the Tampa checkpoint, a member of Jason's red team is holding court with a group of screeners, including the one who missed the fake bomb.
"Today ... was a scrimmage," the red team leader says. "Every day, every time a passenger is coming through -- that is game day."

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It is important for our citizens to understand that our system needs improvement. Although, it is scary that any tester bombs can get through our airport security, it is more frightening to think that a terrorist could do the same. We need to try to keep terrorists unaware of the vulnerability of our system and ideally we need to have no vulnerability at all. There are millions of these tests constantly in progress or previously conducted. These tests are not all presented to the public so the TSA can continue to improve our national security. I believe that is a good way to prevent terrorists attacks by keeping our weaknesses out of public eye. Our country always needs to stay one step ahead of terrorism.

Reflection

"Why We Fight"

this documentary was moving, interesting, and important. it was good to hear and see more about the different side of America's government and different opinions and views that aren't expressed by most speakers on the news. This documentary had moving and impressive footage, as well as influential guest speakers. Not only were there famous and well known speakers throughout the movie there were also regular civilians who we could relate to. It was interesting how the interviews were held and how the different perspectives change how people feel about the war in Iraq and wars in general. In order for any documentary to be successful the producer can't just express their own views by simply by forcing them on the viewer. i think the way they broke up the serious feeling against war with smaller clips of pro-war they are then able to make the viewer believe they came to a conclusion on their own and not through propaganda. they are also then able to refute the topics the opposite argument presents. It's important to keep documentaries moving and varying between text and pictures and interviews helps break up the information without leaving the viewer bored or distracted. using emotional pull is a very common way that directors make their movies more relateable and enjoyable.

Book Report- Animal Farm

Orwell, George. Animal Farm. London. Harcourt Brace & Company: 1946.

Reason, Type and Setting: This book is a well known piece of literature that showed both literary mastery and satirical style. During the time when communism was a big fear in our world Orwell decided to tackle the issue from a different angle. Orwell's unique and surreal style really attracted me to the story line. The story takes place in a small country farm. Plot: As the domesticated livestock of Manor Farm witness all the misfortunes of having their owner Mr. Jones run their lives they all wish they could do something to change the system. Eventually the animals take over the farm, changing the name to Animal Farm. After they set up their own government and hierarchy their "fool proof" governing starts to turn into chaos as the pigs become power crazy. The farm eventually falls apart between the animals fighting between themselves and the humans who are frightened of them and trying to over throw Animal Farm so their own animals don’t do the same.

Character: Boxer was a huge draft horse who had the muscles and the motivation to keep the farm running through infallible labor and unquestioning trust of his leaders. Boxer represents everything good in a person, he was loyal, trusting, kind sympathetic and much more. Unfortunately Boxer was never very intelligent, forcing him to blindly follow who ever gave him direction. I like Boxer so much because of how manipulated he was and yet he continued to believe in the corrupt system. Although the reader has sympathy for Boxer, the reader must also realize that who Boxer is, is who powers the corrupt government because they feel like they are part of a greater good. Despite how much Boxer brought to the community, once the pigs no longer needed him they sent him off to the glue factory where he was killed.

Evaluation: I enjoyed this novel because of the satire and the constant movement of the plot. There was never a moment that an issue wasn't presented and dealt with in an interesting way. Not only was the book entertaining, it also had a great educational value to it. Orwell expressed his feelings on communism and the U.S.S.R. through his novel. He showed that the concept of communism is a good one, that system of government by virtue is appealing to the public, especially the people who are not rich or doing well in life. Communism unfortunately will not work because of the few people who are in charge and who are the main leaders will soon become so power craved that they have no sympathy for the people below them. I definitely would recommend this book to others for its educational and entertainment value. This book was intended to relate to communism and the founders and major representatives of the idea (Marx, Lenin, and Stalin). Communist Russia became a major threat to the world and other countries. Many leaders were afraid their citizens wouldn’t realize the conflicts communism brought and would be too overwhelmed with the utopia like ideas it was based off of. Without understanding the repercussions of changing governments, people can make rash decisions.
The pigs in the book took advantage of their comrade’s trust and unintelligence and used them to put them selves ahead in the farm status quo. I would like to think I would not do that to the other animals but I know it is human nature to take any opportunity to advance ourselves.

Author, Context and Trivia: George Orwell is a very famous writer and has written other books such as; 1984, Down and Out in Paris and London, Coming up for Air. I haven't read other books by Orwell yet, but I hope to read 1984. I have read other satires by different authors and enjoyed those as well, they are very thought provoking. I would always be up to reading more satires like this one.

Vocab Pictures

desultory - (adj.) lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful:

The desultory patterns of the wacky teenager left his parents, friends and teachers confused. He was always living life on the edge making unpredictable decisions which he proved the day he jumped into the freezing river with another one of his friends.

formidable - (adj.) causing fear, apprehension, or dread.

He posed as a formidable opponent after I saw how confident he was when he challenged me. I knew he must have had a lot of practice in twister, so i had to do my stretches before the big game.

guru - (n.) an intellectual or spiritual guide or leader.

There are many gurus of religions that hardly anyone has heard of. sometimes those religions flourish and become more widely renown. Other times the new belief dies with the man or woman who began in.

heritage - (n.) something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion:

every ones heritage is so varied and individualized that it is hard to look at any one person and know exactly where they came from, and what their ancestors have done.

vacillate - (v.) to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

It is important to begin forming political and moral views when we are young, other wise it will be hard to vacillate our opinions once we are older.

Vocab Words

1. intrepid - adj. ---Resolutely courageous; fearless.
2. trepidation - n. ---tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation.
3. despondent - adj. ---
feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement, or gloom
4. decorum - n. ---dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
5. aspire - v. ---to long, aim, or seek ambitiously; be eagerly desirous, esp. for something great or of high value (usually fol. by to, after, or an infinitive): to aspire after literary immortality; to aspire to be a doctor.
6. vacillate - v. ---to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute:
7. desultory - adj. ---lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful:
8. fallacy - n. ---a deceptive, misleading, or false notion, belief, etc.:
9. formidable - adj. ---causing fear, apprehension, or dread: a formidable opponent.
10. heritage - n. ---something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion:
11. guru - n. ---an intellectual or spiritual guide or leader.

Current Event

NEW YORK (AP) -- Joi Freemont, a dentist in suburban Atlanta, doesn't have to look further than her appointment book to tell that people are worried about money.

Joi Freemont, DDS and husband Chris Larkin are looking for areas to cut back their spending.

Patients who used to get their teeth whitened all the time "now want to think about it a bit," she said. Braces? "People were getting them for the kids, for themselves, but now they're waiting," she added. And when people get cavities, they have their fillings done one a month, not five or six at a time, she said.
As a result, Freemont and her husband are worried their income could drop and are trying to be more prudent with their money. They're monitoring spending more closely and continuing to whittle down their credit card balances and her dental school debt, she said.
"We know how to put the brakes on if we have to," said Freemont, 35.
Across America, there are growing signs that consumers are worried about the weakening economy, which could slip into recession. While some say Americans are not famed for their belt-tightening tactics, there are signs that people are trying to improve their personal balance sheets so they're ready for tougher times. Watch what might happen if economy gets worse »
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, said the economic signals "are flashing yellow," suggesting that consumers need to take care.
Jobs are getting harder to find, while the crisis in the mortgage industry has made it more difficult for homeowners to borrow against their houses, closing down what has been a major source of extra cash in recent years. Consumers' budgets have been squeezed by rising food and fuel prices.
Credit card balances surged through the fall months, according to Federal Reserve figures. Now delinquency rates on consumer loans are rising, the American Bankers Association reported recently. Even companies that cater to higher-income families, such as American Express Co., are feeling the pinch.
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When the economy stumbles, "you have to begin living within your means, or you'll be forced to do so," Zandi said.
But Americans are much better spenders than savers, said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst with Bankrate.com, an online financial information service.
"Consumer spending isn't something that gets turned on and off like a light switch," he said. "People will say they need to cut back, but they often lack the willpower to do it."
Still, it appears that people are starting to make an effort.
Denise Dorman, who runs an advertising and public relations agency in Geneva, Illinois, decided not to replace her 12-year-old vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee with 125,000 miles on it, to avoid taking on a car payment.
She and her husband Dave, a commercial artist known for his Star Wars illustrations, also are "aggressively paying off credit card debt." And Dorman is seeking new opportunities to expand her business, perhaps into growth areas such as video-gaming.
"I'll feel a lot more comfortable when our debt is paid down and business has picked up," she said.
The couple experienced the downturn in the housing market firsthand as it took them 18 months to sell their former home in Florida. They've also become increasingly aware of the nation's deepening economic malaise from news reports and the presidential election debates.
"Altogether, it made us rethink what we're doing financially," she said.
Frank Krystyniak, 65, director of public relations at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, said the uncertain financial environment and the effect of the upcoming presidential election has him worried that his savings could take a big hit.
So he recently moved his nest egg out of stock and bond funds and into a fixed-rate account that should yield about 4.75 percent a year, he said.
He's also wary of rising gasoline prices, which could curtail his driving to Colorado to visit family and indulge in his hobby of trout fishing.
Some consumer retrenchment might not be a bad idea, said Sheryl Garrett, founder of The Garrett Planning Network of certified financial planners and author of the "Personal Finance Workbook for Dummies."
High debt and low savings indicate that consumer budgets are out of kilter, she said.
"A mild recession would be a good opportunity -- or cause or excuse -- for people to stop and take a deep breath," Garrett said. "So many people have overextended themselves.
"If you're living on the edge when times are good, just what are you going to do when they get bad?"

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it's interesting to see the stockmarket troubles through the eyes of citizens. we all know that the gas oruces are running low. as a result we see prices of foods and supplies rising. so many people arent willing to drive and waste there gas to go the mall where they then have to spend extra money for the gas the company had to buy. it's a vicious cycle, and the only way it can be stopped is to find alternate fuels and energy sources, otherwise our economy will be stopped. small business' are suffering and everyone else will suffer as a result. the small things that keep our country thriving are slowly being pulled out from under us.

(CNN) -- At least five people and a suicide bomber were killed in a Monday attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul, while six others were wounded, officials said.

U.S. soldier chats with Afghan security man near Serena Hotel.

The dead included an U.S. citizen and a Norwegian newspaper reporter, Carsten Thomassen, 38. He died in the hospital of wounds from the blast, said Thomassen's newspaper, Dagbladets.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said the attack targeted Norway's foreign minister, Jonas Gahr Stoere, who was uninjured in the attack.
"I'm again very much surprised by this terrorist attack," Ban said.
Initially, Zemari Bashary, a spokesman for Afghanistan Interior Ministry, said the blast from the suicide bomber caused the casualties, but a witness disputed that report.
"I believe all of them were killed by gunfire," Robert Stewart, a U.S. witness who had arrived with colleagues at the Serena Hotel for dinner and to use the gym.
"We heard small arms fire ... immediately followed by two explosions; later I heard those were either rocket-propelled grenades or hand grenades," he told CNN.
"Within 20 seconds, there were grenades inside -- one grenade inside the compound right near the front door. And one, if not two insurgents, had run through the parking area toward the front of the building. The suicide bomber apparently came in right after that and blew himself up outside the building," Stewart said.
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He added, "At the same time, the insurgents got inside the gym near the front of the building and shot point-blank three or four of the people working out; I believe that was where the American may have been killed."
Stewart said he had seen two Norwegians and a Filipino woman who had been shot. The Filipino woman had been shot "critically through the lung," he said.
He and others administered first aid to victims until Afghan police and military secured the building and evacuated the wounded, he said.
It was not immediately clear whether Thomassen was included in the initial death toll.
Six civilians were also wounded in the attack, Bashary said. He said two of the dead were hotel security guards and two of the wounded are U.N. workers.
Stoere was in Kabul to present his country's approach to Afghanistan in the coming year, according to his office's Web site.
He said he was "appalled by the killing of Carsten Thomassen," according to a statement on the Web site.

___________________________________________________

It's hard when situations like this happen and Americans don't feel comfortable being in these foreign countries. It will be difficult to get their economy up and running, especially if terrorists are destroying businesses and killing innocent people. When will it be enough? When will it all stop and there can at least be some peace?

Current Event- Bush in Israel

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush on Saturday tied his fresh push for Mideast peace to the fight against terrorism and U.S. efforts to counter Iran's quest for greater influence in the region.

A poster on a Jerusalem bus Thursday calls for the U.S. to release Jonathan Pollard, convicted of spying for Israel.

"As we saw on September the 11th, 2001, dangers that arise on the other side of the world can bring death and destruction to our own streets," Bush said in his weekly radio address.

"Since then, extremists have assassinated democratic leaders from Afghanistan to Lebanon to Pakistan. They have murdered innocent people from Saudi Arabia to Jordan and Iraq.

"They are seeking new weapons and new operatives so they can attack America again, overthrow governments in the Middle East and impose their hateful vision on millions."

In his radio broadcast, Bush briefly sketched the agenda for his eight-day trip to the Middle East, which begins Tuesday, the same day as the New Hampshire presidential primary.

Bush is visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories, plus Arab allies Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He said he will encourage Israelis and Palestinians to make "tough decisions on complex questions" so an elusive peace deal could be reached.

"I am optimistic about the prospects," Bush said.

His advisers, however, have all but ruled out a three-way meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders during the trip, dampening any thoughts that the president's personal diplomacy would yield a concrete peace accord at this time.

Bush said he will urge Arab leaders to support negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians and stress the "importance of countering the aggressive ambitions of Iran."

The president argued that success in Mideast peace is crucial to success in the battle against extremists, to whom the violent, intractable Israeli-Palestinian dispute is a potent recruiting tool.

"I know it is not always obvious why events in the nations of the Middle East should matter to the American people," Bush said. "But in the 21st century, developments there have a direct impact on our lives here."

Bush's series of bilateral meetings begin Wednesday in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres. On Thursday, Bush travels to the West Bank, an Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory, to see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad at their headquarters in Ramallah.

Before leaving Israel on Friday for Kuwait, Bush will also meet with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, now the Mideast representative for the so-called Quartet -- the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/05/bush.radio.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

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I believe that Bush's intentions to help the middle east peace process isn't bad but the way he planned on enforcing these peace attempts were inappropriate. Bush would like to give the Palestinians a state and have part of the capital be Jerusalem. This idea will just bring the enemies closer and solve no problems. rather than trying to educate the different sides of the problem, Bush is trying to "buy" them out of problems for a few years not solving the issue long term. Bush's idea may even cause more anger on the behalf of the Israeli's. this would be no help to educing peace for or with anyone.

Book Report: The Scarlet Letter

Book Report / Novel Summary

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Boston. Ticknor: 1850.

Reason, Type and Setting: After consulting with the librarian and he recommended The Scarlet Letter I decided to explore one of Hawthorne’s famous pieces of literature. This book takes place in the 17^th century Boston, and is a dramatic mystery.

Plot: Hester, a young and beautiful woman is married to an older, yet brilliant, scholar. Unhappy, Hester seeks love in another man and commits adultery to her husband. After Hester has her baby the reader has no idea who the father is. The entire town comes to the meeting where the inform Hester that she will have to wear a scarlet letter A on her chest for the rest of her life. She is humiliated and no one respects her or her daughter Pearl. What the people of the town would like to know is who her husband is and who is the other adulterer? Hester’s husband arrives in the town as Mr. Chillignworth and makes Hester keep his identity a secret and Hester complies as well as remains steadfast in leaving her lover anonymous as well. In the end we find that Dimmesdale, the minister, was Hester’s lover and before they get to runaway to Europe, Dimmesdale confesses his sin and dies before the entire town. Pearl is very young and hardly understands the situation her mother is in and doesn’t know who her real father is.

Character: Hester, like I said earlier was a flawless and beautiful young woman. After her husband had sent her to America with the promise to soon follow, Hester met a new man. Dimmesdale and Hester fell in love and soon she became pregnant. This independent and strong woman began to be shot down by all of the people of the town. After the scarlet letter is permanently on her chest Hester becomes a sad and lonely and pathetic outcast. Her daughter often questioned why the sun never came up around Hester and every where she went the shadows would follow. Hester is the main character of this story and selected her because of her responsibility. She took full responsibility for her mistake despite the fact that she was unhappy with her husband but so happy with her lover. She lived with the scarlet letter and all the sneers that came along with it and still never revealed the name of her daughter’s father. By the end of the novel Hester had been volunteering and working where she could, doing everything she could to repent herself. She also met with Dimmesdale and made arrangements to run away with him because she wanted to finally be with the one person who makes her happy.

Evaluation: I didn’t enjoy this novel as much as I have enjoyed some of the other novels I have read for my outside reading books. Although, it was interesting to see how people handled that situation back in the 17^th century. Now in the 21^st century a situation like this would hardly be recognized and certainly not be the entire town but only by the people involved. In modern society it is hard to say whether or not we lost our morals that we had in the times the book was written or if we simply rearranged and reapplied our ideals to more or less important things that affect us now. I learned not only about the culture of that time but it gave me the insight to reflect on the culture I live in and thought I understood so well. I disagree with how harsh Hester’s punishment was, but maybe we are to lax on how we “punish” people who do the same thing now. I don’t think I would recommend this book, simply because it didn’t make a strong enough impact on my life to really feel the need to share this book with others.

If I were in Hester’s situation I may have acted the same way she had. I don’t believe, first of all, that I would cheat on my husband, but I also don’t plan on marrying someone I am not in love with. Hester didn’t commit adultery because she was “horny” but because she was in love with the minister. I couldn’t even try to compare myself to how Hester felt since I have never been in that type of situation at all. Hopefully I never will be.

Author, Context and Trivia: Hawthorne has also written the novels: Fanshawe, The House of the Seven Gables, The Blithedale Romance , The Marble Faun. I have never really read a book like this. If I happen to find another book by this author or like this one I may read it but I don’t believe I would look for another book like this one particularly.

John Locke: As an Influential Philosopher

Imagine a life where critical thinking was frowned upon. Theoretical and logical ideas

wouldn’t be challenged because they were hardly presented to the public. Some of the most

famous and influential philosophers flourished in times like these.

John Locke is one of the most known philosophers in the world. Born in 1632, Locke hadn’t published most of his work until 1689. even when he had began to publish his essays and writings they were in either a special code and some were even in invisible ink. For fear of losing his life because of his “radical” new ideas, Locke thought that remaining anonymous in his publications was the best idea. Locke was an educated man and attended Westminster School and Oxford University, he graduated with a B.A. in 1656. Locke graduated and eventually became a consultant for the King and Lord Ashley in 1666. Lord Ashley was one of Locke’s good friends, and Locke Lived in Ashley’s home for a while after he graduated school.

Locke had no family after 1663 when his only brother passed away, in 1661 his father had passed away, and in 1654 Locke’s mother passed away as well. Locke was all alone but left with land and a few cottages that provided him with a small, but sufficient income that could support him for the rest of his life. Locke remained unmarried all his life but was known to be around women often and even came close to marriage. Another issue Locke suffered with was his poor health. In 1671, Locke left England and moved to France to get away form the London smog. In France he expanded his theories and ideas on many people he met. After returning to England, Locke began writing An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Through this paper Locke addressed three main points: gaining knowledge, trusting knowledge, and limits to knowledge.

Locke’s Two Treatises on Government written in 1690 is what our United States Government and laws are largely based on. This writing presents Locke’s main ideas that every person has the right to: life, liberty, and property. Locke’s anti-tyrannical ideas were reflected strongly in the United States Declaration of independence. Locke was unhappy with the way most governments were obtained by force and allowed the people know opinions into there future Kings and Parliament. Although his original theories don’t apply to our lives today in the same way they did when they were written; Locke’s passion for human rights are still the overlying theme of his writings and our democracy.

Locke was a religious Christian, but there are only theories as to what type of Christian he was. His religious beliefs had influenced his writings and some people believe that Locke may have either been a Puritan or an Anglican. Locke’s family were puritans but throughout Locke’s life he claimed to be Anglican, although he avoided becoming an Anglican priest. The main ideas in Locke's Letter on Toleration may sound very familiar. In these letters Locke talks about how he believes there should be a separation between church and state and that the government should not determine what their people should or should not believe. It also states that the church does not have any power over the government. These ideas are also the found in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Which states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Locke’s other ideas are reflected through the constitution as well and

Locke lived a comfortable lifestyle but went through many troubles through out his life. whether these personal obsticles effected his emotions toward his personal beliefes is almost certain.

Locke influences our communities every day with his timeless and important ideals. If Locke’s ideas weren’t pushed into the public eye and discovered by all the small people who eventually made a big difference; there is no way to tell how the world would be now. Without John Locke, everything about our government would be different, not only that but our government may have never been formed. Out of all the influential philosophers that offer their works to our world, Locke was one of the most remarkable.

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http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/